Christian Reflection and Prayer

I the middle of this series "How You Can Make a
Fresh Start".
I thought I would give you something to keep in mind:

During all this discussion of sin and the role it plays in
our lives. PLEASE REMEMBER THIS=

The Book of Genesis tells us that we were created in
God's own image.

Please remember this always, "Why would God make us
all so different, if He wanted us to be the same?"

REMEMBER GOD LOVES YOU JUST THE WAY HE MADE YOU!

GOD BLESS YOU!

How You Can Make a Fresh Start
Whitney Hopler

Do you feel stuck? Maybe you don't
like the way your life has been going
lately, but can't seem to change it.
No matter how stuck you may have
become, you can move forward with
God's help. Here's how you can make
a fresh start to change your life for the better:

#5. Define success. If you've been chasing
success in the form of wealth, significance,
or security, you can get stuck never really
achieving the success you want. Recognize
that God defines success far differently than
our culture does. From God's perspective, a
successful person focuses on giving, not getting.
The way to achieve true success is by serving
other people for God's glory. Keep in mind that,
no matter how busy you are, you can always
find the time to do what you most want to do.
So make service a top priority in your life.
Pray for the ability to discern specific ways
God wants you to serve. Start small; simply
see a need and meet it. If you find that a
certain way you've tried to serve turns out
not to be a good match for you, keep looking
for other opportunities to serve well. Be sure
to take time out from serving to rest, though,
to keep your life in a healthy balance. When
you make service a vital part of your lifestyle,
you'll experience life as Jesus experienced it,
and you'll have more of His love flowing through
you. That's the ultimate success.

{Adapted from Fresh Start: God's Invitation to
a Great Life copyright 2009 by Doug Fields.
Published by Thomas Nelson Publishers,
Nashville, Tn., www.thomasnelson.com.)
Article publication date: August 20, 2009

(The next Reflections will be a series
of 14 brief messages on how you can make a
Fresh Start in your life. It is my prayer
that these suggestions will help provide
a real renewal in your total life.)

How You Can Make a Fresh Start
Whitney Hopler

(Editor's Note: The following is a
report on the practical applications
of Doug Fields' new book, Fresh Start:
God's Invitation to a Great Life,
(Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2009).

Do you feel stuck?  Maybe you don't
like the way your life has been going
lately, but can't seem to change it.
Perhaps you're struggling with an
unhealthy habit that you know you
should stop, yet still continue despite
your best intentions to change.

No matter how stuck you may have
become, you can move forward with
God's help.  Here's how you can make
a fresh start to change your life for the better:

#1. Look beyond yourself to God.  Your
ability to make real and lasting changes
to your life is limited, even when you try
your hardest.  Rather than relying just on
your own determined resolve to change
and your own positive thinking (which may
improve your life temporarily but not lead
to permanent change), connect to God in
prayer daily and rely on the strength that
He will give you to truly change for good. 
God loves you too much to let you stay
stuck; He wants to help you become
the best person and experience the best
life possible.  Invite God to give you a fresh
start and cooperate with His work in your
life by following where He leads you.

{Adapted from Fresh Start: God's Invitation to
a Great Life copyright 2009 by Doug Fields.
Published by Thomas Nelson Publishers,
Nashville, Tn., www.thomasnelson.com.
Doug Fields graduated from SCC in 1984
(now Vanguard), and received his MDiv.
from Fuller Theological Seminary in 1986.
Doug has served as a youth pastor for 25
years, and has been teaching pastor at
Saddleback Church since 1992. Doug
has been a global youth ministry leader
through his books, speaking and youth
ministry resources. He is the award-winning
author of more than 40 books, many of which
serve as curriculum in Seminaries and Bible
Colleges. Besides speaking regularly to
teenagers and the congregation of Saddleback
Church, Doug can also be found speaking to
youth workers around the world. Doug would
say his greatest accomplishment is marrying
way out of his league to his wife Cathy of 23
years. They have three teenage children; Torie,
Cody and Cassie.}

Article publication date: August 20, 2009