Saturday, December 20, 2014

What's Your Outlook?



Well, it’s been a year.  Ups and downs; highs and lows.  Things happened; people and life moved on.  Those of us who remain are another year older (but hopefully not deeper in debt https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Joo90ZWrUkU )
So what do we do?  Do we look back on what has happened and reminisce and replay the events of our lives?  Or do we look ahead?  And if we decide to look ahead, do we do so with apprehension and the fear of uncertainty?  Or do we do so with anticipation and longing?
How we approach life…looking back or looking ahead…looking with fear or looking with anticipation…largely sets our attitude and outlook on life.  We can be Joe Btfsplk and have the rain cloud follow us around all the time (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Btfsplk ), or we can do as Paul did, forgetting what lies behind and “press on” to the future (Philippians 3:13-14).
It’s difficult, sometimes, to maintain a positive outlook on life.  Things happen.  Situations change.  People become ill.  Tragedy strikes.  Financial reversals come around.  Things just don’t work out like we want them to work out.  It’s easy to slip into a moribund, sullen outlook on life that is not at all what was intended by the One who created us to begin with.
I know we can’t all be happy and dancing around all the time.  I know there are times when we don’t feel good or have medical, emotional, or spiritual issues.  But we can have an inner joy and peace that comes from a proper relationship with our Creator, and we can develop an attitude of looking ahead with confidence and grace.
So, what is your outlook on the coming year 2015?  Do you choose to be the guy with the rain cloud?  Or do you choose to exude a quiet confidence, not in yourself, but in the Creator of us all, who promises to sustain and carry us through to the Hope that He is making ready for us?

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