Peace on Earth!

 

 

 

“And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, [14] Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” Luke 2:13-14 (KJV) 

 

As we approach the Christmas Holiday it would be easy to look at the present condition of our world and say “Where is God in all of the trouble?”  “If the angels proclaimed peace on earth and good will toward men where is it?”  Good question.  The answer must lie, not in how peace will come to the earth but how it is imparted to individuals.

 

“Peace is not merely a distant goal that we seek, but a means by which we arrive at that goal.”  Martin Luther King Jr.

 

Martin Luther King Jr. was not looking for peace in the future by the mere stroke of a pen upon legislative paper or a mass movement aimed at changing laws but peace to him was something that had to be possessed by individuals before it could come to the world at large.  As I pondered this it came to me that there is peace on earth and good will toward men!  It may not be en-mass but it is alive and well in the hearts and lives of men and women who have the prince of peace in their lives.  This is the inner peace that will carry you through the most difficult of times.  It will give you a calm in the middle of a storm.  It will bring tranquility to your heart so that you can give good will to others. 

 

Yesterday I was at the local Wally Mart and as people were going here and there looking for gifts I heard a little boy singing a Christmas carol loud enough for those of us busy people to hear as we passed by.  I thought to myself, “He likes Christmas!”  Frankly, I do too.  I felt like stopping to listen or even joining in with him but I kept on walking dutifully following my wife down this isle and that.  Maybe I should have stopped, maybe we all need to stop and sing with the little boy or girl once in a while and learn to experience the peace they expresses a little more.  Maybe in the hustle and bustle of the day we will see Jesus standing by waiting to give peace to us as he does the little ones.

 

Do you know someone who is not happy at this time of the year?  Send them a little good will and help to bring about peace on the earth in your little corner.  Don’t have peace for yourself?  I have written a study titled “Finding Happiness”  that may be of interest to you or a friend.  You can have peace in your heart.  Our world needs peace and they can find it through the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ.  Merry Christmas and may there be peace and good will in your world not just during the Holidays but everyday of the year!

 

Thanks for taking the time to be a part of the newsletter family.  It is truly an honor to have you here.  Pass along this newsletter and encourage a friend to sign up!  We pray your Christmas Holiday season will be blessed.

 

Here is the weekly inspirational scripture. 

 

“But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. [27] Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14:26-27 (KJV) 

 

Sincerely

 

Greg Wirths

 

Focus on Freedom

 

 

 

Loneliness

 

 

 

“The person who tries to live alone will not succeed as a human being.  His heart withers if it does not answer another heart.  His mind shrinks away if he hears only the echoes of his own thoughts and finds no other inspiration.”  Pearl S. Buck  American Author

 

It has been said that the Christmas and New Year Holiday season is filled with lonely and depressed people.  This has probably been true for many many seasons running.  The question that needs to be asked is, “How is it that we can be lonely in a society of nearly 300 million people where we get together at malls, go to civic auditoriums and school functions but feel as though we are not connected to anyone but ourselves?”  Loneliness is a reality of human existence that we all must face at some time in our lives and even famous people have suffered from this terrible wilderness-like experience.  Albert Einstein, (I’m sure you‘ve heard the name) once said, “It is strange to be know so universally and yet to be so lonely.”  Wow! 

Loneliness will come around to us all at some time but how you deal with it will make all of the difference.  When God created man he made a statement that could get all of us on the right track when it comes to being alone.

 

“And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone…”. Genesis 2:18 (KJV)

 

We were not created to be a rock or an island.  We were made for interaction with other people.  Starting with God, family and then reaching out to others.

 

If you know someone who is lonely or withdrawn reach out to them.  I have written a study titled “Loneliness” that I would love to have you or them go through.  There is no need to be lonely, except that maybe you are running from something that the Lord would love to help you with.  Consider this quote from Eric Hoffer, “With some people solitariness is an escape not from others but from themselves.  For they see in the eyes of others only a reflection of themselves.”  HMMM.  A final thought:  When we look into the eyes of Jesus Christ we will see ourselves for what we are and see him and what he can do in us.

 

Thanks for taking the time to be a part of the newsletter family.  It is truly an honor to have you here.  Pass along this newsletter and encourage a friend to sign up!  We pray your Christmas Holiday season will be blessed.

 

Here is the weekly inspirational scripture. 

 

“Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.” 1 John 4:7 (KJV) 

 

 

Sincerely

 

Greg Wirths

 

Focus on Freedom

 

If you are receiving this newsletter as a forward you may sign up here or at the main site now for your free subscription!

 

A Fly Called Folly

 

 

 

“Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour.” Eccles. 10:1 (KJV) 

 

Have you ever found a little fly in your food?  To say the least it’s not the most pleasant experience.  If something as small as a fly can ruin your whole dinner experience, what about the little sins?  Can they ruin a marriage, friendship or even our eternity?  Read on!

 

 

The Fly Called Folly

 

There once was a fly named Folly

Everyone thought she was small

And therefore could nothing mighty

But through her much harm would befall.

 

Her size seemed so innocent and so was let in

To land and mix in the food

Yet little did they know that something so small

Could ruin such festivity and mood.

 

When she was discovered

much trouble she stirred, in the hearts of those at the ball

For Folly was not really so little

Her significance not really so small.

 

Sin like Folly will fool you

If size is all you perceive

For small transgressions, just like Folly

Have great power to deceive.

 

A story is told of a man who was visiting a farmer and saw him planting his field.  “What are you sowing he asked?”  “Wheat was the answer.”  “And what do you expect to reap from it?” he asked.  “Why wheat of course,” said the farmer.  The very same day some little thing provoked the farmer to go into a tirade of cursing and swearing.  The visitor asked “And what are you sowing now?”  “What!” he said, in a subdued and thoughtful tone, “Do you take such serious views of life as that, such serious views of every mood, word and action?”  [Here is his very powerful reply]  “Yes,” was the reply; “for every mood helps to form the permanent temper; and for every word we must give account; and every act but aids to form a habit; and habits are to the soul what veins and arteries are to the blood, the courses in which it moves, and will move forever.  By all these little things we are forming character, and that character will go with us to eternity, and according to it will be our destiny forever.”

 

Sometimes we overlook the obvious because of it’s perceived size.  A little sin like Folly the fly has much power to hurt and destroy.  On the other hand, when we identify and eliminate (through Gods’ power) the little sins which we commit, victory and joy will be the result.  The study titled “The Power of Small Things” goes further into the power of Folly that little fly and would be well worth your time to look at.  May God bless you and remember, “It’s not the big things that we miss which cause us hurt, it is the smallest and seemingly insignificant areas that cause of much grief and trouble.

 

Thanks for taking the time to be a part of the newsletter family.

Here is the weekly inspirational scripture. 

 

“Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: [7] Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” 1 Peter 5:6-7 (KJV) 

 

Sincerely

 

Greg Wirths

 

Focus on Freedom

 

If you are receiving this newsletter as a forward you may sign up here or at the main site now for your free subscription!