In 1865, William and Catherine Booth started what would become known as the Salvation Army. They fed the poor and opened lodging houses to shelter the homeless from London’s bitter winters. As their work expanded, William began the practice of sending a telegram of encouragement each Christmas Eve to his “soldiers” around the world. In what would be his last telegram, he realized that because of the cost, his message would have to be brief. He decided to send only one word: “OTHERS.” This Christmas season, allow Christ to dwell in you and live through you—and have a merry, OTHERS-minded Christmas!
God is FOR you! He gave you the gift of eternal life so you would have peace of mind about your future. He gave you His promises for every area of your life so you would know His best for you. God is not hard, He is benevolent!
If a branch of a tree is abiding in the life of that tree, that means its connection to that tree is stable and fixed. When we are truly abiding in Christ then our connection should be stable and fixed, so like a healthy branch, we will grow, strengthen, and produce fruit!
The highest method of learning, and the least expensive, is to learn from others. The lowest method is personal experience. It will always cost you time and opportunity. One industrialist said, “It’s a shame that people learn from their own mistakes rather than from others. By the time they learn the lessons to be productive, it’s time to retire.”
Poverty is not fate for the unlucky. Poverty is not a destiny to train you in godliness. Poverty is addressed by Jesus and has been broken off your life forever by His work on the cross!
Regardless of where you find yourself today, Jesus said, “I will never leave you and never forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5). You can come to Him — or return to Him — right now! He is waiting for you with arms wide-open!
What do you have that makes you rich? You have been given righteousness, which gives you a new self-image. You have been given authority, which is the right to exercise power over all sicknesses, all bondages and all demons!
As human beings we possess something very different than the rest of creation. We possess the ability to forgive. No matter what the world says, you do NOT have to remain a prisoner of hatred, fear and anger.
The choice is ours. If we won’t see and embrace the truth of how God sees us and thinks about us, we’ll be doomed to a life of perceiving ourselves as helpless, weak, and subject to circumstances. That’s called prison, and it’s NOT how God created us to live!
You are not what you appear to be as you go about your day. Never forget that you are empowered by the living God, and that same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead lives within you!
