At the beach.

What encourages me? What refocuses me? (Giving thanks!)

That are two very important questions. Have you ever asked these questions?

I am learning that GRATITUDE, giving thanks, is most effective, especially on bad days.

I remember one person who really taught me to be thankful. You did the smallest thing for her and she thanked you for it. What an example she was.

The Bible has a lot to say about thanksgiving.

In Psalm 7:17 the Psalmist says, “I will give thanks to the LORD because of his righteousness …”

In Philippians 4:6 we read, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, …”

There is great power in giving thanks. Gratitude lifts our mood. Gratitude transforms our perspective. The Bible says in First Thessalonians 5:18, “Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

TARGET: What are we aiming at?

An article in our local paper encouraged me again to think about goals and strategies and more.

TARGETS 2018

A. SET YOUR GOALS / TARGETS FOR WHAT YOU WANT TO ACHIEVE IN 2018.

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GOALS 2018

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a.

b.

c.

d.

e.

B. DEVISE STRATEGIES TO ACHIEVE THE GOALS.

a.

b.

c.

C. MONITOR YOUR PROGRESS AGAINST YOUR GOALS MONTHLY.

D. BE PREPARED TO CHANGE / ADAPT IF SOME STRATEGIES ARE NOT WORKING.

Now I am asking myself, “Is all this only for people who are running a business or also for Churches?” I certainly believe that it is for me personally.

CONNECTIONS

“Connection lost,” is the message on the computer screen I am looking at.

Of course, it is discouraging, but I am not all that discouraged, because another connection comes to my mind.

I am also remembering a poem in German from long ago. Not that I remember much about the poem, but I remember that one line said translated, “courage lost, everything lost.” (“Mut verloren, alles verloren.”) If you read this and know the poem, please let me know!

The other connection that comes to my mind is my connection with the Lord Jesus Christ, and I say all is lost when we lose our connection with the Lord Jesus Christ; not that that will ever happen, because the Bible says, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1)