We Are Wise Thinkers

By J.E. Nickerson It is easy to get stick in the regret of the past. Sometimes it is hard to move on when we have made mistakes or suffered losses. But God gives us the ability to forgive ourselves and move forward.  Pastor and teacher Paul of Tarsus, wrote in the book of Philippians, that he had not achieved all of his goals. But he had made up his mind with God’s help, to let go of the past and reach on for the future. His exact words were “ This  one thing  I do , forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before.” Let God give you the ability to let go of the past and reach towards the future, setting your mind on positive things and goals God has equipped you to achieve.

  By J.E. Nickerson Have you ever chased after someone’s approval, only to be disappointed by their lack of interest in your life? Many people look to friends, colleagues or family for a sense of self justification or worth and value. This can be a self esteem trap and cause us endless heartache and sadness.  While we should set high standards of excellence for ourselves, when we allow our personal value and self worth to be based on other people’s opinions of us, we are setting ourselves up for eventual heartache. That is because people’s opinions vary and change unpredictably. The person we are hoping to win the approval of, may never fully care about us in the way we want them to. I have often heard the expression that if you live for the approval of other people, you will die from the pain of their rejection.  Because people can be capricious, their opinions and approval of our lives, is not a safe or stable foundation to build our self esteem on.  Instead, we must turn to God who

  Learning to rest is a challenge sometimes. Many people have busy schedules and a list of commitments that can leave them feeling drained and exhausted by the end of the day or week. But Jesus told us that he gave us peace that transcends our understanding. It is not peace that comes from completing our to do lists.  When addressing the business of life, Jesus invited people who were stressed out, burdened with life’s cares and who were overworked from their daily lives to come to him and find rest. He invited them to rest in God’s provision and mercy. King David also spoke of resting in God when he said God’s mercy is new every morning.  Open your life up to God and let him give you peace and rest today. Ask him how you can calm your mind and unburden yourself from the stress of life.

 

  By J.E. Nickerson We all want to know what direction we are going in life. But sometimes the path ahead is unclear. Because we don’t know what the future holds, we must rely on faith in God to lead us. God’s promise to us is that even though we might not know what will happen in the future, his goodness and mercy is always with us.  David said surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life. These words were written at a point in his life, when he was being hunted by people who wanted to hurt and kill him. Throughout his life, David was attacked by people who should have supported him. His brothers, the King of Israel and later David’s own son, Absalom, tried to to attack and demean David. But through all these difficulties, God’s goodness and mercy never left David. God sustained and took care of David thoughout his life. Later in his life, David praised God for his faithfulness in the following Psalm. “I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righ

  Trust what God has told you through the Bible. He does not lie or change his mind.