Do you have access to clean drinking water? More than a billion people in the world do not have clean drinking water. Almost 2 million people die every year because their water is unsafe. If our house catches on fire, the fire department will come. If we catch a serious illness, the emergency rooms will not turn us away. We do not live in fear of someone killing us because we are the wrong religion. Our children can go to school and learn how to read. Blind But Happy “O what a happy soul am I! Although I cannot see, I am resolved that in this world contented I will be; How many blessings I enjoy that other people don’t! To weep and sigh because I’m blind I cannot and I won’t.” (Helen Keller at 8 years of age) Helpful Scriptures Proverbs 30:8 Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Luke 12:15 Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” Identify & enjoy the things you do have, which is the secret of contentment. Philippians 4:4-6 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Change what you can, accept what you can’t change, and learn to recognize the difference. St Francis of Assisi penned The Serenity Prayer around 1200 AD. “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; Courage to change the things I can; And wisdom to know the difference. Acceptance, courage and wisdom”… How are you doing in these areas? Are you accepting of the things in your life that aren’t going to change, no matter what you do or how hard you try? Remember this… You can’t change your looks or your family… and you definitely can’t change other people! Seek out people and places that you can impact for the good. While seeking happiness for others we will consistently find it for ourselves.
Do you have access to clean drinking water? More than a billion people in the world do not have clean drinking water. Almost 2 million people die every year because their water is unsafe. If our house catches on fire, the fire department will come. If we catch a serious illness, the emergency rooms will not turn us away. We do not live in fear of someone killing us because we are the wrong religion. Our children can go to school and learn how to read. Blind But Happy “O what a happy soul am I! Although I cannot see, I am resolved that in this world contented I will be; How many blessings I enjoy that other people don’t! To weep and sigh because I’m blind I cannot and I won’t.” (Helen Keller at 8 years of age) Helpful Scriptures Proverbs 30:8 Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Luke 12:15 Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” Identify & enjoy the things you do have, which is the secret of contentment. Philippians 4:4-6 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Change what you can, accept what you can’t change, and learn to recognize the difference. St Francis of Assisi penned The Serenity Prayer around 1200 AD. “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; Courage to change the things I can; And wisdom to know the difference. Acceptance, courage and wisdom”… How are you doing in these areas? Are you accepting of the things in your life that aren’t going to change, no matter what you do or how hard you try? Remember this… You can’t change your looks or your family… and you definitely can’t change other people! Seek out people and places that you can impact for the good. While seeking happiness for others we will consistently find it for ourselves.
acceptance_with_joy.docx