January 1, 2016

January 1, 2016

Zig Ziglar once said; “You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great.”

This New Year has come into existence quietly. It may be winter on the calendar but it feels like early summer when you walk outside. Flooding all across the United States and wild fires burning out of control in California are a concern to us all. I pray for everyone who has lost a home or loved one during this tough time. I want everyone who reads this to understand that if you made it to see the beginning of 2016 that it was for a purpose. The “Most High” is letting you know he isn’t done with you yet. He is letting you know that you must be better than in 2015.

I know I said something similar to this earlier but I was compelled to add just a little more insight into my second official message of 2016. I want to accomplish a lot of things in this New Year. I don’t make resolutions and I never will but what I like to do is make declarations to myself and myself only. I’m not being selfish, I just don’t want to make a bunch of promises to my family and friends then let them down when and if I don’t come through. If I hurt me it’s one thing, I don’t like hurting the ones I love and care for the most.

Anyway, let us move forward this year with the goal of being a better YOU! Let’s move forward and leave the painful memories of 2015 behind if you had any. Get excited about this new year because it’s exactly that; a new year. Set some new goals for yourself, take a trip someplace new, don’t just call an old friend you haven’t talk to in a while, go and see them. Get in better physical and mental shape because it will help you see a lot more new years, trust me on that one. That’s one of my declarations and not resolutions that I’ve made for myself; physical and mental health improvement.

Do something different that you’ve never done before and stop being afraid of failure. So many people out here fail to try something new because they make up their minds they’re going to fail before they even try. I use to be guilty of that but not anymore. 2016 will be the year of change and abundant growth both spiritually, financially and in my health. I want to eventually get off all of the medication that I’m currently taking and be totally drug free as I was as a younger man (I truly miss those days, let me tell you!). Well, let me close by saying go beyond your comfort zone in 2016. Let it all hang out while you’re doing it and have some fun. But most importantly, bring it to God first and ask him to bless it before you begin your journey. He will take control of the situation along with taking you by the hand as you walk with him to the finish line. I’ll leave you with one of my favorite poems of all time; Footprints in the Sand.

Footprints in the Sand

One night a man had a dream. He dreamed he was walking along the beach with the Lord. Across the sky flashed scenes from his life. For each scene, he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand: one belonging to him, and the other to the Lord. When the last scene of his life flashed before him, he looked back at the footprints in the sand. He noticed that many times along the path of his life there was only one set of footprints.

He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times in his life. This really bothered him and he questioned the Lord about it.

"Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you, you’d walk with me all the way. But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life, there is only one set of footprints. I don't understand why, when I needed you most, you would leave me."The Lord replied, "My son, my precious child, I love you and I would never leave you. During your times of trial and suffering, when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I Carried You."

Everyone, let the Lord carry you during the entire year of 2016

Blessing to you all,

Mark,