Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Each dawn brings a new day and it is one that has never been lived before.
It comes tiptoeing through my window with spectacular splendor. Pink streaks with rays of sunshine are painted with indescribable beauty. The mockingbird's overture begins as he cheerfully bows before nature's audience. Even the trees clap their hands while welcoming a new day.
This new day comes as a present wrapped in God's love. It's a precious gift for happy living. Life is an exciting adventure. It can be lived with gratefulness or it can be lived with murmuring and complaining. Our attitude makes the difference. Even with the hard times we can still find the good and something to be thankful for.
Isaiah 55:12 tells us how to welcome a new day: "For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands." (KJV).
The instant we open our eyes each morning we have a choice. Proverbs 17:22 gives the right decision: "A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones." (KJV).
No matter what has happened in the past or what happens in the future we can make up our minds to see the best in any situation because "The righteous will live by faith." (Romans 1:17, NIV).
Giving God control of one's life enables the believer to make good choices. God's promises give the power to change a life. One can place confidence in him, knowing through right choices sins are forgiven and lives are empowered to live by his teachings.
Making good choices in this journey of life has many benefits. Trials become triumphs, problems have solutions, questions have answers, gain dispels pain, depression flees, optimism reigns, peace pervades, blessings pursue, fear retreats, faith advances, restoration occurs and joy prevails.
The apostle Paul made a decision to be happy each day: "I am not telling you this because I need anything. I have learned to be satisfied with the things I have and with everything that happens. I know how to live when I am poor, and I know how to live when I have plenty. I have learned the secret of being happy at any time in everything that happens, when I have enough to eat and when I go hungry, when I have more than I need and when I do not have enough. I can do all things through Christ, because he gives me strength." (Philippians 4:11-13, NCV).
Time is fleeting. Today is the time to live, love, laugh and be happy or "He has made everything beautiful is its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of man; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end." (Ecclesiastes 3:11, NIV)
So let's be happy today, tomorrow and everyday. You will have a lot of happy days and a lot of happy memories.
Make good choices in this journey of life.
Portales resident Joan Clayton is a retired teacher and published author. Her e-mail address is:
