February 2008 Newsletter


“The Big Blessing”

By: Craig Rippy

Too often, we use the past to dictate our Future. Oh, the past has valuable Lessons for future decisions. We learn From the situations we've encountered and even the Mistakes we've made. Yet, we seem to be in a time Loop and make the same mistakes without learning To move forward to healthier times.

Would you like to move from financial ruin, or A horrible past relationship into a new position in life Without dragging along the old horse of hurt, anger, And continued complications? I believe that is Possible.

In reality, any issue may have long term Effects, but moving through the complications wisely Can cause you to have hope and with that, peace. As Time goes by and with consistent, wise decision Making, the complications will become less and far More manageable.

O.K., I suppose I should let you in on the Secret. It's really no secret at all. God has been Counseling mankind since the dawn of man's Existence, so we would not have to endure the Harmful complications and poor future decisions.

God told Adam, "DON'T EAT!" and he ate. He Told Cain, "DON'T GET ALL BOTHERED!" and he Fumed anyway. Yes, the Bible has the exact words, But for our purposes I'll use these terms.

The answer to a simpler life, even when Things are complicated presently is to allow God to Direct your path. Proverbs 4:18, "The path of the Righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever Brighter till the full light of day" (NIV). As a person Is determined to be right with God, spiritually the Dawn of light enters the situation they are dealing With. This gives hope for a brighter future.

Whatever situation you have been in, and in Whatever capacity you've been involved, you can Have the ray of hope that gives increasing Brightness, as you move from a past situation into The future by HIS direction.

What does it take? It takes full faith. To Move from where you are to a brighter position takes Complete trust in God. God can see through the Pain, gloom, emotion, depression, and seemingly Hopeless condition with perfect clarity. You, on the Other hand, were not created to do that. You were Created to follow God's direction.

The reason we get in much of our dilemmas Is due to our stepping out of our skill zone. You aren't skilled to know the future, except that God is There to direct you through it. It really is that simple. The hard part is, trusting that God will bring you into The "full light of day," to hope and peace.

What next? Take a deep breath and trust God from here on out. Put on the instructed Attitudes and behave in the counseled manner. Follow the Shepherd's lead. Wow! What God has for You is going to be a BIG BLESSING.