I recently heard a saying that really touched my heart: “The very best we can give each other is love.” In my devotional book, “A Celebration of the Simple Life,” I mention that people who seek the good of others have an attitude that pleases God. God’s Word commands us to love one another and to love Him with our heart, soul, and mind. Can you imagine how different our world would be if everyone loved God and their fellow humans?

Some time ago I wrote a poem about love that I call, “Loving Attitude.” The first verse goes like this:
Let no bad thoughts toward anyone stay in your mind.
Observe the Golden Rule and to others be kind.
Vow to treat those you meet as you want them to treat you.
Emphasize a caring attitude in all that you do.

Is there something special you can do for someone you love today? What are some ways you can show love to others?

Have you ever tried to do so many things at once that you got confused about what you were doing? The Amish have a word for confusion or becoming mixed-up. It’s called: “Verhuddelt.”

In the hustle and bustle of our everyday lives we can get confused if we try to do too much or tackle too many things at one time. I have always been a multi-tasker, but there are times when I mess things up because I’m trying to do too much at one time.

If I don’t put my trust fully in God, pray, and read His Word every day, I can become verhuddelt about spiritual things, too. Yet, whenever I’m confused or make mistakes, I have the assurance that God is always there, and I’m thankful that I can call on Him anytime, day or night, even for the simplest things. If I trust my own judgment, rather than seeking His, I’m likely to become verhuddelt and make poor choices.

God has the answers to all my confusion. In I Corinthians 14:33, I’m reminded that, “God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.”

Are you feeling verhuddelt about anything today? If so, then allow yourself to relax, say a prayer, and let God take control. That’s just what I plan to do.

I’ve never been one to actually make a New Year’s resolution, but there’s something about beginning a new year that compels me to make some changes. Usually these changes come in the form of organization. I don’t like clutter, and when my office, or any room in our house, becomes cluttered, I find it difficult to find things, which becomes frustrating. It’s easier for me to be organized than to spend time looking for things I’ve either misplaced, or that may have become buried under a pile of papers.

One thing I often think about when the new year rolls around is my spiritual life. Do my actions, and not just my words, reflect Jesus Christ? Will others see Him living in me?

Have you made any New Year’s resolutions? If so, how will they change your life in the coming year?