" LONELINESS "

Good Day To You, this week we will be looking into " Loneliness. " Nobody wants to be alone,nor should we ever experience loneliness. Loneliness is everywhere - many people feel cut off and alienated from others. Being in a crowd just makes people more aware of their isolation. Now we all need friends who will stick close no matter what, who will listen, care, and offer help when it is needed - in good times and bad. I'm very blessed in this area and you know who you are, thanks for always being available. It is better to have one such friend than dozens of what I call superficial acquaintances. Instead of wishing you could find a true friend, seek to become one. There are people who need your friendship. Ask God to reveal them to you, and then take on the challenge of being a true friend. Loneliness makes us feel sorry for ourselves. When you are tempted to think that you are the only one remaining faithful to a task don't stop to feel sorry for yourself. You see self-pity will dilute the good you are doing. Be assured that even if you don't know who they are, others are faithfully obeying God and fulfilling their duties. Jesus used Parables to explain that although Christianity had very small beginnings, it would grow into a worldwide community of believers. When you feel alone in your stand for Christ, realize that the Father is building a worldwide kingdom. He has faithful followers in every part of the world, and your faith no matter how small, can join with that of others to accomplish great things. Do life's problems always seem to go from bad to worse? God is the only one who can reverse this downward spiral. He can take our problems and turn them into glorious victories. But there is one very necessary requirement - we, like David, must cry out, " Turn to me and be gracious to me." When you are willing to do that, God can turn the worst into something wonderful. The next step is yours - God has already made his offer. Until next Time... Jim,