Beware of the Echo

A canyon wall is not always necessary to hear an echo. Shouting across a valley is one way to cause them but echoes can come in many forms. If we consider that an echo is more than sound returning to its source we will come to understand echoes are a part of everyday life.

Echoes can be an expression felt. A feeling believed. We can hear someone say "I love you" but until we feel that "I love you" will we return it? When someone smiles at us as we approach them most times we smile back and without much thought. Good or bad, feelings can be infectious. Happy friend can make us happy and when a friend is sad we feel sad too. Our feelings are echoed to others and from others.

Echoes can be a statement repeated. Messages are put out in the world everyday and everyday they are repeated by those that hear them. Rumors can be compared to an echo simply because they both have a way of being distorted as these assertions travel around. But echoing statement can be very beneficial too in the form of spreading good news. The messages we are sharing are echoed to others and from others.

Echoes can be reflections of thought. To succeed we must first believe we can. This is why the reflection exercise is so powerful. Looking in the mirror and telling oneself "I can do this" power packs us with determination. If we think positive are experiences are more positive. The opposite is true as well. Negative thinking will grey the world around us. Causing the world to appear more on the negative side. The thoughts within one's own mind are echoed to others and from others.

Echoes can also be the voices we choose to listen to. The voice of our heart, our gut, our past and our conscience. All of these "parts" are used by good and evil to talk to us. To persuade us in one direction or another. Our quality of life is effected greatly by where we turn up or down the volume on this never ending battle. The voices we allow to talk to us are echoed to well ourselves.

Beware of the echoes of the world and the echoes within us all. Listen and use them wisely, ignore and detour when necessary.

Prayer for the week: O Harmonious God, who is in perfect Unity, love us infinitely. We thank You for all the help You have given us in living our lives in balance, those people You have put in our lives who helps us maintain our balance, and for being with us in our work, relaxation, and prayer. We ask you to show us the proper balance in our lives and in each area of our lives, to keep us from overdoing anything, and properly care of ourselves and those for whom we are responsible. We also ask you to help those around us live in a healthy balance as well. We pray this in Jesus’ name. ~Amen

.♥.✿•❥☆.ƸӜƷ¸.☆.♥.✿´❤~Sara

A Few Minutes in the Word of God with Pastor Paul

Welcome to a brand new week never lived in before and in which folk like us have an opportunity to come together around the Word of God. Here in, centering our lives on the teachings of Christ, is found commitment, involvement, common interest, availability, friendship, and caring. You are most welcome here in our time together! Blessings—Pastor Paul

Our Focus:
In our lifetime we will hear many voices, all of them competing for our attention and our allegiance. Some of those will support what we know and believe, and others merely seem to confirm what we hear and think. Many of those voices may well be in dispute, contradiction, or even conflict with others. Some will sound at the time reasonable and credible. Some will echo our sympathies or resonate with our own impulses and desires of the moment. But listen carefully for the voice that points us in God’s ways, and directs us to hear and obey His Word.
One of the challenges in life is giving priority to knowing and choosing the voice/source that we will steadfastly believe. Someone has written, “We do not choose what we believe; we choose whom we believe, and that ultimately determines what we will believe.” Hear the disciples’ response to Christ when the crowds began to turn away, “To whom shall we go, for You alone have the words of eternal life” (John 6:66). That is just as true today!

Choose to believe those that we have learned we can trust, and with whom we have a record that merits our trust, and have an ongoing relationship of mutuality and respect. Usually, that describes the people who have faithfully invested in our lives, and who open their hearts to us. So often folk are found so easily and often unwisely willing to follow the latest - or loudest – voice, without regard for its contradiction to everything they have previously found to be true.

Anything or anyone that does not agree with what we have known to be true from God’s Word, as is witnessed in our hearts, we are not to give our souls to. If we, or an angel from Heaven . . . if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed” (Galatians 1:8-9). First and foremost, above and before all others, give utmost priority to God’s Word that is unchanging and unfailing. Though everyone else in the world is a liar, God is true! As the Scriptures say, “He will be proved right in what He says, and He will win His case in court” (Romans 3:4 NLT).

Can we honestly pray with the Psalmist, “Divert my eyes from toys and trinkets, invigorate me on the pilgrim way” (Psalm 119:37 The Message). Choose the priority of esteeming His Word more than our necessary food (Job 23:12).

For those interested in receiving Pastor Paul's messages, please e-mail Pastor Paul (pastorpaul@willmarag.org) and mention you would like to be included.