Matthew 5:14-16—"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

Dare to shine in 2009…

…in your personal life by:

• Working out your salvation.


• Shining out with the light of salvation.


• Shouting out the witness of your salvation.

…in your home life by:

• Confirming your love for God.


• Clarifying ownership.


• Committing to raising your children God’s way.


• Claiming God’s plan and promises for your child’s life.

…in your work life by:

• See your work as a service to God.


• Serve God where you work.


• Remember we are all ministers.

…in your church by:

• Being self-forgetful.


• Think like stewards, not owners.


• Think about your responsibilities, not others’.


• Base your identity in Christ.


• Think of ministry as an opportunity, not an obligation.

Four Steps For Getting Out Of The Rut And Shine In 2009!

It's easy to get stuck in a rut—same place, same thing, same responsibility. However, settling into a rut is dangerous. As Will Rogers used to say, "Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there!"

What does it take to get you moving? There are three common motivators:

PAIN: Often it's not “seeing the light” that gets us going, but “feeling the heat.” You delay the dentist appointment until the pain is unbearable.

PRESSURE: When the doctor says "Lose 50 pounds or die," or the boss says, "Improve performance or be fired," that pressure will motivate you to make a change. The problem with pressure as a motivator is that it doesn't last. When the pressure subsides, so does your motivation. There is a better motivator.

PERSPECTIVE: When you see the big picture, or when you're inspired by a challenging vision or purpose, you've found the best motivator of all – perspective. You realize that you’re wasting your potential.

The Bible says, "If you wait for perfect conditions, you'll never get anything done.” (Ecclesiastes 11:4, LB)

Four ways to break out of that tiresome rut

1. ASSUME responsibility for your own life. Refuse to be either an excuser (rationalize failure) or an accuser (blame others). Instead, be a chooser, and choose to break out of the rut you're in.

2. BELIEVE you can change! Stop saying "I can't" and start saying "I can."

3. CLARIFY what you really want. Write down specifically how you'd like to change.

4. DON'T WAIT for ideal circumstances. Stop saying, "When things settle down ....” Do it now! "One of these days" is really none of these days.

PRAY THIS: "God help me to do something differently this year and to do it better. Give me your strength to change."

Let's Shine Together,

Phil