Tag Archives: Holidays

Really needs to be rekindled in our hearts.

006bWith Christmas right around the corner and the economy still in an unstable state seems we worry more about the finances than the family. So what you may not be able to buy the newest game system, tablet or any other high dollar gift, it isn’t about the cost of the gift nor is it important to try to keep up with the neighbors. When I was growing up there was no worrying about if I got a gift just like the neighbor kids, we were just happy to get something and to be with family. Nowadays seems Christmas gifts have to be several hundred dollars or even thousands at times, the spirit of Christmas is more about the presents for the kids today than God, Jesus or even the family. I feel we all have lost focus on the reason for the season. I don’t blame the parents, they just want their children to have the best and all the things we didn’t have as children. The cost of presents means little, it is the focus on the family and the celebration of the birth of our savior that really needs to be rekindled in our hearts.

Well hope all of you have a happy holiday season, Merry Christmas and even a happy new year.

God Bless

Ray Barbier

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Filed under family, Friends, Holidays, Random Thoughts, Spiritual, Thought of the day, Writings

New year, New Way?

p10174 With New Years upon us it is once again to make new years resolutions. We all could make those unrealistic promises to ourselves that we know deep in our hearts we will not even try to fulfill or even set goals that we will strive for that are impossible to reach. The sad part of resolutions such as those is that when we fail to complete or uphold them we have the sense of failure which isn’t a good thing to start the year off with. Best to either set simple and achievable goals for your new years resolutions or ones that will not bring certain failure. We all want to make a resolution that will either improve our selves or the lives of others so to start the year off with a positive note. Most change is enacted through a series of steps not one giant leap, so remember to make a resolution that can be planed out as a day by day plan. To arrive at any destination one must take the first step and be willing to follow through with every step afterwards till they reach the end. There is no shortcuts to self-improvement or change. The fist step forward usually consists of forgiving yourself of the mistakes of the past as well as the mistakes of others. If you can not leave the past in its own time then you will find it very hard to move forward if even exist in the present. Learn from your past mistakes and don’t live in their shadows for they will block the light that you deserve to live in. Start your new year off with a clean slate for both yourself and others, for each day we wake is another chance to do what is right and live in the light of our creator. For his son died on the cross and through his blood we are washed clean of our past sins so we can live free as well as seek to become more Christ like in our every day life. To feel remorse for your sins is what you do before you pray to be forgiven and not what you do after the sin is washed away. To carry the shame and pain of a past sin is to hold on to the sin itself, if you believe in the mercy of our lord then the sin is no longer yours to carry. So leave your sins of the past in the past and leave the path ahead in the hands of the lord. Forgive, be forgiven and move forward knowing that you do not walk alone in this world. One of the greatest new years resolution one can have is to surrender to the will of the Father and follow the teachings of his only begotten son. Learn to be tolerant of the beliefs of others for they have the right to choose the path they walk in life as well as the religion they practice. Just learn to love all of your brothers and sisters on this great planet earth we have been blessed to live on and cherish its beauty. No matter what resolution you make on this new year I pray that you find peace and prosperity in this new year of 2012. May our politicians wake up to see the mess that our house is in and let them find the wisdom to put aside their differences to do what is best for both our planet and our species.

 

May God bless Mankind and guide us in this new year.

Raymond Barbier

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Filed under Holidays, Personal, Political, Random Thoughts, Religion, Spiritual, Writings

Thoughts for a Happy New Year

2008 Taipei City New Year Countdown Party: The...

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With the new year just around the corner it is time to look back on the years past.

Look back on the things that were temporary and those that were meant to last.

Remember both the good and bad that had crossed your path though the year.

Reflect upon all the lessons learned and be positive while overcoming you fear.

Put the past behind you and look forward to what is yet to come your way.

Live for the moment and seize the moment while living fully for today.

Forgive and forget so you can move on into the future burden free.

Be yourself and embrace the full potential of who you are meant to be.

I wish everyone a Happy and Prosperous New year

Raymond Barbier

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Happy Holidays

A Danish Christmas tree illuminated with burni...

Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas and To all a Wonderful New Year

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Black Friday marks the beginning

Sgt. Joshua Seil unloads gifts at the North Da...

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The Christmas Shopping Season is Officially Begun, Black Friday marks the beginning of the mass rush of consumers trying to get the best deals on products as gifts for Christmas. Giving gifts has been a part of Christmas for many of generations but it was meant to be just a part of Christmas not the main theme. The true meaning behind Christmas is the celebrating  the birth of the messiah, the lord Jesus Christ. The day is meant to be an expression of our joy for his coming and the grace he brought to us through his life and sacrifice.

The meaning is still there just it has become more of a side show than the main attraction it should be. Give gifts in Joy and in thanks for our savior for without his grace we would all fall short of the glory of god.

Hope all of you have a wonderful Holiday season

R. Barbier

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Blessings, Curses and Thanksgiving

The First Thanksgiving, painted by Jean Leon G...

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  With Thanksgiving coming up, I thought I should write about thankfulness. To be thankful for all that you have is to realize that you are blessed even if your life is a mess. Look at me for example, I am 800 miles away from family and friends in several directions and lead a pretty dull life. Yet I am thankful for the family that I still have and for having the friends I do even though they are so far away. Age is catching up to me and my health isn’t as good as I would like I am still generally healthy and thankfully I have awoke to see another day.

  Too many of us focus on what is bad or causes us ill in our life way too much and rarely look at the blessings that are in our life. No matter how big or small a blessing may seem they all are equally important and should be equally cherished. Life is way to short not to focus on the blessings we have and defiantly too short to ponder on our curses.

  So on this Thanksgiving take a good look at all the things that are blessings in your life and give thanks for them.

Hope you all have a Happy Thanksgiving

R. Barbier

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