Sunday—I went to Saint Luke Catholic Church in Irving, Texas, for the 11 AM English Mass. There was a Church Service here at WFV.
Monday – Doctor’s Appointments… American Rewind, where we view life in the 40s and 50s. The gas station had attendants that washed your windshield, checked your oil, and pumped your gas. Dumb waiters to move things from floor to floor. Ice boxes that required a big block of ice to do the cooling and more.
Tuesday – Errands at 9 AM and 1 PM. There was a 1 PM Church Service.
The Elm Fork River Band came and performed for over an hour with bluegrass, gospel, and some popular oldies. There was a Book Club Meeting and the Sunshine Committee met. The day ended with the Hillsdale College Class 11.
Wednesday – Doctor’s Appointments. Bible Study. Downtown Lunch Outing. The Classilunch Outing,church service, Saint Luke Catholic Church,cal Classical. Craft Class. Bingo. Church Service.
Thursday – Weight Loss Discussion. Mini Mall. Scam Prevention by an Irving Detective. Birthday Social. Resident Council Meeting, where we welcomed the new officers for the next year and thanked the outgoing officers for their service.
Friday – Drum Class. Coke Floats. Monthly Planning Meeting for the September Newsletter. Trivia Hour and Movie Night.
Saturday – End of the Week Quiz and the posting of the week to Come Newsletter on the Appartments.
On Thursday, August 27th, will be Hawaiian Day with Hawaiian events all day, ending with the WFV Dance with live music and continuing the Hawaiian theme.
Combine all the above, our personal projects, and three meals every day, and you can see it was another great week at West Fork Village in Irving, Texas. A Place Where Seniors Thrive.
To learn more about WFV, for you or a loved one, call 972 721 1500.
Thank you for reading this blog. Please share with others.
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“Keep your eyes fixed on Heaven, and earth will be thrown in. Keep your eyes fixed on earth and you will get nothing.” — C. S. Lewis
There is a profound truth in these words attributed to C. S. Lewis. They remind us that where we focus our eyes, our hearts tend to follow.
We live in a world filled with distractions. We worry about money, politics, health, possessions, relationships, the news, and what tomorrow may bring. None of these things are necessarily bad. But when they become the center of our lives, they can cause us to forget what matters most.
This world is temporary. Heaven is eternal.
What Are Your Eyes Fixed On?
Imagine walking down a path while constantly looking behind you. You would stumble over things you could easily have avoided.
Life can be like that.
If we spend all our time looking at the problems of this world, our problems can become larger than they really are. Fear can replace faith. Anxiety can replace peace. Discouragement can replace hope.
But when we lift our eyes toward God, something changes.
We begin to see our problems from an eternal perspective.
The bills may still be there. The difficult person may still be difficult. The news may still be troubling. Our circumstances may not immediately change.
But we change.
We remember that God is bigger than our problems.
“Set Your Mind on Things Above”
St. Paul gives us a similar message:
“Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” — Colossians 3:2
This doesn’t mean that Christians should ignore earthly responsibilities.
Quite the opposite.
We have families to love, bills to pay, work to accomplish, neighbors to help, communities to serve, and people who need our kindness.
But we should do these things with Heaven in our hearts.
When Heaven becomes our destination, earth becomes our assignment—not our final home.
Earth Is a Gift, Not the Destination
God has given us this life as a tremendous gift.
We should enjoy the beauty around us. We should appreciate family and friends. We should laugh, work, serve, celebrate and give thanks.
But we should never confuse the gift with the Giver.
Everything we have ultimately comes from God.
Our homes, possessions, talents, opportunities, relationships and even our next breath are gifts.
And one day, we will leave all of those earthly things behind.
We cannot take our bank accounts with us.
We cannot take our houses.
We cannot take our cars.
We cannot take our accomplishments.
But we can take love.
We can take the good we have done for others in God’s name.
We can take the faith we have cultivated.
And, by God’s grace, we can take our souls home to Him.
When Heaven Is Our Focus, Earth Falls Into Perspective
Think about how different life looks when we remember that it is temporary.
Someone insults us.
Is it worth carrying resentment for years?
Someone hurts us.
Can we forgive them and place the matter in God’s hands?
We lose something we treasured.
Can we say, “Lord, thank You for the time I had it”?
We face an uncertain future.
Can we say, “God, I don’t know what tomorrow holds, but I know You hold tomorrow”?
That is the freedom that comes from keeping our eyes fixed on Heaven.
Don’t Let the World Steal Your Peace
The world constantly tells us:
“You need more.”
God tells us:
“Trust Me.”
The world says:
“Be afraid.”
God says:
“Do not be afraid.”
The world says:
“Look at what you don’t have.”
God says:
“Look at what I have already given you.”
The world says:
“Protect yourself at all costs.”
Christ teaches us to love, forgive, serve, and give.
The difference is enormous.
Heaven Changes How We Live Today
Keeping our eyes on Heaven doesn’t make us less useful on earth.
It makes us more useful.
If I know this life is temporary, I have a greater reason to make every day count.
I can encourage someone who is lonely.
I can forgive someone who has hurt me.
I can pray for someone who has wronged me.
I can feed someone who is hungry.
I can listen to someone who needs to talk.
I can share my faith.
I can thank God for another day.
I can use whatever blessings God has placed in my hands for His glory and for the good of others.
That is what living with our eyes on Heaven looks like.
A Simple Daily Practice
Perhaps we can begin each morning with a simple prayer:
“Lord, help me keep my eyes on You today.
Help me remember that this world is temporary and Heaven is eternal.
Help me use everything. You have given me for Your glory.
Help me forgive those who have hurt me.
Help me love those who are difficult to love.
Help me not become consumed by the problems of this world.
And when I become worried, remind me to look up.
My hope is not in this world. My hope is in You. Amen.”
Look Up
We don’t know how many days God has given us.
That is why today matters.
Don’t waste today worrying about yesterday.
Don’t spend today being consumed by tomorrow.
And don’t allow the temporary things of earth to make you forget the eternal things of Heaven.
Look up.
Fix your eyes on Christ.
Trust God with the things you cannot control.
Use today to love, forgive, serve, and give thanks.
Because when our eyes are fixed on Heaven, we can live on earth with greater peace, greater purpose, and greater hope.
Heaven is real. Eternity is coming.
So let us keep our eyes fixed on Heaven—and trust God to take care of the rest.
Thank you for reading this blog. Please share with others.
Rick Herring thmjmj@gmail.com
P.S. To check out The Good News Newsletter and all you get with it for FREE, click here.
Forgiveness is at the very center of Christianity. Jesus did not simply tell us to forgive the people we love—He challenged us to pray for those who hurt us, including those who may have deeply wronged us. “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44) is not an easy command, but it is one of the most powerful ways we can follow Christ.
Forgiveness Does Not Mean Forgetting
When someone hurts us, forgiveness does not mean pretending that nothing happened. It does not mean that what they did was acceptable. It does not mean you must invite them back into your life, go out for coffee with them, or remove every healthy boundary.
Forgiveness means releasing the desire for revenge and placing the situation in God’s hands.
You can forgive someone and still remember the lesson. You can forgive someone and maintain appropriate boundaries. You can forgive someone without continuing a relationship that is unhealthy.
Forgiveness is for your heart and soul—not an excuse for someone else’s behavior.
Pray for Those Who Have Hurt You.
One of the most difficult parts of forgiveness is praying for the person who hurt you.
When anger rises, try a simple prayer:
“Lord, I forgive this person. Please bless them, guide them, and bring them closer to You. Heal my heart and theirs, and help me leave this hurt in Your hands.”
You may not feel forgiving when you first say those words. That’s okay. Forgiveness is sometimes a decision we make before our feelings catch up.
Pray anyway.
Remember How Much God Has Forgiven Us
Think about your own mistakes, failures, and weaknesses. Every one of us has needed God’s mercy.
The amazing truth of Christianity is that God’s forgiveness is not something we earn by being perfect. Through Jesus Christ, God offers us mercy, reconciliation, and a new beginning.
From the Cross, Jesus gave us one of the greatest examples of forgiveness the world has ever known:
“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” — Luke 23:34
If Jesus could pray for forgiveness for those who were crucifying Him, surely we can ask Him to help us forgive the people who have hurt us.
Forgiveness Sets the Heart Free
Holding onto anger can keep us tied to the person who hurt us. Forgiveness begins to break that chain.
When we forgive, we are not saying, “What happened doesn’t matter.”
We are saying:
“What happened mattered—but I will not allow it to control the rest of my life.”
We give the pain to God. We stop seeking revenge. We ask God to heal the wounds that we cannot heal by ourselves.
And sometimes, forgiveness is not a single moment. Sometimes it is a decision we have to make again and again.
Share the Forgiveness We Have Received
God has shown us tremendous mercy. As Christians, we are called to share that mercy with others.
That doesn’t mean forgiveness will always be easy. It doesn’t mean there won’t be tears. It doesn’t mean trust will automatically return.
It means that, with God’s help, we choose mercy over hatred, prayer over revenge, and peace over bitterness.
Be the face of Christ to someone who needs forgiveness.
Pray. Forgive. Let go. And let God heal your heart.
As Saint Paul reminds us:
“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, and forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” — Ephesians 4:32
A Prayer for Forgiveness
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for forgiving me when I fail You. Help me remember how much mercy You have shown me.
Give me the grace to forgive those who have hurt me. Help me pray for them rather than wishing them harm. Give me wisdom to maintain healthy boundaries while keeping bitterness out of my heart.
Lord Jesus, You forgave from the Cross. Teach me to forgive as You forgave.
Take my anger, my hurt, and my resentment. Replace them with Your peace.
I place this person—and this pain—in Your hands.
Amen.
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That is a question worth asking ourselves from time to time.
When we pray, are we constantly asking God for things? Are our prayers mostly a list of requests—Lord, give me this. Lord, fix that. Lord, help me with this problem. Lord, make this happen?
There is nothing wrong with asking God for what we need. Jesus Himself taught us to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread.” God wants us to bring our needs, worries, hopes, and desires to Him.
But there is another, deeper way to pray.
It is the prayer that says:
“Father, I trust You. You know what is best for me. Your will be done.”
Scripture tells us that God is our loving Father. A good father does not give his child everything the child asks for simply because the child asks for it. He gives what is truly good.
Sometimes we ask for something that we think will make our lives better, but God sees what we cannot see. He knows tomorrow. He knows where our choices will lead. He knows what we truly need—not simply what we want.
God’s plans are greater than ours.
And sometimes the greatest answer to prayer is not “Yes.”
Sometimes it is “No.”
Sometimes it is “Not yet.”
And sometimes it is “I have something better for you.”
Learning to Let Go
I have found a deeper peace and a more loving way to pray by learning to let the Holy Spirit pray in me and for me.
That doesn’t mean I stop talking to God.
It means I begin listening.
Instead of bringing God a long list of demands, I can simply say:
“Holy Spirit, pray in me. Help me pray as I should. Help me desire what God desires. Help me surrender my will to the Father’s will.”
What a difference that can make!
Saint Paul tells us:
“The Spirit too helps us in our weakness, for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes with inexpressible groanings.”
Think about that.
We don’t always know how to pray.
We may think we know exactly what we need. But God knows us better than we know ourselves.
The Holy Spirit can take our confusion, our fears, our hopes, our disappointments, and even our inability to find the right words—and bring them before God.
That is a beautiful thought.
We don’t have to have perfect prayers.
We simply need an open heart.
From Scared Rabbits to Bold Apostles
Picture the Apostles after Jesus ascended into Heaven.
Jesus had given them a mission, but they were human beings facing a frightening world.
One pastor described them as being like “scared rabbits.”
And in many ways, that description makes sense.
They had watched their beloved Master be arrested, tortured, crucified, and buried. Then they experienced His Resurrection and His Ascension. Now He was gone from their sight.
What were they supposed to do?
Jesus had told them to wait.
So they waited in the Upper Room.
They prayed.
They were uncertain.
They were probably frightened.
Then something happened that changed everything.
The Holy Spirit descended upon them.
And suddenly these frightened men were transformed.
The men who had been hiding were now proclaiming Christ publicly.
The men who had been afraid to speak were boldly speaking about Jesus.
They couldn’t stop talking about Him!
Pentecost was not simply an emotional experience.
It was a transformation.
The Holy Spirit took ordinary men and gave them extraordinary courage.
Peter: From Fisherman to Fisher of Men
Consider Peter.
Peter was a fisherman.
He was not a professional theologian. He did not have a degree in public speaking. He made mistakes. He acted impulsively. And when Jesus was arrested, Peter denied three times that he even knew Him.
Yet after Pentecost, Peter stood before a crowd and boldly proclaimed Jesus Christ.
The fisherman became a preacher.
The frightened disciple became a courageous apostle.
The man who had once denied Jesus became one of the great witnesses of Christianity.
What changed?
The Holy Spirit.
Peter allowed God to work through him.
Paul: An Ordinary Tentmaker Who Changed the World
Then there was Paul.
Paul was a tentmaker.
He was also a highly educated man, but his greatness did not come simply from his education or profession.
His life was transformed when he encountered Christ.
Paul surrendered himself to God’s plan.
He traveled. He preached. He suffered. He was rejected, beaten, imprisoned, and persecuted.
Yet he kept going.
Why?
Because Paul allowed the Holy Spirit to work through him.
An ordinary fisherman and an ordinary tentmaker became instruments through which God changed the world.
They didn’t change the world because they were extraordinary by human standards.
They changed the world because they surrendered themselves to an extraordinary God.
What Could the Holy Spirit Do Through You?
This brings us back to the question:
What could happen if you allowed the Holy Spirit to pray in you and for you?
What if you began your day by saying:
“Holy Spirit, I give You this day. Pray in me. Guide my thoughts. Guide my words. Guide my decisions. Help me see people as God sees them. Help me do what the Father wants me to do.”
What might happen?
Perhaps you would become more patient.
Perhaps you would forgive someone you have struggled to forgive.
Perhaps you would stop worrying about something you cannot control.
Perhaps you would discover peace in a situation that previously troubled you.
Perhaps you would become more aware of the needs of the people around you.
Perhaps you would find yourself talking about Jesus more naturally.
Perhaps you would become a source of encouragement to someone who desperately needs it.
We don’t know exactly what God will do.
And that’s the point.
Prayer is not about getting God to do what we want.
Prayer is about allowing God to transform us into the people He created us to be.
Let the Holy Spirit Take Over
There is a great difference between saying:
“God, here is my plan. Please bless it.”
and saying:
“God, show me Your plan. Give me the grace to follow it.”
The second prayer requires trust.
It requires surrender.
It requires faith.
And it can lead to a peace that the world cannot give.
Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would come to His followers as a Helper, a Counselor, and a Guide.
The same Holy Spirit who came upon the Apostles at Pentecost is still at work.
The Holy Spirit did not retire after Pentecost.
He is still calling.
He is still guiding.
He is still strengthening.
He is still transforming ordinary people into instruments of God’s love.
Try a Different Kind of Prayer
Tonight, or tomorrow morning, try something different.
Instead of beginning with a list of requests, become quiet.
Take a few slow breaths.
Place yourself in God’s presence.
Then simply say:
“Come, Holy Spirit.”
And after that:
“Holy Spirit, pray in me and for me. I don’t always know what I need. You know me better than I know myself. Help me want what God wants. Help me accept God’s plan. Help me become the person God created me to be.”
Then be quiet.
Listen.
You may not hear a voice.
You may not experience anything dramatic.
That’s okay.
Prayer is not about chasing feelings.
It is about faith.
It is about trust.
It is about opening the door of our hearts and allowing God to enter more deeply into our lives.
Imagine the Possibilities
The Apostles entered the Upper Room as frightened men.
They came out empowered by the Holy Spirit.
Peter was a fisherman.
Paul was a tentmaker.
Yet through their surrender to God, their lives touched millions, and their witness continues nearly two thousand years later.
So don’t underestimate what God can do with an ordinary person who says,
“Yes, Lord.”
You may think you are too old.
Too young.
Too weak.
Too inexperienced.
Too ordinary.
But God has never needed extraordinary people.
He has always needed people willing to surrender themselves to Him.
So ask yourself one more time:
What could God do through you if you truly allowed the Holy Spirit to pray in you and for you?
Perhaps the answer is far greater than anything you could ever ask for.
And perhaps the first step is simply this:
“Come, Holy Spirit. Take over my life. Lead me where You want me to go, and teach me to pray as I ought.”
Thank you for reading this blog. Please share with others.
Rick Herring thmjmj@gmail.com
To learn more about Team Hope Ministries (THM), click here.
Sunday—I attended Mass at Saint Luke Catholic Church in Irving, Texas. There was a Church Service here at WFV.
Monday – Doctor’s appointments. Church Service. Remembering Tony Bennet. Ted Talk.
Tuesday – Errands at 9 AM. America Rewind. Birthday Card Signing. Tuesday Trivia. New Resident Orientation. Hillsdale College Class 10 – The Constitution.
Saturday – End of Week Quiz. Weekly Newsletters clipped on apartment doors. Hope Group Meeting.
My new computer came. The old one drank coffee and died. There will be a humorous story about that that you can access in The Good News Newsletter. Click Here to get your free subscription.
Add to all the above three meals and much social time with the West Fork Village Family in Irving, Texas, and you have another great week. West Fork Village: A Place Where Seniors Thrive.
To learn more about WFV, for you or a loved one, call 972-721-1500.
Thank you for reading this blog. Please share with others.
I have discovered something important about computers:
They are not coffee drinkers.
I learned this the hard way.
My last computer was working perfectly. It was fast, reliable, and always ready to do whatever I asked. We had a beautiful relationship.
I would sit down in the morning with my coffee.
The computer would sit there quietly.
I would type.
It would compute.
I would click.
It would click.
I would complain about something not working.
It would pretend not to hear me.
Everything was wonderful.
Then one morning, tragedy struck.
I was sitting at my desk enjoying a nice cup of coffee when—through a combination of bad luck, poor coordination, and what I believe was a conspiracy by gravity—the coffee tipped over.
And where did the coffee go?
Straight onto my computer!
Now, you might think the computer would simply dry off and continue working.
Nope.
Apparently, my computer had very specific dietary requirements.
It didn’t like coffee.
It didn’t like cream.
It didn’t like sugar.
And it especially didn’t like the entire cup poured directly into its electronic digestive system.
The computer immediately began making strange noises.
BEEP!
Then:
BZZZZZZ!
Then:
CLICK!
Then silence.
I stared at the screen.
The screen stared back at me.
Well, actually, it didn’t stare back.
It was completely black.
I pushed the power button.
Nothing.
I pushed it again.
Nothing.
I pushed it a third time, just in case the computer had suddenly developed selective hearing.
Still nothing.
I began talking to it.
“Come on, buddy. You can do this.”
Nothing.
“Don’t leave me now!”
Nothing.
“Think of all the things we’ve been through together!”
Nothing.
At that point I realized I was attempting to emotionally manipulate an electronic device.
Apparently, computers have no sympathy.
I unplugged it.
I plugged it back in.
I tried another outlet.
I pushed every button I could find.
I even considered praying over it.
Being a man of faith, I thought, Perhaps a miracle is possible.
But apparently there is a limit to what even divine intervention will do for a computer that has just been baptized in coffee.
The computer was dead.
It had drunk the coffee and died.
I called someone who knows much more about computers than I do.
I explained what happened.
There was a long pause.
Then he asked the question I was hoping he wouldn’t ask:
“How much coffee?”
I thought about it.
“Pretty much all of it.”
Another pause.
Then he said something along the lines of
“Uh-oh.”
That’s never a good sign.
He opened it up and examined the damage.
I stood nearby like a family member waiting for news in the emergency room.
Finally, he looked at me.
“I’m afraid your computer didn’t make it.”
I nodded solemnly.
“Was it the coffee?”
He nodded.
“Yes.”
I asked, “Could it have been saved?”
He thought for a moment.
“Maybe, if it had been a very small amount.”
I looked at him.
“Well, it wasn’t.”
He looked at me.
“Then it probably had enough coffee to keep an entire office awake for three days.”
And so we held the funeral.
There were no flowers.
No minister.
No eulogy.
Just me, staring at the lifeless machine that had once been my faithful companion.
I said a few words:
“Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to remember a good computer.
It served me faithfully.
It stored my files.
It displayed my emails.
It occasionally froze for no apparent reason.
And it never once complained about my typing.
Sadly, it met an untimely end after consuming a lethal quantity of coffee.
It was a good computer.
It just couldn’t hold its caffeine.”
And then I realized something.
The coffee hadn’t killed my computer.
I had.
I was the one who poured the coffee.
I was the one who knocked it over.
I was the one who failed to recognize that computers are not coffee tables.
So I bought a new computer.
And I made myself a new rule:
Coffee stays on my side of the desk.
The computer gets electricity.
I get coffee.
And everybody lives happily ever after.
Well…
At least until I spill something else.
And if you ever see me sitting at my computer with a cup of coffee, don’t worry.
I’ve learned my lesson.
The coffee is now safely positioned about six feet away.
Unfortunately, I have discovered that my arm is approximately three feet long.
So I suppose there is still a chance for another computer funeral.
To my old computer: Rest in peace.
You may have been killed by coffee…
But you certainly didn’t die in vain.
You taught me the most important lesson in modern technology:
Never let your computer drink your coffee.
It doesn’t have the stomach for it.
If you’d like, I can also turn this into a colorful, humorous newsletter collage/poster with a coffee cup, a smoking computer, and a funny “R.I.P. Computer” tombstone.
Thank you for reading this blog. Please share with others.
Rick Herring thmjmj@gmail.com
If you would like humorous blogs in your email box every week, click hereto subscribe for free to The Good News Newsletter
Sunday – Since I attended Mass on Saturday, I watched the Mass on EWTN. There was a Church Service here at WFV.
Monday – Doctor’s Appointmentments. A 1 P.M. Church Service here Moon Pies and RC Colas were served at our 2 P.M. Social, followered by Moon Facts/NASA.
Tuesday – Errands at 9 A.M. and 1 P.M. At the 3 P.M. Social Smores were served.
Wednesday – Doctor’s Appointments. Bible Study. Lunch Outing at the Flying Fish/Rodeo Goat. Your choice. Jewelry Class. Trivia Hour. Bingo and a 6:30 P.M. Church Service.
Thursday – New Residents Orientation. Drumb Class. Karaoke Hour. Veterans Circle. Resident Dance with open bar.
Friday – Braums Outing. Ice Cream and Cookie Social. Movie Night.
Saturday – The Hope Group Celebrated the birthdays of all those who celebrated a birthday in May, June or July. Many broiugh food and the Main Event was Celebrating our founder and leader’s 94th birthday. There was so much food, cake, ice cream, and watermelon,. Many accolates for our beloved founder and leader.
Add to all this our own projects, three meals and more…
So as you can see we had another great week at West Fork Village. A Place Where Seniors Thrive.
If you would like to learn about WFV in Irving, Texas, for you or a loved one, call 972-721-1500.
Thank you for reading this blog. Please share with others.
Rick Herring thmjmj@gmail.com
P.S. Please Click Here to learn about the THM mission and join us in building a loving, caring, sharing family.
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth… But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven.” — Matthew 6:19–20
Every good thing we possess is a gift from God.
Our health, our strength, our talents, our homes, our families, our friendships, and even the opportunities placed before us each day come from His loving hand. We often speak about what we have “earned,” but behind every accomplishment stands the God who gave us life, the ability to work, and the blessings that made success possible.
The Book of James reminds us:
“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights.” — James 1:17
Because everything belongs to God, we are not owners—we are stewards.
God entrusts us with His gifts for a time. He asks us to use them wisely, to care for our families, to strengthen our communities, to help those in need, and above all, to glorify Him.
When success comes, thank Him.
When prosperity comes, thank Him.
When health is strong, thank Him.
And if one day He chooses to take those blessings back, thank Him again for allowing you to enjoy them for however long He saw fit.
Job understood this profound truth after losing nearly everything he possessed:
“The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” — Job 1:21
Those words are not easy to live, but they reveal a heart that trusted God more than possessions.
Keep Your Eyes on Eternity
Life moves quickly.
The house we build will someday belong to someone else.
The car we proudly drive will eventually wear out.
Money comes and goes.
Even our earthly bodies grow older.
Everything around us is temporary.
Only one thing lasts forever—our eternal soul.
That is why Jesus continually reminded His followers to keep their hearts fixed on Heaven.
Every decision we make should be measured against one simple question:
Will this help bring me closer to God and prepare me for eternity?
When we keep our eyes on Heaven, disappointments lose much of their sting, and successes become opportunities to praise God rather than ourselves.
Living for the Eternal Reward
It is interesting how faithfully we obey the rules of our employer.
We arrive at work on time.
We follow company policies.
We complete assignments.
We strive to do our best because, at the end of the week, we expect a paycheck.
Yet that paycheck may be spent before the day is over. Bills are paid, groceries are bought, expenses arise, and the money is gone.
How strange it is that many people work so diligently for rewards that disappear, while giving so little attention to the reward that never fades.
God has already shown us the path to eternal life.
He calls us to:
Keep His Commandments.
Love God with all our heart.
Love our neighbor as ourselves.
Practice humility, charity, patience, honesty, forgiveness, and purity.
Receive His grace through prayer and the sacraments.
Live lives that reflect Christ.
Unlike an earthly employer, God does not ask us to earn His love. He freely offers it. But He does ask us to respond with faithful, obedient hearts.
The Virtues Build the Road to Heaven
The saints remind us that holiness is not usually found in dramatic moments but in ordinary faithfulness.
Each act of kindness…
Each quiet prayer…
Each sacrifice made for another…
Each temptation resisted…
Each word of forgiveness…
These become stepping stones leading toward Heaven.
Virtue shapes our character until we begin to resemble Christ Himself.
The more we practice love, humility, generosity, courage, patience, and faith, the more prepared our souls become for eternal life.
Our Greatest Investment
Wise investors look for what will produce lasting returns.
Jesus tells us that the greatest investment we can ever make is not in the stock market, real estate, or a retirement account.
Our greatest investment is in eternity.
Every prayer offered with love…
Every act of mercy…
Every soul encouraged…
Every sacrifice made for God…
These are treasures that can never be lost.
They accompany us beyond the grave.
A Final Thought
God has blessed each of us in different ways.
Cherish those blessings.
Use them for His glory.
Love your family.
Serve your community.
Help those who cannot repay you.
And if life changes tomorrow, remember to thank God for every blessing He allowed you to enjoy.
Above all, keep your eyes, your mind, and your soul fixed on Heaven.
Everything else will one day pass away.
But eternal life with God will never end.
“For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?” — Mark 8:36
May we spend our lives not merely earning a paycheck that lasts a day, but pursuing the Kingdom that lasts forever.
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Rick Herring thmjmj@gmail.com
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“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” — Luke 23:34
Someone once said, “Not forgiving someone is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die.” That simple statement contains a profound truth.
When we refuse to forgive, the person we are angry with may continue living life without ever thinking about us. Meanwhile, bitterness quietly takes root in our own hearts. Anger grows. Peace disappears. Joy fades. Our relationship with God can suffer because our hearts become occupied with yesterday’s wounds instead of today’s blessings.
Unforgiveness is a prison whose door can only be unlocked from the inside.
The Greatest Act of Forgiveness Ever Given
The greatest example of forgiveness the world has ever witnessed came from God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.
Out of infinite love, the Father sent His only Son into the world to redeem us.
How did humanity respond?
We rejected Him.
We mocked Him.
We humiliated Him.
We scourged Him until His body was torn.
We pressed a crown of thorns upon His sacred head.
We forced Him to carry the heavy Cross through the streets to Calvary.
Then we nailed Him to that Cross and lifted Him high before the crowds so they could continue to mock and ridicule Him.
Yet in the midst of unimaginable suffering, Jesus spoke words that continue to echo through history:
“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
Those words were not spoken only for the Roman soldiers.
They were spoken for every sinner who has ever lived—including you and me.
Every sin, from the disobedience of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden until the last person born before the end of time, was present before Christ. In the Garden of Gethsemane, He willingly accepted the weight of our sins because of His immeasurable love for us.
He chose forgiveness instead of revenge.
He chose mercy instead of condemnation.
He chose love instead of hatred.
Why Is Forgiveness So Difficult?
Often, we struggle to forgive because we continue living in yesterday.
We replay the hurt.
We replay the conversation.
We replay the betrayal.
The past becomes our home.
But God is always inviting us into the present moment.
Yesterday cannot be changed.
Tomorrow has not yet arrived.
Grace is found today.
Peace is found today.
God meets us today.
When we constantly live in the past, we keep reopening wounds that Christ wants to heal.
Forgiveness does not mean pretending the hurt never happened.
It does not mean saying that evil was acceptable.
It does not always mean trusting the person again.
Forgiveness means placing the hurt into God’s hands instead of carrying it ourselves.
It means refusing to let bitterness control our hearts any longer.
The Father Is Waiting
Jesus beautifully illustrated God’s love in the Parable of the Prodigal Son.
The father never stopped watching the road.
He never stopped hoping.
The moment his son returned, he ran to embrace him.
He clothed him.
He restored him.
Then he celebrated with a great feast.
That is our Heavenly Father.
Every one of us has wandered away from Him at one time or another.
Every one of us has needed mercy.
Every one of us has depended upon God’s forgiveness.
If God has forgiven us so generously, how can we refuse to forgive others?
A Prayer for the Grace to Forgive
If there is someone you have struggled to forgive, begin with a simple prayer.
“Lord Jesus, I cannot do this by myself. The hurt is real, and You know my heart. Give me the grace to forgive as You forgave me. Heal what is broken within me. Replace anger with peace, bitterness with love, and resentment with mercy. Help me to live in Your presence today rather than in yesterday’s pain. Amen.”
The Choice That Brings Freedom
Forgiveness is not weakness.
It is strength.
It is not surrendering to evil.
It is surrendering to God.
The Cross reminds us that love is stronger than hatred, mercy is greater than revenge, and forgiveness always has the final word.
Today, let us place our hurts at the foot of the Cross.
Let us leave behind the poison of resentment.
Let us receive the mercy Christ purchased for us.
And let us walk forward with peaceful hearts, knowing that our loving Father is waiting with open arms, ready to welcome every one of His sons and daughters home to the everlasting feast of Heaven.
Thank You for reading this blog. Please share with others.
Rick Herring thmjmj@gmail.com
P.S. Click Here to learn more about the THM mission and join us in building a loving, caring, sharing community.
