I don't know if you are anything like me,

but if you are, then you have a hidden desire to keep everyone around you happy.

And if you've been like me for very long,

you've slowly started to realize that doing this is not always possible.

People are people.

Everyone has different needs, different dreams, different goals, different longings........

and sometimes (many times) there is nothing we can do to keep another person happy.

We let people down.

We disappoint.

We forget.

And the list goes on and on.

So.............

after almost half a century of life (YIKES!),

I'm starting to finally understand something  I wish I would have "gotten" a long time ago,

"Pleasing God is all that really matters."

In pleasing Him, I can live at peace with most everyone around me, and honestly, help them more by turning them to Him not me for counsel, advice, support, and love.

I love everyone.

I truly do.

But I love God more,

and

I want to please Him above everyone else.

When I went to Biblegateway.com, I found all kinds of verses about pleasing God.

This morning, I am listing only a few of many.

I hope you'll take the time to look some more up in your Bible concordance or online.

What if we all chose to focus on pleasing God today?

Live as children of light  (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness,righteousness and truth)  and find out what pleases the Lord.

Ephesians 1:8-10

I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone- for kings and all those in authority,that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.  This is good, and pleases God our Savior,  who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.

I Tim. 1:1-4

Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise-the fruit of lips that confess his name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

Heb. 13:15-16

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

Hebrews 11:6

When we choose to please God, we begin to measure success with a different ruler than the world uses to measure success.

We begin to slow down and realize life is a gift to be savored not a mad dash to get all we can get before we die.

We begin to soak up conversations with people we love rather than rush through life to the "next thing" on our list of things to do.

We begin to prioritize choices so that man is not controlling our hours, our free time, our peace or lack of it.

We begin to see everyone through the eyes of Him who made them.

We begin to have compassion in places we once had intolerance.

We begin to speak words that bless not curse.

We begin to love unconditionally.

We begin to be Him to a world who needs Him.

Praying for you today,