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March 26, 2008
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=========================== TODAY'S ARTICLE ==========================
No Honor Among Friends...., by Skye Noe
I love first impressions. It's the only chance you get to show off the
person you wish you really were. For that one moment in time you can be
any type of person you wish. If you want to be a generous person,
you've got one chance to prove it. If you want to be intelligent,
you've got one chance to show it. Once the first impression has passed,
people will begin to form a perspective of you based on what they see
of your life. They will factor in every little piece of information
that they learn. So while the first impression may imply one thing,
your life may imply something entirely different.
The problem with a first impression is that it's hard to erase. This is
not a problem if you are lucky enough to have a good first impression.
What about when it doesn't go like you want? Or, what happens when the
person you were when you made your first impression is no longer who
you are today?
As I have grown, I have made many changes in my life. The greatest of
which was the decision to become a Christian. I made the decision that
every Christian must make; I chose to live my life for God and to turn
away from my old lifestyle.
The challenge with changing your life is that too many people already
know you as part of your old life. The first impressions of Skye the
non-Christian were firmly grounded in the minds of everyone I knew.
Even though my actions and words suggested I was a different person, my
first impression was too strong to erase.
You never get a second chance at a first impression ...
Jesus faced a similar struggle when he attempted to teach and heal the
sick in his hometown. Many of the people in his hometown had already
made their first impression of Jesus. They knew him as the "carpenter's
son" and the "son of Mary." They knew his wisdom from the time he was a
child, but now Jesus had revealed himself as the Son of God. Because
they could not understand his new lifestyle, they were confused and
took offense at him. Jesus himself said to his disciples:
"Only in his home town, among his relatives and in his own house is
a prophet without honor."
Mark 6:4
Jesus understands what it feels like when people will not accept the
reality of a changed life. Everyday that we choose to live for God the
world will struggle to understand our personal change, but we must make
new first impressions and try to change the old ones. If you would like
to share your story of change or listen to the story of others who have
changed their lives, please visit www.hopeforlife.org or contact me at
skye@hopeforlife.org.
(Expressed written consent must be obtained prior to republishing,
retransmitting or otherwise reusing the content of this article.
Contact us at info@hopeforlife.org)
Are you presently experiencing a new life? God's word says, "if anyone
is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has
come!"
This new life is a free gift of God through faith in Jesus Christ. If
you want to know more about this life that only Jesus can give you,
sign up for one of our Bible courses. Wherever you are in life,
whatever you've done, you can begin again.
You may also contact us at info@hopeforlife.org if you have questions
about becoming a new creation.
---------
(c) 2008 Herald of Truth
RELATED LINKS:
* Resolve to Follow Christ's Path
http://www.heartlight.com/articles/200703/20070321_resolution.html
* Invited into the Family
http://hopeforlife.org/step4/godsfamily.php
* Let Me Tell You About Jesus and His Church
http://hopeforlife.org/step4/jesuschurch.php
* Hope for Life
This article can be found on the web at:
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200803/20080326_NoHonor.html
=========================== FEATURED PRODUCT =========================
WILD AT HEART, by John Eldredge
Helping men rediscover their masculine heart, this is a guide to
understanding Christian manhood and Christian men.
http://shopping.heartlight.org/cgi-shl/link?153
Find more great books, CDs and videos at the Heartlight store! With
each purchase you make, you're helping to support Heartlight's
ministry. Thanks SO MUCH for your help!
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