From the Pastor's Desk

You can sometimes find wisdom in unlikely places. Many years ago, this rhyme was posted on the wall of a small donut shop:

As you travel through life brother,

Whatever may be your goal,

Keep your eye upon the donut,

And not upon the hole.

Now that's wisdom from a donut shop. These simple words remind us of a profound truth: we should spend more time looking at the things we have, not worrying about the things we don't have. When you think about it, you've got more blessings than you can count. We can testify with David, "My cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever" (Ps. 23:6). So make it a habit to thank God for the gifts He's given you, not the gifts you wish He'd given you.

Jesus set the precedent when facing a multitude of thousands, but holding only a little boy's lunch in His hands. "Taking the five loaves and two fish and looking up to heaven, He gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then He gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people" (Mt. 14:19). And in Col. 3:2 we are instructed, "Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things" (Col. 3:2). That certainly refers to Heaven, but it also teaches us to focus on what we have, not what we don't have.

So are you looking at the donut or the hole? It is a remarkable thing that some of the most optimistic and enthusiastic people you will meet are those who have been through intense suffering. It doesn't have to define our outlook or attitude.

-Pastors Mark and Jennifer