February 2024 Newsletter
Prayer request: Seek God’s guidance and pray for the wisdom bestowed upon Solomon to guide you in making decisions every day throughout the year.
Please call us if you have any questions about the Mission or how you can help. 432-337-8294
A Word From Our Director ~ Pastor Andrew Pistone
How to Make Zero Progress in 2024
(Portions inspired by Chuck Swindoll)
During the first couple of months of a new year, we are usually bombarded with reminders and ideas about making resolutions and improvements in our lives. The suggestions all follow similar themes: how to be more productive, how to be more organized and efficient, how to lose weight, how to improve our health, how to be more financially stable, how to make every moment count, and - in general – how to use our time more wisely.
Just for emphasis, let's think about taking the opposite approach to structuring our day to day lives. I'm going to tell you how to make ZERO progress this year. If you follow this advice, you will waste an enormous amount of time during the year ahead.
First – You should worry a lot.
You should start worrying early in the morning, and be especially aware of all the things around you that you could worry about. If you can't think of anything – just check the internet and the news. There will be new things every day – and maybe even every hour: human tragedies, dangerous weather, doomsday reports, and political turmoil. These things can agitate you and keep your heart and mind churning all through the day - and into the night.
Also, you can concentrate on all the things you don't like about your job, your spouse, your family, or your church. Along with these things, don't forget to hang around people who are negative. Negative people can irritate you with their fears - and their worries can spread as quickly as germs. If you plan all of this correctly, you'll be bogged down with worry - long before the end of February.
Second - Concentrate on your failures.
You can also spend a lot of time thinking about your personal failures and mistakes. If you're a parent, you can think about the things you could have, or should have done while raising your children. You can also make an effort to remember the things that you should not have done. That will help you feel extra guilt, and bring to mind even more things to worry about.
Third - Make plans that are unrealistic.
Make sure there's no flexibility in your plans. Insist on having everything your way and complain when everything doesn't turn out the way you planned. Then, while you're at it, you'll want to ignore the following scripture verses: “A man's heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.” (Proverbs 16:9) “Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart.” (Psalm 27:14)
Fourth – Concentrate on getting rich quick.
Make sure you get all of your financial advice from secular sources, and go out of your way to avoid the wisdom of men like Solomon, who said, “Do not weary yourself to gain wealth. Stop dwelling on it. When you set your eyes on it, it is gone. For wealth certainly makes itself wings like an eagle that flies toward the heavens.” (Proverbs 23:4-5) After all – what does Solomon know about money and contentment…and wisdom?
Fifth – Compare yourself to others.
This is another excellent way to waste a bunch of time this year. You'll want to concentrate on your first-rate intelligence or your outstanding physical appearance - and compare yourself to others - in order to feel superior. If physical attractiveness is your thing…then, you guys can compare yourselves to the latest Hollywood hunks, and you ladies have plenty of inspiration in the form of models on magazine covers at the grocery store. If you spend excessive amounts of time comparing yourself to these air-brushed models - then, be prepared to have feelings of anxiety and inadequacy.
Sixth – Keep a mental list of your enemies.
Look for ways to be offended, and be ready to add new names to your list.
Seventh – Hold on to your hurts and resentments.
Make sure that you don't forgive people for the things they've done to hurt you. If you've been hurt by your friends or family…then you'll want to keep your feelings of resentment alive and fresh in your mind. You can waste an endless amount of time while agonizing over the things that people have done to make you miserable.
If you concentrate on these seven things…you could set a record in wasting valuable time this year.
We Don't Want to Spin Our Wheels
In reality, I don't think that we want to spin our wheels – making zero progress this year…but, if we aren't careful...it can happen.
We want to be careful about wasting time!
We want to pray more than we worry.
We want to learn from our mistakes without living in the past and obsessing about our failures.
We want to be flexible – asking God for guidance in our plans.
We want to be wise with our finances.
We want to be content with the way God madeus – while being responsible about taking care of our health.
We want to let go of our grudges, and we want to forgive the people who have hurt us. After all – God forgave us, and He tells us to forgive each other. Forgiving others will give us freedom. God is a God of justice, and He will take careof that.
“Be very careful, then, how you live – not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is.” (Ephesians 5:15-17)
Through the Bible, God has given us everything we need for life. Bible study is the privilege and obligation of believers, and if we base our lives on biblical principles, we can avoid a self-centered lifestyle. With God's help, we can concentrate on making this year a productive one that honors Him!
Pastor Andrew
Thrift Store
If you haven't had a chance to shop at our Thrift Store, we hope you will do that very soon. The proceeds from the store are a major source of our support. You will find thousands of quality items at incredible prices, and you can shop with confidence that your dollars are helping to change lives.
We are located at 1515 E. 8th Street, Odessa, TX Our hours for shopping are: Monday - Saturday from 9:00 am – 7:00 pm.
We continue to take ALL donations with grateful hearts. We could not do this without your help.
We will come to PICK UP any and all donations – just give us a call at 432-337-8294 to schedule a pickup. You can also drop off your donation at the Thrift Store,
Funds / Donations Needed
Your financial support will help us provide hot meals, a safe place to sleep and shower, and exposure to the truth of God's Word through Bible study and counseling to those who struggle with addictions. Many come to know Jesus as Savior because of the work God is doing here at the Mission.
There are a few ways you can give:
#1: PayPal Giving Fund:100% of what you give goes to the Mission. Paypal does not keep a processing fee when you use this service. If you would like to make a direct financial donation you can go to PayPal at the link below.
https://www.paypal.com/us/fundraiser/charity/2432315
#2: Use our Website http://www.doorofhopemission.com/donate.html
#3: Mail a Check to Door of Hope Mission PO Box 1789, Odessa, TX 79760
#4: When you Shop at Amazon or Ebay, just add us as your preferred charity, and a portion of your purchase will go to the Door Of Hope Mission.
With Amazon: Visit Amazon Smile www.smile.amazon.com, then login to your account then you need to select Door Of Hope Mission Odessa TX so we will receive donations from eligible purchases when you shop.
With Ebay: You just need to add the Door Of Hope Mission to your favorites. Click the link this link to add us.
https://charity.ebay.com/charity/charity-name/2432315
If you have any questions please call us 432-337-8294.
The Door of Hope Mission is supported 100% by DONATIONS and our thrift store. We do not take money from the government because they would restrict us from preaching about the freeing power of Jesus to those we help.
All donations are tax-deductible.
DOOR OF HOPE THRIFT STORE UPDATE
We are in need of good furniture and antiques that you might want to donate to our ministry, and of course - we continue to take ALL donations with grateful hearts. We could not do this without your help.
We can also accept cars, trucks, RVs and boats.
If you have items you wish to donate, please drop them off at the store. If you need us to pick them up, please call the Mission at 432-337-8294.
We invite you to come and visit the Door of Hope Thrift Store. We are located at 1611 E. 8th Street, Odessa, TX 79761.
Our hours for shopping are Monday - Saturday from 9:00 am – 7:00 pm.
Please visit us on Facebook : www.Facebook.com/DoorOfHopeThriftStore
All donations are tax deductible.
Please check out our latest post and like our page at https://www.facebook.com/DoorOfHopeMissionTX
A CHRISTIAN MISSION