How would you like to know a way to instantly increase your level of gratitude at any given moment, regardless of your circumstances?

I learned this exercise from my friend Hal, who—after being pronounced dead at the scene—miraculously survived a head on collision with a drunk driver. After coming out of a 6-day coma, doctors say it was his positive outlook that drove his speedy recovery.

"First," Hal says, "stick out your hands and imagine that on each hand is a list. The list on the left hand consists of everything you have to be upset about—maybe you lost your job… or you're not getting along with someone… or it’s just plain crummy outside—everything you consider bad. And on the right hand is everything you have to be joyful about—you're alive… you have a job… your family loves you... God loves you—everything you consider to be good."

Hal told me that at any given moment, regardless of my circumstances, I have a choice: I can either focus on my left hand, the negative, or I can focus on my right hand, the positive. It’s completely up to me.

So next time you’re not feeling the greatest, just ask yourself, "Which hand am I focusing on?"

How are you looking at the new year, as we move from 2012 to 2013? Can you see the shimmering, almost blinding, light before you as you journey from the darkness of the past into the brightness that is the future? I can. And I hope you can, too.

This post I'd like to do something a little bit out of the ordinary. Instead of sharing a piece that I wrote, I'd like to share a short piece written by my beautiful wife. It's in her book From Darkness to Light.

Snow Angel

An abandoned child sits on the side of the road
Her tears lie frozen on her seemingly porcelain face, cheeks of red
Her misty blue eyes blurred out by the frozen tears
Her heart aching in sheer pain that won't cease
A voice, much like a scattered thought, she hears and ponders
Every word, saying every unspoken thought her soul desires
Breathing in the cold air, her nose scrunches each time she inhales
Choking on pain and fury, her heart feels like she's left with nothing
But the faith that is slipping away through her doll-like fingertips
All she had is now gone, gone to the ground we pound on, day and night
Her breathing is staggered and her head heavy with gallons of tears
She falls to the ground
As the slick, slippery white snow falls upon her body
She lies there praying to the Lord
Finding no hope, she spreads her arms and her legs
Covered in snow, tears continue to fall
Her dress is stuck to the ground
The Lord opens His arms and the child is lifted up into the sky
He names her the Angel of Heaven
Everybody shall love her... and remember her mark

-- Jessica Rene Hailey Teresi

Less than three short years ago, I was in a place of utter brokenness. A nightmare had come true: I learned the woman I had married was being unfaithful. Because she refused to reconcile, I released her and let her go. God, however, has continued to be faithful through it all.

Since then, He has filled my life with many blessings, one in particular I'd like to thank him for: her name is Jessica. She is like no one I've ever met. Her brain is so beautiful, her beauty is absolutely breathtaking, and the relationship she has with God is even more beautiful than both of those combined. She is my best friend in the world, and, since our trip to Ireland in September, she is officially my wife!

I don't think the old saying "God is good." does Him justice. God is not good; He's amazing!

When I first heard about the Holy Trinity I was confused, to say the least. I didn't get it. It didn't make sense to me. How can there be three distinct parts, yet the sum of those parts equals one? I felt God (the Spirit) calling me to write about it. This led me to a several day writing session, which ended in a new cubed poem. Perhaps you'll find it helpful. Perhaps not. Regardless, I hope you enjoy it.

The Holy Trinity

What do you know of The Father, The Spirit, and The Son?
Each is necessary; each is distinct, yet all are one

“The Father” is the unseen, omnipresent source of all
Yet there are two co-creators who, to this day, stand tall

You can call “The Son” of God: The Son of Man, or Jesus
As savior and messiah, from sin and death he frees us

“The Spirit”, or The Holy Ghost, is eternally wise
Dwelling within us, He counsels, comforts, teaches and guides

See, the Father is seen through His Son and felt through His Ghost
Each is glorified through the others, yet they do not boast

To the unbeliever this information may sound odd
But together these three paint the perfect portrait of God

Coming from the Bible, as perplexing as it may be
Such is Truth…such is Life…such is The Holy Trinity

J. Arthur Teresi

This is not in my book, but I came across a poem that I will be including in my next book. I wrote this poem a few years back, shortly after experiencing the devastation of a divorce. While at the time it was one of the most difficult situations I had ever faced, God has turned it into something remarkable (I'm now engaged to be married in Ireland on 9/15/12)! I pray this purity poem can bless you, too.

It's based on 1 Thessalonians chapter 4: It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable...for God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.

Purity

Do you feel inadequate, like you’re not quite good enough?
Are you sick of being handcuffed—to this world, and its “stuff”?

We are called to flee from sexual immorality
Yet—here we are—living in Satan’s principality

Would you like to be made pure... to live like never before?
Would you like to be freed from falsehood, and cleansed to the core?

On this let us be clear: you cannot be pure on your own
It’s only possible, by bowing down before God’s throne

Though unholy desires enslave the majority
When you submit to God’s will, lust has no authority

“Jesus, purify my mind, so I can be pure in deed
Help me realize: apart from you, there’s nothing I need”

Question: What makes someone not subject to being enticed?
It’s the essence of purity: being complete in Christ

J. Arthur Teresi

Your purpose is what guides you. Your purpose is what directs you. Your purpose is what leads you. If you don’t know your purpose, you're vulnerable to be guided by anything: your whims, your emotions, your feelings, your insecurities, your fears… And who wants to be guided by his or her insecurities and fears?

Six weeks ago I conducted a survey. I sent a text to over 60 people: "What do you believe is your essential purpose in life, and why do you believe that?" I was surprised by the results. Only one-third of the people responded back, which means two-thirds didn’t, which means most people don’t know their essential purpose. And half of the people that answered didn’t sound very sure about what they had written, which means most people are vulnerable to be guided by most anything: their feelings, their whims, their fears. And that’s scary when you think about it.

After giving this very careful thought, I've come to a conclusion. I believe our main purpose on earth is this: to grow closer to God and to help others grow closer to God. I believe this for several reasons, but most easily put, why else would God create us if it weren’t to grow closer to Him?

The reason knowing our essential purpose is so cool is because when we know our essential purpose, everything else makes sense in relation to that purpose. Every decision makes sense in relation to knowing your essential purpose!

It is both a map and a compass for your life. It lets you know where you are and which way you are going. Before doing anything, you can now ask yourself, "Is what I’m about to do going to help me grow closer to God. Is it going to help others grow closer to God? If the answer is “yes,” do it. If the answer is “no,” don’t do it. If the answer is “maybe,” pray for discernment.

NOT knowing your essential purpose is like throwing darts at a wall in the dark. You’ll never know if you’re hitting the target. When you know your purpose, however, the light goes on, and while you may not always hit the target, at least you know exactly where it is.

So, what is your purpose?

It's a new year! Have you reflected on last year's accomplishments yet? If you haven't, I encourage you to as soon as you can. Not only is it a fun exercise, but it reveals how you've grown as a person.

For example, my highlights this past year were being a guest speaker at a few amazing churches, giving a talk to a youth group for the first time, receiving several testimonials, improving my website, speaking and vending at the Christian Community Fair, reading several great books, listening to dozens of amazing podcasts, and becoming engaged to the most beautiful woman in the world (I love you, Jessica)!

If your list isn't quite as long as you'd hoped it would be, it's an even better opportunity to ask yourself, "What are some areas I would like to improve on this year?" May God bless you as you embark on this new year!

Better Results

Results don’t change without a change in action first
To think otherwise, perpetuates feeling cursed

But you’re not—you’re blessed, and simply being deceived
Blinded by the thoughts that sinful nature conceives

Like that you’re not worthy to come before God’s throne
And that you’re better off doing things on your own

Release yourself from that self-sufficient façade
If you want the best results, bring it before God

Trust in your Father as you ask for His guidance
And know that He speaks to you, even in silence

Before committing an act, pray on the purpose
Be led by love, and let Christ who’s in you surface

J. Arthur Teresi

I received this message in an email awhile back and I thought it is worth sharing. I don't know whom it's by, but what a great analogy:

Sometimes we wonder, 'What did I do to deserve this?' or 'Why did God have to do this to me?' Here is a wonderful explanation!

A daughter is telling her mother how everything is going wrong, she's failing algebra, her boyfriend broke up with her, and her best friend is moving away. Meanwhile, her mother is baking a cake and asks her daughter if she would like a snack, and the daughter says, 'Absolutely, Mom, I love your cake.' 'Here, have some cooking oil,' her mother offers. 'Yuck' says her daughter. 'How about a couple raw eggs?' 'Gross, Mom!' 'Would you like some flour then? Or maybe baking soda?' 'Mom, those are all yucky!' To which the mother replies: 'Yes, all those things seem bad all by themselves. But when they are put together in the right way, they make a wonderfully delicious cake!'

God works the same way. Many times we wonder why He would let us go through such bad and difficult times. But God knows that when He puts these things all in His order, they always work for good! We just have to trust Him and, eventually, they will all make something wonderful! God is crazy about you. He sends you flowers every spring and a sunrise every morning. Whenever you want to talk, He'll listen. He can live anywhere in the universe, and He chose your heart.