Always Friends

Always Friends 

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves

with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another.

 Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”

(Colossians 3, 12-14; NIV) 

            Most of us have a problem feeling like one of “God’s chosen people.” The control freak in us wants to believe that we chose to follow Him, which is ego-centric and introspective. We all know that we chase Him until he catches us. In our lives, who are “God’s Chosen,” and what do they do?  

            This month is Thanksgiving, and one of my traditions is to do Christmas greetings. Each card and letter that gets addressed is to someone special. The addressees have all played a role in my life, including friends, advisors, mentors, coaches, etc. It is a wonderful feeling to sit there and think about each of them (you). Are they God’s chosen people?  

            The holiday season is an excellent opportunity to celebrate Christ’s birth and life. It is also a chance to think of the many people God has placed into our lives that have demonstrated “… compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience...” A priest in the UK included me in his daily prayers during my cancer period, another is a running buddy of over thirty-five years duration, and several former pastors were spiritual advisors… the list goes on. 

Thought for Today: This week, let us think about our friends. Remember why they are, who they are, and what they mean to us. 

Prayer for Today: Dear Lord and Father, we have many blessings you have given us. Among them are our friends and contacts, and each of them is a blessing. We offer our prayers for their health and happiness and thank you for presenting them to us so that we may all get through this 2022 holiday season healthy and thankful!Amen

 

 

The Dalai Lama

 

We must ask what we receive when we worry!

The Dalai Lama

 

“Can any of you, by worrying, add a single hour to your life?”

(Matthew 6 vs. 27)

            June and I have the ability to enjoy our lives, both the pitfalls and the pleasures. We strongly believe the Lord is involved in our lives, leading us to enjoy simple pleasures. We both believe that the ability to put the events into perspective is our greatest blessing through our faith.

            A Christian friend forwarded this to me. It does not describe a person of faith but is accurate for those who have not developed a spiritual lifestyle. 

            The Dalai Lama, when asked about what surprised him most about humanity, answered: 

“Man. Because he sacrifices his health to make money.

Then, he sacrifices his money to recuperate his health.

And then he is so anxious about the future that he does not enjoy the present;

the result being that he does not live in the present or the future;he lives like he is never going to die, and he dies having never really lived.” 

Maybe we can help the friends being referred to by the Dalai Lama.           

Thought for Today: Who in our circle of friends resembles the Dalai Lama’s description? It could be a family member, neighbor, friend, or church member. Let’s think about that and find a way to share our faith with them. 

Prayer for Today:  Dear Lord, today, let us pray for those who have not included Christ in their lives, those who are spiritually weak and worried about physical rather than Godly issues. We pray for them and ask you for a way to help, a way to share, and a way to contribute to their spiritual growth.

            

Global Peace

Global Peace 

"Whatever you have learned or
received or heard from me,
or seen in me—put it into practice.
And the God of peace will be with you."
(Philippians 4:8,9)

             There are over 300 million people in America and billions worldwide. As individuals, we are not statistically significant. But we all know that statistics can be manipulated and misrepresented. Indeed, each of us is significant to God within our Christian faith. In many of Paul's letters, he said, "God will be with you." I will add, personally, upfront and close.

            As statistically insignificant as the mathematicians make us, God gives us meaning, power, and faith. We are the power of one. As Christians, we can impact the world one individual at a time through our faith. When we demonstrate that we are at peace, we infect those around us. When we demonstrate good Christian ethics, we lead others to follow us. When we are at peace, others want to join us.

            Our challenge as people of faith is working our peace so that others join us. We all know of pyramid schemes and chain letters. Through our faith, we can be at the top of a living chain. Each day we are at peace through our faith, and we will positively affect our environment.

Thought for Today: It is challenging but exciting to think that we can affect others with our positive actions. This week let us consider others and, by example, share our hope regarding our future.

Prayer for Today: Heavenly Father, we see and hear ugliness in the world. There are wars, revolutions, and a worldwide refugee crisis. Our streets are unsafe, and our institutions have too many negative financial issues. It is hard to understand where you are when we are bombarded daily with these issues. We pray for an understanding of your role and that we may participate in an overall solution.

Amen 

 

Special Days

 

Special Days 

^” This is the day the LORD has made;

let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

(Psalm 118v 24) 

            There are 365 days every year. Our goal and challenge are to enjoy every day. We can not allow our finances, a boss, or other outside influences to steal pleasure from any day. God put us here to be happy, and we need to do that for Him. 

OK, let’s get real. Some days are just a drag, and things go wrong. God rains on our parade, and our back goes out again. When negative things get in the way, we have a hard choice. We can choose to have a bad day or trust our faith and give thanks for what went right. Some days, the only thing to give thanks for is its end. Well, that’s enough to make it a good day. 

We all have problems and challenges that will take longer than one day to resolve. We need to remember two important things. When we live one day at a time, we simplify our solutions. We can work on it tomorrow if we do not get it today. When we believe an issue is unsolvable, we need to remember that the Lord is with us, and He can change the rules. We need to pray and turn unsolvable matters over to the Lord. 

Allowing God to be with us daily guarantees that we will have a good day. 

Thought for the Day: This will be a wonderful week for all of us. We will walk through the challenges and bless the Lord for the experiences and lessons that we learn one day at a time. 

Prayer for Today: Dear Lord and Father, our world often confuses us. There are problems that we want to fix now and can not. We thank you for the many things that go well and pray that we may cheerfully contribute to your plan.

 

Harvest

 

Harvest 

^"Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly,

and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.

Each man should give what he has decided to give,

not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times,

 having all that you need, you will abound in every good work."

(2 Corinthians 9 vs. 6-8) 

Since retirement and downsizing in 2006, June and I have not had the benefit of gardens as we had at our home for twenty-seven years. Long hours were spent tending them, and we had a bountiful harvest. We do not miss all that work because we have other harvests. 

As apartment dwellers, we have forty to fifty days a year to fill that used to be spent gardening. Those days are spent together, sowing seeds in our relationship, spending time with others, and helping where we did not have time in the past. The crop is now a closer relationship with each other and friends. 

This different harvest is a blessing. Paul's analogy of reaping crops in his message in Corinth is still valid. We all need to sow seeds daily in relationships, our minds, and each other to reap the harvest of love and friendship. 

Thought for Today: Let's take a quick look at our calendar and see where we can sow seeds for our future, our worldly lot, and the Lord because He is our real future. 

Prayer for Today: Dear Lord, we live in a world of hate and anger. This week we pray that we may sow seeds of love that will temper negativity and help spread love in our world.

Winning

Winning 

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of

compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so

we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we have received from God."

(2 Corinthians 1:3-4). 

            Who in our lives are the winners? Some say the one with the most toys wins. That materialistic one-liner gives me goosebumps. However, today, we tend to pursue things instead of happiness and peace. So, who are the real winners, and how do they win?  

            God placed us here to be his stewards, with our priority to be sharing the gifts we received from Him with others. This reward is explained in Paul's message to the Romans 2, verse six: "God will give to each person according to what he has done." That seems to be a very tall order. However, we always feel great when we have reached out and helped a friend or stranger.                         

God gives us resources in many different forms. We have the money we earn and the knowledge we have learned. Sharing these with our families and children feels good. We reach out beyond our family units and share; at work, church, volunteer activities, and in too many ways to list. We are winners when sharing and sowing the seeds God has given us to plant. 

Thought for the Today: Let's look for an opportunity to help someone, perhaps someone who is sick, hurting, or lonely. Let us see if we can share some of ourselves to make someone feel better. 

Prayer for Today:  Heavenly Father, today we pray for an opportunity to help and share with someone and demonstrate your Grace through our actions.

Amen. 

 

I Am What I Am!

 Thank you, Steve Rossi.

I Yam what I Yam 

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,"

(Philippians 4-13) 

Was Popeye a philosopher? Cartoonists often are. When confronted with difficult situations, Popeye would say, "I yam what I yam?" gulp down his spinach and defend right.

        We are not all Popeyes, and we are expected to conform, often to standards below our Christian faith standards, and may face difficulties if we do not. It is necessary to understand who we are and what we are and keep the Lord in our daily lives. We need our "spinach."

.

         In many ways, we are continually fighting image syndrome. Quite often, we get flack because we don't fit in. Conformity is the word, and clones are the result.

    How did some prophets or John the Baptist fit in with the rest of their society? Probably not too well at times, and they were special. The truth is you are you. You are who God created you to be, and he wants you to know who you are and understand your individual characteristics. No one else is exactly like you. God created you and then broke the mold.

 

        You are unique, and it is all right to be you. Don't let others shape you. That is God's task. He started with you, will finish with you, and will be with you. He is our spinach.

 

He does want you to be you.

Thought for the Day: Let us search for the person God wants us to be to serve him better.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, as we travel through our weekly chores, we need to see a way to help You. We often lose track of our plan; sometimes, we are too busy and do not understand it. This week, we pray that we may find a better way to serve You and make life better for everyone.

Amen. 

Special Days

Special Days 

^” This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

(Psalm 118v 24) 

            There are 365 days every year. Our goal and challenge are to enjoy every day. We can not allow our finances, a boss, or other outside influences to steal pleasure from any day. God put us here to be happy, and we need to do that for Him. 

OK, let’s get real. Some days are just a drag, and things go wrong. God rains on our parade, and our back goes out again. When negative things get in the way, we have a hard choice. We can choose to have a bad day or trust our faith and give thanks for what went right. Some days, the only thing to give thanks for is its end. Well, that’s enough to make it a good day. 

We all have problems and challenges that will take longer than one day to resolve. We need to remember two important things. When we live one day at a time, we simplify our solutions. We can work on it tomorrow if we do not get it today. When we believe an issue is unsolvable, we need to remember that the Lord is with us, and He can change the rules. We need to pray and turn unsolvable matters over to the Lord. 

Allowing God to be with us daily guarantees that we will have a good day. 

Thought for the Day: This will be a wonderful week for all of us. We will walk through the challenges and bless the Lord for the experiences and lessons that we learn one day at a time. 

Prayer for Today: Dear Lord and Father, our world often confuses us. There are problems that we want to fix now and can not. We thank you for the many things that go well and pray that we may cheerfully contribute to your plan.

 

 

 

Unseen!

Unseen

 

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen,

but on what is unseen.

For what is seen is temporary,

but what is unseen is eternal.

(2 Corinthians 4, 16-18) 

            My friend and colleague will celebrate a significant birthday this summer. She is going to Colorado to celebrate and run the Pikes Peak marathon. Not only is that a challenge, but she is also one who can keep her focus on the prize “…that far outweighs them all.” She has shown me tenacity and an example of excellence in lifestyle in her athletics that carries over to her personal and business life; some people are secretly jealous, and some think she is nuts! Each of us needs focus and endurance to get through our lives.  

            We cannot see around the corners of our lives and must live one day at a time. Each day’s challenges and problems dealt with appropriately is a step toward peace. Living each day in a Godly manner with our eyes on the eternal prize will bring us peace.             

Thought for Today: Let us look ahead (in some cases think back about) in our families to our elders. In some ways, that gives us a preview of our future. However, there are no guarantees, positive or negative. Let us think about our dreams, fantasies, and goals. Let us remember what we see every day is“…temporary,but what is unseen is eternal.” 

Prayer for Today: Heavenly Father, we thank you for our blessings and can see them today. We pray that we have the endurance to reach the unseen, the ultimate prize.

Amen

 

 

Focus and Indurance

It's a special day. Pray for a special Christian friend and Athlete as she does her 14th R2R2R. Paulette Odenthal will lead some friends on this great adventure. (R2R2R is Rim to Rim to Rim of the Grand Canyon) Unseen “Therefore, we do not lose heart. Though outwardly, we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed daily. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. (2 Corinthians 4, 16-18) Life is not a sprint; it is an endurance event. Endurance athletes pride themselves on doing events from two hours to multiple days long, which is indeed commendable. I do not mean to sell them short, but we all need endurance and focus on getting through a 168-hour week, a four-week month, and a fifty-two-week year. Marathon runners do not get to the end of the race by being discouraged by the next hill; they focus on the finish they cannot see. An interesting piece of that is the pain suffered when nearing the end almost always subsides when the finish line comes into view, and that was always true for me in my Triathlons. When we travel through our years, there will be peaks and valleys. Sometimes, the hill out of the valley seems too steep to climb. One step at a time, we will reach the next peak when we keep our focus on the unseen prize. Thought for Today: Let’s think about what prize we want in life and focus on it. Prayer for Today: Dear Lord, today we pray for a vision; your vision for us. We pray for the understanding of what your will is so that we may focus on it. Amen

New Beginnings

Start the Day Start the Day " The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day. But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble." (Proverbs 4:18& 19) Those who have known me for a long time know I have always been a morning person. I think there is no better time of day than early morning, even sunrise. There is no prettier sight than the sun coming up out of the sea off of Boston, the early light on the first tee waiting for enough daylight to see the ball's flight, or the sun coming up over a mountain when viewed from a canoe while fishing. I am blessed because the first light is a spiritual event to me. Each sunrise starts a new beginning, an opportunity to do better, and a new opportunity to do God's work. Yesterday is gone and can not be changed, and our future is today and beyond. These devotionals started as something to do during the early hours. The newscasts on TV were (and still are) depressing. The newspapers are full of bad news. It seems that bad news sells. Tomorrow, you will see a "first light." It may be mid-morning if you are a late sleeper or a sunrise. Either way, it is a new beginning, a new opportunity. It will be the first day of the rest of your life. Spend it with hope and joy. Thought for Today: There will be seven days this week. Each is a fresh start. Let us feel the spirit in the first light, the blessing of a new day. Let us live the first day of the rest of our lives with faith and the joy of the Lord. Prayer for Today: Dear Lord, we thank you for the sunrise, the new beginning, new opportunity. We pray we may use this opportunity to do your will here on earth. Amen

Temptations and Perseverance

Temptations “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” (James 1 vs.1-3) We will face trials in our lives. Some are simple, some are complex, and all help us become better people when we deal with them correctly. James is correct; tests of our faith develop character and perseverance. Remember the story about the tortoise and the hare? The hare is overconfident and loses the race. My favorite poster was on my office wall for 30 years. It was of a very long windy road, miles long, and showed a lone runner. The distance to the horizon appeared to be out to infinity. The caption read, “The race is not always to the swift but to those who keep running.” The title was persistence. The hare was the fastest, had all the advantages but lacked commitment and persistence. James and Jesus knew it; we hear and understand it; we must persevere in our faith to improve the world. Thought for the Day: Today, this week, month, and year let us remember our faith. Each day let us spread our love and joy to make our presence a positive force. Prayer for Today: Dear God, we give thanks for your presence in our lives and the ability to resist temptations. Amen

Assertiveness'

Can you be an assertive Christian?

"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline." (2 Timothy 1, v7) Kenneth Haugk's book, "Speaking the Truth in Love: How to Be an Assertive Christian,” did not promote standing on the corner rattling beads and waving the bible. It asked us to be unafraid to tell people who and what we are through our words and behavior. The simple act of a blessing at the lunch counter, a quiet time during a coffee break, and having a daily meditation on our desk are all subtle but assertive statements. In the workplace today, human resource departments have declared that religious issues may make someone uncomfortable and, therefore, inappropriate. Many companies' email screens quarantine religious terms and other words with language scans. Being an assertive Christian in the workplace is not a good idea. However, behaving in an ethical, Christ-like manner will improve the chance for success. Here are three examples of semi-assertive Christian behavior in the workplace. A small business owner begins each week with a voluntary prayer breakfast; a second has a daily meditation calendar on his desk and says a blessing at all lunches; the third wears a lapel pin feet from footprints in the sand. All three inevitably lead to discussions with other Christians and improve the work environment. We are given power, love, and self-discipline through our faith. It is important to remember to display and practice it every day. Thought for Today: We Christians spend hours doing good things in society. Many simple things have little to do with spirituality but come from our hearts through our faith. This week, let's freely discuss our Christian ethics and beliefs with others so that they may better understand why we are who we are. Prayer for Today: Dear Lord and Savior, we are approaching the time of year when all faiths have a special recognition of their beginnings. We pray that we may focus on our similarities rather than differences through faith. We pray and give thanks for peace and the opportunity to serve humanity through You. We pray that the peace pledged by You spread throughout society.

Be Strong!

Time Out!

Time Out “Teach us to number our days so that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” (Psalm 90:12) Citizens of the World and America are dealing with pandemic issues, environmental challenges, and a world war. We just finished a long pleasant summer; arboretum picnics, pool time, family visits and took our long walks filled our time. Yes, we relaxed through our activities. Many people are still uptight. Attendance in Christian churches goes down in the summer, and people go the entire period without recharging their batteries. They get to the end of August, tired and feeling empty. There is a better way and a way to a better peace. My message is that what we do is fine, but if we feel a bit empty, that is the message to bring the Lord’s holiness into our day. Lincoln put it like this: “All we want is time, patience, and a reliance on a God who has never forsaken his people.” When we are feeling empty, we need to recharge our spirituality. Thought for Today: Let’s reach out and show the world our Christ-like side. Prayer for Today: Dear Lord, it has been a long busy summer. We are renewing our fall and winter activities. Thank you for the rest and recreation of vacation times as we move forward into the school year and the fall season. Amen

Birthday Message

Note that my actual birthday was Wednesday, August 21,

Birthday Week “Always be joyful. Keep on praying. No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Jesus Christ.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18) Each year, on my birthday, I give thanks for something I learned as a YMCA brat in my youth. The symbol for the Y is a triangle, and each side has a meaning, “spirit, mind, and body.” Each year, I give thanks for my role as a father and son and my place in society. But let’s talk a bit about what it takes to be in a good place with ourselves. It is being selfish, yes, being selfish in pursuit of a healthy self: mentally, physically, and spiritually. In each of our lives, we must fit into social niches: a family, a workplace, and a social setting. We do best when the three sides of our triangle are in a healthy balance. In all areas of our lives, it is essential to demonstrate the forgiveness and love that comes from spirituality. We need to be physically fit enough to deal with the long days without being fatigued and run down. Also, we need to be mentally sharp when making life decisions. That is a lot to ask of mortals and not an easy task. So, be a bit selfish. Take care of yourself so that you may be all that God wants you to be and be capable of doing His work when the opportunity presents itself to you. Take care of yourself to be all that your family needs you to be. Remember the logo of the YMCA: spirit, mind, and body. Keep fit and enjoy life. Birthday Thought: Today is the day the Lord has made, a day for me to enjoy. Friends will recognize it, the family will celebrate it, and I will enjoy it. It is a blessing that we all have and a great day to give thanks to the Lord for all of our many blessings. Birthday Prayer: Heavenly Father, today is a special day, the day that you brought me into your service. Throughout this day, I thank you for all the opportunities you have provided me and the chance to have a healthy relationship with family and friends. , “Thanks be to God.” Amen

Temptations

A Pleasant Temptations "Blessed is the man that endures Temptation, for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to those that love Him." (James 1:12) In the words of Dr. Norman Vincent Peale," Temptation is the urge to do or say something wrong, something contrary to the will of God and the law of Christ. Temptation often comes in pleasant and seductive form, and the mind always attempts to rationalize it to make it seem right." We face it every day. We can choose the right or wrong path, the opportunistic or the Godly way. None of us has always chosen the right path that follows the law of Christ. We have all crossed that line and felt remorse, guilt, or doubt. Yes, admit it; you are not quite perfect. It is common for us to hold on to the memories of when we slipped and took Temptation. Often, this sorrowful thinking leads to a low self-image or guilt that affects our lives. Working with others for the last 25 years, June and I have seen people turn their lives around by accepting the concept of "spiritual growth" and making amends to those they have harmed. We are not perfect, but when we grow spiritually, we feel good about ourselves and turn down the temptations that confront us daily. The secret of success is spiritual growth through prayer and daily meditation. Thought for Today: In our personal lives, there are temptations, ways to cheat, subtle dishonesty, procrastination, lust, etc. We can choose to follow the Lord's commandments. Let us note our wise decisions and thank the spirituality and maturity that gets us through the week. Prayer for Today: Heavenly Father, our world is confusing. Religious wars and terrorism abound in the East. Neighbors use their version of God to discriminate against others. Within our society, there are many opportunities for us to help. We pray that we will recognize that part of our lives. We pray we may find a chance to help bring peace and love. We pray for the time to counteract the fear and hate in our world. Amen

Winning

Winning "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we have received from God." (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). Who in our lives are the winners? Some say the one with the most toys wins. That is a materialistic one-liner that gives me goosebumps. However, in our society today, we pursue "things" instead of happiness and peace. So who are the real winners, and how do they win? God placed us here to be his stewards, with our priority to be sharing the gifts we received from Him with others. That seems to be a very tall order. However, we always feel great when we have helped a friend or stranger. God gives us resources in many different forms. We have money that we earn and the knowledge that we have learned. We graciously share these things with our families and children, making us feel good. Many people also reach out beyond their family units and share. There are ways to share and sow the seeds God has given us to plant, and we are real winners when we share our gifts. Thought for Today: Let us look for an opportunity to help someone who is sick, hurting, or lonely. If we fail to find someone, let's share some extra with our Church. Sharing a bit will make us feel better. Prayer for Today: Heavenly Father, we live in a troubled world: civil unrest, road rage, families in strife, and other tragic incidences. Today we pray for an opportunity to help and share with someone and demonstrate your Grace through our actions. Amen.

Help Others

We are helpers!

Love is the Way!

Just a simple thought for today!

Marriage Again

Marriage Again "A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value." (Proverbs 31:10,11) Marriage is one of the world's most challenging jobs. Let me quote from The Mystery of Marriage by Mike Mason. "Marriage, even under the best of circumstances, is a crisis, one of the major crises of life. It is a dangerous thing not to be aware of this. Whether it turns out to be a healthy, challenging, and constructive crisis or a disastrous nightmare depends largely upon how willing the partners are to be changed, how malleable they are." "Crises" seems a bit extreme to me. Still, undoubtedly, marriage is an excellent opportunity for the fulfillment of life, and it certainly is not without its opportunities for either success or failure. A marriage blessed by God, where the partners have allowed God's love to grow in their relationship, is one of the world's greatest experiences. Enjoy it. Thought for Today: We face many distractions in our daily lives; work, busy schedules, pandemics, war, and financial issues are some of them. This week let us look at our primary relationships and focus introspectively, up close. Let us understand that when things are okay in our relationships, the outside problems seem less intense; focus on our loves. Prayer for Today: Heavenly Father, today we thank the people you have placed close to us in our lives. We pray that we can share our love with friends, family, and others we meet as this week progresses. Amen

Marriage

Marriage " A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value." (Proverbs 31:10,11 ) On July 28th, 2018, June and I celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary. We were married on her 30th birthday. She has been a blessing to me, and I often refer to her as the light at the end of my tunnel. She helped escort me from my dark period of the 1960s into something better- that seems to be still growing. Fifty years is a long time, and it was not all romance and happy times. There was alcohol treatment, recovery, career moves, stress, the challenges of raising four children, and just living with Bob, who does not always make sense. I often discuss the many benefits of a good marriage: the great mutual support, the care when illness arrives, and the joint celebrations of the many events that occur. Yes, marriage is truly an extraordinary institution when things are well and blessed by God. Thought for Today: Let's keep it simple and enjoy our significant other and those others around us. Prayer for Today: Heavenly Father, today we give thanks for the people that you have placed close to us in our lives. We pray that as this week progresses, we can share our love with friends, family, and others we meet. Amen

Letting Go

Letting Go "So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away..." (2 Corinthians 5:17). With God's help, we can release the past and live in the now. Accepting God's presence in our lives can release the past rather than reliving it. Holding on to hurtful memories takes us down roads that lead nowhere. With God's help, we can choose new directions and turn from a nowhere destination to live in the here and now. A piece of all of us seems to need to live in the negative past. Divorced people can hold resentments for years; accident victims often resent the other driver; workers frequently hold grudges against their managers in the workplace, and it goes on. It is easy to do, but in the scope of Christianity, it does not fit. Forgiveness is what leads to peace and happiness. Today is a new day where we can discard the baggage of old habits that limit us. Start anew with God, take control of our lives, and be receptive to all the goodness God has to offer through divine guidance. Yes, today is the first day of the rest of our life. Thought for Today: Today, think about what wears us down. When it is a historical issue, deal with it. If you can adjust to the situation, do it. If you can switch to something positive, do it. If you can not resolve the negativity, pray about it. Prayer for Today: Dear Lord and Father, we need you in our lives more than ever. There are so many negative issues it is often difficult to focus on your goodness. We thank the many blessings you bring to our lives, the great friends we need, the world that surrounds us with beauty, and our families that bless our lives. We thank you as our creator for our many blessings. Amen

Let Go and Let God

Let Go and Let God "I will never leave you nor forsake you." (Hebrews 13:5) What do you do when a problem seems unsolvable? The solution is to let God show you that there is a solution. Do not be troubled if you are uncertain about the future or have difficulty releasing the past. Let go and let God guide you in this present moment. God is with you now. Let go of worries or concerns about how you think something should be done, and let God guide you to the best way to do it. Do not become overwhelmed by the number of tasks before you. Let God's spirit lead you step-by-step to a new life of fulfillment. As you let go and let God take charge of your life, you will realize that seeming obstacles can be disguised opportunities. God will never fail you. Thought for Today: Let go of the stress and tasks that seem impossible and out of our control; do what we can and pray about the rest. Prayer for Today: Dear Lord, we thank your presence in our lives and our future. We have confidence that grace will be ours by letting go, turning things over to you, and living by your laws. Amen

For Today

Independence Day

00704 Independence Day "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." (Galatians 5:1) Independence makes America great, and our many freedoms make this a great place to live. Our constitution relies on our ability to self-govern. Below is a quote from Abraham Lincoln about our system. "This country, with its institutions, belongs to the people who inhabit it. Whenever they shall grow weary of the existing government, they can exercise their constitutional right of amending it or exercise their revolutionary right to overthrow it." Pray for the future of America. Thought for Today: Let's celebrate our independence by obeying the Lord's commandments. Prayer for Today: Dear Lord and Father, our country celebrates its independence. Our freedoms are based on your laws and our abilities to obey them. Today, we pray for spiritual growth, honesty, integrity, and ethics. Amen

Turning Around!

I mention dealing with negative forces in our lives. We can turn them around using our faith! Turn Around “May those who delight in my vindication shout for joy and gladness; (Psalm 35 vs. 27 & 28) We learn in basic physics that perpetual motion does not and cannot exist. Something in motion will eventually stop due to outside forces unless we apply energy to keep it moving. A good summary statement for non-technical people reading this is that there is no free lunch. If you don’t believe it, take your foot off the gas. In our lives, we have stress and negativity. Early Christians felt a lot of resistance. The majority did not believe or support them, and they had some long days. Paul, Peter, and many others were martyred. They experienced tough times while promoting Christianity. We need to understand that negativity is somehow an opportunity for growth. When we resolve it, we will feel better. Through dedication, prayer, and a bit of effort, we can turn things around. We can apply physics to our lives, congregations, and careers. We must use our skills and efforts to keep the ball rolling positively. There is no free lunch and no penalty for failure. As stated above, “The LORD be exalted, who delights in the well-being of his servant.” We need to turn negativity around through our strength and faith. Thought for the Day: We will have an opportunity to turn over a negative force to improve our lives. Let’s make it happen through our strength, efforts, and prayers. Prayer for Today: Heavenly Father, today is the first day of the rest of my life. It will start carefree with a beautiful sunrise. We may encounter negative forces, hostile situations, and items we would rather not deal with. We pray that you guide us and give us the faith and strength to make it through. Amen

God is with You

God is with Us "Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth." (Numbers 12:3) Like Moses, we are not always enthusiastic about what God wants. We are a humble lot, conservative, and considerate of others' views and feelings. We are humble before God. Many of us are leaders in the community, at work, and at church, often in roles that require strength while remaining humble. However, we need to perform tasks that require an assertive posture in our lives. That is a challenging task. God's response to Moses was, "...I will be with you." He will always be with us. When you feel hesitant and inferior, God says, "I will be with you." When you wonder if you can make it another day with the job stress, He says, "I will be with you." When you're faced with a tough decision and wondering what to do, He says, "I will be with you." When you are experiencing great joy, God is with you. You may be a bit reluctant, as was Moses, but we must remember that God is always with us as we go through life. Thought for Today: We need to remember that we are not alone. Through our faith, we have help meeting our obligations. So take control of situations humbly and allow ourselves to be led through the tasks ahead. Prayer for Today: Dear Lord and Father, we thank you for being with us. We are often confused in a world of activity. Usually, we feel that we controlled the situation when things go well. We pray that we can recognize your involvement in our everyday lives and have the forethought to give you thanks through our actions and prayers. Amen

Perfect Peace

Perfect Peace "You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast because they have trust in you." (Isaiah 26 verse 3) Peace is a direct result of faith and trust. It is essential to stay on an upbeat track and be steadfast. When situations are not what we like, we have options. One is to fear negative results; another is to focus on how we can avoid or minimize negative impact. In life, we need to keep our eye on the sky, and look upward, and outward for positive results. Our news and media outlet rating systems have proven that bad news sells. The news about wars, riots, fires, and murders is essential to hear but risks dampening our positive attitudes. As Christians, we need to be steadfast and optimistic; have a positive outlook. We need to be the leaders in fairness, equality, and displaying the social values Jesus taught us. We can help solve the world's issues when we are steadfast and trust in our faith. Thought for Today: Today, be positive in the face of all challenges. Let's snatch peace from the grasp of negativity. Prayer for the Day: Dear Lord, today we give thanks for the opportunity to have peace in our lives. We pray that we may focus on doing your will and that through our steadfast love, we will have peace and contribute to the peace of others. Amen

Good Name

Good Name "A good name is more desirable than great riches." (Proverbs 22:1) In the 60s, when I desired to change careers from engineering to sales, I had several interviews that changed my life. On my first one, I did not know what I was doing and slid into a deep hole fast. The fellow conducting the interview let me know quickly and, for whatever reason, gave me a lecture on selling myself and dressing for success. He pointed out that the most important product I would ever have to sell would be myself and how important it was to ensure the product was high quality. He scared me to death. That was in 1964, and my next sales interview was in 1972. In 1972 a gentleman named Warren started my second sales interview with a question, "What have you ever sold?" That question would have sent me packing in 1964 but not this time. I talked about selling myself to my company to get my job, selling management on budgets and projects, and that I believed everyone was a salesman every day, whether they knew it or not. The job was mine, and it has been all uphill ever since. From 1964 through 1972, I did a lot of product development; college courses, business books, church, and of course, by my mentor and partner, June. That first interviewer was put in my life to advise me, and the Lord gave me two ears to listen and understand. In a recent Winner's minute, televangelist Mac Hammond stated that we are all "Brand Managers." He stated that George Washington said that one of the most precious things this side of the grave is a good reputation. Thought for Today: Let's consider what we sell in every situation. Make sure that we are the best possible brand. Also, we will be interacting with people that may not be as good as they can be. Let's be sure that they hear the message and benefit from our experience. Prayer for Today: Dear Father, today, we will be working with younger, less experienced folks. We pray that we may influence them in a positive Christian way. Amen

Desire

Desire "Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace..." (2timothy 2 verse 22) Paul sounds a lot like my mom sounded during high school. During my teen years, listening was not my strong suit. How could a ranked athlete and honor student be a bad guy? In my mind, my record justified my behaviors, and the price paid was ten years, which I refer to as my dark period. Those years were the times I spent learning how life was a two-way street instead of a one-way street that I owned. Faith somehow stayed with me, and praying was often present when the darkness was dominant. God was with me despite my behaviors. He was always there, and I would reach out to him just as Popeye would grab for his spinach. And, just like Popeye's spinach, He always came through for me. He will also come through for you. Thought for Today: Today will not be perfect, so keep your prayer close by and ask for support. Prayer for Today: Dear Lord, we thank you for the goodness in our lives and the hope and love that tomorrow will surely bring. Amen

Honor Them

Honor Them “Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him.” “Keep reminding God’s people of these things...” (2 Timothy 2: 11 & 14) Celebrate Memorial Day, and pray for all who served and went before us and those we love. My son-in-law Rick played in the 451st Fort Snelling Army band for several years, and we would go to his parades. At each show, they traditionally played the Coast Guard, Army, Marines, and Navy military anthems while the veterans in the crowd stood and saluted. My eyes teared up with emotion when I thought about what these people had done for us. There are places in the world where my publishing these messages would be criminal. That is not the case here. One thing that makes America great is the freedom to worship and our varied culture. We welcome all faiths to our shores. Abraham Lincoln said it like this: “I am nothing, but truth is everything. I know I am right because I know that liberty is right, for Christ teaches it, and Christ is God.” Thought for Today: Today, let us remember all who have gone before us and be thankful. Prayer for Today: Dear Lord and Father, today we thank all those who have gone before us and contributed to our lives today. First, all those who fought in our military contributed to our freedom. Second to our family ancestors who built our traditions and lifestyle, and last to Jesus, who gave us grace. Amen

Play Christ's Way

00517 Play Christ's Way "Therefore, welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God." (Romans 15 verse 7) We are faced with decisions every day regarding our relationship with others. Sometimes, there is aggressive behavior. In business, there is competition to get to the top; in school, there is competition to be the head of the class; in sports, there is competition to be number one, etc. It is the way it is. When growing up, I was taught that winning is not everything. It was how you played the game that mattered. In the seventies, I attended a business management seminar sponsored by Green Bay coach Vince Lombardi. The emphasis was on detail, being service-oriented, and planning. Over the years, the operating principles learned at that seminar have made my life very successful. They taught us to have a game plan and work it but alter it as needed. To play by the rules takes faith in yourself and God and love and caring for people. Weekly recipients of my messages vary greatly from all walks of life and socioeconomic backgrounds. Two are very successful Christian CEOs, and their companies' behavior matters to them. Christian ethics takes strong faith. No matter where or who we are, fairness and love of others are crucial to success. Then how do we deal with the aggressive ones, such as the inconsiderate neighbor? Cut-throat businessman? The ones that bend the rules? We need to pray for and love our competitors in life. John quotes Jesus in chapter 15:17, "This is my command, Love each other." Thought for Today: This week, let us practice unconditional love. If confronted with opportunistic or aggressive behavior, let us find a way to positively and lovingly through the situation. Prayer for Today: Dear Lord, let me reach out to people this week. Please help me understand them and care about them. We pray that we can improve ourselves and our surrounding world through our faith in your ways. Amen

Following the Way

Following the Way "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is... Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you." (Romans 12; 1-4) Society does not fit the biblical model we are taught and often desire. Truth, honesty, integrity, love, and many other virtues seem rare. Often, we join in and need correction in our human desire to "fit". It is normal to err and join in. It is also forgivable. In a discussion last week in a business environment, we reviewed several long-term, successful people in business. We compared the successful men with some that were sinking fast or already out of business. Those with long-term success functioned like they had read Paul's message to the Romans. They were not always right but always seemed to grow and strive for excellence. Fairness was their trademark; perpetual growth appeared to be a trait. They earned the respect and trust of those around them and were not "sharks" but win-win businessmen. They incorporated their Christian beliefs into the challenging world of doing business. That is truly doing God's will. Thought for Today: Stand up and be counted; demonstrate our faith in circumstances where we would not normally do so. Demonstrate that we are considerate and Godly in our daily activities. Prayer for Today: Dear Lord, our world is distracting and volatile. We all have too much to do, too many commitments, and too many fears. Throughout all of this, we pray for peace. We pray for our internal peace and the ability to demonstrate the value of peace to others. Amen