God;s Gifts

God’s Seven Gifts "We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully." (Romans 12; 6 & 7, NIV) Paul’s message to the Romans lists seven specific gifts. Each of us has been blessed with some of them and can use them in our every day lives. We are bombarded with opportunities. God's "HELP WANTED" asks us to use our gifts to do His work. We are therefore facing two challenges. One is to recognize the gifts given to us. The other is sharing these gifts with others in our daily lives. It is the sharing of these gifts in a loving Christian way that brings us peace. Thoughtfor Today: Today let us focus on our gifts. Let us understand them and how to use them to help ourselves and others. Prayer for Today: Dear Lord, again we pray for peace and justice in a seemingly troubled world. We are trying to understand what everything means and our piece in it all. Often, many of us feel too small to help. Since "...we are one body in Christ" we pray that we may recognize our gifts and use them. Amen

Super Bowl!

“The Lord is my strength and shield; My heart trusts in Him and I am helped. (Psalm 28 vs 7) The “Super Bowl” takes place in January, and there are enormous numbers associated with it. Numbers like 150 million people watching on TV, six million dollars for a thirty-second ad, five hundred million added to the area economy- Oh yes, there are some competitors and coaches from both teams who will attend a prayer meeting and bible study Sunday before the game, members of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. My sports history goes back to age six as a YMCA swimmer, and my 60 plus years of associating with athletes have convinced me that they are not a group to be proud to know. Years of competition and “winning is everything” attitude have negatively influenced them. On Super Sunday, there will be members of the “Fellowship” representing what a Christian needs to be: The best they can be with an appreciation of the Lord and Jesus Christ. Below is the last paragraph of their competitor’s creed. “I give my all every time. I do not give up. I do not give in. I do not give out. I am the Lord’s warrior- a competitor by conviction and a disciple of determination. I am confident beyond reason because my confidence lies in Christ. The results of my efforts must result in His glory. Let the competition begin and let the glory be God’s.” Thought for Today: Let us enjoy today by being the best we can be while keeping the Lord in the forefront. Prayer for Today: Father, today we pray that we will keep you in our lives, that we will be fair in our dealings and competitions. Amen

Let It Shine!

Our Task for a New Year . Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5; 16 Happy New Year! We say and think that and have trouble living it because there are problems (illnesses, financial issues, family stress, etc.) that do not roll over at midnight on December 31st. “Happy New Year” is an excellent thought to have. If we are the light of the world, then we need to be happy and allow the light to shine. Hearing or reading the news can be depressing. There is our post-COVID world, and racial violence seems to be on the uptake, New Year’s Eve violence, and world economies seem lackluster. As Christians, we need to care and be concerned. However, we also need to pray and thank the Lord for the good news side of the coin. Our focus needs to be on the positive side; there is always more right than wrong, good than bad. In a recent TV sermon, Joel Osteen asked, “The Bible says we are the light of the world. Have you got your light shining out?” Focus on that with smiles and laughter, and show the warm glow and the light of the world. Thought for Today: Today will be a great day. Yes, everyday things like illness, stress, cranky kids, bad weather, and too much to do will occur. There will also be great friends and family, fresh air, good food, and other positives. We need to keep our light shining so others may see it. Prayer for Today: Dear God, we give thanks for the warmth and joy you give us in our hearts and our Christian love for others. We thank you for the happiness in our lives and the ability to share it. Amen

Renewal

We are in the Holiday recovery mode and are weary. From time to time, it is necessary to take a break. It is vital to prevent burnout and refresh ourselves. We need rest to be the best we can be and do our jobs as parents, employees, and citizens. Along with resting, we need meditation. Ok, if you are reading this, I am preaching to the choir again. However, many rest and renew their minds and bodies without thinking of renewing their spirit. They forget to pray or recognize the Lord’s role in their lives. Others neglect their bodies. It is easy to overeat during the holidays and skip a workout. That’s a double-edged sword that I have been guilty of for years. That’s what New Year’s resolutions are all about. We will do fine next year. The message from Isaiah above is to keep hope in the Lord, keep him in your life, and he will help you soar like an eagle. Thought for Today: Let us think about keeping God in the forefront of our minds. Prayer for Today: Father, we ask that you fill us with your spirit and strength and guidance. Amen

Joy to the World

Joy to the World “Joy to the World, the Lord has come" There are a lot of one liners that can be taken from Christmas carols. The opening of "Joy to the World" says it all to me. It summarizes our Christian lives; lives of joy through the forgiveness of our faith and our Christian peers. Let us all feel the joy of the season, the love for each other and keep our faith strong throughout the season. With blessings, have a great Christmas Eve.

Blue Christmas

01219 Blue Christmas “Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me, for in you, my soul takes refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed.” (Psalm 57:1) Many churches have a special service for people having a sad time over the Holidays. Our pastor must have been an Elvis fan once because he called it a Blue Christmas Service. We can always find reasons to be blue over the holidays, and it is good to look at those feelings, put them in perspective, and pray to God for the support available to us. It was one worth attending whether you were sad or not. Our friends Bob, Carl, and Dave miss their wives who passed away. There are too many to list with severe ailments and others with challenging career and financial situations. Several years ago, we met a young gentleman, John, who had visited during the summer. He was in tears during the service. He was despondent because his parents were having a problem with his sexual preference. I ask you all for prayers. Celebrating Christmas is for all of us. Through it all, we remember those who are experiencing loss. June and I pray about aging. It is important to take refuge in the shadow of God’s wings. Thought for Today: Let us take note of our sad feelings over the holidays. We need to recognize that they exist rather than masking them with joy. Pray about them, turn them over to God, and enjoy the celebration of Christ’s birth. Prayer for Today: Heavenly Father, we have special holiday prayers. We pray that your presence brings trust and love to the world. We pray for people who have lost loved ones and are spending their first Christmas with an empty place at the table while giving thanks for your role in our lives and the help you give us. Thank you for being available for us each day. Amen

Endurance and Encouragement

Endurance and Encouragement “May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves …” (Romans 15 vs. 5) Instant gratification is something that we always seem to want and often expect. We have national lotteries around the world and people become instant winners. (They may have played for twenty years!) The desire is clear, we want what we want when we want it! If that is where you are at in your life, you need not read any further today. That is not my message! Paul’s message to the Romans is about endurance and encouragement; two things given to us through our faith and prayers that will make us successful. There will be no lightning bolt that makes us winners. In the years that June and I were associated with my son’s music business we dealt with hundreds of starry eyed musicians who were waiting for their big break. Some actually made it, but all that did, earned it. The ones that worked at it 24/7; the ones with undying passion for writing and performing; those who were too serious about it to enjoy the party atmosphere were the successful ones. In our own lives we need to endure. Life is not a sprint, it is more like a marathon and there are no days off. We will feel weary and need encouragement. We need a place that we can find the encouragement; we have it because God is with us. We do need to reach out and grab it through prayer. Thought for Today: Today let’s think who we could reach out to for encouragement; our pastor, significant other, child, bartender. There is always someone. Prayer for Today: Dear Lord, we thank you for your support and pray that we can let you in when we are tired. Amen

Unseen

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 completing events that range 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 aspect of this is that 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 get to 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 your will, so that we may focus on it. Amen

Protect Our Hearts

Protect Our Hearts "Finally, be strong in the Lord and his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes..." (Ephesians 6:10-18) Today, we need to protect ourselves from our self-induced stress and the negativity in the World that we cannot control. The question is, how? Mac Hammond from the Living Word Christian Center says, "We need to protect our hearts." Over the years, I have often heard the expression, "When the going gets tough, the tough get going." In business and sports, this meant that when the pain sets in, run harder; when it is a breakpoint, put the ball away; when the order is being lost, dig deeper. In each instance, "I" assumed full responsibility for correcting "my" problem. My male ego would come into the issue and apply pressure to the situation. I changed my thoughts on that in the 1980s. I needed help from someone with more power, God. Think about that for yourself. Thought for Today: Today is the first day of the rest of our lives. Let us move forward through daily prayer and let the Lord help us through it. Prayer for Today: Heavenly Father, life is good. The kids have food and shoes, there are two cars in the garage, and TV sets in every home- we are genuinely "fat cats" living under your domain. Today, we would like to thank you for meeting our physical needs, which we often rely on daily, and for helping us meet our spiritual needs. Amen

He Comes Through!

He Comes Through “Praise the Lord, I tell myself, “With my whole heart, I will praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, I tell myself, And never forget the good things He does for me.” (Psalm 103 v 1 & 2) Every day the Lord gives us blessings. It is easy to forget the role He plays in our lives in our busyness. Here are three events that made me think of the Lord this week. Early in the week, a friend and I discussed what we prayed about. They were guidance, support, internal peace, and several others. It was apparent that neither of us prayed for favors or help. We realized that through prayer, good things would happen. One week, a twenty-nine-year-old hockey player died from a skate-related injury. Why? That is a big question and certainly something that makes people doubt. When the final reports are in, somehow good will come from his young life. It is too soon for mortals to understand. The third event that brought the Lord to the forefront was a Good News buddy from San Diego, who corresponded about his return home after a firestorm that ravaged his neighborhood. There were 15 of 47 houses destroyed on his street, plus the sanctuary of his church. Here are the words he used in closing his correspondence: “Truly, God is good. Many lessons are to be learned, and many prayers are answered. To God be the Glory.” Thought for Today: Today will be just like many others. Our calendars are crowded, we will have unreasonable demands on our time, and we will need to focus on making it all happen. Let’s take a few minutes and think about the Lord’s role in our lives with that in mind. Let’s let Him into our day. Prayer for Today: Dear Lord and Father, today we pray to see the results of your participation in our lives and the ability to accept what we do not understand. We trust that good things will happen. Amen

Halloween

Halloween 1991 "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." (Philippians 4 verse 6) On October 31st, 1991, Halloween was a significant event in the northern part of the United States. We had two events to prepare for: children trick or treating and June's departure to the UK for a family visit on November 1st. Mother Nature also had a plan she had not consulted with us on; the great Halloween three-day blizzard in Minnesota was a piece of what is now known as "The Perfect Storm." Paul told the Philippians, "Do not be anxious about anything…" but millions of Americans were anxious that weekend. People died on lost ships on the Grand Banks, and Minneapolis had 30 inches of snow. But it was not all bad on our end. Let me explain. We had a temperature drop in the early afternoon, and a snowstorm started. There were six inches of snow on the ground, and we prayed for the children's safety. That is not unusual in Minnesota in the fall, and we did not expect it to be anything but a fun Halloween. We had already decorated the outside of the house with Christmas lights, so we turned them on. The lights drew a large group of Halloween revelers. We met them with a special greeting, "Ho Ho Ho, Happy Halloween." There were 15 inches of snow in the morning, and the visibility was near zero. A trip to the airport seemed impossible. We decided to depart after lunch for a 6:30 flight, and the twenty-minute drive took over two hours and was very dangerous. June's flight departed 3 hours late, and I had a three-hour ride home. Happy Halloween. Tonight is Halloween; enjoy it with your neighborhood goblins. Thought for Today: Halloween is special, and we should enjoy it with the revelers. We should also think back to 1991 and be prayerful. Prayer for the Day: Heavenly Father, this week, we pray for children on a day they look forward to each year. We pray that they are safe and have a great evening. We give thanks for their presence in our lives. Amen

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. We spent long hours 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. We now spend those days together, sowing seeds in our relationship, spending time with others, and helping where we did not have time before. 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 to the Corinthians 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.

Testimony

Testimony “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, love, and self-discipline. So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord,” (2 Timothy 7 & 8) Paul traveled the world in a constant testimony for God through Christ. He did an easy time in prison once he followed what could only be stated as a hard time. The message above was written while on a kind of death row. Paul knew the end was near; even then, he was testifying and true to his faith. We had a pastor who used to say that the average Methodist invited a guest to church every 12 years. He was being critical of our ability to testify and invite. He wanted to start including an occasional personal testimony in the Sunday service, so he extended an open invitation to the congregation. No one responded. OOPS! That was a hint as to why we were a declining church. We are very nice but private people. One of my character defects is that I love to talk (often way too much!). However, that’s in my world of family, business, and especially sales. I was way too quiet regarding my faith journey and had a spirit of timidity in that area. Pastor Rick changed that. Thus, now there is this book and weekly messages. In our world today, we are often in places where testimony regarding our faith is a challenge. We are hushed by rules; at school, scouts, sports, and just about everywhere we go; talking trash is in; talking faith is out. There is hope; we need love and self-discipline to testify and invite people to join us. WE CAN DO IT. Thought for Today: Let us look for an opportunity to discuss our faith. If we are uncomfortable with that, let’s find an opening to invite someone to join us this week. Prayer for Today: Heavenly Father, we pray for the strength to represent you, your ideals, and your will here on earth. We thank you for the opportunity to be at peace and do your work. Amen

I Yam What I Yam (Popeye)

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.

Don't Fake It

Don't Fake IT "Woe to you …you hypocrites! … on the outside, you appear to people as righteous, but on the inside, you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness." (Matthew 23v27) One of my favorite themes is being true to our faith by being open and honest. Too many people in the world have a different reality than Christians. Openness comes with some social consequences. As Christians, we are taught that the world has an abundance supplied by God, and I believe that is true, but there is a significant distribution problem. It is as if the resources are limited. In America and throughout most of the world, life is competitive. Dealing with the wealth of Western civilization and how it relates to Christianity is scary. Recently, when discussing a stewardship campaign at our church, it was mentioned that we would not need the government to run social programs if all Christians would tithe. That would be great. Each of us needs to be as good as we can be to contribute to the positive factor in society. We need to take social risks to reach our real rewards. "He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift his soul to an idol or swear by what is false. He will receive blessing from the LORD and vindication from God his Savior." (Psalm 24v4,5) Thought for Today: We must choose today to be straight and true or hold back a bit. We must make tough choices and keep a pure heart to improve the world around us. Prayer for Today: Dear heavenly Father, thank you for the many blessings and opportunities you bring. This week we pray for the chance to demonstrate our faith to others, to help. We pray to be able to do your will here on earth. Amen

Busyness

BUSYness "For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure I have fought the good fight I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." (2 Timothy 4 6 & 7) Over the years, I have come to relate closely to the race analogies used by Paul in his letters. They are meaningful today because the events around the world have thrown us into a state of high BUSYness. (Spell-check hates that word, but I like it!). Paul's message above is not about a marathon, a workweek, or getting to the children's activities; it has nothing to do with our BUSYness. It has to do with keeping our faith peaked during the process of life. BUSYness! I wrote this today because retired old Bob is too busy with retirement stuff: writing, blogging, helping others in need, increasing my exercise program, and generally being Bob. For the second day in a row, my morning meditation did not fit. In the early 1990s, my daughter gave me a devotional, "With All My Strength" by H. Norman Wright." Before that, I skimmed the newspaper while watching the morning TV news and drinking my coffee. That would increase my stress and negativity. Reading the devotional improved my attitude, and as a result, my life has improved through spiritual growth. Today, I read Paul's message to Timothy before tackling the day's tasks. You see, life is excellent but longer than a marathon. Sometimes called the daily grind. Life is good when the good fight is supported by spiritual growth. Finish your race by keeping the faith. Thought for the Day: In a counter to Paul's message about the race, I read the following from the 23rd Psalm: "He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul." Take a prayer break today and every day. Prayer for Today: Dear Father, today we pray for personal peace.

Peace

Peace “Nevertheless, I will bring health and healing to it; I will heal my people and will let them enjoy abundant peace and security. …they will be in awe and will tremble at the abundant prosperity and peace I provide….” (Jeremiah 33 vs. 6 & 9) Today is a great day here in Minnesota. The sky is blue, the temperature is in the mid-seventies (That’s the twenties for my Euro-friends), and I have had a swim, a jog, and nine holes of golf. I am tired and at peace as I write this. I hope that world peace (which includes family, city, county, national, and any other peace!) is like the weather. It will come someday. After World war two there was the famous picture of the soldier kissing the nurse in Times Square. After all, that was the war to end all wars. In the fifties, a friend from New Hampshire received the Silver Star for his contributions to “keeping the peace” in Korea. At my fiftieth high school reunion, the list of deceased was overwhelmingly male. It had a lot to do with Vietnam and agent orange. These people contributed to peace and protected our country, and I greatly appreciate their efforts. The prophet Jeremiah talked about peace 2600 years ago. We are hopeful and pray for it to come, and most of us are willing to help it along. For all of us reading this today, let us contribute a bit of love to the situation. Let us enjoy our peace and hope that it spreads. Thought for Today: Think about how peaceful life is and appreciate it. Prayer for Today: Dear Lord, we pray for world peace and peace in our families, communities, cities, and nations. We recognize that is a lot to ask, but we ask you for help. Please show us how we can apply your will toward this lofty goal in our lives. We pray for the safety of the world’s soldiers through the end of hatred and war. Amen

Share Your Spirit

Share Your Spirit "And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but tablets of human hearts." (2 Corinthians 3:3) In the early 1990s, the pastor at our small church introduced the concept that we were all ministers, and his function was facilitator or spiritual leader. He encouraged us to speak our faith, demonstrate our spirituality daily, and reach out to people. He used to say that the average Methodist invited a guest to church every 22 years. In our wildest dreams, we may someday achieve world peace, resolve world hunger, and become an ethnically and racially blended society. When that happens, it will not happen through our politics today. It will be a Godly event that we cannot perceive. We are all ministers and have the opportunity to work every day towards an improved society. Language and color divide us into nations and social groups. However, there is a common language,".., not on tablets of stone, but tablets of human hearts." We all have a job to do. Thought for Today: We can easily get caught up in our activities. Families have sports programs, school issues, and business issues, while singles have their way of filling the week. Yes, most people in the world keep busy. Today, let us seek the opportunity to demonstrate and share our spirit with someone. Prayer for the Day: Heavenly Father, today we thank you for the people you placed in our lives who have supported and led us to grace. Today, we pray for the opportunity to contribute to your will here on earth. Amen

Our World

Our World "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding." (Proverbs 3 vs. 5) As an octogenarian, I constantly wonder about the direction society is going. Remember the good old days? It seems that whatever age you are, they exist. Two of my mom's favorite expressions were "Live and Learn" and "The more you know, the more you don't know." By now, we "Octos" know it all. Hah. In the 50s, TV was going to ruin us. We spent more time watching it than reading, but we still read books. Then, in the 1980s, we bought an Apple IIE computer, and a new age began. In our ever-evolving society, the only constant in the human race is "change." What has not changed? Nature. We still have four seasons; the sun rises and sets, and tides ebb and flow. It is September, and here in the Northland, the evenings are cool, school has started, and a few leaves are beginning to turn. Man's technology changes the way we operate. Our constant is our God-given world. We will read on our phones and tablets and send emails through cyberspace. All the while, God's world will continue to evolve. Thought for Today: Give thanks for the many fall activities; school begins, kids are excited, and the formal learning process starts. To some, the start of the fall sports season holds significant meaning. To others, the fall means hunting and being outdoors. It would be easy, amidst all the activities, to forget God. Remember that all this is God's work, and give thanks for it all. Prayer for Today: Dear Lord, we thank you for your patient love. We hope and pray that we may use that love to understand this complex world and apply it to the benefit of everyone. Amen

Hitch Hiking

Hitch Hiking "No Servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money." (Luke 16 vs. 13 and Matthew 6 vs. 24) In the 1950s, hitchhiking was a primary means of transportation for teenagers. We hitched to the ball field, the next town, the beach; we hitched wherever busses did not go. We have fond memories of the people we met and the rides shared. When mom would give me a nickel for the bus, I would stand there with my thumb out, hoping to save the nickel to buy candy. H. Norman Wright, in his book All My Strength, writes about hitchhikers. Below are his thoughts: "But consider the hitchhiker for a moment. He wants a free ride. He has no responsibility at all for the vehicle. He doesn't have to buy a car, pay insurance, upkeep or gas. Have you ever had a hitchhiker who volunteered to pay for gas? Not likely. He wants a free ride, a comfortable ride, a safe ride, and sometimes imposes upon you to take him out of your way. It's as though he expects you to do this for him. There are a lot of spiritual hitchhikers today. They know the Lord, but they want a free ride. They want all the benefits of being a Christian but none of the responsibilities or the costs. They bail out without accountability, commitment, willingness to serve, and if it begins to cost. The decision to serve God or serve ONES self is a big one. We can't do both. We can hitchhike in our faith, or we can serve our God. The ride is better with Him. Thought for Today: Let's think about the hitchhiker and the driver. The hitchhiker has a need and thus is a taker. The driver is a willing giver. That describes Christians well, and it is OK to be a taker. We must decide who we are and who we will be rather than what we want to be. This season let us take a step forward and up. Let us pursue a better ride. Prayer for the Day: Dear Lord, today we offer prayers of thanks for the opportunity to serve and contribute to peace on earth. Amen