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. 

 

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 28^th, 2018, June and I celebrated our 50^th wedding anniversary. We were married on her 30^th 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

 

 

 

 

Ministers

"You are the light of the world.
A city on a hill cannot be hidden.
Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl.
Instead, they put it on its stand,
and it gives light to everyone in the house.
In the same way, let your light shine before men,
that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."
(Matthew 5:14-16, NIV)

 

        My pastor says that we are all ministers in some way. Is that true? The term closet minister applies to most Christians. We help, lead by example, attend services to learn more, and silently minister to those around us. Sometimes we do not know we are ministering.

       In every Sunday service, takers, givers, and silent ministries occur in many ways. Several years ago, a young single couple acted in a very special way, holding hands, whispering in each other's ears, and an occasional peck on the cheek. Usually, that would be inappropriate. The pastor announced their pending wedding during that service.

        After the service, the conversation was about how neat that was to have that level of enthusiasm for each other. That couple, without intent, set an example for older couples. They were ministers. "In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds...".

 

Thought for Today: Be thankful for those around us, at peace, and demonstrate our passion and love for others. Spring flowers have burst into color; warm weather makes us feel great, so let's utilize our spring spirit to demonstrate our faith.

 

Prayer for Today: Heavenly Father, you have blessed us with many friends. We are surrounded and can not avoid them. We are blessed at work, on the streets, and at home. Today we want to pray for them all that they recognize the beauty of Christian friendship.

Amen

 

 

Infants in Christ

Infants

“Brothers and sisters,

I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit

but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ.”

(1 Corinthians 3 vs. 1) 

            I confess to you that I cannot quote a lot of scripture; I do not know a lot of biblical history; I have never visited the holy land; sometimes, I skip my Friday bible study to play golf or work out. At best, I am an infant in Christ.           

That is good because it leaves plenty of room to grow, to keep trying, and a reason to keep writing. There is growth ahead when we do the right things. Our life is a spiritual journey without limits or an end. That’s an excellent thought.           

As a young engineer, my mentor used to quote Aristotle, “The more you know, the more you know you don’t know.” It is true with our faith. The more we learn, the more the mystery and the higher our thirst becomes. That may be the best part of it all. 

Thought for Today: Recognize the opportunity to grow in the Spirit, that we are in our infancy and have room for exciting growth! 

Prayer for Today: Heavenly Father, we are grateful for your presence in our lives and the peace brought to us through faith. We will face challenges today and go forth with the knowledge that you will be with us.

Amen

 

Control

 Today's world seems out of control. We must trust our faith.

 Control 

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your understanding."

(Proverbs 3:5).  

Life tests our faith in many ways. We go through valleys before we experience peaks, the good times. We find it easy to take credit for the recovery. After all, we generally "take control" and work through problems. That's the human way.

       

Several years ago, our pastor presented us with a pin, Christ's feet. The pin is symbolic of footprints in the sand, serving as a reminder that we never walk alone. We often think of God as a "Macro" rather than a personal assistant. When in control, we may not be aware of and feel God's presence.

       

Too many outside factors play out in life to have "full control." When we feel in "full control," we are misleading ourselves. We always need to have the trust that our faith teaches. With God as a partner, it is easier to get through crises. He is always our partner.

Thought for Today: Control the ball, keep our problems in our grasp, and handle it all. Then look back and thank Him for the help.

Prayer for Today: Dear Lord, Heavenly Father, the world seems out of control. We doubt what role you are playing out with all the ills that exist. Economic struggles, terrorism, and world poverty all seem to dominate our lives. It is hard for us to keep trust and show the needed love. We pray for guidance on trusting you more, doing your will in tough times, and being a good follower of Christ's teachings.

Amen 

Power

Power 

"You are awesome, O God, in your sanctuary;

the God of Israel, whose power is in the skies."

 (Psalms 68:34-35).

                 Power- what a word. What a feeling. We come into the world looking for power and equate power with security and control. We hear about power brokers. Books on leadership tell you how to gain. Use and retain power. The feeling of power can be addictive. It gives us an adrenaline rush.           

In relationships, power usually manifests itself as domination. When a significant other demands submission, a partnership is lost and will not reach its full potential. Power sometimes negates God's will. It can become a power broker's God.               

I have always said that two people working together are four times better than either. My definition of a partnership is when two become one in objectives, dreams, and goals. In a good relationship, power is not a problem. Power is only a problem when it is misused.               

In relationships (married, parent-child, and others), sacrifice and caring (love) will generate a better relationship than power and control. Often power and control are masks for insecurity and low self-esteem. It prevents bonding and growing in a caring relationship.

"Love one another, Just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her."

(Ephesians 5:25) 

Thought For Today: Let us keep caring, consideration, and love at the forefront of our decision-making. 

Prayer for Today: Dear Lord, help us put the trials of everyday life in perspective. Guide us to inner peace. Help us find the love of Jesus.

 Amen 

 

Boldness

 Boldness 

"Almighty God, may they be filled with the Holy Spirit

 and speak the Word of God with boldness..."

-- Acts 4:31 

                April fool's day is a day of practical jokes, misleading emails, and general tomfoolery. That will not work because we cannot hide from God, who loves us. So, let's skip reading our devotional and forget the Holy Spirit and our Lord so that we may participate. 

            Today the comics in the newspaper will have Fool's Day jokes, the news and sports programs will be full of them, and there will be a few bogus press releases to get your attention. If I were to write a press release for today, it would be "Bob shoots par at St. Andrews!" or "… wins the Ironman." People would immediately recognize these were jokes, and some would know they were my fantasies.          

Like all days, I hope this devotional puts you on track to recognize the Holy Spirit in your life and its role in you. While others are playing jokes, we need to be sure that we are bold in our faith.

Blessings to you all, and enjoy the start of April. 

Thought for Today: Today, we will be bold in our faith and remember that it is ok to be a joker. 

Prayer for Today: Father, we give thanks for all we are and have. We thank you for having the freedom to enjoy a good joke, a great laugh, and the faith to know the absolute truth. We pray for good health, world peace, and prosperity for all. Amen 

Note: Today, 2023, In am sitting surrounded by six to twelve inches of heavy wet snow covering golf courses that are expecting to open soon.