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