Popeye: I Yam What I Yam

 

Popeye turned 90 this week. He was not a philosopher...or was he? I credit friend and editor, 

Steve Rossi

, for "God is My Spinach" as a title for the 2012 devotional. It is a great concept to reach out for help when troubled as Popeye reached for his spinach!

I Yam what I yam

"You made all the delicate,

inner parts of my body and knit them together in my mother's womb.

Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex. ...

Your workmanship is marvelous."

(Psalm 139:13-14, TLB)

Was Popeye a philosopher? Cartoonists often are. When Popeye was confronted with difficult situations he would state "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 those of our Christian faith, and may face difficulties if we do not. In any case, it is necessary to understand who we are, what we are, and keep the Lord in our daily lives. We need our "spinach"

.
In many ways, we are continually fighting an image syndrome. Conformity is the word, and clones are the result. Quite often we get flack because we don't fit.
If there was a right way to be, how would some of the prophets or John the Baptist fit in with the rest of their society? Probably not too well at times.

The truth is you are you. You are who God created you to be. He wants you to know who you are and understand your unique characteristics. You were created by God and then the mold was broken. No one else is exactly like you.

You are unique. You are special and it is all right to be you. Don't let others shape you. That is God's task He started with you, he will finish with you and he 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 that God wants us to be so that we may 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 your plan. Sometimes we are too busy and do not understand it. This week we pray that each of us may find a better way to serve You and make life better for everyone.
Amen.

  Indian Summer 

"This is the day
that the Lord has made,
Let us rejoice and be glad in it"
(Psalm 118:24) 

            In Minnesota, we are experiencing a wonderful Autumn. An "Indian Summer" as it is called. Our first heavy frost was followed by a freeze and now we have warm temperatures. Certainly, this is a gift to us by God. It is something that we all appreciate and offers our thanks.

            During this time, the crabgrass has died; there is color in the leaves; the lawn does not need to be mowed as often; the evenings are cool; the garden does not need weeding.

            There are many blessings about "Indian Summer" and they are easily recognized. In our daily lives, there are also many blessings but we often do not see and acknowledge them. We try to control our lives and often do not turn enough over to God. The more we allow Him to take over, the more blessed our lives become. 

            The Psalmist says "...But may all who seek you, rejoice and be glad in you..." As we give thanks for good weather, we need also to give thanks and recognize God's roll in our daily lives.

Thought for Today: The fall season is upon us. The busy holidays are approaching us all too swiftly. This week we have the opportunity to relax and enjoy the dwell in activities between the end of Summer and the holidays. Let us enjoy by allowing God's will into our daily lives. Let Go and Let God and appreciate the things he will do for us.

Prayer: Father, we pray specifically for those in the World that need food, shelter, and quality of life. In our country, there are too many people out of work or threatened by unemployment. In many countries, the Holy season approaches many desperate people. We pray for them and that somehow the prosperous peoples of the world can find a way to do your will. We pray that we may find a way to contribute.
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 been being true to our faith by being open and honest. It is something that we all desire, but it also comes with some social consequences. There are too many people in the world that have a different reality than Christians.

             In America and throughout most of the world, life is competitive. It is as if the resources are limited. As Christians, we are taught that the world has an abundance supplied by God and I believe that is true; but there is a major distribution problem in the world.

             Dealing with the wealth of Western civilization and how it relates to Christianity is scary. Recently when talking about a stewardship campaign at our church it was mentioned that if all Christians would tithe we would not need the government to run social programs. 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 will have to make a choice today; to be straight and true or hold back a bit. We need to make the tough choices and keep a pure heart to improve the world around us.

 Prayer for Today: Dear heavenly Father, we give thanks for the many blessings and opportunities you bring to us. 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 came to relate closely with the race analogies used by Paul in his letters. They are meaningful today because the events around the world have thrown us into a high state of BUSYness. (Spell-check hates that word but I like it!). In Paul’s message above he is not talking about a marathon, a workweek, 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. 

            This was written 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 was pushed down the priority list, BUSYness. 

            There was a time where I skimmed the newspaper while watching the morning TV news, drinking my coffee. Thirty minutes of stress building and negativity. (Especially during this election year!) In the early 1990s, my daughter gave me a devotional, “With All My Strength”  by H. Norman Wright, and the TV and newspaper were replaced with morning devotions. My attitude and life improved through spiritual growth!    

             Today a few events were put off until later while I read Paul’s message to Timothy. You see, life is great 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 also read the following from the 23^rd 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.

 

 

 

Start The Day

 00914 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 of you that have known me a long time are aware that I have always been a morning person. In my mind, 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 flight of the ball or the sun coming up over a mountain when viewed from a canoe while fishing. I am blessed because to me first light is a spiritual event. 

Each sunrise starts a new beginning, a new 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. 

The 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 in mid-morning if you are a late sleeper. It could be 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 hope 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, today we thank you for the sunrise; the new beginning; the new opportunity. We pray that we may use this wonderful opportunity to do your will here on earth.

Amen

Share Your Spirit!

  Share Your Spirit

"Teach us to utter living words
of truth which all may hear;
the language all may understand
when love speaks loud and clear;
till every age and race and clime
shall blend their creeds in one;
and earth shall form one family
by whom thy will is done."
(Hymn: O Spirit of the Living God; Words Henry Tweedy, 1935)

        In the early 1990s, the pastor at our small church introduced the concept that we were all the ministers and his function was facilitator or spiritual leader. He used to say that the average Methodist invited a guest to church every 22 years!! He encouraged us to speak our faith, demonstrate our spirituality in our daily lives, and reach out to people.

 

        In our wildest dreams, we may at some time achieve world peace, resolve world hunger, and become an ethnically and racially blended society. When that happens, it will not happen through the politics that we have 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,"... living words of truth which all may hear; the language all may understand when love speaks loud and clear;" We all have a job to do.

Thought for Today: We can find it easy to get caught up in our activities. Families have sports programs, school issues, and their business stuff while singles have their way of filling the week. Yes, most of the world’s people keep busy. Today let us seek the opportunity to demonstrate and share our spirit with someone.

Amen

 

Prayer for the Day: Heavenly Father, today we thank you for the people you placed in our lives that have supported and led us to grace. Today we pray for the opportunity to contribute to your will here on earth.

Amen

Peace Together

“Remain in me, as I also remain in you.”

(John 15 vs. 4) 

            Often people say they are no longer interested in organized religion The ritual, rules, money, and hard work did not do it for them; shame on them and shame on their church. There are others that change churches often searching for something they never quite find. We need to pray that they locate it. (It may be in their hearts!) 

In general, those described above are less than happy. 

            Jesus message is clear, He is with us always. When we are searching and restless the ball is in our court; we are the problem. These are the times that we are out of touch with the Holy Spirit; not taking the time to open our hearts. When we are spiritually down and out, we need to look at ourselves first. 

            In 1954, Stuart Hamblin published the song “Open Uo Your Heart” (and let the sunshine in.). Google shows that it was a big hit by the Maguire Sisters that year! It has since been used hundreds of times in cartoons, children's messages, and TV shows.  Jesus is our Lord and sunshine; we the people need to allow the sunshine in so that we may find peace together. 

Thought for Today: Today let us open our hearts to the Lord. Let’s find peace with Him. 

Prayer for Today: Dear Lord, today we thank you for being with us; on our walks, at work, in our cars, and all phases of our day. Today we pray that we may stay in touch with you under all conditions.

Amen