It was a sad song by Donna Fargo

She stood there lookin’ in the mirror that discarded the reflection
Of the women she had pictured in her mind
And the make-up almost hid the traces of the wear and tear of life
On her face that you could read between the lines

About the unfulfilled dream that she spoke to me about,
Friendly, as if I were the only friend she had
And as I listened to her quietly talk about her life to me
Not knowing what to say, I felt bad

She sang a song with no music and words with no melody
Of all the bitter seasons of life
She was an unloved daughter, an unhappy mother
But was left off an unwanted wife

How many out there look back at their unfortunate life and share such pain? Life is cruel to the vast majority of individuals. Why? Only the Bible has the answer for the cause, but thankfully it also provides the solution. We don’t have to die with that grief.

John 10:10 

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. 

Jeremiah 29:11 

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Give it some thought.

Gary

Waylon Jennings sang “Old Five and Dimers” and it became a hit. It’s a song about coming to terms with and embracing who you are.

I’ve spent a lifetime making up my mind to be
More than the measure of what I thought others could see
Good luck and fast bucks are too far and too few between
For Cadillac buyers and old five and dimers like me

Does the Bible address the phenomena? Glad you asked.

Psalm 103:14 

For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust. 

Psalm 73:26 

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

So, you are only dust. Get up out of there and do something to the glory of God.

Give it some thought.

Gary

In the twenty-fourth chapter of the book of Acts, Paul describes the many tears and trials which happened to him because of the Jews who plotted against him. However, he never softened the message or shied away from the truth that people needed to hear. Here’s what we read.

Acts 20:24

But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

Many a time I’ve been moved by the pressure of ministry and lost my joy, for which I am truly sorry. I want to do my best with the help of the Holy Spirit not to do that again. How about you?

Give it some thought.

Gary

The headline read Punches Thrown in Benches-Clearing Melee Between Brewers and the Rays. Jose Siri and Abner Uribe went at it after a groundout.

 These guys are getting paid millions of dollars, yet are acting like children. Christians also are known to do such things. Does the Bible address the subject? Glad you asked.

1 Corinthians 13:11 

When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways.

1 Corinthians 14:20 

Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature.

1 Corinthians 6:2 

Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases?

Give it some thought and grow up.

Gary

A burglar broke into my grandmother’s house last night.  She didn’t fight back, she just put the red laser dot on his forehead, and her 3 cats did the rest.

-Author unknown

Grandma teaches that you don’t have to kill someone to get that person out of a bad situation. You just have to use the tools available to you.

Speaking of tools, we acknowledge that God has given us plenty of them.

Philippians 4:19 

And my God will supply every need of yours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Proverbs 12:10 

Whoever is righteous has regard for the life of his beast, but the mercy of the wicked is cruel.

Give it some thought and don’t pull the trigger if a laser and playful cats will do the trick.

Gary

“Every strike brings me closer to the next home run.”

 – Babe Ruth

Don’t quit. Just stand there and be ready for the next fast ball. One of these pitches, you’ll hit it out of the park.

Deuteronomy 20:4 

For the Lord your God is He who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies, to give you the victory.’

Psalm 108:13 

With God we shall do valiantly; it is He who will tread down our foes.

1 John 5:4 

For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.

As long as you’re in the game, it’s always too early to quit.

Give it some thought.

Gary

Life is hard. After all, it kills you.

-Katharine Hepburn

Katharine sure nailed that one.  A plethora of verses can back up her statement.

Psalm 23:4 

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

Romans 6:23 

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

John 11:26 

And everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

How do you view death? Give it some thought. You could be spiritually dead for a long time.

Gary