The song Sloop John B sung by the Beach Boys comes to my mind when I do things with my grandson, for it’s about a grandfather taking a voyage with his descendant. I never did anything with my granddad but have been blessed to have had many memorable experiences with my grandson. We especially like bowling, and I beat him most of the time. We’ve enjoyed the following activities together: mountain biking, roller- blading, hiking, four-wheeling, snowmobiling and home improvement projects. How I love to hear him say, “What ye doin, Pup?” This means so much to me.

My fervent prayer is that I leave with him what my relationship with God means to me. An old friend once told me what his grandfather had meant to him. He said, “How I loved that old man.”

Psalm 78:4

We will not hide them from their children, telling to the generation to come the praises of the Lord, And His strength and His wonderful works that He has done.

Joel 1:3

Tell your children about it, and let your children tell their children, and their children the next generation.

Build a relationship with them. You both need it.

Gary

“I forgot to post on Facebook I was going to the gym. Now this whole workout is going to be a waste of time.” Whoever said that sure had contemporary beings nailed.

Truth is, speaking of waste, it is your waist that will reveal your intentions when it comes to workouts.

Spiritually speaking, you can’t fool people when you claim exercise in spirituality when reality reveals something totally different. The results of spiritual workouts can be exhibited also.

1 Timothy 4:7-8

Exercise yourself toward godliness. For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.

Titus 1:16

They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work.

Go ahead and exercise; you don’t have to publish it, because people will see it.

Give it some thought.

Gary

“Don’t let a good thing die,” is a line from an old tearjerker from somewhere in the past. The truth of the matter is that we allowed many things to die unnecessarily. We need a clearer vision so that the future doesn’t hold regrets. Let me suggest my optometrist.

Proverbs 29:18

Where there is no prophetic vision, the people cast off restraint, but blessed is he who keeps the law.

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.

Let God put before your eyes the bifocals that make things clear, both far and near. You’ll see better here and better there. Give it some thought.

Gary

Some things I know about today: It has only 24 hours. I can never repeat it. It is made up of some things I can control and some things I can’t. However, the most important thing is the fact God made it.

Psalm 118:24 

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Hebrews 3:7 

Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, “Today, if you hear His voice,

Hebrews 13:8 

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

God says, “Here is another today. How do you plan on handling it?” Give it some thought.

Gary

The record on how to lose your life is found in 1 Samuel 17. Sadly, Goliath succumbed to a prideful attitude and suffered the consequences as he fought for the wrong side. You see, he’d placed his confidence in the following: his size, physical strength and weaponry. This never works for a child of God.

Don’t make those same mistakes, because our faith should be in the living God and His power and might.

Psalm 56:3-4 

When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?

Psalm 37:5 

Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him, and He will act.

The things Goliath placed his faith in proved to be totally ineffective. Any Goliaths out there making the same mistake? Give it some thought.

Gary

I erased the last text that I’d received from my son six years ago. It was time to move on from an anchor that only brought pain and regret. Why do we allow the past to haunt us when our future needs to be faced with a hope and clear conscience? Life can’t be lived over again but can be lived from here on for the One who gave Himself for us. Does the Bible address this phenomenon? Glad you asked.

Philippians 3:13-14 

Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Do you have stuff that you need to let go of because the past can’t be changed? Give it some thought.

Gary

The first individual who had to pay a price because of his faith was Abel. Those who believe in God but don’t believe God will make those who do believe pay a price. I pray you understand that statement. The Devil believes in God; he just doesn’t believe God. You want some verses? Glad you asked.

James 2:19

You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror.

Matthew 7:21-23 

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and cast out demons in Your name, and do many mighty works in Your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’”

Maybe it’s time to stop just believing there is a God and start believing God. The best way to know Him is by reading His Word and asking for His leading as you read. Join the ranks of those who have followed in the footsteps of Abel.

Give it some thought.

Gary