1. What lies at the bottom of the ocean and twitches?
   A. A nervous wreck.   

    –  Health, Canada.

The beginning of anxiety is the end of faith, and the beginning of true faith is the end of anxiety. 

–       George Muller.

Anxiety is a thin stream of fear trickling through the mind. If encouraged, it cuts a channel into which all others thoughts are drained. 

–       Arthur Somers Roche.

He made us and He put us here. He saved us by the power of His Holy Spirit. All we have to do is finish this course by walking by faith. Don’t sweat it.

John 14:27 

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.  

1 Peter 5:6-7 

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

Give it some thought.

Gary

A story was told of the greatest soccer player that ever lived. The great soccer player Pelé was a smoker when he was younger. His father caught him one time, and instead of getting angry, he called his son to the porch where they spoke. His father reasoned, “Pelé, you realize that if you continue smoking, you will not play as well as you could.”

Pelé said “Yes, I know, but I can’t stop.”

His father continued as he pulled out his wallet, “Well, if you are going to smoke, I would prefer it if you had your own and did not have to borrow.” With this, he pulled out the last two dollar bills that he had. Pelé never had a problem smoking again.

It is only when we realize the love that our heavenly Father has for us that we start dealing with our evil habits. He has gone to great lengths to redeem us for Himself.

1 Corinthians 7:23 

You were bought with a price; do not become bondservants of men.  

1 Corinthians 6:20 

For you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

Like Pelé, if you stop now, who knows what great things the future has awaiting you.

Give it some thought.

Gary

When I was a third grader, we would play king of the mountain during recess in the winter months. During cleanup after a snowstorm, the crew would plow the snow into a high mound at the end of the parking lot. This would be our mountain. The girls were to have the mountain first and we would charge up and throw them off. One Irish girl could handle herself well, and it would take more than one boy to dispatch her. Her older brother could look out from his classroom and observe the interaction. He went home and told his mother that his sister was embarrassing him with her antics. It wasn’t her fault; she just wanted to be king.

There is one place where we can reach legitimate kingship and that is to be found in Christ.

Revelation 1:6

and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

This is no game and you can be on top.

Give it some thought.

Gary

Why does a piece of chalk produce that hideous squeal? According to the book, The Flying Circus of Physics (With Answers), squealing chalk results from the phenomenon of “stick and slip.” Incorrectly held chalk actually sticks to the blackboard. But when the writer bends the chalk enough, it suddenly slips and vibrates, sporadically striking the chalkboard and producing that squeal we hear. As the vibrations decrease, the friction between the chalk and the board increases until the chalk sticks again and the torture begins once more. 

–       “Chalk Talk”, Campus Life, December, 1979.

Unfortunately, some people are like that. They seem to drone on and on in the most torturous manner. They strike a chord that penetrates the soul. If you feel you’re bothering people, get out of there. If you are the recipient, then you get out of there.

Proverbs 25:17 

Let your foot be seldom in your neighbor’s house, lest he have his fill of you and hate you.

Proverbs 10:26 

Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to those who send him.

Give it some thought.

Gary

Years ago, my brother-in-law invited me to go skiing with him and his preteen-children. For some reason, I was to be in charge of the kids on a particular run. As I rounded a turn, I observed them disappearing over a precipice that had a warning sign, “Black Diamond Trail.” This identified the most dangerous trail on the mountain. As I arrived at the top and came to a standstill, I could see the three of them looking up at me from the bottom, with anticipation on their faces. They wanted to see their uncle make a fool of himself trying to navigate that cliff. They weren’t disappointed, for shortly in my descent, skis, poles, arms and legs were flying in all directions.

Leadership doesn’t work when you’re bringing up the rear. You must, out of necessity, be ahead of the pack, watching for danger and protecting your charges. 

Acts 20:28

Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.

I lived, and a good time was had by all by the grace of God.

Give it some thought.

Gary

A little boy asked his father what his New Year’s resolution was. His dad responded, “I’m going to do everything possible in this new year to make your mother very happy.”

The little boy then asked his mother the same question. She replied, “I’m going to do everything possible to make sure your father keeps his resolution.”

Nothing like having some help when the task is great and the past is littered with failure. The Bible offers help in this endeavor.

Isaiah 41:10 

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. 

Psalm 54:4 

Behold, God is my helper; the Lord is the upholder of my life.

Give it some thought and tackle that thing together.

Gary

A woman walked into her bathroom at home. As she did, she saw her husband weighing himself on the bathroom scales, while sucking in his stomach.

The woman thought to herself, “He thinks that he will weigh less by sucking in his stomach.” So, the woman rather sarcastically said to her husband, “That’s not going to help.”

Her husband responded, “Sure it will. It’s the only way I can see the numbers.”

Can’t see the numbers?  Now is the time to do something about it. My specialized diet involves burning fewer calories than I take in. (Not that I follow it, but it has been my diet.)  Not seeing the numbers is very telling about last year’s consumption.

That is also true spiritually. People looking on can tell what you’re consuming from the Word.

John 6:35

Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.

1 Peter 2:2

Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—

 Look down at yourself. Think about it. Isn’t it time?

Gary