Become an elementary school math teacher and make the little things count.

Readers Digest.

Little things

Luke 16:10 

“One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.

Zechariah 4:10 

For whoever has despised the day of small things shall rejoice, and shall see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. “These seven are the eyes of the Lord, which range through the whole earth.”

Stay on top of those little things and reap a greater reward.

Think about it.

Gary

As a paramedic, I found myself coming back from a transfer to our trauma center on a slippery winter road.  I was probably going a little bit too fast with the unit. Suddenly a cat, actually a black cat, came out in front of me and it was too late to take evasive action. Needless to say, that was the end of the cat. I turned to my partner and said that must’ve been the ninth time that cat crossed the road. It should have known better.

I don’t believe in that nine-lives-thing or what happens when a black cat crosses your path. The cat was the loser, not me. I do know that every living thing on the planet has an appointment with death. We don’t know when our ticket is going to be punched, but we should be ready for the event.

Ecclesiastes 12:7 

And the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.

Hebrews 9:27 

And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,

Be careful out there because there could be an ambulance coming for you.

Give it some thought.

Gary

“Smart people sometimes do some very stupid things.” 

A few years ago, Jim Warren shared a statement with me that a friend had shared with him. It goes like this. “When hard times come, we always have two choices. We can be a student or we can be a victim.” A moment’s thought will show the wisdom of those words.

–A victim says, “Why did this happen to me?”

–A student says, “What can I learn from this?”

–A victim complains he is being treated unfairly.

–A student thanks God that he is not being treated as he really deserves.

–A victim tries to get even with those who have hurt him.

–A student seeks ways to serve others in the midst of his difficulty.

–A victim believes the game of life is stacked against him.

–A student believes that God is at work even in the worst situations.

From the desk of Ray Pritchard

If you study the life of Abraham in Genesis, you will make an amazing discovery. Believers are not exempt from difficulties. Believers are not exempt from committing sin. Life is uncertain, and lastly, God watches over all.

Isaiah 25:1

Lord, You are my God; I will exalt You and praise Your name, for in perfect faithfulness You have done wonderful things, things planned long ago.

2 Timothy 2:13

If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot disown Himself.

Give it some thought.

Gary

Do you think that Moses sat down and figured out the logistics of what God told him to do before he set out from Egypt? I doubt it. He had faith that God would take care of everything. Let us have courage, for we share the very same God!

Psalm 32:8 

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you.

Psalm 37:23 

The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in His way;

Jeremiah 1:7-8 

But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am only a youth’; for to all to whom I send you, you shall go, and whatever I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, declares the Lord.”

Give it some thought and move on.

Gary

“Father, where shall I work today?”
And my love flowed warm and free.
Then He pointed me out a tiny spot,
And said, “Tend that for me.” 

I answered quickly, “Oh, no, not that.
Why, no one would ever see,
No matter how well my work was done.
Not that little place for me!”

And the word He spoke, it was not stern,
He answered me tenderly,
“Ah, little one, search that heart of thine;
Art thou working for them or me’

Nazareth was a little place,
And so was Galilee.”

The Disciplines of Life by V. Raymond Edman

2 Timothy 2:15 

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

James 4:10 

Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.

It is not the place or the applause; it is the One who put you there and keeps you there that matters.

Give it some thought.

Gary

There is a relationship which makes life complete. Without that relationship, there is a void, a vacuum in life. Many people, even those who are well-known, can attest to that void.

For example, H.G. Wells, famous historian and philosopher, said at age 61: “I have no peace. All life is at the end of the tether.”

The poet Byron said, “My days are in yellow leaf, the flowers and fruits of life are gone, the worm and the canker, and the grief are mine alone.”

The literary genius Thoreau said, “Most men live lives of quiet desperation.”

Ralph Barton, one of the top cartoonists of the nations, left this note pinned to his pillow before taking his own life: “I have had few difficulties, many friends, great successes; I have gone from wife to wife, from house to house, visited great countries of the world, but I am fed up with inventing devices to fill up twenty-four hours of the day.”

The Bible says: 

John 10:10 

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

Hebrews 13:5 

Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Give it some thought.

Gary

I was seventeen, racing with Dad’s pickup.  I wasn’t very good at it because I looked back to see my competition and left the road. I hit a tree which shattered while doing substantial damage to the front of the truck. Father wasn’t happy because he and mom were leaving the next day to visit my sister in California. Needless to say, my wings were clipped and I had no wheels for some time.

I’m seventy and still find it a mistake to look back when I’m sailing through life. You guessed it, the Bible has something to say about that error.

Ecclesiastes 7:10

Do not say, “Why were the former days better than these?” For you do not inquire wisely concerning this.

Do not say, “Why were the former days better than these?” You do not move ahead by constantly looking in a rear-view mirror. The past is a rudder to guide you, not an anchor to drag you. We must learn from the past but not live in the past.

Dr. Warren W. Wiersbe.

Give it some thought and don’t look back.

Gary