British playwright George Bernard Shaw put it this way:

 There are two tragedies in life. One is to lose your heart’s desire, and the other is to gain it. We don’t look at it that way. In our eyes, gaining your heart’s desire is the very purpose of life itself. But how many people have achieved their dreams only to be ruined in the process? Success can be just as big a temptation as failure, perhaps more so, since success tends to make us take life for granted. While it is true that God speaks to us both ways, we tend to listen more when God speaks through sorrow, pain, loss, and personal failure. Success tends to make us complacent, but failure cannot be denied.

Case in point is Nebuchadnezzar just before his insanity kicked in:

Daniel 4:30

The king spoke, saying, “Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for a royal dwelling by my mighty power and for the honor of my majesty?”

God’s answer was to paraphrase, “King, you are nuts, and before “The Ed Sullivan Show” is over, you are going to be acting like an animal.”

It took seven years before sanity returned. Don’t make the same mistake.

Give it some thought.

Gary

First, I was dying to finish high school and start college.

And then I was dying to finish college and start working.

And then I was dying to marry and have children.

And then I was dying for my children to grow old enough for school so I could return to work.

And then I was dying to retire.

And now, I am dying…and suddenly I realize I forgot to live.

Psalm 90:12 

So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.

Psalm 16:11 

You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Proverbs 16:9 

The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.

His way is the path of life.  Peace, joy, goodness and so much more are all available in Him. Live while you have the opportunity.

Think about it.

Gary

What you are is God’s gift to you; what you become is your gift to God.

                     – Hans urs von Balthasar

What a gift we have received!

2 Corinthians 9:15

Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!

Now is the time to give back.

2 Corinthians 9:7-8

Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work

Give it some serious thought.

Gary

All those who have authority
Should use their power to lead;
By taking orders from the Lord
And serving those in need.

—D. De Haan

When Israel was rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem under hard and dangerous conditions, their leader Nehemiah took his turn at both building and standing guard. Special food was allotted to him as the leader, but he refused to accept it, unlike his predecessors. He ate from the same rations that were offered to everyone else.

Nehemiah 5:18

Now what was prepared at my expense for each day was one ox and six choice sheep and birds, and every ten days all kinds of wine in abundance. Yet for all this I did not demand the food allowance of the governor, because the service was too heavy on this people.

Wouldn’t it be great if our leadership followed Nehemiah’s principles?

Give it some thought.

Gary

Dwight D. Eisenhower used to demonstrate the art of leadership in a simple but forceful way. He would place a single piece of string on a table and say, “Pull it, and it follows wherever you want it to go. But push it, and it goes nowhere.”

This method has been a blessing both in the Old and New Testaments. It should also be seen in church leadership, according to what Peter left us.

1 Peter 5:2-3

Shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.

 Give it some thought.

Gary

A rather pompous-looking deacon was endeavoring to impress upon a class of boys the importance of living the Christian life. “Why do people call me a Christian?” the man asked.

After a moment’s pause, one youngster said, “Maybe it’s because they don’t know you.”

Matthew 10:32 

So everyone who acknowledges Me before men, I also will acknowledge before My Father who is in heaven,

Luke 8:39 

“Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.” And he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city how much Jesus had done for him.

Why do they call you a Christian?

Give it some thought.

Gary

When Christian Herter was governor of Massachusetts, he was running hard for a second term in office. One day, after a busy morning chasing votes which left no time for lunch, he arrived at a church barbecue. It was late afternoon and Herter was famished. As Herter moved down the serving line, he held out his plate to the woman serving chicken. She put a piece on his plate and turned to the next person in line.

“Excuse me,” Governor Herter said. “Do you mind if I have another piece of chicken?”

“Sorry,” the woman told him, “I’m supposed to give one piece of chicken to each person.”

“But I’m starved,” the governor said.

“Sorry,” the woman said again, “only one to a customer.”

Governor Herter was a modest and unassuming man, but he decided that this time he would throw a little weight around. “Do you know who I am?” he asked. “I am the governor of this state.”

“Do you know who I am?” the woman said. “I’m the lady in charge of the chicken. Move along, mister.”

It is so refreshing to see individuals who are committed to their work and responsibility. We should all be like that, showing no partiality.

Acts 10:34 

So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality,

James 2:1 

My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.

Give it some thought and pass the chicken.

Gary