She was only four and totally crushed all the blond jokes because I believed her to be the smartest girl in the world. Looking back, I think she understood she could get something from her uncle she couldn’t get from her father…candy. Her father was opposed to having an attractive daughter with rotten teeth which caused diligence in denying her this cavity-producing temptation.

She asked, “Uncle Gary, can we go buy some candy?” I said, “Of course, where do you want to go?” She replied, “Do you know where the Stop and Shave is?” Of course, I knew exactly what she meant, and in minutes we pulled into the Shop and Save.

The years have come and gone, and now she has two daughters of her own. Not sure, and wouldn’t ask, but I’m fairly sure, her being a doctor and all, her view on oral hygiene doesn’t include sugar products for the girls.

People come in and out of your life, and some leave you with a good memory, and sometimes, a cavity that’s worth it. God has blessed me with many a precious memory. This is just one that came to my mind today.

Psalm 116:12

What shall I render to the Lord For all His benefits toward me?

Think about it.

Gary

I asked, “Who are you? You’re no bigger than my fist.” He said, “I’m your heart. Let me tell you a few things about myself:

I beat about 115,000 times each day. Every day I pump about 2,000 gallons of blood. This fluid is pushed through a blood vessel system that extends over 60,000 miles. It tires me to think of what needs to be done for you every day. By the way, I’m not a product of evolution but a very special creation of God.”

Proverbs 4:23

 Above all else, guard your heart,
for everything you do flows from it.

Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.

This is just one of the many organs that our Creator manufactured for our journey through this life. Along with the facts pointed out above, He uses the organ to illustrate truth.

Give it some thought.

Gary

I have never regretted “burning my bridges.” I’ve only regretted that some people weren’t on them while I was doing it! Now, I stole that statement from someone and it brings a smile to my face. However, I know that thought is a sin and was quickly confessed.

We can’t destroy all the connections we have with the individuals going through life with us. At the same time, they will probably outlast us.

How does the Word of God address such things?

Exodus 23:22

If you listen carefully to what he says and do all that I say, I will be an enemy to your enemies and will oppose those who oppose you.

Deuteronomy 20:1

When you go to war against your enemies and see horses and chariots and an army greater than yours, do not be afraid of them, because the LORD your God, who brought you up out of Egypt, will be with you.

Go ahead and burn the bridge, but make sure before you light the match no one is on it. Enemy-punishing is God’s problem, not ours.

Give it some thought.

Gary

Sometimes you need to burn bridges to keep yourself from crossing them again. So many things in life should never have a backward glance. Don’t even stay in the area of the smoke.

Luke 9:62

But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

Abraham communicated with his servant that he (Abraham) would not be going back to his old home. He also emphasized to his servant that his son Isaac should not go back there. The meaning was that this bridge has been burnt and there would be no turning back. Abraham is the father of all who believe. He leads us to life lessons. There are bridges that need to be burnt.

Give it some thought and don’t look back.

Gary

Be careful. The bridges you’re willing to burn when trying to get ahead may result in alienating a friend you may need again. (Like many words of wisdom, I took that from someone else.) However, that statement is worth considering during this drive to the grave.

Case in point is the strong disagreement between Paul and Barnabas found in Acts 15.

Acts 15:39

Then the contention became so sharp that they parted from one another. 

Now a close examination of Scripture will prove that Paul misjudged the situation. However, the bridge was burnt and they never were seen traveling together again.

Happens to the best of them. Careful with those matches.

Give it some thought.

Gary

Mike Curb Congregation sang “Burning Bridges” 1971. This was the theme song of “Kelly’s Heroes”. If you were nineteen in 1971, the lyrics will never leave your mind.

All the burning bridges that have fallen after me
All the lonely feelings and the burning memories
Everyone I left behind each time I closed the door
Burning bridges lost forevermore

Years have passed and I keep thinking
What a fool I’ve been
I look back into the past and
Think of way back then
I know that I lost everything I thought that I could win
I guess I should have listened to my friends

The meaning of all of this is that once the bridge is burnt, you can’t go back. Judas burnt that bridge between him and God at the end of his life.

John 18:5

“Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “I am he,” Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.)

Acts 1:18

(With the payment he received for his wickedness, Judas bought a field; there he fell headlong, his body burst open and all his intestines spilled out.

Judas thought he would make a killing by burning that bridge. Oops!!!

Careful with that match.

Think about it.

Gary

Sanity is defined as reasonable and rational behavior. I don’t know who came up with that, and I am not sure where the boundaries are before you enter the crazy category. Some might think I’m already there, and there are times when I’m not so sure myself. Back in my teenage days, there was a song with a stanza that said, “I just dropped in to see what condition my condition was in.”

David was on the run from Saul and seems to have forgotten the promises of God. When those two situations align, one can act crazy. He wasn’t crazy, but put on a good show because of fear.

1 Samuel 21:13

So he changed his behavior before them, pretended madness in their hands, scratched on the doors of the gate, and let his saliva fall down on his beard.  

Don’t be crazy. Trust and obey for there is no other way to have a sane mind.

2 Tim. 1:7

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

Give it some thought.

Gary