Talk to your body. Let every member know that you desire that each one is invested. Arms: Embrace truth while there is still time. Eyes: Before the clouds roll in, take a deep look at this. Ears: Stay open and keep the canal clear of obstruction. Legs: Don’t tremble and run away. Heart: This is where you belong and is the place for all your affection. Mouth: Confession is necessary.

1 John 1:1

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life—

Matthew 11:15

He who has ears to hear, let him hear!

1 Corinthians 9:26

Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air.

Matthew 6:21

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Don’t let your members lead you to a place where you might not want to spend eternity.

Think about it.

Gary

Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words can never hurt me. How many times was that repeated on the playground when I was a kid! Truth is, we’d rather take a beating than remember some of the words that were said. That tongue of ours is like having a loaded 357. Make sure the safety is on, and see that it’s stored in a secure location.

Words need to be examined, just like an unusual growth that appears on the skin somewhere. This thing could be a killer, killing something in us and doing damage to someone else. We not only need to be careful with what we say, but also with how we say it.

Matthew 12:36

I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak,

Proverbs 12:18

There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts,
but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

Proverbs 15:1

A soft answer turns away wrath,
but a harsh word stirs up anger.

No, words can’t break bones, but they certainly break hearts.

Give it some thought.

Gary

Please don’t put ketchup in your gas tank. As a matter of fact, don’t click on the link that shows someone doing just that. It’s called clickbait. The definition is something (such as a headline) designed to make readers want to click on a hyperlink. It spells scam. No, it didn’t happen to me.

There is a plethora of scams that come through the internet and through the phone lines that are designed to draw you in. What amazes me is the number of people who succumb to that trickery, yet they won’t believe the Word of God.

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.

You won’t be ashamed rightly dividing the Word of Truth, but you will be ashamed if you put ketchup in your fuel tank.

Think about it.

Gary

Can you imagine the work in building a house? Very few people do, but those who have, sweat just thinking about it. However, what if it burnt down before the insurance policy went into effect.

Can you imagine being on guard for the enemy, and all the time, he is digging under you to come up from behind?  Surprise!  These are two interesting statements found in the Word of God.

Psalm 127:1

Unless the Lord builds the house,
They labor in vain who build it;

Unless the Lord guards the city,
The watchman stays awake in vain.

If God is not in your equation, you will never come out with the right answer.

Give it some thought.

Gary

In teaching the disciples how to pray, Jesus made the following statement about time:

Matthew 6:11

Give us this day our daily bread.

There is an old gospel hymn that emphasizes our awareness of our need of Him to an even shorter time frame:

I need Thee every hour
Most gracious Lord
No tender voice like Thine
Can peace afford

I need Thee, O I need Thee
Every hour I need Thee
O bless me now, my Savior
I come to Thee

I need Thee every hour
Stay Thou nearby
Temptations lose their power
When Thou art nigh

I know it is in old English, but it is sure worth appreciating.

Take the time to give it some thought.

Gary

The teacher was struggling to get those boots on to Johnny’s feet so he could go out and play in the snow during recess. After much effort, she finally got the boots on the feet when Johnny said, “These are not my boots.” She took a deep breath and worked the boots off of Johnnie’s feet. She asked, “Where are your boots?” He replied, “There’re home. I’m wearing my sister’s boots today, the ones you just took off.”

Sometimes we’re just trying to accomplish things without having all the information necessary. That was certainly true with my previous story. We don’t know everything, and some things just have to be done over and over again.

1 Peter 5:6-7

 “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” 

It takes humility to be a kindergarten teacher, and it takes humility to be a Christian.

Think about it.

Gary

Rev 21:4

And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

He needed to stop at a cemetery as we were journeying back from Boston. I knew where we were going although he couldn’t verbalize it. We were two old men standing there before the tombstone of his only son whose name was emblazoned there. I couldn’t say anything that would be appropriate because I couldn’t feel the pain the way he did.

I never thought the day would come when the same thing would happen to me. Now I reflect back on that scene. He just wanted me there and I didn’t have to say anything. There are times when we don’t have to say anything, just be there.

A special thanks to the many that stood there with us when we were in that kind of pain. Their presence meant so much then, and it still lingers to the present. Thank you.

There’ll be no sorrows there
No more burdens to bear
No more sickness and no more pain
No more parting over there
But forever I will be
With the one who died for me
What a day, glorious day that will be

Think about it.

Gary