I’ve discovered that the upcoming election is rigged. The problem is no one can do anything about it because it is rigged by God. If you think that is a revelation, He is also in charge of the environmental issues.

Besides all of that, He interferes with our mental processes. The FBI can investigate but have no power to bring about a change.

Daniel 2:21

And He changes the times and the seasons;
He removes kings and raises up kings;
He gives wisdom to the wise
And knowledge to those who have understanding.

This election is a nightmare, a statement with which I am sure all of you agree and it doesn’t matter which candidate you support. Daniel was interpreting a nightmare when God inspired him to make that statement.

Think about it and find comfort.

Gary

She was ahead of me in line at the supermarket. I could tell the elderly lady was confused and the clerk was becoming embarrassed, not knowing how to handle the situation.

As I listened, it became clear this individual didn’t have enough money to pay for all her groceries and was trying to decide which items to put back.

I’m hopeful you would have done the same thing as I did in this situation. I caught the clerk’s eye, held up my credit card and said I was coming good for all her groceries.

This elderly lady was trying desperately to thank me when I said, “Merry Christmas.” I think it was in the month of May.

2 Thessalonians 3:13
But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good.

When those situations are right in front of you, do good.

Give it some thought.

Gary

As I was going down the line introducing some stranger to the people I thought I knew, catastrophe hit. As I was proceeding from one to the next, I realized I couldn’t bring the last person’s name up from the hard drive.

The individual said, “I can’t believe you don’t know my name.”

I had known it for many years but not today. As embarrassed as I was, I could offer no logical explanation as to the lapse in memory.

There’s a lot I don’t know and much that I once knew is gone.

However, I am familiar with a God that not only knows every star in the universe but has named every one. He could even tell me the number of hairs on my head.

Psalm 145:4-5

He determines the number of the stars;
    he gives to all of them their names.
Great is our Lord, and abundant in power;
    his understanding is beyond measure.

1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 (that’s 1 billion trillion), is about the right number when it comes to stars. Did you know that? Now name them.

Give it some thought.

Gary

It was a Mac truck I was driving, loaded with logs; the road was icy caused by a freezing rain. Trying to climb that hill was really taking a gamble and I lost. As the tractor trailer refused to climb any higher and took on a mind of its own, I lost my head and jumped.

That’s the wrong thing to do and is very dangerous; however God gave me a pass. Even the semi didn’t do badly. It broke through a snowbank, jackknifed and miraculously didn’t upset. We both survived intact for which I was very grateful.

Many times in life’s challenges I jumped when I should have stayed with my responsibilities. Staying, many times, is worth overcoming the crazy things fear does to us.

James 1:12 

Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.

Don’t jump.

Think about it.

Gary

He was a missionary to Newfoundland, and because he was from my home town, I followed his faithful service closely. He wasn’t a big man, but he was a man who had the ability to overcome his fears. This missionary would enter a logging camp or mining camp and invite the men out to his gospel service.

I saw Irishmen built like him, from the same genepool, walk into a bar and not fear anyone or at least give that appearance.  This soldier of the cross was using his genetic makeup for the sake of the gospel.

This Christian worker reminds me of the apostle Paul who overcame fear to do the work God called him to.

2 Corinthians 7:5

For indeed, when we came to Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were troubled on every side. Outside were conflicts, inside were fears.

If fear had kept Paul and his companions from Corinth, what would have been the consequences?

Give it some thought.

Gary

“Make Your Bed “by Admiral William H. McRaven is a speech delivered at the commencement address to the graduates of the University of Texas at Austin on May 17, 2014. Later this speech became a bestselling book. The theme was that if you can accomplish one thing right at the start of the day, it will greatly improve your chances of doing greater things right during the rest of the day.

There is a poem I enjoy that follows the same theme.

God in the Morning
Ralph Spaulding Cushman

I met God in the morning
When my day was at its best,
And His presence came like sunrise,
Like a glory in my breast.

All day long the Presence lingered,
All day long He stayed with me,
And we sailed in perfect calmness
O’er a very troubled sea.

Other ships were blown and battered,
Other ships were sore distressed,
But the winds that seemed to drive them
Brought to us a peace and rest.

Then I thought of other mornings,
With a keen remorse of mind,
When I too had loosed the moorings,
With the Presence left behind.

So I think I know the secret,
Learned from many a troubled way:
You must seek Him in the morning
If you want Him through the day!

Matthew 6:33

“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

Give it some thought.

Gary

My brother was a scaler for Great Northern Paper Company for over thirty years. There were a few times when he would ask me to spend a day with him on the job in his company truck. Looking back, I regret not accompanying him more often.

One tremendous statement he made that will always stick with me: “Don’t let any of these employees try and convince you of how hard we work, because the truth is, none of us work hard.” My brother was either humble or just telling it the way it was.

Jesus offered us an easy job.

Matthew 11:28-29

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Let Him carry some of that and the load will get easier. Don’t be deceived by someone telling you how hard he or she works.

Give it some thought.

Gary