Can Google, Safari, YouTube, and AI replace the advice of our elders? Can the information from our many friends on Facebook give us information on how to bring up children, have a proper marriage, and be a good employee? Do those of the younger generation have all the information about life to make it workable? Whatever happened for the need of Scripture?

Hebrews 4:12 

For the Word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Matthew 4:4 

But He answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

Being as to how limited I am, I’ll stick to the wisdom found in His Word. Give it some consideration.

Gary

“El Paso” by Marty Robbins tells a story of a cowboy who falls in love with a dancer named Feleena at Rosa’s Cantina in El Paso. He kills another man in a jealous rage, flees the town, but is drawn back by his love for this woman. Upon returning, he is shot by a posse, but dies in Feleena’s arms.

Lesson: What you fall in love with can kill you.

1 John 2:15

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

James 2:5

Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which He has promised to those who love Him?

Be careful if what you love doesn’t love you back. Give it some thought.

Gary

I remember swimming the rivers at high water and enjoying the challenge. When we moved near the lake, traversing the lake was a thrill. Now I view them longingly, but my body says, “O foolish one, those days are long past.”

Life just gives you one chance at many things. I’m so thankful the Gospel was introduced to me over a half century ago, and I grabbed it before it slipped away forever. Salvation is something you can’t let slip away.

Romans 10:9 

Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

Psalm 37:39 

The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord; He is their stronghold in the time of trouble.

Don’t fool with this. Give it some consideration.

Gary

So many entities in our lifetime have made plans for us. Then we had plans of our own which often collided with those other plans and left a field of debris. However, there is One whose plans are always for our welfare. You guessed it.

Jeremiah 29:11-13

“For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all of your heart.”

Tap into the One who knows the future. Give it some thought.

Gary

Perseverance is the quality of continuing with something or pursuing a goal despite difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement. It involves steadfast effort and determination to finish what one starts, and it is often described as a form of “grit” essential for achieving long-term success.

James 5:11

As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.

Think of the many and varied aspects of life that require this ability. Give it some thought and hang in there.

Gary

The group called The Animals belted it out in 1965 and titled it, “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood.”

“Don’t let me be misunderstood” means “Please understand that although I sometimes seem negative or angry, my intentions are good.” It is a plea for understanding. It begs others to look beyond temporary negative actions or words to see the inherent good in that person, acknowledging his or her complexities and imperfections.

Been there, done that is the common colloquialism. We all cry out for understanding on occasion. Does God answer that? Glad you asked.

Psalm 103:13-14

As a father pities his children,
So the Lord pities those who fear Him.

For He knows our frame;
He remembers that we are dust.

God is a God who knows us (and all of our shortcomings) intimately, yet He still loves us infinitely. Give it some thought.

Gary

“You can’t be that kid standing at the top of the waterslide, overthinking it. You have to go down the chute.” —Tina Fey

I don’t know how much Tina knows about Scripture, but that is the driving force behind faith.  Hebrews 11 is all about that. Here’s one verse:

Hebrews 11:6 

And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him.

Have you taken note of the kinds of experiences that require a step of faith? Life will offer them to you.  As a believer, you should trust Him to catch you in His faithful arms. Give it some thought.

Gary