A skeleton walks into a bar. The bartender says, “What’ll you have?”

The skeleton says, “Gimme a beer and a mop.”

That’s a problem with the vast majority of humanity. They sure are capable of leaving a real mess behind.

Make contact with the One who can clothe you with perfection and there will be less trouble along the way.

Isaiah 61:10 

I will greatly rejoice in the Lord; my soul shall exult in my God, for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation; He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

Romans 13:14 

But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

Don’t be drinking of what this world has to offer. It can cause a real mess.  Give it some thought.

Gary

Little faith will bring your soul to heaven, but great faith will bring heaven to your soul.

–       Unknown

If you bought a new vehicle, wouldn’t you want to road test it to see if it lived up to its advertised possibilities? So, it is with God. Is He what He claims to be as revealed in Holy Writ?

Malachi 3:10 

Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house. And thereby put Me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.

This command was to Israel about putting God first. Try that for yourself. Time is slipping by.

Gary

Two hunters are out in the woods when one of them collapses. He’s not breathing and his eyes are glazed. The other guy whips out his cell phone and calls 911.

“I think my friend is dead!” he yells. “What can I do?”

The operator says, “Calm down. First, let’s make sure he’s dead.”

There’s a silence, then a shot. Back on the phone, the guy says, “OK, now what?”

Lesson: be more specific when giving directions about life and death because God does.

John 3:36

He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”

John 5:24

“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.

Is that specific enough? Give it some thought.

Gary

“Never Been to Spain”—written by Hoyt Axton and famously recorded by Three Dog Night (and later Elvis Presley)—is an anthem of daydreaming and wanderlust.

One stanza states, Well, I’ve never been to heaven, but I’ve been to Oklahoma.

I’ve never been to heaven either, but I’ve been to Oklahoma. However, I will go to heaven and unlike the before-mentioned song, it’s a reality and not a dream. I say that because of the following verse:

1 John 5:13

These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.

Going back to Oklahoma doesn’t interest me, but heaven is on my travel plans. How about you? Give it some thought.

Gary

There are three kinds of men. The one that learns by reading. The few who learn by observation. The rest of them have to pee on the electric fence for themselves.

–       Will Rogers

Any man growing up near an electric fence knows that the new kid was pressured into doing such a thing. It’s certainly not a good way to learn what the cows already know from experience.

Speaking of helpful knowledge, here are some good verses:

Jude 1:5

Though you already know all this, I want to remind you that the Lord at one time delivered His people out of Egypt, but later destroyed those who did not believe.

1 John 2:5

But if anyone obeys His word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in Him:

1 John 3:19

This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in His presence:

Divine knowledge will prevent you from being shocked. Give it some consideration.

Gary

Sad after the funeral of a friend, my wife and I ducked into a Chinese restaurant for a pick-me-up. The feel-good session ended when I read the fortune cookie: “You will soon be reunited with a good friend.” 

– Stanley Heerboth

He looked to the paper inside a cookie, so what did he expect? Some use tea leaves, astromancy, horary astrology, pendulum reading, spirit board reading, cartomancy (fortune telling with cards), tarot card reading, crystallomancy (reading of a crystal sphere), and the list goes on. I’m just curious, but what is your method of predicting the future?

Jeremiah 29:11 

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

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. Eat the cookie and disregard the paper.

Gary

“Anyone want to buy some exercise equipment? I’m having a going-out-of-fitness sale.” 

When do we finally admit that exercise equipment alone will not get us into shape? We may have the equipment, but without the time, will, and motivation to use it consistently, it cannot make the difference for us.

Now bring that same thought closer to home. Many of us say things like: “I’m going to start reading through the Bible tomorrow.” “I’m going to make prayer a priority starting tomorrow.” or “I know I can do better, and I will—starting tomorrow.”

But how many people never received the tomorrow they were counting on? Maybe that includes you in some area of life. It is worth serious consideration.

James 4:13-14

Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. 

Gary