This headline caught my eye: The foods that make you smell more, according to science.

Now this is not our major problem regarding the embarrassment scale. The overriding humiliation that is produced by us comes from our speech and not our body. Our words make us more or less attractive.

The Apostle Paul is a case in point:

Acts 20:36-38

And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all. Then they all wept freely, and fell on Paul’s neck and kissed him, sorrowing most of all for the words which he spoke, that they would see his face no more. And they accompanied him to the ship.

My prayer is that when I depart, people will miss me for my words and not the way I smell. But as many of you know, I do hope that the offending foods are broccoli and raisins, which I would gladly keep out of my diet.

Give it some thought.

Gary

In the greatest difficulties, in the heaviest trials, in the deepest poverty and necessities, He has never failed me; but because I was enabled by His grace to trust Him He has always appeared for my help. I delight in speaking well of His name.

–       George Müller

George Müller was famous for his orphanages in Bristol, England, where he cared for over 10,000 orphans throughout his life. He trusted Christ in what seemed like insurmountable odds and proved God to be true to His Word.

Maybe we haven’t experienced such results in our lives because, when God asked us to step out by faith, we refused.

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.

Matthew 21:22 

And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.”

Step out and experience the hand of God working on your behalf. Give it some consideration.

Gary

“Maine, the way life should be,” that was the advertising motto for the state of Maine for many years. I grew up here and concur with that statement. There is no other place on the planet I would rather be than here. The other 49 states have nothing to offer me.

However, there is one more state to consider and that is the one mentioned in Scripture.

Philippians 4:11

Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content:

Psalm 144:15

Happy are the people who are in such a state; Happy are the people whose God is the Lord!

1 Corinthians 7:24

Brethren, let each one remain with God in that state in which he was called.

Memorize these states; they will do you well. Give it some thought.

Gary

A good leader is someone who knows what he’s bad at, and hires someone who’s good at it to take care of it for him.                                                                                        – John Flanagan

I’ve seen that played out by the best. Many have become rich because they followed that principle. On the other hand, many have lost their shirt because they believed they were good at everything.

Salvation is a case in point. We can’t save ourselves or keep ourselves and that must be etched into the fiber of our being.

Jesus can save, keep, and deliver, and in Him we must trust and not ourselves. We are incapable of doing the job.

Psalm 9:10 

And those who know Your name put their trust in You, for You, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You.

Psalm 40:4 

Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust, who does not turn to the proud, to those who go astray after a lie!

As the perfect Lamb of God, He has done what we are incapable of.   Give it some thought.

Gary

 He is Able

“The facts are that there are, in fact, two sexes — there are male and female — and those sexes are designated by the kind of gametes we produce.”                                                                                                                          Harvard professor Carole Hooven

I wonder how many millions of years it took for those gametes to show up in the evolutionary process. Then the question is why male and female?

I believe the Bible because it answers all the questions and requires less faith than evolution.

Genesis 1:27 

So, God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 

Romans 1:22

Professing to be wise, they became fools,

Don’t be a fool. Believe God. Give it some thought.

Gary

“My advice is, never do tomorrow what you can do today. Procrastination is the thief of time. Collar him!”  

                                                                      – Charles Dickens, David Copperfield

Did the Bible address this concept before Charlie and David did? Glad you asked.

Proverbs 13:4 

The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied. 

Ephesians 5:15-17 

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

Don’t let this thief steal your productivity. Set up a security system. Get him before he gets you.

Gary

It is terrible to speak well and be wrong.

–        Sophocles

This is for lawyers, politicians and preachers. Most of this error in speech comes from these three groups of individuals, although not everyone is guilty (especially my sister-in-law who is my favorite lawyer). The Bible protects us from them because the Scriptures are the repository of truth and not the craftiness of man.

1 Timothy 6:20 

O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called “knowledge,”

2 Timothy 4:3-4 

For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.

Some always say what the majority enjoy hearing, and they don’t let truth interfere.

Give it some consideration.

Gary