The song “Baptism of Jesse Taylor” by Connie Smith tells the story of a reformed man who is baptized in Cedar Creek, and the impact the change in his life has on his community. The lyrics focus on Jesse’s past struggles with drinking, gambling, and trouble with the law and his transformation into a devout Christian. It was released in 1973.

There have been a lot of Jesse’s over the millenniums. Maybe you are one.

2 Corinthians 5:17 

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

Colossians 3:10 

And have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.

I’ve experienced that transformation and I’ve witnessed it in many others  over the years.

Give it some thought.

Gary

I’ve learned – that you cannot make someone love you.
All you can do is be someone who can be loved.
The rest is up to them.

–       Unknown author

1 John 4:19

We love because He first loved us.

1 Corinthians 16:14 

Let all that you do be done in love.

1 John 4:8 

Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.

Is tough love, not love?  Give it some thought.

Gary

Someone once stated, “I’ve learned –
that no matter how much I care,
some people just don’t care back.”

Not every investment has a return. So that you’re not hurt, this fact must be realized – you can’t win them all.

“Cast your bread upon the waters” is a proverb from Ecclesiastes 11:1. This means to be generous and do good, even if a return seems unlikely, for the good you do will eventually come back to you.

Give it some thought.

Gary

Just got done reading the biography of the college president that was at my school during my Bible training. He was truly an exceptional person and my debt to him was never repaid. However, I’ve taken the principles I obtained under his ministry and spread them out to others over the last forty-six years. I guess you could say, I paid them forward. Does the Bible address this?  Glad you asked.

Matthew 5:13-16

“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

On one of his speaking engagements at our church, that college president helped put insulation up for one of our members.  He did exactly what these verses speak of.

Give it some thought and follow in the footsteps of those who’ve allowed God to lead them along.

Gary

Her mother died when she was just a young child. Because her mother and mine were sisters, she was a first cousin. The family next door to us adopted her. In spite of the fact that they had the same last name as we did, we were not related. As an eight-year-old, I couldn’t comprehend why she now had our last name, but was no longer a cousin. Did you follow that? Life can be very confusing at times.

As Christians, people who are not related to us become our brothers and sisters.

John 1:12

But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God, 

Matthew 12:48-50

But He answered and said to the one who told Him, “Who is My mother and who are My brothers?” And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, “Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.”

Different family – new relatives, hmm. Give it some thought.

Gary

What is the magnetism out there that draws you from the light? What clown are you following at this carnival? Why are you doing a highwire act without a net? Consider the questions and then read Luke 14:15-22.

2 Corinthians 4:17-18 

For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, As we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

Give it some thought.

Gary

It just seems like every day I had to stand before the third-grade teacher’s desk and get whacked on the hand by her rulers. When she wasn’t pulling me by the ears, she was whacking me on the hand. God bless her, she was only doing what should have been done at home. The brat was inexperienced when it came to discipline. She’s gone now and I’m sorry I never got to tell her that I’m thankful her concern was to keep me in line. It made me a better person.

Hebrews 12:11 

For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

Proverbs 12:1 

Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid.

I still get whacked once in a while, but not by a ruler. Give it some thought.

Gary