It’s 1965.  I’m under the covers with my little transistor radio, listening to the Cyrkle singing “Red Rubber Ball.” I’m sure you’ve never heard tell of that group. They never really made it as a rock band, basically only one hit. I was just enjoying a short piece of their existence. Looking back, it amazes me how many insignificant events make up one’s life. The memory is there after sixty years but holds no context. I’m sure glad there are other memories that I can be thankful for because they have given me the life I have today.

Why do I write this? My answer – I want you to plug the memory stick in and review the things you should be thankful for, the things of God that have given you a real life, not the world’s offerings.

Ephesians 5:20 

Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

Colossians 3:17 

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

Psalm 103:2 

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits,

I’m glad I no longer go to bed with a transistor radio. Give it some thought.

Gary

The old house I was born in had a closet under the stairs, stairs which went up to the attic. There was a curtain covering the little opening to that space. Mom stored all the bedding for a family of ten there. Of course, summers held much more material than winter.  In my early youth, there were times that I would escape there when I was confused by life on the planet.

The old house no longer exists, but I still need a place to hide sometimes. Now it is in a person whom I was introduced to in 1974. His name is Jesus and He is my hiding place.

Colossians 3:3

For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

Hebrews 4:13

And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.

He’s a good place to hide. Give it some thought.

Gary

Do you want to visualize your most precious gift, the one you absolutely don’t deserve? It’s a gift that keeps on giving, one that can never be lost or stolen. Set your eyes on Calvary some 2000 years ago, to that horrible scene played out for you.

James 1:17 

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

Romans 6:23 

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

2 Corinthians 9:15 

Thanks be to God for His inexpressible gift!

He’s the real giver. Give it some thought.

Gary

The lyrics implied that at a young age she learned how to open doors with just a smile. Now that is not a gift from God, but a work of the flesh to manipulate others. Someday, she would realize that those doors should never have been opened. So many doors to choose from in such a little time.

The Apostle Paul searched for open-door possibilities not brought about by smiles.

1 Corinthians 16:9

For a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.

2 Corinthians 2:12

Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ’s gospel, and a door was opened to me by the Lord,

Careful when opening doors, but the ones God opens, enter in by faith. Give it some thought.

Gary

The singer said, “Life is best when left to chance.”

Based on life’s experiences, I’d say that that is a very dangerous philosophy for many.  The multiple uncertainties of life curse that belief system.  Wouldn’t it be better to leave the future to the only One who knows the days of our lives?

Proverbs 16:9 

The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.

James 4:13-15 

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. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.”

Don’t leave life to chance because it will end in tragedy.  Give it some thought.

Gary

I stared at one of the bricks in the wall of the high school gym in my hometown. I’m thinking, if that brick could only talk. It would bring back memories of youth, excitement, fun and all the drama that the teenage years bring. As teenagers, we didn’t have a clue about life and weren’t about to listen to the insights of the older generation represented by the brick I was now staring at. Truthfully, we couldn’t wait to get away from those bricks. Now an old man is staring at a brick in the wall. Someone needs to come and take me away because I’m listening to a brick.

John 10:20 

Many of them said, “He has a demon, and is insane; why listen to Him?”

Ecclesiastes 10:13 

The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness, and the end of his talk is evil madness.

Acts 26:25 

But Paul said, “I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I am speaking true and rational words.

I pray this devotional makes sense to you. It is just the reflections bounced off a brick.

Gary

“I am a rock” is a metaphor meaning that someone is emotionally strong, stable, and unyielding, like a physical rock, often implying a sense of isolation or detachment from others, as famously used in the Simon & Garfunkel song, “I Am a Rock.”

This theory does not hold any water in real life. We were not designed to be alone. Too much of a fulfilled life depends on the actions of others. The outcome is not only based on decisions made on our part, but also on the input of  those who helped to shape us.  Listen to Scripture.

Philippians 2:3 

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.

1 Peter 3:8 

Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.

Give it some consideration and thank God for those who made you the person you are today.

Gary