“It is often the small steps, not the giant leaps, that bring about the most lasting change.”
—Queen Elizabeth II

I don’t know how much the queen knew about the Bible, but that is a general theme the book will support.

Proverbs 4:12 – Literal translation

“As you go, step by step I will open up the way before you”

Isaiah 28:10

For it is precept upon precept, precept upon precept,
line upon line, line upon line,
here a little, there a little.”

Directions for eating an elephant: one bite at a time. Give it some thought and fill yourself with the Scriptures.

Gary

There was a cost to raising a boy in the Allagash in the 60’s. My dad had to pay the price for one son in particular because of damaged vehicles, hospital stays, liquor, gambling, movies and dates. That was on top of the price my brother incurred. Luckily, I don’t think Dad considered the drain on his finances. He was just struggling through life.

Never did repay Dad for raising me. Too late now, he’s been gone for forty-one years.

Do you have anyone you owe a debt to?

Romans 13:7 

Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.

Matthew 6:12 

And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

Pay your debts before it is too late. Give it some thought.

Gary

Mom and Dad taught me to hate fishing. They were avid outdoorsmen.  I had to be with them until I got old enough to stay home alone. To me, fishing was boring and the heat was oppressive, along with the swarms of hungry blackflies. Even after almost seventy years, I won’t eat fish. I love canoeing and hiking, but if anyone brings a fishing pole, they can’t come with my group.

From my previous paragraph, do you get the impression there’s an activity I despise?  Amazing what words can do.

Psalm 19:14 

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

Matthew 12:37 

For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Too many long fishing trips traumatized me as a child. Did my words allow you to feel my exasperation? Words can be powerful.

Give it some thought.

Gary

I feed birds during the winter months and they aren’t even thankful. Seed and suet I provide for them at my expense and they could care less. I wonder if they realize that, if I weren’t doing this, God would just use another resource of His to supply their needs.

I then consider us as believers. Do we acknowledge God’s provision or do we believe it’s just our own ingenuity or time and chance that meets our needs?   Scripture certainly makes it clear.

Luke 12:24

Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds?

God’s caring for you. Thank Him and give it some thought.

Gary

It was a statement made by Jimmy Stewart in the movie The Shop Around the Corner (1940) “You know, people seldom go to the trouble of scratching the surface of things to find the inner truth.”

That thought certainly relates to most people when it comes to the Scriptures. The majority just give it a cursory look and then walk away. However, true seekers spend the time to understand exactly what God is communicating.

Jeremiah 29:13

You will seek Me and find Me, when you seek Me with all your heart.

Acts 17:11

These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.

Go deep because it is certainly worth the effort. Give it some thought.

Gary

“Beau”  is the name of a poem written by Jimmy Stewart and published in 1989. Not only was Jimmy, my favorite actor, but this poem is also my favorite about the companionship of a four-legged friend.  Strange, how those canines come into our lives and, though a nuisance from time to time, have a special place in our hearts. I know a lot of Christians who may also be a challenge, but, unbelievably, they spice up my life.

1 John 3:14 

We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death.

1 John 2:10 

Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling.

We’re all in this together and we shouldn’t wait to miss a person only after he is taken. Give it some thought.

Gary

If you want to read about bad decisions and needless deaths, consider the Book of Ruth. Senselessly, the patriarch of the family caused them to leave the place of God’s choosing, to inhabit a place with the curse of God on it. This is never a good move, but has been the practice for multitudes since the beginning of time. The place of death will never be maxed out. This family’s tragedies were spread over a period of ten years.

Ruth 1:5

Then both Mahlon and Chilion also died; so the woman survived her two sons and her husband.

Be firmly planted in the will of God and don’t move. Give it some thought.

Romans 12:2 

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Give it some thought.

Gary