A New York family bought a ranch out West where they intended to raise cattle. Friends visited and asked if the ranch had a name.
“Well,” said the would-be cattleman, “I wanted to name it the Bar-J. My wife favored Suzy-Q, one son liked the Flying-W, and the other wanted the Lazy-Y. So we’re calling it The Bar-J-Suzy-Q-Flying-W-Lazy-Y.”

“But where are all your cattle?” the friends asked.

“Well, none survived the branding!”

You just can’t satisfy everyone. There are times that an intelligent decision has to be made for the good of all. Here are some helpful verses.

2 John 1:8 

Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward.

James 1:5 

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.

Psalm 86:11 

Teach me Your way, O Lord, that I may walk in Your truth; unite my heart to fear Your name.

Give it some thought and, before God, make a decision that will help instead of hurt.

Gary

A thirsty man sees a water pump in the middle of the desert. His water bottles are empty and he comes upon this pump. Tied to it is a hand-written note put there by someone before him. The note reads “I have buried a bottle of water to prime the pump. Don’t drink any of it. Pour in half of it to wet the leather. Wait, and then pour in the rest. Then pump. The well has never gone dry, but the pump must be primed to bring the water up. When you are through drawing water, refill the bottle and bury it in the sand for the next traveler.” Warning! You are going to be tempted to not believe this note and want to just consume the bottle. If you do, you’ll soon be thirsty again, and so will be everyone else that follows you!

Philippians 2:3 

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

Luke 6:31 

And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.

Give it some thought and pass it on.

Gary

There was a cartoon several years ago in the Saturday Review of Literature in which little George Washington is standing with an axe in his hand. Before him, lying on the ground, is the famous cherry tree. He has already made his smug admission that he did it — after all, he “cannot tell a lie.” But his father is standing there, exasperated, saying, “All right, so you admit it! You always admit it! The question is, when are you going to stop doing it?”

There are many like George who feel bad about what they do but can’t seem to turn away from it. There are multitudes of organizations set up to help such individuals, but they experience limited success. If only they would trust in the One who gives victory.

Deuteronomy 20:4 

For the Lord your God is He who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies, to give you the victory.’

1 Corinthians 15:57 

But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Philippians 4:13 

I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

Give it some thought concerning your addiction.

Gary

One thing our little dog, Buttons, hated was cats. One time she even pulled a hamstring, chasing a cat. On this particular day, Paula and I were taking a walk along the highway when I spotted a cat on the other side of the road. I thought it best not to make a grab for the dog, for a car was approaching.  Unfortunately, at the last second Buttons spotted the cat and off she went. That turned out to be the last cat she would ever chase.

My application is this: Don’t let the things you hate in life destroy you. Remember, God made cats also. We all have a purpose, even cats.

Romans 12:19 

Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”

Ephesians 4:26-27 

Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil.

Don’t pussyfoot around this one. Give it some thought.

Gary

 “We die containing a richness of lovers and tribes, tastes we have swallowed, bodies we have plunged into and swum up as if rivers of wisdom, characters we have climbed into as if trees, fears we have hidden in as if caves.”

                                                                                 – Michael Ondaatje

I think he had that one pegged. Life is complicated with enumerable challenges. How do we navigate through this swamp full of alligators and snakes? Glad you asked because the One who put us here has given to us the GPS to make it safely to the other shore.

Joshua 1:9 

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” 

Mark 6:34 

When He went ashore, He saw a great crowd, and He had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And He began to teach them many things.

Give it some thought.

Gary

In 2 Samuel 22, we find four giants who were descendants of Goliath. David went to war with the Philistines and these four characters showed up. David couldn’t handle them like he did their father. His age was an impediment. Others had to recognize that about David and protect him from himself.

When I start not making sense in these devotionals, please be like David’s men and let me know. Be kind, but be firm. Everyone has a time to let go, but may it be in God’s time.

Isaiah 46:4 

Even to your old age I am He, and to gray hairs I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save.

Psalm 71:18 

So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim Your might to another generation, Your power to all those to come.

Psalm 71:9 

Do not cast me off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength is spent.

Give it some thought.

Gary, one who is leaning heavily on these very verses

You know what a cubicle basically says? It basically says, like, ‘You know what? We don’t think you’re smart enough for an office, but we don’t want you to look at anybody.’
                                                                                          ~ Bill Burr

Someone has to do it and millions do. Some refer to those on an assembly line as drones, for they are doing the same thing every day without much thought. The irony is that we all need to make a living, and for the majority, monotony can be the daily, but necessary grind.

Over three thousand years ago, the smartest man in the world described it this way:

Ecclesiastes 2:22,17

What do people get for all the toil and anxious striving with which they labor under the sun?

Therefore I hated life because the work that was done under the sun was distressing to me, for all is vanity and grasping for the wind.

According to Solomon, if God isn’t in it, work is empty. However, Paul made it very clear that if God is in it, it is not for nothing.

Colossians 3:23

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,

Give it some thought.

Gary