Walking through brush with a chainsaw in hand while the chain is turning is never a good idea. However, that is exactly what I was doing when I tripped and fell on the saw. A shock went through my left arm and I looked down to see the blood that pooled in the wound. I turned my wrist and dumped the blood which revealed an unrestricted view of tendons and blood vessels. It amazed me that neither the tendons nor major vessels were severed. A multitude of stitches from old “Doc Patch-it” and three weeks of light labor and I was good to go again.

You guessed it, the Bible does have some things to say about stumbling.

Psalm 37:23-24

The LORD directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the LORD holds them by the hand. 

Romans 14:13

Therefore, let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister.

Stumbling is a subject that we as believers should take seriously. We walk through some dangerous territory in this world of ours. Protect yourself and others.

Give it some thought.

Gary

“If you make your bed every morning, you will have accomplished the first task of the day. It will give you a small sense of pride and it will encourage you to do another task and another and another. By the end of the day, that one task completed will have turned into many tasks completed.”

This was a speech delivered as the commencement address to the graduates of the University of Texas at Austin on May 17, 2014, by Admiral William H. McRaven. This is a must-read book or speech that can be viewed on YouTube.

The Bible speaks of accomplishments:

2 Corinthians 8:11

But now finish doing it also, so that just as there was the readiness to desire it, so there may be also the completion of it by your ability.

Hebrews 13:21

equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

Start accomplishing something first thing in the morning and continue throughout the day.

Give it some thought.

Gary

On a fishing trip to a remote lake in Northern Quebec, a man asked the outfitter, “Do you stay here during the winter?”

“No,” he said. “The snow gets too deep. We can’t get supplies in. Like many Canadians, I go south for the winter.”

“Oh,” he said. “Where do you go?”

“Vermont.”

For that Quebecer that is where the warm weather is, but for the Vermonter, Florida is where the warmth lies. Both were looking for a place where they could be content. Are you content where you’re at?

1 Timothy 6:6-8 

But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. 

2 Corinthians 12:10 

For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Give it some thought before you move too far south.

Gary

The blue lights came out of nowhere and I knew I had been had. I watched the trooper in the review mirror and realized this was going to make a dent in my wallet. Bending down and staring me eyeball to eyeball he asked, “Are you in a hurry?”

 I said, “No, I was just speeding.”

 He replied, “OK, just keep it down.” He then returned to his car and drove away.

I’ve told some lies in my lifetime to make believe I was better than I really am, but that time, I just admitted the truth. The truth paid off and I think the trooper appreciated it because he so seldom heard it.

Proverbs 12:22 

Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who act faithfully are his delight. 

1 John 1:8 

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

Give it some thought; it could save you some money and who knows what else.

Gary

Mark 10:14 Jesus says, “Allow the children to come to Me … for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” That tells us a child can understand the simple gospel message. Religion has certainly muddied the waters of redemption. Some teach salvation is like joining a college fraternity. You must do a lot of dumb things and suffer to get in.

How simple it is!

Ephesians 2:8-9 

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 

Acts 4:12 

And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

Romans 10:9 

Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Give it some thought.

Gary

“With a Little Help from My Friends” is a song that came out of the sixties. Old codgers like me who came through the sixties still have the lyrics and melody rattling around in our heads. In those days, we usually heard that song in the company of our friends. The years came and went like the river flowing under the Allagash bridge. However, most of those friends remain true and I am thankful for them. I couldn’t make it through life without them.

God has a way of bringing people into our lives to make the journey more enjoyable. The Biblical example of that is the account of David and Jonathan, found in the book of 1st Samuel.

1 Samuel 18:1

As soon as he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.

They are the air that gives us lift.

Give it some thought.

Gary

I have a faded picture somewhere of my four-year-old son standing on my shoulders. I taught him that he could do that and trust me. Like a kid discovering some new thrill, the smile on his face spoke volumes.

Our Father puts us into fearful situations to teach us lessons we can learn no other way. When the lesson is mastered, our soul rejoices. Don’t be afraid of His leading. A case in point is when Jesus asked the disciples to cross over the sea and they were confronted by a terrible storm.

Mark 4:40

But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” 

Do what the Master tells you to do and you’ll be thrilled by the results.

Give it some thought.

Gary