A while back, I read the story of Seabiscuit. He was a horse who won 33 of 89 races in the 1930’s. The amazing thing about this racehorse was the fact that he was smaller than all his competitors, was difficult to train and loved eating and sleeping. However, he was a winner.

He reminds me of many of the saints in both Old and New Testaments, and some of the saints living at the present time. Most would never be considered by the world to be winning material, but they have proven themselves in the race of life.

1 Corinthians 9:24

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.

Hebrews 12:1

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

Give it some thought, even if you are an old nag.

Gary

 “Oh, you hate your job? Why didn’t you say so? There’s a support group for that. It’s called Everybody, and they meet at the bar.”

 —Drew Carey

So many meanings of words are being changed in our culture, it’s hard to keep up. Case in point is the word: work. Now society wants it to mean fun, fulfilling or rewarding. It won’t work because work is still work and more often than not it doesn’t have those attributes.

Galatians 6:4-5

 But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor.  For each will have to bear his own load.

Psalms 90:17

May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us— yes, establish the work of our hands.

God created us to work and changing the definition will not make it any easier.

Think about it.

Gary

So many in our country are worried about the Chinese threat. Then some are concerned about the Russian menace. We mustn’t forget those who fear the political agenda of one party or the other. On top of all of that, there is climate change to keep you in a tither at night. But they all have it misplaced because our real fear should be of God. He, no doubt, has had about enough of our shenanigans.

Revelation 6:17

for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?”

Revelation 3:10 

Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth.

Run to Him; the world offers no security.

Give it some thought.

Gary

I weigh nothing, but you can still see me. If you put me in a bucket, I make the bucket lighter. What am I?

Answer: A hole!

You will find them in every organization and workplace. They are in government, industry, wall street and, yes, even in churches. They never add anything beneficial but are always a drain on time, energy, and other resources.

1 Corinthians 5:13

 God judges those outside. “Purge the evil person from among you.”

The government doesn’t deal with it and neither does business or the church. All we can seem to do is accept the loss they cause. We should be doing a whole lot better.

Give it some thought.

Gary

I loved the dress that I bought at a flea market. It fit perfectly, and the skirt was a swirl of intricate pleats. I wore it confidently to an evening party and glowed when a woman exclaimed, “Oh, how stunning!”

Yes, I was grinning from ear to ear, until she added cheerfully, “Hang on to it, honey. Pleats will come back someday.”

 —Mary Lou Wickham

Words can stab you like a sword.  They can come out of nowhere when least expected and penetrate the soul. Always remember you are not the one wielding the sword, and the day will come when that person has to answer for what he or she did with the tongue.

Matthew 12:36

I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak,

Give it some thought.

Gary

I tried having my mother’s phone disconnected, but the customer-service rep told me that since the account was in my dad’s name, he’d have to be the one to put in the request. The fact that he’d been dead for 40 years didn’t sway her. Then a solution hit me: “If I stop paying the bill, you can turn off the service, right?”

 “Well, yes,” she said reluctantly. “But that would ruin his credit.”

—Jeannie Gibbs

Where has common sense gone? What bothers me is the fact that so few seem to miss its absence. Some are striving to have it return, but there are so many protesters in the way.  How is it that good is evil and evil is good?

Isaiah 5:20

“Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!”

Think about it.

Gary

The German Shepherd or Alsatian is a German breed of working dog of medium to large size. The breed was developed by Max von Stephanitz, using various traditional German herding dogs from 1899. It was originally bred as a herding dog, for herding sheep.

I saw a picture of one sitting on a hill overlooking hundreds of sheep in a valley below. He was on the job, watching over his charges. He reminded me of the fact we all have been given an area of responsibility. There are things we need to guard and protect.

1 Peter 5:1-4

So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.

 Give it some thought and be on guard.

Gary