Our neighbor had a chihuahua that looked like it weighed about three ounces. It seemed to want to bark at anything that moved, even our dog, Lady. Now our dog weighed forty pounds from the time we got her till the day she died. This chihuahua would have only been a mouthful for her. The interesting thing is that Lady always made believe the nuisance didn’t exist. That little thing was never molested by our dog.

There are so many annoying things in life that we as Christians should never pay any attention to. We need to avoid these situations at all cost. It’s not worth the taste it will leave in your mouth.

Titus 3:2

to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.

1 Timothy 6:20

O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called “knowledge,”

Give it some thought.

Gary

Here’s another story about Lady, my favorite dog. One day we saw her coming up the drive with a dog brush in her mouth. Paula never saw such a nice brush and commenced grooming her. That dog knew that looking good was important.

She was just a dog, but how many Christians realize we need the tools to look good.  They should not only be found but used.

1 Peter 3:3-4

“Your beauty should not come from outward adornments, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.”

Take the brush of the Word and apply it to your life.

Think about it.

Gary

P.S., It was discovered the brush belonged to a neighbor and was returned.

Our chow-retriever mix, Lady, had the run of the neighborhood and there was never a complaint to the dogcatcher. That dog loved to share. One day she showed up with a Big Mac held gently in her mouth.  Completely intact, the burger was gently placed on the garage floor right in front of me. That is not the nature of a dog to share a Big Mac.

Now let’s bring it home. It is not a common thing for people to share, but it should be a common characteristic for a believer.

1 Corinthians 9:23

I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

1 Timothy 6:18

Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.

If a dog can share like that, what should a believer do?

Lady and the boys – see attachment

Give it some thought.

Gary

“…Men may spurn our appeals, reject our message, oppose our arguments, despise our persons — but they are helpless against our prayers.”

Sidlow Baxter

The angel fetched Peter out of prison, but it was prayer that fetched the angel.

Philippians 4:6

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

1 Thessalonians 5:17

Pray without ceasing,

What power the believer has in prayer!

Give it some thought.

Gary

Don’t ever think you’re a second-class Christian because you don’t proclaim Christ like Peter or Paul. Discover your own method. Then get out of your chair and use it, for the glory of God. Live by faith, not fear!!!

1 Peter 3:15 

But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, 

Colossians 4:6 

Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

God made us like this to reveal His Son in us, in spite of what we have for insecurities.

Give it some thought.

Gary

Writer Charles Swindoll once found himself with too many commitments in too few days. He got nervous and tense about it. “I was snapping at my wife and our children, choking down my food at mealtimes, and feeling irritated at those unexpected interruptions through the day,” he recalled in his book Stress Fractures. “Before long, things around our home started reflecting the patter of my hurry-up style. It was becoming unbearable. I distinctly remember after supper one evening, the words of our younger daughter, Colleen. She wanted to tell me something important that had happened to her at school that day. She began hurriedly, ‘Daddy, I wanna tell you somethin’ and I’ll tell you really fast.’  Suddenly realizing her frustration, I answered, ‘Honey, you can tell me — and you don’t have to tell me really fast. Say it slowly. I’ll never forget her answer: ‘Then listen slowly.'”

Listening is a learned behavior and a necessary art if we are going to be a benefit for others.

1 John 4:6

We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

Are you listening?

Give it some thought.

Gary

I’ve learned –
that you cannot make someone love you.
All you can do is
be someone who can be loved.
The rest is up to them.

I’ve learned –
that no matter how much I care,
some people just don’t care back.

OI’ve learned –
that it takes years to build up trust,
and only seconds to destroy it.

I’ve learned –
that it’s not what you have in your life
but who you have in your life that counts.

I’ve learned –
that you can get by on charm
for about fifteen minutes.
After that, you’d better know something.

I’ve learned –
that you shouldn’t compare
yourself to the best others can do
but to the best you can do.

I’ve learned –
that it’s not what happens to people
that’s important. It’s what they do about it.

I’ve learned –
that you can do something in an instant
that will give you heartache for life.

I’ve learned –
that no matter how thin you slice it,
there are always two sides.

I’ve learned –
that it’s taking me a long time
to become the person I want to be.

I’ve learned –
that it’s a lot easier
to react than it is to think.

I’ve learned –
that you should always leave
loved ones with loving words.
It may be the last time you see them.

I’ve learned –
that you can keep going
long after you think you can’t.

I’ve learned –
that we are responsible for what we do,
no matter how we feel.

I’ve learned –
that either you control your attitude
or it controls you.

I’ve learned –
that regardless of how hot and steamy
a relationship is at first,
the passion fades and there had better be
something else to take its place.

I’ve learned –
that heroes are the people
who do what has to be done
when it needs to be done,
regardless of the consequences.

I’ve learned –
that learning to forgive takes practice.

I’ve learned –
that money is a lousy way of keeping score.

I’ve learned –
that my best friend and I can do anything
or nothing and have the best time.

I’ve learned –
that sometimes when I’m angry
I have the right to be angry,
but that doesn’t give me
the right to be cruel.

I’ve learned –
that true friendship continues to grow,
even over the longest distance.
Same goes for true love.

I’ve learned –
that maturity has more to do with
what types of experiences you’ve had
and what you’ve learned from them
and less to do with how many
birthdays you’ve celebrated.

I’ve learned –
that it isn’t always enough
to be forgiven by others.
Sometimes you have to learn
to forgive yourself.

I’ve learned –
that no matter how bad
your heart is broken
the world doesn’t stop for your grief.

I’ve learned –
that our background and circumstances
may have influenced who we are,
but we are responsible for who we become.

I’ve learned –
that sometimes when my friends fight,
I’m forced to choose sides
even when I don’t want to.

I’ve learned –
that two people can look
at the exact same thing
and see something totally different.

I’ve learned –
that no matter how you try to protect
your children, they will eventually get hurt
and you will hurt in the process.

I’ve learned –
that your life can be changed
in a matter of hours
by people who don’t even know you.

I’ve learned –
that even when you think
you have no more to give,
when a friend cries out to you,
you will find the strength to help.

I’ve learned –
that writing, as well as talking,
can ease emotional pains.

I’ve learned –
that credentials on the wall
do not make you a decent human being.

I’ve learned –
that the people you care most about in life
are taken from you too soon.

I’ve learned –
that although the word “love”
can have many different meanings,
it loses value when overly used.

I’ve learned –
that it’s hard to determine
where to draw the line
between being nice and
not hurting people’s feelings
and standing up for what you believe.

Janice T Hill of Kansas City Mo.

1 Corinthians 4:6

I have applied all these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers, that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against another.

Give it some thought.

Gary