Please don’t put ketchup in your gas tank. As a matter of fact, don’t click on the link that shows someone doing just that. It’s called clickbait. The definition is something (such as a headline) designed to make readers want to click on a hyperlink. It spells scam. No, it didn’t happen to me.

There is a plethora of scams that come through the internet and through the phone lines that are designed to draw you in. What amazes me is the number of people who succumb to that trickery, yet they won’t believe the Word of God.

2 Timothy 2:15 

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

You won’t be ashamed rightly dividing the Word of Truth, but you will be ashamed if you put ketchup in your fuel tank.

Think about it.

Gary

Can you imagine the work in building a house? Very few people do, but those who have, sweat just thinking about it. However, what if it burnt down before the insurance policy went into effect.

Can you imagine being on guard for the enemy, and all the time, he is digging under you to come up from behind?  Surprise!  These are two interesting statements found in the Word of God.

Psalm 127:1

Unless the Lord builds the house,
They labor in vain who build it;

Unless the Lord guards the city,
The watchman stays awake in vain.

If God is not in your equation, you will never come out with the right answer.

Give it some thought.

Gary

In teaching the disciples how to pray, Jesus made the following statement about time:

Matthew 6:11

Give us this day our daily bread.

There is an old gospel hymn that emphasizes our awareness of our need of Him to an even shorter time frame:

I need Thee every hour
Most gracious Lord
No tender voice like Thine
Can peace afford

I need Thee, O I need Thee
Every hour I need Thee
O bless me now, my Savior
I come to Thee

I need Thee every hour
Stay Thou nearby
Temptations lose their power
When Thou art nigh

I know it is in old English, but it is sure worth appreciating.

Take the time to give it some thought.

Gary

The teacher was struggling to get those boots on to Johnny’s feet so he could go out and play in the snow during recess. After much effort, she finally got the boots on the feet when Johnny said, “These are not my boots.” She took a deep breath and worked the boots off of Johnnie’s feet. She asked, “Where are your boots?” He replied, “There’re home. I’m wearing my sister’s boots today, the ones you just took off.”

Sometimes we’re just trying to accomplish things without having all the information necessary. That was certainly true with my previous story. We don’t know everything, and some things just have to be done over and over again.

1 Peter 5:6-7

 “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” 

It takes humility to be a kindergarten teacher, and it takes humility to be a Christian.

Think about it.

Gary

Rev 21:4

And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

He needed to stop at a cemetery as we were journeying back from Boston. I knew where we were going although he couldn’t verbalize it. We were two old men standing there before the tombstone of his only son whose name was emblazoned there. I couldn’t say anything that would be appropriate because I couldn’t feel the pain the way he did.

I never thought the day would come when the same thing would happen to me. Now I reflect back on that scene. He just wanted me there and I didn’t have to say anything. There are times when we don’t have to say anything, just be there.

A special thanks to the many that stood there with us when we were in that kind of pain. Their presence meant so much then, and it still lingers to the present. Thank you.

There’ll be no sorrows there
No more burdens to bear
No more sickness and no more pain
No more parting over there
But forever I will be
With the one who died for me
What a day, glorious day that will be

Think about it.

Gary

I’m cashing out at the grocery store and leaving with a couple of bags of groceries. The bagboy looks at me and asks, “Can I take those for you?” Now he is just being polite, thinking this old, gray-haired man might not make it to the door. I smile and take the bags from him. I respond, “Thank you for the consideration.” Then I add, “By the way, could you watch me go to the truck in case you need to bring the defibrillator.”

Seems like yesterday I was trying to pass for twenty-one at the bar. I had my friend’s ID, but he happened to be three inches shorter than I was and he also had brown eyes. I had to flush his ID down the toilet because the liquor inspector was making the rounds. I didn’t want my friend getting into trouble. (I had standards.) Now the bagboy wants to carry two small bags to the vehicle for me. What’s going on here?

Psalm 39:4

“Lord, make me to know my end

And what is the extent of my days;

Let me know how transient I am.

Job 7:6

“My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle

Job 8:9

“For we are only of yesterday and know nothing,
Because our days on earth are as a shadow.

Certainly, I would not want to enter the seventh decade of life and be in the dark as to why and how it all transpired.

Can I help you with that?

Think about it.

Gary

When Isaiah was writing, Israel had a callousness manifested towards the Word of God. There was a willful blindness that brought down the wrath of God on the nation. They wouldn’t listen to what the Word of God had to say. However, in spite of all of that, God gave a promise that the day would come that the blindness would be removed and they would listen to their teacher.

Isaiah 30:20-21

And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your Teacher will not hide himself anymore, but your eyes shall see your Teacher. And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left. 

Have you been to the Great Optometrist lately for a complete eye exam? Is it better like this or is it better like that?  Have you been to the Great Audiologist to have your hearing checked? In which ear do you hear the tone?  Do you know that a hearing problem can throw your balance off?

Give it some thought.

Gary