When I was very young, I caught the virus of putting together model airplanes. I wasn’t very good at the endeavor and the results looked absolutely awful. Producing a quality model takes patience and time – two traits which were totally foreign to me.

I don’t know where those works of art in my youth went. I suspect my mother didn’t want the world to know what kind of kid she had produced or was just trying to protect my self-esteem. In any case, they disappeared from the world scene.

Now that I’ve climbed much of the ladder leading to maturity, I understand what God is doing when He undertakes a case like mine. He is willing to be patient and take the time necessary to put together something of value.

Romans 15:5

Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus,

The song says, “He’s still working on me to make me what I ought to be. “ Yea, give Him a chance; He might make me into a model.

Think about it.

Gary

I had a dream. No, I’m not getting weird on you; it was just a meaningless dream. However, I was in school and the assignment was due and, you guessed it, I hadn’t done it. So I hurried to my desk and quickly scribbled down some things and handed it in. The teacher said, “I saw you doing that at the last minute and it’s not acceptable.” I was so disappointed I decided to wake up. Now I’m lying there thinking, “What’s that all about?”

I do hope that something similar has happened to you because, if not, I’ll have to bring it up to my therapist. She’d have to dig deeply into my past to find the answer to that one.

Now, to the point of all of this verbiage: How much have we done correctly and how much is there left to do? The Scriptures address the need to work at our assignments.

Philippians 2:12

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;

Make sure you read that verse correctly. It doesn’t say work for your salvation, but it does say work out your salvation. We need to diligently work out what God has worked in.

Give it some thought.

Gary

Some believe if you’re right with God you’ll never get sick, or if you do get sick for some reason, God will heal you.  The strange thing is that the ones who believe this die at the same rate as everyone else.  Do you suppose they only die in car accidents?  No, they believe something that just doesn’t hold up in Scripture.

The Book of Job is the great example of misinformation. Job’s three friends believed if you were right with God no calamity would ever befall you. After thirty-seven chapters of debate, God appears and states how wrong they were. As a matter of fact, these three didn’t even know God. They knew there was a god but didn’t know Him personally.

Job 42:8

Now therefore, take for yourselves seven bulls and seven rams, go to My servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and My servant Job shall pray for you. For I will accept him, lest I deal with you according to your folly; because you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has.”

You fall on dangerous ground when you claim to know what God is doing, but you don’t have a clue.

James 3:1

My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.

Give it some thought.

Gary

Gumption: That’s what Sampson had in the last minutes of his life. He brought the house down because he had it. He could have shown that characteristic in his youth, but it just wasn’t in the cards.

When I mention gumption, I am referring to the impetus that leads a person to communicate with the Creator of the universe.

Judges 16:28

Then Samson called to the Lord, saying, “O Lord God, remember me, I pray! Strengthen me, I pray, just this once, O God, that I may with one blow take vengeance on the Philistines for my two eyes!”

God hasn’t called you or me to do what Samson did, but He has called us to do something. That something cannot be accomplished without Biblically-based prayer.

Philippians 4:5-7

 “Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Have some gumption. Don’t wait until the final minutes of your life. It could bring the house down.

Think of it.

Gary

Thoughts, they come fast and furiously. Sometimes they are concerned for the future but, sometimes they dwell on the past. Discouragement can be a byproduct but sometimes they help to improve our lives. One thing for sure they never cease.

The psalmist addressed them in:

Psalm 104:34

May all my thoughts be pleasing to him,
    for I rejoice in the Lord.

I know what you’re thinking and that is my thought, also. We both fall short when it comes to this principle. However, God knows our frame and is willing for us to start over today in the pursuit of thoughts that please Him.

Think about it.

Gary

Who are you and what makes you tic? Why are so many struggling with this introspection these days?  One upside to such an exploration is the fact it keeps so many counselors employed. Finding yourself is a long and complicated journey into the unknown.

If you desire to shorten the trip, take the divine road, and avoid madness. My suggestion is to open the Bible. You will discover yourself in most of the characters in the Scripture. Besides all of that, there will be an awakening as to how you got here in the first place.

Jeremiah 1:4-5

Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying:

 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you;
Before you were born I sanctified you;
I ordained you a prophet to the nations.”

You can spend time in the lotus position if your legs can take it or climb a mountain in India and talk to a guru if you can afford it. Then again, you can open God’s Word and without cost or pain be enlightened.

Think about it.

Gary

Myra Brooks Welch wrote this poem in 1921.

The Touch of the Master’s Hand

Twas battered and scarred and the auctioneer
Thought it scarcely worth his while
To waste much time on the old violin
But held it up with a smile.

“What am I bidden, good folks,” he cried,
“Who’ll start the bidding for me?
A dollar, a dollar then two! Only two?
Two dollars and who’ll make it three.

Three dollars once. Three dollars twice.
Going for three—But no
From the room, far back, a gray haired man
Came forward and pick up the bow.

Then wiping the dust from the old violin
And tightening the loosened strings
He played a melody pure and sweet
As a caroling angel sings.

The music ceased, and the auctioneer
With a voice that was quiet and low
Said, “What am I bid for the old violin?”
And he held it up with the bow.

A thousand dollars, and who’ll make it two.
Two thousand and who’ll make it three.
Three thousand once—three thousand twice
And going and gone,” said he.

The people cheered but some of them cried
We do not quite understand.
What changed its worth? Swift came the reply
The touch of the master’s hand.

And many a man with life out of tune
And battered and scarred with sin.
Is auctioned cheap to the thoughtless crowd
Much like the old violin.

A mess of pottage, a glass of wine,
A game—he travels on.
He’s “going” once, and “going” twice
He’s going and almost gone.

But the Master comes and the foolish crowd
Never can quite understand
The worth of a soul and change that’s wrought
By the touch of the Master’s hand.

Philippians 1:6

being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;

Give it some thought.

Gary