The Peanuts Cartoon Strip has Linus talking to Charlie Brown. Linus says, “I don’t like to face problems head on. I think the best way to solve problems is avoid them. This is a distinct philosophy of mine. No problem is so big or so complicated that it cannot be run away from!”

The philosophy belonged to Linus but holds absolutely no water in the test tube of life. Problems are interwoven into everyone’s life and only get bigger when not attended to.

However, there is a resource that can help tremendously.

Matthew 11:28-30

 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Advice from the funny papers is not the foundation to build on, but the Bible is.

Give it some thought.

Gary

The kings of Israel and Judah are going to unite their forces in battle. However, before the confrontation the king of Israel makes a statement to the king of Judah.

1 Kings 22:29-30

So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramoth Gilead.  And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will disguise myself and go into battle; but you put on your robes.” So the king of Israel disguised himself and went into battle.

So, you say to yourself, there is no one that stupid, especially a king. Wrong! That is exactly what the king of Judah did.

Now you must read the chapter because the one who died that day was the king of Israel.  It is a rather humorous account and teaches that God has His way in man’s affairs in spite of stupidity.

Please read the chapter.

Give it some thought.

Gary

The child before me is six years old and the resemblance to her grandmother is striking. I can, in my memory, still see her grandmother somewhere around that age. That eight-year-old was wearing a heavy winter coat with only the little skates sticking out from underneath. I was barely a teenager observing my surroundings.

The little girl I observed in 1966 is now a grandmother and, too bad for her, she’s also my sister-in-law.

Time has a way of changing everything as it delivers new situations to the grind of life.

The writer of Ecclesiastes had something similar in mind when he penned chapter three.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-2

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:
a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,

You observe a cute little girl one day, trying to stay upright on steel runners, and the next she is someone’s grandmother and your sister-in-law.

Grab time as it quickly passes because it is truly a vapor that appears for  little time and vanishes away.

Give it some thought.

Gary

One man said to his friend: “Say, you look depressed. What are you thinking about?”

“My future,’” was the quick answer.

“What makes it look so hopeless?”

“My past.”

The nation of Israel was going through a difficult time because of its past transgressions. Refusing God’s clear commandments, they adopted the attitude of the nations surrounding them. Big mistake!  God holds His own accountable.

However in spite of their past, there was hope.

Isaiah 43:18-19

“Do not remember the former things,
Nor consider the things of old.
 Behold, I will do a new thing,
Now it shall spring forth;
Shall you not know it?
I will even make a road in the wilderness
And rivers in the desert.

God can bring about change for the better for a nation or an individual. You might find encouragement in this passage.

Give it some thought.

Gary

Life can be tough and if it’s not throwing a curve ball, then it’s a fast ball. How can one stand at the plate and take it? David also considered that request in Psalms.

Psalm 27:4

The one thing I ask of the Lord—
    the thing I seek most—
is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
    delighting in the Lord’s perfections
    and meditating in his Temple.

So the genie comes out of the bottle in a cloud of smoke and asks, “What are your three wishes?”

It’ll never happen. So you have the rabbit’s foot and are ready for the day. Remember it didn’t help the owner. That four leaf clover is rare, but it won’t bring you good luck.

I think David’s going to the source of all wisdom is the proper attitude for all of us. Let’s pray.

Think about it.

Gary

Received an email from Jack and thought it would be a good devotional.

”I came across a quote from Sydney McLaughlin, a Christian athlete and current world record holder of the women’s 400 meter hurdles. She is competing for gold for the U.S. at this year’s Olympics. I like her attitude!”

“I no longer run for self-recognition, but to reflect His perfect will that is already set in stone. I don’t deserve anything. But by grace, through faith, Jesus has given me everything. Records come and go. The glory of God is eternal. Thank you, Father.”

Sydney McLaughlin, June 29th, 2021

The Bible has a lot to say about our testimony as Christians.

Luke 8:39 

“Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.” And he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city how much Jesus had done for him.

Psalm 66:16 

Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will tell what he has done for my soul.

Psalm 119:46 

I will also speak of your testimonies before kings and shall not be put to shame,

What an attitude this young athlete has! This should be true of all of us who profess Christ.

Give it some thought.

Gary

“Dust in the Wind” is a song recorded by American progressive rock band Kansas and written by band member Kerry Livgren, first released on their 1977 album Point of Know Return. The song peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 the week of April 22, 1978.

Same old song
Just a drop of water in an endless sea
All we do
Crumbles to the ground, though we refuse to see

Dust in the wind
All we are is dust in the wind
Oh, Now, don’t hang on

Nothin’ lasts forever but the earth and sky
It slips away
And all your money won’t another minute buy

Dust in the wind
All we are is dust in the wind
(All we are is dust in the wind)
Dust in the wind
(Everything is dust in the wind)
Everything is dust in the wind

So many individuals made this song rise to number six because it catered to a prevailing belief. We are just here for a while and our dreams and aspirations along with our very being will only be dust in the wind.

The Bible gives a much different view of the now and eternity. Our actions today will be brought up at a future time and the soul God created will never be destroyed.  Grinding your ashes and throwing them into the wind will not give you an escape from the Creator.

Jeremiah 17:10 

“I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.”

Give it some thought.

Gary