The End?

Someone said in Sunday school last Sunday, "As far as I know, the Word (the bible) never wears out!"

On my shelf sits a New Testament that was given to me for Christmas when I was a child.  Many things that I have owned in my lifetime no longer exist but ironically this bible seem to have stayed in my possession.  I didn't intentionally save this bible, it just happen to hang around.  The cover is well worn and if you look in the front of it you will see the drawings that appears to be that of a small child...me!

I remember well those days of taking this bible and pretending that I was preaching to Mr. Bugs, Mr. Donald, and the rest of the stuff animal gang.  (They were a rough bunch of overly stuffed animals.)  I don't think any of them ever got saved, but they sure "got preached" the word!  I felt a call on my life even then to preach the Word, but did not accept that calling until later in life.

In turning through this bible this morning reminiscing I noticed on the last page the words at the bottom imprinted "The End".  Somewhere as a child I wrote beside it "No End".  This morning in my devotion I was reminded of the scripture "Heaven and earth shall pass away but my words shall not pass away"(Matthew 24:35).  I quickly grabbed a penned and wrote, "Definitely No End."  The bible may be worn but the Word lives on.  It never wears out.  It is always relevant.  When it goes forth it will not return void and it will accomplish what it was sent out to do.


"So shall my word  be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it" (Isaiah 55:11).


Many has tried to destroy, compromise, or discredit God's Word but it has and will always stand the test.  You can count on the Word, it will help you during this life's journey that you are on.  Paul instructs Timothy to "Study, to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." (2 Timothy 2:15).  

My prayer today is, "Lord help me to be diligent in studying your Word."

Missed Opportunities

A few weeks ago, after being on the disabled list, I was once again able to play softball with the church league. The last time I played I suffered from a broken wrist/arm in two places, and suffered wearing a cast for the next five weeks. As my cast was being removed I laughably asked the nurse practitioner if I could play softball, now that my cast was off. Surprisingly she said "yes", as long as you don't slide and you wear your brace." A answer I was not expecting to hear!

I must admit that fear came over me as I begin to remember the night of the broken arm. "Do I really want to do this again?" Will I be tempted to slide again?" I am a very competitive person and I know I will give it my best. Reluctantly I agreed to EH that night for the game.

First time up to bat, first pitch, first swing and I hit the ball out into the center field. A solid hit and probably the best hit for me of the season. I ran all the way to third base, and was noticing that the coach on third was waving me to go home. I got half way home and realized that there was a good chance I would be very tempted to slide, so I ran back to third. A triple was not bad after five weeks on the disabled list, but I could have had a in-park home run. It would have been my first, but I let fear cause me to miss the opportunity.

Every day of our lives God is giving us opportunities. Sometimes we get to third and we stop because we become afraid; afraid of being hurt, afraid of losing something, afraid of being embarrassed, or sometimes just of afraid of being afraid. Possibly never again will I hit a ball so well and have that opportunity. It was truly a Kodak moment that I missed.

My prayer today is: "God help me to take hold of every opportunity that you give me, and also help me to have courage to run home (if I ever hit the ball that well again!)

"For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." 2 Timothy 1:7 (KJV)

IT'S NOT ABOUT WORKING HARDER, BUT WORKING SMARTER

In the book of Haggai we read of workers that worked harder but not smarter. It had been several years that the temple in Jerusalem had been untouched. Men and Women was working hard in those days, but had their priorities in the wrong place. God sent the prophet Haggai to bring correction into their lives.

This story reminds me of my childhood days of doing "landscaping" (formally known as grass cutting), and "car detailing" (formally known as cleaning automobiles.) Isn't it odd how we can change the name of a profession and make more money.

I was always taught to work hard. In any job that I have ever done I was taught to give it my best. While this is and has not been a bad principle to live by, I must admit that sometimes if I had worked smarter instead of harder, I would have accomplished more in life.

My prayer is from a bookmark (author unknown) that I found in my desk drawer this morning.

"Lord, I have too much to do, but's it's all important. Help me to set priorities so that I don't feel lost in the pace and the pressure. Give me wisdom and energy to accomplish what's necessary without wasting time or effort. And help me make the best use of my day, remembering that time is a precious gift from You."

John Maxwell says, "Activity does not always mean accomplishment. The issue is not, 'Will my calendar be full?' but 'What will fill my calendar?'"

Will it take a prophet like Haggai to say, "Think about what you have done..You have planted much, but you harvest little...You earn money, but then you lose it all as if you had put it into a purse full of holes...Think about what you have done. Go up the mountains, bring back wood, and build the Temple. Then I will be pleased with it and be honored, says ,the Lord." Haggai 1:7-8

"Lord, help me to work smarter and not necessarily harder."