....heroines

Recent deaths of some close personal friends and certain influential leaders have challenged me anew to ask questions about the people I greatly admire: Who do I consider as my real heroes, why do I embrace them as such, and how do I best honor them? 

My heroes are formed of steel, though coated in clay. They live their lives in the service to others. Their zeal and commanding presence are clothed in winsome garbs of simplicity and humility.

My heroes and heroines tend to be counter-cultural or non-conformists. Because they know who they are, what they stand for, and why they were born, they refuse to go along in order to get along. They are daring, hard working, and excelling. They sacrifice and risk their lives for causes bigger than themselves. They’re humble in their accomplishments, generous in their giving, and respectful and kind even to their adversaries.

 

My real heroes are resilient. They never give up, even in the face of adversity and failure. The two words that best describe my heroes are “silent sufferers.” They bear pain patiently, without grudge or complaint. Often, on account of their selfless and forgiving spirit, they are perceived as fools and are taken advantage of. And because they are years ahead of their time, they easily get misunderstood, misrepresented, and even vilified—until after their death.

 

But true heroes never die. They live on through the indelible imprints they make on our lives, influencing our major decisions and actions.  Do you have your own hero or heroine?  What would you say about them if called upon to deliver eulogies at their funerals? 

Let’s honor our heroes by embracing their values, enlisting in their causes, emulating their examples, and continuing where they fell short or left off. “The godly people in the land are MY TRUE HEROES! I take pleasure in them!” Psalm 16:3; cf. 1 Corinthians 11:1; Matthew 11:29, 30.

—samuel koranteng-pipim

...Him

 Dear God:

I want to thank you for what you have already done.

I am not going to wait until I see results or receive rewards. 

    I am thanking you right now.

I am not going to wait until I feel better or things look better, 

    I am thanking you right now.

I am not going to wait until people say they are sorry or until they stop talking about me, 

    I am thanking you right now.

I am not going to wait until the pain in my body disappears. 

    I am thanking you right now.

I am not going to wait until my financial situation improves. 

    I am going to thank you right now.

I am not going to wait until the children are asleep and the house is quiet, 

    I am going to thank you right now.

I am not going to wait until I get promoted at work or until I get the job, 

    I am going to thank you right now.

I am not going to wait until I understand every experience in my life that has caused me pain or grief. 

    I am going to thank you right now.

I am not going to wait until the journey gets easier or the challenges are removed,

    I am thanking you right now.

I am thanking you because I am alive. 

I am thanking you because I made it through the day's difficulties.

I am thanking you because I have walked around the obstacles.

I am thanking you because I have the ability and the opportunity to do more and do better.

I am thanking you because, Father, you have not given up on me.

God is good, all the time; and all the time, God is Good!

THANK HIM!

-t.d jakes 

...always

An elderly lady in a nursing home said, “I thank you, Lord, for two good teeth, one upper and one lower. And I thank you that they meet!” She was thankful for little things

Fanny Crosby (1820-1915) wrote more than 9,000 hymns during her lifetime. When she was just six weeks old, she became blind for life—due to a doctor’s incompetence. But despite her blindness, she refused to be bitter or feel sorry for herself: “If perfect earthly sight were offered me tomorrow I would not accept it. I might not have sung hymns to the praise of God if I had been distracted by the beautiful and interesting things about me.” She was thankful for trials and afflictions.

What are you thankful for? 

No matter what you’ve gone through, and no matter your present circumstances, 

there’s ALWAYS something to be thankful for. 

Find yours today! 

1 Thessalonians 5:18; Philippians 4:6, 7; Psalm 103:1-5; 2 Corinthians 9:15

-samwel koranteng-pipim

...thx

Thanksgiving Day might not be celebrated in the United States today were it not for a remarkable woman named Sarah Josepha Hale (1788 -1879). It is well known that the first Thanksgiving Day was celebrated by the Pilgrim fathers in 1621 to give thanks for their bountiful harvest in the New World. In 1789, President George Washington issued a Thanksgiving Day proclamation to commemorate the first Pilgrim celebration. But Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States, discontinued it. After this, Thanksgiving was observed by some individual states on whatever date suited their fancy.

Then in 1828, Mrs. Hale, a patient, persistent 34-year-old widow and mother of four, began campaigning for the restoration of Thanksgiving as a national holiday. For years she wrote letters and sought appointments with national leaders, from five different presidents on down. Time after time she was politely rebuffed, sometimes being told it was “impractical” and “impossible,” and sometimes being chased off and scolded and told, “This is none of your business!” 

But Sarah was relentless. Finally in 1863, President Lincoln listened seriously to her plea that North and South “lay aside enmities and strife on (Thanksgiving) Day.” He proclaimed the fourth Thursday of November to be the official “national Thanksgiving Day.” This day was finally ratified by the U.S. Congress in 1941. 

What many people do not know is that Mrs. Sarah Hale was the first woman magazine editor in the U.S., and the first person to use the word “lingerie” to describe undergarments. Sarah also helped start the first college for girls in the U.S., was the first to suggest public playgrounds, and also started the first day nursery for working mothers. But Sarah Hale is probably best remembered as author of the poem “Mary Had a Little Lamb.” 

The Bible encourages us to have a spirit of thanks in our hearts. Daniel thanked God for insight to understand Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. “I thank You and praise You, O God of my fathers; You have given me wisdom and might, and have now made known to me what we asked of You, for You have made known to us the king’s demand” Daniel 2:23. 

Whether it is for God’s protection, the bountiful harvest of our fields, the blessings of family, or the guidance of the Spirit, giving thanks is a habit we should express all year long. 

"Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name." Psalms 100:4

...td

"God commanded us to "give thanks in all circumstances" 1 Thessalonians 5:18

After George Washington authorized the first Thanksgiving Day in 1789, 74 years passed without another such day of thanks.  Then Abraham Lincoln established the holiday as an annual event in American life.  His Thanksgiving Proclamation is worth reading again today:

"It is the duty of nations as well as of men to owe their dependence upon the overruling power of God; to confess their sins and transgressions in humble sorrow, yet with assured hope that genuine repentance will lead to mercy and pardon; and to recognize the sublime truth, announced in the Holy Scripture and proven by all history, that those nations are blessed whose God is the Lord.

We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of heaven; we have been preserved these many years in peace and prosperity; we have grown in numbers, wealth and power as no other nation has ever grown.  But we have forgotten God.  We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us, and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own.  Intoxicated with unbroken success we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us.

It has seemed to me fit and proper that God should be solemnly, reverently, and gratefully acknowledged, as with one heart and one voice, by the whole American people.  I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November as a day of Thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens."

When did President Lincoln authorize our annual Thanksgiving Day?  

In 1863 - in the midst of the Civil War.

Hard places and hard times are the best times to be thankful.  For then we open our lives to the God who alone can bless and prosper us.  He cannot give us what we will not receive.  An attitude of gratitude is essential to receiving the grace and favor of our heavenly Father.  And it is appropriate in thanks for his every blessing, given now and in eternity.

And so, from our home and heart to yours, have a very blessed Thanksgiving Day.

-david langerfeld

...journal

Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands!

Serve the LORD with gladness;

Come before His presence with singing.

Know that the LORD, He is God;

It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;

We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,

And into His courts with praise.

Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.

For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting,

And His truth endures to all generations. Psalm 100

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow all the days of my life. Psalm 23:6

We often neglect to tell those who matter most how much God blesses us through their lives. Our family relationships are richer when we express our gratitude to God for them and tell them so. Gratitude starts with humility, acknowledging that we enjoy blessings because of God’s mercies. A friend’s personally designed Christmas card read, “Thou hast given us so much. Give us one thing more…a grateful heart.”

Reflect on every person for whom you are grateful and for what you are grateful. Take out pen and paper, and share the overflow of your heart with your family. Your thanksgiving blessing will become a treasured legacy. Pray with me,  “Lord, make my heart a habitation where gratitude sings.”

These thoughts will get you started. Your own journal of gratitude will be longer and much more specific.

Father, from whom every family on earth is named, we give thanks...

    for time together as a family

    for our continuing love relationship with You through Jesus

    for our love relationship with each other

    for life, health, bright minds, and physical safety

    for food, clothing, a comfortable house, a clean bed

    for enjoying being together with laughter

    for the uniqueness of each one

    for the rock of strength that prayer is for us

    for faithful friends who encourage us by praying for our family

    for seeing God’s hand of grace at work in our lives as we experience more of Him

    for God’s plan for our lives and His enabling to keep us in His will each day

    for weaknesses through which God shows Himself strong in us

    for wisdom and guidance in daily circumstances

    for strength for daily demands of job and family

    for hope, peace, victory, satisfaction, and fulfillment

    for financial blessings

    for spiritual strength in spiritual battles

    for Your patience in the testing, struggles, and refining that we grow through

    for Jesus’ sufficiency for today’s grace

    for forgiveness received and forgiveness extended

    for hearts of obedience

    for more than we could ever deserve!

Thanks, for who you are and all you mean to me.

-sylvia gunter

?thanks

If you knew bad things were about to happen, would you still give thanks?  Jesus did. He gave thanks, knowing that He was about to look into the throat of Hell and bear the sins of the world.

The Bible tells us, “The Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, ‘Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me’” 1 Corinthians 11:23–24.

Jesus knew the future. He knew what lay ahead for Him would not be easy or pleasurable. He knew that no one would deliver Him from the cross. In fact, He even knew that one of His own handpicked disciples, Judas Iscariot, would betray Him. He knew the others would go into hiding. And He knew that Simon Peter would openly deny Him.

Jesus knew the whole story. That’s because Jesus is God, and He is omniscient—all-knowing.

Then why did Jesus give thanks? It’s because He knew what His suffering would accomplish. The greatest good of all time came from the worst travesty of justice.

So if someone says they lost their faith because of a certain crisis, then that faith is worthless. The faith that cannot be tested is a faith that cannot be trusted.

Anyone can praise God when the sky is blue and the sun is shining. But if you can praise God when the roof caves in, when the bottom drops out, and when things go wrong, it says to me that you’re a true follower of Jesus Christ.

Despite our immediate circumstances, God is always at work. And that’s a great reason to give thanks.

-greg laurie

...even

Revenge may feel right and even seem justified, but it’s damaging to us and the people we love. When, as a child, I bore a grudge or was tempted to retaliate for some unfairness or injustice, my mother would say: “An enraged mother hen who throws her eggs at a hawk for snatching one of her chicks only hurts herself the second time.”

 

Getting even—i.e., retaliation, vengeance, tit-for-tat, “an eye for an eye”—is never even. It inflicts more pain upon us than upon those who have hurt us. Rather than bring closure, revenge keeps the wounds open and fresh, and inflicts new injuries.

 

Sir Francis Bacon said, “In taking revenge a man isn’t even with his enemy, he is only as low as they. But in passing over it he becomes superior, for it is a prince’s part to pardon.”  “There’s no revenge so complete as forgiveness” (Josh Billings). And C.S. Lewis said: “To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable, because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you.”

 

Have you been wronged or wounded? Defrauded or taken advantage of? Have you been slandered, and your good reputation ruined? Has anyone in any way so hurt you that you’re sorely tempted to retaliate or revenge?

 

Let go! The damage has already been done; the loss already been incurred; the injury, insult, and humiliation has already been suffered; and those painful words have already been hurled at you. Revenge cannot undo or compensate for the damage. Don’t get even for your hurt, get beyond it by forgiving. Let God deal with the one who has hurt you, if the person doesn’t repent.

 

Mother Hen, the enemy hawk has already inflicted damage by snatching your precious chick. There is nothing you can do to bring her back. Why inflict a second wound upon yourself, by throwing at the enemy your future yet unborn? Getting even is never even. It comes at a price of an additional injury. Just let go! (Romans 12:19-21; Matthew 5:43, 44; 1 Peter 2:21-23) 

—samuel koranteng-pipim

....attitude

In "A Second Helping of Chicken Soup for the Soul", Rev. John R. Ramsey tells how in one church a certain person provided him with a rose boutonniere for the lapel of his suit every Sunday. At first he really appreciated it, but then it sort of became routine. Then one Sunday it became very special.

As he was leaving the Sunday Service a young boy walked up to him and said, "Sir, what are you going to do with your flower?" At first the preacher didn't know what the boy was talking about. When it sank in, he pointed to the rose on his lapel and asked the boy, "Do you mean this?"

The boy said, "Yes, sir. If you're just going to throw it away, I would like it."

The preacher smiled and told him he could have the flower and then casually asked what he was going to do with it. The boy, who was probably no more than 10 years old, looked up at the preacher and said, "Sir, I'm going to give it to my granny. My mother and father divorced last year. I was living with my mother, but she married again, and wanted me to live with my father. I lived with him for a while, but he said I couldn't stay, so he sent me to live with my grandmother. She is so good to me.  She cooks for me and takes care of me. She has been so good to me that I wanted to give her that pretty flower for loving me."

When the little boy finished, the preacher could hardly speak. His eyes filled with tears and he knew he had been touched by God. He reached up and unpinned the rose. With the flower in his hand, he looked at the boy and said, "Son, that is the nicest thing that I've ever heard but you can't have this flower because it's not enough. If you'll look in front of the pulpit, you'll see a big bouquet of flowers. Different families buy them for the Church each week. Please take those flowers to your granny because she deserves the very best."

Then the boy made one last statement which Rev. Ramsey said he will always treasure. The boy said, "What a wonderful day! I asked for one flower but got a beautiful bouquet."

That's the thankful spirit.

 

That's the gratitude attitude.

 

And it's that attitude that should guide our giving and our lives. 

Like that boy's granny, God has blessed us so much. God has been so good to us that giving shouldn't even be a question. 

It should just flow from us naturally.

-billy d. strayhorn

...adveristy

 "We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body" 2 Cor. 4:8-10

It's hard to find anyone in Christian history who became a great leader without earning an advanced degree at the University of Adversity. John Bunyan (1628-1688), the author of The Pilgrim's Progress, grew up in poverty and taught himself to read. 

As a young man, he struggled with feelings of not being forgiven by God and was tortured by visions of eternal punishment. His devout wife helped him to overcome his fear, but then, while she was still in her twenties, she died of a sudden illness. 

In his grief, Bunyan devoted himself to preaching. The English government, however, repeatedly imprisoned him for preaching without a license.  On one occasion, Bunyan was sentenced to three months in prison, but when he told the officials he intended to go on preaching, his sentence was extended to 12 years. 

John Bunyan experienced God's presence in a special way while he was in prison. In fact, it was in his cell that he penned his enduring classic, The Pilgrim's Progress. It's a book that could only have been written by a soul that was refined by the fires of adversity.

God has a mission for your life and mine. But before we can carry out that mission, we will often go through the boot camp of adversity. If this is where you find yourself today, ask God to give you His grace to walk through this time with you. He promised He would never leave or forsake us. Hebrews 13:5

-os hillman

...storms

One night while my young son, Ryan, was sleeping, a storm began brewing outside.  After a loud clap of thunder, I heard him wake up so I headed toward his room to comfort him.  He asked me to stay with him until he fell asleep.  As I lay there I realized he hadn't asked me to make the storm go away, but to stay with him. 

 

How many times, I wondered, have I asked God to take away the storms of life, when instead I need to ask him to stay with me and help me weather them more peacefully?"

What a beautiful thought!

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God." 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

-kim sherer

...do

During the making of the great epic movie "Ben Hur," Charlton Heston worked long hours with the stunt trainers to learn to drive a chariot for the movie's crucial chariot race scene. He improved greatly with His mastery over the horses and rig, but finally became convinced the task was more of a challenge than He had initially anticipated.

He approached the legendary director of the movie, Cecil de Mille about the scene. "Mr.de Mille," he said, "I've worked very hard at mastering this rig, and I think I can drive it convincingly in the scene. But I don't think I can win the race."

The director replied, "You just drive. I'll do the rest."

God has a way of orchestrating the various races we run during the course of our lives. He trusts us to do our part in "manning the rigs." We must trust him to determine the result of the race.

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our  eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13

"The greatest act of faith is when man decides he is not God."

-david langerfeld

...changing

I recently read an interview with a professional football player where he was asked about a dropped pass. I was glad they asked him about it. He is paid a lot of money to catch passes. He is a professional. He is not supposed to drop passes. I have seen athletes who blame the passer, or the weather, or use other excuses. I have even heard athletes say it is no big deal to miss one pass - no one catches everything.

This athlete said he should have caught it, he was going to work harder in practice, and he would concentrate even harder so he would never drop another pass. I imagine he will drop another one at some point in his career, but I sure liked his attitude. I am now a fan of his, and I want his team to do well.

I found myself applying these principles to Christians who sin. We are not supposed to sin. We are supposed to be different. We claim to be, we ought to be, and we want to be. Yet, sometimes, we drop the ball spiritually. I am convinced that is when our true credibility is established. Christians are not perfect. We sin and make mistakes. The test of our faith and the authenticity of our belief will be seen in how we respond to those sins.

Authentic Christians do not make excuses. They are sorry, ashamed, and hurt when they do things not in harmony with their convictions. They pledge to do better, they take corrective action, and they seek forgiveness. Real Christians are not hypocrites because they sin. They are hypocritical if they fail to deal with it.

If you have been hesitant to "buy into" the idea of Jesus because of what some of his followers have done, I urge you to look a little deeper. We are not perfect.  We make mistakes, and sometimes, we betray our principles. But your decision about Jesus should not be based on what any Christian has done. It needs to be based on what Jesus has done.

Christians are not perfect, but we follow the One who is.

So I am asking you to look past our failures. We are not yet what we want to be. But because of Jesus, we are being changed. We are becoming more like him and less like this world.

-steve blair

...arms

Some days have been "toughies", but I keep thinking about something I saw the other day.

I had to go to a store way on the other side of town, and I was in a hurry to get back home to make sure my mom was okay. (She is 94 years old and frail.) It seemed like the weight of the world was on my shoulders. Taking care of her is my honor and joy, but some days are just harder than others.

Then I saw something that changed everything.

I had to stop for a school bus to let the children off. A little boy, about 5 years old, needed to cross the road in front of me and his little back-pack was so heavy it was sliding off his shoulder. He was groaning and struggling a lot. But there to meet him, on the sidewalk... kneeling down with arms outstretched, was his dad.

All of a sudden, the child shouldered his burden and ran to his father with the most joyful expression and not a care in the world. His dad lifted him up and swung him around and back to the ground. They ran to their front door, hand in hand, sharing the heavy load.

It made me think how God is like that. Just when we can't take much more stress or bear another burden, He opens his arms and takes us in and lets us know that our burdens are lifted.

-ginger nielson

...purpose

"But he knows the way that I take.  When he has tested me, I will come forth as gold."Job 23:10

In Job 23, Job struggles, finally admitting his frustration.  He cannot find God.   There are days we search in vain for some visible evidence of the living God.  All of us would love to hear an audible voice or read a visible message from God. But that's not the way it works. Our walk with Him is a walk of faith, not sight.

Job is a great and godly man. He is a mature saint. Nevertheless, he longs to witness God's presence. "Oh, that I could know where He is. But I cannot see Him, behold Him, or perceive Him."

Though unable to locate the presence of God, Job states his trust in Him: "Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, you can say whatever you wish against me. God knows which way I go. He knows the truth.  He is my Justifier. He and I are on speaking terms. I trust Him. I believe in Him. Furthermore, after the trial is over, and He has accomplished His purpose within me, 'I shall come forth as gold.' "

You can count on that. When the trial has passed, you will be deeper and richer for it. Gold will replace alloy. I want you to allow those words to burn their way into your brain so deeply that they become like a divine filter for everything that happens in your life from this day forward. God knows which way you're going. And His Word will be a lamp for your feet and a light for your path Psalm 119:105

-charles swindoll

...best

Enrico Caruso was an Italian tenor who thrilled audiences in Europe and North and South America about 100 years ago. He was one of the first to embrace the new technology known as the phonograph (or gramophone). One of his recordings was the first sound recording to sell one million copies.

 

During the days of the first World War, Caruso was asked if he would sing at a concert for the benefit of the soldiers. The chairman of the committee who invited him said, "Of course, Mr. Caruso, as this is a charity affair, we would not expect you to do your best. Your name will draw the crowd. I would suggest that you merely sing some song requiring little strength or skill."

Caruso is said to have drawn himself up to his full height of 5’9", and with great passion declared, "Caruso never does less than his best." What a great lesson we followers of Christ should learn from that!  

Too often followers of Christ just do enough to "get by," rather than giving it all we’ve got. We offer God the leftovers of our time, our talents, and our resources, and then we are surprised when the blessings we read about in Scripture are not poured out on us! The Kingdom of God is not built with leftovers.

Today, may you be as passionate about the quality of your service to God as Enrico Caruso was about singing opera!

Today, "Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."  1 Corinthians 10:31

Today, give God your absolute best! 

-david langerfeld

...storm

In Matthew 8:23 - 27, Jesus' disciples caught in a horrific tempest, fighting for their lives. We have learned to expect storms, even when we are following Jesus, and to trust the power of God when they come.

You are proof of that power today. For instance, consider the ears with which you will listen to your next conversation. The average piano has 88 keys; each of your ears has a "keyboard" so advanced that it is capable of catching 73,700 vibrations a second. Your heart is no larger than your fist, but it will beat 40 million times this year. 96560 kilometres of arteries run through your body. More than 9,000 taste buds are resident on your tongue. More than 220 bones make up your frame; some 600 muscles cover those bones. You are special. And you were created by the power of God. Trust that power today. Now go to God first.

The syntax of Matthew's gospel seems to indicate that the disciples fought the storms for a while before waking Jesus. Isn't that like most of us? Self-sufficiency is the mantra of our culture. You are told that there is no such thing as absolute truth or objective ethics, that "your personal truth" is what matters. "Religion" is private, personal, subjective, a hobby, something to do with your discretionary time. These are lies from the enemy.

Seek God first every morning. Seek his guidance all through the day: 

• "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him" James 1:5. 
• Trust his power when you need it, knowing that his grace is sufficient for you and that his power is made perfect in weakness 2 Corinthians 12:9. 
• Then you will say, "I can do everything through him who gives me strength" Philippians 4:13.

So, what storms have found you this morning? Do you believe that God is powerful enough for all you are facing? When last did you give your day, your problem, your decision to him? When will you next?

-james c. denison

....control

By the end of the day today,  I can predict with 100% accuracy that the following things will happen... 

 1. The Bible will still have all the answers. 

 2. Prayer will still work. 

 3. The Holy Spirit will still move. 

 4. God will still inhabit the praise of His people. 

 5. God will still pour out His blessings upon His people. 

 6. There will still be God-anointed teaching and preaching. 

 7. There will still be singing of praise to God. 

 8. There will still be room at the Cross. 

 9. Jesus will still love His own. 

10. Jesus will still save the lost. 

Whatever comes your way today, remember, God is still in control. 

Today, tomorrow, forever... 

God is still in control. 

-adapted from David langerfeld's reflection on USA's election 2020

...cake

A little boy is telling his Grandma how everything is going wrong. 

School, family problems, severe health problems, etc. Meanwhile, Grandma is baking a cake. She asks her grandson if he would like a snack, which, of course, he does.

"Here, have some cooking oil."

"Yuck" says the boy.

"How about a couple raw eggs? "

"Gross, Grandma!"

"Would you like some flour then? Or maybe baking soda?"

"Grandma, those are all yucky!"

To which Grandma replies:

"Yes, all those things seem bad all by themselves. But when they are put together in the right way, they make a wonderfully delicious cake!. God works the same way.  Many times we wonder why he would let us go through such bad and difficult times. But God knows that when He puts these things all in His order, they always work for good! We just have to trust Him and, eventually, they will all make something wonderful!"

God is crazy about you. He sends you flowers every spring and a sunrise every morning. 

Whenever you want to talk, He'll listen. 

He can live anywhere in the universe, and He chose your heart.

Hope your day is a "piece of cake"! 

-david langerfeld

...purpose

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day - and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing." 2 Timothy 4:7

Josh McDowell tells about an executive 'headhunter' who recruits corporate executives for large firms. This headhunter once told McDowell that when he interviews an executive, he likes to disarm him. 'I offer him a soft drink,' said the headhunter, 'take off my coat, undo my tie, throw up my feet and talk about baseball, football, family, whatever, until he's all relaxed. Then, when I think I've got him relaxed, I lean over, look him square in the eye and ask, "What's your purpose in life?"

It's amazing how top executives fall apart at that question. Then he told about interviewing one fellow recently. He had him all disarmed, had his feet up on his desk, talking about football. Then the headhunter leaned over and said, "Bob, what is your purpose in life?'

And the executive said, without blinking an eye, "To go to heaven and take as many people with me as I  can." "For the first time in my career," said the headhunter, "I was speechless."

What is your purpose in Life? 

Have you placed your faith in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior? John 3:16 

Are you daily denying your self, taking up the cross and following Him? Luke 9:23 

Do you love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength and all your mind? Luke 10:27  When you trust in Jesus, you're one of God's children John 1:12-13

Live today full of purpose - seeking to do His will, following Him and serving Him. 

-david langerfeld