change

Effective immediately, please be aware that there are changes YOU need to make in YOUR life. These changes need to be completed in order that I may fulfill My promises to you to grant you peace, joy and happiness in this life.

1. Quit Worrying     

Life has dealt you a blow and all you do is sit and worry. Have you forgotten that I am here to take all your burdens and carry them for you? Or do you just enjoy fretting over every little thing that comes your way?

2. Put it on the List     

Something needs done or taken care of.  Put it on the list.  No, not YOUR list.  Put it on MY to-do-list.  Let ME be the one to take care of the problem.  I can't help you until you turn it over to Me.  And although My to-do-list is long, I am after all... God. I can take care of anything you put into My hands.  In fact, if the truth were ever really known, I take care of a lot of things for you that you never even realize.

3. Trust Me     

Once you've given your burdens to Me, quit trying to take them back. Trust in Me. Have the faith that I will take care of all your needs, your problems and your trials. Problems with the kids? Put them on My list. Problem with finances? Put it on My list. Problems with your emotional roller coaster? For My sake, put it on My list. I want to help you. All you have to do is ask.

4. Leave It Alone    

Don't wake up one morning and say, "Well, I'm feeling much stronger now, I think I can handle it from here." Why do you think you are feeling stronger now? It's simple. You gave Me your burdens and I'm taking care of them. I also renew your strength and cover you in my peace. Don't you know that if I give you these problems back, you will be right back where you started? Leave them with Me and forget about them. Just let Me do my job.

5. Talk to Me    

I want you to forget a lot of things. Forget what was making you crazy. Forget the worry and the fretting because you know I'm in control. But there's one thing I pray you never forget. Please, don't forget to talk to Me - OFTEN! I love YOU! I want to hear your voice. I want you to include Me in on the things going on in your life. I want to hear you talk about your friends and family. Prayer is simply you having a conversation with Me. I want to be your dearest friend.

 

6. Have Faith     

I see a lot of things from up here that you can't see from where you are. Have faith in Me that I know what I'm doing. Trust Me; you wouldn't want the view from My eyes. I will continue to care for you, watch over you, and meet your needs. You only have to trust Me. Although I have a much bigger task than you, it seems as if you have so much trouble just doing your simple part. How hard can trust be?

 

7. Share     

You were taught to share when you were only two years old. When did you forget? That rule still applies. Share with those who are less fortunate than you. Share your joy with those who need encouragement. Share your laughter with those who haven't heard any in such a long time. Share your tears with those who have forgotten how to cry. Share your faith with those who have none.

 

8. Be Patient     

I managed to fix it so in just one lifetime you could have so many diverse experiences. You grow from a child to an adult, have children, change jobs many times, learn many trades, travel to so many places, meet thousands of people, and experience so much. How can you be so impatient then when it takes Me a little longer than you expect to handle something on My to-do-list? Trust in My timing, for My timing is perfect. Just because I created the entire universe in only six days, everyone thinks I should always rush, rush, rush.

 

9. Be Kind     

Be kind to others, for I love them just as much as I love you. They may not dress like you, or talk like you, or live the same way you do, but I still love you all. Please try to get along, for My sake. I created each of you different in some way. It would be too boring if you were all identical. Please, know I love each of your differences.

 

10. Love Yourself     

As much as I love you, how can you not love yourself? You were created by me for one reason only -- to be loved, and to love in return. I am a God of Love. Love Me. Love your neighbors. But also love yourself. It makes My heart ache when I see you so angry with yourself when things go wrong. You are very precious to me. Don't ever forget that! With all my heart I love you.

GOD

set

If your problems are great, then your cause is too small. When your cause is great, your problems begin to shrink. Do you have a holy cause? A faith worth preserving? A mission worth living for? Ask God to give you a cause to claim to his glory: an orphanage to serve…a neighbor to encourage…a class to teach. It really is better to give than to receive.

Want to see your troubles evaporate? Help others with theirs. You’ll always face troubles, but you don’t have to face them in the same way. Instead, immerse your mind in God thoughts. Turn a deaf ear to doubters and set your mind on a holy cause. Once you find your mountain, no giant will stop you; no age will disqualify you; and no problems will defeat you.

-max lucado

contest

One day a group of scientists got together and decided that man had come a long way and no longer needed God. So they picked one scientist to go and tell God that they were done with Him.

The scientist walked up to God and said, "God, we've decided that we no longer need you. We're to the point that we can clone people and do many miraculous things, so why don't you just go on and get lost."

God listened very patiently and kindly to the man and after the scientist was done talking, God said, "Very well, how about this, let's say we have a 'man-making' contest." To which the scientist replied, "OK, great!"

God added, "Now, we're going to do this just like I did back in the old days with Adam." The scientist said, "Sure, no problem" and bent down and grabbed himself a handful of dirt.

God just looked at him and said, "No, no, no. You go get your own dirt!"

The story makes a good point. True, scientists are not able to create life, but in all their attempts to duplicate God's feat, they overlook one very important point -- God started with nothing! Everything around us was not just rearranged, it was "created." God spoke, and the world came into existence.

Every time we think we can accomplish great things (maybe even as great as God), we need to remind ourselves of that truth. Take nothing and try to make something out of it, and you will realize just how far short of God's omnipotence you fall.

"By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible." (Hebrews 11:3)

outwardly

The story is told about a thief who was nabbed. The incident took place back in 1887 in a small neighborhood grocery store when a middle-aged gentleman, Emanuel Nenger, gave the cashier a $20 bill to pay for the turnip greens he was purchasing. When the cashier placed the bill in the cash drawer she noticed that some of the ink from the $20 came off on her hands which were wet from wrapping the turnip greens.

She'd known Mr. Nenger for years and was shocked. She thought, "Is this man giving me a counterfeit $20 bill?" but she dismissed the thought immediately and gave him his change. But $20 was a lot of money in those days so she notified the police who, after obtaining a search warrant, went to Emanuel Nenger's home where they found in his attic the tools he was using to reproduce the counterfeit $20 notes. They found an artist's easel, paint brushes, and paints which Nenger was using to meticulously paint the counterfeit money. He was a master artist.

The police also found three portraits that Nenger had painted – paintings that sold at public auction for a little over $16,000! The irony was that it took him almost as much time to paint a $20 note as it did to paint those portraits which sold for more than $5,000 each.

That story reminds me of folks who spend a lot of time and effort creating an "image" which they can present to people they come in contact with. They will go out of their way to make you think they are generous or kind or have some other godly quality. The irony is that it takes almost as much effort to create these "masks" as it does to develop the qualities themselves -- which are infinitely more valuable!

"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness. Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness." (Matt. 23:27-28)

Take a moment to consider -- are you more interesting in developing a godly heart, or in trying to make people *think* you have a godly heart? 

weep

Little Johnny came downstairs crying loudly. His mother asked, "What's the matter?"

"Dad was hanging pictures, and just hit his thumb with a hammer," said Johnny through his tears.

"That's not so serious," soothed his mother. "I know you're upset, but a big boy like you shouldn't cry at something like that. Why didn't you just laugh?"

"I did!" sobbed Johnny.

Laughter is a good thing, but sometimes it's not very appropriate! It's too easy for us to get things backwards -- we rejoice when others suffer (especially if we can say, "I told you so!"), and we are sad when good things happen to others ("Why couldn't I get that instead?"). But love truly seeks the best interest of others. May we all seek to live out Paul's words:

"Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep." (Rom. 12:15)

rest

One afternoon, I was in the back yard hanging the laundry when an old, tired-looking dog wandered into the yard. I could tell from his collar and well-fed belly that he had a home. But when I walked into the house, he followed me, sauntered down the hall and fell asleep in a corner. An hour later, he went to the door, and I let him out. The next day he was back. He resumed his position in the hallway and slept for an hour.

This continued for several weeks. Curious, I pinned a note to his collar: "Every afternoon your dog comes to my house for a nap."

The next day he arrived with a different note pinned to his collar: "He lives in a home with ten children - he's trying to catch up on his sleep."

(Susan Roman, from "Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul")

A lot of us spend time trying to catch up on our sleep. Our lives are so very busy -- busyness has become a way of life. We work and work to do more and more -- wearing down our mental and physical health, as well as damaging our relationship with others. We need to be told to slow every now and then. That's why the Jews were commanded to take a Sabbath rest every week. That's why Jesus took time every now and then to get away from the crowd and recharge.

It's not that God is against work, not at all. From the time that Adam was set in the Garden of Eden, work has been a part of God’s plan for our lives. God is not against work. But He is against work consuming our lives. He is against us finding our significance and self-worth in our work. He is against us filling our lives so full of work that we don’t have time for Him or other people. And He doesn’t want us to think that work is all that there is in life. 

"Then the apostles gathered to Jesus and told Him all things, both what they had done and what they had taught. And He said to them, 'Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.' For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat." (Mark 6:30-31)

In your hectic schedule, don't forget to pencil in some time to rest!

clean

Two bachelors were talking one day, and their conversation drifted from politics to sports to cooking.

One of them said, "I got a cookbook once, but I could never do anything with it."

The other one said, "Too much fancy work in it, huh?"

You first one said, "Yeah, it sure was. Every one of the recipes began the same way - 'Take a clean dish.'"

Our relationship with God is much the same. God says, "Take a clean life", and we go, "Wait a minute, that's a problem." Because "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23). Our lives are not clean. We're stained by sin.

Making the matter even more difficult is the fact that we do not have the ability to cleanse ourselves: "Who can say, 'I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin'?" (Proverbs 20:9). The answer is, "No one."

Fortunately, God offers cleansing through the blood of Jesus Christ. So our plea to God is that of David: "Wash me thoroughly from my sin, and cleanse me from my sin.....Create in me a clean heart, O God." (Psalm 51:2,10)

May our attitude be such that we are willing to do what God says in order to receive the cleansing he offers. And praise be to God for his willingness to make clean what we cannot!

giants

Jewish poet and storyteller Noah ben Shea tells this parable:

After dinner, the children turned to Jacob and asked if he would tell them a story. "A story about what?" asked Jacob.

"About a giant," squealed the children.

Jacob smiled, leaned against the warm stones at the side of the fireplace, and his voice turned softly inward.

"Once there was a boy who asked his father to take him to see the great parade that passed through the village. The father, remembering the parade from when he was a boy, quickly agreed, and the next morning the boy and his father set out together.

"As they approached the parade route, people started to push in from all sides, and the crowd grew thick. When the people along the way became almost a wall; the father lifted his son and placed him on his shoulders.

"Soon the parade began and as it passed, the boy kept telling his father how wonderful it was and how spectacular were the colors and images. The boy, in fact, grew so prideful of what he saw that he mocked those who saw less saying, even to his father, 'If only you could see what I see.'"

"But," said Jacob staring straight in the faces of the children, "what the boy did not look at was why he could see. What the boy forgot was that once his father, too, could see."

Then as if he had finished the story, Jacob stopped speaking.

"Is that it?" said a disappointed girl. "We thought you were going to tell us a story about a giant."

"But I did," said Jacob. "I told you a story about a boy who could have been a giant."

"How?" squealed the children.

"A giant," said Jacob, "is anyone who remembers we are all sitting on someone else's shoulders."

"And what does it make us if we don't remember?" asked the boy.

"A burden," answered Jacob.

We all have been richly blessed by those who have gone before us. As a family member, I recognize that I have grandparents and parents who through much sacrifice and effort have given me the opportunity to do things that they couldn't even dream of doing. As a citizen of the United States, I owe a great debt of gratitude to those who gave their lives for the freedoms I am able to enjoy. And as a Christian, I look back on so many others (both in recent years and in biblical times) who laid a foundation of faith that gives me the encouragement to draw closer to God myself. I pray that I will never forget that I am sitting on someone else's shoulders.

" And others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented -- of whom the world was not worthy.....Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us." (Heb. 11:35b-38a;12:1).

Are you a giant......or a burden?

dodging

A state trooper pulled over a blonde on a lonely back road and said, "Ma'am, is there a reason why you're weaving all over the road?"

The woman replied, "Oh officer, thank goodness you're here! I almost had an accident! I looked up and there was a tree right in front of me. So, I swerved to the left and there was another tree in front of me. Then, I swerved to the right and there was another tree in front of me!"

The officer reached through the side window to the rear view mirror, and explained, "Ma'am... that's your air freshener."

Like that woman, we spend much of our lives "dodging obstacles" which are really not obstacles at all. We worry (and lose sleep) over things which never materialize. We hesitate to take action because we are fearful of what "might" happen. Our imagined fears keep us from driving down the straight and narrow ("What will they say? What will they do?")

"The lazy man says, 'There is a lion outside! I shall be slain in the streets!' " (Prov. 22:13) 

Was there really a lion in the streets? No, but any excuse will work when you don't want to do something, even dodging imaginary obstacles.

Is there anything you've hesitated doing lately because of an obstacle in your way? Be certain the obstacle is real. It might just be your air freshener!

few

A woman goes into the local newspaper office to see that the obituary for her recently deceased husband is properly written (she had always been known for her accuracy to details, second only to her famous sense of thrift). Only his beloved pickup truck remains to remind her of his presence.

The obit editor informs her that the fee for the obituary is 50 cents a word. She pauses, reflects and then says, "Well then, let it read, 'Billy Bob died."

Although amused at the woman's cleverness, the editor says, "Sorry, ma'am, but there is a 7 word minimum on all obituaries."

This causes her to become a little flustered, and she thinks things over for a few seconds. "In that case," she says, "let it read, 'Billy Bob died, 1983 Pickup for sale.'"

For reasons that go far beyond finances, we should learn to be a people of few words (and we should make those few words count). Solomon had quite a few things to say on this subject:

"In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is wise." (Prov. 10:19)

"Therefore let your words be few. For....a fool's voice is known

by his many words." (Eccl. 5:2-3)

"He who has knowledge spares his words..... Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace; When he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive." (Prov. 17:27-28)

Let your words be few. I would say more, but.......

divided

Lawrence Welk did not quite have a mastery of the English language. The following quotes were composed by Dick Wilson, a sound mixer who worked on "The Lawrence Welk Show" for more than three decades:

"Now the band will play a medley of tunes from World War Eye [World War I]."

During an audience warm-up: "I just wrote a book, but don't go out and buy it yet, because I don't think it's finished yet."

"There are good days and there are bad days, and this is one of them."

Introducing a guest performer: "His act may start out slow, but it tapers off."

Referring to rock music: "That's not my cup of dish."

To the band just before going on the air: "Boys, look like you're having fun, but don't have any."

To his stand-in: "Whenever you have a minute, I'd like to see you right now."

To a performer who apologized for being late and said he had no excuse: "That's no excuse."

"I just let it in one ear and out the top of my head."

Referring to a singing duo he first heard perform at a nightclub: "They were so good, I could hardly wait to get out of there."

"I'm keeping perfect time. I'll get my barometer (metronome) and prove it."

Then there was the time he accused a vocal group of being out of lip-sync when they were singing live...

To the pianist who was rehearsing: "Why do you do that? You play too many notes already."

"That's what really broke the camel's straw."

When a group of people came in to discuss problems in the band: "You know, when people band together, it causes a house divided."

If you're like me, you're left scratching your head at what was meant by some of those statements. Like that last statement. People banding together has never caused division! Quite the opposite -- people banding together causes unity. Refusal to communicate about problems, pride, jealousy and bitterness are the kinds of things that lead to "a house divided."

"For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace." (James 3:16-18)

May your efforts today lead to peace and unity.

charged

A local policeman had just finished his shift one cold November evening and was at home with his wife. "You just won't believe what happened this evening. In all my years on the force I've never seen anything like it!"

"What happened?"

"I came across two guys down by the canal, one of them was drinking battery acid and the other was eating fireworks."

"Drinking battery acid and eating fireworks!! What did you do with them?"

"I charged one and let the other off."

Spiritually speaking, those of us who are Christians have been both "charged" and "let off." We are charged with sin (and rightfully so, for we are guilty). "For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin." (Rom. 3:9)

But, those of us who are Christians who have put on Christ have also been "let off" because Jesus Christ has paid the price for our sins. We have been justified, "just as if I'd" never sinned. "Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins; and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses." (Acts 13:38-39)

To be charged is a frightful thing (those of you who have received tickets can vouch for that). To have a judge say, "I find you guilty, but I'm going to pay the fine for you" is inconceivable. Yet, that's exactly what has happened! May our lives demonstrate the gratitude we feel.

....further

The following incident won the runner-up prize in the 1999 Darwin Awards:

A Vermont native, Ronald Demuth, found himself in a difficult position. While touring the Eagle's Rock African Safari (Zoo) with a group of thespians from St. Petersburg, Russia, Mr. Demuth went overboard to show them one of America's many marvels. He demonstrated the effectiveness of "Crazy Glue"... the hard way.

Apparently, Mr. Demuth wanted to demonstrate just how good the adhesive was, so he put about 3 ounces of the adhesive in the palms of his hands, and jokingly placed them on the buttocks of a passing rhino. The rhino, a resident of the zoo for the past thirteen years, was not initially startled as it has been part of the petting exhibit since its arrival as a baby.

However, once it became aware of its being involuntarily stuck to Mr. Demuth, it began to panic and ran around the petting area wildly making Mr. Demuth an unintended passenger.

"Sally [the rhino] hasn't been feeling well lately. She had been very constipated. We had just given her a laxative and some depressants to relax her bowels, when Mr. Demuth played his juvenile prank," said James Douglass, caretaker. During Sally's tirade two fences were destroyed, a shed wall was gored, and a number of small animals escaped. Also, during the stampede, three pygmy goats and one duck were stomped to death.

As for Demuth, it took a team of medics and zoo caretakers' to remove his hands from her buttocks. First, the animal had to be captured and calmed down. However, during this process the laxatives began to take hold and Mr. Demuth was repeatedly showered with over 30 gallons of rhino diarrhea. "It was tricky. We had to calm her down, while at the same time shield our faces from being pelted with rhino dung. I guess you could say that Mr. Demuth was into it up to his neck. Once she was under control, we had three people with shovels working to keep an air passage open for Mr. Demuth. We were able to tranquilize her and apply a solvent to remove his hands from her rear," said Douglass. "I don't think he'll be playing with Crazy Glue for a while."

What in the world was Mr. Demuth thinking???? I believe it is safe to say that he wasn't thinking at all! Lest I be too harsh and critical, though, I have to remember all the times in my life when I have "attached" myself to something sinful. The results were just as disastrous, and I have often found myself wondering, "What was I thinking?" The truth is, I really wasn't thinking at all.

That's the very nature of sin. We "attach" ourselves, thinking we can always quit whenever we want to. We don't even consider what the consequences will be. I appreciate this quote by an unknown author: "Sin will take you further than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay and cost you more than you want to pay."

I almost didn't use the story above because of it being so disgusting. But then I realized that it is nothing compared to the disgusting things that sin leads us to do in our own lives. Perhaps we need to be reminded every now and then of just how disgusting the results of sin can be.

"But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death." (James 1:14-15).

To what (or whom) have you attached yourself?

defence

A carpenter was giving evidence about an accident he had witnessed. The judge asked him how far away he was from the accident.

The carpenter replied, "Twenty seven feet, six and one half inches."

"How can you be so sure of that distance?" asked the judge.

"Well, I knew some idiot would ask me. So I measured it!" replied the carpenter.

Like that carpenter, Christians need to be ready to give an answer: "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear." (I Peter 3:15)

But, unlike that carpenter, we need to exhibit the proper attitude when we do. I like the way the "God's Word" translation translates the last part of this verse: "Make your defense with gentleness and respect." Those are two very important qualities as we try to explain to others why we believe the way that we do or why we live the way that we live.

When our Christian faith is explained in a harsh or disrespectful manner, it will not convince many, no matter how powerful the evidence is that we present. But an explanation given with gentleness and respect will make a tremendous impact on people.

heavenward

The temporary Sabbath school teacher was struggling to open a combination lock on the supply cabinet. She had been told the combination, but couldn't quite remember it. Finally she went to the preacher's study and asked for help.

The preacher came into the room and began to turn the dial. After the first two numbers he paused and stared blankly for a moment. Finally he look serenely heavenward and his lips moved silently. Then he looked back at the lock, and quickly turned to the final number, and opened the lock.

The teacher was amazed. "I'm in awe at your faith, preacher," she said.

"It's really nothing," he answered. "The number is on a piece of tape on the ceiling."

What a great definition of the concept of faith! The essence of faith truly is to look heavenward. It is to look toward heaven for our guidance, our motivation, and our very reason for existence.  

We are surrounded by the things of this world, and it is easy to fall into the trap of thinking that what we can see all around us is what is "real." Faith is the ability to set our eyes on that which is above, the true reality.

"By faith [Abraham] dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob....for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God." (Heb. 11:9-10)

May you live by faith this day, and don't forget to look up!

trade

Another of those “stupid criminals”:

A man walked into a convenience store, put a $20 bill on the counter and asked for change. When the clerk opened the drawer, the man pulled a gun and asked for all the cash in the register.

The man took the cash from the clerk and fled, leaving his $20 bill on the counter.

So how much did he get from the drawer? Fifteen bucks.

How often have we done the same thing, given up something of value in an attempt to get something else of even more value, only to be disappointed in what we ended up with?

Remember Esau? He left his birthright on the counter as he grabbed a bowl of stew and ran! Not a smart trade!

Any time we trade God's favor for the popularity of men, we do the same thing. Any time we trade an eternity with God to "live for the moment", we do the same thing. Any time we trade our character and reputation for a few minutes of passion or pleasure, we do the same thing.

"Be careful that no one fails to receive God's grace....Be careful that no one takes part in sexual sin or is like Esau and never thinks about God. As the oldest son, Esau would have received everything from his father, but he sold all that for a single meal." (Hebrews 12:15a,16, NCV)

Don't make any foolish trades today. Hold on to that which is most important.

- author unknown

trees

It's important to have roots.

In today's complex world, it pays to branch out.

Don't pine away over old flames.

If you really believe in something, don't be afraid to go out on a limb.

Be flexible so you don't break when a harsh wind blows.

Sometimes you have to shed your old bark in order to grow.

If you want to maintain accurate records, keep a log.

To be politically correct, don't wear firs.

Grow where you're planted.

It's perfectly okay to be a late bloomer.

Avoid people who would like to cut you down.

Get all spruced up when you have a hot date.

If the party gets boring, just leaf.

You can't hide your true colors as you approach the autumn of your life.

It's more important to be honest than poplar.

Those are some good lessons. They reminded me of some other lessons taught in Psalm 1:

"Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper." (Psalm 1:1-3)

The godly man, like a tree, is planted -- he's got his roots put down deep, he's fortified, stable. Second, he bears fruit -- he develops godlike qualities in his character and life. Third, he doesn't wither -- he is able to survive under all circumstances, even days of difficulty.

May your spiritual life take on the qualities on a tree this week.

? success

The story is told of a man named Yussif, the Terrible Turk. Yussif was a 350-pound wrestling champion in Europe a couple of generations ago. After he won the European championship, he sailed to America to wrestle our champ, whose name was Strangler Lewis -- a little guy by comparison who weighed just a shade over 200 pounds.

Although he wasn't very big, Strangler had a simple plan for defeating his opponents and it had never failed to work. He's put his massive arm around the neck of his opponent and cut off the oxygen. Many an opponent had passed out in the ring with Strangler Lewis.

The problem when he fought Yussif the Turk was that Yussif didn't have a neck. His body went from his head to his massive shoulders. Lewis could never get his hold and it wasn't long that the Turk flipped Lewis to the mat and pinned him. After winning the championship, the Turk demanded all five thousand dollars in gold. After he wrapped the championship belt around his vast waist, he stuffed the gold into the belt and boarded the next ship back to Europe. He was a success! He had captured America's glory and her gold!

He set sail on the SS Bourgogne. Halfway across the Atlantic, a storm struck and the ship began to sink. Yussif went over the side with his gold still strapped around his body. The added weight was too much for the Turk and he sank like an anvil before they could get him into a lifeboat. He was never seen again.

Maybe you think, "What a fool! He should have had a lot more sense than that!" But, the truth of the matter is, we all tend to grasp the things of this world and hold onto them even while we're sinking.

Solomon made this observation: "Then I returned and saw vanity under the sun: There is one alone, without companion: He has neither son nor brother. Yet there is no end to all his labors, nor is his eye satisfied with riches. But he never asks, 'For whom do I toil and deprive myself of good?' This also is vanity and a grave misfortune." (Ecclesiastes 4:8)

Solomon describes a man, like so many today, who doesn't know how to quit. He can't slow down. He's driven to succeed, to achieve, to accumulate. He works harder and harder to become that successful person he so wants to be. And never once does he pause long enough to ask the question, "Who am I doing this for? Why do I feel compelled to run faster and faster in the rat race?"

Success promises a view from the top. But, without God in the picture, success will drag you down just as it did for Yussif, the Terrible Turk.

"Better is a handful of quietness than both hands full, together with toil and grasping for the wind." (Ecclesiastes 4:6)

older

Lord, keep me from the fatal habit of thinking that I must say something on every subject and on every occasion. Release me from craving to straighten out everybody's affairs.

Make me thoughtful but not moody; helpful but not bossy. With my vast store of wisdom, it seems a pity not to use it all - but Thou knowest, Lord, that I want a few friends at the end.

Keep my mind from the recital of endless details - give me wings to get to the point.

Seal my lips on my aches and pains. They are increasing and love of rehearsing them is becoming sweeter as the years go by.

I dare not ask for grace enough to enjoy the tales of others but help me to listen to them with patience.

I dare not ask for improved memory but a growing humility and lessening cocksureness when my memory seems to clash with the memory of others. Teach me the glorious lesson that occasionally I may be mistaken.

Keep me reasonably sweet. I do not want to be a "saint" - some of them are hard to live with - but a sour old person is one of the crowning works of the devil.

Give me the ability to see good things in unexpected places and talents in unexpected people. Give me the grace to tell them so.

In Jesus' name, Amen.

Growing old can be a frightening thing. We worry about what we will be like in the years ahead. We hope to be wise and gentle and kind and loving. The only way to be that way as an old person, though, is to strive to live that way every day as a young person.

"Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, before the difficult days come, and the years draw near when you say, 'I have no pleasure in them.' " (Eccl. 12:1)

-author unknown

weary

There is a humorous incident that Patsy Clairmont tells about in her book, "God Uses Cracked Pots." It happened with her son, Jason:

She writes, "When he was 7, I sent him off to school one day and a little while later there was a knock at the door and I opened the door and it was Jason. I said, 'Jason, what are you doing here?'"

He said, "I've quit school!"

She said, "Why have you quit school?"

He said, "Well, it was too long, it was too hard, and it was too boring."

She said, "Jason, you have just described life, get back on the bus!"

There are times when that describes our lives to a tee -- it's long, it's hard and it's boring! The result can be that we get tired of doing what is good. After all, no one appreciates it anyway, sometimes it seems that we aren't really accomplishing anything, and it requires so much effort. It's so easy to "lose heart," grow weary and just want to quit.

In moments like that, remember these words of Paul:

"And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith." (Galatians 6:9-10)

If you have grown weary, may you find the strength this day to renew your determination to continue to serve God!