Compass Points for Daily Living

Copyright © 2011 A. Leroy Brown

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ISBN: 978-1-4497-1436-9 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4497-1437-6 (hbk)

ISBN: 978-1-4497-1435-2 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2011924988

Printed in the United States of America

WestBow Press rev. date: 6/1/2011

Contents

Acknowledgement

Compass Points for Daily Living

Starting Over…

Contentment

Laughter…

Peace…

Truth…

God’s Love…

Discipline…

Work…

Fear…

Memories…

Excuses…

Fatherhood…

Faith…

Faith…

Crisis…

Giving…

Joy…

Heaven…

Faith…

The Many Witnesses

Martin Luther King Day

There’s Going to be a Test…

How Does He Do It?

Remember to Forget…

The Great Opportunities

of Youth…

Look for the Straight Path…

Powerful Prayer…

Submission…

Pleasant Revelations…

Trials Tests Our Metal…

Say What You Mean…

The Desire to be First…

Ground Hog Day

Troubled World

God Formed Man

Brevity of Life

Doing the Right Thing…

Life is like a Box of Chocolates…

The Enemy, He is Us…

Unconditional Love…

One Foundation…

Pass It On…

Forgiveness

This Matter of Faith…

Expressions of Devotion…

A Light unto My Path…

God’s Plans…

Be Honest…

Divine Order

Follow the Signs…

Think God…

Lord, Help Me Grow Up…

Help in the Day of Trouble…

God’s Instructions…

Beyond the Average

Nothing New Under the Sun…

Obey Your Parents…

The Grim Reaper…

The Truths of God’s Word…

Leap Year

Loving and Patient…

Orderly Actions…

Faithfulness…

Pray…

Seasoning for Society…

A Cheerful Heart…

A Time for Everything…

Betrayal

Joyful Marriage…

Hard Times Commanded from God

God’s Care is Always Here…

An Honest Report…

Character will Show…

Watch Your Anger…

What Do You Look Like?

Out of The Heart…

The Clock Keeps Ticking…

Accounting Time…

Raising a Family…

Expressing Love…

Responsibility…

Life’s Heavy Load

Faith…

Body Life…

Learning From Our Past…

Seek God First…

Miracle on the Water…

Accounting Day…

Careful What You Say…

His Last Words…

Trust In The Resurrection…

You Cannot Fool God…

He Is Risen…

So Many Churches…

A Quiet Place…

Easter Remembrance…

Honor First…

Need For Communication…

Strange Happenings…

Ever Present Love…

The Passion of Christ…

The Treasure of Life…

Faith Required

First Fruit…

Simple Faith…

Abandoned And Alone…

Passover…

Life Eternal…

What’s Next?

My Heavenly Home…

When It’s Over…

God’s Presence

Everlasting Water

Unity With Christ…

Believing Faith…

Law of The Harvest…

Pride of Our Lives…

God is Love

God’s Plans…

The Body Is One…

God’s Mercy…

Believing Faith…

Eternal Mansions…

Obedience…

God Knows Me…

A Voice from Heaven…

Gentle Words…

Counting the costs…

God Speaks…

The Sands of Time…

God’s Preparation…

Mother’s Day

Two shall be One…

Time moves along…

Manna, Manna, Manna…

Temptation…

False Prophets

Love

Life and Death…

Calling His Own…

Our Helper…

Getting Older…

Strange Behavior…

Keep Your Eyes On The Job…

The Way, The Truth, and The Life…

Memorial Day

Excuses

Special Gifts…

Authorities Over Us…

David and Goliath…

Spiritual Trance…

Writing On the Wall…

I’m Thick and Tired Of It…!

Tell The Truth…

Work Is Good…

God Loves You…

God Is Working For Good…

Sowing Good Seed…

The Lazy Worker…

Count The Costs…

Husband Love Your Wife…

Joined Together…

Our Love for God…

Do Not Judge Your Brother…

Where Is the Peace?…

Flag Day

Father’s Day

The Need to Clean the Land…

Debts Forgiven…

Faith In Action…

Here Comes The Judge…

Finish What You Start…

Remember The Blessings…

Pride In Your Children…

Man In God’s Image…

The God of The Impossible…

The Inspired Word of God…

A Sure Anchor…

Nothing Has Really Changed…

A Dangerous Sea…

God’s Precious Children…

The Ever Present God…

May God Bless America…

Who Is At The Top Of Your List?

Will You Be Remembered?…

A Favored Nation…

The Wise Man…

Caring For Others…

Living Faith…

Are All Things Possible?…

Perfect Love…

Mustard Seed Faith…

A Miracle of Jesus…

Jesus Loves The Little Children

Every Day Rules…

Angelic Company…

Learning To Live Righteously…

Life Is Short…

Look For Happiness…

Children: Precious Charges…

Never Give Up, Never Give Up, Never Give Up.

Expect the Best

Joy In Life

Worry…

How Would We Live Without Salt?

At Least Light A Candle

Planning For Tomorrow…

Freedom Isn’t Free…

What Is Truth?

There Is A Vision…

Arrows In The Quiver…

Grace, Grace, Wonderful Grace

Are You Listening?

Why Did I Do That?

Facing the Giants

Laugh a Little…

Dreams Build Visions…

You Haven’t Failed Until You Quit!

Life’s Not Over, ‘Til It’s Over…

Time Moves On…

A Place Called Heaven…

Did You Hear What I Said?

Trust in the Lord…

What Price Do You Put

On Your Soul?

Be Still…

Honesty…

Call on Me…

A Life of Contentment…

Choose Your Path Carefully…

The Law of the Harvest…

Remember Your Creator…

What Do These Stones Mean?…

Change Is Constant…

He Who Sits In the Heavens Shall Laugh…

Created in His Image…

Count your blessings…

A Guilty Conscience…

Precious Little Children…

Evidence of the Fruit…

Does God have a Purpose?…

Seek Wisdom…

Become like a little child…

God Waits To Hear From Us…

Let’ go fishing…

Follow the Good…

Labor Day

Careful What You Say…

Inevitable Movement of Time…

The Two Shall Become One…

An Unusual Day…

The Waters Covered The Earth…

Staying Too Busy…

The Curse of the Fig Tree…

The Shadow of Death…

The People Had A

Mind To Work…

Patriot Day

Do You Love Me?…

Enjoy The Days Of Your Youth…

Pay Day Is Certain…

Laughter Is Good Medicine…

My Days Are Numbered…

Truth…

Counting the Costs…

Let There Be Light…

Abide In The Light…

Amazing Grace…

God is Good…

God Listens and Hears…

Faith Is A Substance…

The Bottom Line…

Know My Heart…

God Laughs…

River of Life…

Be Glad in the Lord…

Submit to Your Elders…

Friendly Reminder…

Always Speak Truth…

False Prophets…

Look to Your God…

Decisions

Pride

What is Truth?…

Seek Peace…

Secure In Christ

The Potter and The Clay

The True Vine…

The Joys of Childhood…

God’s Kingdom

Giving Gifts

God’s Open Door

The Trumpet in The Sky

New Life

Temptation

God Knows You

Helpmate

What is in the Future…

Contentment…

Submit to Authority…

My God is My Rock…

The Good Shepherd

Mystery of Total Devotion…

Freedom is not Cheap…

Work is Honorable…

Making Right Choices…

Perfect Love…

Halloween…

Submit to Authority

Put Away Childish Things…

Our Wonderful Bodies…

We the People…

Let’s Go Fishing…

God Does Amazing Things…

God Hears and Answers

We Do Not Stand Alone…

The Water of Life…

For Such a Time As This…

Veterans Day

A Miracle in the Making…

Asking and Believing…

He Will Supply Your Need…

Handwriting on the Wall…

What’s Love Got To

Do With It…

What Mean These Stones?

Tools of Our Time…

The Value of Your Word…

Giving Thanks…

A Thankful Heart…

The Valley of The Shadow…

Thanksgiving

God’s Goodness…

Daily Bread…

The Bread of Life…

Thanksgiving

Grateful Heart

Spreading Good Tidings

National Prayer

The Gift of Children…

Making a Wish List…

The Stars of Heaven

I Want It Now!…

Learning To Wait…

Guardian Angels

Pearl Harbor

Do Over…

Worship

Christian Spirit

God Takes Care of The Animals

Forgiveness

Keeping Good Company…

Joy and Sorrow…

Friends…

The Rush of The Season…

Caring For One Another…

The Christmas Star…

The Holy Announcement…

The Miraculous Announcement…

The Birth of The King…

A Child Is Born…

The Angel’s Message…

Seasons Greetings…

The Days Were Completed…

Daily Bread…

The Lighthouse

His Magnificent Gift…

God Cares For You…

Aging Gracefully…

Time Passes On…

Bibliography:

Acknowledgement

This work could not have been done without the hundreds of faithful believers who loved, encouraged and mentored me through this marvelous journey. I want to thank them for their love and devotion.

Some years ago the local editor of THE TRINITY STANDARD newspaper was willing to take a chance that my ramblings could have some value in our local edition. I wish to thank him for his patience and acceptance of this effort.

I would still be talking about writing a book if it were not for my devoted wife, Betty Lou. She is always there to remind me, prod me, correct me, and proof read every article I write. This compilation would not be possible were it not for her devotion to me and her encouragement to move on into areas I often dream of, but just as often fear. Thank you for your faith in me.

I also wish to thank Marti Colvin for the art work she provided for the cover of this work. She had limited time and little explanation for what I wanted and provided the perfect cover for me. I also want to thank my daughter-in-law, Jennifer Jordan for her computer assistance during the final draft.

Finally, I wish to express my deepest appreciation to Shelley Madeley for her encouragement and expertise in proofing this material. She spent countless hours reading through these articles, correcting grammar and punctuation, and all without a complaint about my poor writing habits. Her patience and expertise are worthy of a dedicated English teacher. Thank you, Shelley.

A. LEROY BROWN

Compass Points for Daily Living

My name is A. Leroy Brown and I live in Trinity, Texas where I served as pastor for Dorcas Wills Memorial Baptist Church for 22 years. Prior to moving to Trinity, I served three churches in the Houston area for over 18 years in several staff positions. Several years ago I was allowed the privilege of writing a short by-line article each week for our local Trinity newspaper, The Trinity Standard. Compass Points for Daily Living is a collection of these articles written under the by-line Ecumenically Speaking. I see the need for daily reminders in our efforts to live the Christian life. The articles are organized to provide one for each day of the week for a full year. At least one Scripture reference is given in each of the articles, and I have selected a topic that closely fits the article. I believe the thoughts expressed in the articles will prompt memories in your own experiences to remind you of your daily walk with Christ and may God bless you as you live the life to which He has called you.

DATE BIBLE REFERENCES

January

1. Philippians 3:14; Matthew 6:3

2. Psalm 103:15-16; Philippians 4:12

3. Proverbs 15:13

4. Psalm 4:8; Isaiah 26:3

5. John 8:32; Psalm 15:1

6. Jeremiah 1:5; 1 John 4:8; 1 John 4:18

7. Proverbs 24:5; Galatians 5:22-23

8. 1 Thessalonians 4:11

9. Mark 10:14; Luke 12:6-7

10. 2 Corinthians 2:15; Ephesians 5:2

11. Romans 1:20; Luke 14:18-20

12. Proverbs 23:24; Mark 14:36;

Romans 8:15; Galatians 4:6

13. Hebrews 11:1

14. Luke 14:28; Philippians 4:6-7

15. Jeremiah 33:11; Psalm 5:1-2; C.S. Lewis

16. Luke 6:38; Luke 10:27

17. Nehemiah 8:10; John 15:11;

Charles R. Swindoll

18. Revelation 21:4

19. 1 Timothy 4:4; Genesis 1:28

20. Hebrews 12:1; Hebrews 12:2

21. Colossians 3:23-23 Quote:

Encyclopedia of Quotations, pg 354

22. 1 Corinthians 12:14; Hebrews 13:17

23. Romans 8:26-28; Isaiah 26:3

24. Philippians 3:13

25. 1 Timothy 4:12

26. Proverbs 3:6; Psalm 19:1,4,6

27. James 5:16; 2 Chronicles 7:14; Hebrews 13:8

28. 1 Peter 5:5; Matthew 7:12

29. Galatians 5:22

30. James 1:2; Romans 8:28-29; Al Capp, Lil’ Abner

31. Matthew 5:37

Starting Over…

January 1

I press toward the goal… Philippians 3:14 NKJV

How do you start over again? This is a hard question for most of us to answer, yet each year we have the opportunity to do just that! The start of a New Year gives us the privilege of putting a lot of things behind us and starting all over again. Although sometimes we have so much left over stuff, it’s nearly impossible to see how we can start over. The Bible gives us a simple formula for starting over. Paul, the apostle, wrote "But this one thing I do, forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal…" Philippians 3:13. Psychologists tell us that many of the problems in our lives result from hanging on to things long after they are history. All of us have experienced this to one degree or another. Do you remember that disturbance you had with a close friend or relative, or the costly mistake you made that you are still paying for? Nearly anything we do can take a turn we don’t plan on. When it does, the real question is how we are going to get past it! The consequences of our actions often cannot be changed or forgotten; however, the attitude that we have in the middle of the consequences is what Paul is talking about. So many of us are worriers! A mistake is made. Action is taken to correct it, then the worry sets in! Why did I do that? If only I had made a different choice! That’s what he means when he says, "This one thing I do…FORGET WHAT IS BEHIND". Now that we have a new calendar, why not scratch off some of those old problems you no longer can fix and start looking at the opportunities in front of you. You may be surprised how quickly you will have a whole new set of worries! Jesus encouraged His followers not to be overly concerned about earthly worries; then He really nailed it! "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." Matthew 6:34.NKJV

Contentment

January 2

As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone…

Psalm 103:15-16 NIV

I was thinking today about what a great teacher e-mails have become! Did you know there is a benefit to aging?

• Eventually you will reach a point when you stop lying about your age and start bragging about it!

• The older we get, the fewer things seem worth waiting in line for!

• Some people try to turn back their odometers. Not me. I want people to know why I look this way. I’ve traveled a long way and some of the roads weren’t paved!

• How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are?

• You know you are getting old when everything either dries up or leaks!

• I don’t know how I got over the hill without getting to the top!

• Old age is when former classmates are so gray and wrinkled and bald, they don’t recognize you!

Now I know a lot of us old grays complain about the experience, but really when you look back over life you have to say, with a few exceptions, it has been a real trip! We have been around long enough to appreciate the finer things in life such as:

A quiet afternoon nap. Does anyone remember when you were made to take a nap?

Having the privilege of slowing down some without being accused of shirking or gold-bricking!

Listening to some of the modern music and really appreciating Moon River or Tuxedo Junction!

Although it might be nice to back up a few years in order to gain back some of the lost items of time, the journey would not really be the same. I have a real appreciation for where I am in this life experience, but I can look around at some people who are complaining about every aspect of their past. I wonder how in the world they will ever complete the marathon of life with the joy that is intended to be a part of it. When you think about it, some people don’t get the opportunity to reach this privileged level of the journey. Paul, the apostle, wrote, "I have learned the secret of contentment in every situation…" Philippians 4:12b

Laughter…

January 3

A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit. Proverbs 15:13 NIV

They’re back! Bulletin Bloopers have been around for generations. They seem to come in waves a year or two apart but they always bring a smile. Here is the latest list I received.

*Bertha Belch, a missionary from Africa, will be speaking tonight at Calvary Methodist. Come hear Bertha Belch all the way from Africa.

*The Fasting and Prayer Conference includes meals.

*The sermon this morning: Jesus Walks on the Water. The sermon tonight: Searching for Jesus.

*The pastor preached a challenging sermon, Wade in the water, followed by special music by the choir, Higher Ground.

*Ladies, don’t forget the rummage sale. It’s a chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping around the house. Don’t forget your husbands.

*The peacemaking meeting scheduled for today has been canceled due to a conflict.

*Remember in prayer the many who are sick of our community. Smile at someone who is hard to love. Say Hell to someone who doesn’t care much about you.

*Don’t let worry kill you off – let the church help.

*Miss Charlene Mason sang I Will Not Pass This Way Again, giving obvious pleasure to the congregation.

*For those of you who have children and don’t know it, we have a nursery downstairs.

*Next Thursday there will be tryouts for the choir. They need all the help they can get.

*Barbara remains in the hospital and needs blood donors for more transfusions. She is also having trouble sleeping and requests tapes of Pastor Paul’s sermons.

*Irving Benson and Jessie Carter were married on October 24 in the church. So ends a friendship that began in their school days.

*Eight new choir robes are currently needed due to the addition of several new members and to the deterioration of some older ones.

*Please place your donation in the envelope along with the deceased person you want remembered.

*This evening at 7 PM there will be a hymn singing in the park across from the church. Bring a blanket and come prepared to sin.

*The pastor would appreciate it if the ladies of the congregation would lend him their electric girdles for the pancake breakfast next Sunday.

Peace…

January 4

I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety. Psalm 4:8 NIV

When I read the New Testament and see how many times God instructs us about peace, I am always amazed even though our world is often disturbed by conflicts, sicknesses and troubles, we are encouraged to trust God in everything. One of my favorite passages is in Philipians 4:6-7. It reads, "Don’t worry about anything, but in everything go to God, and pray to let Him know what you want, and give thanks. Then God’s PEACE, better than all our thinking, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." (Beck translation) Some healing professionals have stated that if those who were so troubled in life could only find a place of peace within themselves, their conditions would instantly improve. All of us could stand an extra measure of PEACE. When the crisis in the family becomes unbearable, when the finances run low, when the job begins to drive you up the wall and dozens of other circumstances exhaust your patience, why not try these simple instructions? Give up on worry and turn to God and thank Him for what He wants to do in your life. Then the scriptures say, PEACE will fill our thinking! Read the verse again. It says, He will guard your heart and your mind! Most of us just say that’s too easy; it can’t work, so we reach for the aspirin. It seems a little strange that we question something the Creator says about His creation! He should know, wouldn’t you think? PEACE, that elusive ingredient all of us want, yet few find. Start looking in the right place!

He will keep in perfect peace all those who trust in Him, whose thoughts turn often to the Lord! Isaiah 26:3 (The Living Bible)

Truth…

January 5

Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. John 8:32 NIV

A sad commentary of the extreme intelligence of the Twenty First Century is that TRUTH is no longer a vital element of society! Many years ago, John Dryden wrote, "TRUTH is the foundation of all knowledge and the cement of all societies. Most of us remember in our first years of life, the importance placed on telling the truth. Yet somewhere along the way, we have made this basic of human character into a subjective item. If the circumstances call for it, it’s alright not to tell the truth! How sad! The first question that must be asked when this type of philosophy is used is, Who decides when the circumstances are such that a lie is better than the truth?" Is it when relationships are no longer important, or when it is no longer convenient to keep your word? Is it when you want to be hired for a job or elected for an office that a promise can be forgotten? One of our great legal statesmen, Oliver Wendell Holmes wrote, "TRUTH is tough; it will not break, like a bubble, at a touch; nay, you may kick it about all day like a football, and it will be round and full at evening." Ironically all of us want and even demand that we be given the truth, yet often the same people who demand truth justify the occasional white lie. Is it any wonder that we have confused young people who have repeatedly heard the admonition to tell the truth, yet see their mentors, their models, or their parents justifying their use of falsehoods? Marriage, that bastion of vow and covenant, is shattered by lies and deceptions. Political offices are gained by promises that are stretched beyond truth. And then we wonder why our youth scoff at marriage and adult leadership. The Chinese have a saying, "To know the TRUTH is easy; but, ah, how difficult to follow it. The Psalmist David wrote, Who shall dwell in my holy hill? He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and SPEAKETH the TRUTH in his heart." Psalm 15:1. KJV

God’s Love…

January 6

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart… Jeremiah 1: 5 NIV

How well do you know the people closest to you? It is interesting to watch couples as they age together. You will notice that not only do they anticipate what the other person is going to say, they often provide the immediate needs for the special person before the need is expressed. And sometimes, after decades of marriage and life together, these special couples begin to even look alike! This is such a neat testimony to oneness! The psalmist wrote about this unique characteristic when he describes the attention and devotion of our sovereign God toward His creation…mankind. In Psalm 139, David described how God knew everything about him. He knew what he was thinking, where he was going, and even what he was planning, before anything was said or done. He also described how the Divine Creator gave constant protection and guidance to those who would yield to Him. But the most amazing statement of all is that before we were even known about by our parents, God knew us! Not only did He know us, He counted out the days assigned to us before any of them were given. Then David reminded us that God loves us totally. Someone said, If God had a refrigerator your picture would be on it! Every human being is important and loved by our Heavenly Father. All the good things that come our way in life are a result of His love for us. And when bad things do come our way, God is devoted to guiding us to understand that He has our best interest at heart. When you think about it, you may know some special people very well; however, that knowledge is only a fraction of how well our Divine Master knows and loves you! Remember "God is Love" and Perfect love casts out fear! 1 John 4:8; 4:18. Take a moment today and praise Him for His love for you.

Discipline…

January 7

A wise man has great power, and a man of knowledge increases strength; Proverbs 24:5 NIV

There is a beautiful passage in our Bible that outlines the ideal behavior of one human being toward another. It reads, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23) Breaking these nine attributes into three groups of three, one can best see the utility of these words. The first grouping, love, joy and peace describes a behavior that is expressed in what we commonly refer to as religious. These three characteristics are seen in a person’s response to whatever greater power he or she believes in. The New Testament refers to the individual’s belief in our benevolent God who really does care about each of us. The second group, longsuffering (patience), kindness, and goodness, can best be seen in the way an individual responds to people around him or her. The final grouping, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control, really does describe the attributes of one who is dependable, easy-going and consistent. Even those who do not claim faith should have little problem with the principles evident in these three. A person who is confident in the fact that he is not an accident of nature draws assurance from the knowledge that there is bound to be something greater than self. And who among us would look forward to being in the company of one who is impatient, unkind and mean-spirited? Finally, all of us look for friends and employees who are dependable, easy to get along with and consistently the same no matter the circumstances. In other words, these three clusters work even if a person is not religious. How will your family, friends and co-workers remember you?

Work…

January 8

Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands…

I Thessalonians 4:11 NASB

This past week I was driving to make a visit and passed by an individual hitchhiking on the highway. I remembered back many years ago when I was leaving home without a car to begin my adult life. The quickest way I knew to make some distance was to hitchhike. A kindly gentleman picked me up, and I rode for about 10 hours with him assisting with the driving and talking about the great future I was going into! Unfortunately, in our violent world, it is much more risky to hitchhike than it was when many of us were kids. But as I remembered back, I got to thinking about what was being stated by the typical hitchhiker when he sticks out his thumb. Please give me a ride in your fine car. I will enjoy the benefits of your hard work by relaxing while you pay for the gas, oil and maintenance. I will also expect you to have insurance protecting me while I am with you and, just so you understand, if you have a wreck and I get hurt, you can expect to pay for a great part of my future. Now I know there are some people who just get down on their luck and need an extra boost. But I’m talking about those people who believe that someone else ought to pay for their trip! We have them in our government programs. They could work in a routine job, but instead they claim the benefits through taxes provided by those who work very hard to provide for their own families. We also have the hitchhikers in offices, factories, markets and stores. They sign up for the paycheck, punch the clock and then work very hard at avoiding any work! But the most frustrating of all for me as a pastor is the hitchhikers in our churches. They come in to a building that others provide, expect comfortable places to sit in climate-controlled, attractive centers, look toward the leadership for entertainment and satisfaction, then often leave with a complaint about one thing or another. During that visit, no attempt is made to assist in the costs for their comfort. I am certainly glad that I don’t have to sort out who is who, but it does kind of make me wonder if there is such a thing as hitchhiking into heaven? Think about it!

Fear…

January 9

He said to them, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Mark 10:14 NASB

After a really busy and hectic day, a little boy was being put to bed for the evening. All the usual rituals had to be performed by Mom: a glass of water, his favorite teddy bear and the final goodnight cuddle. Finally, Mom attempted to leave his room. The little boy began to whine and asked if Mom could sleep with him tonight because he was a little scared. Mom reassured him that everything was all right and that nothing would bother him, so he could rest quietly. Junior finally asked again if Mom would sleep with him, and Mom responded, No, I have to go sleep with Dad. The little boy was heard to mumble, The big sissy! Remember how frightening the world can look to a little person? These little ones have to look up to everything and everyone. And it is especially scary for them if the people around them are uneasy, upset or afraid. One of the most frequent statements of Jesus to His disciples was Don’t be afraid! And He was talking to full-grown men! Fear of the unknown or the unseen can emotionally paralyze a person. Most of us spend a generous amount of time worrying about things in our future. Psychologists claim that only about 30% of the things we actually worry about come to pass, and about 20% of what we worry over, we can change with some real effort. The majority of our worries just occupy our thoughts and energies to finally fade away in time. Jesus expressed a beautiful thought to us in Luke 12:6-7. He said, What is the price of five sparrows? A couple of pennies? Yet God does not forget a single one of them. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to Him than a whole flock of sparrows. TLB

Memories…

January 10

…for we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing: II Corinthians 2:15 NKJV

This past week I took part in a memorial service for a good friend. In preparation for the message I came across this passage in Paul’s writing. It had never been as clear before as it was at this time! The point Paul is making is that each of us emits an odor! Now I suppose most of us are quite aware of that fact due to the amount and variety of body sprays and deodorants available! But Paul is not talking about physical odors. He is using his experience to emphasize the importance of recognizing that the things we do and the life-styles we live are leaving a fragrance to every one who comes in contact with us. We acknowledge this truth because most of us have said or heard something in the tone of your behavior stinks! Paul further emphasizes that everyone is aware of our fragrance! Most of us who are Christians have become pretty good at hiding behaviors and mannerisms from those we are trying to influence; however, the tendency to let it all hang out is evident in some practices of our society. Remember the CB fad? Most of us took an alias and were not too quick to let anyone know who we really were. It was so easy to hide. Now you can do much the same with the internet. We can put on the appearance we want people to see. This is one of our freedoms, but in the use of that freedom, some predators will slip into an innocent child’s life like wolves in sheep’s clothing. Paul would remind us that, eventually, what each of us really is will be evident to everyone around us. What fragrance are you spreading? Are you like a sweet smelling perfume for others, or is there a need for a quick escape to get relief from the odor?

And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. Ephesians 5:2 (New King James Bible)

Excuses…

January 11

For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—His eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen…so that men are without excuse.

Romans 1:20 NIV

How are you at making excuses? Consider these from auto accident reports.

• An invisible car came out of nowhere, struck my car and vanished.

• The pedestrian had no idea which direction to go, so I ran over him.

• The indirect cause was a little guy in a small car with a big mouth.

• The other driver was all over the road. I had to swerve a number of times before I hit him.

• I pulled away from the side of the road, glanced at my mother-in-law, and headed over the embankment.

Someone has said that an excuse is the skin of a reason stuffed with a lie! But it is interesting to hear some of the reasons we do the things we do. The story is told of a husband who left the house early to play golf. It was late that evening when he made it back home. His wife met him at the door and said, Don’t try to tell me you played golf all day! The husband replied, I picked up Fred and on the way to the course the car had a flat. I had to walk three miles to get it fixed and it was eleven before we got started again. Then I ran out of gas and it took me until one to get to the course. Well, she said, that still doesn’t explain why you are this late! He responded, We were making good time on the first few holes, but Fred had a heart attack and I ran to the club house to get help. When I returned, Fred was dead! From there on it was hit the ball, drag Fred, hit the ball, drag Fred!

Jesus tells the story of a host who gives a fancy banquet and invites all his friends. They agree to come, but at the last minute they all give an excuse why they cannot come. When you read this parable, you have to wonder why Jesus uses this story. Their excuses were: "I bought a team of oxen, and I need to try them out; I bought some property and I need to go see about it; I just married a wife, and I must stay home!" Luke 14:18-20. The parable ends with Jesus making the point that empty excuses will not be enough to ignore His invitation! The invitation is still open. Jesus says, Come! What is your excuse?

Fatherhood…

January 12

The father of a righteous man has great joy; he who has a wise son delights in him. Proverbs 23:24 NIV

Several passages in our New Testament contain a rather strange combination of nouns. One is the Aramaic word Abba which is translated Papa, and the other is the Greek word Pater which is translated Father. In the culture of the New Testament, slaves were forbidden to use the Aramaic word Abba when addressing the head of the family. They could, however, use the second Greek word as a form of deep respect. The three passages in our New Testament where this combination is used are Mark 14:36, Romans 8:15, and Galatians 4:6. The Greek word, Pater or Father was always used to refer to the relationship of respect young people paid to their seniors. The Aramaic word Abba or Papa would be used in combination with the Greek word to express unreasoning trust from the lips of a very young person! In other words, the two words together express the love and intelligent confidence of the child toward the benevolent provider. The scenes of the usage of these phrases also reveal some interesting thoughts. The first one is in Mark where Jesus is in the Garden of Gethsemane praying to His Father ( our Heavenly Father) to strengthen Him through the ordeal of Calvary about to descend on Him. This passage represents the picture of an obedient child totally dependent on His Benevolent Master. In both of the other passages, Paul the apostle instructs us in crying as little children with complete trust to our Benevolent Father. Donald Grey Barnhouse tells of visiting a small town in Italy and watching as a small child looked patiently down the street for the return of his Father from his day at work. When the little boy sees his Daddy enter the street, he begins to run and cry out, Abba Father, Abba Father. When you face a crisis why not express unreasoning trust in your Heavenly Father by addressing Him in the words of a confident, trusting child? Abba, Father, I need your help and encouragement through this crisis! He promises He will hear and answer!

Faith…

January 13

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1 NIV

Have you ever noticed how natural it is to be skeptical?

Take for example the occasion when you walked up to two lines being formed at a ticket booth or a business. One line has maybe one person in it while the other has several. Your first thought is, That line is not moving so there must be something wrong with it; I’ll get in this bigger line. Or maybe you see an advertisement on the Internet for half what you are paying and you ask yourself, Is there something wrong, or Where is the catch? It really is funny how we develop an attitude from the negative experiences that we have in life. Now usually you can pretty well count on the truism that if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is! However, when you think about risk taking and the pioneer spirit, you have to remember that someone somewhere really did take a risk, and look how he prospered. Imagine back 150 years ago when someone said, Go west, there is plenty of free land! Some people tried it! True, many of them lost their lives for the risk, but some of them found free land and made a new life for themselves. Now the plot of land wasn’t very big, just 40 acres, but it was located in downtown San Diego! Psychologists suggest there are three categories of people. The first category is risk-takers who make up about 15 –20 % of the people. The second group is nay—sayers. They don’t believe in anything and are usually against everything! This group makes up another 15 –20 %. The third group is those in between who are swayed by the arguments one way or another. This 60 % group is made up of followers. They contribute to things getting done by joining in the dream and helping move it forward using the challenge of the risk-takers, or by rejecting the challenge and refusing to assist, letting the dream die. Where do you think you fit?

Faith…

January 14

Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? Luke 14:28 NIV

I pulled into the gas station to fill up my pick-up and got to wondering about what lies ahead. Think about it a minute. If the gas price continues to rise, and more of our discretionary dollars have to be applied to mobility, what will the future hold? All of us have seen the trickle-down effect of escalating prices. It may take a few weeks or a few months, but eventually we will have to conserve our priceless gas just to get to work or to the grocery store. That means that fun side trips will be discontinued, and the few dollars that have been available for pleasure will have to be spent on necessities! That also means that areas that depend on recreational activities will begin to see a drop in the numbers capable of spending the gas dollars just to get there. Companies who depend on numerous trucks to perform their services will have to increase the charges for those services in order to cover for the increase in gas prices. We are seeing this in the airline industry. Obviously, food costs eventually will have to increase to cover the increase of costs of getting the food to us! Employers will have to consider increases to their employees who will continue to have more of their pay directed toward life’s necessities, like transportation and health coverage! Uh 0h! Now we have to add another major factor in the depletion of our dollars! It is natural to look at this crisis situation and fear what may lie ahead. Yet I am reminded of a spiritual alternative from scripture in Philippians 4:6-7 reminding us, "Don’t worry about anything, but pray about everything, with thankful hearts offer up your prayers and requests to God. Then, because you belong to Christ Jesus, God will bless you with peace that no one can completely understand."(The Living Bible). Not easy but it’s God’s Word!

Crisis…

January 15

Give thanks to the Lord Almighty, for the Lord is good; His love endures forever. Jeremiah 33:11NIV

Periodically in our nation we watch helplessly as hundreds of people lose everything they own. Now the real measure of these tragedies is in the numbers of lives lost and the total devastation of communities and families. It is normal to ask the question, Why? I have studied the Bible nearly all my life, and I cannot find an answer that is sufficient. Some of us will blame a God who does not care, while others will try to point a finger of guilt to explain the destruction. Why did this happen? Why did the hijackers decide to destroy lives in the name of their religion? Why did the earthquake on Christmas Eve create a tsunami that took 150,000 lives? Questions with no answers! What we can know for sure is that God absolutely loves mankind! The Psalmist wrote, "Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my groaning. Heed the sound of my cry for help, my King and my God, for to thee do I pray. In the morning, O Lord, You will hear my voice; in the morning I will order my prayer to You and eagerly watch." Psalm 5:1-2 (New King James Bible)

Some things we can know are: Tragic events happen to all mankind; when they do happen, they always get our undivided attention; most of the time our human imperfections are magnified in the midst of the crisis while at the same time some of the very best of mankind begins to show itself; in a very real way tragic events help us see our need of one another; most of all these traumatic events force us to look at our own humanity and dependency. C.S. Lewis wrote, God whispers to us in our pleasures; Speaks to us in our conscience; But shouts to us in our pains; It’s His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.

Simply put… God is still on His throne!

Giving…

January 16

Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Luke 6:38 NIV

I don’t know about you, but I am proud to be called an American and even prouder of the overwhelming generosity of the American people! We always see an outpouring of compassion in the wake of a tragedy, and the very best of the American spirit becomes evident. Oh, I know we have seen some real disappointments along the way, like the thugs who take advantage of the darkness, or some people who see an opportunity to take something in looting, or the reported abuse of people in shelters. But, thankfully, these are usually the minority reports. And as in most crises situations, there will be some who will still try to cheat or steal from the people directly affected by a crisis. However, it is the reports of unselfish generosity by so many that give hope for the future of society. It’s not unusual to see benevolent individuals share their homes with displaced families. If you will take the time to look around, you will find this generous spirit evident in your community. I don’t know if it’s a first, but hearing that foreign countries are sending aid to America for disaster relief really emphasizes the connection of humanity. There is a short commandment in the response of Jesus to one wanting to justify himself. Jesus accepts his answer then follows with the story of the Good Samaritan. Luke 10:27; You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind. And Your neighbor as yourself. The man further tried to justify himself by asking ‘Who is my neighbor?"NKJV God has been so good to most of us that when someone is really in need, we should not hesitate to help. That is what