Thy Word is a lamp...

Before I closed my eyes for sleep last night, I read the last part of Psalm 118 and some of 119... I found my self desiring God the way David did.

He loved Gods Word.  He read, memorized, applied etc, etc. He made me envious for that passion. We can be realistic and know we are on different rungs of the ladder or level of maturity. While David had this divine friendship with God. He was like you and I.  He sinned.

Take away;
 1.  Endure like a good soldier
 2.  Faithful like a farmer
 3.  Disciplined as an athlete

Desire the pure milk of the word that you may grow by it.  When we sin we can quickly repent and continue to run the race. Quiet time with God in the morning is huge, enabling you to go live out loud and demonstrate the love you have for the Lord!

Invisible people

 

Being lonely in a crowd is a thing.  Standing alone in the middle of the room, surrounded by the buzz of people talking and laughing, focused on catching up and making plans to meet again.

So many in the room that might even know everyone, yet invisible, as in a dream or as if you had experienced death and as some spirit, walked into a group of friends, the church, or the place you worked.

Can you imagine walking through the groups and joining in, but being ignored or treated as if you interrupted.

Let us be intentional about seeing everyone in the room. Let's be focused on others need to communicate and socialize. We can purposely meet and greet many at the event, church, school or break room.

What if everyone had that mindset? There would be less lonely and invisible people. 

Don't let it happen. Not on your watch!

ABC's of true Community Development

All about others.
Better yourself
Consideration
Develop your community
Engage
Future vision
God
Have a dream
Invest time and effort
Just do it
Keep learning
Listen
Make it happen
No fear
Observe direction
Pray
Quit quitting
Resources
Study
Think positively.
Unity
Vision
Work
X ray your heart
Zest

Step Up to the Plate

Bud Hillerich wanted to help a player in a slump and made a bat for him. He came out of the slump and players including the Babe came to have one made. Soon Bud had a thriving business. Bud Hillerich took over his father's company in 1894, and the name "Louisville Slugger" was registered with the U.S. Patent Office. It all started because one person wanted to help one person. Now millions are helped to be better.  Be A PART of a great team!

Romans 12:9-12.
Philippians 2:1-4.
2 Corinthians 1: 3,4

THE TOP THREE PLACES TO LIVE.

I know you have heard the saying: "Money can by you a house, but it can't buy you a home." or "You may have a king size bed, but it doesn't mean you be able to sleep at night."

That's no way or place to live. A few of the people we often admire, even idolize, live life;  mentally, physically and spiritually in sadness, loneliness and hopeless.  In our nations, cities, and families  we see those that are merely existing.  Paul the Apostle wrote to the readers in Ephesus informing them they were at one time lost, without God, without hope.  It's a dead, undesirable hellish place to be.

                                                             ******************

 We would love to live in a penthouse or a large flat or apartment in downtown Chicago or New York. We become thirsty when we see the mansion by the beach. We see the: "Great places to retire" stories on the internet. I worry about those that live on a mountain side in fear of mudslides.  I personally do not want to live that way.

Whatever your career path or economics or education, ask yourself where do I live?  Do my neighbors live in a different place than I do?

                                                                   "What?"

Three great places to live:  In Faith.
                                              In Hope.
                                              In Love.

Faith:  In Christ
Hope: because of Christ
Love:  Moved by His Love

Paul was speaking to a group and said: " For in God we live, move and have our being."

"For by grace you have been saved, through faith, and not of yourself it is the gift from God. Not of works lest anyone should boast."

Peter said that we have been called to a lively hope! Paul told us that we do not grieve as those without hope.

"There are three things that remain-Faith, hope and love- and the greatest of these is love."
1 Corinthians 13:13

Those are three great places to live!

NEW LIFE!

 

They used to say, "Don't trust anyone over 30 years old." Until THEY had turned 30. We thought we had some secret. We found out the secret was we didn't have a clue. Just because we lacked vision to see ahead, we shrugged it off.

We move on living a lot of life. We were 17 and woke up one day and we were 50+. We're thinking we have plenty of time one minute and impatiently make decisions before it's too late the next.

Spice and variety in life is cool but so is a "level stability" moving forward.  Again, plan your work and work your plan is a great idea during the youthful years. It can also be incorporated in the golden years. Into a new life!

Life is far from over at an older stage of life. We've been given new life! There are opportunities that arise to correct bad decisions and wasted years. We can even make a difference in the circle of life God has placed us in.

Read, write, video, text, garden, worship God,

The older has some experience and wisdom to share to the younger. The idea here is don't waste any more time, have some variety, but while we enjoy new life at second half of it, be an encouragement, a team player, show those around you how to be a good follower or even lead the way.

In this new life we can be teachable, loving, kind, helpful, being a part not tearing apart.

Take this new life to work, home, and church. It's the season of life we can come to realize we have been blessed by God to be a blessing.

This is simple but it aint easy.  Ask God to go with you!

Rounding the Turn!

                                            

 Whether it is Rounding the turn at the Kentucky Derby, third base, The Indianapolis 500, Olympic 1500 meters, or NASCAR...

 the most exciting part of the sport, is as they are rounding the last turn. The announcer gets louder, and the crowd stands to their feet as they round the last turn.

When they round the last turn, it's usually where someone falls but gets up again to finish, (to many know, in life, I've fallen numerous times).

 

Maybe the car, horse or human, comes from behind with that last "Kick" of energy to win the race and more!  History has been made many times, as they come around the turn.

Most of the time a thrilling finish is the result of preparation long before the race ever begins. Life is a journey it's even a race against disabilities/handicaps, reputation, failures, low esteem.

 

 Sadly, some participants never leave the locker room.  

Envision rounding the turn! Prepare for it now.  That might include prayer, reading, taking a class, even starting slow to pacing yourself up to speed in whatever endeavor.  That old saying of; "Plan your work and work that plan!" applies here.

I have to remember; it's not always how we start today's race. It's about when we round that turn to accomplishing a task, mission or God's plan... We then decide to leave it all on the track, office, keyboard, kitchen, garage, or pulpit.  While rounding that last turn (In this stage of life, I feel at times, I'm on that last turn) a great cloud of witnesses are shouting: "Here they come!"  People in your circle of life, are watching and many need you to win.

Bible says something like; "Let us run the race set before us!" 

 So, remain faithful to your calling, keep your eyes fixed on Jesus Christ and on that eternal prize.

                                                                -Tim