A kindness given...

Kindness is the oil that takes the friction out of life.

Bible text: But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, and faithfulness. (Galatians 5:22 NIV).


After two years of marriage, Pete no longer saw his wife as interesting, fun, or attractive. In his mind, he regarded her as a sloppy housekeeper, overweight, and a woman with a faultfinding personality. He sought out a divorce attorney, who advised him: "Pete, if you really want to get even with your wife, start treating her like a queen! Do everything in your power to serve her, please her, and make her feel special. Then, after a couple of months of this royal treatment, pack your bags and leave. That way you?ll disappoint her as much as she has disappointed you." Pete could hardly wait to enact the plan! He picked up a dozen roses on his way home, helped his wife with the dinner dishes, brought her breakfast in bed, and began complimenting her on her clothes, cooking, and housekeeping. He treated her to an out-of-town trip.

After three months, the attorney called and said, "Well, I have the divorce papers ready for you to sign. In a matter of minutes, you can be a happy bachelor."

"Are you crazy?" Pete said. "My wife has made so many changes. I wouldn?t think of divorcing her now."

Kindness extended toward another person may not change the other person, but it does change the person showing kindness? it makes them kinder!

Always holding somebody up...

The heart is the happiest when it beats for others.

Bible text: Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:13 NIV).

One of the people most admired by Charles Swindoll is
Dawson Trotman, who died after helping to rescue two drowning girls. Says Swindoll:

"When Dawson Trotman passed away he probably left a legacy of discipleship on this earth that will never be matched except perhaps in the life of Jesus Christ Himself. I've become a real student of Dawson Trotman and believe wholeheartedly in the methods of discipleship that he taught and emulated throughout his days. He died in Schroon Lake, New York. He died of all things in the midst of an area that he was expert in - he drowned. He was an expert swimmer. The last few moments he had in the water he lifted one girl out of the water. He went down and got the other girl and lifted her out of the water and then submerged and was not found again until the dragnet found him a few hours later... Time ran an article on Trotman's life the next week, and they put a caption beneath his name, and it read, 'Always Holding Somebody Up.' In one sentence, that was Trotman's life - investment in people... holding them up."

Discipleship is not having others follow you as much as it is lifting others up to see the Lord and then serving them so they can follow Him wholeheartedly.

It is a matter of commitment

Thought: The secret of achievement is to not let what you're doing get to you before you get to it.

Biblical text: "Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed." (Proverbs 16:3)

Jane was only seven years old when she visited a shabby street in a nearby town, and seeing ragged children there, announced that she wanted to build a big house so poor children will have a place to play. As a young adult, Jane and a friend, Ellen Starr, visited Toynbee Hall in London, where they saw educated people helping the poor by living among them. She and Ellen returned to the slums of Chicago, restored the old Hull mansion, and moved in! There they cared for children of working mothers, and held sewing and cooking classes. Older boys and girls had clubs at the mansion. An art gallery, playground, and public music, reading, and craft rooms were crafted in the mansion. Her childhood dream came true!

Jane fought against child labour laws and campaigned for adult education, day nurseries, better housing, and women's suffrage. She eventually was awarded an honorary degree from Yale, was called "America's most useful citizen" by President Theodore Roosevelt, and was given the Nobel Prize for Peace.

No matter how famous she became Jane Addams remained a resident of Hull House. She died a resident of Halsted Street in the heart of the slum she had come to call home.

Keep on faithing on

Thought: Feed your faith, and your doubts will starve to death.

Biblical text: "But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul." (Hebrews 10:39)

Richard E. Byrd spent winter of 1934 at Bolling Advance Weather Base in Antarctica, where the temperature ranged from -58˚ to -76˚ F. By the time he was rescued, he was suffering from frostbite and carbon monoxide poisoning.

He wrote in his book, "Alone" the following passage:
"I had hardly strength to move. I clung to the sleeping bag, which was the only source of comfort and warmth left to me and mournfully debated the little that might be done. Two facts stood clear. One was that my chances of recovering were slim. The other was that in my weakness I was incapable of taking care of myself. But you must have faith. "You must have faith in the outcome, I whispered to myself". It is like a flight into another unknown. You start and you cannot turn back. You must go on, trusting your instruments, the course you have plotted."

With faith as his only guidance system, Byrd forced himself to do the necessary things for survival very slowly and with great deliberation. At times he felt as if he was living a thousand years in any given minute. But at each day's end, he could say he was still alive. And that was enough.

Some times the only thing left to do in a situation is to press on in faith. And so press on!

Laughter: the music of the soul

Thought: Humour is to life what shock absorbers are to automobiles.

Biblical text: "A cheerful heart is good medicine; but a crushed spirit dries up the bones." (Proverbs 17:22)

Stand-up comedian and author David Brenner was signing books in a San Francisco bookstore when a young man handed him a newly purchased copy to be signed and said softly, "I want to thank you for saving my life." Brenner replied flippantly, "That's okay." The young man stood his ground and said, "No, I really mean it."

Brenner stoped signing and looked at him. The man said, "My father died. He was my best friend. I loved him and couldn't stop crying for weeks. I decided to take my own life. The night I was going to do it, I happened to have the TV on. You were hosting 'The Tonight Show', doing your monologue. Next thing I knew I was watching you and laughing hysterically. I realised then that if I was able to laugh, I was able to live. So I want to thank you for saving my life." Humbled and grateful, Brenner shook his hand and said, "No, I thank you."

Laughter does more than help us escape our problems. It sometimes gives us the courage to face them. As humorous author Barbara Johnson has said, "Laughter is like changing a baby's nappies. It doesn't permanently solve any problems, but it makes things more acceptable for awhile."

Money is worth...what?

Thought: The heart of a person cannot be determined by the size of their pocketbook.

Biblical text: "For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" (Mark 8:36, 37)

Not a lot of press coverage was given to the tough Argentine golfer Robert De Vincenzo, but one story from his life shows his greatness as a person.

After winning the tournament, De Vincenzo received his check on the eighteenth green, flashed a smile for the cameras, and then walked alone to the clubhouse. As he went to his car, he was approached by a sad-eyed young woman who said to him, "It's a good day for you, but I have a baby with an incurable disease. It's of the blood, and the doctors say she will die." De Vincenzo paused and then asked, "May I help your little girl?" He then took out a pen, endorsed his winning check, and then pressed it into her hand. "Make some good days for the baby," he said.

A week later as he was having lunch at a country club, a PGA official approached him, saying "Some of the boys in the parking lot told me you met a young woman after you won the tournament." De Vincenzo nodded. The official said, "Well, she's a phoney. She has no sick baby. She fleeced you, my friend."

The golfer looked up and asked, "You mean that there is no baby who is dying without hope?" This time the PGA official nodded. De Vincenzo grinned and said, "That's the best news I've heard all week."

Extreme Makeover

Thought: It's beauty that captures your attention; personality which captures your heart.

Bible text: “I’ll give you a new heart, put a new spirit in you. I’ll remove the stone heart from your body and replace it with a heart that’s God-willed, not self-willed” (Ezekiel 36:26).

One of the more popular television shows in the past few years has been a program called Extreme Makeover. The show’s “hook” revolves around the belief that people will actually feel different if they can only look different.

I was skeptical at first, but I have to admit the physical transformations that take place are nothing short of miraculous! Through tummy tucks, eye lifts, dental surgery, and a seemingly endless variety of implants, the physical attributes of the patients change in dramatic fashion. They emerge from their former physical selves as though they were beautiful monarchs shedding the imprisoning confines of an ugly chrysalis.

As stunning as these changes are though, I am still of the belief that these people are pretty much the same on the inside as they were before they became so drastically different on the outside. Can that be true even after thousands of dollars spent, dozens of surgeries performed, and hours of physical pain endured? Oh, these people might have a little more confidence, and they may even get a little egotistical, but when it’s all over, the studio lights dim, and the cheering crowd goes home, I believe that they are still, well…themselves!

God’s word is clear that unless we have an extreme spiritual makeover that we will retain the same feelings, desires and habits that we have always wrestled with. We still struggle with self worth, and often wonder to ourselves, “Is this all that life has to offer?”

The fact is, we can make over everything in our lives, but if we don’t allow God to do an extreme spiritual makeover we’ll still be just as miserable as we always were. We can get a new car, a new house, a new job, or even a new spouse, but unless we get to the root of where all happiness comes from we’re going to be right back where we started.

More than a makeover

God’s prescription for true happiness doesn’t involve tummy tucks, facelifts, or maxillofacial surgery. His prescription for a better life is nothing short of an entire heart transplant!

“I’ll give you a new heart, put a new spirit in you. I’ll remove the stone heart from your body and replace it with a heart that’s God-willed, not self-willed” (Ezekiel 36:26).

What God promises here is an extreme spiritual makeover that will bring true happiness, peace, and yes, even joy into our lives. And the best news is that we don’t have to make an appointment to have a consultation with the Great Physician. The doctor is always in!

Used with permission from www.e-gracenotes.com

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Hard to Swallow

Thought: The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well. - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Bible text: I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15:5)

Recently I had a medical procedure which required me to drink about a gallon of liquid in a couple of hours. Every ten minutes I was to consume eight ounces of this clear stuff which was supposed to have a "cherry" flavor to it. The directions recommended that the solution be cooled, and desiring to be an exemplary patient, I followed all the directions to the letter.

Let me just tell you that that stuff was absolutely, positively the very, very WORST tasting NASTIEST drink I have ever drank in my entire life. If they made drinking this concoction a part of "Fear Factor" nobody would advance to the next round. After having to force myself to drink it, I felt fully prepared for the end of the world. Bring it on. I have looked death in the face and survived.

There are times in each of our lives where circumstances or situations are very, very hard to swallow. The cup we are asked to drink is most bitter and causes every fiber of our innermost being to recoil from the horror of the reality which is being forced upon us. At such times God seems very far away as our lives our enveloped in a fearful darkness.

On a fateful night long ago, a humble carpenter, a most gentle and loving soul, drank from two cups--the first communion cup was full of life and blessing, the other cup of woe was full of death and a fearsome curse. And in between the drinking of those two cups, Jesus encouraged His faithful followers of all ages to abide in Him so that they might bear much fruit (John 15:1-5).

Life's two cups

The life of a fruit-bearing Christian is always oscillating between the two cups. While all of us would like to take up permanent residence in the Upper Room of feasting, there are times when the Lord asks us to travel with Him to the painful, blood-stained Garden of suffering. It was there in Gethsemane Jesus sweated blood over that second cup,and it was because of His infinite courage and sacrifice, our lives are saved for eternity.

Thank-you Jesus, for drinking that cup of woe. The cup of death that was meant for me, you have taken out of my hands and swallowed every last drop. All of a sudden, what You have asked me to swallow doesn't seem so distasteful anymore.

Live By Faith

Thought: "Faith is like electricity. You can't see it, but you can see the light." -Anonymous

Bible text: "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." (Hebrews 11:1)

Driving along the highway yesterday, I saw a church sign with the sermon title, “Faith is Daring the Soul to Go Beyond What the Eyes Can See!” I like that. It agrees with what the Bible says in Romans 1:17: “The righteous man shall live by faith” (NASB).

This is just the opposite of “Seeing is believing,” the rule most people live by today. I’ve even been advised by someone to believe only half of all I see.

To be sure, that last approach may be safer than the practice of one person I met. She said, “I just believe everything I see or hear. That way, I have all my bases covered.” But neither of these is what faith is all about.

Faith depends on a lack of visible evidence. “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1 (NKJV). A good synonym for faith is trust. Trust, or faith, is something we all do every day, whether we realize it or not. Every time we sit down on a chair, or get into our car or lie down on a physician’s exam table, or relax (?) in a dental chair. We shop for food, trusting those who handled it. Without faith, we couldn’t ride elevators, or board planes.

In the same way, God asks us to trust Him. “‘For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.’” Jeremiah 29:11 (NASB).

You can put your plans, your very life, into God’s hands. He knows what’s best for you. He will give you what you would ask for if you could see the end from the beginning. You can bring to Him all your problems, all your anxieties and perplexities. He never gets tired of listening to your needs, whether they’re large or small. After all, He’s got the whole world in His hands! Literally!

God invites you to trust Him today by going beyond what your eyes can see!

Positive thinking overcomes...

It isn't your position that makes you happy or unhappy, it's your disposition.

Bible text: But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. (1 Timothy 6:6,7 NIV).

A traditional Supervisor's Prayer states: Lord, when I am wrong, make me willing to change. When I am right, make me easy to live with. So strengthen me that the power of my example will far exceed the authority of my rank.

A positive attitude may not directly change your circumstances, but it will change the way you respond to your circumstances. The responses of positive people are far more likely to be:
- Active
- Solution oriented
- Generous towards others
- Involving of others
- Immediate or timely
- Rooted in dignity and respect

Positive people are much more likely than are negative people to turn their ideas into positive behaviour. Positive behaviour, in turn, does change circumstances, and nearly always so, for the better.

To grab hold of a slippery problem and rise above it, first grab hold of a positive thought!

Sermons do walk

Thought: Forget yourself for others and others will not forget you!

Biblical text: "So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets." (Matthew 7:12)

Reporters and city officials gathered at a Chicago railroad station one afternoon in 1953. The person they were meeting was the 1952 Nobel Peace Prize winner. A few minutes after the train came to a stop, a giant of a man - six-feet-four with bushy hair and a large moustache - stepped from the train. Cameras flashed. City officials approached him with hands outstretched. Various ones began telling him how honoured they were to meet him.

The man politely thanked them and then, looking over their heads, he asked if he could be excused for a moment. He quickly walked through the crowd until he reached the side of an elderly black woman who was struggling with two large suitcases. He picked up the bags, and with a smile, escorted the woman to a bus. After helping her aboard, he wished her a safe journey. Returning to the greeting party he apologised, "Sorry to have kept you waiting."

The man was Dr. Albert Schweitzer, the famous missionary doctor who had spent his life helping the poor in Africa. In response to Schweitzer?s action, one member of the reception committee said with great admiration to the reporter standing next him, "That?s the first time I ever saw a sermon walking."

Sharing troubles when times are hard...

When things go wrong, don't go wrong with them.

Biblical text: Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evil men. (Proverbs 4:14 NIV)

Medical missionary Dr. Lambie, formerly of Abyssinia, forded many swift and bridgeless streams in Africa. He learned from the natives the best way to make a hazardous crossing.

The danger in crossing a stream lies in being swept off one's feet and carried downstream to deeper waters or being hurled to death against hidden rocks. A way to avoid this is for a man about to cross a stream to find a large stone, the heavier the better, to lift it to his shoulders, and carry it across the stream as ballast. The extra weight of the stone keeps his feet solid on the bed of the stream.

In telling of this technique, Dr. Lambie drew an application of life: "While crossing the dangerous stream of life... we need the ballast of burden-bearing... to keep us from being swept off our feet."

This does not mean that we should seek out troubles or give in to our problems. Rather, it means that as we look around at others, we are to help shoulder their burdens and in return, to accept their help in bearing our own loads. It's easy to become overwhelmed in carrying only your own burden. Shared burdens, however, "travel lighter."

Silence is golden...

Never pass up a chance to keep your mouth shut.

Bible text: Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue. (Proverbs 17:28)

President Calvin Coolidge, the thirtieth president of the United States, was a reserved man who spoke very little. A reporter attempted to interview him, and the conversation went as follows:

Reporter: Do you wish to say anything about the war threat in Europe?
Coolidge: No.
Reporter: About the strike in the clothing factories?
Coolidge: No
Reporter: About the League of Nations?
Coolidge: No
Reporter: About the farm production problem?
Coolidge: No

As the reporter began to leave the room, Coolidge unexpectedly called him back and said, "Don't quote me."

Never let yourself feel pressured into saying something you don't want to say, or into saying something when you don't feel like talking. Silence is not a "lack" of communication. It is a form of communication, and it can be a very effective one at that.

Sometimes words are not enough !

You can win more friends with your ears than with your mouth.

Bible text: My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry. (James 1:19)

Rabbi Harold S. Kushner writes in When All You?ve Ever Wanted Isn't Enough:

"A business associate of my father's died under particularly tragic circumstances, and I accompanied my father to the funeral. The man?s widow and children were surrounded by clergy and psychiatrists trying to ease their grief and make them feel better. They knew all the right words, but nothing helped. They were beyond being comforted. The widow kept saying, 'You?re right, I know you're right, but it doesn't make any difference.' Then a man walked in, a big burley man in his eighties who was a legend in the toy and game industry. He had come to this country illiterate and penniless and had built up an immensely successful company. He was known as a hard bargainer, a ruthless competitor. Despite his success, he had never learned to read or write?.he had been sick recently, and his face and his walking showed it. However, he walked over to the widow and started to cry, she cried with him, and you could feel the atmosphere in the room change. This man who had never read a book in his life spoke the language of the heart and held the key that opened the gates of solace where learned doctors and clergy could not."

The 'big' picture is often made up of 'little' decisions.

The mighty oak was once a little nut that stood its ground.

Biblical text: A man cannot be established through wickedness, but the righteous cannot be uprooted. Proverbs 12:3

In the 1960s, drug companies were presenting nearly 700 applications a year to the Federal Drug Administration for new medicines. The beleaguered New Drug Section only had sixty days to review each drug before giving approval or requesting more data.

A few months after Dr Frances Kelsey joined the FDA, an established pharmaceutical firm in Ohio applied for a license to market a new drug, Kevadon. In liquid form, the drug seemed to relieve nausea in early pregnancy. It was given to millions of expectant women, mostly in Europe, Asia, and Africa. Although scientific studies revealed harmful side effects, the pharmaceutical firm printed 66,957 leaflets declaring its safety. The company exerted great pressure on Dr. Kelsey to give permission for labels to be printed, in anticipation of the drug's approval.

Dr. Kelsey reviewed the data and said no. Through several rounds of applications she continued to find the data "unsatisfactory." After fourteen-month struggle, the company humbly withdrew its application. "Kevadon" was thalidomide, and by that time, the horror of thalidomide, deformities was becoming well publicized! One firm "no" decision by Dr. Kelsey spared untold agony in the United States.

Sometimes standing your ground on something may not seem that important but in time you may see the "big" picture.

The secret to being content...

The secret of contentment is the realisation that life is a gift not a right.

Biblical text: But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. (1 Timothy 6:6,7 NIV).

At age 14, Andrea Jaeger won her first professional tennis tournament. At 18, she reached the finals of Wimbledon. At 19, a bad shoulder all but ended her career. Many a world class athlete may have become bitter or discontented with life at that point. Jaeger, however, turned her competitive spirit to a new endeavour, a non profit organisation called Kids' Stuff Foundation that attempts to bring joy to children suffering from cancer and other life threatening illnesses. Her work there has also inspired her to take correspondence studies in nursing and child psychology.

Jaeger not only created the program, but runs it full time, year round, unpaid. "I'm inspired by these brave kids, and humbled," she has said. "They lose their health, their friends, and sometimes their lives. And yet their spirit never wavers. They look at life as a gift. The rest of us sometimes look at ourselves as a gift to life."

"You get very spoiled on the tour," she adds with a twinkle in her eye. "The courtesy cars, the five star hotels, the thousands of people clapping for you when you hit a good shot. It's easy to forget what's important in life... I forget it a lot less lately."

The trap of gossip is dangerous

Thought: Whoever gossips to you will be a gossip of you.

Biblical text: "A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy man keeps a secret." (Proverbs 11:13)

In 1752, a group of Methodist men, including John Wesley, signed a covenant. Every man agreed to hang it on his study wall. The six articles of this solemn agreement were as follows;

1. That we will not listen or willingly inquire after ill concerning one another;
2. That, if we do hear any ill of each other, we will not be forward to believe it;
3. That as soon as possible we will communicate what we hear by speaking or writing to the person concerned;
4. That until we have done this, we will not write or speak a syllable of it to any other person.
5. That neither will we mention it, after we have done this, to any other person;
6. That we will not make any exception to any of these rules unless we think ourselves absolutely obliged in conference.

Talk about an Anti-Gossip Pact!

Always remember: the person who tells you: "don't tell this to a soul!", has probably told all the souls you know.

Lessons Learned from a Wise Lady

Reva Lachica Moore (revawall@bellsouth. net)

An elderly lady with a good sense of humor, Ms. Glenda would have me in stitches each time she calls. She doesn’t tell jokes. She just talks about everyday life. But the way she tells it, makes me laugh, easing off stress and lifting my spirits. Often, I work so hard to the point of exhaustion, but a call from Ms. Glenda makes me stop and take a much-needed break.

Three years ago, I first met Ms. Glenda who is 86 years old when she gave a generous donation to our organization. A petite lady with an unassuming smile, Ms. Glenda is sweet with Christian virtues. She always seems upbeat, caring for others and for her husband of 58 years.

But one day, someone called with tragic news. Ms. Glenda’s husband had a heart attack and died! Stunned and upset, I couldn’t make the call to Ms. Glenda. In solitude, I prayed to God to give comfort to my dear friend.

Yet, in her grief and harried time, Ms. Glenda called to tell me about her big loss. She thought that maybe no one would let me know. In my few words, I tried to console her in her deep sorrow. Though grief-stricken, she seemed to still have a hint of quiet laughter in her voice.

Every few days we’d talk and from her voice I could tell she had been crying. “It will take a long, long time, Ms. Glenda, but things will get better.” I tried to comfort my grieving friend. Each week proved better with great promises of newness and normalcy. Then my husband and I left for the Philippines and I wondered how Ms. Glenda would cope with her sorrow. I continued to pray for her.

After we got back from our trip, I heard from Ms. Glenda right away. I asked her the same questions: “How are you getting along? Are you still crying a lot?” She said she was doing much better, and the times of crying come and go. But from her tone, she seemed a little better. Then her words of wisdom started to pour from her lips.

“Don’t ever take anything for granted,” she said. “Make everyday with your loved one count. Find time to listen, even if you have to listen a hundred times. If he asks and didn’t hear you, answer even if you have to repeat the same words over and over. Never part with a disagreement. Don’t let the sun go down with anger in your heart. Talk things over. Do not hold a grudge and so on and so on.”

And I would listen intently. And then I would ask, “So, did you do all that, Ms. Glenda?”

“Well, if I had only known that he was going to go like that, I would have been more loving and more patient.”

“But I’m sure you were. Don’t be too hard on yourself,” I interrupted.

She continued, “Often I would tell him something and he couldn’t hear and would ask me to repeat and repeat and repeat and I’d ask him, ‘Why don’t you put your hearing aid on?’ (Ms. Glenda chuckles a bit). I have said those words so many times, it seems. On some mornings he’d come back after he leaves for work and I would ask, ‘What did you come back for now?’ And he’d answer, ‘I forgot to give you a kiss, and he’d plant a kiss on my cheeks.’” Ms. Glenda speaks with emotion and chuckles some more, and I’d be laughing, too.

“Don’t feel bad, Ms. Glenda. You were a good wife and I’m sure you had more patience than most of us.”

“And you know, I was so busy on the morning he died. I was warming up food in the kitchen. I went back to the room where he sat. I saw him sitting crooked, and I started to fuss at him. ‘Why are you sitting crooked?’ Then I went back to the kitchen. I didn’t know he was having a heart attack! I should have paid more attention.” Ms. Glenda continued, crying and laughing at the same time. I knew she was not laughing in a bad way, but just comforting herself for her negligence. And I joined her in her laughter. I was very happy that my grieving friend has started to laugh again.

Last night Ms. Glenda called and we had a good hour of laughter once more. When I told her that lately I’ve lost so much sleep due to lots of work and problems, she gave me the best advice.

”Reva, go to sleep. God is awake all the time. There is no point for both of you to be awake trying to solve your problems. He can do it by Himself!”

I took Ms. Glenda’s advice and went to bed early. Then I prayed, “God, Ms. Glenda is right. No need for both of us to stay awake. You solve my problems because I am going to sleep.”

Last night I had the best sleep in a long long time. Thanks for the reminders from a wise lady.

Caffeine and Addiction: Are u wired?

Does Caffeine have you running on overdrive?

Nine out of ten North Americans take a psychotropic (mind-altering) drug daily. And who is the culprit? The answer is no other than the everyday, ordinary, over-the-counter caffeine.

Everyone wants to hear that coffee is good for us, but let’s get real. We love the rich aroma and taste of coffee, and we do like something hot in the morning. But we’re not fooling anyone; what we want is a buzz—the caffeine.

How can that be? Explain.

Do you know many people who don’t drink at least one cup of coffee a day? Or tea? Or take an extra-strength pain reliever? Or guzzle down a cola? Although caffeine-free sodas are available, they are favored mainly for children and for people with medical problems that are affected by caffeine.

But I need a lift now and than! And caffeine isn’t addictive, is it?

An addictive substance produces observable and measurable physical and mental effects when it is withdrawn. In this sense, even small doses of caffeine, taken regularly over time, will usually produce some degree of addiction.

A good way to check yourself is to stop all caffeine intake for a few days. The most common physical withdrawal symptom is headache, varying from mild to severe. Sometimes a migraine is triggered. Other physical manifestations include feelings of exhaustion, lack of appetite, nausea and vomiting. Symptoms may last one to five days.

Psychological withdrawal can be even harder. Depression may occur. People become accustomed to reaching for the pick-me-up throughout the day. The urge can be compared to the desire for a cigarette—it may be difficult to resist.

Caffeine can produce…

• Elevated blood sugar

• Increased stomach acid secretions

• Increased blood pressure

• Urinary calcium and magnesium losses

• Insomnia

• Elevated blood fats (triglycerides)

• Irregular heart beat

• Heightened symptoms of PMS

• Tremors, irritability, and nervousness

• Aggravation of anxiety disorders and panic attacks

• Increased stimulation of the central nervous system (it overrules the need for rest)

A person can get hooked with a relatively small amount of caffeine if it’s on a fairly regular basis.

Does caffeine damage the body?

• Most obvious is an over-stimulated nervous system with tremors, nervousness, anxiety and sleep problems. In time these symptoms give way to chronic fatigue, lack of energy, and persistent insomnia.

• Caffeinated beverages can cause stomach irritation. While additives are primarily responsible for this effect, caffeine itself has a constricting effect on blood vessels. It can thus interfere with digestion.

• Caffeinated drinks stimulate the stomach to excrete excessive acid. This may aggravate ulcers.

• Caffeine has been found to interfere with calcium and iron absorption associated with osteoporosis and anemia.

• Caffeine increases energy by raising blood sugar levels. These, in turn, draw out an insulin response which not only cancels the surge but produces a letdown. This letdown triggers the yo-yo syndrome—reaching for another caffeinated drink, and then another, and yet another.

• Caffeine also irritates the kidneys and acts as a diuretic (increased urine output).

Are there some healthful alternatives to the caffeine high?

When you get up in the morning, follow your hot shower with a blast of cold water and towel off briskly.

At work, stand up, stretch, and take a few deep breathe every hour or so. Take a brisk walk at break time or during lunch hour. Drink a cup of cold (or hot) water several times a day. Rub a coworker’s back and ask for a return favor. Walk to a window and relax your eyes on the distant landscape. Tidy up your work area. All these good things will make you feel better. Look for other creative ways to get a lift without the letdown.

Where is the Caffeine?

Coffee/Tea (average)

Cup drip coffee 145 mg

Cup brewed coffee 115 mg

Cup instant coffee 85 mg

Cup decaffeinated 3 mg

1.5-oz shot espresso 100 mg

Cup hot tea 65 mg

Ice tea (12 oz) 70 mg

Wake up and smell the caffeine, folks: America ’s drug of choice is not limited to your morning cup of coffee:

Popular Headache Medications (1 pill)

Vivarin 100-200 mg

NoDoz 100-200 mg

Excedrin 65 mg

Anacin 40 mg

Plain aspirin 0 mg

Tylenol 0 mg

Cold medications 0-30 mg

Chocolate

1 oz milk chocolate 6 mg

1 oz unsweetened baking chocolate 25 mg

¼ cup chocolate chips 15 mg

8 oz chocolate milk 10 mg

Sodas (12-oz serving)

Java Water 100 mg

Jolt 100 mg

Sugar-free Mr. Pibb 60 mg

Mountain Dew 54 mg

TAB 45 mg

Coke and Diet Coke 45 mg

Pepsi Cola 40 mg

Java water has grown steadily since it was introduced in 1996. A 17-ounce bottle of this flavorless spring water contains a hefty 140 milligrams of caffeine. On the way are caffeinated orange juice and lemonade.

In a crisis, would just a little caffeine really matter?

Occasional small doses of caffeine will hardly make a difference. The trouble is that most of us have a hard time knowing when to stop.

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Recipe of the Week

Breakfast: Baked Rolled Oats

3 c. rolled oatmeal or barley ¾ c. chopped dates

1 tsp. salt 4 ½ c. hot water

½ c. coconut

MIX ingredients in oil-sprayed 13” x 9” pan. POUR hot water over the ingredients, and cover. BAKE at 350 deg F for about 40 minutes, uncover and bake until golden.

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Edited by Romi Talento, romi@talentohome.com

(Note – This week’s article is the penultimate article in the series of diseases dubbed as: “Lifestyle Diseases”. Articles and recipes are from the books, "Health Power" by Aileen Ludington, MD and Hans Diehl, DrHSc, MPH and "Lifestyle to Health Recipes" published by Hartland Lifestyle Center, Rapidan, Virginia.)

THE GRACE OF GENEROSITY

2 Corinthians 8:7 (NIV), --But just as you EXCEL in everything – in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us – see that you also EXCEL in this GRACE of GIVING—(All capitals supplied)

(By William G. Johnnson. This selection is excerpted from his 2007 Devotional Book, Jesus, A Heart Full Of Grace, p. 266. All capitals and bold letters are supplied. Punctuation is changed where applicable to eliminate internet incompatibility. )

The love of MONEY has given Christianity a bad name. Many people today see themselves as post-Christian. They were brought up in a Christian framework but abandoned it because they found it wanting. Sometimes these post-Christians, still hungry for God, turn to New Age, Buddhism, or Hinduism. Again and again those who feel they have left Christianity behind associate it with an organization concerned primarily with grabbing money from people.

How the church in general and each of us as individual Christians RELATE to MONEY is of vital importance. To get the picture right, we have to START with Jesus of Nazareth, the heavenly borrower. Although He owned the wealth of the universe, He emptied himself. Born into poverty, He spent His time on earth as a poor man. Those (and there were many) who associate Christianity with raking in money have a problem, not with Jesus, but with so-called followers of the Man of Galilee.

And the problem is HUGE. Just as the medieval popes live in luxury on the backs of the peasants, so televangelists (not all, but some prominent ones) live in opulence from their appeals for funds. They build mansions, fly around in private jet planes, breaking their journeys to take the presidential suite in expensive hotels. What an affront to the life and message of Jesus Christ! What a turnoff to people who have their eyes open!

The other side of the coin is that the LIFE and MESSAGE of Jesus touches every aspect of our lives, including the very PRIVATE area of our POCKETBOOK. Grace, which is Jesus, is LAVISH, ABUNDANT, OVERFLOWING, SURPASSING expectations, GENEROUS beyond surprise. Viewed in crassly BUSINESS terms, the PRICE paid for our salvation was incredibly RECKLESS. But that is grace – RECKLESS LOVE.

As grace takes ROOT in our lives, as we YIELD to its influence day by day, it CHANGES us into those with the same RECKLESS, LOVING BEHAVIOR. We GIVE because we DELIGHT to give, because we HAVE to give – not by demand but by an INNER COMPULSION. This is the grace of which Paul wrote to the Corinthians – the grace of generosity. A stingy Christian is an oxymoron.

Lord, today grant me the GRACE of generosity.

Let-s pray: Eternal Father, as we remember our Lord’s life here on this dreadful world, He was a POOR man with no room at the inn, no roof over His wonderful head, and only stones for His pillow. And to die on that cruel cross as a criminal, stripped naked, alone, forsaken by all, shamed and taunted by the mass of humanity - how in the world could He have suffered thus just to save wretched individuals like us, we will never know!!! But we do thank Him forever for going through it all, just so we could have the ASSURANCE, the GUARANTY to live forever in glory and joy with Him. Please help us not to blow away this TITLE DEED (to heaven) that He gave us, by putting it off. Help us to determine to follow Him, wherever and whenever He leads us, confident that He loves us more than His life and WILLING and ABLE to take care of us for always. Please help us to understand that He doesn-t want us to give up our money, possessions, expensive cars, food at our table, or inheritance of our family and loved ones – to understand that He doesn-t want anything from us, because He owns everything. All He wants is for us to KNOW HIM EXPERIENTIALLY, and HOW LOVINGLY and DEEPLY He cares for us. And so we pray for Your WISDOM to understand clearly Your plan for us; for Your VISION so we can see ourselves and others through Your eyes; and for Your HEART so we can have compassion for all Your children (even the mean-spirited, hurtful, and unlovable of the world are Your children). Help us to be a blessing to others, because You have personally demonstrated to us that this is the only way to live. Help us to share Your blessings to those in our sphere of influence, especially to Your suffering children, the poor, the destitute, the precious souls not yet reached by Your gospel of grace, and our needy AUP working students, whose family are too poor, but have Your hope that You will provide. We humbly ask these things in the precious name of Your Eternal Son, who is WORTHY of our praise, laud, and honor forever. Amen.

A Better Country

Thought: "Worldly riches are like nuts; many a tooth is broke in cracking them, but never is the stomach filled with eating them." Rabbi Nachman

Bible text: "And I heard a loud voice from the throne (heaven) saying, 'Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.'" Revelation 21:3,4

The Bible tells the story of two wealthy ranchers who lived long ago in the Middle East. Abram and his nephew, Lot, drifted from place to place, looking for a good spot to settle down. By the time they reached the plain of Jordan, they had a problem. “But the land couldn’t support both of them; they had too many possessions...Abram said to Lot...Look around. Isn’t there plenty of land out there? Let’s separate. If you go left, I’ll go right; if you go right, I’ll go left” (Genesis 13:6,8,9 The Message).

This was a fair proposal. It showed Abram’s unselfishness. He was getting to be an old man. Lot should have given Abram first choice. But he didn’t. When he saw the entire well-watered plain of Jordan spread out before him, he got greedy. He chose the whole thing. The Bible says, “He pitched his tent near Sodom” (verse 12). Bad choice. Sodom was the worst place he could have chosen to raise a family. It was notorious for its crime and immorality. The Bible says there were not even ten decent people living there. Later on, when Sodom was finally destroyed, Lot’s wife and most of his family died, along with everyone else there. Lot barely escaped with two of his daughters.

Better than what we see

Abram chose a different city, “...the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God” (Hebrews 11:10 NASB). Abram's eyes were focused, not on this world’s fame and fortune, but on things of eternal value. No wonder his name is listed among the great in God’s hall of fame in Hebrews 11. The Bible tells about the faithful, “But they were looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a heavenly city for them" (Hebrews 11:16 NLT).

God has a place in his heavenly home for you, and anyone else who really wants to live there. The Bible calls it a “better country.” Better than any place on earth. Are you looking for that city?

from www.e-gracenotes.com

Beware: Sharks!

Thought: "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour." 1 Peter 5:8

Bible text: "Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." James 4:7

Brian Anderson, 31, was surfing off the coast of Northern Oregon on December 24th, 2005 when a great white shark attacked him. As he was paddling, Anderson said he felt something grab his leg. Without thinking, he punched the big shark in the nose. "That's all I could think to do, and after I did that, it let go," Anderson said. After some frantic paddling Brian finally got to shore, his lacerated leg dripping with blood, shaken, but in good health. Punching the “great white” in the nose saved Anderson from being a shark’s “lunch.” ¹

When I read this story it reminded me of a type of “shark” in the spiritual realm who is always attempting to consume people. The devil is a constant enemy who seeks to hurt and destroy those who can be “caught” through the temptations that are the stock and trade of one who wishes to harm us. There is a way however to fight back, and the Bible makes it clear that using this fool-proof method will send the devil packing. “...submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you” (James 4:7 New King James).

Two powerful words virtually leap off the page of this small but life-altering text. Let’s look at them both:

Submit -This word means to “yield oneself to the authority or will of another.” ² When we choose to submit to God’s authority in our lives, we are placing our Creator in charge of the outcome. To surrender to the Lord is not always easy, but it’s necessary if we want to effectively deal with the evil one.

Resist - By definition this word means to “to exert oneself so as to counteract or defeat.” ³ At first glance this looks like our work, but when coupled with the following verse it takes on new meaning.

“…All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he’ll never let you be pushed past your limit; he’ll always be there to help you come through it” (1 Corinthians 10:13 Message/Remix).

If we stay connected to God we can have the confidence that we’re in capable hands. Going into the spiritually “shark infested waters” of life would be foolish without this promised protection. So let’s submit and resist. It’s much more effective than a punch in the enemy’s nose!
______________________________

¹ Story Information from ABC News Online
² Merriam Webster Online Dictionary
³ Ibid.

from www.e-gracenotes.com

Yosemite Church

Thought: "...think of nature as an unlimited broadcasting station, through which God speaks to us every hour, if we will only tune in."

"Reading about nature is fine, but if a person walks in the woods and listens carefully, he can learn more than what is in books, for they speak with the voice of God." George Washington Carver

Bible text: "They who dwell in the ends of the earth stand in awe of Your signs; You make the dawn and the sunset shout for joy." Psalms 65:8

One morning I had the privilege of watching the sunrise over Half Dome from Glacier Point in Yosemite National Park. Glacier Point gives a wonderful panoramic view of the entire western Sierras from its 7200-foot elevation. The unobstructed view of several hundred miles of virgin wilderness, granite buttresses and distant mountains was absolutely breathtaking. From that dizzying height you could peer over the sheer rock wall and see Yosemite Valley, a strip of green verdure squeezed into the mountains nearly 4000 feet below.

Dominating the view to the east was the most photographed rock in the world . . . Half Dome. It loomed up into the sky and formed a dark relief for the rising sun. Its unique shape can never be forgotten and is one of the focal points on any trip to Yosemite.

There were just a few people up there that early in the morning. A team of astronomers had spent the night taking pictures of a meteor shower. Naturalists were there along with tourists and some teenagers who had slept over night in the cool mountain air. What impressed me about every person who had gathered for the early sunrise "service" was how quiet they all were. Although there were no signs to be reverent, everyone was hushed and talked in whispers. It was really remarkable.

God's sanctuary

I was then struck with the thought that we were in God's sanctuary, and what a sanctuary it was! The roof was the heavens and it was lit by the sun. Its floor was vast expanses of solid granite, a fitting foundation for the everlasting Lord. And every vista filled the soul with a quiet and reverent awe.

Psalms 65:8 says: "They who dwell in the ends of the earth stand in awe of Your signs; You make the dawn and the sunset shout for joy." In this day of cities filled with man-made idols, where the common is considered sacred and the sacred common, it is indeed a blessing to retreat to a place which rightly assigns what we have made to the dust and exalts the Creator of the Universe as the only Person worth exalting.

When we enter the throne room of eternity the things of this earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace. May we all find a quiet place of awe today, our very own mountain top experience, to worship our God and be silent before His wonderful power, wisdom and majesty.

from www.e-gracenotes.com

“Brian, we love you!”

by Reva Lachica Moore, revawall@bellsouth. net

Last April while I was sitting in a mall restaurant in the Philippines, I looked outside the window and saw my new friend Brian walk past the restaurant. In his hands he held two ice cream cones. Where is Brian going? Thinking that Brian didn’t see the restaurant door, I walked outside and ran after him.
By the time I reached the door, Brian was exiting the mall. Puzzled, I went back inside the restaurant and ran toward the glass window. There, under the canopy of the walkway to the mall, I saw Brian give the ice cream cones to two children. Then Brian disappeared. I hurried back to the restaurant door to look for him. Where did he go? Back in front of the ice cream stand inside the mall, I saw Brian standing in line. Then I saw him give an ice cream cone to a little girl close by.
This was my first time to see the kindness of 24-year-old Brian, the American young man from Sacramento who went with us to the Philippines. I first met Brian three months before our trip. Upon knowing that I came from the Philippines, he expressed his wish to be a missionary in a foreign country.
That day at the mall, Brian’s sympathy toward the “rugby” children showed a genuinely compassionate soul. At first, Brian gave them money but later realized that the children were giving the collected money to a grown up who watched nearby, so he stopped giving money and gave food instead.
The “rugby” children live on the streets of big cities in the Philippines. These children aren't orphans but their families can't provide the basic necessities for them, so they turn to the streets in search of food. Glue sniffing known as "rugby," is a common addiction amongst the street children who sniff this drug to suppress their hunger pains.
In his young age, Brian had big dreams of being extremely successful and wealthy. In a short period of time, he landed a good-paying job and started accumulating expensive things. But one day, Brian gave his heart to Jesus.
Remember the Bible story in Matthew 19: 16 – 24 about the rich young man who came to Jesus and asked, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?” And Jesus told him to keep the commandments, and the young man said that he had kept the commandments from his youth, but what does he still lack? Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven, and come, follow me.” But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
Brian desired to follow Jesus and did what He commanded us to do. He sold almost everything he owned, gave to the poor, and went back to having only basic necessities.
During our next trip to the mall, Brian ordered an extra large pizza, but didn’t share it with anyone. Again, I wondered why. But as we walked out of the mall, I right away understood. The “rugby” children came running to Brian as if they were waiting for him. The group pushed forward forcefully with outstretched hands. Firmly clutching the pizza box, Brian handed a slice to each child. One of the children begged Brian for an extra slice while shouting to his brother nearby, ‘Utol! Utol! May pagkaon!” (Brother! Brother! There’s food!). The brother came. He was so skinny; his ribs stuck out.
On Brian’s arrival day in Manila, he was shocked to see so many children street vendors. He couldn’t believe how they could walk safely among the slow-moving cars, tapping on the windows trying to sell their wares. Brian’s eyes showed so much pity for the poor children. Brian’s generosity also showed when he spent most of his time with the children in church and bought snacks and sporting equipments for them.
In the middle of the week, Pastor Reuben accompanied Brian back to the mall. They brought with them 30 lunch boxes for the “rugby” children. They found a place nearby and they fed them.
One day we went to the beach for a picnic. In no time, a group of children from around the area had gathered around Brian. He gave them snacks, all the while singing “Jesus loves me this I know.” He went swimming with them, offering his shoulders as a diving board. They were so happy. Their screams of joy could be heard blocks away.
After swimming, Brian and Pastor Reuben went to the nearby market to buy food for the children. Each child went home with a loaf of bread and a bag of goodies. They were quite ecstatic to have found a new friend.
On Sabbath morning on our way to church, our van passed by the street near the mall. Due to heavy traffic, our driver stopped the vehicle. From inside the van I saw the same “rugby” children we had seen a few days earlier outside the mall. They were walking outside a restaurant as if looking for food. When suddenly, they spotted Brian who sat by the van window and they ran toward our vehicle.
“Brian! Brian!” The children knocked on the glass window shouting. “Brian, we love you! Brian, we love you!” I was quite moved by their love for the young American who gave them food and love. I believe the name “BRIAN” will be in those children’s minds for a long, long time.

JILLIAN’S CHOICE

Hosea 11:8 (NIV), --How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, Israel ?--

(By William G. Johnnson. This selection is excerpted from his 2007 Devotional Book, Jesus, A Heart Full Of Grace, p. 209. All capitals and bold letters are supplied. Some punctuations are changed to eliminate internet incompatibility)

When a massive wall of water shattered Jillian Searle-s idyllic vacation, she was forced to make a horrific choice no parent should ever have to face: which of her two young sons to save.
Jillian was near her hotel pool with her sons Lachie, 5, and Blake, 2, on the Thai resort island of Phuket when the tsunami of December 26, 2004, struck without warning. –I just heard a terrible roaring, a loud roaring sound, and I turned around and I just saw masses, masses of water coming for us,-- she later told a television reporter in Perth , Australia . –I straightway thought, How am I going to keep my two children alive?—
Realizing that she could not keep the three of them afloat, she was forced to choose which of her boys to hold on to and which one to let go. –I knew I had to let go of one of them, and I just thought I-d better let go of the one that-s the oldest,-- she said.
Amid the churning water Jillian noticed a young woman clinging to a post. She begged the woman to take care of 5-year-old Lachie. As she pried his hand from hers, he pleaded, --Don-t let go of me, Mummy.-- The raging currents wrenched them apart. She looked back at Lachie, who had not yet learned to swim, and thought that was probably the last time she would see him alive.
Meanwhile Jillian-s husband, Brad, watched the terrifying scenario play out from a hotel balcony. He tried to rush to assist, but the rising water had blocked the doors.
When the water subsided, he found Jillian and Blake, and the family began a frantic search for Lachie. –You have to find him, because I let go of him,-- Jillian told her husband. “I gave him to somebody else, and I let go of him … And there is no possible way I can live my life knowing that I took his hand off mine.—
The story had a happy ending. Two hours later the Searles found Lachie with a Thai policeman. He had survived by clinging to a hotel door.
There is Another who longs after His children with inexpressible LOVE. His heart breaks at the thought of separation – separation that not He, but we, choose.
Don-t break His heart today.

Let-s pray: Eternal Father, You know our hearts and our entire beings more than we will ever know ourselves. Oftentimes, we deceive ourselves that everything is all right in our world and we go about, as if we don't need You and Your grace. Please SHAKE us from our stupor and INTERVENE on our behalf to do whatever it takes to separate us from our SINS, from our indifference to Your call to us to become RIGHTEOUS with Your help, and from our proud, selfish attitude. Help us to be forever grateful of Your eternal Love for us that keeps HOLDING ON to us in spite of our stubbornness. Please help us to CHOOSE never to be separated from You for always. Help us to choose Your righteousness, to choose to do right and obey Your will for us, over worldly pleasures, riches, power, position, worldly recognition and anything that will separate us from You. We pray for a HUMBLE HEART and a CONTRITE SPIRIT that we may not sin against You, and so we may see clearly Your plan for us to be a blessing to others. Please change us daily, inside and out, to what You want us to be - a true follower of our Lord Jesus Christ, not only in words but in deeds - TO BE MORE AND MORE LIKE HIM EACH DAY. Help us to put into daily practice Your basic TRUTH: From everyone who has been given much, mu ch will be demanded, and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked (Luke 12:48, NIV). Help us to SHARE Your blessings with Your suffering children, the poor, the destitute, the precious souls not yet reached by Your gospel of grace, and our needy AUP working students, who came from desperately poor families, and with our help, will someday alleviate their hard life. We humbly ask these things in the precious name of Your Eternal Son, to whom be glory, praise and honor forever. Amen

____________ _________ _________ ___

A STRONG START ISN'T GOOD ENOUGH!

By Jose P. Orbe, Jr., joeorbe@adventist- pic.org

(From the homily delivered at PIC, June 15, 2007)

We all have come to church this day with one thing in common. Each of us—teacher, student, or even a parent, will START this month of June.

For freshmen, the month of June may mean new relationships: friends, roommates, etc.

Even for returning students, this month may mean a fresh start beginning with resolutions like, "I'll do it better this time." Among the optimistic parents, this month ushers hope when they wish that their students will do better this time. This church, PIC, is also off for a new start this month.

Books and records have to be closed to open new ones. But one thing that can't be separated from START is END. These two reckoning points are inseparable. Only God has been known to have no beginning and no end. From a human standpoint, everything that has beginnings must have endings.

My thoughts race. Is it possible to start right and end wrong? Or to start wrong and end right? Does it necessarily follow that when you start right, you would end right? Or when you start wrong you will end up wrong.

Have there been occasions in your life when you asked, "What happened, have I not started strong?" "Why did I end up this wretched way?" For lovers, "Where did I go wrong, what did I do to make her/him change mind?" What is even alarming is that even the Holy Book recorded men and women who "apparently" started right but ended wrong (cite examples).

Certainly, all starters want to end right. And the Scriptures have starting guides in order for men and women to finish right? Is it okay to do whatever one wishes to do after all the end justifies the mean? Do the Scriptures warrant this? What does the Bible have to offer? Are there indicators for a surefire great finish?

There are four (4) critical points we need to consider if we are to start and remain right with God. And all these four are anchored on the following biblical truths:
1. Only Jesus truly desires our happiness, and He is committed to perform or complete (finish) the good work He has started in us (Philippians 1.6).
2. Only by looking to Jesus can we start, endure, and finish the race that is set before us (Hebrews 12.1,2).

Often times it’s the look that makes the difference between failure and success. It’s not just how you would start this school year, it’s not how you will resolve to teach your students, and it’s not the ways you would apply to get your children achieve better in school, it’s not what you invest in a relationship or undertaking, a strong start isn’t enough to win the race.

Put on your thinking caps and consider this carefully. My finishing the race—my semester, my relationship, my undertaking, my work, my parenting, my job, etc… will be significantly dependent on my capability to keep my focus on Jesus. It’s in the “look unto Jesus” that will maintain my balance. Remember Peter who walked on the sea (relate the short story).

What does it mean to keep our eyes (our focus) on Jesus?

Study with me in Hebrews 12. There are four (4) critical points to consider.

To look unto Jesus means…
1. Recount the experiences of those of have completed the race ahead of us.
2. Resist the extraneous offers of this sinful world.
3. Run with endurance the race of life.
4. Reflect on the encouragements in the life of Jesus.

A prolific Christian writer once penned these words—
If you want to be distressed—look within
If you want to be defeated—look back
If you want to be distracted—look around
If you want to be dismayed—look ahead
If you want to be delivered—LOOK UP!

Think carefully. It’s not the strong start that will bring us to the finish line; it’s how we can keep our balance, our focus on Jesus. Remember, it’s Jesus who will complete the work He has begun. He is the Author and Finisher of our faith. He is the Alpha & Omega. Those who remain in Him shall make it to the finish line and have eternal life (1John 2.24, 25).

To wait can be rewarding

Thought: Patience is the ability to keep your motor idling when you feel like stripping your gears.

Biblical text: "He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city." (Proverbs 16:32)

An old train on a branch line was puffing and creaking slowly through the countryside when suddenly it lurched to a stop. The only passenger in the three-car train rose quickly to his feet and hurried to find the conductor. "Why have we stopped?" he demanded. "I'm a salesman and i have an appointment in less than an hour in the next town. Surely this old train can make it through the pasture!"

The conductor smiled, "Nothing to worry about, sir. Just a cow on the tracks. Gotta wait her out." The salesman returned to his seat, fuming and fidgeting until the train began to creep forward again about ten minutes later. It chugged along for a mile or two and then ground to a halt once again.

This time the conductor found the salesman. "Don't worry," he said. "We'll be on our way shortly. It's just a temporary delay." The exasperated salesman asked, "What now? Did we catch up to the cow again?"

What the salesman didn't know was that the schedule for this particular train had been made so as to allow for temporary delays and cows on the track! The salesman made his appointment, but he was worn to a frazzle by his own frustration and concern.Allow for delays.

You'll enjoy life's journey more.