God: CEO of My Life

Since my youth, God, you have taught me,
    and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds.

Psalm 71:17

New International Version (NIV)

         The years seem to have passed so quickly now that I look back on them.  Life is one crazy short fast- moving experience.  There have been some bad times, but all things considered life has been good to me.  I don't deserve the credit for that, for it is my glorious God who has given me this life.

          Sometimes I still feel like the kid I was so many years ago.  Yet I have progressed and learned to the point where I am older and I think a bit wiser.  I don't know how much more time I'll have on this Earth.  I may be getting older and more feeble of body, but I'm taken good care of because I'm God's kid

           God and I are in a partnership.  He always keeps His end of the deal.  I'll praise Him for that.

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.

2 Corinthians 4:16

New International Version (NIV)

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Buddy Can You Spare a Screwdriver?

A toolbox, from Biltema) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Common people are only a whisper in the wind.
Important people are only a delusion.
    When all of them are weighed on a scale, they amount to nothing.
    They are less than a whisper in the wind.
¹⁰ Do not count on extortion to make you rich.
Do not hope to gain anything through robbery.
    When riches increase, do not depend on them.

Psalm 62:9-10

GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

       A few years ago when the big economic collapse came, many people lamented about having lost "everything".    Everything?   There were stories of some people becoming homeless, retired people having to return to new jobs to make ends meet, and even some people killing themselves.

      And this was the repercussion of having lost "everything".   Maybe we sometimes put too much faith in things that are very temporal.  Perhaps we should not put our faith in any things that have no lasting meaning.  If we can't take it with us, it might not be all that important.

         Maybe it's better to dwell on the One True Thing that offers lasting promise and security.

          I like having money in my pockets in the same way I like to have a toolbox in my house.   

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,

“Never will I leave you;
    never will I forsake you.”

Hebrews 13:5

New International Version (NIV)

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Learning Self-Restraint

Anger Controlls Him (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;
    do not fret—it leads only to evil.

Psalm 37:8

New International Version (NIV)

          I'm much better than I used to be.  Although I've never been overly contentious with others for the most part, I've had my fits of resistant anger.  I still can be very opinionated and under certain circumstances be willing to vocalize those opinions.   This often does more harm than good and in the end I am resentful and  relationships are strained.

         We have been in some crazy times of late.  We have seen the results of organized anger and the resulting evil.  As we grow nearer to the U.S. elections there will be many bitter and accusatory words flying in the air.   My advice is to listen carefully and only engage when the opposition wants to listen carefully to you.   This is the season when a lot of people are hearing a lot of words, but nobody understands much of anything that is said.

        When we don't listen, we don't know what has been said.  A blind shouting match is an invitation to hatred.  

My dear brothers and sisters, always be more willing to listen than to speak. Keep control of your anger.  Anger does not help you live the way God wants.

James 1:19-20

Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)

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Where Is the Celebration?

English: Gian Lorenzo Bernini - Dove of the Holy Spirit (ca. 1660, stained glass, Throne of St. Peter, St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Clap your hands, all you nations;
    shout to God with cries of joy.

Psalm 47:1

New International Version (NIV)

         There are always parties and celebrations going on somewhere in the world, but often the pain and suffering seems to supersede all of that.  You probably hear as much complaining around you as I do and like I do you may do your fair share of complaining sometimes.   Sure, I suppose I can always find something to gripe about, but I'm probably looking at life the wrong way when I do.

          Life is short.  Life is a marvelous gift that God has given us and so often it is squandered.  I guarantee you that you don't have to look too hard to realize that there is a lot more in this world to celebrate than there is to be unhappy about.  Still many hang on to the negatives and try to drag everyone else down with them.

           I think I'll lift my face heavenward and give God a big round of applause.  God, You made this all perfect and we keep screwing it up.   Sorry Lord, but please forgive me for my negative contributions and give me a charge of Your positive energy.  

            I feel better already.  The celebration is right here.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 15:13

New International Version (NIV)

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When The Trumpet Sounds

God has ascended amid shouts of joy,
    the Lord amid the sounding of trumpets.

Psalm 47:5

New International Version (NIV)

          This past week I've been thinking about the Rapture.  We were talking about the topic at church.   A song that I know by the Oak Ridge Boys started running through my head.  I couldn't find their version, but I did find this soulful version by Dottie Rambo.





¹³ Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope.¹⁴ For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. ¹⁵ According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. ¹⁶ For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. ¹⁷ After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. ¹⁸ Therefore encourage one another with these words.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

New International Version (NIV)

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