Flying by the Instruments by Larry Refsland
I’m not a pilot, but I have done my share of “flying by the seat of my pants!” I read somewhere that when pilots are going through training a simple exercise proves to them the necessity of learning to fly by the instruments. They put the pilot-in-training on a swivel chair, blindfold him, and spin him around. The one in the chair has to try to tell which way he is moving, when he has stopped, and which direction he is facing. The new pilot never gets it right. The reason is, the fluid in the ear canal causes a distortion of balance and perception. The lesson is clear: there are times when your senses tell you one thing, and your instruments another. Believe the instruments! In our daily lives, we can find ourselves off-balance, or unsure of our direction. I’ve found the best instrument panel to use in order to get my proper bearings is the Bible. Jesus said, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.” The word of God is a lamp that lights our path and shows us the way to go. It always points the way to God through Jesus. When we look to Him for help, the world stops spinning, and things come into focus. His word gives life and protects us from going off-course. Our feelings can’t always be trusted, but the word of God is 100% reliable. May I encourage you to get familiar with this instrument panel? It will keep you from danger and lead you to abundant life! A Good Return by Larry Refsland
We all want to receive a good return on our time, our money and our ideas. I’ve observed people as they scan the financial section of the newspaper. Their reaction gives away whether their stock went up or down in value. Homeowners open their property tax statements with anticipation and fear. They hope the value of their home has appreciated yet still want the taxes to go down! The Bible records a story that Jesus told about a wealthy man that left some money in the hands of his servants. They were to manage his assets while away on a trip. One of the servants made investments and was able to give a 100% return on his master’s money. Another one achieved a 50% return by putting his master’s money to work. A third servant, however, hid his master’s money and simply returned it to his master upon his arrival. A 0% return! Granted, he didn’t lose any of his master’s money (unless you factor in inflation), but the fact is he didn’t even try to get a return. The application, of course, is that our master, the Lord Jesus, has given each of us a gift, a talent, or an ability that he intends for us to invest and achieve a return for him. How are you doing with what he has entrusted to you? Each day is an opportunity to make your life count for the kingdom of God. He deserves a good return on his investment in you! Friends=Future by Larry Refsland
I’m no psychic, but I probably can predict your future! Everyone wants a glimpse it seems into the future. “Will I be rich?” “Will I marry and have children?” “Will I get that dream job?” I don’t have any special gift to give insight on these specific issues, but there is a method that will give a general idea of how things will go for you. Here it is: “If you show me your friends, I’ll show you your future.” Who you spend time with has a greater impact on your future than you might realize. Hang out with positive people, and you’ll tend to be positive. “Success breeds success,” it’s true, but failure likes company too. Are your friends bringing you down or building you up? Do they help you become better or bitter? Do they have a positive outlook on the world or do they always have something to gripe about? 1 Corinthians 15:33 says, “Evil company corrupts good manners.” It also says, “A little yeast works through the whole loaf.” I’m not suggesting you completely abandon negative people. After all, some of them just can’t be ignored. But I’m saying make sure you hang out with people who are positive and are going the same direction you want to go. If you don’t have those people in your life right now, make it a matter of prayer. God will direct people into your life that will improve your future, if you just ask him. And, by the way, he’s the best friend you’ll ever have. Beautiful Scars by Larry Refsland
There must be some unwritten rule that says, “If someone shows you their scar, you are obligated to show them yours.” You know what I’m referring to, don’t you? Someone shows you the scar from when they cut their finger. Your response, show them your scar from when you cut your arm. Another person feels compelled to show their appendix scar and before you know it, someone is unbuttoning their shirt to show their open-heart surgery scar! Scars serve as sort of a reminder of some kind of battle. Be it a wartime battle, a fight against disease, or a victory over an accidental injury... scars are a badge of survival. Which is probably is what makes us proud of scars. The Bible records the battle for our souls that was won by Jesus when he was crucified. The disciples and many others saw Jesus after he was resurrected. The proof is Jesus showed them the scars that were on his hands and feet. Jesus’s resurrected body still bore the scars, a reminder of the awful price he paid for our souls and the forgiveness of sin. When he showed his scars, no one could top them! No one had a more fantastic story than Jesus. His scars serve as a reminder of the value of a soul in God’s eyes, your soul. His scars tell us the extent of his love for each and every one of us. Whenever you doubt the love of God, consider the beautiful scars on the feet and hands of Jesus. His love goes beyond what we can ask or imagine and he’s got the marks to prove it! Junk Mail by Larry Refsland
Every day I go through the same routine when I come home from work. I stand over the garbage can and sort through the pile of junk mail! I’m sure the post office is grateful for the revenue this mail generates. But for me, it’s just that much more garbage to haul out to the curb. Offers for credit cards, solicitations for donations, sweepstakes “winner” announcements, and more credit card applications are just some of the seemingly endless stack of envelopes that fill my mailbox. Occasionally, in the middle of the stack of mail is a real genuine letter! A letter written by someone I actually know! It’s exciting to read a letter from someone that isn’t asking for money and who is telling me interesting things about themselves. Good letters ask me how I’m doing and bring back memories of times we’ve had together. Letters like that are special because it means someone took the time to say, “I was thinking about you.” Did you ever look at the Bible as a letter from God to you? It is! In it, he gives us an update on what he’s been doing. He tells news about his plans to visit us. He gives the details on his plans to come and take us to his place someday. He even writes about his preparations to get our place ready for us. Some people might toss the Bible aside like so much junk mail, but I savor every word. I know whom it comes from and that he’s taken the time to let me know he was thinking about me. Be sure to take some time to set aside the junk mail and read some of God’s letter to you. It beats a credit card offer any day! Kitchen Stories by Larry Refsland
My wife and I watched the movie “Kitchen Stories”, a foreign film set in the 1950s. The film was about researching and designing a more efficient kitchen for single men. But, if you don’t speak Norwegian or Swedish, you’d have to read the subtitles like I did. Even so, it was an intriguing and thought-provoking movie, portraying a Swedish research team that is sent to Norway to observe Norwegian men and how they move about in their kitchens. The observer for the research sat in an elevated chair placed in a corner and simply charted each and every move the host would make. The observer was not to engage in conversation or in any way assist the host. By the end, I realized the point of the movie might have been to show that to understand someone, you have to do more than observe. You have to communicate! Some people think God is just an impersonal observer who is only keeping track of the good and bad we do. The scriptures tell us otherwise; it clearly portrays God as an interactive communicator. He wants us to talk to him and he wants to talk to us. He wants us to understand his love for us. He wants us to know he cares about our thoughts, our hurts, our joys and our worries. Obviously he is speaking to us through his word. He also is sending messages through music and nature. The first step in developing any relationship is communication. Spend some time today talking and listening to God. You’ll not only gain a better understanding of God but of yourself and your purpose in life. Join us virtually for service at 3:00 pm CST Making the Most of It by Larry Refsland
“Of all the place you’ve lived, what is your favorite?” I posed that question to a lady that was then living in a nursing home. She had moved around a lot during her interesting life. Several states had been home to her as well as living abroad. I expected her to tell me her favorite place was Florida or New Orleans or even Minneapolis. Surprisingly, her answer wasn’t any place that I would think of as exciting or even interesting. Her favorite place, she said, was right there in the nursing home! She told me she had already made up her mind before she had seen her room that she would consider this as her favorite place. She knew that happiness doesn’t depend on how big your house is or how the furniture is arranged. It depends on a decision to look for the best in every situation. The apostle Paul wrote in Acts 26:2, “I think myself happy.” He wrote those words from a prison cell! Paul said he had learned the secret of contentment. The secret was trusting in Christ for strength for each day and hope for the future. How are you looking at the present circumstances? The Bible tells us to look at each day as a day the Lord has made and to rejoice and be glad in it (Psalm 118:24). As difficult as that may be sometimes, it is possible when we have faith that God is on our side. In Romans 8:31, it says, “If God is for us, who can stand against us?” My prayer is that you will have a day of rejoicing knowing that God loves you and is working all things together for good for them that love Him. “It’s my turn to drive!” “No, it’s mine!” “He always gets to drive!” As soon as a young person gets a learner’s permit, they want to drive. Having gone through driver’s training with four kids and giving them opportunities to be behind the wheel, I don’t feel quite as uncomfortable or out of control sitting on the passenger side. I’m finally getting used to the idea of being a passenger.
When I was a kid, it was rare to see a female driving a car while a male was in it. “Men always drive!” we would hear. Now, times have changed. This idea of wanting to be the driver is a lot like our lives. We want to be in control. We want to steer the direction of our lives—do our own thing. But no matter how experienced we are we will never be able to navigate our lives in the best way without the Lord. Jesus Christ doesn’t want to be a passenger in our lives; he wants to be the driver! He asks us to turn over the controls to Him. That takes faith! But faith is exactly what it takes to have our eternal destination settled. Proverbs 14:12 says, “There is a way that seems right to man, but the end of it is death.” Proverbs 3:6 promises that if we “acknowledge Him in all our ways, he will direct our path.” Give Jesus the driver’s seat, and let Him take you to the place you could never find on your own. When a hailstorm leaves drifts of tiny balls of ice, I love to watch and see how long it will take for those piles of hail to melt. If it’s going to hail, we hope it’s only pea-sized hail and not softball sized.
You probably remember from science class how hail is formed. Turbulent winds high in the atmosphere toss beads of moisture up and down, and up and down again. The extremely cold air of the upper atmosphere freezes the tiny droplet of water. It starts to fall toward earth and picks up more moisture along the way, only to be tossed back up into the freezing air again. Over and over this happens, each time the droplet adds another layer of ice, until finally it plummets to the earth. Life is a lot like those hailstorms. The storms of life toss us up and down, over and over again. No one, it seems, escapes entirely without a few storms. Storms can, however, serve to build strength into our lives. Just as a hailstone grows larger and larger with each toss of the wind, we can grow stronger and stronger through the experience of life’s storms. The Bible says to “consider it pure joy whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:2-4). Be encouraged today to turn to the Master of the storm in the midst of your adversities. He will help you through it and make you stronger because of it. May God keep you safe in the shelter of his loving arms. I am not a plumber—and that’s okay! Every time I try to fix a plumbing leak, I make it worse! Plumbing is not my thing. There are some things I do quite well, but other things I just don’t have what it takes. So when my faucet is leaking, I call someone who really knows how to fix it. The Bible tells us that all of us have unique gifts and abilities that benefit those around us. None of us can be an expert at everything. Even if we could, when would we have the time to do everything?
There is always going to be a task that we are best off to leave to someone else. On the other hand, each of us has a skill or talent that others need as well. Every person is needed and valuable in God’s economy. The Bible refers to us as a body, with each of us being a different part of the body. The arm, for example, is not the entire body, but the body is not complete without it. “The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts, and though all its parts are many, they form one body.” This description, from I Corinthians 12:14, helps us grasp the value of each human being. We all have a purpose. Just as the body can do more when each part is healthy and being cared for, so each of us can function at our best individually only when those around us are healthy and being looked after. When we help a person in need, we really are helping ourselves, because we are all part of the same body. Take care of yourself today. Someone is depending on what you have to offer, especially if you’re a plumber! “And now it’s time for today’s Top Ten List!” I used to stay up after the news just to hear David Letterman’s Top Ten List. Many writers and news outlets use them, but actually God had the first Top Ten List. They’re called the Ten Commandments!
These 10 commands were given by God to his people—not as cold, rigid restrictions, but actually as liberating laws of life. When viewed from a proper perspective, we learn that the commandments were given as guidelines to enjoy life, not keep us from having fun. They could be called “Top 10 Ways to Have a Successful Life”. The most important function of God’s Top Ten List is to help us understand our need of forgiveness and mercy. No one has been able to perfectly keep every command throughout his or her entire life. The Bible says if we have broken one item on the list, we’ve broken them all and therefore need forgiveness. Jesus came to set us free from the accusation of the commandments. He changed the commandments from being a taskmaster to Laws of Liberty! In fact, Jesus summed it up in Matthew 22:37-40 simply by saying, “Look, just do these two things:
That’s freedom! If I am living a life of love towards God and my neighbor, I’ll be enjoying God’s promises for those who keep his commands. Practice these secrets for a successful life and have an awesome day! Have you ever been up all night, like on Christmas Eve or just before your kid’s birthday, trying to put together a new toy or game that seemed it should be simple, but turned into a nightmare? Those three words on the outside of the box: “some assembly required”—they don’t seem hard. But what the box fails to mention is the fact you needed an engineering degree to read the instructions! That is, if you actually tried to read the instructions!
Some things can’t be enjoyed until the assembly process is complete. Part A needs to be connected to Part B before Part C can be attached, etc. When everything has been assembled correctly you finally have something that will work and bring joy to your life. The Bible tells us in Hebrews 10:25 that some assembly is required in our lives as well. It says, “Don’t give up the habit of assembling yourselves together like some people have done.” Each one of us is a part of a total unit. No one functions completely alone. We were made to work together. One of the ways we can find where we fit in is at a local place of worship. Friendships are fostered, helpful projects can be completed, and questions get answered when we join together with other folks at church. Find a place where you can get together this weekend to worship, because “some assembly is required”. May I ask a personal question? What’s the condition of your Bible? Do you have one of those big Family Bibles at your house? Lots of folks have one. They look great on the coffee table or on a special stand. The problem with them is that they rarely get used. Nobody actually reads them. That kind of Bible is more for decoration, like the latest Martha Stewart Living magazine setting just so on your end table.
There’s nothing wrong with these Bibles—it’s one way to silently witness to your faith, and they can serve as a reminder to look to God for help to life’s questions. But the Bibles I like to see are the well-worn ones with lots of highlighting and personal notes written in the margins. Someone said, “If your Bible’s falling apart, you probably aren’t!” I believe that to be true! The Bible is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. It is not an outdated book of myths and fables, but the living, active, ever-relevant Word of God. Here’s a challenge for the week: Spend some time everyday reading the Bible. See if it does speak to you and if it helps you. If you don’t have a clue on where to begin, let me suggest the Gospel of John. If you don’t have a Bible, there are plenty of places to get them—even online for free! I’ll be glad to give you one too. Become a student of the Word. It is the manual for life and the living record of God’s plan for successful living. Have an awesome day! When was your party? You know, the party they threw for you in heaven? You may or may not know about all the celebrations they have in heaven, but according to the Bible, there are parties all the time.
In Luke 15, Jesus is recorded as telling three stories that give a picture of what heaven is like. They all have at least two things in common. First, something is lost. Second, they all include a party! The first story is of a lost sheep. It’s only one sheep out of a flock of 100, but the shepherd leaves the 99 to look for the lost one. When he finds it, he calls his friends and throws a party! The second story is of a woman who lost one of her ten silver coins. She searches everywhere in the house, even sweeping carefully until she finds it and then, you guessed it—party time! The final story is of a lost son. A father had two sons and one of them decided to split with his share of the estate even though his dad hadn’t died yet. He managed to squander the whole load in no time on wine, women, and song. Finally, he comes to his senses and decides to go back to his father’s house and begs to be taken back as a hired hand. The father instead, restored him as a son and threw a party! Jesus pointed out that these stories described you and me as being lost—separated from God. But God, in his love and mercy, searched for us and made it possible for us to be in fellowship with him. When we admit to our lost position and receive his love and forgiveness, the Bible says the angels of God throw a party! Has there been a party in heaven for you? Alive! Inside and Out by Larry Refsland
You can’t judge a book by its cover. Outside appearances may not really tell the true story. I remember seeing an article in one of the gossip magazines entitled, “How I Shot a Bear Blindfolded.” That was the title, but the story was more along the lines of, “How that bear got to be blindfolded, I’ll never know!” Sometimes it pays to look a little deeper than our first impressions. We’ve all seen fallen trees after a storm. Sometimes we’re surprised to see what we thought was a healthy tree broken in two by strong winds. Upon closer examination, the signs of disease and decay show why the tree couldn’t stand against the storm. Many of us are like that tree. We look good on the outside, we seem to have our lives together; but inside we are hurting or lonely or afraid. The Bible reminds us that even though we look on the outward appearance, God looks on the heart. You can’t fool God. He knows we need inner strength and peace. For me, it’s great to know I can be real with God. I don’t have to hide anything from Him. I can openly share my feelings and frustrations with Him. I find when I tell Him how I really am doing, He comes and gives me peace and hope. As it says in Psalm 30:11, he turns my mourning into dancing, and in Isaiah 61:3, He exchanges my spirit of heaviness for a feeling of praise. Be real with God today and let Him strengthen your inner being. An Unlimited Supply by Larry Refsland
How would you like to have a bank account you could never exhaust? Wouldn’t it be great to have an account where no matter how much you spend one day, the account is replenished by the next day? There is an account like that available to each of us. It’ not offered at any of the lending institutions in your town. It’s an account in Heaven! The depositor is Jesus Christ, and we make withdrawals everyday. The account is not a cash account; it’s a mercy account. We all need God’s mercy. Without it, we have no hope of forgiveness or love. God is rich in mercy, writes Paul in Ephesians 2:4. He has vast amounts of mercy that is obtainable by a verbal request. It comes to us as we confess our wrongdoings to God and ask for forgiveness. God extends to us forgiveness, not based on anything of value we have, but out of his great supply of mercy. Mercy is not earned or deserved; it is a gift from God. In case you feel you’ve exhausted God’s supply of mercy, consider this, Lamentations 3:22-23 says that His mercies are made new every morning! He has a fresh supply for us today, even if you have used up all that He had yesterday, which by the way, would be impossible. Make sure you make the necessary withdrawal from the mercy account of God today. Go to Him in prayer and make your request. His supply far exceeds your need! God Chose You by Larry Refsland
When kids decide to play ball, the first thing they have to do is choose sides. For many kids, this is one of life’s most dreaded moments. No one wants to be picked last, as kind of a leftover that neither team wants but one is going to get stuck with by default. Everyone wants to be chosen. Everyone wants to be noticed and accepted. We all want to make a contribution, not a liability. The Bible assures us that we have been chosen by God to be on his team. It says, “We have not chosen Him, but He chose us and appointed us to bear fruit—fruit that will last.” God doesn’t play favorites. He doesn’t pick us based on how good we are, but on how good he is! In fact, the more a person thinks he has to offer God; the less God can use that person. He likes to pick the smallest, the weakest person through whom he can do something great. He knows that kind of person will not rely on his own strength, but will depend totally on God to accomplish what he is called upon to do. God chose Gideon to lead the Israelites to victory, even though Gideon was from the smallest tribe, the least significant family in the tribe, and he was the least in his family. God chose David, a little shepherd boy, to defeat Goliath, a strong and experienced warrior. So it is no surprise that God would choose you and me to follow Him and serve Him. There is no limit to what God can do through a man, woman or child who is on God’s team. Philippians 4:13 says, “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” Why not make that your battle cry as you face the day? “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!” Have an awesome day! Are you the type of person who sees a glass half full or half empty? I don’t think we are born positive or negative; it’s just that life’s circumstances shape us into one or the other. I mean, when you have positive expectations that just don’t pan out, it can be very disappointing. And, let’s admit it, disappointment hurts! No one wants to experience that pain over and over again. So, instead of high hopes, a person who has gone through the pain of disappointment tends to settle for low or no expectations. After all, if you aren’t expecting much, you probably won’t be disappointed when nothing happens.
But is that the way to get the most out of life? I believe God is a positive force, not a negative one. When we think positively, positive things are more likely to happen. When we think negatively, negative things are more likely to happen. The Bible tells us in Philippians 4:8 to think of things that are pure and lovely, and true and noble, things that are excellent and praiseworthy. It also says in Proverbs 23:7 that whatever a person thinks in his heart, so is he. You become what you dwell on. You can be a negative person or a positive person. Believe me, it’s more pleasant to be with positive people. Even in a negative situation, a follower of Christ can hold to the promise of God in Romans 8:28, “…all things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose.” Expect the best—God will not let you down. In Sync With God by Larry Refsland
Do you have a good sense of timing or are you one of those rhythm-impaired people? There are people that have rhythm and there are those who don’t. That’s true about clapping along to an upbeat song and it’s true about life, like the person who always seems to be at the right place at the right time. It’s like being “in sync” with the rhythm of life. Being out of sync always ends up in disappointment. One person described it like this, “When my ship came in I was at the train station!” Even being a little off can have disastrous results over time. Like a person sailing across the ocean without the proper bearings, even one or two degrees off course could make the difference between landing on a warm sandy resort beach or in the middle of a tribe of cannibals! One way to be “in sync” with life is to be sure of whom you are following. If you follow someone who themselves is off the beat, you obviously will be off as well. If you follow someone’s life example that is off-course, your life will be off-course too. The Bible says, “The Lord is with you when you are with Him” (2 Chronicles 15:2). In other words, get in sync with God. Follow his principles and plans that are spelled out in the Bible. Seek his direction in every aspect of your life and watch how he helps you succeed in every area. Staying in sync is key to your success and happiness. Pick up the rhythm for your life from the one who set the universe in order and has perfect timing. God bless you and have an awesome day! God is a People Watcher by Larry Refsland
Are you a people watcher like I am? I enjoy going to places where there are lots of people. It’s fascinating to watch and listen to the words and actions of children, parents, friends and lovers. Some will be having the time of their life and others are having a bad day. You can tell who’s in a hurry and who has time on their hands. Some people seem like they are on a mission and others look like they missed the boat. You know, God is also a people-watcher. “The eyes of the Lord are searching to and fro over all the earth, looking for someone He can help” (2 Chronicles 16:9). When I’m people watching, I don’t pay attention to the person who looks like they have it all together. Frankly, they’re boring. I’m more likely to notice the frustrated dad waiting for the kids to catch up to him or the mom that’s digging in her bags for something to keep the baby occupied. God’s eyes are drawn to those that need help as well. You can rest assured that God has taken notice of your situation. Whether you need help with a relationship, finances or a life-controlling problem, he is ready to assist you. The Bible says when we are in distress we should “seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near” (Isaiah 55:6). As I’m people watching, often I see situations where I can lend a hand, open a door or point out the missing person they’re looking for. God is able to come alongside of us and help us as well. Just call upon Him. He’s as close as the mention of His name. Look up to the Lord who is tenderly watching you. Does your name identify who you are? Many of us have grown up with nicknames, some not too complimentary. Sometimes a single event in your life can cause you to get stuck with a nickname that stays with you forever.
In Bible days, everyone’s name had meaning. In some cases a person’s name became a self-fulfilling prophecy. There were names with a positive meaning like Joshua, which means “one who saves”, or Isaac, which means “he laughs”. But other names were not so positive, like a man named Jabez. When Jabez was born, the Bible says his mother had a very painful delivery, so she named him Jabez, which means “one who causes pain”. Can you imagine having Pain for a name? “Hey Pain, get out of my way!” “You’re such a pain, Pain.” As Jabez got older, the Bible says he prayed to God and asked God for two things. He asked God to enlarge his territory and to help him so he would not cause pain. He refused to be defined by his name. The label put on him was not going to determine his outcome in life. Some of us grew up in a home with a less than honorable name. I believe we can pray a prayer like Jabez. We can ask God to raise us above a bad name or reputation. The Bible says that when we start following Jesus Christ, he makes us new creatures, old things are passed away and all things become new. Jabez trusted God to lift him above the labels others had put on him. Don’t let some event of your life determine who you are, and don’t let the name you inherited define your future. Instead, become a new creature in Christ and be identified as a member of his family. This may not be the first day of the year, but it could be the first day of the rest of your life!
It’s easy for us to carry the weight and worry of yesterday into today. The result is always defeat and discouragement. What if we could start with a clean slate? What if the mistakes of our past couldn’t be held against us? What if our tomorrows depended on today instead of yesterday? How would that change your life? According to the Bible, that’s the opportunity God presents to us. When we ask God to forgive our past mistakes and put our trust in Jesus for tomorrow, our past is wiped clean. Isaiah 1:18 says, “though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be clean; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as white as wool.” In fact, God’s promise is to make us so clean so that, in His eyes, we are spotless and without fault. We can only have victory today and hope for tomorrow when we ask God to take care of yesterday. Every day can be the first day of the rest of your life. No one needs to carry the weight of past sins—Jesus ‘ death paid for those errors. All he asks is that you follow him today and trust him for the future. If your past has weighed you down, ask Christ to erase it with his love and forgiveness. He won’t refuse you. Only then can we live like there’s no yesterday! The Ultimate Thirst Quencher by Larry Refsland
When you’re really, really thirsty, what do you reach for? There are so many sports drinks available today. Remember when Gatorade was the only brand? And they only had one flavor? Now it’s big business, and several companies are competing to satisfy athletes and anyone else that works up a thirst. (Speaking of which, pardon me a second… twisting the cap, pour, drink, aaaaah). Now, where was I? Oh yeah, thirst quenchers! The Bible records an incident where Jesus met a thirsty woman at a well. She had come to draw water, but Jesus saw that she was also thirsty for satisfaction, security and love. It turned out that this woman had been consistently turning to men to find fulfillment. She had been married five times and was now living with a man. She had already drawn from at least six masculine wells trying to find satisfaction. Jesus offered her living water that would permanently quench her thirsty heart. This living water, the ultimate thirst quencher, is a relationship with Jesus Christ. He alone can truly satisfy. We cannot hope that another human being will bring us true and lasting joy and happiness. Men and women will let you down. Relationships fail, but Jesus never fails! Nothing can separate us from his love. He loves you unconditionally. He invites you to drink from a relationship with him. That void in your life—the sense that there has to be more, can only be satisfied by turning your life to him. Go to the source of living water, ask Him to fill you up today and be our guide from now on. Knowing the Limits by Larry Refsland
Salespeople, entrepreneurs, and pilots are all familiar with the term “stretching the envelope”. Pushing yourself to the limit of your abilities can be a good way to enhance your skill and increase your income. There is a difference, however, between stretching the envelope and straying outside the envelope altogether. Most everyone has tried to see how far he or she could go before something negative happened. A child will test the limits of his or her parents’ rules. An athlete may try performance enhancement drugs. Anyone with a car has tested the extent of the speed limit at some time. The problem is, it’s sometimes hard to tell if you’re stretching your ability or testing your luck. We all know someone who has suffered an unhappy ending when luck ran out. A study several years ago demonstrated the value of clearly defined boundaries. Two elementary school playgrounds were used to test children’s behavior with or without known boundaries. One playground had no fence, while the other playground was entirely fenced. Researchers observed the children in the fenced playground actually used more of the area and enjoyed themselves within the safe boundaries established for them more than the children in the unfenced playground. Boundaries are designed to keep bad things away from us, as well as to prevent us from straying too far from safety. God has established boundaries so that we can enjoy life more fully. He wants us to experience all the good in life without the harmful consequences that inevitably happen outside of those limits. He loves you enough to offer you his protection so you can be all he wants you to be. A dog is man’s best friend… or is he? When the conversation comes to discussing the family dog, everyone has a story. These amazing animals bring enjoyment and companionship to so many. You may remember a particular dog you had that was very loyal or protective. Or you might be especially fond of a dog for its hunting skill or obedience. Other dogs are just a bundle of energy and really let you know how happy they are to be with you.
Yes, dogs can be very good friends. They don’t judge or criticize you. They quickly forgive you and seem to sense when you need someone to be near. They aren’t giving any advice, but are just being present. The Bible says that there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother. He is our faithful companion. He will never leave us nor forsake us. He quickly forgives us and overlooks a multitude of sins because of his great love for us. He did not come to condemn us, but to give us life and that more abundantly! When we are lonely, he is there to talk to. When we are afraid, he’s there to comfort us. When we are happy, he shares our joy. Jesus is that friend. The old hymn reminds us, “What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear. What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer.” If you need a friend, one who accepts you just as you are, call on Jesus today! |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. Archives
May 2016
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