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June 26
“The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.” (Isaiah 58:11, NIV)

Often when we wake up in the morning we do not have a plan. Sometimes we are energized and happy other times we are stressed and depressed. Many times we need to adjust our thoughts to the spiritual side of the balance scale. We need to open the windows to our mind and allow God’s fresh breeze liberate us when we are down. This morning I am waiting for the breeze.

When waiting for the breeze, there seems to be a need. In my case that need is often met with strong coffee, sugar and perhaps some Ibuprofin. That is not the best solution. It has a physical and temporary lift, but the need is better met spiritually.

This morning the need was met through prayer. The breeze that arrived came through Isaiah 58:11. Sometimes we forget what we need. We forget that God is with us, we leave Him in the back seat rather than use Him as navigator for the day. As navigator He will take us to places that we would not have gone on our own.

Thought for the Week: This week there will be stress, problematic decisions and times of anguish. We need to focus and remember that “God is with us” and we need to let Him lead. We need to pray over the tough decisions and focus on following His will.

Prayer for the Week: Heavenly Father, we pray for your guidence. We need to understand our immediate world and area of control and also understand the happenings around the global World. Neither seems very well organized today. This week we pray that we can find a way to contribute through You to help your will prevail in tough situations.

Amen

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June 21
He who rebukes a man will in the end gain more favor than he who has a flattering tongue.” (Proverbs 28:23 NIV)

Our faith teaches us to be open and honest with everyone. That is a tall order when it comes to correcting someone. There always seems to be a fear of the negative or the possible confrontation. It is always easier in the short term to be silent.

Proverbs 28:23 tells it like it is. We will earn more respect and have a better relationship if we express our concerns promptly and honestly. In all of our relationships, the ideal situation is when everyone’s feelings are shared. There are justifications for holding back. Fear of disturbing our families or risking our careers are the most common. However, over time, appropriately sharing our feelings always works out better than keeping quiet.

Proverbs 25:11 tells us that “A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.” We need to express ourselves and share those feelings under all conditions.

Thought for the Week: This week we will be tempted to avoid issues. We need to recognize those feelings and think about them. We need to find a way to deal with the issues that reflect the way our faith teaches us, by being open and honest.

Prayer for the Week: Heavenly Father, you teach us to be open and honest with everyone. It seems very unreasonable and at times impossible. This week we pray that we can deal with all of the problems that come our way in an open and honest way. We pray that we may do this in good faith.

Amen

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June 10
“Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.”
(Proverbs 27:6 NIV)

People do not criticize just for fun or to be mean. They generally have a concern or have been hurt in some way. Often negativity is misdirected and unearned. Sometimes we have earned it. It always seems to hurt.

These verbal wounds are an opportunity to display our faith, our patience and understanding. Our gut reaction to criticism is to ignore the hurt and go towards anger. However, when we are criticized, we need to understand the other point of view, the reason why. Then we will learn and be better persons.

Thought for The Week: This week will be criticized and will have the opportunity to react. Let us react as Christians. Instead of becoming angry or defensive, let us try to emulate Jesus. Listen and pray about it. Learn from the experience.

Prayer for the Week: Dear Lord and Father, there were many things wrong in our world this week. Bus bombs in Israel, more murder and fighting in Iraq, fear of terror around the world and closer to home, many good people are under financial stress and losing their jobs. We need a strong faith to help us through. This week we pray for the simple things. We pray for our families, our friends and ourselves, We pray that we can understand it, how it all fits into Your master plan and that somehow we may contribute to the peace and good will toward others.

Amen

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June 8
“Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.” (Proverbs 15:22, NIV)

Earning respect is an on going challenge through out our lives. Communication according to the book of Proverbs will make other people want to connect with us. Proverbs 15:22 talks the benefits of good council, good advice.

Many of you have heard me say “Two heads are four times better than the best of the two alone! Also, three heads are nine times better than the best of the three working alone!” Well, there are no scientific studies to confirm what some people call a “Pickeringism,” but it is true at some level. Sharing our thoughts and advice makes us all stronger.

To earn respect be a willing advisor. Share your experiences, your knowledge and good will with those in need. Share that precious intellectual property that God has allowed you to accumulate. Earn respect through sharing.

Thought for The Week: This week let us think about helping others through our experienced advice. Let us also try hard to let others help us. Let us listen and share as Proverbs advises us and observe how much better we are when we practice sharing.

Prayer For The Week: Heavenly Father, Lord of Peace, we are confused about our world. Terror and war are rampant, violence seems to dominate our local news and financial fears dominate our news. This week we pray for some understanding and pray that the faiths of the world can come together in love.

Amen

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May 26
The lips of the wise spread knowledge; not so the lips of fools” (Proverbs15:7)

One characteristic that we all seem to want is respect. We earn respect through our interactions with other people. It is earned both with words and actions. Saying good things without commitment and follow through does not earn it. Great actions with course words, sarcasm and hurtful methods also will not earn respect.

From my youth I remember two of my families favorite expressions: “ If you don’t have something good to say, then say nothing”. (don’t be negative).” and “ It is better to be silent and be thought a fool rather than speak and remove all doubt”. Most of us have violated these more than once!!

We are all born with God’s blessings and a high level of respect. If we are not satisfied with the respect we have in our present lives, we need to recognize that we have not earned it yet. The good news is that we can turn it around by living our lives the way our faith has taught us.

Thought for the Week: This week let’s focus on earning respect through our words. Let us search out the good things to say, avoid any put downs and remember that our faith teaches praise and love. Let us sing the praises of the Lord in our daily lives.

Prayer for the Week: Heavenly Father we are living in a confusing world. Hate seems to run rampant and integrity seems to be on the wane.We are confused by it all. We pray for some understanding and a way to contribute to a solution. This week we pray for a way to help.

Amen

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May 16
“It is better for you to finish now what you began last year. You were the first, not only to act,
but also to be willing to act.
On with it then and finish the job.”
2 Corinthians 8:10-11(TEV)

Last week I commented about how all the finishers of a race were winners. Several comments came back regarding this. Many people wanted to separate the “champions and elites” from the citizens. Certainly they were the true winners.

As an unranked runner but former elite masters swimmer and triathlete, I will share with you that there were many times that finishing a running event near the bottom of the pack was more rewarding to me than a swimming or triathlon trophy. The trophy’s are a nice momento, but sometimes not very important. As an elite, you are supposed to be near the top.

In the early 80’s my friend Billy (a good news recipient) and I ran a half marathon. He finished a good half an hour ahead of me and felt great. I was not ready and thought I was going to die out there. The following year, Billy was again a half hour ahead of me but I met my personal goals and expectations. I fondly remember that day and have that finishing picture on my office wall.

Neither of us won that event or our age groups. Both of us were proud winners because we finished. Life is like that— when we finish what we start, we win.

Thought for the Week: It is Spring, a time of renewal. God brings us flowers, green grass and warm temperatures. It is easy to be busy enjoying it all and put a few serious issues on that famous “back burner”. This week let us identify what we need to finish; who we need to help; who needs our prayers; who could use a visit. Let us complete the tasks that the Lord has put before us.

Prayer For the Week: Heavenly Father, we are growing tired of fear, terror, violence and anger. This is a very confusing time. Somehow we need to understand what it is all about. We need your guidance on how to use your love to succeed. In our cities, our neighborhoods and the world we pray that Your love will somehow “finish” the race for peace and security.

Amen

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May 11
“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize?

Run in such a way as to get the prize.

Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.” (1 Corinthians; 24-28 NIV)

Last week June and I hosted several elite runners. Gifted professionals that earn their living by using the body that God gave them. There were over 6,000 runners in the race, all of them winners.

The two time champion Julius, finished in fifth place this year after two of his friends and countrymen. He said afterwards that he did not have to get the money to win, that just to compete with his friends made him a winner. That is a great attitude.

The winning woman was a 41 year old Russian, Lyubov. You may remembering me writing about her last year. She came in ahead of many younger professionals for the second year in a row. She was proud to have won but talked about her many friends that were at the event. It was easy to see that competing meant more to her than simply winning.

In church today I talked to Kevin about the event. He ran it after several years sabbatical. His first words were that he was a real winner because he finished and had fun. The message is very clear, in running and life, we want to run so that we are not disqualified for the prize.

Thought for the Week: This week we will be running through our lives. The normal schedule will keep us busy. Many of us will fall short of the goal. Many of us will accomplish our goal. All of us will be winners if we follow the rules. Let us compete in our lives as models of winners, as people of faith.

Prayer for the Week: Heavenly Father, this week life will again be flying by. Things move very fast in today’s world. It is easy to forget principles when under pressure. This week we pray for the guidance andjudgment to follow your will in our daily activities. We prey that we lead by example and make those around us glad we were with them.

Amen

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May 5
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is... Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.” (Romans 12;1-4 NIV)

Society does not fit the biblical model that we are taught and often desire. Truth, honesty, integrity, love and many other virtues seem rare at times. Often in our human desire to “fit”, we join in and need correction. It is normal to err and join in. It is also forgivable.

In a discussion last week in a business environment, several of us were discussing several long term successful business men. We were comparing the successful men with some that were sinking fast or already out of business. It seems that the ones we were discussing that have long term success may have read Romans 12. They were different. Fairness was their trademark and perpetual growth seemed to be a trait. They were not always right, but always seemed to be growing and striving for excellence.

Basically, they are relationship builders. They earned the respect and trust of those around them. They were not “sharks” but win-win business men. Somehow, they incorporated their Christian beliefs into the tough world of doing business. That is truly doing God’s will.

Thought for the Week: This week we will all have a chance to stand up and be counted. We will have opportunities to demonstrate our faith in circumstances where we would not normally do so. Let us demonstrate that we are considerate and Godly in our daily activities.

Prayer for the Week: Dear Lord, the world we live in is distracting and volatile. We all have too much to do, too many commitments and too many fears. Through out all of this we pray for peace. Peace in our own lives, peace around the world and an end to hate and prejudice. We prey the we end it in ourselves and can demonstrate the value of peace to others through our example.

Amen

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April 27
“Crown Him the Lord of peace,
Whose power a scepter sways
From pole to pole, that wars may cease,
And all be prayer and praise”
words by Mathew Bridges 1851
Spring is a wonderful time of the year. Short Winter days are replaced with warmer and longer evenings. Spring bulbs emerge from the ground with green sprouts, color returns to the woods, parks and our own yards. It is a time when the wonders of God brings peaceful thoughts to us all.
We also live in a world surrounded by fear. Terrorism, anger, financial problems and many other crises fill our world along with the wonders of Spring. I do not know about you, but I ponder the why of it all. Where is our “peace on earth”? Spring shows us how close it is and that God is trying to bring it to us. What is our best way to participate in having a peaceful world?
The message in another hymn, “..let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me,” gives us a hint. If each of us does our part, we can influence the world.
Thought for the Week: Each week we encounter negativity. There are angry drivers, frustrations in the workplace and certainly opportunities to be frustrated in our family lives. We can chose to be anxious or at peace. This week when given the chance, let us demonstrate our Christian and peaceful side. Let it begin with each of us.
Prayer for the Week: Heavenly Father, each week we see negativity around the world. We as people seem to have very little control over it all. This week we pray that we may lead by the example of Christ, we pray that our living example may contribute to a better world.
Amen

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April 18
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” (Proverbs 3:5).

Getting through valleys so that we may experience the peaks, the good times, our faith is often tested in subtle ways. We find it easy to take the credit for recovery. After all, we generally “take control” and work our way through problems. That’s the human way.

Several years ago upon finishing a program at church, the pastor presented each of us with a pin, Christ’s feet. The pin is symbolic of the footprints in the sand. It serves as a reminder that we never walk alone. When in control, we may not be aware and often do not feel God’s presence. We tend to think of God as a “Macro” rather than a personal assistant.

When we are in “full control” we are misleading ourselves. There are too many outside factors playing out in life for that to be true. We need to always have the trust that our faith teaches to have. With God as a partner, it is always easier to get through the crises periods. He is always our partner.

Thought for the Week: This week let’s really control the ball. Keep our problems in our grasp! Yes, we can handle it all. Then after we have finished the week, take out this meditation and think back to how we played out God’s will, how He helped us in our many tasks and give Him thanks for the help.

Prayer for the Week: Dear Lord, Heavenly Father, the world seems out of control. We are having doubt as to what role you are playing out with all the ills that exist. Economic struggles, terrorism, world poverty all seem to dominate our lives. It is hard for us to keep trust and show the love that is needed. This week we pray for some guidance. Guidance on how to trust you more, how do do your will in tough times and to be a good follower of Christ’s teachings.

Amen