February 5- No Light on the Flight

There was a man flying internationally to England from the United States.  His overhead light was not working properly and he persistently tried to adjust it during the flight.  This so overwhelmed the man that it became a distraction to the surrounding passengers.  Everyone on the plane was watching this man as he tried to adjust the light.  He called for the stewardess, and she could not fix it.  Word got to the cockpit after a few hours.  Determined to keep the atmosphere calm and collective on his flight, the pilot put the plane on auto-control and came out himself to fix the light.

Unbeknownst to the pilot the plane ran into some unexpected turbulance.  As he rushed back to the cockpit it was too late, the plane was descending at a rapid speed and he could not recover the flight.  Hundreds of people died because of displaced vision.

Henry Ford said, “Obstacles are those things we see when we take our eyes off the goal.”  Sometimes we can allow the little nuances of life to detract us from our vision.  If not careful we can become so concentrated on the little things we lose focus of the big picture.  Make a list today of your priorities and work hard at giving those priorities your undivided attention.

The most pathetic person in the world is someone who has sight but has no vision” – Helen Keller

February 4- Resolved to do Right

The presidency of Abraham Lincoln was marked with political angst and national division.  Although he is now considered one of our nation’s greatest leaders, during his tenure Lincoln was criticized and ridiculed by many in his own party for his vow to end slavery.  In spite of major opposition, President Lincoln resolved to do what was right regardless of the poltical cost.

As the union moved closer to the inevitability of war, President Lincoln fell under great pressure, but was determined to stay the course.  He said, “I desire so to conduct the affairs of this administration that if at the end, when I come to lay down the reins of power, I have lost every other friend on earth, I shall at least have one friend left, and that friend shall be down inside of me.”

Charles Spurgeon declared, “Lose all that you have except for your character, for when all else is gone at least you can still live with yourself.”  It has been said that our character is simply the sum total of the decisions we make in life.  Therefore, difficult times do not necessarily develop our character as much as they display our character through the choices we make.  Resolve to make the right choices in life no matter how unpopular they may be- at the end of the day you can live with yourself.

The one thing that doesn’t abide by majority rule is a person’s conscience” – Harper Lee

February 3- Every Believe Has Two I’s

Not too long ago my family was watching America’s Funniest Videos.  One of the finalists submitted a video of their Chihuahua gazing into the mirror.  After a few seconds of intense staring the little beast unleashed a serious of attacks against itself.  As I watched the dog ferociously attack itself in the mirror I thought about the struggle we have as believers.  Sometimes the greatest battles in life are those within.  The apostle Paul spoke of this struggle in the book of Romans, “For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do…I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me” (Romans 7:19-21).

It initially seems like Paul is talking about two different people, and in many ways he is.  Paul is referring to the struggle of the natural man and the spiritual man.   If we have truly been saved, there is a part of us that wants to do right.  We want to come to church, pray daily, read our Bibles, live with integrity, hate sin, and love God.  The problem is there is another “I.”  This part struggles with the flesh, loves the pleasures of sin, has a critical spirit, and wants to live according to the ways of the world.

No matter who you are or how “spiritual” you’ve become in life you have two natures (two I’s); and the only way to overcome the flesh is to walk in the Spirit of God.  Determine right now not to hinder, grieve, or quench the Holy Spirit of God in your life.

Man has traveled great distances to conquer outer space, but has failed to conquer inner space” – Anonymous

February 2- Ponder Before You Post

According to a new study from Loyola University, social networks like Facebook and Twitter are cited in 1 out of 5 divorces. Facebook is now the #1 destination for evidence that can be used against you in a court of law. With one click of the mouse the entire world can learn where you are, who you are with, what you are doing, and what kind of mood you are in.

People who claim to be Christians must go above and beyond the call of duty to protect themselves. Above that, we as believers must take into great consideration how our testimonies are affected through careless and thoughtless words on a computer screen. In one remark or reply homes can be destroyed, friendships can be severed, churches can be divided, and lives can be changed.

Filter everything you say through a list of questions: Will this bring a reproach upon the Lord Jesus Christ, my family, or my church?  Am I posting this out of anger and frustration? What is the intent and motivation behind what I am going to say?  Are any of my words, language, and vocabulary questionable?  Will this in any way hurt someone’s feelings?  Can this be taken out of context?  Most importantly, will this bring honor to the Lord Jesus Christ?  Ponder before you post.

You have not fulfilled every duty, unless you have fulfilled that of being pleasant” – Charles Buxton

February 1- God’s G.P.S. System

Modern technology is amazing.  Today in most marathon races, the runners have a small GPS chip placed upon their shoe which tracks their position in the race.  At any given point in the contest, those monitoring the marathon can know the exact location of each runner.  Thousands can line-up behind the line, and every step they take will be known.

Long before the GPS technology was developed, God was monitoring the steps of His people.  Job in his misery declared, “For now thou numberest my steps” (Job 14:16).  Job also said, “Doth not he see my ways, and count all my steps?” (Job 31:4).   Not only does the Lord know our steps, but He keeps our steps.  David declared, “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord.”  And Solomon stated, “A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.”

If the Lord knows and keeps our steps that means three things: He knows where we have been; He knows where we are; and thankfully He knows how to get us where we are going.  Every step that I take is a testimony of a sovereign, providential God who watches over His child. Keep running and keep pressing toward the mark for the prize of the high calling in Christ Jesus.  His GPS is the best in the world.

In the infinite wisdom of God, each event falls into exact precision into its proper place in the unfolding of His divine plan” – B.B. Warfield

January 31- Sawdust and the Saint

Sawdust is a very fine particle- almost dust-like in its makeup.  It seemingly floats in the air and is typically present whenever someone is being productive.  Sawdust is innocent enough- innocent until you get it in your eye.  At that point it becomes one of the most aggravating and annoying substances in the world.

You’ve seen the victims- they immediately jerk back; they quickly rub their squinty eye, and try their best to carefully maneuver the tiny piece of innocence from their socket.  It’s painful, it’s bothersome, and it completely shuts you down.  Sin works the same way.

Initially it appears innocent, but once sin finds its place in your heart things drastically change.  A genuine believer of Jesus Christ cannot have sin in his life without it affecting him.  Much like sawdust in the eye, sin blurs our vision, brings about pain, aggravates the soul, and keeps us from being productive workers for the Lord Jesus Christ.  If you will notice, once the sawdust is removed there is instant relief; however, it takes some time for your vision to get re-focused.  Be sure, sin has devastating effects.

Determine today to wear the spiritual goggles of God and guard your life from the small sins that hinder your vision for Christ.

No grain of sand is small in the mechanism of a watch-no matter how beautiful the watch” – Anonymous

January 30- The Joy of Knowing Jesus

Have you ever noticed that most people are never satisfied regardless of their success?  We work extremely hard at setting goals, fulfilling dreams, and pursuing careers; but once we have accomplished what we’ve set out to do, we quickly become restless.  We want bigger homes, better cars, and broader horizons.  There is nothing wrong with completing a task, but it seems as though we are never satisfied.

The apostle Paul experienced this same temptation, but he learned to be content apart from the external circumstances of life.  When we base our joy upon all the “blessings of life” then our satisfaction comes and goes with every changing wind.  Paul’s joy and satisfaction was not rooted in this world, but rather came through his relationship with Christ.  Our position in Christ is the greatest and final pursuit of the soul.  Paul knew that his life was complete in Jesus.

That’s what most of us are looking for, is it not? – to be complete, to be whole, to be satisfied.  Your job, your money, your position, your friends, your possessions, your degrees will never fully satisfy you; they only accentuate a greater need in your life- the need to know God.   Jesus fully satisfies.  When you find yourself raptured in the simple bliss of knowing Him, you will realize there is nothing greater than being His child.

I sometimes wonder whether all pleasures are not substitutes for joy” – C.S. Lewis

January 29- The Four-Minute Mile of Faith

For years the experts said that it was humanly impossible to run the mile in less than four minutes.  But in 1954 Roger Bannister proved them wrong.  He not only broke through the finish line with a time of 3:59.4 minutes, but he also broke through the psychological and mental barriers of doubt.  The world was stunned that someone ran the mile in under four minutes.

Within 46 days, John Landy, another world-class runner, broke Bannister’s record with a time of 3:57.9!  Later in the same year, both men raced against each other with Bannister winning 3:58.8 to Landy’s 3:59.6; it was the first time two men in the same race broke the 4-minute mile.

By 1957, only three years later, sixteen other men had broken the 4-minute mile barrier as well.  Today, every world-class runner can run the mile in less than four minutes all because one man decided not to listen to the doubters of his generation.

The apostle Paul said, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”  We cannot listen to the doubters and discouragers of our time.  Great things are yet to be done in our generation but we must be willing to push ourselves beyond our comfort zone.  Jesus Himself said, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

The future belongs to those who see possibilities before they become obvious” – John Sculley

January 28- Christ in the Home

There was a local church that sponsored a family day for the community.  The entire day was committed to the promotion of family time and family values.  Many of the couples came down with their children and prayed to be more committed one to another.  After the service one couple noticed that their little four-year old boy was sitting on the pew crying.  When they asked him what was wrong he said, “The preacher said he wanted me to be raised in a Christian home…but I want to stay with you guys.”

Interestingly enough, there are many Christians who do not have Christian homes.  Just because believers live in a house together does not necessarily mean that the home has a Christian environment.  A Christian home embraces God’s design for the family.  A Christian home loves and honors one another.  A Christian home has the Word of God as its defense.  A Christian home has a spirit of harmony and grace.  A Christian home prays together and seeks God’s will together.

No, a Christian home is not a perfect place; but it does attempt to live by the blueprints given in God’s Word.  Do you have a Christian home?  We understand the great need of having Jesus Christ as the Lord of our hearts; but we also need Him as the Lord of our homes.

The Church is God’s, and the Home is God’s- they should work together” – Paul Chappell

January 27- Parenting for Gold

Dale Carnegie was a famous author, lecturer, and motivational speaker in the early part of the 20^th century.  He often spoke to corporations and businesses on how to develop and maintain the right kind of leadership.  He was asked by a reporter about the number of millionaires he had hired to be part of his company.  Carnegie had 43 individuals in his own business who were millionaires.  Carnegie responded to the question by telling the reporter they were not millionaires when he hired them; they became millionaires as a result of working for him.

When the reporter asked how he developed such a prestigious leadership team Carnegie replied, “Men are developed the same way gold is mined.  Several tons of dirt must be moved to get an ounce of gold.  But you don’t go into the mine looking for dirt- you go looking for gold.”

The same is true when it comes to parenting.  We must look for the best in our kids.  We should accentuate the positive and downplay the negative.  Every child is different and every child needs to know their value in the sight of God.  Your child’s potential depends upon your willingness to find the best in him or her.  Are you trying to the find dirt in your child, or the gold?

No man or woman ever had a nobler challenge or a higher privilege than to bring up a child for God” – Vance Havner