Appreciation, applause, approval, respect–we all love it.
The greatest difficulty in the world is not for people to accept new ideas, but to make them forget old ideas.
Tom Peters (born 1942) is an American writer. Much of his work deals with business management practices.
The point of life was to press on, to do the best you can, to make the world a better place.
Fix your eyes forward on what you can do, not back on what you cannot change.
Tom Clancy (1947-2013) was an American author who pioneered the techno-thriller genre.
From Ephesians 1:3: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.”
Accepting life’s ongoing gifts
Filling wonder, never adrift
Marveling at heavens above
Inspiring vastness of God’s love
Walking in righteousness with God
Comforted by His love, unflawed
Looking ahead, with peace and hope
Holding tightly to God’s firm rope
Treating others with words which say
Sharing compassion’s rich bouquet
Gathering strength for life’s travels
Trusting God, nothing unravels
Listening to deepest feelings
Surveying each moment’s healing
Receiving mid-course corrections
Hearing God’s faithful directions
Sailing in darkness, never cursed
Navigating by God, headfirst
Achieving goals, each passing day
Tasting our Lord’s hope-filled buffet
Tackling challenges without fear
Taking risks, with God set to steer
Stepping forward beyond life’s dreams
Following each path as God deems
From 1 Corinthians 10:16: “The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a sharing in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a sharing in the body of Christ?”
Originally published January, 2021.
From Ephesians 4:31-32: “Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice, and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you.”
Life’s battered bucket sometimes overflows
Facing daily challenges, too immense
One challenge standing apart from the rest
Using forgiveness seems much too intense
Our righteous Father teaches forgiveness
Extending His mercy through earnest hearts
Breathe every truth in its entirety
Receiving His grace with humble hearts
Take in God’s Word, His Holy Commandments
Burying bitterness, it lifts the heart
Always best to forgive, forget, move on
Beating with freedom’s light, opens the heart
As humans, reacting much too quickly
Expressing heated anger, fixing blame
Slow to forgive, even more to forget
Stepping now with humbleness, drowns the flames
No longer in the enemy’s darkness
Praying the sun does not set on one’s rage
With our Lord’s truth, filling with righteousness
Following God’s way, life writes a new page
From the words of American pastor and Christian author, Jim Cymbala: “Looking back over my life, all I can see is mercy and grace written in large letters everywhere. May God help me have the same kind of heart toward those who wound or offend me.”
Originally published July, 2020.
Stormy clouds gather
Today’s outlook dims
Covered now in darkness
Patience ready to swim
Challenges remain
Compassion checks in
Peace about to arrive
Patience blending within
Course change encouraged
Navigation set
Calm breath’s steady compass
Patience erases threat
Progress comes about
Horizon lightens
Ember of thankful grace
Patience’s fabric brightens
New day beginning
Each hour flying by
Tomorrow just ahead
Patience fills endless sky
The Christian life is gloriously difficult, but the difficulty of it does not make us faint and cave in, it rouses us up to overcome.
From Matthew 7:13-14: “Enter through the narrow gate, for the gate is wide and the road is easy that leads to destruction, and there are many who take it. For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it.”
Oswald Chambers (1874-1917) was a Scottish evangelist and Christian teacher. Following his death from an illness while in Egypt during World War I, his wife took on the task of transcribing the detailed notes she had written from his lectures and sermons. Gertrude Hobbs Chambers’ efforts resulted in the publication in 1924 of MY UTMOST FOR HIS HIGHEST. I frequently read from this devotional, and it has greatly deepened my faith and understanding of God’s Word.
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
The road to the head lies through the heart.
River’s dynamics
Blessing waters’ source
Mountain’s melting snow
Staying true to its course
River’s known outcome
Flowing every day
Never in hurry
Charting eternal way
River’s attitude
Praising every land
Nature in balance
Holding Creator’s hand
River’s calming thoughts
Singing to mankind
Tranquility’s voice
Leading as He designed
River’s steady course
Observing mankind
Hurried, with missteps
Falling further behind
Honesty is the cornerstone of all success, without which confidence and ability to perform shall cease to exist.
Mary Kay Ash was an American business entrepreneur who founded Mary Kay Cosmetics. She was born in Hot Wells, Texas.
The greatest pleasure is obtained by improving.
Ben Hogan was an American professional golfer, who is considered to be one of the best players ever. He was born in Stephenville, Texas.
The best way to make money is not to have money as your primary goal. I’ve seen great people come into the business world primarily motivated to make money. Almost without exception they failed.
H. Ross Perot was an American businessman and philanthropist. He was born in Texarkana, Texas.
High standards can be contagious. But it doesn’t necessarily happen through osmosis.
Just as love is a verb, so is faith.
Nannie Helen Burroughs (1879-1961) was an American educator and religious leader.
Big Sky Buckeye 