Too many Christians have geared their program to please, to entertain, and to gain favor from this world. We are concerned with how much, instead of how little, like this age we can become.
From John 15:19: “ If you belonged to the world, the world would love you as its own. Because you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.”
Billy Graham (1918-2018) was an American Christian evangelist.
American baseball legend, George Herman “Babe” Ruth, had a simple philosophy as a hitter: “Never let the fear of striking out get in your way.” In his major league career, he endured many, many strikeouts, but he also hit record numbers of home runs.
Journey’s imperfections
Discovering each day
Simple philosophy
Always swinging away
Freedom to meet failure
Swinging again with might
Confidence maturing
Baseball rises in flight
Pathway toward success
Achieving one more dream
Every strikeout teaches
Lessons ride each sunbeam
Vision’s bright tomorrow
Learning from yesterday
New challenges arrive
Inning’s next double play
Courage stepping out front
Embracing today’s game
Fearless in attitude
Humbleness blends with fame
Keep your head up in failure and your head down in success.
You can be passionate about anything.
Jerry Seinfeld (born 1954) is an American comedian, actor, writer, and producer. He is best known for his work on the television sitcom “Seinfeld” (1989-1998).
Pride must die in you, or nothing of heaven can live in you.
From 2 Corinthians 10:17-18: “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord. For it is not those who commend themselves that are approved but those whom the Lord commends.”
Andrew Murray (1828-1917) was a South African Christian pastor, writer, and teacher. He believed that Christians should always place a great emphasis on maintaining a rich, personal devotional life.
Shelving pride’s spirit
Infusing fresh, new outlook—
Filled with humbleness
Dreaming overnight
Reaching for another star—
Tomorrow refreshed
Character’s frayed rope
Integrity’s transformed strength—
Potential nourished
Remaining honest
Mirror’s objective vision—
Character’s guardrails
Life’s daily balance
Spotlight upon others’ work—
Self-pride takes backseat
Today’s challenges
Actions held accountable—
Tomorrow strengthened
God will use failure in your life to break down that strong desire in your heart to see your name in lights. And when He finally breaks you of that lust for recognition, He may place you before the lights like you’ve never imagined. But then it won’t matter. You won’t care if you’re prime time of small time, center stage or backstage, leading the charge or packing the baggage. You’re just part of the king’s army.
From Galatians 5:26: “Let us not become conceited, competing against one another, envying one another.”
We love to be with the ones we love. So does God. How else do you explain what He did? Between Him and us there was a distance, and He could’t bear it. So He did something about it.
From Philippians 2:6-8: “Who, though he existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a slave, assuming human likeness. And being found in appearance as a human, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross.”
From Deuteronomy 10:12: “So now, O Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you? Only to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways, to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.”
Facing yet another day
Father’s mercy offers hand
Overcoming each challenge
Solid ground covers sinking sand
Trusting path of wisdom’s light
Father’s Word guides each step
Escaping evil’s darkness
Destined for Calvary’s doorstep
Looking back at long journey
Father’s love fills wayward heart
Trading pride with humbleness
Hope renewing from faith’s restart
Embracing His proven ways
Father’s grace shining ahead
Resisting darkest shadows
Filled with Son’s everlasting bread
Blessing Savior’s righteous road
Father’s sovereignty leads
Offering bridge to follow
Blood of Christ saves each tender reed
From John 14:5-6: “Thomas said to Him, ‘Lord, we do not know where You are going. How can we know the way?’ Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.'”
How wonderful that God personally cares about those things that worry us and prey upon our thoughts. Not a single nagging, aching, worrisome, stomach-tensing, blood-pressure-raising thought escapes His notice.
From 1 Peter 5:6-7: “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you in due time. Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.”
Big Sky Buckeye 