The Lord is first, my friends are second, and I am third.
From Proverbs 3:6: “In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths.”
Gayle Sayers (1943-2020) was an American professional football player. Nicknamed the “Kansas Comet,” Sayers was gracious with receiving his many football honors. Most of all, his life’s philosophy was reflected in this quote.
For all who thirst
Come to blessed waters
Now follow carefully
Every son and daughter
Listen with care
Abundance of hope waits
Covenant’s faithful love
Key found to Heaven’s gate
Witness David
Leadership born in him
All for Father’s glory
Faith’s light shall never dim
Truth from Heaven
Look toward Savior’s grace
No longer forsaken
Trust brings us to His place
Return to God
Leave each unrighteous thought
Sin’s indictment erased
Messiah’s blood has bought
Embrace His way
Mercy looks upon earth
Thorns transformed into blooms
Anchored at Spirit’s berth
The true meaning of life is to plant trees under whose shade you do not expect to sit.
From Romans 8:24-25: “For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope, for who hopes for what one already sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.”
Nelson Henderson (1865-1943) was a Canadian-born, second-generation farmer.
You shall be faith sustain yourself and comfort yourself in your Lord, and be strong in His power.
From Proverbs 3:3-4: “Do not let loyalty and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will find favor and high regard in the sight of God and of people.”
Samuel Rutherford (1600-1661) was a Scottish pastor and Christian theologian.
Pay attention to the people God puts in your path if you want to discern what God is up to in your life.
From Romans 8:28: “We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to His purpose.”
Henri Nouwen (1932-1996) was a Dutch priest, professor, writer, and theologian.
From 1 Timothy 6:6-8: “Of course, there is great gain in godliness combined with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, so that we can take nothing out of it, but if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these.”
Waking to another day
Spurning Father’s safety rope
This world demands perfection
Without Heaven’s faithful hope
Feeling pressure with each step
Witnessing ungodliness
Imperfect world falling apart
Father’s hope in godliness
Slowing down journey’s high speed
Pausing to count each blessing
Hope pursues His righteousness
Father’s truth now addressing
Discovering contentment
Filling hope with timely grace
Senseless desires abandoned
Father’s peace comes to embrace
Cherishing Oneness in hope
Sending trusted Light to bear
Forgiveness from divine Rock
Father’s Son shall truly care
From 1 Timothy 6:13-14: “ In the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in His testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you to keep the commandment without spot or blame until the manifestation of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Prayer is the best wireless communication.
From James 5:16: “Therefore confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective.”
Trust entirely in God, and when He brings you to the venture, see that you take it.
From Isaiah 12:2: “Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and will not be afraid, for the Lord is my strength and my might; He has become my salvation.”
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.
An elderly man steadily works in his backyard, raking up some of autumn’s harvest of red maple leaves. The quiet, afternoon air is punctuated by angry and upset mumbling coming from the neighbor’s yard.
Walking over to the fence, the former teacher listens while a much younger man unsuccessfully tries to start up his lawn mower. The neighbor, in his late twenties, has been facing extra pressure and longer hours at the small business he operates.
Pausing and then sending some words of encouragement over the fence, the quiet man offers some advice, “Does the mower need a new spark plug?”
A quick reply comes back, “I never thought of that.”
The conversation continues back and forth for a few minutes. The young man confesses his frustration at work has brought a heavy burden on him as well as his family. He is married with a young daughter.
The wise neighbor adds some gems of wisdom before they both go back to their separate chores, “Hang in there. God’s using these difficult days to prepare you for a more successful tomorrow. He’s equipping you with tools which will help you to bear fruit.”
The young man replies back, “Thanks. I appreciate your advice as well as your testament from the Lord.”
With the rake in his hand, the elderly man prepares to step away from the fence, but he returns and offers a prayer for the young man, “God, grant Tim the serenity to accept the things he cannot change, the courage to change the things he can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”
Both men say their final words, and return to their respective yard work.
As the retired teacher continues to rake more of the stubborn leaves into a series of small piles, he hears the lawn mower start up with a roar. Obviously, the young man has changed the mower’s spark plug, and it is now running as it should.
At the same time, Tim feels the spark of God’s Word bringing him patience and encouragement for today as well as for tomorrow.
From 2 Peter 1:5-7: “For this very reason, you must make every effort to support your faith with goodness, and goodness with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with endurance, and endurance with godliness, and godliness with mutual affection, and mutual affection with love.”
Originally published October, 2020.
Preach the Gospel to yourself every day.
From Lamentations 3:21-22: “But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.”
Jerry Bridges (1929-2016) was an American Christian author and speaker. In his autobiography, God Took Me by the Hand, Jerry said, “When I was seventeen years old, it seemed as if God took me by the hand and said, ‘Come with Me.’ And for more than sixty-five years, God has, as it were, continued to hold my hand and lead me in the path He has marked out for me.”
Big Sky Buckeye 