Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Word of the Day ~ July 2012


July 1, 2012
·         One does not discover new lands without consenting to lose sight of the shore for a very long time. ~ Andre Gide

July 2, 2012
·         Had you listened to my commands then you would have had peace flowing like a gentle river and righteousness rolling over you like waves in the sea. ~ Isaiah 48:18

July 3, 2012
·         So we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law. ~ Romans 3:28

July 4, 2012
·         Give me liberty or give me death! ~ Patrick Henry
·         For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. ~ 2 Corinthians 3:17

July 5, 2012
·         A leader aims at a target others can’t see. An extraordinary leader hits it dead center. ~ Rick Warren

July 6, 2012
·         God shapes his men with a hammer of adversity and the chisel of discipline. ~ Greg Laurie, Seal of God

July 7, 2012
·         God’s demand for perfection need not discourage you in your present attempts to be good or even in your present failures. ~ C.S. Lewis

July 8, 2012
·         Letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. ~ Romans 8:6

July 9, 2012
·         The path to quitting is permanently paved when someone allows quitting to become an option. ~ Chad Williams, Seal of God

July 10, 2012
·         Using a dull ax requires great strength, so sharpen the blade. That’s the value of wisdom; it helps you succeed. ~ Ecclesiastes 10:10

July 11, 2012
·         Plan for the worst case but always work fervently for the best. Never allow yourself to be immobilized by fear of the unknown or fear of failure. ~ Malcolm Rios

July 12, 2012
·         Every time you look in the mirror remember that God created you and that everything He creates is beautiful and good! ~ Joyce Meyer

July 13, 2012
·         We must accept finite disappointment but never lose infinite hope. ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.
·         Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. ~ Hebrews 11:1 (KJV)

July 14, 2012
·         God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. After, they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. ~ James 1:12

July 15, 2012
·         Do not be afraid of those nations, for the Lord your God is among you, and he is a great and awesome God. ~ Deuteronomy 7:21

July 16, 2012
·         The key is not to prioritize what’s on your schedule but to schedule your priorities. ~ Stephen R. Covey
o   Just so happened that Stephen Covey died this day as did Jon Lord.

July 17, 2012
·         False
·         Evidence
·         Appearing
·         Real
·         Faith is taking the first step even when you can’t see the whole staircase. ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.

July 18, 2012
·         For every Goliath there is a stone. ~ Patricia Stevens

July 19, 2012
·         Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you respond to it. ~ Lou Holtz
·         Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me. ~ Psalm 51:10

July 20, 2012
·         The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength or knowledge, but rather a lack of will. ~ Vince Lombardi

July 21, 2012
·         But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. ~ Isaiah 40:31

July 22, 2012
·         What makes something special is not just what you have to gain but what you feel there is to lose. ~ Andre Agassi
·         To find your life you must lose it. ~ Matthew 16:24-26
o   24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me.
o   25 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.
o   26 And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?
July 23, 2012
·         Love like a poet. Live like a warrior. Learn like an apprentice. Lead like a servant. Laugh like a king. ~ Erwin McManus

July 24, 2012
·         Falling short of a goal will never be as bad as, hurt as much as, or leave you with as much regret as never attempting. ~ Malcolm Rios

July 25, 2012
·         Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying, “I repent,” you must forgive them. ~ Luke 17:4

July 26, 2012
·         What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

July 27, 2012
·         One thing I ask from God, I only seek that I may dwell in the house of the Lord every day of my life, to gaze on the Lord’s beauty and to seek him in his temple. ~ Psalm 27:4

July 28, 2012
·         We all come to the end of our lives as naked and empty-handed as on the day we were born. We can’t take our riches with us. ~ Ecclesiastes 5:15

July 29, 2012
·         It’s not the load that breaks you down, it’s the way you carry it. ~ Lou Holtz
·         For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light. ~ Matthew 11:30

July 30, 2012
·         If you think the world will treat you fairly because you’re a nice person, then you probably think a bull won’t charge you because you’re a vegetarian. ~ Bill Garrison, from Never Surrender by LTG(Ret.) William G. Boykin

July 31, 2012
·         The Lord bless and keep you; may He make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; may He lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. ~ Numbers 6:24-26

Friday, July 20, 2012

Insight for Living ~ Savor Satisfaction


I hope this doesn't raise any eyebrows at Insight for Living other than the fact that I felt compelled to share this with those of you who read this blog. This is powerful!
 
July 20, 2012  

Savor Satisfaction
by Charles R. Swindoll

The beginning of wisdom is:
Acquire wisdom; and with all your
acquiring, get understanding.
Proverbs 4:7

The good life---the one that truly satisfies---exists only when we stop wanting a better one.

It is the condition of savoring what is rather than longing for what might be. The itch for things, the lust for more---so brilliantly injected by those who peddle them---is a virus draining our souls of happy contentment.

Have you noticed? A man never earns enough. A woman is never beautiful enough. Clothes are never fashionable enough. Cars are never nice enough. Gadgets are never modern enough. Houses are never furnished enough. Food is never fancy enough. Relationships are never romantic enough. Life is never full enough.

Satisfaction comes when we step off the escalator of desire and say, "This is enough. What I have will do. What I make of it is up to me and my vital union with the living Lord."

 
Excerpted from Charles R. Swindoll, Wisdom for the Way (Nashville: J. Countryman, a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc., 2001). Copyright © 2001 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

Thursday, July 12, 2012

The Escalator

The other day, Sophia, Angus, and I went to the mall. I think we were in Belk but it doesn't really matter which store because the real story here is about the escalator.

When we walked into the store, Sophia immediately "B Lined it" to the escalator and said, "Daddy! Daddy! Can we go up?" I couldn't remember if we had ridden the magic sidewalk recently so I said, "Sure." Never mind that Angus was ecstatic about the adventure as well!

The ride up was no problem for Sophia. She, being true to her nature, was cautious as she first placed one foot - then the other - on the escalator. Joy - mixed with just a tad of apprehension - was verbalized clearly with her body language. Angus was a little less ready to climb on board and needed some special coercion from Dad.

The ride down was a different story!

Angus jumped on board quickly this time and was about eight steps in front of me when I looked back to see Sophia almost frozen in her attempt to board the escalator. One foot was on the stationary floor. One foot was splitting away on the downward moving escalator. Both arms started out low but were moving up and forward as Sophia mistakenly believed she could steady herself on the handrails. The look of absolute fear on her face was priceless.

I told her to let go. She didn't. I looked down at Angus to make sure he was good to go because I wasn't sure if he'd ever dismounted on his own. I look at him. I look at her. Then I sprint up the down escalator, grab Sophia, and think: "Is this how God sees us?"

What I mean is this: how often has God called you to do something and you hesitate? Immobilized by fear? Fear of the unknown? Doubt? Self doubt?" Whatever it is, you can always come up with an excuse not to do something. And sometimes - like I did with Sophia - God will move you for your own good!

The funny thing is that Sophia was absolutely fine once she was back on board - when she got grounded again with Daddy she knew she was safe. Oh, that we would have that same attitude.

Monday, July 9, 2012

Word of the Day ~ July 9, 2012

Today's "Word of the Day" was taken from the book, Seal of God: The Path is Narrow ... but the Reward is Great by former US Navy SEAL, Chad Williams.

·         "The path to quitting is permanently paved when someone allows quitting to become an option." ~ C.W.

            I don’t know about everyone else who joins the military but I know that when I walked into the US Navy recruiting office back in 1987, the only thing that I wanted to do was become a SEAL. Sure, being the best of the best was appealing but I think, more than anything, I just wanted a legal place to release some rage!
            The funny thing about that period in my life is that God had other plans and no matter what I did to train for and pass the SEAL initial test, I was not given the opportunity to pursue my desire to earn the Trident. Was I frustrated? Sure. I felt like I deserved the same chance as anyone else who had passed that qualification test. Have I thought about the “What If’s” an infinite number of times over the years? Sure I have but I’ve also realized some other things along the way as a result of not being given that opportunity.

1.       Live the Boy Scouts’ motto, “Be Prepared.” Lack of preparation is not an excuse to miss an opportunity.
2.      Excuses are a coward’s way of not accepting responsibility.
3.      You can always do more than you think you can so don’t quit – don’t ever give up.
4.      Sometimes – and this took a lot of years to realize – God’s plan takes a lot longer to unravel than your plans do: not because of him but because of you!
5.      Don’t forget what you’ve learned along the way.
6.      Don’t burn any bridges that you cross because you never know when you might need to backtrack or help someone else get across those same bridges.
7.      There will be some circumstances that will be completely out of your hands and that’s okay too. You just refer back to point #2 and find another way to get it done. And if it simply can’t be done then you have to realize that you weren’t meant to do it … but maybe only for that season. Try again later.

            These life lessons paid off June 29th as I received word that I was selected to accession as an Active Duty Army Chaplain. Perseverance pays off! I can’t wait to write the next entry into the adventure series called My Life.

Word of the Day ~ June 2012


June 1, 2012
·         Yahweh, the God of your ancestors has sent me to you. This is my eternal name, my name to remember for all generations.  ~ Exodus 3:15

June 2, 2012
·         Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul, and sings the tune without the words, and never stops at all. ~ Emily Dickenson

June 3, 2012
·         God cannot be contained in this world, explained by our vocabulary, or grasped by our understanding. ~ Francis Chan

June 4, 2012
·         So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. ~ 1 Corinthians 10:31

June 5, 2012
·         There are no special people. You’re just blessed to be where you are. ~ Grandmother

June 6, 2012
·         I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices. For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners. ~ Matthew 9:13

June 7, 2012
·         Many people miss opportunity because it is dressed up in overalls and looks like work. ~ Thomas Edison

June 8, 2012
·         My advice is wholesome. There is nothing devious or crooked in it. My words are plain to anyone with understanding, clear to those with knowledge. ~ Proverbs 8:8-9

June 9, 2012
·         It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all. ~ J.K. Rowling

June 10, 2012
·         Wise words come from the lips of people with understanding, but those lacking sense will be beaten with a rod. ~ Proverbs 10:13

June 11, 2012
·         The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed. ~ Proverbs 11:25
·         Bless us so that we may be a blessing.

June 12, 2012
·         Don’t copy the behavior and customs of the world; let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. God’s will for you is good and pleasing and perfect. ~ Romans 12:2

June 13, 2012
·         Remember the Lord your God. He is the one who gives you power to be successful, in order to fulfill the covenant he confirmed to your ancestors with an oath. ~ Deuteronomy 8:18

June 14, 2012
·         Live so that when your children think of fairness, caring, and integrity, they think of you. ~ H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

June 15, 2012
·         What if the Lord had not been on our side? Let all Israel repeat: Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. ~ Psalm 124:1, 8

June 16, 2012
·         So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will life you up in honor. ~ 1 Peter 5:6

June 17, 2012
·         For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. ~ Romans 8:16

June 18, 2012
·         Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell me, if you know so much. ~ Job 38:4

June 19, 2012
·         Insurmountable odds will give you the opportunity to do one of two things: cower in defeat or rise to overwhelming victory. ~ Malcolm Rios

June 20, 2012
·         Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own. ~ Luke 12:15

June 21, 2012
·         Let me tell you the secret that has led me to my goal: My strength lies solely in my tenacity. ~ Louis Pasteur
·         I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

June 22, 2012
·         The only thing that stands between you and what you want out of life is the will to try and faith to believe it’s possible. ~ 3Strong

June 23, 2012
·         Don’t waste your breath on fools, for they will despise the wisest advice. ~ Proverbs 23:9

June 24, 2012
·         Never look down on anybody unless you’re helping them up. ~ Anonymous
·         Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all … ~ Matthew 7

June 25, 2012
·         For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. So never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord. ~ 2 Timothy 1:7-8a
~ Not by might or by power but by my spirit says the Lord. ~ Zechariah 4:6

June 26, 2012
·         Nobody knows what we’re for, only what we’re against when we judge the wounded. What if we put down our signs, crossed over the lines, and loved like You did? ~ Casting Crowns

June 27, 2012
·         No human masterpiece has ever been created without great labor. ~ Andre Gide
·         To overcome difficulties is to experience the full delight of existence. ~ Arthur Schopenhauer

June 28, 2012
·         You’re my blue sky, you’re my sunny day. Lord, you know it makes me high when you turn your love my way – turn your love my way. ~ Allman Brothers

June 29, 2012
·         It’ll feel better when it quits hurting. ~ Doug Powell’s Dad
·         Athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. ~ 1 Corinthians 9:25

June 30, 2012