Rearview Mirror

There is an insurance company that has a commercial running that speaks to accidents that come when looking into the rearview mirror. To many times we are distracted by things that are in our rearview mirrors. We need to learn from the past, but live in the present and move toward the future.

Philippians 3:13-14 (NIV)

13 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,

14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Listening

God’s desire is to communicate with us. He is so creative that He comes to us in so many ways. Do we see Him and listen to Him? His desire is to use us right where we find ourselves.

Matthew 1:20-21 (NIV)

20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.

21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."

Luke 1:26-28 (NIV)

26 In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee,

27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary.

28 The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you."

OSHA

Many times, we will get close to the edge of something high if there is a safety rail. This morning I saw construction worker hanging on the side of a section of a freeway overpass. He had the freedom to work because of his safety harness. OSHA was formed to make our world a safer place. As believers, we have the ultimate safety harness. Are we willing to go to the edge to do the work that God has called us?

Isaiah 41:10 (NIV)

10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Express Gratitude

Have you heard the story of the married man whose wife asked why he never said that he loved her after they were married? His reply was that he told her that when they got married, why did he need to repeat himself? I hope you know that did not go well. As we approach Thanksgiving, I urge you not to just think about what you are thankful for, but to express it. Can you imagine if tomorrow we awoke to only having the things that we expressed gratitude for on the previous day?

Psalm 107:8 (NIV)

8 Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men,

Luke 17:11-19 (NIV)

11 Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee.

12 As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance

13 and called out in a loud voice, "Jesus, Master, have pity on us!"

14 When he saw them, he said, "Go, show yourselves to the priests." And as they went, they were cleansed.

15 One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice.

16 He threw himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him--and he was a Samaritan.

17 Jesus asked, "Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine?

18 Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?"

19 Then he said to him, "Rise and go; your faith has made you well."

A Little Pressure

When flying a small plane, one needs to keep a little right foot pressure on the rudder or the plane will go in circles. Constant pressure on the right rudder will allow the plane to maintain a straight course. If we don’t keep a guard on our actions, we will fall to sin.

Proverbs 16:17 (NIV)

17 The highway of the upright avoids evil; he who guards his way guards his life.

God's tremendous attention to details

I believe until we grasp God's infinite attention and care for the small things, we won't really appreciate how much God cares for us. If God cares that much for the fifth sparrow, how much more does he care for you and me. See, if we don't learn to share God's attitudes, we won't understand God's attitude toward us as His children. Show people you care by listening to them.

Matthew 10:29-30 (NIV)

29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father.

30 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

Foundation

There has been and is a lot of road work in our area. It is interesting to me, to see how the different foundations are being prepared. Without a solid foundation, the new road would soon crumble under normal usage. Our roads see much more than normal usage with sand pits located all around our area.

Our lives have a lot of similarities to roads. Without a firm foundation, we will have problems that can cause damage or even destroy us.

Isaiah 28:16 (NIV)

16 So this is what the Sovereign LORD says: "See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who trusts will never be dismayed.

God's Route, Not Mine

I use Google Maps when driving in unfamiliar areas. A number of times Karen will challenge my route with Waze, the app she uses. There may be a number of ways to get to a particular destination. Traffic and construction play a part in how the various apps give directions. In our lives, there may be various items that we don’t discern when planning our route. It is best to follow God’s route for our lives even when we don’t understand.

Proverbs 16:9 (NIV)

9 In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.

I-10 Closed at The San Jacinto Bridge

A few weeks ago, commuters found themselves in a dilemma. The only way they had ever gone to work was now not available for travel. Many tried various routes only to find that their normal commute was now taking at least two hours longer. I know of a number of people who just did not make the trip into work.

Jesus said that "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” He is the only way to eternal life with the Father. One can spend all their time looking for another route, but there is not one. We as believers need to share the way with our friends before the way is no longer available to them.

John 14:6 (NIV)

6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Those People

The book of Jonah ends with a piercing question: “Should I not have concern for the great city … ?”

This is a question for all of us. We all know some of “those people”—people who have made a mess of their lives, people who don’t deserve God’s love. Should we not be concerned about them? Remember we once were “those” people.

“Should I not have concern for the great city … ?”

Jonah 4:11

18Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Matthew 28:18-20

Fresh Paint Is Not All That Is Needed

Automotive paint is so sensitive that even if a drop of sweat gets between the unfinished surface and a couple of coats of paint and sealant, it can cause major peeling problems down the line. So that means that the prep work that happens before the paint job, is very, very important.

When I do the proper prep work in my heart every day, then my actions - my visible witness to others - will be attractive and reflective of Christ living within me. When I don't do the necessary preparations, my "good" example starts peeling away. So, I must constantly monitor the exterior to see what needs work and when and where.

Philippians 4:8-9 (NIV)

8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.

9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me--put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Psalm 119:9-11 (NIV)

9 How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word.

10 I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands.

11 I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.

Flying

Mornings like today, I wish that I had finished getting my pilot’s license. Clear blue skies with just a slight breeze. You’re able to not only have a smooth ride, but you can look down and see so much. If you had a friend who could see things before, they happened, don’t you think that you would talk to him or her each morning to see what the day or stock market had in store?

Jeremiah 1:5

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, And before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations."

Psalm 139:4

Even before there is a word on my tongue, Behold, O LORD, You know it all.

Job 28:24

"For He looks to the ends of the earth And sees everything under the heavens

Keys

How many keys do you carry around with you? It seems that with today’s technology, keys may soon become a thing of the past. With so many “smart” devices, you can speak it or look at it and there is an action preformed that once took a key. One key that will never be replaced that people need to know about is the key to Heaven. As believers, we have that key to share with a lost and dying world.

John 14:6 (NIV)

6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Signs (Five Man Electrical Band song)

"Signs" is a song by the Canadian rock group Five Man Electrical Band. Who recorded it for their second album, Good-byes and Butterflies, in 1970. As I rode into the office today, I noticed a variety of signs and was remined of the coming again of Jesus Christ. In Matthew 24 the disciples asked, 3 As He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the [b]end of the age?” The entire chapter speaks to what signs we will see. Look all around – there are signs everywhere. Are you about the task He told us to be about? Have a blessed day and watch for the signs.

Matthew 28:19-20 (NIV)

19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

How Long it Really Takes to Build a New Habit?

I found this via google. Not sure how true it is, but it helps to make the point that things need to be repeated for us to digest them, making them apart of our lives.

On average, it takes more than 2 months before a new behavior becomes automatic — 66 days to be exact. And how long it takes a new habit to form can vary widely depending on the behavior, the person, and the circumstances. In Lally's study, it took anywhere from 18 days to 254 days for people to form a new habit.

But you are to proclaim things consistent with sound teaching. Titus 2:1

Proclaim is something we are to do continually – We also need to continually be doers of the Word that we hear.

But be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. James 1:22

Calling Out To The One Who Responds

Some days are just extremely tough! People we care about are hurting. It seems all of our plans are crashing. Our prayers seem to bounce off the ceiling and fall. That is if they seem to get off the ground at all. We cry out to God? We need relief! We need hope! We need the Father to respond.

Psalm 143:1 (NIV)

1 O LORD, hear my prayer, listen to my cry for mercy; in your faithfulness and righteousness come to my relief.

Jeremiah 29:12-13 (NIV)

12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.

13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

Praise The Lord Today

David’s life is an example to the fact that God doesn’t always change your situation, but He does have all that it takes to help you through the hard times. Are you going through tough places and difficult times right now? I encourage you to read the words of David. Can you see him dancing and rejoicing over the incredible thought that God can meet all of his needs and provides whatever it takes to get through each day. Ask God to give you that same spirit of joy as you realize His sufficiency to meet your every need. And then as David did, remind yourself to praise the Lord.

Psalm 103:1-5 (NIV)
1 Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
2 Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits--
3 who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion,
5 who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

FM 3180 now Eagle Drive

If you stepped away from the area fifteen years ago and drove down FM 3180 today, you would see a drastic transformation. An old farm to market road is now a spruced-up boulevard called Eagle Drive. If someone stepped away from your life fifteen years ago and showed-up today, would they see a drastic change?

Romans 12:2 (NIV)
2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Eyes in the Back of Her Head

I had an English teacher that seemed to have eyes in the back of her head. As she would write on the chalkboard (no white boards), she would call down anyone who was misbehaving in class. There were even times that she would instruct someone not to commit an act they were about to do. Many of us miss so much when we are looking straight at an object, yet my English teacher could see details with her back toward us. As believers, we are to see as the Lord sees. That takes a special gift. A gift that can only come from the Lord to our hearts.

Ephesians 1:18 (NIV)
18 I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints.

Rain

I woke up to a hard rain this morning. As I drove through town, I saw that no one escaped the rain. It reminded me of the following verse. Is it not amazing how God loves? He loves everyone! Will our love fall on everyone?

Matthew 5:43-45 (NIV)
43 "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'
44 But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.