By GARY ANDREWS
Editor and Publisher
Not long ago as I was moving my car around in our driveway I did something that will probably haunt me for years to come.
For the past 15 years I have had a small, miniature long haired dachshund named Honey. Honey was my dog. She was by my side constantly when I was at home, and we were great companions.
Honey had grown old and moved very slow. On this particular day she was outside with me and gotten under my car without me knowing it. Then it happened!
Even though I was moving the car very slowly my left rear tire ran over Honey, crushing her hips and leaving her helpless on the pavement. I heard her cry out and jumped out of the car to go to her aid, which was of little consequence.
She looked at me with those big old eyes of hers as if she was saying goodbye to her lifetime friend. I stayed with her in her last few moments of life, sobbing and crying over what I had done.
Life gives us many surprises, and sometimes these are not very pleasant. We may lose a loved one in our family, a friend that we have had for years, or even a family pet. When this first happens we go into an adrenaline rush and question what has happened.
There is an old saying, “When life gives you lemons make lemonade.” I have heard this saying for many, many years and it tells me that when something in my life is wrong to make the best of it and look for the good in the situation.
Losing loved ones, friends, or family pets is not an easy situation in life, however we do need to realize that all of us are on this earth for only a short period of time. When I ran over Honey and ended her life I was devastated, but I have come to the realization that it was probably for the best. She has gotten very feeble and it was going to come a day when I would either watch her suffer extensively or have her put away.
Of course we don’t have our loved ones or friends put away but the Lord knows better than we do when it is time to take them home to be with Him. He knows the future of all of us and He probably allows us not to see the suffering and pain our loved one would go through had they lived.
We need to rest on God’s word and have faith in Him in all things.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for allowing me the time on earth to share with family, friends, and even our family pets. You have blessed us immensely and for this we are grateful. Amen.
(Suggested daily Bible readings: Sunday - Genesis 29:14-28; Monday - Psalm 39:4-6 Tuesday - Matthew 6:25-34; Wednesday - Ecclesiastes 1:1-11; Thursday - John 7:6; Friday - 1 John 2:18; Saturday - Revelation 12:12.)A056-10
By GARY ANDREWS
Editor and Publisher
Many years ago when I played on my high school baseball team I remember sitting next to our catcher and I made the remark, “I can’t hit this pitcher.”
The catcher, a life long childhood friend, looked me square in the eyes and said, “You will never hit this pitcher if you don’t think you can. Believe in yourself and get away from your doubts.”
These words of wisdom I have never forgotten, and over my span of coaching younger players, I have used my friend’s saying many times.
So many of us allow our doubts and frustrations to get to us and take our sense of accomplishment to a low level. It doesn't matter what stage of your life you are in, if you think you can’t do something then you probably won’t accomplish the task. However, if you think you can do something then your chances are much greater of accomplishing what you want and even more.
On that spring afternoon as I sat next to my friend and after he had chastised me, I was able to walk to home plate with a renewed confidence in my ability. It paid off as I did get a hit and we went on to win the ball game.
I am not saying that everything you are going to try is going to work. I am saying that if you try something the first, second, or third time and it doesn’t work, don’t give up. Remember what Thomas Edison said about his light bulb invention. After 3,000 attempts he found the right version of his success.
“Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time,” is a famous quote from Thomas Edison.
Even in our lowest times when our confidence has dwindled we need to remember what the Bible tells us in 2 Corinthians 3:5, “Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God.”
When we are children of God, nothing can take us down but our own doubts.
Prayer: O Lord, I trust in You and believe in You. Guide me in the direction that You would have me go. Amen.
(Suggested daily bible readings: Sunday - Matthew 11:28-30; Monday - 1 Corinthians 15:10-11; Tuesday - Psalm 131:1-3; Wednesday - 2 Chronicles 16:9; Thursday - Isaiah 50:7; Friday - 2 Peter 1:3-8; Saturday - Psalm 46:1-3.)
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By GARY ANDREWS
Editor and Publisher
Uncertainty is one of the biggest problems facing Americans today. All of us experience uncertainty and have difficulties keeping up because we just don’t know the outcome of a particular situation.
There is an old saying that goes like this: “If you fail to plan, then you plan to fail.”
There is a lot of truth in this, however even with the best of plans and intentions, some things just don’t work out. It is a good idea to have direction in your life and strive to attain the goals you have set forth. It is also okay if some of your dreams do not come to fruition.
Many of us question ourselves on how to approach certain situations. In most cases there is no proven methods on achieving unpredictable jobs.
When this happens to us we sometimes get down and out and allow our frustrations to take advantage of us. Having to wait until certain dates to realize a true outcome, whether it be a new born baby, a financial investment, a job interview, or many other type situations, can take a toll on one’s health and emotional state.
There is only one certain thing in life and that is we are all going to die. There is no getting around it, and no one is above this fate.
For us Christians we look forward to an eternity with Jesus. This happens when you realize that Christ died for you and your sins and he has paid your debt to death. Our bodies may go to the grave but those who have Christ as their Lord and Savior will live forever in Paradise.
Life is short on this earth and all of us are going to face many, many uncertainties. The only guaranteed outcome that we can count on is leaving this earth and going to live with Jesus, if we know Him personally and this is only through His grace that we can receive salvation. For this to happen we have to believe.
Prayer: Father, thank you for your grace and your love. Thank you for your sacrifice on the cross that I may live with you forever in eternity. Amen.
(Suggested daily Bible readings: Sunday -Psalm 119:121-128; Monday - Matthew 13:11-23; Tuesday - Acts 20:22-24; Wednesday - James 1:16-18; Thursday - Proverbs 27:1; Friday - Hebrews 11:8-12; Saturday - Daniel 12:10.)
By GARY ANDREWS
Editor and Publisher
Obedience is something that all of us must have, whether it is to someone on this earth or to our Heavenly Father, for us to be successful in whatever we are trying to do.
Obedience, according to the dictionary, is the state, fact, or an instance of obeying, or a willingness to obey; submission.
When we are willing to be obedient to the ones over us, then we are going to see the rewards from what has been promised. In today’s society and job market, we must be obedient to our employers to succeed.
In the home children must be obedient to their parents to have a complete and happy home and only this comes when the parents are in obedience to what the Lord God tells us to do.
The Bible is full of examples of obedient men and women. Even through all of their trials and tribulations we read where our old testament ancestors obeyed God to find fulfillment in their lives.
Today we are still answering to the same God. Even though we are so far advanced in technology and luxuries on earth, the same God of our ancestors is still in control and, ultimately, we must answer to Him for our actions on earth.
Man has not come to the point of where he is at now without the blessings of Almighty God. Our allegiance and obedience belong to Him that sustains us through our lowest and weakest moments to our highest of highs.
Over the past few years we have been witness to what Satan is trying to do on this earth. We have also been witness to natural disasters and I firmly believe that this is God’s way of getting our attention.
Whether our problems are man created or from natural sources we see more and more of our people falling on their knees asking God for help. It is my hope that you and your family acknowledge God for all creation and read His word so that we can obey Him.
Prayer: Father lead me in the way you want me to go and help me get myself out of the way. Lord thank you for loving me and protecting me from my enemies. Amen.
(Suggested daily Bible readings: Sunday - Genesis 6:8-22; Monday - 1 John 5:1-5; Tuesday - 2 Timothy 2:14-19; Wednesday - Isaiah 45:9; Thursday - Hebrews 13:17; Friday - James 1:19-26; Saturday - Proverbs 7:1-5.
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