By GARY ANDREWS
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For many years I have been around family, friends, co-workers, church members, and others that seem to have a problem forgiving someone for their actions or words that have been said. For many of these people the unforgivable person has hurt them in some way or has an attitude of defiance that may be misunderstood.
There is no one on this earth that is perfect and that includes you and me. Even though we may be set in our ways doesn’t mean that others that have different ideologies from us are to be judged and condemned by us. Even though we may read the Bible and believe that Jesus agrees with us, doesn’t mean that we are not to act in kindness and love to someone else we disagree with. All of us need to remember that it is not Jesus agreeing with us but us doing the will and work of our Lord and Savior that is taught through His Word and through our prayerful communication with Him.
Because we are human we may find that forgiveness is not easy. We may have been hurt by someone, even our closest friend, because of something said whether it was in a jokingly way, in a way of trying to help us by stating a truth, or just in a way that is downright mean. There is an old saying that the truth hurts and many of us do not want to hear what the truth is. When we hear something that is true, even though we don’t want to hear it, we are the ones that become belligerent, indignant, and unforgiving.
I remember a person who told his best friend about his child having a problem. This child was in her teenage years and creating problems for the ones she was staying with. Her dad traveled extensively and was only home for the weekends. The child was a product of a divorce and chose to be with her dad only to be left with another family during the week.
When troubled times arose for the child her dad chose her side of the situation instead of leaning on his best friend for the truth. This created a strained relationship for this friendship of over 20 years. Eventually the dad changed his travel habits and stayed with his daughter at home and learned the truth about the little trouble maker which eventually led to a strained relationship between dad and daughter for the next several years.
The dad and his best friend did reconcile because the dad asked for and received forgiveness from his friend. I am not sure the daughter and dad ever came to reconciliation and now it is too late because the dad has gone home to be with the Lord.
If you are going through any period of forgiveness, doesn’t matter why, go to the person that seems to be a problem for you and reconcile before it is too late. Whether you are right or wrong is not an issue. Friends are for a lifetime and issues come and go. Don’t let some minute problem create stress and problems for you when all it takes to solve the problem is communication and asking for or giving forgiveness.
Always remember that when you plant forgiveness, you will reap reconciliation!
Prayer: Father let me be the first to step up and speak to my friends or others about any problems that may be between us. I pray that I have a forgiving spirit and lean on you for understanding and not what the world teaches us. Amen.
(Suggested daily Bible readings: Sunday – Job 42:7-10; Monday – Matthew 18:21-35; Tuesday – Jeremiah 50:17-20; Wednesday – Romans 5:6-11; Thursday – Proverbs 7:7-14; Friday – Colossians 3:12-17; Saturday – Exodus 23:1-9.)
Gary Andrews is the author of Encouraging Words: 30-days in God’s Word. To obtain a copy go to his website www.gadevotionals. com.

By GARY ANDREWS
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Everyday we are going to be among people or around someone who we do not know. Many of us shy away from what we would like to share with these people for fear of rejection from them. Our Christian faith is sometimes tarnished because we are reluctant to give praise to our God and Father and because we are either ashamed or too timid to talk about the saving grace of Jesus.
A friend told me of a restaurant he and his wife went to for the first time. When the waiter came to take their order he was a well-mannered, courteous, young college student. His professionalism was above reproach and his attention to details was very noticeable.
When he delivered the food to the table my friend and his wife bowed their head to say the blessing. My friend’s wife pointed to the waiter who was waiting on them when my friend turned and asked him to join them for the blessing. The waiter jumped at the request and asked if he could say it, which he did with such boldness that many in the restaurant could hear him.
My friend thanked him and the young man replied that he was never ashamed to acknowledge Jesus as his Lord and Savior and told my friend thank you for allowing him to be a part of their prayer time.
I often wonder how many of us would do this in front of our employer, customers, and total strangers. Would we jump at the chance to profess our faith in Christ knowing that someone may ridicule us for our actions or complain to the management about our boldness?
I am not sure what the rules and regulations of this restaurant are but I feel sure that it is a Christian organization. In so many places of our work we cannot mention anything associated with Christianity because it may offend one person. It seems that as our world ventures more and more into the future we become more and more worldly and associate ourselves with the prince of the air, who is Satan. What a shame that we have allowed ourselves and our nation to become this way.
Colossians 3:22-23 tells us; “Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men.”
It is with great joy that I hear stories similar to the one with the young waiter, someone willing to work through his college years and earn his way in society, but bold enough to stand up for the one and only true God. My friend was also awed by this experience and told management of the sincerity of their employee and his boldness to do the job right with the attitude of giving thanks to Almighty God. This compliment was well received and agreed with my friend that this young waiter has great potential of management, whether it is in the restaurant business or anything else he attempts.
Will you stand up and take a position of boldness for our Lord and Savior?
Prayer: Father God, thank you for great young men such as this waiter. I pray that he will be an instrument for you and that you will use him according to your will. I pray that you will forgive me for my shortcomings for I have many. Amen.
(Suggested daily Bible readings: Sunday – 1 Corinthians 15:58; Monday – Joshua 1:1-9; Tuesday – Acts 4:13-22; Wednesday – Daniel 6:1-10; Thursday – Philippians 1:12-30; Friday – Isaiah 8:11-22; Saturday – Ephesians 6:5-9.)
Gary Andrews is the author of Encouraging Words: 30-days in God’s Word. To obtain a copy go to his website www.gadevotionals. com.

By GARY ANDREWS
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The month of May is a very special month because the National Day of Prayer and Mother’s Day are close to each other.
In 1952 President Harry S. Truman signed into law the annual observance of The National Day of Prayer. For many years, we in America have celebrated this day and ask God to protect our nation and continue to bless us through His divine guidance.
In today’s society the National Day of Prayer is under attack from a few who are speaking out against it. The problem is that our leaders are listening to these few and trying to make the majority suffer because of it.
Each year a new theme is selected for this special day, however I remember one theme from several years ago that read, “Prayer - for such a time as this.” For me, this theme could be an annual theme because it seems each year our country becomes further removed from the one and only true God. He has promised all of us who place our faith in Him that He will take care of us. Nahum 1:7 tells us, “The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in Him.”
Our country definitely needs healing. We need for all Christians to lift up their heads and cry out to the Lord to lead them and guide them, so that we, once again, can be the Christian nation our fore fathers founded.
One of the greatest praying sources we have is through our mothers. As we celebrate Mother’s Day we need to keep in mind that she is the one that has prayed continuously for her family and children. She is the one that sits in the background while her family gets all of the accolades for going forward. She has been the one that has nourished us in times of sickness and sorrow. She is the backbone of a loving home, because she brings and gives her love to her family.
We need to continue to be a praying nation and we need to thank God for our mothers. For those of us whose mother has gone on to be with Jesus can only have the remembrances of the good times we shared on the earth. If you still have your mother today, love her, visit her, and care for her because I am certain that you can not out give anything that she has done for you.
Prayer: Lord thank you for my mom. Thank you for her love and guidance. Lord I pray for our nation that we will once again turn to you and allow you to lead us in the paths that you want us to go. Amen.
Suggested daily Bible readings: Sunday - Proverbs 5:1-2. Monday - 1 Corinthians 2:6-10; Wednesday - James 3:13-18; Thursday - Exodus 20:12; Friday - Luke 2:41-52; Saturday - Ezekiel 16:44)
Gary Andrews is the author of Encouraging Words: 30-days in God’s Word. To obtain a copy go to his website www.gadevotionals. com.

By GARY ANDREWS
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Watching some of the television commercials lately I have noticed one of the cable ads speaking about common sense. Of course it is geared toward their product and it only makes common sense to use it instead of their competitors.
Several years ago I wrote a column that pertained to the “Obituary of Common Sense”. I don’t know who penned the obituary, however after looking on the internet I find that it, or a similar column, ran in the London Times. It has been printed on several blogs by many columnists but I haven’t found anyone that takes authorship of the obituary. It does speak to us about the direction we have allowed our society to take us.
Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, by the name of common sense. Common Sense lived a long life, but died in the United States from heart failure on the beginning of the new millennium.
No one really knows how old he was since his birth records were lost long ago in bureaucratic red tape.
He selflessly devoted his life to service in schools, hospitals, homes, factories, helping folks get jobs done without fanfare and foolishness. For decades, petty rules, silly laws, and frivolous lawsuits had no power over Common Sense.
He was created with cultivating such valued lessons as to know when to come in out of the rain, why the early bird gets the worm, and that life isn’t always fair.
Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don’t spend more than you earn), reliable parenting strategies (the adults are in charge, not the kids), and it’s okay to come in second.
A veteran of the industrial revolution, the Great Depression, and the Technical Revolution, Common Sense survived cultural and educational trends including body piercing, whole language, and “new math.”
But his health declined when he became infected with the “if it only helps one person, it’s worth it” virus.
In recent decades, his waning strength proved no match for the ravages of well intentioned, but overbearing regulations.
He watched in pain as good people became ruled by self-seeking lawyers. His health rapidly deteriorated when schools endlessly implemented zero-tolerance policies.
Reports of a six-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate, a teen suspended for taking a swig of mouthwash after lunch, and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student worsened his condition.
It declined even further when schools had to get parental consent to administer aspirin to a student, but could not inform the parents when a female student was pregnant or wanted an abortion.
Finally, Common Sense lost his will to live as the Ten Commandments became contraband, churches became businesses, criminals received better treatment than their victims, and Federal jusges tauck their noses in everything from Boy Scouts to professional sports.
Finally, when a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot, awarded a huge settlement, Common Sense threw in the towel.
As the end neared, Common Sense drifted in and out of logic, but was kept informed of developments regarding questionable regulations, such as those for the low flow of toilets, rocking chairs, and step ladders.
Common Sense was preceded in death by his parents, Truth and Trust; his wife, Discretion, his daughter, Responsibility, and his son, Reason.
He is survived by two step brothers: My Rights, and Ima Whiner.
Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone.
The cable ad says to use common sense instead of breaking windows with messages taped around rocks or dressing yourself up with make shift provisions to receive signals for better television reception. Of course we are not going to see many people that would do either one of these actions, however we are seeing all around us what the obituary is saying.
The Bible gives us all kind of messages about peace, perspective, wisdom, promise, and comfort, especially in Psalms and Proverbs.
All of us need to remember what Proverbs 3:21 says to us: “My son, let them not depart from your eyes - Keep sound wisdom and discretion.”
Prayer: Our Holy Father, guide me and direct me in all of my paths and give me wisdom to choose your path over what the world has to offer. Amen.
(Suggested daily Bible readings: Sunday – 1 Corinthians 15:33-34; Monday – Zechariah 8:12-23; Tuesday – James 1:22-25; Wednesday – Proverbs 9:1-12; Thursday – Romans 2:12-16; Friday – Jeremiah 49:7; Saturday – 2 Corinthians 6:11-18.)
Gary Andrews is the author of Encouraging Words: 30-days in God’s Word. To obtain a copy go to his website www.gadevotionals.com.