By GARY ANDREWS
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Several years ago I had the opportunity of coaching a ladies softball team. This was a slow-pitch team and there were many good athletes on this squad. In fact, most of them had played ball in community college and just wanted to continue playing as long as they could.
We were a good team and won a lot more games than we lost. These ladies would get down and dirty when it came to running, fielding, and even sliding into base. They had winning attitudes and it bothered them when we did not win.
After each game, I as their coach plus many of the players, would analyze our play and determine what we could improve on. It always came back to the same solution. Did we do the little things right? Were we a team that perfected the basic skills of running, catching, hitting, and throwing the ball?
If all of us would stop and think about it our lifestyle, integrity, character, attitude, and discipline is defined by the same standard we used with this ball team. Are you doing the little things that really matter?
Some of the time we get so busy in activities and work that we forget about the small things that makes life better. On occasions we seem to get up on the ‘wrong side of the bed’ and our attitude suffers all day long. When this happens we forget who we really are and dwell on what we do, whether it is our job or some other facet of life. We need to always remember that God values us for who we are and not what we do or are known for.
Our character suffers when our attitude is misplaced. The people you meet wants to know the real you and not some off-base, off-color version of you. We need to always remember than others determine our reputation, but we determine our character.
None of us need to get caught up in worldly attitudes or situations. Only you can protect your integrity and honesty and when you do this everybody will take notice. Many times when we fail it is because we planned to fail and not succeed.
The ladies ball team that I coached was successful because they wanted to be successful. In their practice sessions we used game like procedures and I never allowed them to get lazy. The secret to their success was their discipline to do the basics and the small things right. All of us have to realize that to succeed in life our first step must be commitment and make up our mind to discipline ourselves. Each morning we are allowed to wake up we should get our frustrations out of the way before we go into the world. It is our decision to what attitude we will have each and every day and to make every day a success because we paid attention to the little things. We all need to heed what the Psalmist tells us in chapter 25: 21; “May integrity and uprightness  protect me, because my hope is in you.” (Life Application Study Bible).
When we put our hope and trust in the Lord and lean on Him for everything that happens in our life then we are going to be disciplined in what we do and make sure all of the small things are taken care of.
Prayer: O God I praise you for every thing. Your blessings are tremendous and I pray that I can be the person you want me to be. Amen.
(Suggested daily Bible readings: Sunday – 1 John 4:7-11; Monday – Genesis 22:1-14; Tuesday – Hebrews 11:4-7; Wednesday – Isaiah 7:1-9; Thursday – Luke 9:57-62; Friday – Psalm 31:3-8; Saturday – Ezekiel 22:29-31.)
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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Since the beginning of time man has always faced some kind of adversity. The same holds true for today and it will be this way until the end of time. Man will always have some kind of misunderstanding or problems with others.
The real test for us is how we handle adversity. Many of us will let it roll on and on and hope it will go away but it doesn’t. Many of us will lose our temper and try to overcome these problems by showing others what we are made of and how demanding we can be. There will be many of us that don’t recognize problems and go on with life even though those around us are suffering because of our lack of attention. Then there will a few of us that will tackle the problem head on and work at a solution and most of the time this is going to be when we get on our knees and ask for God’s leadership and guidance.
Webster’s dictionary defines adversity as: a state of wretchedness or misfortune; poverty and trouble; an instance of misfortune; calamity. There are many instances in the Bible that speaks to adversity and how God always helps those that call on Him to overcome these problems. He also allows us the pain and suffering of learning a lesson when we don’t allow Him to be in control and try to fix our own problems.
In 1 Peter 5: 8-9 we are told how to handle adversity. “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.”
All of us will enter into situations that can or will create adversity with someone else or allow us to doubt our own creditability. Marriage, job situations, politics, etc. create adversity and it doesn’t matter how deep our love is for all of these. When people live, work, or deal with people there will never be 100% harmony even though some of us will say there is.
Politicians tell us every day to allow them to set the rules and regulations for our lives. Sometimes they ignore the commandments of God and the laws created by our forefathers under the Creator’s guidance to give them the premise of being in charge. Some of the problems our country is facing today are because we, the people, have fallen for their unethical and unworthy promises.
The only way that we are able to solve these worldly problems is to have good leaders that are not afraid to recognize God as the Creator of the world and the sovereign God of all. All one needs to do is read through the Old Testament of the Holy Bible and see how God allowed His people to prosper when they followed Him and how He allowed them to wander and suffer when they disobeyed.
There is only one sure way to handle adversity and that is to listen to and obey God Almighty. He is in control and always has been. No one will ever do anything without His knowledge and His allowing them to do so.
Prayer: Father thank you for your understanding of my problems that I have created. Lead me and guide me in your direction and give me strength to stand up for what is just and right. Amen.
(Suggested daily Bible readings: Sunday – James 1:2-8; Monday – Job 1:6-12; Tuesday – Acts 8:1-8; Wednesday – Isaiah 26:7-11; Thursday – Romans 8:18-30; Friday – Leviticus 26:14-17; Saturday – Philippians 1:3-11.)
sGary 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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I often wonder how many people have the opportunity of reading the Christmas Story.
I know that at my church we do and on many occasions my wife and I read it at home. This is something we have tried to share with our children with hopes that someday they will share this story with their children and it will continue on down the line.
Instead of great joy and sharing, Christmas has become a time of stress and the burden of over-spending monies that we don’t have nor have any idea how long it will take us to get it.
Billy Graham tells us in his Hope for Each Day, to not let the Christmas season overwhelm us. We don’t need to feel that we have to do everything, or go into debt just to impress people. Instead, we need to focus on Jesus and take time every day to read the prophecies of His coming and the wonderful story of His birth.
The Christmas message is still the same as it has been for over 2000 years.
Read the following verses from Luke about the Savior’s birth and really let it sink into our hearts. All of us truly need to enjoy Christmas and let it be the good news of great joy through Jesus.
“In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register.
So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."
So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.”
For the entire Christmas story please read Luke 1:26 - 2:40.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for the Christmas season. All of us that know you know that you are with us in whatever we do and we praise you for this. Amen.
(Suggested daily Bible readings: Sunday - Isaiah 7:13-14; Monday - Matthew 1:18-25; Tuesday - 2 Corinthians 9:6-15; Wednesday - John 10:7-10; Thursday - Luke 1:32-33; Friday - Psalm 145-:17-21; Saturday - 1 Peter 5:5-7.)
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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Christmas: the season of giving!
I have received many emails speaking of great gifts given to others whether the giver realized it or not. These are called miracle gifts and most of these contained no more than people giving of themselves.
My wife and I have watched many Christmas specials and have reached the conclusion that the greatest gift you give while inhabiting this earth is the gift of hope.
One email I received was about a four-year old boy who visited Santa Clause in a department store, and all he asked for was that Santa would come to the hospital and visit his younger sister who was dying of leukemia. Her greatest wish was that she could talk to Santa.
After work that evening the Santa and the manager of the store made their way to the hospital to visit this young lady. Upon their arrival and at first sight the young lady jumped with joy and almost pulled all of her medicine tubes from her body. Santa embraced her with a big hug and sat on the bed beside her.
They talked for a few moments and Santa told her to get well and he would see her next Christmas.
Santa left the room with tears in his eyes not knowing how long this young child had to live. With great anticipation he prayed with her and for her and instilled into her the gift of hope and future expectations.
This particular Santa worked for this department store every year and the next year was no different. One of his first visitors was a young girl who ran and jumped into his lap and asked, “Do you remember me?” Santa said, “of course I remember you.”
This was the same answer he gave to every child that asked him this question. Then the young girl said, “I am the one you came to visit last year in the hospital.” With tears in his eyes Santa hugged this young girl and said a prayer of thanksgiving for her life had been spared.
Through his unselfish giving of his time and through his inspirational gift of hope the Santa helped this young girl to overcome this dreaded disease and become cancer free.
The gift of giving in its purest form expects nothing in return. Giving is its own reward. Look what Jesus did for all of us. He gave Himself to be crucified on a cross so that you and I can have the gift of eternal life and all we have to do is believe.
Prayer: “Our Father, which art in heaven, thank you for your gift of life here on earth and for the knowledge of knowing that we will spend eternity with you because you sent your son to save us from our sins. You have told us so many times through your Word that we should believe and have faith in Christ Jesus. Amen.”
(Suggested daily Bible readings: Sunday - John 3:16-21; Monday - 1 Peter 1:13-16; Tuesday - Psalm 71:5-8; Wednesday - Isaiah 41:13; Thursday - James 1:5-6; Friday - Ephesians 2:8-10; Saturday - 2 Thessalonians 1:3)
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.