By Gary Andrews
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I once heard the expression that we should enjoy life now because it has an expiration date.
I often wonder how many of us ever stop to realize the truth in this. We live in such a busy and hurried society that many times we don’t stop and recognize the beauty around us. God has given us a beautiful world and most of the time we are in such a hurry that we don’t stop and enjoy the view.
We find ourselves looking for the imperfections and strive to improve them instead of simply listening to the voice of our Lord and Savior. The Psalmist tells us in Psalm 18:32, “It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect.”
As we go through our journey on earth many of us do not take the time and realize what is right in front of us. We have made ourselves so busy of working for riches, fame, and fortune that we don’t perceive God’s natural beauty or talents that He has given to us.
I heard a story that summarizes this very well. In a major metropolitan area a man sat on the sidewalk, on a cold January morning, playing his violin. He was there for an hour and played six Bach pieces. Approximately 2,000 people passed by him that morning some were stopping for a moment or two to listen, some dropping money in his violin case, and some not bothering with him at all. Everyone was in such a hurry that they didn’t have time for the beautiful music coming from this man’s violin.
Most of us are like the passersby and don’t take the time to slow down or stop and enjoy the beauty around us. We may not see people in need or situations that need our attention because we are so focused on what we are doing or where we are going. Our perception of what is right in front of us is based on quick and deliberate decisions and many times we miss out on the greatness of an opportunity.
No one knew or recognized the man on the street playing the violin. This world renowned violinist played some of the most intricate pieces ever written on a $3.5 million violin. Two nights earlier this man played before a packed house in another major city where the tickets were $100 a piece for a seat to hear him.
One would ask why this man sat on a sidewalk and played his violin? It was a newspaper’s social experiment about perception, taste and people’s priorities.
There are many people in the world today that will not take the time and see or learn what Jesus has for us. People are in too big of a hurry and feel if they slowdown that something or someone is going to get ahead of them. It seems that all of us are out to beat our fellow man.
Jesus tells us in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” The beauty of our life’s expiration date on earth is that for those of us who know Jesus as our personal Lord and Savior will enter eternity with Him. This is not a perception problem, it is a promise given to us by God through His Holy Word.
Prayer: Father I give you all of the praise and glory for allowing me a time on this earth. I pray that I will serve you in all that I do and see the beauty of this world through your guidance. Amen.
(Suggested daily Bible readings: Sunday – Proverbs 16:18-25; Monday – John 4:27-38; Tuesday – Romans 12:1-8; Wednesday – Genesis 28:10-17; Thursday – Luke 9:1-9; Friday – 2 Kings 6:15-23; Saturday – 1 Corinthians 2:6-15.)
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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One of the greatest thrills I believe anyone can ever have is watching a young child open a gift or taste a food that is met with their acceptance. Their excitement, expressions, words, and actions immediately tell you they have found something that is very pleasant and rewarding. There is no doubt about how they feel concerning what they have just done and will likely tell you or others for the next few minutes, hours, or days about their gratification and satisfaction. It seems that their enthusiasm is limitless.
For many of us adults we have that same type enthusiasm but keep it in check by holding it inside of us. It is hard for people to understand why we don’t get excited and exude our jubilation when something has happened to or for us. Maybe it is because we don’t want to draw attention to our self.
When this happens we miss out on the festive reactions and others aren’t allowed to share our emotions.
One of the greatest rewards we can ever receive is when we accept Christ as our personal Lord and Savior. By joining a Bible based, Christ centered church we make a public statement of what we have done. I am not saying you have to join a church to be saved, but it is good for you and the ones around you to worship with fellow Christians and enjoy the excitement together.
Many times a new Christian will have the same excitement as a child does by telling others of what he or she has done. It’s a change in heart and the relieving of pressure when you allow Jesus to control your life and you get out of the way.
Becoming a new Christian doesn’t automatically eliminate your problems however; it makes working with them and solving them easier. Having a Christ centered life and leaning on that small still voice of Jesus helps us go in the right direction. Becoming a Christian is a faith decision of allowing Christ to lead and guide you in what you do and believing in Him to be your only way too eternal life with Him.
John 3:16 says: “For God so loved the world that gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
Becoming a Christian should have the same excitement of child opening a new gift. The expressions, words, and actions should radiate from us and we should be eager to share our faith with anyone at any time.  Having Jesus in our heart is the greatest gift we can ever receive and it is yours for the asking. It is given through God’s grace and all we have to do is have faith.
Prayer: Thank you Lord for another day of life. I pray that I will be a leader in your Word and be the example you expect of me. Amen.
(Suggested daily Bible readings: Sunday – Acts 4:8-12; Monday – Psalm 84:9-12; Tuesday – Job 1:8-11; Wednesday – Romans 5:1-8; Thursday – Isaiah 55:1-3; Friday – Titus 3:3-8; Saturday – 1 Peter 1:17-21.)
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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Over the past few months I have seen many advertisements for life alert systems, whether they are necklaces, bracelets, or of some other form. Most of the targeted audience for these ads is senior citizens, especially the ones that are widowed and live alone.
These are great items to have. I whole heartily recommend these life alert systems because no one ever knows when they are going to need one. A couple of months ago I witnessed an elderly lady out in her yard working and she seemed to be in good health and good spirit. As I went about my business I noticed that police cars, fire trucks, and ambulances came rushing to her home which was very surprising to her also.
I quickly dropped what I was doing and ran across the street to see what the problem was. Knowing the fire chief I asked him about the situation and he told me her life alert necklace had gone off, unknowingly to her. When all of the emergency personnel arrived they went to her only to find out it had been triggered from a limb of a bush she was pruning.
This was a great example of how these life alert systems can and do work, even if it is by mistake.
There is one life alert system that all of us can have and it doesn’t matter how old you are. His name is Jesus and all we have to do is ask Him into our heart and have the faith that He will always be with us. Many of us face problems in our daily routines whether it is at work or at home. Many of us allow situations to get out of hand with our family, friends, and co-workers. Many of us face problems with our health, finances, and outlook on life in general.
When you accept Jesus as your personal savior you will always have a confidant that you can always go to. Through the reading of His Word and prayer He will give you directions and answers to your problems. It may not be the way you want it to be but He will answer and work with you every time.
Just as many of our senior adults will reject life alert systems because they believe they are capable of taking care of themselves, many of us will reject Christ because we feel we can do anything on our own. Life alert systems can save lives and I feel that all of us should have one. After all, we never know when we are going to take a tumble and not be able to get up. Having a life alert system can save our lives while we are on earth and we should get our pride out of the way.
Knowing Jesus personally gives us the satisfaction of knowing when we do leave this earth that we are going to spend eternity with Him. When we think we don’t need God we need to remember what the Psalmist says in Psalm 36:2; “For in his own eyes he flatters himself too much to detect or hate his sin.” For many of us that are reaching the golden years, we flatter ourselves too much to take the aids that are available to us. We need these earthly tools to help us and all of us, regardless of age, need Jesus to lean on.
Prayer: Thank you Jesus for the assurance you give in eternal life. You tell us that knowing you personally through faith is all we need for eternal life. Amen.
(Suggested daily Bible readings: Sunday – Titus 3:9-11; Monday – 1 Timothy 4:1-8; Tuesday – Proverbs 26:12; Wednesday – Jude 3-4; Thursday – Ezekiel 3:16-19; Friday – Psalm 111-10; Saturday – 2 Thessalonians 1:6-10.)
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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As I get older I often reminisce about the way things used to be. From the time I was a young boy and wishing I was older, I can vividly remember certain events and actions that have stayed in my memory for all of these years. It is a shame that our young people of today cannot fathom what it was like to live in the 40’s, 50’s, or 60’s.
It seems that in the earlier years more people were harder workers and over the time we have evolved into a time of smarter workers. The hi-tech advantages have changed the way we think and the way we approach our work.
There were certain remedies in the earlier years that we were supposed to follow to help heal our ailments. We were told to eat certain fruits and vegetables to help our vitamin supply and to protect us from the flu and viruses. Today it seems that our media outlets are telling of some scientist that has perfected remedies to over shadow what we have heard all our lives and the items we used and ate for many years were not good for us. Then a year later we hear that what we were doing is okay and should continue the process we learned many years ago. The world changes every day and we are victims of what society tells us to do.
Something that has never changed since the inception of time is that God has always been with us and has never changed His outlook, values, or His love for His children. His Holy Word is one that can be read and used and is never outdated. He speaks to us daily through His Word and prayer.
It seems that in today’s modernistic society that people are depending on themselves and others around them to be successful. These people are adapting to worldly views and accepting values less becoming what Christians know.  Morals, ethics, and love have been replaced with deception, cruelty, and carelessness. We have become a world of “I” and lost the meaning of “we”. We have become a society of “it’s all about me”.
We are being told on a daily basis from certain groups that the Bible is an antiquated old history book and it has lost its value. I want you to know that there are many antiquated old history books but I have never seen one that has lost its value. Every day we are allowed to live on this earth creates new history and should be incorporated with these old history books.
The Bible is not one that you are going to add history too. The Bible is the inerrant, inspired Word of God and speaks to us today through the many scriptures we are allowed to read. It will never go out of date and for the ones who believe it has no value don’t read it or study it on a daily basis using scriptures in the proper context.
Yes, we are going to have atheists and agnostics saying the Bible has changed and that the Word is no longer as it was. Yes, we are going to have different religious groups step forward and say their religion is true and that Christianity is a thing of the past.
And so the world goes on and changes evolve every day. Christianity and the Bible are under scrutiny each and every day because Christians have not stood up for the truth. We need to remember what the Psalmist says in chapter 18 verses 28-29: “You, O Lord, keep my lamp burning, my God turns my darkness into light. With your help I can advance against a troop, with my God I can scale a wall.”
Keep God first in your life and put the world and the naysayers behind you.
Prayer: Almighty God, thank you for being first and foremost in my life. I know you are the way, the truth, and the light. Thank you for your guidance through your Word and be with me each and every day to stand up for you.  Amen.
Suggested daily Bible readings: Sunday - Psalm 18:30-32; Monday – Luke 5:1-11; Tuesday – 2 Corinthians 12:14-21; Wednesday – Jeremiah 17:7-11; Thursday – Mark 9:50; Friday – Luke 8:9-15; Saturday – Ecclesiastes 3:1-17.
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.