Category: Daily Post

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Smile and Wave

Today,  I have an interesting engagement.  At times it sort of makes me feel like the penguins in the movie Madagascar “Smile and Wave Boys, just Smile and Wave”.  

But really it’s more than that – even though I am working within some pretty Dilbertesque parameters.   Its really more about helping people.  Without going into too many details about the whole thing, let’s just say it could be very easy for me to take a hands off approach, just smile and wave, keep everyone happy and move on.   But I don’t think thats the difference that we are asked to make in peoples lives.  I have been thinking alot ( like all year so far) about living to make those around me better.   It’s been a little silent mantra of mine so far this year at work.  Today is one of those opportunities when it is what the entire day is really about – making those around me better.

Isn’t that really the way we are called to live every day? (Remember the old children’s bible program acronym for JOY – Jesus Others You)  It seems to me that taking that approach everyday is  pretty good.  Check this quote out:

 
“To do something, however small, to make others happier and better, is the highest ambition, the most elevating hope, which can inspire a human being” John Lubbock quotes (English Biologist and Politician, 1834-1913)

And then there’s this little bit of encouragement from Philippians:

 1If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Philippians 2:1-4 (New International Version)

So today, go out and make those around you better.  Find ways to encourage those you come in contact with, and look out for their interests, not your own.

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Magic of Music

Tonight my youngest Andrew starts guitar lessons.  He has wanted to learn to play the guitar for years, and tonight he will get the chance.  Yesterday he was attempting to tune his guitar in anticipation of the evening’s activities.  Since the rest of the family was otherwise occupied, he was calling on my services to help him tune it up.  There’s one small problem there – I am the one that has the least amount of musicality in the family.  Lets just say that on Karaoke night at family functions, well the volume is turned up on the track, and in Rock Band competitions, I do not get the microphone.

And its funny that it’s that way, because I find myself so driven to sing praise, and so inspired by lyrics and so interesting in having music around me.  I find that the power of music to keep me moving in the right direction is really amazing.

And so, last night, there I was again at a school concert!  This time, the BBS Chorus, with which my sister-in-law, Lori,  does an outstanding job in teaching and leading each year. (But that’s a lesson for another day – one of giving your all to bring the best out of others).  Anyway, they finished last night with In Christ Alone.

No guilt in life, no fear in death,
This is the power of Christ in me;
From life’s first cry to final breath.
Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home,
Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand.

Its such a well written song, and was presented in a very special way last night.  As you can tell the music sticks with me, and it strengthens me.  I hope that if you know this song it will become an ear worm for you today and provide you with a little motivation to tackle a Monday with passion and power!  In Christ we are free, and we have a freedom that is absolutely amazing to comprehend.  We are free, we are safe.

Sing it today, and if you see Andrew, give him a little extra encouragement – maybe one day he will impact people with his music!

11 Rejoice in the LORD and be glad, you righteous;
sing, all you who are upright in heart! Psalm 32:11 (New International Version)

1 Sing joyfully to the LORD, you righteous;
it is fitting for the upright to praise him. Psalm 33:1 (New International Version)

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Talk Like Shakespeare

It’s sort of a nothing day.  ’tis Friday, there’s no big holiday today,  except its talk like Shakespeare Day.   Ye know thy humble servant willst give ‘t a valiant attempteth.  But proper English is not until me, methinks..

So, I will let ol’ King James speak for me today.  This morning I found myself drawn right back to this blog’s theme verse as I pursued through 1 Corinthians.  I was spending a lot of time at the end of Chapter 10, but those thoughts are for later,  and  “since brevity is the soul of wit, And tediousness the limbs and outward flourishes, I will be brief”

24Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.

25And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.

26I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:

27But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. 1 Cor 9

Enjoyeth the day, ‘t is Friday afterall!  God Speed, and do not be afraid of greatness!

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Happy Earth Day

It’s Earth Day, and to celebrate when I went to start my post this morning I received this message

 Error establishing a database connection

Yes, its Earth day, so my database server decided to save energy and not run! Its finally back up, and I am able to post away!

 That’s one way to celebrate this sort of crazy holiday, a holiday I think we should all get behind, however, I may have a little different take then some people on how to approach it.  No chaining my self to a tree, however, I do think we should consider the trees we have.  For me this is a day to honor the Creator and to be in awe of the wonders he gave  us to manage

  26-28 God spoke: “Let us make human beings in our image, make them
      reflecting our nature
   So they can be responsible for the fish in the sea,
      the birds in the air, the cattle,
   And, yes, Earth itself,
      and every animal that moves on the face of Earth.”
   God created human beings;
      he created them godlike,
   Reflecting God’s nature.
      He created them male and female.
   God blessed them:
      “Prosper! Reproduce! Fill Earth! Take charge!
   Be responsible for fish in the sea and birds in the air,
      for every living thing that moves on the face of Earth.”

 29-30 Then God said, “I’ve given you
      every sort of seed-bearing plant on Earth
   And every kind of fruit-bearing tree,
      given them to you for food.
   To all animals and all birds,
      everything that moves and breathes,
   I give whatever grows out of the ground for food.”
      And there it was.

 31 God looked over everything he had made;
      it was so good, so very good!
   It was evening, it was morning—
   Day Six.  Gen 1:26-31 The Message (MSG)

What is so great is that today, like every day creation screams out praising to the creator.  Last night, I was considering my finger nails, and what a marvelous thing they are. (No I did not get a manicure!)  In the simplicity and in the grandeur, it all declares the glory of the Master.

  1 The heavens declare the glory of God;
       the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

 2 Day after day they pour forth speech;
       night after night they display knowledge.

 3 There is no speech or language
       where their voice is not heard.  

 4 Their voice goes out into all the earth,
       their words to the ends of the world.
       In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun, Psalm 19:1-4 New International Version (NIV)

So today, remember the Creator as you consider the trees, and the resources we have been pleased to have and to use.  Go over to this site (http://www.crazylovebook.com/videos_awe.html) and check out this video from Francis Chan.  I think that will give you an appreciation for the greatness of this creation we live in and the greatness of the Creator as well.

 1 The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it,
       the world, and all who live in it; Psalm 24

 Happy Earth Day, now go play in the yard!

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Prone to Wander

Last night I had the privilege to hear the bands at Boyd Buchanan in their spring concerts.  Of course Alex and his trumpet were incredible, but the second best part of the night for me was a saxophone trio ( actually there were 4 players) who played an arrangement of “Come Thou Fount” called Fantasia on Nettleton. Come Thou Fount is quickly becoming one of my favorite hymns, especially because of this one stanza that I have not been able to get out of my head since last night.

O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I’m constrained to be!
Let Thy goodness, like a fetter,
Bind my wandering heart to Thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love;
Here’s my heart, O take and seal it,
Seal it for Thy courts above.

Prone to wander.  Boy, does that describe us well?  So today, a simple encouragement to pray to seal and bind your heart.  And out of that a wellspring of action should arise.

13-14Meanwhile, we’ve got our hands full continually thanking God for you, our good friends—so loved by God! God picked you out as his from the very start. Think of it: included in God’s original plan of salvation by the bond of faith in the living truth. This is the life of the Spirit he invited you to through the Message we delivered, in which you get in on the glory of our Master, Jesus Christ.

15-17So, friends, take a firm stand, feet on the ground and head high. Keep a tight grip on what you were taught, whether in personal conversation or by our letter. May Jesus himself and God our Father, who reached out in love and surprised you with gifts of unending help and confidence, put a fresh heart in you, invigorate your work, enliven your speech.  2 Thessalonians 2:13-17 The Message (MSG)