Quotes, Wise Words, Scriptures and Prayers

Graduation season is upon us.  Colleges and universities held their commencements the past few weekends and high school graduations are just days away.  Along with the congratulatory words, additional gifts of love, time and value are often given.  Gifts that have the potential to bless, offer encouragement, and challenge as new chapters begin. 

Mrs. Blackmon, my Homeroom teacher my senior year in high school, gave each of the students in her homeroom class a card that had two quotes printed on it.  Apparently they made quite an impression on a soon to be college freshman, about to take a big step and major in Education, because I remember them to this day.

            “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” – Laozi

            “Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day; show him how to

catch fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.” – Maimonides

Whether written, read, or spoken, words can be treasured gifts.  I look forward to reading and hearing the quotes and words of wisdom from speeches that are given at commencement ceremonies.  It’s the speaker’s chance to impart knowledge, give a challenge, and encourage the graduates.  Words of wisdom are also shared by family, teachers, and friends.  One of the many words of wisdom my dad shared as I was preparing to go to college was, “You need to spend your first semester getting your study habits established and schedule in line so you can enjoy the other 3 ½ years.  Otherwise you will spend the next 3 1/2 years making up for it.”  Whether it pertains to college, work, a project, or life, it’s worth doing your best from the beginning.

The Bible is full of scriptures that offer love, instruction, encouragement, and accountability for our graduates and to each of us as well.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart
    and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
    and he will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 3:5-6

Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.

I Timothy 4: 12

 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.

2 Timothy 2:15

 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

I Corinthians 10:31

Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.  Do everything in love.

I Corinthians 16:13, 14

I thank my God every time I remember you.  In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Philippians 1:3-6

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.

Philippians 1:9-11

Another important gift we can give our students is the offering of prayers on their behalf.  Sunday morning as Duane Brooks, our pastor, was praying words of blessing over our graduates, he concluded the prayer with, “Lord, we pray You would make much of their (the graduates’) lives, but even more that their lives would make much of You.”  What a wonderful petition for all of us to pray and apply as we each take the next steps on our life journey.

Since life continues to be an education, we are all in the process of learning and graduating from one level to another.  What we do with that knowledge and those experiences have the potential to make a difference in our lives and the world around us.

And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:19

The Draft

Mainly due to our son Brad’s interest through the years, I too watched, listened to, and read about the NFL draft during the first weekend in May.  Although I in no way claim to be an expert, or even mildly intelligent on the matter, it was interesting to make some observations along the way.  Fans are very interested in who is selected first in the first round, especially if he is from your alma mater.  If a trade for position has not occurred, the first man is chosen by the team with the worst record in hopes that he will help their team make a big comeback during the upcoming season.  Some players were selected to the team that they aspired to play for while others went to a team because they were that team’s choice during the round.  There are a few players who will be playing with teammates from their former university; some are playing for teams in their home state while others are playing for a team they may not have considered before.  Although each team added a few new players, it will take more than just those men to produce a winning season.  One man does not make a team.  Teamwork is the name of the game.  Unfortunately, not every player, with hopes and dreams of playing profession football, was chosen.  Now that the hype is over, the real test is what the players will do with the opportunities they have been given.

Unlike the draft, God’s team is chosen in a very different way.

* God offers and gives each of us a choice of which team we want to be on.

* It’s because of what Jesus did, being our sacrifice for our sins and rising on the third day, that we can choose to be on God’s team.

* God’s team is not limited to being built during the first weekend in May.  The offer can be accepted any second of the day, in any month, in any year.

* When we mess up, we do not have to worry about being traded to another team or not participating anymore.

* God doesn’t have a limit on how many can be on His team.

* God’s team will always be the winner.

Each day, whether in the NFL or in everyday life, we choose what we will do with the opportunities we are given.  The team we join will make a difference both now and for eternity. 

If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.

Romans 10:9-10

And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

Acts 2:21

Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.

Acts 4:12

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—

Ephesians 2:8

But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.

Titus 3:4-7

Safe on Base

Our 14 month old granddaughter, Ryen, has no idea about the rules for softball, yet she is already beginning to understand one of the concepts.  Last week when they were visiting, Ryen was chased at different times by Granddad, her Daddy, and her brother.  There were giggles and squeals of delight as she ran to Lori and grabbed her legs.  She knew that if she made it to her mother that she would be protected.  Just like baseball or softball, Ryen was safe when she reached base, until she took off running again.

No wonder Jesus said we need to have the faith and trust of a little child.  Instinctively, Ryen feels safe in Lori’s presence.  God wants us to have, know, and feel that same sense of security in Him. 

Some things to remember and practice:

* Keep your eyes on Jesus…it’s easier to get on base when you know where it is

* Run to Jesus and not away from him

* Even when a lot of things are coming at you at once, you are safe in God’s care

* When the trials come, it’s encouraging to have someone you can trust and rely on to guide you on life’s journey

* Find contentment and joy in the security of childlike faith

Even more than learning to be safe when playing chase or softball, I pray that Ryen will one day understand, accept, and embrace the love, security, and protection her Heavenly Father has for her for a lifetime.  And may my childlike faith be renewed and increase.

At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.

Matthew 11:25

And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 18:3

Then people brought little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked them.

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”

Matthew 19:13, 14

The Lord is my light and my salvation—
    whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life—
    of whom shall I be afraid?

One thing I ask from the Lord,
    this only do I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
    all the days of my life,
to gaze on the beauty of the Lord
    and to seek him in his temple.

 For in the day of trouble
    he will keep me safe in his dwelling;
he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent
    and set me high upon a rock.

Psalm 27:1, 4-5

The Between Times

Easter weekend, I was once again reminded about the difference the time between Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday makes.  The lives and world of Jesus’ family, disciples and followers had been turned upside down and then dramatically right side up.  They went from agony and despair to elation and hope, all in a matter of three long days and nights.

The majority of life is made up of “Between times”…that period of time between when something begins and ends…and something starts again…

…taking tests and finding out results

…the beginning of a sport season to its conclusion

…the start of a race, project, or task to its completion

…time when you plant and when the flowers or produce are ready to bloom or eat

…your first breath to your final one

Sometimes it can be a matter of seconds between when something starts and ends while other times it can literally take a lifetime to complete.  But what about the between times?  I am realizing more and more that life is what happens when you are on your way to somewhere or something else.  What I choose to do during the between times matters.  I can waste those seconds or years thinking there is plenty more time; I can rest, relax and be rejuvenated; or I can embrace the process by intentionally being productive.  In a way, the between times define who I am as much as the “big” events.

“Father, between now and when I rest tonight, please help me be intentional about how I choose to spend the time and energy that you have blessed me with for this new day."

A person’s days are determined; you have decreed the number of his months and have set limits he cannot exceed.

Job 14:5

“Show me, Lord, my life’s end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting my life is.

Psalm 39:4

Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

Psalm 90:12