just do

Treat people the same way you want them to treat you.

- Luke 6:31 (NASB)

 

Ahhhhh, the Golden Rule.

Many people also refer to the “Platinum Rule” which is to treat others better than they expect to be treated, or better than you want to be treated.

Regardless of the wording the bottom line is that we are directed by God to be nice to each other. (yes, we are.)

Sometimes I struggle with this because I don’t like it when people lie, I don’t like people that use others, and I don’t like people who are fake.

I find it difficult at best to be nice to people who are blatantly rude or disrespectful to others.

So, this is where I have to turn to God to help me. . .  I really could add another verse here, or a song reference (why not?).

Psalm 121 said it first and Casting Crowns put it to music:

I lift my eyes unto the hills

Where does my help come from

My help comes from the Lord,

The maker of heaven and earth

Do to others as you would have them do to you, and if you don’t think you can, you better ask for God’s help!

 

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just don’t

But don't be conceited or make others jealous by claiming to be better than they are..

- Galatians 5:26 (CEV)

 

In 1913 a comic strip was born called “Keeping up with the Joneses”, running until 1940 in the New York Times and other newspapers.

This comic strip as you have probably figured out from its title was about a family that was struggling to “keep up” with their neighbors in social circles.

Oddly, the “Joneses” were never actually depicted in the strip.

Wikipedia indicates that the idea of keeping up with the Joneses actually started several decades before the comic strip was published.

When you care about your standard of living more than you care about actually living it shows.

And when you brag about your standard of living to put yourself above others it doesn’t make you look better in their eyes, in fact many will pity you.

But let me ask this – would you rather have a lot of money, fancy homes and cars and no one to share it with or would you rather live modestly and have many friends and family to be with you during your best times and your worst? 

 

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the pole

For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.

- Matthew 18:20 (NIV)

 

Today is the annual “See You At The Pole” day.

For several years I would ask people to meet me at the flagpole in front of the building I worked at. 
Students all across the nation would meet at the flagpole in front of their schools, many with the support of their parents and teachers. 
Why? 

To pray.

We were forced to stop this gathering in 2020 when COVID had us all living in fear and isolation.

Some of us are still working from home, some have never returned to our lives as we previously knew them.

But we never stopped praying.  

Jesus said that when we gather in His name, He is with us.

I saw a meme a while back that rings true:

“just like nasty flies disappear when the flyswatter comes out, so does the enemy when we pray – prayer is the devil swatter!”

Don’t let evil and darkness creep in, even if we can’t meet at the pole for whatever reason.

Pray for our nation, our leaders.

Pray for those who are oppressed, for the sick, for the weak.

Pray for those who defend our freedom, for those who are far away right now, and for those who did not come home when their tour ended.

Pray without ceasing.

 

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brothers

A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need.

- Proverbs 17:17 (NLT)

 

They say that your siblings are your first friends.

I think I believe that. 

Today would have been my brother’s 62^nd birthday (dude, you would have been OLD) but I still picture him as he was when he died at 30.

We all do stupid or questionable things at some point in our lives just as I know that my brother did some things in his life that did not make him proud, but I believe by this time he would have made amends. 

For many people he was a great friend, fun to hang out with and when you needed him, he had your back.

That is a true friend, always loyal. 
He was my brother; he was there for me when no one else was and he tried to stop me from making stupid mistakes.

Happy Heavenly birthday, Jim.

You are still missed here.

 

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mindful

When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have set in place, what is mankind that You are mindful of them, human beings that You care for them?

- Psalm 8:3-4 (NIV)

 

Have you ever been on a plane and looked out the window to be surprised at how tiny everything is?

Or looked up at the night sky to see a tiny glimmer of light called a star?

Now reverse your perspective and think about the size of a house when you are standing in front of it – it isn’t as tiny as when you see it from the window of the plane.

And if you were in space, that tiny glimmer of light is possibly 25 miles in diameter.

It’s amazing when we think about the size of the universe knowing that God created it all and yet He knows us individually, down to the number of hairs on our head.

Who are we, the He is mindful of us? (yeah, song lyrics!)

Aren’t we fortunate to have such an awesome Father that loves us unconditionally?

  

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careful words

Careful words make for a careful life; careless talk may ruin everything.

- Proverbs 13:3 (MSG)

 

All our lives we have been told “if you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything” but how often do we really follow that rule?

Song snippets: 
It's crowded in worship today

As she slips in

Trying to fade into the faces

The girl's teasing laughter

Is carrying farther than they know

 

A traveler is far away from home

He sheds his coat

And quietly sinks into the back row

The weight of their judgmental glances

Tells him that his chances are better out on the road

We might think that we are whispering to our friend or spouse but believe me, voices carry.

The person we are talking about may not hear our comments directly but that doesn’t mean someone isn’t going to tell them what they heard.

We need to be careful.

I watched a documentary about a girl who was told her whole life that she could not do certain things because of the color of her skin and her gender, as a result the first 25 years of her life she lived under that stereotype. 

Now she is fighting back.

Words can destroy a person's point of view on everything.

Think about what you are saying and who is listening.

 

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feathers

He shall cover you with His feathers, And under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler.

- Psalm 91:4 (NKJV)

 

Protection is a big deal in this day and age.

People have home security systems that monitor everything from carbon monoxide levels to motion in the driveway to a window being opened.

We have devices to give our children so that they are not walking alone at night and devices to give the elderly so they can call for help if they fall or have chest pain.

There is a story on the internet about a wildfire where firefighters were assessing damage after the fire had been extinguished: 
One ranger found a bird literally petrified in ashes, perched statuesquely on the ground at the base of a tree. Somewhat sickened by the eerie sight, he knocked over the bird with a stick.

When he struck it, three tiny chicks scurried from under their dead mother’s wings. The loving mother, keenly aware of impending disaster, had carried her offspring to the base of the tree and had gathered them under her wings, instinctively knowing that the toxic smoke would rise. She could have flown to safety but had refused to abandon her babies.

When the blaze had arrived and the heat had scorched her small body, the mother had remained steadfast. Because she had been willing to die, so those under the cover of her wings would live. 

That story has been debunked as having never happened but was perhaps published as a lesson on God’s love for His own children.

Having God as your shield means that you are His, you belong to Him, and He protects you as His own.

I will take shelter from every storm under His wings, how about you?

 

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listen to the truth

So we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it.

- Hebrews 2:1 (NLT)

 

Growing up we are told that we should listen.

Listen to our parents, our teachers, our elders, always be listening.

But what happens if the people that we are listening to don’t have our best interests at heart?

What if these people are not being truthful in the way we need to go?

There are people out there that will try to convince us that we are nothing, that we do not matter in the grand scheme of things.

Those people are liars.

Song snippet:

But the Voice of Truth tells me a different story

The Voice of Truth says, "Do not be afraid!"

And the Voice of Truth says, "This is for My glory"

Out of all the voices calling out to me

I will choose to listen and believe the Voice of Truth

Second song snippet:

When he told you you're not good enough

When he told you you're not right

When he told you you're not strong enough

To put up a good fight

When he told you you're not worthy

When he told you you're not loved

When he told you you're not beautiful

That you'll never be enough

Fear, he is a liar

He will take your breath

Stop you in your steps

Fear he is a liar

He will rob your rest

Steal your happiness

Cast your fear in the fire

'Cause fear he is a liar

We need to listen to the truth, the truth we find in the Lord.

When we listen to those who don’t have our best interests at heart, we get led down a path that makes us drift further from the truth that is in Him, that path could lead to our destruction.

The loudest voice is not always the right voice.

Listen for the Lord.

 

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giving up

My soul gave up all hope, but then I remembered the Lord. I prayed to You, and You heard my prayers in Your holy Temple.

- Jonah 2:7 (ERV)

 

I am about to get really real here.

I have struggled most of my life with depression.

We are not talking about having a bad day here and there, we are talking about days when simply breathing is too much of a burden to bear.

I attempted suicide multiple times (not recently, the last attempt was in the late 80’s) and I have thought about it on more than one occasion since then.

Those were some of my darkest days when my soul gave up all hope.

I am one of the fortunate ones as I have found lifelines that I can turn to in times when I feel like I just cannot go on.

Having friends and family that you can rely on in moments of despair is important, but there is no relationship that will pick you up like a relationship with the Lord.

Friends and family have this “I’ve got to fix it” mentality when someone is broken, but the Lord, He is ok with our brokenness.

He will let us ugly cry or scream or break things or do whatever we need to do to get it out no matter if it takes hours, days, or weeks.

Then He will hold us and if we let Him, we can feel the healing begin.

Do not give up.

Wherever you are, you are not alone.

If you don’t know where to turn and you don’t think you can turn to God, call me, I will help you find someone to walk you through your pain.

 

If you need someone call 988 or go to 988lifeline.org The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals in the United States.  

 

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a journey

Then they said, “Ask God whether or not our journey will be successful.” “Go in peace,” the priest replied. “For the Lord is watching over your journey.”

- Judges 18:5-6 (NLT)

 

I did something this weekend that I never thought I would do.

I went on a solo motorcycle ride.

Let me clarify, I ride my motorcycle alone all the time, but this ride was over 1,000 miles from start to finish, that is what makes it an accomplishment (537 miles yesterday alone!). 

But (you knew there would be a “but” right?) I did not make this ride unprepared.

I spent hours pouring over the plan, from the weather forecast (weather was amazing) and gas stops (I don’t think I stopped anywhere I had planned)  to places to stay (super sketchy hotel, won’t do that again!), places to see (went one place) and potential emergency routes (didn’t have to take them, but there were signs posted “Hurricane Evacuation Route”).

Most of all, I did not go alone.

Before I get on my bike and often while I am riding, I pray.  

I pray for the other vehicles on the road, that their drivers are not distracted.

I pray for the weather, that it remains clear and warm..

I pray that the Lord watch over my journey and clear any obstacles that I may face and that in my travels I am able to show the light of Jesus shining through me.

It was a wonderful adventure, a fine journey.

And I know it was blessed by the Lord.

May the Lord watch over all your journeys.

 

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you matter

Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. 7 Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

- Luke 12:6-7 (NIV)

 

I am not sure how much clearer this can be – YOU matter.

EVERY life matters.

God says that you are worth more than anything to Him, that the very hairs on your head are numbered – He knows the stars in the sky, and he calls them by name. 

Yes, there is another song reference:

From the highest of heights to the depths of the sea

Creation revealing Your majesty

From the colors of fall to the fragrance of spring

Every creature unique in the song that it sings

All exclaiming

Indescribable, uncontainable,

You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name.

You are amazing God

All powerful, untameable,

Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim

You are amazing God

We are so loved by God!

Guess what?

You are loved by others too.

 

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what are you looking at?

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

- 1 Samuel 16:7 (NIV)

 

This is another verse that I’ve used before in my musings, and obviously one that bears repeating.

We as humans tend to look at others and immediately jump to conclusions about them based on what we see.

If we say that we have never done that, we are lying to ourselves.

Be honest - how many times have you been out in public and saw someone that just made you wonder what they were thinking?

From the multi-colored hairstyles to piercings, to clothing that has seen its better days, we all have passed someone that made us wonder.

But underneath the pierced eyebrow and gauged ear, underneath the plaid shirt and striped pants is a human – a being created by God, just like you.

People can change their outward appearance to depict any personality trait that they wish, make-up hairstyles, tattoos, clothing, all that goes into individual choices on what a person will display to the world about their personality.

Aren’t we fortunate that our God doesn’t look at our outward appearance?

He doesn’t care if we have a zit on our nose, it doesn’t matter to Him if our lipstick is smudged or if we have super thick glasses.

God sees our heart, what matters to Him is our heart.

No matter what statement you are trying to convey to the world, God sees your heart, He knows who you are.

I am so very glad that God doesn’t look at me and see what I see in the mirror.

I pray that God gives me His eyes to see people the way He does.

 

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GPS

The Lord Who bought you and saves you, the Holy One of Israel, says, “I am the Lord your God, Who teaches you to do well, Who leads you in the way you should go."

- Isaiah 48:17 (NLV)

 

GPS – Global Positioning System.

I believe we might have these everywhere now to help us avoid getting lost while we travel.

I come from the days when we had to buy a paper map or atlas and pre-plan every route (highlighters were my friend even back then).

Then we transitioned into MapQuest, where we could map out our destination and print the route to make trips easier.

Now we simply type an address into our phone, or our car and we don’t even think about it, this lovely voice gives us step by step directions and if we miss a turn, the voice adjusts accordingly. (Recalculating!) 

Gosh, wouldn’t it be nice if we had a GPS for general daily living, like a God Positioning System?   

Newsflash – we DO!!!

God teaches us, leads us and guides us every day, we just have to hear his voice.

I wonder how many times God has said “recalculating” to get me on the right path . . .   

 

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old men

That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience.

- Titus 2:2 (KJV)

 

Through my adventures in the adult world, I have met many old men.

Most of them have an incredible story and they don’t mind telling it.

I did not know any of my grandfathers, so hearing these men tell their stories has always been interesting to me.

Some men left home as teen-agers and traveled the railroad.

Some joined the military and grew up fighting wars.

Some stayed home and worked the family business.

Some went to college and became great leaders that we know today.

The greatest men are the men that are worthy of respect, having lived a life that reflects God.

I am blessed to have men in my life that embodied this verse, my father-in-law and grandfather-in-law are at the top of that list.

We can learn a lot from old men, let’s take time to listen.

 

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consolation

When I said, “My foot is slipping,” Your unfailing love, Lord, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, Your consolation brought me joy.

- Psalm 94:18-19 (NIV)

 

Yesterday marked 21 years since the attack on American soil and 30 years since the senseless death of my little brother.

There are many days in the year that I feel “my foot slipping” and yesterday is one of them.

While I did not personally lose anyone in the tragedy of 9/11/2001, I know people that did.

I know that people had survivor’s guilt.

I know people that lost family members in the days and years following that horrific day in American history.

I think many of us feel our foot slipping when we walk through memories.

We are not alone we have a great Father to hold us. 
Song reference! 
When the best of me is barely breathin'

When I'm not somebody I believe in

Hold on to me

When I miss the light the night has stolen

When I'm slammin' all the doors You've opened

Hold on to me

Hold on to me

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see You

When I am sure I have reached the end

Hold on to me when I forget I need You

When I let go, hold me again

When I don't feel like I'm worth defending

When I'm tired of all my pretending

Hold on to me

When I start to break in desperation

Underneath the weight of expectation

Hold on to me

Hold on to me

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see You (I'll hold on)

When I am sure I have reached the end

Hold on to me when I forget I need You (I'll hold on)

When I let go, hold me again

I could rest here in Your arms forever

'Cause I know nobody loves me better

Hold on to me

Hold on to me

The consolation we can find in the arms of the Father is real and it will bring us joy.

His unfailing love will always be there for us.

 

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unharmed

You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.

- Genesis 50:20 (NIV)

 

It is odd that I used this same verse a year ago today, I can’t remember what was going on in my life but when I read through it again today, I definitely feel like sharing it again.

People hurt us a lot, intentionally and even unintentionally, regardless of the intent, hurt is still hurt.

It could be something as little as hearing that someone you considered a friend was saying bad things behind your back.

It could be something major like someone placing the blame on you for wrongdoings that could result in you losing financially or even a job.

People tend to hurt others to move themselves forward in the world.

In the book of Genesis, we see this play out several times in the life of Joseph – his brother’s jealousy pushed them to sell him into slavery and lie to their father about his disappearance. 

His owner’s wife was so smitten by his good looks that she threw herself at him and when he refused her advances, she lied about him to her husband, and he was thrown in prison.

But God had a plan – and that plan took the horrible things that people did to Joseph and turned them into a path for Joseph to save all of Israel from famine, including his brothers who set the wheel in motion in the first place. 

People will continue to hurt us. 

We need to know that no matter what Is done to us, we should keep our eyes on God, He knows what we are going through and even though we may not see it today, there is something good that will come of every harm that is done to us, if we just put our hope in Him.

 

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it takes practice

Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

- Philippians 4:9 (NIV)

 

We are taught at a very young age to practice, practice makes perfect after all.

I was out last week and overheard a conversation a woman was having with another woman in the presence of their children. 
I won’t repeat what was said but it was heartbreaking because the children were hanging on every word, and she was definitely not teaching love for specific ethnicities and respect for certain public figures.

We teach our children everything we can about life, etiquette, manners, behavior, and faith.

I really like the acrostic poem “THINK”

T – is it true?

H – is it helpful?

I – is it inspirational?

N – is it necessary?

K – is it kind?
We need to consider if we are hurting others when we say things, are our words setting false expectations?  
Ladies, what if you were told your whole life that you could not do something because you are female (it still happens)?

What if we are taught that we will never be able to ____________ (insert accomplishment) because we are _____________ (insert perceived shortcoming).

Or what if we break all barriers and listen to God, who tells us that we are His children, and we can do ALL things through Him.

Be careful what you say, you don’t know who is listening.

Put into practice the teachings we have in the Bible, and we might see a more peaceful world.

 

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gathering

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

- Acts 2:42 (NIV)

 

I look forward to Wednesdays in the fall, winter, and spring because after work I get to go to a friend’s house where several of us meet to eat a meal and study the Bible.

No matter what is going on in the world around me, Wednesday is my chance to be with people that won’t judge me, that will pray with me and for me no matter what I am going through. 
It isn’t just me, I have spent many Wednesday nights listening to the troubles that others are facing and praying with them, for them.

Yes, we can and absolutely should read the Bible alone, we can do online Bible studies whenever it is convenient, but there is just something about sharing a meal and discussing God’s word with friends. 

I have learned so much about the Bible, about God and I have made everlasting friendships from these small group meetings.

God sure knew what he was doing when He put direction in the Bible to gather together.

 

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