Choose Life

CHOOSE LIFE

Several years ago, there was a news story about a man named Don Wyman. He was muscular and worked for a mining company. One day about 4:00 p.m. he was alone in a forest cutting down a tree when the tree snapped back in his direction and knocked him to the ground. The massive oak landed on hi left shin – shattering his bone and ripping his flesh.He tried to free himself, using his chainsaw to no avail. He did everything he could think of, but still he couldn’t get free. He realized that unless he got help soon he was going to bleed to death. He knew it would be hours before someone might figure something had gone wrong and come looking for him. So he made a courageous decision. Pulling the starter cord from his chain saw he tied a tourniquet to his leg, shutting off the blood flow to his shin. Then somehow, with his pocket-knife, he proceeded to amputate his lower leg, just below the knee.Now, on one leg, he had to find help. He crawled 135 feet uphill to his bulldozer, climbed in, started it up and drove that extremely slow machine 1/4 mile to his pickup truck. The truck was a stick shift and he had to use a metal rod to depress the clutch when he shifted. He drove a mile and a half and came upon a dairy farm where someone called an ambulance. . Don Wyman survived the ordeal. --But only because he realized that being pinned like that under that oak tree, to keep his leg might cost him his life.

So he had a decision to make. --And he chose to live. Through the whole Bible --the invitation to choose to be wise or to choose to be foolish. The book of Proverbs is almost entirely devoted to the comparison between the wise person and the foolish person

How do you feel about tough decisions…I don’t mean the easy ones like where to eat this weekend or what breakfast cereal to choose. No I mean the ones that are vital. Who will your mate be? What is your mission? The most critical of all choices: Who will be your master. Listen to Moses near the end of his ministry to the children of Israel.

Dt. 30:19-20a –19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: 20 That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.

He seems to be saying make a choice to make wise choices…commit to making wise choices in several key areas.

Make Life a priority in a culture that is toxic and deadly.
Live in the Love of God and learn to love Him with your whole heart.
Remember to Choose blessing instead of cursing.
Always obey His voice as he speaks to you through His word.
Cleave to Him tenaciously.
Remember as you follow Him He is your life and can lengthen your days.After these basic life principles are in place. Spend your life studying these areas in the Bible so you can choose wisely in them.
· Marriage
· Relationships
· Finances
· Balance
· Attitudes
· Time
· Health
· Habits
· Work
· Study

Teach Us To Number Our Days

   In a funeral today I read the following verse  " 12 So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom." Psalm 90:12.  I

t is tucked up in a chapter on the brevity of life.

look at a couple of the analogies the Psalmist uses here.

"4 For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night. 5 Thou carriest them away as with a flood; they are as a sleep: in the morning they are like grass which groweth up. 6 In the morning it flourisheth, and groweth up; in the evening it is cut down, and withereth"  PS.90:4-6

He is saying a millennium is but a moment,  a short night shift, a blade of grass that grows up almost overnight and is cut down in a moment. our days are like a tale that is told, or in modern vernacular it ends all to quickly like a good movie or book. Else where we read that life is swifter then a weavers shuttle (think sowing machine for our time), also life is described as a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. We are told as a consequence of this "not to boast ourselves of tomorrow, because we don't know what a day may bring. We should Number our days, that means more then counting your days it means making those days count.  

That means two distinct things:

1. Right Priorities:  

     Matt. 6:33 "33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."  This verse means that God isn't one of many important things to you instead Christ and his kingdom have the highest significance.   

 2. Right Practices:

     We often find that we "don't have time" when facing opportunities to do things for God's kingdom. The truth is we all have the same amount of hours.  The truth is we make time for what is important to us. below is a three step strategy to get more time in your life or more accurately, how to get more life in your time, how to make your days count. 

     

Dave Berry the writer gives this time management advice.

     Well guess what? I know how you can not only turn your 24-Hour-Day into 25 Hours, but even 26, 27, or 30! Of course, I can't really change time, but I can show you how to gain extra hours every day, week, month and year of your life, and do it by putting forth less effort than you are today. And it is as simple as can be! It's the perfect solution if you regularly find yourself looking back at at your life wondering what in the world happened to all your time, and why you have very few results to show for it. So Let Me Share this Simple Three-Step System with You:

 Step #1 --Write down everything that you need to get done today. Step #2 --Assign a time period to each task you need to accomplish.  Step #3 --Select one of the tasks on your list, start a timer, and focus only on the task at hand until is is completed. 

Repeat for each task on your list. If you will practice these three simple steps on a regular basis, it will completely change the way you get things done in life...guaranteed! Take another look at the three simple steps, and then take a minute to allow the structure and purpose behind them to sink in --you'll quickly begin to see the genius in the system. I can say this without bragging, because I didn't invent it --I'm just a true believer because I know how it has impacted my own life.         

      So here's the big question: Why Does It Work So Well? It boils down to fact that it uses these three key elements: An end-result or goal (each of your daily tasks) -Our brains love goals, big or small, because they're built to be goal-seeking machines. Give your brain a goal, and it immediately goes to work finding ways to achieve it. A specific timeframe or deadline (the time you assign each task) -Once your brain has a goal, a deadline is the fuel that motivates it to act! The shorter the deadline, the more revved up your brain gets. Believability (the order and structure of the system) -Instead of surrendering yourself to lackluster results because you see your day as an overwhelming, uncontrollable mess, this system breaks your day down into small, manageable pieces that you actually see yourself getting done with ease. When you believe you can, you will! When these three elements are brought together, the synergy totally transforms the way you psychologically and emotionally look at all the things you have to do. So much so, that after you've used it for a while, you almost feel yourself getting addicted to taking action. I don't know about you, but that's a habit I can definitely live with! 

From <https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2167159001410474137>

Wise Walk

RTTMBROS (REDEEMING THE TIME BROTHERS MINISTIRES)
15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
Eph 5:15-17 KJV
George C. Parker (March 16, 1860[1] – 1936) was an American con man best known for his surprisingly successful attempts to "sell" the Brooklyn Bridge. He made his living conducting illegal sales of property he did not own, often New York's public landmarks, to unwary immigrants. The Brooklyn Bridge was the subject of several of his transactions, predicated on the notion of the buyer controlling access to the bridge. Police removed several of his victims from the bridge as they tried to erect toll booths
Parker used various names as a con man, including James J. O'Brien, Warden Kennedy, Mr. Roberts and Mr. Taylor.
In addition to his Brooklyn Bridge scam, other public landmarks he incorporated into his scams included the original Madison Square Garden, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Grant's Tomb and the Statue of Liberty. Parker had multiple methods for making his sales. When he sold Grant's Tomb, he would often pose as the general's grandson, and he set up a fake office to handle his real estate swindles. He produced convincing forged documents as evidence to suggest that he was the legal owner of whatever property he was selling. He also sold several successful shows and plays, of which he had no legal ownership.[2]
Parker was convicted of fraud three times. After one arrest, around 1908, he escaped the courthouse by calmly walking out after donning a sheriff's hat and coat that had been set down by a sheriff who had walked in from the cold outdoors.[6] After his third conviction on December 17, 1928, he was sentenced to a mandatory life term at Sing Sing Prison by Judge Alonzo G. McLaughlin in the Kings County Court. He spent the last eight years of his life incarcerated there and was popular among guards and fellow inmates who enjoyed hearing of his exploits. Parker is remembered as one of the most successful con men in the history of the United States, as well as one of history's most talented hoaxers. His methods have passed into popular culture, giving rise to phrases such as "and if you believe that, I have a bridge to sell you", to insinuate that someone is gullible

It is vital as believers that we learn to discern. We need to acquire wisdom so we can walk in truth. Wisdom is word based and God given. We learn it from the word of God and ultimately from the God who gave us the Word.

How much time have you spent in God's Word this week?
What verse has God used to speak to you today?
When you study a passage ask SPACE questions. Ask...

Sin. Is there a sin for me to confess mentioned here?

Promise. Is there a promise to claim here?

Attitude. Is there an attitude God wants to develop in me?

Command. Is there a command to obey?

Example. Is there an example for me to follow.

Ask these SPACE questions of your passage from the Bible and it will come alive with practical wisdom and you can learn to discern and not be taken by the cons in this broken old world

Consider Your Way

RTTBROS
I came across this devotional Email one morning last week I have forgoten who sent to to me but I wanted to share it will all of you. Even though it is directed at ministry leaders we could all use some somber consideration of the direction our life is heading.  Buckle up.


"Prov. 14:12: "There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death."

It’s critical to give thought to your ways and where you are headed.

On October 25, 1999, a twin-engine Learjet taxied down the runway in Orlando on its way to Dallas, Texas. Over Gainesville, Florida the plane should have made a left turn and headed toward Texas. But it veered off course toward South Dakota.

Repeated attempts to contact the pilots were met with a deafening silence. Five fighter planes were dispatched to go up and make visual contact with the runaway jet.

Two F-16’s finally were able to pull within fifty feet of the Learjet. The pilots reported they were unable to see inside because its windows were iced over. The plane flew on autopilot for fourteen hundred miles, over a period of four hours, and finally crashed into a grassy field at six hundred miles an hour.

All six passengers were killed—the most famous being professional golfer Payne Stewart.

It was a bizarre and tragic event.

Suppose for a moment you had been standing on the ground as the plane flew overhead in the clear autumn sky. It’s traveling fast and straight, and as far you know it’s on course. The reality, though, is that something was desperately wrong on the inside, and it was headed for disaster.

Many pastors and ministry leaders soar through life at breakneck speed.
They give every outward appearance of being on course, cruising on autopilot. To the onlooker it seems they have it all together, but on the inside there is a crisis brewing. In spite of appearances, they are on a collision course with disaster.

I love this verse because it reminds us of one of the crying needs of pastors today. Solomon said,

“Prov 14:8: "The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way: but the folly of fools is deceit."” (Proverbs 14:8)


If you could plot the trajectory of your soul—your inner life—where is it headed? If your soul stays on the path its on, where will it be five or 10 years from now? Twenty years from now.

A lot of ministry leaders I know are “dead people running.” They’re a flurry of activity, and they’re working hard. But on the inside they’re empty and joyless. Their trajectory has them flying toward burnout and disillusionment.

Andy Stanley says, “Direction, not intention, determines our destination.”

What I often fail to realize is that my life is on a path (direction) headed to a destination. What I am doing today was shaped by what I did yesterday. Who I become tomorrow will be informed by what I do today. And I am writing a scene now that will influence the final scene.

How are you really doing?

As you begin 2020, let me encourage you to spend some time reflecting on the trajectory of your soul.  Start by considering these questions…

How connected do you feel to Jesus these days?

Does your spiritual life feel alive and vibrant?

How would you describe your emotional health?

What would it look like practically to live and lead from a healthy soul?"

After you look inward, assessing how well you’re investing in your personal health, ask yourself this question:

Tale Of The Tardy Ox Cart

RTTBROS.
Tale of the Tardy Ox Cart by Chuck Swindoll gives us a powerful parable about slowing down and spending time with our Father in heaven.
Tale of the tardy ox cart
There was once a fellow who, with his dad, farmed a little piece of land. Several times a year they would load up the old ox-drawn cart with vegetables and go into the nearest city to sell their produce.

Except for their name and the patch of ground, father and son had little in common. The old man believed in taking it easy. The boy was usually in a hurry...the go-getter type.

One morning, very early, they hitched up the ox to the loaded cart and started on the long journey. The son figured if they walked faster, kept going all day and night, they'd make market by early the next morning. So he kept prodding the ox with a stick, urging the beast to go faster.

"Take it easy, son," said the old man. "You'll last longer."

"But if we get to market ahead of the others we'll have a better chance of getting good prices," argued the son.

Four hours and four miles down the road they came to a little house. The father smiled and said, "Here's your uncle's place. Let's stop in and say hello."

"But we've lost an hour already," complained the hot shot.

"Then a few more minutes won't matter. My brother and I live so close, yet we see each other so seldom," the father answered slowly.

The boy fidgeted and fumed while the two old men laughed and talked away an hour. On the move again, the man took his turn leading the ox. As they approached a fork in the road, the father led the ox to the right.

"The left is the shorter way", said the son.

"I know it", replied the old man, "but this way is much prettier."

"Have you no respect for time?" the young man shouted.

"Oh, I respect it very much! That's why I like to use it to look at beauty and enjoy each moment to the fullest."

The winding path led through graceful meadows, wildflowers, and along a rippling stream...all of which the young man missed as he churned within, boiling with anxiety. He didn't even notice how lovely the sunset was that day. Twilight found them in what looked like a huge, colorful garden. The old man breathed in the aroma, listened to the babbling brook, and pulled the ox to a halt.

"Let's sleep here," he sighed.

"This is the last trip I am making with you," snapped the son. "You're more interested in watching sunsets an smelling flowers than making money!"

"Why that's the nicest thing you've said to me in a long time," smiled the dad.

A couple of minutes later he was snoring...as his boy glared back at the stars. The night dragged on slowly, the son was restless. Before sunrise the young man shook his father awake. They hitched up and went on. About a mile down the road they happened upon another farmer..a total stranger...trying to pull his cart out of a ditch.

"Let's give him a hand," whispered the old man.

"And lose more time?" the boy exploded.

"Relax son. You might be in a ditch sometime yourself. We need to help others in need...don't forget that."

The boy looked away in anger. It was almost eight o'clock that morning by the time the other cart was back on the road. Suddenly, a great flash split the sky. What sounded like thunder followed. Beyond the hills, the sky grew dark.

"Looks like a big rain in the city," said the old man.

"If we had hurried, we'd be almost sold out by now," grumbled the son.

"Take it easy, you'll last longer and you'll enjoy life so much more," counseled the kind old gentleman.

It was late afternoon by the time they got to the hill overlooking the city. They stopped and stared down at it for a long, long time. Neither of them said a word. Finally, the young man put his hand on his father's shoulder and said, "I see what you mean, Dad."

They turned their cart around and began to roll slowly away from what had once been the city of Hiroshima.

Will you give the Father in heaven control of the pace of your race?

Can you slow down long enough to enjoy time with the Father?

Are you so consumed with the destination of your life you miss the delights on the way?

Can you take time from your agenda and help those in need around you?

Haggai 1:5-7 King James Version (KJV)

5 Now therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways.

6 Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes.

7 Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways.

King James Version (KJV)

God Of The Second Chance

Jonah 3:1-2: "And the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the second time, saying, Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee."

Football Player Given Second Chance by Coach After Running the Wrong Way

“Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah the second time….” The words “the second time” underscore God’s determination to get his message to the Ninevites and to use Jonah in the process. In other words, Jonah quickly found out that God gives second chances. “On New Year’s Day, 1929, Georgia Tech played University of California in the Rose Bowl. In that game a man named Roy Riegels recovered a fumble for California. Somehow, he became confused and started running 65 yards in the wrong direction. One of his teammates, Benny Lom, ran him down and tackled him just before he scored for the opposing team. When California attempted to punt, Tech blocked the kick and scored a safety which was the ultimate margin of victory.

That strange play came in the first half, and everyone who was watching the game was asking the same question: “What will Coach Nibbs Price do with Roy Riegels in the second half?” The men filed off the field and went into the dressing room. They sat down on the benches and on the floor, all but Riegels. He put his blanket around his shoulders, sat down in a corner, put his face in his hands, and cried like a baby. If you have played football, you know that a coach usually has a great deal to say to his team during half time. That day Coach Price was quiet. No doubt he was trying to decide what to do with Riegels. Then the timekeeper came in and announced that there were three minutes before playing time. Coach Price looked at the team and said simply, “Men the same team that played the first half will start the second.” The players got up and started out, all but Riegels. He did not budge. The coach looked back and called to him again; still he didn’t move. Coach Price went over to where Riegels sat and said, “Roy, didn’t you hear me? The same team that played the first half will start the second.” Then Roy Riegels looked up and his cheeks were wet with a strong man’s tears. “Coach,” he said, “I can’t do it to save my life. I’ve ruined you, I’ve ruined the University of California, and I’ve ruined myself. I couldn’t face that crowd in the stadium to save my life.” Then Coach Price reached out and put his hand on Riegel’s shoulder and said to him: “Roy, get up and go on back; the game is only half over.” And Roy Riegels went back, and those Tech men will tell you that they have never seen a man play football as Roy Riegels played that second half.”

Are you on need of a fresh start?  Turn to God and you can make a U-Turn.
Remember Jesus Words to the Church...
Remember from whence thou art fallen.
Repent.
Return to your first works.

Keep On

Preachers are repetitive creatures. we are even repetitive on purpose sometimes…Ok sometimes we forget we already said something, but on the main we use repetition as a teaching tool, a mnemonic device to aid your memory. Peter ‘fessed up and said the same thing . 

“2Pe 3:1 This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:
2Pe 3:2 That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour:” 

This got me to thinking about what themes I have repeated most in my years as pastor. 

The answer came to me like a flash of lightning on a dark night…. Don’t quit. Never give up. Keep going. I have always wished that God would give me a special prayer that would remove regret, or displace the dark times my people go through. But I don’t have that prayer it seems he reserves that for himself in glory when he will heal our hearts and our hurts completely …..”Rev 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
Rev 21:5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. “

Even though I don’t have that special prayer I have a powerful principal left to me, to help people in crisis 

PERSERVERANCE. Paul put it this way “Php 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
Php 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. “

Press on. Keep going. Hold fast. Be an overcomer. Be more than a conqueror.

I will leave you with the illustration that I have used more then any other, It is called 

the fellowship of the unashamed.

“Romans 1:16 Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek
I am a part of the "Fellowship of the Unashamed." I have the holy spirit's power. The die has been cast, I have stepped over the line, and decision has been made. I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. I will not look back, let up, slow down, back away or be still. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, and my future is secure. I am finished and done with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tame visions, mundane talking, chintzy giving and dwarfed goals.
I no longer need pre-eminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits or popularity. I don't have to be right, first, top, recognized, praised, regarded or rewarded. I now live by the presence, lean by faith, love by patience, lift by prayer and labor by power. My pace is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions few, my Guide is reliable and my mission is clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, deterred, lured away, taken back, diluted or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of adversity, negotiate at the table of the enemy, and ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity.
I won't give up, back up, let up or shut up until I have preached up, prayed up, praised up, stored up and stayed up for the cause of Christ. I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. I will go until He comes, give until I drop, preach until all know and work until He comes. And when He comes back to get His own, He will have no problem recognizing me. My colors will be clear. “

Press on my dear children press o

Don't Be A Brawling Bride

In the parable she entitles, A Brawling Bride, Karen Mains paints a vivid scene, describing a suspenseful moment in a wedding ceremony. Here’s the picture. Down front stands the groom in a spotless tuxedo-handsome, smiling, full of anticipation, shoes shined, every hair in place, anxiously awaiting the presence of his bride. All attendants are in place, looking joyful and attractive. The magical moment finally arrives as the pipe organ reaches full crescendo and the stately wedding march begins. Everyone rises and looks toward the door for their first glimpse of the bride but as they do there is a horrified gasp. The entire wedding party is shocked. The groom stares in embarrassed disbelief. For you see-instead of a lovely woman dressed in elegant white, smiling behind a lace veil, the bride is LIMPING down the aisle. Her dress is SOILED and TORN. Her leg seems TWISTED. Ugly CUTS and BRUISES cover her bare arms. Her nose is BLEEDING, one eye is PURPLE and SWOLLEN, and her hair is DISHEVELED. The author asks, “Does not this handsome Groom deserve BETTER than this?” And then she gives us the clincher as she says: “Alas, His bride, THE CHURCH has been fighting again”

Well this is an accurate illustration of far too many congregations. In fact, the prevalence of dissension like this in the church led one unknown believer to say, “To live above with those we love, oh how that will be glory. To live below with those we know…now that’s another story.”

SOME POWERFUL VERSES ON UNITY

John 13:34 - A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

1 John 4:20 - If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen

1 Peter 4:8 - And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.

1 John 4:7-10 - Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.  

Romans 12:10 - [Be] kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;

1 John 3:18 - My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

Luke 6:31 - And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.

1 John 4:11 - Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

1 John 3:17 - But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels [of compassion] from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

Deuteronomy 6:5 - And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

Romans 13:8 - Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.

SOME POWERFUL QUOTES ON UNITY IN THE CHURCH

"To a true child of God, the invisible bond that unites all believers to Christ is far more tender, and lasting, and precious; and, as we come to recognize and realize that we are all dwelling in one sphere of life in Him, we learn to look on every believer as our brother, in a sense that is infinitely higher than all human relationships. This is the one and only way to bring disciples permanently together. All other plans for promoting the unity of the Church have failed."

- A.T. Pierson

"The Christian community is a community of the cross, for it has been brought into being by the cross, and the focus of its worship is the Lamb once slain, now glorified... ceaselessly offering to God through Christ the sacrifice of our praise and thanksgiving. The Christian life is an unending festival. And the festival we keep, now that our Passover Lamb has been sacrificed for us, is a joyful celebration of his sacrifice, together with a spiritual feasting upon it."

- John Stott

"Where two or three are met together, the prayer of one strikes fire from the soul of another; and the latter in his turn leads the way to nobler heights of devotion. And lo! As their joy increases, there is One in their midst whom they all recognize and cling to. He was there before, but it is only when their hearts begin to burn that they recognize Him; and in a true sense they may be said to bring Him there."

- James Stalker

SOME PRACTICAL UNDERSTANDING TO FOSTER UNITY  

1. We need one focus...Christ.

Eph 4:1  I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, 2  With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;  3  Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.  4  There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;  5  One Lord, one faith, one baptism,  6  One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. 

 when we are focused on Him we are not focusing on the irritations with other people.

2.  We need to walk in two areas...In purity "walk worthy" (v.1) and In love "In love" (v.2)

when we are walking worth we are less likely to be at odds with others and less likely to be offensive ourselves.  When we walk in love we are more likely to treat others like we would like to be treated, that would heal a lot of relationships.

 3. We need four attitudes. Lowliness: the having a humble opinion of one’s self

 a deep sense of one’s (moral) littleness.  Meekness:gentleness, mildness, Longsuffering: patience, endurance, constancy, steadfastness, perseverance. Forbearing: to sustain, to bear, to endure, to put up with one another.

God Allows U-Turns

• Wrong Way Corrigan

Douglas Corrigan (January 22, 1907 – December 9, 1995) was an American aviator born in Galveston, Texas. He was nicknamed "Wrong Way" in 1938. After a transcontinental flight from Long Beach, California, to New York City, he flew from Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn, New York, to Ireland, though his flight plan was filed to return to Long Beach. He claimed his unauthorized flight was due to a navigational error, caused by heavy cloud cover that obscured landmarks and low-light conditions, causing him to misread his compass. However, he was a skilled aircraft mechanic (he was one of the builders of Charles Lindbergh's Spirit of St. Louis) and had made several modifications to his own plane, preparing it for his transatlantic flight. He had been denied permission to make a nonstop flight from New York to Ireland, and his "navigational error" was seen as deliberate. Nevertheless, he never publicly admitted to having flown to Ireland intentionally.

For Americans, who were caught in the midst of the Great Depression, Corrigan’s antic provided a great deal of humor and uplift and he became a national folk hero. To this day, Corrigan’s nickname, “Wrong Way” Corrigan,” remains a stock colloquial phrase in popular culture. People us it to describe anyone who blunders and goes the wrong way, particularly in sporting events.

We so often soar through life at breakneck speed. We give every outward appearance of being on course, cruising on autopilot. To the onlooker it seems we have it all together, but on the inside there is a crisis brewing...we know we are lost.

How are you really doing?

While we are still early in 2020, let me encourage you to spend some time reflecting on the trajectory of your soul.  Start by considering these questions…

How connected do you feel to Jesus these days?

Does your spiritual life feel alive and vibrant?

How would you describe your emotional health

Have you considered your ways?

Haggai 1:5-7 King James Version (KJV)

5 Now therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways.

6 Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes.

7 Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways"

The Prophet is telling us to PAUSE and PONDER our

Lives and our lifestyle.

*Would you want you kids or others you have influence over to imitate your life choices?

*Would those who know you best say you have a godly trajectory in how you live?

Jesus and John The Baptist both came preaching the same message "Repent and Believe for the Kingdom of God is at hand"

That is the best place to start. Get alone and get your heart right with GOD by praying. Lay your hurt and heart bare before The God who made you and knows you best. Trust him to start and bring to completion His work in your life.

Marriage Moment "Wisdom of a Lifetime"

Welcome to Redeeming The Time Brothers Blog,
#Marriage Moment "Wisdom of a Lifetime"
In this Blog, brothers Gene and Norman Kissinger seek to help those who long to belong.

Here is an amazing article i came across recently and I have been putting into practice much of the advice found here.
This will be the first in a series of segments
Designed to promote happy marriages.
I think we will call the segments "marriage moments".

How to Make Love Last - Relationship Advice from 45 Years of Marriage

WRITTEN by MARC CHERNOFF

On a chilly November night 18 years ago…

I would have preferred not to write to you.  In fact, about a week ago, I put a post-it note on my computer monitor that said, “What would Skyman do?” (Skyman is my cat).  It was supposed to remind me not to do things that Skyman wouldn’t do.

Skyman would just wag his tail or wiggle his little nose and hope that whoever he’s wagging or wiggling to understands that he’s hungry, or lonely, or in love, or whatever.  But he certainly wouldn’t write a silly love letter to the coolest girl he knows.  Because he can’t form complex thoughts.  And because he’s smart enough not to be so stupid.

This evening, the post-it note fell off my computer monitor and landed on the floor.  And although post-it notes usually lose their stick after a few days, this one was different.  It was still really sticky and shouldn’t have come unstuck.  And it was light green, which is the color of your eyes.  These were obvious signs I couldn’t ignore.

So, I decided to write to you…  To tell you that Hanging by a Moment is a totally awesome song.  That Diet Coke tastes better when you smile.  And that the world seems slightly easier to understand today than it did yesterday.

But still not as easy to understand as two days ago, when a friend and I shared a three-scoop 5 & Diner ice cream sundae at midnight.  And decided that some people are like hot fudge and others are like hard candy.  And I don’t remember why we decided that.

But it had something to do with friendship.  And ice cream with two spoons instead of one.  And later that night, after I dropped you off, I wanted to call you to ask whether you preferred hard candy or hot fudge, just to find out whether you’d sigh and giggle simultaneously when I’d ask.  Because that’s what I think you’d do.

I didn’t call you because Skyman wouldn’t do that.  He wouldn’t even know how to dial your phone number.  Because a cat’s paws are not nearly as dexterous as human hands.  Which must be nice for Skyman, because love is a lot simpler when you have paws.

Anyway, it’s midnight again.  And I’m sitting up in bed with my laptop thinking about how our lives begin and end in the time it takes the universe to blink.  Which isn’t too long.  But long enough for letters that aren’t too long.  Letters that ramble instead of saying what they want to say.  Which is…

I wish you were here.  Just breathing beside me.

Relationship Advice We’ve Followed Ever Since

When Angel and I were first falling in love—as depicted in the story above—I went to my parent’s house one evening for some much-needed relationship advice.  It just so happened to be my mom and dad’s 27th wedding anniversary the following day, so both of them were eager to reflect on what they had learned from each other and their relationship over the years.  The advice they gave me that evening was truly wise, but even more important was the family ritual born that day.  Every year since—now eighteen years and counting—I’ve pestered my parents (they love it) on their wedding anniversary and asked them for a new relationship tip or two, and I’ve recorded their advice in my journal.

Today, as we near my parent’s 45th wedding anniversary (and as Angel and I continue to celebrate 18 years together), I want to share a cleaned-up, copy-edited version of some of the best relationship advice my mom and dad have dispensed over the years.  Perhaps you will find as much value in their wisdom as Angel and I have…

1.  Stand strong on your own, first.

If your happiness is dependent on the constant validation and approval of your partner, then you are giving away far too much of your power.  It’s human nature to want to be loved and admired, to want to be included, but it’s damaging to your self-esteem and emotional strength if it’s something you have to constantly beg for.

The key is to nurture your own inner strength, then bring it into your relationship.

Think of your relationship as a home you live in.  Whether you like your home or not doesn’t depend on how the furniture is arranged—it’s how you arrange your mind.  You have to decide to love yourself in it, and then radiate this inner love outward.

All the love and validation you need is yours to give yourself.  So the next time you feel pressured to be a people-pleaser, try taking a deep breath and reminding yourself that you don’t owe anyone your constant justification—not even your partner.  Revel in the reality that you get to choose.  You have the authority to decide how to spend your time and energy.  And here’s the real beauty of it: when you don’t owe anyone anything—when you’re self-reliant—you’re free to give and receive love from the heart, without baggage.

Come from this place of wholeness, of inner strength and independence, and then love your partner.  Not because you need them to love you back, not because you’re desperate to be needed, but because loving them is a miraculous thing to do.

2. Maintain a solid foundation of mutual acceptance.

Above all, acceptance means two people agree to disagree with each other on some things, and they’re perfectly okay with it.  Differences of opinion, even major ones, don’t destroy relationships—it’s how people in a relationship deal with their inevitable differences that counts.

Some couples waste years trying to change each other’s minds, but this can’t always be done, because many of their disagreements are rooted in fundamental differences in how they see the world and themselves.  By fighting over these deep-seated differences, all they succeed in doing is wasting their time and running their relationship into the ground.

So how do truly loving couples cope with disagreements that can’t be resolved?  They accept one another as is—they understand that problems are an inevitable part of any long-term relationship, in the same way chronic physical difficulties are inevitable as we grow older and wiser.  These problems are like a weak knee or a bad back—we may not want these problems, but we’re able to cope with them, to avoid situations that irritate them, and to develop strategies that help us ease the pain.  When choosing a long-term partner, you will inevitably be choosing a particular set of unsolvable problems that you’ll be grappling with for the next 10, 20 or 50 years.  And in many ways, that’s a truly beautiful thing.

So just remember that the foundation of love is to let those we care about be unapologetically themselves, and not distort them to fit our own egotistical ideas of who they should be.  And no, you won’t always see things eye to eye, and that’s OK.  Sometimes you just need to choose to be wrong, not because we really are wrong, but because you value your relationship more than your pride.

3.  Be intentional and fully present when communicating.

Your partner is not a mind reader.  Share your thoughts openly.  Give them the information they need rather than expecting them to know it all.  The more that remains unspoken, the greater the risk for problems.  Start communicating clearly.  Don’t try to read their mind, and don’t make them try to read yours.  Most problems, big and small, within a relationship start with broken communication.

Also, don’t listen so you can reply—listen to understand.  Open your ears and mind to your partner’s concerns and opinions without judgment.  Look at things from their perspective as well as your own.  Try to put yourself in their shoes.  Even if you don’t understand exactly where they’re coming from, you can still respect them.  You can still put your phone away, turn your body toward them, and look them squarely in the eyes.  Doing so demonstrates that you actually want to communicate and hear what they have to say.  This reinforces the sort of supportive environment that’s crucial for the growth of love and respect in any relationship.

4.  Face disagreements openly and with positive language.

When disagreements in a relationship arise, the easiest thing to do is to run away, especially if you’re not a confrontational person by nature.  But you have to catch yourself, because this isn’t just about you and whether or not you feel like dealing with your differences.  It’s about what your relationship needs in order to grow and thrive in the long run.  You have to put your relationship’s needs ahead of your own sometimes.  Both people must be committed to dealing with disagreements openly, because running from them will only make matters more difficult to deal with down the road.

On the flipside of running away, you also have to be mindful of how easily a disagreement can snowball into global attacks on your partner, and not on their decisions or behavior.  For example: “They didn’t call me when they said they would because they forgot, but because they’re a horrible, wretched, evil person.”  The difference is easy to discern, right?  So, let’s take a deep breath when we need one, so we can deal with the reality we’re actually facing.

One of the most simple and effective tools people in relationships can use to ease the process of dealing with disagreements is using positive language.  Relationships flourish when two people are able to share their innermost feelings and thoughts in a positive way.  An effective method of doing this during a disagreement is to do your best to avoid using the word “you” and try to use the word “I” instead.  This makes it much easier to express your true feelings while avoiding the possibility of verbally attacking the other person.  So instead of saying, “You are wrong,” try saying, “I don’t understand.”  Instead of telling them, “You always . . .” try saying, “I often feel . . .”  It’s a subtle shift that can make a big difference.

5. Let each other save face.

My grandmother once told me, “When someone you love backs themselves into a corner, look the other way until they get themselves out, and then act as though it never happened.”  Allowing someone to save face in this way, and not reminding them of what they already know is not their most intelligent behavior, is an act of great kindness

6.  Seek, support, and accept personal growth in each other’s lives.

7.  Let love be a daily practice.

And love, ultimately, is a practice—a daily rehearsal of honesty, presence, communication, acceptance, forgiveness, and heartfelt patience.

Sadly, too often we forget the practicing part and we default instead to treating love like it’s a guaranteed destination we can jump to whenever we have time.  We want to arrive at that “perfect” loving feeling in a relationship without putting in the work.  And when it doesn’t work out that way, we assume the relationship itself is broken.  But this is missing the whole point of a relationship—and the whole point of love.