WISDOM KEYS FOR ACHIEVING 'MAXIMUM YOU'

WISDOM KEYS FOR ACHIEVING ‘MAXIMUM YOU’

ALL of us occasionally need new information and inspiration to motivate and mobilize our next steps. I read some insightful perspectives on personal achievement, authored by Professor Daniel J. Yovich.  They should prove beneficial so I’ll share with you:

The starting point to personal achievement and self-actualization begins with definitive purpose, coupled with a burning desire for achievement.  Equally important is accurate thinking and timely planning.

General background knowledge is important.  The person who has a broad knowledge of many fields and an abundance of cumulative experience can come up with new, significant and creative ideas much easier and more rapidly than the individual with specialized knowledge in only one field.

Collect and file notes, clippings, and ideas that seem interesting, provocative and original.  Ask yourself, “How might I be able to use or improve on this or that?”

Participate freely in hobbies and engaging activities.  Read at least one book every month.

Travel!  There is a big learning experience out there, and it need not be expensive or international.

Continually ask “Why?”  “How come?” and “Who says so?”  Then ask again and again!  So-called ‘dumb questions’ are often penetrating questions in disguise.

Avoid rigid, set patterns of doing things.  Go on retreats, or simply choose to meet new people.

Be open and receptive to your hunches as well as to others’ ideas.  Ideas can be fleeting and fragile.  Listen positively to them and jot them down in an idea book or journal.

Stop...look...and pause!  In other words, pay attention to yourself, to others and the things around you.  This is how we continually learn.

Adopt a “let’s try it attitude!”  All of history’s big ideas and breakthroughs originally were risks.

Polish your self-image until it says YOU are important!  No matter what we are thinking or feeling (positively or negatively) it comes across loudly and clearly.

Choose to be bold, courageous and curious.  Weak people seldom accomplish things of significance.

Carefully sift fact from opinions and assumptions.  This is vital.

The world seems to tolerate mediocrity.  Choose to be a winner!  An innovator!  An explorer!  There is room at the top for everyone.

Laugh freely and often.  Consider this: “Life is a bubble...so why worry and trouble?”  Overly serious people are often ‘bores’ in disguise.

Think BIG!  It takes the same amount of energy and effort to think “BIG” as it does to think “small.”

It doesn’t really matter where you’re from or what education you possess.  Rather, it is “what you do” and “how you do it” that really counts!

If people say, “it can't be done,” ask them...“What have YOU done up to this point that qualifies you to say it can’t be done?”

Reflect on Isaiah 43:18-19, “Remember not the events of the past, the things of long ago consider not; see, I am doing something new!”

Our sincere thanks to Professor Yovich for sharing such cogent and relevant thoughts!  

In closing, one of the late Texas bishops spoke the following sage words about the actions and attitudes of so many people: “They want to be BIG so bad…but LITTLE is eating them up!”  WOW!  Friends, why not allow the Holy Spirit to elevate our thinking and doing?  In the process, we  must carefully examine and evaluate our motives.  In the words of Solomon, “Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life.” (Proverbs 4:23)

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

GROWTH EMBRACES RISK...A.K.A. FAITH

GROWTH EMBRACES RISK…A.K.A. FAITH

In the end, it is far more costly to take a risk and do something, than to be ultra-conservative and ultra-careful, ultimately opting to do nothing.  The former decision is founded in faith; the latter is rooted in anxiety and fear.  President John F. Kennedy wrote, “There are risks and costs to action.  But they are far less than the long-range risks of comfortable inaction.”  President Theodore Roosevelt remarked (in an original quote often erroneously accredited to President Kennedy), “Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure…than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much, because they live in a gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat.”

Jesus Christ set forth a parable to elaborate on the danger of procrastination, which is simply the product of fear.  He spoke of three people who received varying talents: five, two and one.  The first two stewards were commended for cultivating their gifts, i.e. utilizing them wisely so that they (and their lord) would receive an expected return on investment.  The man who received one talent not only devalued it, but he foolishly hid it in the earth, opting to do nothing with the great opportunity which had been afforded him.  At the return of his lord, this steward’s report was so revealing and tragic: “I was afraid, and went and hid they talent in the earth…”  Because this man took no risks, he received no positive reward.  His lord ultimately described him as “an unprofitable servant” and he was dispatched post-haste into perdition. (Matthew 25:14:30)

The following story is reminiscent of Jesus’ parable of the talents.

Two seeds lay side by side in the fertile soil.

The first seed said, “I want to grow!  I want to send my roots deep into the soil beneath me, and thrust my sprouts through the earth’s crust above me.  I want to unfurl my tender buds like banners to announce the arrival of spring.  I want to feel the warmth of the sun on my face and the blessing of the morning dew on my petals!”

And so she grew...

The second seed said, “Hmm.  If I send my roots into the ground below, I don’t know what I will encounter in the darkness.  If I push my way through the hard soil above me, I may damage my delicate sprouts.  What if I let my buds open up and an insect tries to eat them?  If I were to open my blossoms, a small child may pull me out of the ground.  No, it is much better for me to wait until it is safe.”

And so she waited...

In the early spring, a yard hen scratching around in the ground for food found this waiting seed and promptly ate it.

My friend, there is a terribly high cost for delay.

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

LITERALLY YOURS

LITERALLY YOURS

The Word of God is living.  Like God Himself, the Word is active, immutable [unchangeable], and will never ever fail.  The thing I love most about our God is the fact that we may totally depend upon His Word. According to Jesus Christ, who is “the author and finisher” of our faith, “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.” (Hebrews 12:2 and Matthew 24:35) After all is said and done, we can take God (quite literally) at His Word.

Some time ago, a man of simple faith had a serious stomach malady.  Day and night, he wrestled with debilitating pain.  As a result, rest eluded him, and sleep was practically impossible…until he heard a Word.

His pastor’s Sunday morning text was found in one of the so-called “minor prophets” of the Old Testament. In it, this sick man (who continually experienced sharp abdominal pains throughout the service) received a powerful Word of confirmation for total healing.  In fact, it was quite a literal interpretation of the scripture:

Zephaniah 3:17

The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.

This sick man was no theologian.  He had no academic credentials.  He did not even know where to locate the book of Zephaniah in his Bible…but he simply believed GOD.  And when he heard the pastor proclaim that GOD is mighty “in the midst of thee,” he said to himself, ‘if GOD is there…in the MIDST [the middle] of my body, then I must already be healed, in spite of what my symptoms are telling me.’   So, while he was caught in the throes of excruciating pain, the sick man jumped out of his seat and declared loudly, “GOD IS IN THE MIDST OF ME…AND I AM HEALED!”

The congregation stared at him.  Some smiled; others chuckled.  Nevertheless, because he acted in simple faith on what God had literally said, he received an immediate fulfillment of His promises.  After all, our faith is actually “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1)

While some of us might be tempted look upon this man’s literal interpretation of the scriptures with eyes of skepticism and doubt, he did receive a healing solution for a chronic condition.  Question: ‘Is your rational mind, your intellect, or your reasoning capacity hindering YOU in any way from receiving God’s best?’  If so, prayerfully consider the following:

II Corinthians 10:4-5

For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;

Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. 

If you can only believe, God’s Word will work – quite literally – for YOU.  “Jesus said unto him, If you can believe, all things are possible to him that believes.” (Mark 9:23)  So…ALL OF GOD’S PROMISES are LITERALLY YOURS.

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

THE PRECIOUS GIFT OF TIME

THE PRECIOUS GIFT OF TIME

I read an intriguing on-line advertisement by the Prudential Insurance Company, entitled “I’ll Do It Later.”  Their ad focuses on the lost time and opportunity that results from procrastination.  It even contains a procrastination calculator which you can access at http://www.bringyourchallenges.com/ill-do-it-later.  This calculator reveals that (on average) someone at my age has spent approximately 5.6 years of their life putting things off until tomorrow…procrastinating!  It really caused me to reflect and think.

What’s even more fascinating is the list of things I might have achieved during my ‘lost’ 5.6 years.  For example, during my theoretical 5.6 years of procrastination, I could have knitted 1.18 sweaters for the gigantic Statue of Liberty (or) I could have taken a 240,000 mile ‘road trip’ to the moon 168 times (or) I could have made and consumed 978,200 cups of tea (or) I could have received 4.5 masters degrees (or) I could have climbed Mt. Everest 389 times (or) I could have painted the Sistine Chapel 1.29 times.  Hmmm…

There is a very wise axiom, attributed to Edward Young in the 17^th century, which warns against the inherent danger in delay.  “Procrastination is the thief of time,” Young wrote.  Nevertheless, the prayerful insights of the Psalmist David predate that sage saying.  King David’s plea to GOD was profoundly simple: “Teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.” (Psalm 90:12) 

So…what are YOU doing about YOUR DREAMS…YOUR GOALS…and YOUR GOD-GIVEN GIFTS?  Are you in hot pursuit, or are you simply procrastinating?  Could it be possible that you are paralyzed or stuck in ‘SOMEDAY SYNDROME?’  Consider the fact that cemeteries are the wealthiest plots of potential on Planet Earth – for within their gates sleep multiplied millions of unrealized hopes, undeveloped relationships, unwritten books, undiscovered inventions and unfulfilled dreams!

What are YOU doing to make sure YOUR STORY does not culminate in incompletion?  Think about it!  Prayerfully gather all of your resources: your will, your knowledge, your experience, your education, your energy, your funds, your grit, your determination, your family and friends…and before the sun sets today, PLUG INTO THE WISDOM OF GOD and start making it happen!

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING.  Maranatha!

WHO'S DRIVING?

WHO’S DRIVING?

Is the vehicle of your life being operated or navigated by popular opinions, traditions, or customs?  Are you accelerating or decelerating at the will or whim of someone who neither owns your ‘car,’ nor possesses a license to drive?  If you need to adjust your course or change your lane, are you ready, willing and able to do so…or are you stuck in the inertia and momentum of prior trips and past experiences?  

Do you have sufficient fuel to make it to your destination…or are you currently running on fumes?  Has your life retained the requisite insurance coverage in the event of unforeseen accidents or incidents? 

My friends, you already know WHO should be driving your vehicle.  So be sure to mute the voice of every ‘back-seat driver’ (including your own) and give HIM ultimate control.  Your journey will be abundantly fulfilling and blessed – and your ultimate destination?  Well, you know…

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

THE VALUE AND BEAUTY OF DIVERSITY

THE VALUE AND BEAUTY OF DIVERSITY

Our Creator did not choose to use a cookie-cutter approach when designing the universe, and most especially in His engineering of us.  Difference is artfully woven in the fabric of our life experiences and in everything we see.  Therefore, there must be inherent value in diversity.  So we must learn to listen attentively to voices dissimilar from our own and resolve to purposefully absorb life wisdom from others.  We will surely grow as a result.  The following story is actually a fable, but there is definite truth in it, so kindly read and carefully consider. 

Once upon a time all the colors of the world started to quarrel.  All claimed that they were the best, the most important, the most useful, the favorite.

Green said:
“Clearly I am the most important.  I am the sign of life and hope.  I was chosen for grass, trees and leaves. Without me, all animals would die.  Look over the countryside and you will see that I am in the majority.”

Blue interrupted:
“You only think about the earth, but consider the sky and the sea.  It is water that is the basis of life and it is drawn up by the clouds from the deep sea.  The blue sky offers space and peace and serenity.  Without my peace, you would all be nothing.”

Yellow chuckled:
“You are all so serious.  I bring laughter, gaiety, and warmth into the world.  The sun is yellow, the moon is yellow, the stars are yellow.  Every time you look at a sunflower, the whole world starts to smile.  Without me there would be no joy.”

Orange started next to blow her trumpet:
“I am the color of health and strength.  I may be scarce, but I am precious for I serve the needs of human life.  I carry the most important vitamins.  Think of carrots, pumpkins, oranges, mangoes, and papayas.  I don't hang around all the time, but when I fill the sky at sunrise or sunset, my beauty is so striking that no one gives another thought about any of you.”

Red could stand it no longer so he shouted out:
“I am the ruler of all of you.  I am blood – life’s irreplaceable blood!  I am the color of both danger and bravery.  I am willing to fight for a cause.  I bring fire into the blood.  Without me, the earth would be as empty as the moon.  I am the color of passion and love, the red rose, the poinsettia, the poppy.”

Purple rose up to his full height:
He was very tall and spoke with great pomp: “I am the color of royalty and power.  Kings, chiefs, and bishops have always chosen me for I am the sign of authority and wisdom.  People do not question me!  They listen and obey.”

And so the colors went on boasting, each convinced of his or her own superiority.  Their quarreling became louder and louder.  Suddenly there was a startling flash of bright lightning and the thunder rolled and boomed.  Rain started to pour down relentlessly.  The colors crouched down in fear, drawing close to one another for comfort.

In the midst of the clamor, the rain began to speak:
“You foolish colors, fighting amongst yourselves, each trying desperately to best and dominate the rest. Don't you know that you were each made for a special purpose, unique and different?  Join hands with one another and come to me.”

Doing as they were told, the colors united and joined hands.

The rain continued:
“From now on, when it rains, each of you will stretch across the sky in a great bow of color as a reminder that you can all live together in peace.  The unity in your beautiful rainbow will be a sign of hope.”

So whenever a good rain washes the world, and a rainbow appears in the sky, let us remember to appreciate one another.

It's only an allegory, but it contains absolute gospel truth.

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

GOD'S WORD FIRST

GOD’S WORD FIRST

Jesus Christ, “the Author and Finisher of our faith,” admonishes us to “seek first the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness.” (Hebrews 12:2 and Matthew 6:33)  Our access into the Kingdom “highway” is revealed through the Word of God. (Isaiah 35:8)  Jesus, Himself, declares that “Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.” (Mark 13:31)  Therefore, the initial thought and activity of each day should be reading and meditating on The Word.  It goes without saying that prayer is an indispensable prerequisite to processing, interpreting, understanding and retaining Kingdom truth. (Luke 18:1)

The longest chapter in the Holy Bible is Psalm 119.  Its focus is the centrality of The Word in our covenant and communion with Christ.  I have reprinted selected verses below for your prayerful consideration.

Psalm 119 [Selected Verses]

¹⁰ With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.

¹¹ Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

¹⁶ I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.

¹⁷ Deal bountifully with thy servant, that I may live, and keep thy word.

¹⁸ Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.

²⁴ Thy testimonies also are my delight and my counselors.

³³ Teach me, O Lord, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end.

³⁴ Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart.

⁴⁹ Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope.

⁵⁹ I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies.

⁶⁰ I made haste, and delayed not to keep thy commandments.

⁶⁶ Teach me good judgment and knowledge: for I have believed thy commandments.

⁷² The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver.

⁸⁹ Forever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven.

⁹⁰ Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: thou hast established the earth, and it abideth.

⁹⁷ O how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.

⁹⁸ Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me.

⁹⁹ I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation.

¹⁰¹ I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word.

¹⁰³ How sweet are thy words unto my taste! Yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!

¹⁰⁴ Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.

¹⁰⁵ Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

¹¹¹ Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage forever: for they are the rejoicing of my heart.

¹¹⁴ Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word.

¹²⁵ I am thy servant; give me understanding, that I may know thy testimonies.

¹²⁷ Therefore I love thy commandments above gold; yea, above fine gold.

¹²⁸ Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way.

¹³⁰ The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.

¹³³ Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.

¹³⁷ Righteous art thou, O Lord, and upright are thy judgments.

¹⁴⁰ Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it.

¹⁴³ Trouble and anguish have taken hold on me: yet thy commandments are my delights.

¹⁴⁴ The righteousness of thy testimonies is everlasting: give me understanding, and I shall live.

¹⁵⁶ Great are thy tender mercies, O Lord: quicken me according to thy judgments.

¹⁶⁰ Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth forever.

¹⁶⁴ Seven times a day do I praise thee because of thy righteous judgments.

¹⁶⁵ Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.

¹⁷² My tongue shall speak of thy word: for all thy commandments are righteousness. 

My friends, we should never major-on-minors; we will always major-on-majors…so FIRST THINGS FIRST!  GOD’S WORD equips and enables us to “walk by faith, not by sight.” (II Corinthians 5:7) So, instead of being deceived and misguided by sensory perceptions or popular perspectives, we will learn to completely rely on eternal truth.  At the dawning of every day, we will resolve to allow THE WORD OF GOD to be our pilot and compass to safely navigate the uncharted seas of unknown life events.

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

WHEN GOD SEEMS SLOW

WHEN GOD SEEMS SLOW

Waiting is challenging for most of us.  What do we do when we feel assured that we have fulfilled all the applicable requirements of The Word…and GOD appears to have pushed the pause button?  Sisters and brothers, what do we do?  As always, we have definite alternatives, some good, some not so.

We can opt to purposely plunge ourselves into a deep sense of frustration, emotionally taking GOD to task for being A.W.O.L. (absent without leave) during our perceived moments of need. Alternatively, we can assume a somewhat self-righteous and arrogant posture, patting ourselves on the back for at least holding up our end of the covenant agreement with God.  Or, we could make a far better choice: the conscious decision to trust that GOD knows exactly what He is doing, in and around our lives.

Friends, how do you choose to react during those times when answers to prayers seem to be hindered, or, at best, delayed beyond the scope of your personal expectations, finite logic, or limited understanding of the big picture?  One of the things that I love best about God is that ‘HE GETS IT!’  In other words, HE is the “only wise God” Who foresees the end from the beginning, Who is always in tune (and in control) with what is going on behind the scenes, Who is (get this) arranging and re-arranging the affairs of the universe to meet the smallest needs of His children. (Romans 16:27 – I Timothy 1:17 – Jude 1:25)  WOW!  What an immeasurably caring, compassionate, loving and mighty GOD we are privileged to serve!

Here’s the thing, though.  The Word clearly teaches that we “have need of patience, that, after [we] have done the will of God, [we] might receive the promise.” (Hebrews 10:36)  Hence, the level of patience we practice is an indispensable component and accurate predictor of our end results.  The Apostle James admonishes us to “let patience have her perfect work, that [we] may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” (James 1:4)  It seems that our completeness in Christ and our success in this earthly realm are inextricably tied to our willingness to exercise patience.  Jesus Christ, Himself, declared this: “In your patience possess ye your souls.” (Luke 21:19)

Precisely what IS patience?  In a word, patience is the elapsed time between your call and God’s response.  God declares that YOU have every right to “call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.” (Psalm 50:15)  However, Your call is placed within the context of time, or “kronos.”  On the other hand, God’s answer is issued out of the context of eternity, or “kairos.”  Bottom-line: We human beings do not always know what needs to be done, how it should be done, or when it should be done, i.e. the optimal existential moment in which maximum positive results may be achieved.  So…we have to wait.

Be assured of one thing.  God does not use caller I.D.  He has need of such mundane technological devices.  To wit, the fact that GOD does not always answer your call immediately in no way indicates a lack of divine awareness, compassion, or concern.  However, there are some forms of human static that hinder prayer signals and diminish receptivity.  The Apostle Peter warns us husbands to honor our wives, that our “prayers be not hindered.” (I Peter 3:7)  Another example: If we stand in relational opposition with another person, we are instructed to “leave…[our] gift before the altar…first be reconciled to [our] brother, and then come and offer [our] gift.” (Matthew 5:24)

In the absence of any self-imposed barriers to communication with the Throne of Grace, it becomes all about trusting GOD enough…and loving GOD enough…to WAIT.  We must wait proactively, not passively, thoroughly engaged in Kingdom business while living in faithful expectation of answered prayer.  Trust me on this one: GOD IS NEVER SLOW!  We just don’t always know…what GOD is up to!  So wait, sisters and brothers, and be ultimately blessed!

Psalm 27:14

Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord. 

Isaiah 40:31

But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

TRUST GOD...HE'S GOT YOU!

TRUST GOD…HE’S GOT YOU!

Believers can always depend upon the providence and provision of God.  Case in point: Once a young Christian named Brenda was invited by friends to go rock climbing.  Despite the fact that she had never climbed any farther than out of her bed in the morning, Brenda decided to face her fear and accept the invitation of her persuasive friends to quite literally go where she had never gone before.

As the group of friends approached the massive granite cliff, Brenda’s fear of heights kicked in; nevertheless she gamely donned her climbing gear, secured her rope, and started to scale the face of the rocky cliff. Finally, they reached a ledge where she could pause to rest and regroup.  However, while suspended on the ledge of the cliff, Brenda’s safety rope snapped and struck her in the eye, dislodging her contact lens.

So there she was, completely gripped by fear and hanging precariously on a rocky ledge, with hundreds of feet below and hundreds of feet yet to ascend.  Brenda looked and looked, hoping to find her contact lens on that ledge, but could not find it.  Panic rose in her throat; Brenda felt so far away from home and safety.  To make matters worse, her eyesight was extremely blurry without the lens.  Growing more desperate by the moment, Brenda looked Heavenward and prayed to the Lord for help to remain calm and find her missing contact lens.

After a few moments, Brenda conquered her fear and soon made it to the top of the granite cliff.  Once there, her friends examined her eye and her clothing, but the lens was nowhere to be found.  As Brenda looked out at the range of hills and mountains surrounding them, she recalled a scripture verse: “The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong.” (II Chronicles 16:9)  She thought prayerfully to herself, “Lord, YOU see all of these mountains.  YOU know every rock and every stone, exactly where my contact lens is, so please help me.”

Later on, as they descended a back trail to the bottom, they met a party of climbers who had recently completed their climb.  One of them shouted out, “Hey you guys!  Anybody lose a contact lens?”  It was startling enough that this climber had actually found Brenda’s tiny lens among all the dirt and rocks on the cliff, but how he discovered the lens was even more incredible.  A tiny ant was moving slowly across the face of the rocky cliff…carrying Brenda’s contact lens on its back!  WOW!

Brenda’s father was a Christian cartoonist.  When she shared her phenomenal testimony about the missing contact lens, the ant, and the prayer, he drew a cartoon picture of the tiny ant lugging the contact lens on its back.  Underneath the picture, he wrote this powerful faith caption: “Lord, I don’t know WHY you want me to carry this heavy thing.  I can’t eat it, I don’t know what it is and it’s awfully heavy.  But if YOU want me to carry it, I’ll do it…for YOU!” 

Never ever forget: Wherever God guides…God provides.  One of my favorite Bible passages (Proverbs 3:5-6) was inscribed on a porcelain plaque that hung on the dining room wall in the home of my youth.  It stays with me every single day.  “Trust in THE LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”  Whenever you cannot trace God’s hand, trust God’s heart.  TRUST GOD…BECAUSE HE’S GOT YOU!

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING.  Maranatha!