Don't be foolish

Proverbs 1:32 (ESV)

For the simple are killed by their turning away,

    and the complacency of fools destroys them.

"Wayward" is an old word we don't use much. In the Bible, the wayward people Solomon refers to are the simple people who turn away from God, and how doing so will kill them. Solomon also says that being complacent (being happy with not trying to do your best or achieve a higher level) will destroy them. Kill and destroy what? Kill and destroy your dreams, your future, what God has lined up for you to do, all because you wanted to take it easy. It's important that you try your hardest. As they say, "aim for the stars". Don't be foolish and risk destroying what God designed for your life. The key in the verse is that if you're not wayward, meaning that you focus on God and what God has for you, then you can't be complacent because God won't allow you to be so.

Look at what you have done in the last few days, or better yet, what you haven't done. Ask yourself why you have, or have not, done what you needed to do. Stop being at ease with where you are, and reach for something higher and better. This may cause you to have to cut off friends that are not trying to grow because being friends with them may be holding you back.

Dear Lord, please help us today to live in a no-foolish way. Help us to push our self to do what we thought we couldn't do in school, at home, on our job, everywhere. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Are you doing your very best?

Colossians 3:23-24 (ESV) 

23 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.

As I lay here and do a lot of recovering from the back surgery I had late last week. As another baseball season wraps up I found an interesting story about doing your very best.

Keith Hernandez is one of baseball's top players. He is a lifetime .300 hitter who has won numerous Golden Glove awards for excellence in fielding. He's won a batting championship for having the highest average, the Most Valuable Player award in his league, and even the World Series. Yet with all his accomplishments, he has missed out on something crucially important to him -- his father's acceptance and recognition that what he has accomplished is valuable. Listen to what he had to say in a very candid interview about his relationship with his father: "One day Keith asked his father, 'Dad, I have a lifetime 300 batting average. What more do you want?' His father replied, 'But someday you're going to look back and say, "I could have done more."'"

Are you giving your very best?

Dear Lord, we pray today that we would each give our very best.  Help us to not sit back and rest on our accomplishments of the past but to keep pushing forward, bringing honor to Your name in all things. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

Build with care

1 Corinthians 3:10 (ESV)

According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it.

An elderly carpenter was ready to retire. His contractor was sorry to see such a good employee go, and asked him if he would build just one last house as a personal favor. The carpenter agreed but his heart was not in it. He resorted to bad workmanship and using cheap materials.

When the carpenter finished his work, the contractor came over and handed the front-door key to the carpenter. "I appreciate all the hard work you’ve done for me all these years and I’d like you to have this house as a token of my gratitude.”

The carpenter was shocked! If only he had only known he was building his own house, he would have worked much harder! Now he owned a house that wasn’t built very well.

We should think of ourselves as carpenters and our lives here on earth, as our house. Each day we hammer a nail, place a board, or erect a wall, we must build with care! It is the only life we will ever build. And what we do here will count for eternity!

Our lives today are the result of our attitudes and choices in the past. Our lives tomorrow will be the result of our attitudes and the choices we make today! Let’s build to the best of our ability. 

Dear Lord, we pray today that we would take what you have given to use and do our very best to build the life You have for us. IN the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

Learning From The Master

2 Timothy 2:15 (NIV)

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

Once upon a time there lived a great painter. His paintings were liked by one and all. The King of the state had also honored him with the state award for excellence.

The painter was known to all his fans as "Rangacharya" [ which means as master of colors in Hindi ], affectionately called as "Ranga Guruji". Ranga had developed a distinct painting style over the years which was a testimony of his excellence in this field. His hard work, commitment and dedication for the subject was an example for many to follow.

Ranga had opened an Arts School where he use to teach the finer aspect of his art to his chosen disciples. There was no fixed course curriculum or duration at this school. Ranga use to declare a pupil qualified in Arts only after he was fully satisfied about the skill & knowledge acquired by him. He had devised his own methods of assessment, which were quite unique like his style of painting.

Rajeev a student of Ranga's Arts School was a man in a hurry. He had a gifted hand and had progressed much faster than the other students through sheer hard work, dedication, and imagination. Ranga also was very pleased with Rajeev's progress. Having earned lot of praise and appreciation for his work, Rajeev was anxiously waiting for the day when Ranga Guruji would declare him qualified and he could begin his journey as an artist.

One day, he very politely asked Ranga Guruji how soon he would be able to take the final qualifying examination. Ranga smiled and said " Rajeev, you are one of my most promising and favorite students. You have done well in learning all aspects of the art of painting in a very short period. I think it's time you should take the final test."

"Kindly advise me what is my test assignment, Guruji ?" it was difficult for Rajeev to hide his happiness and eagerness.

Ranga said " Rajeev , I want you to prepare a painting, that could be termed as your best painting and which would win every one's heart. Take your own time and create a real masterpiece."

Rajeev worked day and night for many days, prepared one of his best paintings and submitted it to Ranga Guruji.

Ranga advised “Now, take it to the main square of the town and put it on a public display. Let the people see your work. Write below the painting in bold letters that the work is being displayed for public evaluation and that the artist would feel obliged if any of the viewers could point out any mistakes in the painting by putting a "X" mark on it"

Rajeev did exactly as advised by Ranga Guruji. He displayed the work at a prominent spot at the main square of the town with the message for everyone to see.

A couple of days later Ranga asked Rajeev to get the painting for assessment. Rajeev was very excited on his way to the main square, but got very disappointed to find that the art work was badly defaced with "X" marks all over it. His disqualification looked imminent as he started for the school. Rajeev showed the painting to Guruji with a very heavy heart. But Ranga was very calm and composed. He advised Rajeev not to get disheartened and make another attempt.

Rajeev made another masterpiece and Ranga reiterated his earlier instructions but with a little difference in the bottom line. This time he asked Rajeev to also place a set of Paints and Brushes at the site. The message requested the viewers to find mistakes and also correct them with the help of the painting material.

A couple of days later when Rajeev reached the main square to collect the painting, he was pleasantly surprised to find that not a single mistake was found in his work as the painting material was lying in one corner untouched. Rajeev was brimming with confidence and joy as he presented the painting to his Guru. Ranga smiled again and said " Rajeev, your training is complete in all respects now with the last lesson you have learned today."

Rajeev was listening with great attention as Ranga continued " My dear son, it is not enough to master the art alone, if you aspire to attain greatness & excellence in this field. It is necessary for you to also learn that people generally tend to be evaluative on the first available opportunity even if they do not know anything about it. If you take the world to be your judge, you would always be disappointed. People tend to make judgments, pass remarks on others without any authenticity and seriousness. People filled your first painting with "X" marks as they had nothing at stake in doing so. Most of them were arguably not equipped with the skill or knowledge to evaluate your work. But still they made ample use of the opportunity that came their way. But when the same people were asked to not only evaluate, find mistakes but also to correct them, none of them came forward. This time their own knowledge & skills were at stake. They did not dare to bare the lack of either of these. So they chose to stay away."

Ranga continued " So my dear boy, your work, your skills, your knowledge, your investment in the field of Art is a precious product of your hard work and sincere efforts. Do not offer it to the world for free. It would otherwise be treated the way your first painting was treated"

“Be your own judge and trade your virtues with the world for an equitable and fair consideration. I assure you that you would never be disappointed with yourself or your work."

“Last but not the least, it would also mean that you will not be judgmental about other's work too!”

"May God bless you, my child!”

Rajeev had tears of respect & joy in his eyes. He knew it deep in his heart that his training and education would have been incomplete without this last lesson that he learned today.

Dear Lord, Help us to study hard and do our very best in all that we do. Help us let You be the judge not those around us. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

2013 Baseball All Star Game

2 Timothy 2:15 (NIV)

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

As some of the best baseball players take the field tonight in the annual  All Star game I wanted to share this story.

Dave Bosewell tells a story about Earl Weaver, former manager of the Baltimore Orioles. Sports fans will enjoy how he handled star Reggie Jackson.

Weaver had a rule that no one could steal a base unless given the steal sign. This upset Jackson because he felt he knew the pitchers and catchers well enough to judge who he could and could not steal off of. So one game he decided to steal without a sign.

He got a good jump off the pitcher and easily beat the throw to second base. As he shook the dirt off his uniform, Jackson smiled with delight, feeling he had vindicated his judgment to his manager.

Later Weaver took Jackson aside and explained why he hadn't given the steal sign. First, the next batter was Lee May, his best power hitter other than Jackson. When Jackson stole second, first base was left open, so the other team walked May intentionally, taking the bat out of his hands.

Second, the following batter hadn't been strong against that pitcher, so Weaver felt he had to send up a pinch hitter to try to drive in the men on base. That left Weaver without bench strength later in the game when he needed it.

The problem was, Jackson saw only his relationship to the pitcher and catcher. Weaver was watching the whole game. We, too, see only so far, but God sees the bigger picture. When he sends us a signal, it's wise to obey, no matter what we may think WE know.

Dear Lord , we thank You that You know the bigger picture. Help us trust in You for all things. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

No Hopeless Situations

Colossians 3:23 (NIV)

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.

Dinah Shore said, "There are no hopeless situations -- only people who are hopeless about them." Case in point: Morgan Rowe. Some 30 years ago, when he was only 11 years old, he lost his left arm and much of the use of his right arm. It happened when he fell off a tractor at his father's fence company in Valdosta, Georgia, and was dragged beneath the machine. Morgan's left arm was destroyed and his right, mangled.

Young Morgan was released from the hospital after three-and-a-half months. The first thing he set out to do was to help pay the bills -- $30,000 worth. That was a lot of money back then as it is now. For a boy of 11 to accomplish such a task, the situation seemed hopeless.

For five years Morgan scoured roadsides picking up cans and bottles. He collected thousands of cans and collected and sold newspapers. He never gave up hope. First, he paid off the $455 ambulance bill. Then he put $2,500 down on the hospital bill. He was still a long way off though his parents raised another $9,000 toward the debt.

People began to hear about the injured boy and eventually some 2,000 donations poured in, totaling $25,000. The bill was paid in full! Morgan set aside the additional money for future education.

What then? Though the bill was paid up, Morgan kept his projects going to collect money for the hospital so he could help others.

Someone forgot to tell the boy he was too injured for that kind of work. Someone neglected to inform him that the situation was hopeless. Somehow young Morgan didn't realize that an 11-year-old boy could never pay off a hospital bill so large.

Martin Luther once said, "Everything that is done in the world is done by the hopeful." No matter your age. No matter your circumstances. No matter your financial wealth. Without hope, nothing is possible. But with hope...well...watch out!

Why not take Morgan’s example and work hard toward the projects that are before each of us. Doing our best to bring honor to God in all that we do.

Dear Lord, we pray that we would have the strength to accomplish the things that are before us. Help us work hard in all things that we do. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Doing Your Best

Ecclesiastes 9:10 (New International Version)

Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the realm of the dead, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom.

"Okay, from the beginning!" he said and the small town orchestra played from their big town souls and filled the auditorium with love.

"How much longer do you think you can do this?" he was asked one day at rehearsal.

He's thought about that enough recently that he was quick to answer.

"Until the last song plays in my heart," he replied smiling.

It's been an issue of sorts in recent years. Jack has conducted that orchestra for more years than most can remember. It's an issue because there's a few younger folks who would love a chance at it, too.

"The only reason I've stayed here in this town this long is to have a chance to conduct the orchestra. If I move to any of the bigger cities I better have some experience or they wouldn't even consider me," Jessie said. "But there's no reason to wait any longer. Jack will never stop."

I don't know if anyone had ever approached him about this. I mean who'd want to even bring it up?

"From the beginning," Jack said as he raised his baton. It was the way he started each piece.

"From the beginning. That's how long he's been here," Jessie said quietly to his friend.

"And until the very end," his friend added.

They had practiced their music for the big show three times a week for months.

"Everybody attends, you know. It's almost expected," Millie told one of her customers at the beauty parlor.

So it was. The big night arrived and the auditorium was filled.

"Standing room only!" the usher shouted to the crowd just outside the doors.

"But they don't mind. They've stood before. It's certainly worth it all. For this was the big event in town. The night of the "Summertime Ball."

Everyone was waiting as the musicians took their places.

"Where's Jack?" one member asked.

"He'll be here. Don't you worry," Jessie said sarcastically.

But the 7:00 curtain call was just a few minutes away.

"You better call his house. He's never late like this."

Just then a young girl entered from the back of the auditorium. She was sobbing, nearly breathless as she walked toward the stage.

"It's Jack...he's...Jack asked me to tell you that he is sorry he could not be here this evening and...asked for your forgiveness," she said nervously.

The crowd moaned with disappointment.

"What's wrong?" someone shouted.

Pausing to catch her breath she then said, "Jack has left us. As he was getting ready for tonight..." she sighed deeply and then continued. "He asked that the performance go on as scheduled."

"But who will lead the orchestra?" someone asked.

Turning toward the stage she said, "He asked that Jessie take over tonight."

Jessie stood up and scanned the crowd of familiar faces.

"I know I can do this," he thought to himself.

There was an unusual silence in the auditorium as Jessie took his place at the podium. He turned to the audience and said, "This is dedicated to Jack."

Then facing the musicians he raised his hands and said, "From the beginning."

His friend added, "And until the very end."

Dear Lord we pray that we would do our very best from the beginning to the end. We pray for strength to do our very best for You.  In Jesus name, Amen.

Are You Working for the Lord?

Colossians 3:23-24 (New International Version)

23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

When the famed Bible teacher Harry Ironside was a boy he worked for a Christian cobbler named Dan Mackay. Harry's task was to take a piece of cowhide that was soaked in water and to pound it with a hammer until it was hard and dry. Then he found out that other cobblers took a short cut and would attach the leather to the shoes before they were dry. "They come back all the quicker this way, my boy!" one cobbler said. Harry brought up the idea of Mr. Mackay. Mr. Mackay replied: "Whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. Harry, I do not cobble shoes just for the four bits and six bits (50c or 75c) that I get from my customers. I am doing this for the glory of God. I expect to see every shoe I have ever repaired in a big pile at the judgment seat of Christ, and I do not want the Lord to say to me in that day, 'Dan, this was a poor job. You did not do your best here.' I want Him to be able to say, 'Well done, good and faithful servant.'"

No matter who your employer is, Christ should be the one you are working for and serving. Who do you work for? Today in prayer, thank Christ for your job and do it unto Him with all of your heart.

Dear Lord please keep us awake in the duties of our callings so that we may bring honor to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Are You Doing Your Best?

Joe Theismann enjoyed an illustrious 12-year career as quarterback of the Washington Redskins. He led the team to two Super Bowl appearances--winning in 1983 before losing the following year. When a leg injury forced him out of football in 1985, he was entrenched in the record books as Washington's all-time leading passer. Still, the tail end of Theismann's career taught him a bitter lesson: I got stagnant. I thought the team revolved around me. I should have known it was time to go when I didn't care whether a pass hit Art Monk in the 8 or the 1 on his uniform. When we went back to the Super Bowl, my approach had changed. I was griping about the weather, my shoes, practice times, everything.



Today I wear my two rings--the winner's ring from Super Bowl XVII and the loser's ring from Super Bowl XVIII. The difference in those two rings lies in applying oneself and not accepting anything but the best.


Always strive to do your best and stay away from the excuses that we so often like to use. What a great lesson we can learn from Joe Theismann this Super Bowl week.



1 As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. 2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?


- Psalm 42:1-2 (New International Version)






Dear Lord We pray that we would do our very best. We pray that we would thirst for you Lord and in doing so do our very best. In Jesus’ name, Amen.