The Greatest Possession

It’s Another Podcast!

What do you think the greatest possession is?  If it really is the greatest possession then the cost would have to be the greatest cost.

This short (7:37) podcast contains a very interesting story that makes a very big point.

Enjoy the podcast.

[If you cannot see the player below, just click the title above]

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The Touch Of The Master’s Hand

I heard this poem many years ago. Maybe you have too.  It is one violin-stradivarius1of the greats.  As a matter of fact, in the last three weeks, two different people sent it to me in an email.

It reminds me, in a way, of a line from one of my favorite movies.  In “Seabiscuit” Tom Smith looks at Charles Howard, as they were sitting around the camp fire, and says, “You don’t throw away a whole life just because it’s banged up a little.”  I thought of this poem last week when I saw the movie, “The Blind Side.”

Are You Losing Hope?

Everyone needs to be encouraged.  People need hope.  They need know someone believes in them.

It’s amazing how a person’s life changes when they find out that God really does love them; when they realize that He is not condemning them, but rather, He is encouraging them; and, when they discover that God really does believe in them.

The more you see just how much God loves you, the easier it becomes to have confidence, trust, and hope in Him.

The Touch of the Master’s Hand

“Twas battered and scared, and the auctioneer
Thought it scarcely worth his while
To waste much time on the old violin,
But he held it up with a smile.
“What am I bidden, good folks,” he cried,
“Who’ll start bidding for me?
A dollar, a dollar – now who”ll make it two _
Two dollars, and who”ll make it three?

“Three dollars once, three dollars twice,
Going for three”. . . but no!
From the room far back a gray-haired man
Came forward and picked up the bow;
Then wiping the dust from the old violin,
And tightening up the strings,
He played a melody,pure and sweet,
As sweet as an angel sings.

The music ceased and the auctioneer
With a voice that was quiet and low,
Said: “What am I bidden for the old violin?”
And he held it up with the bow;
“A thousand dollars – and who’ll make it two?
Two thousand – and who’ll make it three?
Three thousand once, three thousand twice
And going – and gone,” said he.

The people cheered, but some of them cried,
“We do not quite understand –
What changed its worth?” The man replied:
“The touch of the masters hand.”
And many a man with life out of tune,
And battered and torn with sin,
Is auctioned cheap to a thoughtless crowd.
Much like the old violin.

A “mess of pottage,” a glass of wine,
A game and he travels on,
He’s going once, and going twice –
He’s going – and almost gone!
But the MASTER comes, and the foolish crowd,
Never can quite understand,
The worth of a soul, and the change that’s wrought
By the touch of the MASTER’S hand.

Myra B. Welch

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Stop Looking For The Devil

Sometimes I hear Christians talk more about the devil than they do about God.  Some  feel compelled to point out everything they think the devil is doing.

What we think and say has a profound impact on your life. Doesn’t it make more sense to focus your thoughts and expectations on what God is and can do to bless our lire?

In this short video (2:22), I point out why it is very beneficial to stop looking for the devil.

Enjoy the video.

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How Do You Define God?

It’s Another Podcast!

I don’t know about you, but I don’t think we are all “out of the woods” yet. I’m a pretty optimistic person, but I don’t think that everything is fine and heading in the right direction, do you?

In these days of economic uncertainty, if we are going to put our trust and confidence in God, then we need to be clear Who we think God is.

In this short podcast (6:50) I will give you the best definition of God that I know.  It is a definition that God Himself used when He was asked to describe Himself.

Enjoy the podcast.

[Below the podcast player is an announcement about the teaching I did at the Winter Advance.  If you cannot see the player below, just click the title above]

Teaching From The Winter Advance Is Posted

What is the biggest and most important priority for every born again Christian?  Can you make revival happen?  What is one of the things we should be telling young people?  Hear answers to these and other important questions in my teaching from last weekend’s Youth Winter Advance.

I have posted that teaching on the other site, “Enriching Your Life Now!” There is a category on that site, called, “Bible Teachings.”  The title of the teaching is, “Spreading The Gospel.”

All those who subscribe to this blog, get total access to the “Enriching” site. Subscribe to this blog, it’s free, and  every new post is sent directly to you.  No need to bookmark and check for new content – we let you know when something new has been posted.  And it is free! Click Here for more information and get your free lifetime membership to “Enriching Your Life Now!”

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For past articles, click on the, “Posts” tab above.  For past videos and podcasts, mouse over the “Posts” tab above.  Look for more videos as well as more podcasts coming soon to Confidence And Joy!

1930 Was A Good Year

Special announcement below, but first

Happy Birthday Mom!

Tomorrow my mom celebrates her 80th birthday.  She was born in 1930, and so, 1930 was a good year for her.  She has seen a lot of things in her lifetime so far.

I found some interesting trivia about 1930 and listed it below.  I know it was quite awhile ago, but it’s fun to look at some of those things.  It is probably a lot fun for mom.

What Did Thing Cost In 1930?

A New House – $7,146.00
Average Income – $1,973.00 per year
A New Car – $610.00
Average Rent – $15.00 per month
Tuition to Harvard University – $400.00 per year
Movie Ticket – 25¢
Gasoline – 10¢ per gallon
United States Postage Stamp – 2¢
Sugar – 65¢ for 10 pounds
Vitamin D Milk – 56¢ per gallon
Ground Coffee – 46¢ per pound
Bacon – 25¢ per pound
Eggs – 15¢ per dozen
Fresh Ground Hamburger – 13¢ per pound
Fresh Baked Bread – 9¢ per loaf

Now you may wish prices were that low today, but, on the other hand, I don’t think we would want salaries and opportunities to be today like they were in 1930, do you?  But still, a new car for $610?  Wow.
Mike Verdicchio
2010

Special Announcement:
Teaching From The Winter Advance Is Posted

What is the biggest and most important priority for every born again Christian?  Can you make revival happen?  What is one of the things we should be telling young people?  Hear answers to these and other important questions in my teaching from last weekend’s Youth Winter Advance.

I have posted that teaching on the other site, “Enriching Your Life Now!” There is a category on that site, called, “Bible Teachings.”  The title of the teaching is, “Spreading The Gospel.”

All those who subscribe to this blog, get total access to the “Enriching” site. Subscribe to this blog, it’s free, and  every new post is sent directly to you.  No need to bookmark and check for new content – we let you know when something new has been posted.  And it is free! Click Here for more information and get your free lifetime membership to “Enriching Your Life Now!”

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She Was Only Seventeen…

radioPerhaps you remember the song by Sam Cooke called, “Only 16.”  It was a big hit in 1959.  Maybe you are too young to remember it.  I played it on the radio many times, but that was years after it was a big hit.  The main line in the song goes, “She was only sixteen, only sixteen…”

Funny how song lyrics pop in your head sometimes isn’t it?  That lyric popped in my head this morning while I was thinking about my wife.  Today is her birthday, and I was thinking that when we first met, she was only seventeen.  As soon as I had that thought, Sam’s song popped in my mind for a couple of moments.

birthday-bannerBut today is Kathy’s birthday.  I got her a little gift, and some roses, and a card.  I also have plans for us to go out and have a meal together.  It will be fun to celebrate her special day.

I’m certainly glad that she was born!  And, that she decided to hang out with me all these years.  I’m also glad that she is the mother of our two children.

You know, sometimes it’s easy for some people to take for granted the people who are the closest to them. I don’t think it’s because they don’t love them.  But, some people do special little things for everyone else except for those who mean the most to them.

rose-singleA big key in a marriage is to not take advantage or take for granted.  I know back when Kathy was 17 I did special little things for her.  And she did special things for me too.  And today we still do.

Okay, so maybe I should have saved this discussion for our anniversary?  Perhaps I will pick up where I left off when that day comes.  In the meantime, I thought I would say, “Happy Birthday, Kathy!”

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This Is My Story

A Great Weekend

I spent today with my good friend, driving around Spokane.  More on that in a few minutes.

It was a great weekend at the Youth Winter Advance in Spokane.  Thanks, Steve, for inviting me!  It was so much fun to hang out with a whole bunch of young folks.  Some photos below.

The theme of the weekend was “Outreach,” so the focus was on reaching people with the “good news” of God’s Word.  It was a weekend in the Bible. Steve and I opened up on Friday night and he told me later he thinks that the kids will remember my “Snickers Bar” remark.

I hope to have my teadching posted sometime soon.  I am planning on posting it on the “Enriching” site, which of course is free to all subscribers of this blog.

This past weekend I saw some old buddies, and met some new youngsters who are now my buddies too.  It was wonderful to see young people who are concerned about learning more of how to reach out and help others.  These cool kids invested their time and money into a whole weekend!  Right on; you guys rock!

In addition to some adults, there were plenty of young people teaching the Bible.  As I listened to the teachings, I wrote down some one liners that I liked.  Here are a few:

If God has some special for you to do, He will make it very clear to you.

Pray and ask God for wisdom.

If there is some new thing God will show you.

Our life is what is is in our heart.

Love people.

Pray every day.

Outreach is giving light to those in darkness.

Today, Steve and I hung out.  As he took care of some errands, we drove around Spokane on a gorgeous warm day.  Unseasonably warm temps continue – today it was 18 degrees above normal hitting a high of 51.  We took some folks who traveled in from Oklahoma to the airport.  We went to his son’s house to take care of a couple things.  He checked out someone’s water heater, and other errands.

He left a note in his other son’s car, parked at Eastern Washington University.  One of his daughters attends there as well, and he did too.  We  drove by his high school, Lewis and Clark.  He told me that when he was there, attending high school, there were dozens of students who met each morning in the lunch room to pray.

And as we drove around we discussed bringing God’s Word to hungry people.  We talked about how there are some ministers who are so set in their ways that they fail to recognize the excitement that many young people have for the things of God.  We talked about how you cannot force revival; that’s God’s business.  Then we laughed again at my “Snickers Bar” remark.

It was a wonderful day spending time together.  This evening, he and his wife Kathy took me to the movies and we saw, “Blind Side.”  It was really good and so reminded me of what the love of God can do for any person.  Love is so much more powerful than we realize.

Below are some photos.  I’ll post my teaching from the weekend on the “Enriching” site soon, so if you don’t have your free membership; yet, get it today.  Details below.

winter advance 2010 079

mike-1

joy-hal-jac-car-vic

pj

boise
no-snow

Headin’ To Spokane

On The Road Again

On my way to Spokane Washington for a Winter Youth Advance.  We will be at Zephry Lodge, Liberty Lake Washington near Spokane.

I’m grateful for the invite to teach.  Thanks Steve!  Looking forward to spending the weekend with a bunch of young folks.

This lodge has a pretty cool history.  In 1894 a Spokane Cattleman from Nova Scotia, named Roderick MacKenzie bought up 800 acres of land along the Northwest shore of Liberty Lake including some 40 acres of orchard originally planted by the Hudson Bay Company.

Some pictures from last year below.  Have a great weekend.

zeph-1 zeph-2zeph-3

Are You Perfect?

It’s Another Podcast!

A lot of people measure their worth to God by how good they are.  That’s a very subtle religious trap.  Don’t get caught in that one.

In this short podcast (7:07), I share about how past failures, mistakes and shortcomings hinder or block us from receiving God’s promises.

Enjoy the podcast.

[If you cannot see the player below, just click the title above]

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Related Posts:

Are You Discouraged?
Do You Deserve God’s Favor?
Is He Willing?

For past articles, click on the “Posts” tab above.  For past videos and podcasts, mouse over the “Posts” tab above.  Look for more videos as well as more podcasts coming soon to Confidence And Joy!

Are You In Panic Mode?

In these troubling economic times many people are looking for employment.  Some are looking for a job, while others are looking for additional streams of income.

In this short video (1:42), I talk about getting rid of fear and replacing it with confidence in God.

Enjoy the video.

Leave A Comment!We’d love to hear what you think.  Please type your comment below.