Category Archives: Posts

Posted on

How Much Time Do You Have?

Antique pocket watch - closeup on very old pocket watchI have been busier than I ever have before in my entire life!  And last night I was thinking about time.  How much time do I have in a day?  Then, I thought about some phrases.

Time flies when you’re having fun.  Time waits for no one. The time is right. The time is now.  No time like the present.  Take time to smell the roses. Time will tell.

There are lots and lots of phrases that contain the word, “time.”  When you think about those phrases, it really is just a matter of time. Time doesn’t move faster or slower; time is constant.  There are days when we get more done during the day than other days.  But time is still time.

Time Doesn’t Wait

Have you ever heard the expression, “Time waits for no one?”  It’s true.

I was complaining once about not having “enough time,” and someone told me something I’ve never forgotten.  They said that each day everyone gets a 24 hour suitcase; some just know how to pack better than others.

During the course of a day or a week there are unexpected things that come up.  At times, for one reason or another, there are things that end up taking longer than we anticipated.

What can We Do?

Live your life to the best of your ability at the present moment; at this very moment in time.  That’s all we really can do is to do our best, right now.  Maybe tomorrow or the next day our “best” will be better than the day before.  But for today, at this time, I am just going to try and do my best.

hourglassI hope in reading this that for you it was some time well spent.  But for now, for this post, my time is up.

Mike

Leave A Comment!
Do you have some thoughts about this?  We’d love to hear what you think.  To leave a comment if you are receiving this post via email or RSS, just click the title above and scroll to the bottom of the post and type in your comment.  If not, just scroll to the bottom of this post and type in your comment.

Share This Article!
Do you want to share this article on your website or Blog?   To share on social media, like Facebook or Twitter, there are buttons below.

Related Posts:
Are You Stressed?
How Old Are You?

Posted on

Why Blame Him?

I’ve been “brewing” on something for a couple of days, so I thought I would get it off my chest this morning before I head to work.

Last week a lady was telling me that at her Church the preacher has been telling the people that the reason the economy is so bad is that God is testing people.  God brings these hardships so that people will turn to Him and trust Him and love Him.

Would any parent consider raising their children like that?  No.  The Bible talks about God as being our Father.  What kind of Father brings hurt, harm and disaster on his children so that they will love him more?

Sometimes I get sick and tired of people blaming God for the foolish choices that people have made.  Why do some preachers keep pushing people down, instead of lifting them up.

So I guess that since God is doing all of these things to “test” us, we should just accept it.  Endure.  Suffer.  That’s the life God wants you to live.  The more you suffer the more you prove your love to Him.

Baloney!

The God of the Bible is a God of love and deliverance.  He is the God Who makes a way when there seems to be no way.  He is the God of endless supply and endless possibilities.  He is the God Who loves us.

Why not look to Him and expect the help and resources that you need?  The promises you read in the Bible have no recession disclaimers attached to them.  What God has promised He is still able and willing to perform when men and women choose to believe Him.

Put your hope and expectation in the God of all creation, whose love for you, the Bible says, nothing can separate you from.  Put your confidence in the God of unlimited power and resources.  Put your trust in the God who has promised to bless you and supply all your need.

Shame on the preachers who blame God for everything and refuse to give people hope.  Read your Bible and believe it or get out of the pulpit.

Mike

Leave A Comment!
Do you have some thoughts about this?  We’d love to hear what you think.  To leave a comment if you are receiving this post via email or RSS, just click the title above and scroll to the bottom of the post and type in your comment.  If not, just scroll to the bottom of this post and type in your comment.

Share This Article!
Do you want to share this article on your website or Blog?   To share on social media, like Facebook or Twitter, there are buttons below.

Related Posts:
God Is Not In Charge
How Do You Define God?

Posted on

Get paid To Work Out?

Once again, I’m about to head out to the office for another day of bookkeeping. And I just thought of something a dear friend told me a couple of weeks ago.

Isaac was talking to me about a conversation he had with his daughter.  They were talking about her working. You know, getting a job.  Sometimes for young people, getting their first or second job is a challenge for a number of reasons.

But Isaac told me that he related to her how there was a time when he was working construction and the work was extremely physical.  He was so tired at the end of the day.  But, he did something with his mind concerning his job.

muscleHe simply told himself that they were paying him to exercise!  Isn’t that funny?  Isn’t that kind of cool, though?  He said that he was in great shape because of all the physical work that he was doing, and that these people were paying him to work out every day.

I just thought about that as I was getting ready to go to my job.  Do you know something?  They are paying me to add and subtract numbers.  Imagine that.  I get paid for adding and subtracting.  Well then, bring on the numbers!

What are they paying you to do today?

Mike

Leave A Comment!
Do you have some thoughts about this?  We’d love to hear what you think.  To leave a comment if you are receiving this post via email or RSS, just click the title above and scroll to the bottom of the post and type in your comment.  If not, just scroll to the bottom of this post and type in your comment.

Share This Article!
Do you want to share this article on your website or Blog?   To share on social media, like Facebook or Twitter, there are buttons below.

Posted on

What’s In Your Fortune Cookie?

I’m about to head out to the office for another day of bookkeeping.  I wanted to post something before I leave.

fortune cookieThe next edition of The Pep Letter comes out tomorrow and the title of the article is, Fortune Cookies And Psychics.  Now that’s an interesting title, isn’t it.

“You will be presented with a great opportunity: don’t pass it up.”  Have you ever read something like that in the little message in a fortune cookie?  I have.  Do you follow the advice and predictions in those?  I don’t.

In the article, I relate how a young lady was disappointed because she didn’t get to ask a psychic a question about her future.  I believe I helped her out a lot more than the prognosticator could have.

The Names Don’t Really Matter

Whether its fortune tellers, crystal balls, tarot cards, palm readers, psychics, horoscopes, or whatever they are being called, the Bible does have something very clear and specific to say about all of this.

The real question is are we going to believe what God says in the Bible about it, or, are we smarter than God?  Gee, do I have to be so blunt about it?  Yes.

By the way, if you’re not a subscriber to my weekly newsletter, called, The Pep Letter, it’s free and there is information in the column to your right.

Enjoy the day, and get your help and direction from God.

Mike

Leave A Comment!
Do you have some thoughts about this?  We’d love to hear what you think.  To leave a comment if you are receiving this post via email or RSS, just click the title above and scroll to the bottom of the post and type in your comment.  If not, just scroll to the bottom of this post and type in your comment.

Share This Post!
Do you want to share this article on your website or Blog?   To share on social media, like Facebook or Twitter, there are buttons below.

Related Posts:
Talk About making A Point
What’s Your Fate?
Do You Rely On Luck Or Fate?

Posted on

Sunday Morning Sneak Preview – 4/25

It has been a very productive weekend so far.  I spent lots of time yesterday studying and writing, and preparing some things for the blog.
bible-3
This morning at our Glendale Fellowship I am going to a little follow up to last weeks teaching on “Hope.”  I am going to share about free will and how it relates to having hope in our God.

Free will to choose is one of the greatest things God has given to every person.  God takes it very seriously.  He will not overstep your free will.  He may try to warn you, but He will never violate your free will to choose.

Remember Gideon?

When the angel first talked to Gideon, he had no hope.  Instead, he was like people who have lost hope; they have no expectations and thus they really don’t exercise their free will to move forward.  They feel stuck where they are and they just can’t seem to move forward.

If we lose hope, then we slowly give up our free will – something that God sees as so very important in our lives.  God would have us to move forward, living our lives, enjoying our lives, making choices and decisions the best that we can, and then looking to Him, with expectations and hope of greater days ahead.

We need to do whatever it takes to rekindle hope in our God, to have expectation in our God.  We ought to remind ourselves of Who God is, what He has done in the past, and, what He can still do today and tomorrow.

So now you have a little preview of what I am going to teach in about an hour.

Mike

Related Posts
Are you Discouraged?
Persistent In Prayer
Send God A Text

Leave A Comment!
Do you have some thoughts about this?  We’d love to hear what you think.  To leave a comment if you are receiving this post via email or RSS, just click the title above and scroll to the bottom of the post and type in your comment.  If not, just scroll to the bottom of this post and type in your comment.

Share This Article!
Do you want to share this article on your website or Blog?   To share on social media, like Facebook or Twitter, there are buttons below.

Posted on

Talk About Making A Point

I was reading a verse this morning, from the book of James, and I said, “Wow!  God is so good at making a point!”  It was actually the last three words of the verse that I thought were just too cool.

James 1:17
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

I have always liked the “no variableness” part.  There are a number of machines that have variable speeds.  God is constant. There are people who waiver on their word.  God is constant.

But then came the last three words: No Shadow Of Turning

When the sun is shining, if you are looking at a sun dial, there is always a shadow, right?  Yes, except for one time of the day; at high noon.  When the sun is at its highest peak there is no shadow at all.

Isn’t That Just Amazing?

God is always at His peak.  He is always at His highest point. He has no low point.

If you are familiar at all with this chapter then you know a few verses earlier it talks about asking God for wisdom because He gives it liberally.  Ask Him and believe without wavering.

God is the great Giver.  We may waiver, but He never does.  And, He is always at His peak, His highest point, ready and willing to give those who ask and believe Him.

That got me charged up for today…what about you?

Mike

Leave A Comment!
Do you have some thoughts about this?  We’d love to hear what you think.  To leave a comment if you are receiving this post via email or RSS, just click the title above and scroll to the bottom of the post and type in your comment.  If not, just scroll to the bottom of this post and type in your comment.

Share This Article!
Do you want to share this article on your website or Blog?   To share on social media, like Facebook or Twitter, there are buttons below.

Posted on

I Like This Quote

When I publish my weekly news letter, called The Pep Letter, I include some related “quotes” in the side bar.  Such is the case for tomorrow’s Pep Letter.

I think for me, many times, there are certain quotes that are more powerful because of who said it.  Do you ever feel that way?  It seems that a really good quote becomes a great quote when you learn who said it.

Here’s one of the quotes that will be in the side bar of tomorrow’s Pep Letter, and I really like this quote:

Be assured, if you walk with Him and look to Him, and expect help from Him, He will never fail you.

That quote is from George Muller.  I talk a little bit about him in tomorrow’s article.  In fact there is another quote from him in the body of the article.

Who?

If you don’t know anything about Mr. Muller, go online and find out.  There are also a number of books that you can read.  His life is still an inspiration and a testimony of how you can really believe God and see Him work in your life.

Oh, by the way, I’m not really trying to promote The Pep Letter in this post, but, if you want to get it, it is free; details to the right.

Mike

Leave A Comment!
Do you have some thoughts about this?  We’d love to hear what you think.  To leave a comment if you are receiving this post via email or RSS, just click the title above and scroll to the bottom of the post and type in your comment.  If not, just scroll to the bottom of this post and type in your comment.

Share This Article!
Do you want to share this article on your website or Blog?   To share on social media, like Facebook or Twitter, there are buttons below.

Related Posts
George Muller: Delighted in God
Persistent In Prayer
Send God A Text

Posted on

Bringing God To Work

I’m leaving in a few minutes.  The company I work for has a new office here in Glendale.  It’s about a ten minute drive.  Prior to that, I did all the bookkeeping and other stuff out of the little office here in my house.

It is very nice, and we have hired Peggy as our secretary.  The company is growing very fast and I welcome the help.  Thank You Lord!

So, I am bringing God to work with me.  The Bible says that God is in us, and that He works within us, so, He is with me.  How often do we Christians forget that since He is in us and He is our Father, we quite literally represent Him wherever we go?

Okay, so how do we “bring God to work” in a practical sense?  Simple.  We display the attributes of our Father.  We bring His love, kindness, and forgiveness to our workplace.  We do our tasks with honesty and integrity.  We work heartily as unto the Lord.

Gee, you think those kinds of things make a difference?

Gotta run…

Mike

Leave A Comment!
Do you have some thoughts about this?  We’d love to hear what you think.  To leave a comment if you are receiving this post via email or RSS, just click the title above and scroll to the bottom of the post and type in your comment.  If not, just scroll to the bottom of this post and type in your comment.

Posted on

Sunday Morning Sneak Preview

This has been my weekend to catch up.  Working my full time “day job,” plus a part time job, I have been behind on lots of stuff here at home.  But I am getting caught up.

bible-1This morning at our Glendale Fellowship I am going to teach on “Hope.”  I know there are some people who hope for this and others who wish for that.  But I am talking about having hope in God.

Hope Is Different Than Believing

Hope is expecting God’s goodness and care when you don’t know what to believe God for at the present moment.  Ever been there before?  We all have, many times.

When we don’t know what to believe God for and don’t understand what’s going on, or just can’t figure it out, we can choose to have hope in our God to bring us a solution; to bring us to a point where we do have something specific to believe.

Some get this confused, but I think it’s really simple.  If you are believing God, then you have something specific from Him to believe.  It could be a promise from the Bible or something He has revealed to you.  In other words, it is something specific from Him that you believe. And when we believe Him, we receive from Him.

On the other hand, having hope in God is much broader.  Some may call it, “trust.”  It is expecting and anticipating that God with all His love, goodness and care, will bring to you what you need.

Hopeless

Without hope, without expectations, without something to look forward to beyond today, people lose the desire to live life; they just give up; they have nothing to look forward to.  Yes, or course, we have the hope for the Return of Christ, the greatest hope there is, but, if you have no hope for this life, then you will give up.

When you genuinely have hope in God, you are enthused about living this life; you have genuine expectations of God working in your life.  But remember, it is a choice, day by day, and by choosing to put our hope in our God, we allow Him to be involved in our lives. And He is very willing to help us regardless of the situations we are faced with.

So now you have a preview of what I am going to teach in about an hour.

Mike

Leave A Comment!
Do you have some thoughts about this?  We’d love to hear what you think.  To leave a comment if you are receiving this post via email or RSS, just click the title above and scroll to the bottom of the post and type in your comment.  If not, just scroll to the bottom of this post and type in your comment.

Posted on

Are You Stressed?

There’s so much going on right now with my “day job” that I’ve been too busy to post.  I’m talking about 12 to 14 hour days, as the company is in a transition period.  Busy, busy, busy.

Have there been times in your life where you feel like you’re chasing the caboose instead of riding in the train?  Me too.  And at those times when you are busy, busy, busy, you get allow yourself to get stressed.

One of the things that helps me is remembering the verse that says, “Let the peace of God rule in your heart…”  God has already given us His peace, but it is up to us to let that peace rule in our hearts.  If we don’t, then stress will rule.

The later part of that same verse says, “Be ye thankful.”  That’s a big part of letting God’s peace rule in your heart.  I have reminded myself of that verse many times in the last week and a half.  But just reminding yourself of a verse doesn’t do anything.

I have chosen to apply what the verse says; be thankful, and so I remind myself of many things that I have to be thankful for.  That is very helpful in letting the peace of God rule in your heart.

So now it is back to the busy, busy, transition.

Have a thankful and peaceful day!