I was in a no-win situation on Sunday and was totally defeated. It’s been difficult to get past it. Last night I read a devotion from “Mad Church Disease”. It said I must first hurt. The second part encouraged me to focus on my best qualities. I thought about that. At least for me, I tend to stay in the hurt, until time lessens the pain, only to repeat it again. I have determined today to strengthen what I’m good at and not pay much attention to what I’m not good at.

What is it that you’re really good at?

I look for good tactics. I have in the past listened to sales pitch just to hear the tactic the salesman was using. Jesus was the master at tactics. He tells His disciples to be careful of the yeast of the pharisees. That starts a conversation among his disciples. They were wrong in what they thought Jesus was saying. He then proceeded to challenge their faith, by reminding them of what they just saw. Then He explained yeast actually is the teaching of the Pharisees.

Bible Study

Score big at Whac-A-Mole

Nothing raises the spirits quite like flattening moles (or sharks and Mr. Munches at Chuck E. Cheese) as they pop their little heads up. The key is to keep your mallet poised about two feet above the center hole. More, and you lose precious time swinging; less, and you can’t generate enough momentum.

If you’re more interested in prize redemption than individual accomplishment, delegate a few holes to a friend, who can play bare-handed bongos on the critters.

Take this advice when you’re dealing with the enemy of your soul. The mallet is the word of God and when the enemy pokes his head up, let him have it with the word.

When the enemy tempted Jesus in the wilderness, Jesus responded by, “The Word says.”

That means you have to know what the Bible says. The Bible is alive, but only as we apply it to our lives.

If you’re really more interested in the grand prize than individual comfort then get active in your church. Two or Three gathered in His presence, there Jesus is in your midst. The enemy can pick off those that stay on the out side, but has more difficulty when in a group. We need to watch each others back and a good church is how God set it up.

I’ve taken a serious subject and injected humor into it. The enemy is out to steal, kill and destroy. Jesus has come to give us life. We must stay in the game and not quit. We are at war and darkness will not quit until the time is up.

Are you headed to the stores today?

The weather was a perfect nice 70 degrees.  But I wasn’t outside, I was inside the YMCA.  The weather was cold and the ones I loved was at my Mom’s house.  We were separated. I knew no one at the “Y” in person but knew them all because we were in the same situation.  Navy guys unable to go home for Thanksgiving.   I had my ten dollar roll of quarters and waited in anticipation to make my call.  I and Kim talked for one hour. That is the only hour I remember that day.   But it was an hour that even now brings tears to my eyes.  I don’t know what we talked about but I remember that phone call like it was yesterday.  Even the silence at the end was so precious, not wanting to end our conversation.  Not wanting to be separated on a day when family’s are together. I would not trade that memory, for today is more special because of that day so many years ago.

One day I will write a novel.  Right now I’m studying the process. 
My favorite character trait of course is the one I have -lol.  President Calvin Coolidge is my favorite president. He was nicknamed “Silent Cal.”  
When Danielle talks on the phone she is to the point, says what she needs to and she hangs up. 
I’m a person of few words, but I like to make those words count. 
My favorite character (Ted Dekker book) was a young man that was beyond intelligent. He used wit to confuse his enemies and he didn’t say much, but what he said was profound. 

What character trait do you like the most?

Mark Twain stayed from 1897 – 1899 in Vienna. He used to eat and write here.   

Yesterday I took a baby to her mother, who was in rehab.  It was a 150 mile trip.  I usually go help out at Kindergarten on Monday afternoons and I love it. I had to give that up.  I was looking forward to seeing the mother’s face as she saw held her baby in her arms for the first time in a month. I visited this same mother while she was in jail, listening to her complaints.  We arrived at the New Beginnings home and the mother came out.  She was angry.  I attempted to talk to her, all I got was an angry glare.  Pushing back the tears and trying to settle my beating heart down, I said goodbye and went back to the van.  A “no thank you”, angry ungrateful attitude wouldn’t of hurt from a stranger, but this mother was no stranger to me.  It took me fifty miles to believe the verse, “Give Thanks in Everything.”  When my heart turned towards God, I felt His tears of an ungrateful generation.  Thank you Jesus I experienced that, because I was able to see Your heart, my Lord. 

Many years ago I directed a camp for the disabled.  I learned one big lesson.  Give an individual an opportunity to express himself and you have a new person.  The camp did just that.  We created an atmosphere where freedom of expression was given.  We set up the boundaries and the direction. The campers did the rest.  It was an incredible week. 

Do you feel you can express yourself in your present position in life?

Some days feel like all out war – even having nightmares of being over taken by cats.  I’m reading a devotional book that was written for our men in uniform during World War Two.  One particular devotion said in order to stop war we must stop fighting for what “I” want.  It took me to the 23rd Psalm – I SHALL NOT WANT.  Why? Because He is my Shepherd.  OK then, I’ll allow myself to be broken while warfare goes around me and seek what He wants.  Will this stop the flying debris?  No, but I’ll enter the eye of the storm and be at total peace.