Help For Your Daily Walk

I remember as a kid when we would go to Lake Tannycomo near Branson, MO. The mornings were so peaceful and quiet looking across the Lake. The only movement would be a ripple or two caused by the Trout or other fish enjoying life before the fishermen throw a line into the water. This scenario reminds me of how each morning brings a new day with a fresh start. It starts with a fresh perspective decided by us. The Lord is faithful to give us the opportunity to make changes that

Our days are full of different choices. From the moment we get out of bed until we lay our head on the pillow in the evening … choices. We choose what we wear, what we eat, what we drink, who we let influence us and many other decisions/choices. When unexpected things happen, how we react is also a choice. We can choose to be overwhelmed by it or tackle it with grace and love. Our reaction is really more important than what happened. You can choose to be miserable or choose t

There is a children’s song from “Veggie Tales” called “I Am a Promise” that should help all of you self-doubters out there. Here is the chorus: “I am a promise I am a possibility I am a promise With a capital P I am a great big bundle of potentiality” The words that follow help to nail it down further: “And I am learning to hear God's voice, And I am trying to make the right choices. I'm a promise to be anything He wants me to be” Stop allowing doubt to mess you up. When you

Start each day with a thankful heart for all God has done and continues to do in your life. (Yes, even on a Monday). Every breath you take is a thankful moment in your life. The verse today leaves no room for “maybes”. Your victories come from Him. He made this day for us to enjoy. Maybe we should be glad in it? No! We WILL rejoice and be glad in it. Be blessed on this Monday and all days that follow. Psalm 118:21,24 NLT I thank you for answering my prayer and giving me victo

Good reminder for today. Keep doing the things that bring calm and peace to your life. Don’t be so critical of those around you by staying busy improving your life for the better… 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 MSG Stay calm; mind your own business; do your own job. You’ve heard all this from us before, but a reminder never hurts. We want you living in a way that will command the respect of outsiders, not lying around sponging off your friends. #paulaandthebible   #helpforyourdailyw

Doesn’t it make you feel good to build someone up and encourage them? Seeing their face that shows the stress of life go from a furrowed brow to a relaxed and genuine smile is so beautiful. It should give you a warm feeling in your heart that you’ve been that much needed help in how they see themselves and you. When someone sees themselves as a sergeant in the army of getting the other person in line once and for all, the result is a broken spirit. There is just no room in th

How you think about yourself and the world where you live is key to the perspective you develop. I want to give you a couple of examples from the Bible. First … Mary Magdalene. Before she was a devoted follower of Jesus and the first to see Him after His resurrection, she was living a demon possessed life. When she had an encounter with Jesus, it changed her and gave her a desire to be like Him … a perspective change. Second … Paul (formerly Saul of Tarsus). Before he helped

How your life goes each day can be determined by how well you “guard your peace”. The world around you can get so loud at times, it could be seen as impossible to drown out all the noise. Staying at peace in your heart is where it all starts. That peace that comes from being content in all things … this a good place to start. Notice what Paul says in Philippians 4:11-13 “Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live

Ingrid says, “Getting old is like climbing a mountain; you get a little out of breath, but the view is much better!" I like that!! As we age, we have the benefit of experience and wisdom. The “youngins” have the benefit of youth and strength. What if? … What if you could be like Joshua at 85?  *Strong  *Confident  *Travel ready * Prepared to fight if needed We are told in Ephesians 6:10 … “A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.” We have the benefit of th

This quote by Anne Frank (in picture) is amazing to me. Here is a young teenage Jewish girl between the age of 13-15 hiding from the German soldiers talking about happiness. She did what she could during this time to find that happiness … but she did. I’m sure when she found those moments, her family benefited as well. In her diary she writes, “sometimes the only thing that can cheer me up is the view of the sky and a large cherry tree” (which she could see from the attic win

Being around people who think they are better than you is so annoying. Just the way they seem to carry themselves gives me the “Heebie-Jeebies”. I am able to handle it better these days more than when I was an impressionable teen. WAY BACK THEN (ha) I thought I needed to carry myself in such a way to fit in with those around me … even if it went against my better judgment. Not so today. I avoid allowing myself to be influenced by those traits in others. What good does that do

I used to be such a list person at work. A certain amount of joy came over me when I marked something off my “to-do” list. Some things were quick and easy, while other tasks were more of a project that took time to complete. I had to come to the realization that (due to the nature of the task and lack of time) some things were left undone until the next day (or even the day after that). If I had a deadline to meet, I had to prioritize which things could be left until the next

When you observe what happens in the Spring, you are reminded of new life. You look at the trees coming back to life … once barren (and looking dead) now having new life with beautiful leaves. The flower seeds you planted are beginning to burst forth from the ground. Today’s scripture is a reminder to us of where life comes from. Jesus came to Mary and Martha after their brother, Lazarus, was already dead and buried. Jesus even shed tears over what had taken place. His remind

You are probably thinking, “What a silly question!” Of course, I want a good life, who doesn’t? True, but my next question is, “Are you willing do what it takes to have one?” In our main verse today, Paul says it better than I can. *Think about good and worthy things        •truth        •honor        •right        •pure        •beauty        •respect Sounds as if that is not such a difficult thing to do. ... But we’ve proven time and again we have a problem following through

My dad taught me many things, but the thing I want to share with you today helps us understand this ripple effect that is present in our life. Anytime we were at a body of water, (the Mississippi River, Lake Wappapello, Current River, Round Springs … etc) my dad would find a smooth flat rock and show his skills at “rock skipping”. He could toss a rock across the water like nobody’s business. It was amazing how many times that rock would jump across the water and the ripples m

When it is the dark of night and the power goes out, what do you reach for so that you can see? You need some sort of light to be aware of what’s in front of you. Most times we feel our way through the dark to reach a candle we have stored away with a lighter or a flashlight. We know that a light in the darkness is what is needed to easily make it from one place to another. If it happens to be a clear night (no visible moon) and you go outside, any stars that you see will see

Henry Ford has a couple of really good quotes on this subject of thinking. “Whether you think you can, or you think you can't—you're right" and "Thinking is the hardest work there is, which is probably the reason why so few engage in it". I’m not talking about just any kind of thinking. I’m talking about thinking in the right way. Thinking positive is much better than thinking negative. It also takes some effort to get yourself on the right track of reframing how and what you

It is much easier to say you love someone and appreciate them than it is to actually show it by walking it out. You can say you love and appreciate them over and over, but if you are treating them like poop (excuse my French as they say), those words become empty and meaningless. Are you truly grateful for someone in your life? When was the last time you did something really meaningful and nice for them? It doesn’t matter if it cost money or if it’s free … do something nice.

The possibilities are endless when it comes to using potential. The definition I’ve seen used is: “the capacity, possibility, or latent ability for someone or something to develop, succeed, or happen in the future, even if not currently active or actualized”. The thing is, there can be all kinds of potential, but it is never going anywhere if it is not utilized in some way or another. It will just be a word that says it’s there but never achieved. Putting the word “potential”

When I was a supervisor that trained gals and guys to properly do their job at the Nashville television station, something I emphasized may surprise you. I didn’t tell them to never make mistakes… quite the opposite. I helped them understand that mistakes were a part of learning their job. I helped them understand that freaking out because they goofed up, was only detrimental. I told them that it was in the mistakes that they would become better and better. It’s not in the “f