When there is an original sound in the world, it makes a hundred echoes. John Shedd You cannot prevent the birds of sorrow from flying over your head, but you can prevent them from building nests in your hair. Chinese proverb Bird watchers are cheep dates. Birds that live around horse tracks are stable birds. Small minds discuss people; average minds discuss events; great minds discuss ideas. There is nothing in which the birds differ more from man than the way in which they can build and yet leave a landscape as it was before. Robert Lynd Politics is made up of two words: "Poli," which is Greek for "many," and "tics," which are bloodsucking insects.
Christ > Corona By Pastor Mike Novotny If this whole coronavirus seems like a curse, I hear you. Depending on which headline you read, the interruptions, cancellations, and social isolations are far from over, which means so many of the blessings we love might be MIA for months to come. Even after a week of my self-quarantine, I already miss my church, my friends, my family, and my old life (where I didn’t have to tell the Grubhub guy to leave the pizza on the porch . . .). Do you feel the same way? But there’s a silver lining to this corona cloud. After all, we worship a God who has promised that this virus is underneath the complete control of Jesus (Ephesians 1:22) and will be/must be used for the good of God’s church (Romans 8:28). That means even this virus must bow its knee and submit to Jesus. Through humanity’s history, this equation has never once been proven wrong: Christ > ___________. Joseph (the Old Testament one) couldn’t have known the blessings that would come after his brothers’ betrayal and the endless nights he spent quarantined in an Egyptian prison, but God was greater than his situation (Genesis 45:7,8). Neither could Joseph (the New Testament one) have imagined the kingdom coming to earth when Caesar Augustus issued a terribly timed decree (Bethlehem? Now? When Mary’s pregnant?), but God was greater than the obstacles Joseph was facing (Luke 2:1-20). Peter, John, and Mary Magdalene saw only tragedy when Judas betrayed, Pilate washed his hands, and the Romans reached for the nails, but God was working out the greatest plan of all—your salvation (Acts 4:28)! So what might God be doing among us today? How could Christ be using every infection, every fear, every detour in our lives for his plans and purposes? How might he be doing this math among us . . . Christ > Corona. I can envision at least ten blessings God could be giving us along this coronavirus-infected road. In the days to come, I hope to open your eyes wide enough that you might praise him even here, even now
The Freedom of Obedience My brother-in-law, Jack, spent a year as an officer in the Air Force. He was stationed on a base near Bangkok during the Vietnam War. He was married to my sister, Diane, and she was already pregnant with their first child when he was shipped out. Tammelyn was born a month after he began his tour of duty. Jack did not see Tammelyn or Diane for an entire year. He, too, faced the temptation of having absolute moral freedom while he was overseas. But he decided to remain faithful to my sister. He gave up his freedom, in other words, for something more valuable to him . . . I was there at the airport when Jack returned after his year away. I witnessed their glorious reunion, as if I was eavesdropping on a miracle. That moment will remain forever imprinted on my memory. Jack stepped off that plane, embraced my sister, and cradled his baby daughter for the first time. They were delirious with joy. Diane and Jack went on to build a good life together . . . I still think about Jack’s year in Southeast Asia. I reflect on what it must have been like for him to say “no” to temptation, to give up the extraordinary freedom he had there, and to remain true to his wife and baby daughter . . . He had one kind of freedom, the freedom to live an unrestrained life, to “go where you want to go, do what you want to do, live how you want to live,” as the advertisement for “Freedom” reads. But he gave up that freedom. He chose another kind of freedom, the freedom of obedience. I have observed with respect and appreciation what that freedom has produced in their lives, in their family, and in their community. That is the kind of freedom I wish for my life and my family. It is the freedom of living a life for God, of following God’s will. The one pathway we must follow may limit freedom as culture defines it, but it gives us freedom as the Bible defines it. When we seek first God’s kingdom and righteousness, we will do the will of God and experience true freedom. —Gerald Sittser Taken from NIV Men’s Devotional Bible Scripture But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. Now God had caused the official to show favor and compassion to Daniel, but the official told Daniel, “I am afraid of my Lord the king, who has assigned your food and drink. Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men your age? The king would then have my head because of you.” Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, “Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see.” So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days. At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead. To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds. Daniel 1:8-17 NIV
March 30, 2020 Verse of the Day Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens. Psalms 68:19 NIV
Find joy in little things By Pastor Mark Jeske Those of us who own old houses have a maxim: “Never say you’ll be happy when the house is all fixed up, because then you’ll never be happy.” Old houses always have something that isn’t right. You have to love the process and decide to be happy with your house right now, or else you’ll pretty much be miserable all the time. Did your mother have a perfectionist streak? Do you? Are you unable to relax until everything in your life is just right? A spiritual gift that I crave for myself and pray for you to have is the serenity of spirit to find joy in little things. Jesus wants that for you too. “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). Are you so focused on big schemes and dreams that you don’t notice the spectacular flowers at your feet? Did you miss yesterday’s stunning sunset because you were in a funk over your frustrating day? As you yearn for diaper emancipation and are so disappointed that you’re not there yet, did you miss your toddler’s toothy smile and merry eyes? You know, the people I most love hanging out with, the ones I slide over to in a room, are the ones who seem to have learned how to rejoice always. I want them to teach me how to do that
A chain is only as strong as its weakest link A change is as good as a rest A fool and his money are soon parted A friend in need is a friend indeed A good beginning makes a good ending A good man is hard to find A house divided against itself cannot stand A house is not a home A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step A leopard cannot change its spots A little knowledge is a dangerous thing A little of what you fancy does you good A miss is as good as a mile A new broom sweeps clean A nod's as good as a wink to a blind horse A penny saved is a penny earned A person is known by the company he keeps A picture paints a thousand words A place for everything and everything in its place A problem shared is a problem halved A prophet is not recognized in his own land A rolling stone gathers no moss A stitch in time saves nine A thing of beauty is a joy forever A volunteer is worth twenty pressed men A watched pot never boils A woman's place is in the home A woman's work is never done Absolute power corrupts absolutely Actions speak louder than words All good things come to he who waits All that glisters is not gold All the world loves a lover All things must pass All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy All you need is love All's fair in love and war An Englishman's home is his castle An apple a day keeps the doctor away An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure April is the cruelest month As the saying goes As you sow so shall you reap Ask no questions and hear no lies Attack is the best form of defense Barking dogs seldom bite Beauty is in the eye of the beholder Beauty is only skin deep Beggars can't be choosers Behind every great man there's a great woman Better late than never Better safe than sorry Better the Devil you know than the Devil you don't Better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all Better to remain silent and be thought a fool that to speak and remove all doubt Between two stools Beware of Greeks bearing gifts Birds of a feather flock together Blood is thicker than water Boys will be boys Charity begins at home Cleanliness is next to godliness Coin a phrase
March 31, 2020 Verse of the Day The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. Proverbs 18:21 NIV
Cold hands warm heart Comparisons are odorous Count you blessings Cut off your nose to spite your face Cut your coat to suit your cloth Discretion is the better part of valor Do as you would be done by Do unto others as you would have them do unto you Don't bite the hand that feeds you Don't burn your bridges behind you Don't change horses in midstream Don't count your chickens before they are hatched Don't cross the bridge till you come to it Don't keep a dog and bark yourself Don't let the bastards grind you down Don't look a gift horse in the mouth Don't put all your eggs in one basket Don't put new wine into old bottles Don't rock the boat Don't spoil the ship for a ha'pworth of tar Don't try to teach your Grandma to suck eggs Don't try to walk before you can crawl Don't upset the apple-cart Doubt is the beginning not the end of wisdom Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy wealthy and wise Easy come easy go Enough is as good as a feast Enough is enough Every dark cloud has a silver lining Every dog has his day Every man has his price Every stick has two ends Everybody wants to go to heaven but nobody wants to die
April 2, 2020 Verse of the Day “How great you are, Sovereign LORD! There is no one like you, and there is no God but you, as we have heard with our own ears. 2 Samuel 7:22 NIV
Failing to plan is planning to fail Faint heart never won fair lady Faith will move mountains Familiarity breeds contempt Finders keepers, losers weepers First things first Fish and guests smell after three days Flattery will get you nowhere Fools rush in where angels fear to tread Forewarned is forearmed Fortune favors the brave God helps those who help themselves Good fences make good neighbors Good talk saves the food Good things come to those who wait Great minds think alike Half a loaf is better than no bread Handsome is as handsome does Hard work never did anyone any harm Haste makes waste He who hesitates is lost He who laughs last laughs longest He who lives by the sword shall die by the sword He who pays the piper calls the tune Hindsight is always twenty-twenty History repeats itself Home is where the heart is If God had meant us to fly he'd have given us wings If a job is worth doing it is worth doing well If at first you don't succeed try, try and try again If ifs and ands were pots and pans there'd be no work for tinkers If life deals you lemons made lemonade If the mountain won't come to Mohammed, Mohammed must go to the mountain If wishes were horses beggars would ride If you can't be good, be careful. If you can't beat em, join em If you can't stand the heat get out of the kitchen Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery In the kingdom of the blind the one eyed man is king In the midst of life we are in death Into every life a little rain must fall It goes without saying It never rains but it pours It takes a thief to catch a thief It takes one to know one It's all grist to the mill
April 5, 2020 Verse of the Day Who is he, this King of glory? The LORD Almighty— he is the King of glory. Psalms 24:10 NIV
It's an ill wind that blows no one any good It's better to give than to receive It's better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all It's better to light a candle than curse the darkness. Chinese proverb It's better to travel hopefully than to arrive It's never too late It's no use locking the stable door after the horse has bolted It's not worth crying over spilt milk It's the early bird that gets the worm It's the empty can that makes the most noise It's the squeaky wheel that gets the grease Keep your chin up Keep your powder dry Laugh and the world laughs with you, weep and, you weep alone Laughter is the best medicine Let bygones be bygones Let not the sun go down on your wrath Let sleeping dogs lie Let the punishment fit the crime Life begins at forty Life is what you make it Life's not all beer and skittles Lightening never strikes twice in the same place Like father, like son Little pitchers have big ears Live for today for tomorrow never comes Look before you leap Love is blind Make love not war Man does not live by bread alone Marry in haste, repent at leisure Mighty oaks from little acorns grow Misery loves company Money doesn't grow on trees Money makes the world go round Money talks More haste, less speed Nature abhors a vacuum Necessity is the mother of invention Never judge a book by its cover Never put off until tomorrow what you can do today No man is an island No one can make you feel inferior without your consent
April 6, 2020 Verse of the Day Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:10 NIV
No rest for the wicked Nothing is certain but death and taxes Oil and water don't mix Old soldiers never die, they just fade away One good turn deserves another Only fools and horses work Opportunity only knocks once Out of sight, out of mind Pearls of wisdom Physician heal thyself Possession is nine tenths of the law Power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely Practice makes perfect Pride comes before a fall Procrastination is the thief of time Put your best foot forward Red sky at night shepherds delight Red sky in the morning, shepherds warning Revenge is a dish best served cold Rome wasn't built in a day Spare the rod and spoil the child Speak softly and carry a big stick Still waters run deep Stupid is as stupid does Talk is cheap That which does not kill us makes us stronger The Devil finds work for idle hands to do The best defense is a good offence The boy is father to the man The cobbler always wears the worst shoes The darkest hour is just before the dawn The ends justify the means The exception which proves the rule The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world The longest journey starts with a single step The more things change, the more they stay the same The pen is mightier than sword The way to a man's heart is through his stomach There are none so blind as those, that will not see There but for the grace of God go I There's always more fish in the sea There's many a slip twixt cup and lip There's more than one way to skin a cat There's no fool like an old fool (You can’t beat experience.) There's no place like home
April 7, 2020 Verse of the Day rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. Philippians 2:7 NOV
April 8, 2020 Verse of the Day In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. Luke 22:20 NIV
2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. KJV
