In loving memory of Kenis D. Keathley 6/4/81 - 3/27/22 Loving father, husband, brother, friend and firewood hoarder Rest in peace, Dexterday

Thought for the day...

Discussion in 'Everything Else (off topic)' started by T.Jeff Veal, Oct 31, 2018.

  1. T.Jeff Veal

    T.Jeff Veal

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    February 15, 2020
    Verse of the Day
    “But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him.
    Jeremiah 17:7 NIV
     
  2. T.Jeff Veal

    T.Jeff Veal

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    No overstuffed recliner
    By Pastor Dave Scharf

    Things happen in every Christian’s life that make us wonder, “Where is Jesus?” A job loss, a spouse loss, a self-confidence loss, a . . . loss. I’m guessing you can relate. Where is Jesus?

    When we think of Jesus’ “working years,” we think of the 33 years he walked on this earth, the 40 days after he rose from the dead, and his ascension into heaven. So what’s he doing now? Playing checkers with the Father, biding his time until he returns? Challenging the saints to golf at the Savior’s Tournament on the perfectly manicured fairways of Zion Interstellar Golf Club? Taking a nap on his overstuffed recliner throne?

    Hardly! There are so many dangers facing his church! The devil, the world, and our selfish natures are constantly trying to get us to step out of the church and embrace the world. The devil knows the church’s mission: make disciples. The devil knows that if he can get the church to join the world, then there is no need for the world to join the church!

    And so Jesus prays for you today and works every loss in your life out so that you might gain heaven. Isn’t that a cool thing to think about? Jesus prays to the Father . . . for you. He constantly rules everything . . . for you. Jesus’ throne is no overstuffed recliner!

    “My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one” (John 17:15
     
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  3. T.Jeff Veal

    T.Jeff Veal

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    Holy, Holy, Holy . . .
    Theologian R. C. Sproul once wrote, “When the Bible calls God holy it means primarily that God is . . . separate. He is so far above and beyond us that He seems almost totally foreign to us. To be holy is to be ‘other,’ to be different in a special way.”

    As we consider what it means for God to be holy, we recognize this is one of His many attributes including love, grace, mercy, and compassion. Even though our holy God is far different and greater than us, He allows us to know and love Him.

    Having led the Jews out of Egypt, Moses wrote a song celebrating God’s deliverance and lifting up His power and holiness (Exodus 15:1-18). “Who is like you among the gods, O Lord—glorious in holiness, awesome in splendor, performing great wonders?” (v.11).

    In the New Testament, the apostle John described a vision of worship in heaven where believers in Jesus sang “the song of Moses . . . and the song of the Lamb” (Revelation 15:3), proclaiming, “Great and marvelous are your works . . . . Just and true are your ways . . . . Who will not fear you, Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy” (vv.3-4). What an amazing, holy God!

    In the few and rare occasions where people have been allowed to have a peek at what the angels are doing in heaven, the angelic beings were singing continuously “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God” (Isaiah 6:1-3; Revelation 4:8). Holiness is the only attribute of God mentioned in triplicate. If God says something about His character once, it’s vitally important. But when He says it three times, that’s some serious emphasis.

    Our holy God is wonderful and without equal (Isaiah 40:25). May we worship Him today, declaring “You alone are holy”! (Revelation 15:4). —K.T. Sim

    MORE: Read 1 Thessalonians 4:7 and 1 Peter 1:13-17. Since God is holy, how does that affect the way you live?

    NEXT: Pick a song that focuses on the holiness of God and worship Him by singing it. How can you practically live out holiness in what you’re facing today?
     
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  4. T.Jeff Veal

    T.Jeff Veal

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    Verse of the Day
    Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
    James 5:16 NIV
     
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  5. Backwoods Savage

    Backwoods Savage Moderator

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    Why worry about the world coming to an end. It’s already tomorrow in Australia.

    We shall require a substantially new manner of thinking if mankind is to survive. Einstein

    You must be the change you wish to see in the world.

    It is usually better to debate a question without settling it than to settle it without debate.

    One secret of happiness is not in doing what you like but in liking what you have to do.

    Nobody should knock research who has been helped by a road map.

    The road to success is always under construction.
     
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  6. T.Jeff Veal

    T.Jeff Veal

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    February 17, 2020
    Verse of the Day
    Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
    Galatians 6:9 NIV
     
  7. T.Jeff Veal

    T.Jeff Veal

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    The stakes are higher now
    By Pastor Mark Jeske

    Jesus told his disciples once that those to whom much had been given, from them much would be expected and even demanded. God’s self-revelation did not come all at once, and he cut people slack when their available information was thinner. He didn’t drop the entire Bible on Adam and Eve. Over the centuries he slowly released more and more information about himself, his plans, and his work, some verbal and some in writing. Over the centuries he steadily left a clear track record of his interactions with both righteous and unrighteous people.

    Over the centuries the portrait of the coming Messiah came increasingly into focus, with more and more detail and explanation. Over the centuries the dreadful consequences of sinful rejection of the gospel became clearer and clearer. The human race is increasingly running out of excuses for its ignorance and apathy.

    You know far more about God and his agenda than Old Testament believers ever knew, and that raises the stakes (and the risks). “We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. For since the message spoken through angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, how shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation?” (Hebrews 2:1-3). Don’t complain about the increased pressure. Celebrate the clarity and power of the revelation you have to work with.

    Believe it. Live it. Share it
     
  8. TurboDiesel

    TurboDiesel

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    GEORGE MUELLER, the great Victorian Christian and social reformer, tells a story of persistent prayer in his diary:

    In November 1844, I began to pray for the conversion of five individuals. I prayed every day without a single intermission, whether sick or in health, on the land, on the sea, and whatever the pressure of my engagements might be. Eighteen months elapsed before the first of the five was converted. I thanked God and prayed on for the others. Five years elapsed, and then the second was converted. I thanked God for the second, and prayed on for the other three. Day by day, I continued to pray for them, and six years passed before the third was converted. I thanked God for the three, and went on praying for the other two. These two remained unconverted.

    Thirty-six years later he wrote that the other two, sons of one of Mueller’s friends, were still not converted. He wrote, “But I hope in God, I pray on, and look for the answer. They are not converted yet, but they will be.” In 1897, fifty-two years after he began to pray daily, without interruption, for these two men, they were finally converted—but after he died! Mueller understood what Luke meant when he introduced a parable Jesus told about prayer, saying, “Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up” (Luke 18:1).
     
  9. Backwoods Savage

    Backwoods Savage Moderator

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    Walking can be good exercise if you can dodge those who aren’t.

    The sincere man is one who believes in his own propaganda.

    Hints are dropped more often than they are picked up.

    A spark of genius won’t help if you have ignition trouble.

    Some say that clothes makes the man. Well, clothes that make the wife often break the man.

    The shortest distance between two points is between the ears.

    When in doubt, do the right thing. Or simply, do the right thing because it is the right thing to do.
     
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  10. T.Jeff Veal

    T.Jeff Veal

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    Verse of the Day
    Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,
    Philippians 2:3 NIV
     
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  11. T.Jeff Veal

    T.Jeff Veal

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    Strong tower
    By Pastor Mike Novotny

    I will never forget standing behind the walls of Masada. Just west of the Dead Sea, Masada is an ancient fortress built on a tiny plateau, surrounded by steep drops. When the Roman army toppled Jewish cities and towns, Jewish rebels fled to Masada, the impregnable fortress. Up on that tower they were safe.

    How about you? Where do you go when the walls of your life come crumbling down? when a friend won’t forgive you? when the surgeon can’t guarantee the surgery will work? when you can’t bring your husband back from the dead? when you feel like a hopeless failure? when life marches like an army and threatens to kill your peace and take your happiness captive, where do you run?

    The name of God! Proverbs says, “The name of the LORD is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe” (18:10). Like Masada, there’s a refuge to which you can run. There’s a tower so strong and so high that the fiercest enemies can’t break in. Jesus Christ shed his blood so that the door to that tower would always be open to you. By washing away your sins, he guaranteed God’s name would be a source of comfort and security, a mighty fortress to help you free from every need.

    Masada, if you haven’t heard, wasn’t as strong as the rebels thought. The Romans figured out a way to get in. But not the name of God. That tower will always keep you safe. So, run to it. Run to God.
     
  12. Backwoods Savage

    Backwoods Savage Moderator

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    A man’s worth does not depend upon his age. Some men are useless at any age.

    Trust in God, but don’t forget to tie your horse.

    Procrastination is the grave in which opportunity is buried.

    If you think it’s a small world, then see how long it takes you to walk around it.

    Happiness is not a place.

    You can’t tell which way the train went by looking at the track.

    Sometimes too much drink is not enough.
     
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  13. T.Jeff Veal

    T.Jeff Veal

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    February 19, 2020
    Verse of the Day
    Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them.
    1 John 2:15 NIV
     
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  14. Backwoods Savage

    Backwoods Savage Moderator

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    The facts, although interesting, are sometimes irrelevant.

    Friends may come and go, but enemies accumulate.

    Do you realize that over 14% of your lifetime is spent on Mondays?

    There is usually one more azz than you expected.

    No amount of planning will ever replace dumb luck.

    Never pass a snowplow on the right.

    History teaches that men and nations usually behave wisely once they have exhausted all other alternatives.
     
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  15. T.Jeff Veal

    T.Jeff Veal

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    Verse of the Day
    neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
    Romans 8:39 NIV
     
  16. Backwoods Savage

    Backwoods Savage Moderator

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    You can’t depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus. Mark Twain

    Success isn’t the result of spontaneous combustion. You must set yourself on fire.

    If an infinite number of rednecks riding in an infinite number of pickup trucks fire an infinite number of shotgun rounds at an infinite number of highway signs, they would eventually produce all the world’s great literary works in Braille.

    Birds take off at sunrise. On the opposite side of the world they are landing. This causes the Earth to spin on it’s axis.

    If people concentrated on the most important things in life, there would be far too many people in the woods.

    Be curious always. Knowledge will not acquire you, you must acquire it.

    Speak the truth, but leave immediately after. Slovenian proverb
     
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  17. T.Jeff Veal

    T.Jeff Veal

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    My negativity
    By Pastor Mark Jeske

    Here are some things that drive me crazy: people who are always criticizing other people, people who are always finding fault with every event, people who never seem to be happy, people whose moods are always a drag on the group, and people who assume the worst in others. Hmm . . . you don’t suppose other people see those things in me, do you?

    If my spirit is always cramped and bitter, what does that say about my worldview? It says that I’m not sure that Jesus really won. It says that I’ve been cheated in the distribution of resources and gifts. It says that I can’t trust anybody, that nobody really likes me, and that frankly I don’t really like myself. I assume things will fail and that I will be disappointed. Again!

    Perhaps that’s why I am so drawn to positive people. They always seem to find joy wherever they go. (Is it luck? Karma? Are they too dumb to see all the obvious problems?) They seem interested in me. They seem to shed stress and have the ability to let go and let God. They have light: “Light in a messenger’s eyes brings joy to the heart, and good news gives health to the bones” (Proverbs 15:30).

    Today I’m going to look for blessings, not breakdowns. I’m going to assume that God will send some light today, and I’ll be watching for it. And I am going to try to share some good news with a sad soul.
     
  18. Backwoods Savage

    Backwoods Savage Moderator

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    Make it idiot proof and someone will find a better idiot.

    Always remember that you are unique. Never forget that others are the same.

    Hard work has a future payoff. Laziness pays off immediately.


    The Forest Service asks visitors to the National Parks to complete a survey following wilderness camping trips. Funny, but a bit scary, the comments include:

    Escalators would help on steep uphill sections.

    Too many rocks in the mountains.

    A small deer came into my camp and stole my jar of pickles. Is there a way I can get reimbursed?

    Too many bugs and leeches and spiders and spider webs. Please spray the wilderness to rid the area of these pests.


    And some of the frequently dumb questions asked at Grand Canyon National Park:

    Was this manmade?

    Do you light it up at night?

    I bought tickets for the elevator to the bottom—where is it?

    Is the mule train air conditioned?

    So, where are the faces of the presidents?


    And some of the frequently dumb questions asked at Everglades National Park:

    Are the alligators real?

    Are the baby alligators for sale?

    Where are all the rides?

    What time does the two o’clock bus leave?


    And some of the frequently dumb questions asked at Denali National Park:

    What time do you feed the bears?

    Can you show me where the yeti lives?

    How often do you mow the tundra?

    How much does Mount McKinley weigh?


    And some of the frequently dumb questions asked at Mesa Verde National Park:

    Did people build this, or did Indians?

    Why did they build the ruins so close to the road?

    What did they worship in the kivas?

    Do you know of any undiscovered ruins?

    Why did the Indians decide to live in Colorado?


    And some of the frequently dumb questions asked at Carlsbad Caverns National Park:

    How much of the cave is underground?

    So what’s in the unexplored part of the cave?

    Does it ever rain in here?

    How many ping-pong balls would it take to fill this up?

    So what is this—just a hole in the ground?


    And some of the frequently dumb questions asked at Yosemite National Park:

    Where are the cages for the animals?

    What time do you turn on Yosemite Falls?

    Can I get my picture taken with the carving of President Clinton?


    And some of the frequently dumb questions asked at Yellowstone National Park:

    Does Old Faithful erupt at night?

    How do you turn it on?

    When does the guy who turns it on get to sleep?

    We had no trouble finding the park entrances, but where are the exits?
     
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  19. T.Jeff Veal

    T.Jeff Veal

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    The gift of less to lose
    By Jason Nelson

    One of the best gifts God ever gave me was getting to a point where I had less to lose. I am not trying to compete with Job. His losses were epic. When God vacuumed nearly every distraction from his life, he was able to declare, “I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth” (Job 19:25).

    Life happened. My wife and I could measure the effects. We had less income for ourselves and still had to spend money on other people. We moved to a smaller house in a poorer community, drove cars well into six digits on the odometer, and tuned in antenna TV because it was free. But as we had less to lose, we became more grateful for what we had.

    Getting to the point of having less to lose is no picnic. It is very stressful. I would never recommend you start throwing things overboard unless you have a hut in a tropical paradise. But when God starts peeling away the excess in your life, pay close attention to what remains.

    The journey led us to agree on a stewardship practice. Nothing new comes into our house unless something old goes out. If we get a new sweater, Goodwill gets an old one. If we update a light fixture, the Habitat ReStore gets the old one. Someone else can use them. And we don’t want to squander the gift of having less to lose.
     
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  20. Backwoods Savage

    Backwoods Savage Moderator

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    Time may be the best teacher, but it kills all the students.

    Why is “abbreviation” such a long word?

    Do vegetarians eat animal crackers?

    If at first you don’t succeed, don’t go skydiving.

    The pen is mightier than the sword, but only if the sword is very small and dull and the pen really sharp.

    Why don’t sheep shrink when it rains?

    Two of the biggest problems in America is making ends meet and making meetings end.
     
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