I like to ride my motorcycle around country roads in Platte County in the evening, I call it “chasing sunsets”. On a long ride alone, I am reminded that at the end of the day, it is just me and God. There are lots of things that are important in this life, but the most important is my relationship with God. How does the long ride remind me of that? Simply there is nothing else going on and there are all kinds of reminders of Him all around me.
Enjoy God’s Quiet
I have found that the answers to my questions, and tools to face life’s struggles are no farther away than my Bible. It is not His intention for us to get stirred up about a whole lot of impossible things. Instead, we need to give them to Him, because for God, nothing is impossible. Get still, sit still, enjoy God’s quiet, it’s pretty nice. Well, the bike is not still, and it’s not real quiet, but I am not moving very fast, and it was just what I need. Feel free to share.
Ephesians 4:29
Encouraging words we can use are really quite simple. “I’m proud of you”; “I like what you said, that is really smart”; “You are such a class act”; “You are an amazing woman.” or “You are a good man”. Guy Doud said, “Everyone has the right to have someone be irrationally positive about them”.
Luke 16:10
With the huge mess that is out in the world and the overwhelming feeling that we’d like to fix the whole thing, today’s thought is. . .only God can do that. So our mission is to make a small difference in someone’s life every chance we get, every little way we can help matters to someone.
John 14:27
The quest for a pain-free life is a futile one. Jesus gives peace, that is not like the world gives, it is unique. In the world’s understanding everything has to be okay for me to be at peace. Jesus offers peace that passes understanding. Even if it’s NOT okay, with Him I can be at peace.
Philippians 4:8
We can take a look at a day and practically fabricate negative things if we let our imagination run with us. There are positive, noble, excellent things out there too. What will we fixate on? On any given day, we can know that God is good, and we have a lot to be thankful for.
Matthew 19:26
Every day presents an opportunity to do better than the last, an opportunity to grow, to learn from mistakes. We can say no to bad habits, old dogs can learn new tricks and relationships can be healed. Never give up! With God’s grace there is absolutely nothing we cannot put behind us. The only day it is impossible to put something behind us is the day after we’re dead.
Proverbs 2:10
My confidence in God is not shaken because I do not have a quick precise answer for all of my questions. It is settled in my heart that He is God and I am not. And sometimes the very best answer is to enjoy asking the question!
Proverbs 17:27
We need to be careful with our words. Two terms to avoid, are “always” and “never”. It’s likely neither is true. They are an extreme reaction that makes a bad situation worse. Sure, it happened, but those two words pass a permanent judgment on someone. God is the only one who can take a never and make it always, or always and make it never!
Proverbs 18:13
None of us has the knowledge or the right to tell someone: how they are supposed to feel; what is (or is not) supposed to bother them; or how long it should take to get over something. If we presume to know any of that, we probably ought not to try to help. “He who gives an answer before he hears, It is folly and shame to him” (Proverbs 18:13).
Thank God for what was.
Changes of any kind, even, good ones, mess with our equilibrium. Leaving something long term and familiar brings a sense of loss. It is healthy to grieve losses like these, even shed a few tears. Thank God for what was, think through and talk over what now is, with a trusted friend.
God’s hand is always at work in us.
God’s hand is always at work in us. In our disappointments as well as when we feel like a success. The great thing about our relationship with God is we can know that this is true, and we still have the freedom and the access to go to him and let Him know our hurts when it doesn’t go so well.
Do Not Worry About Tomorrow
Don’t let what might be or might happen ruin what does happen because of the time wasted worrying about what might happen. 80% of what we worry about never happens and the other 20% is probably beyond our control. Do the tasks you’ve got for today with enthusiasm and don’t worry what probably won’t happen tomorrow.
Be Friendly
Only once have I become close friends with someone where it was entirely initiated by them. And as time went on, it went both ways. With the people I have become close to, I have put time and energy into the relationship. Why do we sit back and wait for it to come to us? The principle is, if you want to have friends, go be friendly. In the end it really is more blessed to give than to receive.
Don’t Go At It Selfish
Hey married people! Ladies be good to your husband. Men, be good to your wife. Let’s completely eliminate the negative face that gets irritated at the slightest thing and replace it with good cheer and kindness. Going back before I was married a friend told me “Don’t go at it selfish”. It’s still good advice after twenty five years.
God Has Everything Under Control
The real challenge in life comes when we have used all our tools and we still have something we cannot sort out. Faith says that God has everything under control, even when we don’t have everything sorted out. I guess that is because if we thought we had it all sorted out, we’d be tempted to think that it was us who had everything under control.
My Rock and My Salvation
A factor that contributes to disappointment in relationship is what we expect from a relationship. In the music, movies and literature of our culture, relationships are able to do way more for someone than any human being is capable of. We cannot expect a person to do for us what only God can do. The only healthy dependent relationship is one that depends on God.
Acknowledge Such Men
Our children are influenced by watching what we are impressed with. I have a thought, why not inspire awe in solid, regular people who work hard, love their family, stay married 50 years? Skilled tradesmen, compassionate nurses, people who give cheerful customer service, people who come every Sunday and volunteer at church. Be impressed with such people, and your children will be too. Superstars are way overrated in this culture.
It’s in God’s Hands
It feels like the weight of the world is on our shoulders. We have given it to God in faith, but we know this one is going to take a while. It did not get there overnight, we know that, and dwelling on it just messes with us. We know God has this. So, what do I do with myself? Cry out when we’re hurting, God is listening. But until it’s over, it’s in His hands.
We Desperately Need a Relationship with God
When we have a good job, a nice home, money in the bank, good health and the relationships of our life are working well, know that we still, deeply, desperately need a relationship with God. Don’t wait until everything melts down to get to know God, life with Him is the best life there is. Without Him, even when you have everything, it can seem like not much of anything.
Give it to God Today
Matthew 6:34 (NASB) “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
Sound Judgment
Romans 12:3 (NASB) For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.
Be Devoted to One Another
Romans 12:10 (NASB) Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor;
God is Good
Romans 8:28 (NASB) And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
Be Kind to One Another
Ephesians 4:32 (NASB) Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.
Destroying Speculations
2 Corinthians 10:5 (NASB) We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,
Live for God
1 Peter 4:19 (NASB) Therefore, those also who suffer according to the will of God shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.
God’s Word is Truth
Hebrews 11:6 (NASB) And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.
God Answers
Colossians 4:2 (NASB) Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving;
Comfort Others
2 Corinthians 1:4 (NASB) who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
God Loves You
John 3:16 (NASB) “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”
Be Content
Philippians 4:11 (NASB) Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.
