THE FIRE OF UNBREAKABLE WILL

Acts 20:24

But my life is worth nothing unless I use it for doing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus – the work of telling others the Good News about God's wonderful kindness and love.

The difference between living and existing is knowing your purpose as designed by God. An Indian Chief once said, “When you know who you are, when your mission is clear and you burn with the inner fire of unbreakable will, no cold can touch your heart, no deluge can dampen your purpose. You know that you are alive.” Many times we surrender to the challenges of life simply because we really don’t know why we’re here. That’s exactly why Acts 20:24 says, “life is worth nothing” unless you use your life for your Godly purpose. If you're interested in living and not just merely existing, get familiar with your life's purpose.

MAKING GOOD ON PROMISES

Psalm 84:11

For the LORD God is our light and protector. He gives us grace and glory. No good thing will the LORD withhold from those who do what is right.

Psalm 84:11 holds a promise that people miss quite often. Just as everybody pursues glory in what they do, the Bible teaches us how to achieve glory from the Old Testament to the New Testament according to Paul in Galatians 6:9 where we are told, “So don't get tired of doing what is good. Don't get discouraged and give up, for we will reap a harvest of blessing at the appropriate time.” Just do what is right. Don’t give up on doing what's right, and God will make good on His promise. God withholds nothing from us when we do what's right. So, are you doing what's right?

PREPARE THE WAY

John 3:26-28

John's disciples came to him and said, "Teacher, the man you met on the other side of the Jordan River, the one you said was the Messiah, is also baptizing people. And everybody is going over there instead of coming here to us." John replied, "God in heaven appoints each person's work. You yourselves know how plainly I told you that I am not the Messiah. I am here to prepare the way for him — that is all.

John the Baptist is the final prophet that was recognized by the Jews. He was the preparer of the way for the Lord Jesus Christ and John baptized Jesus even as he felt unworthy to the task. Jesus commanded him, “Do it,” because it was the will of the God the Father. John also proclaimed that Jesus was the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world. Jesus, the Messiah, the Lamb of God, was the final sacrificial offering made for the forgiveness of man’s sins. John’s actions have taught us that our role is to prepare people for the coming of the Messiah into their very hearts. Prepare the way! People get ready!

NOTHING IS CERTAIN

Ecclesiastes 7:14

Enjoy prosperity while you can. But when hard times strike, realize that both come from God. That way you will realize that nothing is certain in this life.

You can be rich today and poor tomorrow; healthy today and sick tomorrow; happy today and depressed tomorrow. Nothing is certain in life except for God and His promises. The Bible says to enjoy whatever you have today because it can all change by tomorrow. Don’t forget that things happen because God allows them to happen. Just remember that you’re on a journey where nothing is certain if you go it alone. Stay close to God and you’ll always be fine.

JESUS IS GOD

1 John 5:10

All who believe in the Son of God know that this is true. Those who don't believe this are actually calling God a liar because they don't believe what God has testified about his Son.

One of the biggest challenges facing people today when it comes to believing in God has to do with the arrival of God’s Son in physical form here on earth. Generally speaking, people believe in God or in some kind of god, but believing in Jesus as the Son of God is whole other thing. For the most part, such a claim could explain why the leaders of Jesus' day moved to crucify Him. They didn’t believe that Jesus was God in human flesh. God the Father said in Hebrews 1:8, “But to his Son he says, ‘Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever. Your royal power is expressed in righteousness.’” Not believing that Jesus is God doesn’t change that the fact Jesus is indeed God. The Bible says you are actually calling God a liar if you don't believe what God has testified about his Son. Jesus our Lord is God. Accepting that fact is the challenge.

RECEIVE THE PROMISE

Galatians 3:14

Through the work of Christ Jesus, God has blessed the Gentiles with the same blessing he promised to Abraham, and we Christians receive the promised Holy Spirit through faith.

If you don’t know about the promise of God to Abraham, it comes up in Genesis 12:2-3: "I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you." All of the blessings and protection from God are handed to us through our Lord Jesus Christ. Receive Jesus as Lord and Savior with all your heart for Him to be able to move in your life and bless all of your days.

INSIDE JOB CONSPIRATOR

Acts 8:3

Saul was going everywhere to devastate the church. He went from house to house, dragging out both men and women to throw them into jail.

Christianity has been hindered and challenged by all forms of outside attack, but those that have tried to destroy the church have usually ended up serving Christ much like Saul, who became the Apostle Paul. Nothing can destroy the work of God, but if Christians will not live the way Jesus lived, the church may deteriorate from the inside. A college president once said, “I do not believe the greatest threat to our future is from bombs or guided missiles. I don’t think our civilization will end that way. I think it will die when we no longer care.” A British historian said that, “Nineteen of twenty-one civilizations have died from within and not by conquest from without. There were no bands playing and flags waving when these civilizations decayed. It happened slowly, in the quiet and in the dark when no one was aware.” Fan the flame of fire in your heart and do your part to bring more souls to Christ. You don't want to mistakenly become a conspirator to an inside job that brings the church to its knees.

THERE'S ALWAYS SOMETHING TO DO

Romans 12:11

Never be lazy in your work, but serve the Lord enthusiastically.

Have you ever heard someone utter the words, “I’m bored”? This phrase is typically spoken by people that don't know their purpose at a particular moment. For me personally, it can even imply that the person saying the words might even be lazy. When it comes to laziness, Proverbs 10:4 teaches us that, “Lazy people are soon poor; hard workers get rich.” In Proverbs 10:26, we learn that, “Lazy people are a pain to their employer. They are like smoke in the eyes or vinegar that sets the teeth on edge.” Christians need to be examples of what good workers are because 1 Thessalonians 2:4 says, “Our purpose is to please God, not people. He is the one who examines the motives of our hearts.” An example of Christ’s feelings on laziness can be found in John 5:17 when Jesus says, “My Father never stops working, so why should I?” There’s never a moment where someone can say, “I don’t have anything to do.” There's always something to do. Always. Get up, shake off the excuses and get yourself moving!

A PATH THAT'S TRUE AND RIGHT

Hosea 14:9

Let those who are wise understand these things. Let those who are discerning listen carefully. The paths of the LORD are true and right, and righteous people live by walking in them. But sinners stumble and fall along the way.

George S. Forest, Canada's most prominent champion of French-language rights wrote:

If there are a hundred steps in thy path to success and ye have not reached it in ninety-nine of them, do not conclude that the journey is a failure. Press on and up, the prizes are generally at the end of an effort not at its beginning. And not to go on is to miss them. Be valiant, have faith in yourself. Success belongs to him who dares to win it.

These are some truly beautiful and inspiring words. I believe, however, that we have to always remember that God has a plan and path for your life, as well. The path the Lord has for you is true and right, and as children of God we are commanded to walk in that path. Success doesn't begin by having faith in yourself, it begins by having faith in the One that gives you the victory.

ALWAYS BE JOYFUL

1 Thessalonians 5:16

Always be joyful.

I read a story about an attention grabbing wheelchair bound man rolling along a busy street singing joyfully and loudly. Someone asked him, “How can you be so happy when you’re stuck in that wheelchair?” He answered with a grateful smile, “Once I stopped thinking about what I lost and began concentrating on what I had left, I found that I had a lot to be happy about.” The math of this equation is easy: one man plus God equals a majority. We have everything we need if we have God because everything past, present and future  is His. Always be joyful in the knowledge that He is your great Redeemer and that when you add Him to your life you'll always have more than enough.

EVEN THE WORST OF THEM ALL

1 Timothy 1:15

This is a true saying, and everyone should believe it: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners — and I was the worst of them all.

Prior to becoming an Apostle, Saul was best known for leading a movement to kill the Christians of his day. Just imagine how the Apostle Paul felt each time he recalled the murders of the faithful? He actually thought he was wiping out Christians for God. That only changed when Saul met the Lord Jesus on the road to Damascus and became Paul. When you meet Jesus Christ personally and receive Him as Savior, you become enlightened and able to clearly see if your actions are right or wrong. Take the time to get to know Christ by using His Word. You'll find out something very interesting - even the worst of sinners can have eternal life if they accept the Lord's free gift of salvation. Even the very worst.

DON'T SPARE THE ROD

Proverbs 22:15

A youngster's heart is filled with foolishness, but discipline will drive it away.

It seems like from the beginning of time teenagers have had the “I know” response with an attitude to accompany the response. For a teenager, almost every decision and action is made with the predetermined feeling that they’re already right. Well, while teenagers might feel that way, God still gives us institutions to mold us through discipline. It all starts in your family, home, church, school and government. Each institution has a code of disciplines and these disciplines have been established to prevent foolish actions, guiding us to the right way to live. Always remember, if you spare the rod, you'll spoil the child, so take the time to appreciate and learn from the disciplines that you're being blessed with.

THE REFLECTION OF YOUR DECISIONS

Titus 2:7

And you yourself must be an example to them by doing good deeds of every kind. Let everything you do reflect the integrity and seriousness of your teaching.

I remember this story about a single dad who wanted to go to a nearby bar to have a drink on a snowy winter night, but his young son was still awake. Well, the young father tucked his son in to put the boy to sleep and quietly left their home heading straight for the bar. A few minutes later while into his first drink, he felt something tugging lightly at his pants. When he looked down he saw that it was his young son in his pajamas holding his teddy bear. He asked his son, “How did you get here?” The boy replied, “I woke up and you weren’t there. I went looking for you and I saw your footsteps in the snow, so I followed them.” You could be one of two persons in this story. If you were the little boy following after your father’s leading footsteps, where would you end up? If you were the father with your son following in your footsteps, where would you lead your family? Let your life be a good example and know that good or bad, everything you do will eventually be reflected back.

MIGHTY INNER STRENGTH

Ephesians 3:16

I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will give you mighty inner strength through his Holy Spirit.

Theodore Roosevelt once said, “Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure... than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in a gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat.” We have to take on the challenges of life no matter how impossible they appear to be. Take courage because we have our God through the Holy Spirit, who is willing to give us the mighty inner strength to succeed and be victorious. In the heat of battle, the truly faithful can expect His unlimited resources and wisdom on the battlefield when the challenges seem most impossible.

NEVER MORE THAN YOU CAN HANDLE

2 Timothy 3:10-12

But you know what I teach, Timothy, and how I live, and what my purpose in life is. You know my faith and how long I have suffered. You know my love and my patient endurance. You know how much persecution and suffering I have endured. You know all about how I was persecuted in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra — but the Lord delivered me from all of it. Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.

In the life of Christians, trials are normal. Job was a faithful believer that suffered some of the greatest trials ever, yet he said in Job 2:10, “Should we accept only good things from the hands of God and never anything bad?" God never persecutes us. Persecution comes from God’s enemies. God allows these trials, however, to happen so that we can experience His power and so that His enemies can experience His might. The trials that are given to you, while difficult and challenging, are never above what He has gifted you to overcome and experience growth in Christ. Meet the challenges before you with faith, endurance and perseverance. It may be difficult at times, but the double portion of blessings are waiting for you at the finish line.

IMPOSSIBLE BECOMES POSSIBLE

Exodus 33:14

"And the LORD replied, 'I will personally go with you, Moses. I will give you rest — everything will be fine for you.'"

Moses actually begged God to go with him because he wanted to guarantee that the world would know for sure that his mission came directly from God. It really should have been enough that God promised him that everything would be fine and that Moses would have rest and assurance. Harriet Beecher Stowe, upon seeing the suffering of American pre-Civil War slaves transcribed their stories into the famed book, Uncle Tom’s Cabin. In a matter of months after publishing, the book was translated into other languages, and it would take three giant printing presses running non-stop to keep up with demand. The famed book played a major role in the nearly impossible task of abolishing slavery in the United States. That impossible task became possible when God became part of the equation. Certainly there are things in your life that seem impossible. Always remember that with God, even the seemingly impossible challenges become possible when God goes with you and carries you through the storm.

LEARN TO BE HAPPY

Philippians 4:11

Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to get along happily whether I have much or little.

Arthur Tonne once told a story about the Japanese legend, “Hasnu The Stonecutter.” While Hasnu was carving a huge stone, he began to feel miserable and tired, and in his weariness he began to wish for easier work and more money. Hasnu saw the king riding upon his royal horse and he wished that he could feel what it was like to be king – and suddenly his wish was granted. But while riding upon his royal horse, Hasnu the King became miserable and tired from the sun beating down upon his head and neck. He realized that the sun was stronger than a king, so he wished to be the sun – and suddenly his wish was granted again. But as Hasnu the Sun shined down upon the earth, a cloud quickly formed and burst rain over the land and mountains, running down the creeks and rivers, moving everything in its path except for a huge stone. Yes, of course, that huge stone was mightier than the water, so he wished to be a stone – and again his wish was granted. As Hasnu the Stone sat along the river bed, a stonecutter arrived with a hammer and chisel, powerfully hacking the stone into shape. It was only then that Hasnu the Stonecutter found contentment in his situation. Life's journey will feature ups and downs, and you may feel envious of others along the way. Strive to be content and to enjoy your life, and know that God knows your beginning and your end, your strengths and your weaknesses. He will guide you along as you, much like Hasnu, find yourself.

GIVE TO THE NEEDY

Mark 10:21

Jesus felt genuine love for this man as he looked at him. "You lack only one thing," he told him. "Go and sell all you have and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."

It’s storied that very early on in his career, John D. Rockefeller was determined to earn a lot of money. At 33, he had already earned his first million dollars. At 43, he controlled the largest company in the world. At 53, he was the world’s sole billionaire. All this, but he would find himself suddenly overcome with the disease Alopecia. Rockefeller would become sickly to the point that the only things he could digest were milk and dry crackers. His doctors even told him that he only had 12 more months to live. Well, Rockefeller realized that money wasn’t everything and he began to give his enormous fortune away to help churches, the poor and the needy. Incredibly, he went on to live an additional 45 years before dying at the ripe old age of 98, enjoying a fruitful and giving life. The wealthiest man of his era learned that true treasures and wealth are stored only in Heaven. What are you doing with your treasures, wealth and gifts? Have you already come to realize that you can't take it with you?

THE POOR EXAMPLE OF ZERO PHYSICAL EXERCISE

1 Timothy 4:8

Physical exercise has some value, but spiritual exercise is much more important, for it promises a reward in both this life and the next.

There should be a balance between one's physical exercise and spiritual exercise, as well as the rewards that are involved. 1 Timothy 4:8 clearly states that physical exercise has some value. Sadly, some ministers and church leaders have a tendency to live an unbalanced lifestyle that focuses solely on spiritual exercise and zero physical exercise. This poor example of leadership trickles over to other church leaders, and right on down to church members and along to church attendees. It brings to mind the "Diet Prayer" by Jill Wolf:

“Dear Lord, help me to stick to this diet no matter how much I’m tempted to cheat. Grant me the strength to refuse second helpings, the patience to count calories, and the courage to step on the scales. May the refrigerator contain nothing fattening in the middle of the night when my will is weak and my hunger is strong. And lead me not into the temptation of chocolate. Bless me with good health and a healthy outlook to take this diet one day at a time. I ask your help in all these things so I can become the person I know you meant me to be. Amen.”

Face it. Your body is God’s temple. Take some time to take care of it and live healthy.

IN EVERYTHING PUT GOD FIRST

Proverbs 3:6

In everything you do, put God first, and he will direct you and crown your efforts with success.

Success is a relative term. The evidence of success, as far as people are concerned, typically involves a great deal money and ownership of valuables. It brings to mind a story I'd once heard about two good friends: a young pastor and an older attorney who married into wealth. Between them, my attorney friend always felt that the young pastor would never amount to anything. On the other hand, the young pastor held the lawyer in high esteem and considered him a dear friend. As God would have it, the wealthy attorney's daughter fell in love with and married the young pastor. Needless to say, her father was deeply disappointed, failing to attend their wedding and ceasing communications with the young couple for several years - until he was diagnosed with terminal cancer. At that point, he realized that his riches were of absolutely no value. Knowing that his life would soon be over, my attorney friend began a vigorous search for God. For guidance, he sought out his son-in-law, who had developed into a seasoned and experienced pastor. It’s a sad, but true story. Put God first in your life, let Him take the wheel and drive you toward the blessings He has waiting for you. Remember that His ways are not your ways. Without a doubt, it’s better to be successful in God’s eyes than in your own.

REMEMBER THE TIME

Deuteronomy 4:9

But watch out! Be very careful never to forget what you have seen the LORD do for you. Do not let these things escape from your mind as long as you live! And be sure to pass them on to your children and grandchildren.

There are so many things that we have to thank the Lord for. I can remember how difficult times were for my family when God spoke to my heart as a young boy. As a teenager, I developed many vices and became involved in all kinds of gray-area activities. Today, the Lord has carried me to a place where if I had to compare it against my past, the past would be totally dark whilst the present is completely bright. God is truly good, and everyone needs to remember that time when God spoke personally to you in the past and count that moment as a blessing. And if you’re in a situation that's similar to the past that I've lived, or if you’re just struggling to reach the blessings that God has waiting for you, choose the path leading to Christ and you'll certainly turn your dark past into a bright future. After all, "God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all."

DON'T BE BOASTFUL AND PROUD

2 Timothy 3:2

For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred.

I read a quote that said, “Conceit is the only disease known to man that makes everyone sick except for the one who suffers from it.” People with a strong love for money typically suffer from this kind of sickness, and ironically there’s no amount of money that can heal them. These folks can be impossible to get along with because they think they’re impossible to get along without. History tells us that on December 2, 1804 Napoleon was to be crowned Emperor of France. Of course, somebody had to crown him Emperor, but Napoleon couldn’t fathom anyone worthy of that duty, so he changed the proceedings and crowned himself. When a man doesn’t recognize the existence and power of God and God’s authority, that man may mistakenly portray himself as a god. Don’t get caught in that trap. Remember that Mark 12:31-32 teaches us to, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these."

FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE VERY BEGINNING

Matthew 25:34

Then the King will say to those on the right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.'

What God created from the beginning was never meant to be a religion. He created a kingdom. When man was created, Genesis 1:26 tells us of man's dominion, “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.” Kingdom translates easily to “king’s domain,” or better yet, “king’s dominion.” With this thought in mind, Jesus taught the disciples to pray to the Father in Matthew 6:9-10 when He said, "This, then, is how you should pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." Anyone can be a part of God’s kingdom by making Jesus their personal Lord and Savior. He’s actually invited you already when He said, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” When you’re a child of God, you begin your journey toward that which you were always designed for – membership in the King's royal family.

WAITING FOR YOU TO FAIL

Psalm 27:11

Teach me how to live, O LORD. Lead me along the path of honesty, for my enemies are waiting for me to fall.

Every day of your life will feature spiritual battles. The Apostle Peter warned us in 1 Peter 5:8 to, “Be careful! Watch out for attacks from the Devil, your great enemy. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for some victim to devour.” Ofttimes, Satan tricks us by appearing in a manner as Paul describes in 2 Corinthians 11:14, “Even Satan can disguise himself as an angel of light.” Our enemy is constantly tempting us to make mistakes. For this reason, we have got to remain prayerful and close to God. For when we stay close to God, we find ourselves living life honestly and staying away from sinful actions.

COMMIT TO DOING A GOOD JOB

Joshua 1:18

Anyone who rebels against your word and does not obey your every command will be put to death. So be strong and courageous!

After Moses' death, God appointed Joshua as the Israelites' new leader giving him the same authority that was given to Moses before him. This promotion was a reward for being a faithful right hand man to Moses. Likewise, a young LtCol. Dwight D. Eisenhower believed that he wouldn’t rise much further in leadership. The young Eisenhower was a regiment executive officer that had been a major for sixteen years before being promoted and he had become deeply content with his life. The Army had provided him with a good life and he had friends who respected him. Eisenhower was quoted saying, “No man could ask for more.” His career contentment and faithful commitment to a job well-done carried him all the way to the White House as the 34th President of the United States many years later. Take courage and stay faithful to God, being content with what you have and faithfully committed to doing a good job, and He will promote you in His perfect time.

ONCE AND FOR ALL

Romans 5:15

And what a difference between our sin and God's generous gift of forgiveness. For this one man, Adam, brought death to many through his sin. But this other man, Jesus Christ, brought forgiveness to many through God's bountiful gift.

Once Adam committed the original sin, sin was passed to all men from that point on. The Bible teaches us in Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” We're all sinners and we're all flawed, but we're still nevertheless precious to God and that’s why He came down from Heaven’s glory to die on the cross. His blood was shed for us so that we could be forever cleansed from all of our sins. Don’t ever think that you're a "nobody" or a "nothing" because each one of us is so special to the Lord our God that He was willing to leave His throne to save you from the sin holding your life hostage. Make everyday a day where you do something precious with the priceless gift He’s given to you. You might be flawed, but God thinks you're precious.

THE HIGH PRICE ON YOUR HEAD

1 Peter 1:18-19

For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And the ransom he paid was not mere gold or silver. He paid for you with the precious lifeblood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God.

The real problem with the world isn’t money, politics, or even the economy. The real problem facing the world is the sin that resides in the hearts of man. Because of this problem, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God had to be offered as ransom. Regarding ransoms, the Guinness Book of World Records posted that the greatest ransom ever paid was that for Atahualpa by the Incas to Francisco Pizarro in 1533 at Cajamarca, Peru. It was an entire hall full of gold and silver. Now that’s a pretty impressive ransom, but it still can’t be compared to what God did to pay your ransom. God gave His Son’s life as a ransom for all to be free and have salvation. John 8:36 says, “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” You’re neither a slave or hostage any longer. You’re free indeed.

FORGET ME NOT

Psalm 13:1

O LORD, how long will you forget me? Forever? How long will you look the other way?

Have you ever prayed and felt like the Lord just wasn’t listening or hearing you? Have you ever felt that the Lord might've abandoned you in your moment of need? Well, you’re definitely not alone. You might even consider yourself in good company because King David at certain points felt that very same way. Every time we sin and make mistakes, we suffer and get that feeling of abandonment. Feeling all alone is just one of the consequences of sin. The cure for this is asking for God’s forgiveness. David needed to remind himself of this in Psalm 11:4, “The LORD is in his holy temple; the LORD is on his heavenly throne. He observes the sons of men; his eyes examine them.” For Jesus, it sure felt like God was looking the other way when He was hanging on the cross carrying the past, present and future sins of the world. He even cried out in pain, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" God didn’t really forsake Jesus though, and Jesus certainly won’t forsake you. Just live a holy life, seek His forgiveness, flee from sin and know that when you're feeling all alone God isn't looking the other way.

GOOD ADVICE AND WISDOM

Proverbs 11:14

For lack of guidance a nation falls, but many advisers make victory sure.

The assumption that Proverbs 11:14 makes is that the "advisers" are Godly and competent. An NFL football team has several different coaches to help the head coach guide the team. The players may play at their very best, but there are still things that a player just can’t see as the action is quickly unfolding. With a Godly and competent coach watching from outside the players’ field of vision, wise counsel can be given to assure the victory. Throughout life, you'll need competent coaches to help you succeed. For instance, a person enters into some of the most challenging life situations upon entering into a marriage. Don’t get yourself into a challenging situation like that without seeking proper counsel and guidance! Battles like these are ones that you don’t want to lose and you'll require coaching that you may never have realized that you'll need. Even then, with the best coaches and advice available, you'll need to actually be wise enough to heed - you'll need a teachable heart.

BIG MOUTHS MEANS BIG TROUBLE

Proverbs 21:23

If you keep your mouth shut; you will stay out of trouble.

I read this funny story about an elderly woman complaining to a person next to her about today's youth. “Look at that girl wearing boy’s jeans, a boy’s shirt, and that haircut is so boyish. You wouldn’t know she was a girl at all, would you?” The person replied, “I’d know because she’s my daughter.” The embarrassed woman said, “Oh dear, I’m so sorry – I didn’t know you were her father.” And with that the parent responded, “I’m not, I’m her mother.” Christians, be careful with your words. You should always try to choose words that can edify people and yourself. Paul said Ephesians 4:29, “Don't use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.” There's power in your words, so know when to use them and when to keep your mouth shut.

PRECISION ENGINEERING

Ecclesiastes 9:10

Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might.

Campbell Aird, a hotel owner in Scotland, has one of the most advanced artificial arms in the world. The Guinness of Book of World Records labeled him, “The Man With A Bionic Arm.” Aird’s artificial limb is controlled by a motor and gears that are located in his upper arm. ABC News reported that, “Campbell does not get any ‘feedback’ from his arm to his brain. Our hands contain three main nerves, two major arteries and 27 different bones. Even simple movements involve the co-ordination of up to 60 different muscles. There are 2,500 nerve receptors in each square centimeter of the fingertips, so it is extremely difficult for an artificial hand to give its recipient anything like the sensation of touch.” It is so amazing how God designed our arms and hands, and for that matter, our entire body! Man's physical design is a precision engineering masterpiece with all of the layers of systems working perfectly together. It’s for this reason that the wise King Solomon said, “Anything you do, do with all your might,” because God made you fully loaded for whatever challenges lay in front of you.