In step

[RiverOL]

Family
============​

Are you aware that if we died tomorrow, the company that we are
working for could easily replace us in a matter of days?

But the family we left behind will feel the loss
for the rest of their lives.

And come to think of it, we pour ourselves more into work than
into our own family, an unwise investment indeed,
don't you think?

Do you know what the word FAMILY means?
FAMILY = (F)ATHER (A)ND (M)OTHER (I) (L)OVE (Y)OU

 

[RiverOL]

Is it Right?
=================​

Cowardice asks the question, ‘Is it safe?’
Expediency asks the question, ‘Is it politic?’
And Vanity comes along and asks the question, ‘Is it popular?’
But Conscience asks the question ‘Is it right?’

And there comes a time when one must take a position that
is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but he must do
it because Conscience tells him it is right.

 

[RiverOL]

The Dragonfly
====================​

Once, in a little pond, in the muddy water under the lily pads,
there lived a little water beetle in a community of water
beetles. They lived a simple and comfortable life in the pond
with few disturbances and interruptions.

Once in a while, sadness would come to the community when one of
their fellow beetles would climb the stem of a lily pad and
would never be seen again. They knew when this happened; their
friend was dead, gone forever.

Then, one day, one little water beetle felt an irresistible urge
to climb up that stem. However, he was determined that he would
not leave forever. He would come back and tell his friends what
he had found at the top.

When he reached the top and climbed out of the water onto the
surface of the lily pad, he was so tired, and the sun felt so
warm, that he decided he must take a nap. As he slept, his body
changed and when he woke up, he had turned into a beautiful
blue-tailed dragonfly with broad wings and a slender body
designed for flying.

So, fly he did! And, as he soared he saw the beauty of a whole
new world and a far superior way of life to what he had never
known existed.

Then he remembered his beetle friends and how they were thinking
by now he was dead. He wanted to go back to tell them, and
explain to them that he was now more alive than he had ever been
before. His life had been fulfilled rather than ended.

But, his new body would not go down into the water. He could
not get back to tell his friends the good news. Then he
understood that their time would come, when they, too, would
know what he now knew. So, he raised his wings and flew off
into his joyous new life!

 

[RiverOL]

The Dragonfly​

====================​

Once, in a little pond, in the muddy water under the lily pads,
there lived a little water beetle in a community of water
beetles. They lived a simple and comfortable life in the pond
with few disturbances and interruptions.

Once in a while, sadness would come to the community when one of
their fellow beetles would climb the stem of a lily pad and
would never be seen again. They knew when this happened; their
friend was dead, gone forever.

Then, one day, one little water beetle felt an irresistible urge
to climb up that stem. However, he was determined that he would
not leave forever. He would come back and tell his friends what
he had found at the top.

When he reached the top and climbed out of the water onto the
surface of the lily pad, he was so tired, and the sun felt so
warm, that he decided he must take a nap. As he slept, his body
changed and when he woke up, he had turned into a beautiful
blue-tailed dragonfly with broad wings and a slender body
designed for flying.

So, fly he did! And, as he soared he saw the beauty of a whole
new world and a far superior way of life to what he had never
known existed.

Then he remembered his beetle friends and how they were thinking
by now he was dead. He wanted to go back to tell them, and
explain to them that he was now more alive than he had ever been
before. His life had been fulfilled rather than ended.

But, his new body would not go down into the water. He could
not get back to tell his friends the good news. Then he
understood that their time would come, when they, too, would
know what he now knew. So, he raised his wings and flew off
into his joyous new life!

 

[RiverOL]

To It and Thru It
=======================​

I am one of the survivors of the recent hurricane.

As the storm approached, I prayed that God would steer it in
another direction because I live in a mobile home as do my
parents. But God did not honor that request and set it on a path
straight to us.

My father is dying of cancer and could not possibly go to a
shelter so we opted to ride out the storm all together in my
mobile home.

As the winds blew, I sat and prayed and wondered if God knew
what He was doing? He kept firmly in my mind that if He brings
me to it, He will surly bring me thru it.

The most we suffered was a blown out screen on a porch
enclosure. As thousands were without power, we never lost ours
which was a TRUE blessing as my father would not have survived
the heat.

My mother who was in need of a new roof on her home (but unable
to afford it) was blessed (yes blessed) to have a tree come
through her roof. Now insurance will provide the new roof.

The moral of this story?

When you think God does not hear let me assure you that He does

...maybe just not the way you want.

 

[RiverOL]

Don't Be a Part of the Living Dead

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control."1

Frank Lloyd Wright, the world-famous architect, tells how a lecture he received at the age of nine helped set his philosophy of life. An uncle, a stolid, no-nonsense type, had taken him for a long walk across a snow-covered field. At the far side, his uncle told him to look back at their two sets of tracks. "See, my boy," he said, "how your footprints go aimlessly back and forth from those trees, to the cattle, back to the fence then over there where you were throwing sticks? But notice how my path comes straight across, directly to my goal. You should never forget this lesson!" "And I never did," Wright said. "I determined right then not to miss most things in life as my uncle had."2

To experience the wonders of life we need to be in touch with all of our God-given emotions—including the emotion of wonder. "Life without emotions," said one humorist, "would be like playing a trombone with a stuck slide," which of course would be dreadfully monotonous and boring. The same is true when one's emotion of wonder is repressed, the effects of which are to be characteristically bored with life.

Emotions are God-given. They are a vital part of living a life with vitality, joy and wonderment. So learn to enjoy the emotion of wonder. Learn to let your hair down more often. Have fun. Hang loose. Go with the flow. Plant a tree. Write a poem. Draw with your non-dominant hand. Tell your spouse and kids how much you love them … tell them now and tell them often. Get out of your ruts. Do something different. Stretch your imagination. Step out of your comfort zone.

As Robert Frost said in his poem, "Road Less Traveled," "I shall be telling this with a sigh / Somewhere ages and ages hence / Two roads diverged in a wood / And I took the one less traveled by / And that has made all the difference."

And by the way, being in touch with all of your God-given emotions and using them as God intended is a vital part of being whole and living the abundant life Jesus spoke about. It's also being authentic. Repressed people are a part of the living dead.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please help me to be in touch with all of my God-given emotions and use them as you intended. Help me to be authentic and free, and an open channel through whom your love can freely flow. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

 

[RiverOL]

What this Year Might Hold ​ [ 1 min read ★ ] ​

The Lord is my helper; I will not fear—Hebrews 13:6 ​

We have an enemy, brother, and he is a liar. He "fills the world with lies" (John 8:44 MSG). He doesn’t tire of his work . . . and he is clever. He reserves certain lies, holding them, waiting for the right time and for the right men. For he knows that some of his lies are more persuasive at certain times and under specific circumstances. As we stand now, looking out at the expanse of a new year, he knows it’s time to whisper fear into the minds of men. He’s whispering, to those who’ll listen, to be afraid of what trouble might be coming. He’s whispering this lie now because he understands our nature. He knows we like control. He knows we like to know what’s next. He knows it’s difficult to feel "in control" when facing the uncertainty . . . when anything, really, might happen. And so, he knows it’s time to take advantage. We confront a choice, therefore. We can accept his lie, shoulder the fear, shrink back and focus on survival by returning to things that offer us just a little comfort—work, food, alcohol, pornography, distraction, withdrawal. Or, we can reject his lie, spurn his fearmongering, hold tight to the promises of God, and move forward—trusting that no trouble will surpass God’s ability to protect us and care for us. "This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life. It’s adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike ‘What’s next, Papa?’" (Romans 8:15-17 MSG) ​

Okay, so what do we do? It’s important to, every so often, declare what you believe and with whom you stand. It’s important to declare these things before God and before your enemy. Pray a prayer of declaration right now, brother. Consider this prayer the foundation for your new year.​

 

[RiverOL]

Short Story: Test It​

The jeweler turned the stone over and over again in his hand, rubbing it, smelling it, and examining it carefully under polarized light. He wasn’t about to buy a fake stone.

Julie waited patiently. She had no idea her stone would be subjected to so many different tests! “It’s real, I tell you. I paid good money for it.”

The jeweler looked up and shook his head. “I’m sorry to hear that,” he replied. “It’s not real amber. See? Look at it in the light.” The jeweler held the stone up to the ultraviolet light again.

Julie looked at the stone. It simply looked like the stone to her.

“As you turn it around and examine it in the light, you don’t see a rainbow full of colors, do you?” The jeweler asked.

Julie shook her head. “No. So what, though?”

“True amber would have an iridescent look under polarized light. I’m sorry, but I’m afraid what you have there isn’t really amber. The light doesn’t lie.”

Julie buried her head in her hands. Oh, why hadn’t she tested the stone before she invested everything she had to buy it?

“These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” Acts 17:11 (KJV)

“but test everything; hold fast what is good.” 1 Thessalonians 5:21 (ESV)

 

[RiverOL]

Following the Smoke Trail
====================================​

I just got through reading "The Three Brands." It really opened
my eyes to what seems to be the truth. But, it goes deeper for
me and, sad to say, brought no 'moment', but the reality that
all is not what it seems.

I grew up in smoke filled apartments; mom alone smoked 3 packs
of cigarettes a day. Everywhere we went, people smoked -
relatives, friends. There was smoking in theatres, restaurants
- even teachers smoked in school, though in their lounges.

Needless to say, I guess the reason I picked up my first
cigarette was because it was what adults did. And, I became
addicted. I've been smoking for 35 years.

I've tried to quit many times after I realized the consequences
of smoking. But, I guess it was too late. I remember how
irritated I got with the kids one time (they were under the age
of 5) and saw how I was treating them. I couldn't treat them
that way, so, I kept smoking, thinking it was better for them,
emotionally, then to give them a complex.

Without cigarettes I got cramps in my stomach, literally got
sick to the point of nausea, vomiting, headaches and the
jitters. How could I be a good mother like that?

Cigarettes killed my mother. But, neither of my grandmothers
smoked or drank - yet, one died of a stroke and the other of
liver disease.

I prayed, people laid their hands on me, I've requested prayer
during those early years, to no avail - for I had not the will
power to quit on my own.

Now, all three of my children smoke - even after I was diagnosed
with irreversible COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease).
We all know I will die from this and I still can't quit smoking.
Even the doctors tell me quitting smoking now will only make my
breathing slightly better.

I wonder if my addiction started from passive smoke. I've
drummed it into my kids that smoking is highly addictive, that
they shouldn't take that first cigarette - and they as children
were pretty much brainwashed on the taboo's of smoking -
warnings on cigarette labels, being taught the consequences of
it in schools as well as home, etc.

Yet, each and every one of them came home one day, smoking a
cigarette.

"The Three Brands" was well written. It's an admirable style
and a very persuasive piece that, hopefully, will bring to light
the true values of life.

One good thing about my life was that I didn't let cigarettes
spoil the value of mine. I am a Christian and raised all my
children in a Christian atmosphere. For that I am thankful.
I accept my fate and, hope, this helps break the chain of
addiction that these three brands can cause.

 

[RiverOL]

The Rest Stop
=====================​

I spend a lot of time traveling for my job. When driving long
distances, I have found that the rest stops optimize my time,
because I can do what I need to do and be quickly back on my way.

On one particular day recently though, that was not exactly the
case. It was a sort of morning that I will never
forget.

The rest area was perfect, easy on and off the freeway, with
restrooms very close to parking and the coffee machine was right
by the restroom.

When I went into the restroom, I noticed an older woman washing
up over the sink basin, she seemed to be struggling just a bit.
I said nothing, just tried to mind my business. She began to
walk out of the restroom just as I was washing my hands. She
appeared to be somewhat distressed while walking and I saw that
both of her lower limbs were swollen, mottled and a deep purple
color.

Still I tried to mind my business; however, as I watched her
struggle toward her vehicle, I felt an overwhelming compassion
come over me. I began to pray for her as I watched her struggle.

Tears were welling up within me and I felt as if God was telling
me that he deeply loved her. I also felt I was supposed to let
her know that; but still, I tried to mind my business.

I returned to my vehicle and proceeded back toward the freeway.
I then knew that as I was so busy minding my own business; I was
forgetting God's business. We are called to be His vessels, not
self serving vessels; called to share His love in everything we do.

It was about a mile down the freeway before I found an exit to
turn back around. I prayed to God that he would give me another
chance. I prayed that if it was His will for me to speak to
that woman; that she would still be there when I returned; that
He would give me the words to say to her.

When I arrived; the woman was still there. She was sitting in
the passenger seat of her van with the door propped open. As I
approached the vehicle I was somewhat nervous, but I knew that
God would guide my steps.

I startled her a bit when I walked up and placed my hand on her
shoulder. I introduced myself and told her that I believed that
God had wanted me to give her a message.

He wanted me to tell her that He loved her very much and if she
would just turn to Him that He would carry her burden.

As I looked into her eyes, they were filled with tears.
She kept saying "Thank you, Thank you".

I then told her that though I did not know if she was ill, that
God wanted her to trust Him to restore her health.

I then asked her to pardon the intrusion, but that I felt so
strongly that I was supposed to deliver this message that I had
to return after leaving the rest area. She said that she had
seen me leave earlier so she knew that I had returned.

As I turned to leave she reached out with both hands to grab mine;
like a baby grabbing for his mother, and she said with tear
filled eyes....THANK YOU.

I said "No, thank God, that He's a God of second chances."

This was a simple moment, a minor distraction in my schedule;
but, oh, how I was blessed. My reluctant obedience; my
disobedience, was used for God's glory. First of all, because I
had left, then returned, I think that woman believed what I told
her.

And secondly, it taught me that even in the sinful nature in me,
God can work things for His glory. His will will be done.
I'm just thankful I didn't miss out on being His vessel this time

 

[RiverOL]

​

​

 

[RiverOL]

Elbert Hubbard's business "Credo":
==================================================​

I believe in myself.
I believe in the goods I sell.
I believe in the firm for whom I work.
I believe in my colleagues and helpers.
I believe in American business methods.

I believe in producers, creators, manufacturers, distributors,
and in all industrial workers of the world who have a job,
and hold it down.
I believe that Truth is an asset.

I believe in good cheer and in good health, and I recognize the
fact that the first requisite in success is not to achieve
the dollar, but to confer a benefit, and that the reward
will come automatically, and usually as a matter of course.
I believe in sunshine, fresh air, spinach, applesauce, laughter,
buttermilk, babies, bombazine and chiffon, always
remembering that the greatest word in the English language
is "Sufficiency."

I believe that when I make a sale I make a friend.
And I believe that when I part with a man I must do it in such a
way that when he sees me again he will be glad - and so will I.
I believe in the hands that work, in the brains that think, and
in the hearts that love.

 

[RiverOL]

Just for chuckles.​

​

A Choice of Hyms
===========================​

One Sunday a pastor told his congregation that the church needed
some extra money and asked the people to prayerfully consider
giving a little extra in the offering plate.

He said that whoever gave the most would be able to pick out
three hymns.

After the offering plates were passed, the pastor glanced down
and noticed that someone had placed a $1,000 bill in offering.
He was so excited that he immediately shared his joy with his
congregation and said he'd like to personally thank the person
who placed the money in the plate.

A very quiet, elderly, saintly lady all the way in the back
shyly raised her hand. The pastor asked her to come to the
front. Slowly she made her way to the pastor. He told her how
wonderful it was that she gave so much and in thanksgiving asked
her to pick out three hymns.

Her eyes brightened as she looked over the congregation, pointed
to the three handsomest men in the building and said,
"I'll take him and him and him."

 

[RiverOL]

Six The Hard Way
==========================​

I was on my usual run. The mercury hovered above 90 degrees.
It was hot.

Sweat poured into my face stinging my eyes as my feet pounded
the pavement in a steady rhythm. I saw a man standing in a
doorway and then heard a shout,

“That will either kill you or make you strong!”

Both halves of the statement were true.

Such heat combined with the exertion could surely kill you.
It’s always an elevated risk exercising in extreme temperatures.

I waved and kept moving. Heat kills a few but inactivity kills
a thousand times more. His statement applied to more than just
running in the heat. It applies to all tough situations.

When tough things come, it will either strengthen you or break
you down. It will make you better or bitter. It will make you
an over comer or overwhelm you.

Tough things can kill.
They kill the spirit, hopes, dreams, visions and even desire.
Excessive pressure can make you explode
or make you learn new ways to constructively vent.

Spirit is very much like the physical; you can’t build muscle
without weight or put another way,
“Smooth seas never make good sailors.”

Heat, pressure, weight on your shoulders, and the constant
demands of life can make you strong. They build your faith.

After six miles, I finished my run, exhausted but feeling
better. I went inside, showered, and took a nap.

I ran hard for the six and then rested.

There are keys to improving your odds that the pressure makes
you stronger.

Run hard for the six then rest, is one of those keys.

 

[RiverOL]

The Day I Was Born
=============================​

I felt like a fabric so torn
And hated the day I was born
Life seemed gruesome and unfair
When I saw all in a sumptuous fair

I thought it was a welcome time
To cruelly cut myself in my prime
But you may ask, "What about God?"
I considered Him indifferent and odd

I questioned His timing and plan
Which didn't make meaning to a bitter man
In all my pains, I wanted to protest
By doing things He would detest

I wondered why He felt so cool
When I was stuck in a fiery pool
All these and my unbelief I now regret
For He still loosed me from the net

I'm surprised He chose today
To remember and wipe my tears away
And the battered tatters to be undone
A rebirth of a sort, on the day I was born.




My poem seems to have a heavy dose of melancholy.
Indeed, I had always protested my birth,
for I thought life was devoid of mirth.
Life had a strange intent,
for I was born without my consent.

Everything was in total disrepair, or so it seemed.
I believed Satan's lie that God had pleasure in my pains.
When I gave up all struggles, something happened.
I got a scholarship. An induction was fixed on August 25th.
The date was not so important since I was simply overjoyed.
But on a closer look, I was struck with a surprise of my
lifetime.



The induction was fixed on my birthday.
A day I had hated, turned to be a day of joy and blessing.
So, I became ashamed of my impatience and was inspired to
compose this poem.

God has remained a mystery to me ever since.

 

[RiverOL]

The Barracuda
=======================​

Scientists at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute did the
following study:

It's a widely known fact that Barracuda love to eat mullet.

Scientists put a barracuda into an aquarium, added a glass
partition in the middle and then put a mullet in the other side.

Not believing his good luck the barracuda circled a few times,
gathered up speed and launched directly at his lunch - the poor
unsuspecting mullet.

Wham! Bam! Full throttle into the glass partition.

Unfazed at this, the barracuda did his preliminary circles and
sped off again toward the mullet. Again, Wham! Bang! into the
glass partition.

Again and again and again he tried. Some weeks later, the
scientists noticed the barracuda quit trying to eat the mullet,
so they removed the glass partition.

Amazingly, the barracuda remained in his side of the aquarium,
silently swimming in circles.

In fact, the hapless barracuda slowly died of starvation while
the lucky mullet swam about in safety just a few inches away!

Many of us are like that barracuda - hurt, bruised and wounded
from many previous collisions with life.

We've given up, our lives have become unproductive, lifeless,
hopeless, without goal, purpose or meaning.

Around and around we go, going nowhere...
silently, starving to death... while just a few millimeters
away
there is a prize to be collected,
a blessing to be claimed,
a job to be had,
a relationship to begin,
an education to be gained,
earnings to be earned.

I took this advice seriously and let me tell you,
the mullet is delicious!!!

 

[RiverOL]

Your Cross
=================​

A young man was at the end of his rope;
seeing no way out, he dropped to his knees in prayer.

"Lord, I can't go on," he said.
"I have too heavy a cross to bear."

The Lord replied, "My son, if you can't bear its weight,
just place your cross inside this room.
Then, open that other door and pick out any cross you wish."

The man was filled with relief and said,
"Thank you Lord," and he did as he was told.

Upon entering the other room, he saw many crosses,
some so large the tops were not visible.

Then, he spotted a tiny cross leaning against a far wall.
"I'd like that one, Lord," he whispered.

The Lord replied,
"My son, that is the cross you just brought in."

When life's problems seem overwhelming, it helps to look around
and see what other people are coping with.

You may consider yourself far more fortunate than you imagined.

 

[RiverOL]

If You Think You Aren’t Good Enough
====================================================​

The next time you feel like GOD can't use you, just remember...

Noah was a drunk
Abraham was too old
Isaac was a daydreamer
Jacob was a liar

Leah was ugly
Joseph was abused
Moses had a stuttering problem
Gideon was afraid

Sampson had long hair and was a womanizer
Rahab was a prostitute
Jeremiah and Timothy were too young
David had an affair and was a murderer

Elijah was suicidal
Isaiah preached naked
Jonah ran from God
Naomi was a widow

Job went bankrupt
John the Baptist ate bugs
Peter denied Christ
The Disciples fell asleep while praying

Martha worried about everything
The Samaritan woman was divorced, more than once
Zaccheus was too small
Paul was too religious
Timothy had an ulcer...

AND

Lazarus was dead!

What do you have that’s worse than that?
So no more excuses!

God can use you to your full potential.
Besides you aren't the message,
you are just the messenger.

 

[RiverOL]

Going Too Many Directions?​ [ 1 min read ★ ]

. . . let us run with endurance the race that is set before us—Hebrews 12:1​

Every man has a sweet spot—a skill, an aptitude, a function that results in maximum impact for a given amount of effort. We’ve all felt them, finding ourselves “in the zone.” We probably have one, maybe two, but our sweet spots are what make us indispensable to others—to our employers, our families, our friends, to the people we’re meant to serve. Of all the things we do, our sweet-spot activities are where we make a unique difference. They’re the things we’re made to do. Sweet spots aren’t random, nor accidental. They’re crafted by our Creator. And they indicate where he wants us to focus our lives—for impact. You see, sweet spots are crafted with specific needs in mind. God cares about those needs, whatever they are, and he designs us to address them (Ephesians 2:10). Identifying our sweet spots allows us to analyze our days, our weeks, and prioritize. It allows us to begin to concentrate our efforts on activities for which we were made. It also allows us to create margin in our work life. As Jethro counseled Moses, we can learn to curtail or delegate activities that fall outside our sweet spots and, thereby, keep our work from unreasonably impinging on other important areas of our lives (Exodus 18:13-27). We cannot eliminate all outside activities, of course; but, we can better manage our time to emphasize the inside ones.

Okay, so what do we do?​ Spend some time pondering your sweet spots. Now, grab a piece of paper and sketch out an ideal job description, one that perfectly leverages you in those spots. You won’t be able to move into that job instantly, of course . . . but the description should serve as a reference for making future decisions, allowing you to move closer to it, over time.

 

[RiverOL]

Gotta Get Humble​ [ 1 min read ★ ]

. . . count others more significant than yourselves—Philippians 2:3​

Let’s first get straight on what “getting humble” is not. It’s not trying to think poorly of ourselves or denigrating ourselves or anything like that. It actually involves taking the focus off ourselves. Getting humble is checking our tendency to think ourselves better than others, or more important, valuable, worthy of time or mindshare or respect. Getting humble is shutting down our tendency to "size people up” and position them on some scale—based on money, title, education, geography, whatever. Getting humble is recognizing all people as the careful works of God, equally worthy of love and sacrifice. Getting humble is counterintuitive, and it moves against prevailing culture. You see, we men want to feel successful, important—and have others consider us so. Culture trains us, therefore, to promote ourselves; to be strategic with our time and attention; to let positions determine our treatment of others. This training is foolish. It misses the sense and strength of humbleness. Imagine someone humble. They’re often fearless, able to act on convictions, rather than trying to impress. Their decision-making is often sound, unclouded by insecurity or prejudice. They listen and welcome honest differences. They abide critics, crushed not by their criticism. They’re often magnetic, treating all people with respect. They engender loyalty, camaraderie. King Solomon wrote, “with the humble is wisdom” (Proverbs 11:2). We want to work with humble people. We want to work for them and have them work for us. We want them as spouses, friends. But, mostly, we should want to get humble ourselves.

Okay, so what do we do?​ Practice getting humble. Choose something this week: initiate a conversation and listen more than you talk; serve in a way that’s mundane or difficult (unpleasant, even); help someone anonymously; give someone the credit they deserve (even if you deserve some too).