STUFF: Lighter Thinking

So quite often I write about the things that make your brain work hard. This will not be that way. Here are some lighter things to consider. Did you know:

...that elephants can run faster than humans?

...sand melts at around 3000 degrees Fahrenheit?

...there is real gold in the sun?

...a bowling pin has to tilt about 1o degrees to fall down?

...Tyrannosaurus Rex means 'tyrant lizard king' in Latin?

...the dots on dice are called Pips?

...Toe Wrestling is a competitive sport?

...371,000 is the average number of people born everyday in the United States?

Just in case you were in danger of feeling like you know it all.

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THOUGHT: Awesomeness

Hey, I'll admit it, sometimes I get in one of those moods. You know what I'm talking about. You get a little caught up with your own awesomeness. Which, by the way, is actually bad. Well, one of the guys who helped write the Bible had something to say about all that. Here it is:

2 Corinthians 3:1-3 (New Living Translation)

1 Are we beginning to praise ourselves again? Are we like others, who need to bring you letters of recommendation, or who ask you to write such letters on their behalf? Surely not! 2 The only letter of recommendation we need is you yourselves. Your lives are a letter written in our hearts; everyone can read it and recognize our good work among you. 3 Clearly, you are a letter from Christ showing the result of our ministry among you. This "letter" is written not with pen and ink, but with the Spirit of the living God. It is carved not on tablets of stone, but on human hearts.

Do good! Invest in people. It's worth it.

411God.net

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THOUGHT: Choose It

We all choose our attitudes. Today, choose to rejoice! It's your option.

Philippians 4:4-5 (New Living Translation)

4 Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again--rejoice! 5 Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon.

Christ may not come back to earth today, but through your joyful attitude, He may come into someone else's life!

411God.net

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THOUGHT: Bodyguard

Warning: Satan never sleeps. So, cover yourself with faith and stay strong.

1 Peter 5:8-9 (New Living Translation)

8 Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. 9 Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are.

You are your own bodyguard, but, you don't walk alone.

411God.net

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THOUGHT: Church

Here's God's idea of church.

Ephesians 4:15-16 (New International Version)

15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

Christ is the head. We are the body. That's church.

411God.net

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THOUGHT: Desperate

In Jesus' time, sick people were considered "unclean" and banished outside the city walls. Sounds ridiculous right? Well, here's a woman, so desperate for Jesus, she ignored the rules.

Mark 5:25, 27-30, 33-34 (New Living Translation)

25 A woman in the crowd had suffered for twelve years with constant bleeding….27 She had heard about Jesus, so she came up behind him through the crowd and touched his robe. 28 For she thought to herself, “If I can just touch his robe, I will be healed.” 29 Immediately the bleeding stopped, and she could feel in her body that she had been healed of her terrible condition.

30 Jesus realized at once that healing power had gone out from him, so he turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my robe?”
…
33 Then the frightened woman, trembling at the realization of what had happened to her, came and fell to her knees in front of him and told him what she had done. 34 And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace. Your suffering is over.”

Are you desperate for Jesus like that?

411God.net

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THOUGHT: Leg It Out!

All right: You are running--you're nearing the end of a footrace where the winner gets a years supply of movie tickets and unlimited buttered popcorn refills for each movie. Oh, and the winner also gets a soda. You are close to winning, but, OH, someone throws a heavy jacket on you at the last second and then trips you with a broom handle. Bummer. No movie tickets for you.
The writer of Hebrews compares the Christian life to a race:

Hebrews 12:1-6 (New Living Translation)

1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. 3 Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up. 4 After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin.
5 And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children? He said,
“My child, don’t make light of the LORD’s discipline,
and don’t give up when he corrects you.
6 For the LORD disciplines those he loves,
and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.”

So run! Run to win! Make Jesus your focus and you will endure!

411God.net

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