"Thy Word" Wednesday

“Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth.”

Proverbs 5:18

Late Bloomer

Flowers are always welcome in the yard, but I must say that I was surprised by their appearance last week.  While we are getting into a Fall State-of-Mind, the rose bush decided to bloom again.  I'm no horticultural expert, but it just seamed to me that the plant was done for the season, that it was getting ready for the winter and we wouldn't see any more flowers till the Spring. 

We have all met folks that were in a Fall State-of-Mind when it come to the ministry.  They serve God in short little spurts and then dry up for a while.  But then we have also seen those who we would expect to be slowing down after a long and productive life yet they are still flowering.  Although it's late in the season they have no intention of going dormant while there is life left in them.  Just one more rose before the Winter.

Chuck

Pennies from Heaven

"Every time it rains, it rains pennies from heaven", so the song goes.  Well I'm about sick of the rain part, but the penny part was fantastic.  We finished up our Church's Vacation Bible School on the day that hurricane Irene hit town.  There were a few outside things that were planned that had be brought inside, but other than that, it was a very successful VBS. 

Each year we have a bit of a competition between the boys and the girl with a penny offering.  There are many Churches that do the same and it always seems to enliven the group and helps to build the daily anticipation.  This year was no exception.  The girls did win with about 85 lbs as compared the fellows 76 pounds of pennies, but the real winner is the work of ministry when all those pennies (over $300) are sent to a missionary to help them with their work.  Amen!

Every little penny makes a difference.  Although each new penny weighs in at about 2.55 grams it only takes about 181 of them to make a pound.  Some young'ins brought in dollar bills and put them in the bucket, some brought in quarters, and dimes and even dollar coins, (No Chuck E. Cheese tokens this year) but for the most part, there were bucket-loads of pennies.  The smallest things that we can give, when added together with what is given by others, will assuredly add up and make a very substantial impact.  Never think that what you have in your life will not make a difference.  It all adds up to God getting the glory.


Chuck

You are what you eat

Last week was a real eye-opener for me concerning eating and running.  If you follow my Run Keeper posts you may have noticed that I've steadily increased the length of my runs, and longer runs require more energy to keep this body of mine moving forward.  Last week was very busy with VBS at Church but I still planned to have at least one long run.  So Thursday I ran ten miles and it was terrible!  Because of VBS I had not been eating sensibly.  Also that morning I woke up a little late and just had a hand full of dry cereal before I headed out the door.  Ten miles later I felt sick & wiped out.  That was the first time I had ever puked (graphic but true) after running and I was exhausted for the rest of the day.  In contrast, this week in preparation for my official long run I had a pasta dinner the night before.  I got up an hour before I ran and had a bowl of grits with honey.  Nine and half miles later I felt great, I had plenty of energy and could have kept going.  I'm telling you, it's all about what goes in you that determines what you can expect to get out.

So why do we starve ourselves of the Word of God so often?  Why do we fill ourselves with junk and then expect spiritual power when we need it?  Why do we rise up too late to spend the time we need to prepare for the long and trying tasks before us each day and then are surprised that we are exhausted and spiritually wiped out at the end of it?  Victory is all about what goes in to us, for that will certainly determine what we can expect to get when we need it the most.


Chuck (197)
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Friday Favorites:

Today's quote is from 1972 Olympic Marathon, Gold-Medalist, Frank Shorter (no relation):

"You don't run 26 miles at five minutes a mile on good looks and a secret recipe."




Chuck