2 Kinds of Rules

 

There are two kinds of rules in the world: rules that are made by people and rules that are made by God.  Let me explain.  If there is a stop sign at the end of your street, it was put there by the city council.  They can change it if they want to, because they are the ones who put it there in the first place.  They can change it to a yield sign or to a traffic light or they can do whatever they want to do.  That’s a people rule.  But there are other laws that are made by God, like the law of fire.  The fire law can only be changed by God.  If you put your hand in fire, it will get burned.  No city council can rescind the law of fire; only God can change it.  Hey, some of us think that we can live our lives however we want to.  We don’t think that the rules apply to us.  Rules are just good ideas to live by when we can and when we want to.  But there are some laws laid down by God that are like the law of fire.  We can’t get around God’s laws, no matter if we like them or not.  Solomon said it best in Proverbs 14:12, “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.”  God’s way may seem restrictive, and we may not want to follow God’s laws, but we do so at our own peril.  God made us, and God knows what is best for us, and if we follow God’s laws, we will live a happy, fulfilled life - both here and in the world to come.  Hey, read all about it in the Bible. Why not read it right now instead of these posts on facebook.  Hmmmm ...

Determination

 

I was at countryside Café in Ooltewah Thursday night with some friends and went to the restroom to wash my hands.  Countryside is an old-school place with a quirky charm.  The men’s room was occupied, so I stood in the tiny corridor waiting.  The placement of the light switch and cover ion the corner caught my attention and made me chuckle.  Some creative tinkerer had made it work where it shouldn’t have never worked.  First, the blue plastic switch box stuck out too far.  No worry.  Just put the coverplate on it and be done.  But the coverplate was too thick.  No worry.  Just hollow it out a little in the middle so that the switch would stick out.  But the door casing was in the way.  No worry.  Just notch the casing, notch the coverplate, and be done with it.  But the notch on the coverplate will interfere with the coverplate screws and the switch.  No worry.  Make the notch on the casing smaller and double notch the coverplate.  Obviously, this handyman in the past just wouldn’t give up.  Hey, when you get into a hard situation in life, don’t give up!  “When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on!”  In hard times remember, God always has a way out for you.  You can make it.  And the way out is usually just to bulldoze through the difficulty.  But be assured, with God’s help, you will make it through to the other side.  I Corinthians 10:13, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”

Probiotics

 

Without getting too graphic, I have been using this probiotic for my gut.  Again, without giving any details, it works.  But did you know that there is a probiotic for your soul?  Colossians 3:12, “Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering.”  As a Christian, when you have this deep-down gut feeling, react on it.  Be kind, be humble, and be merciful.  And the dear Lord will bless you for your graciousness to other hurting people.  Hey, today, use your Christian probiotics and be loving to others.  You will enjoy it, others will benefit from it, and God will be glorified by it.  And remember: you need to take it daily.  ;<)

Quads

 

At cardiac rehab, I cycle through 5 exercise machines.  I am easily bored, so 6 minutes on 5 machines gives me my 30 minute cardiac workout to keep my heart pumping.  I set the treadmill to 15˚ incline, (which is brutal) which is how steep my driveway is.  6 minutes at 15˚ is like walking up my driveway 130 times!  And Tuesday evening as I was rolling my garbage can to the street, it seemed easy.  My quads (the 4 muscles on the top of my knees) were strong enough to resist the pull of my heavy garbage can downhill.  I was pleased and encouraged to keep up my exercise regimen.  I Timothy 4:8, “For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.”  Hey, work on those quads, but more importantly, work on those kneeling-to-pray muscles.  Because when those hard times of life roll around, you’ll be glad that you did.