Book of Proverbs – Proverbs For The Modern Day – The Amusement Arcade

An amusement arcade (often referred to as a video arcade or simply arcade) is a venue where people play arcade games such as video games, pinball machines, electro-mechanical games, redemption games, merchandisers (such as claw cranes), or coin-operated billiards or air hockey tables. In some countries, some types of arcades are also legally permitted to provide gambling machines such as slot machines or pachinko machines. Games are usually housed in cabinets. The term used for ancestors of these venues in the beginning of the 20th century was penny arcades. Video games were introduced in amusement arcades in the late 1970s and were most popular during the golden age of arcade video games, the early 1980s. – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amusement_arcade. Book of Proverbs – Proverbs For The Modern Day – The Amusement Arcade

Book of Proverbs – Proverbs For The Modern Day – The Amusement Arcade Amusement Arcades have been beloved for years. These places are where people can go and have fun, laugh, test their skills and much more. Amusement Arcades have a plethora of choices. My personal favorite is Skeeball but there are a variety of things to enjoy. Book of Proverbs – Proverbs For The Modern Day – The Amusement Arcade. Check out my website

Amusement Arcades was taken to an elevated level when Dave & Busters was founded in Dallas TX in 1982. This establishment not only has a video arcade in all their locations, but they also have a full-service restaurant. Now people can dine and have fun at the same time. People have so many choices of the games to entertain themselves. Book of Proverbs – Proverbs For The Modern Day – The Amusement Arcade

Daily we also have so many choices to do the right thing and live a godly life instead of a sinful life. Are we going to have faith or are we going to live in fear? We have the choice to trust God or be a doubting Thomas. “The other disciples therefore said unto him, we have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.” – John 20:25. Will we believe that we have the power, strength, and determination to handle any challenge that comes our way? The bible says,” I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” – Philippians 4:13. Are we willing to live a life based on integrity? Will we choose daily to bless our family, friends, and people with our words and not speak ill of them? Are we willing to be Good Samaritans? As parents are, we able to be like the father of The Prodigal Son who wasted all his inheritance and came humbly begging his father to take him back as a hired hand? When you go grocery shopping will you return the grocery cart to the appointed place or just leave it anywhere where it can roll and hit someone’s vehicle and cause damage?

The list is endless of the choices that confront us every day just like the choices in an Amusement Arcade. Check out my website

Book of Proverbs – Proverbs For The Modern Day – Look Forward – Move Forward – Press Forward

“Study the past if you would define the future.” – Confucius

“We keep moving forward, opening new doors and doing new things, because we’re curious, and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.” – Walt Disney

“If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.” Martin Luther King Jr

“If we fail to adapt, we fail to move forward.” John Wooden

“Let us move forward with strong and active faith.” Franklin D. Roosevelt

“A man who is pressing forward to accomplish worthy goals can soon put despondency under his feet.” – Ezra Taft Benson

We were made in the image of God and he pressed forward for six days to create the earth. Life happens and things go haywire sometimes, but we must keep going forward. God gives us a new set of grace every 24 hours and gives us an anointing to go through. If you scheduled an Amtrak excursion on the “Empire Builder” from Spokane WA which travels through mountains and long tunnels you wouldn’t tell the train conductor to stop the train before the tunnel because you are afraid of going through and what you may run into on the other side. Your eyes and heart would be lit up with excitement for what would be coming next. – Book of Proverbs – Proverbs For The Modern Day – Look Forward – Move Forward – Press Forward. Check out my website

This is the same way we must handle life daily. We must jump in with both feet and know that God will carry us safely through to the other side. We cannot cringe in fear or stop living our lives that isn’t the life that Jesus died for us to have. “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly.” – John 10:10.

Bible Verses on Looking, Moving, and Pressing forward:

Remember ye, not the former things, neither consider the things of old. – Isaiah 43:18

And the Lord said unto Moses, wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward. – Exodus 14:15

And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. – Mark 14:35

And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God. – Luke 9:62

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 3: 13-14

We all have days when the pain is so real that we feel like we cannot breathe. We don’t want to get out of bed. It feels like we cannot talk to anyone and so we shut out the world. Whether it be the loss of a loved one, a divorce, the loss of a job, a friend walked out on you, someone double-crosses you, you don’t know where your next dollar is coming from to eat. Remember God is with you always. Remember what God said, “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” – Isaiah 41:10

Book of Proverbs – Proverbs For The Modern Day – Look Forward – Move Forward – Press Forward! Check out my website

Proverbs For The Modern Day – Don’t Panic – Just Pray

http://Dictionary.com Panic – a sudden overwhelming fear, with or without cause, that produces hysterical or irrational behavior, and that often spreads quickly through a group of persons or animals. Proverbs For The Modern Day – Don’t Panic – Just Pray. Check out my website

Causes of panic attacks – Severe stress, such as the death of a loved one, divorce, or job loss can trigger panic attacks. Panic attacks can also be caused by medical conditions and other physical causes.

What do you feel when you are having a panic attack? According to https://www.webmd.com/anxiety-panic/panic-attack-happening#1 once you have four or more of these feelings you are having a panic attack:

Feel like you’re losing control or going crazy

Pounding heart

Sweating

Trembling or shaking

Shortness of breath

Chest pain

Nausea

Dizziness

Chills or hot flashes

An out-of-body sensation

Like you’re choking

A fear that you’re dying

Tingling or numb hands, arms, feet, or legs

Right now, our world is having a panic attack due to this coronavirus. Has the world ever had things to give them panic attacks before? Yes, of course. 911, school shootings, mass killings, etc. Have we survived? Of course, we have and like the old saying quotes And This Too Shall Pass! Proverbs For The Modern Day – Don’t Panic – Just Pray. Check out my website

As long as we are alive life is going to happen. There will be things that arise that catch us off guard. That is when we lean in and pray not panic! We must keep our bible closer than our fear.

Right now, we are dealing with this COVID-19 issue but there are things that we can all do to help ourselves. This, in turn, will help the first responders who are on the front line battling this crisis. We need to be more socially responsible and stay home and use wisdom and follow what our government officials are saying to help protect each other. When I went grocery shopping a cashier said to me people are coming to the grocery store just to hang out because they don’t want to or just can’t see themselves staying home. Remember what the bible says regarding all of us, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” – Phillippians 4:13.

First, there were news reports of people panicking regarding toilet paper and buying up all they could find. Now the news reported an increase in buying chickens. A business owner said he had a tremendous increase in sales because people are pouring into his business buying chicks expecting to ensure that they will have eggs. THIS IS PANIC NOT PRAYER! He explained how chicks cannot even have eggs for six months. He also pleaded that if those who buy them find they cannot do all the required elements to care for them to please return them to his store and he will buy them back. Now the latest thing is that the FDA is requesting that the makers of hand sanitizers please add denatured alcohol to the products to discourage people, especially children, from drinking the liquid. Hand sanitizers are meant for external use, they are not for ingestion. According to the National Poison Data System calls from last month in March related to hand sanitizer increased by 79% compared to March 2019. This is truly disturbing and the highest level of PANIC! The bible says, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: yet I say unto you, that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore, take no thought, saying, what shall we eat? or, what shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. – Matthew 6:25-34.

Bible Verses related to Panic and Fear:

So that we may boldly say, The Lord [is] my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me. – Hebrews 13:6

Be careful for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. – Philippians 4:6

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. – 2 Timothy 1:7

Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. 1 John 4:4

For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee. – Isaiah 41:13

And fear not them which kill the body but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. – Matthew 10:28

Prayer changes things and is a powerful weapon against the enemy. Most households have a minimum of two people living together. Remember what the bible says, “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” – Matthew 18:20.

Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it. – Charles R. Swindoll. Book of Proverbs – Proverbs For The Modern Day – Don’t Panic – Just Pray. Check out my website

Book of Proverbs – A Blissful Life Is Not Guaranteed

Bliss – supreme happiness; utter joy or contentment. http://www.dictionary.com.

When we were born as babies we were pampered, comforted, loved, cradled, fed, changed, and as we grew, we were given every creature comfort possible. No wonder we thought that life would be a constant cycle of bliss. – Book of Proverbs – A Blissful Life Is Not Guaranteed. Check out my website

Reality started to set in as we grew older. Going to school was a perfect example. Sometimes it was difficult to make friends. We didn’t always get the best grades on our tests and homework assignments. Then there were those of us that were unfortunately bullied. Book of Proverbs – A Blissful Life Is Not Guaranteed.

As we grew into adults and then the real maze began. We thought once we graduated, we would find the perfect job or open our dream business and work there until retirement. We would find the perfect spouse, have a couple of kids if we chose, purchase a home, a couple of cars, and possibly have a pet or two and life would be great.

Surprise! A Blissful Life Is Not Guaranteed. As adults, we all have at one point or another faced these issues:

Being laid off or fired from a job

Lost a loved one to death

Struggled or still struggling with health issues

Divorce

Lost a business that you owned

Been involved in an accident of some type

Had to file Bankruptcy

I know there are many things that I have left off this list. We need to remember that Jesus did not have a blissful life when he was here on earth either. Jesus endured physical torment, emotional trauma, and spiritual agony. However here are some promises in the bible when life is tumultuous and not blissful:

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. – Romans 8:28

The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it and is safe. – Proverbs 18:10

Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. – Isaiah 41:10

And the Lord, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed. – Deuteronomy 31:8

The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles. – Psalm 34:17

I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. – Psalm 34:4

Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest. – Joshua 1:9

Yes, you can count on the fact that A Blissful Life Is Not Guaranteed but you can also count on the promises of God and he will never fail you!

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. – Proverbs 3:5-6. Check out my website

Book of Proverbs – Proverbs For The Modern Day – One Step At A Time

Why is it important for all of us to take one step at a time? Our creator God did so if we are to emulate him then we should do the same thing. Book of Proverbs – Proverbs For The Modern Day – One Step At A Time. Check out my website

In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, let there be light: and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness. And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day. And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters. And God made the firmament and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so. And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day. And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so. And God called the dry land Earth, and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good. And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so. And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good. And the evening and the morning were the third day. And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years: And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so. And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also. And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth, And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good. And the evening and the morning were the fourth day. And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven. And God created great whales and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good. And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth. And the evening and the morning were the fifth day. And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so. And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good. 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. So, God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. – Genesis 1:1-27. Book of Proverbs – Proverbs For The Modern Day- One Step At A Time.

Now for those of you that are not new to Christ going over how the earth was created may have been boring but remember there are new people coming to Christ every day that have never heard the word of God or ever read a bible so this is for them. Book of Proverbs – Proverbs For The Modern Day- One Step At A Time. Check out my website

Let me provide you with some things that go one step at a time:

1 – A baby. Many babies take their first steps between the age of 9 months and 12 months. Babies just like all of us must take one step at a time. They must learn to walk before they can run.

2- A ladder. When we open a ladder to use it, we go up one step at a time. For all of you WWE fans which is almost everybody, you know about the ladder matches. They are excited to see when a wrestler has knocked all the other ones down and starts to climb the ladder to reach the championship belt and be declared the winner. For those of you who don’t follow wrestling you also know you can only climb one step at a time.

3- A recipe. When we decide to prepare some food that we have never fixed before we look up the dish and find a recipe. We purchase all the ingredients that we will need and follow the instructions carefully one step at a time. For example, for the holidays you have decided to make Gingerbread Cookies. That’s great but you need to follow the recipe. The most important thing you must do is chill the dough for at least 3 hours. If you just wrap it and then roll it out after a while and try to start making the shapes without chilling it, you will have a disaster. You want your cookie dough firm, so the cookies hold their shape. You won’t have that unless you have chilled cookie dough.

4- A Christmas Tree. If you decorate a Christmas tree for the holidays you know it is a step by step process. First, you purchase the tree. Then spread out the branches. Then you must place it in a tree stand. You also need a tree skirt. Then you start to add the festive decorations you have purchased. One by one you add the lights, tinsel, bulbs, ornaments, ribbons, etc.

These are all examples of taking things one step at a time. Don’t try and rush life because it goes quickly on its own. If God showed the utmost patience by creating the world one step at a time why can’t we? Check out my website

“Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.” – Martin Luther King Jr.

Book of Proverbs – God is in the Catapulting Business

Catapulting – hurling or launching (something) in a specified direction. Book of Proverbs -God is in the Catapulting Business.

GOD can and will bless you and catapult you years ahead regarding your desires. Whatever you are dreaming, wishing, and praying for GOD can and will make it happen in record time. Or like the Star Trek fans (Trekkies) call it Warp Speed! Book of Proverbs – God is in the Catapulting Business. Check out my website

A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation: I the Lord will hasten it in his time. – Isaiah 60:22. GOD wants to pour out his spirit and empower you. Our heavenly father wants to launch you forward into your destiny. God wants to launch you at lightning speed! Book of Proverbs – God is in the Catapulting Business.

We work on an earthly time schedule which is the exact opposite of GOD. For GOD a thousand years are like a day. Faith is what shapes GOD’S time schedule. Faith is what makes GOD catapult you. There is something about believing God that will cause him to pass over a million people to get to you. – Smith Wigglesworth.

All of us know someone who has had their dreams manifested at warp speed however that does not seem to happen for you. You dream of getting that promotion but someone less qualified gets it. At one point you applied for that small business loan and your idea was great however someone else gets the approval for a business that doesn’t sound half as lucrative as your idea. What is the missing ingredient? A mustard seed. GOD says if you will have the faith of a mustard seed which is the smallest seed ever then is when the catapult happens. Faith is trusting in the unseen. I have used this example before because most people can relate to it. Rollercoaster rides are the ultimate adrenaline rush. However, you don’t ever think before you embark on the ride what if the roller-coaster gets stuck high up in the air. Is it possible that there will be a malfunction with the ride, and you will be dangling in mid-air praying everything will be alright? No, of course not. You always have faith that this man-made metal ride will always land you safely on the ground when the ride is over. Why do you not have that type of faith in GOD? That is what GOD is waiting to get from you and then you will be catapulted into your dreams. Do you want to manage a team of 100 people, start your own successful business, become a successful playwright, be a New York Times bestselling author, pay off your home early? The desires are endless. It is important that you do your part and GOD will do his part. Therefore it is imperative that You have Faith and GOD will do the Catapulting. Book of Proverbs – God is in the Catapulting Business. Check out my website

Book of Proverbs – Proverbs For The Modern Day – Psalm 34

The Hebrew word for Psalms in Tehilim means “Praise”. Book of Proverbs – Proverbs For The Modern Day – Psalm 34. Check out my website

Psalm 34 is called “A Psalm of David”. It references when David changed his behavior before Abimelech; who drove him away, and he departed.

Psalm 34 is a Psalm that can be very encouraging to you when you feel like the walls of life are closing in on you and you have no way out. The times when if anything that can go wrong it does. The times when you are so overwhelmed when the tears just flow, and laughter is way on the opposite side of the football field, and you feel like you’ll never score a touchdown to get there. Book of Proverbs – Proverbs For The Modern Day – Psalm 34.

Psalm 34 is a wonderful testament of how GOD will always care for you but there are certain verses that I want us to look at specifically.

Psalm 34:4 “I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.” This is very comforting because fear comes to all of us. We need to be careful because most fear is False Evidence Appearing Real. If we succumb to this, we can become paralyzed and never live our lives. Remember John 10:10 “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I am come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly.” Book of Proverbs – Proverbs For The Modern Day – Psalm 34.

Psalm 34:6 “This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his troubles.” This verse clearly states that if we will humble ourselves and cry out to God, he will save us from our troubles. Now it is important that you clearly see here that it does not say that trouble won’t come and if you have lived long enough you know trouble does come. However, God will save you and care for you.

Psalm 34:15 “The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.” This verse states that GOD takes watchful care of his people and his eyes and ears are attentive to their prayers.

Psalm 34:17 “The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.” A righteous person has a heart for GOD and tries to live in a moral and ethical way. Now you can start shouting and celebrating because this verse clearly states this person the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. Victory is right around the corner!

Psalm 34:19 “Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all.” Remember earlier when I quoted Murphy’s Law (if anything can go wrong it will) this verse allows you to take a deep breath and live your life. Life is just that its life. Suddenly you lose a loved one, your spouse announces they are leaving you, your employer states they are downsizing, and you are now out of a job, you get a negative health report from the doctor, etc. etc. This verse has been a constant comfort for me all my life because it clearly tells you that you will encounter many afflictions, but the Lord will deliver you out of them all.

I hope one of these verses has brought joy to you and lets you know everything will work out for good. Get an index card and write down one of these verses and carry it in your purse or wallet for the times when you feel overwhelmed and unsure. Book of Proverbs – Proverbs For The Modern Day – Psalm 34. Check out my website

Breathe, Pray, Trust GOD and most importantly Praise GOD, be Thankful to GOD always and live your life.

Book of Proverbs – Laughter

Laughter…it seems like such a simple thing to do however it isn’t especially if you are an adult. Book of Proverbs – Laughter

Children find it easy to laugh. They chuckle about everything. It is said children laugh on average 200 times a day. However on the contrary adults only laugh 4 times per day. Book of Proverbs – Laughter

Book of Proverbs – Laughter – As adults, we have allowed ourselves to get lost in the stress of life. We don’t take time to have fun anymore. There are deadlines, time crunches, agendas, etc. Adults have lost the capacity to do as it is stated in the bible: “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.” – Proverbs 17:22. Check out my website

Laughter is medicine! The best part of that is that is doesn’t cost us anything. When is the last time you filled a prescription for medicine and there was no charge? Maybe the medicine somehow didn’t cost but for you to get the prescription you had to go through the doctor and most certainly there was a co-pay you were responsible for. Book of Proverbs – Laughter

God laughed. Here are some bible verses regarding that:

He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. – Psalm 2:4
The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming. – Psalm 37:13
But You, O LORD, laugh at them; You scoff at all the nations. – Psalm 59:8

So, if God laughed knowing it’s benefits, and we were created in his likeness then we should also laugh. Book of Proverbs – Laughter

Here are some benefits of laughter:

Relaxes the whole body

Increases blood flow

Creates oxygenation of the cells and organs

Defends against illness

Provides greater memory, intelligence, and creativity

Is a pain killer

Boosts the immune system

Triggers the release of endorphins

Lightens anger’s heavy load

It may even help you to live longer

The Physical Health Benefits of Laughter:

Boosts Immunity

Lowers Stress Hormones

Decreases Pain

Relaxes Your Muscles

Prevents Heart Disease

Strengthens Resilience

Creating Opportunities to Laugh

Watch a comedy movie, a funny TV show, or view YouTube videos

Share a funny joke or good story

Read funny books

Play with your pets

The same way that we make time every day to feed ourselves, drink water, exercise, etc. in spite of all that we still have to laugh every day. Laughter makes you feel better and releases healing in your body.

Yes, we all have challenges in life. If Jesus did when he was here who are we to be exempt from challenges. The devil is always busy and as the bible says, “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly. – John 10:10. You know how you make the devil really mad: you keep hope alive, you have faith and trust (even if it is the small size of a mustard seed) in God, and you LAUGH daily! Book of Proverbs – Laughter. Take a look at my website

Book of Proverbs – Don’t Say You Can’t – Say Can

Book of Proverbs – Don’t Say You Can’t – Say Can. Check out my website

James and Michael his best friend and best man are out at the baseball game.

“What am I going to do Mike? Jenna wants me to take ballroom dance classes with her in preparation for the wedding. I can’t do that.”

“You think you have problems I have my own set. Madeleine wants me to take a Hot Air Balloon ride with her and she knows I have a fear of heights. I can’t do that”

Jenna and her best friend Madeleine at the nail salon.

“What am I going to do Madeleine? James wants me to go to a baseball game with him. He knows I don’t like sports of any type. I can’t do that.”

“I have my own issues as well. Michael wants me to learn French for our upcoming trip to France. I don’t want to do that. I just want to visit the Eiffel Tower and The Louvre. I can’t do that.

How many times have you said I can’t to God?

I can’t be an usher in the church. I can’t stand on my feet that long. I can’t sing in the choir. They rehearse a couple of times a week and then there are mid-week services as well as multiple services on Sundays. I can’t go on a mission trip. It is not a vacation it is hard work. I can’t go to seminary. When I graduate, I am supposed to be a reasonably perfect person free from sin. I can’t write that spiritual book. I am an unknown who is going to pay any attention to me? The list goes on endlessly of all the things God wants us to do and the answer is always I can’t.

When you tell someone, you can’t what you are really saying is that I am not interested in doing that. When we say we can’t do something it often means we don’t believe in our ability to do it. We refuse to try. We are concerned about how much time and effort it will take to do that thing. It’s a matter of how much time and effort we want to put into it. Let’s not leave out the fear factor which is usually snuggled up close to the word can’t. FEAR = False Evidence Appearing Real! Let’s look at the above examples:

James doesn’t want to take ballroom dance classes. Obviously, he is concerned about stumbling over his feet and looking clumsy around everyone else especially if the lessons are not private lessons with just him and his wife. There is also the fear factor. If it’s important to her than he should do it and don’t say I can’t.

Michael doesn’t want to take the Hot Air Balloon Ride because of fear. What did we just say about fear? It is False Evidence Appearing Real. He just needs to not eat anything before he goes up and drink minimal liquids, so his stomach doesn’t go sour on him. The most important thing, however, is to remember what the bible says, “I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.” – Philippians 4:13.

Jenna doesn’t want to go to a baseball game because it doesn’t interest her. However, there could also be the fear factor here as well. If she is concerned about getting hit by a line drive ball coming in her direction, then she just needs to voice that to James and get seats behind the home plate where there is a protective net. She needs to remember the reason why they got married is to be together and want to please each other. This will please James and again she needs to remember “I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.” – Philippians 4:13.

Madeleine doesn’t want to learn French. It’s not that she can’t she hasn’t applied herself and believes she doesn’t have the ability to learn it. She is saying she can’t, but the truth is she hasn’t even tried. Besides, it is just common courtesy to learn the basic phrases for another country if you are visiting. Hello – thank you – where is there a bathroom – how much does this cost – etc.

Do not say you can’t unless you can prove it is physically impossible. You can do all things through Christ! Book of Proverbs – Don’t Say You Can’t – Say Can. Check out my website

Book of Proverbs – Proverbs For The Modern Day – You Are Blessed

The next day is not promised to any of us. Therefore, we must live in the present, the here and now. However, not every day is smooth sailing. We sometimes get thrown a curveball like in baseball that throws us off-kilter. No matter what you must constantly remember you are blessed. There is always someone who is dealing with an even bigger battle than you are. “I cried because I had no shoes until I met a man who had no feet.” – Helen Keller. Book of Proverbs – Proverbs For The Modern Day – You Are Blessed. Check out my website

Your car is in bad condition and runs badly. While driving you pass several bus stops that are crowded with people who don’t have a car.

You are overworked and underpaid. You go out to lunch and see there are several people in the lobby who are applying for a job with the firm where you work. You have a job and they don’t.

You dream of owning a home because the apartment complex where you live is poorly maintained with dim lighting and sometimes it is hard to find a parking space. While you are driving home you see several homeless people in the street who have nowhere to sleep asking for money and pulling a shopping cart.

You have a cold and it’s making you miserable. You are constantly coughing and blowing your nose. You take some cough medicine and put some tissues in your bag and head over to the hospital to visit your friend who has pneumonia.

You sign up to take a tour however it is not what you thought it would be. There is too much walking and your legs are hurting and your feet are sore. You meet someone else on the tour who is confined to a wheelchair and is unable to see everything they want because of the terrain where they cannot get to certain places with the wheelchair.

You go to the movies with your friends and you are disappointed because the cinematography is not as breathtaking as you expected. Then you see someone at the movies who is vision impaired.

Your spouse aggravates you to no end and sometimes you wish they weren’t around. You get a phone call from your best friend who is hysterically crying because their spouse just passed away suddenly.

Every day you wake up you are blessed. That means God still has a purpose for your life. You are blessed when you have clean water to drink, you have a washer and dryer where you live, you have a vehicle to drive, you have all of your five senses working, you have your health, you have food to eat, your parents are still alive and in good health living on their own and not in a facility. Your children have a heart for God, and they are serving him in some capacity in the church.

As you can see there are so many ways in which God blesses us daily from the smallest to the greatest. Having your eyesight to see a rainbow and a butterfly is just as great as taking a month-long tour of Europe. Book of Proverbs – Proverbs For The Modern Day – You Are Blessed. Check out my website

Thank God daily for all his blessing and remember YOU ARE BLESSED!