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Wild Goose Chase

Wild Goose Chase

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Wild Goose Chase--geese in flight formationI have gone on a few wild goose chases. How about you?

A wild goose chase means a pursuit certain to fail.

We waste our time when we chase the impossible. Although a hopeless effort, we try anyway.

The earliest meaning of wild goose chase differs from today’s.

According to The Free Dictionary, “This idiom originally referred to a form of 16th-century horseracing.” It required riders “to follow a leader in a particular formation.” The horses mimicked a flock of geese in flight.

 We love to watch wild geese in flight.

However, we will probably never be able to catch them.

Likewise, we love to dream big dreams.

Seemingly impossible dreams may be possible. More often, we must accept our limits. If we ignore reality, our goose is cooked.

A wild goose chase differs from a God-sized dream.

Both challenge us.

  • A wild goose chase takes us nowhere.
  • A God-sized dream leads us beyond our wildest imagination.

May God, who created the birds of the air, guide us in the dreams we chase.

“Those who work their land will have abundant food, but those who chase fantasies have no sense” (Proverbs 12:11 NIV).

Thanks to Janna Babak for the suggestion. Photo courtesy of Pixabay.

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Cruising for a Bruising

Cruising for a Bruising

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Cruising for a Bruising--wrecked car against a treeIf we drive a car too fast, we are cruising for a bruising. Possible results include:

  • A speeding ticket
  • A wreck
  • Injury or death

Cruising for a bruising means headed for trouble.

Our behavior works against us.

  • Parents, teachers, or others in authority punish us.
  • People we insult or bully injure us.
  • Natural or logical consequences cause temporary or permanent pain.

Cruising for a bruising hurts in several ways.

  • Physical: Actual bruises or other injuries to our bodies
  • Emotional: Conflicts or losses
  • Spiritual: Lack of or a poor relationship with God
  • Financial: Reduction or total loss of economic resources
  • Mental: Decreased abilities

Many people shorten this expression to cruisin for a bruisin.

However we say it, the meaning remains the same. We suffer the costs of the trouble we pursue. If we don’t straighten up and fly right, we must face the music.

God forgives when we repent of our misbehavior.

We receive a new beginning, a fresh start. However, we must choose. Do we want to keep cruising for a bruising or turn to Jesus for healing and eternal life?

“Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord” (Acts 3:19 NIV).

Thanks to Laura Leathers and the ladies in her Women on Mission group for the suggestion. Image by Rico Löb from Pixabay

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Fruit of Your Labor

Fruit of Your Labor

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Fruit of Your Labor--flower and vegetable garden with orchard in backgroundMy dad’s garden and orchard fed our family plus dozens of others. He spent years growing food and flowers as a labor of love. Dad also understood what it means to enjoy the fruit of your labor.

The fruit of your labor means the reward for your work.

Your efforts pay off. Because you refuse to give up, you bear fruit.

Long hours and hard work make you appreciate the fruit of your labor.

  • Farmers harvest their crops.
  • Gardeners enjoy vegetables, fruit, and flowers.
  • Students celebrate graduation.
  • Business owners enjoy profits.

You benefit from your investment of:

  • Time
  • Money
  • Muscle (mental or physical)

The harder the work the more enjoyable the fruit of your labor.

Life may give you long rows to hoe. However, you usually reap what you sow. Greater efforts result in greater rewards.

Make relationships your most important investment.

According to the Bible, the greatest commandments are to love God and love one another. The best fruit does not result from a focus on self. Rather, it grows from love and service.

“Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in obedience to him. You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours” (Psalm 128:1-2 NIV).

Thanks to Beckham Wilson for the suggestion.

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Flip the Script

Flip the Script

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Flip the Script--Bible opened to Luke 2 with a wooden Christmas plague--the "t" a red crossGod flipped the script with Jesus’ birth. Rather than an expected warrior king, the Messiah arrived as a helpless baby.

To flip the script means a drastic change.

The tables turn. Circumstances or positions reverse.

  • Little-known sports teams win tournaments.
  • Political unknowns win elections.
  • Weak students outperform strong scholars.

Flip the script sometimes means to lie.

People change their stories to fit their circumstances. They tell one person one story but another person something else. What they say depends on:

  • What benefits them
  • What they think the other person wants to hear

When God flips the script, His word proves true.

The written Word, the Bible, prophesies of the Living Word, Jesus. Although God in flesh did not meet human expectations, Jesus fulfilled God’s perfect plan.

God offers an everlasting life change to all people.

Jesus, the Christ of Christmas, came to replace:

  • Despair with hope
  • Unrest with peace
  • Sorrow with joy
  • Hate with love

Will you allow God to flip the script for you?

“This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger” (Luke 2:12 NIV).

Thanks to Bobbie Smith Bryant for the suggestion.

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Wouldn’t be Caught Dead in It

Wouldn’t be Caught Dead in It

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Wouldn't be Caught Dead in It--puppy in Christmas sweaterWhen we see an ugly Christmas sweater, we might say we wouldn’t be caught dead in it. However, cute puppies can wear whatever they want, including ugly sweaters, and still look cute.

Wouldn’t be caught dead in it refers to at least two possibilities.

  1. Clothing
  2. Places

We don’t always agree on clothing choices.

Styles come and go. However, some of us choose to wear what we like regardless of the latest trend. That includes our favorite Christmas sweaters, shirts, or jackets.

Likewise, we may love places other people would never go.

That holds true for:

  • Expensive versus inexpensive stores
  • Gourmet versus fast food restaurants
  • Resorts versus camping trips
  • High priced versus third world countries

Many of us wouldn’t be caught dead in Jesus’ circumstances on earth.

The creator of the world:

  • Was born to a poor family
  • Slept in a feeding trough
  • Received little respect from the high and mighty
  • Died on a criminal’s cross
  • Was buried in a borrowed tomb

Yet, Jesus offers the world an eternal home in heaven.

Jesus walked out of that borrowed tomb, victorious over sin and death. If we follow Jesus, we share that victory. Because of His humble life on earth, we can look forward to the glory of heaven

“She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them” (Luke 2:7 NIV).

 Thanks to Joy S. Taylor for the suggestion. Image by Christiana from Pixabay.

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In the Wings

In the Wings

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In the Wings--girl in angel wings walking forwardBefore little angels appear in Christmas performances, they wait in the wings. They stay off stage, ready to make their entrance.

In the wings means ready to do something.

Resources, people or other, remain available to help. They prepare to act at a moment’s notice. However, they linger in the background until needed.

The expression has an acting origin.

According to The Free Dictionary, “In a theatre, the wings are the hidden areas to the left and right of a stage, where the actors wait before going on to the stage.”

People may remain in the wings for several reasons.

In addition to general help, they may wait to:

  • Replace someone.
  • Make information public.
  • Offer special services.

At Christmas, we remember that Jesus waited in the wings before coming to earth.

He remained ready to appear, God’s light to the world. Yet, He waited for the right:

  • Time
  • Place
  • Plan

May we follow Jesus’ example by responding:

  • When God calls
  • Where God leads
  • According to God’s purpose

Whether we wait in the wings or step out to follow, we receive what we need under God’s wings,

“When the set time had fully come, God sent his Son” (Galatians 4:4 NIV).

Thanks to Cathy Chinn for the suggestion Photo by Ksenia Chernaya with Pexels.

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Have Something Up Your Sleeve

Have Something Up Your Sleeve

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Have Something Up Your Sleeve--hand with ace of diamonds sticking out of sleeveHave you ever had someone say you have something up your sleeve? Or maybe that you always have something up your sleeve?

To have something up your sleeve means you have a secret plan.

That hidden goal will work to your advantage. It remains ready for use at the right time.

This phrase often relates to cheating while playing cards.

You hide a card, often an ace, up your sleeve. When you need it, you play it.

According to The Free Dictionary, this expression “dates at least from the sixteenth century, when clothes generally had no pockets, and sleeves were a usual storage place.”

You may have something up your sleeve other than cards.

Secret plans often exist in:

  • Business schemes
  • Legal tactics
  • Military maneuvers

You keep people in the dark. Most relationships hold potential for such secret moves.

Rather than have something up your sleeve, why not stay honest and open?

When you plot against one another, everyone loses. Instead, roll up your sleeves and work together. If you must keep secrets, be sure they help rather than hurt.

“You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence” (Psalm 90:8 NIV).

Thanks to Brad Leverett for the suggestion.

Do you have an expression you want explained or a thought about this one? If so, please comment below.

In the Thick of It--He Meant You to be You book coverSubscribe to receive my weekly posts by email and receive a free copy of “Words of Hope for Days that Hurt.” Congratulations to Karen Radjunas, whose name was randomly drawn from my mailing list for a free copy of J.J. LeVan’s book, He Meant You to Be You. 

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Tipping Point

Tipping Point

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Tipping Point--turtle climbing over the edge of water dishThis turtle has reached a tipping point. Small movements will pop him out of the water pan and onto the ground.

Tipping point means a critical moment when small actions cause great change.

That change may be in:

  • Ideas
  • Behavior
  • Words

It may affect one person or thing, or it may affect many.

Tipping points occur in all areas of life.

  • Businesses
  • Governments
  • Homes
  • Churches

The change may be gradual at first.

This turtle inched his way to the edge of the pan. Little happened when he started. However, he has now reached a decisive moment. What happens next is up in the air. Will he continue forward or go back?

Some tipping points result from the choices of others.

They may or may not seek input from those they affect.

 Other tipping points result from personal choices.

Everyone has influence, whether small or great. Everyone also lives with the results of their choices.

Stay on the right track. Choose well the direction your life will take.

“Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve … But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15 NIV).

Thanks to Tracy Crump for the suggestion and the photo.

Do you have an expression you want explained or a thought about this one? If so, please comment below.

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Throw the Baby Out with the Bath Water

Throw the Baby Out with the Bath Water

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Throw the Baby Out with the Bath Water--child with back to camera in bathtubYou never want to throw the baby out with the bath water. When you toss or drain the dirty water, you want to keep your bathed baby safe.

To throw the baby out with the bath water means to throw away something good while you get rid of the bad.

Although the bad needs to go, the good should remain.

Dispose of the undesirable.

That includes the:

  • Worthless
  • Outdated
  • Unnecessary
  • Harmful
  • Unimportant

Protect the desirable.

That includes the:

  • Valuable
  • Timely
  • Useful
  • Helpful
  • Important

Throw the baby out with the bath water applies to ideas as well as things.

When you reject worthless ideas, keep the worthwhile. If you discard every part of a suggestion or idea, you may miss opportunities for improvement.

Throwing the baby out with the bath water can be unintentional.

How often have you realized too late that you tossed more than you planned. Sometimes you can retrieve them. Other times, they are gone forever.

Clean carefully.

Use file 13 for what needs to go. Hang on to what needs to remain.

“Get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you” (James 1:21 NIV).

Thanks to Gail Gosser for the suggestion and to Megan Wollmann for the photo.

Do you have an expression you want explained or a thought about this one? If so, please comment below.

In the Thick of It--He Meant You to be You book coverSubscribe to receive Diana’s weekly posts by email and receive a free copy of “Words of Hope for Days that Hurt.” On 11-23-24, one name will be randomly selected from Diana’s mailing list to also receive a free copy of J.J. LeVan’s book, “He Meant You to Be You.” If your name is already on the mailing list, you are automatically entered. Please encourage your friends to subscribe.

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In the Thick of It

In the Thick of It

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In the Thick of It--Stones in foreground with fall-colored trees in backgroundPlease welcome my friend J.J. LeVan as today’s guest writer. J.J. is an award-winning author with a heart for autism and its caregiver community. She released a children’s picture book entitled, “He In the Thick of It--J. J. LeVan photoMeant You to Be You,” which shares God’s love for these uniquely and wonderfully made children. Inspired by her oldest son’s diagnosis in 1998, she has become an advocate and an encourager to Children’s Ministry leaders working with neurodiverse kids. J.J.  is also a certified independent provider for the State of Ohio.

Are you in the thick of it?

Merriam-Webster defines in the thick of it as “in the most active or intense part of a situation or activity.” This idiom means you are:

  • Surrounded
  • Highly active
  • Engaged
  • Engulfed

Hear from real people in the thick of it.

I reached out to friends in our autism community about how I could best pray for them. Their honesty was gripping.

  • One mom spoke of her desperate need to find a caregiver for her 25-year-old profoundly autistic son.
  • A grandmother shared that her daughter felt discouraged caring for her 4-year-old autistic son. She was a young mom raising a child in a big city that “could be so cruel.”
  • Another mom had just received her late autism diagnosis just as she was learning how to help her young son on his own spectrum journey.

Each one of these women is in the thick of it.

Paul pressed on in the thick of it.

“We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed.”  2 Corinthians 4: 8-9

Even if you find yourself in the thick of it today, take heart. You are not forgotten.

Press on! You are not alone.

Do you have an expression you want explained or a thought about this one? If so, please comment below.

In the Thick of It--He Meant You to be You book coverSubscribe to receive Diana’s weekly posts by email and receive a free copy of “Words of Hope for Days that Hurt.” On 11-23-24, one name will be randomly selected from Diana’s mailing list to also receive a free copy of J.J.’s book, “He Meant You to Be You.” If your name is already on the mailing list, you are automatically entered. Please encourage your friends to subscribe.

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Thanks to Phyllis Arnold for the blog photo.