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Poor as a Church Mouse

Poor as a Church Mouse

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Poor as a Church Mouse--mouse on a fenceIf we are poor as a church mouse, we are the poorest of the poor.

We own almost nothing.

Years ago, few churches had kitchens. Therefore, if a mouse lived in a church, it had little to eat. A child might drop crumbs from a snack. Yet, that would not last long. The poor mouse might starve.

We may have times poor as a church mouse. We may also have times rich as a king.

Our happiness does not depend on what we own.

We can be poor as church mice and happy. We make do.

We can also live high on the hog, and be unhappy.

Money matters little for true meaning in life.

We find real wealth in:

  • Peace in our souls
  • Purpose for living
  • Love for God and one another
  • Hope for the future
  • Joy for every day
  • Sharing what we have with those in need

We can’t take it with us when we die. So, why not put what we own to good use now?

“Better to be poor and honest than rich and a cheater” (Proverbs 28:6 TLB).

Thanks to Debbie Tapscott for the suggestion.

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Silence is Golden

Silence is Golden

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Silence is Golden: Miller Park As my dad used to say, sometimes we need “peace and quiet and very little of that.”

Silence is golden when we need quiet rather than noise.

Life gets too loud. Talk makes us tired. We need to get away. We need rest.

During those times, silence is worth more than silver or gold.

Often this occurs when we have been:

  • Too busy
  • Around too many people
  • Focused on electronics or other time thieves

Silence is also golden when we should keep our mouths shut.

We do need to speak up to correct wrongs. We don’t need to tell everything we know.

We make a bad situation worse when we say too much. Talking when we should stay quiet makes us look foolish. It often hurts other people. Better to bite our tongue than to be a busybody.

Therefore, take breaks from life’s noise.

  • Learn to practice quietness.
  • Think before speaking.

Find a peaceful place. Let its stillness wash the worries from your mind.

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be silent and a time to speak” (Ecclesiastes 3:1, 7 NIV).

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Miss the Boat

Miss the Boat

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Miss the Boat--river boatDid you ever miss the boat? I did, in more ways than one.

Years ago, I went to Minneapolis for training. One day I planned a late afternoon boat cruise. Our last speaker was great. I decided to buy one of his books and have him sign it.

Several people left before he finished his talk. I thought, How rude.

After I bought my book, I looked at my watch. Oh, no! I missed the boat. I failed to stay on my toes about the time. Others left early so they would not miss the boat.

Rather than cry over spilled milk, a friend and I took a self-guided city tour.

To miss the boat can have several meanings:

  • Be too late (as I was on my trip)
  • Fail to understand something
  • Make a mistake
  • Miss an opportunity

If we miss one boat, we can usually take another one.

  • If too late for one event, schedule another.
  • Ask someone to explain what we don’t understand.
  • Learn from mistakes and try again.
  • Look for new opportunities.

However, another boat is not always possible.

  • We may not be able to reschedule what we miss. (I did not have time for another cruise in Minneapolis.)
  • No one can understand everything.
  • Some mistakes will always cause problems.
  • We may never have a similar opportunity.

Therefore, let’s pay attention, learn well, and try not to miss the boat.

“Make the most of every opportunity” (Colossians 4:5 NIV).

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Have Your Work Cut Out for You

Have Your Work Cut Out for You

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Have Your Work Cut Out for You--quilt piecesIf you sew, you know that cutting the cloth only begins your task. Preparation is complete. You have your work cut out for you. Yet, you still have most of the work to do.

Handmade quilts are beautiful. They also require a lot of work. To make a quilt, you must:

  • Cut the cloth into pieces.
  • Sew the pieces together for the quilt top.
  • Sew the batting (filling) and lining to the back of the quilt.
  • Trim the edge of the quilt.
  • Decorate with stitches, yarn, or other material, if desired.

Have Your Work Cut Out for You 1--sewing quilt piecesSome quilts are fancier than others. All require hard work. That is true whether you sew your quilt by machine or by hand.

As a small child, I was fascinated by the sewing and quilting completed by my mother, grandmother, and other relatives. I proudly display much of their work in my memory bedroom.

The quilts hang on racks made by my father. His handiwork also meant having his work cut out for him.

If you have your work cut out for you, you have a difficult job to do. 

Like making a quilt,

  • The task may be large.
  • You may have little help from others.
  • The job may require a lot of time.
  • You might have to complete several steps.

However, like a hard row to hoe, you tackle the job one step at a time.

The harder the work, the greater the satisfaction when the work is complete.

Have Your Work Cut Out for You--quilt on bedWhat fun to admire the beauty of a new quilt or any job well done. How much greater the satisfaction when you know you did that work yourself.

“We are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do “(Ephesians 2:10 NIV).

Thanks to Sherry Garner for the suggestion and to Palvena Pace for her quilting photos.

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Bear Our Cross

Bear Our Cross

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Bear Our Cross: a cross with crown of thornsTo bear our cross means to carry a burden.

Similar expressions include:

  • Carry our cross
  • Cross to bear
  • Cross to carry

All mean we live with difficulty. We often carry our burden alone.

Burdens or responsibilities may include:

  • Illness
  • Financial problems
  • Difficult relationships

We may sometimes joke about small burdens, such as:

  • Chores we don’t like (for example, cooking and cleaning)
  • Busybody neighbors
  • Active children

To bear our cross comes from the Bible.

Before Jesus was crucified, soldiers beat Him. Then Jesus had to carry His cross. When Jesus became too weak, soldiers forced another man to carry Jesus’ cross for Him.

Jesus died on the cross to pay the price for our sins. He loves us that much.

Yet, after three days, Jesus rose from the dead. He won the battle against sin and death. If we accept Jesus as Savior, He forgives our sins and promises us eternal life. He gives us a fresh start. That is the promise of Easter.

Jesus told His followers to count the cost and take up our cross.

That means we:

  • Choose Jesus above everything.
  • Give God control of our lives.
  • Follow God’s will wherever that leads and whatever the cost.

Taking up our cross for Jesus is not always easy. It is always worth it.

“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23).

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Rain or Shine

Rain or Shine

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Rain or Shine: cloudy sky over Niagara FallsThe old song “Come Rain or Come Shine” promises love that lasts forever. Nothing will stop it.

That is the kind of love I want to receive. It is also the kind of love I want to give.

Puppy love is not enough

Rain or shine means we will do what we say:

Regardless of the weather:

  • Rain
  • Sunshine
  • Snow
  • Wind
  • Storms

Regardless of finances:

  • Rich
  • Poor
  • Everything in between

No matter what happens, we will be as good as our word.

Nothing will keep us from doing what we say we will do.

Sadly, we don’t always keep our commitments. Many of us keep commitments most of the time. A few of us almost never keep them.

However, if we place our trust in Jesus, we have a friend who will always do what He says He will do, rain or shine.

“Let us acknowledge the Lord … As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth” (Hosea 6:3 NIV).

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Hit the Bull’s-eye

Hit the Bull’s-eye

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Hit the Bull's-eye--young archers aiming at targetsThese young archers want to hit the bull’s-eye. They aim for the perfect center of their target.

We may not use a bow and arrow. However, most of us want to hit the bull’s-eye with our plans. We want to reach our goals perfectly.

When we hit the bull’s-eye, we hit our target.

We achieve what we want to do.

To hit the bull’s-eye usually requires practice and hard work.

The archer’s goal is the smallest circle in the center of the target. Hitting the larger circles is easier. That small dot in the center takes extra effort.

Reaching our goals also requires extra effort.

  • Getting a better job means harder work.
  • Winning first prize means extra practice.
  • Graduating means regular study.

We don’t hit the bull’s-eye every time.

Sometimes we hit the center of our target. Other times we hit the circles around the center. Occasionally we miss our target completely. After several failures, we may think we can’t win for losing.

Yet, when we miss the bull’s-eye, we still learn.

We may:

  • Realize we need to set different goals.
  • See the need for help from other people.
  • Understand we need to tackle our goal a different way.

Remember: We must make goals if we hope to achieve them.

“My question: What are God-worshipers like? Your answer: Arrows aimed at God’s bull’s-eye” (Psalm 25:12 MSG).

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Down to Earth

Down to Earth

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Down to Earth-wooded area, farm gate, leaves on groundWhere I grew up, most people like to be known as down to earth.

A down to earth person is a good ordinary person.

He does not:

  • Want to be fancy
  • Try to impress other people
  • Think he is better than others

Rather, he:

  • Stays humble
  • Is easy to like
  • Remains realistic
  • Speaks clearly and simply
  • Is as good as his word

 Sometimes a person needs to be brought down to earth.

That can mean one of two things:

  1. The person is too proud – too big for his britches.
  2. Or, he is not aware of or not accepting reality. He needs to face the facts.

Being brought down to earth can be hard but helpful.

No one enjoys the process. Yet, if a person can grow, the pain is worth the change.

I try to make this blog down to earth with simple, easy-to-understand language. Is it working? How can I improve? Please comment.

All of you, leaders and followers alike, are to be down to earth with each other” (1 Peter 5:5 MSG).

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By the Book

By the Book

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By the Book--stack of instruction booksSome people go by the book. Others fly by the seat of their pants.

People who go by the book follow directions.

They want to do their work right the first time. They don’t want to have to do it again. Therefore, they follow the rules.

People who fly by the seat of their pants think If all else fails, follow the directions.

Going by the book makes life easier.

It helps with:

  • Learning to use new products
  • Building anything
  • Measuring amounts for cooking or other work
  • Practicing new skills

People make mistakes when they fail to go by the book.

Sometimes their mistakes cause no big problem. They can go back to the drawing board and start over.

Other times, mistakes mean the difference in life and death.

For the best life, go by the best book.

  • Read the Bible.
  • Follow its directions.
  • Share its truth with others.

“Consult God’s instruction” (Isaiah 8:20 NIV).

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

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Afraid of His Own Shadow

Afraid of His Own Shadow

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Afraid of His Own ShadowDo you know anyone afraid of his own shadow?  He:

  • Frightens easily
  • Is afraid of almost everything
  • Has a hard time trusting anyone and anything
  • Is usually shy
  • Avoids other people, especially crowds.

No one wants to be afraid of his own shadow.

Some people make fun of a person with fears. They may bully him, which makes his fears worse. Other people feel sorry for him.

A person afraid of his own shadow needs courage.

Like the cowardly lion in The Wizard of Oz, he wants to be strong. He may try to hide his fear by acting brave.

Children often fear their shadow when they see it the first time. Yet, there is no real reason to fear. They simply need someone to help them understand their shadow and be brave.

There is no real reason for many fears.

Like children, an adult afraid of his own shadow needs help understanding the shadows that scare him. Some problems are real. Some are not.

When a person trusts God, God promises to be with him through both good and bad (scary) times. He can stand tall, unafraid, trusting God’s love and care.

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you” (Deuteronomy 31:6 NIV).

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

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