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Give of Ourselves

Give of Ourselves

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Give of Ourselves--child in Christmas boxOften the greatest gift we can give is ourselves.

To give of ourselves, we:

  • Give time
  • Show concern
  • Help others

During Christmas, we wrap gifts with paper and bows.

We buy:

  • Toys and games
  • Clothing
  • Books
  • Gift cards
  • Tools
  • Jewelry
  • Household items

We think we must:

  • Bake and make crafts
  • Shop until we drop
  • Attend parties and special events.

Yet, too often, we forget what matters most.

We get so busy giving things, we forget to give of ourselves. We

  • Neglect family
  • Have no time for friends
  • Do less than our best at work

What happened?

Isn’t the gift of self what Christmas is all about?

Jesus came as a baby to give Himself to the world. He died on the cross for the sins of the world. He offers the gift of eternal life to everyone. However, each person must choose to accept this greatest gift.

“I pray that as you share your faith with others it will grip their lives too, as they see the wealth of good things in you that come from Christ Jesus” (Philemon 6 TLB).

What is the greatest gift you ever received? Please comment.

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Thanks to Ashley Claunch and Megan Wollmann for the photo.

Itchy Feet

Itchy Feet

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Itchy feet--standing on a beach, looking into the distanceDo you ever get itchy feet? I do. I want to

  • Go somewhere
  • See new sights
  • Travel the world

Itchy feet need to travel.

Ready to hit the trail, my feet want to go to:

  • A favorite place
  • Off the beaten path to explore the unknown
  • A well-known tourist attraction
  • The beach
  • A friend or relative’s home
  • The mountains
  • A peaceful place with few people
  • A special event with crowds of people
  • The desert
  • A country road in the middle of nowhere

I love to visit new states. I enjoy the culture of new countries. Occasionally I don’t care where I go. I just want to go.

What causes itchy feet?

Itchy feet have no one cause. Reasons may include:

  • Hearing about another person’s travel
  • Remembering a favorite place
  • Pictures of places never seen
  • Certain times of year

Yet, wherever I travel, I always want to return home.

A few days or weeks, and I get homesick. I miss my garden spot of the world with:

  • Family
  • Neighbors and friends
  • House
  • Church
  • Routine

Perhaps travel’s greatest benefit is learning how much I love home.

Whether home or away, I find life’s greatest joy by following God’s path.

“For the paths of the Lord are true and right.” (Hosea 14:9 TLB).

Where do your itchy feet want to go? Please comment. I may need to add your favorite spot to my bucket list.

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In a Nutshell

In a Nutshell

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In a Nutshell--a cluster of pecansNot much fits in a nutshell.

Look at the size of pecans, peanuts, walnuts, almonds, or any other nut. Little fits in the shell other than a nut.

Few written words would fit in a nutshell. Therefore, when we ask for information in a nutshell, we want that information:

  • Short
  • Simple
  • Easy to understand

In a Nutshell 3--shelled nutsWe find the most important part in a nutshell.

The shell is useful. Yet, most of us throw away an empty shell. We want the best – that little bit of nut inside.

The same is true for our words. Why use 50 words when we can say what matters most with five? We want the main point – the bottom line.

Too many words put us to sleep or make us tired. If we don’t need them, why use them?

Of course, we sometimes want more detail.

  • We read or talk for fun.
  • We need to learn all we can about a subject.
  • A small amount of information makes us desire more.

Jesus’ message to the world, in a nutshell, is:

  • Love God.
  • Love one another.

To learn more about that message, we read the Bible.

“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’” (Luke 10:27 NIV).

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

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Don’t Rain on My Parade

Don’t Rain on My Parade

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Don't Rain on My Parade--small horse-drawn cart in paradePeople all over the world watch Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City. Many communities plan smaller parades for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the New Year. Don’t rain on my parade is probably on most of their minds.

We celebrate Campbellsville’s favorite parade on July 4. No one wants rain that day either. If it does rain, we hope it rains before or after the parade.

When we rain on people’s parade, we:

  • Ruin their plans
  • Take away from their fun
  • Spoil their celebration

We see this when Barbra Streisand sings “Don’t Rain on My Parade” in the movie Funny Girl. She does not want anyone to discourage her plans.

Sometimes we need to rain on people’s parade.

We may not want to, but we must. If we know their plans will hurt them or others, we:

  • Tell them
  • Try to stop them

They may not like what we say. Yet, we warn them of the danger.

When possible, let’s celebrate plans together. When necessary, let’s rain on one another’s parade.

“The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice” (Proverbs 12:15 NIV).

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

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Talk Turkey

Talk Turkey

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Talk TurkeyWe talk turkey a lot during Thanksgiving.

We discuss:

  • Buying turkeys
  • Baking turkeys
  • Stuffing turkeys
  • Eating turkeys
  • What to do with leftover turkey

We talk turkey any time of year when we discuss a problem.

As we talk, we:

  • Get serious about the problem and try to solve it
  • Speak in clear language
  • Focus on what needs to be said

Many times we know something is wrong but do nothing about it. We ignore the problem and hope it goes away. Often it only gets worse the longer we wait. We become worry warts who get nothing done.

Talking turkey is not always easy.

Like a kitchen after a Thanksgiving meal, life gets messy. If we want to clean up our mess, we need to tackle it.

  • Talk about what is wrong.
  • Do what we can to make it right.

Talking turkey usually makes life better.

We don’t talk turkey to quarrel. We talk turkey to:

  • Solve our problems
  • Get business done
  • Get along better with one another.

“A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict, but the one who is patient calms a quarrel” (Proverbs 15:18 NIV).

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

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Image courtesy of Pixabay.

Okey-dokey

Okey-dokey

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okey-dokey--flowersWe find okey-dokey spelled several ways.

  • Okie-dokie
  • Okay-doke
  • Okey-doke
  • Okee-dokee

However we spell it, the meaning remains the same.

Okey-dokey means okay.

  • It’s a fun way to agree to something or to say yes. (Will you open the door for me? Okey-dokey.)
  • It also means all is well. (How are you? Okey-dokey.) This meaning is similar to hunky-dory or fit as a fiddle.

Recently I asked a friend to do something for me. She said, “Okey-dokey,” so I knew she would do it.

I asked another friend how she was feeling. She replied, “Okey-dokey.” I knew she was not sick any longer.

Sometimes we need to say no instead of okey-dokey.

No can be a hard for some of us to say. Yet, if we fail to say no when we should, we may:

  • Agree to do something we don’t have time to do
  • Help with bad behavior
  • Do what the other people should do themselves

Sometimes we need help instead of saying we are okey-dokey.

We all feel bad occasionally. We get under the weather. Most of the time, we feel better quickly. However, we should ask for help when we need it.

What helps you feel okey-dokey?

Rainbows, waterfalls, and flowers work for me.

“If God says it’s okay, it’s okay” (Acts 10:15 MSG).

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

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Cost an Arm and a Leg

Cost an Arm and a Leg

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Cost an Arm and a Leg--silhouette of a soldier saluting Many things cost much more than we want to pay.

If we believe their price is too high, we say they cost an arm and a leg. Most of the time we mean they cost too much money:

  • Fancy cars
  • Big houses
  • The latest electronics
  • Long vacations

All these may be nice, but none are worth the loss of an arm or leg. In fact, I don’t know anyone who wants to give an arm and a leg for anything.

Sometimes we say, “I would give my right arm for” something we want. However, we don’t mean it. We simply wish we owned that item.

On Veterans Day, we honor those who pay a great price for our freedom.

Many give an arm and a leg or much more. Those who serve our country face danger most of us cannot imagine.

Veterans often suffer in ways we never see. We immediately notice missing arms and legs. However, losses we don’t see can cause as much pain or worse.

One good turn deserves another. Do something special for a veteran this week. We can never repay veterans for all they give. However, we can offer respect and an attitude of gratitude.

To those who faithfully serve or have served, thank you. We salute you, one and all.

“The ransom for a life is costly, no payment is ever enough” (Psalm 49:8 NIV).

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

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Easy as Pie

Easy as Pie

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Easy as Pie--PumpkinsFrom October through December, gaining weight becomes as easy as pie (very easy). We no longer want small summer meals Instead, we desire comfort food … and plenty of it.

Farmers have picked the last of their fruit and vegetables. We find them for sale everywhere. Let the eating begin!

Making pie is not easy.

Of course, many cooks buy pie crusts already made. Some also buy pie mixes. Making those pies is easy. However, making a whole pie takes work … and plenty of it.

Eating pie is easy.

Pumpkin pie is a fall favorite, especially for Thanksgiving. I prefer chocolate, lemon, or pecan.

Easy as pie applies to more than pies.

Anything that requires little work is easy as pie.

However, something easy  for you may be hard for me.

  • You may be a great painter. Not me.
  • You may understand physics. Not me.
  • You may be able to fly a plane. Not me.

If I study painting, physics, and flying planes, I will improve. They may never be as easy as pie, but, if I tackle them, they will get easier.

Perhaps this fall and winter we should try to gain more knowledge instead of weight. Physics or pie? Which sounds better to you?

“ Salvation that comes from trusting Christ—which is what we preach—is already within easy reach of each of us; in fact, it is as near as our own hearts and mouths” (Romans 10:8 TLB).

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

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Snake in the Grass

Snake in the Grass

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Snake in the Grass--a snake's head coming out of grassI don’t like to get too close to a snake in the grass.

I’m not afraid of most snakes. They help keep mice away. However, I don’t want snakes to hide in my yard.

A few snakes can kill with their bites. I am afraid of them.

I prefer not having a person who is a snake in the grass near me either.

A snake in the grass cannot be trusted. That person will:

  • Cheat
  • Lie
  • Steal
  • Hurt others to get what he or she wants

Like a dangerous snake (animal) hiding in the grass, a snake in the grass person tries to hide bad behavior. The person attacks or hurts others when they least expect it.

God offers a better way.

I pray that everyone who tries to trick and hurt others will choose God’s way. Just as God forgives me when I confess my wrongs, God will also forgive them. Sometimes we all need a fresh start.

“Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon” (Isaiah 55:7 NIV).

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

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Photo courtesy of Pixabay.

Bark Up the Wrong Tree

Bark Up the Wrong Tree

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Bark Up the Wrong Tree--Dog standing among trees

Dogs love to chase other animals. Usually they can see or smell them, so they stay on the right path. When those animals run up a tree, dogs stand under the tree and bark.

Occasionally dogs bark up the wrong tree.

They lose sight or smell of the animal they chase. They may stand under a tree and bark as loudly as they can. Yet, all that barking does no good if they bark up the wrong tree.

We can also bark up the wrong tree.

That happens when we:

  • Make a wrong choice
  • Follow the wrong path
  • Listen to the wrong people

We may think we are going the right direction. Yet, we have strayed from our goal.

Sometimes we know we made the wrong decision. Yet, we keep going. We fail to admit our mistake and change. We get comfortable going the wrong way.

To find what we are looking for, we must follow the correct trail.

  • True for dogs
  • True for people

When we hit the trail, we want to be sure we are on the right one.

“Listen, my child, and be wise, and guide your heart on the right way” (Psalm 23:19 NET).

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

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Photo courtesy of Pixabay.