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Go Against the Grain

Go Against the Grain

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Go Against the Grain 2 morguefile6631240571960If we work with wood, we don’t usually go against the grain. We work in the natural direction of the wood’s fibers. That is true whether we work with new wood or old. It is also true whether we:

  • Sand the wood to make it smooth
  • Paint or stain it
  • Clean or polish it

Years ago, I put new stain on a beautiful piece of furniture. In one spot, I brushed against the grain. That one mistake stood out from all the rest.

In life, if we go against the grain, we go against what we want to do. That often means standing firm  against popular opinion.

Our natural desire leads us to follow the crowd. Standing firm for what we believe can be difficult when few people stand with us. Yet, the crowd is not always right.

So how do we decide the direction to go?

Avoid

  • Going along with everyone else just because it is easy
  • Going against the grain simply for attention

Do

  • Educate ourselves
  • Choose what is right, whether it goes against the grain or not.

“Hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil” (1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 NIV).

Thanks to Suellen Shaw for the idea.

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Photo courtesy of morgueFile.

One Step at a Time

One Step at a Time

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One Step at a TimeWe climb the highest mountain and walk through the lowest valley the same way – one step at a time. We place one foot in front of the other over and over again. Little by little we move forward.

We do the same emotionally. Whether we feel on top of the world or in the deepest depression, we keep going, one step at a time. Faced with a hard row to hoe,  we do what we need to do now. Then we take the next step.

Good teachers guide us one step at a time. If we move too fast or change the order, we often fail. If we take our time and follow directions, we usually succeed.

I rarely make New Year resolutions. If I did, I think this would make a good one. For this year, I want to take:

  • One step at a time
  • One day at a time
  • One task at a time

This one thing I know: Whether our journey fills us with joy or sorrow, we never have to walk alone. If we invite Him, God will walk with us every step of the way.

“Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me” (Psalm 23:4 NIV).

What New Year resolution have you made? Please comment.

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Watch Your Step

Watch Your Step

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Watch Your Step“You better watch your step.” Have you heard that from a parent, teacher, or boss? When it happens, we know we have pushed all the wrong buttons. We are in trouble or soon will be, unless we change our behavior.

If we don’t watch our step when we walk or run, we fall. Falls frequently occur because of:

  • Wet leaves on steps
  • Not paying attention (Having our head in the clouds)
  • Stepping on rocks, holes, or toys

If we fail to watch our step in relationships, we risk:

  • Offending other people
  • Earning a bad reputation
  • Suffering personal problems

Falls can happen quickly. That is true in any situation.

  • Sometimes we cause falls ourselves.
  • Sometimes other people cause them.
  • Sometimes they are no one’s fault.

As a result, we want to use caution — to watch our step.

  • Prevent the mistakes we can.
  • Prepare for the mistakes that happen.
  • Pick ourselves up when we fall.

Let’s learn from the steps we take, both good and bad.

“I have considered my ways and have turned my steps to your statutes” (Psalm 119: 59 NIV).

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Hunky-dory

Hunky-dory

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Hunky-dory 2Dana uses two thumbs up to say she feels hunky-dory. Her mother first learned that expression when she stayed with us a few years ago. She asked my husband, “How are you?”  When he replied, “Hunky-dory,” Dana’s mother had no idea what he meant. Once she learned, this became a favorite funny expression.

Now Dana also knows hunky-dory means:

  • Okay
  • Just fine
  • No big problems

Although she may not feel on top of the world, she has no major complaints.

Even in the middle of hard times, life can still be good. Like children, why not treasure every special moment:

  • A butterfly on a flower
  • A favorite snack
  • A hug from someone we love

Those little moments make such great memories. If we will treasure them later, why not treasure them now? Look around at today’s blessings. Enjoy them. Make this a hunky-dory day.

“It is good to say thank you to the Lord, to sing praises to the God who is above all gods. Every morning tell him, “Thank you for your kindness,” and every evening rejoice in all his faithfulness” (Psalm 92:1-2 TLB).

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Thanks to Helen Liu for the photo.

Let Things Slide

Let Things Slide

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Mount St. Helens
Mount St. Helens

Why bother doing a good job, if it’s a chore we hate, right? Wrong! We all face the temptation to let things slide, especially if no one sees us.

Why not neglect our responsibilities and have a little fun? Work seems less important if we want to do something else. The longer the job takes, the worse the temptation.

Do any of these excuses sound familiar?

  • “Nobody ever looks under the bed, so why sweep there?”
  • “The boss doesn’t like me, so why do his senseless work?”
  • “Why should I care? No one else does.”

The longer we dwell on such thoughts, the more our excuses grow.

Quite honestly, few people look under the bed. Sometimes the boss doesn’t like us and gives us senseless work. And people don’t always care.

But does that justify less than our best?

We will know:

  • Dirt is under the bed.
  • The assigned task wasn’t done.
  • We cared no more than anyone else.

Once we make a bad habit, it’s hard to break. Like the pressure of a volcano, it grows worse and worse. Sometimes the results are tragic.

Therefore, let’s do our work well. We will feel better about it. Plus, we gain a good reputation.

The easy way does not always equal the best way. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might (Ecclesiastes
9:10 NIV).

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Photo courtesy of morgueFile.

Hardheaded

Hardheaded

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HardheadedAre you hardheaded? The following test may help you decide.

1. Do you always want everything your way?
2. Do you refuse to listen to other opinions?
3. Do you have a hard time changing your mind?
4. Do other people call you stubborn? Worse, do they call you stubborn as a mule?

People have different levels of stubbornness or hardheadedness. Some are hardheaded about everything all the time. Others are a little hardheaded part-time.

Strong opinions can be helpful. Presidents and other leaders must stand firm on certain issues. At the same time, they must be willing to listen to all sides of any issue. That was true for the presidents carved on Mt. Rushmore. It remains true for leaders today.

A great plan for both leaders and followers: Listen well. Decide carefully.

“They have become as hardheaded as a rock. They refuse to change their ways” (Jeremiah 5:3 NET).

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A Full Plate

A Full Plate

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A Full PlateWe find the world’s largest apple pie at the Casey County Apple Festival in Liberty, Kentucky. During that September festival, Liberty grows to five times its normal size. Local people and visitors all want a full plate of pie. However, no one wants  the entire 10-foot pie on their plate.

Occasionally most of us put more food on our plate than we should. If we try to eat everything on that full plate, we get sick or feel awful.

To prevent such feelings, we can:

  • Share the food with someone else.
  • Eat what we want and throw the rest away.
  • Eat part of the food now and part later.

Sometimes we have more to do than we can manage. Problems overwhelm us. We have a full plate or a lot on our plate. If we try to do everything ourselves, we get sick or feel awful.

We can avoid those feelings if we:

  • Ask someone to help us.
  • Leave less important things undone.
  • Work on part now and part later.

Everyone has limits. We can’t do everything alone. Accepting that truth usually means a longer, happier, and healthier life.

“Share each other’s troubles and problems, and so obey our Lord’s command” (Galatians 6:2 TLB).

Have you attended the Apple Festival? If so, what did you think of the pie?

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Fly off the Handle

Fly off the Handle

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Fly off the HandleDon’t fly off the handle — helpful advice for axes and for people.

An ax can do great good or great harm. Its heavy metal blade cuts through wood. That wood can provide heat, art, building supplies, and more

However, if the ax blade flies off the handle, look out. Anyone nearby is in danger of injury or death.

Likewise, anger can do great good or great harm. Controlled anger helps us:

  • Speak against evil.
  • Right a wrong.
  • Change ourselves.
  • Lead others to change.

However, we often let anger get out of control. Anger controls us rather than our controlling the anger. We fly off the handle (lose our temper). As a result, we suffer and cause others to suffer.

With an ax, we want to:

  • Keep it in good repair.
  • Hold the handle firmly.
  • Cut wood and never hurt people.

With anger we want to:

  • Understand its cause and purpose.
  • Keep it firmly controlled.
  • Use it for good, not harm.

Remember to treat anger like water off a duck’s back. Use it in a positive way, and gain tools for a better life.

An angry man stirs up dissension, and a hot-tempered one commits many sins. (Proverbs 29:22)

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Hit the Nail on the Head

Hit the Nail on the Head

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Hit the Nail on the Head-Charity PowellThese young people hit the nail on the head with their hammers. They also hit the nail on the head with their lives.

When we hammer nails, we try to hit the head (the top flat part). We want to hit it exactly right. We may suffer several ways if we miss.

  • The hammer hits a thumb or finger. Ouch!
  • The hammer bends the nail.
  • We damage what we are building or repairing.

However, if we hit the nail on the head, we achieve great results.

When we hit the nail on the head with our lives, we also achieve great results. We get it right.

  • We find the solution to a problem.
  • We give the correct answer.
  • We report a needed change.
  • We live a good life.

When we fail to live well, we suffer.

  • Focusing on ourselves, we miss the joy of service.
  • Ignoring laws and rules, we damage our reputation and influence.
  • Living right only part-time, people don’t trust us.

As this group with Kentucky Heartland Outreach learned, serving God and others is a great way to live. We can learn much from them.

It’s never too late to pick up life’s hammer and hit the nail on the head.

“‘Is not my word like fire,’ declares the LORD, ‘and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?’” (Jeremiah 23:29 NIV)

Thanks to Charity Powell for the photo.

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Mind Your Ps and Qs

Mind Your Ps and Qs

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Mind Your Ps and QsSometimes parents or teachers tell children, “Mind your Ps and Qs.” Usually they mean to watch their speech or behavior. They want the children to act right – to mind their manners – to straighten up and fly right.

We need to hear that message too. How often do we:

  • Talk without thinking about the effect of our words?
  • Allow our emotions to control our behavior? We don’t feel well, so we don’t treat others well.
  • Embarrass ourselves by using bad manners?

One thoughtless word or deed can harm or destroy a relationship. Therefore, when we see Ps and Qs on children’s blocks, let’s remember to mind our Ps and Qs.

  • Think before speaking.
  • Think before acting.
  • Use proper manners.

People disagree on the origin of this phrase. It may have begun because the small (lower case) p and q look so much alike. They are the reverse (mirror image) of one another. Therefore, we must be careful when we write. We don’t want to confuse our lettters.

Likewise, we don’t want to confuse right and wrong. Whatever we do, let’s mind our Ps and Qs.

“He wanted them to be understanding, just, and fair in everything they did” (Proverbs 1:3 TLB).

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