Wisdom Archives - Page 19 of 49

The End of Your Rope

March 23, 2020 Diana Derringer Comments 0 Comment

The End of Your Rope--climber hanging from a rope “When you reach the end of your rope, tie a knot in it and hang on.” –Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Many can identify with the former president. Hard times hit, and you hurt. You wonder:

How will I survive?
Who can help?
Why did this happen?

When you reach the end of your rope, you feel out of options.

Like a person hanging from a cliff with no more rope, you feel desperate. You have no:

Strength
Hope
Patience
Desire to continue

You are ready to give up. You want to throw in the towel.

Problems may be as simple as no time to do all you need to do. However, problems may also be life threatening.

Whatever the problem, hold on.

Tie a knot and hang on for dear life. Help may be on the way. Many people want to help, if you let them know your need. Once you receive what you need, pay it forward by helping someone else.

When you get to the end of your rope, remember two words: “But God.”

You may not know the answer, but God does.

Troubles may not stop, but God walks with you through them.
Uncertainty may remain, but God gives you peace in the midst of it.
Life may look hopeless, but God offers hope for this life and the life to come.

When trials around you cause stress within you, look up.

“But you, God, see the trouble of the afflicted;
you consider their grief and take it in hand” (Psalm 10:14 NIV).

Thanks to Ann Knowles for the suggestion. Photo courtesy of Pixabay.

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In the Nick of Time--planes flying toward a setting sun On a trip to Minneapolis years ago, I caught a plane just in the nick of time. My first plane had engine trouble, so I had to change flights. That made me late for my second flight. As a result, I had to run through the airport about 1:00 a.m. to board my plane on time.

In the nick of time means at the last moment.

Doctors perform surgery just in time to save a life.
Basketball players make winning shots in the last seconds of games.
Parents grab children before they run into traffic.

Any delay beyond the nick of time is too late.

I would have missed my flight. (I did miss the boat later on that same trip.)
Doctors’ patients would die.
Basketball teams would lose.
Cars would hit children

Each situation goes down to the wire but is saved by the bell.

A good plan helps avoid the nick of time.

Prepare for the unexpected.
Stay organized.
Focus on the most important.
Never put off what needs to be done today.

“As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. For he says, ‘In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.’ I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:1-2).

Thanks to Jane Ashley Pace for the suggestion.

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The Early Bird Gets the Worm

March 9, 2020 Diana Derringer Comments 0 Comment

Please welcome my friend Martin Wiles as today’s guest writer. Martin is the founder of Love Lines from God and serves as Managing Editor for Christian Devotions, Senior Editor for Inspire a Fire, and Proof Editor for Courier Publishing. He has authored six books and has been published in numerous publications. His most recent book, A Whisper in the Woods: Quiet Escapes in a Busy World, released in December 2019. Martin is a freelance editor, English teacher, author, and pastor.

The Early Bird Gets the Worm--robin with worm “The early bird gets the worm.”

The expression first appeared in 1605 in a book of proverbs written by William Camden. The obvious meaning is simple: birds that rise early have the best chance of getting a worm. Late risers get poorer selections. The larger meaning is that arriving early provides a better chance of success.

I’m not sure which relative I first heard use the expression because so many of them did. I come from a family of Type A personalities—competitive, organized, time conscious. Dad arrived early everywhere he went—never right on time. I copied the pattern. If I can’t arrive at my destination at least thirty minutes early, I feel as if I’m late.

Evidently, Jesus found merit in rising early to pray. Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed (Mark 1:35 NIV).

I love early mornings. My mind is fresh, cleansed by a good night of sleep. And somehow, I feel as if I can hear God better then than at any other time. Why not give getting somewhere early a try?

Have you had an early bird gets the worm experience? If so, please comment below.

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Photo courtesy of Pixabay.

Cute as a Button

March 2, 2020 Diana Derringer Comments 0 Comment

“Isn’t she the cutest thing? Why, she’s as cute as a button.”

I have heard that expression since I was knee high to a grasshopper. People said it to describe:

Babies
Children and youth of all ages
Puppies, kittens, or other animals

Cute as a button usually refers to a small person, animal, or object.

Of course, not all buttons are cute. Neither are all buttons small. However, most are both.

As a child, I spent hours playing with my Granny Childress’s buttons. Since she sewed for others, she always had boxes of buttons.

Cute buttons
Shiny buttons
Tiny buttons
Huge buttons
Buttons of every size and shape

Cute as a button refers either to how we act or how we look.

Granny enjoyed my playing with her buttons. They kept me still and quiet while she sewed. For Granny, still and quiet made me cute as a button. When I wore one of her dresses, she said I looked cute as a button.

Actions and appearance don’t always match.

I did not always act cute when I wore one of those cute dresses. When that happened, Granny told me, “Pretty is as pretty does.” She reminded me that how I act is much more important than how I look.

“Even small children are known by their actions” (Proverbs 20:11 NIV).

Thanks to Janna Babak for the suggestion.

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Make a Splash

February 24, 2020 Diana Derringer Comments 0 Comment

Make a Splash--Niagara Falls The water from Niagara Falls makes quite a splash. Since a right smart of water runs over the falls, we get wet when we get close.

If we make a splash, we get a lot of attention.

People notice us. Niagara Falls makes a physical splash. Those falls receive much more attention than back-yard pools.

To make a splash usually means we achieve success.

Actors or athletes receive awards.
Businesses set new sales records.
Artists display their work around the world.

We don’t have to make a splash to be successful.

Most of us will never receive great awards, set sales records, or receive world-wide attention. We may think we amount to nothing more than a drop in the bucket. However, if we do what God created us to do, we have achieved success.

Success for us may mean:

Doing our job well
Helping children stay healthy and safe
Encouraging people around us
Helping those in need

Each of us can make the world a better place, one small act at a time.

We may never make a splash. However, we all make a difference. Let’s make that difference the best one possible:

Whoever we are
Whatever we do
Wherever we serve
For as long as we are needed

“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms” (1 Peter 4:10 NIV).

Thanks to Ann Knowles for the suggestion.

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Heebie-Jeebies

February 17, 2020 Diana Derringer Comments 3 comments

Heebie-jeebies--two small frogs Frogs give me the heebie-jeebies. Big ugly frogs. Cute little frogs. All frogs. They jump too fast. Plus, a friend once had a frog get tangled in her hair.

I am working on my frog fear. Since these little ones were behind glass, I was brave.

Having the heebie-jeebies is no fun. They make us feel:

Fear
Anxiety
Uncertainty
Dread
Worry

We differ on what gives us the heebie-jeebies.

Frequent fears include:

Death, so we use words like kick the bucket.
Frogs or other animals, so we try to stay away from them.
Public speaking, so we let other people speak for us.
The dark, so we keep lights on all night.

A few of us fear or worry about everything.

We are afraid of our own shadow and keep ourselves tied in knots.

A certain amount of fear can be helpful.

Fear may cause us to:

Take care of our health
Stay away from dangerous animals
Avoid dangerous people
Watch our step in dangerous situations

Faith leads us away from fear and worry.

Faith does not remove all our problems. However, if we trust Jesus, He will be with us through life’s troubles. Faith in Jesus also leads us to a home in heaven.

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10).

Thanks to Margaret Bertram for the suggestion.

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Saved by the Bell

February 10, 2020 Diana Derringer Comments 1 comment

Saved by the bell means we escape a difficult situation at the last moment.

A bell rings to end each round in a boxing match. If a boxer is knocked down, he may be counted out. However, if the bell rings first, he can continue the match.

Few of us have been boxers. However, many of us have been saved by the bell.

We escape trouble by the skin of our teeth.

Saved by the bell sometimes applies to embarrassing situations.

We fail to write a paper for class. The class ends before the teacher asks for it.
We have food on our face. A friend tells us before we meet our new boss.
We almost fall in front of a crowd. Someone catches us before we hit the floor.

Saved by the bell also applies to serious situations.

We get trapped in a burning car. A policeman pulls us from the car before it explodes.
We cannot pay a past-due bill. Unexpected money comes in the mail.
We will soon be homeless. Friends ask us to stay with them.

Years ago, a few people put bells on coffins. They thought anyone accidentally buried alive could ring the bell. However, according to The Phrase Finder, saved by the bell relates to boxing, not coffins.

Our greatest salvation comes through Jesus’ death on a cross.

Jesus died for our wrongs. After three days, He rose from the grave. If we accept Jesus’ gift of salvation, we receive eternal life and a home in heaven. We don’t have to wait to be saved by the bell at the last moment. Jesus offers salvation now.

“He died for our sins and rose again to make us right with God” (Romans 4:25 TLB).

Thanks to Carol York Patterson Brangers for the suggestion.

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Kit and Caboodle

February 3, 2020 Diana Derringer Comments 1 comment

Kit and Caboodle--Yellowstone park with bison If I want all of something, I want the whole kit and caboodle. For example, I would love to visit all the national parks. So far, Yellowstone remains my favorite.

The whole kit and caboodle means an entire collection.

All the parts
Everything

According to The Phrase Finder:

A kit is a “set of objects, as in a toolkit, or what a soldier would put in his kit-bag.” (A kit-bag is a knapsack.)
A caboodle (or boodle) “is an archaic term meaning group or collection, usually of people.”

We rarely hear kit or caboodle used alone. However, we still hear them used together, either as:

Kit and caboodle, or
The whole kit and caboodle

The whole kit and caboodle can be a good or fun description.

For example:

Family reunions with all the relatives
A collection of books from a favorite author
Choir rehearsal when everyone shows up

The whole kit and caboodle can also describe something not good or fun.

For example:

All the side effects of cancer treatments
The loss of everything in a fire
A car accident that kills an entire family

I appreciate all you readers, the whole kit and caboodle.

You warm the cockles of my heart. Thank you for your:

Comments and messages (You can comment below.)
Suggestions for blog posts
Shares on social media

Above all, thank you for your prayers for God’s guidance.

“I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you” (Romans 1:8).

Thanks to Carole Fite and Brad Leverett for the suggestion.

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Come Out in the Wash

January 27, 2020 Diana Derringer Comments 3 comments

Come Out in the Wash-blouse hanging on a porch with tree in the background “Don’t worry about it. It will come out in the wash.” Those words have probably helped many of us deal with problems or disappointments.

To come out in the wash tells us everything will be okay.

We hate to get stains on our clothing. However, most stains wash out. In the same way, we hate to have problems in life. Yet, most problems work out.

We try to cover up when we do wrong. That also comes out in the wash. We cannot hide bad behavior forever.

With time:

Wrongs will be made right.
Truth will expose lies.
Hard times will pass.
Good will win over evil.

Some troubles come out in the wash faster than others.

Not all stains come out quickly. We have to wash our clothes several times to get rid of them. Likewise, not all troubles disappear as soon as we like.

We often worry when all we need to do is wait.

When we wring our hands in worry, we make ourselves feel worse. Most problems cause little harm. If harm comes, it usually does not last long. However, if we do suffer a long time, we can look for lessons from our experiences.

Life gets dirty, but God offers to wash us clean.

If we accept Jesus as personal Savior, life’s troubles will one day end. The best is yet to come. Jesus paid the price for our wrongs and invites us to come clean. He will give us a fresh start.

“Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow” (Psalm 51:7 NIV).

Thanks to Linda Dean-Peavey for the suggestion and to Jeri Stone for the photo.

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Another Think Coming

January 20, 2020 Diana Derringer Comments 0 Comment

Another Think Coming--little girl lectures stuffed sheep “If that is what you think, you have another think coming!” Sadie’s poor sheep are in trouble.

Many of us have heard similar warnings as children and as adults. We were told, in no uncertain terms, our thinking was wrong. Such poor thinking often put us in hot water.

If we have another think coming, our thoughts are mistaken.

We may honestly believe wrong information. However, we may also try to twist the truth to get what we want.

Wrong thinking includes:

Believing most people enjoy an easier life than ours. Yet, everyone has problems.
Trying to lie or cheat in order to succeed. Yet, we hurt ourselves and others in the process.
Thinking we are better or worse than other people. Yet, every person is created in God’s image and worthy of respect.

We all make mistakes. Yet, God forgives and offers a fresh start when we repent of our wrong choices.

When we change our thoughts, we also change how we feel and act.

Negative thoughts make us feel bad. When we feel bad, our actions often turn bad. Therefore, remember:

God created us for a special purpose.
We choose whether to accept that purpose — to think and act according to God’s plan.
What we think, plus how we feel and act, makes a difference in our lives and in our world.

“A person may think their own ways are right, but the Lord weighs the heart” (Proverbs 21:2 NIV).

Thanks to Kristy Robinson Horine for the suggestion and the photo.

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