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Jump from the Frying Pan into the Fire

Jump from the Frying Pan into the Fire

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Jump from the Frying Pan into the Fire 2If we touch a hot frying pan, we let go fast.  We want to avoid the pain and scars. Holding on does not make good sense.

We suffer far worse if we touch the source of that heat. We definitely want to stay out of the fire. Therefore, we don’t touch:

• Hot stoves
• Bonfires
• Fireplaces
• Torches

Yet, how often do we try to solve one mistake by making another? In the process, we make our bad situation worse. We jump from the frying pan into the fire.

• We cover one lie with another.
• We hurt people and then avoid them.
• We do poor work but blame someone else.

We can do better:

• Admit our mistakes.
• Apologize and repair relationships.
• Do our best, and help others do their best.

Let go of the frying pan. Stay out of the fire.

“Fools mock at making amends for sin, but goodwill is found among the upright” (Proverbs 14:9 NIV).

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Photo courtesy of morgueFile.

Out of the Blue

Out of the Blue

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Out of the BlueA friend recently sent me a gift out of the blue. I was not expecting it. I did nothing to deserve it.

Like lightning striking unexpectedly in a clear blue sky, events sometimes happen out of the blue.

  • They occur suddenly.
  • We receive no notice.
  • They may be good or bad.

Occasionally we understand why events occur out of the blue.

  • Scientists can usually explain sudden weather changes.
  • My friend knew of my interest in her gift.

However, other events remain a mystery.

We may not always understand events in our lives. We can make a positive difference.

Try secretly performing an act of kindness. You may plan it or do it out of the blue. For the other person, it will definitely appear out of the blue. What a great way to start any day!

“You will not be afraid of sudden disaster, or when destruction overtakes the wicked; for the LORD will be the source of your confidence” (Proverbs 3:25-26 NET).

What are your favorite acts of kindness? Please comment below

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Hang On for Dear Life

Hang On for Dear Life

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Hang On for Dear LifeAn older cousin taught me to swim here. Her first lesson: how to kick.

She told me to find holes in the rocks to get a grip. I then raised my legs and kicked. If I let go, I went under the water. After falling and choking a few times, I learned to hold tightly – to hang on for dear life.

Occasionally my sister or another cousin yelled “snake.” Of course, I screamed and would hang on tighter then.

Eventually I finished my lessons. I still love to swim.

Sometimes our lives seem to fall apart at the seams. When that happens, we hang on for dear life to what matters most. Those hard times can teach us the most valuable lessons.

I now hang on to:

  • Family
  • Friends
  • Faith

I know if I lose the first two, I can survive with the third. The best part of placing my faith in Jesus: I don’t have to hang on for dear life. Jesus holds on to me and will never let go.

“I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand”  John 10:28 NIV).

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Until the Cows Come Home

Until the Cows Come Home

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Until the Cows Come HomeWe wait until the cows come home for a new job.

We wait until the cows come home for the love of our life to call.

We wait until the cows come home for a vacation.

Waiting is hard. Waiting a long time is very hard. Waiting until the cows come home … seems to take forever. What we wait for may happen, but who knows when?

If you watch cows move from one place to another, they usually take a long time.

  • They don’t rush.
  • They move their ears and tails to brush away flies.
  • They chew.
  • They often walk together in a single file down a well-worn path.

If you want to see slow, watch cows.

Some farmers move cows from one pasture to another so they have enough grass to eat. They often move the cows in early spring or summer. They return the cows in late autumn. That’s a long time until the cows come home.

Farmers who milk cows usually milk them early morning and late afternoon. That’s a long day in the field until the cows return to the barn at night.

Perhaps we need a little of a cow’s patience. When we tire of waiting, remember:

  • Don’t rush.
  • Get rid of unnecessary distractions.
  • Be satisfied with basic needs.
  • Follow the right path.

“Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains” (James 5:7 NIV).

Special thanks to Emily Akin for the suggestion and link to this and other cattle based idioms.

Do you have an expression you want explained? If so, please comment below.

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Golden Years

Golden Years

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Golden YearsMy parents entered their golden years (retirement) several years ago. Free from work responsibilities, they enjoyed extra time for several interests:

  • Travel
  • Family
  • Gardening
  • A huge orchard
  • Woodworking
  • Church activities

Family and friends always gathered at their home. That continues today. Some people visit for fun. Others desire prayer and spiritual support.

Although their bodies have grown weaker, their faith has remained strong. They understand God has a purpose for them, and they continue to fulfill that purpose.

They are not perfect, but they come as close as anyone I know. By following God, who is love, they can love everyone better:

  • One another
  • Their children
  • Family and friends
  • Acquaintances and strangers

Their strong commitment to faith and family inspires those who know them to:

  • Share love with words and actions.
  • Take time for one another.
  • Work through problems as they arise.
  • Focus on the positives.
  • Help people in need.

What a great example they provide.

Happy anniversary, Mom and Dad! Keep enjoying your golden years.

“And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love” (1 John 4:16 NIV).

Thanks to Gail Gosser for help with the post and Robbie Childress for the photo.

Do you have special family memories? If so, please comment.

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March to a Different Drummer

March to a Different Drummer

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March to a Different Drummer CU Tiger Drumline 2
Campbellsville University Photo

We all know them. Perhaps we are one of them: people who march to a different drummer. (We may also say they march to the beat of a different drummer.)

However we say it, such people are different from what society calls normal. We may see those differences in behavior, beliefs, or both. Unusual habits can appear in almost all areas, including:

  • Clothing
  • Hobbies
  • Food
  • Routines
  • Homes

Henry David Thoreau said, “If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away.”

For some reason, most of us think we have to be the same as everyone else. That often causes no problem. Yet, on matters of importance, we must stand firm. We must risk being different. We must march to a different drummer.

Let’s be certain we choose our drummer carefully.

“I know the greatness of the Lord—that he is greater far than any other god. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! It is amazing to think about. Your workmanship is marvelous—and how well I know it” (Psalm 135:5; 139:14 TLB).

Special thanks to Shirley Cheatham for the suggestion and to Campbellsville University for the Tiger Drumline photo .

Do you have an expression you want explained? If so, please comment below.

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Fresh Start

Fresh Start

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Fresh StartWe all need a fresh start occasionally.

  • We lose a job and need a new one.
  • We hurt someone and need forgiveness.
  • We make bad choices and need another chance.

A fresh start means a new beginning. We start over.

A fresh start gives hope. We look for better days ahead, much like:

  • Springtime arrives after a long hard winter.
  • We build a new fence after the old one falls apart.
  • New flowers bloom through dead grass and leaves.

The message of Easter offers the greatest fresh start of all. Jesus died on a cross on Friday, but he rose from the grave on Sunday. He defeated death and sin.

When we choose to follow Jesus, we receive new life. We gain God’s love, peace, hope, and joy. We still have problems, but the problems will not defeat us. In addition, we have the promise of an eternal home in heaven.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV).

Do you have an expression you want explained? If so, please comment below.

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High on the Hog

High on the Hog

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High on the HogSome people live and eat high on the hog. They enjoy the good life. They surround themselves with luxury.

Farmers who raise hogs (pigs) understand the expression. So do butchers who cut the meat. The best cuts of pork come from the back and upper parts of a pig’s leg. Therefore, we find the most expensive cuts high on the hog.

Wealthy people can afford to live high on the hog. Of course, the expression refers to more than their food. It includes a rich lifestyle:

  • Fancy homes and cars
  • Frequent world travel
  • Designer clothing
  • Expensive jewelry
  • The best of everything

Some wealthy people choose to live a simple lifestyle. They either save their money or share it. Others live high on the hog but also help those less fortunate.

Many people who can’t afford it try to live high on the hog. They buy on credit but can’t pay their bills. They get too big for their britches. They fail to consider the final cost – the bottom line.

Whether we live high on the hog or live off life’s scraps, we decide how we will use what we possess.

“Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions” (Luke 12:15 NIV)

Thanks to Lori Carmicle for the photo and Debbie Tapscott for the suggestion.

Do you have an expression you want explained? If so, please comment below.

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What Goes Around Comes Around

What Goes Around Comes Around

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What Goes Around Comes AroundWisconsin’s House on the Rock owns the largest indoor carousel in the world. That merry-go-round is huge!

  • 269 carousel animals
  • More than 20,000 lights
  • 182 chandeliers

A carousel always returns to its starting point. So does anything that moves in circles. All demonstrate what goes around comes around.

We often see what goes around comes around in daily life as well.

  • If we hurt others, we can expect hurt.
  • If we help others, we can expect help.
  • If we ignore others, we can expect to be ignored.

We believe people should get what they deserve. We think rewards and punishment should be based on behavior. But life is not always fair. What goes around comes around is not always true.

  • We don’t always reap what we sow.
  • Sometimes people hurt us when we don’t deserve hurt.
  • Other times people help us when we don’t deserve help.

Therefore, we must decide:

  • Will we love people, regardless of how they treat us?
  • Or will we give them control by acting like them?

Let’s start more circles of kindness and forgiveness. What do you think?

“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32 NIV).

Please comment below on ways you have seen people show kindness in recent days.

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Stubborn as a Mule

Stubborn as a Mule

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Stubborn as a MuleI can be stubborn as a mule. Just ask anyone who knows me well. I hate to admit it, but it’s true.

  • I know what I want.
  • I know what I believe.
  • I don’t like change.
  • I’m not impossible, but I am stubborn.

A mule is born from a female horse and a male donkey. They have several advantages over horses:

  • Mules are sure-footed — less likely to slide or stumble.
  • They carry heavy weight better.
  • They endure heat well.
  • They are tough and strong.

Mules are smart. They take care of themselves. If they think something is dangerous, they won’t do it. They trust themselves more than others.

Try to force a mule to do something, and you will probably lose. That’s why we call them stubborn. Help the mule see the advantage of what you want, and you win.

The more I think about it, being stubborn as a mule may not be that bad. I wonder, is that because of my research, or is it because I want it to be so? Hmmm …

“My steps have held to your paths; my feet have not stumbled” (Psalm 17:5 NIV).

Thanks to the late Jack Bruns, another self-proclaimed stubborn-as-a-mule person, for the suggestion. Thanks to Debbie Tapscott, for the photo.

Do you have an expression you want explained? If so, please comment below.

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