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Category: Wisdom

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas

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Merry ChristmasMerry Christmas!

We often hear this greeting during the month of December. But what does it really mean?

  • Happy holiday?
  • Enjoy a good December?
  • Have fun?

We often mean all the above. However, for those who believe in Jesus, the Christ of Christmas, it means so much more.

The word Christmas comes from the Old English “Mass of Christ.”

Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus, the Christ.

Many people celebrate Christmas without knowing the Christmas story. They focus on decorated trees, Santa Claus, parties, and presents. They have no idea Jesus is the greatest gift.

Jesus came to give eternal life and a home in heaven.

He offers His presence and a life filled with:

  •  Hope
  • Peace
  • Joy
  • Love

As with any gift, we can accept Jesus’ gift or reject it.

I pray that you accept Jesus’ life-changing gift this Christmas and share it with everyone you meet.

Merry Christmas! Joy to the world! The Lord has come.

“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”) (Matthew 1:23 NIV).

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Don’t Put the Cart before the Horse

Don’t Put the Cart before the Horse

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Please welcome my friend Emily Akin as today’s guest writer. Emily and I met at Kentucky Christian Writers Conference. Emily lives in northwest Tennessee with her husband of 45 years and their Jack Russell terrier, Jeb.

“I always have prayer before I go into the courtroom,” said the judge I was interviewing. “One day, I didn’t get a chance to pray before going in. Everything seemed to go wrong.”

Later, he returned to his office. While there, he realized he had forgotten to pray.

“I prayed, and I went back into the courtroom. Everything fell into place,” he said.

The judge had “put the cart before the horse.” We say that when a person makes a task more difficult by doing things in the wrong order. The cart is made for the horse to pull rather than push.

  • Put the horse in front of the cart. The horse pulls the cart.
  • Put the horse behind the cart. The horse does not know what to do.

We put the cart before the horse by:

  • Starting on a trip without knowing what route we’ll take.
  • Buying clothes for an event before we’ve been invited.
  • Asking God to bless our efforts after we’ve made our own plan.

Our plans work out better if we consult God first. Perhaps what we’ve planned is not what God wants for us. It could be that we have the right idea, but we are going about it the wrong way. Let’s be sure our plans follow God’s purpose. Put the horse before the cart in everything we do.

“Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails” (Proverbs 19:21, NIV).

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Photo courtesy of Morguefile.

Don’t Rock the Boat

Don’t Rock the Boat

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Don't Rock the Boat“Don’t rock the boat.” “Leave everything as it is.” “Maintain the status quo.”

We have many ways to tell one another not to change anything.

Change is hard, yet:

  • To make wrongs right requires change.
  • Progress requires change.
  • Learning requires change.

If we rock the boat when fishing:

  • We may fall out.
  • The boat may turn over.
  • We may scare away the fish.

If we rock the boat in life:

  • We may become uncomfortable.
  • Other people may become uncomfortable or angry.
  • We may make mistakes.

Yet, nothing ventured, nothing gained. We can’t move forward without change.

Don’t rock the boat just to cause trouble. Do rock the boat when the boat needs rocked.

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

Thanks to Debbie Tapscott for suggesting this expression.

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You’re Pulling My Leg

You’re Pulling My Leg

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You're Pulling My LegIf you’re pulling my leg, you’re telling me an untrue story as a joke.

Many people recognize such a story as unbelievable. Not me! I swallow it hook, line, and sinker.

Almost anyone can pull my leg. Tell me the wildest tale, and I believe it. My picture should be included in the dictionary under the word gullible.

That’s okay. Everyone enjoys a little innocent fun. We laugh at how easily people fool me. Maybe someday I will learn.

How I wish all life could be as innocent. How I wish all untruths were jokes.

We live with the reality that we often hurt one another with our words.

  • We tell lies.
  • We say one thing but mean another.
  • We keep our mouths shut when we need to speak the truth.

Every day we choose our words. Will what we say help others or hurt them?

“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to You, LORD, my rock and my Redeemer” (Psalm 19:14 HCSB).

Special thanks to Xuesong Li and Yaming Zhu for demonstrating the literal meaning of this expression.

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As Old as the Hills

As Old as the Hills

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As Old as the Hills 1Do you ever feel as old as the hills? It is possible whether we are 18 or 80.

The hills of Kentucky have existed longer than any of us have lived. So have most hills and mountains. That does not stop us from saying people or possessions are as old as the hills.

• Those of us who hate to shop wear clothes as old as the hills.
• When tired, we feel as old as the hills.
• We describe well-worn furniture as old as the hills.

Our society values youth. Many people think older adults are over the hill.

They don’t understand the benefits that come with age.

• Years of experience
• Wisdom from life lessons
• Appreciation for how fast time passes

Regardless of how old we are or how old we feel, let’s give thanks for:

• Every age
• The beauty of the hills around us
• The one who created all

“Were you born before the hills were made?” (Job 15:7 NIV).

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Low Man on the Totem Pole

Low Man on the Totem Pole

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Low Man on the Totem PoleTotem poles are carved and painted by Native Americans in the northwest part of North America.

According to dictionary.com, comedian Fred Allen probably started our saying “low man on the totem pole” around 1940. The phrase became popular “despite its lack of application to a genuine totem pole.”

The low man on the totem pole is often considered the least important person in a group.

  • He holds the lowest position.
  • Others show him little respect.
  • He usually has to do the work no one else wants to do.

A new person in an organization may refer to himself as low man on the totem pole.

Nevertheless, the low man on the totem pole has hope.

Everyone must begin somewhere. Most begin at the bottom and then work their way up to the position they desire.  

Some people prefer a lower position. In addition, the person at the top cannot do what he needs to do without the people who work below him.

People at the bottom are needed as much as those at the top.

Often they are needed more.

If the lowest image on a totem pole is destroyed, the totem pole can no longer stand. Repairs may help, but the totem pole will never be the same. That truth applies to organizations as well. Therefore, my hat’s off to all who serve as low man on the totem pole.

Click here for further information about totem poles.

“Work happily together. Don’t try to act big. Don’t try to get into the good graces of important people, but enjoy the company of ordinary folks. And don’t think you know it all!” (Romans 12:16 TLB).

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As Friendly as a Puppy

As Friendly as a Puppy

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As Friendly as a Puppy 1If you own a puppy, you know the joy of complete acceptance. That puppy loves you. He doesn’t care about your status:

  • Who you are
  • What you have done
  • How you look
  • What you say

He wants to be with you. He remains your friend through thick and thin.

A puppy knows how to have fun. He finds pleasure in the little things.

  • Chewing on a bone
  • Chasing a ball
  • Running and jumping

If you let him, he will share his joy with you:

  • Snuggling close to you
  • Barking for attention
  • Letting you scratch his ears or rub his tummy

A puppy can turn frowns into smiles simply by being a puppy.

His behavior may change when you hurt:

  • Sitting still beside you
  • Listening as you talk or cry
  • Whimpering to share your grief
  • Offering an occasional lick of love

A puppy gives his friendship without criticism or judgment.

When he thinks you’re in danger, his behavior changes again:

  • Barking to warn you
  • Trying to pull you to safety
  • Not quitting until you move

Why can’t we all be as friendly as a puppy?

“There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24 NIV).

Special thanks to the Bloyd family. Their photo of pure puppy joy reminds us that puppies are also good medicine.

Do you have a favorite puppy tale? If so, please comment.

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Eating Out of Her Hand

Eating Out of Her Hand

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Eating Out of Her HandDuring a stop in South Dakota, my friend Ann had this chipmunk eating out of her hand. Because of his appetite, he did what Ann desired.

She offered what he wanted, so he ignored any possible danger. He failed to follow the caution better safe than sorry.

Sometimes people have us eating out of their hands. We do whatever they want. This happens often in romantic relationships. We see it when Olivia Newton-John sings “Hopelessly Devoted to You” in the movie Grease.

In a good relationship, eating out of one another’s hand presents no danger.

We seek to please the one we love.

  • We give gifts.
  • We arrange special events.
  • We spend a lot of time together.

Unfortunately, some people take advantage of that desire to please.

As a result, those eating out of their hands suffer in several possible ways:

  • Abuse (physical, emotional, or sexual)
  • Neglect
  • Financial loss

Choose relationships wisely.

Seek help when needed. Encourage others to make good decisions.

With a mighty hand and outstretched arm; His love endures forever (Psalm 136:12 NIV).

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A Bee in Your Bonnet

A Bee in Your Bonnet

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A Bee in Your BonnetYou need bees to pollinate plants. You don’t need a bee in your bonnet (hat or head covering).

Many beekeepers wear protective clothing, including a hat with a net. The net keeps bees away from their head and face. My husband was removing honey from a bee hive several years ago. Somehow, a few bees crawled inside his net. His one and only thought was to get that bonnet off!

When you get a bee in your bonnet, you focus totally on one idea. It controls your thoughts and actions. Nothing else matters to you.

Often that focus has no lasting value:

  • A car
  • A house
  • Clothes
  • Other material possessions

Occasionally the focus is harmful:

  • Hatred
  • Revenge
  • Prejudice

Why not focus instead on eternal values?

  • Trusting God
  • Serving others
  • Improving self

“Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts” (Psalm 139:23 NIV).

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Get a Grip

Get a Grip

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Get a GripLike a rock climber searching for a hand or foot hold, we sometimes need to get a grip.

Everything seems to go wrong. We feel out of control. We are  falling apart at the seams.

When that happens, we

  • Search for something to keep us from falling.
  • Seek stability.
  • Try to move forward.

But we are stuck.

When we tell people to get a grip, we see their need to calm down, to control themselves.

We often expect them to handle their problems alone, to pull themselves up by their bootstraps.

We must remember, however, that we may be their source for a better grip.

By extending a helping hand, we may keep them from falling. By walking with them, we may show them the best way to go.

When life goes wrong, let’s get a grip. Let’s also offer a grip to our fellow climbers. Above all, let’s turn to the one who promises to guide us safely in every circumstance.

“I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip—he who watches over you will not slumber” (Psalm 121:1-3 NIV).

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