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Cold Feet

Cold Feet

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Cold Feet: Six uncovered feet at the foot of a bedMany of us live with cold feet. We don’t need winter, snow, or freezing rain. Our feet stay cold any time of year in any kind of weather.

However, cold feet means more than the temperature of our toes.

Cold feet freeze our plans or desires.

Cold feet refers to fear of doing something.

We lose our nerve. We get:

  • Discouraged
  • Shy
  • Anxious

Enthusiasm disappears. Cowardice replaces confidence. We wring our hands, afraid to do what we want to do.

A little fear can be a good thing.

It helps us:

  • Focus
  • Try harder
  • Avoid mistakes

Yet, cold feet paralyze us. They stop us in our tracks.

Faith overcomes fear.

Like socks or blankets warm our feet, faith covers us with courage.

We find support for our faith in:

  • The Bible and prayer for God’s strength (a perfect plan for every day)
  • Practice of what scares us (get our feet wet)
  • Encouragement from others (give it as well as receive it)

We choose. Will we freeze in fear or step forward in faith wherever God leads?

“The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged” (Deuteronomy 31:8 NIV).

Thanks to Margaret Bertram for the suggestion. Photo courtesy of Unsplash.

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You Made Your Bed, You Must Lie in It

You Made Your Bed, You Must Lie in It

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You Made Your Bed--bed in The Elms (R. I.)You made your bed, you must lie in it has nothing to do with making a bed. The expression focuses on behavior.

You have to live with the results of what you do.

  • Good choices bring good results.
  • Bad choices bring bad results.

If you cause problems, expect problems in your life. If you share joy, expect joy in return.

 Of course, exceptions to the rule occur. However, you usually experience the natural or logical effects of your actions. You did it, so you must live with it.

Several expressions have the same meaning.

Whether you talk about beds, gardens, music, or chickens, the message remains the same. For the best life, make the best choices.

“When you see trouble coming, don’t be stupid and walk right into it— be smart and hide” (Proverbs 22:3 CEV).

Thanks to Bonnie Alley for the suggestion.

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Cool as a Cucumber

Cool as a Cucumber

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Cool as a Cucumber--sliced cucumberSome people stay cool as a cucumber.

Whether good times or bad, they remain calm.

Cucumbers are mostly water, which keeps them cool. A slice of cucumber in a glass of water provides cool refreshment on a hot summer day.

However, cool as a cucumber does not refer to a cool temperature. It means people who rarely get upset.

  • Plans don’t go their way. They make other plans.
  • People mistreat them. They still treat those people well.
  • Losses occur. They give thanks for what they had.

They live an easy-does-it life and look for the light at the end of the tunnel.

Few things get them down.

When they do get down, they soon rise again and keep going. They know that nothing in this life lasts forever. Therefore, they make the most of the moments they have.

Cool as a cucumber people spread peace.

By staying calm and peaceful, they help people around them stay calm and peaceful.

Peace that never fails can be found when anyone lets go and lets God.

“[God’s] peace will keep your thoughts and your hearts quiet and at rest as you trust in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7 TLB).

Thanks to Janna Babak for the suggestion.

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Ox in the Ditch

Ox in the Ditch

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Ox in the Ditch--cow in water behind treesMy friend Phyllis recently had an ox in the ditch. She and her husband dressed for church. Then they noticed a cow having trouble birthing its calf. Their cow needed help. Putting first things first, they helped their animals. They arrived at church late but with an attitude of gratitude for a healthy cow and calf.

An ox in the ditch is not usually an ox.

Examples of an ox in the ditch include:

  • Sick people who need a doctor
  • Crime victims who need the police
  • Buildings on fire that need firefighters

An ox in a ditch means an emergency.

 The need demands:

  • Immediate action
  • Total attention

A great need replaces a good plan.

The Bible says Jesus healed a sick person on the Sabbath. Work was forbidden on days of worship. However, Jesus asked if people would not pull an ox from a ditch (or well) on the Sabbath. Another time Jesus said, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27 NIV).

God expects people to rest and worship one day a week. However, God also expects believers to put feet to their prayers – to meet needs when they arise.

“Then [Jesus] asked them, “If one of you has a child or an ox that falls into a well on the Sabbath day, will you not immediately pull it out?” (Luke 14:5 NIV).

Thanks to Phyllis Patton for the suggestion and Bart Woodrum for the photo.

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Consider the Source

Consider the Source

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Consider the Source--Bonneville Salt Flats
Bonneville Salt Flats

Before we trust anyone or anything, we consider the source.

 We do not want to:

  • Eat food from a garbage can
  • Buy a car from a junk store
  • Drink water from a lake filled with salt

We usually trust what was good, safe, and trustworthy in the past.

However, if anything has not been good, safe, or trustworthy, we do not trust them now.

The same applies to people.

Have they:

  • Made many mistakes? If so, we will not ask their help.
  • Proved themselves trustworthy? If so, we usually trust them.
  • Hurt others? If so, we fear they may hurt us.

Consider the source is often a warning.

It tells us to be careful.

If we want others to trust us, we must prove worthy of their trust.

We build a reputation by every:

  • Choice we make
  • Action we take
  • Word we say
  • Attitude we show

May others always know us as a source worthy of their trust – as good as our word.

“What a wonderful God we have—he is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the source of every mercy, and the one who so wonderfully comforts and strengthens us in our hardships and trials. And why does he do this? So that when others are troubled, needing our sympathy and encouragement, we can pass on to them this same help and comfort God has given us” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4 TLB).

Thanks to Becky Nash Rowe for the suggestion

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Preaching to the Choir

Preaching to the Choir

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Preaching to the choir--church choir in robesPastors don’t need to convince believers to accept Jesus. That would be like preaching to the choir. Believers have already made that choice.

Preaching to the choir means trying to get people to accept an idea they already believe.

 Why try to convince them when they:

  • Share the same opinion
  • Support the same cause

Some people compare this to kicking an open door. The door stands open. No one needs to kick or knock on it.

  • Doctors don’t need to be told people get sick.
  • Teachers don’t need to be told children’s minds wander.
  • Judges don’t need to be told people break the law.

They already know that.

Preaching to the Choir--children and adultsTo spread a message, the messenger must go to those who:

  • Have not heard it
  • Do not believe it
  • Need to learn more about it

Preaching to the Choir--children's choirOf course, people enjoy sharing the same beliefs. Choir members sing and praise God with other believers. True worship makes them all ears to God’s message. It warms the cockles of their hearts.

However, they also take their message outside the church. They want to share it with people who have not heard.

“The master said to the servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled’” (Luke 14:23 ESV).

Thanks to Darrin Jenkins for the suggestion and to Campbellsville Baptist Church and Joan Tinnell for the photos.

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Chickens Come Home to Roost

Chickens Come Home to Roost

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Chickens Come Home to Roost--chickens on a fenceChickens come home to roost.

  • Birds usually return to their nests at night.
  • The results of our past actions return to us.

Bad behavior in the past may causes problems in the present or future.

We may get away with bad choices for a while. However, we often suffer for them later. We land in hot water. That is true for what we do and what we say.

We live with the consequences of the choices we make.

 Mistakes or wrong choices hurt us and others. We reap what we sow.

  • Fail to study: fail a test.
  • Hurt other people; expect to get hurt.
  • Ignore physical needs; suffer physical pains.

Therefore, we do well to always make right choices.

Be careful what we say and do. What goes around comes around. We don’t want our words and actions coming back to haunt us.

If we follow the straight and narrow, we have no need to worry.

“Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it” (Psalm 34:14 NIV).

Thanks to Steve and LuAnne Russell for the suggestion. Photo courtesy of Pixabay.

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Take It to the Bank

Take It to the Bank

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Take It to the Bank -- bank vaultIf someone pays us by check, we take it to the bank. The check promises money.

Of course, not all checks are good. In those cases, we lose the money listed on the checks.

When we say we can take it to the bank, we mean something is good.

  • We can depend on it.
  • The person who wrote the check has the money listed.
  • A person always speaks the truth. He is as good as his word.

We cannot take everything to the bank.

Like bad checks, not everyone speaks or acts in truth. When that happens, we lose trust. The person’s bad choices hurt us.

We all make bad choices. However, we can receive forgiveness.

Easter celebrates Jesus coming to earth to pay the price for our sins – our bad choices.

  • Jesus’ words and actions taught us how to live.
  • He died on the cross for our sins.
  • Before and as He died, Jesus prayed for us.
  • He arose from the grave on the third day.
  • Jesus’ victory over sin and death becomes ours free and clear, if we place our faith in Him.

Friends, we can take Jesus’ promises to the bank.

“This is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent” (John 17:3 ESV).

Thanks to Kristy Robinson Horine for the suggestion and to Citizens Bank for the photo opportunity.

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In the Books

In the Books

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In the Books--children's libraryWhen we want to check if something happened, we look in the books.

Anything in the books is a matter of record.

It is:

  • Completed
  • Finished
  • History

For example:

  • A new year begins. The old year is in the books.
  • Lawmakers pass a law. The law goes in the books.
  • A person retires. Her job is in the books.
  • Someone dies. His life goes in the books.
  • People turn over a new leaf. They put their old habits in the books.

Not everything in the books is correct.

Mistakes happen. Just because we see something in writing does not make it right. Therefore, we want to check for truth.

However, we can always trust one book.

The Bible shares God’s truth with the world. We want to go by the book with that book. Therefore,

  • Open it.
  • Read it.
  • Live it.

God remains ready to give us a fresh start anytime, anywhere. If we accept Jesus as Savior and Lord, our future is secure. Our salvation is complete or in the books.

“I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books” (Revelation 20:12 NIV).

Thanks to Sue Davis Potts for the suggestion.

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Pretty as a Picture

Pretty as a Picture

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Pretty as a Picture--Bryce Canyon National ParkAnyone or anything pretty as a picture is very pretty.

It may be described as:

  • Beautiful
  • Attractive
  • Appealing

People feel drawn to it. Its beauty pleases the eye. It stands out.

Not everyone agrees on what or who is pretty as a picture.

In nature, some people feel drawn to the:

Others like it all.

The same holds true with people. Who attracts one person may not attract another. Those differences make life more interesting and the world more beautiful.

Many people find beauty wherever they look.

As  a Ray Stevens song tells us, “Everything is Beautiful.” Only when people misuse God’s creation does it become ugly.

Look around. Enjoy the beauty. Live a beautiful life. Remember pretty is as pretty does.

“He has made everything beautiful in its time” (Ecclesiastes 3:11 NIV).

Thanks to Bob Emerson for the suggestion.

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