Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle. 2 Thessalonians 2:15 When I was growing up, my parents used to go to the national convention every year for the franchise business that my dad owned. It was always in the middle of our harsh Indiana winters, and it was always in an exotic location – how nice is that! One year, when the convention was in Florida, my

He hath made every thing beautiful in his time… so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end. Ecclesiastes 3:11 I like to work with wood. Over the years, I have made many things from toys for my kids, to coat racks, tables, wall art, and bookcases. Every single thing that I have made required some sort of sanding to produce the finished product. Without sandpaper, wood remains rough and jagged. Sandpaper is not only

I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid? Job 31:1 Without a doubt, the biggest mistake of King David’s life came when he innocently stepped out onto his rooftop terrace. Glancing over the city below, his eyes inadvertently fell upon a scantily clad woman named Bathsheba. There would be no account of a mistake or heartache in the life of David if he hadn’t made the decision to affix his gaze. What started as an accidental look turned into

For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he…. Proverbs 23:7 I have a tough assignment for you: try to do something, anything, without thinking about it first. The harder you try, the more impossible it becomes. Even if it is a split second decision, you still think about it for that split second before you do it. Here is an even tougher assignment: try to sit there without thinking at all. Try to turn your mind completely off – think about absolutely nothing. Anot

Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Psalm 37:4 When you were younger, what did you want to be when you grew up? When my son Jackson was little, he really wanted to be a cowboy. He wore guns and a cowboy hat everywhere, and he constantly talked about “when I get older, and I have my own ranch…”

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Proverbs 3:5-6 “When a train goes through a tunnel and it gets dark, you don’t throw away the ticket and jump off; you sit still and trust the engineer.” Corrie ten Boom, the author of the previous statement, suffered terribly in a concentration camp when it was discovered that she and her family were helping Jew

Walk in wisdom towards them that are without, redeeming the time. Colossians 4:5 Summer is a time when most people plan to get away from all the busyness of daily life for a little while. What a better way to do that than by taking a vacation. But I’m going to make a statement that may sound controversial: don’t take a vacation. Now, remember I said it was only going to sound controversial. I am not trying to tell you that you should not go out of town and enjoy yourself