Trail Mix - 10.14.18

10.14.18 – “We hear a lot today about a Madison Avenue approach to church work. Pastors are now CEO's and churches are run by boards of directors. Lay people are told to take "ownership." The problem is that none of this can be found in the Bible! Pastors are shepherds and the church is a flock and no one "owns" any part of a ministry. If you have to have ownership to do your best for the Lord something is wrong. Words have meaning and when you change the words it is probably because you have changed the meaning.” S. E. Trail

My prayer for you today is for you to serve because you are saved; surrendered and seeking to do His will.

2 Corinthians 1:12 For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward. KJV

“Did you hear the one about the guy from Alabama who went to Alaska to be a pioneer? He went to the game warden for advice, “to be a real pioneer, you’ve got to skin a polar bear, and then kiss an Eskimo woman right on the lips”, he came back the next day bleeding and bruised, one arm hanging by a thread, said, “where’s that Eskimo woman I’ve got to skin?”

Bible Reading Schedule for today - Mark 1-3

Trail Mix - 10.13.18

10.13.18 – “Samuel was a better man than Saul but he knew how to take a back seat graciously. Barnabas was the team leader while Paul was in training but when it came time he graciously allowed a peaceful transition in leadership. We could all use a little second place grace! Every man should learn to play "second fiddle" before he is offered first chair. Some are only satisfied with solo work and others want to be the whole orchestra. Diotrophes loved the spotlight but Jesus said to be great we had to serve and sacrifice!” S. E. Trail

My prayer for you today is for you to learn the nobility of serving in the shadows.

Job 22:29 When men are cast down, then thou shalt say, There is lifting up; and he shall save the humble person. KJV

A foreign visitor was being given a tour of Washington, D.C. one day by an American friend of hers. She was amazed at the size of the Monuments, the Congressional Buildings, and so forth. Finally she gazed upon the White House itself. My, that's an incredibly large building!" she remarked. "Yes, it's pretty big, alright." said her friend. "Big? It's huge!! About how many people work in there?" she asked. "Oh...about half."

Bible Reading Schedule for today - Matthew 27-28

Trail Mix -10.12.18

10.12.18 – “Vance Havner said, "He who walks in God's way has a schedule and must wait God's time for this or that. But for the worldly "one time is as good as another." The world knows nothing of seeking the mind of God and finding His will before doing this or that. Those who acknowledge Him in all their ways find that He directs their paths." S. E. Trail

My prayer for you today is for a sense of the “timeliness” of the Lord’s will. They that wait renew their strength.

Exodus 13:21 And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night: KJV

A woman accompanied her husband to the doctor's office. After the check-up, the doctor took the wife aside and said, "If you don't do the following, your husband will surely die."

1. "Each morning, fix him a healthy breakfast and send him off to work in a good mood."

2. "At lunch time, make him a warm, nutritious meal and put him in a good frame of mind before he goes back to work."

3. "For dinner, fix an especially nice meal and don't burden him with household chores."         

4. "Satisfy his every whim."

On the way home, the husband asked his wife what the doctor had said. She replied "We need to get a second opinion!"

Bible Reading Schedule for today - Matthew 25-26

Trail Mix - 10.11.18

10.11.18 – “Many in this world are of the opinion that Christians never have any problems or worries. Just the opposite is true for we have many burdens and cares. The difference is the world’s troubles are the result of a life of sin and rebellion against God while the Christian experiences difficulties brought on by the hardships related to service and sacrifice in the cause of Christ. We are saved to serve in the “Army of the Lord” and soldiers are called to endure hardness so that as good soldiers we might “please Him who has called us into His Army.” S. E. Trail

My prayer for you today is that you would rejoice in afflictions knowing that they work a “…far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.”

1 Peter 4:16 “Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.” KJV

“An elderly pastor was searching his closet for his collar before church one Sunday morning. In the back of the closet, he found a small box containing 3 eggs and 100 $1 bills. He called his wife into the closet to ask her about the box and its contents. Embarrassed, she admitted having hidden the box there for their entire 30 years of marriage. Disappointed and hurt, the pastor asked her, "WHY?" The wife replied that she hadn't wanted to hurt his feelings. He asked her how the box could have hurt his feelings. She said that every time during their marriage that he had delivered a poor sermon, she had placed an egg in the box. The pastor felt that 3 poor sermons in 30 years was certainly nothing to feel bad about, so he asked her what the $100 was for. She replied, "Each time I got a dozen eggs, I sold them to the neighbors for $1."

 Bible Reading Schedule for today - Matthew 23-24

 

Trail Mix - 10.10.18

10.10.18 – “God's Word teaches us that we gain by giving. I don't mean what the health, wealth, and prosperity crowd is teaching. God gives "liberally." He is generous and His generosity towards us never depends on our merit. When we sow bountifully, God gives super abundantly. When Christians turn into tightwads and try to do God's work cheaply they get cheap results. We reap as we sow!” S. E. Trail

My prayer for you today is that you might “shovel” God’s blessings out just like He “shovels” them in! Remember, He has a bigger shovel!

Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. KJV

“You just can’t make this up!”

On Sears hairdryer: Do not use while sleeping.

On a bag of Fritos: You could be a winner! No purchase necessary. Details inside.

On a bar of Dial soap: Directions: Use like regular soap.

On some Swann frozen dinners: Serving suggestion: Defrost.

On Tesco's Tiramisu dessert:(printed on bottom of the box) Do not turn upside down.

On packaging for a Rowenta iron: Do not iron clothes on body.

On Boot's Children's cough medicine: Do not drive car or operate machinery.

On Nytol sleep aid: Warning: may cause drowsiness.

On a Korean kitchen knife: Warning keep out of children.

On a string of Chinese-made Christmas lights: For indoor or outdoor use only.

On Sainsbury's peanuts: Warning: contains nuts.

On an American Airlines packet of nuts: Instructions: open packet, eat nuts.

On a Swedish chainsaw: Do not attempt to stop chain with your hands.

On a child's superman costume: Wearing of this garment does not enable you to fly.

 

Bible Reading Schedule for today - Matthew 21-22

Trail Mix - 10.9.18

10.9.18 – “If we have to have a pat on the back to serve God something is wrong. If we have to receive some kind of acknowledgement to do our duty something is wrong. If we complain because someone else had their named called and we didn't, something is wrong. God help us to grow to the place in our Christian life where we are just thankful to serve, period!” S. E. Trail

My prayer for you today is that you can be “blessed in the background” of Christian service.

Matthew 23:12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted. KJV

“As a young preacher, I spent my early years preaching at nursing homes once a month. One Sunday, I preached passionately about the goodness of God during our trials. I noticed an elderly woman crying. She wept bitterly until the end of the service. I was proud that my sermon had moved her so greatly. As I was leaving, a nurse told me the woman wanted to speak to me. Compassionately I asked, "How can I help you?" With tears streaming down her cheeks, she said, "During your message, I lost my candy bar and I still can't find it!"

 Bible Reading Schedule for today - Matthew 18-20

 

Trail Mix - 10.8.18

10.8.18 – “From listening to modern day preaching, you would think that "doctrine" and "dogma" were dirty words. Opinions and relevant talks have supplanted "Thus saith the Lord!" When I am sick I want a doctor who is dogmatic don't you. When my car is broken I want a mechanic who is dogmatic! I want my pharmacist to be dogmatic about my prescription. God help us to speak the "Truth dogmatically!" Dogma is not a dirty word!” S. E. Trail  

My prayer is for preachers who will be “dogmatic” about the abundance of our sin and the super-abundance of God’s grace!

1 Timothy 4:16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee. KJV

“Little Johnny and his family were having Sunday dinner at his Grandmother's house. Everyone was seated around the table as the food was being served. When Little Johnny received his plate, he started eating right away. "Johnny! Please wait until we say our prayer." said his mother. "I don't need to," the boy replied. "Of course, you do "his mother insisted. "We always say a prayer before eating at our house." "That's at our house." Johnny explained. "But this is Grandma's house and she knows how to cook.”

  Bible Reading Schedule for today - Matthew 15-17