Chuck’s World

by Dennis and Barbara Rainey

Romans 12:10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor.

Few of us over the age of 35 will forget those long gasoline lines that occurred during the “oil crisis” in 1973-74. Naturally, some greedy people wanted to cut in line to get ahead of others. Newspapers carried stories about everything from profanity and lawsuits to stabbings and shootings, as people fought for their places in line to get gas.

One woman cut in front of a motorbike. The cyclist slowly got off his bike, took off his helmet and glasses, and proceeded to let the air out of all four of her tires while she sat helplessly caught in the line!

But the most creative stunt I read about was the young man who got cut off and retaliated by unscrewing the gas cap from the offending car, replacing it with his own locking gas cap, and driving off-with the gas cap key in his pocket!

All too many of us get caught up in the rush to the shallow well of “me-first-ism.” “We’re Number One!” becomes not just a yell at a football game but a personal motto. But selfishness is possibly the most dangerous threat to oneness that any marriage can face.

The apostle Paul’s counsel therefore becomes a prescription for marital oneness: “Give preference to one another in honor.” Marriage provides the opportunity to live life for someone besides yourself and to avoid the terrible judgment: “All I’ve got is me. I can’t depend on anyone else.”

Prayer: For God to give all members of your family the desire to serve one another and that they would feel no compulsion to compete to be “first in line.”

by Max Lucado

The tale involves a wealthy father and a willful son. The boy prematurely takes his inheritance and moves to Las Vegas and there wastes the money on slot machines and call girls. As fast as you can say “blackjack,” he is broke. Too proud to go home, he gets a job sweeping horse stables at the racetrack. When he finds himself tasting some of their oats and thinking, H’m, a dash of salt and this wouldn’t be too bad, he realizes enough is enough. It’s time to go home. The gardener at his father’s house does better than this. So off he goes, rehearsing his repentance speech every step of the way.

But the father has other ideas. He “had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.”

We don’t expect such a response. We expect crossed arms and a furrowed brow. At best a guarded handshake. At least a stern lecture. But the father gives none of these. Instead he gives gifts. “Bring out the best robe … a ring … sandals.… And bring the fatted calf … and let us eat and be merry” (Luke 15:11–23 NKJV). Robe, sandals, calf, and … Did you see it? A ring.

Before the boy has a chance to wash his hands, he has a ring to put on his finger. In Christ’s day rings were more than gifts; they were symbols of delegated sovereignty. The bearer of the ring could speak on behalf of the giver. It was used to press a seal into soft wax to validate a transaction. The one who wore the ring conducted business in the name of the one who gave it.

Would you have done this? Would you have given this prodigal son power-of-attorney privileges over your affairs? Would you have entrusted him with a credit card? Would you have given him this ring?

Before you start questioning the wisdom of the father, remember, in this story you are the boy. When you came home to God, you were given authority to conduct business in your heavenly Father’s name.

When you speak truth, you are God’s ambassador.

As you steward the money he gives, you are his business manager.

When you declare forgiveness, you are his priest.

As you stir the healing of the body or the soul, you are his physician.

And when you pray, he listens to you as a father listens to a son. You have a voice in the household of God. He has given you his ring.

God believes in you. And, I wonder, could you take some of the belief that he has in you and share it with someone else?

You and I have the privilege to do for others what God does for us. How do we show people that we believe in them?

Do not withhold encouragement from the discouraged. Do not keep affirmation from the beaten down! Speak words that make people stronger. Believe in them as God has believed in you.

by Dennis and Barbara Rainey

Luke 6:45
The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart.

Max Lucado once wrote about the way a potter checks his work. When he pulls a pot out of the oven, he “thumps” it. If there’s a good, ringing sound-if the pot “sings”-it’s ready. But if there’s just a “thud,” the pot is put back into the oven. As Max wrote, a person’s character is also checked by thumping:

Late-night phone calls. Grouchy teacher. Grumpy moms. Burnt meals. Flat tires. “You’ve-got-to-be-kidding” deadlines. These are all thumps. Thumps are irritating inconveniences that trigger the worst in us. They catch us off guard. Flat-footed. They aren’t big enough to be crises, but if you get enough of them, watch out!

Jesus said that out of the nature of the heart a man speaks (see Luke 6:45). There’s nothing like a good thump to reveal the nature of a heart. The true character of a person is seen not in momentary heroics, but in the thump-packed humdrum of day-to-day living.

How do you respond to “thumping”-to the knocks and blows and trials of life? Do you sing? Or do you thud? Your answer depends to a large degree on what your “pot” is made of-what’s in your heart, as Jesus said.

But even if you have a tendency to thud more than sing, take heart. There is hope. We can learn from the thumps. We can be aware of “thump-slump” times, like “blue Mondays,” after a holiday and such. No thump is a disaster. All thumps work for good if we are loving and obeying God.

by Micca Monda Campbell

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” I Thessalonians 5:11(NIV)

Devotion:

Have you ever secretly compared your husband to another man or your wife to another woman? Perhaps you’ve wished they were more thoughtful, spiritual, or a better dresser like “so-and-so.”

If so, let me reassure you. The grass is not greener on the other side. Trust me. That man you’ve got your eye on doesn’t clip his toenails either. Nor does that woman rub her man’s feet while feeding him grapes after a long day of work.

Your spouse and mine are the people we fell in love with. No, they’re not perfect. Maybe all they need is a bit of tender loving care. Instead of comparing and complaining about our partner’s shortcomings, you and I should try nurturing our mates lovingly in the area they need most. We might be surprised by the results.

I heard an encouraging story about an attractive millionaire who married an ordinary woman. The marriage instantly became the talk of the town.

“Why would he marry her when he could have any woman he wanted?” The people whispered among themselves. “It won’t last. She’s just not good enough for him.”

The man took the ordinary woman away for six months on an exotic honeymoon. When he returned, there appeared to be another woman on his arm. She walked with confidence and poise. The countenance of her face glowed with beauty.

“Now that’s the kind of woman a handsome man should be with,” announced the town’s biggest loud mouth.

As the happy couple causally strolled past the gossipmonger, she got a closer look. To her surprise, it wasn’t someone new holding the gentlemen’s arm at all. It was the average woman he had married months ago—completely transformed!

The wise millionaire had taken his common bride away and nurtured her inward beauty. He lovingly spoke positive and encouraging words to her day and night until she believed she was beautiful. The once ordinary woman now carries herself with confidence and exudes the exquisiteness that her husband saw in her all along.

His secret, you ask? He took time to care for and fertilize her confidence until she grew into the grandeur display she was always meant to be.

You and I shouldn’t dream about taking off our shoes and walking around on the neighbors’ grass. Instead, we should try fertilizing our own yard. We might be surprised how it blossoms into a thing of beauty.

Dear Lord, Thank you for my mate. Protect my thoughts and help me to see them as I once did. I’m not perfect either. I don’t want to judge my spouse. Instead, I want to encourage them to be all they can be. Today, I will put away any discontentment, any anger, any lustful thoughts toward another, and work at building a beautiful relationship that brings joy to our marriage and glory to Your Name, In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Michael Phelps Wins 8 Gold Medals

Article and photo from ESPN

Article and photo from ESPN

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