Devotional Tidbits June 18-26, 2012

The Word for You Today

1.  If anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things.  Php 4:8

• “Success is the sum of efforts, day in and day out.”

2.  If another believer is overcome…help that person.  Gal 6:1

• When confronting another person, let it be in humility, with compassion, and in honesty.

3.  Run in such as way as to get the prize.  I Cor 9:24

4.  A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.  Pro 15:1

• When people don’t share your viewpoint, relax and try to understand theirs.
• When you are confident in who you are, you can allow others to be who they are.
• Everyone has the right to their own thoughts, opinions, and feelings.
• Do all you can to be at peace with everyone.

5.  The Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.  I John 3:8

6.  You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.  John 8:32

7.  He set free all who have lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying.  Heb 2:15

8.  He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them.  Col 2:15

Sparkling Gems from the Greek

1 Corinthians 4:1

New Living Translation (NLT)

So look at Apollos and me as mere servants of Christ who have been put in charge of explaining God’s mysteries.

·         “We may live in a world that loves to take it easy and that delights in instant results.  But in order to achieve the true greatness God desires for us, we will have to be determined, committed, and willing to do anything necessary to accomplish what he has for us.”

2 Corinthians 1:8-9

New Living Translation (NLT)

⁸ We think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters,^[a] about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it. ⁹ In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead.

Romans 6:11

New Living Translation (NLT)

¹¹ So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus.

John 16:8-10

New Living Translation (NLT)

⁸ And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment. ⁹ The world’s sin is that it refuses to believe in me. ¹⁰ Righteousness is available because I go to the Father, and you will see me no more.

Hebrews 10:35

New Living Translation (NLT)

³⁵ So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you!

James 4:4

New Living Translation (NLT)

⁴ You adulterers!^[a] Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God.

·         To truly serve God, we must sped time with Him so we can know His voice and develop a pattern of obedience in our daily walk.  This is done through prayer, obedience, repentance, and worship.

2 Timothy 2:24

New Living Translation (NLT)

²⁴ A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people.

Hebrews 10:24

New Living Translation (NLT)

²⁴ Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.

Route 66 FedEx Video

This hits a lot of the places we saw on our March 2012 Route 66 Road Trip...and it's short.  Enjoy!

http://vimeo.com/44451464

"Get Your Kicks on Route 66" video

Another great video from my www.route66news.com web site with the "Get Your Kicks on Route 66" song by a southern gal with a great voice, with historic scenery in the background...lots of Route 66 signs and sights.

http://youtu.be/-sMxKUxVHso

June 12-17, 2012, Devotional Tidbits

The Word for You Today

1.  Jesus was…tempted. Mat. 4:1

• Temptation is a compliment, proving you are called by God
• Temptation is confirmation you are following God’s will.
• Do as Jesus did when He was tempted…defeat the tempter with the Word of God.

2.  Each one is tempted.  James 1:14

• We are tempted to worry about provision, but God knows our needs, and will take care of us.
• We are tempted to worry about our protection/safety, but God watches over us.
• We are tempted to want “position”, but God alone is the one we should worship.

Spring Break 2012 Route 66 Road Trip – Day 11 St. Louis, MO

Well, all good things must come to an end, right?  Our final day together was also the Lord’s Day…Sunday.  We had breakfast at the motel and then went to our former church…Webster Groves Church of the Nazarene.

We saw many friends from the past and enjoyed the service.  Afterwards we went to Shogun’s Japanese Steak House for lunch.  This is a picture of the girls in front of the restaurant.

As we drove back to their place after lunch, we passed Tow Mater!!!  Had to stop and take his picture!!  (Disney’s Pixel movie…”Cars”)

If you haven’t heard about Cars Land, Disney’s newest attraction in California, you need to go to my favorite Route 66 web site (www.route66.com) and watch some of the videos.  It officially opens tomorrow, Friday, June 15^th, and the setting is Radiator Springs, right out of the movie.  Check this out: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-4lxg01nAo&feature=player_embedded#t=0s

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1UqXI43zWs&feature=player_embedded#t=0s

We made our trip west on Route 66 and came back home…where spring was waiting for us.

I hated to say goodbye to my two sweethearts, but there will be another time.  This trip was very memorable to me.  I have enjoyed doing this blog…my way of “scrapbooking.”  I’m already thinking about doing Route 66 in Illinois, and making a trip to Cars Land with the girls.  I love to plan, and the planning that went into this trip was well worth it!!

I would like to say that there is something for everyone one Route 66, no matter the age or gender.  Grab some family members, or some friends, or both…and go get your kicks on Route 66 real soon!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=FJ4GBrnRBic

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=YFfy5NAJi78

Spring Break 2012 Road Trip - Day 10 Joplin, MO to Fenton, MO

After breakfast with Nana and Papa on Saturday morning, day 10 of our Route 66 Road trip, we headed up Interstate 44 toward St. Louis.  We still had a few stops to make that we passed up on our trip south.  We definitely wanted to go back to the US Outpost and General Store in Fanning, the place with the giant rocking chair.  That was a nice souvenir shop for any of our last minute trip buys.  From there it was a short few miles to Cuba where we located the Wagon Wheel Motel with its stone cabins and neon sign.  Very nicely kept, and still in operation as far as I know. 

  

I believe we had lunch in Cuba at our favorite fast food places…going to each one requested by the travelers.  It was our last day for fast food.  We then drove on up to Gray Summit and stopped at Purina Farms.  We got there just in time for a dog show.

  

We had a motel reservation in Fenton for Saturday night, so we went and checked in before we took a drive around the little town in which we lived when we first moved to Missouri in 1994.  Fenton is on the southwest corner of the metropolis of St. Louis, and has grown immensely since we lived there.  We lived in Ivy Chase while our sons were in high school. 

We finished the day with a good meal at Olive Garden, and then back to the motel to relax for the evening.  Tomorrow would be our last day together.  What a trip it had been!!

June 4 – 11, 2012 Devotional Tidbits

The Word for You Today

1.  I Timothy 4:12 – Be an example…in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.

• Words spoken cannot be taken back
• May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord.  (Ps 19:14)
• Let your words be:  faith building, comforting, uplifting, calming, and character building.

2.  Ephesians 4:27 – Nor give place to the devil.

• If we are “in” Christ, satan has to go through Him to get to us.

Sparking Gems from the Greek

1 Corinthians 1:26-27

New Living Translation (NLT)

²⁶ Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world’s eyes or powerful or wealthy^[a] when God called you. ²⁷ Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful.

Ephesians 1:4

New Living Translation (NLT)

⁴ Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.

Jude 1:22

New Living Translation (NLT)

²² And you must show mercy to^[a] those whose faith is wavering.

·         Allow compassion to overcome condemnation and a judgmental attitude.

Ephesians 6:12

New Living Translation (NLT)

¹² For we^[a] are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

·         If satan can take control of your mind, he will also manipulate your emotions and conduct.

·         Keep your mind dominated by God’s Word.

Hebrews 10:33

New Living Translation (NLT)

³³ Sometimes you were exposed to public ridicule and were beaten, and sometimes you helped others who were suffering the same things.

·         Ignore those who ridicule you…stand firm in God’s Word and His leading in your life.

·         Satan will use people and circumstances to defeat you…ignore him and keep your eyes on Jesus.

Spring Break 2012 Road Trip Day 9 Oklahoma City, OK to Joplin, MO

Of all the attractions along Route 66 which we stopped to see, I have to say that the famous Blue Whale in Catoosa, Oklahoma, was somewhat of a disappointment to me.  It has been around for a long time, and used to be a great swimming hole for families that were traveling.  Now no one is allowed to swim there, but people still stop to see it.  In fact, not too long ago someone held their wedding there.  Can you imagine?  Oh well…that was our first stop on this Friday, day 9 of our Route 66 Road Trip.  We left Quail Springs (north Oklahoma City) after having breakfast at the motel.  We didn't have far to travel today, with a planned overnight stop near Joplin, MO, stopping to visit our granddaughters’ other grandparents. 

We had lunch at McDonald’s before arriving at their house in mid-afternoon.  However, this wasn't your typical fast food drive in.  In fact, this is the largest McDonald’s in the world.  It straddles Interstate I-44, with traffic flowing underneath.  I opted to wait in the van with our younger granddaughter, and only later did I find out that the restaurant had a huge gift shop.  So sorry I didn't go in and browse…but I guess I was getting tired by this time in the trip…losing all my pent-up energy…winding down as the trip was winding up.

Oh…we did stop one other place that was sort of silly to me.  It was in Foyil, Oklahoma, at the Totem Pole Park. That probably even outdid the Blue Whale for non-interest to me.  The girls enjoyed it, however, but the guys stayed in the van.  I would just say that it’s not worth the time to take the side roads to find it.  Looks like it was losing its “flavor”.  What you see in the picture below is pretty much it.

We arrived at Poppa and Nana’s place early afternoon and then headed to Carthage, MO to Precious Moments, and took a strolling tour of those grounds and the chapel.  (The guys stayed in the van).  This is one time my camera lost its charge, so I didn't get many pictures.

Then we drove out to Red Oak II, which is a totally fascinating place to me.  It’s a “park” that’s full of old relocated buildings set up to resemble a little village of a by-gone era…when life was simpler.  There’s a blacksmith shop, general store, church, diner, filling stations, some house/residences, and lots of vintage vehicles.  Here are a few pictures of this “village”:

Even had a portable outhouse!! 

We had supper at the Golden Corral…finally getting our “veggies” and meat…good solid food, and lots of it!!  Then we drove around Joplin for a while, observing all the unbelievable damage from the Joplin tornado that occurred just over a year ago.  It was the worst tornado in US history in the last 60 years.  Thousands of homes and buildings destroyed, over 150 lives lost.  Still, a year later, you can see the path of the storm.  It was wide and it was long, and they are still rebuilding.  Even Extreme Makeover has come in and built some homes. I did not take pictures of the damage, but I was saddened by what this city endured.  We drove out to a pretty spot in the river, Grand Falls, our last stop of the day before heading to Nana and Papa’s for the night.

Think I was a little nervous???

That’s it for Day 9…only two more days left in this trip.  See you next time!!

May 30 – June 3, 2012 Devotional Tidbits

The Word for You Today

1.  He struck three times and stopped.  2 Kings 13:18

• “The attitude that meets the opportunity determines the outcome.”
• Serve with your whole heart, as though you are serving the Lord.

2.  This is the day the Lord has made.  Ps 118:24

• God is in charge of the number of days I live, but I am in charge of how I spend them.
• Yesterday is gone, tomorrow may never come, but today is mine to live…and it will never come back.
• Today I must accept the opportunities that will not return.
• Today I must invest my time in what is most important.
• Today I will overcome obstacles with God’s help.
• Today I will smile for the world and have a song in my heart.
• Today I will represent Jesus to my world.

3.  I desire to do your will, O my God.  Ps 40:8

• Start doing what is necessary, then do what is possible, and soon you are doing the impossible.
• Don’t focus on doing big things, but on doing the right things.

Sparkling Gems from the Greek

2 Corinthians 10:4-5

New Living Translation (NLT)

^4 [a]We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. ⁵ We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.

• The natural mind develops logical reasons to explain why not to listen to the Holy Spirit of God…these are rational strongholds.
• Irrational strongholds are concerns that are unrealistic.
• We must take our thoughts captive, because the devil likes to play in our mind…and we must not give him room to develop strongholds that control us.
• Our minds must submit to the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit.

James 4:2-3

New Living Translation (NLT)

² You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it. ³ And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure.

• When you pray according to God’s will then you can be confident your prayers will be answered.
• Pray in a spirit of faith, not in fear.

Colossians 2:7

New Living Translation (NLT)

⁷ Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.

• We need to allow time for our roots to go deeply in the soil of God’s Word, and let Him develop us into a fruit bearing person.
• Firm and well grounded roots helps us through the storms and seasons of life, and we will be able to withstand and overcome whatever comes our way.

Ephesians 1:13

New Living Translation (NLT)

¹³ And now you Gentiles have also heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own^[a] by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago.

Footnotes:

a.      Ephesians 1:13 Or he put his seal on you.

• To be sealed with the Holy Spirit means to be approved by God.