Sustainable Energy.

But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew [their] strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; [and] they shall walk, and not faint. Isaiah 40:31

Green. Sustainability. You see and hear those words everywhere these days. Much of what we see is just marketing. The 10% recycled material in Starbucks coffee cups (the cups are not recyclable) or the car that gets 1 mile more than its competition so it becomes the “greenest” car in its class. Fuel made out of corn made food prices go up. Wide use of electric cars will make using electricity in our homes go up. As we struggle to really figure out the sustainability issue, it is important to note that presently the only sustainable energy source is God.

In the 40th chapter of Isaiah the writer states that even youth will faint and be weary. We are simply not made of material that will last forever. Rest will renew our bodies for a time but we get older and wear out. Spiritually, when we trust in our own power we will fail. Ultimately, without a constant connection to God through prayer, we are no match for our weaknesses. If we desire an unlimited source of strength, power and protection, our only option is to seek the Lord while he may be found and wait upon His unfailing grace and mercy.

My prayer is that you connect to and share with those you know the only unlimited renewable energy source.

Arm Rest

But Moses' hands [were] heavy; and they took a stone, and put [it] under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. Exodus 17:12

My neighbors house has a detached garage, a driveway, and a hedge separating it from my house. The neighbor who owns the house on the other side of him is an elderly widower. The families who have owned the house always watch out for the elderly man. They shovel snow in the winter, help rake leaves in the fall and generally make sure he is okay. As Christians, we know that God calls us to help one another.

The children of Israel were fighting Amalek in Rephidim. Moses stood on a hill and held up his hands. As long as he held up his hands, Israel was winning. When he got tired and put his arms down Israel began to lose. Aaron and Hur got on either side of Moses and held his arms up. This passage illustrates our dependence on God and each other. We need support to keep us when times are difficult. We need to offer support when it is needed and we have the time and resources. Aaron and Hur held Moses’s arm up until Sundown came and the victory was secured.

My prayer is that you find an opportunity to offer genuine support.

Deacon Larry Woodard

Blind Ambition.

And they which went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried so much the more, [Thou] Son of David, have mercy on me. Luke 18:39

This year more than 100,000 young people between the ages of 16 and 28 auditioned to be a contestant on the American Idol TV Show. The show’s 12 producers narrowed this group down to 1,000 and then to 250. The 250 contestants were seen by the shows judges and pared down to the smaller group who will be part of the TV program. The winner will receive a million dollar record contract. Many of the shows contestants are interviewed on air talking about how important it is for them to get “discovered” and to win the competition. There are many emotional moments as contestants give their all in their attempts to succeed. As Christians, we would do well to seek to serve God with the same fervor as we seek recognition.

The 18th chapter of Luke tells the story of a blind man sitting by the side of the road begging. He hears a crowd and asks what is going on. When he hears that Jesus is passing by he starts to yell for Jesus to have mercy on him. The more that the people around him tell him to be quiet, the more he cried out to Jesus. Jesus hears him and heals him. We chase temporal things we desire with greater intensity than we exhibit when we seek God. Yet, no one can help us like God can. As you think about the difficult circumstances you face, think about the blind man beside the road who would not stop yelling to Jesus for help.

My hope for you today is that you are prepared to pray until help comes.

Deacon Larry Woodard

Total Commitment.

But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord." Joshua 24:15

In golf, any shot you play, whether it is a drive, pitch, chip or putt, must be approached with total commitment to the shot. Before you swing you must make up in your mind what kind of shot you are trying to hit. You take into account the lie, the distance, wind and other variables. You take a practice swing, remove all doubt and then execute the shot with full confidence it will end up where you want it. Any shot approached carelessly or arbitrarily stands a much greater chance of ruining the hole or even unraveling the round. So too, as Christians, we have to make up our minds to commit to serving the Lord to please God and to set an example for those within our sphere of influence.

Joshua was nearing the end of a life of service. He was certain what the Lord had done for the children of Israel. He also witnessed how some of them had begun to follow the gods their forefathers served on the other side of the river or the gods of the Amorites in the new land. Many of us started well. We prayed our way through college and the early trials of working life. Our relationships, finances, plans and goals were all made consulting God through prayer. Then success set in and we developed a secular life outside of our church and families and began to accept other ideas, philosophies and practices. Joshua called the tribes together before God to consider their journey and the true source of their blessings. We too must be mindful that God desires us to trust and worship in him above everything else.

My prayer for you today is that you make up your mind to commit fully to serving the Lord.

Deacon Larry Woodard

Cosmetic Surgery.

But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For [the LORD] does not [see] as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." 1 Samuel 16:7

There were more than 12 million elective cosmetic plastic surgery procedures performed last year. Over 2 million of them were surgical to redefine or enhance a body part. 5 million procedures were just a temporary fix like a Botox injection to minimize wrinkles. The covers of nearly all of our magazines are regularly graced by movie stars and athletes. Almost without exception the pictures are heavily retouched to remove every blemish and hint of fat so the personality appears even more attractive than they already are. In our world with its over-emphasis on beauty and perfection Christians must keep in mind that God is concerned with our hearts.

It is only natural to be influenced by what we see. Just as a child can recognize a sweet taste or we prefer warm weather to extreme cold. The danger is in being lulled into believing that whatever is easy or pleasurable is beneficial to us. Eat too many sweets or stay out in the sun too long and the thing that started out pleasurable will harm us. If we chase only the thing that seems right to us, we will be misled. When I played soccer, the coach told us, don’t look at a person’s head or body when defending, watch his feet. The Lord tells Samuel that God looks at the heart. God understands our motivations, our intentions and our true beliefs. It is not enough to look and act sincere. God requires that we be sincere.

My prayer today is that you give yourself a sincerity check this morning.

Deacon Larry Woodard

Liquid Faith.

When the wine was gone, Jesus' mother said to him, "They have no more wine." John 2:3

I flew out of LaGuardia Airport this morning at 6:00 a.m. It was a beautiful morning and the sun bathed the city in a golden light. As we climbed we gently banked left just north of Manhattan and I had a clear view of the path US Air flight 1549 took as it made an emergency landing on the Hudson. The river is wide as it borders the west side of Manhattan. It dominates your field of view. I put on my glasses and searched for Teaneck Airport where the air traffic controller tried to send Captain C.B. Sullenberger that day. I know exactly where it is and squinted to find it, tiny from the air and invisible when compared to the Hudson River. On January 15, 2009, God turned the Hudson River into a runway. As Christians, we are aware that God has authority over water and everything else.

Jesus turned water into wine at a wedding. He calmed the sea during a storm. God parted the red sea and caused water to come out of a rock. We are often confronted with situations where we know we don’t have the necessary ingredients for success. Sometimes the cards are so stacked against us it seems impossible to believe we can win. As Christians we need to reflect on the fact that God can come to our aid with the ability to transform His creation into anything it needs to be. And the same thing He does with nature He can do with our lives.

I pray today that you keep yourself open to God’s power to transform.

Deacon Larry Woodard

Panic Button

Daniel answered and said: "Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, For wisdom and might are His. Daniel 2:20

In many gas stations and convenience stores staffed with only a single employee late at night there is an implicit danger. Often, there is money on hand and the establishment is vulnerable to robbers. Many of these places have a button that is concealed and easy to access that when pressed can trigger a silent alarm alerting the police or a private security company that help is needed. As Christians, we have ready help in times of distress.

It is a terrible feeling. We suddenly find ourselves in bad situation. An accident, a pending pink slip, a crisis in a relationship or a sober diagnosis. We are taken by surprise and the surprise quickly begins to yield to panic. What should Christians do? How do we keep it together? In the second Chapter of Daniel King Nebuchadnezzar had a problem and because he was king, he made it everyone’s problem. He explained to Daniel and his companions that if they could not interpret his dream they would be cut to pieces and their houses be made ash heaps. Daniel asked for time to go home. He and his group immediately sought God’s mercy. God answered him and he began to praise God. Please note Daniel begins to praise God before he has spoken to the King or interpreted his dream. In his praise he acknowledges that God raises up and removes kings (Daniel 2:21). In his crisis, Daniel reminds himself of who God is. In your most difficult times, you need to remind yourself that God is merciful and faithful and an ever present help in time of trouble.

My prayer for you today is for the presence of mind to go to God in every situation to seek the peace he can provide even in a storm.

Deacon Larry Woodard

Probable Cause.

Thus you will know them by their fruits. Mathew 7:20

In law, a reasonable amount of suspicion, supported by circumstances sufficiently strong enough to support a prudent person’s belief that certain facts are probably true gives the police probable cause to make an arrest or conduct a personal or property search. The observation of behavior over time has often been used as the basis for generalizations about character, beliefs and attitudes. It should come as no surprise to the Christian that the world puts greater stock in the evidence represented by our actions than our words.

Matthew writes that a sound tree bears good fruit while and evil tree bears bad fruit. We live perilous times for Christians. In most places Christians have not been persecuted but rather diluted. We laugh at the same jokes, go to the same parties, use the same language and drink the same adult beverages. So complete is our assimilation that one might not find probable cause to accuse us as being Christians. If we belong to Christ, there has to be substantial evidence that we are his followers. We need to make sure we don’t compromise ourselves and cause fellow-believers to stumble and unbelievers to turn away by our disobedience to the word of God.

My prayer for you today is that you leave evidence all around you of your belief in God.

Deacon Larry Woodard

Weebles Wobble.

8We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 2 Corinthians 4:8,9

For almost 40 years, toy manufacturer Hasbro’s Playskool division has manufactured and marketed a line of toys called Weebles©. Weebles are plastic toys shaped like eggs. They have a weight at the bottom. They wobble when pushed but instead of falling down, they pop back up to a standing position. They are the perfect toy for small children as they are learning to coordinate between their hands and eyes. The original advertising slogan ushered in the popular phrase “Weebles wobble but they don’t fall down.” As Christians, there are many times when our foundation shakes, but it should never fall apart.

In 2 Corinthians, Paul eloquently writes: “we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God, not from us” (2 Corinthians 4:7) Being a Christian does not afford us any special ability to dodge bullets or leap tall buildings. The same financial, physical and emotional problems that plague all of mankind will also at times find us. The key for the Christian is in our faith and knowledge of Jesus Christ. We know that if we don’t lose heart and if we keep the faith that God’s grace is sufficient to help us overcome our present trouble and there is an eternal glory that awaits us that far outweighs any thing in this world. There is a tangible blessing that comes from trusting God through a difficult period: When you find yourself back on your feet and restored, you realize that God can see you through and you becoming stronger and better able to endure the next test of your faith.

My prayer today is that when you wobble you trust that God will keep you from falling down.

Deacon Larry Woodard

Permanent Press.

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations." Jeremiah 1:5

“Permanent press”, “wrinkle-free”, “durable press”, “wrinkle resistant” and “permanent crease” are all fabrics that have been treated with a chemical during the manufacturing process to hold their shapes and make it through the laundering process without wrinkling. Available since the 1950’s most of these fabrics still get wrinkles when worn and washed. Currently scientists have been experimenting with nano-technology to make fabrics by immersing the fabric in vats containing trillions of sub-miniature nanotech fibers and then baking them into fabric in ovens binding the tiny fibers to the larger fabric threads. As Christians, our salvation is a permanent condition that changes sin’s ability to damage us.

In the first chapter of Jeremiah, the prophet confronts his fears. God tells Jeremiah that he was selected before he was born and Jeremiah responds that he can’t speak for God as he is too young. We know that feeling. We constantly feel powerless against sin and certainly unprepared to speak on behalf of God. God promises Jeremiah he will be with him and touches his mouth and tells him He has put words in his mouth. As we go through life we make mistakes, lose our temper, treat each other badly and sometimes shirk our responsibilities. It is at these times that we must remember that what protects us from sin is our relationship to Jesus Christ who is able to keep us from falling and present us faultless before the throne of God. (Jude 1:25)

My prayer for you today is that you remember God promised never to leave us.

Deacon Larry Woodard

Windfall Profits.

Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold." Luke 19:8

A windfall profit is a profit that is realized by a company through no action of its own but is produced by an outside event. Utilities make more money when a winter has lower than normal temperatures or a summer has higher than normal temperatures and air conditioner use is up substantially. Oil companies are the beneficiaries of windfall profits when prices rise because of shortages. The key factor in a windfall profit is there is no advance warning that an unexpected gain is about to come. Governments worldwide tend to tax these business gains more heavily using the argument the profit was unexpected. As Christians, what should we do as a resulted of the unmerited favor we have gained as believers?

We are introduced to Zacchaeus in the 19th chapter of Luke. In the first sentence we learn that Zacchaeus is rich. He is rich, we learn, because he is a chief tax collector. That is how we know his wealth comes from the opportunity he frequently has to levy heavy surcharges on taxes thus, in effect, taking from others. But the Zacchaeus we meet is diligently seeking to see Jesus. Because he was short he climbed a tree. Jesus saw him, called him by name and invited himself to Zacchaeus’s house. The tax collector came down quickly and received Jesus joyfully. Zacchaeus, apparently without prompting, pledged to give back what he took and more. We, like Zacchaeus, have received windfall profits from God. Our lack of commitment, faulty prayer lives, habitual sinning and lackluster service have been rewarded with mercy, grace, love and salvation. On that particular day, Zacchaeus had a revelation which compelled him to begin to live like he understood the significance of God’s love. Shouldn’t we do the same?

My prayer today is to be able to remain aware of the great gift I’ve received and have it affect my daily life.

Deacon Larry Woodard

Sucker Punch.

Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.1 Peter 5:8

The sucker punch is a technique used in street fighting. The idea is to take your adversary by surprise by pretending you are not going to punch perhaps acting relaxed or turning away and then when it seems least expected throw a punch. The surprise blow is intended to be effective enough to end the fight with just the one blow. As Christians, we need to be prepared at all times for surprise attacks.

We all know the feeling. We just seem to be getting our bearings straight. We are on even keel. Job…check. Family…check. Finances…check. Health…check. But just as we start to make headway-- Just a little progress—at the time we least expect it and from the most unlikely direction; we get waylaid. The child we raised to be above reproach slips and falls. The spouse we were certain of wanders. The fund we bet our future on tanks. The temptation we thought we conquered comes roaring back with a vengeance. We lift our umbrella to protect from a little rain and the wind comes and turns it inside out and rips it from our hands. Peter writes that we should understand that these things happen to all of us in the faith and if we are sober, vigilant and humble and remain steadfast in the faith after a little while the God of grace will perfect, establish, strengthen and settle us.

My prayer for you today is for the presence of mind to quickly regain your focus and faith after you get up off the ground.

Deacon Larry Woodard

Good Friday.

You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. Genesis 50:20

Some time ago I heard this story but I don’t remember its origin. It seems a man had traveled to India. When he got to the street he was followed by a persistent beggar. The beggar followed him for blocks and blocks begging loudly. The man would go into stores and restaurants but as soon as he emerged the beggar would resume his loud pleading. Finally, frustrated the man began looking for a stone or something small and hard to throw at him. Not finding anything on the ground, he reached into his pocket and found a gold coin which he hurled in an attempt to injure the beggar. The coin struck the beggar and fell to the ground. The beggar picked up the coin, thanked the man and went on his way. As Christians, we know God can take an action intended to harm us and bless us with it.

As we celebrate Easter we reflect on the great sacrifice of Jesus Christ. He willingly gave up his life to atone for our sins. This single violent act visited on our blameless savior became our means to salvation. The Old Testament Joseph tells his brothers when they intended to harm him, God intended it for good. God is the ultimate game-changer. No matter what your circumstance are, He can claim it for good. And that is good news on this Good Friday.

My prayer for you today is for you to be glad for a savior who can take any situation we find ourselves in, bad or good, and have it end up good.

Deacon Larry Woodard

Don't Forget.

Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, "I find no pleasure in them"—Ecclesiastes 12:1

There is a joke about a father and son who go to a football game. Once there, the father can’t find the tickets. “Go home,” he tells his son. “I think I left them on the kitchen table.” The son gets in the car and drives home. 35 minutes later he comes back, runs up to his father and says: “You’re absolutely right, they are on the kitchen table!” While we are actively pursuing our goals in life, we as Christians must not forget to keep God at the center of our lives.

The 12th and final chapter of Ecclesiastes is stunning in its language and imagery. It is a brilliantly constructed picture of the end of our productive lives.” “The keepers of the house tremble.” “The grinders cease because they are few.” “…men rise up at the sound of birds, but all their songs go faint” “Then man goes to his eternal home and mourners go about the streets” Inevitably and inexorably one day our time on earth will be over. But today we are here. We’ll eat breakfast and run out of the house. We will eat a snack. We’ll watch TV. We will read a magazine. We will talk to our friends. We will go to work and do our jobs and take care of the children. But will we remember God? Will we involve him in our days activities through prayer, reflection, consideration, obedience and reverence?

My prayer today is that we not forget God by our actions today, tomorrow or for as long as we have the chance.

Deacon Larry Woodard

Razor Thin.

Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails. Proverbs 19:21

In the 100 Meter butterfly finals of the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, China, Michael Phelps touched the wall one hundredth of a second before Milorad Cavic to win his seventh gold medal of those games. A hundredth of a second is the smallest measurement in swimming so there is no smaller margin of victory possible in that sport. The butterfly stroke is considered the most difficult in swimming because it requires flawless technique. The videotape of the event shows that Cavic, coming to the wall is actually swimming faster than Phelps, but at the last minute, perhaps in an attempt to exert extra effort, lifts his head slightly breaking form and inadvertently slowing himself down. Phelps, with his head still down in perfect form, reaches for the wall and wins. As Christians, we need to be sure we follow God’s will and do not revert to our own plans.

Even the brightest and most prepared of us, in a sense, wander through life. We don’t know what is going to happen and we don’t know what obstacles we will have to face. Only God does. Only he can prepare us perfectly and lead us directly. Just as Moses smote the rock when God tells him to speak to it, we sometimes walk when we are to run and wait when we need to act because it seems right to us. You might be confronting a difficult decision today. Perhaps you have options in front of you and feel you need to act now. Make sure you spend some serious time in prayer asking for God’s guidance to make the decision that establishes his desire, not the one that fulfills your plan.

My prayer for you today is that you keep your head down and reach for the wall you know is there.

Deacon Larry Woodard

True Cost.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16

Most people when purchasing a vehicle ultimately consider the sticker price as the key consideration. Certain models are not even looked at because of their price ranges. Many consumer groups advocate looking not just at the price of the vehicle but also at its actual ownership cost. They argue when you look at the cost of maintenance and repair, insurance, fuel cost, depreciation, insurance and interest; the ranking of automobiles changes. For instance a Toyota SUV costs more than a Ford SUV but over a five year period the Ford will cost you almost twice the original difference when taking into consideration the items listed above. As Christians, we understand that if you compare salvation with its opposite, the ultimate cost is just too high.

Many of us believe there to be a significant “cost” to practice Christianity. Christianity involves self control and self examination. Christianity requires a brand of humility which the world neither respects nor appreciates. Christianity requires submission and obedience. Christianity requires service without the expectation of compensation. In a world where success is measured by the accumulation of power, wealth and status; the cost of becoming a follower of Christ may seem to be too high. That is until you consider the bonus (gift) that comes with salvation is eternal life and the wages are associated with sin is death and eternal damnation.

My prayer for you today is that you measure the true cost of everything you intend to pursue.

Deacon Larry Woodard

Junk Food.

O taste and see that the LORD [is] good: blessed [is] the man [that] trusteth in him. Psalm 34:8

When I’m on the road one of my biggest temptations is junk food. Traveling disrupts my routine and makes it easier to select from the wide range of fast food and pre-packaged options available anywhere you look. In order to find a good salad while traveling in Georgia, I went to a Publix grocery store. The volume of food available, the number of prepared food options and the way the food was displayed let me know that Southerners take their food seriously. If eating were an Olympic sport this certainly would be where you would scout for talent. I made a small but complete salad at the salad bar while an older gentleman watched me. When I finished and started to make my way to a check-out lane he said to me: “I tried to eat like that. Eating that just makes you hungry!” As Christians, we need to be aware of the dangers of a steady diet of empty entertainment, conversation and activities that can leave us lazy, uninvolved and ineffective.
David had just been delivered from a difficult situation and he began to praise God. As he begins to praise him he starts to meditate on the fact that there is no want in those that put their trust in the Lord. “The young lions,” he says in verse 10, “do want and suffer hunger, but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing.” We have a seemingly insatiable appetite for the things that are of no spiritual value to us and very little time for prayer and Bible study. We like the drive-through, fast food version of the gospel, but want a 3 course meal version of everything else. In our busy schedules we need to find time for serious and complete focus on God.
My prayer for you today is that you find a significant block of time this week to focus on the goodness of the Lord.
Deacon Larry Woodard

Beautiful Baby.

Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it. Proverbs 22:6

“You must have been a beautiful baby, ‘Cause baby won’t you look at you now” are lyrics from a popular standard written by Harry Warren and Johnny Mercer and performed by many artists including Bing Crosby, Bobby Darin, Frank Sinatra, Perry Como and others. The song postulates the woman must have been a beautiful child because of how beautiful she is as an adult. As Christians, we must understand the importance good instruction from the beginning plays in the development of mature Christians.

As a manager I assure you that many times the employee problems I deal with spring from issues the employee has carried throughout his or her life. Issues with tardiness, attention to detail, truthfulness, laziness, anger and many other traits that lead to censure or termination, started way before they accepted my offer of employment and they began working at my firm. Proverbs instructs parents to train a child so that they develop good and godly habits which they will surely continue as they grow older. Christian parents would do well to resist the urge to provide their children with too many material things and instead teach them traits that will last them a lifetime and help them be adults of great character. I can’t remember many of the things I surely must have asked for from my father; but I can remember virtually every life lesson he taught that pertain to character and moral values.

My prayer for you today is for the wisdom and patience to teach your children life’s most valuable lessons.

Deacon Larry Woodard

General Audiences

Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." Matthew 19:14

The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) is the trade association of the American film industry. It advocates for the film industry by working to protect copyrights and film theft and deals with other issues of the industry. Its most recognized activity is role in rating films by content with a system that helps parents and general movie goers make informed decisions about the suitability of the film for viewing. The ratings range from “G” or “General Audiences” which signifies the film is suitable for all ages to “NC-17” which means no one under 17 is admitted. As Christians, it is important to remember that the gospel is intended for all audiences.

In the 19th Chapter of Matthew, the disciples are dealing with a large crowd situation. The situation must have been chaotic. Throngs of crowds trying to see or hear Jesus; some seeking salvation, some seeking healing and others like the Pharisees seeking to evaluate Jesus and prove him to be a fraud. The situation was serious and most likely tense. The Pharisees were questioning Jesus about the very adult topic of Divorce when a group reached Jesus with children they wanted to be blessed. The disciples tried to turn them away. Jesus stopped them and asked for the children to be brought to him. We too are guilty of segregating out the group we believe suitable for worship. By our unofficial dress codes, rules, traditions, decorum, content, topics, outreach, schedules and prejudices; we both unintentionally and sometimes even overtly decide who should and can participate. Jesus looked at the children and proclaimed that the kingdom of heaven belonged to such as these. We need to get comfortable casting a wider net when we worship and encounter people. We should be careful not to exclude young, old or just different. I’ll bet we will be surprised at just how broad the kingdom of heaven actually is.

My prayer for you today is that you broaden your view of worship.

Deacon Larry Woodard

Be Diligent

Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones. Learn from their ways and be wise! Proverbs 6:6 (New Living Translation [NLT])

There is a joke about a man who goes to the doctor and tells him that he can’t do all the things around the house that he use to. After the exam the man asks the doctor to give it to him straight. “In plain English,” said the doctor, “you’re just lazy.” “Okay,” the man says, “Now give me a medical term so I can tell my wife.” As Christians, we need to recognize that because we are humans, sometimes what we are suffering is not spiritual, it’s just us!

Proverbs is a great book to read. You can read a little or a lot. It is packed with wisdom. Proverbs 6: 6-11 is a lesson learned from the ant. The ant, without a boss or anyone urging it on, works hard all summer preparing for the inevitable onset of winter. Solomon writes that laziness will cause poverty to “pounce on you like a bandit”. No one was able to predict the current economic downturn coming a few years ago when it seemed like the Dow Jones Industrial Average was setting new highs every week. No one thinks about preparing for storms when it is sunny outside. Yet, this is the wise instruction of today’s passage. Don’t be lazy. Be diligent. In your work, your savings, your investment, in relationships, your prayer life and planning. Don’t wait. When you know something should be done, now is a good time. Today is a perfect day to do it.

My prayer for you today starts right now…

Deacon Larry Woodard