“In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death; even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:5-11
I read a devotion recently by Chuck Swindoll that shared an interesting quote from Tom Landry, the late, great head coach of the Dallas Cowboys.
Coach Landry was quoted as saying, “I have a job to do that is not very complicated, but it is often difficult: to get a group of men to do what they don't want to do so they can achieve the one thing they have wanted all their lives,”
The way to show yourself as being wise is not so much by speech but by silence. The way to stop a loud argument is by a soft-spoken word. The most powerful rebuke is not a loud, negative blast, but a quiet, positive model. The secret of helping others to become more mature is not more rules and stricter laws but greater trust.
Those who are most respected for their knowledge and the skill of drawing others into it are not those who have all the right answers but rather those who ask the right questions. Those who give generously have much more than those who hoard. One lovely flower, personally picked from the garden by tiny hands of your daughter or grandchild, can mean so much more than two dozen long-stemmed roses ordered from the florist. A handwritten note of love and affection lingers longer in one's memory than a $5.50 embossed card from Hallmark. Forgiveness is the key to handling our enemies, not revenge. A brief, warm, tender embrace with very few words says more to the grieving than an evening's visit full of sympathy talk and long prayers.
God always has a way of bringing a boatload of wisdom. God often delivers His best gifts to us through the back door of our lives. In unexpected ways with surprises inside the wrappings. Somewhat like the therapy He used when Elijah was so low, so terribly disillusioned. Don’t be disheartened, if your challenge seems to big…God is there with His direction, His wisdom and His love.
Dear Heavenly Father, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.
May God be with you,
Jay