DJ_MixE_Max @max_mixe

Clay Treasure and Glory If you think you’re good enough to deserve it, you’re focused on the wrong treasure. - Anonymous What do you treasure? And do you deserve it? We all think it at one time or another: I deserve it. I earned it. We find a treasure and think ‘It’s about time.’ Read Matthew 22:1-14. The parable about the man tossed from the King’s wedding feast for being underdressed… He thought he deserved admittance without accepting the King’s wedding clothing. He didn’t understand what the treasure was and thought his own clothing was good enough to gain admittance. And a verse: 2 Corinthians 4:7 says, "But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us". This week focus on the right treasure, accept the King’s wedding clothes that cover our clay, and share the joy of the feast of heaven. SLE #thoughtfortheweek #inspiration #claytreasure thoughtfortheweek.beehiiv.com

The Next Right Thing Trust Jesus and do the next thing. 19th-century Poem/Anonymous Choices. Decisions. Doubts. Fears. The Unknown. When the mind wanders to the future be reminded to simply take the next step. God has the big plan. Maybe we’ll see it, but probably not. The key is to trust Him and do the next right thing. We sometimes know definitively what that next thing is, what God would have us do. Sometimes we have a feeling or a thought, but we may doubt it is from the Lord. Other times we simply don’t want to do it! Whether we’re sure or not, trust God and do the next thing. God will continue guiding you to the next step or correct you onto the next step. Either way, you’ll be moving. And a verse: I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you; however, let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained. Philippians 3:14-16 This week be confident that with God’s help you can do the next right thing. SLE #thoughtfortheweek #inspiration #nextrightthing thoughtfortheweek.beehiiv.com

Future Past Will our past be our future? - Political yard sign An intriguing question. For those of us with faith, we know that the answer is ‘no’. Our past is not our future. We have a future (that is already happening) being in the presence of the Lord. His glory made clear and we will be with Him and enjoy Him. No matter the past. No matter the doubt. No matter the guilt. No matter the regrets. And a verse: He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.” And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Revelations 21:4-5 This week remember the future is now, He is with you and renewing you until He comes again. SLE #thoughtfortheweek #inspiration #futureisnow thoughtfortheweek.beehiiv.com

Eat Well Feed the right wolf. Ric Williams Heard this around a campfire. Story of two wolves - one good, one bad that fight within us. Which one wins? The one you feed. How do we feed the right wolf? Be positive. Take time to think. Read/pray scripture. Serve/put others first. Trust God. How do we feed the wrong wolf? Worry. React quickly. Procrastinate. Doubt our worth. Go it alone. And a verse: When I am afraid, I will put my trust in You. In God, whose word I praise, in God I have put my trust; I shall not be afraid. What can mere man do to me? Psalm 56:3-4 This week feed the right wolf and know that the battle may rage, but the battle is won. SLE #thoughtfortheweek #inspiration #feedtherightwolf thoughtfortheweek.beehiiv.com

It’s Time Time is what we want most, but what we use worst. William Penn How do you use your time wisely? There are so many cares in life. So many things to do. Responsibilities we have, roles we take on. Some say that we should strive for the simple life. Pare things down. Give ourselves space. Others say we must focus only on the spiritual and not the physical to achieve a higher level of living or to ‘really’ serve God. I’d suggest it is simply being on mission. Work? The grocery store? A ball game? Spouse? Friend? Coworker? Yes, all tasks and all roles can be on mission. The ‘what’ doesn’t matter as much as who we are and how we approach them. As we are in Christ, every act is a holy endeavor guided by the Spirit of the Living God. Every role is ordained to be a part of the Kingdom of God. We are part of His creating and sustaining the world as He works through us. And a verse: So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. I Corinthians 10:31 (Read 23-33 to understand the context of being on mission.) This week consider how you can glorify God through your tasks and your roles. He will guide you. SLE #thoughtfortheweek #inspiration #itstime thoughtfortheweek.beehiiv.com

Trust Him A firm faith in the universal providence of God is the solution of all earthly problems. B.B. Warfield God's providence is His guiding the creation to His appointed end and our eternal good. He is continually creating, maintaining, and moving us and this world to the promised conclusion - Jesus returning and fully establishing the Kingdom of God in heaven and earth. In our lives, we have a critical part to play - knowing who God is and trusting Him. Want to know Him better? Read the Bible, attend worship, pray. All of those things fortify our trust in God… but don’t reveal the deep reasons He has for the things that happen in this world and to us. This week realize that His providence equals our confidence. Trust the one who loves you, saved you, and knows the plan for you. And a verse: 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 (read the whole chapter) SLE #thoughtfortheweek #inspiration #trusthim thoughtfortheweek.beehiiv.com

Thought for the Week: It All Counts All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence. - Martin Luther King Jr. There is a fallacy that we must do something big to make an impact. Something special. I believe this often comes from a place of pride and envy. We see others and we compare ourselves to them. If done as inspiration, so be it. However as fallen humans we often compare ourselves and decide what we are doing and who we are is less than. Nothing could be further from the truth. Being who we are and doing the work we have in front of us every day makes an impact. Whatever our calling, whatever our roles, they matter. Work with dignity and excellence where you are… that makes it important. And a verse: What do workers gain from their toil? I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race. He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God. Ecclesiastes 3:9-13 This week remember that your work and how you do that work - whatever it may be - matters to God and is a gift from God. Your work is important to Him. SLE #thoughtfortheweek #inspiration #itallcounts thoughtfortheweek.beehiiv.com

Thought for the Week: Faith First “For who is there among men who can boast that he has walked in integrity?” John Calvin In Psalm 26 King David writes: Vindicate me, Lord, for I have led a blameless life; I have trusted in the Lord and have not faltered. Test me, Lord, and try me, examine my heart and my mind; for I have always been mindful of your unfailing love and have lived in reliance on your faithfulness. Psalm 26:1-3 Calvin called it astonishing, Charles Spurgeon said “a bold appeal” and a “formidable challenge”. Who could possibly say to God that they “walk in integrity” or “trusted…without wavering”? King David wrote this psalm and it lays out not his arrogance, but his experience. The psalm talks of the joy of praising God and sharing stories of God’s works. It highlights staying away from evil and around good things. However David is not claiming his own abilities… Readers and commentators may have been less astonished at David’s statements if he had started first with verse three “I have always been mindful of your unfailing love and have lived in reliance on your faithfulness.” God’s unfailing love. God’s faithfulness. This week realize that this is always true: God loves you. God is faithful. Like King David, you lead a blameless life (v.11). Not because of what you’ve done, but because of what God has done and is doing in you and through you. Trust His word on it. SLE #thoughtfortheweek #inspiration #faithfirst thoughtfortheweek.beehiiv.com

Keep Going "If you're going through hell, keep going." — Winston Churchill (and later, Rodney Atkins) Much is written about enjoying the journey we are on through this life. Ralph Waldo Emerson waxed eloquent about the journey being the point, rather than the goal being a destination. For us, the journey and the destination are our focus. The Bible tells us to have joy in all circumstances (Habakkuk 3:17-18, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, Philippians 4:4, James 1:2-3) yet in this life we sometimes experience more hell than heaven. Churchill went through hell - fighting in multiple wars before guiding England through World War II. He believed that movement, resilience, and focus on a goal, no matter the immediate surroundings, was the key to success. We have God with us in this life through the Holy Spirit guiding and strengthening us (Ephesians 3:16, Romans 8:26). We have fellow believers who travel through life with us to keep us going and share in the joy (1 Thessalonians 5:11, Galatians 6:2). We have provision by God who cares for us (Psalm 23:1, Philippians 4:19). We have the promise that we will be with the Lord, seeing Him in full glory after this life (1 John 3:2, Revelation 21:23). This week remember the Lord is with you, will provide for your needs, and has and is giving us the ultimate victory. Keep going. SLE #thoughtfortheweek #inspiration #keepgoing thoughtfortheweek.beehiiv.com

I'm Third “God first. Others second. I’m third.” - Summers Best Two Weeks @sb2w closed down their summer camping season yesterday. Their motto is a simple statement. Great on a t-shirt, easy for even the youngest campers to remember, and a solid base for spiritual formation through Bible study, friendship, and competition at camp. Every competition ends with the question ‘Who gets the glory?’ and the response is always the same: ‘Jesus!' A wonderful reminder of where our heart should be. A Pharisee asked the question ‘What is the greatest commandment in the Law?’. Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ Matthew 22:37-39 The Pharisee knew (as we do) that he could not fulfill this command. What the Pharisee didn’t realize is that through Jesus the Law is fulfilled. Jesus frees us to live the ‘I’m third’ life. Not to meet the requirements of the law, but in response to His work and through the power provided by the Holy Spirit. This week remember the motto - “God first. Others second. I’m third.” Have a great week... and who gets the glory? SLE #thoughtfortheweek #inspiration #imthird thoughtfortheweek.beehiiv.com

"Try not to become a person of success, but rather try to become a person of value." — Albert Einstein You can add value because you are valuable. Our interactions with people - in our work, in our home, in our every day activities can add value to the lives of others… who you are and how you do things. Are we perfect? Obviously not. Yet we have value to bring. We have opportunities every day to do the right thing, be aware of others, and positively add to the situations in which we find ourselves and the people we find around us. Do you doubt your value? I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. Psalm 139:14 Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. Luke 12:7 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession. 1 Peter 2:9 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. Ephesians 2:10 Walk in them. Prepared beforehand. We don’t need a masterclass or a complicated plan to add value. This week, just walk in them. They are ready and waiting for you. SLE #thoughtfortheweek #inspiration #addvalue thoughtfortheweek.beehiiv.com

"Plans are worthless, but planning is indispensable.” Dwight D. Eisenhower A recent conversation included a detailed description of a lifeplan by a young person. Basically, I’m going to do this and then this and then this and end up there. Good plan. The General/President was describing how the process of planning is important - focusing on a problem to solve or goal to achieve and considering possible solutions and steps to that end. While also acknowledging the resulting plan hits reality and frankly, all hell will break loose. (Sometimes literally.) Here’s a format for planning that puts the focus in the right place: 1. Start planning: pray Romans 8:28 - Your plan, Lord, is for my good. 2. Start doing: take time to plan and then work diligently (Proverbs 21:5) 3. Give credit: as things progress, thank the Lord and share the story (Psalm 9:1 - and many others) 4. Gain wisdom: as “the plan hits reality” look to God for guidance (Proverbs 2:6) Fortunately, the Lord can be an integral part of our planning. He puts a vision for our life in our hearts. As we walk with Him, He continues to provide guidance. We need only trust Him that our plans will end up for our good… no matter the winding journey we may take to get there. And a verse: In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps. Proverbs 16:9 (the whole chapter is worth reading) This week plan and work towards the goal and trust the Lord to guide each step on the way, even when hell hits. SLE #thoughtfortheweek #inspiration #planning thoughtfortheweek.beehiiv.com

@wbuxtonofficial What time will green flag drop?

Too Many Tears Life can be full of heartache and pain. Yet we are to rejoice always, be thankful in all things, and pray continually. Why? It is the Lord’s will for us in Christ Jesus (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). That can be hard in a broken world. How do we fulfill the Lord’s will? Sometimes we don’t feel joy, thankful, or like praying. At those times we remember: the Lord’s will is not a taskmaster but a truthteller. It is the Lord’s will and so it will be done. He’s the one who acts, we are the ones who receive. He sustains. We trust. He saves. We believe. We ask for the Spirit to give us the joy, thanks, and prayers we can’t muster. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; ‘he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’ Revelation 7:17 This week, remember to look forward - to a time when tears are no more and pain becomes rest. Rejoice and be thankful for the truth, for it is coming and indeed it is here. SLE More thoughts: thoughtfortheweek.beehiiv.com

📷 Stephen L. Eckert @StephenLEckert Thought for the Week: Not Our Home Our Father refreshes us on the journey with some pleasant inns, but will not encourage us to mistake them for home. C.S. Lewis Whether “rounding third and heading for home”, “home is where the heart is”, “you’re my home”, “I see the lights of home”, or “the radio reminds me of my home far away”, we recognize the places in our life that bring comfort, rest, and peace. Thank God for that blessing. Lewis reminds us that we are on a journey and the pleasant joys of life are a foretaste of that home the Lord is preparing for us (and preparing us for) where we will be with Him (John 14:2-4). This week through the hard journey and the “pleasant inns”, celebrate the blessings of this life while remembering the ultimate joy, the ultimate rest, the ultimate peace that awaits us when we are taken home. SLE More thoughts: thoughtfortheweek.beehiiv.com

America 250 - Liberty and Justice “With Liberty and Justice for all.” - The Pledge of Allegiance Foundational to the Constitution of the United States are these two concepts- liberty and justice. Many factors went into the success of America, but I believe these concepts are key because they bring the country’s founding values in line with God’s structure- the Law and the Gospel. Justice is not social, group, identity, or cultural- it is individual. In the United States citizens are to be treated equally- rich or poor, whatever background or current circumstances. Same rights, same laws. That is also how God’s structure of justice works - everyone stands before God - no one is favored over another (Genesis 1:27, Deuteronomy 16:18-20, Romans 3:23, 1 John 1:8, 2 Corinthians 5:10, Matthew 12:36, Romans 2:11, Galatians 3:28). Liberty, as understood at the founding, was the freedom to do what is right. To not follow a king or politician (so-called “leader”) to please them, but to be the leader - citizen and leader in one (see last week’s TFTW). It is not a wild abandonment of shackles, do whatever you want freedom… it is a responsibility, make the right choices and guide your own path. That is liberty. As President Washington said in his first inaugural address: “…the foundation of our national policy will be laid in the pure and immutable principles of private morality… there is no truth more thoroughly established than that there exists in the economy and course of nature an indissoluble union between virtue and happiness; between duty and advantage…” And so is freedom in Christ - not works to please a king to beat the justice due us, but life lived in blessing and delivering thankful thoughts, songs, care, and actions in love for the one who saved us from the justice we deserve (John 8:36, Galatians 5:1, Romans 8:1-2, 2 Corinthians 3:17, Romans 6:22). Do we celebrate America 250 because it is perfection? No. We celebrate it because it is the closest humans have come to embodying the Gospel into civil structure. It is our job to make it a ‘more perfect union’ (United States Constitution) by daily working to create liberty and justice for all as God intended it. SLE P.S. Worth a read - President Washington’s first inaugural address: archives.gov/milestone-docu… More thoughts: thoughtfortheweek.beehiiv.com

America 250 - Protecting Rights “It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us… that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom – and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.” - Abraham Lincoln Who sets government in place? God (Daniel 2:21; Romans 13:1-2; 1 Peter 2:13-14). To hold back the chaos that happens in a fallen world and to honor Him. Our rights, given by God, are to be protected by our government. So that every individual is treated equally and fairly before the law. The same way we will all be treated equally when we stand before God one day (Romans 10:11-13). In the United States the role of citizen is both leader and follower - government “of the people, by the people, for the people” means we are responsible for upholding the rights of the individual. We both set the example and follow the example. This week, consider your citizenship and celebrate America 250. How are you helping establish “a new birth of freedom”? SLE P.S. A short read, worth a few moments this week. Pray someone has as meaningful a message to deliver at your funeral. constitutioncenter.org/the-constituti…

A legendary day calls for a legendary giveaway. REPOST THIS for a chance to win this signed Andrew McCutchen jersey!

REPOST THIS for a chance to win this signed Paul Skenes baseball.

REPOST THIS for a chance to win this signed Andrew McCutchen baseball.