Christian comedian Michael Jr. is used to commanding an audience’s attention. Yet he didn’t expect the reception he got from his newborn daughter. Shortly after her birth, the baby was wailing loudly. Suddenly, she stopped crying when she heard Michael’s voice. Then when she became upset later, he told her, “I love you.” In response, she not only stopped crying, but opened her beautiful eyes. “We’ll always have times when we’re not as comfortable…where life is just heavy,” Michael said. “The key thing to do in those moments is to be still and listen for the Father’s voice. Because He is trying to talk to you. And I can tell you what He wants you to know is that He loves you. All you got to do is open your eyes.”

Blessed is the one who fears the Lord always.

Proverbs 28:14

Continue reading Presidential Prayer Team; H.L.M. – The Father’s Voice →

Who was America’s laziest president? That’s a judgment call and highly subjective. But among the finalists, you would have to include Calvin Coolidge. His 1924 campaign slogan was “Keep Cool with Coolidge.” He was known as “Silent Cal.”

As a door turns on its hinges, so does a sluggard on his bed.

Proverbs 26:14

If these monikers don’t hint at his lack of activity, perhaps these facts will: Coolidge typically worked four hours a day at the White House, and then went to play golf. He required 11 hours of sleep each night, plus daily naps. The writer H.L. Mencken characterized Coolidge’s work ethic by saying that an ideal day for him “would be one in which nothing happens.” And Gertrude Stein was said to have remarked, upon hearing of the president’s passing, “Coolidge dead? How can you tell?”

Continue reading Presidential Prayer Team; J.R. – Legacy of Lethargy →

If you happen to kill someone – either by malice or by accident – New Guinea is definitely not the place to do it. Although the practice of “payback killings” has been illegal for a century, many of the Pacific island’s inhabitants continue to adhere to the ancient tribal code. It works like this: if a relative of yours is killed, you have a right to personally kill the offender. However, retribution must be delivered on the same day as the original offense. If for some reason that isn’t possible, the families of the victim and the perpetrator must arrange for monetary compensation instead. Then, if the payment demand isn’t met, the “payback killing” becomes permissible again.

Do not say, “I will do to him as he has done to me; I will pay the man back for what he has done.”

Proverbs 24:29

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Have you ever wondered why your dog has floppy ears? With the exception of the elephant, only domesticated animals have floppy ears. When an animal is bred selectively for one trait – like compatibility with people – often something unexpected happens; for instance, floppy ears.

Incline your ear, and hear the words of the wise.

Proverbs 22:17

Genetic engineering can’t predict or control every result. Should the lessons of history cause one to pause for a moment of consideration before eagerly tinkering with the blueprints of human life? Many scientists are shouting – yes! But others don’t want to wait and are using the courts to move forward. The world has yet to see the results of these moral dilemmas being played out daily in genetic laboratories and universities.

Continue reading Presidential Prayer Team; G.C. – Doggies and Dilemmas →

Water is a powerful force, but it changes direction very easily. Men can redirect the flow of water by building canals and dams. Even a small beaver can change the direction of a stream by piling up rocks and sticks.

The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will.

Proverbs 21:1

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Are you thinking of next year’s tax bill yet? Strangely, some are – and with anticipation! They are recipients of “tax extender” provisions. It’s the federal package in which lawmakers offer tax breaks to a select few. The practice started with the Technical and Miscellaneous Revenue Act of 1988, which wrapped several tax breaks together in an effort to make reauthorization a simple process. It was meant to be a temporary measure, but like many government benefits, it has ballooned out of control.

Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed.

Proverbs 19:17

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One Bible commentary states that “many hidden beauties burst into view upon the pages of the Bible, when faith’s open eye looks through it on the face of Jesus.” Today’s verse talks of the love and faithfulness of God who supplied the person who paid the price for your sin…that man, Jesus. “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13) That is exactly what Christ did. Sin is forgiven. The wise man, as a result, will fear the Lord, having great awe and reverence for the One who provided the way for salvation.

By steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for…by the fear of the Lord one turns away from evil.

Proverbs 16:6

Continue reading Presidential Prayer Team; J.K.- Guarding Character →

Jamie-Lynne Knighten stood in the checkout line with a $200 grocery bill, a crying baby and a declined credit card. That’s when 28-year-old Matthew Jackson stepped up and asked if he could cover the cost. Knighten agreed when Jackson said he wanted nothing in return. He simply asked her to do the same for someone else. A week later, Knighten called Jackson’s boss to tell of his kindness. The manager began to cry. Less than 24 hours after Jackson paid Knighten’s grocery bill, he was killed in a car accident.

Blessed is he who is generous to the poor.

Proverbs 14:21

Knighten quickly created a Facebook page called, “Matthew’s Legacy.” Soon there were people all over the world responding who agreed to share a random act of kindness. In fact, when Jackson’s sister and brother-in-law were driving to the memorial service, they stopped with their four children for a meal. When they finished eating, a stranger had already paid their bill!

Continue reading Presidential Prayer Team;  H.L.M. – Random Acts →

This year, what if you put the same amount of energy into the fitness of your tongue as you might into the fitness of your body? According to the Bible, your words will reflect the health of your soul like your waistline reflects the health of your heart. The book of Matthew states that it is out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks; the good person out of his good treasure and the evil person out of his evil treasure.

Rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

Proverbs 12:18

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Hopefully, no one hates you this much. In the fourteenth century in England, theologian John Wycliffe believed God was calling him to translate the Holy Bible from Latin into English. Until then, parishioners went to church where the Scriptures were interpreted for them by priests. What Wycliffe proposed to do was illegal…and not well received. Wycliffe somehow avoided being burned at the stake – the typical fate of instigators in that age – and died a natural death. But 41 years later, authorities decided a normal burial was too good for Wycliffe. They had his bones dug up, burned, and scattered in a river. The plan was for his name and his work to be forever wiped from history.

The memory of the righteous is a blessing, but the name of the wicked will rot.

Proverbs 10:7

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