How Did I End Up Here?

“Apollo, a 13-year-old Shih Tzu, went missing in Florida and was found over 1,000 miles away in Long Island, New York. A Florida family says they were overjoyed to be reunited with their dog, who had been missing for more than two months — but were shocked to learn that he had turned up more than 1,000 miles away in New York. Speaking with FOX 35 Orlando and WKMG, the Josey family of Marion County, Fla., shared that their 13-year-old Shih Tzu, Apollo, had disappeared from their home after he made his way out through a gate in April this year. "We definitely kept the faith, held out hope," Vera Josey told FOX of the pet's disappearance. "We still got his dog food, we still got his toys, we've still got all his stuff. So we knew Apollo was gonna come home. It was just a matter of when”” (people.com; June 29, 2026). I’m sure that Apollo didn’t plan on being gone for two months and traveling for over 1000 miles when he snuck out a gate near his home. But that’s what happened anyway. If the little dog could talk, imagine the stories he would have to tell.

This story is a great illustration of how sin works. Most don’t plan to end up a thousand miles away from God when all they wanted was to just have a little stroll outside the gate. But one sin led to another - and another - until, suddenly, they found themselves in a place they never thought they’d be. A famous quote puts it this way: "Sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay." I suppose the prodigal son understood this when he found himself in a distant country with empty pockets and hungry enough to eat pig food (Luke 15:11-16). Don’t mess with sin! Even a little bit can lead to much bigger problems. Thankfully, God waits to welcome us when we return home (Luke 15:20).

God loves you!

Mike

Big And Little Things

“Leslie Weatherhead recalled a woman who received a letter from a soldier she did not know. His name was Murray, and he wrote from the battlefield. Murray wrote that he had once been in her Sunday School class, and she had spoken about Christ as a hero for the boys. He mentioned the date when this woman’s words had altered his whole life’s perspective.

“She had kept a diary, so she turned to see her entry for the date Murray had mentioned. She learned that she had come home that particular Sunday discouraged, and thought about giving up teaching. The entry read: “Had an awful time. The boys were so restless. I am not cut out for this kind of thing. I had to take two classes together. No one listened, except, at the end, a boy from the other class called Murray seemed to be taking it in. He grew very quiet and subdued, but I expect he was just tired of playing” (Edward Chinn, All Saints Church, Philadelphia, PA).

This story reminds me of how the Lord can do much with very little. In John 6, a large crowd had gathered and Jesus tested Philip by asking him to find a way to feed them (6:5-6). The task appeared to be insurmountable (6:7). Andrew points out a lad with a sack lunch but doesn’t believe that will make any difference (6:8-9). There’s no way to feed a crowd of 5000 men, not counting the women and children, with five loaves of bread and two fish, right? By the time Jesus was done, everyone had eaten their fill and there were twelve baskets of leftovers (6:11-13)!

Who knows what the Lord might do with our seemingly feeble efforts and meager resources? Something as simple as a cup of cold water can make a big difference (Matthew 10:42). Sure, aim for big things, but never forget to do the “little” things along the way. Your “sack lunch” may become a feast for others who desperately need it.

God loves you!

Mike

When Words Become Weapons

“Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have relieved me in my distress; be gracious to me and hear my prayer. O sons of men, how long will my honor become a reproach? How long will you love what is worthless and aim at deception? But know that the LORD has set apart the godly man for Himself; the LORD hears when I call to Him.” (Psalm 4:1-3). Many of the psalms are written as an appeal to God for help in a difficult situation in life. This psalm of David is no exception. The threat here seems to be more verbal than physical. David’s opponents were slandering him. What can be done when words become weapons used against you?

First, “Tremble, and do not sin…” (4:4a). This part of the psalm is quoted by Paul in Ephesians 4:26 as he encourages Christians not to let their anger get out of control. David is reminding himself not to give into the temptation to lash out at his slanderers. Revenge is best left to God.

Second, “...meditate in your heart upon your bed, and be still” (4:4b). Don’t lose sleep over the worthless words of the wicked. Instead, think deeply on the good words of God and others who support you. Those words provide calm instead of agitation.

Third, “Offer the sacrifices of righteousness…” (4:5a). Continue to focus on honoring and serving God instead of being distracted by the words and actions of others. 

And fourth, “...and trust in the LORD.” (4:5b). Never forget to trust God. Placing your trust in anyone or anything else, like the approval of others, is doomed to failure.

Remembering these things will help to give you peace in face of the slander and reproach of others. When words become weapons, you don’t have to respond in kind. “In peace I will both lie down and sleep, for You alone, O LORD, make me to dwell in safety” (4:8).  Now, get some sleep!

God loves you!

Mike 

Everyone's Against Me!

“O LORD, how my adversaries have increased! Many are rising up against me. Many are saying of my soul, “There is no deliverance for him in God”” (Psalm 3:1-2).

It’s easy during the difficult times in life to think that everyone is against you. The words quoted above from Psalm 3 are attributed to King David during a tough stretch in his own life. His son Absalom was leading a rebellious effort to take over the throne and appeared to be succeeding at it. The mighty warrior king David, who had defeated a physical giant, was now on the run from a “giant” of another kind. It looked like everyone was siding with Absalom (2 Samuel 15:12-13). As David and his followers fled Jerusalem, the mocking words of Shimei must have stung more than the stones he was throwing: “Get out, get out, you man of bloodshed, and worthless fellow!” (2 Samuel 16:7-8).

What can you do when everything and everyone seems to be against you? Here’s what David did. First, he remembered Who God is in his life. “But You, O LORD, are a shield about me, My glory, and the One who lifts my head” (Psalm 3:3). Second, he remembered what God had done in his life. “I was crying to the LORD with my voice, and He answered me from His holy mountain. I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the LORD sustains me. I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people who have set themselves against me round about” (Psalm 3:4-6). Third, he trusted God to continue to take care of him. “Arise, O LORD; save me, O my God! For You have smitten all my enemies on the cheek; You have shattered the teeth of the wicked. Salvation belongs to the LORD; Your blessing be upon Your people!” (Psalm 3:7-8).

David’s faith in God is what carried him through a dark time in his life. As we face our own difficulties, I pray that we can learn from his example.

God loves you!

Mike

Ants And Elephants

“Why are the nations in an uproar and the peoples devising a vain thing? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers take counsel together against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying, “Let us tear their fetters apart and cast away their cords from us!”” (Psalm 2:1-3).

These words, written by the Psalmist long ago, have a familiar ring to them, don’t they? In many ways, it seems our current world is likewise bent on self-destruction. Much of that upheaval is fueled by a rebellion against God and His standards for the world He created. Unbelievers, encouraged by the immoral and anti-God sentiment in the world around them, are emboldened in their rebellion. It’s easy for a believer to get discouraged and maybe even to have doubts about God’s ability to handle such a situation. Is God rattled by those who defy Him? Is He wringing His hands in desperation? Not a bit. Notice how the psalm continues:

“He who sits in the heavens laughs, the Lord scoffs at them. Then He will speak to them in His anger and terrify them in His fury, saying, “But as for Me, I have installed My King Upon Zion, My holy mountain”” (Psalm 2:4-6). This isn’t nervous laughter. It is the laughter of One Who responds from a position of overwhelming power and authority. It really is humorous when you think about it. Imagine, if you will, an ant shaking its fist at an elephant and you have a tiny example of the gulf between the defiant plots of humanity against God.

A better plan would be to submit before God and His King. “Now therefore, O kings, show discernment; take warning, O judges of the earth. Worship the LORD with reverence and rejoice with trembling. Do homage to the Son, that He not become angry, and you perish in the way, For His wrath may soon be kindled. How blessed are all who take refuge in Him! (Psalm 2:10-12). Opposing God is a losing proposition.

God loves you!

Mike 

Like Apples Of Gold

“In his old age, President James Madison suffered from many ailments and took a variety of medicines. It is said that a longtime friend from a nearby county sent him a box of vegetable pills, one of his own home remedies, asking to be informed if they brought relief. In time he received one of those gracious and carefully worded letters for which Madison was noted. It went something like this: "My dear friend, I thank you very much for the box of pills. I have taken them all; and while I cannot say I am better since taking them, it is quite possible that I might have been worse if I had not taken them."*

Dictionary.com defines “tact" as “...a keen sense of what to say or do to avoid giving offense; skill in dealing with difficult or delicate situations.” Some people pride themselves on being blunt and saying what they think regardless of how it might affect others. In many cases, such harsh words usually just stir up angry reactions (Proverbs 15:1). Of course there are times when plain speech is clearly needed. If I see one of my grandchildren about to run out into the street and a car is coming, I will not be concerned with tactful speech. Most likely I will forcefully yell “Stop!” without concern for tactfully sparing their feelings.

But in times when lives are not in danger, it is best to measure our words, giving consideration to how they may affect others. Earlier to this article, I referenced Proverbs 15:1 about how “...a harsh word stirs up anger.” The same verse also reminds us that “...a gentile answer turns away wrath. How we speak to others goes a long way toward predicting how they will speak to us. “There is one who speaks rashly like the thrusts of a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing (Proverbs 12:18). “Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a word spoken in right circumstances” (Proverbs 25:11).

God loves you!

Mike

*https://www.sermonillustrations.com/a-z/t/tact.htm

Keep Your Eyes On Jesus

“Two boys were playing in the snow one day, when one said to the other, “Let’s see who can make the straightest path in the snow.” His companion readily accepted the proposition, and they started. One boy fixed his eyes on a tree, and walked along without taking his eyes off the object selected. The other boy set his eyes on the tree also, and, when he had gone a short distance, he turned, and looked back to see how true his course was. He went a little distance farther, and again turned to look over his steps. When they arrived at their stopping place, each halted and looked back. One path was true as an arrow, while the other ran in a zigzag course. “How did you get your path so true?” asked the boy who had made the crooked steps. “Why,” said the other boy, “I just set my eyes on the tree, and kept them there until I got to the end; while you stopped and looked back and wandered out of your course.””*

This was a lesson I learned as a youngster as I was being taught to plant and cultivate straight rows of corn. I was told to keep looking forward, concentrating on guiding the tractor where it was supposed to go. If you did so, the planter or cultivator you were pulling had to follow correctly. But the temptation was to look back to see how you were doing. Nearly always, when I did so, the tractor would wander off course and the implement would follow, damaging crops in the process.

Focusing on Jesus is vital to our spiritual lives. That’s why Paul talked about “...forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead” (Philippians 3:13). The Hebrew writer encourages us to be “...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of faith…” (Hebrews 12:2). Our world is full of distractions that can lure us away from what is truly important. Keep your eyes on Jesus!

God loves you!

Mike

*Heartwarming Bible Illustrations, Richard Steele; quoted by ministry127.com