Anyway, I hope my moment of realization this morning will bring some lift to your day.

 Those who do not control themselves
       are like a city whose walls are broken down. Proverbs 25:28 NCV

It’s prayer for him that as he continues to mature into manhood that he will seek the wisdom and instruction discussed in Proverbs 3.  ( I can’t believe I mentioned manhood and him in the same sentence.  I guess my AARP card will be coming soon!)

As for you guys.  As all of use continue to mature spiritually, it might be a good time to stop and see if we are listening to the corrections and instruction from our heavenly father.  There is wisdom there that will manifest itself in many great ways:

13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth.15 Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. 17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere  James 3

I started my run a few blocks from the trail head and just as I approached the start of the levee another gentlemen started down the path.  Uh-no!  a rabbit.   So as I rounded the first turn and could see across the levee for quite a distance I noticed there were several runners and walkers out in front of me.  One by one, I placed my eyes on the back of the individual in front of me and ran them down.  As I approached the first mile, I noticed another runner in the distance, maybe 1/4 mile ahead, and sub consciously I fixed in on him.  I traveled through the first mile 15 seconds faster than I wanted, but I was feeling so fleet a foot and completely in control.  I continued ahead, slowly gaining on the object of my fixation.   I come along side the final runner with about a third of a mile to my turn around marker, the two-mile.  We arrived together at the two-mile mark more than 20 seconds faster than my intended pace and even faster than the first mile. Yes!

He was continuing down the path, so we parted ways and I turned around.  Since there were no returning runners in front of me, I had nothing to focus on but to gloat of my achievements!  And as you can guess, my time greatly reduced on the two miles back in.

This morning, I came across these great proverbs

25 Let your eyes look straight ahead;
fix your gaze directly before you.

26 Give careful thought to the paths for your feet
and be steadfast in all your ways.

27 Do not turn to the right or the left;
keep your foot from evil.

I could not help but be reminded of my trip across the levee last night.  As long as I had someone to focus on, to fix my gaze directly on, I was in the zone.  Moving efficiently and effectively towards the target – actually not even realizing the effort I was giving!  But as soon as I had no focus.  As soon as I could observe the grass, and the distance, and the birds, and get absorbing in myself gratifying thoughts, my efficiently was greatly reduced.

So it is with our spirits!  Make sure you are focused on the right thing today.

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God Hebrews 12:2 NIV

“The difference between involvement and commitment is like ham and eggs. The chicken is involved; the pig is committed.”

but I decided instead to focus on something a little bit different.  Maybe more of an example of the pig.

23 Above all else, guard your heart,
for everything you do flows from it. Proverbs 4

Today, guard your heart.  Build a wall around it to protect it.  But as you travel here and there light your path “like the morning sun,
shining ever brighter till the full light of day.” (Proverbs 4:18)

Did you know that the Bible references Pi?  Yeah back in 1 Kings,

 ²³And he made a molten sea, ten cubits from the one brim to the other: it was round all about, and his height was five cubits: and a line of thirty cubits did compass it round about

30/10 = 3.  It’s an approximation, but such that a cubit is an approximation as well, it may have been more accurate than we think!

You some other great facts and information about the favorite constant of mathematicians everywhere here.

And to close out, I decided to check out a 3:14 verse from Proverbs, which happens to say

¹⁴ for she is more profitable than silver
and yields better returns than gold. Proverbs 3:14 New International Version (NIV)

Anyway, that song has rumaged through my head all morning, as the idea of giving and receiving mercy seems so strong with me today.  (Especially living with a 15-year-old son – more about that later this week.)

Today, since the topic of extending mercy seems right on the tip of my mind, it seems appropriate to remind you of the benefits of being a merciful person.  Oh, and quite simple reminder of a definition I found this morning – Mercy is like a judge finding you guilty, but then withholding any punishment.

¹⁷ The merciful man does himself good,
But the cruel man does himself harm. Proverbs 11:17 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

He’s everywhere these days.  And I have to admit I really liked it that as I was sitting in BW3 yesterday watching some games, the pregame conversation consisted of more faith talk then it did touchdown talk! So Tim Tebow makes yet another appearance in the Buffet.

Last Friday, I was shown this video of Tim Tebow mic’d up in the Broncos come from behind win against the Bears from the previous week.  I find this to be amazing.  I actually have loved hearing this stuff from the time I was a little kid. I think the sideline banter is always fascinating.  But this video I find very impressive.  It’s not really the come from behind effort, or anything about the football game.  It’s more in the way Tim Tebow handles himself on the sideline. His temperament, his encouragement, his focus – and the evidence of where his treasure really lies.  He seems so at peace with himself and with what is going on around him.  Hm.. that sounds a lot like the words we read in that book we call the Bible.

To me it’s so impressive to see how even when he was behind, he was still focused on encouragement and giving effort.  I am sure he gets frustrated, I am sure there are moments that he would not want us to hear – he is human.  And I am sure there are others who, in their own jobs, are also great examples of this.  But to see this, in the limelight and the pressure of big time football, is quite inspiring.  I think this is a great example, one that we can take directly into our own fields of employment.

I think it would be worth to take the 10 minutes and watch this.  The example that you can see from him will help point you and others to the Christ.

 ⁵ Trust in the LORD with all your heart

and lean not on your own understanding;
⁶ in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6 New International Version (NIV)

But it is a little unfair for me to taunt you with ‘the weather is here, I wish you were beautiful’ lines, so off to something great.

I am not sure what this has to do with the beach, except that it may reflect my thinking as I strolled the beach this morning.

Enjoy the day!

The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life,

but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit. (Proverbs 15:4 NIV84)

This little exercise started when I discovered this quote sometime last week

“Act the way you’d like to be and soon you’ll be the way you act.” – Leonard Cohen

After reading that I started to think about how I acted, but I decided to also take a investigatory look at what I was thinking about – especially since at this time I spend a lot of time alone in my office at work.

As I mentioned above it’s a little sobering.  I was surprised how little time I spent on certain topics and how much I spend thinking about other topics.  Even more surprising was how much time I spent thinking about me!

It’s even more sobering when the Proverbs echo the quote above ( more than likely its the other way around!!!)

Of course then there is this little diddy as well

Hm.  The other day Alex was driving on the interstate for the first time.  We started to swerve toward the shoulder, and Alex said as he was straighten up the car, I was looking over there at that barn ( or whatever it was on the side of the road).  Yep, he learned an important fact, the car goes where you look!  And from that we know, we go where we think.  Spend a little time thinking about what you are thinking about!

The words on the magnetic – Today: live, give, reach, do and solve are simple verbs to help remind me of how I should be spending my day , today.

1. Live the day to the fullest
2. Give to others
3. Reach out to others
4. Do what needs to be done
5. Solve problems with creativity

That’s a pretty good list.  Those simple verbs are just enough to give me a reminder with each email, instant message and choice throughout the day of my potential impact on others and they help focus me to make sure that I am getting the most out of each day.

Yes, yes, a little cheesy, but whatever it takes to keep the days moving in the right direction!

So with that a few simple short and powerful verses to get your going on Monday!

So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.Psalm 90:12

Each man’s life is but a breath.
Man is a mere phantom as he goes to and fro:
He bustles about, but only in vain;
he heaps up wealth not knowing who will get it. Psalm 39:5-6

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.John 10:10 ESV

A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor. Proverbs 22:9

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.Ephesians 4:32

Today !  Live, Give, Reach Do and Solve!