Looking Ahead
Southaven, Ms
By: Mike Upchurch
With the end of the year upon us, it’s time to gear up for 2019. I would like to share some favorite quotes and some personal observations as we face the New Year.
If you always do what you have always done, you will always be what you have always been.
Average work will get you average recognition, average praise, and average pay. And it’s what you should be doing at the minimum. But doing less than average work has zero reward and will always result in loss. Strive to be above average in all you do, which in turn will bring glory to God!
If you want to see change, it starts with you. Are YOU the reason you’re having problems? Having studied Systems Engineering, in a nutshell it breaks down to a simple formula, and that formula can be applied to all of life…..
1. Define the problem
2. List the solutions
3. Solve the problem
…..Unfortunately, you must first accurately define the problem. Don’t let it be discovered that it’s YOU at the root of things that need to change!
Heaven is a gated Community with a wall, and no one can enter illegally. Straight is the way and narrow is the gate, according to Jesus. It’s actually a pretty good idea, and it might be a pretty good idea to emulate that for America’s borders too. Just sayin’.
If you rob Peter to pay Paul, ol’ Pete is eventually going to demand his money back, and with interest! Never borrow money to pay bills. If you don’t have the money to pay bills, when will you have the money to pay back the loan?
If we evolved from monkeys, why are there still monkeys?
God’s silence is not necessarily His approval!
There are reasons the doors at Walmart are marked Enter and Exit; for security, and to ease flow of traffic. If you see me exiting with a basket full of merchandise, why must you insist on making me wait while you enter the exit door??? C’mon, people! (You thought I was going somewhere with this, but really I’m just ranting. Ok rant over).
If you don’t have time to do something right, when will you have time to do it over?
Why do instructors on a Gun Range yell “fire”? Why don’t they yell “shoot”? What would they yell if there was a real fire?
You’ve heard the expression that one day you’ll ‘wake up dead’. Well ALL of us will certainly wake up in eternity one day. We’ll either be in Heaven or Hell, and awaiting the Judgement. The smart money would be on opting for Heaven now while you have the opportunity. You get there by accepting Jesus as Savior. Do it today and avoid the ‘too late’ rush!
Don’t sweat the petty things and don’t pet the sweaty things.
Just because you CAN do something doesn’t always mean you SHOULD.
The rear view mirror in your car or truck is a tenth the size of your windshield. Why? Because you don’t need to focus on looking back if you’re trying to move forward.
Enough musing for now; as we wrap up this column and say goodbye to the old year, I would like to say a very special heartfelt “Thank You” to any of you who read my columns this year, and thank you also for sharing them.
I’m always humbled, and most times feel unworthy that the Lord would call me to ministry with a Pastor’s calling, but these are my weekly online sermons, and I pray something has ministered to you this past year. I wrote 52 columns in 2018 over a variety of topics, but all designed with the idea of explaining the attributes and character of our Lord, coupled with the desire that you would draw closer to Him! I also want to give a very special thanks to Publisher/Editor Charlie Hoots for allowing me this platform to express what I feel are matters close to the Heavenly Father’s heart. If you desire, you may look at some of the previous columns by clicking on photo of Pastor Mike at the bottom of this page which will take you to the Archives. Hopefully some will bless you. I love each one of you! Happy New Year everyone!
I leave you with the sound wisdom of Paul…..
“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”Romans 12:2 NLT
Pastor Mike
