Wisdom for Everyday Living

Sample devotions:

An Arm Around the Shoulder

Rejoice with those who rejoice.
Weep with those who weep.
--Romans 12:15, NKJV

In 1947 Jackie Robinson was the first black man to play Major League Baseball. In his debut season with the Brooklyn Dodgers, Robinson experienced hatred nearly everywhere. Pitchers threw fastballs at his head. Runners spiked him on the bases. During one game, tension reached a peak. Robinson committed an error and stood at second base humiliated while the fans hurled insults at him. Dodger Pee Wee Reese, a man from the South, called time-out. Reese walked from his position at shortstop toward Robinson at second base. He put his arm around Robinson's shoulder. The fans grew quiet. Robinson later said that arm around his shoulder saved his career.

Encouragement can be an arm on a shoulder, a smile, or a simple compliment. Pray to the Lord to make you a friend. 'A friend loveth at all times' (Proverbs 17:17, kjv).

Holy Father, help me today to speak a timely word to a weary soul. Help me to be a friend to encourage someone today in Jesus's name.

Dr. Roger Freeman
Senior Pastor (Retired), First Baptist Church, Clarksville, TN

Start Somewhere

All hard work brings a profit, but mere
talk leads only to poverty.
--Proverbs 14:23, NIV

Stonewall Jackson, a great military general known for his absolute, unswerving determination, once said, 'You may be whatever you resolve to be.' He was exactly right. The Word of God is filled with this truth. Personal resolve has the power to take you past intimidation to the dreams in your heart.

If you have a dream of becoming an artist, pick up a paintbrush and start creating. If you want to become the CEO of a large corporation, you need to do well in school, take extra classes, or get your MBA. Talk to people in your field of interest and see what steps they took to achieve success, and most important, pray about the direction to take. The anointing and power of God enables you to achieve the highest and best that God has for you, no matter the obstacles you may face. That power, though, is released only through your preparation and personal resolve.

Never get stuck at good intentions. Put action to your dreams today, and step by step, you'll see them become a reality.

Mac Hammond
Senior Pastor, Living Word Christian Center, Brooklyn Park, MN

Getting Unstuck

I don't know about you, but from time to time I get stuck. The image I have in my head is that of a driver whose tire is stuck in a muddy hole. No matter how fast he spins the wheels, the car goes nowhere. The psychologists who are much smarter than I am might even have a word for it: depression. I'm not always sure just how I get to that place, but from time to time I get the blues. When my wheels are just spinning, I want to turn off the car and quit.

The psalmist has an interesting promise for those of us who might get depressed. He writes, 'Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy. He who continually goes forth weeping, bearing seed for sowing, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him' (Psalm 126:5–6, nkjv).

Pay attention to what is being said. The farmer isn't planting seeds made of tears. The farmer is planting seeds despite his tears. Sowing seed is simply what a farmer must do if he wants to have an actual harvest. The idea here is simply this: Don't stop. You may want to quit because of your tears, but you can't. The farmer can't stop sowing his seeds if he wants to put food on his table and provide for his family. If the farmer will sow his seed, even though he's weeping, there will be a day when he reaps his harvest, and the harvest will come with joy.
Feel like your wheels are spinning? You may need to get out of the car and start walking. Keep sowing. Don't stop.

Rich Cathers
Senior Pastor, Calvary Chapel, Fullerton, CA

Accept Responsibility

Be very careful, then, how you live—
not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every
opportunity, because the days are evil.
--Ephesians 5:15–16, NIV84

One of the most important qualities of all successful people is that they are able to accept responsibility. You will grow in life when you see an opportunity, step out, and accept the responsibility involved. Look at each opportunity as a chance to learn something new and challenging. The popular phrase 'carpe diem' [seize the day] should be your motto.

Own your actions and choices. Like everyone else, you make choices and take actions. When your actions have positive results, it is easy to take credit and compliments for what you've done. However, owning your choices and actions when circumstances do not go well is much harder (Proverbs 19:3, 8; 27:23–24).

Learn from failure. Hopefully your life will be full of many successes. But all of us have times when we fail. You may get discouraged or down on yourself, or even give up. But have faith and remember: These failures are often God's stepping-stones for future success.

Judy Douglass
Author, Campus Crusade for Christ

©2013. Steve M. Woods. All rights reserved. Reprinted from Wisdom for Everyday Living. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the written permission of the publisher. Publisher: Health Communications, Inc., 3201 SW 15th Street, Deerfield Beach, FL 33442.

This book challenges our basic instincts about how to help fearful kids and will serve as the The total audience based on each contributor’s market reach is at a minimum of 250,000 Christians as well as 1,000 radio stations, TV appearances, Christian conference appearances, national magazine exposure, Christian bookstores, and online media exposure.

· Interviews and book giveaways on nearly 500 radio stations through Morningstar Christian Chapel

· Interviews on 9 radio stations through the Calvary Radio Network (9.4 million listeners)

· Appearances and interviews on His Channel

· PR Firm is being retained.

Email Campaigns: September email campaign to 79,000 Charisma Media contacts (confirmed). Trade email to be sent in September to list of harvested email addresses for churches and church bookstores

Social Media Campaigns: Facebook campaign

Speaking Engagements: Massive lecture campaign involving book contributors. Details forthcoming.

B&T:Spirit ad – Emailed to 40,000 librarians and retailers

Anchor Distributor Coop (Christian): Internet Advertising, Ad on home page for 2-weeks (Oct 21 – Nov 3, 2013)

Bookazine’s 2013 Email Campaign Promotion: Email distribution list is about 1,500 booksellers, bloggers and librarians. (July 2013)

Ingram: Christian Advance (co-op) Circulation: 5,000 Christian retailers, 4,000 ABA retailers, and 3,000 Librarians (September/October 2013 issue)

Amazon: Will be promoted in the New & Notable section from 30 days prior to publication to 90 days after publication.Will be included in Booklists. A campaign on relevant Books category pages(s) highlighting key tiles and linking to the full list. Some events may have a dedicated e-mail campaign at the event manager’s discretion; all events will be considered for, though not guaranteed.

Indie Bound/Red Box Flier: Double-sided flyer (September 2013)