Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy

Welcome to Day 189 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.

This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom.

Discuss, Never Argue

Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 189 of our Trek, and yesterday we studied The Science of Making Wise Decisions. Today we will explore why it is wise to always discuss issues and not argue. If you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to Wisdom-Trek.com to listen to them and read the daily journal.

We are recording our podcast from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio.  After meeting with our renovation contractor, we decided to go ahead and have the ceilings in the library, parlor and downstairs hallway/foyer all dry walled at the same time since it will save us the additional cost of mobilization and scheduling. Because of this, I will be working on Saturday to remove the acoustical ceiling tiles in the parlor and downstairs hallway/foyer.  This was not part of our plan for this weekend, so I will have to work quickly to get it all completed. We will also be looking at replacing the windows in the library and parlor this spring. The original windows in the house are drafty and not as functional as they should be.

We are looking forward to the Marietta grandkids coming over Saturday evening, and I am sure they will love helping Gramps with additional renovations. I will leave the wallpaper for them to remove.  It is quite old and comes off easily.

Let’s move on to our Trek for today as we set out on our trail to discover why it is wise and prudent to always discuss matters of differences and avoid arguing.  When Paula and I were dating the year before being married, one ground rule that I set between us is that I would not argue with her. I wanted to set the guideline for our marriage and felt that as differences arose, then as intelligent and rational adults we could calmly discuss any issues that we may have. After over 36 years of marriage, I can say that we have kept that commitment and have never had any type of significant arguments between us. It is possible if you are committed to making it work.

Now onto our trail for today, which we will call…

Discuss, Never Argue

There are some personalities that can be labeled as argumentative and that shows in their behavior and relationships. Arguments can be avoided and a lot of heartaches prevented by being a little careful. The best way to win an argument is to avoid it. An argument is one thing you will never win. If you win, you lose; if you lose, you lose. If you win an argument but lose a good job, customer, friend, or marriage, what kind of victory is it? Pretty empty.

Arguments result from an inflated ego. Arguing is like fighting a losing battle. Even if one wins, the cost may be more than the victory is worth. Emotional battles leave a residual ill will, even if you win. In an argument, both people are trying to have the last word. The argument is nothing more than a battle of egos, which results in a yelling contest.

· How do you “Argue” With Your Spouse or Close Friend?

There should be no losers. Do you really want your spouse, whom you love, or friend to lose an argument with you? Think how constantly losing arguments with you plays on your spouse's or friend’s self-esteem. Did you know spouses influence each other’s self-esteem more than any other factor during their married life? Arguments are usually started because one spouse feels that the other is messed up or wrong. The Bible has something to say about how to correct someone when you feel they are wrong.

The Bible teaches that love should be "slow to anger" and that love "covers a multitude of sins" and that we should not think we are better than others (including our spo...

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy

Welcome to Day 188 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.

This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom.

The Science of Making Wise Decisions

Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 188 of our Trek, and yesterday we hiked the trail of 10 Principles for Gaining Self-Confidence. Today we will study The Science of Making Wise Decisions. If you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to Wisdom-Trek.com to listen to them and read the daily journal.

We are recording our podcast from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. We are making some progress on the library. After removing the ceiling tiles, we have determined that the plaster ceiling that was under them is not suitable to finish, so we will need to have that ceiling dry-walled. Since I am not skilled in installing drywall, we have contacted our renovation contractor to see if he has time in his schedule. We were hoping to avoid the extra expense of the drywall, but it was not to be. These are the joys of renovating an older large home.

Our client work has been extremely brisk this week, but we are making progress. It is my hope that I will be able to do some 2016 planning on Saturday before having our grandkids in for the evening.

It is time to shift now, and make some decisions about our trek today. Every day of our trek of life is filled with decisions.  If we make wise decisions, then the opportunities and choices for our lives are expanded. If we make unwise decisions, then our opportunities and choices for life are limited by those decisions. On today’s trek we will explore…

The Science of Making Wise Decisions

To think we go through our day, every day, making decision after decision without really thinking about how we do it. At least until something challenging pops up, and then we wring our hands and constantly repeat, “I just don’t know what to do.”

Even in those moments, we naturally seek out the opinions and advice of people we love and trust. But still, we hesitate, worry, and procrastinate, putting off the puzzling choice. We fear it will be the wrong choice. We fear the consequences of our perplexing decision. We worry about people getting hurt.

But, there is hope!

 

The Study of Making Wise Decisions

People actually study the process of decision making! They develop models for making decisions with algorithms, equations, and even games of chance (flipping a coin). However, most studies agree on the 6 C’s of decision making:

Construct

Compile

Collect

Compare

Consider

Commit

Yet, few take into consideration our access to the God of All – the very creator of the universe.  Learn to make some big decisions using the 6 C’s plus a 7th C, which is Christ!

The 7 C’s of Making Wise Decisions

We must take an active role in the decisions that we make to ensure that they are good and wise, but we also have to realize that our wisdom actually comes from God as is mentioned in Proverbs 16:1-4,

We can make our own plans, but the Lord gives the right answer.

 People may be pure in their own eyes, but the Lord examines their motives.

Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed.

The Lord has made everything for his own purposes, even the wicked for a day of disaster. 

As we take the advice from the above passage, let us then weave it into our decision-making model:

Construct – Think of this as drawing a map. You want to know exactly what needs to be decided. Are you deciding to move or drive to a job site ...

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy

Welcome to Day 187 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.

This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom.

The 10 Principles of Self-Confidence

Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 187 of our Trek, and yesterday we learned the 10 habits to create a better day. Today we will expand this concept as we hike the trail of 10 Principles for Gaining Self-Confidence. If you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to Wisdom-Trek.com to listen to them and read the daily journal.

We are recording our podcast from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. It was a bit of a windy day, and the large wind chimes provided us nature’s music throughout the entire day. Our workload continues very full this week, so it has left little time for focusing on our 2016 business plans so far. As the Christmas holiday approaches, we hope that we will see a bit of a slowdown, and we will take advantage of those opportunities. We will be watching our four Marietta grandkids on Saturday evening while Elizabeth and Nat attend his company Christmas dinner. I also have the privilege of speaking again at Putnam Congregational Church this Sunday, so I am preparing for that as well.

Time to head out on our trek for today as we hike the Self-Confidence trail and search for the 10 principles that we can apply to our lives that will allow us to gain confidence and esteem. Self-confidence is manifested as an opposite of arrogance, which is usually a result of low self-esteem.

As we begin today, consider this quote from Malcolm Forbes, “Too many people overvalue what they are not and undervalue what they are.” This quote can be linked to a Bible verse that I have used a couple of times in the past week, which is Psalm 139:14, “Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.” Another verse that should help us to gain confidence is Ephesians 2:10, “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” 

As we meditate on these two verses, it is not arrogance that we should gain but a humble thankfulness to God for who we are in His sight.

Let us focus today on...

The 10 Principles of Self-Confidence

 

1. The importance of self-confidence in our lives cannot be overstated.

It is, after all, a lack of self-confidence that causes our lives to be tossed to and fro by the sway of culture. From the very beginning, we see the harmful effects of low self-confidence on our decision-making process while the fear of rejection becomes an all too common presence in our lives. It causes many to adopt the values of the group and engage in otherwise undesired behavior.

Simply put, the need for love, belonging, and acceptance becomes stronger than the internal compass within us. And many unhealthy life choices begin to emerge.

In adolescence, this need for acceptance begins to show itself in substance-abuse, underage-drinking, dangerous sexual practices, or mischievous behavior. As we get older, some of these habits remain, but new ones also begin to emerge.

The desire to find acceptance by impressing those around me with my possessions begins to motivate aspects of my life. And whether it be a certain home-size, vehicle-model, fashion trend, or latest technology, many of our purchases are made with a simple desire to keep up with the neighbors and not be regarded as “falling behind.” Our need to impress and be accepted becomes more important than wise spending habits.

2. Self-confidence redirects our life.

It begins to realign our desires with the unique heart inside us.

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy

Welcome to Day 186 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.

This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom.

10 Habits to Create a Better Day, Every Day

Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 186 of our Trek, and yesterday we explored how success is achieved by giving to others. Today we will learn the 10 habits to have a better day. If you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to Wisdom-Trek.com to listen to them and read the daily journal.

We are recording our podcast from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. I had a steady work day today with much still to do, but I take it a day at a time.  I have so many plans for going into 2016 and would like some dedicated time for planning, so I will have to block it out in our busy schedule. It has been a rainy and cool week here in Marietta, and I am thankful for a work environment where I can enjoy it without having to be out in it.

Let’s start out today as we continue our trek. Whether we are on an actual hike or just hiking through each day of life, there will be some days that are just difficult. On those days, it seems like we are trudging up a steep slope that is strewn with loose rocks and limbs where it is difficult to make any progress. Each of us has those days occasionally, but we do want to keep them as few as possible. How can we overcome the potential of having “bad days”?  On our Trek for today, I will share 10 habits that will help you to create a better day today and every day. 

So let’s get started on our hike of the...

10 Habits to Have a Better Day Every Day

Wake up 30 minutes early.

Get up 30 minutes before your usual time and take the first half hour for yourself. Once you get busy and into the day, there never seems to be the time for yourself. Take this time to plan to get the most from the day. Start by making this a habit each day and reserve this time for you. For this season of life, I get up at 5:30 each morning so that I can be dressed and ready to exercise at about 5:45.  I spend about 70 minutes exercising, most of which is running on the treadmill.

Read, listen, or watch something uplifting.

Make this a daily habit. Get out of starting the day with no mental food. A great day does not begin with the news or the paper. It begins with ideas or energy that will propel you through the day. What you first hear will stay with you throughout the day. During my time of exercise, I listen to encouraging podcasts, meditations, and Scripture readings.  This helps significantly in setting my mind in the proper thought pattern early.

Eat a good breakfast to start you off right.

Get something good into your body to wake it up and get it going. Think about the energy you will need to perform. Every day we run a marathon. What would you need to eat and drink to win it? After a shower, I usually have a breakfast of a protein drink, some carrots, water, and coffee.  If you do exercise in the morning, it is important that your breakfast contains protein to rebuild your muscles. Stay away from excessive carbs for breakfast as they will be detrimental to your energy levels.

Choose your winning attitude.

There are enough negative issues in the world to go wrong without sabotaging yourself. Your attitude is a choice you make. Don't let it come between you and your success. Be careful to keep it positive all day long – the choice is truly yours.

Be aware of what others are telling you.

The people around us have a profound effect on how we get through life. Our closest friends and family are our greatest environmental influences. Make sure you have the best advisors you can find. Also,

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy

Welcome to Day 185 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.

This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom.

7 Stepping Stones to Success

Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 185 of our Trek, and yesterday we stopped by the 12 Mile-Markers for building your character, which resulted in 6 character traits that you possess as a result. Today we will explore how success is achieved by giving to others. If you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to Wisdom-Trek.com to listen to them and read the daily journal.

We are recording our podcast from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. In addition to a full workload, today we were able to have Elizabeth and four of our grandchildren over. Elizabeth and Paula made split pea and ham soup with the ham that was left over from Thanksgiving. Homemade split pea soup is delicious.

On today’s Trek, we are hiking the trail of success. I think that everyone desires to be successful, but what many people do not grasp is that the trail to success is paved by helping others obtain what they desire from us.  One of my virtual mentors, Zig Ziglar, said it best in his famous quote, “You can have everything in life you want, if you will just help other people get what they want.”

So let’s get started on our hike of the…

7 Stepping Stones to Success

A major part of the process of achieving success and living the kind of life that you dream of is to give. Many people think that to get what you want you have to take it. There is a universal truth, though, that the true trail to get what you want is to give. When you give, you get. What you plant, you will harvest. The Bible mentions this correlation numerous times such as in Galatians 6:7, “Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant.”

If this is true, then what is it we must give? I'll show you the way…

Give others your honesty. The world we live in has a simple rule that most follow: Lie when you have to. Unfortunately, this may make some people wealthy, but it make us humans poor. To achieve success is to become wealthy not only in money but in character. To be successful, truly successful, is to be able to attain your goals and keep your character at the same time

How about you? Are you honest in all things? The problem with little lies is they become big ones. Lies spin out of control. You get caught in one lie and you lie to get out of it, etc. In all things and at all times, give others your honesty.

Give others your respect. Most of the time we give people respect based on what they have done or what they have accomplished. We gauge whether or not they are "worthy" of it based on what we know of what they have achieved or who they know or are related to.

But I believe we should have a higher standard. We respect people not for what they have done or for who they are related to or for what they can do for us. Instead, we respect people for simply being themselves.

Give others your vulnerability. We are taught to "be strong." And yes, we should be strong. But we have also embraced something that I think keeps us from having the kind of life that we long for. It is an idea that keeps us from experiencing the kind of relationships that would bring deep meaning to us. It is the idea of vulnerability.

"But Guthrie, make yourself vulnerable, and people will step all over you!" It is true that this will happen. But I have also seen that most people will be drawn to you. They will help you. They will open up to you. You see, we are all broken people inside. We all have secrets. Yet everyone plays the poser.

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy

Welcome to Day 184 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.

This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom.

The 12 Markers + 6 Traits of Character

Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 184 of our Trek, and yesterday we hiked the “Should Have, Would Have, Could Have” trail otherwise known as the Tyranny of the Should. For today’s trek, we will stop by the 12 Mile-Markers for building your character, which result in 6 character traits that you will possess as a result. If you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to Wisdom-Trek.com to listen to them and read the daily journal.

We are recording our podcast from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. It is starting out as a busy week as expected, but we have been able to accomplish a significant amount and also complete some planning for 2016.

Over the weekend, we moved our large wind chimes to the back corner of The Big House so we can enjoy them while working in our 2nd-floor office. We are also enjoying the return of our Red Tail Hawk today. It appeared to be looking for some food, so the mice and chipmunks would do well to stay hidden.

When we go for a difficult hike, one of the resulting benefits is building persistent resolve to continue on, even when we may not feel like it. This in turn helps to build strong character. It is time now to set out on our Trek, as we will search for the 12-mile markers that will help us to build good character and then explore the resulting 6 character traits that we should all obtain.

12 Markers for Building Your Character

I possess the Right Motivation: I realize that in some capacity, everyone is a leader. As a leader, I am called to be an example-setter of high character to the people to whom I am responsible — whether they are my peers, children, employees, and/or constituents. No matter if it seems inefficient, inconvenient, or ineffective, I will build character because it is the right thing to do.

I possess an Accurate Mindset: My character flaws undermine my leadership but are correctable. Character is who I am; competency is what I do. I will no longer confuse the two. Character is not only attractive to me but is irresistible.

I possess the Freedom to Choose: I am 100% in control of my character and my response to others. I choose to be a leader of character. I regret my past character-poor choices. I will do all within my power to change. I will become more like the mentors and models I most admire.

I possess a Teachable Spirit: I am designed to be a life-long learner. I am teachable and have a strong bias to apply what I learn to who I am and what I do.

I possess an Optimistic Vision: A few might remember my competence, but virtually all will remember my legacy of character, good or poor. Many will exceed me in various competencies, but I will set my sight on building a reputation of uncommon character.

I possess a Clear Target: I know the "bulls-eye" of high character. I know exactly what character-ethics are and the corresponding behaviors I desire, even though I may struggle to achieve them consistently.

I possess the Right Tools: I have taken the time to assess and acquire the correct resources to support my character-building journey, including a list of defined character-ethics and a support system of like-minded leaders.

I possess a Sensitive Conscience: I may not always act on its every conviction, but I have a conscience that consistently generates a sense of great personal peace when I act in high character and appropriate guilt when I do not.

I possess the Ability to Find a Caring Mentor: My mentors know me personally, and we have agreed on a transparent, accountable, encouraging relationship as it relates to building...

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy

Welcome to Day 183 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.

This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom.

Should Have, Would Have, Could Have

Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 183 of our Trek, and yesterday we explored the 25 nuggets or Proverbs for Abundant Living. Today we are going to hike the “Should Have, Would Have, Could Have” trail otherwise known as the Tyranny of the Should. If you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to Wisdom-Trek.com to listen to them and read the daily journal.

We are recording our podcast from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. On Sunday, we went to church with my Dad, who lives about an hour north of The Big House. We also took him out for lunch at Cracker Barrel, which is his favorite place to eat. Our daughter Elizabeth and her four children came over for the evening to help us consume some Thanksgiving leftovers, and the grandkids helped Gramps get started on the renovations in the library. This week will be a busy work week with client work and planning for 2016.

Have you ever had those times where you have felt or said, “I should have made a different choice or decision?” For example, your narrative may have gone like this…“I should have made a different decision, then I would have been in a better place. And, I could have so much more in life.” The trek that we will hike today is the “Should Have, Would Have, Could Have” trail, or as some may refer to it, The Tyranny or the Should of Trail.

Tyranny of the Should

Learn how to free yourself from the destructive, incessant pressure to be perfect.

Everyone lives with "shoulds." One might say that Christianity and other faiths are a way of life built on shoulds, such as one should love others, one should keep themselves from bad practices, and one should give to charity. For many, their shoulds are experienced as positive and fulfilling. Meeting one's moral obligations is a great source of pleasure. When we do the right thing, we feel good about ourselves and feel that life has meaning and purpose.

But there are others who do not experience shoulds in a positive way. They feel pressured and strangled by them. For such people, their inner shoulds are sources of great emotional suffering. Dr. Karen Horney named this experience, the "tyranny of the should."

Here are some examples of shoulds that can become problematic:

     I should always feel happy.

     I should not dislike anyone.

     I should feel strong and in control.

     I should have perfect clarity.

     I should always be giving.

     I should not make mistakes.

     I should never get angry.

     I should never waste time.

     I should always feel productive.

Shoulds become tyrannical when they are experienced as making impossible demands that are impossible to meet. "You should never be weak," is an impossible demand to meet. The "tyranny of the should" is experienced as a demand to be perfect and, therefore, feels like an order given by an oppressive dictator who ruthlessly demands perfection and nothing less. Shoulds are rigid, unyielding, and devoid of compassion for your limitations and weaknesses. You are never able to relax because the pressure to be perfect is unrelenting.

When shoulds are reinforced by social pressure, they become even more unbearable. Under the burden of these dictates, your behavior may become pressured, forced, and may even take on an obsessive quality. The hallmark of the experience if you are controlled by the tyranny of the should is that you feel driven, but you never feel like the driver of your life.

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy

Welcome to Day 182 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.

This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom.

25 Proverbs for Abundant Living

Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 182 of our Trek, and yesterday we completed our three-part series on the Psalm of Thanksgiving - Psalms 100. Today we are going to look at a list of inspirational sayings starting with “In life…” that are Proverbs for Abundant Living. If you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to Wisdom-Trek.com to listen to them and read the daily journal.

We are recording our podcast from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. We had a very blessed day on Thanksgiving with our kids Elizabeth and Barnabas over for an evening dinner along with their spouses Nat and Leesha and five of our six grandchildren. Our niece Rebekah and her husband Victor along with their two children were also in.

Friday morning we were able to be on site with a client to assist with the month end billing. On Friday afternoon, we finished up cleaning out the gutters, completed the little bit we had left on the leaf harvest, and hung up the Christmas Star on the front of the house. On Saturday, we reran some cable TV wire to the two front rooms and cleared everything out of the library, including two large built-in bookshelves so that we will be able to start the renovations this next week. On Sunday, we will be going to church with Dad and going out for dinner afterward. It has been a great Thanksgiving weekend with so much to be thankful for.

Let’s get started on our Trek today as we hike the trail of Abundant Living and look for the 25 proverbs that will provide direction and insight to our lives. We will call our trail today the…

Proverbs for Abundant Living

After three days of exploring the requirements of being a thankful servant in Psalms 100, which was some fairly deep study, I wanted to switch to an easier trail today and dig up some nuggets of wisdom that we can ponder and reflect on.  As usual, I will also intertwine wisdom from the Bible into the points. Let us take a leisurely hike today as we look at a series of points that we should always integrate into our lives to create a living legacy each day.

In life we are to encourage and build up each other,  not to discourage and tear down one another.  (So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:11)

In life we are to add not subtract, to multiply not divide.  (Wisdom will multiply your days and add years to your life. Proverbs 9:11)

In life we are to leave an enduring impression, not a careless dent. (Your unfailing love will last forever. Your faithfulness is as enduring as the heavens. Psalm 89:2)

In life we are to smooth out the rough roads along the journey, not create new potholes. (The valleys will be filled, and the mountains and hills made level. The curves will be straightened, and the rough places made smooth. Luke 3:5)

In life we are to sing a joyful song; not just drone a groan. (Shout joyful praises to God, all the earth! Psalm 66:1)

In life we are to add our harmonious strains to life's symphony, not strain the symphony with clatter and clang.  (Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. Colossians 3:14)

In life we are to soar on eagles' wings, not to peck and cluck with our beaks in the dirt like chickens. (But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31)

In life we are to radiate light into unseen places, not permit unknown fears to dim our radiance.

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy

Welcome to Day 181 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.

This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom.

A Thankful Servant Part 3

Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 181 of our Trek, and yesterday we looked at the second part of the Psalm of Thanksgiving, Psalm 100. Today we will explore part 3 of Psalms 100. If you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to Wisdom-Trek.com to listen to them and read the daily journal.

We are recording our podcast from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. If all goes according to plan and the weather cooperates, I should be able to finish up the final remains of the leaf harvest today. After this weekend, it will be time to start back in on the renovations in The Big House. The next room we are focusing on is the library.  We will have furniture to move and the large bookshelves to clear out before the renovations begin. I will keep you posted on our progress.

On our Trek today, we will finish up this three-day Thanksgiving series as we learn to become a thankful servant through our study of the Psalm of Thanksgiving, which is Psalms 100.  Our trail today is…

A Thankful Servant Part 3

Continuing on the section from yesterday’s Trek, we explored why your thank offerings must be intelligent. Intelligent worship also affirms God as Creator. Psalm 100:3 reminds, "He made us, and we are his." This is a fact of which we are informed by the scriptures. It is also one with which every instinct of our nature agrees. Our own conscience also agrees with nature and the scriptures.

Have you ever seen a child startled when he is told for the first time that he is the special creation of God? Within every little mind, there dwells a God-given instinct that accepts the statement. It takes a public school 12 years to try to make them believe they are the offspring of primordial soup.

Since the Lord made us, He has all rights over us just as a human potter has a right to make out of his clay a vessel for what use he pleases. We are entirely at His disposal and should serve Him with all our hearts.

The sculptor with his chisel may develop amazing beauty, but there is no life. But we are far different from canvas or marble, for within us is the mystery of life, the divine spark. Like God himself, your soul can know and reason, believe and understand, and also love. God created you with incredible abilities and has exalted you as His highest creation, surely then, it is your obligation to love and serve Him.

An ancient chronicle tells of a powerful, regal, Saxon king, who, riding through a dense forest, came upon a little church. Inside the church was a priest saying prayers. The priest was pitiful, lame, and hump-backed. The commanding, rough Saxon king looked down on the deformed priest in disgust and despised him until he heard the priest chant these words of Psalm 100:3, "He made us, and we are his." The king was instantly wounded by the powerful convicting arrows of God’s truth and blushed and owned his guilt.

If you aren’t the brightest, prettiest, or most talented, don’t complain, rather worship God. He has made us what we are, and God doesn't make junk! If you enjoy great looks, intelligence, and health or ability, humble yourself and recognize that you are what you are by God’s grace.

Lastly, intelligent worship embraces Him as our Shepherd. Psalm 100:3, "We are his people, the sheep of his pasture." To those of us who are in Christ, He has become to us the Good Shepherd! God has not left us like the neglectful ostrich that abandons her eggs, only to have them broken. He is watching over us every hour as a good shepherd who guards his flock.

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy

Welcome to Day 180 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.

This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom.

A Thankful Servant Part 2

Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 180 of our Trek, and yesterday we looked at the first part of the Psalm of Thanksgiving, Psalm 100. Today we will explore part 2 of Psalms 100. If you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to Wisdom-Trek.com to listen to them and read the daily journal.

We are recording our podcast from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. Today is the day after Thanksgiving, and it is my hope that it was a blessed time of thankfulness for you. Let us not forget to be thankful every day.

We are continuing our Trek today and tomorrow as we explore how to become a thankful servant as we once again look closely at the Psalm of Thanksgiving, which is Psalms 100.  Our trail for today is…

A Thankful Servant Part 2

Psalm 100:2 tells us to “Worship the Lord with gladness!” We come before God as a lowly but glad servant, offering up what are our logical and reasonable acts of worship.

The unspiritual man cannot understand this at all! For him to worship Christ seems foolish and a terrible imposition. Worshipping God is contrary to man’s proud, fallen nature. In the flesh, we stubbornly refuse to give God the worship and service He deserves. Man’s fallen nature begrudges service to anyone other than to themselves.

But, having been subdued by Christ’s overwhelming grace, we are radically transformed! Now, we want to serve God, even to the extent of what others may perceive as a loss. We do it gladly with a sense of joy and gladness.

A story that I read emphasizes this…Ten years ago, Nigerian Christians could expect a major attack against them about once every year by Muslims. Then the attacks began to occur monthly. In the past year, attacks have occurred nearly every other week. Today, simply attending church on Sunday puts a believer at risk, and those who actively tell Muslims about Christ are at greater risk still. Evangelist Johnson was seriously injured in a bomb explosion on his way to a Christian meeting. But Johnson exemplifies the persevering spirit of Nigerian believers. While many of these Christians could leave, they feel called to reach their Muslim neighbors. As Johnson says, “If I didn’t love my work, if I didn’t love Jesus, I would give up.”

Christians gladly serve and suffer because they know they have been saved by God’s own suffering servant Jesus! Serving God is not always easy by any means and may cost you dearly in some parts of the world. But true and lasting joy comes from serving King Jesus and sensing His delight. A Christian is one who serves with genuine humility, mixed with unspeakable joy! 1 Peter 1:8 says, "You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy."

The Psalm continues and urges us to "Come before him, singing with joy." He is the Great King of all the earth, the infinite and Holy Creator of the universe, and you are commanded to appear before him. But, when you come, come with a voice of victory, a shout of triumph and a joyous song! There is no moping in the King’s presence for to see him is to love him and rejoice in Him. Psalm 100:4 states, "Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name."

Imagine receiving an invitation to meet someone that you have admired all your life. Who would that be? Maybe it’s a sports hero, a military leader, a captain of industry, or an admired political or spiritual leader? How would you prepare yourself for the meeting?