One of my favorite coffee mugs was broken this week. Not sure how it happened. Just found it sitting there on the counter with the handle broken off. A friend had given it to me because it has one of my favorite Bible verses on it. “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God” (Philippians 3:14).
As I stood there looking with disappointment at my handle-less cup I realized that now the mug actually illustrates the verse. Before it was a very nice coffee cup with a really meaningful verse on it. Now it may represent what Paul had in mind when he penned the words.

“Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected, but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brothers, I do not count myself to have apprehended. But one thing I do: Forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:12-14).

Coffee mugs are made with a purpose. Mugs are made for drinking coffee, for drinking hot chocolate, for holding pens, for collecting change. They are not made to simply sit on a shelf and gather dust. When you use a mug there is the possibility that it will get damaged or broken.

Like the coffee mug we were created with a purpose. We were created for life. We were not created to sit and watch life go by. We were created to embrace life. Jesus said it this way,

“I have come that you may have life and have it abundantly” (John 10:10).

Paul said we were created to do “good works” (Ephesians 2:10).

The abundant life does not happen without risks.
Doing good works is not without dangers.
Life is for living.
When you live life, there are risks.
When you live you may get hurt.
When you live you may experience disappointments.
When you live you may get damaged.
When you live you may get broken.

When that happened to Paul, he chose to press on. He did not allow his life to end with a broken handle. He kept pushing forward. He continued to move forward toward the prize God had called him to.
My mug with no handle will most likely be reassigned to be a penholder or a change cup. It has served me well. Many good cups of coffee have been consumed from that mug. But it is time for this mug to move on to a new goal, a new purpose for being.

What about you?
Has life been unkind to you lately?
Have you considered retiring, sitting out the fight, being shelved?
Please don’t.
Take a lesson from my mug.
Even if your handle gets broken . . . press on.
Move forward.
Your handle is broken, but you are not dead.
Keep living.
God has something in store for you.

REALIZE GOD HAS A GOAL FOR YOUR LIFE.

RECOGNIZE THAT YOU HAVE NOT YET ARRIVED AT YOUR GOAL.

A man was sleeping one night in his cabin when suddenly his room filled with light, and God appeared.
The Lord told the man he had work for him to do, and showed him a large rock in front of his cabin. The Lord explained that the man was to push against the rock with all his might. So, this the man did, day after day.
For many years he toiled from sun up to sun down, his shoulders set squarely against the cold, massive surface of the unmoving rock, pushing with all of his might. Each night the man returned to his cabin sore and worn out, feeling that his whole day had been spent in vain.
Since the man was showing discouragement, the Adversary (Satan) decided to enter the picture by placing thoughts into his weary mind:
"You have been pushing against that rock for a long time, and it hasn't moved."
Thus, he gave the man the impression that the task was impossible and that he was a failure. These thoughts discouraged and disheartened the man. Satan said,
"Why kill yourself over this? Just put in your time, giving just the minimum effort; and that will be good enough."
That's what the weary man planned to do, but decided to make it a matter of prayer and to take his troubled thoughts to the Lord.
"Lord," he said, "I have labored long and hard in your service, putting all my strength to do that which you have asked. Yet, after all this time, I have not even budged that rock by half a millimeter. What is wrong? Why am I failing?"
The Lord responded compassionately,
"My friend, when I asked you to serve Me and you accepted, I told you that your task was to push against the rock with all of your strength, which you have done. Never once did I mention to you that I expected you to move it. Your task was to push. And now you come to Me with your strength spent, thinking that you have failed. But, is that really so? Look at yourself. Your arms are strong and muscled, your back sinewy and brown; your hands are callused from constant pressure, your legs have become massive and hard. Through opposition you have grown much, and your abilities now surpass that which you used to have. True, you haven't moved the rock. But your calling was to be obedient and to push and to exercise your faith and trust in My wisdom. That you have done.
Now I, my friend, will move the rock."

At times, when we hear a word from God, we tend to use our own intellect to decipher what He wants, when actually what God wants is just simple obedience and faith in Him. By all means, exercise the faith that moves mountains, but know that it is still God who moves the mountains.

When everything seems to go wrong ... just P.U.S.H.!

When the job gets you down ... just P.U.S.H.!

When people don't react the way you think they should..... just P.U.S.H.!

When your money is "gone" and the bills are due ...just P.U.S.H.!

When people just don't understand you ... just
P.U.S.H.!

A child's love is like a whisper,
If you listen very closely
this is what you'll hear.

Daddy, will you play with me?
Mommy, tie my shoe?

They often do not say it loud,
but in how they come to you...

Dad, I made the team today!
Mom, I got an "A".

They grow up in a hurry,
listen carefully to the whispers,
they come in a flurry.

Pop, I need some money,
You see there's...this girl at school.
Mama, I met a boy today
and Wow, he's so cool!

Dad, I've got something to tell you...
I think she is the one!
Mom, he asked me to marry him.
Would you love him as your son?

Dad, I've got some news for you...
It's going to be a boy!
Mom, I'm kind of scared of this,
yet I'm filled with joy!

A child's love is like a whisper,
If you listen very closely
this is what you'll hear.

Grandpa, will you play with me?
Grandma, tie my shoe?

They often do not say it loud,
but in how they come to you...

These special little whispers
are a blessing from above.
Listen to the whispers of a child's love

Is Your Hut Burning?

The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him, and every day he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming.

Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect him from the weather, and to store his few possessions.

But then one day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, the smoke rolling up to the sky. The worst had happened; everything was lost. He was stunned with grief and anger. "God, how could you do this to me!" he cried.

Early the next day, however, he was awakened by the sound of a ship that was approaching the island. It had come to rescue him. "How did you know I was here?" asked the weary man of his rescuers. "We saw your smoke signal," they replied. It is easy to get discouraged when things are going badly. But we shouldn't lose heart, because God is at work in our lives, even in the midst of pain and suffering.

Remember, next time your little hut is burning to the ground---it just may be a smoke signal that summons the grace of God.

God Will Make A Way

Brenda was a young woman who was invited to go rock climbing. Although she was scared to death, she went with her group to a tremendous granite cliff. She put on the gear, took a hold on the rope, and started up the face of that rock. Well, she got to a ledge where she could take a breather.
As she was hanging on there, the safety rope snapped against Brenda's eye and knocked out her contact lens. Well, here she is on a rock ledge, with hundreds of feet below her and hundreds of feet above her. Of course, she looked and looked and looked, hoping it had landed on the ledge, but it just wasn't there. She prayed to the Lord to help her to find it.

When she got to the top, she looked out across range after range of mountains, thinking of that Bible verse that says, "The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth." She thought, "Lord, You can see all these mountains. You know every stone and leaf, and You know exactly where my contact lens is. Please help me."
Finally, they walked down the trail to the bottom. At the bottom there was a new party of climbers just starting up the face of the cliff. One of them shouted out, "Hey, you guys! Anybody lose a contact lens?"
Well, that would be startling enough, but you know why the climber saw it? An ant was moving slowly across the face of the rock, carrying it, and saying "Lord, I don't know why you want me to carry this. I can't eat it and it's awfully heavy, but whatever you want me to carry, I will carry."

The Files

In that place between wakefulness and dreams, I found myself in a room filled with small files, which seemed to go on forever. The first file to catch my attention read "Boys I Have Liked." I quickly shut the file, shocked to realize that I knew these boys. And then, I knew exactly where I was. This lifeless room was a card catalog system for my life. Here were written the actions of every single moment.

I began randomly opening files and exploring their contents. Some brought joy and sweet memories: others a sense of shame and regret so intense that I would look over my shoulder to see if anyone was watching. The files ranged from "Friends", to "Friends I Have Betrayed." "Lies I Have Told," "Comfort I Have Given," "Things I Have Mutter Under My Breath." I never ceased to be surprised by the contents. It didn't seem possible that I could have written all of these cards, but each card was in my own handwriting, and each signed with my signature.

When I came to one marked "Lustful Thoughts," I felt a chill run through my body. I pulled the file out only an inch, and shuddered at it's detailed content. Rage exploded within me. NO ONE MUST EVER SEE THESE CARDS! I HAVE TO DESTROY THEM! In an insane frenzy, I yanked the file out and began pounding it on the floor, but I couldn't dislodge a single card. I tried to tear a single card, only to find that it was as hard as steel. Defeated and helpless, I let out a long sigh, and then I saw it. The title read "People with Whom I Have Shared The Gospel." The handle was brighter than those around it. Newer, Almost unused. I could count the cards it contained on one hand.

I fell to my knees and cried out of shame--the overwhelming shame of it all. But as I pushed away the tears I saw Him. No! NOT HERE. ANYONE BUT JESUS. Why did he have to go through every one? He seemed intuitively to go to the worst boxes. I dropped my head and covered my face with my hands. He walked over and put His arms around me. He could have said so many things, but he didn't say a word. He just cried with me. He got up and went back to the first file and began signing his name over mine. "No!" I shouted. I grabbed the card from him and there it was-- written in red so rich, so dark, so alive. The name of Jesus covered mine, it was written with His blood.

He gently took the card back and continued signing. I don't know how He did it so quickly, but the next instant it seemed I heard Him close the last file and walk back to my side, He placed His hand on my shoulder and said, "It is finished." I stood up, and He led me out of the room. There was no lock on the door. There were still cards to be written

Learn To Fly, Like A Butterfly

The air is full of butterflies.

Flying so effortlessly in the sky.

No weight they carry, to hold them down.

Never a worry or a frown.

And yet not long ago, they were...

A crawling little... caterpillar.

I wonder if they knew they'd be...

A beautifully butterfly, flying so free.

They do not question how long they'll live...

But are happy with each day God gives.

They trust that he will always provide,

whatever they need...to survive.

So learn to trust...and fly away,

from cares and worries of today.

See how beautiful life can be...

Rely on Jesus, to supply your needs.

Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned,

in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content...But

my God shall supply all your needs according to his

riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Phil. 4:11 & 19 KJV