“IF WE MAGNIFIED BLESSINGS AS MUCH AS WE MAGNIFY DISAPPOINTMENTS, WE WOULD ALL BE MUCH HAPPIER.”
J. Wooden
Sing the hymn “Count your blessings,…” by Johnson J. Oatman Jr.
Here is the Chorus:
“Count your blessings, name them one by one; count your blessings, see what God hath done. Count your blessings, name them one by one; count your many blessings, see what God hath done.”
With great joy and even greater surprise I read one of the reflections on coach John Wooden. (“John Wooden is the former coach of the record-setting UCLA basketball team,..”) The reflection was written by Bill Walton. Bill Walton has now four sons and he is telling them what coach John Wooden used to tell his players. He is also writing the maxims of John Wooden on the lunch bags of his kids.
These are the maxims:
“Be quick, but don’t hurry.” “Failing to prepare is preparing to fail.” “Never mistake activity for achievement.” “Discipline yourself and others won’t need to.”
I like the maxim “Failing to prepare is preparing to fail.” Why do I like that saying? Sometimes you have people in the pulpits who have not prepared properly.
WRITING THE MAXIMS ON THE LUNCH BAGS!
I hope that takes also your attention. It takes mine. I am reminded of what it says in Deuteronomy 6:6-9 and Deuteronomy 11:18-20.
It talks here about the COMMANDMENTS of the Lord. They are to be written on the doorframes of the houses and on the gates.
Write them on the lunch boxes of your children!
Another favorite Maxim of J. Wooden is: “Tell the truth. That way you don’t have to remember a story.” Don’t we all have a bad memory at times? I have most of the time a bad memory. Ephesians 4:25 says “speak truthfully to your neighbour”. And in Colossians 3:9 it says very simple: “Do not lie to each other,….”
In John 8:44 we are even told what the native language of the devil is.
And what about the rest of the commandments? Find all the ten commandments in Exodus chapter twenty, in the verses 3, 4, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17!
“MAKE EACH DAY YOUR MASTERPIECE.”
John Wooden
“For I resolved to know
nothing while
I was with you
except Jesus Christ and him
crucified.”
First Corinthians 2:2
_____________________________
DISOBEDIENCE WILL BE PUNISHED
Intr.:
–“But if you will not listen to me and
–carry out all these commands, and
–if you reject my decrees and
–abhor my laws and
–fail to carry out all my commands and
–violate my covenant,
THEN I WILL DO THIS TO YOU:
1. I will bring upon you sudden terror,
2. wasting deseases and
3. fever that will destroy your sight and
4. drain away your way of life.
5. You will plant seed in vain,
because your enemy will eat it.
6. I will set my face against you,
so that you will be defeated by your enemies;
7. those who hate you will rule over you, and
8. you will flee even when no one is persuing you.”
End:
So far two people are following me on twitter!
“SIEG LIEGT NICHT IM VERSUCHEN,
SONDERN IM VERTRAUEN.”
Corrie ten Boom
GOING UP THE WORLD FAMOUS 45,000 YEAR OLD STAIRCASE.
ARRIVING AT THE TOP.
The 90 mile beach at Waipapakauri looking toward Ahipara.
Northland/NZ
