Joshua 14:7, 10-11 - "I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadesh-barnea to spy out the land,….and now behold, I am eighty-five years old today. 11 " I am still as strong today as I was in the day Moses sent me; as my strength was then, so my strength is now, for war and for going out and coming in.       NASU

·  Caleb Was A John Wayne Before There Was A John Wayne

I must admit this is one of my favorite passages of scriptures in the Bible. I get excited every time I read what Caleb says to Joshua. I can hear Caleb talking with a John Wayne voice when he says, "…I am 85 years old today (pilgrim) and I am still as strong today as I was in the day Moses sent me…"
 
I use his speech when I am tired to pump new life into my body.
 
I will say, "Serago you are only 62 years old, when Caleb was 85 years old, he said, 'He was just as strong at 85 as he was at 40.' You can't be tired. You can't let an 85 year old man put you to shame. Suck it up you big baby and start acting like Caleb."
 
That is pretty much all I have to do to charge my batteries and set out for a new adventure.

·  What Reinvigorates You?

People can be reinvigorated in a lot of ways. Maybe one or two of these will work for you: Get Some Exercise, Get Outdoors and take in the beauty of God's creation, Take a day off, Take a Nap, Watch an inspirational movie, or Read a Book (Like the Bible).
 
What is the best way to pump new life into your body and mind?
 
You really need to know the answer to that question because from time to time you are going to need to use this knowledge. Anyone can get mentally and physically tired and lose their focus. When this happens you must have a plan in place to get you out of this funk.
 
So when you lose your focus what is your plan to get you back on top of your game?
 
If you have ever watched or participated in high school or collegiate wrestling then you know that they have what is known as an overtime period, aka "sudden victory". Most wrestlers when they enter this period will use a takedown or an escape that they have practiced and executed a gazillion times.  
 
Why? Because it is something they know so well they can hit this move even when totally exhausted.
 
So you need to have a move that you can execute to charge your batteries even when you are totally exhausted.

·  What Reinvigorated Caleb?

Caleb used the method that is not uncommon even in our world today. He used the challenge of a new job. It wasn't a job that he didn't have any knowledge. It was a job that he had done before.
 
What was it that Caleb was going to do once again?

Josh.14:12 -"…give me this hill country about which the LORD spoke on that day, for you heard on that day that Anakim were there, with great fortified cities; perhaps the LORD will be with me, and I will drive them out as the LORD has spoken."       NASU

Caleb wants to do battle with the Anakim.
 
Caleb wants to conquer knew territory.
 
He wants to engage in another fight. Just like he had done many times before and how is he going to win this battle? He is going to win this battle with his faith in the LORD and the execution of a plan that has worked for him before. Caleb believes he can do anything as long as the LORD is with him.

·  Positive Thinking Reinvigorates Caleb 

You will remember it was Caleb and Joshua who were the "positive thinkers" who believed with all their hearts that they could conquer the land of Canaan (Num.13:1, 30) because the LORD was going to be with them.
 
There were 10 other spies who didn't believe the Israelites could conquer the land. One thing is for sure you must stay away from those who are negative thinkers because they will suck the life and energy right out of you. 

Think on These: 

The plain fact is that most humans are happy when they are striving for something worthwhile.
 
Every accomplishment, great or small, starts with the right decision, "I'll Try."

Stay Pumped,

Gary A. Serago
Minister of God's Word

I Timothy 6:8-9 - "If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content. But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction." NASU

• 12 Children or $1 Million

I heard John Ortberg speak once and he asked this question. Who is more content, a man with 12 children or a man with a million dollars? He said the man with the 12 children because he doesn't want anymore. While on the other hand the man with a million dollars would love to have another million dollars.

So let me ask a question. Are we more like the man with 12 children or the man with one million dollars?

Are we content or do we always want more?

We all know this can be a vicious cycle when we always want more. So what can we do to get out of this trap?

• Take Charge Of How You Think

The apostle Paul is telling Timothy that all he has to have is food and clothing and he will be content. How can he be so sure? Paul knows that he can control his behavior by the way that he thinks.

I read a book some years ago and the Dr. was saying that you should start now to cut back on your salt intake because if you have a heart attack the Dr. will tell you that you must NOT use salt. Once humans hear that we must NOT do something we want to do it all the more.

So the key for us being content is to tell ourselves that we are happy right now with everything that we have and that we don’t need anything else. We will want to repeat this over and over again to ourselves.

• Take Charge Of What You Read and Watch

It is hard to be content in the USA. TV commercials, radio advertisements and magazines constantly bombard us.

What do they all say?

If we don't have their product well then there is something wrong with us. We just aren't all we could be without the item they are trying to sell us. They are trying to sell us their product and it is their product that is going to make us happy or content.

That is a bunch of baloney. Things are not going to make us happy or content.

Happiness and contentment come when we are satisfied with what we already have acquired. What we need is to train ourselves in advance with what is known as "positive self-talk."

It is what the athletes use before their events.

We must listen to what we are saying to ourselves.

If we believe the commercials or advertisements that we have to have their product before we can be happy or content then we are going to sacrifice our peace and contentment because we don't have their product.

If we buy the product we will only have temporary contentment until the next article appears telling us that we really need this item in our life.

We must learn how to tell ourselves NO to things.

• Real Contentment Comes From The Lord

Real peace, happiness and contentment come from the Lord, we know this to be true. The Apostle Paul said all he had to have was some food and clothing and he was content.

In Philippians 4:11 Paul says it this way, “Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be a content in whatever circumstances I am.”

How did Paul learn to be content? By telling himself he had all that he needed and if he needed more God would supply it.

In Heb.13:5 God’s word says it this way, “Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU,”

So there we have it! We can be content BECAUSE God watches over us and He will NEVER desert or forsake us. If we really need something, ask God for it; and if God believes we need it, He will provide it.

How cool is that?

Think on This: 

Plenty of people miss their share of happiness, not because they never found it, but because they didn't stop to enjoy it. - William Feather

Stay Pumped,

Gary A. Serago
Minister of God's

Rom. 12:2 - And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

• Where Your Money Goes Your Heart Is Already There.

Jesus said it another way in Matt. 6:21 - For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 

It isn’t real hard to determine what a person loves. All you have to do is observe what they purchase with their money.  Our money can be spent on good things as well as bad.

An alcoholic spends his/her money on booze, a drug addict spends his/her money on drugs and when all their money is gone they will steal from anyone to buy more drugs.

I grew up in a house where only my dad worked. What did he purchase with his money? He purchased a house for his family to live in, he bought a car to drive him to work, he bought groceries to feed his family, he bought clothes for his family to wear and he paid all the utility bills. He even planted a large garden and tended it when he came home from work. This garden provided us with lots of vegetables, thanks to dad for giving of his time to feed us.

You might ask, “Why would he do this?” The question can be answered fairly easily. He loved his family and provided for them. This is what is known as “expressed love”. The items that he purchased or raised in the garden expressed his love.

What are your purchased items expressing love for? Are they expressing love for God, yourself or others?

• Where Is Your Money Going?

All a person has to do is look at your credit card statement and they can tell where you spend your money. Barbara and I shop at Fry’s. We receive coupons in the mail for the exact same items we buy on a regular basis. This my friends is not a co-incidence.

Barb drinks Coffee-Mate Creamers in her coffee. We received a $1.00 off coupon on our next purchase of this item in the mail last week. The coupon wasn’t from Coffee-Mate it was from Fry’s.

Amazing! No not really, I am sure a computer tells the people at Fry’s what Barbara and I buy on a regular basis. Fry’s sends us coupons for those items so that we will come back and buy more of the same items. I am sure this store and other stores knows all about our shopping habits. 

• If God Were Going To Send You Coupons What Would They Be For?

Remember you would be getting coupons for the items that you purchase on a regular basis and you buy the things you love.

Would they be coupons for places to go with your family?

Would they be coupons for yourself and your own pleasures?

Would they be coupons for your worship of God?

All you have to do is follow the Word of God. Paul said, “…but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is,…”

Renew your mind! Do an inventory check of all the items you have been spending your money and decide today that you are going to make the necessary changes in your life.

I came across and acrostic years ago for JOY. It stood for Jesus first, Others second and Yourself last.

Think on These:

A Paradox of Life: When young people spend their health to gain wealth and when old we spend our wealth to get health.

People are funny. They spend money they don’t have to buy things they don’t need to impress people they don’t like.

Stay Pumped,

Gary A. Serago
Minister of God's Word

Mt. 16:21-22 - From that time Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised up on the third day. 22 Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, "God forbid it, Lord! This shall never happen to You."    NASU

•  Jesus Was Trying To Tell Peter His Future Plans

In our text above Jesus had just rolled out His future plans wherein He stated His plan was to go to Jerusalem, suffer, be killed and then resurrect on the third day. Peter is not real crazy about Jesus' plan so he takes Jesus aside and begins to rebuke Him. He tells Jesus that His plan is all wrong and that He is not going to die.

Jesus then calls Peter His "adversary" which is the translation of the word "satan" and tells Pete to get behind Him. An adversary is one who opposes you or your plan and that is exactly what Peter was doing. Jesus even tells why Pete is opposing Him "…for you are not setting your mind on God's interests, but man's."  NASU 

• Reggie Jackson Didn't Want To Listen To Coach Earl Weaver 

In How Life Imitates the World Series, Dave Bosewell tells a story about Earl Weaver, Hall of Fame manager of the Baltimore Orioles. Sports fans will enjoy how he handled star Reggie Jackson.

Weaver had a rule that no one could steal a base unless given the steal sign. This upset Jackson because he felt he knew the pitchers and catchers well enough to judge who he could and could not steal off of. So one game he decided to steal without a sign.

He got a good jump off the pitcher and easily beat the throw to second base. As he shook the dirt off his uniform, Jackson smiled with delight, feeling he had vindicated his judgment to his manager.

Later Weaver took Jackson aside and explained why he hadn’t given the steal sign. First, the next batter was Lee May, his best power hitter other than Jackson. When Jackson stole second, first base was left open, so the other team walked May intentionally, taking the bat out of his hands.

Second, the following batter hadn’t been strong against that pitcher, so Weaver felt he had to send up a pinch hitter to try to drive in the men on base. That left Weaver without bench strength later in the game when he needed it.

The problem was, Jackson saw only his relationship to the pitcher and catcher. Weaver was watching the whole game.

We, too, see only so far, but God sees the bigger picture. When he sends us a signal, it’s wise to obey, no matter what we may think WE know.

               Copied - https://bible.org/illustration/baltimore-orioles-manager

• How Many Times Have We Thought We Knew More Than God? 

As I wrote this heading I actually started to chuckle. There were actually times in my life when I thought God's plans for me were all wrong. 

What type of Bozo would think such a thing?

I have to admit I have more in common with Peter than Jesus.

Maybe, just maybe, you likewise have followed in the footsteps of Peter and Gary and thought God's plans for you were all wrong. Well, go ahead and get a good laugh out of it, shake your head in bewilderment of how you could be that stupid to ever think God would be wrong in what He has planned for you.

Then tell God you are now willing to follow His plan for you. 

• When God Is Your Coach He Will Have The Correct Plan For Your Life

As I look back on my life I have to admit I had some really dumb plans for it. IF those plans would have come to fruition I am sure that Proverbs 14 would have been speaking about me. Prov. 14:12 - There is a way which seems right to a man (Gary), But its end is the way of death.  NASU

I think we could all agree that what God says in Jeremiah has a much better sound and promise to it. Jere. 29:11 - For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.     NASU

When God is your coach His plans for you will be exciting and great.

Think on These:

It is better to appreciate something you have than to have something you can't appreciate.

Happiness will never come to those who fail to appreciate what they already have.

Stay Pumped,

Gary A. Serago
Minister of God's Word

Lk 19:29-34 - He sent two of the disciples, 30 saying, "Go into the village ahead of you; there, as you enter, you will find a colt tied on which no one yet has ever sat; untie it and bring it here.  31 "If anyone asks you, 'Why are you untying it?' you shall say, 'The Lord has need of it.'"  32 So those who were sent went away and found it just as He had told them. 33 As they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, "Why are you untying the colt?" 34 They said, "The Lord has need of it."   NASU 

• The Young Donkey Waited 

The one who waited was the donkey, or a colt, a young donkey. He waited because he was tied. If he hadn't been tied maybe he would not have been there when the Lord needed him.

What about us?  Are we anything like this donkey? Has the Lord tied us to something that we really don't like?  The reason He has tied us is because He needs us to be right where we are. (Please know that I am not referring to any type of abusive situation. If you are being abused get out of there. The donkey wasn't being beaten. He was tied most likely to a post.)

We are going to be able to help someone if we stay where we are. We are going to impact some one's life in a very special way, but if we are not tied we will wander away. In other words we won't be where the Lord needs us to be, so He has tied us to something.

Maybe you are tied to a job you don't like, or a health problem or a financial burden. You are not able to relax and if you weren't tied you would wander away. You think God doesn't know that? You pray, "God use me." And the entire time He is preparing to use you your mind is on getting out of there. You keep trying to get untied from God's plan.

• The Young Donkey Was Viewed By Many As Unimportant 

Donkeys didn't then and still aren't viewed as esteemed animals. You never heard of a king riding on a donkey. Kings would always ride beautiful, magnificent, stately horses. We have all seen the horses that would walk upright and proud. I have never heard of a donkey race track. I have never heard of donkeys running at the Kentucky Derby, Pimlico or the Belmont. 

Donkeys were not seen in a positive way. They were seen as stubborn and an animal for the poor, certainly not the rich or the aristocrat.

What about us? Are we seen by others as unimportant?

IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW OTHERS SEE YOU. (Yes, I know you use all capitals when you are yelling and I am yelling at you the only way I know how while writing.) Now reread that previous sentence, please.  Please memorize that sentence: It doesn’t matter how others see you.

It really only matters how God sees you. Others may think you are not important, not smart, not pretty, not handsome or not rich enough, but none of that matters. What matters is what God thinks of you.

How many of you know and I mean really know what God thinks about you?  

I highly recommend reading the New Testament and you will discover what God thinks about you and read real slow when you get to John 3.

• The Young Donkey Was There When The Lord Needed Him 

My question for us then is this, "Will we be there when the Lord needs us?" The donkey was there. The disciples untied him and started to walk away with him when the donkey's owners questioned them.

The disciples said, "The Lord has need of it."  And that was the end of their conversation. You know we are all like that donkey. The Lord has need of us.

What is it that you are doing right now?

If I were you I would tell myself, "The Lord has need of me."  He does have need of you and it is up to you to position yourself to be used by God.

You may be like the donkey tied to something and waiting or maybe you are being led by some disciples to be used by the King. It doesn't matter which situation of life you find yourself in just believe that God is going to use you like He did the donkey.

The Lord Has Need Of You.

I hope you are waiting patiently for Him to use you.

Think on These:

Life is full of golden opportunities for doing what we don't want to do.

Patience is the ability to count down before blasting off.

Stay Pumped,

Gary A. Serago
Minister of God's Word