There are a lot of great and special places to hike and see in the mountains of East Tennessee such as Cade’s Cove, Mount LeConte , Clingmans Dome, Ramsey Cascades, the Cumberland Gap, Charles’s Bunion on the Appalachian Trail, Rainbow Falls, Andrews Bald, Grotto Falls, etc.. but one my favorites is a much smaller place. I found it with some friends while we were walking along a river where there is this very unique looking tree. Although the tree is very tall, you can see inside the trunk of it where the near by stream has washed away some the soil around it. To our amazement, it looked like a cross growing inside the base of the tree.

I was so impressed that I have written a little poem about it…

The Cross in the Tree

While walking through the woods of Tennessee,

Some friends and I saw an unusual tree.

As we got closer, we discovered it looked

Like a Cross in the Tree.

The tree was strong and very tall

But the Cross was in its foundation- beneath it all.

Nature’s reminder to base our lives on God’s

Amazing grace for you and me,

Just like the Cross in the tree.

The Bible mentions a tree planted by the water as a description of us, growing strong in our faith. “Blessed are those who trust in the Lord and made the Lord their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or long periods of drought, their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit” ( Jeremiah 17: 7-8).

Another Interesting fact about this tree is that you don’t notice it walking up the trail, you see the cross in tree only when you stop and look back. That is true of our lives as well, when we look back over the path of our life, we can remember that God has been with us, and specific times He helped us in a special way.

Let’s not get so busy in our lives today that we don’t take time for Jesus. Let us make Jesus the foundation of our everyday life, just like …the cross in the tree.

Recently, My wife and I enjoyed walking across the Gatlinburg Sky Bridge. The views of the mountains were spectacular. I am glad we overcame our fears and hesitations to experience it. Also, in life we all can experience times that are difficult and overwhelming. Doubts and fears can make it even more difficult to deal with during those times. As a Christian, we know that we need to trust God on a daily basis, but it is another thing to know how to actually do that. I don’t have all the answers, but here are some key thoughts that I have found helpful to keep in mind…

T…TAKING TIME throughout the day to TALK with God in prayer. This helps us to keep our focus on His perspective. It reminds us that He is with us, understands us, and can guide us in our thoughts and actions. You don’t have to close your eyes when you pray or pray out loud. Just pray silently to Him as yo go through your day.

R…RELEASE our doubts and fears into God’s hands, knowing that He is bigger than anything we face, and that He loves us more than anyone else.

Sometimes we make a monster in our mind, dwelling on what may or could happen. That is when we just need to stop in that negative thought process and acknowledge that and then give those doubts and fears to the Lord. C.S. Lewis made this powerful observation: “It is not load that breaks you down, It is the way you carry it.” Sometimes we try to do our part and God’s part too, but that does not work. We are limited, but God is not. We need to give our worries and cares to Him, as we are doing what we can about our problems and continue to trust in Him at the same time.

U… UNDERSTANDING that God is working, even when we can’t see it. We live in a world of instant gratification. Prayer is not a drive through window, where we place our order and get our request instantly. We don’t tell God what do and when to do it. The Bible teaches us that God’s understanding is greater than ours …“My thoughts are higher than your thoughts, says the Lord. And My ways are far beyond anything you can imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so My ways are higher than your ways, and My thoughts higher than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9).

S…SEEK God more than His answers. We can use this opportunity to grow in our relationship with God on a deeper level. When we talk to God in prayer, Praise Him for His faithfulness, grace, and mercy in your lie. Thank Him for all the things, even the little things He has and is blessing you with each day.

T…TIMING. Realize that God’s timing is not limited to our personal schedule or plans. Popular inspirational author, Sarah Young has a great perspective on this topic of God’s timing in our lives: “ So when you work in collaboration with the Lord, don’t set limits on what you expect to accomplish. He will give you what you need to keep moving forward step by step.You may not reach your goal as quickly as you like…but you will get there in God’s perfect timing. Refuse to be discouraged by delays or detours; instead, trust in the Lord…and just take the next step.”

It’s difficult to hold your mouth right when Barney Fife ( Sammy Sawyer) surprises you at a luncheon. This picture reminded me of helping my dad fix things around the house or at the laundry business he owned. He would say “You gotta hold your mouth right” when working on some equipment repairs or hammering a nail. When something went wrong, he would say “I guess I wasn’t holding my mouth right.” I always wondered how that helped or hindered something getting fixed. It doesn’t. It is an old funny saying that describes the feeling when attempting to do something that you are not sure of, but hoping that it still works.

In an other way, we really should hold our mouth right when talking with someone, Here are some thoughts about that…

“Never miss a good chance to shut up!” – Will Rogers

“I have often regretted my speech but never my silence.” -Publillius Syrus

“Careful words make for a careful life; careless talk may ruin everything.” – Proverbs 13:3 (MSG)

We all need help in this important area of our lives. How can we get a grip on this tendency to speak too quickly? Here are some suggestions I have found very helpful as I continue to learn to “Hold My Mouth Right”…

1. THINK BEFORE you SPEAK.

A lot of regretful words and conversations can be prevented by taking time to gather our thoughts before saying something on impulse. Some conversations are best left “unfinished’, as no more really needs to be said…we should refrain from “always having the last word” in everything. When you can improve on silence…speak, if not…don’t.

“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to You, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.” -Psalms 19:14 (NLT)

2. SPEAK with GRACE not with ANGER.

Raising your voice can make the situation even worse, it immediately turns off the other person and puts them in a more defensive mode. As a result, it only increases the tension. The Bible has some very clear wisdom on this…”A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare.” – Proverbs 15:1 (NLT). You can not control what another person says, but you can control your response.In fact, you are responsible for how you react.

3. CULTIVATE good LISTENING skills.

Listen first. Don’t race ahead in your mind about what you think they are wanting to say…this can lead to wrong assumptions and misunderstanding.Some one has said; “The only exercise some people ever get is jumping to conclusions.” Get the facts, Ask them questions to clarify and find out more about their side of the situation. Every situation does not require a personal comment from you as they share with you.

4. ASK GOD to HELP you to GROW in this area of your relationships.

See this an opportunity to grow and mature in your faith. “Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Human anger does not produce righteousness that God desires.So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the Word that God has planted in your hearts.” – James 1: 19-21 (NLT) Let God and the power of His Word continue to encourage, equip, guide you in this important area of your life.

As serving as a Minister through the years, I have a great appreciation for those who do good things to help others behind the scenes. God often does His most amazing work, not just on the big stages of life, but often in the background. That is something we all can do each day… things like taking time to talk and listen with a friend who is going through a difficult time. Also, sending someone who needs some encouragement a note or text to cheer them up can make their day. It may be a random act of kindness, such as letting someone go in front of you at the check out line at the grocery store. There are so many simple things we can do to make our own little world and community a better place. Mother Teresa echoed that idea when she said “Not all of us can do great things, but we all can do small things with great love.” We should not be discouraged by what we can not do, but rather focus on what we can do in helping others.

As we help others, we discover that it ends up blessing us too. I can not even count the many times that has happened to me. That is not my expectation or motivation in helping others, but it is something I am humbled by and thankful to the Lord for when that happens. It is interesting that years ago; Booker T. Washington, an accomplished American educator, author and world changer made this statement: “If you want to lift yourself up, lift someone else up.” This is still true today, and is good advice for all of us to follow.

We all can be a “behind the scenes” blessing to the people around us. You may not be able to preach, teach, or sing… but you can have a positive impact in some way in people’s lives just by being kind. Be kind, and be a blessing to someone today.

As I was working my way through school, I worked as a “minister of maintenance” at a church and at other places. People would often ask me, “How are things going?” I would reply “Things are really picking up, I filled up the dumpster today.” Even nowadays, my wife will say to me at our house “Somebody needs to take the garbage out”…Well, I am “Somebody” at our home, so guess what, I get to take the garbage out.

The fact is, it is even important to get rid of the trash and garbage in our mind and soul on a regular basis. The apostle Paul said we are to “get rid of all bitterness, rage, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.”(Ephesians 4:31-32). Another similar reference to this, is found in James 1: 21 “ Get rid of the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has power to save your souls.” God tells what to do with the garbage in our mind ,heart, bad attitude and actions, that is to get rid of it, throw it away. He also can give us the strength and ability to do this by simply trusting in Him. We can overcome these reoccurring bad habits by turning to God, praying for His help, and staying closely connected with Him. Praying Lord, I can’t to this by myself, but I am trusting in you to do this through me.

Don’t go back digging in the old garbage, instead refocus your thoughts on God’s love and forgiveness for you. Corrie Ten Boom said that “God casts our sin into the sea and puts up a NO FISHING sign.” Nothing is as important for us as Christians, than to keep free of the clutter that hinders our relationship with the Lord.

There are so many distractions in our world today that drain our energy and disturb our peace of mind. We need to be more intentional in staying steady on our personal path for inner strength and peace. Dr. John Ortberg has said : ”I and no one else is responsible for the condition of my soul.” Part of that responsibility, is that we need carve out pockets of time in our daily routine to recover and recharge our spiritual energy. During these important mini breaks in our day, take a few moments to be quiet and be still. Talk to God about the things that are bothering you. Tell Him the things you are thankful for in your life. Read a short devotional, meditate on a Bible verse that encourages you with where you right now. Here are a few Bible verses and other quotes that have been a big help for me:

“My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” – Exodus 33:14 (ESV)

“ I will fully satisfy the needs of those who are weary and fully refresh the souls of those who are faint.”- Jeremiah 31:25 (NET)

“God’s Word is a Living Water that detoxifies our soul. The more we drink it, the more it cleanses, refreshes, and renews us.” – Caroline Naorgji

“It’s not the load that breaks you down. It is the way you carry it.” – C.S. Lewis

“Your soul is like a battery that discharges each time you give life away, and it needs to be recharged regularly.’ – Wayne Cordero

“You having a rested soul, is the best gift you can give to others.”

“If you don’t take a Sabbath, something is wrong. You’re doing too much, you’re being too much in charge. You’ve got to quit, one day a week, and just watch what God is doing when you’re not doing anything.” – Eugene Peterson

“When we get too caught up in the busyness of the world, we lose connection with one another and ourselves.” – Jack Kornfield

“Rest is medicine for your soul.” – Christine Caine

“Boundaries are what keep us from judging what others are doing, staying in th lane God has for us, and never passing up the best for everything else that crosses our paths. Within godly boundaries, we find rest. We also discover that we can leave to God all that we can’t do.”

“He will keep in perfect peace; all those who trust in Him, whose thoughts turn often to the Lord.” – Isaiah 26:3 (TLB)

True lasting Peace is found in Jesus.The Peace of God is not the absence of problems but the very Presence of God in our lives. It is more than a feeling, it is the fact of trusting in the Lord, and keeping our focus on Him. May our thoughts turn often to the Lord each day. In doing this it will be a source of strength, peace, and confidence that we all need; regardless of what is going on in our life at the present time. Finding and experiencing God’s peace is the best way that I have found to grin and bear it…

I saw this saying at a restaurant: “You are not a Taco, You can’t please Everybody.” Think about how many types of Tacos there are today. There are Steak Tacos, Fish Tacos, Chicken Tacos, Breakfast Tacos, BBQ Brisket Tacos, Taco Salad, Taco Pizza, Taco Soup etc…Even with all these choices, there are some people who do not like Tacos. The truth is that no matter how hard we try; just like a Taco, you and I are not going to be able please everyone all the time. We are human and we are not flawless. Ed Sheehan, popular singer and song writer has said, “I can’t tell you the key to success, but the sure way to failure is trying to please everyone.”

We should strive to do our best and be kind and treat others with respect regardless of how others respond to us. In spite of this, problems can arise when we take “people pleasing” to an unhealthy level and tie it to our self esteem. This is what counselors describe as living by Performance-Based Acceptance. This is where we are driven to please everybody; no matter what, to have their approval in order to feel good about ourselves. As a result, we can develop the bad habit of constantly looking to others for validation for who we are as a person. If we don’t get positive feedback or compliments from others, we can feel disappointed and dejected. Or, it also can be that we tend to automatically say “yes” too quickly because we want people to like us. To say yes, without taking adequate time to think about it or even look at our calendar to see if we really have the time to fulfill their request can cause us unnecessary stress and regret. Christine Cane has stated that… “It is equally important what we say ‘No’ to as what we say ‘Yes’ to.”

Showing no restraint and say yes to everyone works okay for a while, until we find ourselves, overcommitted to more things ( even good things) than we adequately can get done in our schedule. When this occurs, we have a tendency to either explode in anger and frustration or implode with anxiety, self pity and worry. What is interesting, Is that the underlying issue really may be an embedded sense of low self-esteem and inferiority. It’s that deep down feeling that we are never quite good enough. That is why we can’t earn our salvation or way to Heaven. Jesus did for us what we could not do on our own. Receiving His grace and forgiveness is the basis for our faith and confidence. We should turn our focus to pleasing God as our main priority. Rick Warren has staled that “If God is pleased…then stop worrying about who isn’t.”Realizing that with God’s help and guidance, we can release the pressure from trying to find our confidence from trying to impress other people. I particularly like Colossians 3:23 on this subject, which states “In all the work you are doing, work the best you can. Work as if you were doing it for the Lord, and not for people.”

Beth Moore, noted Bible Study teacher puts it this way, “Let your light shine today, and let your personality blossom too. You don’t have to be a people pleaser, just a people lover.”

Let us rejoice in the Lord and in His grace in our lives, that frees us from being a compulsive people pleaser and to be a people lover.

And It is also good to know…we don’t have to be like a Taco.

Some times we allow what I like to call “Stinking Thinking”, to get us down on ourselves. You know, like when we get up in the morning and looking in the mirror and in your mind you can hear that old song by Carole King “ You’re no good, You’re no good, Baby, You’re no good.” It is easier for these bad moods to develop when we are tired, discouraged or disappointed in ourselves or something else. This can also can happen when we going through a prolonged period of brokenness, and our life seems to be more fragmented than whole. The good news is that God can use even these broken uneven times in our lives if we will turn to Him, give them to Him, and continue to let Him reshape our damaged emotions as we recover and renew our strength.

The truth is, we will really never find lasting peace of mind by giving into the reoccurring thought patterns of doubt and discouragement. The key is to release those fears to the One who loves us more than anyone else… even ourselves. The God who created us and has been with us is the past is the One who can guides us, strengthen us, and give us peace, as we get our thoughts off ourselves and look to Him. I really like what Dr. Roy Lessin wrote about this struggle we wrestle with: “God did not give up on you when you didn’t know Him, and He will certainly not give up on you, now that you are His.”

Isaiah 26:3-4 states it this way: “ You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in You, all who thoughts are fixed on You! Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the Eternal Rock.” This and many other promises from the Bible echo and encourages us in the midst of our messy and confusing times, by helping us to look to the Lord as our ultimate source of strength and peace.

This becomes more real to us as we focus our mind and thoughts on His love for us. We are to live by faith in Him more than by our feelings and changing moods. Dr.Eugene Peterson, a prolific Bible Scholar and teacher, clarifies this for us…” All the persons of faith I know are sinners, doubters, uneven performers. We are secure; not because we are sure of ourselves, but because we trust that God is sure of us.”

Stop for just a few moments, and read these scriptures slowly and think about how much He loves us, He is with us, and He believes in us…

The Bible describes us as “God’s Masterpiece” created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do good things He planned for us long ago. (Ephesians 2:10)

“You have shown me the way of life, and you will fill me with the joy of your presence.” – Acts2: 28

“My health may fail, and my spirit grow weak. but God remains the strength of my heart; He is mine forever.” – Psalm 73:26

“The Lord is near the broken hearted. He delivers those who are discouraged. “ – Psalm 34:18

“The Lord will guide you continually, giving you water when you are dry and restoring your strength. You will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring.” – Isaiah 58:11

“ Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! His faithful love endures forever.” – Psalm 136:1

“In face of all of this, what is there left to say? If God is for us, who can be against us? He that did not spare His own Son but gave him up for us all… can we not trust such a God to give us, everything else we need?” – Romans 8: 31

I got to go fishing at the beach while on a family vacation for a few days earlier this summer. The fish are usually safe when I go fishing. I am not very good at it but I always have high hopes of catching a “Big One.” True to form, I caught a few little fish and even a crab, who once I reeled it in, looked at me, and some how got unhooked of my fishing line and went back into the water… I guessed I scared it. I had a great time anyway. Sometimes little things do not go our way or turn out like we had hoped, leaving us feeling disappointed… but that should not ruin our day.

It is wise to plan ahead, think things through and hope for the best. When we expect everything to always go perfect in an imperfect world, that is a different story .That kind of attitude can get us uptight just about any little thing, even insignificant things that really are irrelevant. That selfish attitude can kick into high gear and our demanding demeanor can become a stress inducer not only for us, but it can spill over into those around us… what a mess we can make for ourselves and others.

Sometimes our problems are self-induced by our own unrealistic expectations. We can get so worked up and anxious, expecting people to react to us in a certain way, preconceived in our own minds . If they don’t do what we expect, we can misunderstand their lack of response to us. We may think they are rejecting us as a person. Maybe that is not the reason at all, they could be having a bad day, or they are distracted by something else that they are worried about.

Stephen Arterburn, noted Christian Counselor and author offers this insight: “Unrealistic expectations that we place upon others leads to unnecessary disappointments. It is so easy to place our values and expectations upon others, measuring them by our standards and grading them on how well they fit into our plans. Sadly, we are most prone to do this with those closest to us. They sometimes become our emotional punching bags because we know they are least likely to abandon us when we show our demanding side. Try to approach each day, each relationship, each situation with the conscious thought, that God wants you to be humble and gentle with others.”

Open my eyes Lord…that I may see things and other people from Your perspective. May I be sensitive to Your Spirit to guide me. Keep my mind clear of the stuff that doesn’t really matter. Show me the way to show Your Grace to others, and to make the most of each day.

I like being Happy. I am thankful that even in our U.S. constitution, it mentions the pursuit of happiness. I am glad we can pursue it, even though we are not always able to attain it. Happiness is based on Happenings or specific pleasant experiences, like a beautiful sunset or a great vacation etc…They make us smile and create good memories to reflect back on. That being said, they are temporary and quickly evaporate. You may have seen this happen as you return from a fun trip or vacation. A few days later, you are back at work or busy with your regular routine and responsibilities, and the euphoria of happiness fades into “the real world” stuff we all have to cope with again. You wish you could go back to and relive that happy time you had last week.

Our joy in the Lord, is not limited to just good days or experiences and is available 24/7 and has no expiration date. It is not based on our surroundings or feelings but rather upon our personal relationship with God.

We can be joyful even when when we are not happy with our present circumstances.Our joy is not limited to our current situation. The Joy that comes from knowing God is with you and me, transcends any situation we may encounter. Just realizing that God is with us and goes ahead of us gives us greater comfort and stability. Dr. Henri J. M. Nouwen has stated: “Joy does not simply happen to us. We have to choose Joy and keep choosing it every day.”

I like to think of JOY this way:

Jesus

Only

You

Jesus Only You can: Forgive me of my shortcomings and faults. Give me Eternal Life. Give me the Strength I need for today. Only You know me better than anyone and knows what is best for me right now…Jesus Only You!

Here are some practical and specific verses form the Bible about Joy:

“Restore to me the Joy of your salvation and uphold me by your righteous right hand.” – Psalm 51: 12

“You will show me the path of life, in Your Presence is fulness of Joy.” – Psalm 16:11

“The Joy of the Lord is your strength.” – Nehemiah 8:10

“I will Rejoice in the Lord, I will be Joyful in God my Savior.” – Habakkuk 3:18

“The Lord’s instruction is right, giving Joy to the Heart.” -Psalm 19:8

“ Always be Joyful.” -I Thessalonians 5:16

May you and I choose the Joy that we only can find in Jesus…today and everyday.