Old Timer

Do you carry a pocketknife? Security concerns have made it a little more difficult to carry even a small pocketknife. I always carry one when and where I can because I've always loved the usefulness of knives. They can be very handy.
I once knew a great guy named Bobby Bramlett. Bobby was single, in his early forties, and he was left completely blind following a tragic accident. He was also quite a character. One year our church had a Fall Festival. Bobby wanted to sit in the dunking booth. He sat on the platform above a large container of water and waited for our festival-goers to toss baseballs at the target. When hit, the target would throw a switch and Bobby would fall into the water. In order to prevent disorientation, Bobby tied a thin rope from his waist to the side of the tank. All seemed well till the first dunk. Bobby flailed to the surface gasping and choking! His rope had become tangled round his neck, and disaster seemed imminent. Fortunately, I remembered my trusty pocketknife. With shaking hands I opened it, cut the taut rope, and Bobby was free. I'm glad I had it with me! The knife was a Schrade "Oldtimer."
Since that episode, I've acquired several knives by different makers, but they all have two things in common. First, they must serve a purpose or they are useless. Second, they all have an "edge." I keep them sharp.
After many years in ministry, I realize something: I'm an Old Timer. You may be one, too. And the same two principles of usefulness apply to us if we are going to effectively serve God.
First, we must serve God's Purpose for us. How are you useful to God? We can know His will for us. Here are a few things He wants of us:
• Do all things to His Glory (1 Corinthians 10:31)
• Bring others to Jesus (Matthew 28:18-20)

• Build one another up (Ephesians 4:13)
• Help others in Jesus' name (Matthew 10:42)
Second, God also has special and specific plans for each of us. (Psalm 139:13-16) He wants to use us in His service with our own special gifts, talents, personalities, culture, and relationships. Each day is an adventure of discovery as He reveals His special plans for us as we live through the struggles, challenges, opportunities, joys, and sorrows of our lives.
Finally, we need to keep our edge or we become dull and can't really serve His purpose. We stay sharp by letting His Word sharpen us each day (Hebrews 4:12), by the sharpening of others through genuine relationship (Proverbs 27:17), and by devoting ourselves to prayer and service to Him each day.
Take it from me, it's THE way to live! There's nothing better. No matter what age you are, make it your goal to become an Old Timer in His Service.

Discipline

Discipline is normally not an action that any of us like. Most of the time we think of being punished during discipline, things taken away from us to teach us a lesson. Parent’s use discipline to mold their children and the bible teaches Parent’s to use discipline. But the people who hate discipline the most are not children but those who are older. One of the main reason children are so ready to leave the nest is for all the freedom of choice and no discipline. Well if you think you are going to grow old enough to not be disciplined then you are completely wrong.
Look at it this way
As a person you are either a thermometer or you’re a thermostat. Thermometer people tend to reflect temperature of the people around them. If you’re hot, I’m hot. If you’re cool then I’m cool. If you’re nice then I’m nice. If you yell then I will yell to. If you are mean to people then I will be mean as well. What most of us would like to be is thermostat person – Someone who controls the temperature in our situation.
Your family, friends, and church need you to be a thermostat. Look at your friends, family, and people in this church and you know that they need someone in their life that has it all under control. There are not a lot of us that are willing to be thermostat people. Although we are all capable of it many of us are not willing to put forth the discipline.
How Jesus teaches us to be disciplined “Stressful Situation”
John 14:27 Jesus is talking to His closest friends on the most stressful night of his life, just before His arrest and execution. It’s on the edge of what is about to be the most stressful chapter in their lives. If stressful is a fair description of your life right now, these words from Jesus are for you, too.
His words exactly were: "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."
Another Time
Luke 5:16 Before any change in your life take time to stop and pray. Why is it that we don’t make praying a priority especially when faced with challenges in our lives? It was once said that when you think nothing is going to happen to you, you start thinking that nothing can touch you, and that’s when everything goes wrong. Make prayer part of you.
I think the key to being a disciplined person is knowing Jesus and knowing that you belong to him.
When you know you belong to Him, you can be a thermostat instead of a thermometer because you know you have an identity and a security that is rooted in something you can't lose. It is the freedom of knowing that whatever is at stake in this situation isn't all there is; you're anchored to Jesus Christ, His unconditional love, and His unstoppable plans.
It's the relationship you were made for, but you've been missing because your sin has cut you off from your Creator. It's the relationship that Jesus died to give you by paying for your sin on His cross. If you're ready to let Jesus bring peace to that storm inside you, tell Him you are trusting Him to be your Savior from your sin. Jesus can turn any thermometer person into a thermostat. He gives them inner power to be in control of all situations that they face.