If you can’t find five minutes, can you spare one or two?
10/4–Can You Spare A Minute?
10/4–Creatures of Custom
As a boy in the Middle West, I used to amuse myself by holding a stick across a gateway that the sheep had to pass through.
After the first few sheep had jumped over the stick, I took it away; but all the other sheep leaped through the gateway over an imaginary barrier.
The only reason for their jumping was that those in front had jumped.
The sheep is not the only animal with that tendency. Almost all of us are prone to do what others are doing, to believe what others are believing, to follow, without question, the testimony of prominent men.
October 3 is a wonderful reminder that every new day is a gift—a fresh page in the book of your life. You don’t have to be defined by what went wrong yesterday, last week, or even last month. Each sunrise whispers the same message: “Begin again.”
Too often we drag the weight of the past into today, and it slows us down. But think about this—trees don’t cling to their old leaves. When autumn comes, they let them fall, making room for the new growth that’s ahead. In the same way, you can let go of what no longer serves you and embrace the fresh start today offers.
Keys for Today:
Release the past. Forgive yourself, forgive others, and move forward. Renew your focus. Ask yourself: What really matters today? Recommit to growth. Even one new step can change the direction of your journey.
Scripture Inspiration:
“It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.” – Lamentations 3:22-23
No matter how yesterday looked, today you have a fresh chance. A chance to think better thoughts, take better actions, and be a better version of yourself.
And here’s a smile for the day:
Why don’t eggs tell each other secrets?
Because they might crack up!
So on this October 3, take a deep breath, leave the past where it belongs, and step confidently into your fresh start.
1 Cor 2;6-10. Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
October 2 is a perfect reminder that greatness isn’t built overnight—it’s built through consistent, small steps in the right direction. Too often we underestimate the power of little daily choices. Yet, over time, those small choices create a big impact.
A river doesn’t carve through rock in a single day—it does so drop by drop, over time. Likewise, the decisions you make today—choosing kindness, staying disciplined, taking one more step toward your goals—are carving the path toward your future.
Keys for Today:
Stay consistent. Even when progress feels slow, every step counts. Celebrate small wins. They add up to bigger victories. Don’t despise the process. The journey prepares you for the destination.
Scripture Inspiration:
“For who hath despised the day of small things?” – Zechariah 4:10
Today, embrace the power of the little things. One positive choice can ripple into countless blessings. One act of kindness can brighten someone’s entire day. One small habit can change the direction of your future.
And for a touch of humor:
Why did the bicycle fall over?
Because it was two-tired!
So on this October 2, take your step—no matter how small—and trust that it matters. The big picture is painted with little strokes.
Every minute someone leaves this world behind. We are all in “the line” without knowing it. We never know how many people are before us.
We can not move to the back of the line.
We can not step out of the line.
We can not avoid the line.
So while we wait in line –
Make moments count.
Make priorities.
Make the time.
Make your gifts known.
Make a nobody feel like a somebody.
Make your voice heard.
Make the small things big.
Make someone smile.
Make the change.
Make love.
Make up.
Make peace.
Make sure to tell your people they are loved.
Make sure to have no regrets.
Make sure you are ready.
Story:
10/2–There was a farmer who sold a pound of butter to the baker. One day, the baker decided to weigh the butter to see if he was getting a pound and he found that he was not. This angered him and he took the farmer to court.
The judge asked the farmer if he was using any measure. The farmer replied, you see Your Honour, I am primitive. I don’t have a proper measure, but I do have a scale. The judge asked, Then how do you weigh the butter?
The farmer replied, Your Honour since long before the baker started buying butter from me, I have been buying a pound of bread from him. Everyday, when the baker brings the bread, I put it on the scale and give him the same weight in butter. If anyone is to be blamed, it is the baker.
The moral of the story: We get back in life what we give to others. Whenever you take an action, ask yourself this question: am I giving fair value for the wages or money I hope to make? Honesty and dishonesty become a habit.
Some people practise dishonesty and can lie with a straight face. Others lie so much that they don’t even know what the truth is any more. But who are they deceiving?
Themselves more than anyone else. Honesty can be put across gently. Some people take pride in being brutally honest and, in the process, hurt others. It seems they get a bigger kick out of the brutality than the honesty. The choice of words and tact are important while expressing the truth.
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If you can’t find five minutes, can you spare one or two?
Illustration: You are in great pain with appendicitis and have been rushed to hospital. They put you on a bed in the corridor and you are told you will be attended to shortly. But time goes by and nothing happens. The pain is intense. There are doctors and nurses and administrators running back and forth, here and there and all very busy but none of them seem to be solving your problem or easing your pain.
Then the hospital janitor comes along the corridor and sees your discomfort. He puts down his mop and asks you about your problem. He says that he would like to help and walks away. When he returns he has taken off his overalls and has put on a surgeon’s white coat. As he gets nearer to your bed he pulls out an old pocket knife to start the operation to ease your pain. Do you really want his help?
Sometimes, it better to wait for the right people to fix the problem. The administration under Jesus is already very busy working steadily toward shortly easing the pain of this system.
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Mt 6:9-15. After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Anger is never without a reason, but seldom with a good one.
B. Franklin.
Story:
10/1—Will Rogers was known for his laughter, but he also knew how to weep. One day he was entertaining at the Milton H. Berry Institute in Los Angeles, a hospital that specialized in rehabilitating polio victims and people with broken backs and other extreme physical handicaps
Of course, Rogers had everybody laughing, even patients in really bad condition; but then he suddenly left the platform and went to the rest room. Milton Berry followed him to give him a towel; and when he opened the door, he saw Will Rogers leaning against the wall, sobbing like a child. He closed the door, and in a few minutes, Rogers appeared back on the platform, as jovial as before.
If you want to learn what a person is really like, ask three questions: What makes him laugh? What makes him angry? What makes him weep?
These are fairly good tests of character that are especially appropriate for Christian leaders. I hear people saying, “We need angry leaders today!” or “The time has come to practice militant Christianity!” Perhaps, but “the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God” (James 1:20).
What we need today is not anger but anguish, the kind of anguish that Moses displayed when he broke the two tablets of the law and then climbed the mountain to intercede for his people, or that Jesus displayed when He cleansed the temple and then wept over the city. The difference between anger and anguish is a broken heart. It’s easy to get angry, especially at somebody else’s mistakes, but it’s not easy to look at sin, our own included, and weep over it.
Warren W. Wiersbe, The Integrity Crisis, Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1991, pp. 75-76.
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September 30 marks the end of another month. It’s a natural checkpoint—a chance to pause and reflect on how far you’ve come and where you’re headed. Maybe this month was filled with victories, or maybe it held challenges that left you feeling weary. Either way, today is about one thing: finishing strong.
Think about a race. The crowd doesn’t cheer for how the runner started—it cheers when the runner crosses the finish line. The final stretch may be the hardest, but it’s also the most rewarding. You may not have done everything perfectly in September, but you can still finish it with focus, gratitude, and determination.
Here’s how to finish strong today:
Reflect, don’t regret. Look back at lessons learned, not mistakes made. Give your best today. Even one focused day can redeem an entire month. Set your eyes on what’s next. A strong finish today sets the stage for a strong beginning tomorrow.
Scripture Inspiration:
“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.” – 2 Timothy 4:7
So as September closes, remind yourself that the story isn’t over. You can close this chapter with determination and walk boldly into the next one.
And here’s a little humor to help you smile while you finish:
Why don’t skeletons ever fight each other?
Because they don’t have the guts!
Finish this month with courage, gratitude, and faith—and watch how the next one opens with new opportunities.
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