Pastor’s May Message
Dear Friends and Family of Hilton Baptist Church,
Throughout the month of April, I made it part of my morning routine to read one chapter from the
Old Testament book of Proverbs. The book of Proverbs contains short quotes of wise advice and
valuable guidance. It contains only thirty–one chapters and by reading one chapter a day a person
can finish the entire book in a month. It is a practice I suggest everyone does at least once in their
life, but it wouldn’t hurt to do so more than that.
As I read through Proverbs I wondered “What have I noticed recently in my own daily life that has
been a ‘word of wisdom’ for me personally that I might share with others?” Here are some obser-
vations, thoughts or quotes I’ve noticed in the last few weeks that have been meaningful to me.
These are in no particular order and do not share a common theme. They are completely random,
but I share them hoping that perhaps one or two may be beneficial to you as well.
• To push back the “blues and the blahs” sometimes the best thing to do is crank up the volume
on the radio and sing along to a favorite song really, really loud.
• A good walk is good for the soul.
• “Eliminate the excuses, and you start to move forward, because you can make excuses or you
can make progress, but you can’t make both” ~ Carey Nieuwhof
• I’ve noticed when walking Brooks, he often looks back at where we’ve been rather than looking
forward to where I am trying to lead him. As a result, we lose our rhythm and he gets tangled
up. I wonder how often I do the same when walking with the Lord?
• “You don’t think your way into a new kind of living but live your way into a new kind of
thinking” ~ Henri Nouwen
• More dogs means more “stuff” to pick up. The lesson? Having more in life means dealing
with more “stuff.”
• One doesn’t notice grubs in the yard until the grass turns brown and dies. The grubs eat the
roots where they cannot be seen until it’s too late. If there are parts of life that seem brown and
lifeless, maybe it is time to examine what is eating at the root.
• Simple things can bring immense joy: lunch with a friend, watching bluebirds, playing with a
dog, helping a complete stranger. If simple moments bring so much joy, why don’t I do more
of them?
• “One of the great mistakes we make is asking God to do for us what God wants us to do for
Him” ~ Mark Batterson
• Dandelions may be annoying weeds, but they are a beautiful sign that the doldrums of winter
are passing and the new life of spring is coming. Maybe if there are annoying “weeds” in our
lives, instead of always seeing them as a nuisance perhaps we might consider that they are a
sign that something new is coming?
• I don’t need more answers, I just need more of God.
• “Respect for the Lord will teach you wisdom. If you want to be honored, you must be humble.”
~ Proverbs 15:33
Be Still, Be Well
Dan
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