Lessons From Pavlov's Dogs

Does the name Pavlov ring a bell? Ivan Pavlov proved that two stimuli repeatedly linked together can produce a conditioned response. He observed that dogs would salivate when they were about to be fed. Pavlov rang a bell each time prior to feeding the dogs so they would associate the bell-ringing with dinner time. This conditioned them to salivate in the anticipation of being fed because bell ringing and eating were connected together. FOOD + BELL RINGING = SALIVATE

This explains why you crave popcorn when you go to the movies. You’ve eaten popcorn so many times as you’ve watched movies that popcorn munching and movie watching are connected together. Now you cannot watch a movie without eating popcorn—and you’ll even pay outrageous prices at the theatre to get it! MOVIE + SALIVATE = EXPENSIVE POPCORN  Here are a couple of examples about conditioned responses:

Example #1: Ecclesiastes 8:11 says, “Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed quickly, therefore the hearts of the sons of men among them are given fully to do evil.” When a person commits a crime, punishment must be executed quickly so that the criminal learns that his evil deed results in a painful penalty.  CRIME + PAIN = DETERRENCE for repeating the evil deed.  Failure to punish quickly will encourage others to commit crimes because they think “nothing will happen to me.” (There’s a lesson here about parenting a rebellious child)

Example #2: I once counseled a married couple who were always fighting. The husband said, “She hits my hot button and then I respond by hitting her hot button.” Their continual arguing had conditioned them to explode and know exactly how to retaliate.

The only way to “reverse the curse” of negative conditioning is to respond in the opposite way with kindness. First Peter 3:9 says, “Not returning evil for evil or insult for insult (negative conditioning with hateful words), but giving a blessing instead” (positive conditioning by speaking kind words). It takes time to recondition a marriage, but a happy home will be worth it.  www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com   www.makinglifecount.net

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The End of the World

Newspaper columnist Mike Royko wrote a story about a practical joke that was played on a man in Madison, Wisconsin. The man and his three friends went on a fishing trip to a secluded lake. Each night they went to bed at 10 o’clock and got up before dawn every morning to fish.

One night Joe went to bed first and quickly fell asleep. And that’s when one of his friends got an idea. He got Joe’s wristwatch and changed the time to 4:45. They all changed the times on their watches and clocks, and set the alarm to go off at 5 o’clock. Then they got into their beds and waited. 

Fifteen minutes later, the alarm went off. They all got up, rubbed their eyes, and shuffled around like they had been sleeping for seven hours. They made breakfast, just like every morning. Joe complained that he felt like he hadn’t gotten any sleep that night.

After they started fishing, every few minutes Joe would look at the eastern horizon and say, “What time do have?” One guy said, “6:00.” Joe said, “Shouldn’t it be getting light soon?”

At 6:40, Joe stopped fishing and stared into the darkness, “Guys, I’m tell you, something is wrong! The sun isn’t coming up. It should be up by now!” He started freaking out, “Guys, this must be the END OF THE WORLD!” His friends burst out laughing and let him in on the joke.

One day the end of the world will come, and that’s no joke. Jesus described the signs of the end by saying, “Men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth” (Luke 21:26). Clearly, those terrified people Jesus is talking about aren’t ready to meet God.

You might not see the end of the world, but when you die, it’s the end of your world. The end of your time in this world is the beginning of your time in the next world in one of two places.  Will you make peace with God before that time comes? CLICK HERE to find out how to do this.   www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com   www.makinglifecount.net

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Cold Turkey

Garrison Keillor tells a story of a family get-together at Thanksgiving, and how every year it was the same uncle who gave the blessing at the family dinner. It was always a long prayer, and inevitably it got stalled at the point where he began giving thanks for Jesus’ death on the cross.

While the rest of the family began to worry about the turkey growing cold, the uncle would begin to weep. Keillor said, “I don’t know, I guess he just never got over Jesus’ death the way other Christians have.” Sadly, Jesus’ death on the cross doesn’t move many people to tears.

Jesus was dining at Simon the Pharisee’s house when an immoral woman came into the house. She kissed His feet and poured a vial of perfume on them, and as she wept, wiped His feet with her hair. The Pharisee was offended by her actions. He thought, “If this man were a prophet, He would know that she is a sinner” (Luke 7:36-39).

Jesus said, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” He then told a story about a moneylender who had two debtors. One owed 500 denarii, and the other owed 50. When both were unable to repay, he forgave them both. Jesus asked Simon, “Which of them will love him more?” Simon answered, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.” Jesus said, “You have answered correctly” (7:41-43).

According to Jesus, our love for God has everything to do with our realization of how much we have been forgiven by Him. He said, “Therefore I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; that’s why she loved much. But the one who is forgiven little, loves little” (Luke 7:47). 

That’s why the woman cried and wiped His feet with her tears. And that’s why the uncle cried every Thanksgiving when he gave thanks for Jesus’ death on the cross. He focused on what Jesus did to purchase his eternal salvation, while the others seated at the table were focusing on the turkey getting cold. www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com   www.makinglifecount.net

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Jumping to the Wrong Conclusion

In April 2000, a woman in Houston, Texas was killed in a car accident. As the coroner was doing the autopsy, he discovered a bullet in the deceased woman’s brain. He changed the cause of death from an accident to first-degree murder. 

What looked like a car accident apparently was a diabolical coverup for a crime. Of course, the husband would be a primary suspect in such cases. But before we lock him up in a prison cell on death row, we need to gather all the facts. Maybe the butler did it, or someone else was involved.

Upon further investigation, the coroner discovered she had been accidentally shot in the head in 1978 and never had the bullet removed. Once the coroner gained this new information, he changed the cause of death from murder back to a car accident. 

Do you see how easy it is to jump to the wrong conclusion? We take one bit of information and think it’s the whole story. We make wrong assumptions when we fill in the blanks with our biased opinions and mentally connect the dots that aren’t there.

The prophet Samuel wrongly assumed Eliab was going to be the next king of Israel (1 Sam. 16:6). Saul wrongly assumed David wanted to usurp his throne (1 Sam. 18:8-9). Samson wrongly assumed he would always have supernatural strength (Judges 16:19-20). The scribes and Pharisees wrongly assumed Jesus received the power to cast out demons by Satan (Mark 3:22).

Proverbs 18:13 says, “He who answers before he hears the facts—it is folly and shame to him.” If you don’t know all the facts, and if you don’t know the other person’s motives, hold off from forming an opinion or making an important decision. It might save you from being embarrassed later.  www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com   www.makinglifecount.net

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If Jesus Wrote a Letter to Your Church

In Revelation 2-3, Jesus wrote letters to seven churches in different cities. These letters (recorded by the apostle John) were to be delivered to those churches so they could make corrections. It made we wonder—what would He write to today’s churches? Here are some facts about those letters:

1. Each church had an opinion about itself that was inaccurate. “Groupthink” is the conformity of thinking within a group, which typically doesn’t allow differing points of view. Laodicea thought they were wealthy and didn’t need anything. But Jesus corrected their false opinions, “You don’t know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked” (Rev. 3:17).

2. Jesus praised them for what they were doing right. He told the church at Ephesus, “I know your works, your labor, and your endurance, and that you cannot tolerate evil…and have not grown weary” (Rev. 2:2-3).

3. Jesus rebuked them for what they were doing wrong. He also told Ephesus, “But I have this against you, you have abandoned the love you had at first” (Rev. 2:4)

4. Jesus told them how to make corrections. “Remember how far you have fallen, repent, and do the works you did at first” (Rev. 2:5).

IF JESUS WROTE TO CHURCHES TODAY, He might say something like this:

To the Liberal church: “I know your compassion for all broken and rejected people, and will accept them into your church. But I have this against you—you have ignored My Word about the need for repentance, and you will not allow Me to change their hearts and behavior.”

To the Traditional church: “I know that you do not compromise My Word, that you are teaching it to all ages in your Sunday School classes, and you support missions. But I have this against you—you hold on to man-made traditions and rituals, many that I want you to abandon. You’re doing them because you’ve always done it that way, and not because I told you to do them.”

To the Contemporary church: “I know that you have changed the atmosphere to make your church more inviting to the younger generation. You’ve updated your music, made your sanctuaries more comfortable, and even serve donuts and coffee. But I have this against you—entertaining the congregation has become more important than making disciples and worshipping Me. You have abandoned discipleship programs for all ages (like Sunday school), which has made your congregation spiritually shallow.”

Okay, I’ll admit that I’m just speculating about what He might say. Your church might be perfect. Or it might need a letter written to it. www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com www.makinglifecount.net

Did you know you can TRANSLATE this devotional into other languages? On the right side of www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com choose a language and click “Translate.” If you know someone in another county, send this devotional to them in their language.  

The Optimist Says, The Pessimist Says

Peter, James, and John spent all night fishing and had caught nothing. As they were washing out their nets, Jesus told them to go back out and let down their nets and then they would catch fish (Luke 5:1-5). Suppose an optimist and a pessimist were also on the boat. Which one is you?

The Pessimist says:  "Go out again? Why didn’t you tell us this before we washed out our nets? We already wasted an entire night out there. The fish aren’t out there! It won’t do any good.” The Optimist says:  "It doesn’t make sense, but I will trust you even though I don’t understand.”

God did have a purpose for their empty nets. It was to show them that He could provide for them when their own efforts failed. When they threw out their nets, they caught so many fish that their nets began to break (Luke 5:6). Pessimist says: “Oh no! The nets are breaking so now I’ve got to repair them.” Optimist says: “Look at all the fish! We can sell them and buy new nets and a new boat. Thank you, Jesus!”

The pessimist complains when the nets are empty, and complains again when the nets are full! We can choose to look at the positive side of each situation or the negative side. The optimist sees the donut. The pessimist sees the hole.

They filled both of the boats with so many fish that they began to sink (Luke 5:7). Pessimist says: “Oh no! God is sinking our boats! These nets are so heavy! My back is killing me! Call a doctor. I think I threw my back out. I'll sue!" Optimist says: “Wow! God is blessing our boats! This is great! I've never seen a haul like this before. Only God could do this!” 

And when they had brought their boats to the land, they left everything and followed Him. (Luke 5:11) They left their boats behind. They left behind their tremendous haul of fish they had just caught because they found a higher calling. Pessimist says: “I’m losing my fishing business!” Optimist says: “I’m gaining eternal life!”

Peter and the other disciples were convinced if Jesus could provide that many fish, then He could provide all their other needs as well if they followed Him. Many people have never figured that out. Have you? But first you might have to leave your “fish” behind. www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com  www.makinglifecount.net

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Taking Communion on the Moon?

On July 20, 1969, Apollo 11 became the first manned vehicle to land on the moon. Nearly everyone knows Neil Armstrong was the first man to walk on the moon, but few remember the second man was Buzz Aldrin. Even fewer remember that Buzz Aldrin was the first man to observe the Lord’s Supper on the moon.

He was an elder at Webster Presbyterian Church in Texas at the time, so he asked his pastor to provide the elements to take to the moon. Aldrin and Armstrong had only been on the lunar surface for a few minutes when Buzz read John 15:5 and swallowed the bread and wine inside the lunar module. Aldrin later said, “The very first liquid ever poured on the moon, and the very first food eaten there, were the communion elements. And some of the first words spoken on the moon were the words of Jesus Christ, who made the earth and the moon.” 

At the Last Supper, Jesus said, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me” (Luke 22:19). I have to wonder if Jesus knew that Communion (also known as the Eucharist) would one day be celebrated on the moon. Since He knew all things (John 18:4, 19:28), He certainly did know. When Mary anointed Jesus with perfume, He said, "Truly I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be spoken of in memory of her” (Matt. 26:13).

His statement sounded impossible, but Jesus knew a Bible would be written in the future and this event would be recorded in it. Today the New Testament has been translated into 2,300 languages. Bibles have been distributed worldwide, and the story about Mary anointing Him with perfume is recorded in each one of them.

He never said, “Truly I say to you, this supper will be celebrated on the moon.” It would be too much for anyone to believe, at least until 1969. We don’t take the Lord’s Supper to remember it was celebrated on the moon. We take it to remember Jesus died for our sins, and we’ll continue to observe it until He returns and we’re in His kingdom (1 Cor. 11:26, Matt. 26:29).  www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com  www.makinglifecount.net

CLICK HERE for How to Answer Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses 

It All Went Up in Smoke

After spending months writing his book The French Revolution, Thomas Carlyle took his manuscript to his friend John Stuart Mill for his comments. Mill passed the manuscript on to a lady named Mrs. Chapman, who read it by the fireplace on the evening of March 5, 1834. Before she went to bed she laid the manuscript on the mantel.

The next day, the maid came to clean the room and start the fire in the fireplace. Mistaking it as trash, she used the manuscript as fuel to start the fire and burned up the book! Carlyle had to start over and rewrite the entire manuscript.

The same thing happened to the prophet Jeremiah. God told him to write on a scroll everything He had spoken concerning Israel, Judah, and all the nations (Jer. 36:2). That covered 22 years, and it would soon be burned in a fireplace.

Jeremiah spent about a year dictating the words to Baruch the scribe, who wrote them down. Because the message called for everyone to turn from their evil ways, it was never going to be a New York Times bestseller. The scroll was taken to evil King Jehoiakim to be read.

The king was in his house with a fire burning in the fireplace. When Jehudi had read three or four columns, the king grabbed it, cut it with a knife, and threw it into the fire, destroying the entire scroll (36:2-23). The king tried to seize Jeremiah and Baruch, but the Lord hid them (36:26).

It had to be devastating for Jeremiah to see all his work go up in smoke. Then God told him to start over and write it again! He took another scroll and rewrote all the words on the scroll that Jehoiakim had burned, plus more information (36:28-32). 

Maybe you need to start over because everything you had before went up in smoke. You’ve lost your job. You’ve lost your reputation. Your house burned down. You got divorced. You’ve lost a loved one. Like a burned-up manuscript, all you have left are a pile of ashes.

However, the Lord still has a good plan for the rest of your life. He will give you “beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and the garment of praise instead of the spirit of despair” (Isa. 61:3). God will help you start over. Don’t say that you can’t. You can and you will!  www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com 

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Why Did He Jump Overboard?

Cameron Robbins, a recent 2023 high school graduate, was on a trip to the Bahamas with students from several local high schools. Just four hours after their arrival, Robbins and his friends went on a sunset party cruise. The boat, named Blackbeard’s Revenge, was designed to resemble a pirate ship. Around 9:40 p.m. someone dared Robbins to jump off the boat into the shark-infested waters. Taking up the challenge, he voluntarily “walked the plank” and jumped overboard.

 

A video taken moments after the jump shows Robbins ignoring onlookers’ pleas for him to grab a life ring that had been thrown in the water. A silvery reflection stirred in the dark waters near the boat’s hull, which may have been a shark. Robbins swam away from whatever it was in the water. The last scene of the video shows him splashing a few feet from the boat, before disappearing under water. The teen’s body was never recovered.

How could anyone be foolish enough to jump off a ship at night where tiger sharks were known to be? Someone dared him to do it. Maybe he was afraid to say no in front of his friends. Maybe it was to prove he was brave. Perhaps he thought the video would go viral on social media and he would become famous (which it did). Whatever the reason, I’m sure he regretted his decision not long after he hit the water, but then it was too late.

Cameron Robbins represents many people who are partying on the wrong ship, listening to the wrong voices, and jumping to the wrong conclusions. They make hasty decisions that will ruin their lives without thinking about the consequences. It might not be jumping overboard, but something just as dangerous and fatal in the long run.

Proverbs 14:16 says, “A wise person suspects danger and cautiously avoids evil, but the fool is arrogant and careless.” That means we have the courage to say no when people dare us to do very stupid things. We choose to be with friends who follow God and avoid those who want us to do wrong. Solomon said, “He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm” (Prov. 13:20).   www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com  

She Wasn't Expecting This to Happen

My daughter Hannah practiced for several weeks for the high school varsity cheerleader tryouts. She had been a junior varsity cheerleader, and only 3 varsity spots were open in a school of 2,000 students. Her best friend, Melissa, who was already a varsity cheerleader, practiced with Hannah every day to help her win one of the vacant spots. They kept talking about how fun it would be to cheer together. Melissa taught her the proper way to jump and how to always keep a smile on her face. She kept telling her, “You can do it, Hannah! I know you can!”

Over 100 girls showed up to compete for the 3 spots. The results would be posted at 9:45 pm. At 10:00 pm, Hannah came home, sobbing uncontrollably. My wife and I rushed over to comfort her. I told her, “It’s okay that you didn’t make varsity. We’re glad that you tried.”

Hannah continued to cry. She finally settled down and said, “I did make the varsity, but the judges demoted Melissa from varsity to junior varsity and gave me her place on varsity. I hurt so badly for her. She’s devastated!”

We were stunned. In a weird twist of fate, Hannah took Melissa’s position on varsity, and Melissa took Hannah’s position on J.V. “I don’t want to be a varsity cheerleader now,” Hannah said. “I’m going to ask for my junior varsity position back so Melissa can stay on varsity.” I told her, “I don’t think the judges would allow that.”

Hannah got up and drove over to Melissa’s house, where they cried together. She didn’t want to leave her alone, so that night she slept on the floor next to her friend.

I always enjoyed watching Hannah lead cheers at football games, but my fondest memory was when she demonstrated the love of Jesus and slept on the floor next to a hurting friend. Jesus said, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself (Matt. 22:39), and we’ll never be able to do this until we first feel the pain that they feel.   www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com  www.makinglifecount.net 

The Preacher Who Lost His Voice

 The following comes from my book, MORE Amazing Stories & Daily Devotionals

Some people believe God healed people in biblical times, but they’re not sure if He still heals today because they know some people who weren’t healed. However, just because someone isn’t healed doesn’t mean that no one can be healed today. While some people claim God healed them, it’s not often when a miracle is caught on a recording. The following healing was actually captured on audio:

Duane Miller was pastor of First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas. In 1990, he lost his voice due to a virus that infiltrated the nerves in his vocal cords. Over the next 3 years he went to 63 specialists, who told him he would never speak normally again. Even so, he continued to teach the Bible in a loud whisper to the best of his ability.

In 1993, he was teaching a church class on Psalm 103, which was being recorded on audio. As he was teaching through his whisper, he said, “The Psalmist says, ‘Bless the Lord oh my soul.’ One of the benefits is ‘He heals all my diseases.’ In verse 4 He says, ‘and redeems my life from the pit.’ Now, I like that verse a whole lot…”

At that moment, he felt something happen in his throat. He stopped whispering and started talking! As he continued to speak, his voice got stronger and clearer. He paused, realizing he had just been miraculously healed, and said, “I don’t understand this right now. I’m a bit overwhelmed by the moment…” The class was stunned, realizing they had just witnessed a miraculous healing, and started cheering.

As he choked back tears, he continued, “I’m, uh… sounds funny to say, I’m at a loss for words! Thank you Lord!” Miller has continued to speak normally since that day. We serve a living God who still does miracles because Jesus said, “The things that are impossible with men are possible with God” (Luke 18:27).

We can learn a few things from this. Duane Miller didn’t become bitter at God because he wasn’t healed for 3 years. He continued to serve the Lord, even when he had to teach God’s Word in a whisper. He still believed God could heal today, even though he was told he would never speak normally again. We should all follow those three examples.    www.makinglifecount.net 

You can listen to the recording of the moment he was healed by CLICKING HERE.  You can visit Duane Miller’s website at www.nuvoice.org

June is Humility Month

The following comes from my book, MORE Amazing Stories & Daily Devotionals

June is Humility Month because “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” (1 Peter 5:5). God doesn’t take kindly to those who flaunt themselves and what they do. But don’t take my word for it. On three different occasions Jesus said everyone who thinks of himself as great will be brought down (Matt. 23:12, Luke 14:11, 18:14). When King Nebuchadnezzar lifted himself up, he went insane. When King Belshazzar mocked God by drinking wine from the gold and silver vessels taken from the temple, he died that night. (Dan. 4:30-33, 5:1-30).

And then there’s King Herod Agrippa who died in an unusual way. Acts 12:21-23 tell us: “And on an appointed day Herod, having put on his royal apparel, took his seat on the rostrum and began delivering an address to them. And the people kept crying out, ‘The voice of a god and not of a man!’ And immediately an angel of the Lord struck him because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and died.”  

The Jewish historian Josephus, who lived 37-100 AD, confirmed this event. “[Herod] put on his garment made wholly of silver … his garment being illuminated by the reflection of the sun’s rays upon it, shone out after a surprising manner,” giving him a brilliant appearance. “A severe pain also arose in his bowels in a most violent manner … and [he] said, ‘I, whom you call a god, am commanded presently to depart this life.’” (Antiquities of the Jews 19.8.2)

Imagine watching this. Herod enters the theatre in a robe of silver. The sun reflects off the silver coat, making him look as if he’s glowing. The crowd cries out that he’s a god, and he receives their worship. Then, at that moment, he falls over dead “because he did not give God the glory.” 

How do we humble ourselves? Simply by yielding completely to God and asking Him take control of our lives. We live according to what He wants and not how we want. Pride always dies when we shine the spotlight on God instead of ourselves. www.makinglifecount.net   www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com

The Passenger Had to Fly The Plane

The following comes from my book, MORE Amazing Stories & Daily Devotionals

David Gibbs and his friend were in the Aleutian Islands in Alaska flying in a small plane to Anchorage when the pilot passed out. Neither one of the passengers knew how to fly the plane. David sat in the pilot’s seat, but he couldn’t see anything because they were flying in a storm. His friend called on the radio and was connected to Anchorage Emergency. 

The man in the tower said, “I’ve found you on the radar. If you want me to get you home safe, you’ve got to promise me you’ll obey my voice. You can’t see me, but I can see you. If you don’t do what I say, you won’t make it.  

“You’re four minutes away from a mountain. You’re going to crash into that mountain unless you follow my instructions.” David followed his orders and got the plane turned away from the mountain.

The voice continued, “You’re an hour and a half away from Anchorage and there’s a lot of bad weather ahead of you. You’re in for a rough ride. I want you to listen to me and not look outside. I don’t want you to pay attention to the storm, just my voice. If you start watching the storm, you will die. But if you listen to me, I’ll take you through it.”

Later the voice said, “I’m going bring you in down the runway. At the foot of the runway are some lights shaped like a cross. The cross is the way home.” As the plane was coming down to land, David could see the cross. He bounced the plane on the runway and landed safely. When the plane stopped, the pilot woke up! The voice in the tower said, “Thanks for listening. I watch them crash and burn all the time because they won’t follow my voice.” 

Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27). Trust His voice to guide you through life. You can’t see Him, but He can see you.    www.makinglifecount.net   www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THIS AMAZING STORY on YouTube 

He Survived Jumping Off the Golden Gate Bridge

The following comes from my book, MORE Amazing Stories & Daily Devotionals

Kevin Hines was depressed and decided to end his life by jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge. Miraculously, he survived. Hines said, “The millisecond my hands left the rail and my legs cleared it, I had instantaneous regret for my actions.”

“I fell nearly 250 feet, 25 stories, closing in on 80 mph nearing the speed of terminal velocity in 4 seconds. In those 4 seconds, I said to myself, What have I just done? I don’t want to die! God, please save me! I realized I made the greatest mistake of my life. And then I hit the water.”

He crushed three vertebrae on impact, and then started drowning. He prayed, “I don’t want to die, God, I made a mistake.” A sea lion kept pushing him to the surface until the Coast Guard rescued him. He’s one of 35 people who’ve survived that jump while 1,800 others have died in the San Francisco Bay since the bridge was opened in 1937. Hines’s story is chronicled in a documentary, The Ripple Effect.

In Acts 16:25-31, we find another man who wanted to end his life. Paul and Silas had been arrested and were singing praises to God in jail. The Lord sent an earthquake, which opened all the prison doors. The jailer thought the prisoners had escaped, so he drew his sword and was about to fall on it. Paul cried out, “Do yourself no harm, for we are all here!” The jailer, realizing something supernatural just happened, asked, “What must I do to be saved?” Paul said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved.”

If you’ve thought about ending your life, God says to you, “Do yourself no harm! I have a plan and a purpose for your life.” Psalm 42:5 (NLT) says, “Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise Him.” That’s the answer. Put your hope in the Lord and praise Him. He’s the one who can give you a reason to live.

BIBLE STUDY: End Times & Bible Prophecy

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The Copy Cats

This comes from my book, MORE Amazing Stories & Daily Devotionals

President Calvin Coolidge once invited some friends to dinner at the White House. The guests didn’t know how to behave with the proper table manners, so they decided to just copy whatever the President did. 

When the coffee was served, Coolidge poured his into a saucer. The guests pulled out their saucers and did the same. Coolidge poured some cream and sugar in the saucer, so the guests added cream and sugar to theirs. Then Coolidge bent over, placed his saucer on the floor, and called for his cat.

If you choose to be a copycat, make sure you’re copying the right cat. Romans 12:2 says, “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.” Some people spend their lives trying to become like the celebrities and movie stars they worship.

When Kay Kent of London was eighteen, she wanted to look exactly like Marilyn Monroe. She bleached her hair platinum blond, had plastic surgery, and hired makeup artists to fix her face like Marilyn. With the growth of her obsession, she learned to talk like Marilyn, walk like Marilyn, and dress like Marilyn. She turned herself into a carbon copy of Monroe. The Lookalikes Agency in London gave her a contract in 1982 and she was soon making $100,000 per year. She later became depressed and turned to liquor and pills. On June 12, 1989, she died of an overdose, just like Marilyn Monroe. She chose the wrong cat to copy.

Paul copied Jesus. He said, “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ” (1 Cor. 11:1). Paul followed Him. He acted like Him. Suffered like Him. And we’re also to follow in His steps (1 Pet. 2:21). Don’t copy the wrong cats. There’s only one cat worth copying and that’s the Lion of Judah (Rev. 5:5).

BIBLE STUDY: Frequently Asked Bible Questions

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The Polish Swimmer at the Olympic Trials

The following comes from my book, MORE Amazing Stories & Daily Devotionals  

In the 1930s, a Polish immigrant’s son lived in a dreary apartment in Chicago. Because the boy only spoke broken English, he had no friends and no one to encourage him.

One day as the youngster was walking home, a man standing outside the YMCA called out to him. He worked at the facility and invited him inside to see the Olympic-sized indoor swimming pool. He asked the young man if he could swim. The boy said he could not. “Would you like to come here after school and learn how to swim?” the man asked.

The boy accepted his offer, learned to swim, and spent hours every day at the pool. As the months passed, the young man became a proficient long-distance swimmer. He entered a swimming contest and won the competition.

A few weeks later, the teenager won again. Two years later, after becoming the best distance swimmer in Illinois and then in the Midwest, he was excited to receive a letter bearing the Olympic seal. It was an invitation to join twenty of the nation’s best swimmers to compete to represent the USA in the upcoming Olympics! The two fastest swimmers would receive spots on the team.

On the day of the competition, the swimmers waited for the start signal and dove into the pool. As the swimmers swam their laps, the young man from Chicago kept up with the leaders for most of the race. However, he slowly slipped behind and was unable to keep up with the fastest swimmers. He finished in 4^th place, which meant he would not be going to the Olympics.

But if you think about it, finishing in 4^th place is nothing to be ashamed of. Not for someone with only one arm.

The apostle Paul wrote, “Whatever you do, do it wholehearted as though you were doing if for the Lord and not for people” (Col. 3:13). The Lord calls you to do your best, even if you have a disability such as only having one arm. In God’s eyes, finishing in 4^th place can be the same as winning a gold medal in the Olympics.

RECEIVE THESE DEVOTIONALS FREE by EMAIL: You can subscribe in the box on the right at www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com  NOTE: The subscription box will NOT usually appear on your smart phone, but it can be seen on your computer (or by opening the “desktop site” feature on your phone.) www.makinglifecount.net