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Have you ever heard the story of the cannibal cows? The story is found in Genesis 41. The ruler of Egypt had one of those puzzling, troubling dream. It was the story of the cannibal cows. The Pharoah tells us the story,

Gen 41:17-21

“In my dream I was standing on the bank of the Nile, when out of the river there came up seven cows, fat and sleek, and … After them, seven other cows came up — scrawny and very ugly and lean. I had never seen such ugly cows in all the land of Egypt. The lean, ugly cows ate up the seven fat cows that came up first. But even after they ate them, no one could tell that they had done so.” (Genesis 41:17-21).

After the dream, the king turned to his wise men but they could not tell him the meaning of the dream. Only a man of God named Joseph could tell them the meaning of the dream. The seven fat cows were seven good years. The seven scrawny cows were seven years of famine. The famine followed the good times. The lesson for the king was that he needed to use the good times to prepare for the hard times.

Because he got the point, Egypt was spared from ruin. Because he used the good times to prepare for the hard times, they made it through the famine.

As you read this story, learn the lesson of the cannibal cows, the seven fat cows and the seven scrawny cows. Their story is one for all times and all of us. It is one for your family. As night follows day, life is a series of cycles. Good days follow bad days and bad days follow good days. If you will observe the lesson of the seven fat cows and seven scrawny cows, you will be prepared for when seven scrawny cows come to your life. This is a hard lesson to learn, but ignoring it will lead to hard years.

As you read the story in Genesis 41, remember that the lesson of the cannibal cows came from God. It is still true!

Lonnie Davis

Dave Thomas, the founder of Wendy’s, became a wealthy man by living a special principle. He was a high school dropout whose formal education included a G.E.D. He explained his life this way, “”I got my M.B.A. long before my G.E.D. At Wendy’s M.B.A. does not mean Master of Business Administration. It means Mop Bucket Attitude.” To the world, Dave was the leader of Wendy’s. To Dave, Dave was the head of the Mop Bucket Brigade.

This was the way Jesus did leadership. On the last night he would spend with his disciples, he sat around the table with them. As they sat there, Jesus did a most surprising thing. “He got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.” (John 13:4-5).

Jesus washed the feet of Peter, Andrew, James, John, and the others at the table – including Judas. They were shocked, but Jesus knew the secret. If you want to be great, you have to serve.

The church, your family, your workplace all need more people with an MBA – Mop Bucket Attitude. Leaders with that kind of MBA are people who are not here to be served, but are here to serve others. These are the true leaders.

Lonnie Davis

Jesus was going to a dying 12-year-old girl. Actually, the girl was not dying, she was already dead. The musicians  and professional mourners were already on the scene and showing sorrow.

Matthew 9 records that event, “When Jesus came into the official’s house, and saw the flute-players and the crowd in noisy disorder, He said, ‘Leave; for the girl has not died, but is asleep.’ And they began laughing at Him. But when the crowd had been sent out, He entered and took her by the hand, and the girl got up” – (Matthew 9:23-25)

“They began to laugh.” How do you feel when you are trying to do good, and people laugh at you?

Even Jesus had negative people in life, but there is a difference between minor and major negative people. The people who laughed at Jesus were just minor. When you have a major threat by a major negative person you have to take it seriously. You cannot ignore it, but I hope you know which is major and which is minor and treat them accordingly. I confess that I sometimes struggle with telling the difference. From this event we should remember 3 important truths:

1.  There are negative people. Even Jesus had them in his life. They weren’t sneaky about it, but openly laughed at him. If you go through life hoping not to encounter people who will try to put you down, you are setting yourself up for pain.
   
2.  If you find yourself surrounded by the naysayers, do what Jesus did. Tell them to leave. Do not be rude. Jesus simply said, “Leave.” You cannot do your work surrounded by negative folks.
   
3.  Do not let anyone stop you from doing good. Once you figure out what God wants you to do, the rest is just details.

Lonnie Davis

I love mantras. That is word that means, “A commonly repeated word or phrase, especially in advocacy or for motivation.” That just means that you use that phrase to guide your life. Here is a great mantra, “If you do what is easy, your life will get harder. If you do what is hard, your life will get easier.”

Another writer said, “If you would be successful, do the things that are hard and lonely.”

For a Bible reference to this we are reminded of Galatians 6:9, “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.”

We will reap when the time is right (in due season), if we do the right thing, even if it is hard. Everyone can do the fun things, the social things, or the easy things. Anyone can watch a football game with a friend or go to a movie with a special person. These things are fun and social for most of us. Doing them will bring us no lasting success in life. Few people are willing to do the hard things, the lonely things.

 Few people are willing to spend time alone memorizing math formulas so those who do are thought of as smart. Few people are willing to sit up at night with the television off and memorize passages from God’s word.

To get ahead in your job or any part of your life, be willing to do the hard and lonely things. The fact that they are hard will mean you will be lonely in doing them, but doing these things will set you apart from the crowd. Do not curse the hard circumstances, but rather relish them as opportunities for victory.

Abraham Lincoln was reared in deep poverty. It was hard, but he was willing to overcome it.

Franklin D. Roosevelt was a victim of polio.

Beethoven, one of the true musical geniuses of the world, was completely deaf.

Their problems, their almost impossible circumstances simply meant they had to do hard tings, work harder. Never give in just because something is hard. The fact that circumstances are hard is what allows your victory to be great.

AND again we say, “If you do the easy things, you life will get harder. If you do the hard things, your life will get easier.”

I’m Lonnie Davis and this is my word on this.

Did you hear the story of the mouse and elephant? It goes like this:

There once was a little mouse who had to take a long and difficult journey. As the day wore on the little mouse grew tired and began looking for some easier way to complete the trip. By and by an elephant came along and gave the little mouse a ride on his massive back. Hour after hour the mouse rode on the back of the elephant. The mouse was filled with joy to see how much distance he was able to cover while riding on the back of an elephant. Finally they came to a narrow bridge. The elephant paused and then passed over the bridge. With each step the elephant took the bridge shook. When safe on the other side, the little mouse told the elephant, “We really shook that bridge.”

This story reminds us that you and I face our own “bridges” or difficult spots. We go through minefields, we cross shaking bridges, and pass through the valley of the shadow of death. As Christians while going through all of these places, we too are traveling on the strength of someone else. Paul said, “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” (Phil 4:13). Jesus promised, “I will be with you always.” (Matthew 28:20).

One Biblical example is the story of Gideon. He was called by God to deliver Israel from their enemies. Gideon protested, “How can I deliver Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.” God listens to his fears and then says, “But I will be with you.” (Judges 6:14-16). Gideon did not know it, but God did not need him to defeat the enemy. God only wanted him to go along for the ride. The victory was assured.

Always remember, when we face scary places in life, we are merely a mouse riding on the back of One who is able to shake the bridge. When we are eventually safe on the other side of the shaking bridges, we may be tempted to say, “We really shook that bridge,” but we must remember that it was not us, but God who shook the bridge.

Lonnie Davis

The God of Little Things

God is great and it is easy to think that he is not concerned with details. The Scriptures do not portray God as being unconcerned with details. Nowhere is this more evident than in the story of the third post- resurrection appearance of Jesus to His disciples.

It was getting toward evening and Peter decided to go fishing. The other disciples joined him. In the dawn of early morning, as the disciples were about 100 yards from shore, they saw a stranger on the banks of the Galilee. He shouted to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” (John 21:5). When they said they did not, He gave them instructions about where to fish.

Following his instructions, they caught so many fish one would think the nets would break. They came to the shore and ate with him. That is the quick summary of the story in John 21. A closer reading will reveal that God takes care of the little details in life.

When he told them where to fish, they caught 153 fish – large fish. (21:11).

When the disciples got to the shore, they found that Jesus had cooked breakfast for them. He had a fire of burning coal, some fish and some bread. (21:9).

Jesus served the bread and fish. (21:13). He didn’t just say, “There it is guys, help yourself.”

Several things about this story are amazing:

(1) Upon seeing the risen Lord, someone still counted the fish,

(2) Jesus brought bread for the disciples,

(3) Jesus caught fish before they even saw him,

(4) Jesus cooked breakfast and then served the breakfast.

Life is about the little details. Those who will not pay attention to the little details will have a hectic life. They will constantly feel like the wheels are coming off or life is unraveling before their eyes.

Someone has to make the fire.
Someone has to count the fish.
Someone has to serve the bread.
Someone has to do the little things.

Mountains are made of little stones. Miles are covered by little steps. Love is show with little acts. Successful lives are built on little things.

If God takes care of the little things, then surely we must do the same.

Lonnie Davis

For 12 years, King Saul hunted David like he was an animal. David lived in caves, hid in mountains, and even lived with his old enemy, the Philistines. It happened that King Saul went into a cave where David was hiding. Finally, David had the opportunity to kill Saul and end the reign of terror. Seeing the king asleep, David took out his knife and but instead of killing Saul, he merely cut off a piece of his robe. Saul never even knew it happened. When Saul left the cave, David showed him the cutting and shouted to him, “May the Lord Judge between you and me.” (1 Sam 24:12).

In modern language David effectively said, “Saul, I don’t understand why you are trying to kill me, but I will not raise my hand against you. I will let the Lord handle all of this.”

It is a rare person who can truly agree to disagree and leave everything in God’s hands. We all want all want relief. We all want justice. We all want our own way.

We can be like the little boy who came home from school and told his mother that the bully in class had hit him and that tomorrow he was going to hit him back. His mother told him that vengeance belongs to the Lord and he needs to let God handle it. Little Johnny replied, “Okay, I will give him until Friday.”

Sometimes you have to agree to disagree, but in so doing, you must not be spiteful or hateful. Sometimes you have to let the other person be who they are. You have to say, “May the Lord judge between you and me.”

When David did that, he showed himself to be the bigger man. Sometimes you just have to be the bigger person and let God handle things.

Lonnie Davis

It was Olympic time and I love watching the great athletes. My then six-year-old granddaughter and I were watching the female gymnasts. As we watched a tiny girl do a big tumbling run, I tried to be clever and told her, “I can’t do that.” Instantly she responded, “I know, cause you’re too old.” I just said, “Yes, I know.”

“Too old was just an excuse,” but I used it. Even if I were twenty I could not have done those things, but I needed an excuse. Excuses are a part of the human fiber. Even the great men and women use excuses.

Moses is a great example of this. If this were true of Moses, then certainly it is true for me and you.

Moses spent his first forty years living in a palace. He spent the next forty years working as a shepherd. At eighty he had lived a full and rich life, but just when he may have been looking toward the golden years, God had another plan for Moses.

God’s Plan

From a burning bush God called Moses to go tell the Pharaoh to let God’s people go. It was then that Moses started with his excuses. 

Moses’ Five Excuses

• First there was, “Who me?” (Ex. 3:11).
• Next was “Who are You?” (Ex. 3:13).
• The next one is the real one, “What if I fail?”   Here are his exact words, “What if they do not believe me or listen to me and say, ‘The LORD did not appear to you’?” (Ex. 4:1).
• Then came, “O Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.” (Ex. 4:10). Of course the real meaning of this is Moses’ fear of failure.
• Finally he said, “Just send someone else.” (Ex. 4:13)

God’s Answer to Moses’ Excuses

God responds to this excuse by telling Moses that it was not about him. It was about God.

God says, “Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the LORD? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.”  (Ex 4:11-12).

Moses failed to understand that what God called on him to do, God would help him do.

This is the great lesson that we all need to understand. We all make excuses and we all have fear of failure, but we only need to know what God wants us to do.

What God wants us to do, we can do. He will see to it.

Do not ask, “Can I accomplish this?” Ask only, “Does God want me to do this?” When we attempt the things that God wills for us, we will succeed. It is not about us. It is about Him.

Lonnie Davis

According to our best estimate of the calendar, it began on January 25, A.D 45. Christianity was in its infancy. The terrible Roman emperor Caligula had just been succeeded by Claudius. While Claudius made many favorable rulings for Jews and Christians, he forbade Jews and Christians from assembly in Rome. According to the Roman historian Suetonius, Claudius finally expelled all Jews and Christians from Rome.

One Christian couple expelled was Aquila and Priscilla. You probably do not know what it is like to be kicked out of a country, much less to be kicked out because you are a Christian. As Aquila and Priscilla left, they might well have lamented that “sometimes things don’t work out like you plan.”

The real problem is that we often conclude that because things don’t work out like we expect, things must be messed up. Listen to the rest of the story.

Aquila and Priscilla fled Rome and went to the city of Corinth where they set up shop as tentmakers (Acts 18:1-3). While at Corinth, a traveling evangelist named Paul came to Corinth. Since Paul shared the same occupation as Aquila and Priscilla, the Apostle stayed with them for nearly two years. When Paul left, Aquila and Priscilla went with him to Ephesus. In Ephesus they became church leaders and even hosted a house church in their home.

In Ephesus they came in contact with a mighty Jewish-Egyptian preacher named Apollos. The Holy Spirit tells us that he was “eloquent and mighty in the scriptures.” (Acts 18:24-26). The problem was that Apollos did not really know the truth about Jesus. Aquila and Priscilla taught Apollos the truth more fully and he because a great evangelist for Jesus.

Now look at the series of events

A Roman emperor expelled the Jews, including a couple named Aquila and Priscilla. 

• Things didn’t work out like they expected. They expected to be Christian tentmakers in Rome, but God had other plans for them. 
• God’s plan was for them to spend two years working and studying with the great Apostle Paul. 
• God’s plan was for them to host the Ephesians church in their home. 
• God’s plan was for them to convert one of the greatest preachers of all time.

That is not “messed up!” It was God’s plan! God also has a plan for your life.

Lonnie Davis

LI admit to being young and ignorant. I sometimes admit to being old and ignorant. Usually it does not matter, but sometimes it causes you to do stupid things. I remember this one time… Well, I remember more than one time, but one time I was especially ignorant. 

I was in the 10^th grade I did get ready for a date by painting my car. It was a beautiful autumn day and perfect for car painting. The process was simple. First, I washed my 51 Ford (I wish I still had it). I pulled it into the garage, got out cans of paint and a four inch brush. Next I painted the car. Me, the paint, and a four inch brush got the job done in a couple of hours. I was ready for the date!

On that day I learned some great lessons for my own life. I learned:

Ignorance is bliss. I drove the car into the garage, got out the cans of paint, the paint brush, and painted the car because I did not know any better. My neighbor laughed. At the time I thought it was because he thought I was resourceful. I now know he laughed because I was so ignorant.

You can do something stupid if you want. People will not live their lives running around behind you to see that you only do smart things. Your behavior is up to you.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. When I was finished I was proud of the car. Others saw the paint brush ridges in the paint, but to me it was just pretty.

Even when you do dumb things real friends like you anyway. I love “anyway” friends. They are those people who love you even when you do dumb things. Your friend is someone you can relax around and just be yourself. Your friend is your friend even when you paint your car with a brush.

Wisdom comes with age. It does not always come with age. Perhaps I should say age ought to bring us wisdom. There are plenty of old people who have lived their lives doing one foolish thing after another, but walking the road once before ought to give us a little wisdom. I will never again paint my car with house paint and a brush.

Children, especially 16-year-old children, need supervision. It is ridiculous to see a 45-year-old man blame his 75-year-old father for his own behavior. At some point we all need to take responsibility for our own lives, but 16 is not the age.

We should not take life too seriously. If you paint your car with house paint it is not the end of the world. Don’t treat it like it is.

All these lessons (and more) can be learned from painting a car with house paint. If you cannot learn from your mistakes then you will never learn from anything! In fact, the smartest people are those who can learn from someone else’s failures. Now that you know my story you will never paint your car with house paint and a brush. See, you have learned from my mistake!

~Lonnie Davis