In case you do not know what Dippin’ Dots are, they are little BB size ice cream balls. One buys them by the cup. As I am a fan of big spoons of ice cream, I am not a fan of the little Dippin’ Dots. The other day I went to the grocery store to pick up a few things that were needed. When I got to the ice cream section I noticed little one dollar bowls of Dippin’ Dots. Even though they are not my favorite I do know a couple of kids that like them so I picked up two. I brought them home and put them in the freezer door. The two children that love them do not even know they are there. One day soon they will come to my house and I will surprise them with the little blessing I am saving for them. I know they will love it.

This is what God does for us. He prepares blessings and waits for the right time to give them to us. Paul wrote, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.” (1 Cor 2:9).

While here sometimes the blessing takes the form of a beautiful day or a night of sweet sleep. Sometimes the blessing is an unexpected encouraging word from a friend. Sometimes the blessing is unexpected money to pay a bill. Sometimes the blessing is more spectacular. It is a job that we get just in the nick of time. It is the answer of prayer for cancer.

The real blessing is waiting on the other side of the door. John wrote about it. “I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (Rev 21:2-4)

I can hardly wait!

Lonnie Davis

It has several months since Texas played Alabama for the national football championship. Texas had the winningest quarterback in the history of college football. He was a champion among champions. He is also a Christian. We would beat those guys from Alabama and I knew it.

We had to beat them because our youth minister is a rabid Alabama fan and I have to put up with him. Texas came out with the ball and marched it straight down the field. At this point I figured we would beat them by several touchdowns. As we pushed deep into their end of the field Colt McCoy, the Texas quarterback took a shot on the arm. It was not vicious or mean or especially hard. When he left for a play I figured he would be back. He never returned. Texas played well, but when an inexperienced quarterback steps onto such a scene it was just too much. He had a chance to win, but those boys from Alabama were just too much for him.

I wanted to makes excuses. I wanted a “do-over.” There were many things I could have whined about. Right after the game they interviewed the young, Christian quarterback, Colt McCoy. In the interview said something that was greater than winning a national championship. Here was his response to missing what might have been the greatest moment in his life:

“I always give God the glory. I never question why things happen the way they do. God is in control of my life. And I know that, if nothing else, I’m standing on the Rock.”

I will soon forget that game, but I will never forget those words, “God is in control.”

For many people those can be empty words, but if you can stand on the stage of disappointment or frustration and not question why God does what God does, if you can say “God is in control of my life,” and know that no matter what happens you are standing on the Rock, then you are a champion.

The great life is not an accident. It is the result of setting a goal and reaching for it. No leader doubts this great truth yet many people live their lives without concrete goals. The reason they do is found in Hebrews 11:1, “Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” There are those timid souls whose faith is so weak that they cannot reach for what they cannot see.

In 1963 President John F. Kennedy gave a speech in which he promised that America would put a man on the moon before the decade was up. Skeptics were everywhere, but the goal was real. In July of 1969, Neil Armstrong stepped onto the moon. As he did he said, “That is one small step for man and one giant step for mankind.” What it really was, was America reaching a goal that had been courageously set.

If we had never set that goal then we would have never walked on the moon. No other country on earth set such a goal and to this day, no other country on earth has set human foot on the moon. You cannot reach what you do not reach for!

There are two great principle of goal setting that we all need to take to heart.

(1) We must set goals. It is the secret to progress and achievement. Set personal goals. Set family goals. Set spiritual goals. You will be amazed at how goal setting can change your life.

(2) Set visible reminders of your goals. A forgotten goal is a forsaken goal. NASA had the great visible reminder on earth. Every time a NASA worker looked into the night sky and saw the moon he or she would remember the goal of walking on the moon.

Whatever your goal, make a visible reminder and keep it before you.

Aim for the moon. God will help you soar higher than you ever thought possible.

Lonnie Davis