Water Features
“Hmmmm, wonder what that sound is…” The distinct sound of running water intrigued me as I emptied my suitcases from two weeks on the road. Putting on my grown-up self, I followed the sound to the front porch where I found a glorious new water feature. But wait, I didn’t have a water fall added to my house!
Yes, a broken pipe was allowing water to flow abundantly down to the ground creating a pool…
So, what did I learn?
1) The kindness of neighbors brings immeasurable relief, especially when they can manage the main water cutoff;
2) Plumbers who call at 6:30 am are received with great appreciation.
3) Life is much like frozen pipes. What?
When our circumstances get difficult we seem to handle them well. We don’t show the strain or the stress… we look good. We adopt the “don’t ever let them see you sweat.” We push through.
Then, the pressure is off and we crater. A good friend had a particularly rigorous schedule for the last month. When he finished the last activity, an unmerciful virus felled him. He said he felt like it just caught up to him. When he was running hard he couldn’t stop to be sick, but the minute he let up – wham!
The same is true for my pipe. The break occurred during the subzero weather, but the frozen water held it together. Only when the temperature rose, and the melting began, did the pipe let go and release the water. It looked so promising as I checked it during the arctic weather, but only when the sun came out did I realize the damage.
“I am concerned about you when your parents are both gone.” My doctor’s words alerted me to the frequency of illness after a long caregiving period. “Make sure you keep your immune system in shape and prepare for the decompression time.” I made plans to navigate those post-caregiving waters to avoid the crash, knowing the seven years of living in the red zone might threaten my health.
Could I have prevented the break? I encased it in -30 wrap and spoke words of encouragement after each storm. “Way to go, pipes, you are doing a GREAT job!” But the builder of this house left them exposed and no amount of TLC could ensure their safety. We are the same way. Our environment plays a large part in the way we handle pressure. When we put ourselves into no win situations, we are usually left with damage control, hoping a “life plumber” will come quickly.
Plumber is gone; water is running; and, I am thankful for broken pipes which teach me the truths of everyday living.
Prayer Network
by Brenda A. Smith, BWFLI.com, BreakfastWithFred.com
“These are the times that try men’s souls.”
Generation after generation attests to the verity of this statement. At BWFLI we are particularly concerned about the way state and federal governments are trying – trying to force our Christian institutions of higher education to align themselves with thought systems inconsistent with their faith.
Please pray for our school administrations and boards as they wrestle with issues such as student funding and legislative challenges. Our schools are threatened with extinction if they stand for the truth. Let’s pray for the protection of our religious liberty. And thank our God who is greater than all the world’s schemes and strategies.
Freedom to Serve
by Bob Deffinbaugh, Bible.org, BWFLI.com
“You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love (Galatians 5:13, NIV).”
This is a great time to celebrate the freedom for which many have sacrificed greatly to attain and to preserve. In Galatians 5:1 Paul focuses on the freedom from our bondage to sin and the futility of seeking by our own efforts to become righteous in God’s eyes. This freedom was achieved for us by the Lord Jesus Christ through His sacrificial death in our place, on the cross of Calvary.
This freedom can be rejected (Galatians 5:1ff.), but it can also be abused, which is Paul’s thrust in Galatians 5:13 (above). Pray for our college students over this summer break that they will not misuse their freedom to indulge their fleshly appetites, but will rather use it to serve others.
I am convinced that many Christian college students and their professors will use their “freedom” this summer to serve others through various ministries and personal efforts. Pray that God will bless these folks and that they serve joyfully. Pray, too, that God will provide for the upcoming financial needs of those who have chosen to sacrificially serve this summer.
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Head in the Game
Weekly Thought – July 7, 2026
Fred loved exercise, if done by others. He teased Dr. Ken Cooper, founder of the world-renowned Cooper Clinic and Aerobics Center in Dallas one of his favorite activities was driving through the donut shop, parking, and eating while he watched others run. But he believed serving others meant taking care of himself. He chose manual “temporary” projects around the house as his favorite outlet for fitness. He was the king of duct tape!
Head in the Game
As a way of starting, let me ask you to take a piece of paper, draw a line from top to bottom, dividing it into two columns. On the left, list those emotions which you must discipline in order to stay mentally healthy. These are the ones that bring us mental discomfort or even make us sick. On the right, list the one that move us toward healthy living. For example, unrestrained anger, jealousy, greediness would be on the left; gratitude, excitement, and positive tension would be on the right.
The next step is to use our willpower to focus on the healthy and avoid the unhealthy. Until we identify them and their affect on us, we cannot do anything about it. But we need to recognize that emotions vary in their affect. Fear may be paralyzing and immobilizing to one person, while it is only distracting to another, or even energizing. I cannot make a list for you, nor you for me. But we can think about it together.
One important point is most emotional problems are not sin, per se. they are the result of being human and living in a human, fallen world. But we have to recognize that sin does play a part in some situations. When this is true, willpower isn’t the answer – repentance is. We must take responsibility for emotional difficulties that are sin-based. I cannot handle my rebellious spirit by calling it an unhealthy attitude. No amount of counseling will cure me. I must confess, repent, and go God’s way.
I wish there were an easy way to maintain a healthy mental life without discipline, but there isn’t. In many ways our will is who we are and who we will become. Actually, a harmful emotion can be turned into a good one by the action of this will.
Scripture talks about self-control and it speaks of it as a purposeful action. That is the way to emotional health. I found out a long time ago, if you decide to live with the unhealthy emotions, decide also to indulge and suffer. Health is a choice.
This week consider: 1) How do I handle negative emotions? 2) Which emotions are the best for my mental health? 3) Who models emotional health for me?
Words of Wisdom: “If you decide to live with the unhealthy emotions, decide also to indulge and suffer.”
Wisdom from the Word: “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of respect, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if something is excellent or praiseworthy, think about these things.” (Philippians 4:8 NET Bible)