Bear's Inspirations

10/22/2026

COME SIT WITH ME

You got hammered at the bar on Saturday but came to church on Sunday….
You can sit with me, you’re right where you need to be.

You’re a drug addict but came to church on Sunday….
You can sit with me, you’re right where you need to be.

You’re divorced and the last church you attended condemned you for it….
You can sit with me, you’re right where you need to be.

You’ve had an abortion and it’s slowly eating away at your heart but you came to church on Sunday….
You can sit with me, you’re right where you need to be.

You’ve been unfaithful to your spouse but came to church on Sunday….
You can sit with me, you’re right where you need to be.

Here’s the thing, people don’t come to church on Sunday for you to sit in the pew and quietly judge them because you feel that you’re somehow better than them.

People come to church because in their deepest, darkest, most painful moments they heard about a man named Jesus that could save their soul and they’d like to know him.

The man that just snorted co***ne off his kitchen table isn’t a bigger sinner than you who told your boss a lie on Monday so you could leave work early.

The woman that had an abortion 10 years ago isn’t a bigger sinner than you who flipped a man off in traffic last week because he cut you off.

The drunk man laying on the bar isn’t a bigger sinner than you who occasionally has too much to drink at home in private.

The woman that just got caught cheating on her husband isn’t a bigger sinner than you who had s*x with your now husband before you were married.

Stop judging others because their sin is different than yours.

Romans 3:23-24 says “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”

There isn’t a person in this world too bad, too broken, too mean, or too damaged for Jesus to save.
Romans 10:13 says “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

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10/21/2026

PEDAL



I used to think of God as my observer, my judge, keeping track of the things I did wrong, so as to know whether I merited heaven or hell when I die. He was out there, sort of like a president. I recognized His picture when I saw it, but I didn't really know Him.



But later on when I met Christ, it seemed as though life were rather like a bike, but it was a tandem bike, and I noticed that Christ was in the back helping me pedal. I don't know just when it was He suggested we change places, but life has not been the same since I took the back seat to Jesus, My Lord. Christ makes life exciting. When I had control, I thought I knew the way, but it was rather boring, but predictable. It was the shortest distance between two points.



But when He took the lead, He knew delightful long cuts, up mountains, and through rocky places and at breakneck speeds; it was all I could do to hang on! Even though it often looked like madness, He said "Pedal!" I was worried and anxious and asked, "Where are you taking me?" He laughed and didn't answer, and I started to learn to trust. I forgot my boring life and entered the adventure. And when I'd say, "I'm scared", He'd lean back and touch my hand.



He took me to people with gifts that I needed, gifts of healing, acceptance and joy. They gave me their gifts to take on my journey, our journey, my Lord's and mine. And we were off again. He said, "Give the gifts away; they're extra baggage, too much weight." So I did, to the people we met, and I found that in giving I received, and still our burden was light.



I did not trust Him, at first, in control of my life. I thought He'd

wreck it, but He knows bike secrets, knows how to make it bend to take sharp corners, jump to clear high rocks, fly to shorten scary passages. And I am learning to shut up and pedal in the strangest places, and I'm beginning to enjoy the view and the cool breeze on my face with my delightful constant companion, Christ.



And when I'm sure I just can't do any more, He just smiles and says ... "Pedal."



-- Author Unknown

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10/15/2026

A Good Day



"What Kind of Day Shall I Have?"



I woke up early today, excited over all I get to do before the day ends.

I have responsibilities to fulfill today. I am important.

My job is to choose what kind of day I am going to have.



Today I can complain because the weather is rainy or ...

I can be thankful that the grass is getting watered for free.



Today I can feel sad that I don't have more money or

I can be glad that my finances encourage me to plan

my purchases wisely and guide me away from waste.



Today I can grumble about my health or

I can rejoice that I am alive.



Today I can lament over all that my parents didn't give me

when I was growing up or ...

I can feel grateful that they allowed me to be born.



Today I can cry because roses have thorns or ...

I can celebrate that thorns have roses.



Today I can mourn my lack of friends or ...

I can excitedly embark upon a quest to discover new relationships.



Today I can whine because I have to go to work or ...

I can shout for joy because I have a job to do.



Today I can complain because I have to go to school or ...

I can eagerly open my mind and fill it with rich new tidbits of knowledge.



Today I can murmur dejectedly because I have to do housework or ...

I can feel honored because Life has provided shelter for my mind, body, and soul.



Today stretches ahead of me, waiting to be shaped. And here I am, the

sculptor who gets to do the shaping.



What today will be like is up to me

10/14/2026

Do Good Today



Isn't he always there when we need him?



Come with me to a third grade classroom....

There is a nine-year-old Kid sitting at his desk and all of

a sudden, there is a puddle between his feet and the front of his pants are wet.

He thinks his heart is going to stop because he cannot possibly imagine how this has happened. It's never happened before, and he Knows that when the boys find out he will never hear the end of it. When the girls find out, they'll never speak to him again as long as he lives.

The boy believes his heart is going to stop, he puts his head down and prays this prayer, "Dear God, this is an emergency! I need help now! Five minutes from now I'm dead meat:."

He looks up from his prayer and here comes the teacher with a look in her eyes that says he has been discovered.

As the teacher is walking toward him, a classmate named Susie is carrying a goldfish bowl that is filled with water. Susie trips in front of the teacher and inexplicably dumps the bowl of water in the boy's lap.



The boy pretends to be angry, but all the while is saying to himself, ''Thank you, Lord! Thank you, Lord!"

Now all Of a sudden, instead of being the object of ridicule, the boy is the object of sympathy. The teacher rushes him down Stairs and gives him gym shorts to put on while his pants dry out.

All the other children are on their hands and knees cleaning up around his desk.



The sympathy is wonderful. But as life would have it, the ridicule that should have been his has been transferred to someone else - Susie. She tries to help, but they tell her to get out. "You've done enough, you klutz"

Finally, at the end of the day, as they are waiting for the

bus, the boy walks over to Susie and whispers, "you did that on purpose, didn't you?" Susie whispers back, "I wet my pants once too."

May God help us see the opportunities that are always around us to do good.

10/07/2026

A Different Type Of Prayer

Heavenly Father, Help us remember that the jerk who cut us off in traffic last night is a single mother who worked nine hours that day and is rushing home to cook dinner, help with homework, do the laundry and spend a few precious moments with her children.



Help us to remember that the pierced, tattooed, disinterested young man who can't make change correctly is a worried 19-year-old college student,

balancing his apprehension over final exams with his fear of not getting his student loans for next semester.



Remind us, Lord, that the scary looking bum, begging for money in the same spot every day (who really ought

to get a job!) is a slave to addictions

that we can only imagine in our worst nightmares.



Help us to remember that the old couple walking annoyingly slow through the store aisles and blocking

our shopping progress are savoring this moment, knowing that, based on the biopsy report she got back last week, this will be the last year that they go

shopping together.



Heavenly Father, remind us each day that, of all the gifts you give us, the greatest gift is love. It is not enough to share that love with those we hold dear. Open our hearts not to just those who are close to us, but to all humanity. Let us be slow to judge and quick to forgive, show patience, empathy and love.

10/06/2026

23rd Psalm For The Workplace
Author Unknown

The Lord is my boss, and I shall not want.

He gives me peace, when chaos is all around me.

He reminds me to pray, before I speak in anger.

He restores my sanity.

He guides my decisions that I might honor Him in all I do.

Even though I face absurd amounts of e-mail, system failures, copier jams, back-ordered supplies, unrealistic deadlines, staff shortages, budget cutbacks, red tape, downsizing, gossiping co-workers and whining customers, I won’t give up, for You are with me.

Your presence, peace and power will see me through.

You raise me up, even when the boss fails to promote me.

You claim me as your own, even when the company threatens to let me go.

Your loyalty and love are better than a bonus check.

Your retirement plan beats any 401K, and when it’s all said and done, I’ll be working for you a whole lot longer!

Thanks be to God!

10/05/2026

You Be The Judge – NOT!

It was a cold winter's day that Sunday. The parking lot to the church was filling up quickly. I noticed as I got out of my car fellow church members were whispering among themselves as they walked in the church.

As t got closer I saw a man leaned up against the wall outside the church. He was almost laying down as if he was asleep. He had on a long trench coat that was almost in shreds and a hat topped his head, pulled down so you could not see his face. He wore shoes that looked 30 years old, too small for his feet, with holes all over them, his toes stuck out. I assumed this man was homeless, and asleep, so I walked on by through the doors of the church.

We all fellow-shipped for a few minutes, and someone brought up the man laying outside. People snickered and gossiped but no one bothered to ask him to come in, including me. A few moments later church began. We all waited for the Preacher to take his place and to give us the Word, when the doors to the church opened.

In came the homeless man walking down the aisle with his head down. People gasped and whispered and made faces. He made his way down the aisle and up onto the pulpit where he took off his hat and coat. My heart sank. There stood our preacher ... he was the "homeless man'. No one said a word. The preacher took his Bible and laid it on his stand. "Folks, I don't think I have to tell you what I am preaching about today."

10/04/2026

Just For This Day

Just for this morning, I am going to step over the laundry, and pick you up and take you to the park to play.

Just for this morning, I will leave the dishes in the sink, and let you teach me how to put that puzzle of yours together.

Just for this afternoon, I will unplug the telephone and keep the computer off, and sit with you in the backyard and blow bubbles.

Just for this afternoon, I will not yell once, not even a tiny grumble when you scream and whine for the ice cream truck and I will buy you one if he comes by.

Just for this afternoon, I won't worry about what you are going to be when you grow up, or second guess every decision I have made where you are concerned.

Just for this afternoon, I will let you help me bake cookies, and I won't stand over you trying to fix them.

Just for this afternoon, I will take us to McDonald's and buy us both a Happy Meal so you can have both toys.

Just for this evening, I will hold you in my arms and tell you a story about how you were born and how much I love you.

Just for this evening, I will let you splash in the tub and not get angry.

Just for this evening, I will let you stay up late while we sit on the porch and count all the stars.

Just for this evening, I will snuggle beside you for hours, and miss my favorite TV shows.

Just for this evening when I run my finger through your hair as you pray, I will simply be grateful that God has given me the greatest gift ever given.

I will think about the mothers And fathers who are searching for their missing children, the mothers and fathers who are visiting their children's graves instead of their bedrooms, and mothers and fathers who are in hospital rooms watching their children suffer senselessly, and screaming inside that they can't handle it anymore.

And when I kiss you good night I will hold you a little tighter, a little longer. It is then, that I will thank God for you, and ask Him for nothing, except one more day.............



©1999 Sally Meyer

10/01/2026

The Walk

One night six years ago I arrived at the hospital to work an overnight shift, Mr. Milne a kind elderly gentleman was one of my assigned patients that night. When I entered his room, I introduced myself and ask him if there was anything, I could do for him before I got busy with other duties. No, he told me, I don’t really need anything but there is something I’d like for you to do for me. No problem, I said What’s that? Sometime tonight while you’re here I’d like for you to come an get me up out of this bed, I’d like to take a little walk around this place you know to just get up and move around for a while. I assured him that could be done as soon as I got things rolling and found a lull in the schedule, I would take him for a walk. I promised him that.

It was a promise I would soon almost regret. The further I got into my shift the more chaotic things seem to get. One thing after another sprang up to demand my attention. The constant flow of just nuisances and details were interrupted my Mr. Milne’s call button. When I arrived at his room he asked if I’d found a little time for that walk yet? Looking at my watch I realized that the two hours of my shift had flown by already. I talked with him for a moment and I reassured him that we would get to it. There were just a few more details I had to clear up first, but I’d be back. Then I was off like a flash down the corridor. An hour later one of the nurse’s aides came to me and said that she had answered another call from Mr. Milne and that he was asking for me. I sent back the message that I’d be there soon. Seemed that the only thing that was greater than Mr. Milne’s persistence was his patients.

He really hadn’t complained he just continued his request. An hour later another one came and finally shortly before 5am when I answered Mr. Milne’s 5th call of the night, I entered his room and he was serious but pleasant. Could we PLEASE go on that walk now? I began to apologize and try to explain how typical a night it had been and all the things that had happened. That’s fine, it’s not a problem it’s just that the walk is important, and I’d like for you to help me, could we do it right now? The tone in is voice and the look in his eyes said something I didn’t understand.

Mr. Milne, what is it? You see, I’m going into surgery this morning in about an hour and their going to amputate both my legs just above the knee and I’d kind of like to take a walk on them one last time. It would mean a lot to me. I swallowed hard and held back tears as I helped him from his bed. We walked him around the unit until it was time for his surgery.

Mr. Milne’s story teaches up an important lesson. Don’t get caught up in the living that you forget the people around you that need love and care.

Mandi Collier
Bear's Inspiration Page

09/30/2026

A Prayer Principle

Jesus modeled and taught a praying lifestyle.



In Luke 11, Jesus responds to the disciples request to "teach us how to pray." To go the Jesus way, it is imperative that you learn His powerful prayer lessons and live them out each day.



The essence of Jesus' prayer perspective is rooted in His comparison of our Heavenly Father to a good earthly father. The Lord teaches in Luke 11: 11, "Which of you fathers, if your son asked for a fish would give him a snake instead? If then, you who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?"



When God hears our prayers, He responds like a good Dad. But our Heavenly Father has the advantage of being all knowing and totally wise. Additionally, He loves His child and wants the ultimate best for them, not temporary entertainment. Therefore, no matter how good our cause, we cannot change God's mind or prompt Him to act outside of His plan. Let me give you a simple example.



Imagine that my daughter Alex, who is 15, comes to me and requests $300 to buy a 9mm pistol because she wants to take it to school as a protective measure. Regardless of her pleas for purchasing the pistol, I will say no to this request because it is inappropriate and could be harmful to her. Let's extend the analogy another step. Imagine Alex said, "Dad, I need $300 to buy some college textbooks. Even though I am only in 10th grade, I want to start preparing for my college career by studying molecular chemistry and quantum physics." I would lovingly express appreciation for Alex's thirst for knowledge, but explain to her that she is a 10th grader and it is important for her to enjoy her high school days. Therefore, I will not grant her request to provide money to purchase college textbooks. Lastly, imagine that Alex comes to me and says, "Dad, we're going on a youth



retreat and I need $300 for my fees and to bring an un-churched friend. Could you help me out?" With a sense of joy and delight, I would provide the cash because Alex has made a worthy request that needs fulfilling.



My friend, you may be assured that prayer is a powerful tool. We see unbelievers saved, the sick healed, and evil defeated. The Lord changes things everyday through our prayers. Furthermore, we have an opportunity to participate through His work as we talk with Him and obediently choose to serve His purposes.



Let me urge you to become a person of consistent prayer who trusts your Heavenly Father to wisely fill your requests in a way that helps you, expands His kingdom and glorifies His holy name.