Have you ever met someone who was educated beyond their intelligence?  People who think they know more than others. . .or they always have the right answer, no matter what.

I’ve met my share of Christians who feel they’re more spiritually mature. . .advanced beyond ordinary Christians. 

Recently, I had a brief conversation with someone who said. . .”I heard you talking about focus but you need to know that word is not in the King James Bible.

I must admit my first mental response was less than spiritual. . .as I’m not amused by pride and conceit.

I regained my spiritual focus. . .and shared that the word focus is in the Amplified (1);  God’s Word Translation (28); Message Bible (28) and the New Living Translation (4).

Good morning and welcome to Rich Thoughts for Breakfast on this glorious Christmas Day….December 25, 2014.

I’m joined this morning by my fine wife Bev….of 42 years….9 months….21 days.

Do you know if you’re receiving that gift this Christmas that you hinted about. . .the one gift you’re believing for?  Perhaps, it’s that one gift you bought yourself.

I was going to wait until the end of the call to share what I know is my favorite Christmas gift this year.

No, it’s not an Audi A8 thought that would be a HUGE BLESSING.  It’s not a trip to Bora Bora though I would LOVE that.  It’s not a cruise for our 43^rd wedding anniversary on March 4^th thought that we be FABULOUS.

It’s not even more time with our daughters who live in Los Angeles or our sons our grand sugars who live in Fort Worth. . .though that would be priceless.

Sometimes we think we had it tough growing up...but what we faced pales in comparison to what Jesus, the most anointed of all, dealt with when we look at His short life on earth.

Sometimes we may wonder why we have to deal with everything we do...since God has given us a mission, a vision and a calling.  So naturally, we might ask "Why is this happening to me?"

If stuff happened to Jesus...it will happen to you too.  It's how you deal with the stuff when it happens to you...that makes all the difference in the world in how things will work out.

Have you ever thought about what Jesus had to deal with or experienced?  His life certainly wasn't a picnic.

I remember years ago, traveling to the mountains of North Carolina with my fine wife Bev and my parents for a long weekend get-away.

We started looking for a hotel room and were unable to fine one for over 60 miles along Interstate 40. 

The clerk at the first hotel we stopped at told us that we would have a problem finding accommodations.  He informed us that the annual Furniture Market was taking place in High Point, North Carolina and there wasn’t a sleeping room to be found within 60 miles in any direction of that huge event.  We found out he was right.

This particular journey was before the days of cell phones and computers.  If you wanted to call ahead you use a pay phone.  We stopped at exit after exit only to hear the same message. . .there was no room in the inn  . . . Holiday or otherwise.

Failure is an event. . .it’s not who you are.  Failure is never final if you have the God-given desire and direction to change your destiny.

Here are the A to Z’s on how to run failure straight into success.

A-Admit it when you mess up.  The best way to overcome failure is to face it, learn from it and move on.

Proverbs 28:13 in The Living Bible says:

“A man who refuses to admit his mistakes can never be successful. But if he confesses and forsakes them, he gets another chance.”

Lady Margaret Thatcher once said:

“I usually make up my mind about a man in ten seconds, and I very rarely change it.”

Have you ever heard the expression. . .you only have one opportunity to make a good first impression?

That’s true.  I will tell you that you can’t always judge a book by its cover. . .but the look of that cover may keep me from ever finding out what’s in the book.

The late Maya Angelou said:

This is the time of year for Christmas lists…from the youngest family member to the oldest.

As our family members grow in age. . .so do the price of their toys.

Dale Evans, wife of Roger Rogers, my childhood heroes once said:

“Christmas, my child, is love in action. Every time we love, every time we give, it's Christmas.”

Roy L. Smith, a renowned Methodist writer of Sunday School literature, once said:

During two days last week on the Rich Thoughts For Breakfast phone calls we discussed seven scriptural insights to a better life.

These insights are all contained in Ecclesiastes 5:18-20 in the Message Bible which says:

“After looking at the way things are on this earth, here’s what I’ve decided is the best way to live: Take care of yourself, have a good time, and make the most of whatever job you have for as long as God gives you life. And that’s about it. That’s the human lot. Yes, we should make the most of what God gives, both the bounty and the capacity to enjoy it, accepting what’s given and delighting in the work. It’s God’s gift! God deals out joy in the present, the now. It’s useless to brood over how long we might live.”

As I’ve read and re-read that verse in preparing the teachings. . .I was stirred by Ecclesiastes 5:19 which says:

I'm going to share with you two verses which describe an event that changed the course of human history.

Luke 3:21-22 says:

²¹ Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened,

²² And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.”

Why were you born?

I can tell you it wasn’t just because your Mom and Dad wanted to have a child.

You were born for a purpose. . .God knew you before you were formed in your mother’s womb.

Yet, too few believers understand their purpose or why they were born.

Ephesians 5:14:

“Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.”