“Know which side your bread is buttered on.”
JOHN HEYWOOD

Though the fig tree should not blossom
And there be no fruit on the vines,
Though the yield of the olive should fail
And the fields produce not food,
Though the flock should be cut off from the fold
And there be no cattle in the stalls,

Yet I will exult in the LORD,
I will rejoice in the God of my salvation.

The Lord God is my strength,
And has made my feet like hinds’ feet,
And makes me walk on my high places.

HABAKKUK 3:17-19 NASB

The way it was, what happened, and the way it is now. The prophet Habakkuk knew which side his bread was buttered on. I am able to use this example of Scripture and apply it to my everyday life. Regardless of how my situation may appear as I observe it through my senses, I must realize that the Lord God is my strength and I will walk above the situation. Many times we who are members of Alcoholics Anonymous (there are no dues or fees for AA membership, some say we have paid the highest dues in the world to belong), many times we are called upon to share our story with others to give them encouragement. I recall times when I was asked to share my story, that I would go to my sponsor and complain that I was somewhat nervous about speaking. He would reassure me that there was nothing to fear, that I only had one story. How true this is, on the medallion we receive for yearly progress in the program of AA, it says, “To Thine Own Self Be True.” If I’m honest with myself and honest to you, I will only have one story. Basically my sponsor was giving me advice to just be honest. I can only share the way it was, what happened, and the way it is now, or as we sum it up in three words, my experience, strength and hope. One lesson I have learned after many unsuccessful attempts at turning my life around was to know which side my bread is buttered on. A life run on self-will run riot leaves a life that is dry and hardened. A life giving glory to God in all things and that knows where inner strength comes from, is a life that is not stale and flexible. You got to know which side your bread is buttered on. The way I look at it there are only two sides to a piece of bread and there are only two sides to life. One side with God; the other side without God. I choose the side with God’s butter, the anointed side. This way God continues to do for me what I could not do for myself………..JRE

“Do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”
NEHEMIAH 8:10 NASB

“If our hearts have been attuned to God through an abiding faith in Christ, the results will be joyous optimism and good cheer. The reason? Because we know He loves us, and nothing ‘shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord’ (Romans 8:39).
When our confidence is in Him, discouragement gets crowed out. May that be true in your life today!”
BILLY GRAHAM