Welcome to the Set Your Mind Above podcast, where every day, ordinary events teach us extraordinary eternal truths! I am your host BJ Sipe, and I’m so glad you’ve tuned in today! I am excited to share my life & my faith with you, and I sure hope you’ll do the same with me along the way.

Who knew that the car market is as hot as the housing market right now? This week my wife and I have been searching for a new family vehicle and it has not been an easy process, let me tell you. It started with our first dealer experience, which I’m not sure was actually a legitimate operation now that I think about it. We drove to Louisville to look at a Honda Pilot, but when we got to the dealer we were having to walk around trash piled up on the floor everywhere. There were three guys smoking hookah on some couches that didn’t even greet us, when finally, a young man came running out from the back, tucking in a dress shirt while walking towards us to tell us we’ve come to the right place. Needless to say I wasn’t sold. With great hesitancy we looked at the Pilot, but it was also filthy, smaller than we expected, and had the timing belt making a strange noise, so we abandoned that entire effort all together. Our challenges didn’t stop there. Without exaggeration, there were five vehicles that we were enroute to see or calling to ask if we could come drive it that were sold just hours or in some cases minutes before we were able to jump on it. We were starting to get a little discouraged last night with out how efforts had gone, until one new listing came up for a 2014 Ford Flex SEL with only 100k miles on it in Georgetown, KY. We decided that we would drive out early this morning and be there when they opened so nobody else could snag it from under our feet. Boy am I happy that we did, because 2 other families were scheduled to come see the car after us. I am happy to say that we are now the proud owners of the most spacious family car every to be produced! We actually pick up the car tomorrow because they still need to detail it and fix one thing that needed some minor work, but we cannot wait to bring it home! This dealership experience was much different than the first one: it was clean, professional, and came with the very reputable name of Dan Cummins. There were several things that caught my attention while we were there that just made my heart happy. First, part of every sale went to helping to fund the CASA organization here in Kentucky (which stands for court appointed special advocates that act on the behalf of foster children). In fact, one of our members is heavily involved with CASA and I plan to be in the near future. Second, they had an entire wall of the dealership that had in big letters across the top “The Wall of Honor”. The sign on the left side of the wall read, “The Wall of Honor is dedicated to the men and women who protect us at home and abroad. All active military, veterans, and first responders please let us honor you by signing this wall.” I started to read all of the names of men and women that had signed this wall. Some were Vietnam veterans, one was even a Korean War veteran. The whole wall was filled with the signatures of these brave people who risk it all every day. They deserve so much honor and even more, and I was so grateful to see this tribute to them while we waited to sign our papers in the dealership. 

As I sat there reading through more names, I couldn’t help but to think that I have been given an even greater honor than this in my life. I have never been a first responder, nor have I ever served in the military, but my name is written somewhere extraordinarily important. I didn’t even have to write it, it was written by someone very important. You might be thinking, “Well, this guy sure is full of it – what great honor has he been given?” Well, nothing that is not offered to you as well. Consider the powerful words of Isaiah in chapter 49:15-16, “Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you. Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me.” I have found more comfort in these words than perhaps any others in my life. Though God was speaking to Israel through his prophet Isaiah, you need to understand that he is speaking to you too. Your God will never forget you, nor will you ever be overlooked. In fact, he has written your name on the very palms of his hand so that you are always before him. How powerful is that? Could you think of any greater honor than this? I don’t care if I am overlooked by all men for the rest of my life if it means that I am remembered by God. I am also reminded of the words of our Lord Jesus to his own disciples. As he greeted the 72 that he sent out to minister, he said, “Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” There is no greater place that you could have your name written than in the book of life in our heavenly home. Forget all other honors, forget any earthly thing that can be given to you & have your name plastered across the top, all of it falls flat in comparison to this. One day, you and I can leave this sinful, depraved world and one day live in heaven with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is in that day that the greatest honor will be bestowed upon us, as we hear the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your Master.” So let me ask you: where is your name written? Maybe it’s written on a wall. Maybe it’s written on the door to a big office, the deed of a large farm, or the title to a new car. But none of that makes a difference if your name is not written in the book of life or inscribed on the palms of God’s hands. Turn to Jesus today, humble yourself before him, and he will exalt you. 

Thank you so much for listening to today’s episode. Tune in, Tuesday-Friday’s, as a new podcast episode will be uploaded each day. Also, be sure to follow the Facebook page for the Set Your Mind Above podcast for future announcements and weekly video sessions that are uploaded on Saturdays. As you have the opportunity, share these thoughts with your friends and family, and share with me what important lessons you are learning from every day, ordinary events. Until next time know that I love you, that God loves you, and may we all each and every day set our minds above!