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I Did It My Way
Friday, November 28, 2025 by Rick Stockwell
I Did it My Way
READ Proverbs 14
There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.
-- Proverbs 14:12 (ESV)
The song, “I Did It My Way,” was written by Paul Anka in 1967 and popularized by Frank Sinatra in 1969. At the time, the singer was contemplating retirement, since he felt he was being pushed aside by the changing music industry. However, the song's success famously led Sinatra to postpone his retirement, cementing it as his signature song.
While Mr. Sinatra had great success professionally doing things his way, I’ve found that doing things my way doesn’t always work out. While running through a nearby park one November, I came across a team of volunteers planting tulip bulbs. The bulbs were neatly arrayed in straight lines on impeccably prepared flower beds, with the pointy ends facing up. This reminded me of planting bulbs with my son in our garden years earlier. At the time, I thought about asking a neighbor how to do it, but brushed that thought aside and proceeded to plant all the bulbs with the pointy ends down. Needless to say, no flowers appeared the following spring.
A friend told me they didn’t believe in hell. I replied that Jesus talked a lot about hell, as recorded in the Bible (e.g., Matthew 5:22,29,20; 10:28; 16:18; 18:9; 23:15,33). I emphasized that hell is a terrible place (e.g., Matthew 13:42) and you don’t want to end up there. They didn’t think a loving God would create hell; however, a just God would.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
Do things God’s way.
Prayer: Father in heaven, please help us to follow your ways rather than our own.
Prayer Focus: GARDENERS
Rick Stockwell
Rick Stockwell retired from a career in information technology, teaches Sunday school for first graders, served as an elder at his church, has been married for thirty-five years, and has two children and six grandchildren.
Rick is the author of two novels in his Heavenly Realms series called The Wall and The Battle. Audio, eBook and paperback versions are accessible via this link: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B07HQ8G3MJ
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