Starting Right
Starting Right is a 5 minute Day Starter to help keep you motivated, encouraged, and focused throughout your day. DannyMac is a pastor, teacher, motivational speaker, husband, and father. His years of leading and training people have given him vast experience in helping individuals to accomplish change in their lives and meet their goals. He can help you set the course for your day by offering practical advice from God's Word in a positive and fun way. There is no better way to begin your day than by Starting Right with DannyMac.
Starting Right
Unmovable: Finding Strength in God's Protection
Have you ever wondered what happens when a powerful Mexican fighting bull meets a stubborn South Dakota buffalo? The answer holds a surprising spiritual lesson that might just transform how you face today's challenges.
Danny Mac brings us a fascinating historical account from 1907, when cattle rancher Scotty Phillip bet that his buffalo could defeat the supposedly unbeatable fighting bulls of Juarez, Mexico. The story of eight-year-old buffalo Pierre's showdown in the arena unfolds with unexpected turns and comic moments that captivate the imagination. But beneath this entertaining tale lies a profound spiritual truth about standing firm when life charges at you full force.
As you begin your day, this five-minute devotional offers more than just an amusing historical anecdote—it provides practical spiritual encouragement for whatever you might face this week. Whether challenges come from unexpected directions or familiar sources, God's armor prepares you to stand firm, just like old Pierre. Grab your coffee, take a moment to reflect, and join Danny Mac every weekday morning to start your day by Starting Right.
Good morning. I am Danny Mac and you're listening to Starting Right. Every weekday morning I'm going to be here to share stories of life and hope from God's Word. So grab a cup of coffee, sit back and relax for the next five minutes as I help you start your day by starting right. Sit back and relax for the next five minutes as I help you start your day by starting right.
Speaker 1:In 1907, scotty Phillip, who was a well-known cattle rancher from South Dakota, was down in Texas on a cattle buying trip. While he was down there he came across a couple of gentlemen from Warhaz, mexico, who claimed that their fighting bulls in Juarez were the strongest and healthiest bulls of any in the world and they could defeat any animal anywhere at any time. Scotty, who had his cattle ranch, also was a buffalo fancier and he said to the men from Juarez I've got a couple buffalo who could take your fighting bull anytime. The following discussion led to an agreement and a fairly large bet of a battle between Scotty Phillips' buffalo and the fighting bull of Juarez, mexico. So Scotty went home and he packed up two of his buffalo to send down to Juarez. One of those buffalo was an eight-year-old named Pierre. I want to pick up the story as it was reported in the South Dakota Magazine in an article by Jim Dixon.
Speaker 1:When Pierre ambled out into the arena, the crowd emitted a buzz of anticipation. The buzz became a groan as the shaggy bison reached the center of the ring and, tired from his long trip, calmly flopped himself down. There was a roar as the Mexican Fighting Bull entered the ring and, seeing the unkept mound of the bison in the middle of the ring, he launched himself at it. Pierre managed to get himself to his feet just in time to take the bull's charge head on. There was what sounded like an underground explosion and the dust cleared to reveal an unmoved Pierre stoically contemplating a surprised and slightly dazed bundle of bovine bewilderment that had bounced back 15 feet or so from the point of impact. But the bull's mama hadn't raised any dummies. After all, he had a pair of sharp horns that could do major damage to this buffalo. So he sidestepped to a position that gave him a clear shot at the buffalo's uncovered flank. Lowering his head, he charged again. Alas, the bull's mama hadn't told him about a major difference between bulls and buffalo, namely that buffalo can turn on their front feet rather than their back feet. This ability allowed Pierre to pivot at the last minute and once more absorb the bull's charge with his massive skull plate, and this time the buffalo put some thrust behind his powerful counterblows. After the final encounter had brought him to his knees, the once fearsome fighting bull fled to the other regions of the arena and tried to climb out of the ring. Failing that, he could only stand shaking as the catcalls of the angry crowd rained down on him.
Speaker 1:I love that story and it made me laugh. But it also reminded me so much of what God tells us in Ephesians, chapter 6 and verse 13. He says put on the full armor of God so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground. And after you've done everything to stand, just like that old buffalo who stood his ground and took whatever the fighting bull could throw at it, he wasn't about to be moved.
Speaker 1:Our instruction from God is that as we put on the armor of God, we become strong and we are able to stand when we are attacked. And when it's all said and done, when the attack is over, we are still standing as we go into this week. I encourage you, my friends, put on that armor of God, so that you can stand, no matter what comes at you this week, no matter where it's coming from, no matter who it's coming from, whatever it is. When we have God on our side, when we have his armor on us, we can stand just like old Pierre. Have a great week, my friends. We'll talk to you tomorrow. Thank you for listening today and I invite you to join me Monday to Friday, right here on Starting Right with Danny Mac.
