Tomorrow!

Vance Havner told the story like this, "A little girl was taking a train trip with her mother. They rode through a long tunnel and as they emerged she fairly shouted, Oh, mamma, it's tomorrow."
All of us are on our own journey. If God is leading, we go through tunnels that ultimately have a way out. When we are leading, we end up in caves of our own making without any way out. The God-lead tunnels in our lives are dark and trying, but there is an end or a tomorrow or a forever if you prefer. If we find ourselves in a tunnel just now, let's remember that God is with us and has a purpose. We will eventually emerge from the tunnel, perhaps proclaiming, "Praise God, it's tomorrow."

Enough?

Did you hear of the man who believed that he was to have only 200 possessions. Think about this for a minute. What 200 possessions would you keep if you were led by God to do such a thing? My Bible would be #1 on my list, but where would I go from there. Some clothing, shoes, toothbrush, phone, house, etc.
In I Timothy 6:8, it reads, "And having food and raiment(clothing) let us be therewith content". Do we personally know anyone that is content with food, clothing, and shelter? I hope we can answer yes to this question for I hope that each of us are content with the necessities and are grateful for each one. The question for each of us might just be, when is enough, enough? Well enough of this, blessings to all as we follow him.

How Will They Know?

John 13: 35 says, "By this shall men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." How will people know that we are Christ's disciples, well according to the above word by the fact that we have love one to another. I John 3:18 says, "My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue, but in deed and in truth." To tell someone that you love them and to show someone that you love them are horses of a different nature. Our words of love are confirmed by our deeds and the truth. Have you ever experienced a powerful victory in your life at the same time one of you friends has had a great loss? The word teaches us to prefer one another over ourselves. It is a spirit led powerful transition when we in the midst of our victory can truly mourn with our brother. Our mind is saying rejoice over our victory while our heart says weep with those that weep. Will they know that we are his disciples? I hope and pray that we all will have love one to another. Blessing to you!

Silence Is Welcomed

Silence is golden or so goes an old saying. To me silence is welcomed. I remember back when I would go deer and elk hunting that my favorite part of the hunt was sitting alone in the woods and listening to the silence, or at least it was silent of man's noise. There would be plenty of sounds coming from nature. Birds were singing with all their might and creeks would be cascading down with the sound of peaceful and needed waters, as they meandered to the flat lands. You could hear branches falling from trees, and animals walking, and the squeaking of the chipmunks and other critters, usually no deer or elk sounds, but that was okay, for my heart needed to hear from the living God through his creation. It is good to be quiet at times and listen. We may hear a still small voice, or we may hear birds chirping and singing, or as one of my sons used to ask to his mother and I as we sat quietly outdoors, "What are you guys doing, listening to the grass grow? We always replied, that we were , but it was much more than that, we were just being quiet and listening as life continued on. One thing I remember, we always heard something and were the better for it. As we go through life let's listen and see just what we will hear!

TGIF

"Thank God It's Forever"! Yes I just want to thank God that Heaven will go on forever, and in Heaven, forever there will be light, forever the gates won't be shut, forever nothing that defileth, or commits abominations or tells lies will be there, forever the tree of life will bear fruit every month and the leaves of her tree will be for the healing of the nations, forever there will be no sickness, no sorrow, no tears, no fear, no divorce, no envy, no lust, no stealing, no political parties, no politicians, no sorrow, no etc. Forever there will be love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance, humility, righteousness, purity, family, community, committment, loyalty, and every good and perfect thing. Heaven, what a wonderful place. "Thank God It's Forever!!!

Perspective!

Life can be so daily, so monotonous, so wearisome, so demanding, etc. It could be all in one's perspective, the good one or the bad one. We know, that this is the day that the Lord has made and that we should rejoice and be glad in it. Speaking in regard to perspective, did you know that what a caterpillar calls the end, God calls a butterfly. I really like the way God looks at things. It is impressive to find a person that sees things the way God does. We get worn out with the burdens of life and when this happens, God says in Galatians 6:9, "And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." God really does know us. I pray that He will continue to remind us to see things the way He does. It will invigorate us. Open our eyes Lord!

That Will Be The Day!

Well here I am, I have finally reached it. It happened this morning and was unbelievably awesome. I honestly thought that I would never live to see it, but happily I did. What am I talking about? It involves going to the car dealership for a recall repair on one of our cars. After receiving the recall notice via mail, I called to see if I needed an appointment, and was told that it would only take 10 minutes and to come in any time preferably in the morning. I said that I would see them in the morning and that is where I went early this morning. Before I left a made a mug of tea to take with me, packed a snack, picked up a book that I been planning on rereading, and got a pen and small notebook for the notes I planned on taking as I was reading the book while waiting for my 10 minute repair to be completed. I'm a veteran in these matters, I've been through this before and was going to be prepared. I've been told in the past that a repair would take so long and much later in the day (or on one occasion even the next day) it would finally be done. I'm like the dog that has been trained well. When told the repair would take 10 minutes, I thought "That will be the day". I just wanted you all to know that, that day arrived today. Actually they completed the repair in just under 10 minutes with me sitting in the car waiting. It was unbelievably awesome. Wouldn't it be great if when we told someone something would happen a certain way, that we would do everything within our capability to make it so; a man or woman of their word. What would this world be like? Oh well, enough of my rambling for, "that will be the day".

Listen Up!

President Franklin D, Roosevelt got tired of smiling that big smile and saying the usual things at all those White House receptions. So, one evening he decided to find out whether anybody was paying attention to what he was saying. As each person came up to him with extended hand, he flashed that big smile and said, "I murdered my grandmother this morning." People would automatically respond with comments such as "How lovely!" or "Just continue with your great work!" Nobody listened to what he was saying, except one foreign diplomat. When the president said, "I murdered my grandmother this morning," the diplomat responded softly, "I'm sure she had it coming to her."
The story is told of two men talking one day. One of them said, "My wife talks to herself a lot." His friend answered, "Mine does, too, but she doesn't know it. She thinks I'm listening." That isn't very nice, but let me ask, do we listen when others are talking? In the Bible it says, "let every man be swift to hear..." (James1:19). I'm afraid that most of us don't listen to others when they are talking, because we are thinking about what we are about to say to them. Someone once said that, "it is impossible for a worthwhile thought to enter your mind through an open mouth." I got an idea, let's all listen to one another as we share with one another!
The rest of that verse in James says, "be swift to hear, slow to speak and slow to wrath". God's word is always right but of no value if we don't do it. Have a blessed weekend.

Grateful?

Are we grateful for all that is done for us? First of all, that which is done from the very heart and hands of God, and second, that which is done from the heart and hands of those God puts into our lives. I don't know where you are in regards to this, but I can say for myself that I am deeply and eternally grateful for all that God and others have done for me. God's granting salvation to us and others heads my list.
One of my favorite verses is in Romans 10:13 where it says, "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." Anyone and everyone who calls upon the Lord shall be saved, and this is most exciting and encouraging, for I know and pray for many who don't know Christ. I believe that my prayers will be answered and they will be saved. I'm available to share the good news with them and/or pray with them, but most importantly, I want them to have God in their lives through accepting Christ Jesus into their lives as Savior and Lord. Do you have certain ones that you are praying for, that they will receive Christ? I hope that we all are praying and sharing where God has given us the burden. Since God is no respector of persons, and would that all be saved, then we should pray, and then stand in faith, that those which we have the burdens for will come to the Lord. When they do, they will be deeply and eternally grateful for what God has done for them.

Which way is the wind blowing in your life?

Charles H. Spurgeon told this story, "Once, while riding in the country, I saw on a farmer's barn, a weather vane on the arrow of which was inscribed these words: 'God is Love.' I turned in at the gate and asked the farmer, what do you mean by that? Do you think God's love is changeable; that it veers about as that arrow turns in the winds? The farmer said, Oh no! I mean that whichever way the wind blows, God is still love."

Which way is the wind blowing in your life? Well which ever way its blowing, just as the farmer told Spurgeon, God is still love! God still loves us and is with us forever! Awesome!

Refreshment to the withered soul!

Philemon 5-7 says, "Hearing of thy love and faith which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints; That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus. For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother."
What a great blessing to be around someone who can refresh our hearts. It is not by what they say, it's by what they are. It's by their presence. Are we the ones who refresh the hearts of those that we come into contact with? If not, why not? We are born again and hopefully full of God's Spirit. We should be the refreshment to the withered soul. I hope that we are the refreshment or that we are becoming the refreshment for others. Don't be cast down for God is at work and hasn't finished with any of us yet. Oh for a cool drink at God's well.

Simple Ones - Their Choices!

Proverbs 1:22-33 says, "How long, ye simple ones , will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge? Turn you at my reproof: behold I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you. Because I have called, and ye have refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; but ye have set at nought all of my counsel, and would none of my reproof: I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh: when your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: for that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord: they would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof. Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices. For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them. But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil." Praise the Lord that when we submit to God's counsel and reproof, we dwell safely and aren't fearing evil! We are submitting, aren't we?

The Bicycle Bell!

There was a knock at the door of the hut that the missionary lived in. When the missionary answered the door, there stood a young boy. The boy politely introduced himself and then asked the missionary a strange question. He said, "Sir, as I walked past your trash, I could not help but notice that you are discarding a bicycle bell. Would it be okay with you if I were to take the bell?" The missionary asked the boy if he had a bicycle? The boy answered, "No Sir I do not, but I'm sure if I get that bicycle bell, getting a bicycle will not be difficult." Naturally the bell was given to the boy, as the missionary marvelled at his naive faith. From that point on, the missionary was watching and listening for the boy on his bicycle, ringing his bell.

Perhaps there are times that the small things seem the most difficult to take care of or to obtain, and we become sure that if only the small things are taken care of or obtained , then the big things will be easy. Well the truth is that we are to do all things as unto the Lord. And then as we seek first the Kingdom of God, all things will be added to us. Just keep in mind that God's provision isn't always conventional, so if you see an available bicycle bell, you had best go for it, for the bicycle isn't far behind. For without faith it is impossible to please God!

Turning or looking back!

Psalm 44:18 says, "Our heart is not turned back, neither have our steps declined from thy way:" The way of not turning back is to continue to walk in God's word, doing it his way.

In Psalm 78:41, it reads, "Yea, they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel." The children of Israel tempted God in the wilderness by asking for meat ( basically not being satisfied with his provision of manna), and in so doing were turning back from following God and allowing him to lead and provide as he saw fit.

Luke 9:62 says, "And Jesus said unto him, No man having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." If we look back, at where we were, after we start our walk with the Lord, then as Jesus said, we are not fit for the kingdom of God. Are we turning or looking back? I sure hope that we aren't! When Jesus saw a multitude leaving because of his hard saying, he then asked his disciples if they were leaving as well, and was told by Peter, "Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life" (John 7:68). Let's remember just where we will find the words of life, they are not to be found in looking or turning back!

Friends?

Abraham Lincoln said, "Am I not destroying my enemies when I make friends of them?" I like making friends and if it will destroy my enemies, I will like it much more. Proverbs 18:24 says, "A man that hath friends must show himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother." Need friends, try reaching out to touch someone and see what's the result. You will see a new friend in the making. Proverbs 17:17 says, "A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity." Having friends and being a friend to others, well nothing beats it. Do we have friends or do we have acquaintances? To be counted as a friend by someone is quite an honor. Are there those in our lives who we can count on to tell us the truth no matter what? I leave these words for our consideration, Proverbs 27:6 which says, "Faithful are the wounds of a friend: but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful."

How Content Are We?

Many a man has thought that he could be the exception to I Timothy 6:9-10, which says, "But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows". Those who have thought such, do fall into temptation and snares and foolish and hurtful lusts, which ends up drowning them in destruction and perdition. Some have even erred from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows. Hopefully you and I will be smarter than that and will be content with food and clothing knowing according to God's word that, " we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out". (I Timothy 6:7) God meets our needs but doesn't give us everything we want. How content are we?