No Greater Love

John 15:13, “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.”

When my Grandpa was no longer able to take care of himself he came to live with my parents. He was 87 years old. His physical condition was great but his memory loss was pretty severe. His heat beat was strong and even though he had some stiffness in his joints he was not bothered with arthritic pain.

He was a neat man and his table manners were excellent even in old age. He ate garden peas the old fashioned way…with his knife. He managed quite well. He enjoyed having company and he was especially pleased when the great-great grandchildren visited and he would smile and laugh as he watched their antics.

After my father died in 1986, Mother continued to take care of Grandpa by herself. My siblings and I took turns assisting Mom with his care; taking them out to lunch or out for a drive. But, as the years passed, we could see the effects of being a care giver. Her heart was beginning to weaken and her blood pressure elevated.

We became concerned about Mother’s health and one day we mentioned that perhaps Grandpa’s care was becoming too much for her to continue. She said, she could never place her Dad in a nursing home. We said, “But Mom, he doesn’t even know who you are most of the time.”

Mom’s reply revealed a lot about her. She looked us straight in the eye and said, “That’s true…BUT I KNOW WHO HE IS.” We never mentioned it again and Mom continued giving Grandpa the tender loving care that he needed and on January 25, 1991, he fell and a few days later expired due to a cerebral thrombosis. He was 97 years old.

I will never forget Mom’s reply. She was willing to endanger her own health to care for him.
I Cor. 13:4, “Love suffers long…and is kind

WHY WORRY?

Sometimes I find myself worrying too much, getting uptight and anxious about things that don't deserve that much attention. I should have learned my lesson by now. After all, I've been following the Lord for 63 years and I've read the admonition of the Lord in Matthew 6:34 many, many times... It says, "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own troubles." A Native American Cherokee proverb says it a little different, but the message is the same., "Don't let yesterday use up too much of today." In other words, QUIT WORRYING. That sounds so simple doesn't it? Just let go!. The Word of God strongly advises all of us to quit OBSESSING and start CONFESSING.

Philippians 4:6-7 points us in the right direction to be worry free.
It says, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be known to God: And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding. will guard your hearts and minds through Jesus Christ." When the Apostle Paul wrote the above to the Christians in Phillipi, he knew from experience that anxiety accomplishes nothing profitable, but prayer and supplication will bring results. It will open the ears of God and he will hear us and give us peace of mind.

YOUR WAY
Set me in the place of your choosing,
And let me delight myself,
In Your Holy Word.
Your way...Your wisdom...
For my spirit longs for the communion,
Found only in You!

Truth Will Prevail

My thought for the day:

 

Jesus IS Lord.  He is the Way, the Truth and the Life.  When a person KNOWS that truth, there is nothing that can take away their joy.  They know their Salvation is secure. The world would like to change that.  Opponents of Christ continue to belittle, deny and ridicule anyone that is brave enough to support the cause of Christ.

The extent of cultural decay that is present in the world today is mind boggling.  Those who would like to transform our country appear to be succeeding.  They would like to corrupt our government, weaken our judicial system, destroy our educational system and do away with our Constitution.  Our morals have hit rock bottom and it appears that right is wrong and wrong is right.  If we continue to obey the outcries of the “Politically Correct” leaders and organizations we may, in time,  be afraid to open our mouth and talk openly about our Lord Jesus.

But Truth will prevail and one day, the Bible tells us, “…Every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord…” (Philippians 2:10)   The Apostle Paul goes even further, he continues to clarify who exactly will bow and confess.  He says, “…Of those IN HEAVEN, and those ON THE EARTH, and Those UNDER The earth.  That sounds like everyone to me. 

Praise the Lord…Keep broadcasting the “Good News” about Jesus!

CLEANSE ME, O LORD

Even great people make mistakes and err in judgment sometimes. When David was anointed King of Israel by the prophet Samuel, God said, “I have found David, the son of Jesse, a man after my own heart, which shall fulfill all my will.” As time passed, this great warrior, poet and song writer did not fulfill all of God’s expectations but proved him to be as “human” as everyone else.

The King had to live with what he had done. He cried out, “My sin is ever before me.” But he did not cease to worship and call upon God. He humbly repented of his sins and continued his reign as King. David understood the love that God has for His children. In Psalms 119:64, he wrote, “The earth O Lord is full of your mercy……” I wrote this short poem last night while meditating upon the wondrous love of God.

FORGIVE ME

I have sinned, O Lord

And forgotten your way

That leads to life eternal,

So, hear me, as I pray.

Please don’t take your Holy Spirit

From my thirsty, longing soul.

Wash me Lord and cleanse me,

Once again…

And make me pure and whole.

Good Christian Behavior

My thought for the day:

Ephesians 4:11-12, "And God gave some, apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers for the perfecting of the Saints and the work of the ministry and EDIFYING OF THE BODY OF CHRIST."

When I was young, my siblings and friends played hard. We skipped rope, climbed trees and played King of the Mountain, Tag, Hopscotch and Hide and Seek. In the winter, if the sidewalks and roads were covered with snow and ice we put on our second-hand skates and skated all the way from Glenwood and Court Street to Hall Flats where the Police Department always poured a huge rink for us. We would skate a couple hours and when exhausted we would return home. Sometimes at night we could not sleep because our legs hurt so much. Mom would come into our bedrooms and rub our aching muscles with lotion and always say, "It's just growing pains.

Sometimes, Christians suffer growing pains too. At first, we are like little newborns and need to be nourished and comforted. But as we reach 2-3 years of age, we are expected to begin crawling, stand up on our own strength, and eventually take our first steps. Our bottle is taken away and we are placed in a high chair with a beginner's spoon and bowl. Soon the baby spoon is replaced with a fork and before you know it we are eating bite size pieces of steak! As our diet enlarges, sometimes we are compelled to eat not what we necessarily like, but what is GOOD FOR US."

As soon as we can understand what our parent are saying, we learn that there are guide lines for almost everything. We are to "Share Our Toys" and no hitting, pushing, pinching or biting when we play with others. No yelling or screaming even when we have to take turns. Why all this fervor about family rules? Because where there are no rules and guidelines there is often chaos and unrest.

With guidelines, everyone knows where their place is and where they fit in the scheme of a happy home. As newborn babes in Christ we must go through the same routine of gaining strength to stand on our own, to feed ourselves on the meat of the Word and to get along well with others. Because of this, God has placed seasoned Christian friends and mentors in our lives who will teach us the ways of the Lord .

Favorite Quotations

"The best portion of a good man's life is his little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and love."

William Wordsworth

Seeking Truth

 

 

When I walked down the church aisle September 1951, and gave my heart to God, I never fully realized how it would effect and change my life. I was a Sophomore in High School at the time and the idea of searching for the meaning of life had not even entered my mind. It was definitely not a priority.

But, as I sat under the teaching of my Pastor, I soon became aware that I was responsible for the choices that I make, and my choices could change the DIRECTION of my pathway in life. The decision that I made that Fall day started me on a journey to SEEK TRUTH. That search has not ended. It is still going on today.

As a teenager, when I first began to study the Word, I began to realize that there are spiritual principles and lessons to be learned to live a Christian life. I studied the Bible all through High School and upon graduation traveled to Missouri to assist my grandparents in church ministry. We preached revivals in churches and in the open and brush arbors, such as you see in the pictures. It was a wonderful experience for me because I got to see the results when the Gospel was preached in the power of the Spirit.

Messages such as "Come unto Me, all ye who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest." touched the hearts of sinners and they repented and accepted the Lord as their Savior.

Over the years, I have seen changes in the Churches. Not so much emphasis on outer appearance but more attention to the inner man. More witnessing about Jesus love, our love toward each other and more emphasis to meet the needs of others.... and that is good.

I too have changed. I am not so concerned about what others think I should do, to be classified a "Christian", and I do not purposely offend them. But I am more concerned about what the Bible says I should do to follow Christ. I desire to love my Lord God with all my heart, soul and mind and to love my neighbor as I should.

GOD IS SO GOOD!

 

 

Including God in Our Plans

 
My thought for the day:
The story of Lot's wife has always fascinated me. I remember, as a child, leafing through the family bible and looking at the pictures that depicted the agony of the Cross, the parting of the Red Sea, the baptism of Christ and many others. One picture, in particular, always caught my rapt attention. It showed a man and woman and their two daughters being pulled away from a burning city by two angels who instructed all of them not to look back as they left. The man and his daughters are walking with determination, with their eyes straight ahead, but the mother has turned to look at the burning city. Her face reflects disbelief as she watches the fire and brimstone fall from heaven. Her city, Sodom, is being destroyed.

The picture always disturbed me because I wanted them all to escape and flee to the mountains, and I wondered why she chose to disobey the angel's instructions to not look back. The woman's name is not mentioned in Scripture. She is simply known as "Lot's wife." Other women in the Bible who became symbols of something are remembered by name. Sarah, Esther, Ruth, Naomi, Mary, and the list can go on and on. But, this woman is nameless.

We don't know why she hesitated to leave her city which was about to be destroyed because of its sinful behavior.. Perhaps she had learned to love the well watered plains or treasured the friendship of the women whom she met daily at the city well to draw water. Whatever the reasons for her glance backward, she paid a dear price for it. Once the judgement of God fell upon her she became a woman who belonged nowhere. She could not return to her city and she could not proceed with her husband and daughters. She could not retreat to the past or move into the future. She was changed into a pillar of salt and became a symbol...of disobedience.

Our times today are no different than those of Sodom. People are marrying, building, planting and planning their lives. Many do not include God in their plans. They don't take time to seek God and refuse to accept the salvation that Jesus offers. How about you? Do you live your life to be pleasing to God,or do you live it haphazardly, thinking that there are no values, no morals, no obligation or responsibilities...no God. Life is short. Don't be careless. Don't be foolish. If you have not thought about the destruction that will come upon this world one day because of sin, it is time to think about it now. God has provided a way of escape if you will simply believe upon His son, Jesus Christ, as your personal Savior. 

John 3:16, says, "God sent his only begotten Son into the world,so that whosoever believes upon Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."