Treasures
by
Wilma Clark Erwin
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A big “Hello” in Florida. Thanks for the call and the news you shared about Treasures and OUR Lord! It was good to hear a friendly voice from the past and the news you shared flooded my soul with celebration. Thanks.
Facts for today’s article come from the Grayson Journal-Enquirer, December 17, 2008. It run a story written in 1959 by Estelle S. Rizk who visited the lady in this story and submitted the article after the visit. From here I’ll begin my way. (Expected that, didn’t you?)
She lives in the room with my friend. Both are ninety-one year olds. Both are in the Grayson ‘home’. My friend has trouble with getting up and around and without the wheel chair would be immobile; but her mind is clear, sharp and active. Her friend Ruby is caught somewhere in the past. She is not in 2009-it simply does not exist for her. She lives when she was at home in her parents home, eighty years or so ago and often sounds the alarm trying to get home to them, fearing a punishment for tarrying too long. Other times she lives as a young married woman and needs to get home to prepare meals. She often mentions seeing these loved ones but never seems to ‘catch-up’ with them.
Usually on Saturdays I take a meal and dine with them (now she is too far away to enjoy this). When she was better and enjoyed the meal, talk and fellowship her fun would be cut short with the worry she needed to get home. No amount of efforts from her family or others has even dented the fact that 2009 is here. Her mind skips 50 or so years.
My mind pursued facts about her and as always uncovered a story. We all have one, you know. This article turned up to answer my questions. It seems Ruby and husband had to watch devastation and mysterious hopelessness of muscular dystrophy take away the life of their sixteen year old son. Oh, yes this is bad; but wait until you hear the full impact-he was the third of their sons to die this way.
All three sons had the general weakness of the muscles, awkwardness, clumsiness and deterioration into death. Ruby had three handsome, healthy looking, smiling boys with alert, intelligent dark eyes the article read. Bobby, the oldest died in 1950 at age 14. Jackie passed away in 1954 at age 16. Wattson followed his brothers. Can you imagine the pain of being told your youngest son had a fatal illness and the clumsiness he experienced was only the beginning of the pain ahead. Then, to face his death, only to learn the second had the same disease. And, after all that, to be told the third was to have the same fate. We can only imagine!
The article tells that her husband begged her not to be depressed but enjoy all the time they had together. Wow! (I’ve heard people who couldn’t be happy over things a million times less important). Bobby walked until he was nine. Jackie could walk no more after six. Wattie too lost walking as Bobby, at age nine. Wheelchairs and ramps allowed outside times and trips to town and movies.
At the time the article was written Wattie was living. He was on the couch with binoculars to bird watch. He liked to read, play checkers, keep scrapbooks of movie stars, dogs and such. He enjoyed his schoolwork, done under the tutoring of a home instructor. His parakeet, Pretty Boy, keeps him company. Can you picture the efforts to make a happy place?
Ruby’s husband, seeing the empty nest ahead, encouraged Ruby to make a home for a child needing one. A three day old baby girl came into their life-a ray of sunshine. The baby girl brought life into the home. Wattie enjoyed watching the activity and had a constant new companion. She maked the slow days pass more quickly and with much joy. He began keeping a baby book on her. The new life added to the home-so carefully kept by it’s mistress. The ruffled café curtains now had a bundle of sunshine to match them. Wattie had to go but she could stay-and is still here today-making trips to see that Ruby has nice clothes and whatever else can be provided.
The daughter adds a note to the 2008 edition of the story saying her father passed away suddenly in 1986 and an adopted brother in 2007. She notes Ruby’s lack of memory and all that has taken place in her life. She mentions her gratefulness for that loss of memory. She feels that for the first time in her life she doesn’t have some unbearable worry or grief to bear. The 50 lost to memory years were grief filled.
I’m not going to try to give you a moral or opinion or anything. If this story doesn’t touch you, your wood is wet. It is truth. It is real. I will, however, urge you to visit ill people, hospital confined people and absolutely the people in nursing homes. No matter what you see or hear before your eyes and ears-look beyond. Treat the people like people. Smile, say hello, pat their back and send love. Take time to find out what they can have and make their day better-if possible. Care. Love. Bless and get blessed.
Ruby loved the Lord through her troubles and witnesses her love for Him today! Still blessed! Are you?
There was a 10 year old boy who received a watch from his father who died. The boy cherished the watch. Everyday he put the watch on and thought of his father.
One day the boy was in a meat locker plant visiting his uncle. His uncle was taking him on a tour in a large locker with meat hanging everywhere. The locker was cooled by huge fans that pumped cold air all around the meat.
The boy stumbled and fell and his watch slipped off his wrist. Immediately he knew the watch was gone and frantically started to look for it. There was a layer of sawdust on the floor and the usual droppings from hanging meat.
After sometime he was frustrated and upset that he could not find the watch. Overhead he could hear the big fans blow and he could feel the cold air all around him. The cold air was now becoming an enemy because the longer he was on his hands and knees in the locker the colder he was becoming.
The boy’s uncle became concerned about the boy and found him on the floor crying. The watch was nowhere to be found.
The wise uncle moved toward the locker door and turned off the fans. He said, “Let’s just listen.” A few moments went by and they heard tic tock, tic tock. They followed the still small voice of the watch and in seconds the boy had the watch back on his wrist.
Now isn’t that just like the world around us to raise the noise level so high it will cover what is important. The racket of everyday life is so loud we cannot hear the voice of the Lord. But when we stop and turn off the racket and squelch the noise then we can hear the voice of God.
At times the threatening of the news, the bombardment of bad news, the negative talk, the gossip and backbiting, and even the sounds of the people and things in your own home are too loud to allow the still, small Voice to be heard. Fear, frustration and stress can sound your own heart as to pound in your ears and drown out His Voice.
Take time to go alone and be alone with Jesus and through The Holy Spirit your inner self will hear heaven’s music.
Prayer: Father, thank you that you speak to me, with me and in me. Help me to listen. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen!
Blessings.
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The story is told of two horses standing in a field. From a distance they looked like ordinary horses except one was a large beautiful black and the other a small chestnut bay. Horses still give us a good feeling. They give us the beauty of God’s hand in true three dimensions. They attract attention. One day a car stopped by the field. The people got out with camera in hand to watch the two horses in the field. They soon realized they were witnessing something quite amazing.
Looking into the eyes of the huge handsome black they could tell he was blind. They marveled and discussed how he must be loved for his owner not to put him down. Obviously, someone had made a good home for him. This alone was amazing! But there is more to this story.
Listening intently the passer-bys could hear the sound of a bell. Looking around they saw that it came from the chestnut horse across the field. They could see the bell was attached to her bridle.
A few more minutes watching and it was clear the bell allowed the blind horse to know where the small horse was at all times. As they stood there they noticed the small horse constantly checking on the location of the larger one. The larger horse listened for the bell and slowly walked to the ringing bell, trusting that she would not lead him astray.
Like the owner of the blind horse, God does not throw us away just because we are imperfect or because we have problems or challenges. He watches over us and even brings others into our lives to help us when we are in need.
Sometimes I am like the large blind horse and God places a special person with a bell in my life to direct me. Other times I am like the small horse ringing the bell, guiding others to see God’s light. Only Jesus came to earth and rang the bell His whole life-all others have fallen short of this.
Sit down with pen and pencil and write down the names of some of the bell ringers in your life. If they are still living, call, write or visit them. Too often we let the sound change our life but never thank the ones who cared enough to stay close and ring the bell. I sometimes wonder how hurt Jesus is that His Name is being so evil used. After ringing the bell for all time and all people it has to hurt to have people curse You for Your effort. He knew the anti-Christ days would come; but it still has to hurt to hear that people now do not know the difference in religions that teach He is The Only Begotten Son of God and those who do not believe He is God’s Son at all. That has to hurt yet His bell rings on and on and on.
I too often hear people who are supposed to be educated use bad words, wrong words, evil words and cursing God’s Names words. I think of how my parents would have corrected me and how I tried to correct mine and think here are the teachers and leaders who have laid down their bells. The blind stumble on for there is no clear ring to turn them. Sad. It hurts me so I know heaven mourns.
Prayer: Father, I come in Jesus’ Name to thank you for sending the right bell, ringing at the right time to improve my awareness of You. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen!
Blessings on hearing The Bell!
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Have you thought about the engineering The Lord put into seeds?
The term seed also has a general meaning — anything that can be sown i.e. "seed" potatoes, "seeds" of corn or sunflower "seeds". In the case of sunflower and corn "seeds", what is sown is the seed enclosed in a shell or hull, and the potato is a tuber.
Into varying sizes of seed (or kernel) He places a small embryonic plant and encloses it in a covering called the seed coat. Most of the time He includes the first needed food. There are a number of modifications to seeds by different groups of plants. One example is that of the so-called stone fruits (such as the peach), where a hardened fruit layer ( the endocarp) surrounds the actual seed and is fused to it. Many structures commonly referred to as "seeds" are actually dry fruits such as the sunflower.
Some seed are formed, ripened and fertilized within the mother plant. They reproduce with the development of flowers, like so many plants here in Kentucky, including the apple tree. Wind, water, insects and animals play a role in fertilizing and spreading seed.
Kentucky is one of the most beautiful places in the world. We get to witness so many of God’s created plants and the seed process here. We have the climate, soil, wind, water, insects and animals to help us grow a multitude of crops. Drive about and see the many gardens, both flower and food.
Recently, a friend took me to their garden. It was beautiful. There were potatoes to ‘gravel’ out a mess. (How is that for speaking country?) Small tomatoes had emerged from the blooms. Oh, Yeah! And, they gave me the lesson on how Brussels sprouts form their edible buds between the plant and leaves.
Since the garden thrilled me so, they later brought me small celery plants. They truly were so cute. Miniatures of the plant we so often pull off the shelf in the grocery without a thought of God’s creating hand. Miniatures! Babies of the adults! What a process He uses to give us all the variety in life that exists all about us and many times without us even caring. We too often are like the hog that eats and eats but never looks up to see where it comes from.
And, who but The Lord would think to create seeds like the maple and pine that actually have a wing to aid the wind in dispersing them! The beautiful orchid has seeds that are almost dust-like and so easily spread by the slightest of winds. And, surely you have experienced the hair like seed results of the dandelion, milkweed or poplar. Oh, some seeds have two wings after all He is the God of variety-just look at you and me.
Of course He made some seeds to float and spread that way and some to stick onto the feet of insects, animals or you and me. If you’re a true Kentuckian you’ve helped with seed that are barbs or burrs as we call them. How many times have you had to scrape them off you clothes after a walk on the wild side?
Apple and cherry seeds, among others, have fleshy coverings that we like to eat (as do the animals). We toss the cores aside and spread the seeds. Also the animals eat the entire thing and then do what is natural in the outdoors and, you guessed it, spread seeds again. Wow! Can you tell I’m having fun with this Treasures?
Then there are the seeds that are nuts! No. Not that kind of nut! Nuts that are long-term storable food reserves for all of us. The acorn, hazelnut, walnut are just a few. Recently a neighbor sat quietly and watched a squirrel at work storing nuts. The squirrel used his ‘hands’ to pull dirt away from a spot and create a hole. He next placed the nut in the hole and used his ‘hands’ again to push dirt over the nut to cover it. Next he actually camouflaged the area with leaves, sticks and such. He wanted to eat his own seeds in his own time. We couldn’t begin to cover the topic of seeds but we have and probably will continue to enjoy them. Take a little time look about at the world The God of The Bible created. Enjoy eating the many seeds you do but do not be hoggish-look up and be thankful. Enjoy the cereal, nuts, cooking oil, beverages, spices and all the other seeds and products made from seeds. Enjoy them, take time to actually see and think about them and be thankful for all of them. Just writing about this makes me think of Mom and Dad and so many who were experts with the seed. It makes me think of Regina and Randy and so many who have given us seeds. It makes me hungry. Goodbye!
Blessings on seeing the forest and the trees-seeds too.
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Oh, the fun it is to play with a baby! We have friends who count themselves as ours and they have a baby boy, Elijah, who will be one year old in July. He is now at one of the most interesting stages!
He will sit on my lap and listen as I tell him stories. I pull on the big toe and work my way to the littlest one. It goes like this in modern version, “This toe went to the mall, this toe stayed home, this toe had a pizza, this toe had none and this toe went weeeeeeeeeeeee all the way home.” As you pull the little toe and make the weeeeeeeeeeee sound he laughs. Actually he anticipates the little toe pull and begins to laugh before I get to it.
He likes the voices of The Three Bears. I do a bass for Pappa Bear, a squeaky voice for Mamma Bear and a whiny voice for Baby Bear. He loves them all. His big dark eyes latch onto mine and his little body doesn’t move until one of the voices does a funny then the grin he gives is worth the wait. Oh, how precious!
Sometimes I mess with his reasoning skills to exercise his brain. I’ll hide something under a quilt while he is watching and let him dig it out. Other times I’ll put something inside something and let him work to retrieve it. He loves thinking and doing. I love watching and seeing him grow.
He is getting some of the knocks that go with learning in the School of Hard Knocks. He is trying to move from crawling to walking with a total of nineteen consecutive steps to present. He falls often. At times he is near a hard edge and gets clipped by it. The knots on the head are followed by bruises and it is hard to tell who it hurts the most-him or the one who was caring for him at the time.
Sometimes I like to craw with him. It is hard on my old knees but it is worth it. I love to hide from him and watch how he loves to be scared when I pop out and ‘boo’ at him. As always with children his age we can do the same crawl and the same hide and ‘boo’ over and over until I have to call it quits. Don’t they love to repeat what they like!
Over the wonderful lifetime Jesus has allowed Roger and I to have, we’ve seen many children come and go through our home. The first were nieces and nephews. They have long since left the nest of their homes and ours but we often think and pray for each and every one of them. They have added to their families and we get to pray over them all. Some come often but most are busy in their lives and we rarely see them now; but we got to be part of their growing and learning.
There were times when our first home was full of cousins, nieces, nephews and their family and friends. Our living room would be full of kids sleeping on couches, mattresses, sleeping bags and overflowing into our bedroom. We would take them fishing, swimming and let them learn to cook.
Our own son, John, came along and what a joy to have him. He was as his name means, a gift from God. There was nothing about having him that we didn’t like. I think one of his favorite activities was going to Gatlinburg and taking a friend along. We’d give them a budget for the trip’s spending money. They would ride along in the top bunk over the cab in the camper and rest or fall asleep playing and talking. We’d hear them up there in the evening counting and dividing their money and making plans for the next day.
We thought that was the best it could get; then years later the grand-daughters came and that was icing to the cake. The girls were a change from the boys of the generation before them. Now it was Barbie dolls, false nails and girly things. A new world! They too loved the camper, the creek, the riffle and all the outdoor trips; but the mall always called their name-and still does.
Over the years there have been hundreds, perhaps thousands, of youth we’ve gotten to watch grow in school and church. We often see them now and hear them call out and revisit old times. Sometimes they call for prayer or need a funeral done but most of the time it is good times.
Summer is an awesome time to spend with kids. The creeks and riffles simply cannot be beat for an afternoon in ‘kid gear’. Don’t, please do not, go in ‘adult gear’. It will not be the same. Let them help plan, pack and schedule the time. Shift into ‘kid gear’ and leave foot prints on hearts.
The years will separate you as will geography but the times together will belong to all who care to revisit them. They will be memories for a lifetime.
Blessings.
Let’s make up a pretend situation with bits and pieces of truth from all over America or the world of today. Let’s vision a young man of 14. He is already the parent of two (yes, count them: one, two) and each by a separate girl. One of the girls is 12 and the other is 16.
The first girl’s parents allowed them to ‘date’ in her home with much alone time because they ‘trusted’ both teenagers to make adult decisions (well perhaps they did make the kind of adult decisions they have seen modeled-can’t argue with that). My argument would be with the definition of adult in this case.
The second girl was a driver and took them on dates. The more sexually mature (in this case though he is 14 he does possess knowledge and experience that, in my opinion belongs to adults and adults are to be mature) young man soon teaches his student about sex. She too becomes pregnant.
In the days to come all three sets of parents (well, actually there is five sets of parents, of sorts) have grandchildren of teens ages 12, 14, and 16. None of the teens are able to earn a living themselves, much less for a child. All need to finish school. The 12 year old in 7th grade, the 14 year old in 8th grade (he doesn’t do much in class and is often in trouble for various offenses and lost a year in school) and the 16 year old is an honor student in her junior year.
The 12 year old has two sets of parents since her mother and father is divorced. The mother is living with her boyfriend who is quite violent. This is now blamed for the alone time for the teens. They didn’t want to get the boyfriend ‘stirred up and mad.’ The father of the 12 year old has remarried and has custody on every other weekend and summer vacations; but his new wife has children who don’t like the 12 year old, so the father often miss visitation times.
The 14 year old has been kicked out by his mother who caught him stealing from her purse and medicine cabinet. She herself has a major drug problem and moves from house to house and man to man. Her contact with her son is loose to say the least. His father is a truck driver and not home often. While home he tries to get some time with the boy. They usually fight and the father ‘straightens him out’ with major cursing sessions. He also takes the boy to parties with drinking, drugs and women. Dad says, ‘I try to help him become a man’s man.’ Grandmas on both sides have tried to keep the boy. Both have scars inside, outside and in their homes to prove their time with him. All admit nobody really knows where the boy sleeps at night unless he comes to hunt them up.
The 16 year old is as we’ve stated an honor student. Her parents are still married and both work jobs. They have stressed morals, education, sports, hard work and took her to church on most Sunday mornings. She simply fell for the charm and worldliness of this young man. She was ‘swept off her feet.’ Too bad that in this case it was literal as well as in the heart. The family has been devastated but determined to support their daughter who they say, will finish her education.
So, what happened to the 12 year old? She is still living with Mom and boyfriend. All of them are raising the baby while the girl attends school. Police are called to the home from time to time for violence. The girl has about 50 piercings and extremely disrespectful to all about her. She has been suspended three times in the last two months. What is school like for a 12 year old who is pregnant? Can you imagine?
The 14 year old is off and running as he has been for years. No repercussions except more of the life he has always had. (Don’t you think that is a repercussion in itself-no real training in what life SHOULD be like. There was an incident at school where he was arrested for having drugs on his person.
The 16 year old is moving toward her original goals. Her family have, after the hurt, shock and anger moved along with her. They will keep the baby and all care for it. She has matured from this happening and is even more focused on her education and youth group at church. She dedicated her life to Jesus and openly speaks to other youth about saying no to sex before marriage. She tells them her life has been changed forever. She does not regret the little life coming and expresses she must grow up quickly and forfeit many things she looked forward to in order to become a parent. Her parents and teachers admire the way she has stepped up to her responsibility.
Audience: are you dizzy yet?
Audience: do you think this made up situation is far fetched around your home town?
Audience: does your heart hurt for these pretend youth?
Audience: this situation is completely pretend; but the cases exist all around you. Could it possibly be time to get back to Bible basics in the home, community and America?
Blessings.
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Happy New Year! We’ve just turned the first page on a newly wrapped collection of 365 days. It is so refreshing to have new things, new chances and new lives.
All of this is happening in one way or another to this one and that one. Some people decided this year NOT to go to the bar and get drunk but to attend Watch Night Services at the local church-yes, I said CHURCH. New Year!
Some are beginning new commitments like reading the Bible through. I’ve had requests to put the Read Through the Bible in a Year calendar on ChristOpenBible.com so I know more people are interested in 2009 being their year to read heaven’s plan for this world; and, the new one that is in the wings waiting to come on stage.
Last year we were beginning a new church. This year we were a year old and had our first New Year’s Eve service and had great attendance, great music, great preaching (Richie preached on cleaning out the junk rooms, borders and the extreme N-S-E-W of our lives), and great Presence. And, we had food and fellowship. We did a new thing in history. It was awesome to have hugs from people who were not in church, at all, this time last year. Wow!
Today I want to tell you about a new life around our home. He is the son of Richie and Amber Kasper who frequent our home and acquaintances as did his parents, grandparents and those before him. He is quite the little man.
A few years ago our Sister Susie Z. bought us a Christmas carousel. The stained glass windows around the carousel open and close as the carousel turns. A light shines on the angel inside and music pours forth as all this is taking place. We have always admired it and actually don’t put it away with the Christmas decorations but give it a place of honor on the divider between our living and dining rooms. Visitors often comment on its beauty and we show them how elegant it is. It is a good witness.
Elijah is soon to be six months old and this carousel has light, sound and movement-all the elements to attract him. He will fix his eyes on the carousel and do all within his power to get nearer the happenings of this beautiful Biblical decoration. The other night I turned it on and he, with his Mom’s help, literally walked up her body and stood on her jumping up and down out of ‘down right’ excitement. His eyes reflected the beauty of the carousel and his facial expression said, “Man, it doesn’t get much better than this!”
Our grandchildren are in their late teens now and it has been a while since we’ve cooed, babbled, and done baby things. New life is so amazing!
He wants to sit, even if he can’t, so he needs our help.
He wants to have things in his hands even though he drops them and wants them picked up again and again.
He wants food and drink but he can’t get them for himself and has to try to communicate that to us.
He gets wet or dirty and again has to fuss until someone ‘gets’ his message.
He wants to crawl but needs hands behind his feet to help get him going.
He likes to bounce but hasn’t yet learned tables don’t give in-even to babies.
He wants to go where others do but has to be taken.
You get the message? He is a new baby boy with a new year in front of him; but he needs Mom, Dad, grandparents, aunts, uncles and all others in his world. He needs them to help him become who he can become. Already he has many sounds that indicate he will be a talker. He has many, many moves that indicate he will be healthy and athletic. He has facial expressions that say he understands more and more each day. He has love to give that is so special it draws people to him.
If Jesus tarries another year and Elijah continues as he is, he will be at an entirely new place. A year makes such a difference! There will be 365 days for people to help him become the baby of 1 1/2 years that will bring him to. By then, if all goes well, he will have learned to walk, say words, sing some if I know his Momma, and learn many new things (I’ll help with that one). He wont’ be still for us to love him like we do now. He’ll be on the move!
He needs us now like no other time in his life. We get to be part of his growth!
Jesus sees you and knows there are things you can’t do without Him and He wants to change all that. He’d like to help you get where you should be going. He’d like to be part of your growth and maturity. He’d like to change your emotional and Spiritual diapers and give you emotional and Spiritual food. He’d teach you how to really talk Holy and sing Holy. He’d like to put into your hands what you really need. He wants to help you learn where the table begins and your right to swing your body ends. He wants to be in your New Year of 2009. Consider letting this be your best year EVER!!!
Let Jesus lead!!!
Blessings.
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Someone asked me recently to write a Treasures about “How to disagree in a right spirited way?” Wow! What a topic! I’ve spent some time on this one. My first attempt at ‘a’ method to disagree in a right spirited way goes like this.
1. You have to decide how deeply rooted, within the real you and your personal belief system, the issue at hand lies. There are strata or layers with respective negotiable or non-negotiable issues within every person. For example, few would really end a relationship over whether one drank Diet Pepsi or Diet Coke. Which cola we choose rarely is deeply rooted enough to separate friends. Many decisions are simply personal choices and usually do not enter into mature people’s ‘disagreement’ territory.
However, if you are involved in a deep, deep strata layer, like whether you are Muslim or Christian in belief, you have a totally different matter. People who have totally different content in a strata layer will not ‘agree’ by the very nature of the issue. If you believe Jesus is not the Christ, the only begotten Son of God and did not die for the sins of man you will not want to agree with a person who believes Jesus is the Christ, the only begotten Son of God and did die for the sins of man. On that issue you are poles apart just as the earth’s North and South Poles. That shouldn’t keep you from working side by side, speaking friendly, caring about each other, standing in line together, or being on the same highway.
2. Next, practice looking at the real issue and attack the problem-never the person. Attacking the person, even verbally, will not bring good will much less resolution, even when it is possible. Gossip and backbiting the person, belittling them, ignoring, being rude to them and the such will cause the basic disagreement to become much, much more abusive and damage outward from the event like throwing a stone in a pond.
Words once spoken can never be taken back. As a minister I’ve heard people tell verbal hurts they experienced decades ago. Hurtful words kill in more ways than one. Don’t be guilty of attack. Stand your ground on deep issues but care that you cannot agree. This will come through and soften the scene.
3. Look at the truth, the real truth and let it reign. Listen to what the other person says. Listen to understand where they are coming from. Walk a mile, mentally at least, in their shoes. Try to see things from their viewpoint. Even if you can’t agree on the issue, you can find common human grounds to care about each other. On issues where you can ‘give and take’ consider what you can ‘trade-off’ to get part of your wants while giving the other person part of theirs. Remember people and relationships are far more important than material goods or winning.
4. In my case, or a Christian’s case, you can think on Word, “What would Jesus say? What would Jesus do? How would Jesus show love?”
5. Ask yourself to think on the initials WAIT-Why Am I Talking? Mentally think on why you are talking. What do you want to accomplish?
6. If the disagreement is a deep issue and you know you are not going to move from the ground you stand on consider all the tools you have to at least remain friendly, though on different sides of the issue. Don’t take things personal. People do not make deep, inner decisions, for or against other people; but on what they truly believe.
7. Remember you do have tools. The list of tools available to practitioners include negotiation, mediation, advocacy, diplomacy, activism, nonviolence, meditation, counseling and for some of us the most powerful one of all, prayer. Do not resort to being a bully and trying to force your point of view. Do not bully by trying to destroy the person because you disagree. Neither try to lift yourself up above them because you believe you are better. Keep good will.
Disagreements happened in the past. They happened today and they will happen tomorrow. Some will be as simple as to who waters the flowers. Others will be as serious as who get custody of the baby. Some are money and material issues while others are deep emotional ones. Each will need a varying amount of meditation, mediation and prayer.
Choose your battles wisely.
Sometimes a quiet withdrawal can speak more than a million words and leave no mess to clean up.
Silence is golden and thus valuable in many situations.
Remember you do not always know the truth. You may think you do; but you do not always. Know this. Know also that people get in the middle and distort so don’t fall victim to one who sows discord.
Remember people can’t always reveal their true reasons-for that matter you do not always either. Sometimes people have things to hide and digging in their trash will not make anything cleaner.
Once you know you are on two different sides of what looks like a permanent issue, move on to other ways to have a relationship. Don’t continually go over the battle ground but rather take a walk on common ground. Love and care.
Jesus would suggest a quick resolution and is quoted in
Matthew 5:25 (KJV) with this advice.
Agree
with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any
time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the
officer, and thou be cast into prison.
I’m not sure if I’ve
answered what you asked me to write friend; but you gave me a tough topic.
If we plant a tree, it begins to grow; if we set a post, it begins to decay. You think, maybe.
There was an old farmer who, in the prayer meetings of his church in describing his Christian experience, always said: "Well, I'm not making much progress, but I'm established." One spring when the farmer was hauling some logs, his wagon sank in the mud in a soft place in the road, and he could not get out. As he sat on top of the logs viewing the situation, a neighbor who had never accepted the principle of the old farmer's religious experience came along and greeted him: "Well, Brother Jones, I see you are not making much progress, but you're established.
I seriously doubt the old farmer sat there or went home and left his wagon there for years, just continuing to say, “My wagon isn’t making progress but it is established.”
I truly suspect the rule he thought gave him a good result spiritually was not even close enough for results he expected for a simple wagon full of logs.
I’m astounded that people insist their couch match the wallpaper but do not find it necessary their life’s teachings match their doing.
I think this world needs people who want to make progress in all good and Godly things. I think we need people:
...who cannot be bought;
...whose word is their bond;
...who put character above wealth;
...who are larger than their vocations;
...who do not hesitate to take chances when the right thing is at stake;
...who will not lose their identity in a crowd or in the dark;
...who will be as honest in small things as in great things;
...who will make no compromise with wrong-believing good will win in the end;
...whose ambitions are not confined to their own selfish desires;
...who will not say they do it "because everybody else does it;"
...who are true to their friends through good report and evil report,
in adversity as well as in prosperity;
...who do not believe that the end justifies the means;
...who can and will do good to them that hate them;
...who can and will pray for those who despitefully use and persecute them;
...who love their enemies and stay clean inside;
...who are not ashamed to stand for the truth when it is unpopular;
...who can say "no" with emphasis, although the rest of the world says "yes;"
...who can say “yes” with emphasis, although the rest of the world says “no;”
...who insist to themselves that they must be accountable for Jesus’ Kingdom,
their own personal growth, their family’s growth and their church’s growth, daily.
The great preacher Charles H. Spurgeon says: "We have the likenesses of our boys taken on every birthday ... so that we see them at a glance from their babyhood to their youth. Suppose such photographic memorials of our own family life and spiritual life had been taken and preserved; would there be a regular advance, as in these boys, or would we still have been exhibited in the baby carriage or play pen? Have not some grown awhile, and then suddenly dwarfed? Have not others gone back to childhood? Here is a wide field for reflection."
What if the plantings of Spring had remained only seed or small plants? Where would the tomatoes, beans, cucumbers, cabbage, corn, etc. be now? We expect things God created to grow and mature. Shouldn’t we expect the same of ourselves?
Blessings on true growth and maturity!
It seems I made quite a stir with the financial data about America’s debt to China. Well, I just gave data on one country-try, not researching how much we owe to other countries! I want to give you one more little tidbit about our economy and how off the ‘strait and narrow’ we are.
Here is an article, printed in the Columbus Dispatch, from the The Atlanta Journal-Constitution written by Tammy Joyner this month. It is titled, Double Take-Bush didn’t have this kind of stimulus in mind.
It reads: “Atlanta-Seems Uncle Sam’s economic-stimulus checks are boosting an unlikely part of the economy. Adult entertainment Web sites began seeing a spike in business shortly after the first wave of checks went out in mid-May, according to Adult Internet Market Research Co., a New York company that tracks the adult online world.
The checks paid up to $600 to individuals and $1200 to married couples. The online spike is unusual since the warmer months-beginning in May-tend to be slow for the adult online entertainment industry, said Kirk Mishkin, director of the market research firm.
The firm was alerted to the increase by one of its for-pay Web sites. ‘Thirty-two percent of respondents referenced the recent stimulus package as part of their decision to either become a new member or renew an existing membership,’ said Jilliam Fox, a spokeswoman for LSGModels, the company that tipped off the research firm.
The market researchers polled the rest of its 800 pay-site members and 4,000 affiliates’ sites and found similar results after compiling data over seven weeks.
Some 20 percent to 30 percent of the people who responded said the stimulus checks were an incentive to go on to the sites, Mishkin said.”
The above is not the words from a country preacher/teacher; but those garnered from professional news people. My point being that we Americans know we’re funding wrong things but we don’t seem to care. Congress could have earmarked those funds for utilities, medical bills only, or whatever they wanted. Instead they put the money into hands of people to choose and they knew how America spends their dollars. Congress knows how they spend their dollars.
Now, off my soapbox and back to here and now in the Erwin home.
While people are squandering big bucks on Satan’s devices, the churches and Jesus’ kingdom is spending all they get their hands on to stand up for RIGHT. Look about you and you will still find CHRISTIAN people, homes and churches. They still scrape up money to send youth to camps to learn Bible, Jesus and righteous living. They are still trying to buy Sunday School materials, radio air time, television time, and such to get Jesus and His saving power out to the world. They still use dollars to keep lights on in little churches around the world. They still buy and distribute little crafts that teach Godly principles to children-any children they can get long enough to teach. They still give gifts to mothers on Mother’s Day and to fathers on Father’s Day to encourage families. They still spend big bucks on Vacation Bible School to bring in the neighborhood’s kids and give them some Real Bread and Spiritual Water.
While the world is flocking to all places except Jesus’ church, The Church is still practicing the only true financial system ever founded-tithes. Tithing was started when Abraham gave tithes to Melchizedek. God thought so much of this system that He had Abraham pay tithes, when the Hebrew Tithe Collector tribe, Levi’s seed, were still in Abraham’s loins and three generations unborn. God is such an awesome God! (Read Genesis 14 and Hebrews 7 if you want an absolutely perfect financial system.)
While the world is selling itself and drowning in debt, the faithful Christian is simply putting a tenth into The Bank of Heaven with the promise their needs Will Be Met. (Psalms 37:25 I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.)
While the world is selling itself, the faithful Christian is investing in houses where Jesus is Lord so the Bible can be preched and taught. They continue to partner with Heaven, God, Jesus and The Holy Ghost-Branch Offices of Heaven! Yeah!
Though the end of time will be perilous for The Christian-those who endure will be saved! It is a promise. Death is the door through which one goes to heaven; but death will be the last enemy. All of heaven’s riches will be theirs for eternity and the gold people sold themselves for on earth will be pavement in the New Jerusalem. The world and the worldly people will descend to their place and victory will be forever for the Christian.
Blessings on putting your money to work where it can be an eternal investment!
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Do you think gas at $4.00 a gallon is the sign of other, much larger, problems? Do you think food prices soaring and the housing market problems are symptoms of any other larger issues? Is it possible Americans have played the games we’ve played too long? Is sending our work overseas and buying foreign products catching up? Should we have noticed that drugs, alcohol and family deterioration make us vulnerable?
Do you think our democracy’s foundation is at risk? How does a country keep operating with debt that has such a high number most of us cannot imagine its real meaning? In 2007, according to author Bill Bonham in The Evangelical Advocate, we owed $5.1 trillion (5,100,000,000,000) or $17,000 per American. Much of this debt is owned by the Peoples Republic of China. What percent of Americans could pay their share of that money if it took it to keep America free?
Many, many people talk now about their own indebtedness. Many are seeing themselves getting into deeper and deeper debt. Many fear they will have no home to live in if prices keep soaring. Once families are pressed to choosing between the house payment, food, gasoline and other bills the late fees on unpaid bills are killing them. Some places now charge those who get behind $29-$50 a month, and increase their percentage rate also. One person recently showed me a bill that had $15 interest on the hundred for one (1) month interest. That would be $180 interest in a year on $100 dollar debt. If you can’t pay the hundred how are you going to pay the $280?
June 11, 2008, New York Post article, “CHRYSLER BUILDING ON THE BLOCK SOVEREIGN ARAB FUND TO PAY $800M”, by LOIS WEISS read in part, “The latest Big Apple trophy being coveted by oil-rich sovereign wealth funds is the landmark Chrysler Building. Sources say the super-rich Abu Dhabi Investment Council is negotiating an $800 million deal for a 75 percent stake in the Art Deco treasure that has defined the Midtown skyline since 1930.” How many of America’s businesses and properties are owned by other countries? Should we be concerned?
This article could go on and on but ‘a word to the wise is sufficient.’ I hear people say they will have to cut back. Duh! You think maybe! I hear some say they will have to miss church or miss tithes to ‘help’ themselves. Here is one that suggests we start with anything and everything else. The symptoms above might just not be only about America-they might also be symptoms of Bible prophecies.
Joshua would suggest we choose who we’re going to serve. He said for him and his house they were going to serve The Lord. That is my choice also. A fallen world, getting more fallen all the time, calls for serving the One who knows all things, controls all things and owns all things. My advice to us all is to get out of debt as much and as fast as we can. As for me I want to be owned by Christ and heaven. The tougher times get the more I want to commit to Him and honor Him and His teachings. We can all do better!
Families used to live without hundreds of things we think we have to have. Families did a lot of things they aren’t doing so much now, like growing gardens, cooking in the home, and even drinking water from the tap or well. How did we ever survive?
Enough from me but so many people in trouble has urged me to give us all a “HEADS UP” call.
Blessings.
_
Have you recently known the Presence of The Lord-known it for yourself? Many people today seem to be searching for something to fill their inner longings. The television is full of policemen warning that they will be out during the holiday celebrating the birth of our country. They will be out to stop drunk drivers from occupying the road with the rest of us-or they will be trying to stop them-the police seem to know they are far outnumbered.
Have you ever thought what the reason is, that so many must seek alcohol or drugs to numb their inner self? If you look about you, or listen to news, you will see and hear, that people are seeking something (or someone or some activity) to fill their inner longings. They make news doing it. They do all the usual, predictable forms of vice and now are adding many lower animal level behaviors, all in search of filling their inner longings. I observed on the news that a young couple became intoxicated with some of their friends, put their couch on wheels, tied it to a vehicle and rode it through town, even took the Golden Gate Bridge before a policeman stopped them. What inner longing were they trying to soothe? Is this a filling for some inner longing?
Again I ask, have you recently known the Presence of The Lord-for yourself? Few seem to be finding their way into the Presence of their Maker, to come under the Heavenly Spout where The Glory of God is dispensed. How long has it been since you, yes, you, have prayed, repented, praised and grown so close to God’s throne, in Jesus’ name, that you felt your life’s load lift and you felt the very Presence of Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Acts 3:19 gives you that privilege to soothe your inner longings. Read it new and consider its promise: Acts 3:19 (KJV) Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; Doesn’t that scripture tell you that repentance with a mind to convert (change from seeking to fill inner longings in earthly ways to seeking to fill inner longings in spiritual ways) will bring a pure condition before The Lord (your sins will be blotted out-in heaven) and the TIMES OF REFRESHING SHALL COME FROM THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD! Wow! Wow! Wow!
People do not seem to know there are answers to their inner longings!
People seemingly have forgotten or no longer practice getting into His Presence and having Peace.
People seem to keep getting another PIECE of drink, deed or activity and missing the PEACE.
People seem to always be on another SEEK only to have what they sought run through their fingers and off again they go SEEKING. They are NOT happy people; but people always on a quest. The home doesn’t interest them. The spouse doesn’t interest them. Their own flesh and blood children doesn’t interest them. The last drunk or drug binge only makes them want one more-it doesn’t fill their need. Having a job and paying their own house rent or electric or water bill doesn’t interest them. They are on a quest much like the dragon hunters of myth. They seem to seek their own special dragon, that when finally found and conquered, will bring their elusive filling of the longing inside. People can’t seem to lay hold on life-simple, satisfying life-much less LIFE!
Few seem to know they can be blessed for seeking Jesus and His Kingdom above all other things. They can seek Him as first in their life and ‘have all they need (food, drink and clothing) added to them.’ The number of thieves we have in our midst plainly tells they either do not know this truth or they can’t attain to it or else they would have no need to steal.
Even fewer seem to ‘get it’ that Jesus promised open rewards and blessings to those who will give their alms (helping hand to others, good deeds or tithes) to Him, on in His Name, to draw close to Him, trust Him, and not always be ‘doing’ to be seen of men.
He likewise promised open rewards and blessings to those who will truly come to Him and talk to Him (pray). He said if one talks to Him in secret (shares life with Him) they will be openly rewarded. Also He gave a third way to be blessed or rewarded, to fast. Fasting is pretty much nixed in today’s world. Since so many are still on the milk, this meat totally eludes them. So many mighty Spiritual principles are unclaimed because so few can understand His Word and so many are ignorant of the Truth, Life and Way.
The four inner ‘longing fillings’ suggested by Jesus above, are only a few of what He has promised, in the Word He left for us, to tell us how to find that illusive filling for our inner longings.
If stealing could fill one’s need, wouldn’t thieves be happy?
If drugs and alcohol could fill one’s need, wouldn’t addicts be happy?
If money, status or popularity could fill one’s need, wouldn’t those people be happy?
I find it strange that so many are being deceived into chasing their own dragons when all the time we’ve been told and shown how to really be happy. I’ve lived among those who know PEACE. I’ve been under the spout where The Glory comes out. I’ve talked with and been blessed by The One who can dispense the filling for my longings.
I’ve laughed in His Presence!
I’ve cried in His Presence!
I’ve come away with Word for myself and for others!
I’ve had answers to prayers and direction to steer me in good times and bad!
My question again is: Have you recently known the Presence of The Lord-known it for yourself?
Blessings.
__
A positive attitude and positive words can build what nothing else on earth can build. Attitudes are actually the emotional underpinnings of motivation. And, motivation gives, even compels, incentive and action. The Big Mo, as author John Maxwell, leader in Leadership across the Christian and secular world, calls it, gets things done. Shut down Big Mo and your system will slow, lose inner strength and drag.
Attitude determines our predisposition to many things. Attitude can cause us ‘to try’ and can cause us to ‘throw in the towel’ without even giving something or someone a chance. Eagerness and zeal come from attitude being positive. Good attitudes enhance the probability of positive outcomes-no matter what we’re talking about. Zig Ziglar states, “Your attitude will determine your altitude.”
I hear people who constantly ‘feed upon’ the negative. They tell you about their sicknesses, their troubles, their lack of finances, their children’s inadequacies, and on and on and on and on and on. Well, you get the idea. They are feeding their minds on the negative. They are Spiritually speaking the evil that Satan wants them to dwell on and speak of. Undesirable circumstances feed their Spirit. The results are never good.
I hear other people who constantly ‘feed upon’ the gossip and ill happenings in others’ lives. They tell and rush to tell bad truths and often enhance or create much of what they say (lies). They are Spiritually speaking Satan’s words and helping his kingdom thrive and spread. The undesirable circumstances feed their Spirit and the results are not good.
If we speak of our lack of ability, education, health, finances, and on and on, we speak of negative—we are speaking ill health to ourselves. What we need to do is feed upon what ‘can be’ if we truly serve Jesus and allow His Holy Spirit to lead our lives. All can be whole. All can be Holy. All can work to our good if we claim our calling in His will. He created us for a purpose and will enable us to achieve our purpose IF WE WILL OBEY HIS WILL. It is impossible to get into circumstances He cannot bring us through-IF WE WILL OBEY.
We need to possess our minds, hearts, and souls with Word and claim what is possible. We need to speak what can be and claim it. Jesus, the greatest teacher of all time taught us how to handle negative things. He said if someone hits you-turn the other cheek to him. It is He who defends us.
We are to love our enemies!
We are to bless them that curse us!
We are to do good to them that hate us!
We are to pray for them that despitefully use us!
We are to pray for them that persecute us!
Doing the above is what makes us His children. Though Jesus has died for all men He still gives those who ignore Him, curse Him or try to destroy Him sun and rain. He applies His goodness to all men whether they serve Him or curse Him though a day of judgment will come.
We are to love all people-not just those who love us!
We are to salute or greet all people-not just those who salute or greet us!
Jesus was good to ALL people. He was truthful to the scribes, Pharisees and others but He was good to them and continued to teach and preach the truth to them. He was perfect! He wants us to put His principles to work and become perfect.
Mat 5 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
We should not use the words like dummy, (I was recently corrected on that one. I don’t usually use it but slipped in silly fun and said it to someone-The Lord corrected me. I repented and want to convert from it.) stupid, silly, and such. We should never use curses (damn or worse) in speech unless we want a curse or destruction to come. The word hell describes a place of destruction. Recently I heard a man say his grandchild was “as cute as hell”. What on earth was he saying? His grandchild was as cute as outer darkness, gnashing of teeth and misery. I think not! He was foolishly allowing negative and Satanic language attitudes to be what he expressed over his generations. Foolish! Foolish indeed! Fooling in the eyes of heaven’s citizens!
We need to speak good!
We need to think good!
We need NOT to be destroyers but BUILDERS!
Blessings on good, Godly attitudes that spill out and pour ointment over those you are near and love.
_
Have you noticed how much confusion there is among people today? It was prophesied that variance would come, in the last days especially. Luke 12:53 The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. We should not fall into the trap of helping confusion build walls where love should be. Know that Satan wants to destroy unity for unity has power for God and good. There will be differences of opinions and times when people who love each other go separate ways; but we need to keep our souls clean and not help confusion. What is confusion and what power does it have?
Confuse is a word that means: 1. to cause one to be unable to think clearly-to throw off, 2, to cause one to act without true understanding by giving false information, 3. to mistake one thing for another, to blur, to assemble without order or sense, to jumble, to make something unclear or incomprehensible, or to bring to ruination.
God is not for confusion. He is The God of Peace, especially in the church of the saints. One way to tell if you are a saint or on your way to being one is whether you author confusion. 1Co 14:33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. Envy, bitterness, strife and lying against the truth is wisdom that is sensual and devilish while wisdom from above is pure, peaceable, gentle and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. The fruit of righteousness requires peace to be sown in. Jas 3:14-18 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.
God hates seven things which includes many that bring confusion. Pro 6:16-19 These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.
God states that people defiling His laws for sexual purity and sex only within marriage of a man and a woman will cause confusion. He states two specific examples in Leviticus 18:23 and Leviticus 20:12.
God says that a man calling his children the son of a perverse rebellious woman as part of correction is bad. King Saul tried to justify, with strong language to his righteous son, his wanting to kill young David. Strong language about his son’s mother did not hide Saul’s evil heart. Rather it exposed it more.
1Sa 20:30 Then Saul's anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said unto him, Thou son of the perverse rebellious woman, do not I know that thou hast chosen the son of Jesse to thine own confusion, and unto the of thy mother's nakedness?
God’s man Ezra explained that confusion comes to nation when they trespass God’s laws. Ezr 9:7 Since the days of our fathers have we been in a great trespass unto this day; and for our iniquities have we, our kings, and our priests, been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, and to a spoil, and to confusion of face, as it is this day.
Job felt confusion for all the troubles that came upon him when God bragged to Satan that Job would be true and Satan was allowed to confuse Job’s life. God allowed Satan a season to confuse and try Job; then God came to Job and restored and replenished him.
Confusion can be a trial to allow us to prove we will remain true to our Lord no matter what is said about us or how others reproach or blaspheme us. We do not have to forget God just because others deal in confusion. Psa 44:14-17 Thou makest us a byword among the heathen, a shaking of the head among the people. My confusion is continually before me, and the shame of my face hath covered me, For the voice of him that reproacheth and blasphemeth; by reason of the enemy and avenger. All this is come upon us; yet have we not forgotten thee, neither have we dealt falsely in thy covenant. We can pray as the Psalmist did and proclaim to Christ, that in Him, we have put our trust and we will never be put to confusion. Psa 71:1 In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion.
David often prayed for confusion to hinder the work of his enemies knowing this would be enough to give him the victory. Confusion can bring ruination. David wanted God to put confusion as a mantle upon his enemies. Isaiah said that confusion could break down a complete city. Isaiah also said to trust in Egypt (not God) would bring you to confusion. Jeremiah takes the power of confusion a step further and says we will lie down in shame and cover with confusion when we sin. Jer 3:25 We lie down in our shame, and our confusion covereth us: for we have sinned against the LORD our God, we and our fathers, from our youth even unto this day, and have not obeyed the voice of the LORD our God.
Blessings on speaking and living Peace to have peace-not confusion.
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This week I’d like to try my hand at bragging on Kentucky-Lewis County-our home. We have taken some time to go fishing and how wonderful it is.
Drifting along in Kinney one can look up and see the beautiful sky and the green canopy of trees above. In days past Kinney has rolled to heights and roughness that the trees have had their roots ‘dug out’ and exposed on the creek side. This lack of the earth’s stability has caused them to lean over the creek. Even though one knows this eventually means doom for each tree so affected, the canopy overhead is beautiful.
In the canopy one sees squirrel, their nests and their play. If you sit quietly you can watch the squirrel at work and see them climb about in ease. They chatter to each other and chomp on treasures they have brought back to their high, safe place.
And, their intended safe place may not be so safe. Roger and I sat one day in the boat and watched, what was to me at least, an eerie sight-a snake climbing in the canopy. This long, huge black snake slithered it’s coils back and forth on the tree bark until it rose to great height in the tree. At one point it stretched itself (I do declare it truth) about three feet straight out like a yard stick to reach the next branch. It stopped me from sitting in a boat under trees and fishing!
Not too long ago we were silently floating along and came into a sycamore that was down in the water. Our boat slid against the tree and we began catching fish. Soon we noticed slight movement in the tree. It was a beaver lying as still as he could to be unnoticed. For a few minutes we watched him hide then he gave up on us and down under he went. The next time we saw him, he was several feet from us.
Upon occasion we have watched deer as they swam the creek to evade dogs on their heels. It reminded me of the Psalmist writing about the hart (deer) panting for the water. Psalm 42:1 To the chief Musician, ... As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. The Psalmist thought we should, and indeed we should, have souls that pant for the Lord, as the thirsty deer pants for water.
And this year the cicada are humming loudly to add to all the usual bug, frog, bird and other creature sounds. The cicada is an insect with large eyes wide apart on the head and usually transparent, well-veined wings. They are commonly called locusts, although they are unrelated to true locusts, which are a kind of grasshopper. These cicadas are related to leafhoppers and spittlebugs. They do not bite or sting, are benign to humans and are not truly considered pests; although they destroy certain young trees. Now, they are lying about everywhere, dying. The creeks catch their share of them. You can hear them loudly buzz as they hit the water.
As you watch the cicada on the water you can see the usual dragonfly and the all too despised gar. His long nose according to most fishermen need NOT be stuck into fishing. Most fishermen moan and groan at their quick splashes giving the allusion of a muskie and only being a gar.
Oh! The wonderful, illusive muskie! How we hunt the creeks and lakes in search of him and when he gives us a quick look we are thrilled even if we don’t catch him. And there are the bass-they are fun. And we even like to find the blue gill for baiting a trout line.
We have a beautiful place to live. We have such beautiful greenery! We have birds, butterflies, and all sorts of wildlife. We have horses in fields to take our early American hearts for a pleasant feeling. We have been blessed to live here. There are other pretty parts of the world. That is for sure and certain but Kentucky can hold her own with any of them.
Get out this summer and take all the generations to the creek. Play. Swim. Picnic. Have good Godly fun. Enjoy what you have all about you. We do!
Blessings.
_____
I would like to send this tribute to all Moms, Dads or substitute parents who are brave enough to be ‘mean’ in their children’s eyes-to withstand the pouting and ‘fits’ to hold for the right, regardless. It is written about Mom but will apply to any mature adult willing to suffer children’s ill will in order to rear children in the right way.
When my own Mother died she had a poem about being a ‘mean’ Mom in her purse. She knew we were then old enough to understand the logic that motivates a parent. I pray more of us will be able to tell our children, as my Mean Mom told me:
I loved you enough to ask where you were going, with whom, and what time you would be home.
I loved you enough to be silent and let you discover that your new best friend was a creep.
I loved you enough to stand over you for two hours while you cleaned your room, a job that should have taken 15 minutes.
I loved you enough to let you see anger, disappointment, and tears in my eyes. Children must learn that their par ents aren't perfect..
I loved you enough to let you assume the responsibility for your actions even when the penalties were so harsh they almost broke my heart.
But most of all, I loved you enough to say “NO” when I knew you thought you would hate me for it-temporarily.
Those were the most difficult battles of all. I'm glad I won them, because in the end you won, too. And now that your own children are old enough to understand the logic that motivates parents, you will tell them.
Was your Mom mean? I know mine was. We had the meanest mother in the whole world!
While other kids ate candy for breakfast, we had to have cereal, eggs, and toast or even gravy & biscuits.
When others had a Pepsi and a Twinkie for lunch, we had to eat sandwiches and soup.
And you can guess, our mother fixed us a dinner that was different from what other kids had, too.
Mother insisted on knowing where we were at all times. You'd think we were convicts in a prison.
She had to know who our friends were and what we were doing with them.
She insisted that if we said we would be gone for an hour, we would be gone for an hour or less.
We were ashamed to admit it, but she had the nerve to break the Child Labor Laws by making us work.
We had to wash the dishes, make the beds, learn to cook, vacuum the floor, do laundry, empty the trash and all sorts of cruel jobs.
I think she would lie awake at night thinking of more things for us to do.
She always insisted on us telling the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.
Our Mom actually had the nerve to require us to learn Bible, go to church and live by Bible laws. Can you
Imagine. Telling her others ‘didn’t have to do it’ didn’t dent her determination one bit.
By the time we were teenagers, she could read our minds and had eyes in the back of her head.
Then, life was really tough! Mom wouldn't let our friends just honk the horn when they drove up. They had to come up to the door so she could meet them.
While everyone else could date when they were 12 or 13, we had to wait until we were 17.
Because of our parents we missed out on lots of things other kids experienced.
None of us have ever been caught shoplifting, vandalizing other's property or ever arrested for any crime.
It was all their fault. They planted honest, Godly thoughts in our hearts that accompanied us everywhere.
Now that we have left home, we are all educated, honest adults.
We did our best to be mean parents just like our parents were and now are passing it to grandchildren.
I think that is what's wrong with the world today.
It just doesn't have enough mean Moms and Dads!
Blessings.
______
I hear so much in the business and education world today about the missing “fidelity, integrity, truthfulness or authenticity”. This story is an email sent to me by my daughter-in-law, Kimberly, who knows I love a good illustration of old truths. Enjoy. I’m sorry the author is not on the email. It is called The Seed.
A successful Christian business man was
growing old and knew it was time to choose a successor to take over the
business. Instead of choosing one of his directors or his children, he decided
to do something different. He called all the young executives in his company
together. He said, "It is time for me to step down and choose the next CEO. I
have decided to choose one of you. "The young executives were shocked, but the
boss continued." I am going to give each one of you a SEED today one very
special SEED. I want you to plant the seed, water it, and come back here one
year from today with what you have grown from the seed I have given you. I will
then judge the plants that you bring, and the one I choose will be the next CEO"
One man, named Jim, was there that day and he, like the others, received a
seed. He went home and excitedly, told his wife the story. She helped him get a
pot, soil and compost and he planted the seed. Everyday, he would water it and
watch to see if it had grown. After about three weeks, some of the other
executives began to talk about their seeds and the plants that were beginning to
grow. Jim kept checking his seed, but nothing ever grew. Three weeks, four
weeks, five weeks went by, still nothing. By now, others were talking about
their plants, but Jim didn't have a plant and he felt like a failure.
Six months went by--still nothing in Jim's pot. He just knew he had killed
his seed. Everyone else had trees and tall plants, but he had nothing. Jim
didn't say anything to his colleagues, however. He just kept watering and
fertilizing the soil - He so wanted the seed to grow.
A year finally went by and all the young executives of the company brought
their plants to the CEO for inspection. Jim told his wife that he wasn't going
to take an empty pot. But she asked him to be honest about what happened. Jim
felt sick at his stomach, it was going to be the most embarrassing moment of his
life, but he knew his wife was right. He took his empty pot to the board room.
When Jim arrived, he was amazed at the variety of plants grown by the other
executives. They were beautiful--in all shapes and sizes. Jim put his empty pot
on the floor and many of his colleagues laughed, a few felt sorry for him! When
the CEO arrived, he surveyed the room and greeted his young executives. Jim just
tried to hide in the back.
"My, what great plants, trees, and flowers you have grown," said the CEO.
"Today one of you will be appointed the next CEO!"
All of a sudden, the CEO spotted Jim
at the back of the room with his empty pot. He ordered the financial director to
bring him to the front. Jim was terrified. He thought, "The CEO knows I'm a
failure! Maybe he will have me fired!"
When Jim got to the front, the CEO asked him what had happened to his seed
- Jim told him the story. The CEO asked everyone to sit down except Jim. He
looked at Jim, and then announced to the young executives, "Behold your next
Chief executive! His name is Jim!"
Jim
couldn't believe it. Jim couldn't even grow his seed. How could he be the new
CEO the others said? Then the CEO said, "One year ago today, I gave everyone in
this room a seed. I told you to take the seed, plant it, water it, and bring it
back to me today. But I gave you all boiled seeds; they were dead - it was not
possible for them to grow. All of you, except Jim, have brought me trees and
plants and flowers. When you found that the seed would not grow, you substituted
another seed for the one I gave you. Jim was the only one with the courage and
honesty to bring me a pot with my seed in it. Therefore, he is the one who will
be the new Chief Executive!"
- If you plant honesty, you will reap trust
- If you plant goodness, you will reap friends
- If you plant humility, you will reap greatness
- If you plant perseverance, you will reap contentment
- If you plant consideration, you will reap perspective
- If you plant forgiveness, you will reap reconciliation
- If you plant faith in Christ, you will reap a harvest
So, be careful what you plant now; it will determine what you will reap
later. Two thousand years ago Paul wrote to the church at Galatia the same story
but with fewer words, "Be not deceived; God is
not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap". (Gal.
6:7)
Blessings on good seed sowing and good reaping.
__________________
Recently Roger and I have had the opportunity to minister to many new congregations and meet new people. It is always a joy to do this. At times we can get ‘tunnel vision’ and only see one spot in time, people or geography; then we are given the opportunity to see a bigger picture. Roger and I have met so many great Christian people in so many denominations this year.
In church after church you find great people like the ones you’ve known all your life. You soon learn that each church has its personality and probably, purpose for Jesus. I call them flavors. Some are quiet and some are quite jubilant. All are about the business of The Kingdom-each with people trying to get ready for heaven and to take others with them. Sadly, most if not all, with people in masks, hiding who they truly are behind a Sunday Mask. They sound and look good but their proof is not in the pudding-they do not live holy lives 24/7. They can’t trust Jesus and love people more than they …… Gossip outweighs the Gospel. You get the idea.
You find the churches with different ‘Spiritual states of health or disease’ just as Jesus reported in The Book of Revelation. Jesus told of seven: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodiceans. He found two of seven or a little over 28% were truly faithful and without fault. The others had diseases of bad doctrine, leaving Him as their first love, idol worship, false Jezebel spirits, those that had a name of being living but really did not have His Power of life in them and those who were no longer hot or cold but lukewarm and fit only to be spit out. There are many ideas of how to apply those truths but I somehow think we still have all those kinds of churches here on earth today. It is sad that so few could truly hold Jesus, The Life Giver, in their total commitment to Him!
Then, in contrast to the above faults you find people like the graduate at Ohio Christian University who went to the altar and I prayed with her. She was leaving for Africa as a missionary but was concerned for lost loved ones here in America-not her safety far away from home.
You find people who meet the evangelist for a meal and take them to a Gospel Bookstore to get ‘seed for the sower’. Some will ask if they can take Roger fishing or me to the mall. It is amazing when a fellow minister asks you to prepare your message in his or her study and ask for prayer while you are there, for them and the church. Then there are the homes that know you gave up your hotel before Sunday School and have to stay until after evening worship so they invite you for the day. They cook a meal and plan a study room and give their home as yours. This country is still full of great people who love Jesus and don’t mind an occasional 24/7 assignment. Revivals still happen that way—of people and churches!
After preaching a message in a Revival about people wanting to ‘halt’ but decide to trust The Lord and go on, I received a beautiful poem. It was from Robbie O’Brien and read.
“Wilma”
She spoke the truth from His Word today
And showed us all how to find our way.
Down on our knees we bowed our heads
And found our way through the Words she said.
By God’s own voice this woman was called.
To spread His Word to one and all.
So I must thank her from deep in my heart
That through God’s Word we can have a new start.
Thank you Wilma your message was clear. I am a Christian but many times lately I wanted to halt. God has a plan for all of us. Now all we need, is to, start looking for it, instead of avoiding it.
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Recently I was part of our church team that attended a church education seminar. It was very interesting, informative and Spiritual. Many, many, many times in my profession as an educator I’ve attended meetings targeted toward improving myself, my school and ultimately my students. It was so refreshing to attend one meant to teach me how to improve ‘how the church serves people’.
The agenda contained three possible tracks for learning from the pastor to the youth. Each had sessions and speakers geared toward that age and experience range. One of the session I’d like to share with you today was about discipline.
Discipline is a word that means:
(1) training expected to produce a specific character or pattern of behavior, especially training to produce specific moral or mental behavior
(2) controlled behavior resulting from training,
(3) a state of order based on submission to rules and authority,
(4) punishment intended to correct or train.
Disciple is the word Jesus used to refer to those who took His instruction, believed in Him and received Him into their lives. This gave them His teachings and preaching to practice in their daily life. They let His teachings become their standard for control in their life-hence, a disciple. After embracing His discipline they would become teachers of the same.
The entire process of discipline is to change a baby (or immature person) from self centered, inability to control themselves to self controlled and able to control themselves.
The entire concept is to take a little person, say three months old, who cries at midnight, two o’clock and five o’clock for a feeding-with no control over himself or herself to wait for a better time for parents who need sleep-to a self-controlled adult who can be trusted to drive, work, marry and even parent themselves. Discipline is the training that changes us from having to be ‘outside’ controlled to being ‘inner’ controlled.
The process involves training and the best time for it to start is as young as possible. A child who reaches for the electrical outlet will be told “No.” They will have a hand slapped and the word “No”. They will be punished to teach and train them to stay away from electric. Why must this be learned? Electric can hurt and even kill them. They must learn or be endangered.
Un-disciplined people cannot control themselves according to rules and authority lines. They are immature and self centered, unable to deny themselves instant pleasure regardless of the consequences to themselves and others. We see this often in today’s undisciplined world. We see people who live uncontrolled until a spouse calls their hand. They, instead of seeking training and discipline, will “go wild” and refuse to accept discipline. They get a gun. Many times they kill their own children (their own flesh and blood) to get even (talk about out of control) with their spouse-then they shoot the spouse and kill themselves to avoid punishment. Oh yeah! This is true only if the Bible is NOT true and God does NOT exist. Otherwise they have it all to face before a True and Just Judge of all affairs of mankind. (This is what the Bible says and what I believe).
You see good discipline can benefit us from the cradle to the grave-and beyond! Come back next week and let’s look more at DISCIPLINE.
Blessings.
__________________________________
Last week we spoke some on Discipline. Remember the definition?
Discipline is a word that means:
(1) training expected to produce a specific character or pattern of behavior, especially training to produce specific moral or mental behavior
(2) controlled behavior resulting from training,
(3) a state of order based on submission to rules and authority,
(4) punishment intended to correct or train.
Let’s look at The Lord’s opinion concerning discipline. We have great writings throughout the Scriptures. Let’s look at this one.
Hebrews 12:5-11 (KJV) 5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: 6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? 8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. 9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? 10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. 11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
Let’s get some word definitions to understand more fully.
Exhortation means urgent appeal by strong advice.
Chastening means to restrain, to subdue, to punish, to rid of excess, to refine and purify.
Rebuke means to reprimand or officially criticize.
Scourge means to flog.
Here the Word says not to despise the chastening (restraining, subduing, refining and purifying) of The Lord. Do not faint when he rebukes (officially criticizes or reprimands) you. For if you have submitted to Him and become His child He will chasten you and treat you like His child and not like a child that belongs to someone else. He won’t force correction on you no more than you go into town and correct a stranger’s child. You have had fathers and mothers who corrected you (or that was His plan) and sometimes they punished you after their own pleasure yet we reverenced them (that too was His plan). They were over you only a few years-in this country it is intended to be until you are eighteen (by then you are to be a DISCIPLINED ADULT). God, on the other hand, wants to discipline you for your own profit. He wants you to become so “inner” controlled that you will be Holy.
He knows that being chastened is not joyous at the time of the punishment or correction or purification. He also knows that we grieve when we are punished or chastened. (We might pout.) He also knows that chastening RECEIVED will later cause you to be a better person. He knows that continually learning to submit to rightful rules and authorities and becoming more and more “inner” controlled will bring you into a state of maturity. You will become able to DO the RIGHT thing and resist the wrong things. You will, in a lifetime of accepting inner control, become a righteous person and that had rewards. REWARDS!
The biggest reward for becoming a disciplined person is the inner peace and ability to operate in both the earthly and Spiritual worlds successfully. A great side effect is that a mature, disciplined person (yourself) will be part of your family’s everyday life. A person with maturity will be constantly available to teach and train those you love-YOU!
Discipline is one of life’s greatest concepts and gifts from our Lord. Jesus made the trip to earth, in a human form, to teach us how to live a victorious, successful life. He defeated the enemy death that Adam and Eve loosed upon us and gave us life forever. He sent The Holy Spirit to live within each of us as a Full-Time Tutor! He will also move into your inner being and guide you—if He is asked. What more could we ask?
Blessings.
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Good morning and thank you for all the expressions of love, prayers and well wishes for my birthday. WKKS and JOY FM were filling the air with well wishes. How neat! It was nice to have people calling and emailing and stopping to visit. The milestones of our birthdays have two big effects on us: they remind us of the blessings given in order to reach each year’s end and they remind us of the passage of time usually allowed humans and how much of ours might have already been lived.
This year has been a happy, dance about the room kind of celebration. My health has been better and Jesus and I have been closer than ever before. I have given more thought to how blessed my life has been: great family, great friends, great job, and most of all great motivation within me. That is awesome! Each passing year gives me a greater zeal to live my life to the fullest. I want to make a difference in a life each day of my life. I want my life to have counted so that when my day comes to leave the body behind and go through the air with the angel I’ll truly be free.
Daily visions of ways to spend my day spring into my mind and heart. That is awesome! Life hasn’t gotten dreary or dull, but more exciting. As we age and gain more influence from having known and served more people we have more chances to spend a profitable day. I often think that each day could be spent a thousand times, and other than the limited physical, it could be spend again. Isn’t that great that The Lord Jesus motivates us to such a high degree!
Birthdays always have an edge of ‘forever’ with them since Mom, Dad, Aunt Ora and such can no longer do the special little things they did. They slip into my mind and leave footprints on my heart and tears in my eyes. Roger does something for me that is always good-that is just Roger-good and doing good things. John’s ‘Happy Birthday Mom’ means more than any thing this world has to offer. Emails from ‘my girls.’ My sister Chris stops by with our annual gift-so cherished-two pair of pajamas EXACTLY like I like and wear-things a sister knows. The surprise at church and at work add much to the day. Churches and ministers from places we’ve served or been neighbors to check in with cards, calls or ways of saying, “We appreciate you.”
Several cards had little children’s names printed. How precious is the awkward printing of a child’s name! It is one of life’s most cherished gifts. Then, there are the names of those in generations that speak promise because they could have much of life to share and those older, cherished friends’ names are so very precious.
This year’s birthday was celebrated with a new sincerity, a new awareness of how precious life is and a new zeal to live each day.
As we age we realize there is a day up ahead, much closer than before, when we go to see Jesus. The day we drop off the earthly and take only our eternal soul with us. That day would scare me terribly if I didn’t know that Jesus’ precious blood and grace has covered my sin. Sometimes I think about the call. That Word from heaven-from the throne room- “Come home.”
I so want to hear, “Come home, good and faithful servant, you have been faithful over a few things…”
What a BIRTHday! To be birthed eternally into the sleep in Jesus where those of the ages rest until the getting up day. And to think of that day sends excitement over ones entire self-to rise and receive a body like Christ’s new one-to sail through the air-to meet Jesus mid-air and to go with Him to His home! That is a PLAN!
Sometimes I think about sitting at the table for the Marriage Supper of The Lamb of God. I can feel the great expectation when Jesus steps up to drink of the cup, like He drank from at the Last Supper. He said He would not drink of it again until we were all with Him in His home. Can you imagine!
The best is yet to come! Oh, yes there are some terrible dying stages for earth and it’s systems. All here will be gone and the dying throws will be horrible, especially for those without their name in The Lamb’s Book of Life-the non-Christ people; but for those ready there will be grace (He knows how to care for His own). So, no matter how my next birthday come I will live them expecting GREAT THINGS.
Blessings.
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When I was growing up in Bentleyville at Garrison my best friend in the ‘field’ was Thelma Stanley who now is Mrs. Burton Lawson. They live in Richmond, Kentucky and have for many years. We try to keep in contact mainly through email. Burton has been ill and needed surgeries and prayer, especially this year so we’ve been in contact more.
She shared a writing by Colleen B. Hubert that I though many of you readers would enjoy having. It takes me back to Bentleyville days with Mom hanging clothes on the line in the yard and all us kids making trips back and forth to Bentleys Grocery. If you were alive at this time in history you, no doubt, will take a memory trip to your childhood days. Enjoy.
IN THAT LONG AGO TIME WHEN THINGS WERE SAVED,
WHEN ROADS WERE GRAVELED AND BARRELS WERE STAVED,
WHEN WORN-OUT CLOTHING WAS USED AS RAGS,
AND THERE WERE NO PLASTIC WRAP OR BAGS,
AND THE WELL AND THE PUMP WERE WAY OUT BACK,
A VERSATILE ITEM WAS THE FLOUR SACK.
PILLSBURY'S BEST, MOTHER'S AND GOLD MEDAL, TOO
STAMPED THEIR NAMES PROUDLY IN PURPLE AND BLUE.
THE STRING SEWN ON TOP WAS PULLED AND KEPT;
THE FLOUR EMPTIED AND SPILLS WERE SWEPT.
THE BAG WAS FOLDED AND STORED IN A SACK
THAT DURABLE, PRACTICAL FLOUR SACK.
THE SACK COULD BE FILLED WITH FEATHERS AND DOWN,
FOR A PILLOW, OR T'WOULD MAKE A NICE SLEEPING GOWN.
IT COULD CARRY A BOOK AND BE A SCHOOL BAG,
OR BECOME A MAIL SACK SLUNG OVER A NAG.
IT MADE A VERY CONVENIENT PACK,
THAT ADAPTABLE, COTTON FLOUR SACK.
BLEACHED AND SEWN, IT WAS DUTIFULLY WORN
AS BIBS, DIAPERS, OR KERCHIEF ADORNED.
IT WAS MADE INTO SKIRTS, BLOUSES AND SLIPS.
AND MOM BRAIDED RUGS FROM ONE HUNDRED STRIPS
SHE MADE RUFFLED CURTAINS FOR THE HOUSE OR SHACK,
FROM THAT HUMBLE BUT TREASURED FLOUR SACK!
AS A STRAINER FOR MILK OR APPLE JUICE,
TO WAVE MEN IN, IT WAS A VERY GOOD USE,
AS A SLING FOR A SPRAINED WRIST OR A BREAK,
TO HELP MOTHER ROLL UP A JELLY CAKE,
AS A WINDOW SHADE OR TO STUFF A CRACK,
WE USED A STURDY, COMMON FLOUR SACK!
AS DISH TOWELS, EMBROIDERED OR NOT,
THEY COVERED UP DOUGH,
HELPED PASS PANS SO HOT,
TIED UP DISHES FOR NEIGHBORS IN NEED,
AND FOR MEN OUT IN THE FIELD TO SEED.
THEY DRIED DISHES FROM PAN, NOT RACK
THAT ABSORBENT, HANDY FLOUR SACK!
WE POLISHED AND CLEANED STOVE AND TABLE,
SCOURED AND SCRUBBED FROM CELLAR TO GABLE,
WE DUSTED THE BUREAU AND OAK BED POST,
MADE COSTUMES FOR OCTOBER (A SCARY GHOST)
AND A PARACHUTE FOR A CAT NAMED JACK.
FROM THAT LOWLY, USEFUL OLD FLOUR SACK!
SO NOW MY FRIENDS, WHEN THEY ASK YOU
AS
CURIOUS YOUNGSTERS OFTEN DO, "BEFORE PLASTIC WRAP, ELMER'S GLUE AND PAPER
TOWELS, WHAT DID YOU DO?"
TELL THEM LOUDLY AND WITH PRIDE DON'T LACK, "GRANDMOTHER HAD THAT WONDERFUL
FLOUR SACK!"
Blessings.
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A minister friend of ours had a different Easter this year than ever before in his life. He is a man our age and has been blessed to have his Mother all these years. The last few months her health has been failing. Her ninety (90) years had been mainly good health but as my Mother would say, “Something has to take us out of this world since death is an appointment.”
Easter day she left the ‘throw away carton’ called the body and left for heaven. After hearing about her departure my mind kept thinking about her getting to go on the day we celebrate Jesus’ Resurrection Day. Wow!
This year many of the sermons given me around the Easter season were about judgment, which follows death for each of us, Jesus’ love for us that He’d give His life for our sin, and Resurrections. His first resurrection was in the Jordan River when He asked John to baptize Him. He was buried in the water and resurrected to His Father’s voice and The Holy Spirit’s blessing. What a great example of the resurrections ahead!
He preached and taught-then gave His life for our sin. He entered death by turning His spirit into His Father’s hands willfully, trusting Him to resurrect Him. He, as Peter tells us, then went to preach to the spirits in prison which were disobedient in the days of Noah. (Is that awesome or what?) After His mission there He returned, having defeated Satan and death, which Satan had tricked mankind into in Eden. In Revelation He makes the statement that He has the keys to death and hell. His death paid the price of a sinless Lamb for the sin of the world’s people. His resurrection defeated death. He gave mankind a way to defeat Satan and death if they choose Him.
Then, The Word teaches a Great Resurrection Day coming for all Christians in the graves and those alive who are His. I Corinthians 15, I Thessalonians 4 and Revelation 20 all teach of this resurrection time ahead. Grandma got to go home on a very special day-Resurrection celebration day.
Now, it has been three days and today was the day of the burial-always such a sad day. The day we know our loved ones are gone from the body is tough. I remember wanting to scream and scream and scream when my Mother died. I didn’t but I wanted to. Although the angels’ presence could be felt in the air, my selfishness at not wanting to let her go, overtook the victory she had won, for awhile at least, in my heart. My soul and head knew she had made heaven’s jet plane and was gone to be with Jesus but my heart wanted my Mommy. We are human and can’t help that.
Another tough time is when we take that last walk with Mom. My heart thought today several times about Bro. Jim walking Momma’s last mile. Many times he would pick her up and take her out to eat-she had several favorite places. They would sometimes drive on to our home and we’d visit with her for a short time. Today, I thought about his walking Momma home.
An old song, Will The Circle Be Unbroken?, has a verse that ran through my mind. It has verses that read:
Lord, I
told the undertaker,
"Undertaker, please drive slow;
For this body you are hauling,
Lord, I hate to see her go"
I followed
close behind her,
tried to hold up and be brave
But I could not hide my sorrow
When they laid her in the grave.
The song then turns the thoughts to the new walk with Momma. It urges those behind to be ready so the circle won’t be broken in heaven. It reads:
Will the
circle be unbroken,
By and by, Lord, bye and bye?
There's a better home a-waiting
In the sky, Lord, in the sky.
Now my
mother, she's crossed over
Where so many have gone before.
And I know, Lord, I will meet her
Just waiting at glory's door.
My thoughts also moved to how a Mother would be so proud of the children being with her, walking her the last mile. My thoughts moved past that to the deep desire of every Godly Mother-for her children and family to know Jesus so each could come to her when their time came to be walked their last mile. We can only imagine how tremendous the first walk together will be in that eternal heavenly land! Blessings.
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Dear Readers:
For many years my mind searches, and asks heavenly input, as to what can be shared with you. Each week the task comes again. And, as with most repeating tasks like laundry, ironing, cooking, dishes and even writing a column the week seems to have suddenly flown by and the deadline is directly ahead. Over the years there has been many, many kinds of things that have been shared.
We’ve been Bible characters or written of them. We’ve told stories from ancestors and even shared their methods to do everything from ‘holing potatoes’ to ‘making apple stack cakes’. We’ve talked about grandchildren and children. We’ve diagnosed, from my point of view, ills around us and suggested cures from the Salty perspective.
We’ve journeyed with many who have now outstripped us and gone on to their long homes. We still journey with some who have been with us all the way. We’ve picked up readers and we’ve had readers get off, some waving their criticism and fists at us.
We’ve shared those great moments when someone called crying because Uncle Elmo became so real in Treasures that week or Grandma Nora and Uncle Orville helped them re-visit their grandparents. We’ve had the letters that said Treasures inspired them to spend time with their family or even do something as simple as cook and eat a meal as a family. All in all it has been a good journey from this end.
Actually, from this end it has been more than a good journey-it has been a history keeping device of life as it was and is in simple living, old fashioned, Christian homes. It has caused me to do what would never have gotten done. We always have those good intentions of journaling things for the generations behind us; but few of us ever actually do the job. Keeping a deadline with The Lewis County Herald has caused me to take the time to journal years of thoughts.
I’ve written pieces that tears flowed so that I’d have to take a break and let my eyes clear up enough to see to type. I’ve written with a joyful heart that exploded on the pages. I’ve written at times, putting forth every effort to hide the effects of deep wounds put there by people cherished and loved. I’ve written when The Lord’s hands were on the keyboard and mine were only enjoying the flow through anointing. I’ve enjoyed Him taking many of the articles and teaching me as He wrote through my deepest being. It has been a good journey and I’ve benefited most of all.
When a person makes a commitment to do any job, and then does it for years, that person benefits most. It is like being a Pastor or Sunday School Teacher. That person prays (and builds a strong Jesus relationship) and reads Bible (building an arsenal of Word) and cares deeply about the students and their Spiritual growth (learning to love and pray and care). The teacher or minister or worker who is faithful also learns faithfulness while the occasional student gets only crumbs of the food served. Treasures has been that kind of effort. I’ve been here for each article or happening inside my mind, heart and soul so I’ve benefited most.
You have approached me in restaurants, churches, stores and other places to share that some public effort of mine had helped you. Treasures or WKKS radio programs, you tell me, has been there for you through the seasons of your life. Some of you have been so kind as to say you have your emotions have roller coaster-ed with mine. Many say things like, “It wasn’t your family or friends I saw in the article but my own.”
I just wanted to take time this EASTER to thank all of you who have allowed me to be a part of your life. Last night we shared the bread, Jesus’ body, and the fruit of the vine, His body, and washed each other’s feet to embody His humble last night service. That made me once again think about how blessed it is that Jesus wanted to share Himself with me. It made me again thankful that I’ve been given the privilege to share myself with you. I wanted to say thanks.
If you have a mind to say something to me write to P.O. Box 125, Garrison, Kentucky 41141 or email at werwin@ekns.net.
May you enjoy this blessed season of ultimate and Supreme giving! Blessings and thanks for being there.
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This Treasures is by my cousin Laura 'Bessie' Lewis McCormick. Enjoy.
Bugs, the dictionary says that they are small usually obnoxious crawling creatures. We didn’t really need a dictionary to explain to us bugs because we are all well aware of them. We see them mostly as pest. We have arthropods, roaches’, spider’s, ants, fleas and the lady bug just to name a few. Let’s talk about the lady bug, at certain times of the year our homes seem to attract hundreds of them. We do all we can to get them out of the house. They get into everything, they stink and they just get to us. The ladybug, on the other hand can be a good bug that helps keep arthropods from eating your good plants. One ladybug can eat fifty arthropods each day. This little house pest has shown us a good side.
Bugs, our definition sometimes means to aggravate, agitate, get on your nerves, or what ever way you express yourself. We sometimes our heard saying, “that bugs me”
Do you ever have something that just really bugs you? I think all of us could answer yes to that question, because the enemy of our soul sees to that job. Small things or big things we all have things that just bug us, and its how we handle the "bugs" that makes us grow, strong or weak. Things that bug you may not bug your neighbor. We are all uniquely made and we can thank God for that. If we were all alike this world would be very mixed up and we would function like robots. God in his wisdom make us special. He made us to fellowship, sing, praise, work, and function in our own special way. When we ponder on our differences we can see why things that bug me would not bug you and your bugs may not be mine.
Something we did several years ago, about a bugging thing, has taught me a lesson that at the time we did it I would never have dreamed that it would help me so much in my spiritual life. When we first moved to our home we had a problem with papers blowing from across a field into our yard. We would work, trim, and mow to make the yard look nice and here would come old bottles, papers, and the like. We thought we would put a fence, on the other side of the yard and it would hold this stuff in one place and make it easier to clean. We bought the post, fence and some cement. We dug the hole, put some gravel in the hole then some cement mix, after this we added water, and then filled the rest of the hole with dirt. We waited a few days and tested our post and they stood firm. We then put up the fence, this fence has stood its place for many years and it has done its job very well. After such long use the post begain to lean a little and we checked to see what was the problem. One post had been touched by the back of a car bumper, where people turned around so many times that it was loose. We could get the post out with no problem but on the end of the post was the cement mixture still holding firm. The only way we could lose the post from the cement, was to take a hammer to the cement. It would break with a few good hits. The cement just couldn't hold up under the pounding of a hammer.
That sounds simple enough and you probably wonder what could I have learned to help me grow spiritually. The answer is; Jer. 23:29 says "Is not my Word like a fire? saith the Lord: and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces." I thought of us breaking the cement off the post and I remembered this verse, to me it represented the people that are not serving God and doing the things that please themselves as the cement of sin set up in their heart. We sometimes think that there is no hope for people who have gotten into addictions but according to this Scripture there is Hope. We can trust God to take the hammer of the Word and break the cement of sin from people. It is our responsibility to live the Word so people can see Christ in us. We are the only Bible that some will read. We are on the winning side and we can win souls back to God and see people set free. We must pray and keep faith no matter how the situation looks. It was years ago that we put the fence up and the cement set hard but we still took the hammer and beat it from the post. We can see cement of sin broke from people no matter how hardhearted they may seem.
There is so many opportunities to learn lessons each day. I didn't recognize the lesson then but I have it now. It makes me stronger to believe and it makes me more alert to the everyday lessons of life. I'm not saying I get them all but I am more alert to lessons of everyday life. Take one day and watch what happens to you. You will learn a lesson to help you in your walk of faith and encouragement for your belief in helping others. God is always at work around us. Let us challenge ourself to see his work and help us turn our "bugs" into blessings.
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The last
few decades America has allowed her mainline morals and teachings to slide into
what not long ago was seen as evil and just plain wrong. Have you looked at any
facts lately to see what the facts indicate all this change has mothered and
fathered? Here is some facts about America that might shock you. They did shock
me even though I was aware the decline was there. The following was taken from
www.pewcenteronthestates.org. They got help with the stats from the
Association of State Correctional Administrators and the JFA Institute. The
report also relies on data published by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau
of Justice Statistics, the National Association of State Budget Officers, and
the U.S. Census Bureau. Much of the report is below.
Washington, DC - 02/28/2008 - For the first time in history
more than one in every 100 adults in
America are in jail or prison—a
fact that significantly impacts state budgets without delivering a clear return
on public safety. At the start of 2008, 2,319,258 adults were held in
American prisons or jails. During 2007, the prison population rose by more than
25,000 inmates.
As prison populations expand, costs to states are on the rise.
Last year alone, states spent more than
$49 billion on corrections, up from $11 billion 20 years before.
However, the national recidivism, the tendency to return to criminal habits,
rate remains virtually unchanged, with about half of released inmates returning
to jail or prison within three years.
“For all the money spent on corrections today, there hasn’t been a clear
and convincing return for public safety,” said Adam Gelb, director of the Public
Safety Performance Project. “More and more states are beginning to rethink
their reliance on prisons for lower-level offenders and finding strategies that
are tough on crime without being so tough on taxpayers.”
According to the report, 36 states and the Federal Bureau of Prisons saw
their prison populations increase in 2007. Among the seven states with the
largest number of prisoners—those with more than 50,000 inmates—three grew
(Ohio, Florida and Georgia), while four (New York, Michigan, Texas and
California) saw their populations dip. Texas surpassed California as the
nation’s prison leader following a decline in both states’ inmate
populations—Texas decreased by 326 inmates and California by 4,068. Ten states,
meanwhile, experienced a jump in inmate population growth of 5 percent or
greater, a list topped by Kentucky with
a surge of 12 percent.
A close examination of the most recent U.S. Department of Justice data
(2006) found that while one in 30 men
between the ages of 20 and 34 is behind bars, the figure is
one in nine for black males in that age
group. Men are still roughly 13 times more likely to be incarcerated, but
the female population is expanding at a far brisker pace.
For black women in their mid- to
late-30s, the incarceration rate also has hit the one-in-100 mark. In addition,
one in every 53 adults in their 20s is behind bars; the rate for those over 55
is one in 837.
As a result, states’ corrections costs have risen substantially.
Twenty years ago, the states collectively
spent $10.6 billion of their general
funds—their primary discretionary dollars—on corrections.
Last year, they spent more than
$44 billion in general funds,
a 315 percent jump, and more than $49
billion in total funds from all sources. Coupled with tightening state budgets,
the greater prison expenditures may
force states to make tough choices about where to spend their money. For
example, Pew found that over the same 20-year
period, inflation-adjusted general fund spending on corrections rose 127 percent
while higher education expenditures rose just 21 percent.
All the above brings questions to my mind. I wonder what happens to a
nation that spends more on its criminals than it does on its generation in
colleges and vocational schools. I wonder why we aren’t looking at what changed
in the last twenty years that may have caused all this crime. I wonder….a lot of
things.
My wondering has to stop though because it stirs me up and yet doesn’t change one thing-or person. I must get up and go try my best to affect one life this very day toward the right and Christ and His teachings. I can’t change all things. I can’t change most things. I can change only what is possible today, within my sphere of influence and ability. I can, as my parents would say, do one thing and do it now. There are children and people that would appreciate my love and positive attentions on their behalf. I can call, visit or write one person today.
If one of you join me that would be 2 people affected. If 2 join that number then 4 would be touched daily. If 4 joined us then 8 would be blessed daily. If 8 joined us then 16 would be helped daily. If 16 joined us then 32 would receive a smile. If 32 joined us then 64 would be blessed. Doubling this way wouldn’t take long until our county, state and country would be blessed with some good stuff. Let’s be one who starts. Blessings.
The following passage of scripture has been used many times to describe a woman who is and has been a true woman of The Lord-a woman of value to her Lord, family, church and community. The country used to value this kind of woman and honor her, as the verses indicate, above the price of rubies or any riches. We used to honor them more and more as they aged and their wisdom distilled into a more pure form. Read the passage below and picture the woman it describes. Think about who you knew that was this kind of woman. Think about what she meant to you and your life.
Pro 31:10-31 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar. She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms. She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night. She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet. She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple. Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land. She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant. Strength and honor are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.
Now think about this woman as The Lord talked about her.
1. The heart of her husband can SAFELY TRUST in her.
2. He has no need of spoil because he can SAFELY TRUST in his wife.
3. She does her husband good and not evil all her life.
4. She works with her hands, rises at night to care for her household.
5. She can buy a field or plant a vineyard or do business honestly. She does various work with strength and knows it is good.
6. She reaches out to the needy yet is not afraid when winter comes for her household is ready.
7. Her husband is known among the elders and her honor and strength are known.
8. She will rejoice in time to come.
9. Her mouth has wisdom and kindness. She is not idle.
10. Her children grow up and call her blessed as does her husband.
11. Favor and beauty deceive and are vain but a woman that fears The Lord is praised.
12. Her hands' work and her work will be known and praised.
Now do what the author of In Search of The Proverbs 31 Man, Michelle McKinney Hammond, suggests and apply these principles to men. Honorable men are so needed. Real, responsible fathers are so needed. The family needs Godly men. The church needs Godly men. The community and nation need them. They, according to this passage would look something like this.
13. The heart of his wife can SAFELY TRUST in him.
14. She has no need of spoil because she can SAFELY TRUST in her husband.
15. He does his wife good and not evil all his life.
16. He works with his hands, rises at night to care for his household.
17. He can buy a field or plant a vineyard or do business honestly. He does various work with strength and knows it is good.
18. He reaches out to the needy yet is not afraid when winter comes for his household is ready.
19. His wife is known among the women and his honor and strength are known.
20. He will rejoice in time to come.
21. His mouth has wisdom and kindness. He is not idle.
22. His children grow up and call him blessed as does his wife.
23. Favor and beauty deceive and are vain but a man that fears The Lord is praised.
24. His hands' work and his work will be known and praised.
Roger and I worked on this together and he gave the ending: the world needs more of both men and women who strive to be Proverbs 31 men and women. If your world is falling apart or threatening to why don't you encourage yourself and your family to sit down, pray and read Bible together. Discuss where you should be in church and begin your journey into the Proverbs 31 man or woman. Blessings.
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Valentine’s Day always makes us think of others and expressing to them that we value them. We may do it with a card, a flower, candy, a meal, or any other thing given to express our heart’s warmth toward them. We can show our sentiment other ways also.
The puncture proof tire made a good example in my mind. You see, the puncture proof tire has a high performance adhesive liquid containing tiny rubber particles, which, when injected into the tire, turns an ordinary tire into a self sealing one. It seals punctures the instant they occur and eliminates the under-inflation by sealing all leaks.
If you are driving along with ordinary tires and a nail goes through one of them, whis-s-s, you lose all the air. But a puncture-proof tire is different-if a nail goes through, the stuff inside runs around and stops the hole and the air stays in.
The heart of love is like that puncture-proof tire. An ordinary heart may be filled with love, but when someone does something to puncture that heart, all the love runs out and hatred and hard feelings take its place. But a puncture-proof heart is different. It is filled with love and when someone, through their words or deeds punctures that heart, immediately the hole is stopped up tight and the love stays in.
I remember years ago being at a funeral of a friend’s father. Her family gushed outwardly of their love with hugs, kisses and words of expression. It touched my heart and I began thinking that I didn’t tell my parents often enough that I loved them. When I expressed to them that I really meant to tell them of my love and appreciation more often Dad gave me a rhyming answer,
"I love Thee, I love Thee
and that Thou doest know;
But how much I love Thee,
my actions will show."
Dad continued to explain to me that he didn’t need mere words to explain my love. He explained that doing what he and Mom had taught me was right showed my love. They both said they enjoyed the holiday gifts and attentions but the real proof was, so to speak, in the pudding. Now I know what they meant. It is easy to utter words or give a public hug or attention but real love lasts. Like the puncture proof tire, love has a special something inside that runs over to the hurt or damage and fills the hole. We may not agree with the person’s thoughts or deeds but we love them unconditionally.
Christians have The Spirit and Jesus inside and They are always willing to ‘fill the holes’ made by others’ hurtful words, neglect, hardness, and so on. A Christian loves because they also can remember when they were foolish in times past and they received forgiveness.
The words ‘grace’ and ‘favour’ in the Bible tell us of God’s puncture proof heart. He loved us when we were still ungodly and disobeying Him. He gave us ‘grace’ or un-earned favor in heaven. He died for us when we were yet sinners. His love was puncture proof. His love is puncture proof.
Remember Peter denying that he knew Jesus because of fear; but Jesus still loved him and used him in His Kingdom work. He forgave Peter and helped him receive the puncture proof love.
Remember Saul of Tarsus went about killing Jesus’ followers but Jesus called him as a missionary and as an evangelist. Jesus filled him with puncture proof love and sent him on his way to witness it to the world.
Remember how you and I have ignored Jesus, hurt The Holy Spirit’s feelings and disobeyed God’s commands yet they love us. We have to repent and be converted to get to go home and live with them but regardless of what we do or do not do-they have puncture proof love for us. They want us to come home to them now and forever.
Blessings.
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This week in the nearby town of Portsmouth,
where I work in the Washington-Nile Schools, there was a shooting in a
classroom. At first the news swept across our offices and the fear was that it
was in our elementary. I had just come from that building and had walked about
the halls enjoying the handiwork of the children after speaking on
multiplication to part of the staff. It was a good day in school.
Than, the word came that a teacher had been shot and perhaps stabbed. It seems
another adult relationship had gone bad and the inability to cope with life had
snapped another man into irrational behavior.
Soon we knew it was the Notre Dame Elementary School and that
the principal who works with me had a child who had THAT teacher. This happening
had washed onto our shores-not that it could happen anywhere in the world and
not be our shores when it comes to children. An appointment with me was
cancelled-the educator at another district-her children were in the affected
school. Lives suddenly torn. Children’s right to a calm, peaceful environment to
learn in had been taken by an adult unable to control himself.
The atmosphere in schools change when such things happen. An
eerie silence grips most hearts and an absolutely different ‘niceness’ sweeps
over everybody. All want to help fill-in or shore up anything needing looked at.
Suddenly people realize what is most important. Life and its preciousness moves
to the forefront. Children and their rights to a nonviolent existence becomes
the thing on most minds.
Part of you has to stop and wonder about the people caught in the bulls’ eye of
this violent escapade. The shooter was someone’s son! The wounded were about
their daily jobs when their calm was shattered. Those around the school, the
neighborhood, and those all about the area are drawn with an unbelievable power
to the television, radio or telephone wanting to know exactly what is going
down. Inside everyone is the question, “What if it had been me? What if it had
been mine? What if it had been my job to handle?”
The next day I reached for a door in a public place and found
it locked. The people inside moved to open it and allow a young man behind me
and myself to enter. He asked, “Why is the door closed?”
The answer, “Because of the shooting we’re reviewing our open
door policy.”
He tossed back to her in what vocally sounded like zero
concern, “Oh. He’s dead.”
My mind counted the cost of a reply and decided that pearls
before swine would be trampled under foot so I said nothing to him. After he
left the lady said, “It burns me up that we have to listen to abuse no matter
what we do; and watch our every step as people rove about with such attitudes;
but let us have an incident and we’ll be scrutinized to the nth degree. It is
time this country wakes up and calls the people on the carpet that should be
called and not those who are working and trying to live productive, normal
lives.”
“I know what you mean,” I answered.
Our world, behavior wise, is like a ball on a string that is
being swung around and around, faster and faster, awaiting the moment when the
string breaks and the world goes crashing off into some disaster. We have sunk
low enough to put up with public nakedness, abusive language, violent road rage,
stealing and drug abuse everywhere we look and we pretend we don’t know how to
stop any of it. We’re seated in our living rooms paying for pure filth and wrong
to ‘entertain’ us. We buy CDs and video games so kids can play killing and abuse
and then a shooting at a school and we wonder how it could happen. Really?
I’m about to get off the soap box but first I want to say
that little kids won’t sleep for weeks because of watching this adult scene gone
bad. Parents will hurt different than ever before. The school where it happened
will never quite be the same. The story will be told and retold over the years
and haunt new kids and teachers.
May I ask you, “Isn’t it time we gird up our truth loins and
get to The Lord’s house, get off addictions, behave like matured adults, take
responsiblility for becoming a productive citizen, keep our families and nurture
them and live like humans?”
No. There is still steam coming out of my heart if not my
ears; but I’ll close anyhow.
Blessings on making your own self and home BETTER! ___________
I feel sorry for people who do not read and STUDY Bible. Truly, I do. They are living half of their lives-the lowest level available. They will never know the real human life-the one God designed personally for them. They will have the house, the car, the jewelry, all their clothes may be trendy and match, they may be “IN” with sports fans and teams, they may know the ‘high’ of blowing their minds away with drugs and/or alcohol, they may have watched all forms of erotic porn and think themselves quite the guy or gal, they may have dumped a few babies along the way and not even think about what happened to them, seeing themselves as ‘getting away with it all’, or they may be moral and responsible and work alcoholics with all the money on CDs and every luxury known to man; but no matter what they have, they are only living half of the life possible. They are in the image of Adam only. They are missing the other part of them-the Jesus part, the God part.
Inside, each one of us have a part that calls to God and His Word. When God speaks He does not need an out-loud voice like humans. The Bible tells us God’s voice is more like thunders and the sound of many waters and at the same time a still, small voice.
The Bible also tells us that His voice is represented in this grace dispensation, purchased for us through His Son, Jesus, by The Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is experienced more like the wind.
Test yourself.
1. Have you ever known something you were doing was wrong even before anyone human told you?
2. Have you ever known what you were doing was wrong even before your own brain actually thought it out and told you it was wrong?
3. That was The Holy Spirit speaking to the deep, inner deep of your being, and everlasting soul. That was God drawing you to Him!
The Word of God tells us the story of creation, God’s people the Jews, the laws He gave telling how to treat Him and each other, the efforts He has taken to reach us and the total failure of the majority of humans to take advantage of the different dispensations He poured out to man: The Garden of Eden Paradise Innocence, The Conscience Period, Human Government, Promise through Abraham, The Law through Moses, and now Grace through Jesus and the coming time when the Holy go home with Jesus. How does house, car, money, pleasure or any other thing on earth compare with knowing The God who has a forever planned for those who can believe in His Son Jesus and serve Him?
All true, good, long lasting pleasures of this earth are real and were given to us by God. He wants us to have lives here and to enjoy them. He wants us to live in joy and peace here. However, He also has an eternal plan and wants us to recognize Him here and fellowship with Him here and love Him here so we will become all we were meant to be-to live the other half of our lives-the God half.
He will add all things to us when we let Him merge His reality with our reality. Only when we read and study Word and meditate on it and let it come alive through His merging His infinity with our finiteness can we know our purpose here. He is painting on a canvas that is too big for us to see-we are too finite. Only by allowing the God part of us to come alive can we know God. The Bible is thousands of years of history told through God’s eyes, His wisdom and way of thinking, Jesus’ gift of His life to us, and The Holy Ghost coming and being our personal Comforter and contains all the revealing of the end of time wisdom. The Bible is a Living Book for it is Jesus written down. It is Alive! It changes its wisdom through The Holy Spirit’s discernment to meet and advise and comfort you each day along your life’s journey. It’s wisdom comes alive for each new point in your life. That is why Bible readers read more and more-the more they understand-they tell you they know less and less. It is a truly awesome Book! It can never be discovered completely by humans-again we are finite-it is infinite.
If you pray and ask wisdom and then study and meditate and allow Jesus and The Holy Spirit to lead your mind and studies you can take any subject known to man and find it threaded from Genesis to Revelation. Take the lamb as an example: Exodus and the Passover lamb, then Jesus, The Lamb of God, and on to Revelation where the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world is needed to open the seals allowing the end of time to usher out in the last earth realities. There is no subject that cannot be found in The Word. The Word will come alive to you-you will see The Wind’s effects about you.
Humans aren’t perfect. No human is perfect. And, sometimes people get their eyes on people and searching out their faults, especially those claiming to be Christ-like; then, they use those human faults as the reason they should not get close to God. They have an excuse not to know Jesus as Lord because they know some people who say they know Him and they have big faults. So using that logic we wouldn’t get near to vehicles because some humans use them to kill other humans. We wouldn’t get close to money because money has been used to destroy many lives. We wouldn’t ever go to a doctor because some of them fail people some time. That logic is strangely only used to explain why people do not go to Jesus and His Word and find Him-there are hypocrites or false people in their way.
Let me ask you, “If some silly or false person was in your way at getting into your home and saving your child from a fire, would you just stop in the yard and say ‘they are in my way’”? No, I think not. You’d rush past them and save your child if possible at all.
Why not give the Word an honest read? Sit down and talk to Jesus asking heaven’s blessings and wisdom to be revealed to you and read the Bible. Find out for yourself what it says. It contains alpha to omega, from first to last and it contains the Words of Life. Why not give it a ‘soul deep’ read? You will be amazed for yourself!
Blessings.
___________________
This piece came to me through the hands of a thirteen year old. It came to her though her Mother who wanted to warn her children NOT to DO DRUGS. It came to the mother through the church where she attended. It came to the church through a piece on the internet.
This piece was given to me because a thirteen year old wanted to share that DRUGS are BAD and that Kids should NOT START TAKING DRUGS. Here is the piece.
I am drugs. I destroy homes. I tear families apart, take your children and that’s just the start. I cost more than diamonds and am more precious than gold. The sorrow I bring is a sight to behold.
If you need me in I’m in every land and schools and in town. I live with the rich and the poor. I live down the street and maybe next door. My power is awesome. Try me and you’ll see but if you do you may never break free. Just try me once, I might let you go; but try me twice and I might own your soul. When I possess you, you’ll steal and lie. You’ll do what you have to just to get high. The crimes you’ll commit for my narcotic charms will be worth the pleasure you’ll feel in your nose, lungs and arms. You’ll lie to your Mom and you’ll steal from your Dad. When you see their tears you should feel sad but you’ll forget morals and how you’ve been raised. I’ll be your conscience. I’ll teach you my ways.
I’ll take kids from parents and parents from kids. I take people from God and separate friends. I’ll take everything from you-your looks and pride. I’ll be with you always and stay by your side. You’ll give up everything-your family and your home, your friends and your money and then you’ll be alone. I’ll take and take until you have nothing to give. When I’m finished you’ll be lucky to live!
If you try me be warned that this is no game. If given the chance I’ll drive you insane. I’ll ravish your body. I’ll control your mind. I’ll own you completely. Your soul will be mine. The nightmares I’ll give you while lying in bed. The voice you’ll hear from inside your head. The sweats, the shakes and the visions you’ll see. I want you to know these are gifts from me. But then it is too late and you know in your heart that you are mine and we will not part. You’ll regret that you tried me. They always do. But, you came to me, not I to you. You knew this would happen-many times you were told; but you challenged my powers and tried to be bold. You could have said no and just walked away. If you could live that day over just what would you say?
I’ll be your master. You’ll be my slave. I’ll even go with you when you go to your grave. Now then what will you do? Will you try me again? What will you do? The decision is yours. It’s all up to you. I can bring you more misery than words can tell. Come, take my hand. Let me lead you to hell.
Don’t do me!
This message is not just for kids but is especially a warning for kids. If kids didn’t start drugs or alcohol, then they wouldn’t end up addicted Moms and Dads with children scattered about the country with no real parents.
Dads-kids need you to be a DAD. They need you to be a responsible and grown up and real Dad.
Moms-kids need you to be a MOM. They need you to be a responsible and grown up and real Mom.
Kids need homes.
Sons and daughters-parents and family need you. They miss you, love you and suffer over your addictions.
Husbands and wives-your spouse and family need you. They want you to truly come to yourself and come home.
If you are addicted to drugs and they have led you into the quicksand of lies, stealing, other illegal and immoral acts and have caused you to betray family and friends there is help and hope. Jesus forgives and He can save to the uttermost. He can and will give a new life-drug free-if you are totally willing to believe and submit to His Presence and Leadership. If you are described in the paragraphs above you need delivered and those who love you need delivered. The Holy Spirit high is better than any substance on earth.
Why not give yourself and your family a break and call on The Lord and His weapons that can tear down Satan’s strongholds. Those who love you are pleading for you to come back to yourself and to come back to them. They love you and need you and want you. Can there be better news?
Blessings.
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Starting out a new year puts some pressure on us to improve. I think that is good because the need to improve is always present with me. Each year I attempt to write a personal improvement plan. It seems the Lord always wants to attend my improvement session and make suggestions. He is never at a loss of words or suggestions and His input always sheds light on what truly is needed.
His suggestions encourage me to keep my eyes upon Him and His Word. He wants me to be like a well trained water skier who must stay focused in order to ski well. The skier cannot spend too much time waving at friends or glancing around to other sights or he will lose concentration on the boat and driver. When the driver makes a turn with the boat the skier must be ready to respond if he/she wants to remain atop the water. Jesus advises me to keep my entire being focused on Him.
This year He has suggested I read the Bible aloud and tape it and make compact disks of it too. This has already proved to be a really good experience. The closeness with Jesus is amazing. Our year was ushered in with His advice to fast and pray the month of January. We are praying for Christians all over the world to be focused on Christ as their priority and show His love by witnessing what He has and is doing for them. We are His ambassadors here on earth and can show His love by telling of His saving and keeping power. We are also praying for sinners to admit their need for Him to avoid Hell and to live life as it was meant for humans. Many need addictions broken so they can live like humans. Then there are the churches of His Church and Kingdom who need to get back to the Jesus business: worshiping, praying, learning Bible, loving and fellowshipping and letting His Presence and Power come and be wanted. Then, every child and youth needs at least one mentor to teach them truth and tell them about Jesus.
So many families are seeing a loved one serve jail time from the effects of living away from Jesus and allowing Satan to advise them. This is sad and leaves children scared and without the support they deserve and need. Jesus wants to save people, deliver them and make men and women of them. He still changes lives who present themselves for his spiritual make overs.
The new year is a good time to set other goals also. Families need life in their homes. By life I mean they need ordinary, simple life to happen on a routine basis. Families need customs and everyday chores and hum drum, day after day routine. It is good for all. Oh, some will complain of the errands and some will say it is boring; but families need structure.
Believe it or not children do not die if told to take out the trash! That is a false rumor like so much other trash talk. It has even been proven that children who have to make their own beds, wash dishes and help clean the house not only survive but are quite happy. Kids need to learn how to cook age appropriate dishes.
I never met a kid that didn't like to help make biscuits, pie dough, macaroni and cheese or a good pizza. They love to help gather the items, stir and lick spoons. Do you remember licking the spoon when Mom made cakes, candy or some good thing? That is every kid's right-to grow up doing the ordinary things of life. It won't hurt them to turn off the television and computer and PHONE and sit with the family through supper. Actually, contrary to modern opinion, it will not cause instant melt down and a horrific death in a matter of seconds or minutes. They will also survive NOT getting their way! They will survive being told NO and having it enforced. Yes. They will survive!
Actually, they will more than survive, they will thrive. They need adults to be in place and in charge. They need to be advised. They will still make enough mistakes on their own. So, why don't we get out here and make homes. HOMES. You know the place where one lives, eats, cleans, does laundry, and all the other usual stuff that makes a house a home and leaves footprints on hearts.
Blessings.
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A New Year is such a special time. In actuality December 31 of one year and January 1 of another has nothing mystical or especially more holy than any other day. We could make new starts on any day of the year but there is something about a new year that makes us want to get a new start.
Many people call this making a New
Year’s Resolution. This practice we’re told goes back over 3000 years to the
ancient Babylonians. The Bible does not speak for or against the concept of a
New Year’s Resolution but does speak volumes about Christ dying to give us not
only a new start but a new life at any time we’re wise enough to welcome Him
inside our lives. He speaks about the old man passing away and having all things
become new. 2Co 5:17 Therefore if any man be
in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things
are become new. However, if a Christian
determines to make a New Year’s Resolution, what kind of resolution should he or
she make?
Christians may make resolutions about losing weight, eating healthier,
drinking water, spending more time with family or to complain less just as
non-Christians; but they should also deal with the spiritual man. The spiritual
person needs to grow closer to Jesus, be more obedient to The Holy Spirit, and
pray more. Most Christians need to read more Bible and a new year is a good time
to begin reading the Bible through again.
Non-Christians common New Year’s
Resolutions are: to quit smoking, to quit drinking, to manage money better, and
spend more time with family, etc. By far the most common New Year’s Resolution,
for all, is to lose weight, in conjunction with exercising more and eating
healthier. These are all good goals to set. However, 1 Timothy 4:8 instructs us
to keep exercise in perspective: “For bodily exercise profits a little, but
godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is
and of that which is to come.” The vast majority of New Year’s Resolutions, even
among Christians, are in relation to physical things. This should not be.
Many Christians make New Year’s Resolutions to pray more, to read the
Bible every day, to attend church more regularly, etc., etc. These are fantastic
goals! However, these New Year’s Resolutions fail just as often as the
non-spiritual resolutions. Why? Because there is no power in a New Year’s
Resolution. Resolving to start or stop doing a certain activity has no value
unless you have the proper motivation for stopping or starting that activity.
For example, why do you want to read the Bible every day? Is it to honor God and
grow spiritually or is it because you have just heard that it is a good thing to
do? Why do you want to lose weight? Is it to honor God with your body, or is it
for vanity, to honor yourself?
Philippians 4:13 tells us, “I can do everything through Him who gives me
strength.” John 15:5 declares, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man
remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do
nothing.” If God is the center of your New Year’s Resolution, it has chance for
success – depending on your commitment to it. If it is God’s will for something
to be fulfilled, He will enable you to fulfill it. If a resolution is not God
honoring and/or is not in agreement in God’s Word – we will not receive God’s
help in fulfilling the resolution.
So, what sort of New Year’s Resolution should a Christian make? Personally,
I began 2008 with a commitment to fast as led and pray during January. I’m also
praying four special prayers:
1. Pray for Christians to seek God’s will as their life’s priority, unite in love for God and man, obey God’s Word, then go and tell what Jesus did and is doing for them.
2. 2. Pray for souls to be saved, chains of addiction to be broken, families to live in Peace, more of the fear of God and Hell to be made real to the 3. 3. Pray for churches to be empowered with the Presence of The Holy Spirit through Jesus that will nurture and supply an atmosphere of love and true worship and in so doing, draw all unto Him and see the church blessed and added to daily.
4. 4. Pray that every child will have at least one spiritual mentor and be taught Jesus.
My advice to you is this: (1) Pray
to the Lord for wisdom (James 1:5) in regards to what resolutions, if any, He
would have you make; (2) Pray for wisdom as to how to fulfill the goals God
gives you; (3) Rely on God’s strength to help you; (4) Find an accountability
partner who will help you and encourage you; (5) Don’t become discouraged with
occasional failures, instead allow them to motivate you further; (6) Don’t
become proud or vain, but give God the glory. Psalm 37:5-6, “Commit your way to
the LORD, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass. He shall bring forth
your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.”
Blessings.
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Bethlehem 5
Here I am again-wife of the Bethlehem Inn owner. You probably thought you’d heard the last of me but there is SO MUCH MORE to the story than the night Jesus was born. That was just the beginning!
You should have heard the town buzzing about the star and the brightness of the sky! You should have hear Grandfather Shepherd as he told and retold the appearance of the angel and then the multitude of angels. He would quote over and over the message “Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.”
He and the others would show how they hid their faces and fell on their knees during the first message; but report they were so amazed at the sky full of praising angels, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”
Certainly my life, as well as theirs and all others in this town who would allow The God of Israel to warm their hearts, will never be the same and I’m glad for the gift inside my soul. My life has a joy in it. I am able to give Glory to God and there is peace in me. My attitude is different. There is a smoothness to my day because of the calm in my soul. Good will comes from within me “toward all men.”
A few days later the young couple and Jesus were moved into a house. It seems there is now room-at least from those who allowed CHRISTmas to change them and give them hope. Mary and Joseph had Jesus circumcised as the Law of Moses commands when He was eight days old. At the ceremony they officially gave Him the Name the angels said, Jesus. I’m not positive of which happening came first but there was also rich men from the east that came to the couple. They say the wise men went to Herod in Jerusalem seeking a King that was born. The chief priests and scribes that he called and demanded they tell him where the King would be, spoke to him of Micah the prophet’s words that Bethlehem would be the site of the Messiah’s birth. Herod is furious, or so they say, that nobody invited him to a King’s birth and he is even more furious that there is a King in his kingdom who might grow up and replace him. He is an evil man and capable of anything. The elder among the Jews and knowledgeable in scrolls of the Hebrew writers say Jeremiah told of women weeping and refusing to be comforted because their children were no more. Wouldn’t that be awful! Could Herod be so cruel to kill the babies of our town just because of jealousy?
Lots of things are being reported as Mary waits out her days of purifying so she can offer sacrifice at the temple. She reports that she will be ‘three and thirty days’ in the blood of her purifying. She cannot touch hallow things or go to the sanctuary until those days are fulfilled. Then she and Joseph will take the baby to Jerusalem to present Him to The Lord. They will present a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons. I try to grasp all that is happening as my jobs take me among the travelers who stop at our Inn but The God of Israel does things on an eternal scale and I’m just one tiny, weak woman with little understanding. My mind may be boggled but my soul is saved!
I listen to every trader who comes in the Inn from the Jerusalem area. I so want to know more about The Messiah. The Jerusalem traders tell about an old man named Simeon and an elderly woman named Anna. It seems they both received the young family at the temple in Jerusalem-just as if they knew He was coming. Simeon took Jesus in his arms and blessed him and even reported that God had let him live to see this Child. He told Mary a strange thing, or so they report, that a sword would pierce her soul over this tiny Jesus. Anna, the prophetess, who lived at the temple and prayed and fasted, spoke to all them that looked for redemption, about the Child.
Again, exactly which thing happened when, I cannot determine by the reports received but the wise men did come to the house and find God’s Son. They were so wise. They reported the story about Herod calling for them. Herod asked them where the young child was and to report back to him when they found him. Herod tried to trick them by saying he too would come and worship Jesus. They said they followed the star they seen in the east. They report it moving before them until it came and stood over where the young Jesus was. And, now a dream from God has told them not to return to Herod but depart into their own country another route. We hear great gifts were presented from their treasurers: gold, frankincense and myrrh. They presented their gifts and hurried away to their homes in the east.
We now hear the young couple have left Israel completely. Reports say Joseph had an angel tell him to take Jesus and Mary to Egypt and stay there until the angel returns and tells them it is wise to return. The angel said God promised Hosea the prophet many years ago that His Son would be called out of Egypt, that The Messiah would go to Egypt and be called back from there. Wow! The God of Israel can foretell things hundreds of years ahead and then bring them to pass. No wonder my heart warms at His Son’s Presence in my life.
I’m not very smart but know this Jesus story is bigger than anything that has ever happened before in heaven or earth. To think that a lowly Inn keeper’s wife would be allowed to participate in God’s Son’s birth and the life He brings. My life forever better because of this Baby Jesus. There will be more to this story I’m certain. My heart sings like the angels when thoughts of Him come to mind. It is even easier to obey that grumpy husband of mine. He asked me why I’m singing so much and he’s noticed my even temperament with the children. They are noticing too. In time my prayers for them will help them find the Peace that I’ve found.
Blessings.
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Bethlehem 4
Remember last time when I told you of the young couple who were turned away from our Bethlehem Inn? I simply could not sleep thinking of that poor young woman having that child in the stable and perhaps wanting or needing some item that is simply surplus to me. The picture of her husband so intent on finding a place for her left the thoughts of how true love displays itself. I do not even think my husband loved me that way when he married me. He courted me and asked for my hand but business has always been foremost in his mind. That young man’s love and absolute resolve to care for his young wife and coming child was open for all to see. How he must love her!
As I tried to sleep and rest the thoughts of her flooded me. It couldn’t have been more real to me that she was going to have a child this night-unattended-than if it had been my own daughter. I arose and looked to check the weather just to rest my mind about her safety and was shocked by the night sky. The sky bore a hew of deep blue that caused the stars to shine like no lights I’ve ever seen before. As I was looking at the sky something happened! A star! Yes, a star brightened and became a sky beacon shining toward earth. I watched as it moved toward Bethlehem Inn and beyond it to the stable. Oh, oh, oh, um, um, ummmm… It stopped over the area where our stable is.
Could it be? Could all the scriptures and promises of the God of Israel, The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and of King David be coming true this night? Was that the burning within my heart at the sight of this young couple? Is this the night their Messiah comes?
As I put on my clothes to go to the stable my heart seems warmer than it has in years. When young ones looks toward the day when love comes into their lives and a house of their own is filled with love and joy and peace and the fires in the hearts warm the stone walls into a home. Then, it seems life happens. You get the marriage. You get the house. You get the stuff in the house and the stable and surrounding lands; but in all the getting you don’t feel the fire in the heart that warms into the home. You simply end up with husband, children and stuff. The stuff seems to own the people and drives each day of life in order to keep the stuff; and, if you are married to my husband, you always have to have more stuff.
This young couple. This blue sky full of stars. This beacon star over the stable. The warmth in my heart when I heard the Jews speak of the Savior who will love all people has been real. It has been a long time since I’ve felt this warmth. Mother made me feel this warmth when I was a child. She’d hold me and sing and rock. Father made me feel this warmth when he would pull me upon his lap, push back my hair and tell me I was the apple of his eye. I tried to feel the warmth throughout the engagement and marriage time of life but my husband has always been more for things outside the body than inside the heart. I fear he is training my sons and daughters to look outside also. Me? Me? I have a hunger to know this love that burns inside and warms the inner being. I am going to the stable and see if this is The Christ child being born this night.
Oh, people! You must hear my story of this night. It has filled the hole inside me. The emptiness is full. The coldness is warm and radiating love from deep inside me.
The star made it easy for me to go to the stable. It shone directly on the stable. By the time I arrived there shepherds from across the valley had come also. They reported having seen the star and much, much more. They were, as usual, watching their flock of sheep, most sleeping near them while some watched for wolves. Then an ANGEL of THE LORD came upon them. They GLORY of THE LORD shone round about them. They were so afraid!
Then the ANGEL spoke, “Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.”
They were told the babe would be lying in a manger. But then more happened! A great multitude of the heavenly host came, praised God and said, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”
We were all standing about the stable. We knelt. I felt such a desire to kneel and worship this Child. The young woman and man were now relaxed and beaming. The stories of ANGELS seemed nothing new to them. The child was goodly to look upon but that was His least trait. He had Love radiating from Him. We all felt it. We worshipped. The God of Israel had picked this little town of Bethlehem and this young couple and our stable to send His Son. I was in the Presence of God’s Son. I knew it. I knew it deep within myself. The warmth I’d so craved to become a part of my life and house came within me. The Love of this Child did come to All people. It came to me!
When the time came for us to let the young couple and child rest and for us to return home I feared the Love warmth inside me would fade. It was not true. The Love inside me warmed me all the way home. My steps were light and my heart began singing. I knew The Messiah was here! The Immanuel, God with us, was inside me! I had believed and met The Christ, The Anointed One! The Savior had saved me from coldness and unbelief and life as usual to a new Love relationship with Jesus-that is what they named Him.
I will hurry home and fix the best breakfast ever. My heart is determined to share this Love with my husband and children. It is too good to ever stop telling! Oh how blessed I am to have been at Bethlehem Inn in such a day as this!
Blessings.
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Bethlehem 3
Hello again, from the Bethlehem Inn. This is our third time to talk and things have surely changed here. Last night was very different as the bulk of the crowd arrived in town. There were hundreds of poor people who had literally walked or trudged along with only one donkey to share their burdens. One could easily see the head dresses and know the family of David had arrived.
There was a couple here that troubled my mind. They seemed so worn and fragile. She was with child and looked ready to deliver. Her poor husband pleaded with my husband for a room but we had none. The man even asked to stay anywhere inside so his wife would be shielded during ‘her time.’
My husband has become even more hardened during all this demand for his rooms and services. He yelled to the man to get out saying he had no rooms.
The man left and seemed so desperate. I couldn’t help myself. I sent the daughters after the man and told them to take them to the stable. There is room there for them to be in out of the night air and any falling weather. The smells and animals will be very noticed but even that is better than the streets.
I remember having my children and would not have wanted to be in the streets. How embarrassing! The poor young woman had so few things with her that I’m tempted to take things to the stable but these people are proud and used to ‘making do.’ I’ll just leave them alone until morning.
Have you ever met someone and deep inside you just felt like you had an obligation to help as though some powerful force of God urged you to do good by them? That is how I felt with the young couple this evening. I was shocked that my husband didn’t feel it. He even made a remark that nothing good comes out of Nazareth but my heart and deep inner being felt something special about that couple.
Huh! Do you suppose the Messiah could be the child the young woman is to have?
Now I’ve listened to so many of the Jews that I sound like them; but wouldn’t it be something if this Savior who is to be born in Bethlehem would come now? But would God even consider sending His Son with no bed or room to surround Him? The God of Israel would surely send His Son to the palace of Herod or some rich Jew.
That isn’t actually how they talk about this Messiah though. They say He will come to save the people from their sins. If I didn’t have so much to prepare for tomorrow I’d go find that lady and help her. As it is I have to get the night’s work done and rest for tomorrow begins hours before dawn for my work. I’ll be glad when this taxation is over and we return to only a few travelers in the Inn.
I must go now.
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Bethlehem Inn Keeper's Wife #2
Bethlehem Inn Keeper’s Wife...Cont.
My work has kept me so busy that my mind is in a turmoil. My husband does not seem to comprehend the extra work that is to be done because of all this taxation crowd. The ones who have money worry me because they want everything and they want it now. The poor ones aggravate me because they need favors to have the meager essentials of life. I have no time for them much less the goods to satisfy the essential needs among them. Though I am hardened to people wanting all the time it does bother me to have to be so harsh. In addition to all that, I am so tired that falling into bed won’t cause my worn body to rest until my mind settles. It seems that sleep alludes my exhausted mind. I know sleep is needed but my mind rushes from place to place and task to task that is needed for tomorrow. I’m not at all sure the extra money will be worth all the fraying of family nerves. My husband is cross all the time trying to keep the rich guests happy and myself and the children are beginning to feel more like slaves than owners of the Bethlehem Inn.
Bethlehem is located about five miles south of Jerusalem, on the east side of the "Patriarch's Highway" that rux along the ridge between Shechem and Hebron. I’ve told you that David was born here and tended his father's sheep near here. Three miles to the southeast of Bethlehem, Herod the Great had built an extensive residence/fortification, the Herodium. There Herod was buried, within sight of our Inn. Bethlehem has been the habitation of kings. But who has time for kings? I have to worry more about the animals than royalty.
Sometimes I wished my animals were kept here in the lower level of our home like the poorer of the town. I wouldn’t have the extra steps to the stable. The boys take too long going there, feeding and returning. I do not blame them for taking the small bit of time to rest there; but I simply cannot allow them to tarry and waste precious time. Their usual kind temperaments are strained at all the extra work. They fill our carved stone mangers. The three to four feet in length mangers do not take a lot of straw but it has to be gathered and filled none the less. The boys are busy and so are the girls.
The daughters beat out the wheat, knead the dough and bake the bread for hours at a time. I see the sweat pouring from their faces and know they are exhausted. After all that is done they still have to wait the tables. The extra people we’ve taken into employment prepare the boiled eggs, clean the raw vegetables, and cook the various stews we cook and have on hand for quicker service. It takes so long to prepare the meat and even with the two extra cook pits, it is so much to do.
You cannot believe how crowded this town of Bethlehem is at this time. David surely must have been blessed by the God of Israel for his descendents are many. Some of the prophets talked within my hearing yesterday. It seems the prophet Micah who lived many years ago said Ephratah, or this Bethlehem area would be the place where the One whose goings forth have been from old and everlasting will send His Messiah. They said Micah spoke of One standing in the strength of the Lord and in the majesty of the Name of the Lord God. This One would be great unto the ends of the earth. Some of them think the time is near for this Messiah or Emmanuel or ‘God with us’ is to come. Well, if I were the God of Israel I’d see this as a good time to send Him since so many of His people are here to witness it.
Oh, I don’t have time for much of this kind of thinking I have work to do. I’ll take this lamb and vegetables to that other table and soon turn in for the night.
Another discussion!
I should move on but these men seem so intent that this Prince will come soon. They mentioned the great Daniel who impressed the King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon so. It seems Daniel said seventy weeks were determined until the reconciliation for iniquity and to bring in everlasting righteousness. They spoke of things like sealing up vision and prophecy and the anointing of the most Holy. How totally divine! This is too much for my mind to hold. If I were not so hurried I’d find a way to stay near and hear more. Oh, I’ve worked so hard for so long what would a few minutes matter.
They speak of a total of sixty-seven weeks from the commandment to restore and build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince. What kind of God can tell the course of history of man thousands of years before it comes to pass? I know that this King of Babylon carried off Daniel many, many years ago. The stories of this man and his faith get re-told generation after generation. It seems the Persian King Darius, who ruled after the Babylonians, liked Daniel but was deceived into putting him into a den of lions for praying to the God of Israel. Daniel was delivered by the God of Israel. He was also able to interpret dreams through his God. I wish more of this was clear to my mind. Oh, well, I’d better see that the hired help get the dishes cleared, washed and stored. Bed time will be too soon past and time to rise and prepare a breakfast meal. A woman’s work is never done.
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Bethlehem Inn Keeper's Wife #1
My husband owns an Inn here in Bethlehem. He usually has a booming business but he is really expecting a full house for the time of taxation ordered by Caesar Augustus. Only Caesar Augustus has authority to order all back to the city of their family so this little town will be buzzing with the descendents of Jacob and Rachel, Boaz and Ruth and their King David. All those of that family will have to pack up and come here. The town will be full and we’ll get the best prices ever for anything we have to sell. My husband knows how to get every last mite of money they have. We’ll be singing praises to Caesar Augustus for many months for the wealth he brings our way.
Down the road a piece here is Rachel’s grave. It is told that Jacob, or Israel as he was later called, set up a pillar on her grave. The pillar is still there today. Many of the Jews come to that grave to honor their ancestor mother. Jacob, or Israel had twelve sons. Leah mothered Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar and Zebulun; Rachel mothered Joseph and Benjamin; Bilhah, Rachel’s handmaid, mothered Dan and Naphtali and Zilpah, Leah’s handmaid, mothered Gad and Asher. Out of those twelve men came a multitude so there will be much traffic in Bethlehem.
Have you ever heard the story of how Jacob wrestled with God or an angel or both and wouldn’t release the man until he blessed him? The ordeal caused Jacob to halt upon his thigh and the children of Israel still do not eat the sinew upon the hollow of the thigh because Jacob was touched there. They are a strange people and the zealous ones do what their God has told them. They even tell stories of a Messiah that will come to SAVE them.
We have other things here we can use to separate them and their monies. We can show them the fields behind the Inn where Boaz courted Ruth the Moabite woman. We own them now. It is said that Ruth came home with her mother-in-law to care for her and as she followed the men in the wheat field to pick up dropped grains, the rich Boaz spotted her. He was impressed that she was caring for her mother-in-law, Naomi. He blessed her with grain by telling the workers to drop whole handfuls on purpose for her to find and pick up. Later Naomi offered her land and her husband’s rights to Boaz who accepted Ruth as wife in the deal.
And of course we can show them King David’s playground on the hills here where he was shepherd boy. They love to see the places of their ancestors and to tell and re-tell the stories of their lives. It is told that near here the prophet Samuel came to town and sanctified David’s father and David’s brothers. It seems Samuel looked at the boys that were home and saw they were good looking and tall but did not find the one God wanted for King among the seven Jesse showed him. Samuel asked if there were more and discovered David was keeping the sheep-right here in Bethlehem! Samuel sacrificed right here in Bethlehem. Samuel wouldn’t sit down until David came. He was ruddy or reddish in complexion and pleasant to look at. Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brethren and The Spirit of The Lord came upon David right here in Bethlehem. We have some famous people’s lives to share with the visitors. These Jews know the stories and have them recorded in the book of their God. They will be happy people to be here in the city of their family.
I need to move on and not talk so much. My husband is not a very pleasant man and cares mainly about the money he gathers in his bag. He will desire that I be preparing for the crowds. Much will have to be done before the crowd arrives. I will have all the pots and pitchers filled with water to avoid going to the well so much when the people are here. It is a long way through the stone corridor and down to the well. I tire easily walking all those steps down to the water and carrying the water back up all those steps. It will be a good investment to buy a few more lamps for the feet and have my two oldest daughters go to the well with me. Three can fill up pots quicker than one.
As I get back from the potter’s with the lamps messengers are arriving from wealthy descendents of David. They are reserving rooms, water for baths, and special meals. This is going to be a very busy time. Perhaps I’ll dry more figs and fish and send the eldest son to Jericho, with camels, so fresh fruit can be gotten.
The younger boys could build two more circles of stones for me to have more areas for fire to heat the stones. I’ll need more hot rocks to cook more bread. And he wants all the rooms freshened-that will be a lot of scrubbing of bed linens down at the stream. I will have to take a day and make soap! This is going to be work. I’ll just think about the money we’ll have and not the work. That always cheers me!
Check back with me next week and I’ll tell you more about being an Inn Keeper’s wife in Bethlehem.
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Complaint-Free
Recently I heard a story on television that intrigued me. It was about a Kansas City pastor who wanted his church people to break the habit of complaining-IMAGINE THAT!
Reverend Will Bowen of Christ Church Unity said all of should be able to agree there is too much complaining. He said his church people were griping mainly about trivial things, such as which hymn to sing or the dress code for worship. He asked the flock to take a pledge: to stop complaining, criticizing, gossiping or using sarcasm for 21 days. He said this inspiration came while taking a shower. His idea is now spreading across America.
People who join in are issued little purple bracelets to remind them of their pledge. When they catch themselves complaining they take off the bracelet and switch it to the opposite wrist. They have to start the 21 days over each time.
Now, over 3 million bracelets have been asked for across our country. One shouldn’t hear complaining as members of the church file in each Saturday to fill orders, huh?
NBC News Correspondent, George Lewis, got a bracelet. He resisted the complaint when TODAY producer mounted a camera in his office to record his progress, or lack of it. In only two hours he complained. Day one he had two relapses. He complained on day two also.
Rev. Bowen himself found it took three and one half months to get his 21 complaint-free days done. Some have reported taking up to seven months to get 21 complaint-free days. Once the days are accomplished they can get a ‘certificate of happiness.’
Rev. Bowen said his church wants to become the no complaining center of the world. Orders for bracelets are coming now from all over the world. You can get one by going to www.acomplaintfreeworld.org. I ordered mine today and found that 3,600,587 ordered before me.
When it
comes, I am to begin wearing it on either wrist. If I catch myself or someone
else catches me complaining, gossiping or criticizing, I’m to move the bracelet
to the other arm and begin again. (If the person who catches me has a bracelet
on they need to move their over before criticizing me.) It takes at least 21
days to form a new habit so I must continue until I’ve accomplished 21
consecutive days. The purple bracelet is a powerful tool to remind you of how
well I am creating my life with positive intention.
It has been figured that the average person complains twenty times a day.
I think there are any who couldn’t begin stopping at such a low number I’m sorry
to say. People are finding life at work, home and church grows steadily better
as they truly practice the no complaining
rule.
George Lewis also reports eight relapses with his longest complaint-free period
lasting 5 days. This will take time and effort but how it would be worth it.
I’ve ordered many of the bracelets and hope to offer them through our Christ
Open Bible Ministries. We’ll let you know when they come or you can go online
for a small fee to get your own.
Will Bowen has written a book about complaining also. “A Complaint Free World” is an engaging, enjoyable, easy-to-read reminder that the only permanent, constructive changes you can make in the world are the changes that you make in yourself.”
The book summary reports:
A SIMPLE PLAN... A LIFE-CHANGING
RESULT...A HAPPIER LIFE
·What exactly is a complaint? (Chapter 1)
·Why is complaining destructive? (Chapters 2-3)
·How can I get others around me to stop complaining? (Chapter 3)
·How can we affect social change if we don't complain? (Chapter 5)
·Why is it so hard to stop complaining? (Chapters 4-6)
·What happens once I no longer complain? (Chapter 8)
I truly believe our lives, families, churches, schools, market places and all of the USA would be better if we had much, much less negative talk. Christian especially disappoint Christ when they speak, not of Him, His desire to help those in need or His saving grace; but gossip, backbite and complain. Oh, how He is hurt! Consider taking the 21 day challenge.
Blessings.
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October 18, 2007
She’s Packing!
Oh, there were a few years in her life when she didn’t know Him. Then, as a young mother, He came to her home one day and introduced Himself. She gave her life completely to Him and has never regretted it. All the time she knew there would be the day when her Groom would come calling for His bride. Now that day is approaching.
For some time we could see her packing-a faltered step here-a fall or two-and ‘spells’ of sicknesses. At times she would have to pack up and go stay with daughter Charlotte and husband Earl for a few days or weeks or ‘the girls’ would take turns caring for her and the boys would ‘check’ on her often. Then, as soon as possible she’d be back home and caring for herself. She wanted to be home for two reasons: one was to be home, the other was to go to her church, Bivens Chapel.
She, like David of old, was always glad when it was said, “I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord.”
There have been times lately when she simply was too sick to go to church and she would shed tears over the loss. Oh for more people to have that passion!
The last few weeks her wonderful children have gathered around and one by one witnessed her packing up and getting ready to leave. Each know she is leaving and each know she will be better off; but each dread to be here without her. The grandchildren and generations, extended family, friends and community feel the same.
Her middle name is Daniel and surely it was given Divinely for she has prayed at nine o’clock in the morning for as many years as I can remember. Nothing kept her from praying. She even made the doctors wait on surgery once while she prayed. Her love life with her Heavenly Bridegroom was a serious one!
Today, daughter Charlotte, knowing Mom was too low to pray decided to kneel by her bed and pray at 9 o’clock. At the end of the prayer she roused and tried to speak but the voice was too low for Charlotte to discern. She told her what she was doing. (Actually, Charlotte knew she talked to Him each day at nine and thought He would probably come to talk to her at their usual time.) Aunt Ora rallied up all the voice she had and said, “If I had voice enough I’d say (and exclaimed a whoop of praise) and “Praise The Lord.”
Charlotte had to laugh, cry and praise along with her as she said, “I think you just did have voice enough.”
Psalms 122 in its entirety says, “Psalms
122:1-9 (KJV)
1
I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of
the LORD.
2
Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem.
3
Jerusalem is
builded as a city that is compact together:
4
Whither the tribes go up,
the tribes of the LORD, unto the testimony of Israel, to give thanks unto the
name of the LORD.
5
For there are set thrones
of judgment, the thrones of the house of David.
6
Pray for the peace of
Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.
7
Peace be within thy walls,
and prosperity within thy palaces.
8
For my brethren and
companions' sakes, I will now say, Peace be within thee.
9
Because of the house of
the LORD our God I will seek thy good.”
I can picture her standing inside the gates of New Jerusalem, inside THE
HOUSE OF THE LORD and being so glad. The tribes of saved there too. The
testimony of Israel, both the real one and the spiritual, giving thanks to the
Name of the Lord.
Thrones there.
Peace there.
Prosperity forever there.
Can’t you hear her voice restored proclaiming, “Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces. 8 For my brethren and companions' sakes, I will now say, Peace be within thee. 9 Because of the house of the LORD our God…”
Her family will miss her.
Her church will miss her.
Her neighbor and neighbors will miss her.
I will miss her.
But she will be asleep awaiting that Marriage Supper and the Eternal Home prepared for The Bride. She will be getting her beauty sleep, waiting The Day-even if she doesn’t need any more beauty-for hers is pure-from giving unto The Lord the Glory due His Name and worshipping The Lord in the BEAUTY of HOLINESS.
I don’t know the hour her packing will be finished and she leaves but I know her destination!
Blessings on being so sure you have Him as your Bridegroom.
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October 12, 2007
Have you ever read Bible and pretended to be the person in the story? This will let you see how Jesus treats people and what His true motives are? Let’s try being with Him in, say, Matthew, chapter nine. Let’s go.
First encounter: We are a man sick with complete or partial muscle paralysis. People discuss with us going to Jesus or else we asked to go to Him. Anyway, people take us to Him. Jesus sees our faith and says to us, “Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.”
Just as we’re enjoying the thought that He sees our inner need to be clean and whole, certain scribes, a public copyist in times when few could write, interrupts our encounter with Jesus. He declares that Jesus is blaspheming.
Jesus seems to know their intent is evil and asks, “Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts? 5 For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk? 6 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.”
Our minds are both shocked and excited. Did we hear Him right? He has told us our sins are forgiven and our body is healed. That is what He said, isn’t it?
We begin to ignore the crowd and jeering and try to move a toe-it moves! Let’s try a foot-it moves! O.K. Let’s try a whole leg. Wow! We begin to scramble about on that old cot-something we haven’t done. We see we no longer have the paralysis and our heart is clean, whole, entire, forgiven! We and the good hearted in the crowd marvel and glorify God, who gave Jesus power. After celebrating, we grab our bed, as told, and head home jumping and shouting and more alive than we’ve ever been. Praise Jesus’ Name!
Second encounter: We are a tax collector, none too well thought of. We’ve heard of this man Jesus but know He wouldn’t want anything to do with us. He is coming down our street where our tax collecting table sits. He is coming right to us! He is saying, “Follow me.”
Let’s go with Him. Let’s just leave all and go with Him. He must have a plan for us. Can you imagine He wants a tax collector in His group? We go with Him.
Third encounter: We are a group of sinners and tax collectors eating in a house. Jesus comes by, is invited into the house, and He comes in! Uh! Oh! There is that Pharisee with his group of religious bigots. There will no doubt be trouble for Jesus because He is here with us sinners. One Pharisee asks a disciple, “Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?”
Jesus heard what they asked. Shhhh! He is going to speak. “They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
Wow! He put them in their place, didn’t He? He came for us sinners. He came for the sick. He is going to give us mercy and loves mercy more than the Pharisee’s sacrifices. He loves us! He loves sinners! He came to forgive us of our sins and let us become Christ-like. He wants to give us Himself. How awesome! I’ve never seen those Pharisees so shut-mouthed before. They had no comeback to His mercy and outright claiming His love for us sinners.
Other encounters in the same chapter would be His teachings on fasting, putting new wine only in new bottles, the healing of the woman with hemorrhage and raising Darius’ daughter from the dead. No wonder His fame spreads among any who learn of Him. He also heals blind men and casts out devils. Amen! Praise His Name! He sends Satan packing out of lives and leaves them free and filled with Himself, in total forgiveness and peace. Again the Pharisee accuse Him of working with the prince of devils. They just don’t get it, do they? Don’t you feel sorry for them. They aren’t getting healed, filled with love, joy and forgiveness for they are so filled with trying to find fault in Jesus. Jesus ignores them and continues through the cities and villages, teaching in the synagogues and preaching the gospel of the kingdom. He is too busy meeting the needs of the sick, the sinner and the possessed to let them halt His work.
He comments that He has compassion on us for we are fainting and scattered like sheep with no shepherd. He tells us to pray for the Lord of the harvest to send forth laborers into His harvest. Doesn’t that sound like He wants us to join Him in His work of seeing people’s needs met? He wants laborers to help tell people about His love. He wants us to tell others He will forgive them and set them free.
Wouldn’t it have been exciting to have lived when He was physically alive on earth? There would still have been problems among the people but He would have met our needs. However we are alive when He is alive for ever more and He is still meeting the needs of those willing to submit to Him and ask Him for forgiveness and freedom and deliverance. He is still loosing people from anything that binds.
Blessings.
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October 4, 2007
I was just resting in and watching an old The Waltons issue. This one had a cousin from the mountains who had been displaced by ‘progress’. He, young wife and baby son, had moved to the city to begin anew. The wife had been so bashful as a youth that she hid from any visitors. (I can remember many youth who were that bashful when I first began traveling Lewis County as an educator.)
The wife and he fared fairly well at first. He had woodcarving skills and got a job at a local mill. The catch was that he was in front of a machine grinding out the exact same item over and over, like an axe handle. His creativity was totally squelched. The money allowed them to get a home and STUFF. You know STUFF, don’t you? It is all those THINGS that are supposed to give us instant happiness-especially if we have the MOST STUFF or at least BETTER STUFF than others we know.
Well, STUFF failed this couple as it has the billions who have trusted in it over the centuries. She was still very bashful and kept totally to herself. He was being exposed more and more to the things of that society and time as he was forced to work in it daily. Soon she was housebound and he was acting more and more ‘foot loose and fancy free.’ Sooner than he thought he was making extra time at the local watering trough (it wasn’t water though). And, with all that came opportunities. The opportunities he chose were to run moonshine at night and make extra money and have a thrill of the illegal. On and on the spider’s web added strands and the intricate shape of the spider’s influence grew with each concentric web addition.
She leaves him and goes to, who else, John and Olivia’s home. Fast forward. He is caught and put in jail. There he decides to force her home and that would be that. He tried and failed. A fight between he and ‘John Man’ left him on the ground and challenged to really be a man and take care of his family. He storms off.
Fast forward. Supper time and he comes back. He announces that he’d like the wife, boy and him to begin anew somewhere in the mountains with a home he builds, wood items he makes. He wants to do what was put in him to do-he creative bent-creating wood items. His path choice has been made.
As I look about me today there are so very many people one can observe who have been ‘swept up’ by what is around them and entangled in the spider’s web. Like the fly in the web one can hardly see one tightening strand for there are so many bound about them they merge together almost like a thick blanket. They look like tiny faces and feet totally engulfed in web strands. They are almost cocoons encased in debt, drug addiction, broken relationships, illegal activities and on and on and on and on and on and on…. the list goes. The big difference in them and a larvae in a cocoon is that the larvae will rest in the entangled case and transform into a new, beautiful, flying creature. The cocoon they are in has no such hope without external help. They need a miracle!
However, in the years of watching spider webs encase many, I’ve gotten to see a few get out. Yes. Totally out of the web!
They simply call on the One who came to ‘set the captive free’ and allow Him to speak the Words that set them free. They then are TOTALLY FREE. Not one strand of web. Not even one drop of sticky stuff from the web. They are loosed in the major sense of the word.
Their new freedom and their old wisdom can keep them web free! They then begin to search for their natural, God built in ‘bent’ and start new. They begin associating with people who believe in new beginnings-The One’s Church. It is slow work and they have to prove themselves.
They will, no doubt, have restitutions to make. That is an old word we’ve done our best as a society to sweep under (not the rug but the asphalt). Restitution means the act of restoring to the rightful owner or making something good. There will be some things they cannot restore. They will simply have to forgive themselves and receive The One’s forgiveness and leave the events in their new ‘behind His back’ state. It is part of their price. And, in time, and through it all, they will have greater and greater sense of FREEDOM-inside and out. They will know that they know that they know-they are FREE!
They will have a story to tell!
They will be who they were meant to be!
They won’t feel the need for all the web activities but will see them for what they really are-entangling. Wisdom will have become their partner. Wow!
Blessings.
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