Tuesday, October 31, 2017

TODAY'S QUOTE



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"I would rather walk with God in the dark
than go alone in the light."    
-Mary Gardiner Brainard


Monday, October 30, 2017

REST VS. INSANITY


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Why on earth should I turn to God and 
enjoy rest, quietness and strength, when
I could ignore him and go crazy?


"For thus the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel,
has said,
'In repentance and rest you will be saved,
In quietness and trust is your strength.'
But you were not willing,"
(Isaiah 30:15 NASB)  










Friday, October 27, 2017

WE PREFER FAKE NEWS



Image courtesy of: www.Pixabay.com   


Why is it that we prefer "fake news"?

If we go to the doctor, of course we prefer a "good report".
But, if we are sick and/or hurting, we want the truth.  We
need to know what is wrong and how to cure it.

But when it comes to our lives - that is, our spiritual
lives.  The hart, the mind, the soul.  That which is going
to exist for ever - we want "fake news".

We are like the Israelites of old;

"Who say to the seers, 
'You must not see visions';
And to the prophets, 'You must not prophesy 
to us what is right,
Speak to us pleasant words,
Prophesy illusions'."
(Isaiah 30:10 NASB)  

I may not like the medicine,
but if I do not align myself with God 
and his instructions.  I am headed for 
sure destruction.







Thursday, October 26, 2017

TODAY'S PROMISE




"My son, do not forget my teaching,
But let your heart keep my commandments;
For length of days and years of life
And peace they will add to you."
(Proverbs 3:1,2 NASB)

Wednesday, October 25, 2017

LEARNING FROM A CAT


Image courtesy of: www.Pixabay,com 

My wife has a cat.
Let me emphasize, it's the wife's.

Many years ago I gave up holding it.
The hair in my lap and the claws in my legs
were simply too much.

But, it still hangs around with me for some reason.
Well, I know the reason just like you do.  It wants
to trip me when I walk.

Now that cat knows my movements around the house
almost better than I do.  For example, when it hears me
slid my cup off the ceramic coaster. it gets up, stretches,
and starts walking in front of me to the coffee pot.

That cat knows me so well it can almost read my mind.

I should be that way with God himself.
He created me.  He loves me.  He died for me.
He calls to me.

But, no.  He has to knock me down so I will
look up.  He has to force me into circumstances
that I cannot handle so I have to cry out to him
for help.

I need to spend a lot more time at the feet
of Jesus Christ.

"I will instruct you and teach you in the way which
you should go;
I will counsel you with My eye upon you.
Do not be as the horse or as the mule which have no
understanding,
Whose trappings include bit and bridle to hold them in check,
Otherwise they will not come near to you."
(Psalms 32:8,9 NASB)


Tuesday, October 24, 2017

TODAY'S QUOTE


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"Have courage for the great sorrows of
life and patience for the small ones.
And when you have laboriously
accomplished your daily task, go to
sleep in peace.  God is awake."
-Victor Hugo


Monday, October 23, 2017

KIDS - GOD'S KIDS



KIDS.  

Don't you just love them?
Well, that is when you don't want to strangle them.

I am in my "second childhood" now.  So perhaps I 
understand them better.  If that is possible.  But it 
makes me wonder how much like them I am.

The girl above is one of my GREAT granddaughters.
During the period of time above that little girl could have
gotten me to do anything for her.  But not now.  She is 
a teenager now.

What is the point?
See the little rabbit she is holding?
When she came to this old grandpa wanting a rabbit,
I knew that I would end up taking care of it for the 
rest of it's life.

Believe it or not, that is exactly what happened.
But, give the little girl credit.  She probably took care
of it for most of a week.

As a "kings kid", that is a child of God I wonder how
much like that I am.  Starting with a lot of enthusiasm,
but ending up doing lots of other things.  You know,
things for me.

"Therefore, my beloved brethren, 
be steadfast, immovable, always
abounding in the work of the Lord,
knowing that your toil is not in vain
in the Lord."  
(1 Corinthians 15:58 NASB) 



Friday, October 20, 2017

LET'S GO SHOPPING


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"I have more than I can ever use.
That is why the next time I go shopping
for even more, I can be selective in my 
shopping."

We have never heard it stated this way.
But it is demonstrated nearly every day.




Some old English proverbs say:

1. "wast not, want not."
2. "a penny saved is a penny earned.
3. "a fool and his money are soon parted.




JUST SOMETHING TO THINK ABAOUT. 




Thursday, October 19, 2017

TODAY'S PROMISE




"My little children, I am writing these things to you
so that you may not sin.  And if anyone sins, we have
and Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous;
and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not
for ours only, but also for those of the whole world."  
(1 John 2:1,2 NASB)  



Wednesday, October 18, 2017

COME


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When God came down to earth in the form of
man - Jesus Christ - He did not bring with him
a long list of rules for us to learn.  Nor did He 
have a list of traditions, or rituals to keep.




BUT,  
He simply said,
"Come to me,"

I love that.
Simply an invitation to come to Him.

"Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden,
and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you
and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in
heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR
SOULS.  For My yoke is easy and My burden is
light."
(Matthew 11:28-30 NASB)  

Tuesday, October 17, 2017

TODAY'S QUOTE


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"A holy life will produce the deepest
impression.  Lighthouses blow no horns;
they only shine."
-D. L. Moody

Monday, October 16, 2017

END OF AN ERA



THE END OF AN ERA

I am eighty three years old.  So the end of my motorcycle
riding days would be coming soon.  I wanted to get at least
a few years more riding in.  But, my insurance company
changed my mind.

I have been with this company for seventeen years.  No claims
and no problems.  But I am getting older and possibly they have
checked into my recent health history.  That is O.K.  I do not try
to hide any thing.  I always give the doctors permission to share
my records with any one.

But, last week when I went to pay my annual premium on the 
motorcycles,  it had jumped about 800%.  As an old retired man
I simply am not going to pay that much for just a little fun.
You know what that meant.

So, before the insurance expired I decided to ride my old
rat bike over to the sale for "one last ride."  That is the 
one with the hat on the sissy bar.

Now this is not a good time of the year to sell a motorcycle.
The best time would be in spring or early summer.  And the
motorcycle, though in good shape, is getting real old.  Plus
it is like a work bike, not a shinny chrome trophy.  So the
prospects of selling it were not good.

But, I have learned to pray about things like that.  
As you guessed, hardly anybody looked at the bike.
Instead they looked at jars, wore out tillers, junk 
furniture etc.  So all I could do was sit there and pray.

Praise God.
God is not limited by my circumstances.
When the bidding got started it went very slow,
BUT, there was a man there on a cell phone
bidding for a man that was not even there.
The buyer who was not even there, bought it for
enough to make me happy and keep me praising God.

AGAIN,
PRAISE GOD.











Friday, October 13, 2017

JOY, JOY, JOY



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JOY.  

Joy, true joy.
There is so little of it today.
Oh there is a lot of momentary pleasure.
But it generally is gone in the morning.






But mostly we have; fear, concerns, anxieties, pain
and jealousy.   And no wonder with the mess that the
world is in today.  My friend, it is only going to get
worse.


But for true lasting joy, are we looking in the right place?
For a joy that is deep down in us and lasting.  Not dependent
on someone else.  Not on something that is temporary out of 
a bottle or a pill or a smoke.  Nor something we try to hype
up and lasts only as long as we can keep fooling ourselves.

True joy is found only from the one who gives us life anyway.
That is God Himself.  His word "The Holy Bible" has a lot to
say about joy.  The subject is brought up about two hundred
times in the Scriptures.

When Jesus Christ was talking with his disciples about abiding
in him - that is; to dwell with, reside with, live with or stay in
relationship with Christ - and obeying his commands he said,

"These things I have spoken to you so that 
My joy may be in you, and that your joy
may be made full." 
(John 15:11 NASB)  

If you want true, deep, lasting joy -
get acquainted with Jesus Christ 
the source of joy and life it's self.







Thursday, October 12, 2017

TODAY'S PROMISE





"This is good and acceptable in the sight of God 
our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and
to come to the knowledge of the truth.  For there 
is one God, and one mediator also between God
and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself
as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the 
proper time."
(1 Timothy 2:3-6 NASB)  





Wednesday, October 11, 2017

TODAYS QUOTE


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"Lord, the task is impossible for me but
not for Thee.  Lead the way and I will
follow.  Why should I fear?  I am on a
royal mission.  I am in the service of the
King of kings."
- Mary Slessor 





GET MORE STUFF



GET MORE STUFF

Buy more, beg for more, collect more but any way you 
can get all the things you can.  You see, there is a 
distinct advantage to having lots and lots of "stuff".

Let me explain.


I first noticed the advantage to having a lot of things with my
wife's plants.  She has to water and care for them every once
in a while.  And, some of those neat plants have to be brought
into the house during the winter.  Then taken back out in the 
spring.

This of course gives her added work every few days.
Nice, right?

Ouch!
The photo below is from my shop.


I have more motorcycles than I can ride at one time.
But that is O.K.  Even if they might not be running
I can pay personal property taxes on them.  Pay license
and insurance fees.  And even better, pay for any repairs
they need.

Oh!, the joy of having lots of "stuff".
And most of the things we get have to be "stored" some
where.  Isn't that thrilling?

We have relatives that have several pieces of property
scattered around.  They get to pay taxes, repairs and
maintenance fees on a regular basis.  Guess what?
It has become a real burden to them.

Here is a fact that most of us seem to forget.

"But godliness actually is a means of great gain
when accompanied by contentment.  For we have
brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take
anything out of it either.  If we have food and covering,
with these we shall be content.  But those who want to
get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many 
foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into
ruin and destruction."
(1 Timothy 6:6-9 NASB)

Have I learned anything from this.
YES! 

I have already hauled off several truck loads of "stuff"
to the sale.  And have given more away.  You guessed
it.  I have more free time on my hands and live just as
well - if not better than before.

One other thing.
This coming week end
even the motorcycles go up for sale.







Tuesday, October 10, 2017

TODAY'S QUOTE


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"God may allow His servant to succeed
when He has disciplined him to a point
where he does not need to succeed to be
happy.  The man who is elated by success
and is cast down by failure is still a carnal
man.  At best his fruit will have a worm in
it."

-A. W. Tozer




Monday, October 9, 2017

NEED A BOOST



Being an old man I was running "out of steam"
one after noon.  However, I still had a lot of work I
wanted to do that day and a boost would be good.

Then I remembered that at one time my wife had
kept some of those "energy drinks" in the refrigerator.
You bet.  There was still one of them in there.  Never
in my life had I ever tried one of "those things".

It tasted pretty good for a cold drink.  And I began
to feel better shortly.  In fact I was "flying high" for 
about four hours and still wanted to keep on working.

But like so many things it has it's side effects.
Of course the side effects vary for different people.
But for this old man, I think I'll go on through life
without that temporary boost of a "energy drink."
To me it is not worth the side effects.

But do you want an added boost with only good
side effects?

If you want an effective boost in life that lasts
get into an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ.
Not only will it be of value in this life, but in the 
life to come.  AND, we have added power when
we let his Spirit, the Holy Spirit take control of 
our life.










Friday, October 6, 2017

NO PURPOSE



No body but a daughter would send something
like this to a father, because that is what daughters
are for.  You know, just because.
Love her lots anyway.

But have you ever felt that is what life is like? 
"WHAT'S THE PURPOSE?"
"WHY DO I EXIST?"

We go through life worrying about what
am I going to eat? What am I going to 
drink?   What am I going to wear?
Is that all there is to life?

Believe it or not, Jesus Christ who gives
you life and breath wants to worry about 
those things for you.  His instruction to you is;

"But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness,
and all these things will be added to you."
(Matthew 6:33 NASB) 

Simple enough.
Become His subject or a citizen in His kingdom.
Then seek his way of living.

You then will have purpose in life, AND 
you can let Jesus Christ do your worrying
for you.





Thursday, October 5, 2017

TODAY'S PROMISE




"In this is love, not that we loved God,
but that He loved us and sent His Son
to be the propitiation for our sins."
(1 John 4:10 NASB) 

Wednesday, October 4, 2017

WHEN SHE PUTS HER FACE ON


"Put on my face"

That is a statement I have heard a number of times.
Generally by a woman, I think.  You know, "I have
to go put my face on."

I have never had the courage go watch and see what
it is that happens - or why.  What does it mean?
And why do they do it?



Do they do it to hide their identity, like hide behind
a mask?  Or perhaps just to confuse us fellows?
Or is it a mood thing?

And, is putting on their face something like hanging
wall paper?  Or is done with a paint brush or roller?

Now I have seen faces with so much stuff on them
it makes me think it is done with a putty knife just
like a man would put "bondo" on a car fender to
hide a wrinkle or a dent.

[In those cases I do not know whether to laugh
out loud, or cry.]

Or, do they make a selection from a "Facebook"
of the face they want for that day.






Have you made your choice of face for the day yet?







AND THE WINNER IS,


Sorry.
The temptation to do something like
this was just too much.

But I would offer you a thought.
The Scriptures say;

"A joyful heart makes a cheerful face,
But when the heart is sad, 
the spirit is broken."
(Proverbs 15:13 NASB)  

Perhaps it would be better to forget
about paint and goo to put on the face.
But instead to work on the attitude of 
the heart.








Tuesday, October 3, 2017

TODAY'S QUOTE


Images courtesy of:www.Pixabay.com 

"The secret of my success?  It is simple.
It is found in the Bible, 'In all thy ways
acknowledge Him and He shall direct
thy paths."

-George Washington Carver




Monday, October 2, 2017

THE POWER OF UNBELIEF


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I have noticed a strange thing in life.  It first came to my
attention reading about the life of Jesus Christ.  Notice
how the more the proof, the greater the resistance of the
unbeliever.

You first see Christ turn water into wine.  Then you see
the sick healed by the hundreds just by his word or the
touch of his hands.  All of this of course is met with
resistance from the Religious leaders of his day.

It continues.  He walks on water.  He stills the storm
telling the weather what to do.  And it comes to a final
head when he raises to life a man who had been dead
and buried for four days.

That is when the Religious leaders decide that it is 
necessary to kill Jesus.

It is no different today.
It seems that the more the archaeologist dig up 
to prove the historical accuracy of the Bible,
and the more that "true" science proves the 
statements of the Bible.  The louder the unbelievers
yell trying to drown out the truth.

Truly the fool has said,
"There is no God".