CHANGE IT, CHANGE IT, CHANGE IT.

CHANGE IT, CHANGE IT, CHANGE IT.

I worked as an automotive tech. for over twenty

five years.  In that time there was one thing I learned.

There is an "unwritten law" in the automotive industry 

that consists of only two words, "Change it."

It does not matter if it works well, change it.

But it is easy to repair, then change it.

Hey! it is a great looking vehicle, then change it.

I think it is seven computers I have scattered 

around the place.  I have learned to hate "updates".

My experience with "updates" is that generally

they only make it harder to work with.

If I take a computer to the shop for some repair

or other.  They usually make all the latest "updates"

and then I am worse off than before.

Even in the so called "scientific" world.  You have

noticed that over the years the facts change as new

data becomes available.

How about the thousands of laws that are on the

books.  You almost learn to live without getting

into trouble with some law or other when; you

guessed it, a new law changes everything for you.

With all the changes that are taking place in this old

world, it certainly is not the world I grew up in.

If I were as young as you, it might be different but

at this age I want to yell out, "Stop the merry-go-round."

I want a "constant" in life.  Something that does not 

change.  Something I can hang on to.

Truly there is one constant that holds me together.

My old body changes.  The family changes.  My

friends change.  My opinion changes.  But, 

Jesus Christ NEVER CHANGES.

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today,

and forever."  

(Hebrews 13:8 NLT)

Jesus Christ still loves me despite my many failures.

He died in my place for me and now lives to help me

through this life.  I may not appreciate some of the 

paths he leads me through - but it is for my own good.

Jesus not only will bring me through this old changing

world, but will then allow me to live with him forever.

TODAY'S PROMISE

"That is why we never give up.  Though our

bodies are dying our spirits are being renewed

every day.  For our present troubles are small

and won't last very long.  Yet they produce for 

us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will

last forever!  So we don't look at the troubles

we see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things

that cannot be seen.  For the things we see now

will soon be gone, but the things we cannot

see will last forever."  

(2 Corinthians 4:16 - 18 NLT)

ARE YOU LOOKING FOR NEW STRENGTH?

ARE YOU LOOKING FOR NEW STRENGTH?

Forgive me for being repetitive, but I am rejoicing.

You know how it is.  If you find a good place to go

out and eat, you tell your friends.  Or, you know of 

a store that handles the item someone is looking for

you share that information with them.

I have shared this with you before.  About seven 

years ago when I was only seventy nine years old

my body quite making blood.  I almost died.  

BUT GOD.

Not quite two weeks ago my wife was laying in

the drive way unconscious and not breathing.  She

is only seventy eight years old.  I did not want to 

loose her so prayed desperately.

BUT GOD.

Yes, God willing she wants to go back to work

tomorrow.  She does not want to spend the rest

of her life sitting around like old people do.

Where does the life and strength come from,

even for old people?

"But those who trust in the LORD will find

new strength.  They will soar high on wings

like eagles.  They will run and not grow 

weary.  They will walk and not faint.

(Isaiah 40:31 NLT)

Need new strength?

Simple, wrap your life around Jesus Christ

and hang on.

TODAY'S QUOTE

"But for the most part, the churches have put God in

a box of their own devising and have done their best

to keep Him there. Their emphasis has been on the 

church's teaching and liturgical traditions - on forms

and programs and finances - rather than on the power

of the living Lord."  

- Agnes Sanford in

Sealed Orders

p. 306

JESUS CHRIST STILL ANSWERS PRAYER

JESUS CHRIST STILL ANSWERS PRAYER.

A little over a week ago I had just finished a 

leisurely cup of coffee about 3:00 a.m. when

my wife got out of bed and told me she could

not breath.

It was obvious, she was fighting for every breath

she could get.  Running to get my wallet and the

keys to the car - even forgetting my glasses - I

I got her into the car.

In all the commotion out daughter was awaken

and insisted on calling for an ambulance instead.

That frustrated me because I could get my wife

to the hospital quicker than an ambulance could

get here.  But it did end up being a better choice

because this COVID - 19 scare even had the 

hospital sealed up tight and I would not have been

able to have run in asking for help like we used to.

While the daughter was on the phone they told

her to get my wife laying down on a flat place

so she could breath easier.  By this time my wife

had lost consciousness and all we could do was

lay her there on the drive way.

There was my wife, unconscious and not 

breathing and dying right in front of me.

This old man prayed, prayed hard and loud.

The ambulance arrived and took my wife

to the hospital.  Not being allowed in the

hospital because of this pandemic thing I

did not know for better than twenty four

hours whether she was dead or alive.  

PRAISE GOD.  She was brought through

it and was able to come home after a couple

of days.

My wife is only seventy eight years old and

wants to continue working to keep herself

active until she is eighty years old.  So she

is planning on returning to work in a few days

if God gives her the strength.

FISHING WITH JESUS

I do not know what night of the week Simon
Peter and his fellow fishermen were fishing;
BUT IT WAS A MONDAY.

You know what I mean.   Some days are a Monday
even if it is another day in the week.  Nothing goes
right, and we say "It was a Monday."

Simon Peter and his buddies worked hard all
night, but did not catch a thing.  You have had
days that way.  But the story does not end there.

"When he had finished speaking, he said to 

Simon, 'Now go out where it is deeper, and let

down your nets to catch some fish.'

"Master," Simon replied, 'we worked hard 

all last night and didn't catch a thing.  But if you

say so, I'll let the nets down again.' And this

time their nets were so full of fish they began to

tear!  A shout for help brought their partners in

the other boat, and soon both boats were filled 

with fish and on the verge of sinking." 

(Luke 5:4 - 7 NLT). 

Now that is how fishing with Jesus goes.

One of the things I have learned from this
incident is that I need the blessing and help
of Jesus Christ on anything that I do.

I have learned that IF I start the day off
seeking God's help and blessing - things
go better.  If I start my day off by just jumping
in and going at it - I will have a Monday.
But generally when I start my day off with
Jesus Christ I usually accomplish even more
than I had set out to do.

"Commit your actions to the LORD,
and your plans will succeed." 
(Proverbs 16:3 NLT)

TODAY'S PROMISE

"Those who live in the shelter of

the Most Hight will find rest in the

shadow of the Almighty.

This I declare about the LORD:

He alone is my God, and I trust him."  

(Psalms 91: 1,2 NLT). 

OUR SOURCE OF STRENGTH

Jesus Christ the Son of the Living God came
to earth and took on the form of a man.  The
very creator of the universe took on a body like
you and I have.  Then he lived without sinning.

Before Jesus ever came to earth he knew what
he was going to suffer for us.  And yet, with all
the rejection by the religious people of his day
and most of the world.  Then the agony of the
cross, how did he do it?  Where did he get the
power to do what he did?

Here's how;

"But Jesus Himself would often slip away

to the wilderness and pray."  

(Luke 5:16 NASB)

If Jesus himself needed prayer how much
more do you think that we need to slip away
somewhere and get alone with God in prayer.

TODAY'S QUOTE

"The steady, quiet, slow, mature walk with Christ

in the life of faith is the condition of the deepest

and most perfect knowledge of Divine things." 

- George D. Watson in

GOD'S EAGLES.

EFFECTIVE FOLLOWERS OF Jesus Christ

"Follow me and be my disciple." Jesus said

to him.  So Levi got up, left everything,

and followed him."   

(Luke 5:27, 28 NLT)

It is amazing to me how many of Jesus disciples
simply go up and left everything when Christ called
them.

You will remember that it was these early disciples
that were accused of turning the world upside down.
Have you been accused of turning the world upside
down?  Nether have I.

Do you think that it is possible that those of us who
profess to be followers or disciples of Jesus Christ
simply are trying to drag too much baggage with
us as we "think" we are living for Christ.

KEY TO A LONG PRODUCTIVE LIFE

Most of us want to live as long as possible.

We want a long healthy life.  Then when we 

get toward old age we want health enough to 

spend our time "playing" in our second 

childhood.  "Playing"?  Yes, you know.  Hitting

a little white ball out in the grass, then chase 

it down and hit it again.  Or, perhaps driving

around looking at things or sitting on the couch

being entertained and eating too much.

Personally, a lot of that does not appeal to me.

In my old age I still want to do things.  Accomplish

something worth while.

But how?

God [Who gives us life it's self]

said it this way;

"But the godly will flourish like palm trees

and grow strong like the cedars of Lebanon.

For they are transplanted to the LORD's

own house.   They flourish in the courts of 

our God.

Even in old age they will still produce fruit;

they will remain vital and green."  

(Psalms 92:12 -14 NLT)

Did you catch the key?

"... the GODLY..."

Webster defines "godly" this way;

"1. of or from God; divine

2. devoted to God;  pious; devout; religious "

The ring of people that I have associated with

over a long life time have been mostly "godly"

people.  And most of them have lived long 

productive lives.

It is true, I have known a few "godly" people

who have suffered in their bodies during this 

life time.  But then, what would their life have

been like if they had not the blessing of God

on them.

Then there are those who have not lived a "godly"

life and had there lives destroyed by selfish living

through alcohol, drugs, tobacco etc.

The need, no matter what out stage of life is now,

is to turn to God with all our hearts and lives so

we can have his blessing on what ever is left of 

our lives.

TODAY'S PROMISE

"Then Jesus said, 'Come to me, all of you

who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I

will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you.  Let

me teach you, because I am humble and gentle

at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I

give you is light.'"

(Matthew 11:28 - 30 NLT). 

MY SHELTER IN THE STORM

I am only eighty six years old.  But with God's

help plan on continuing for a while.

As you can imagine those years have brought

me a good number of storms.  Some have been 

physical and life threatening.  Others have been

emotional, mental or spiritual.  But I have a shelter

that has never failed me - GOD.

That is the reason that the ninety first Psalm is 

such a favorite to me.  Just the first couple of 

verses will give you some insight into this Psalm;

"Those who live in the shelter of the Most High

will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

This I declare about the LORD: He alone is my 

refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I

 trust him."    

(Psalms 91:1,2 NLT)

I would encourage you to take a Bible and read

the ninety first Psalm in it's entirety.  In these

extremely turbulent times it would be our only

 true hope.  You can bet that the politicians will

not be any help.  And consider this.  God told us

that these times were coming two thousand years

ago, and that they are going to be worse, much 

worse.

Grab ahold of God and hang on.

TODAY'S QUOTE

"Bible records and church history reveal

to us that many of God's servants have

at times handed God their resignation."

- Erwin W. Lutzer in

Failure The Back Door to Success

ARE YOU STARVING YOURSELF TO DEATH?

We all are acquainted with the devastating effects of 

malnutrition.  If we do not get enough of some nutrient

or other, something in our body is going to suffer.

We are taught what to eat for a healthy heart, lungs,

muscles or even our brain.  I imagine that there is 

even something special to eat for us to have healthy

small toes.

But there is very little instruction in this old world 

about how to have a healthy "you".  Yes, you, the 

real you, not just your body.

Consider almost any living organism you want.

A tree, rose bush, vegetable, slim or what ever.

They can get the nutrition they need simply from

a supply of manure.  But they are not like you.

They do not have a spirit, soul, mind or the thing

that makes the real you.  The thing in us that is 

going to be somewhere forever.  We worry about

this old body we live in.  But do we ever think 

about the life that is in us.  Our real self.

This is the thing Jesus Christ was talking about when he said;

"People do not live by bread alone,

but by every word that comes from

the mouth of God."  

(Matthew 4:4 NLT). 

The only way our real self can be nourished is by the

word of God, the Holy Bible.  If you are neglecting

reading the Holy Bible you are neglecting the nourishment

that is most needed by you, the person in your body.

Neglect it to your own peril.

THE PATH TO LIFE

“For everyone has sinned; we all fall

short of God’s glorious standard.” 

- Romans 3:23 NLT. 

“For the wages of sin is death, but

the free gift of God is eternal life

though Christ Jesus our Lord.” 

- Romans 6:23 NLT. 

“But God showed his great love

for us by sending Christ to die

for us while we were still sinners.”  

- Romans 5:8 NLT. 

“If you confess with your mouth

that Jesus is Lord and believe in

your heart the God raised him

from the dead, you will be saved.

For it is by believing in your heart

that you are made right with God,

and it is by confessing with your

mouth that you are saved. 

- Romans 10:9,10 NLT. 

“For ‘Everyone who calls on the 

name of the Lord will be saved.’” 

- Romans 10:13 NLT

TODAY'S PROMISE

"No, I will not abandon you as orphans - I will

come to you.  Soon the world will no longer see

me, but you will see me.  Since I live, you also

will live.  When I am raised to life again, you will

know that I am in the Father, and you are in me,

and I am in  you." 

(John 14:18 - 20 NLT)

MY WIFE'S MIRACLE

A few days ago was one of those days that the weather 

reports said to expect intermit, severe thunder storms.

When my wife returned home from work that day 

she told me how she had run into a hail storm in town.

She said the hail was the size of "quarters".  She

prayed to God for help because she could not afford

a new windshield or to repair a damaged car.

The rest of the way through the hail storm she 

said the hail continued all around the car - but 

none of it hit her car.

I do not need to tell you, but she came home in

happy tears because of God's goodness to her.

The images are not from that storm, but borrowed

from the internet.

TODAY'S QUOTE

"As divine guidance begins to unfold,

it always seems to come with hard,

gritty work." 

-Loren Cunningham in

"Is That Really You, God?" 

HERE I COME; READY OR NOT

HERE I COME; READY OR NOT.

Way back in ancient history before this age

of electronics when your grandfather was a 

child, children actually had to go out side of 

the house and play together.  One of the games

they played was called "Hide and seek".

When playing "Hide and seek" one person was

"it" - what ever that means, and the person who

was "it" would hide their eyes while the others 

ran off and hid.  The person who was "it" would

count to some astronomical number such as one

to twenty five or fifty or one hundred then yell out

"Here I come, ready or not."

After yelling out "Here I come, ready or not" 

that person would go looking for any of the others

and tag them making them the new "it" that had

to hunt for the others when a new round was 

started.

Now God does not play games.  But Jesus Christ

told us numbers of times that he is coming back 

to this earth.  The next time he comes back he is

not coming as a servant to save mankind - BUT

AS KING.  And he will be coming whether we are

READY OR NOT.

While reading in the Book of Revelation again

I find this;

"Look! He comes with the clouds of heaven

And everyone will see him -

even those who pierced him.

And all the nations of the world

will mourn for him.

Yes! Amen!"  

(Revelation 1:7 NLT)

This will be the major even in the history of 

mankind and of the universe.  No one will escape

seeing this event.  The eyes of every man, woman

and child that has ever lived - whether in heaven, 

earth or hell is going to see this event.

Those of us who are looking for his coming will

be rejoicing as we gather together with him.

And those reject or ignore him will be filled 

with terror.

"Then everyone - the kings of the earth, the 

rulers, the generals, the wealthy, the powerful,

and every slave and free person - all hid them-

selves in the caves and among the rocks of the 

mountains.  And they cried to the mountains

and the rocks, 'Fall on us and hide us from

the face of the one who sits on the throne and

from the wrath of the Lamb.  For the great day

of their wrath has come, and who is able to 

survive?'"  

(Revelation 6:15 - 17 NLT)

However the real encouragement is for those of 

us who have already made Jesus Christ as king 

in our lives.  In some of the verses that proceed

the above Scriptures we read;

"All glory to him who loves us and has freed

us from our sins by shedding his blood for us.

He has made us a Kingdom of priest for God

his Father.  All glory and power to him forever

and ever! Amen."

(Revelation 1:5,6 NLT)

WOW!

Rather than the terror of God's wrath, we can 

be priests of God.

MAP OF THE FUTURE

I just love this photo.  This kid is showing us the 

proper way to do it.  He is not to the part I want 

to draw to your attention, but he will get there.

I do no know about you, but I want to know what

the future holds so I can prepare the best I can for

it.  That is one of the reasons that the last book in 

the Bible, the book of Revelation has become such

a favorite of mine.

Notice the very starting sentence of the book;

"This is a revelation from Jesus Christ,

which God gave him to show his servants

the events that must soon take place.

(Chapter 1 verse 1 NLT)

I do not know what is coming - BUT GOD DOES.

I know that the book of Revelation is filled with

imagery and symbolism.  It is easy to get lost trying

to figure it all out.  BUT, there is enough in plain old

English, Spanish, French, or what ever, to scare you to

death.  But if you will pay attention, it will help you

get ready for what is coming.

One other point about the book of Revelation.  It 

has a promise right at the start that is true.

"God blesses the one who reads the words of 

this prophecy to the church and he blesses all

who listen to its message and obey what it says,

for the time is near."

(Chapter one verse 3 NLT)

I have to testify that this is true.  Perhaps I was

confused from reading it the first few times.  But

I have found that reading it and trying to pay attention

to it truly is satisfying and yes comforting to me.  It

shows me how it is all going to work out, and I'm on

the winning side because with all my frailties I'm

walking with God the best I can.

HELP TO LIVE RIGHT

HELP TO LIVE RIGHT.

I need all the help I can get to live right.

If you don't believe me, ask my wife.

But, live right according to who's idea?

Is it to live right to please my family?

Or live right to keep the people in my 

community happy?  Or even to live right

to please the government?

These are all important.  But there will be a 

day when every individual who has ever lived

will stand before God Almighty in judgment.

Now that is the one that should "scare us to

death."  But wait, God himself offers us help

in living in a way that will please him.  God 

thought the apostle Peter said;

"By his divine power, God has given us every-

thing we need for living a godly life.  We have

received all of this by coming to know him,

the one who called us to himself by means of

his marvelous glory and excellence.  And be-

cause of his glory and excellence, he has given

us great and precious promises.  These are the

promises that enable you to share his divine

nature and escape the world's corruption

caused by human desires."  

(2 Peter 1:3,4 NLT). 

Now that encourages me. God has given us
everything we need to live a godly life.  But
note, not everyone on earth.   Who then?

"We have received all of this by coming to 
KNOW him,"

There is a world of difference between "knowing"
some one and "knowing about" someone.  You may
know about the President of your country.  But do
you know him?  This is thing of relationship.  If I
KNOW God by being in relationship with him,
then I truly know him and he offers me all the help
I need to live for him.

Then if I have come into relationship with God
by turning from my ways and submit to him
talking the Son of God, Jesus Christ into my
life as my savior and Lord, then the Spirit
of God moves into my life implanting the
divine nature of God in me helping me to
live in a way that pleases him.