Tuesday, October 30, 2018

TODAY'S QUOTE

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"When we believe that God is Father, we also believe
that such a Father's hand will never cause His child
a needless tear.  We may not understand life any bet-
ter, but we will not resent life any longer."  
-William Barclay







Friday, October 26, 2018

WARPED VALUES


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WARPED VALUES.

I just read on the internet how a woman vows to teach
her youngest child how to properly open packages
and boxes so it will be unnecessary to use zip lock bags. 
Her concern is not adding plastic to the environment.

Now that is a noble vow.  We have far too much 
human trash in the environment now.

BUT, BUT, BUT.
I also happen to know this woman and her family quit
well.  There is also an older sibling.  And the older sibling,
well simply put, is a lier and a thief to the point most of us
simply do not want them around.  [A point you will understand,
this is one of those "Mamma's little darling can do
no wrong".]

Would it not be better to spend some time teaching these
kids (children) some morals and ethics?  With a good 
moral or ethical grounding the kid is going to have some
concern about other people and the environment they
live in.

Is it any wonder that the whole world is turned upside
down?


Thursday, October 25, 2018

TODAY'S PROMISE




"Therefor dear brothers and sisters, you
have no obligation to do what your sinful
nature urges you to do.  For if you live by
its dictates, you will die.  But if through the
power of the Spirit you put to death the 
deeds of your sinful nature, you will live.  
For all who are led by the Spirit of God are
 children of God."
(Romans 8:12-14 NLT)  



Wednesday, October 24, 2018

THE WAY THEY WALK


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You have noticed it to.  The way he/she/it walks tells
you what it is.  For example, in the distance you see an
animal but you do not know if it is a dog or something
else.  When it starts to walk, trot or run, you know that
it is a fox.   Because that is the way a fox walks or runs.

You see a very small animal where you cannot get a good
look at it.  When it moves, if it hops, it's a rabbit. etc.

In this day and age it often is difficult to tell whether a
person walking down the side walk is a male or female.
But if you will observe for a little bit you usually can
tell if it's a male or female because there is just something
different about the way they walk.

I am finding a lot of confusion about people today.
In days past the way some people walked, i.e. lived,
and talked did not match up.  Or we would say that 
their walk did not match their talk.   They talked a 
real good story.  But their life showed and entirely 
different story.

I am not a real social person.  I have a few good solid
friends and am content with that.  But lately I have 
been involved in the so called social media, i.e., Facebook
in particular.  Wow!  What an eye opener.  It seems that
there are a lot of people out there that can talk a real good
talk.  They will say something, or share a post that could
have came right out of the Holy Bible it's self.

Then the next six posts from the same person could have
come right out of the pit of Hell it's self.

Jesus Christ said,
"For whatever is in your heart determines
what you say"  
(Matthew 12:34 NLT)  

 Now which talk or walk am I to believe?
Something seems hypocritical in this.

I suppose the answer is found the Holy Bible.
Be patient with me.  I will include a long portion
of Scripture to make my point.  See if you do not think
these are the days we are living in.  The last sentence
is really the one I am after so I will capitalize it.

"You should know this, Timothy, that in the last
days there will be very difficult times.  For people
will love only themselves and their money.  They
will consider nothing sacred.  They will be unloving
and unforgiving; they will slander others and have
no self-control.  They will be cruel and hate what
is good.  They will betray their friends, be reckless,
be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather 
than God.  THEY WILL ACT RELIGIOUS, BUT
THEY WILL REJECT THE POWER THAT 
COULD MAKE THEM GODLY."
(2 Timothy 3:1 - 5 NLT)   

With God's help I want to seek the power from
Him to live a "godly" life and walk the walk that 
would match  a godly talk.



Tuesday, October 23, 2018

TODAY'S QUOTE


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"I am not what I ought to be.
I am not what I want to be.
I am not what I hope to be.
But still, I am not what I used to be. 
And by the grace of God,
I am what I am."
  
- John Newton



Friday, October 19, 2018

THE CAT


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One of the things my wife does is pet sit.  It works well
for her and pays well also.  For about the last week she
has been taking care of an elderly lady's cats.  In this case
the wife just drops by once a day and takes care of all the
cat needs.

Earlier this week my wife stopped by to take care of the
cats as we were on our way to a funeral.  The old lady
lives in a large expensive house in a gated community.
One of the things that got my attention was that there was
lots of room in the house.  It was vary spacious.  Not packed
with furniture or filled with all kinds of stuff.  Just very 
simple.  I loved it.

In the process of getting me in [and out of her way] we
accidentally left the kitchen door open to the garage and
one of the garage doors was up about eight or ten inches.
The lady has six cats and a number of them had found their
way into the garage.  But one of the cats could not be located.

My wife has hunted for that cat for four days now.  All to
no avail.  We both have been praying over the matter.  It
is a serious matter to us to take care of peoples pets and 
then loose them.  So a lot of prayer and hunting has gone
into finding that cat.

My wife left a note of apology to the lady who was to 
come home today.  The elderly lady called my wife to
tell her she was home and ALL of the cats were there.

We do not know if that cat was hiding on a chandelier,
or if God opened the front door and pushed it in.  But as 
far as we are concerned, God answered our prayers.

PRAISE GOD FOR RETURNING A CAT.








Thursday, October 18, 2018

TODAY'S PROMISE




"The LORD keeps you from all harm
and watches over your life.
The LORD keeps watch over you as
you come and go,
both now and forever."  
(Psalms 121:7,8 NLT)


Wednesday, October 17, 2018

GOD'S FORMULA FOR HAPPINESS

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"Happy are those who reject the advice of evil 
people, who do not follow the example of sinners 
or join those who have no use for God.

Instead, they find joy in obeying the Law of the 
LORD, and they study it day and night.

They are like trees that grow beside a stream, that bear
 fruit at the right time, and whose leaves do not dry up.

They succeed in everything they do.

But evil people are not like this at all; they are 
like straw that the wind blows away.

Sinners will be condemned by God and kept 
apart from God's own people.

"The righteous are guided and protected by the LORD, 
but the evil are on the way to their doom."
(Psalms chapter one GNT)  







Tuesday, October 16, 2018

TODAY'S QUOTE

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"If thou wilt profit by reading of Scripture,
read meekly, simply and faithfully, and never
desire to have thereby the name of cunning."
- Thomas A. Kempis








Friday, October 12, 2018

TESTING

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After a long life I have made up my mind that life it's self
is made of simply one problem after another.  In fact when
things go too well, or smooth for a while - I wonder what is
wrong.

Right off I have to admit that God has always pulled me 
through one way or another.   But here I am again with 
a bunch of problems facing me.  No, I am not worried 
about it because ultimately God will work them out.
But, why can't I have a rest from them now that I am
an old man.  Has there not been enough problems?

I was reading in my Bible this morning in several different
places and three different passages hit me between the 
eyes.  Let me share them with you first, then a word
of encouragement.

"And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations,
knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance:
and perseverance, proven character, ..."
(Romans 8:3,4 NASB)   

"Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you
encounter various trials knowing that the 
testing of your faith produces endurance."
(James 1:2,3 NASB)   

"We count those blessed who have endured.
You have heard of the endurance of Job and
have seen the outcome of the Lord's dealings,
that the Lord is full of compassion and is 
merciful."
(James 5:11 NASB)   

Now if I did not have a relationship with Jesus 
Christ, these problems might be an effort to make
me get my mind off of my abilities and look to him
for help.  A lot of us will not turn to God until we
are knocked down and can only look up.  Then the
problems are still a blessing.

But I have been walking with God a long time.
[True, not near as close as I should.]  so why do
I still have problems.  The above Scriptures make
it clear that they are to help me endure, to strengthen
me and help me become stronger in my life with
God.  All through life God gives me problems to 
develop me into the person he wants me to be.
For this I should PRAISE GOD.

But consider one more fact.  It is true only of those
who love God.

"And we know that God causes all things to 
work together for good to those who love God,
to those who are called according to His purpose."
(Romas 8:28 NASB)   

There you have it.  If I love God, EVERY problem
that comes my way ultimately works for my good.

NOW HOW CAN YOU BEAT THAT?






Thursday, October 11, 2018

TODAY'S PROMISE



"Know therefore that the LORD your God,
He is God, the faithful God, who keeps His
covenant and His lovingkindness to a thousandth
generation with those who love Him and keep
His commandments;"   
(Deuteronomy 7:9 NASB)

Wednesday, October 10, 2018

SEARCH ME




A short time back I decided to convert a garlic bed to
a kale bed.  I took a tiller and went through the bed
very carefully and took out all the garlic I could find.

I have been delayed a few weeks from planting the
kale, and it also rained.  Guess what.  A few days ago
I noticed garlic sprouting up all over the bed.

The bucket full of small garlic in the above image is
what I had to dig out - AGAIN.

But, while digging the "fresh" batch of garlic a 
Scripture went through my mind.

"Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me and know my anxious thoughts;
And see if there be any hurtful way in me,
And lead me in the everlasting way."
(Psalms 139:23,24 NASB)  

I could not help but think that if I ask God
to search me the way the Psalmist did, He would
find more stuff in me than I was finding in that
garden bed.

Frankly, I do not have the "guts" to ask God to
search me out.  I am afraid that He would find 
more than I could handle.

But, on the other hand.   The "Psalm" above was
written by King David.  And you remember that 
David was king because "he was a man after God's
own heart".  David was asking God to show him the
stuff that was in him that was displeasing to God.

Perhaps I should ask God to show me what is 
displeasing to Him in me.  It certainly would 
improve my relationship with Him.





Tuesday, October 9, 2018

TODAY'S QUOTE

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"Forgiving means to pardon the unpardonable,
Faith means believing the unbelievable,
And hoping means to hope when things
are hopeless."
- G.K. Chesterton




Friday, October 5, 2018

BROKEN HEARTED


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When you get as old as I am, you know that more
than once in life, you are going to be broken hearted
over something or other.  Like it or not.

I have been involved some in that social media called
FaceBook.  One of the outstanding things I notice is,
the large number of people that are broken hearted and
spend most of their time whining and complaining.
It seems to be a common thing among humanity.

Is there help?  You bet there is.

I have learned that God in heaven above truly cares
when I am hurting.  I can take my broken heart to 
him and cry on his shoulder about ANYTHING.
He gives me comfort and works things out for my
good.  It may not be over night.  But in his own good
time.

Consider first His promises regarding a broken heart.

"The LORD is near to the brokenhearted
And saves those who are crushed in spirit."
(Psalms 34:18 NASB) 

"The LORD..........
He heals the brokenhearted
And binds up their wounds."
(Psalms 147:3 NASB) 

And one that is of particular interest to my self is
found in the book of Isaiah.  The reason is, that it
is a prophecy about the coming of Jesus Christ into
the world and his purpose or reason for coming.

It starts right off:

"The Spirit of the LORD GOD is upon me,
Because the LORD has anointed me
to bring good news to the afflicted;
HE HAS SENT ME TO BIND UP THE 
BROKENHEARTED."
(Isaiah 61:1 [caps mine] NASB) 

Got a broken heart, or a problem to big for
your self.  Consider the invitation that
Jesus Christ himself gave.

"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)

Got a problem?
Take it to Jesus Christ.

Thursday, October 4, 2018

TODAY'S PROMISE



"Trust in the LORD and do good;
Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.
Delight yourself in the LORD;
And He will give you the desires of your heart.
Commit your way to the LORD,
Trust also in Him, and He will do it."
(Psalms 37:3-5 NASB)




Wednesday, October 3, 2018

LOST AND FOUND

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Over the years I have learned to rely on pray a lot.
I have had literally dozens of answers to pray.  Far
too many to be merely chance or luck.

Yesterday I was working on a small carburetor off
of a weedeater or string trimmer or what ever you
chose to call it.  It was about one third the size of
the carburetor pictured above.  It has a extremely
small needle valve hooked to a very small lever
with a extremely small spring under the lever.

The parts were so small that I was working 
with a pair of tweezers.  You of course know
what happened.  The spring flew out from under
the lever and went to who knows where.  I did
see the direction it went, and that was all.

After hunting for a while I again resorted to
praying.  Shortly the Lord helped me to find
the little spring.  So the process started all 
over again.

You guessed it.  The spring flew out again and
I did not even see what direction it went.  So,
I hunted all over the bench and the floor.  Even
getting a light out to be able to inspect things
more closely.  No luck.

Finally I just prayed that God would help me
to see it while I went on working at another 
project there on the same bench.  So after working
a while at the other project, then going to lunch etc.
I resumed working on the other project.

It was easier for me to work on these small
projects on the bench while sitting on a stool.
When after a while I "just happened" to look
down at the floor.  And there right between
my feet was that small spring.

You know that I was thanking God again.


Tuesday, October 2, 2018

TODAY'S QUOTE

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"The Gateway to Christianity is not through an
intricate labyrinth of dogma, but by a simple 
belief in the person of Christ."

-William Lyon Phelps