MY WIFE DIED LAST NIGHT

MY WIFE DIED LAST NIGHT

Yes, my wife did die last night.  I do not know when 

during the night she passed away.  It could have been

from about six to twelve hours ago.  All I know is that

when I went in to see why she had not gotten up, she

was dead.

The police, the coroner and the funeral home people

have all been here.  So, why am I trying to write 

something to you while I am mourning?  It is because

I feel compelled to share with you the hope that is 

within me and keeps me going today.

You see, my wife knew Jesus Christ personally.  Years

ago she recognized that she was a sinner and headed

for a Devil's hell.  So she invited Jesus Christ to come

into her life and take over.  And in her own way she

had been living for him all these years since.  She was

a different woman.

Consequently I know that she is in heaven with her 

Lord and God right now.  I miss her.  Right now things

hurt bad.  But she is in the arms of Jesus and out of the

suffering she had in her body and the cares of the world.

As old as I am, I cannot live a whole lot longer.  But, 

when my time is ended here on earth I will be joining

her with Jesus Christ.  Then we will be together again

FOREVER.

"And just as each person is destined to die

once and after that comes judgment, so also

Christ died once for all time as a sacrifice to take

away the sins of many people.  He will come

again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring

salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him."  

(Hebrews 9:27,28. NLT)

WHERE IS YOUR THINKING LEADING YOU?

It was William James who said;

Man can alter his life by altering his thinking."

Now Mr. James may think he had discovered

something new but back before Mr. James was

born, before you were born or even before I was 

born - in fact about 930 years before Jesus Christ

was born, king Solomon said it this way;

"Be careful how you think;

your life is shaped by your thoughts."    

(Proverbs 4:23 GNT)

[I know.  Other versions say it differently.

But this is what it means.]

You and I both know that at times the things we

have been thinking about has gotten us into 

trouble.

The Apostle Paul puts it this way;

"Those who are dominated by the sinful nature

think about sinful things, but those who

are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about

things that please the Spirit.  So letting your

sinful nature control your mind leads to death.

But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to

life and peace."  

(Romans 8:5,6 NLT)

Latter he says;

"Don't copy the behavior and customs of

this world, but let God transform you into

a new person by changing the way you 

think.  Then you will learn to know God's

will for you which is good and pleasing

and perfect."  

(Romans 12:2 NLT)

For a true Christian Paul continues;

"Since you have been raised to new life with

Christ, set your sights on the realities of 

heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor

at God's right hand.  Think about the things of

heaven, not the things of earth, for you died

to this life, and your real life is hidden with

Christ in God."  

(Colossians 3:1 - 3 NLT)

I know professed Christians who seemingly can

only think about the things of this life, even at

Church.  Christ himself tells us that "out of the

abundance of the heart the mouth speaks."  Frankly,

I fear for such people.  Their mind seems to be 

constantly on the affairs of this life.  Does Christ 

whom they profess to serve even have any part

in their life?

"And now, dear brothers and sisters, one

final thing.  Fix your thoughts on what is 

true, and honorable, and right, and pure, 

and lovely, and admirable.  Think about 

things that are excellent and worthy of 

praise."  

(Philippians 4:8 NLT)

I do not know about you.  But when I fail to 

do this and allow my mind to wonder where 

it should not, is when I get into trouble with

God.

"Let everything that breathes sing praises to the Lord!

Praise the LORD!"  (Psalms 150:6 NLT)

That even got this ape to thinking.

IS YOUR WORLD FALLING APART?

IS YOUR WORLD FALLING APART?

There are times that life just gets to be too much

to bear.  The reasons are many.  They can be from

physical problems, financial problems, family

 problems, work problems, emotional problems

or even just plain old every day boredom.  But,

regardless of the reasons we become tired of the

whole thing of life.

There is an answer.  Jesus Christ practically begs

us to take them to him.  He wants to help us with

the load in our lives.

I have found for myself that as I take each day

and it's problems to Jesus Christ - things just

plain and simple work out better.

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

who are weary ad 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)

Roll that burden or problem over on to Jesus

Christ and see if He doesn't do a better job

of handling it than you can.

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.

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.

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)

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.

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.

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

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.

ME OR JESUS

Still browsing around in the book of Philippians

we find this sad comment.

"I have no one else like Timothy, who genuinely

cares about your welfare.  All the others care

only for themselves and not for what matters

to Jesus Christ."  

(Philippians 2:20,21 NLT)

Paul of course is writing from prison in Rome

at this point.  You will remember that there is a 

church or group of Christians in Rome and they

have been encouraged in their living for God by 

Paul's presence there in prison.  And it seems that

there are some companions along with Paul.

But,

out of all of these there is only one person who

cares enough about other Christians to go check

on them for Paul.  The others were all too selfish

in their affairs to worry about the work of Jesus

Christ.

When asked about the greatest commandment

Jesus himself stated;

"You must love the LORD your God with all

your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.

This is the first and greatest commandment.

A second is equally important: 'Love your

neighbor as yourself. The entire law and all

the demands of the prophets are based on

these two commandments.'".  

(Matthew 22:37 - 40 NLT)

Now caring only about your own interest is 

not loving your neighbor as yourself.

God allows us to make the choice,

am I going to be interested in the things

that concern me and mine or the things

that are of concern to Jesus Christ.

DO YOU KNOW HIM?

Do you know him, or just about him.  

I have a son-in-law who is a brilliant man.  Smart,

educated and a good all around man.  This man is

a history buff or enthusiast.  You can ask him about

almost any past historical figure and he can tell you

all about them.  It is like he knows everything about

any of these people.  BUT, HE DOES NOT KNOW 

THEM.  He knows about them.

My best friend I have known for about thirty years.

We spend quite a bit of time together visiting and

doing things together.  But, I don't know how tall

he is.  He is short'a short.  I don't know how much

he weights.  I do not know when he got married.

I can drive to his house, but I don't know the 

address.  I don't know what his favorite food is.

In fact there are a lot of facts about his life that

I do not know.  BUT I KNOW HIM.

Now more to the point.

There are multitudes of people who profess to 

be "Christians" or followers of Christ.  But do

they KNOW Him?

The scariest Scripture I know of is in what we

call Jesus' so called sermon on the mount.

"Not every who calls out to me, 'Lord !

Lord!' will enter the Kingdom of Heaven.  Only

those who actually do the will of my Father in

heaven will enter.  On Judgment day many

will say to me, 'Lord! Lord! We prophesied in

your name and cast out demons in your name

and performed many miracles in your name.'

But I will reply, 'I never knew you.  Get away

from me, you who break God's laws.'" 

(Matthew 7:21 - 23 NLT )

Did you see that point?

These people have done all kinds of good things

for God.  Or at least that was their intent.

But Jesus will tell them "I never knew you.

Get away from me,"

Down thought history the men of God;

Enoch, Noah, Abraham, David, were 

all men who walked with God.  Or 

had fellowship with God, or were called

a friend of God, or a man after God's

own heart.  God knew them, they spent

time together.

Jesus said;

"And this is the way to have eternal life -

to KNOW you, the only true God, and

Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth."

(John 17:3 NLT)

Do you know God and his son Jesus Christ,

or only about them?

If we expect to keep our selves out of the 

Devil's hell we had better begin living with

Jesus Christ and Father God daily.  Get to 

know them more intimately than our family,

TODAY'S PROMISE

"All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus

Christ.  It is by his great mercy that we have

been born again, because God raised Jesus

Christ from the dead.  Now we live with great

expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance

-- an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you,

pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change

and decay.  And through your faith, God is

protecting you by his power until you receive 

this salvation, which is ready to be revealed

on the last day for all to see."

(1Peter 1:3-5 NLT)

LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE

I know.  Those are icicles.  But icicles do not 

shine or spark by themselves.  Their light has

to come from somewhere else.

I was looking out a window of my "hide a way"

in the woods right after a heavy rain.  The trees

had water hanging all over them.  Then I noticed

the cedar tree closest to the window and it had

two beautiful small blue lights in it.  You know

what they were.  Two of the drops of water just

happened to be aligned correctly to act as a 

prism with the sun shinning on them. 

The beauty I was seeing was the sun shinning

through the drops of water.  But only, if in the

correct alignment with the sun.

Jesus Christ said:

"You are the light of the world -"  

(Matthew 5:14 NLT)

But how am I to shine when there is no light

in me?  I am like the icicle or the drop of water

or prism.  I have no light in myself.

"Jesus spoke to the people once more and said,

'I am the light of the world. ... "  

(John 8:12 NLT)

There is our clue.

When we submit ourselves to Jesus Christ 

and invite Him to come into our lives taking

over not only as Saviour, Lord and master -

then we have the light in us that the world 

needs to see.

I AM UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Some of us do not have all the "carry through" we would

like.  How many incomplete projects do you have sitting

around?  Or things that you want to do - some day?

And, even worse, a concern about finishing life it's self

and being ready to stand before God at the end of our 

earthly life.

There is one of the truths of the Scriptures that is a real

comfort to myself.

"And I am certain that God, who began the good work

within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished

on the day when Christ Jesus returns."

(Philippians 1:6 NLT)

What is the good work that God began?

Very few people over all have God working in them at all.

They are living and working for themselves rejecting 

what God wants to do for them.

The "the good work" that is being spoken of here is;

the work that God does in a person who has submitted

to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.  When we submit to 

Jesus Christ and invite him in to run our lives He

places in us His Holy Spirit.  Then, we have two

natures in us.  One of course is the natural nature

that is in very person alive.  The other is the nature

of God Himself, or the Holy Spirit.

It is this nature, the nature God has put in us that

causes us to be "Born Again" as is it is often called.

And God will continue to give us life through that 

new nature until Jesus Christ returns to this earth to

to rule and reign over his creation.

The Apostle Paul who was the writer of the above

Scripture also said it another way about this good

work that God has started in a "TRUE" Christian.

"He will keep you strong to the end so that you

will be free from all blame on the day when

our Lord Jesus Christ returns."

(1 Corinthians 1:8 NLT)

You and I both know that life is not easy.  We

have our "up's" (mountain tops") and our "downs"

(valleys) in this life.  God has it that way on purpose,

 to help us grow into what He is trying to make us

into.

I like the way Kathryn Kuhlman said it;

"Christian character isn't made on the

mountain top.  It's made in the valley."

One more thought about God completing

His work in me.  Speaking of the Lord Jesus

Christ the writer of the Hebrews stated;

"Therefore he is able, once and forever,

to save those who come to God through

him.  He lives forever to intercede with

God on their behalf." 

(Hebrews 7:25 NLT)

Did you catch that?

Those of us who come to God through

Jesus Christ, Jesus himself will be 

interceding to God the father for us forever.

Let me close with part of a children's song

the Hemphills wrote. Yes, I know it is childish, 

but so true.

"He's still working on me

To make me what I need to be

It took him just a week to make the moon and stars

The sun and the earth and Jupiter and Mars

How loving and patient He must be

'Cause He's still working' on me."

THE DAY OF JESUS CHRIST

THE DAY OF JESUS CHRIST.

This is a day that is mentioned through out the Holy Bible.

It is expressed in a number of different ways; "The day of

the Lord",  "The day of Christ," "The day of Jesus Christ,"

etc.  And theologians like to spite hairs over this to try and

prove their favorite doctrine.

Perhaps my favorite Scripture regarding this event is:

"BEHOLD, HE iS COMING WITH THE CLOUDS,

and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced

Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over

Him.  So it is to be.  AMEN."

(Revelation 1:7 NASB)

I just love it.  EVERY eye will see Him.  That is you and

I.  It is every man, woman and child that ever lived will

see Jesus Christ when he returns.  Even those who crucified 

Him.

You say you don't believe that stuff.  That does not 

matter, you will see it yourself.  That is why all the

tribes of the earth will mourn.  They did not believe

in Him.  They have rejected Him.  They have wanted

nothing to do with God and His Son Jesus Christ.

But like it or not, they will see Him.

So, the real question is, am I ready for that day?

Let me give you one of the best descriptions of that

day in the Bible.  It is a long description, but this is

what you and I are going to see.  

"And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse,

and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and

in righteousness He judges and wages war.  His eyes

are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems;

and He has a name written on Him which no one knows

except Himself.  He is clothed with a robe dipped in

blood, and His name is called The Word off God.  And

the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, 

white and clean, were following Him on white horses.

From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it 

He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them

with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of 

the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty.  And on His

robe and on His thigh He has a name written, 'KING

OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS'".  

(Revelation 19:11 - 16 NASB). 

Now the question is, 

are you ready for that day?

If you have not gotten into a personal

relationship with Jesus Christ, then you

will be one of those who "mourn" because

of what is coming on them.