I am now the same age as Daddy was when I left home after college.
I must admit that I am much slower than he was at this age.
But I want to draw special attention to a verse that both of my parents shared on the phone during their latter years.
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“As thy days, so shall thy strength be.”
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That is becoming very real for me, even earlier than for them.
I recently realized that there is a significant sequence in that short verse.
If God gives us another day, He will then give us the strength we need for that day.
It does not say He gives us strength first, and then another day to use it.
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So, we trust Him to provide—the day first, then strength for the day.
“AS THY DAYS, . . .”
June 17, 2020 By Leave a Comment
SIT! STAY! DOWN! KNEEL?
June 17, 2020 By Leave a Comment
Every good dog is trained, commended, rewarded, and then praised for learning the basics of obedience.
Why?
So that, in every situation, especially in an emergency, the dog’s obedient behavior can be counted on.
But honestly, it’s mostly to show off to friends the accomplishments of submission and obedience—amazing dog, amazing owner.
Dogs comply so well to verbal commands, and we all love it.
(Cats not so much, usually not at all.)
Face it, ninety percent of all this is for the owner—called ‘master’ for a reason.
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The endearing value of relationships with our beloved creatures is far more than their obedience.
But without obedience, the relationship is not worth much.
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SIT!—Dog sits.
STAY!—Dog stays.
DOWN!—Dog lies down.
KNEEL?—There is something different about ‘kneel’ that animals can’t get, only humans.
Our Master commands, and we do obey.
But I am convinced that everyone who has decided to follow Jesus, will find a new depth to your relationship if you kneel before your Master every day.
Try it—Do it—Literally.
IMPRESSIONS +? or -?
June 17, 2020 By Leave a Comment
IMPRESSED?
IMPRESSIVE?
PRESSURED?
PRESSING?
BUSY?
BEHIND?
STRESSED?
RELAXED?
RELEASED?
RESTORED?
SATISFIED?
CONTENT?
“Don’t live to make a good impression on others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourself. Don’t just think about your own affairs, but be interested in others, too, and in what they are doing.”
JUST HOW MUCH ?
June 12, 2020 By Leave a Comment
How will my life today be divided up?
How much for _____?
How much for _____?
How much for _____?
How much of my day today will Jesus get?
How much of my day today will He be in charge of?
How much of my day today will I consciously ask Him to manage?
How often will I ask Him today to manage today?
Is that once at the beginning of my day?
Is that whenever I get in a bind?
Is that many times a day—any times a day?
“He walks with me and He talks with me . . .”
We always talk out loud with real people.
Jesus is a real person, more real than others, so start talking out loud to Him whenever you can (which is, whenever you want).
Only real question is—how much do I want Jesus?
Do you hear others, or yourself, saying, “Some things in my life I just have to take care of myself.”?
Where does that leave Jesus—Lord in your life?—or the Lord of your life?
Jesus called us His friends—let’s put that friendship into practice today, with a continuous awareness of conversation available with Him.
If Jesus is sitting right next to us, we’re flying our plane together from takeoff to landing, through sunshine and turbulence.
Question for today:
“Which seat am I going to take, pilot or co-pilot?”
If we say, “Jesus, You’re the pilot,”
Then Jesus says, “Now we can talk!”
Then we know it’s going to be a wonderful flight, a glorious flight, loaded with every imaginable (and unimaginable) conversation, and all kinds of flying conditions, with guaranteed destination and arrival on time.
? SOCIAL JUSTICE ?
June 10, 2020 By Leave a Comment
Social Justice—Inspired?—Motivated?—Effective?—Commanded?—Blessed?
– – –
It’s just not right!
It bothers me!
It troubles me!
It makes me so angry!
I have to do something!
I must let out my anger!
I’ve got to just hit something!
Gotta hurt something!
Gotta hurt somebody!
Gotta beat on the first thing I see!
Gotta hurt the first person in my way!
I’m so angry!
Gotta use my fists!
Gotta use the first object I see to hurt, to destroy!
Gotta get my anger out, or else!
Doesn’t matter who gets hurt!
Doesn’t matter what gets destroyed!
Gotta express my anger!
Just try and stop me!
I’m angry RIGHT NOW—that’s all that matters now!
Somebody’s got to pay, because I’m angry!
Don’t try talking to me!
I don’t want to talk about it!
I just want to be angry!
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Anything is better than not having a purpose.
Anything is better than sitting around doing nothing.
Anything is better than wandering around doing nothing.
Just give me a cause, anybody, and I’m there—
—ready, fit to unload my anger.
—ready, fit to destroy something.
—ready, fit to hurt somebody.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Social Justice—Protests?—Progress?
Social Justice—Commanded? YES
Social Justice—Blessed? YES
Social Justice—Instructions? YES
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“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
and break every yoke?
Is it not to share your food with the hungry
and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
when you see the naked, to clothe them,
and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness will go before you,
and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.
Then you will call, and the Lord will answer;
you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.
If you do away with the yoke of oppression,
with the pointing finger and malicious talk,
and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry
and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,
then your light will rise in the darkness,
and your night will become like the noonday.”
HONOR – – – OBEY
June 10, 2020 By Leave a Comment
“Honor your father and mother . . .” has no expiration for age or time, even as adults, and after parents are gone.
And, exclusive, added motivation to do so is the fact, the promise of “. . . long life with blessings.”
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“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, . . .”
While you’re growing up, do what your parents say, period.
And, the motivation is very simply “. . . because this is right.”