Wise Counseling

Yesterday I was traveling down Capital Boulevard on my way to Lowes. Capital is one of the busiest most dangerous streets in the Raleigh area. I took the highway 98 exit and prepared to turn left. I was the first car in that lane approaching the stop light. As I neared the light a little red car turned left onto the ramp and was heading right toward me. I noticed a panicked look on that lady driver’s face as she began slowing down. It appeared that she realized her mistake, but I wasn’t sure. I eased my car to the left so that she would not be able to continue on down the ramp to meet the oncoming traffic on Capital.  When she stopped her car I moved forward, put my window down and said, “Ma’am, I guess you know you are going the wrong way.” Of course she did! I’m not sure exactly what her answer was, but I know it wasn’t nice. She did turn around and headed back in the right direction.

This lady didn’t need me to tell her she was going the wrong way. But had she not known, and continued in the direction she was going the result of her decision would have most likely been tragic. Afterwards I was thinking about how even when we think we are going in the right direction in making life decisions it is good to have someone ask us, “Are you sure you are heading in the right direction?” We are blessed if there is a wise person in our lives who loves us and cares about us who will help us evaluate the big decisions we have to make. Everyone needs wise counsel.

Think of the great men and women of the Bible who made tragic decisions because they refused to heed wise counsel. King David had the prophet of God to guide him, but he decided to take another man’s wife after lusting for her when he should have known better. We read of other kings, some of the prophets, many of God’s chosen leaders, and the disciples who made terrible decisions that caused much pain for others and for themselves. All of them had access to the greatest Counselor the world has known, but refused to listen. And if you are like me you too have headed off in the wrong direction without seeking God’s will. Maybe, like me, you refused to listen to someone who tried to give you good advice. I have wished many times that I could go back and change those bad decisions I made because I didn’t listen to wise counsel.

We don’t always get stopped on the highway of life when we are going the wrong way. Not all of the decisions we have to make are as obvious as the wrong way choice that lady made yesterday as she was meeting me head on. That is why before it’s too late that we need to pray for guidance and be willing to listen to others that God may be sending our way to point us in the right direction. And if they tell you that you are going the wrong way, be nice. Don’t be like that woman who spoke unkind words to me even as I was trying to be helpful. I don’t care if you are going the right way and know it, be kind and thank them for caring.

Thinking About Old Things in Boxes

She had several photo albums, the oldest ones filled with pictures from way before my time. There were pictures of classy, beautiful, young women dressed in nice dresses and hats and gloves. They reminded me of those old movie stars of the 1940’s. Looking through those brown tattered pages of old black and white pictures my mom became a completely different person. Beautiful, young, just a girl enjoying life, being silly, daring perhaps, with her crazy girlfriends having fun, boy friends I never knew, but mostly with the young man I knew as daddy.  I could see a special glow in her eyes that reminded me of my mom.

I could tell from the way mom had placed all of her pictures, with funny little notes handwritten underneath or even sometimes on the picture that every one of them were special to her. One picture of a man bending over and focused on his backside had the caption, “Wallace’s butt”. Mom was always precisely descriptive, leaving out no detail, when she described anything. Her love for her friends and family was undeniably evident in every aspect of her life. She saved church bulletins, newspaper clippings of obituaries, wedding announcements, special events, sporting events, things written about our family, kids from church, and she had saved them after these kids were grown and had children of their own. She even had saved the two narrow strips of material from an alteration of the pants to the suit my dad was buried in. My mom had boxes of all kinds of these things.

For years I have tried to honor my mother’s memory by keeping her special items. But now that I am getting older, and knowing that most of these things will mean nothing to my children or my brother’s children I wonder what I should do with them. We have carried her mementos on our last four of five moves. Most of them had remained in the boxes in which they were originally packed. I think there comes a time when we have to part with sentimental items from an era beyond our time. I have begun the purge.  My mother has been in heaven, I believe since fourteen years ago today. I’m sure she is not the least bit concerned about those two strips of material from my dad’s burial pants. He has been in heaven for over forty-six years and now she is with him. The greatest memory of my mom and my dad is the memory that they loved Jesus. That’s all that really matters. I miss my mom and my dad.

One of God’s Greatest Blessings

Remember in elementary school how there was always that “best” friend? Now that you are much older is that kid still your best friend? I’m sure many can say yes to that question. But more than likely that person is not even a part of your life now. Many of us have moved far away from those elementary school  friends or they have moved away. Isn’t it strange how we couldn’t imagine, at that age, that in our adult years living life would separate us from those we thought would always be near.

I believe that God designs friendships. Possibly, even when we were in elementary school with that best friend whom we thought would always be with us, God was already arranging for us to meet someone who lived hundreds of miles away to become our special friend. When Sherri and I were at seminary, 900 miles away from every friend we had, God gave us two new best friends. There in Ft. Worth Texas we knew absolutely no one. On our first Sunday morning we randomly picked a church to visit. We were taken to a random class of adults our age. We randomly choose seats behind a couple who blended in with every other couple. As it turned out they were exactly our age, had children the age of our children and they had connections in Russellville Kentucky, our home town. The lady’s sister lived there. Sheri had taught one of her sister’s daughters. We knew her sister and her brother-in-law, who was a minister in the same association that my previous church was in.

Christi and David immediately became our newest best friends. It was like God introduced us that morning: “Brady’s I want you to meet the Stinson’s. Thirty years ago when Christi lived in west Texas and David was growing up in San Antonio I knew that you would need each other, and that today I would have you meet in Ft. Worth at this church. You will be best friends and maintain this friendship even though you will be separated by many miles some day.” I’m not sure God would have said it that way, but that is how it has turned out. We continue to maintain that friendship with the Stinsons. We see each other every year for a week. They will be visiting us in October.

Friends are a tremendous blessing from God. I don’t think it was by chance that the person or persons that are your friends just happened in your life. God put you and them together because he knew that both of you needed a great friend. Thank God for your friends. Good friends are truly a heavenly blessing.

Wounded and Bitter

I am almost certain that I had rather be wounded physically than to be wounded emotionally. I would bet my farm if I had one that several reading this post has been or is now suffering because someone has hurt you and left you devastated. You are bitter and are having revengeful thoughts toward the one who has wounded you. You are not liking who you are becoming. You are miserable and have lost your joy. Sleep does not come easy because in anger you lie awake rehashing what you should have done or should have said to that offending person. These feeling won't easily go away.

I know because I’ve been in that situation. I was attacked verbally, lies were spoken about me, and false rumors were told. I was wounded deeply by people who I had considered my friends, good people, Christian people, leaders of the church where I pastored. They became vicious in their attacks and for over a year I took their abuse. I finally left the church physically ill, hurt, angry and bitter. I was not only upset with those few members of the church who wounded me, but I was upset with God. I was so angry that God would allow something like this to happen to me. I told him I would never preach again, and I didn’t for almost two years. I ran away from God, until I came to a place where I had to decide to either stop running or end my life. I was dangerously depressed. Long periods of anger and bitterness will do that to a person.

Something happened one day which got my attention. Early on a Tuesday morning, September 11, 2001 I walked into my classroom where my students were sitting quietly with their eyes fixed on the TV. I looked to see what had uncharacteristically captured their attention. What I saw was like a bad dream; the second plane flown by the Islamic terrorist was crashing into the World Trade Center. Like everyone else in America I was shocked. I couldn’t believe what was happening and was even more disturbed as I watched the continuing horror of the day. That attack was responsible for the deaths of almost three thousand innocent people.

Several teachers gathered in the teacher’s lounge at lunchtime. Some were crying and no one had much to say. We had just learned who had taken responsibility for the attack. A few comments were made about how evil and how cowardly these men were. I said, “How can anyone be consumed by so much anger and bitterness that they would do something like this?” No more had I gotten those words out of my mouth than I was given the answer to my question, but I was the only one who heard it. That answer could not have been any clearer if God had shouted it for all to hear. The answer that echoed in my mind was, ‘ The anger and bitterness in the hearts of these men is the same anger and bitterness that you have for me and for those who hurt you. And that anger and bitterness comes from the very pit of hell.’ I have no doubt that God spoke to me that day. This scared me because it had been a long time since I had heard anything from God.

I went home that afternoon and I began to pray. I stopped my running long enough to ask God to forgive me, but I had no peace. I continued to ask for forgiveness, one day, two days, but no peace came. Spiritually I had run myself into a deserted place. My soul was dry. I was alone. I was afraid. I won’t go into all that happened, but on Thursday, the beginning of the third day that I pleaded for a word of forgiveness I had a break through. Prayer services were held in many churches across our country, and I took off from teaching that day so that I could go to the one at the church where I attended occasionally. It was there that I finally got the peace that I feared I would never know again. Still in that dry deserted place where I had been for so long I continued to pray for forgiveness . In that moment as I sat in the pew, even before the service began Jesus came along as the good Shepherd searching for his lost sheep. He put his arms around me and he said, “I forgive you.” Figuratively, that is how I perceived it.  I am not one who cries very often, but at that moment I began to weep, uncontrollably, sobbing. I couldn’t stop. I’m not sure what those sitting near me thought, but people I didn’t even know ministered to me in kindness and love.

Holding on to anger, bitterness and resentment is the worst thing a person can do. Anger and bitterness destroys and takes away our joy. Jesus forgave me, and therefore, I forgave those who hurt me although they, except for one, never asked me to forgive them. The only way that we can know peace after being hurt by some one is to forgive. The only way we can forgive is to allow Jesus to heal the wounds inflicted by those who hurt us. Don’t run away from God. Don’t blame God for the bad that happens to you. If we run from him we run toward the evil one who wants only to destroy us. Who better to go to than Jesus, the wounded Healer.

Walking the Straight and Narrow

"Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go.” Joshua 1:7

If you have watched female gymnasts perform on a balance beam you have no doubt seen them fall. The things those young ladies do on that beam are amazing. How in the world they do back flips, and jumps, and twists and turns baffles me. I took some classes in gymnastics in college and although the balance beam is a woman’s event I once tried to walk from one end to the other on one. I found how hard it was to simply walk without falling off. That thing is so narrow and intimidating. But of course I did not know the fundamentals necessary to stay on that apparatus, nor had I put in the hours of practice that it takes to be successful. Can you imagine trying to walk a tight road?

Being a successful gymnast, whatever the event, takes hours of practice, conditioning, dedication and tremendous concentration, especially on the narrow balance beam.  Just being a hair off to the right or to the left will likely cause a fall. That is what Joshua was saying to the Israelites when he told them to be careful to follow God’s words and not turn to the right or to the left.

These people first had to know the laws, understand what was expected of them, and believe that God was to be obeyed. Joshua warned them that if they turned ever so slightly to the right they would fall. If they turned to the left they would fall. Our path in life, if we belong to Jesus, is not a wide open, broad freeway. It is very narrow, and the Bible says that there will be few who will travel the way of the straight and narrow. This narrow path is not easy. Walking the narrow path is like trying to do a back flip on a balance beam, I think. Sometimes following Jesus is hard. We have to stay in good spiritual shape, condition ourselves so that we will be strong. We have to be dedicated to the study of God’s word and concentrate on that narrow path so that we might remain courageous when confronted by the enemy.

We have a teacher, an instructor, in the Holy Spirit. He shows us the path that Jesus walked. When Jesus came to dwell among man to be our Savior he knew exactly the path he had to walk. He knew where his journey would end. From the beginning Jesus’ eyes were fixed on the cross. Jesus stayed perfectly balanced on that path that eventually led to his death so that mankind could be saved from sin. Jesus did not once turn to the right or to the left. He never fell despite being tempted as we are tempted. So our instructor, the Holy Spirit, is with us to help us focus our eyes on the one who will keep us from falling to the left or to the right. The only way we will walk that narrow beam or path is by keeping our eyes on Jesus.

Keep on Climbing

This morning I opened the door to go upstairs. There is only a den, a bedroom, an attic and a bathroom up there. The steps are challenging in that there are so many of them, 15 in all. I figured out why so many of them, we have 9 foot ceilings in our new house. Sherri doesn’t go upstairs very often, but I’m climbing them all the time because my recliner, and TV are up there as well as most of my clothes. For some reason Sherri’s clothes seem to take up most of the space in the master closet. That might reveal who the master of the house really is. Sherri grunts and groans whenever she climbs those stairs. She says it’s like climbing a mountain. I agree with her.

On my first trip up the stairs this morning I started singing, “Climb, climb up Sunshine Mountain”. Those as old as I am will remember which song that is. Early in the morning the stairwell is dark, but at the top of the stairs there is some light from the bedroom window which faces due east. The den is between the bedroom and the stairs so what I’m seeing is not direct light, but the sun's glow is so bright that the den is filled with sunshine. I guess that is why this song that I had not sung or thought of for maybe a hundred years popped into my head. I can’t believe I remembered it. So I climbed those dark stairs upward with much effort toward the bright light of the sun.

The words of the song are: Climb, climb up Sunshine Mountain, Heavenly breezes flow. Climb, climb up Sunshine Mountain, Faces all aglow. Turn, turn you back from doubting, Look up to the sky;

Climb, climb up Sunshine Mountain, you and I.

There is a Sunshine Mountain for all to climb even if you don’t have an upstairs, or live close to a real mountain. This sweet children’s song from long ago speaks of the glory of God, I think. It speaks of what those who are children of God have to look forward to and can know in part today. As we serve our Savior shoulder to shoulder with fellow believers, the church, we feel those heavenly breezes, and we notice those glowing faces of people who abide in the very presence of God, filled with his Holy Spirit. Someday we will see the glowing face of Jesus and the glowing faces of the saints. The climb may be tough at times, but we continue to climb upward with our faces fixed on Jesus, and our backs turned away from the doubts and fears with which the evil one tries to discourage us. Remember this little song every time you climb those stairs, go up a hill, or face a mountain of a problem. The lesson for us is to look, always, up to the the sky, to Jesus, and keep climbing, never turning back and never giving up. Climb, climb up Sunshine Mountain, you and I.

Don’t Even Talk About It

Possibly the most dangerous life path that an individual can take is this one which guides their every action-that life path I call shamelessness. It seems that having no shame is spreading in our society at epidemic proportions. That which was once unspoken is now flaunted and accepted. That which once was disgusting is now the topic on talk shows, the subject of what is considered hilarious comedy, and not even hidden from our children. Today a fifth grader knows more about sex than I did when I was a young adult. There is no shame. A child can do something he shouldn’t do and mommy scolds him. He begins to cry. Mommy feels so bad that she hugs him, apologizes and rewards him with ice cream. It’s no wonder that these children grow up having no shame about much of anything today.

I saw this trend begin to evolve when I was a teacher in the 1980s and ‘90s. A child would be punished in school for something they did. The parent would show up the next day angry because their precious child was being picked on by the teacher or administrator. Their child never would do anything wrong. I found that many students from some of the more depressed neighborhoods were taught by their parents to take every opportunity to claim what they perceived they were owed. One young man came to school with a five dollar bill. He was excited because he had seen a man at a convenience store drop it on the floor as he was taking some money out of his pocket to pay for the item he was buying. He knew the man didn’t know he dropped the five dollar bill. The young man waited hoping the man didn’t notice, and he didn’t. When I told him that was wrong he looked at me like I was crazy. He said, “Finders keepers, losers weeper.” How can a kid have shame for something if he has been taught from an early age is right and is even encouraged.

There is no shame today because morality has been thrown out the window. Several years ago the president through most of the 1990’s was caught doing a vile act with his intern in the Oval Office. Jokes were made on the talk shows about what he and the young lady had done. Children heard this on TV, and from their friends who had heard their parents talk about it. During our last presidential campaign our current president was exposed as committing some immoral acts in his past and even now other such actions continue to be mentioned on every network. Young and older couples are living together. Spouses cheat on each other. When they get caught the say they are sorry indicating shame. Yet for some they are experiencing despair that their affair might be over, not shame. The fashion word today doesn’t leave much room for shame when it comes to the sexy revealing attire that young ladies wear. The cute, funny TV shows today and the reality shows like the Bachelor and Bachelorette would have been deemed grossly obscene thirty years ago. When the attitude of society is “anything goes” there will be no shame.

I think we have departed from the views found in God’s word. I’m sure a lot of people would laugh at the words God gave Paul in his letter to Ephesians.

But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving... Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. Ephesians 5

Enduring Love

As a ten year old boy at 4-H Camp in western Kentucky I fell in love for the first time. When I saw that little blonde haired girl my heart began to beat double time, and I knew that she was the one for me. I had one week and only one week to win her heart, but being inexperienced at the love game as well as being terribly shy I had a mountain of a problem to climb. That romance that I hoped to cultivate never got off the ground. I think by the end of the week the only thing I had found out about my true love was that she was from Paducah Kentucky.

Over the years I figured out some things about romancing the ladies. I gained an understanding about what love really is, and I did eventually find my true love the summer after I graduated from high school. I have made many mistakes, but the one thing that has kept my wife and me together is the love we share in Jesus. Dr. Jack Graham said, “Physical attraction brings people together, but spiritual affection (between a man and a woman) keeps them together.” A sexual, physical love will not solidify a relationship. A phial or social love is not strong enough to endure the storms that are bound to come. It is only agape love, the love found in Jesus, that will keep a marriage strong despite the threatening messes that one or both partners make.

What is this agape love? Why is spiritual love so important? Here’s why! "If is speak with the tongues of men and angels, and don’t have love I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal." Some marriages are gong shows. They are not funny. They are tragic and are void of agape love. According to 1 Corinthians 13, the love chapter, people do all sorts of things in the name of a false love  and end up with a big fat zero. They can be incredibly knowledgeable, have faith that moves mountains, give away all they have, and even offer up their lives, but if they don’t have the love of Jesus they have nothing, amount to nothing and are nothing.

The love that we have in Jesus is lasting, it never ends. Couples end their marriage saying that they have fallen out of love. That is impossible if their marriage was truly based on the love of Jesus because the love that he ordains never ends. Couples should regularly read verses 4 through 7 of 1 Corinthians 13 and evaluate their marriage using this definition or the guidelines for true, lasting love. Love will find each of you being patient, kind, humble, never arrogant or rude. If the two of you demonstrate true love you will not be selfish, constantly irritable or resentful. You will not keep secrets about the wrongs you have done, but be honest and open always celebrating the truth that insures a trusting relationship. “Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures  all things.”

“So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”

Faith, the Key to Heavens Door

No one living in our world has seen Jesus Christ. No one since those early disciples has any idea what he looks like. There are pictures and paintings of him which have been done in the last few centuries, but they in no way capture his true likeness. There is not a person living who would recognize him if he were to appear to them today. Jesus, a man whom the Bible describes as one who was not particularly handsome, striking, or eye catching, would just blend in today as far as appearance is concerned. It has been over two thousand years since Jesus left the earth, no one has seen him, no one knows what he looked like yet millions of people today believe that he lived a perfect life, that he loved us so much that he died to save us by taking the punishment for our sins, and that he was resurrected and lives so that we might have eternal life.

How is it possible that for ages people just like us have accepted this scenario that I have described as truth? Everyone who has believed that this Jesus of the scriptures is the Son of God who came to earth to save all who will believe have done so by faith. By faith, believing, trusting, accepting as truth although not having physical proof, staking your very life on the unseen because you know in your heart and soul that doing this act will guarantee you a better life. This is the faith that changes people’s lives. It is the faith that gives hope to those who have no hope. Faith is a confidence in that which is unseen resulting in the assurance of that Hope. Faith is that open door which leads us into a new life to become a new creature with a new heart and purpose thus empowering us to accomplish what God had planned for us before we were born.

Faith is more than seeing a chair and sitting down on it because you know it will support you. Faith is not seeing the chair, and sitting down on that which you can’t see trusting that it is there, and knowing that you will not fall to the floor. Faith is being supported by the unseen hand of God who will always be with you to protect you from the one who wants to destroy you. I believe in the resurrection power of God given to his Son Jesus Christ. I believe in the Holy Spirit, and  that he lives in my body which is his Holy temple. By faith I believe that I have eternal life because my Savior forgave me and took all of my sins away. By Faith I believe that one day Jesus is coming back to earth in all his power and glory to take all who have believed in him to heaven where we will live forever with him. Man cannot know Jesus or please Holy God without faith.

Hebrews 11

Life on a Shelf

A small porcelain rabbit sat high upon a shelf in grandmother’s living room. He remained in that location, in the same position, for decades. His frozen dark eyes, never moving, were fixed on the same wall on the other side of the room, and his perspective changed only as someone walked by or, if by chance something in his field of sight was changed. His world, his experiences, his understanding was limited by the narrow tube in which his view was confined.

How terrible it would be if we lived on a shelf not being able to move about to explore the wide open spaces around us, and venture out into that which is unknown to us. What a tragedy it would be if our circle of influence was limited to only those people who happened to pass our way. How boring and uneventful if day after day after day our experiences were the same old thing. God did not create us to be shelf dwellers. That is fine for porcelains rabbits, but not for people.

God placed up in this big world, together. There are many of us, and we all have souls, and feelings, and needs, and talents,and abilities, and wonderful expectations about our future. We are different, but something that is hard for many of us to understand is that not even one of us is better than anyone else. That is something we need to remember if we get down off of the shelf where we live and try to intentionally increase our circle of influence. There is one thing, and only one thing that will bind us together and solidify us despite our differences. That one thing is love. Not the fickle love of the world, but the love that we have through Jesus Christ.

Don’t be like that silly porcelain rabbit sitting on the shelf. Venture out into this wonderful world of ours and spread the love of Jesus for his love, you guessed it silly rabbit, Love is for people, all people!

Losing Jesus

Have you ever misplaced a child? My wife and I did just that when our youngest daughter was four years old. We were shopping for some school clothes for our oldest daughter in a large department store. I thought both girls went with Sherri to the dressing room where Susan was trying on some clothes, but Leigh had decided to hide in some of the hanging clothing displays. I wandered off to find a place to sit. When Leigh discovered that she was by herself she set out to find one of us. Great panick set in the moment when Sherri and I discovered our little girl was missing. We immediately let it be known that our daughter was lost. Leigh’s description was announced over the store intercom, and the employees began searching with us for our misplaced daughter. It wasn’t long before we heard a familiar cry, and saw a nice man caring our frightened little girl to the area where we were waiting.

There is a well known story about a twelve year old boy who went missing, and just like my wife and me, his parents were very upset. This young boy was exceptionally smart. He was interested in things that most boys his age cared little about. There was an insatiable desire within him to learn all he could about his father’s business. In his search for this knowledge he spent hours listening to and questioning the experts. He, his parents, and I suppose his brothers and sisters had been in a large city to attend a very important festival. There were other relatives traveling with them. I guess in the same fashion as the movie Home Alone, everyone left Jerusalem  thinking that young Jesus was in the crowd caravanning back home. A day had passed before Mary and Joseph realized their son was missing. I think I know how they must have felt. Maybe I don’t because I’ve never misplaced the Son of God, but Mary and Joseph had.

The two parents headed back to Jerusalem. They searched feverishly everywhere they thought Jesus might be, but they failed to look in the temple. After three days of searching  they found Jesus right where they should have looked first, sitting among the teachers. There must have been many others in the temple because the scriptures say that all who hear this twelve year old boy were amazed at his understanding and his answers. Mary said, “Jesus why have you treated us this way? Your father and I have been in great distress!”  Jesus replied, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know I that I would be in my Father’s house?” Or put another way, “Did you not know I must be about my Father's business?” Mary and Joseph did not understand what Jesus meant. They didn’t understand that he was talking about his Heavenly Father, not Joseph.

Jesus got up and went with his parents back to Nazareth. The scripture says that he was submissive toward them, and that he grew in wisdom, in stature and in favor with God and man.

What do you think Jesus learned those three days in the temple with those men of God? What did Jesus learn from the experience with his parents after they had searched for him for so long, never giving up? What lessons might we learn from this story? Jesus’ Father is our Father. If the Son of God thought it necessary to be in His house and learn about His business how much more important for us, sons and daughters of the same God, to do the same thing? If the Son of God spent so much time studying and listening and asking questions about his Father, how important is it for us to do the same? Christian people gripe and complain about the evil in the world today, and blame everybody from the President to the dog catcher about the world's problems, yet they rarely open God’s word, hear a sermon, meet with others of the body of Christ or pray. A Holy, Sovereign God might have a problem with that, don’t you think? Maybe it’s time for more Christians to put more effort, more time, and be more dedicated in being about our Father's business.

Destroying Bad Seed

Nothing is quite so precious as the new born baby. Proud, loving parents care for the infant protecting it from anyone or anything that might try to harm it. In their eyes that little gift from God is perfect and innocent, although helpless and totally dependent.  Innocent? Yes, but not for long. For a seed of evil lay dormant in each tiny soul. The tiny babe has become a harbinger of the evil that is unassumingly hidden until the day that the father of lies summons that seed to awaken, to germinate, and to grow. Then out of a selfish heart the curse of the forbidden tree is revealed as the vile fruit is produced damning that soul to an eternal hell.

The deceiver and his demons are pleased at the peril of that precious child knowing that it will suffer from physical, psychological and emotional pain until death brings an end to its life on this earth. This  sinister dragon and his evil counter parts will do all they can to see that these little ones will die the second death as well as the first so that the curse will be on them for eternity. But the power of the enemy, the destroyer of life, of all that is good and of what has been planned by God for this precious one is limited by a Savior.

In Jesus Christ a new seed is planted into the willing, believing heart of even the most vile of all sinners. The one who was once himself an innocent baby, who had tilled Satan’s fields, can be saved. That one who knew no hope is to find hope in the One whose desire is that no soul should perish. The promise of forgiveness to the repentant soul is a present reality for all who trust in the redeeming work of the sacrificial Lamb of God. The gift of a loving God's saving grace is given to those who wish to be completely innocent in the Father's eyes. The seed of evil is destroyed, and the chains of Satan’s bondage are broken forever. Those who have been saved are free. Free from evil, free from bondage, free from Satan and free from hell. Those who know Jesus as Savior are free to be like him, free to love the way He loves, and free to enjoy the Heavenly Father’s inheritance even now. The follower of Christ does not have to wait for his return to experience the joy of heaven.

Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls. 1 Peter 1:8-9

Showing Kindness for the Enemy

In the days of Elisha, the prophet of Israel, the king of Aram had waged war against Israel. Each time this king planed his strategy to attack, the man of God, Elisha, knew precisely what his plans were. This word came to him from God.  Time and time again he warned his king of Israel. The king of Aram was befuddled! “How is this happening? Is there a mole in our ranks?”, he asked his officers. “Who among us is for Israel?” One of his officers said, “There are none of us who helps Israel. Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells his king the very words you speak in your bedroom.” And this was long before there were any wiretaps.

When the Aramean king heard this he was enraged. “Someone find out where this meddlesome prophet is”, he ordered. It wasn’t long before the king received the report that Elisha was in the city of Dothan. This pleased the king. He was going to put a stop to this blabbermouth once and for all. The king of Aram summoned the best of his fighting men, an imposing army, along with horses and chariots and sent them off to capture Elisha. They went to Dothan by night and surrounded the city where Elisha and his servant were sleeping.

Very early the next morning Elisha’s servant got up and went out on the porch to have his coffee. Before he took one sip he looked out and saw a great army awaiting with their horses and chariots surrounding the place where he and Elisha were. He ran back into the house, woke Elisha and exclaimed, “Oh no, my Lord! What are we going to do? What on earth is going to happen to us?” Elisha calmly took the young man outside and said, “Don’t be afraid. Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” The servant must have wondered about Elisha’s math skills; I see you and there is me which makes two. And there are so many of them that it is impossible to count. Needless to say he was not comforted by what Elisha had just told him. He was scared out of his wits.

Elisha, prophet, man of faith, one whose ear was keen to God’s voice knew exactly what to do. He prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” Immediately God opened  the servant’s eyes, and he looked up into the hills. To his surprise he saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around. He saw the awesome, glorious army of God waiting to destroy these Arameans if God so commanded.  As the enemy approached to attack, Elisha prayed that the whole army be struck with blindness, and so it was. The entire bunch became blind as bats. Elisha told this weakened army that they were in the wrong city. “Follow me and I will lead you to the place you want to go.” So they “blindly” followed him.

Elisha led them into Samaria, the capital of Israel. Elisha prayed again asking God to open their eyes. Can you imaging what the king of Israel must have thought? The king asked Elisha if they should kill them. Elisha answered, “Do not kill them. Instead give them food and water so that they may eat and drink”. A feast was prepared for these men, and after they had finished eating and drinking they were sent on their way back to their king. After that the king of Aram stopped raiding Israel’s territory.

This is a story of faith, trust, obedience and most of all forgiveness and grace. It sounds like something Jesus might have commanded. “You’ve heard it said love your neighbor, and hate your enemies. But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven.” Yes, I believe Jesus was actively involved in that situation on that day. And finally, for those of us who believe in the power and might of our God and the forever presence of the Holy Spirit, let us not forget that when we are under attack by the enemy, there are more of us and for us than there are of them who are against us.

2 Kings 6:8-23, Matthew 5:43-45

Dealing With the Impossible

He was only twenty-five years old when he became the king of Judah. Hezekiah was one of the good ones. It was said of most of the kings of Judah and especially Israel, “They did evil in the sight of the Lord.”  But the word on Hezekiah was, “He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, just as his father David had done.” When Hezekiah became king he got rid of all of the idols and places where they were worshiped. The people of Judah turned to God because their leader trusted fully in the Lord their God. The Lord was with him, and he was successful in everything he did.

Hezekiah had been King of Judah fourteen years when Sennacherib, king of Assyria began attacking some of the fortified cities of Judah. Assyria’s army was a powerful force. Every nation feared Assyria. There seemed to be no way that Judah would be able to stop Sennacherib’s assault on Jerusalem. Sennacherib sent his supreme commander with a large army to the gates of Jerusalem. There he confronted King Hezekiah with a threatening message from Sennacherib. The message was full of blasphemous taunts toward the Lord God of Israel for the people of Judah to hear,  “Do not listen to Hezekiah, for he is misleading you when he says, ‘The Lord will deliver us.’ Then he listed all the gods of the nations that had been defeated by Assyria. ‘How then can the Lord deliver a Jerusalem from my hand.’

Most kings and leaders of countries after hearing something like this would deliver some weak ill advised reply to Sennacherib and immediately prepare for battle. Not King Hezekiah! King Hezekiah went to the temple, humbled himself before God and prayed. “Give ear, Lord, and hear; open your eyes, Lord, and see; listen to the words Sennacherib has sent to ridicule the living God.” Then he sought word from God through the prophet Isaiah. Hezekiah before he acted on his own waited to hear from God.

Hezekiah got his answer from the Lord. “He (Sennacherib) will not enter the city or shoot an arrow here. He will not come before it with shield or build a siege ramp against it. By the way he came he will return; he will not enter the city, declares the Lord. I will defend this city and save it, for my sake and for the sake of David my servant.” That very night God sent just one of his angels into the Assyrian camp, and he put to death a hundred and eighty thousand soldiers. The next morning Sennacherib and his surviving men were horrifically surprised to see all the dead bodies. They broke camp and high tailed it back to Nineveh and stayed there.

This story and its message are far reaching. The message speaks to nations and leaders, and it speaks to every believer who faces insurmountable odds throughout life. When there is a foe, a problem or situation that seems too big, too threatening and there are no answers what should be done? When the world laughs at us and ridicules us for standing up for what is right, and wholesome, and godly, how should we react? Maybe just a prayer, “Lord, give ear and hear, Lord, open your eyes and see, listen, Lord, how you are being ridiculed and dishonored. Lord I am trusting in you and waiting on you for the answer. May your Holy name be lifted high and may Jesus be glorified through me.”

Traffic Lights, Door Knobs and Smoke Detectors

Growing up in rural southern Kentucky I was not accustomed to traffic lights. We did have stop signs, but there really was no need for traffic lights. The little town where I went to school still doesn’t have any traffic lights. I’ve gotten used to those blasted lights where I live now. It seems I can’t drive a hundred yards without hitting a red light. I hate having to stop at a red light even when I’m not in a hurry. Sherri doesn’t care, and is annoyed with me when I get upset by having to stop. I have noticed while waiting for the light to change how many traffic lights there are especially at a large intersection. I have counted as many as 15 or 16 at one intersection. That is the truth! Count them if you don’t believe me. Multiply that by the many intersections, plus those places that may only have one or two. In a large metroplex there are probably tens of thousands traffic lights. It’s no wonder it takes an hour to drive 20 miles across town.

I’ve thought about that and considered how much money those who make traffic lights must make. Think about it! Just in the United States there must be billions of traffic lights. Whoever makes these things must be a billionaire. I’ve thought about buying stock in the company or companies that make these things.

Another product that would rival the enormous number of traffic lights is smoke detectors. We stay in hotels and motels a lot. There are hundreds of thousands of places where travelers can spend the night. Every room has to have a smoke detector or two. Get out your pencil and figure how many of those are bought in a years time. Think about how many you have in your house, where you work, and where you eat. Somebody is making a killing selling smoke detectors.

Finally, there is the door knob and door handles. Our new house has door handles which I like because I don’t have to set something down that I am carrying to open it. I think all of the houses in our subdivision have these because most of us are old, and some of us may have trouble gripping a door knob. I can’t even fathom how many door opening devices there must be. Have you priced a nice door knob lately? Have you bought a front door knob or handle? They ain’t cheap. I could keep going about this topic with doors, windows, cell phones, ATMs and hundreds of things that no one knew about when I was a boy. It is amazing how people in our country have become rich.

There is nothing wrong with being rich as long as we give credit to the one who has blessed us with the ability to be successful in that way. All of us are rich in the Lord if we have Jesus. If we know him our riches await us as we receive our inheritance in heaven. I just pray that there are no traffic lights up there.

A List for Everything

We have, over the days of our lives, created untold numbers of lists: to do lists, Christmas lists, grocery lists, guest lists, things I don’t want to forget lists (then as we get older we forget where we put that list), a bucket list, and many others. Some lists are very  important. Even Santa has lists: He’s making his list and checking it twice. Those who are naughty know about Santa’s lists. Lists remind us of important things which will need attention sometime down the road. They help us plan for upcoming events. They keep us on track. Lists prevent us from being embarrassed because we failed to tend to a personal responsibility. If we accurately follow  our lists we will be deemed dependable persons, people who others can count on, or perhaps viewed as smarter than we really are.

The most essential lists that a person can make are those which have to do with our walk with God. I’m not talking about lists like we made for Santa when we were children asking for things we wanted. God is not Santa Claus and his purpose for us is not to give us everything we would like to have. We need a prayer list. Reminders concerning those we should remember in prayer. A prayer list will be constantly changing so it helps to write these vital concerns down. It is good to note how God answers our prayers. Maybe a list of answered prayers would help us later when we become worried or discouraged. Keeping a daily journal is one of the most important things a Christian can incorporate in life’s journey.

One more list that is important is a thanksgiving list. This one might be and probably should be the longest list a person can make. Sometimes, if we are not careful, we can become discouraged because we don’t have something that others have, or we feel that we are not being given the credit that is due us. We may feel let out. We allow those feelings to blind us to the wonderful blessing that we receive every day. I’ve been a little down because I miss my larger, roomier house that we moved from three weeks ago. But the truth is, at this point in our lives, we are in a better house, and are greatly blessed to have such a nice place to live.

A prayer list, and a thanksgiving list will keep us focused on others and on God. We will better see the plans that God has ordained for us. When we come into the presence of God each day we will less likely be embarrassed because we have neglected to pray for others and pray about his kingdom’s purpose. Following our prayer list and daily adding to our thanksgiving list will encourage us because we know that God can count on us. We may not be smarter, but I assure you that we will be much wiser.

Who Murdered Jesus

There are many high level investigations going on in our world. It seems there have always been these kinds of investigations. The first one I remember was the Watergate Investigation. These investigations usually reveal several behind the scenes perpetrators who are fired, removed from office and even sent to jail. Very often the “big fish”, the ones actually responsible for the crime, manage to avoid prosecution. As I watch these investigations unfold it is evident to me that in the political process finding out the truth is not the real objective. The side being investigated does everything they can do to keep those who are suspected of doing the unlawful act from being found guilty even if they are, and those on the other side want the suspects impeached and incarcerated guilty or not. There is so much hate that the truth is most often lost in the angry debates.

Wouldn’t it be interesting to see how an investigation into the death of Jesus Christ would play out today? I’m sure even in our time there would be some who would say that there is no need for an investigation. “The man was guilty. He got what he deserved.” More than likely most people would agree that those responsible for the killing of Jesus can easily be revealed by reading the gospel accounts of that terrible display of injustice when an innocent man was tried and found guilty. Who killed Jesus? Well that’s an easy question to answer.

There are a number of people who had a hand in the death of Jesus.  Judas played a big part in the plot that led to Jesus’ death. Caiaphas, the chief priest certainly could be one of the chief suspects. Most of the Pharisees were calling for Jesus to be crucified. What about the soldiers who whipped him and tortured him, and eventually drove the spikes in his feet and his hands and put him on the cross? Pilate was the one who sentenced Jesus to death. Was he more guilty than the others?  There were many who seemed to be guilty when it came to this murderous act. Which of these would you say should be deemed responsible for the murder of Jesus?

On the day of Pentecost after the Holy Spirit had been given to the disciples Peter stood before the people of Jerusalem and thousands of God fearing Jews and proceeded to tell them and us who killed Jesus. Peter had preached a powerful sermon and in his conclusion he told who killed Jesus. He raised his voice and addressed this crowd. “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say... Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”

Peter laid the blame on all who were listening to him speak. He pointed to the whole crowd and said, "You Crucified him!" Most of these people were not even around Jerusalem during the time when Jesus was crucified. Peter did not mention Pilate or any of the soldiers. He said nothing about Judas’ part in all of this. “You crucified him,” Peter said. And if Peter could come today and preach to the world he would say the same thing. Everyone of us would hear him say, “You are guilty. You crucified the one whom is both Lord and Messiah.”

We are all guilty because of our sin. Jesus was crucified, killed, so that we might be saved from our sins. Jesus death was our only hope. As John the Baptist said, “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.”  Jesus died the sacrificial death for every person in the world. Trusting him is the only way to eternal life. So the result of this investigation is very personal. Jesus would have died to save you from sin even if you were the only person in the world.

School Bells Are Ringing

Social media posts are filled with first day of school pictures. Smiling students holding signs indicating the grade they are beginning for this year seem happy to be going back for another nine months of classes, homework, test taking and especially the extracurricular activities. These few pictures that I have seen represent millions of students across our nation who are beginning another year of academia. Many are fortunate to have someone who cares enough about making the first day of school a noteworthy experience. But there will be a substantial number who will begin another year with no encouragement, no well wishes, and no indication that anybody cares. Unfortunately when some of these student enter their classes on that first day they will sense that even their teacher may not have very high expectations for their successful achievement.

No one can predict what this school year will hold for students this year. I pray that this year will be a good one for all of them. I pray that each student will find that one person who will show them that they believe in them. I pray that a friend will show them that they care very much. I pray that at least one teacher will provide the encouragement they need. I pray that someone will include them in some positive activity throughout the year. I pray that there will be someone involved with them who will be incredibly patience with them. I pray that those in authority will have a forgiving heart and give them another chance. I pray that someone strong will take up for them. I pray that each student will find at least one thing in which they do well. But most importantly I pray that every single student will believe in themselves and gain confidence that they are able to be successful. Students need our prayers and so do the teachers and administrators.

This Is Life

Our new house is situated in a number of housing areas. We are in what is presently the last group of homes that are available. We probably have 150 neighbors in our section, and there are not many houses left. From the entrance of this area known as “The Traditions” back to where we live it is almost a mile. There are multiple homes on each side of the road—two story homes, town homes, large very expensive homes, patio homes and ranches. Land has already been cleared for more houses on down the road beyond us, and another large complex is already filling up with some very nice houses on past that. I wouldn’t even begin to guess how many houses there will be on this stretch of road which will extend for almost two miles.

The builders are doing all they can think of to bring in prospective buyers. Large strategically place signs are seen all along the road. They are very attractive with messages like “Find Adventure on Our Trails”, “Neighborhood Parks”, one with a beautiful poolside setting with beach chairs says,”Your Chair Awaits”. Then there is one that sums up all of it, “This Is the Life!”

“The Life” for the majority of modern day Americans is defined by the material things they own—nice houses, cars, clothes, trips to exotic places, a beach chair on the side of a pool, whatever brings pleasure.  For some life is in a bottle of alcohol, or in drugs, sex, pornography, gambling, and anything that feeds their selfish desires.

But real life is found in none of these things. Man receives Life in only one source. John 1:4 says, “In him (Jesus Christ) was life, and that life brought light to humanity.” He is the only one who will provide us with lasting satisfaction. Jesus changes sinful lives, struggling lives, lives stuck in a dangerous rut, and he makes them new, joy filled, peaceful lives.

I heard about a 40 year old man who had been a drug addict since his teen years. He was homeless, had no job, and did anything to get his fix. He was on a course to certain death, eternal death. One day he met a man who told him about Jesus. It was then that he found Life, the Light sacrificed for every man and woman, and his long road to recovery began. To make a long story short, this man became clean, received training, got a good job, met a wonderful Christian lady, was married and is now living the true life which he found in his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Satan tries to fool us with a false sense of what life is, what will make us happy and will satisfy us; whatever will make us feel good. Remember, he is a liar, and what he gives us is only temporary, and leads one on a path to destruction. If you really want “The Life” look to the sign that says, “This Is the Life: Jesus Christ the Lord

A Little Bit of Mayberry

Yesterday, Sherri, my wife, and I took a short day trip to another one of North Carolina’s small towns. Those of you who were and are fans of The Andy Griffith Show of the 1960’s may remember this town being mentioned by Andy or Barney. Very often they, or one of the other characters, would say something about going to Siler City. Yes, Siler City is a real place and is a little over an hour from where we live. In fact one of the main characters on the show settled there after she retired from show business.

Frances Bavier, who played Aunt Bea bought a house in Siler City and lived there until her death in 1989 at the age of 87. She fell in love with this small, Mayberry like town, while she was still playing the role, Aunt Bea. A friend had told her about a seamstress in Siler City who could make suites for her—those classic short tops, jacket and long skirts that she wore when she dressed up in many of the scenes on the show. Frances would have the lady to make three at a time. It was during those trips for the suits that she decided to retire in Siler City rather than her home town, New York City.

As a citizen of Siler City this famous lady lived a quiet almost reclusive life. She did attend events such as bridal showers in her neighborhood, and other such personal gatherings. However, she insisted that everyone call her Frances, not Aunt Bea. She said, “Aunt Bea was just a character I played on a show.” There was one young man who helped her with things she needed done. He was one who often got himself in trouble and like Otis, would be locked up in the Siler City jail. Each time Aunt Bea would call her lawyer, and tell him to go get him out of jail. Frances lived the rest of her life in Siler City and is buried in the town’s cemetery.

Before we left Siler City we found out about a popular local eating place. It is called Johnson’s, that’s all, just Johnson’s. It’s a little hamburger joint that has been in business since 1946. There are six booths and maybe ten bar stools at the counter which provides a perfect view of the grill where one lady cooks all of the hamburgers and fries. If you decide to eat there you will have to wait for a seat. The person who told us about Johnson’s said, “But it’s worth the wait!” They have the lady who cooks, a girl who is the waitress, and a young man who takes the to go orders and is the one you pay on the way out. When you pay he will ask you where you were sitting. He then picks up a stack of tickets, finds the one that belongs to you, and tells you what you owe.

Sherri and I had to wait about 20 minutes to get a seat. We stood in something like a line and with help from one of the locals was told when it was our time to go to a booth. You don’t wait for the table to be cleaned off. That will be done by the waitress as she takes your drink order. The old farmer who had helped us figure out how the line system worked, said he had been eating at Johnson’s for over fifty years and that nothing had changed except they were now in a new building which meant they had moved there probably in the late 1960’s.

We waited at our table about ten minutes before the young southern waitress removed the last patrons ketchup filled napkins, wrappers that the burgers and hot dogs sat on and their cups and Pepsi cans while she asked us what we wanted to drink. Sheri said, “I’ll have ice tea, unsweetened.” The waitress said, “Honey, we don’t have no unsweetened tea, just sweet tea!” In other words, “Honey you are in the south, what’s wrong with you.” Sherri ordered a Diet Pepsi and so did I. When the drinks were delivered we were asked what we wanted to eat. Not a hard decision to make—hamburgers, cheeseburgers (w/Velveeta Cheese), hot dog, and fries). Sherri ordered a hamburger. “Honey, what do you want on your burger?” Sherri replied, “I think I’ll have mayonnaise, onions, tomatoes and pickles.” “Honey, we don’t put no pickles on our hamburgers!” Some things don’t change. A successful business for 73 years, most likely because they don’t put no pickles on their hamburgers and they don’t serve no unsweettea? Now who can argue with that.

Dust on the Scales

Jerry Bridges in his book “The Joy of Fearing God” gave the following illustration. He made a reference to going to a grocery to buy fruit or vegetables. After picking out what you want you go to the checkout counter. You say to the clerk as she starts to weigh what you got, “Please wipe the dust off the scales before weighing my produce— I don’t want to pay for the dust.” Even the most frugal person in the world would not make such an absurd demand. A little dust would not make a difference in the price you would pay. But Isaiah used this same idea to compare God's greatness and superiority to the nations of the world.

“Surely the nations are like a drop in a bucket; they are regarded as dust on the scales; he weighs the islands as though they were fine dust.” Isaiah 40:15

I hesitate to try to speak of God’s greatness because I am not capable to even come close to describing how infinitely great he is. My words are like the dust on the scales. We see nations today display their military might with parades and all sorts of fanfare. Nations  threaten nations with empty words. Leaders of countries show off their seemingly unlimited wealth with their palatial palaces, and their extravagant living. Throughout history empires have risen to greatness only to fall at the hands of another nation that seeks greatness. Politicians throughout history have made promises about how they are going to achieve greatness. We should think about this when a nation or an individual brags about becoming great or being great.

No one or nothing is great but God. Isaiah continues, “Before him all the nations are as nothing, they are regarded by him as worthless and less than nothing.” (40:7)  If a nation is like a drop in a bucket, like Isaiah said, we might consider ourselves as just a drop of water in relation to all the the water in the oceans and seas of the earth, or one tiny grain of sand out of all the beaches of those seas when compared to God. Yet, God is so infinitely great that he knows each of us by name. He is aware of every tear that falls from our eyes. He cares for us and loves us as his precious children. He loves us so much that he gave his Son, Jesus Christ, to died for us so that we might be forgiven of our sin and have eternal life with him in heaven. Now, that is greatness. Think about that the next time you buy some bananas at the grocery!

Good Lives Lived

An elderly couple sit alone as they do most everyday. They've been together 60 plus years, active years, until poor health halted their busy schedules. With much for which to be thankful they harbor no ill feelings toward those who drop by on rare occasions, and certainly cherish every moment of chat time when someone does stop in for a visit. They understand how brief are the minutes in a day for those who vigorously run the race of life as they once did. This gracious pair do what they can for themselves, being entertained by reading, enjoying their unplanned naps, looking at old pictures, and reminiscing about the wonderful days of their past.

Their house is graced with personal memorabilia. A few awards, certificates, and honors of their achievement are displayed, but mostly pictures and objects representing friends, family, and church activities fill their walls and occupy space on their tables. Sometimes their conversations trigger a brief moment of sadness when a departed classmate or a good friend is mentioned. Mostly, now in their ebbing years, pleasant thoughts of old friends and friendly times they once shared fill the lonely moments as they sit together in silence. Less frequently, worn out stories told over and over at class gatherings and family reunions lie quietly stored away in their minds like precious exhibits in a museum case. These days a simple smile will suffice to represent  the boisterous laughter that filled the room when gatherings demanded the retelling of a story which had been exaggerated so many times that no one truly knew what really happened.

He looks at her, “Do you remember when…”! and he stops not having to finish because somehow she knows what he was about to say. She nods, and together they chuckle. Good friends worth remembering, wonderful moments never forgotten, cherished times retrieved in ancient thoughts, very thankful for the smiles they bring. The lovely twosome determined long ago that they would enjoy life together no matter what it brought along the way. Their love for each other would be more than enough to sustain them to the end.

Old Folks Prayer

Thank you Lord for reminding me of the state of my affliction and the reality of my limitations, for in my weakness you make me strong. I bow humbly in your presence recognizing your power and your supreme existence. I have no reason to boast in anything except Jesus and his saving grace. When I come into your presence I most graciously accept my place of servitude, and devote my life to you and to the welfare of others. As the beneficiary of your complete forgiveness I harbor no regrets, and I praise you that I am clothed in the righteousness of Jesus. I am free from the bondage of sin because of the blood of my Savior. Above all I thank you for your redemptive plan. Because I am your child I remain useful to you regardless of age, health, or any unfortunate circumstance that might define my life as I move closer to my final day on earth. I am yours Lord and you are mine. May I be encouraging and positive, not becoming distracted by the life changes that I may not understand. Lord I pray that I can stay mentally alert, and that I might maintain a countenance that reflects the love of Christ. I want to be kind, and be surrounded by people who are kind to me and those I love. Thank you for the wonderful life you have given me. Father before long you will take me to heaven where a new life I will begin. If this happens tomorrow that will be fine with me. Your plan is perfect, so may your will be done not only in my life, but in all the earth just as your will is done in heaven, now and forever. Amen