Coffee, Conversation, and Conclusions

I have had the pleasure of spending a couple of days with my brother, Johnny. I love to visit him. I guess, one reason is that he is retired now and he has time to listen. I appreciate his patience with my incessant talking and changing subjects in the middle of the conversations. Reminds me of how often I did that to my sweet man. But that wonderful sweet man of mine just stayed right with me, I guess after 49 years, you learn how a person thinks. Can't tell you how much I miss him right now.  But I am so blessed to have two godly brothers that love the Lord (Jimmy and Johnny).
 And when I am with either of them, the conversation always turns to the Word of God and how effective it is in our lives. While drinking coffee with Johnny this morning, the fear of God was the subject. We concluded that we were blessed with a Mother who tried to teach us the fear of God. She didn't have much help to keep us in line, so we were all pretty self absorbed. But thank God, HE stepped in and taught us that she told the truth. And believe me, HIS chastening is much harder than what a parent could give. Thank God for a mother who lived right morally and tried to impart the fear of God to us. And thank you Lord for your chastening love.

Psalm 128:1  Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord; that walketh in his ways.

Faithful Fall

I love this time of year. It is my favorite season, with all the orange, red, yellow and brown colors. God has given us lots of beauty to enjoy. The coming of fall reveals God's faithfulness to change the seasons. He doesn't want us to get bored. My Papaw Golden was not bored with life, he loved the fall and wrote a poem about it. He was on television many years ago in a interview about senior citizens who were self taught, but accomplished. He had no formal education. Maybe he went to the 3rd grade or so. But he loved to write. He would get so excited about some new poem or saying that he had written and share it with us. I do wish I could hear him now. Here's a short poem about fall>   
A colorful leaf blown through the autumn air,               
Indicates God's glory and power,                                
And Oh! that sensitive feeling,                                     
That He, himself is there.

 I also love this time of year because my favorite Camp Meetings take place. Bible preaching that convicts and keeps me on tract. We need to be reminded of His strength as storms enter our lives. And who knows what we may be called upon to do next, maybe take a stand for our faith? In other countries, they are being persecuted for their faith in Christ. Even the children are willing to die rather than deny Jesus. How willing would you or I be? What an opportunity to teach our children and grandchildren that we have a God that we CAN trust through the hard times (and good times).

Matt 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
                                      

Indulge or Deny?

For the last several weeks our Pastor has been taking us through Proverbs on Wednesday nights. There are so many comparisons of a wise man and a fool. It certainly makes a difference in the outcome of one's life, which he chooses. It seems that everything in our culture promotes the habits of a fool. The world says "Whatever you desire, just go for it.. indulge yourself."  This kind of living is deadly to godly living. Is my happiness and my experiences all that matter in this life? The Bible says we Christians must deny ourselves. This is opposite of the way of a fool. A fool always leaves God out of his thinking. He knows not at what he stumbles. He doesn't even know where he is going, so why follow him? "Love not the world, neither the things that are  in the world," Jesus said. Do you love this world and it's allurements?  Dr. Bob Jones, Sr. said, "What you love and what you hate reveal what you are." To be wise follow God, to be foolish follow your own desires and the world.

Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Never Alone

It never fails that I have to adjust each time I come back from visiting with my family. Preacher always told me that I wasn't flexible enough. And oh, how right he was about that (and most things). He was such a flexible, wonderful person. I do wish I could just go with the flow, but that is not me. Every evening the sad ache in my heart must be dealt with. I am thankful for a cell phone that lets me hear the voice of a loved one. It seems to help some, but it's not exactly what I need. Then I realize the problem is not one that human relationships can always solve. I immediately grab my Bible. And I am in awe again of how the Holy Spirit lifts and gives the joy and peace I need to make it through the evening. The Holy Spirit was placed in our lives to show us that Christ is here. He is active and He is glorious!  We are never alone. Thank you Lord.

Isa 41:10 ¶ Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

More Than Unconditional

Visiting my children and grandchildren the last few weeks has made me realize that no matter how big my family grows, there is always enough love to go around. I now have three grandsons and one granddaughter married, which adds four to our family. And I hope that means great grandchildren before too long.  But as I ponder the love that we, as humans, have for our children, I am awed at God's love for us. He loves us much more than we could ever love Him. I've heard it said, that parents love their children more than children love the parents. And that helps me understand a bit of the love God has for his children. But our words seem weak and puny when we try to express the truth of his love. Some people use the word "unconditional love" for God's love. But is that a good description? God's love in reality is MORE than unconditional. Unconditional love, as we understand it, is a total acceptance. This love expects nothing of you. God cares too much to be unconditional in His love. God watches us, He cares about us. Unconditional love isn't as good. It tolerates whatever we do. God's love is active. He loves us. He's involved in our lives. He's merciful, not just tolerant. He hates sin, but calls sinners to him by name. He suffered for us. He fights for us. And his love hates evil, if we do it or if it is done to us. He wants the best for us and that means sometimes we have to be corrected, not just accepted as we are. What great love that accepts us as we are, then changes us into what we should be. Yes, I'd say that God's love is MORE than unconditional.

2nd Cor. 5:14-15.....For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: 15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.