I deposited my payment for my electricity bill at the bank and the teller said, “Thanks, honey.”

My thought was, “Why did she call me honey?” I’m certainly old enough to be her grandfather and the years haven’t been kind to my physical appearance. Then I realized that’s what they call you when you’re old and decrepit. If I were an Eskimo living 300 years ago, I’d be put on a cake of ice and pushed out to sea.

How should the elderly be treated? Glad you asked.

Proverbs 16:31 

Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained in a righteous life. 

Job 32:4 

Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job because they were older than he.

1 Timothy 5:1 

Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers,

Give it some thought.

Gary

Rowland V. Bingham, founder of the Sudan Interior Mission, was once seriously injured in an automobile accident. He was rushed to a hospital in critical condition. The following day, when he regained consciousness, he asked the nurse what he was doing there. “Don’t try to talk now, just rest,” she replied. “You have been in an accident.”

 “Accident? Accident!” exclaimed Dr. Bingham. “There are no accidents in the life of a Christian. This is just an incident in God’s perfect leading.”

Christian, as you journey through the Old Testament, the realization that God is in complete control should comfort your heart.

Isaiah 30:21 

And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.

Psalm 25:4-5 

Make me to know Your ways, O Lord; teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; for You I wait all the day long.

 Give it some thought.

Gary

We have got but one life here…It pays, no matter what comes after it, to try and do things, to accomplish things in this life, and not merely to have a soft and pleasant time. 

                                                                                         – Theodore Roosevelt.

So, with the time you have left what are your plans? You do know that there are others who have plans for you.

Proverbs 16:3 

Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.

Ephesians 2:10 

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Give it some thought before someone else’s plans come crashing into your life. And by the way, Teddy, it does matter what comes after this life.

Gary

After my brother’s death, I was given some notes found in his personal belongings. He had scribbled about the intense fear in Viet Nam, the wet foxhole, and the death of other soldiers. Once he expressed this to me:  They didn’t speak of the death of buddies; they were just going home. That’s how his mind was able to handle it. I thought to myself: How else could a nineteen-year-old deal with it?

Reality has been difficult to face for the past six thousand years. We’re in trouble here and we play mind games to cope.

Proverbs 29:25

The fear of man brings a snare, But whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe.

Matthew 10:28

And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Reality is a difficult thing, but God has provided the ultimate in coping mechanisms.  Give it some thought.

Gary

A guy wants a divorce. He tells the judge, “I can’t take it anymore. She’s out going from bar to bar every night way past midnight.”

The judge responds, “What’s she doing?”

The guy says, “Looking for me.”

It is so easy to see faults in others while being blind to our own defects. We could not possibly be the one at fault. Does the Bible address it? Glad you asked.

Romans 2:1 

Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things.

1 Corinthians 6:7 

To have lawsuits at all with one another is already a defeat for you. Why not rather suffer wrong? Why not rather be defrauded?

Stop running from your wrongs. Give it some thought.

Gary

After General Stonewall Jackson told his engineers to plan and build a bridge so the army could cross the river, he called his wagon master in to tell him that it was urgent that the wagon train cross the river as soon as possible. The wagon master started gathering all the logs, rocks and fence rails he could find and built a bridge. Long before daylight, General Jackson was told by his wagon master all the wagons and artillery had crossed the river. General Jackson asked, “Where are the engineers and what are they doing?” The wagon master’s only reply was that they were in their tent drawing up plans for a bridge.

I like people who can get the job done in spite of those hindering them, some out of their own camp. People like that don’t blame others because they are too busy working for the good.

Colossians 3:23-24

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.

Get out there and go to work. Regardless of what others beside you might be doing. Give it some thought.

Gary

Use what talents you possess: The woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best. 

–       Henry Van Dyke

I can’t sing or play a musical instrument. Investing does not interest me in the least, and if I had, I’d probably have lost the little I have. You won’t see me in an ironman contest or playing chess with some Russian. However, producing devotionals that people appreciate seems to be a gift from heaven and I’m content with that. How about you? What are you doing with what you’ve been given?

Galatians 6:10 

So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Ephesians 4:12 

To equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 

Give it some thought.

Gary