I was just considering the last seventy years and what might be in store for the rest of my time here. My mind considered relationships with those going through this world with me and those who helped fashion me.

I interacted with a lot of different individuals:

• For some, I made life more palatable.
• For some, I made life more miserable.
• For some, they were actually glad I was here with them in the journey.
• For some, I have been a drag on their progress.
• Some have enjoyed my part in their life.
• Some wished I had never been born.

But I’m here because:

• A family loved me every day.
• Gram was my kindergarten teacher.
• Gram was French and put cold pork chops in the oven when we were coming over.
• My first-grade teacher saw something in me that no one else saw and I responded to her efforts.
• My fourth-grade teacher forced me to memorize the multiplication table out of fear.
• My seventh-grade teacher instilled the horror of being left behind when the rest of the class was promoted.
• My eighth-grade teacher taught me how to diagram a sentence.
• Mr. Dunham was off the wall, but held our interest when he taught history.
• I had to write stuff in English class.
• In college, Dr. Kressel also brought history to life but lost his mind along the way.
• I met a girl that would put up with me for half a century.
• After marriage my mother-in-law promoted me to sonship.
• Mr. Dowie taught the book of Genesis.
• Paula corrects all my work.
• The church put up with me for 40 years.

Here are some verses that give me hope for the time I have left here:

Romans 8:28

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose.

Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Isaiah 41:10

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Isaiah 40:31

But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

How about you? Give it some thought.

Gary

The testimony of a man who neglected the Lord’s work-

I looked upon a farm one day, that once I used to own;

The barn had fallen to the ground, the fields were overgrown.

The house in which my children grew, where we had lived for years. . 

 I turned to see it broken down, and brushed aside the tears.

I looked upon my soul one day to find it too had grown,

With thorns and nettles everywhere, the seeds neglect had sown.

The years had passed while I had cared for things of lesser worth.

 The things of heaven I let go while minding things of earth.

To Christ I turned with bitter tears and cried, “O Lord, forgive!”

I have not much time left for Thee, not many years to live.

The wasted years forever gone, the days I can’t recall.

If I could live those days again, I’d make Him Lord of all. 

How unfortunate a word like “if” can be!

Matthew 7:26

Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.

Matthew 23:23

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others.

Give it some serious thought.

Gary

2 Peter 3:18

but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.

Here’s grace. Just grow in it. Grace means unmerited favor. No, you don’t deserve it, but God will give it to you anyway.

Grow in knowledge. The textbook for this course is the Bible. It tells everything about the Creator and where He fits in the grand scheme of things. It discusses where you came from and why you act the way you do. The future of the planet is revealed and, yes, it is going to get a lot warmer.

Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will get all the glory for it all. He has made a way where there seems to be no way. Like a pathway in the wilderness, He leads us.

Give it some thought.

Gary

 A boy in Sunday school heard the story about Lot’s wife looking back and turning into a pillar of salt. When the teacher asked if there were any comments on this story, one little boy said, “That’s nothing! Last week, my mom looked back when she was driving and turned into a telephone pole!”

Does it matter where you look? It sure does!  Guess what: The Bible has a lot to say about that.

Ephesians 5:15

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,

Philippians 2:4

Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Philippians 3:2

Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh.

Hebrews 12:2

looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Be careful where you are looking. Give it some thought.

Gary

“Snowbird” is a song by the Canadian lyricist Gene MacLellan. Though it has been recorded by many performers, it is best known through Anne Murray’s 1969 recording, which—after appearing as an album track in mid-1969—was released as a single in mid-1970.

Two stanzas of this speak loudly of the human effort to find that one completely-satisfying endeavor. The goals of the human experience that end up like a trip to the fair.

When I was young
My heart was young then, too
Anything that it would tell me
That’s the thing that I would do

But now I feel such emptiness within
For the thing that I want most in life’s
The thing that I can’t win

Let me say unequivocally, that a much better way to spend time is to discover who put us on the planet and what He expects of us while we’re here.

Psalm 81:10-13

I am the Lord your God,
who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.
Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.

“But my people did not listen to my voice;
Israel would not submit to me.

So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts,
to follow their own counsels.

Oh, that my people would listen to me,
that Israel would walk in my ways!

Think about it. Don’t make the same mistake as Israel.

Gary

Hebrews 10:32-34

But recall the former days in which, after you were illuminated, you endured a great struggle with sufferings: partly while you were made a spectacle both by reproaches and tribulations, and partly while you became companions of those who were so treated; for you had compassion on me in my chains, and joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods, knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven.

1) These early believers remained faithful in spite of terrible suffering (vs. 32).
2) They were exposed to public ridicule (vs. 33).
3) They were persecuted (vs. 33).
4) They helped others who suffered the same way (vs. 33).
5) They showed sympathy to those thrown in jail (vs. 34).
6) They lost all that they had (vs. 34).

And here’s the kicker . . .

7) They accepted it with joy (vs. 34).

“People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one” (Heb. 11:14-16a). 

Could we have faith like that in today’s world? Sure, we could.

Give it some thought.

Gary

God’s character

God is good.  God is faithful.

God knows what is best.  He is quick to forgive.

He will never leave me.  His mercy endures forever.

He makes no mistakes.  God has a purpose.

He is working out His plan for me.  God still loves me.

The Holy Spirit indwells me.  Jesus is alive today.

He will return someday.

Jeremiah 29:11

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

My faithfulness has been subject to change, but God’s faithfulness endures forever.

1 Corinthians 1:9

God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

2 Thessalonians 3:3

But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.

2 Timothy 2:13

if we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot disown Himself.

Give it some thought.

Gary