Shortly before his death Mark Twain wrote, “A myriad of men are born; they labor and sweat and struggle; they squabble and scold and fight; they scramble for little mean advantages over each other; age creeps upon them; infirmities follow; …those they love are taken from them, and the joy of life is turned to aching grief. It (the release) comes at last–the only unpoisoned gift earth ever had for them–and they vanish from a world where they were of no consequence…a world which will lament them a day and forget them forever.”

Sad statement, but so true for so many. If it is all about this life, there is certainly enough disappointment to lead to this conclusion. However, in Christ we have a much different perspective.

James 1:17

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. 

Luke 6:38

Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”

Numbers 6:24-26

The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.

 Give it some thought.

Gary

“Let it never be forgotten that, although we may do nothing about the Word we hear, the Word will do something to us.
The same sun melts ice and hardens clay, and the Word of God humbles or hardens the human heart.”
― Vance Havner, 

Vance hit the nail right on the head. That is exactly what the Scriptures teach about the power of the Word of God.

Romans 1:16 

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

1 Thessalonians 2:13 

And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.

Be careful handling the Word because it is certainly capable of handling you.

Give it some thought.

Gary

Are you a gambler? How much are you willing to lose in the game of life? Let me tell you about the nation of Judah that gambled everything and lost.

Jeremiah 5:17

And they shall eat up your harvest and your bread,
Which your sons and daughters should eat.
They shall eat up your flocks and your herds;
They shall eat up your vines and your fig trees;
They shall destroy your fortified cities,
In which you trust, with the sword.

These soldiers would devour and demolish everything that the Judahites owned and trusted in for security. They made a tremendous miscalculation by not placing their security in God.

How are you standing in relation to God, Kenny?

Give it some thought.

Gary

“This World is Not My Home” dates back to 1924 when it was first recorded. It is a song about a better world coming for the Christian. All past homes have lost their glow and the future home takes on a new prospective. 

This world is not my home.  I’m just a passing through.
My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue.
The angels beckon me from heaven’s open door,
And I can’t feel at home in this world anymore. 

O Lord, I know, I have no friend like you.
If heaven’s not my home, O Lord, what can I do?
The angel’s beckon me from heaven’s open door,
And I can’t feel at home in this world anymore.

Hebrews 11:13-16

These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.  For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared for them a city.

Give it some thought. It’ll be great to be home.

Gary

• The world’s a better place because Michelangelo did not say, “I don’t do ceilings.”

• The world’s a better place because a German monk – Martin Luther didn’t say, “I don’t do doors.”

• The world’s a better place because Moses didn’t say, “I don’t do Pharaohs or mass migrations.”

• The world’s a better place because Noah didn’t say, “I don’t do arks and animals.”

• The world’s a better place because Rahab didn’t say, “I don’t do enemy spies.”

• The world’s a better place because Ruth didn’t say, “I don’t do mothers-in-law.”

• The world’s a better place because Mary didn’t say, “I don’t do virgin births.”

• The world’s a better place because Paul didn’t say, “I don’t do prisons and correspondence.”

• The world’s a better place because Mary Magdalene didn’t say I don’t do feet.”

• The world’s a better place because Jesus didn’t say “I don’t do crosses.”

• And the world will be a better place only if you and I don’t say, “I don’t do crosses …”

Luke 14:27

Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.

That cross is not made of wood but is made of self. Can we die to self and live for God?

Give it some thought.

Gary

After learning that his young nephew was killed in a car accident, Don Moen searched for some way to help bring comfort to his grieving family even as he struggled with his own sorrow. While reading Isaiah 43, he asked God to give him something that would bring hope to the family in the middle of a hopeless situation.

God will make a way
Where there seems to be no way
He works in ways we cannot see
He will make a way for me

He will be my guide
Hold me closely to His side
With love and strength for each new day
He will make a way, He will make a way

By a roadway in the wilderness, He’ll lead me
And rivers in the desert will I see
Heaven and Earth will fade but His Word will still remain
And He will do something new today

Oh, God will make a way
Where there seems to be no way
He works in ways we cannot see
He will make a way for me

He will be my guide
Hold me closely to His side
With love and strength for each new day
He will make a way, He will make a way

With love and strength for each new day
He will make a way, He will make a way

Isaiah 43:19

Behold, I will do a new thing,
Now it shall spring forth;
Shall you not know it?
I will even make a road in the wilderness
And rivers in the desert.

I pray this will be a blessing and encouragement for you.

Think about it.

Gary

“We’ll Sing in the Sunshine” is a 1964 hit song written and recorded by Gale Garnett which reached No. 2 in Canada, and No. 4 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart for the week ending 17 October 1964. I was twelve and, unfortunately, believed its lyrics at the time.

This was one of the first songs telling young people to live for the flesh: Do what makes you feel good for the time and forget whom you might hurt. The song contains a father whose advice is evil. Many adopted that philosophy and their ruined lives litter the countryside. You only go around once and this is not the way to do it. That feel-good song offered bad advice.

God gave us the opposite advice when it comes to thinking of ourselves and others. Life will soon be over and which advice will be the best.

Philippians 2:4

not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

Ephesians 4:29

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

Matthew 7:12

So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

There are a lot of voices out there. Which one do you trust?

Give it some thought.

Gary