Winston Churchill was a great leader for the British Empire during its darkest hour. The Prime Minister left us a lot of tremendous speeches and quotes. Some were moving and some were challenging. However, there was one that bothered me.

 “I am ready to meet my Maker. Whether my Maker is prepared for the great ordeal of meeting me is another matter,” Winston Churchill.

You see, meeting our Maker if not a humorous matter.  Many times in Scripture individuals met God and they were fearful and mostly speechless.

Exodus 3:6

He said also, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” Then Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.

We all will meet God, but it is no joke. Are you ready?

Think about it.

Gary

My cousin and I were five years old. There was an old man that used to go around town carrying a Bible, and most folks made fun of him. I don’t know where he came from or where he went, but at five we knew he was crazy. This cousin of mine and I were in the field and this individual, whom people called brother Young, was passing by walking down the road. In fun I shouted out to him, “Brother Young, pray for us.”

That old man got down on his knees and started praying for us. We ran for the house as fast as our little legs could carry us. Mother had been watching from the window and was not at all pleased with my antics.

That was sixty-three years ago, and I often wonder if I’m writing this today because some old man, who was often belittled, got on his knees and prayed for me. It had been a joke for me but not for him.

James 5:16

The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

Maybe in eternity, it will be revealed to us how some, whom we never knew on earth, had brought us before the throne of grace before their death.

This tells us to pray for others, especially snotty-nosed, belligerent, little boys.

Think of it.

Gary

Someone said the saddest word in the English language is the word “alone.” Homesickness and loneliness are viruses none of us want to contract. This brings me to my song of the day, “North to Alaska.”

Johnny Horton sang “North to Alaska” which was a hit song in 1960.

Here is one stanza.

George turns to Sam with his gold in his hand
Said Sam you’re lookin’ at a lonely lonely man
I’d trade all the gold that’s buried in this land
For one small band of gold to place on sweet little Jenny’s hand

I don’t know if George ever made it back to the lower forty-eight. One thing for sure, he found out there was something more valuable than gold. Most people never find that out, even when it is in their hand.

The Bible has a lot to say about gold.

Proverbs 8:10

Receive my instruction, and not silver, And knowledge rather than choice gold;

Proverbs 8:19

My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold, And my revenue than choice silver.

Proverbs 16:16

How much better to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.

Take up the reading of Scripture and you will discover you don’t have to be alone.

Think about it.

Gary

Amid the difficulties of mortality, can we find a place of refuge from it all? Crimes, accidents, illnesses and man’s inhumanity to man can add up, if you’re a realist. Some can find temporary escape in drugs, alcohol, counseling or the lotus position, but it’s vapor at best.

Sometime in the middle of the 1500’s, this old hymn of the faith appeared on the scene and gave comfort to millions.

A mighty fortress is our God,
A bulwark never failing:
Our helper He, amid the flood
Of mortal ills prevailing.
For still our ancient foe
Doth seek to work his woe;
His craft and power are great,
And armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.

The song says the damage the evil one can do is nothing compared to the life that the Creator can give. We, as Christians, are on the winning side. It doesn’t matter how dark the hour.

Romans 8:37

Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

Take time today and discover exactly what is meant by, “all these things.”

Then think about it.

Gary

It certainly wouldn’t be politically correct today, but the coach grabbed him and threw him up against the concrete wall. It was halftime and the basketball team was behind. The player was not performing to his potential.  The coach gave him a choice. Either the ballplayer was to take off the uniform and go home or go back on the court and win the game. After releasing him from the wall, the young man decided it was best to do the latter. They won the game.

It is amazing how with a little persuasion the heart can start functioning to produce amazing results. Vance Havner illustrated this possibility in a few sentences.

God isn’t a talent scout looking for someone who is “good enough” or “strong enough.” He is looking for someone with a heart set on Him, and He will do the rest.

Vance Havner

When the time came for Israel to build the temple, King David had some soul-searching advice for his people.

1 Chronicles 22:19

 “Now set your mind and heart to seek the LORD your God. Arise and build the sanctuary of the LORD God.” 

I appreciated those individuals who challenged me to do better.

Give it some thought.

Gary

In 1995 Roy Clark recorded the song, “When I Was Young.”

This is one stanza out of that song:

Yesterday when I was young
So many happy songs were waiting to be sung,
So many wild pleasures lay in store for me
And so much pain my dazzled eyes refused to see.
I ran so fast that time and youth at last ran out,
I never stopped to think what life was all about
And every conversation I can now recall
Concerned itself with me and nothing else at all.

The meaning is very clear. We plow through life in the early stages, thinking it is all about us and what pleasures we can get out of it. Overlooking the snags along the way, we try as best we can to leave the pain behind. However, as life draws closer to its climax, reality sets in and there is a longing for the ignorance of youth. Some step out of the crowd, rushing to eternity, and examine the cross and find the true meaning of life.

Hebrews 12:2

fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

How about you? Is life a sad song or a place where the Risen One reigns?

Think about it.

Gary

In 1968 “Folsom Prison” hit #1 on the country and western charts.  Johnny Cash actually sang it at Folsom prison to the prisoners in 1968.

I believe a lot of people appreciated it because they were incarcerated in some spiritual, mental, emotional or economic prison from which they sought escape.

There is an irony in the story of one individual who stated he became a prisoner of the very same institution he helped to build.

Sin puts many of us behind bars.

Romans 7:23

but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me.

Sin can keep you a prisoner of your own making or you can look to Christ to set you free.

John 8:36

So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

Think about it.

Gary