The story of Annie Johnson Flint is one of tragedy and suffering. We read about such individuals and wonder how they stand up to the onslaught. With Annie, we find the answer in her poetry.

He giveth more grace as our burdens grow greater,
He sendeth more strength as our labors increase;
To added afflictions He addeth His mercy,
To multiplied trials He multiplies peace.

When we have exhausted our store of endurance,
When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources
Our Father’s full giving is only begun.

The Scripture has many an individual who has suffered in the faith and found God’s grace always sufficient.

1 Peter 1:6-8

In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,

Give it some thought.

Gary

It is just a verse, but it reflects seventy years on the planet.  This is a journey from the birthing bed to the death bed.  All the twists and turns of life are contained in it. Like the roller-coaster ride, it is both exhilarating and scary at the same time. However, after getting off, you wonder if the time was well-spent for the cost involved.

Acts 13:36

“Now when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep; he was buried with his ancestors and his body decayed.

How’s the trip progressing for you? If you are going to make any changes, it had better be quick because from here you can see the undertaker waiting at the door. Sorry to have to bring up such matters, but they are biblical and necessary.

Think about it.

Gary

Did you ever have an aunt that was an educator? I did in the sixth grade and she had big brown eyes that could penetrate right through you. Sometimes, you believed she knew your thoughts.

But did you ever have an ant that was an educator. I did. I was sitting on a log in a mill yard chewing on a sandwich and observing the ants. One was trying to get a dead ant to some location. My mind said it wasn’t for proper burial, but the Deep Freeze for the winter months. I was considering:

Proverbs 6:6

Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise,

They know winter is ahead, and they only have the summer to get ready. They know they must all work hard to get their God-given task accomplished. They know why they are here.

You can learn a lot from an aunt or an ant.

Give it some thought.

Gary

If you tuned in to ABC’s Wild World of Sports from 1971 onward, you’re familiar with the opening sequence, in which sportscaster Jim McKay touts “the thrill of victory, and the agony of defeat.” For nearly three decades, “the agony of defeat” was personified by a ski jumper’s spectacular wipeout at Oberstock, Germany.

That ski jumper was Vinko Bogataj of Yugoslavia, whose brief presence on the popular show probably made him the most famous ski jumper in the world, or at least to American sports fans. Over the years, different clips were rotated in to the montage to illustrate the “thrill of victory,” but Vinko Bogataj’s accident remained as the “agony of defeat” through to the show’s end in 1998. He’s the Agony-of-Defeat Guy.

The Bible mentions victory twenty-one times. My favorite reference is found in 1^st Corinthians.

1 Corinthians 15:57

But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 John 5:4

For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.

We don’t have to live in defeat when the path to victory is clearly laid out in Scripture.

Think about it.

Gary

Here are some folks throughout time that took complicated subjects and made them simple. Each one should make us pause to consider.

A brief, simple, but expressive eulogy was pronounced by Martin Luther upon a pastor at Zwickau in 1522 named Nicholas Haussmann.

“What we preach, he lived,” said the great reformer.

I would not give much for your religion unless it can be seen. Lamps do not talk, but they do shine.

Source Unknown

Lives of great men all remind us

   We can make our lives sublime,

And, departing, leave behind us

   Footprints on the sands of time;

                  – HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW

Psalm 22:22

“I will praise you to all my brothers; I will stand up before the congregation and testify of the wonderful things you have done.”

Think about it.

Gary

Continuing my dissertation on the hymn entitled “Pancho and “Lefty.”  The way Pancho lived is the way Pancho died. You live a violent life and you die a violent death. Many accounts of such experiences are found in Scripture.

Pancho was a bandit boy
His horse was fast as polished steel
He wore his gun outside his pants
For all the honest world to feel

Pancho met his match you know
On the deserts down in Mexico
Nobody heard his dying words
Ah but that’s the way it goes

Matthew 26:52

But Jesus said to him, “Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. 

There is a place of no return as can be seen when the end came for Judas.  He couldn’t fix it, so he decided to end it.

Give it some thought.

Gary

“Pancho and Lefty” is a story song, one of the finest of the genre. It tells of a Mexican bandit named Pancho and his friendship with Lefty, the man who ultimately betrays him.  Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard made the song famous with their 1983 duet.

Poor old Pancho left what he could have been for what he could never be. So many individuals throughout time have made the same delusional trade. Dreams turn into nightmares when you’re on the road that runs contrary to society’s values.

Living on the road my friend
Was gonna keep you free and clean
And now you wear your skin like iron
And your breath as hard as kerosene

Weren’t your mama’s only boy
But her favorite one it seems
She began to cry when you said goodbye
And sank into your dreams

The Bible also gives advice about taking a road that leads to life. It describes the pitfalls and snares that can trip up a young man and bring about destruction.

Proverbs 1:8

My son, hear the instruction of your father, And do not forsake the law of your mother;

Proverbs 1:10

My son, if sinners entice you, Do not consent.

Proverbs 1:15

My son, do not walk in the way with them, Keep your foot from their path;

What are you thinking, Boy?

Give it some thought.

Gary