The child before me is six years old and the resemblance to her grandmother is striking. I can, in my memory, still see her grandmother somewhere around that age. That eight-year-old was wearing a heavy winter coat with only the little skates sticking out from underneath. I was barely a teenager observing my surroundings.

The little girl I observed in 1966 is now a grandmother and, too bad for her, she’s also my sister-in-law.

Time has a way of changing everything as it delivers new situations to the grind of life.

The writer of Ecclesiastes had something similar in mind when he penned chapter three.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-2

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:
a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,

You observe a cute little girl one day, trying to stay upright on steel runners, and the next she is someone’s grandmother and your sister-in-law.

Grab time as it quickly passes because it is truly a vapor that appears for  little time and vanishes away.

Give it some thought.

Gary

One man said to his friend: “Say, you look depressed. What are you thinking about?”

“My future,’” was the quick answer.

“What makes it look so hopeless?”

“My past.”

The nation of Israel was going through a difficult time because of its past transgressions. Refusing God’s clear commandments, they adopted the attitude of the nations surrounding them. Big mistake!  God holds His own accountable.

However in spite of their past, there was hope.

Isaiah 43:18-19

“Do not remember the former things,
Nor consider the things of old.
 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.

God can bring about change for the better for a nation or an individual. You might find encouragement in this passage.

Give it some thought.

Gary

Life can be tough and if it’s not throwing a curve ball, then it’s a fast ball. How can one stand at the plate and take it? David also considered that request in Psalms.

Psalm 27:4

The one thing I ask of the Lord—
    the thing I seek most—
is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
    delighting in the Lord’s perfections
    and meditating in his Temple.

So the genie comes out of the bottle in a cloud of smoke and asks, “What are your three wishes?”

It’ll never happen. So you have the rabbit’s foot and are ready for the day. Remember it didn’t help the owner. That four leaf clover is rare, but it won’t bring you good luck.

I think David’s going to the source of all wisdom is the proper attitude for all of us. Let’s pray.

Think about it.

Gary

Received an email from Jack and thought it would be a good devotional.

”I came across a quote from Sydney McLaughlin, a Christian athlete and current world record holder of the women’s 400 meter hurdles. She is competing for gold for the U.S. at this year’s Olympics. I like her attitude!”

“I no longer run for self-recognition, but to reflect His perfect will that is already set in stone. I don’t deserve anything. But by grace, through faith, Jesus has given me everything. Records come and go. The glory of God is eternal. Thank you, Father.”

Sydney McLaughlin, June 29th, 2021

The Bible has a lot to say about our testimony as Christians.

Luke 8:39 

“Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.” And he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city how much Jesus had done for him.

Psalm 66:16 

Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will tell what he has done for my soul.

Psalm 119:46 

I will also speak of your testimonies before kings and shall not be put to shame,

What an attitude this young athlete has! This should be true of all of us who profess Christ.

Give it some thought.

Gary

“Dust in the Wind” is a song recorded by American progressive rock band Kansas and written by band member Kerry Livgren, first released on their 1977 album Point of Know Return. The song peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 the week of April 22, 1978.

Same old song
Just a drop of water in an endless sea
All we do
Crumbles to the ground, though we refuse to see

Dust in the wind
All we are is dust in the wind
Oh, Now, don’t hang on

Nothin’ lasts forever but the earth and sky
It slips away
And all your money won’t another minute buy

Dust in the wind
All we are is dust in the wind
(All we are is dust in the wind)
Dust in the wind
(Everything is dust in the wind)
Everything is dust in the wind

So many individuals made this song rise to number six because it catered to a prevailing belief. We are just here for a while and our dreams and aspirations along with our very being will only be dust in the wind.

The Bible gives a much different view of the now and eternity. Our actions today will be brought up at a future time and the soul God created will never be destroyed.  Grinding your ashes and throwing them into the wind will not give you an escape from the Creator.

Jeremiah 17:10 

“I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.”

Give it some thought.

Gary

Too much alcohol can make us act in ways we wouldn’t normally, including making us more angry or aggressive. Experts believe the reason some people can become aggressive when drunk is due to the way alcohol affects the brain.

Many crimes are committed simply because alcohol was involved. On the same vein many sins have been committed which never would have happened without the effects of alcohol.

The Bible illustrates the opposite effects of another influence:

Ephesians 5:18

Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit,

The Holy Spirit will influence how you act and react. He will only do you good and never harm. Throughout eternity you will appreciate His being on board.

Give it a shot.

Gary

Toyota sent me a letter informing me of a rust problem that started when my truck came off the assembly line. It’s only eight years old and they tell me it needs attention if it is going to outlive me.

Those shingles on my roof warn me that Maine summers and winters are taking such a toll that replacement is becoming a present reality. If I don’t do something, “Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head” will be more than a song out of the sixties.

I’ll not mention my medical problems because I shared them all before and ended up in your junk email.

What is my point? “The way of all the earth” is inevitable decay and replacement.

Joshua 23:14

“Now I am about to go the way of all the earth. You know with all your heart and soul that not one of all the good promises the Lord your God gave you has failed. Every promise has been fulfilled; not one has failed.

Joshua was coming to the end of his run and reflecting on the promises of God.

Think about it.

Gary