Greenville, South Carolina, has a population of 72,824. I’m having dinner outside where the temperature is 70 degrees. It’s past seven on a Saturday night, and it looks like everyone in the city is out in the street. Now the day before, I had left Maine with a temperature of 15 degrees and a forecast of snow. For you Mainers, that was February 8, 2025. Four hours of flight time sure makes a difference in a day.

Where am I going with this? I have a reservation for a flight directly into heaven, and when the intercom announces it’s time to board, I’m out of here.

Philippians 3:20 

But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,

John 14:2 

In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?

Revelation 21:4 

He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

Why doesn’t everyone look forward to that flight with anticipation? I want to see you there.

Give it some thought.

Gary

I’m no Abraham Lincoln, but we didn’t have a bathroom in our house until I was a sixth grader. My sister, Sargent Gardner, sent the money home for the bathroom to be put in. I want you to know that that made living a lot more enjoyable. There are just people like her that cause tremendous improvement in your life. Have you had some of those folks in your life?

Joshua 1:1

Now after the death of Moses, the servant of the Lord, the word of the Lord came to Joshua, the son of Nun, Moses’ helper, saying,

1 Chronicles 12:1

Now these are the men who came to David at Ziklag, while he was still shut up, because of Saul, the son of Kish; they were among the strong men, his helpers in war.

List your helpers and seek out ways to be a helper also.

Gary

I was a third grader looking out the window of our school, through which I could see a truant officer chasing a teenager across the ballfield and into the woods. Today, I think about that scene and feel bad. He never had what was available to me.

Members of my family went to school and stayed there. We were taught to respect teachers, no doubt, because my grandmother and aunts were educators.  Some homes didn’t instill such a philosophy. I believe those of us who were dealt a better hand are more responsible for our actions.

That is also true of those of us who experience the grace of God. How do we feel about others who haven’t?

Matthew 9:37-38 

Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore, pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”

 Acts 13:47 

For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, “‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’”

Isaiah 6:8 

And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.”

Is it our goal to help them understand the grace of God? Give it some thought.

Gary

Heart disease remains the top killer of Americans as risk factors continue to grow.  In 2022 — the most recent year for which mortality data is available — a total of 941,652 people died of cardiovascular disease, according to the report. This was more than 10,000 deaths compared to the prior year.

Scary stuff, but let me tell you of a heart condition not mentioned in the article. This condition will follow you into eternity.

Proverbs 4:23 

Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.

Jeremiah 17:9 

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?

Go to the spiritual cardiologist.

Ezekiel 36:26 

And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.

Give some thought to what God can do.

Gary

It was a three-hour flight from Maine to South Carolina. The temperature changed from 15 degrees to 72 degrees, and so did the landscape, which went from snow-covered ground to dry, parched soil. The opportunity to experience a different world for a few days occurred as a result of my involvement in the funeral for a friend.

Someday, I’ll be taking a flight to another world, with all expenses paid by the Lord Jesus Christ. Unlike the heartache of my experience in South Carolina, there will be no death or separation.  Tears will be a thing of the past.  I’m kind of longing for it.

I′m kind of homesick for a country

To which I’ve never been before.

No sad goodbyes will there be spoken

For time won′t matter anymore.

Beulah Land I’m longing for you

And some day on thee I′ll stand

There my home shall be eternal

Beulah Land, sweet Beulah Land

Revelation 21:4 

He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

Give it some thought.

Gary

Look at some of the titles that have appeared in the tabloids found in grocery store checkout lines: Cow Mattresses Help Cows Produce More Milk – Mom on Diet of Only Chicken, Lays Huge Egg – World War II Bomber Found on The Moon – Women Gives Birth to Two-Year-Old Baby: Child Walks And Talks in Three Days – Adam And Eve’s Bones Found in Asia: Eve Was a Space Alien.

Now, you do understand that people actually buy those magazines. In recent years “fake news” has been a source of much conversation. However, there is a source where the news is accurate and its consumption is of value to the reader. Here it is:

Proverbs 25:25

Like cold water to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.

1 Peter 1:25

But the word of the Lord remains forever.” And that word is the Good News that was preached to you.

Give it some serious consideration and drop your diet of fake news.

Gary

“Drift Away” is a song written by Mentor Williams in 1970 and first recorded by British singer Mike Berry on his 1972 album Drift Away. It made the charts because so many people are seeking to escape from life’s problems through music.

Day after day I’m more confused
Yet I look for the light through the pourin’ rain
You know that’s a game that I hate to lose
And I’m feelin’ the strain, ain’t it a shame?

Let me suggest a better way of escape:

1 Corinthians 10:13

No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. 

Hebrews 12:25

See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven,

Give it some thought and turn to the only escape God has provided; it’s found by embracing His Son.

Gary