Charles William Eliot (1834-1926), former president of Harvard University, had a birthmark on his face that bothered him greatly. As a young man, he was told that surgeons could do nothing to remove it. Someone described that moment as “the dark hour of his soul.”  Eliot’s mother gave him this helpful advice: “My son, it is not possible for you to get rid of that hardship…But it is possible for you, with God’s help, to grow a mind and soul so big that people will forget to look at your face.”

Most look at the external, but thank God, there are good number of people that look past that to what really makes a person. Those individuals have been placed here to accept us for what we are and not what we look like. According to Scripture, Jesus wasn’t much to look at.

Isaiah 53:2

For He grew up before Him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; He had no form or majesty that we should look at Him, and no beauty that we should desire Him.

That’s how I saw Him until He revealed to me exactly who He was. How does He look to you? Give it some thought.

Gary

In 1965 our transistors blasted Sonny and Cher’s song, “I Got You Babe.”  Those of us now over seventy realize upon reflection that Sonny really didn’t “get” his Babe, nor did Cher “get” hers.  On the other hand, Sonny had multiple babes, and so did Cher. Cher realized she was the focal point of the audience, not Sonny, so she split for all this life has to offer. Their life is a tale of two cities, neither tale is befitting a Christian.

What’s my point? Glad you asked. For Sonny and Cher, the record didn’t match the life. It reminds me of too many professing Christians. The song they sing doesn’t match their life. Does yours?

Matthew 6:1 

“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.

Luke 12:2 

Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known.

Give it some thought.

Gary

There are many things money cannot buy. Money can buy a king-sized bed, but it cannot buy sleep! Money can buy a great house, but it cannot buy a home! Money can buy a companion, but it cannot buy a close friend! Money can buy books, but it cannot buy brains! Money can buy a church building, but it cannot buy entrance into heaven!

-Unknown author

Ecclesiastes 5:10

He who loves silver will not be satisfied with silver; nor he who loves abundance, with increase. This also is vanity.

One strange thing about wealth is that it can destroy the one who possesses it. History repeats itself when wealth also destroys those to whom it is passed onto. Is it really strange?

Give it some thought.

Gary

“Well, I made it out of bed and made it to my chair. There is no stopping me now.”

When you wake up in the morning, what attitude do you have as the day is being faced? How does the Bible relate to this? Glad you asked.

Psalm 118:24

This is the day the Lord has made;
We will rejoice and be glad in it.

This verse encourages daily joy, gratitude, and finding meaning in God’s presence in every moment, regardless of circumstances, viewing each day as a divine gift. So, we’d be wise to acknowledge His sovereignty as our feet hit the floor.

Give it some thought.

Gary

“Oh, I’m going to be composted. When one of my horses dies, we dig a giant hole really deep in one of my fields,” Stewart began. “We have a pet cemetery. And the horse is wrapped in a clean, white linen sheet and very carefully dropped down into this giant, lovely grave.” 

“I want to go there,” Martha Stewart plainly stated. 

I need to write to her and say, “Martha, I don’t know where you’re going, but it will definitely not be with an old nag.” In reality, there are only two places we can go.

Matthew 25:46

And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

Luke 16:22-23

So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. ²³ And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

Please, Martha, give it some consideration.

Gary

Mark Twain became morose and weary of life. Shortly before his death, he 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.”

 … Mark Twain.

I think Mark ended the way a vast majority of folks do. Seems like it just wasn’t worth the drive. If you add up all that you possess here, and don’t have anything of spiritual value stored up for the hereafter, it will always come out to zero. Don’t be a zero, put heaven into the equation. Give it some thought.

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.

1 Corinthians 2:9 

But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”

Figure it out.

Gary

I remember changing the surgical dressing on my brother’s back in 1968. The wound was still leaking from the hole caused by shrapnel he’d been hit with during an explosion at the DMZ. I remember his saying to me, “Fool, (It was a term of endearment between brothers.) don’t go into the military, because they tried to kill me over there.”

I’m not sure what he was thinking when he joined at seventeen. He probably wasn’t considering the fact that Marines have been recognized for their wounds and deaths in service to their country for over two centuries. The reality of that decision landed him in a Naval hospital in the summer of ‘68.

It reminds me of the Christian experience. When we enter in by the new birth, the reality of the fight that will follow is completely unknown, but will present itself in time.

A hymn puts it like this:

I AM A WOUNDED SOLDIER
BUT I WILL NOT LEAVE THE FIGHT
BECAUSE THE GREAT PHYSICIAN IS HEALING ME
SO I’M STANDING IN THE BATTLE
IN THE ARMOR OF HIS LIGHT
BECAUSE HIS MIGHTY POWER IS REAL IN ME

Ephesians 6:12 

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

2 Timothy 2:3

Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.

Give it some thought and be there for your brother and sister in arms.

Gary