We were two young boys who often found ourselves wrestling. He was a challenge because he was stronger than I was and had a trigger temper that I needed to avoid at any cost.  Sometimes we’d even be rolling down a flight of stairs or the steep embankment of a gravel pit. The weapon I had at my disposal was a sense of humor that I could easily use on him and subdue him. I think he preferred laughter to winning. (The Irish are strange that way.)

When God places us in difficult, confrontational situations, we must rely on the tools he has given us.

Ephesians 6:11-12

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Can you see that? You are destined to wrestle, but God has given you the tools to win.

Think about it.

Gary

The song, “Looking for Love in All the Wrong Places,” was sung by Johnny Lee. It was released in June 1980. It was a hit because so much of humanity can relate to it. The path of finding that perfect partner is littered with the wrecks of failures in this pursuit.

One stanza goes like this:

I was lookin’ for love in all the wrong places
Lookin’ for love in too many faces
Searchin’ their eyes
Lookin’ for traces of what I’m dreaming of
Hoping to find a friend and lover
I’ll bless the day I discover
Another heart lookin’ for love.

Perfect love is not found in man, but in the One who fashioned us.

Romans 8:35

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

1 John 3:1

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.

It’s good to love others and have others love us. However, His love is unconditional, secure, and eternal.

Think about it.

Gary

It was the summer of 1864, and (no, I wasn’t there) the country was being torn apart by war and racial tension. It seemed like half of America was at the throats of the other half. Homes and families were divided over many issues.

The Reverend Lowry, who was frustrated while ministering in New York City because of confederate sympathizers, was meditating on:

Revelation 22:1:

And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb

The pastor had an inspiration about a future time when everything was going to be OK and God’s people were going to be united in fellowship with Him. He sat down and produced this ageless hymn.

The chorus in that song goes like this:

Yes, we’ll gather at the river,

The beautiful, the beautiful river;

Gather with the saints at the river

That flows by the throne of God.

“Why can’t we all get along?” is a soul-searching question. The sin nature of man is the only answer to that. However, there is coming a day when even our sin nature will be removed and we can stand before the throne of God united.

Give it some thought.

Gary

My brother-in-law befriended an old man who has very little of this life’s goods. As he related the account of his friendship, my mind went to another story of his father standing up for the underdog. How heartwarming to see another generation doing the right thing because it can.

Paul made the same challenge to the Philippian Christians:

Philippians 4:9

Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.

It is amazing the benefit we can be to others when we realize the reward from reaching down and helping others up.

Think about it.

Gary

“The Cremation of Sam McGee” is a poem that, like so many, I really enjoy. Sam left Tennessee to get rich in the Yukon. However, the only thing he got for his efforts was cold, which he hated. He didn’t want to be buried in that cold climate so he asked his friend to cremate him.

Google that poem and read it for yourself.

The lessons from the poem are many. First, when you go out there, you might not find what you’re looking for. Secondly, you might find something you hadn’t counted on. Lastly, because of bad decisions you might not make it back home.

It is much better to put your future in the hands of a higher power than in your own imagination.

Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

No need to die like Sam McGee. This is not just for the Scots, but for all of us.

Give it some thought.

Gary

When I was nine years old, I would walk a mile to have a piece of my sister’s graham cracker pie. I believed at the time she was the only one in the world who could make a graham cracker pie, even my own mother couldn’t do that.

I realized years later that she knew my tastes and at times was doing that especially for me. What an asset to have someone love you like that, even though you were just a spoiled kid brother.

God loves us in spite of all our short comings and has prepared a special meal just for us.

Revelation 19:9

Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’ ” And he said to me, “These are the true sayings of God.”

I will not make it to your house for the Christmas meal, but I pray that I will see you at the supper that God is preparing for us.

Think about it.

Gary

There are so many books written about the end times.  If I wanted to make money off Christians and had the skills and lack of integrity, I’d write a book on end times.

The reality is that God has only given us one book and that is the Bible. Unfortunately, more people would rather read what someone has to say about the Bible than read the Book for themselves.

Solomon put it like this thousands of years ago:

Ecclesiastes 12:12

And further, my son, be admonished by these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is wearisome to the flesh.

A very wise man made the following statement:

We talk of the second coming, half the world has never heard of the first.

• Oswald J. Smith

Put away the commentaries and the conspiracy theorists’ epistles. Open up the only writings inspired by God.

Think about it.

Gary