Standing on the Promises

Russel Kelso Carter was a professor in the Pennsylvania Military College of Chester. While there, he was licensed to preach by the Methodist Episcopal Church. This man wrote a hymn that has been a blessing to Christians for over a century.

Standing on the promises of Christ, my King,
Through eternal ages let His praises ring;
Glory in the highest, I will shout and sing,
Standing on the promises of God.

Here are some amazing promises:

Psalm 32:8

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you.

Hebrews 13:5

Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Jeremiah 29:11

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”  

Great promises. Stand on them. Give it some thought.

Gary

Purchases

It was a twelve by fifty-foot mobile home and it was our home for five years. The dwelling was purchased at a good price and served us well. It went to Canada with us, and when we sold it, someone built a house around it.  I believe it was a blessing to them also.

Some things we acquire in life are a blessing and some are a curse. One needs to be careful, because both are offered by the world. Abraham had a problem with that principle and so do we.

Genesis 16:1

Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. But she had an Egyptian slave named Hagar;

He should never have purchased that maiden, and the ramifications of that acquisition are still being felt today in the Middle East.

Be careful what you buy. Give it some thought.

Gary

Predictable

There are those who have crossed our path in this life that are predictable. We trust them with our concerns and know when the chips are down, they will be there for us. Time and time again, they have proven themselves faithful.

In my personal experience, I’ve been privileged to have an abundance of them in my corner. However, the One who stands light years above them all is the Lord Jesus Christ.

Acts 10:38

how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.

He’ll be good for you. I’ll guarantee it. Give it some consideration.

Gary

Events

This is a very serious question for everyone to face. What’s next? You do understand, life is composed of events. We can plan for some. Sometimes, others take the initiative to plan for us. Then, there are those happenings that come out of the blue and don’t seem to come with any explanation or directions in the box. Hard to put it together when there are no directions.

Paul spoke of that in the final quarter of his life:

Acts 20:22

And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there,

Are you okay with life made up of unpredictable events?  Well, it doesn’t matter, does it? Whatever happens, your attitude won’t stop the world from churning them out. However, putting one’s trust in the One who knows the future seems to be the medicine that is most effective. Be part of that number.

Give it some thought.

Gary

Algebra

“In real life, I assure you, there is no such thing as algebra.”

 — Fran Lebowitz

I feel sorry for those who had to endure things that were, seemingly, of no value to them just because it was required. Unfortunately, in life there are many occasions when things need to be done because others require it and the choice is not ours.

 Jesus faced that as a man:

Mark 14:36

And He said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will.

I’m glad I had algebra, although it doesn’t make my sermons any better.

Give it some thought.

Gary

One Bite at a Time

“It is often the small steps, not the giant leaps, that bring about the most lasting change.”
—Queen Elizabeth II

I don’t know how much the queen knew about the Bible, but that is a general theme the book will support.

Proverbs 4:12 – Literal translation

“As you go, step by step I will open up the way before you”

Isaiah 28:10

For it is precept upon precept, precept upon precept,
line upon line, line upon line,
here a little, there a little.”

Directions for eating an elephant: one bite at a time. Give it some thought and fill yourself with the Scriptures.

Gary

Debts

There was a cost to raising a boy in the Allagash in the 60’s. My dad had to pay the price for one son in particular because of damaged vehicles, hospital stays, liquor, gambling, movies and dates. That was on top of the price my brother incurred. Luckily, I don’t think Dad considered the drain on his finances. He was just struggling through life.

Never did repay Dad for raising me. Too late now, he’s been gone for forty-one years.

Do you have anyone you owe a debt to?

Romans 13:7 

Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.

Matthew 6:12 

And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

Pay your debts before it is too late. Give it some thought.

Gary