We are going to die…

 ^….. it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment… Hebrews 9:27

We are all going to die. Some die well, some not so well. Cancer, shot by a bullet, fall and break a hip, old age, flu, car accident, drowning, starvation, murder…many ways to die and while we yet live we must consider this fact.

How we live our daily lives, no matter how we DIE, determines the experience of death and what comes next. Writing during a total world lock-down due to a virus/flu. This type of disease is cyclical and has been going on since time began. We’ve only been keeping record of it since people learned to read and write. We kill more in many other ways, but the point is WE ARE GOING TO DIE! AND we get to choose our eternity! No matter how much money you have, how much power you wield, you are going to DIE! How, when, where, etc. doesn’t matter. You and I are going to die. Many determine the death of the unborn, but God will take care of those innocents and not leave the guilty without judgment.

I’m 71 and in pain most of the time. I have to take naps morning and afternoon and am usually in bed by 10pm and up at 6am. A caregiver and cook and gardener, but one day that will all stop. I will meet my maker. Serving and knowing Jesus in this life makes that my goal. I may not die well. I don’t scream now, but I grunt and make all the ‘ow’ sounds when joints or nerve or muscle doesn’t obey the orders from my head anymore. Even if I end up going out screaming…there will be an END…Jesus suffered for us in the most horrific way, but He rose again to give us life abundantly here and hereafter. Living for Him is the best choice in this life.

Corned beef & cabbage…

This week contains ‘St. Patrick’s Day’…for the first time in several years I decided to have corned beef and cabbage to celebrate. At the grocery store, I had a young clerk help me find the smallest piece of corned beef because I will be the only one who can eat it. As I was talking to her, I said, “I’ll make a Reuben sandwich or two over the next couple weeks and that means I need to get some sauerkraut.” She pointed me in the right direction. So tomorrow I will have to go back to the store. I forgot to get the cabbage, carrots and taters!

It points out to me again how easy we get distracted from our goals. It’s a simple example, but we are so easily distracted in life. Currently the whole world has lost their own God given minds because of world wide media attention to another new strain of flu, meanwhile ignoring the fact that killing babies goes on as if it’s not a problem affecting them. God help our nation and the general populace of the world at this point.

When Jesus returns (sooner than later I pray) who will be waiting and looking for His coming…or will it be too late for…

Trains and trains of thought…

Rick and I love trains. We’ve ridden them in time past together and apart. In 3rd grade my school field trip was a 20 mile round trip on a train. In high school, the Art Club took the train to Chicago Art Museum. A couple times in college I did a bus/train from Minneapolis/Chicago to home. Fascinating people and landscape and of course the TRAIN! The roaring, chugging, uncomfortable monster of adventure.

We have together taken a ride through some of Tennessee and been to the Train Museums at Chattanooga, TN, ‘The General’ in the Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History in Kennesaw, Georgia, Lake Wales History Museum (which is in a train car) in Lake Wales, Florida, and the Florida Train Museum in Parrish, Florida…seen trains end in Ft. Myers and Naples; and watched trains around the world. Through Canada from Vancouver to Nova Scotia, South to North in Australia and from Perth in the west to Sydney on the east coast; trains through Europe, middle east (Orient express), India (now that’s a hoot), China and last but not least the “Bullet trains” of Japan. We also have a dear friend who is a model train enthusiast and he strapped a phone cam to his train and brought us on a ride through his back 40 (well maybe 4). The dogs are bigger than the train model, but the ride was still a treat. More enjoyable at this age than any ride at a State Fair and easier on the eyes and the stomach.

I woke up this morning knowing that I am no longer like the ‘bullet trains’ of Japan I was 20 years ago, even 10, spiffy and quick, getting there practically before I left, at the speed of light. I’ve reverted to Buster Keaton’s ‘General’, needing lots of attention to even get enough steam to move on down the rails. But that doesn’t ‘not’ interest me. Still very much attentive to the world around and caring, enjoying the trip. It would have been fun for us to take more real train rides, but we’ve seen it all, together, from our TV room after long days of work and fellowship throughout the years. Maybe we take another trip tonight.

what’s in us..

2 Corinthians 4:7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.

 

We don’t just have something, we have Some ONE everyone needs, but not everyone knows or believes. So where do we begin?

Begin with a “Conversation” that shows we “Consider” the other person has value. We “Communicate” that we are concerned about them by listening and responding. We “Consider” their opinions, their needs, by asking them questions. When we have an open door, we can “Carry-through” with the message of Jesus Christ, our friend and savior.

This is not a five-minute endeavor. It may be weeks, months, years, and even a lifetime effort on our part. Pray for those you befriend. The Holy Spirit is working in your life, do not allow yourself to become contentious but to be a true communicator of the Faith, Hope, and Love found in Jesus.

His laws, the ought to…

Jeremiah 31:33 After those days, saith the Lord, I will put My law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be My people.

Hebrews 10:16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them.

Verses of scripture about the knowledge of the laws of the Lord, which He, by the Spirit, has written on the heart of mankind. WE KNOW what we ought to do. When we continually ignore the right for the wrong, we know it. We go deaf and turn our hearts to stone. “Lord Jesus, keep my ears open and my heart pliable and soft. Help me obey and do what I OUGHT, so that when I stand before You Lord (and we all will) the ‘ought’ was done.”

quiet please…

Don’t much care for background noise and never have. It is distracting. I can be noisy, but I always feel like it’s out of place. Don’t care for everyone talking at once. Can’t concentrate. How can we hear what is important? How can we be aware of what is happening?

Too much noise keeps us from hearing, particularly the still small voice of the Lord. We often take a wrong turn, making an unwise choice, suffering the consequences because we did not take time to get the NOISE out of our life, and be quiet in the presence of our maker. Make time to be still, silent and listen. Get away to the quiet place.

 

Isaiah 30:21 And your ears will hear a word behind you saying, This is the way, walk in it, when you turn to the right hand, and when you turn to the left.

friends…

Most people have friends. Some have close relationships with a sister or brother, but most friends are made in the life we live as adults. Often jobs, marriage, college and a myriad of other things in our life make our friend pool diverse and scattered. One of my best friends is in Australia, another in Sarasota and sadly some have passed away. I consider that my REAL first best friend is Jesus, second my hubby and then others. Jesus, I can tell Him everything (but He already knows it all). He wants to share in my life and I try to listen for His voice in everyday life. Sometimes I get lost in my own world, but He draws me with His Word and His love. I have lots of other friends and heard from one this evening I haven’t talked to in a long time. It was a treat to talk on the phone. We are both past the getting out and canoodling over lunch stage, but love and cherish our friendship of many years. Some friends are only friendly when it suits them, others when they have time. We should not be offended, life does take a toll and there are only so many hours in a day.

Jesus sticks with us long after other friends have gone, eternally as a matter of fact!

Proverbs 18:24 A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

beauty abounds…

I was heading to bed without a post tonight. Something caught my eye. This morning I posted pictures of some of my garden flowers in bloom, in January. The weather is temperate here (except summer)and gardens can grow year around if you plant the right stuff. It takes a little trial and error to get it right. Years! Regular spinach and green beans won’t grow in the heat, so plant them in the fall. Beauty appears when you least expect it.

Friends sent pictures of the rain in Australia…beautiful-finally! Saw a friends lovely nature painting. Sunsets around the country tonight. Snow in the mountains. Also, watched the ‘Gardener’s World’ program from England and they were filming in some of the most beautiful gardens in America. A short series done while England winters. God’s beautiful creation makes me long for the Garden before the fall. He is beautiful and has given us such great beauty. I’m awed.

Psalm 27:4 One thing I have asked from the LORD, that I shall seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD And to meditate in His temple.

troubled valleys???

This well known Elvis song I copied below, sung by nearly every country singer through out the years, came to mind this evening. Songs and Scripture do that to me as the day comes to a close. It’s amazing what our brains retain from a young age. We had been married 3 years when Elvis died. In fact, before we married we chaperoned a high school jazz band to Mobile. He was in the concert hall next door. We didn’t see him, but it was a touchstone in our history.

“Well, I’m tired and so weary- But I must go along- Till the Lord comes and calls me away Where the morning’s so bright- And the Lamb is the light- And the night, night is as fair as the day. There will be peace in the valley For me some day, There will be peace in the valley For me, Oh Lord I pray. There’ll be no sadness No sorrow, no trouble I see. There will be peace in the valley someday.”

There are so many folks who are just plain tired of this world. The statistics on those opting out are on the rise. They have no hope. Jesus is the only hope for the world today. There is no other way to be happy, content, at peace in a world gone bad, mad and very sad. In Him we are saved and people will take note when we are in relationship with Jesus. Joy and peace are evident in our lives.

Acts 4:12 “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” 13 When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.

 

rest filled day…

Most days are not ‘rest filled’, but today was quiet and no errands or extras. Getting our minds to rest is another thing altogether. This is where the Word comes into play. He, God, hears our hearts and thoughts and all we have to do is put it into words. Talk with Him and get rest. Whatever is on the agenda can be done with a prayer. Talk with Him and walk with or REST in Him.

Psalm 55:1 Give ear to my prayer, O God, and hide not yourself from my plea for mercy! 2 Attend to me, and answer me; I am restless in my complaint and I moan, 16 But I call to God, and the Lord will save me. 22 Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you;
he will never permit the righteous to be moved.