As we meditate on the amazing, finished work Jesus accomplished, for us, on the cross, here is a quote from Kate Bortell, confirming that, if we are good enough for Him … that’s good enough.
Kate states one of the best lines I’ve ever heard:
“He cleaned up our act.
With a huge broom in the shape of a cross.”
Like all of us, I have witnessed many miracles, and been involved in many of them. If you just look around, really, we are all, every day, surrounded by miracles. My Pastor used to say that, if you don’t think you have anything to be thankful for … just take a breath …
I have been helped so many times, in a miraculous way, my entire life. God’s mercy has protected me, helped me, and, as GA Bulldog announcer Larry Munson would say, “saved my whatchamacallit.” I looked that word up, and it’s in dictionaries.
As we wrote before, if it is important to you, it’s important to God. If it matters to you, it matters to Him. And, nothing is more important to Him than your relationship with Him. Period. I am constantly talking with God, and, yes, most of the time, I do more talking than listening. But, I know His voice … and He knows mine. Psalm 30:10 says, “Hear, O LORD, and have mercy upon me: LORD, be thou my helper.” He is always there when I call. Even when I don’t call, He is still very much there. And, when He answers my call, I should never forget it … and, should tell others of His faithfulness, at every opportunity. In trouble or not, it is a great thing to be able to call out to Him, and have Him hear. And, it is so important for us to not forget His faithfulness … what He’s done for us in the past … to give us hope for every situation we face in the future. Lamentations 3:21 says, “This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.”
Sometimes we have to wait … He is working behind the scenes, doing things, making things happen for us … and, we’re not even aware-until later-that He was working the whole time.
Back to Lamentations: “The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD” (3:25-26). Fact is, God is always working “behind the scenes” for us … and, waiting, patiently, to do more. Waiting for our call. Once, years ago in Connecticut, I was backing out of the driveway, something I had done hundreds of times. It was after a big snowstorm, but the driveway was downhill, and I could make it down, in reverse, with my eyes closed. On this morning, I was backing out, straight out of the driveway, and it felt like something grabbed my van, and moved it … slid it through the snow … into the ditch on the right-hand side of the driveway … It felt like it was shoved off the driveway. (Never mind what I said!!!) So, I had to call work (1 ½ hours away), and let them know I’d be late. I had to call a wrecker to get me back up into the driveway. God revealed something to me that I had never considered:
I wonder what it was … what danger would have been ahead … had I left for work on time, and not slid off the driveway? What was out there, waiting for me … within that 3 hour span …? It was then, at that moment, I realized something I’ve never forgotten. How many things … how much trouble … how much pain and suffering … how many circumstances does God keep us out of … away from … that we don’t even know about? What was revealed to me that morning was this:
More times than I could ever imagine. We would be amazed at the things we can’t see … we’d be stunned to learn of all the times that what we considered to be “inconvenient” to us, was just a ploy to “buy time” to allow other things to happen … to protect us, and, even save our lives. We’ve all heard stories of people who over-slept, had unexplained car trouble, missed a bus or train … and, because of that … they were spared or saved from disaster. So, that’s what I’m talking about.
I think back to so many times when “someone just showed up” to help me. I know that you can think of all those times too, that something like that has happened to you. What amazes me, is that when I look back over the years … even when I wasn’t living for God … God still protected me … kept me safe … knowing that, one day … “for such a time as this …”
I can feel those words touching you, as well. God is so good, so loving, and so merciful … we never deserve it … but think about all of those times when, “humanly speaking,” we really didn’t deserve it. He protected us … kept us from certain disaster … knowing that, “one day …”
I am reminded of Psalm 63:7: “Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice.”
I can’t stress enough how important this message about God keeping His hand on us, even though we aren’t serving Him, is. Protecting us, keeping us from harm, having His hand on us … even though we had no idea at the time. I think of Paul, when he was Saul … in spite of that he was doing … think about it … God protected him, kept him from those who would have done him much harm … knowing, that one day …
Just a short story to close: I remember a time, yes, in “the bad old days,” I was with a couple of friends. We weren’t criminals or breaking many laws, but we weren’t driving around handing out Gospel tracts, either. Let’s just say we were making a speedy exit from a residence we had spent the last few hours visiting. I was driving, and, somehow, I managed to run off the road into a ditch. It was imperative for us to leave the area quickly, but, there we were, in a ditch. From out of nowhere, a truck passed us, stopped just ahead of our vehicle, and then backed up to just in front of our car. We thought we were done for. I know we all thought, “This is it!” A big, big guy got out of the truck in overalls. He looked like he could just lift the car up by himself. He walked up, and this is all he said: “Let’s get you outta there.” He reached in back of the truck, grabbed a chain, and hooked up to the car. He then got in the truck, I got in the car, and he pulled me out. He then stopped, unhooked the chain, and drove off. He didn’t say a word. It was like he was “just sent,” just sent “for such a time as this.” We looked at each other, then up the road … and he was gone. Just disappeared into the landscape.
I’ve heard and read many of these types of stories, and many of you have them too. This is one of mine. I haven’t thought about that in years. God has to remind me all the time, when I am being judgmental (etc.) over someone’s activities or lifestyle … that I should have compassion … for me to think about Paul … and to think about me … how I was …
I am so glad He hasn’t changed … He always was there, and always Is there.
Blessings,
R.V.R.
Well … here I go again … I sat down to write about a miracle which Carol and I experienced earlier this week, and God gave me this to share first:
By the way, the original title of this post was to be, “I Know Jesus Saves … But, Does He Plow?”
It was about a “Miracle in the Snow,” but God wants me to share this first:
If there’s one thing I’ve learned with my walk with God, it is this:
If it is important to you, it is important to God.
If it matters to you, it matters to God.
That’s why He always wants to be “part of the conversation.”
He always wants to be your first option; not your last.
He wants to be your first choice; not your last.
So often, we turn to God as a “last resort,” only after everything we’ve tried has failed.
Even as Christians, sometimes, it seems like we have this built-in response to situations that ends something like this: “OK, God, I’ve tried everything else, and it hasn’t worked … Will you please help me?”
Please know that, regardless of what you are going through, Jesus is right there with you. Always.
Psalm 46:1 says that “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
Yes, our refuge and strength, and, in times of trouble, He is always “present.”
I remember once, a long time ago, I was living in a mobile home, way out in the middle of the woods, and, in the middle of a severe storm, with tornados all around, it felt like the house was going to be lifted off of its foundation. The mobile home was “tied down,” but that wouldn’t keep the walls or roof intact. I went to the center of the house, the bathroom, and prayed. I mean I really prayed. The wind was whipping all around, a constant roar, the walls were shaking, and the rain sounded like bullets hitting the house. I could hear crashing sounds, but the wind was so strong and loud, you couldn’t tell which direction the noise was coming from. I can’t tell you the number of tragedies I’ve witnessed or read about as a result of tornados (or, “tornadoes”- both are considered proper plurals), and, as I sat there in the dark, the world around me shaking, I thought of all those stories and experiences. I prayed. Hard.
(Personal note from present time: Carol and I were married in Ringgold, GA. A couple of years ago, the area was hit with three tornadoes within a few hours span. Most of the downtown area, in the area where we were married … was destroyed … it just didn’t exist anymore … I know what it’s like … that feeling you get … every time a storm approaches … and, I mean every time a storm approaches …)
At that time, I had many, many dogs, and the dog pen was located about 20 feet or so from the house. I was as worried about the dogs as I was about the house. They had shelter and safety, but not from the large trees which surrounded us, and I could not hear anything above the storm. There was just no way to go outside to check on them. Keep in mind, also, that with a severe storm comes lightening. And, lots of it. What about those crashing sounds? At times, the crashing sounds drowned out the wind. Even after the major storm ended, the lightening, wind, and hard rain continued.
I remember that this was a Saturday night, and, as is often the case, the Sunday morning dawned with a clear, bright, sunny sky. First thing, at daylight, I ran outside … sure enough, the crashing sounds I heard were trees … large trees … and limbs … and, they were scattered around the property. First … the dogs … they were fine … no damage at all to their pen or shelter …
However … what struck me, as I surveyed the damage … was how the damage was “all laid out,” especially where the two huge oak trees had fallen … One had fallen along the driveway, but where and how it landed was what was unusual. It had large limbs, and it had fallen just to the left of the electric service line. I was living way back in the woods, and the single line was weaved through the trees to get to the service pole. It had missed, somehow, by inches, the power line. However, the limbs, now on the ground, extended underneath the power line. What this meant was that, “somehow,” as the tree came down … the limbs were “held back” until it passed the power line on the way down. Then, the limbs were, somehow, “released” as they fell to the ground.
There were two trees down … the other tree, and where it fell, was nothing short of a miracle.
I mentioned that there was a distance of some 20 feet between the house and the dog’s shelter.
This large oak, brought down by the storm, fell exactly between the two. I remember drawing a map of where the tree fell, in relation to the house and the dog pen. It landed exactly in the middle. Because of the reach of the limbs, and this being such a huge tree, a couple of inches either way … and either the house, or the dogs, would have been gone. It fell, literally, perfectly, as if placed there … on purpose …
This was Sunday morning, so off to church … it was also a miracle, with the amount of trees falling all around, that the entire driveway was clear … a driveway of some 500 feet or more … not a single limb blocking the way …
It was during praise and worship that God spoke directly to me … let’s face it, most of my mind was on the storm clean-up, and wondering “what might have been.” But, God broke through and gave me this message … clearly … A totally unplanned message I then delivered to the congregation:
“If it’s important to you, it’s important to Me. If it matters to you, it matters to Me.”
Blessings,
Richard. Vincent. Rose.
I have often written how I’d like to be … the man I’d like to be … How I want to think right, act right, and speak right … To be, in every way, more like Jesus. I know that in order to do this, I must pray more … study my Bible more … to be more-like Jesus. To see other people, and myself, the way Jesus does.
During personal speaking engagements, I try to always open with this:
“First, I’d like to say that I love Jesus.
I think we need more men who will stand up and say, ‘I love Jesus.’
I love my wife.
I think we need more men who will stand up and say, ‘I love my wife.’
I love my family.
I think we need more men who will stand up and say, ‘I love my family.’”
I have not been the best “relative” a family could have. I don’t write letters often, and, even less, use the telephone to call. I spend so much of my time writing for “others,” that I fail to put pen to paper, to write to those which mean the most to me. Which also means that I don’t get many “return” letters. I get emails and letters from my readers, which I try to always, immediately “jump on,” which takes a lot of precious time. So, those to whom I should write to, on a regular basis, don’t get a letter, or phone call, as often as I’d like. I stand convicted.
However, this does not take away from how meaningful any letter or telephone call I get from relatives means to me. I am a rare sort, I guess. I am reclusive and private; yet, there is nothing I enjoy more that being with people. I won’t talk much to a stranger (someone I don’t know), but, I will spend hours speaking in front of a crowd of people whom I don’t know.
Again, even though I am not good at writing letters or making those phone calls, when I receive either, it means “the world” to me. Like I really do belong.
I’d like to share with you a portion of a letter I received, several months ago (well over a year), from a favorite relative of mine. Yes, we all have favorites. This is a young man who has a beautiful wife and daughter. I won’t go into many specifics, as not to embarrass him (in a good way). I can remember when he was born, as I was “grown up” when he entered this world, so this will give you an idea of the age difference between us. I just want to share a part of a letter he wrote to me, following a visit I had made to Georgia, and had the thrill of visiting his home, and spending unforgettable time with him, and his family.
To prove how “too busy” I get, I have the beginning of this post saved as “Next Blog Post,” from January 14th, almost a full 2 months ago … The letter itself … I received … 11 months ago!!! It has been there, waiting … “for such a time as this.”
Within the words of this young man, I found the definition of what “a man” really is.
He began with words about Carol, which, if I repeated them, it would embarrass her (in a good way). He ended his praise of Carol by thanking her “for being a role model for my wife, my sister, and my child.” I add these words because that is exactly what I would say about Carol. Plus, she’s such a great role model for me.
What followed was the best definition of a “real man” I have ever read. Now, keep in mind, this is from a young man, who has everything in life … beautiful wife, child, home, etc. … What more could he need, according to the world’s standards? What more could he want? Here are his exact words:
“ … As I get older, I’m starting to realize what a real man really is. A real man puts his faith in Jesus Christ daily. He loves his family to the extent that he begins being concerned about their eternal security. A real man wants to set an example for those he cares about, a Godly example. He’s faithful to his Lord, ‘instant in season and out.’ He isn’t scared to say how he feels, who he loves, who he misses …”
I had just never read a better definition of “what a real man is.”
Wow! Yet again, I stand convicted, the elder, learning from the child.
Yes, a child … a child of God!
A real man, with real feelings, with a real hope in a living, breathing Savior!
If I could write like that … I’d write like that!!!
Just this simple letter … in simple words … carries the weight of all eternity, and the hope for every man, woman, and child. I think, “Am I living up to his words?” It’s enough to make someone cry, “Uncle!” Yes, enough to see the wisdom of putting our faith-daily, I believe he wrote- in Jesus Christ. To love his family enough to care about where they spend eternity. And, to be an example.
I can’t help but think of a promo like, … “If you only read one letter this year …”
This letter, I have read. Again, and again. And, that’s just today.
Real men love Jesus.
Real men love their wife.
Real men love their family.
Man, oh Man!!!
Blessings,
Richard. Vincent. Rose.
Ever since we did the “A Little Light” series, I have added to my daily prayers the request for God to allow me to be a “light” to those around me. Every day. For me to be a light in a dark world, into which I, like all of us, walk every day. We wrote about how, if we will be that light, other people will notice-whether they like it or not. We have that Light inside of us, but do we “let it shine?”
Ouch!
We also wrote about, “God, Why did You put me here? In such a dark place?” Exactly! That’s the reason!
The darker the place, the more light is needed. And, the darker the place, the greater difference, even a small light makes. So, the answer to “God … What am I doing here?” is answered, as Jesus always did, in the form of a question: “What am I doing here?” As in … “What am I doing here?” Enough? Doing what He placed me here to do?” Being the light He put me here to be?
Ouch!
So, this past Friday night … somewhere around 6:00-7:00PM, we had a power outage. Way up here, in the North County, this is a rarity. Our power, our lights, just don’t go out very often. But, here, on the first night of School Vacation, the power went out.
Total Darkness.
We lit candles. And, it was beautiful. It always takes me back to when I was growing up, and we lost power, especially during an ice storm. We used wood for heat, and we had plenty of candles and lanterns, so when the power went out, we were, sometimes, the only house on our road which had heat. It was so warm. It was always a reminder of the “old days,” when there was no electricity. Since we were too young to remember how it was “back then,” our only glimpses of that life were from watching the “Waltons” and “Little House on the Prairie.”
So, here we were, just Carol and I, and the lights were out … no telephone … no internet … We don’t watch much TV, if ever, but, it still seemed like a “loss” of some kind not to have it available … no radio either … even though we listen less to radio than we watch television …
It was so awesome, just sitting there, both in our rocking chairs, just talking (remember that?)
There is still no one else I’d rather talk to, or rock with, than Carol. She rocks! And, the candlelight in her eyes … matched only by the glow of just being with her …
It was 9:00PM when we figured that, even if the lights went back on, it was too late to cook supper. So, we made the decision to go to McDonalds (in the next town over). Keep in mind that we don’t go to restaurants often, and, for us, McDonalds is a real treat. I always joke if we should call ahead to let them know that we were coming, and that, “This evening, we’ll be ordering from the Dollar Menu.” Call me whatever … but, and after working at McDonalds for two different periods in my life … I still love going there, and I had just as soon go there as any fancy restaurant anywhere … We are thankful for everything, so we are not hard to please.
Anyway, as we were leaving, blowing out one candle at a time, it was amazing … amazing … how much light just one candle made. God reinforced it again for me … just one candle … one light … makes such a difference … And, the darker the surroundings … the more of a difference just a small light made …
I thought about something I write about every day … how I thank God for the (what we call) “simple things” of life … like electricity … and heat … the things we take for granted every day … I thought to myself, “Did I thank God for Electricity this morning???”
We got our order at McDonalds, and then went to our “usual table,” which, even months between visits, we go directly to. At our booth, me on one side and Carol on the other, we joined hands, across the table, and prayed. Said “Grace.” Regardless of where we are, we don’t eat until we pray. Even if one of us is away from the table, neither one of us starts to eat until we pray. That’s just what we do. Don’t you? Anyway, it seemed like just seconds after we prayed, that a young man who worked there, in full uniform, appeared between our table and the soda machine. He got our attention as he walked over, both arms outstretched, and exclaiming how wonderful it was to see what he had just seen … two people praying “in public,” and how rare a sight that was. And, most of all … what it meant to him, personally, to see this.
I tried to answer him, as best I could, with “We do it because we are thankful,” and that’s why we do it. We are thankful. Man! Even at McDonalds, on a cold, windy, and dark night … you just never know who is watching. Just know that people are watching you … every minute of every day. Even if you aren’t at work! But … he was …
It reminds me of a time when Carol and I were at the airport in Philadelphia, PA. We literally spent the day at the airport, as weather had halted air traffic all across the eastern seaboard. We’ve spent a lot of time in airports, and rarely eat a meal there (no Dollar Menu in Airports!). We had ordered from one of the “fast food” restaurants, and had taken our seats at a table near a window, as I still love to watch the planes come in and out. Once seated, Carol on one side of the table and me on the other, we joined hands across the table and said a prayer over the food. From out of nowhere, a lady came over and introduced herself to us. I’ll never forget what she said:
“I knew, when I first saw you, that you were Christians. When I saw you pray, that just confirmed it.”
We have met some great people at airports.
You just never know who is watching. Just know that people are watching you … every minute of every day. Even if you aren’t at work! But … she was …
Lord Jesus, help me to be that light to others … at home, and away … to reflect Your Light … always …
Even on dark days … where it’s needed most …
And, help me to remember, most of all, that it is not only them who are watching …
But, You …
Blessings,
Richard.Vincent.Rose.
Finally … back to the dresser … to again remind you how important it is to place Scripture where you can see it-and read it-every day.
This is back to the series where we detailing how so many people we know and have read about, post messages of inspiration, especially Bible verses, at various “focal points” around the house. Places where they are sure to be, places where their eyes and attention are sure to be … every day. We talked about mirrors, refrigerators, the car visor, etc. And, of course, the bureau, or dresser, in the bedroom.
I just can’t get that “children’s” song out of my head:
“Be careful, little eyes what you see …
Be careful, little ears, what you hear …”
However … what really strikes me about that song … and, I mean, hits me hard … is how much more important it is to be careful what we see and hear … after we are “all grown up.” It is important what you read … what you see … what music or language you hear …
That’s why it’s so important to read your Bible every day … speak to God every day-and listen to God every day … and, yes, look at those inspirational messages every day.
I wrote about the cards on my dresser/bureau, and those on Carol’s dresser/bureau, which, since her dresser is the one with the mirror … I find myself in front of at least once or twice every day. And, every time … I glance down, and read at least one of the six note cards, neatly arranged, she has placed at the center of her dresser. Three on the left, and three on the right. Of course, mine are in a single stack, on the left side … where I rotate them, day by day, bringing a new verse to the top.
Here is an amazing “coincidence” which I discovered:
I can’t remember exactly when I started doing this, but, every single time, in my early morning prayer time (my first official act every morning), I ask God to specifically forgive me of my wrong thoughts, words, and deeds (actions). I ask Him to help me think the right thing, to speak the right thing, and to do the right thing. I ask Him to control my thoughts, my words, and my actions. To think right; to speak right; to act right. I don’t know about you, but these are the three areas where I need the most help … and, I fail in, the most. As you read this, I hope you notice something very important: I need God in every area of my life. I need forgiveness in every one of these areas, and I need help in all three. Again, I don’t know when I really started to concentrate on these three areas, as they have always been important, but it seemed that, one day, these three areas just took prominence at the beginning of my prayer time.
It was when I began this series (PBI) that I looked at Carol’s cards closely … as I intended to fulfill my promise to share their contents with you … that I noticed that the three cards on the right side, each individually, addressed a certain area of our lives:
They were, in the order of appearance, top to bottom:
Thoughts
Words
Deeds
All this time, I had been reading the Scriptures on the cards, but had not noticed this designation for each card. I did notice how straight my tie was … if my shirt was wrinkled … how my hair was … etc. … but, I hadn’t noticed this on the cards, and I read these cards every day.
I have since asked Carol where she “got” these particular Scriptures from, meaning were they part of a particular lesson or study she was involved in. They were. This is another reason it is so important to participate in a scheduled Bible study … Even without my knowing, God was using HER cards to change me … Another reason I encourage Christian men and women, who have unbelieving spouses, to place these kinds of cards on your own personal bureau/dresser. Because … trust me … if you have notes on your dresser … your spouse will read them!
So, as promised, here are “Carol’s Cards,” and I am copying them exactly as I hold them now:
The three cards on the right address the three areas of which we have spoken. The three cards on the left address general areas of need and concern in our daily lives. Here goes:
Top Right:
PSALM 139:23-24 (THOUGHTS)
SEARCH ME, O GOD, AND KNOW MY
HEART: TRY ME, AND KNOW MY THOUGHTS:
AND SEE IF THERE BE ANY WICKED
WAY IN ME, AND LEAD ME IN
THE WAY EVERLASTING.
Right Center:
PSALM 19:14 (WORDS)
LET THE WORDS OF MY MOUTH
AND THE MEDITATION OF MY HEART,
BE ACCEPTABLE IN THY SIGHT,
O LORD, MY STRENGTH, AND MY
REDEEMER.
Bottom Right:
PSALM 15:1-2 (DEEDS)
LORD, WHO SHALL ABIDE IN THY
TABERNACLE? WHO SHALL DWELL IN
THY HOLY HILL?
HE THAT WALKETH UPRIGHTLY, AND
WORKETH RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND
SPEAKETH THE TRUTH IN HIS HEART.
Top Left:
ROMANS 6:6
KNOWING THIS, THAT OUR OLD MAN
IS CRUCIFIED WITH HIM, THAT THE
BODY OF SIN MIGHT BE DESTROYED,
THAT HENCEFORTH WE SHOULD NOT
SERVE SIN
Middle Left:
2 CORINTHIANS 2:14
NOW THANKS BE UNTO GOD,
WHICH ALWAYS CAUSETH US TO TRIUMPH
IN CHRIST, AND MAKETH MANIFEST
THE SAVOR OF HIS KNOWLEDGE
BY US IN EVERY PLACE.
Bottom Left:
PHILIPPIANS 4:6-7
BE ANXIOUS FOR NOTHING; BUT IN
EVERY THING BY PRAYER AND SUPPLICATION
WITH THANKSGIVING LET YOUR
REQUESTS BE MADE KNOWN UNTO GOD.
AND THE PEACE OF GOD, WHICH
PASSETH ALL UNDERSTANDING, SHALL
KEEP YOUR HEARTS AND MINDS
THROUGH CHRIST JESUS.
I hope this blesses you as much as it does me!
Well, it all started on Saturday, when I looked at my neighbor’s driveway … and, then, looked at my driveway. His driveway was completely cleared of ice and snow.
My driveway, on the other hand, except for tire tracks leading to the garage, was completely covered in snow.
How can this be? His house is directly across the street … they got blasted with the same amount of snow … yet, here, days later, his snow is gone, and mine remains. There wasn’t enough snow to bring out the snow blower, and I know he hadn’t shoveled. Why the difference?
I then looked around my yard, and saw all the trees. Surrounded by trees. While my neighbor does
have trees … for a couple of hours a day … the sun hits his driveway, while mine remains in the
shade. It was then that I realized what a huge difference just a little light makes. Then, God started working on me. What a huge difference just a little light makes.
I know we are all called to be lights in a dark world. It is the darkest places that need the most light. And, the darker the place, the greater effect even a small light makes. This explains why God has placed so many of us in places where … let’s face it … we say (or cry out), “God … what am I doing here … in this place?” My own answer to that is another question (much like Jesus would answer a question), such as, “Yes … what are you doing in this place?”
Well? What are you doing in “your place,” the place where God has placed you? Yes, so often this refers to a work-place. Surrounded by unbelievers … what are you doing in your place? Are you, am I, being that light that God has placed us there to be? I heard someone say once that God will
surround us with exactly the right people … to do “in us” what He wants done in us.
Wow, the more I think about it, the more that question grabs me: “What am I doing here?” Am I doing what God put me here to do, to be?
We live in the great North Woods of New Hampshire, USA. According to statistics, our county receives less sunlight per year than any county in the contiguous United States … if not in first place in this category, we are sometimes listed as second. After heart disease, suicide is the leading cause
of death in adult males in the state. I don’t need to remind anyone that certain practices and lifestyles are legal here, which, well, are also legal in other states.
I think it’s safe to say that, spiritually, this is dark territory. But, is it any darker than other areas? One of the “darkest” areas I’ve ever visited, and I mean I could feel it, was a certain town in Georgia. I’ve seen others. I’ve “talked the gun” out of someone’s hand in “brighter” states, and, I’ve also gotten there too late. So, it may be fair to just say that the Bible is true … we live in a dark world, that darkness abounds “everywhere.” And, it’s not a geographic issue. I must admit that I do praise God for the opportunity to give the devil a black eye by operating a Christian business in the heart of this particular territory. That, from here, “out of the darkness,” we are able to bless people all over the world. From here. We are especially blessed to, from here, be allowed the privilege to bless Pastors all over the world. From here. And, to God’s glory, our writing has flourished here. From here.
Much as when I moved to New England from Georgia, when we moved to Northern New Hampshire, I had absolutely no doubt that it was God’s will for us to do so. It seems like every day, I get another confirmation that this is true. Yet, I also feel that we’ve only just begun. I hope that you feel this same way, too. About where you are, and “where you are.”
So, where I am doesn’t matter as much as “where I am.”
At the top of my list of “Other People’s Quotes,” is this quote, listed number one, from Helen Keller:
“Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it.”
So … as I look around, and mostly, inwardly, I must ask, “What am I doing here?” His will or mine?
Let’s face it, and I seem to know so many who share this same sentiment about where they live: The will of so many is to leave. “I hate it here.” “I can’t wait to get out of this place.” Sound familiar? I think the one thing that surprised me the most after moving here is how many people here hate the cold weather. I mean, they hate it! My first response often goes unsaid: “Well, then, what are you doing here?” I do, however, often add this bit of advice: “You can be miserable anywhere. “Here’s another “Let’s face it:” I get the feeling that these people would be miserable regardless of where they lived. Right? Sound familiar? We have a habit of leaving one area, moving to another … but, we carry the same bags with us. I think this may be another subject for another time. Another saying I’ve heard often: “When a man is right, his world will be right.”
I do know this: What is true for us here in the North Country is the same for every town, every city, every “Country” on earth: God needs people here, and He will always need people here. I know that, in this town, God has brought certain people here for a particular reason … I feel that the
same can be said for your town, any town. Because, it is God’s desire for us to show forth His glory to the world around us … regardless of where that “world” is.
And, the darker the place, the more light is needed. And, the greater effect light will have on the surroundings. Even a little light.
Next, in Part Two, we examine this matter of “light” in Scripture, beginning with the Old Testament.
Blessings to you, and your family,
R. V. R.
As I look to the year ahead, I know two things that won’t change:
1. There are things I need to do more of.
2. There are things I need to do less of.
I need to always put God first. That, regardless of the situation I am facing, I must look to God first, not last:
“Prayer shouldn’t be our last “resort”. It should be our first “retort.”
I start each day with prayer, and most of the time I pray “between snoozes” before I get out of bed in the morning. Then, I start each day with that vital “alone time” in prayer and Bible study. But, I need to pray more, and study more, so that I can be more … like Jesus.
I need to continue this “attitude of prayer” all day, and I try. And, I fail. I want to always be thankful for the things I can take for granted. Things like electricity, heat, running water, etc.
We will always be tested, to allow God to show us “how we are doing.”
For example, last night, when I went to bed, it was -17 … that’s 17 degrees below zero … and, I was in a warmer spot in the North Country … I remember this morning, at about 10:00 AM, how thrilled I was that … yes … the temperature had made it all the way up to 0. It would get to around 11 degrees today (much, much warmer than yesterday) … if it had gotten to 15, I would have reached for a t-shirt …
Anyway, I noticed at around 9:30 this morning, that we didn’t have water. A few trickles downstairs, but none upstairs. If the water pipes were frozen, how many days would it be before the outside temperature would be above freezing?
My first response? Prayer? No … I called the water company. To show how small a town we live in, when you call the water department on a non-business day (today was Saturday) … the call is automatically routed to the police department … anyway, I left a message with police dispatch, and waited for a return call from whoever was on emergency call at the Water Company. My only concern was to find out if there was a problem somewhere which resulted in the Water Company shutting the water off, or if it was just my problem. In a few minutes, the Water Company called. The problem had to be a frozen pipe somewhere in the house. I thanked him for calling, and then went downstairs to check the only possible place the pipes may be exposed to an outside wall. I found the location, and, indeed, a small amount of ice had formed on the outside wall.
I mention this in detail to show that, in all this process, it never occurred to me to pray … not one time.
I was too concerned with the situation … or, really, I was too concerned trying to figure out the solution to the problem on my own, to pray. I was too busy with the circumstances; too busy looking around … to “look up” …
As I was getting a space heater to take downstairs, to place in front of the pipes, it occurred to me:
It suddenly occurred to me that often, I think enough about having running water to thank God for it … Why wouldn’t I pray to get it back? I mean, if it’s important to me, it’s important to Him…
So, I prayed … prayed for the pipes to “unfreeze.” In praying, and checking the pipes, I had to place my hands on the pipes … The pipes were cold … As I turned away to set the heater up … I heard water moving in the pipes … I thought this must be the downstairs water, as it was just a small amount of water moving in the pipes, and we did have a little running water downstairs …
Anyway, I turned on the heater, and went back upstairs. Instinctively, I turned on the water … and, it was there … full force!
I share this story to show that I need improvement in many areas, and “life” has a way of making sure to point these areas out to us. I need to think of God first, of prayer first, in every situation and circumstance that comes up. I know that God can do anything; there is nothing too hard for him. And, that includes healing. And, that includes thawing pipes … or, whatever we need.
So, yet again, a lesson to be learned. In any situation, my first reaction must be prayer. It must be the first reaction to any circumstance which confronts me.
My first response must always be prayer.
“Prayer shouldn’t be our last “resort”. It should be our first “retort.”
I use the word “retort” in the noun usage of the word, which means “quick response; something spoken or written in reaction.”
Also, the synonyms for the word “retort” are “comeback, reply, response.”
Please let us follow the example of Jehoshaphat, as he prayed, and what a great prayer recorded in 2 Chronicles 20: “… neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee” (verse 12).
In closing, it is fitting and proper to thank, support, and praise those we respectfully call “first responders” to an emergency. And, to pray for their safety.
Yet, let us never forget that in our lives, in every situation, Jesus should be our “First Responder.”
Please let our first response be to Him, and for Him.
Blessings to you, and your family.
Richard. Vincent. Rose.
This was the subject of a sermon I heard this past Sunday morning. The message began with thoughts about Christmas and the season, and then the question was raised, in an “I wonder?” sense, “What does God want for Christmas?”
The text for the sermon came from Micah 6:6-8, in which the real question is, “What can I do that will please the Lord?” First on the list is sacrifice: Will this please the Lord? We learn from the words of Samuel that “to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams” (1 Samuel 15:22). We know now that there is only one Sacrifice pleasing and acceptable to God, and that was the sacrifice of His only Son, and His finished work, on our behalf, on the cross.
How many of us have said, in response to a question about whether we celebrate a certain holiday, something like this: “I celebrate Christmas every day;” or, “I celebrate Easter every day.” As Christians, this is correct. We can celebrate what was accomplished by Jesus coming to earth … and, then, His victory over death and the grave … every day. Without these two events … well … there wouldn’t be a Christmas, or an Easter … or, really, anything else to celebrate, would there? Without Jesus, we would all be lost, and without hope. Period.
I think that what God wants for Christmas … is the same thing He wants every day of the year:
You.
And, me.
To love Him, hear His voice, accept Him, and follow Him. To accept Christ, not just for a season, but for all seasons.
Think about it: God doesn’t “need” anything. He already owns everything. Everything He allows us to have is already His.
Ready for this … God doesn’t have needs … only wants …
God wants us to love Him, accept Him, and follow Him … that’s what God wants … every moment of every day.
Us.
Individually.
Personally.
He “wants” to have fellowship with us … wasn’t that the very reason that He created man in the first place? He still wants this, with each one of us, individually.
Back to Micah: The question raised in verse 8 is “What doth the Lord require of thee?” And, then, the answer is given, to what the Lord requires of us: “to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God.”
What a great response, which carries the full weight of everything needed, and asked for, to please God. Notice the “answer” gives the two main things God always asks of us, and both are about relationships: To love Him, and love others. To serve Him, and serve others.
The Ten Commandments? 5 detail our relationship with God, and 5 detail our relationship with each other. I think of Jesus’ answer to the question about the “greatest commandment”:
Matthew 22:37-40: “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”
Also, how can we “act justly” if we ourselves aren’t justified?
Oh, and Micah also mentioned “mercy;” in fact, to “love mercy.” Awesome! How can we love others unless we have mercy, loving-kindness, toward them? How can we be properly motivated to do this, unless we love God? Simply put, we are to show others mercy and forgiveness, just as God has extended mercy and forgiveness toward us.
A season of giving? Again, every day: As God has given us, we should give others. We give, as we have been freely given. Never, ever forget … There are people in your life … that only you … and you only … can reach with the Gospel … that’s why they are in your life!
One last thing, which just happens to be included in the list from Micah 6:8, is this: “To walk humbly with thy God.” I love how God never misses an opportunity, when “making a list,” to add the word “humble” or “humility,” always one of the first attributes of Jesus we think of, and which God “wants” us to display …
Today, every day, God cares about us, and “wants” us to care about Him, and to care about others.
Blessings,
Richard. Vincent. Rose.
P.S. See … I didn’t mention, even once, or question, if you would celebrate the birthday of someone you didn’t know? If you don’t personally know Him … He already knows you … get to know Him … by speaking to Him, and hearing from Him!
R.V.R.
Here is part of the transcript of a message I gave a few years ago, in a church in New England. I wanted to share this with you as close to exactly between Thanksgiving and Christmas as I could …
At the time, I had left the legal department (set for life) of a “large New England Electric Utility” in order to focus on my Biblical studies, and my degree. The job was 60 miles away … one way. Yes, I left the legal department, set for life, to clean toilets at McDonalds … Remember, “It’s not the job that brings honor to the man, but the man who brings honor to the job.” The reason I mention this is because it came up during the message … including the fact that, at that time, Carol was working in the registration department at the hospital … where, at that time, I was a regular visitor …
Good morning. Praise the Lord. And, if I may…Merry Christmas…The title of our presentation is “Christmas Thoughts of Thanksgiving.” I’d like to share with you a few items on my Christmas list. My Christmas list this year is different…It’s more of a Thanksgiving list…Not Thanksgiving…but Thanks…Giving. Instead of stuff that I want…it has stuff listed that I already have. Things I’ve already received; things that I’m grateful for. I’m thankful for how God has blessed me all year. It’s funny how we seem to be more reflective on holidays. How it is almost an obligation to think about how God has blessed us, once a certain holiday arrives. You know, maybe that’s why we keep having holidays…so we’ll keep on remembering…
Even though it’s been just one year since last Christmas, it seems I’ve gotten older by more than one year. I’ve been to the doctor and the hospital more times in the past year than in my whole life combined…Let’s see…I haven’t been to the hospital to have tests done…to have blood drawn…in…Let’s see…just over 26 hours…I’m thankful for doctors…for medicine…for hospitals…and, yes…I’m thankful, guys…for nurses…. +
Before I leave this subject, I should also add that I am thankful for the beautiful, friendly, and efficient staff that handles the registration at the hospital and at the lab….I am thankful that Jesus Christ is still in the…healing…business! This year, Jesus Himself, personally, has healed me of individual lumps that I had in my lymph nodes, one under each arm. This is the same type of illness that has wreaked death and havoc in my family…most recently, just this past year. Then, I had a lump under my chin that was huge …Here we go again with this lymph node thing, and lumps…Well, God reached down and healed that too…Let me say again, that I am thankful for the fact that Jesus Christ is still in the healing business!
Then, there have been incidents at work. My third day on the job, I found out that a box cutter will cut more than boxes. And, I discovered that when you cut the fleshy part of your palm that it bleeds really bad. I prayed that Jesus would stop the bleeding, and he did. Something else that Carol doesn’t know about, happened this past Thursday at work. We have an area called “the corral” where the trash dumpsters are completely enclosed by concrete and brick walls. These walls are eight feet high and 15 feet wide. A tractor-trailer backed into the corral, and knocked one of the walls completely down. Of course, the wall fell inward. I had just walked out of the corral, and, and if it had happened two minutes earlier, I wouldn’t be here today.
I’m thankful for God’s protective hand.
I’m also thankful for the other people that I’ve prayed for, that Jesus has healed.
Yeah, Christmas is ok, but it’s been a great year.
I changed jobs this year. I prayed for certain hours, and I prayed that my new job would be no more than 15 miles away. My new job was exactly the hours I prayed for, and from my driveway to work is exactly 15.0 miles. This Christmas, I have a lot to be thankful for…and it doesn’t revolve around the holiday. It revolves around what Jesus has done for me personally.
I work with a man that is both deaf and mute. I am thankful that I am able to see, to hear, and to talk. I have realized this year just how much I have taken for granted.
I am thankful for electricity. If this was 60 years ago and someone said, “I’m thankful for electricity,” the whole crowd would have stood up and cheered.
I’m thankful for running water. That same 60 years ago, “running water” meant that someone ran down to the well. And ran back with a bucket full.
I am thankful for hot water. I can remember when, growing up, we didn’t have hot, running water. I took a hot shower just this morning. I liked it so much that I may take another one next week.
I am thankful for automobiles. And, the fact that you can get in your car and travel from state to state…literally where ever you want to go, and not have to go through check-points as you enter into every different state. And, how about gasoline…even at the cost we pay for it today, some of us remember when gasoline-and a lot of other things-were rationed…you could only buy a certain amount…on certain days…if you had the right coupons.
I am thankful for microwave ovens, and telephones, and a hundred other things we take for granted every day.
Things like grocery stores. Department stores. And, how about mail delivery?
I’m grateful for the things that I already have…I’m grateful for the things that I came in with…
When I look back over the years, from my earliest childhood memories to just last year, Christmas is always a time that I remember. For those of your who don’t celebrate Christmas, I hope that there are special family times that will stand out just as much. It’s important, because these special family times are the times that will continue to stand out for the rest of your lives. I was raised “without a lot of stuff.” And, maybe I don’t have that many good memories about growing up. But, what good memories I do have, are memories of Christmas. I would hate to have those memories taken away. I find, that so many years later, I don’t remember so much what we didn’t have. I remember…yes, even cherish, what we did have.
I celebrate Christmas: To me, it is a holiday…it’s a day off from work…plus, in one week, I get another day off for New Year’s! And yes, I look forward to that all year. Christmas is, for some families, the only time they are all together in one place, except for funerals.
In today’s family lifestyles, how often do families get together to even enjoy a family meal together…at the same table? So, this “Christmas” is maybe the one time all year when families get together and just “be with each other.” It is the one time that they all look at each other and say, “Ya know, this is cool. I really do love my family. I really do love my home. This is really cool.” You know, I can’t help but think that Jesus thinks that’s pretty cool, too.
I find that what’s wrong with Christmas has more to do with what’s wrong with me-my attitude.
I believe that if “Christmas” was done away with, the church would still set aside one day to celebrate/recognize His birth. I believe that if it’s ok to celebrate the birthday of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, it’s ok to celebrate Jesus’ birthday. Without going back to last year’s Christmas presentation, it strikes me that it’s ok to celebrate Washington and Lincoln’s birthdays on a day that they weren’t actually born.
I believe that the mountains, the oceans, the great works of God’s hands that surround us are beautiful. However, I believe that the greatest work that God does, the greatest miracle that He performs, is the change He makes in people’s lives. The greatest miracle that God performs is when He takes the rottenest of sinners, saves them, changes them, and makes them a saint. The greatest works of God surround us today. They are represented in every pew. And, none of this would have been possible had not God Himself come to earth as a man, born as a baby, and died as the Savior of the world. He is alive today, evidenced by the changed lives that surround us here today.
I take you back to a conversation that I had last week with a lady I work with. When she complained about not having any decorations for Christmas in the store, I stated, coldly, that “It would just be something that we would have to put up and then back take down”…As we discussed Christmas, and I was giving her the negatives, she said things like,
“It doesn’t matter what day we celebrate it on, as long as we celebrate it”… (That sounded so familiar)…
Me: Well, it’s just another day.
As she threatened to admonish me with her “Christmas Sermon,” she would not let me walk away until I told her I was just joking. As I walked away, I said:
Me: “The world has taken it over.”
Theresa: “The world has taken over a lot of things-that doesn’t mean it has to take us over.”
Me: “I’ll use that Sunday.”
Blessings to you, and to your family,
Richard. Vincent.Rose.
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