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Thursday, March 31, 2022
The Song 'Heavenward', by Gary Laws (Melody: Verse of 'At the Cross'.
I wrote this in 2016 while contemplating the reality of heaven. Now, with my Susan gone, I think about heaven a bit more often. 'Some day I shall be like HIM'.
Heavenward (Melody: Verse of 'At the Cross'
I believe, above, there is a land,
Far from the toils of life.
A place where love and peace does reign,
No tears, no quarrels, no strife!
A place that has been set aside,
for saints and sinners too.
Who've had their sins forgiven by,
The One whose life is true.
It is eternal, lasting, real,
Where Christ has built our home.
In mansions fair, we will abide,
No more to wildly roam.
Tis' heaven, this place that Christ does live,
and we shall live with Him.
For all eternity we'll sing,
Our praises to our King!
This all is very real, you know,
Were it not, He would have told.
This promise is for you, for me,
for all who join the fold.
What Glory waits, what light doth shine,
upon the holy hill, where God doth sit, His
arms outstretched, for this, His blood did
spill!
(Gary Laws, 2016)
Thursday, March 24, 2022
Eggs, Cereal, Toast and Bacon- from 'Simple Thoughts from a Simple Man' by Gary Laws
CHAPTER THREE
EGGS, CEREAL, TOAST AND BACON
What a great morning! Rose at 5AM and headed for the kitchen determined to give my wife a treat. With breakfast in bed my goal, I opened the refrigerator and pulled out the eggs, bacon, and potatoes. I scrambled, diced and fried for the next half hour taking in the aroma along the way. I put on a pot of coffee and popped the bread in the toaster… all the time anticipating her surprise when it is served up. Even though my Vegan friends would have probably preferred hearing of me serving up a Peanut Butter Granola Breakfast, somehow this seemed to be the right way to go. You should have seen the smile on my wife's face as I proudly strolled into the bedroom, breakfast fare in hand! Boy was it good and it made for a wonderful start to the day. For years I never ate breakfast. I always liked to get in that last few minutes of sleep before rising, showering and heading out the door to work! Lunch and Dinner always seemed more than adequate most days.
Nutritionists, however, tell us that if we are to properly maintain our health we should recognize that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It sets the stage for kicking in the metabolism and helps us concentrate better at work and school. It is, generally, a must if we are to develop into strong, healthy human beings. It also helps us develop a "staying" power for all that will be required of us throughout the day.
Can There Be a Spiritual Application Here? As I think of this, it makes me wonder if the same is not true for the healthy development of our spiritual life! Can there be a 'spiritual' breakfast served up that will have a similar effect on our spiritual health?
I think of the example my mother set for us. She would rise very early in the morning, always before the sun would come up, and she would have a quiet time for herself and meditate. After a short time she would pull out her Bible and read several passages of scripture before falling to her knees for a time of prayer before God. Today I was thinking to myself, this was her recipe for a 'spiritual breakfast'. It included a quiet time for oneself, Bible study, and then a season of prayer.
It set the stage for her 'spiritual metabolism' to kick in. She always maintained that it helped her keep her focus, and asserted that it gave her the strength to be consistent and 'energy' filled throughout the day. I think Mom became spiritually equipped during this morning 'breakfast' of hers. She was better prepared to face the day and the challenges the day would bring. God bless her for the example she set.
How do you start each day? O, you say you have been a Christian for many years and you have already discovered this? Wonderful.....but are you doing it....every day? If you have fallen a bit by the wayside and your spiritual strength is not what it ought to be, try this recipe out! You just might be surprised at how well your day goes.
THOUGHT for TODAY
THOUGHT for TODAY
There are many wonderful endeavors in life. None better than to be in the service of God Almighty. He is real and so our message is real. He is present, so our message hits home. He is benevolent, so our message is of love and kindness. He cares about all of His creation, so our message seeks to bring all people to His presence. He is omnipresent. We desire for our message of Good News to reach all people. He is the Lord and Master of all and we have submitted our selves, with contrite heart, to His authority. GDL
Tuesday, March 22, 2022
Friday, March 18, 2022
Thursday, March 10, 2022
Wednesday, March 2, 2022
Why is it Taking So Long for the Return of Jesus?
Frankly, I am growing impatient! We have been watching and waiting for the Lord to come again for two thousand years! Our world is sick. Its people seem farther away from Him than ever. Pain, agony, anguish, war, pestilence, and disease, all encompass us and there seems to be so little that we can do. However, regardless of what we may think or feel, Jesus DID promise
He would return and take all of His people to live with Him for all eternity.
Here is one verse found in Peter 3:9, "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance" (2 Pet 3:9). He is longsuffering, (patient) wanting to give the opportunity to all His creation to accept Him. In His own time, at just the right time, Jesus will come again and receive His people and take them home.
It would seem that the primary challenge of scripture might be summed up in one verse, " “Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.” We do not know when that will be, but we trust His promise.
1 Even so, Lord Jesus, come;
Hope of all our hopes the sum,
Take Thy waiting people home.
2 Long, so long, our blessèd dead
Wait, from out the grave’s dark bed
At Thine advent to be led.
3 Long, so long, the groaning earth,
Cursed with war, and flood, and dearth
Sighs for its redemption birth.
4 Wherefore come, we daily pray,
Wipe creation’s curse away;
Bring the resurrection day.
( Adoniram J. Gordon)
How about you? Are you ready? If not and you would like to explore this more, send me a PM and I would love to share some thoughts with you. GDL
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