From the Home Place

November 17, 2025

Good morning friends. At 3:40 this morning the temperature is 42 degrees in Lusk, Wyoming, with a 84% chance of rain and a high of 46.

I remember a winter day in 1965, dad and I were up and going at 4:30 a.m. He looked at the thermometer as we headed out the door and the temperature was 45 degrees above zero. By sunset the outside temperature would be at -40 degrees with a stiff west wind. That evening while we checked the weather, the feller on the TV said with the wind chill we had experienced a 112-degree temperature drop in one day. I went out the door that morning wearing just enough coat to cut the morning chill and finished evening chores wearing half of my wardrobe!

Isn’t it amazing how things can change so quickly? I recall many conversations among folks of my parent’s generation, speaking of the Great Depression. It was often stated that, “We went to bed with money in the bank and woke up broke!” One evening Miss Deb and I had spent a great time with some neighbors who had come over for supper, cards and an enjoyable visit; the next day I heard of his death. I remember spending a couple of hours working with an amazing young veterinarian in our community, only to hear of his suicide the next day. This life can change so very, very quickly.

It seems that the painful things happen in a moment, yet to see a positive life change in a person can take most of a lifetime. This is also true for a person’s spiritual life. When a person comes to know Jesus as their Savior, another event that takes place in a moment, that is called salvation. As that person lives the rest of their life growing and changing in accordance to biblical teaching, that is called sanctification. And then one day, in a single moment that person will die and enter into the presence of God, that’s called glorification. Big words that relate to the moment a person meets Jesus, lives a life serving Jesus and then in a moment is in the presence of Jesus! Yep, life often happens in a moment.

We seem to live our lives always looking forward to another great day tomorrow, but then in a moment, life changes. We receive a diagnosis, a letter, a notification, and the rest of our life is impacted by what takes place in that moment!

In Exodus 33:5 God reveals that He can destroy an entire group of people in a moment. Psalm 73:9 speaks of a similar moment. Yet in Matthew 8:13 we read of Jesus bringing healing to a person in a moment. In 1 Corinthians 15:52 we read of a future resurrection of the bodies of the saints which will take place in a moment.

Yes, life can change for the better or the worse within a very short moment. So, for today, why not enjoy every moment that your Heavenly Father blesses you with? Give Him praise when He helps you accomplish a difficult task. Give Him thanks for keeping you from harm that could have taken your life at any moment of the day. Tell someone else about how God worked in your life yesterday at church, at lunch or during an afternoon visit.

Yesterday, Miss Deb and I had several moments of enjoyable visits with different people at church. Most of those visits didn’t last more than just a moment, but we left the other person feeling as if God had blessed us with yet another acquaintance or with one more step in making a great friendship. Life seems to happen in the moments – praise Him for each one of them!

Yes, both pain and rejoicing can take place in a moment. Yet those moments often impact our lives more than the hours. Those moments change who we are and how we live the days of our lives. Those moments are the treasures of our life over our years on this ‘ol ball of dirt. And in a moment, we shall be changed! 1 Corinthians 15:52

Embracing the moments of life with you, Neal