We have a whopping 6 degrees at 3:30 a.m., headed for a blazing 20 as today’s high reading. Couple that with a stiff 25 mph wind and you get “Man, it’s cold out there!”
On this last Sunday of 2025, I would like for us to visit about the power of positive parenting. In Psalm 127:3 we read, “Children are a gift from the Lord.” Today, I would like to remind parents that those gifts are to be enjoyed for the rest of your life, not just for a little while. You as a parent have been entrusted by your Heavenly Father to invest the rest of your days helping every child in your home realize their purpose in Christ Jesus.
Psalm 127 also reminds that children are “like arrows in the hands of a warrior.” Being someone who enjoys archery, I know that the arrows I release from my compound bow tend to go where I aim them. When one of my arrows misses its target, it isn’t the fault of the arrow. Yet in humanity, godly parents can do their best to accurately launch their arrow, only to discover those human arrows have a free will, often choosing to miss their intended target. God’s first children in the garden, missed their target, or did they?
I do know that the promises of God’s word are always true. I also know that humans have a free will that tends to follow worldly logic, instead of Godly wisdom. God gives us His truth, and then He allows natural means to take place. Because we live in a broken world, bad things are going to happen. Remember, when our children do bad things, it does not make our children bad. Good often falls to the spear of evil.
You see my friends, think of what this world would be like if it were not for the godly parents who do point their arrows in a biblical direction. When one is blessed to attend a church like Miss Deb and I get to attend, and you see all of the amazingly beautiful children walking with Jesus because of the examples of their parents, one has to step back and proclaim, “Thank You God for the parents who are launching Christ-centered arrows into this fallen world!”
Christian parents, continue to aim your arrows well. May I encourage you to train up your child in the way God has made them. Because your child is a “gift” of the Lord, be sure to train your child in the wisdom of the Lord. Help them to recognize the difference between the knowledge of this world and the wisdom of God. Help your children know that they too, will leave their mark upon those around them, making this world a better place to live. Please, train up young men and women of great biblical influence, as those who are different so that they can make a real difference.
Parents, I commend you for your hard work, and for your dedication to God first and foremost. I commend you for pointing your arrows directly at a Christ centered bullseye!
So, as you take your little arrows to church this morning, set a straight track form them to follow. And by the way, thank you for allowing us old people to have a few moments of influence with your little ones. Such a kindness is a special gift to us, and we pray that our love will be a special gift to your children.
Over the last few days, Miss Deb and I have found ourselves on the road. As we traveled across Wyoming and South Dakota I noticed one consistent element of the landscape that concerns me, overgrazing. I know, with the drought conditions of the Midwest, it is difficult to not attempt to get every blade of grass for your livestock. Yet, I do not blame the drought conditions as being the cause of overgrazing, I blame greed.
With sky-high cattle prices, many producers are keeping every female they can get their hands on to raise more calves. However, the math is quite simple: constant land available + increased cattle numbers = overgrazed pastures.
Many of the pastures we drove past in the last few days are severely overgrazed, right down to the rocks in the pasture. As I looked out across vast acres of grassland, it was often difficult to see a single tuft of grass waving in the wind. In several locations, there wasn’t even much for sagebrush, for they too had been consumed by hungry ruminants. Experience has taught me this about overgrazing, the producer always ends up paying for it in the end.
As pastures are overgrazed year after year, cactus soon begin to dominate the landscape. With nothing to hold the topsoil, the ground begins blowing – especially with windy winters like this one! When the ground blows, it sheers off what baby grass that might be attempting to surface. Loss of ground cover, blowing topsoil and more hooves walking to and frow looking for a blade of grass to fill their grumbling rumen adds up to overgrazed pastures. Overgrazing leads to infestations of weeds and cactus, removing more usable acres of quality grasslands.
As I look at the situation, I see only two possible solutions: 1) more moisture 2) fewer cattle per acre on most pastures. Many years ago, Fram ran a commercial about the quality of their oil filters being worth the higher price of said filters. The closing comment of each commercial was made by a mechanic holding one of their oil filters as he stated, “You can pay me now, or you can pay me later.” I fear that too many of our producers are making lots of money now but will end up paying for it later as more and more acres of grassland suffer from being overgrazed.
So, what is the correlation to this blog? There are more and more “bigger” churches appearing on the landscape, while the spiritual pasture appears to be overgrazed. This is what I mean, as more and more people gather in fewer places for worship and fellowship, the pressure increases upon the pastor (or pastors), of said fellowships is increased to the point that pretty soon that pastor often becomes more of a manager than a minister.
Once again, the math is quite simple: more people + more demands upon the ministry = less time for the pastor to invest into the lives of those same people. The days of “pastoral visitation” are rapidly vanishing because many churches just can’t afford enough staff to minister to their increased number of parishioners, resulting in overgrazed pastorates.
Whether it’s cattle or people, the end result is often the same, the grass is greener on the other side of the fence. Yesterday, we drove past a little pasture that had at least twice as many cattle on it than it could support. One cow was on her knees, with her head under the bottom wire of the fence, eating grass from the road rite-of-way.
How does that apply to churches? Perhaps like this: as more and more people attend the same understaffed church, the really hungry ones tend to go looking for other pasture. Oh for sure, there will be a gaggle of people who attend a popular church because they love the music, or the fellowship or even the preaching, but are they really growing in their faith? Are their lives being transformed into the likeness of Jesus Christ?
The simple answer is, “We do not know if they are becoming transformed or are they just entertained?” The reason we don’t know the spiritual condition of church attendees is because we do not have an accurate method to measure maturity nor do we have the time, finances and personnel to administer such a survey even if it existed.
Just like with cattle on short grass, entertained people constantly consume but tend to produce very little. Let’s face it, we live in a consumer culture. I served at a large church in the 1990’s. As such I was often told by visitors, “We are shopping for a new church for our family.” Yep, we shop for a church that makes us happy much in the same way we go shopping for new clothing to hopefully achieve the same result, to make “me happy.”
Solomon has revealed to us, the hole inside of each of us cannot be filled by anything or anyone except Jesus. God has created each of us with a hollow feeling that only a real relationship with Jesus can fill. Yet, we humans tend to try to fill that “hunger” with things, instead of searching for a life-changing experience with Jesus Christ.
For years I have been told that “Healthy things grow and reproduce.” A statement I agree with, yet in today’s culture we are experiencing fewer and fewer true disciples of Jesus Christ. Barna Research recently stated that “From astrology apps to tarot readings, or on TikTok, many Americans are seeking meaning through spiritual experiences that exist outside traditional religion.” There are more people in the pasture, but could it be, we have not produced enough mature disciples to help these hungry ones find the one blade of grass that will fill the hollowness of their life: Jesus Christ!
Summation, if your church has a pastor who is preaching biblical truth in ways that people can apply said truth to their lives, praise God! If your church offers a music ministry that enhances worship rather than just entertains, praise God! If your church is growing numerically because people are growing in their relationship with Jesus, then praise God! Miss Deb and I are blessed to attend such a church and hopefully so are you.
Yet I caution, keep an eye on the grass, it can only support a certain number of grazing units. My suggestion is this: The remedy could be: To prevent Christ-centered churches from being overgrazed we must pray for spiritual rain from above; and all mature Christians are responsible to help someone else find spiritual food within the pages of their Bible. After all, hungry cattle and hungry people are always looking for a good meal.
Helping others learn to feed themselves with you, Neal
At 5 a.m. today, I spent some time praising our Lord for all of His kindness to us as a people, as Americans, and as His children. I spent some time thinking back to all of the Christmas Days our family has been allowed to celebrate, and of all of the different locations of those celebrations, I had to weep with joy! When Jesus told those first disciples that He would build His church, He fully meant it.
As I looked back over the years, I marveled at all of the amazing people Miss Deb and I have been allowed to share life with. As far as ministry it started on our home ranch at Meadowdale, Wyoming. From there we got to know hundreds of people in Phoenix, Arizona. Then to our first official church assignment in the beautiful Sandhills of Nebraska. When we travel back to the Sandhills, we still talk about the Pleasant Point Community as “going back home.” Our Heavenly Father was so very kind to give us the perfect first church.
After three years near Grand Island, Nebraska, our little family then traveled north to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where Miss Deb served at Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and I served at Faith Fellowship. Oh my, the connections we were blessed with during our ten years there. Two years ago we were blessed to get to travel back to Sioux Falls and see many of the dear friends who still call that area home.
Next, we went to Custer, SD to plant a church. An experience that every pastor should be blessed with, in my opinion. It helped me to study the Apostle Paul’s church-planting ministry with a whole different understanding. What an amazing man he really was.
Upon the transition from a church plant to an official, functioning church, we went to Platte, SD to help a very special church family learn who they are in God’s kingdom. It was a great time of being stretched as a church family and as Pastor and wife.
Then the Spirit led us back to Wyoming to invest in the lives of many men with A Man and A Mountain Ministries. Just last week we returned to the community of Esterbrook to fellowship with our church family there. After many friends, and several years of fruitful ministry, the Holy Spirit led us to Cutbank, Montana to help a church there find their new pastor. The folks of this community are amazingly tough because of where they live, and extremely gracious because of how they live.
Then He drew us back to Guernsey, WY to help a very special church family find their new pastor. And from Guernsey, we moved to Lusk, where we presently reside and minister. I get to teach adult Sunday School at our church in Lusk, as well as filling the pulpit in area churches from time-to-time. For many years now, Miss Deb has been a substitute teacher in several of the different communities where we have lived. She is so good with “the littles.” Not only do these little ones have a great teacher to help them learn how to do “school” but they also receive hugs and encouragement.
Most days, on top of remodeling an old house in Lusk, Miss Deb is always busy sewing different projects. Her ‘ol embroidery machine ends most days panting! We are enjoying seeing our old house slowly being transformed into our home. So, if you are ever in the area, stop in for a cup of coffee, laughter and a hug. Oh yes, the bodies look much older and don’t move quite as easily, nor as quickly as they used to, but we are still two kids on an amazing adventure called life.
Thank you for being a part of our life, and for allowing us to be a part of your family. We continue to marvel at God’s amazing grace. So, as you and yours celebrate on this Christmas Day, stop for a few moments and tell those around you of your journey.
Good morning friends. I would like to begin today’s post with a THANK YOU! I am amazed, humbled and blessed that so many of you read these daily dribbling’s. I constantly pray that you are receiving some sort of a blessing during our times of fellowship. May our Lord continue to use you for His glory, and for the good of those around you.
Today is the eve of the birth of the Christ Child. I remember how Miss Deb would behave on the eve of our children’s birth. The day before giving birth, she would clean the whole house, or go for a long walk, or want to have company over. It was as if God was revving her body up to get ready for the amazing event before her.
I wonder, do you suppose Mary felt the same way? She was able to endure a long ride on a donkey, a journey which I think she may have walked at least half of. I wonder if Mary was overly talkative on the day before giving birth to the King of Kings? I’m sure, like most first-time mothers, she was nervous and somewhat concerned yet filled with anticipation. I have often wondered what the trip from Nazareth to Bethlehem was like for Joseph, Mary and the Lord.
Yesterday, Miss Deb and I had to travel to Cheyenne. The road was abuzz with constant traffic. I would think that Joseph and Mary had to endure such traffic on their journey as well. They probably even had impatient travelers cut them off too! But just as our Lord allowed us to make our journey safely yesterday, He seemed to be extremely kind to get that young family to their destination.
We read the Christmas story as if it were somewhat of a tragedy that Jesus had to be born in a stable. However I believe that God introduced His Son to the world exactly as He had planned to do. Lowly, humble Jesus was born in a barn. What an amazing birth! A first-time mom giving birth to the most precious baby this world will ever know, alone, trusting God, right in the middle of a city that was roaring with humanity.
Our Heavenly Father continues to quietly send us into a very busy world to proclaim the coming of Christ Jesus! Sometimes, that declaration is even somewhat painful for us as well; and is very painful for believers in countries where Christianity is forbidden. Yet, like Mary, those dear saints continue to tell other about the amazing grace of God, even though they are alone and afraid.
Today, may each of us stop and pray for the persecuted church around this world. Pray for protection, pray for power, and pray for peace as they live their lives to tell the story. While we are celebrating, they are cowering. While we exchange gifts, they will exchange memorized Scripture verses for they do not have a Bible, nor a projection screen, nor a praise team, nor a safe and comfortable building. No, all the persecuted church around the world has is each other and the presence of Almighty God!
You see, to these dear folks, Jesus is not a baby wrapped in rags. in a manger, surrounded by cattle and sheep. No, their celebration today is that they know the power of the Prince of Peace. That they and perhaps a handful of others have hidden themselves away from those who would try to take their lives, hidden to be heard.
We American Christians often mention about “the real reason for the season.” I wonder, if we really understand those words, and I especially wonder, how often do we live such a statement? May the eve of the birth of the Christ Child be the eve of a new boldness to proclaim, “the real reason for the season” all year long. May we the American church stop “hiding” and start living with purpose, revealing the power of transformed lives to the glory of God!
Please allow me to set the record straight, around this outfit, I run things! I run things like the dishwasher, the vacuum cleaner, and the washing machine and dryer. As I was visiting with the Lord around 3 a.m. today, my mind wandered back to helping my mom do laundry for the eight of us. An old ringer machine sat in the porch and each Saturday we would do laundry, starting at daylight with the lighting of mom’s wood burning kitchen stove. That meant lots of extra wood for the stove. When the top of the stove was too hot to touch, we would place three milk pails full of fresh water onto said stove.
While the water was coming to a boil, we would drag the old wringer machine into the center of the porch. Then we would go outside and carry in the two “rinse” tubs. They were made of galvanized steel and stood on their own legs; one leg was bent and twisted enough that it had to sit up against a wall with a brick underneath the leg, so the tubs were fairly level.
Those tubs were then filled half full of cold water for rinsing clothes as they came out of the washing machine. By the way, all of the water was carried from the supply tank, out by the corals. I could only carry two half-full pails at a time, so on wash day I would make several trips out to the supply tank, or to the windmill if the wind was blowing. Always watching for rattlesnakes as I walked back and forth through the weeds carrying water.
Hot water went into the washing machine, two “slivers” of homemade lye soap were added and stirred. The lye soap was made of rendered lard with a bit of lye and some powered soap added to it, making a bar form of laundry soap which would do several loads of laundry. (The soap making process is another story for another day.)
When the water was ready the machine was started. Underneath the machine was a small gas engine that was used to turn the agitator on the machine. When, and if, the engine was started, then clothes could be slowly added. When the clothes were cleanish’, a wooden broom handle was used to remove them from the machine, allowing the soapy water to return to the machine tub for the next batch of clothes.
Once the clothes were removed from the wash water, they then went through set of rollers that would remove the excess water. After the clothes were rung out, they had to be shook back into their original form and then added to the rinse tub. Once again the wooden stick was used to agitate the clothes, removing a bit more of the soap from them. Then that batch was wrung by hand and added to the second tub for another rinse. Finally, the clothes were washed, rinsed (twice) and wrung as dry as possible. The next step was to hang the clothes on the clothesline for drying. Hanging was usually blessed by thirsty bees who would be most willing to sting a person if you were not extremely careful.
A few hours in the sunshine, the clothes were dry and could be gathered, leaving the bees outside, hopefully. (In the summer, we would leave the clothes on the line and take cream and eggs to Lusk.) After getting back from town, changing into chore clothes, I would carry the baskets of clothes into the kitchen, where mom would have the ironing board set up. Three different sizes of irons were heating on the wood stove.
I would use the ironing board and iron all jeans and work shirts. Mom would use the kitchen table and iron everything else. All together it would take us most of the day to do laundry for our family.
In the winter, if the sun was shining, mom and I would take the clean clothes to the clothesline and pin them up to dry for a couple of hours. Usually that meant when we went back to retrieve the clothes, they would be frozen stiff. A condition that required great care when removing the clothes pins, so not to break the pins, nor tear the clothes. Then I would carry the frozen clothes into the porch, where the pot-bellied wood stove had heated the room nicely.
Then mom and I would string pieces of bailer twine onto nails in the walls, rehang the clothes and let them finish drying – hopefully. By the way, while the clothes were drying, there were always dishes to wash, floors to sweep and mop and wood to carry. Oh, I so remember the day we were given a used washing machine with a wringer attached to it. The whole thing ran on electricity and by then we had water in the house too!
Today, I throw a plastic pod into the washing machine, add clothes, push a couple of buttons and push “start.” In a short time, the clothes are washed and rinsed, ready for me to toss them into the dryer. More buttons pushed, a few minutes later and the clothes are dried, very few of them ever needing ironed. Oh by the way, they all smell nice and fresh because I added softener sheets to the dryer.
My point, much like doing laundry today, we have become a “soft” people, even in our Christian faith. I marvel when I attend a “Bible Church” how few people carry a Bible in with them. Today, we expect Pastor to project all scriptural references up on the big screen, so we don’t even have to look them up.
Then we want the pastor to explain said Scripture to us in such a way that it makes sense. In some churches we may scribble a few notes on a sheet of paper, stuff it in the back of our Bible and once a month clean all said note papers out and toss them into the trash.
How often do we pull those notes out of our Bible on Sunday afternoon and continue to study the passage our pastor worked so hard to share with us on Sunday morning? How often do we dig into our own Bible to find the golden nuggets buried there? In short, how hard do I work at growing “in the grace and the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Chris?” (2 Pt. 3:18)
You see my friends, someone still has to put the clothes in the washing machine before they can be cleaned. Likewise, we all need to put the Word of God into our lives so that our lives can be cleansed. Faith is an interesting critter: It is easy to be soft and expect someone else to feed me, or I can do the work and feed myself. The first produces soft Christians, the later produces growing Christians.
And just like that, for the next six months our Lord will add a few minutes of daylight to each day. The “dark days of winter” are beginning to be replaced with the “the sunny days of summer!”
Recently, Miss Deb and I were visiting about Matthew 17:20 where Jesus is talking about the power of faith: “If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you.” At first glance, this verse looks like it promises everyone who has “faith” the ability to literally move mountains, yet I believe that is not quite what Jesus is talking about here.
In the time of Jesus, it was normal for a king from one land to wish to go visit the king of another land. Often such an excursion was planned well in advance. After all, there would need to be provisions, military support and an ample number of servants required to care for the king during his travels to a foreign land.
If the expected journey was to take place on land, it was normal for the traveling king to send trusted servants to map-out a roadway for the king’s expected journey. These trusted servants would use slave labor to cut-down mountains and to make the roadway as straight and as level as possible. As such, the king’s faithful servants would literally move mountains on behalf of their king.
Back to today’s verse, I believe that Jesus may well have been indicating that a person who possesses faith in God, could remove mountains (obstacles) for others, through prayer. Thus, it is a great responsibility to pray, asking our King to remove that which is impeding the journey of others.
During our study, I mentioned to Miss Deb that it always makes me smile on the inside when someone asks me to pray for them concerning their struggle in obeying a command of Scripture. For you see, if a person is struggling with obedience, it means that the Holy Spirit is at work within that life and that causes me smile on the inside.
One of the primary responsibilities of the Holy Spirt is to constantly remind a Christ-follower of anything that prevents us from fully obeying our Lord, a mountain if you will. Even though such a situation is seldom pleasurable for the Christian, it is imperative for that person’s spiritual growth. For spiritual growth increases faith, which according to Jesus Christ, is required to prayerfully remove obstacles. Thus, making the journey of the one struggling safer and easier as they travel toward their upward destination. Once again, the King has sent His trusted servant to prepare the way!
If today you should learn of someone who is finding their spiritual journey to be a difficult one, take a moment to pray with that person. Encourage such a person to allow the Holy Spirit (the trusted Servant of the King) to do that which He needs to do to prepare the way for the King to work within that person’s life.
Much like there being more daylight in the ensuing days before us, praying with and for others makes every day much brighter as well. So, pray, encourage those around you, while watching God do that which only He can do – move mountains!
Today’s weather is a bit of a change from yesterday: Yesterday we had brown ground at 4 a.m., today it’s white. Though today will be 38 degrees cooler, the wind will be moving at 54 mph less speed; I reckon that’s a good trade. Once the “ol girl comes alive,” I will be able to put the Christmas lights back up and see what else yesterday’s wind rearranged.
The “ol girl coming alive” is a statement my Uncle Clayton used often. He would look out thier kitchen window just before daylight, when there was just aglow to the east, and comment, “She’s coming alive.” We would then start our day.
When I was at home, there was no such statement, I was told to get my ….. out of bed becasue, “We have work to do!” At my uncle’s, we started to work each morning because we had been given an opportunity, not just a responsibility. Two different views, but they both had an effect upon my daily attitude toward work. One was a have-to, while the other was a get-to.
The work tended to be the same at both places: fixing fence, haying, moving cattle, pulling wells, putting out salt, fixing that which needed fixin’, but the attitude with which the work was completed made a heap of difference. Oh the difference between a get-to and a have-to.
This same difference always shows up on a Sunday morning as well, we either get-to go to church, or we have-to go to church. Which attitude is portrayed around your outfit on Sunday morning? One comes with gentle nudging to get ready and to get loaded up in the vehicle. The other comes with commands and demands to get ready or else! It always seemed that the “have-to” attitude put a damper on everyone’s attitude for the rest of the day.
Perhaps we should look at the example of our Heavenly Father to determine which method He prefers us to use. Out Heavenly Father never shouts and demands that we mature in our faith but instead is always encouraging us to draw closer to Himself, thus maturing in faith. Oh, the difference between encouraging and demanding.
The apostle Paul challenged us to, “Therefore encourage one another and build up one another.” So, the question before us today is this, “Do I tend to encourage and build up?” or “Do I tend to discourage and tear down?” One is a “get-to” the other is a “have-to.”
Just for fun, as Mother Nature begins to wake up this morning, may we each look at this day as a “get-to” instead of a “have-to.” I’m thinking that such an attitude will help our attitude and the attitude of those around us.
In Philippians 2:5, we are told, “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself…” If Jesus was willing to lower Himself to help us rise up, perhaps we should do the same for someone else today? The whole process of having a proper attitude seems to begin with humility.
So as Uncle Clayton daily told me, “I reckon we should get out boots on, she’s comin’ alive,” Today, I say the same to each person reading this article. Will you have a get-to, or a have-to kind of day? It all depends upon your attitude. Just remember, attitude is always contagious.
Another day with the high temperature and the wind gusts matching, both around 60!
How big is your God? Are there some things that even you god can’t do? – My God is all powerful! Are there some things that your god does not understand? – My God is all knowing! Do you often feel like your god is far away, too busy for you at times? – My God is always near and always caring! You see, the problem could be that you have a little god, while I have a great big GOD! Or could it be that too many people who confess faith in God, don’t really know God, and as such, don’t really experience God?
If any of the above statements describe you, may I suggest that you read the Bible. For within the Bible we find that God is all powerful, all knowing, and always available to those who come to Him through Jesus Christ. There is a real difference between knowing about God, and knowing God.
I would like to share a story with you that I first heard nearly forty years ago. “There was once a family who lived in a large city. This family went to church on Easter Sunday, a new church for them. They were so moved by the pastor’s message that the lady of the house suggested that they should invite the pastor to come to their home for lunch the next Sunday. The invitation was made and accepted.
The following Saturday found the lady of the house cleaning, cleaning, cleaning. The popular magazines were all put in a drawer. The large variety of video games were also stowed away. The television remote was hidden, along with the highlighted directory that revealed their favorite TV programs, most of which she was sure that their new pastor would not watch. After all was shinny clean, she dug around in the library and finally found the family Bible. It too was dusted off and then placed on the coffee table that usually held all of items that were now safely hidden.
As this lady thought about what she should be wearing when their pastor sat at their dining room table, she thought that she should probably wear a necklace with a cross on it instead of some of her designer jewelry. So, our dear lady got into her car and drove downtown to a very expensive jewelry store. Upon entering the store, she mentioned to the clerk that she was there to purchase a very nice necklace with a cross on it.
The clerk responded, ‘We have an excellent variety of crosses right over here. Do you prefer silver or gold? Do you want a cross with the little guy on it or not?’ Our dear lady made her purchase and proudly displayed both the cross and the Bible the next day when the pastor came for lunch.” I know, this is just a story. But, perhaps this is a story that is lived our each and every day all across America?
As long Jesus is the “little guy” on the cross, God will never be “Almighty God!” in your life. He will tend to be more of a lucky rabbit’s foot. You know, the God a person calls upon when said person cannot fix a situation by their own effort and influence. For such a person, they only have a small god.
Just like the little boy in the story below, God is only GOD if you are walking closely with Him. That means you often read His “love letter to you,” usually called the Bible. It also requires that you have a love relationship with Him through the person of Jesus Christ, not just through baptism, church membership, by being a “good” person, or any of the other methods that humanity has devised. To know God, we have to know Him on His terms. (John 14:6)
With 71 mph wind gusts, I think Miss Deb and I will just hunker down and work on our puzzle!
On Tuesday one of our dear friends took a great trip. It’s a trip everyone will get to take eventually, though there are two different destinations. Yep, yesterday our friend walked away from this earth, and because of her deep faith in Jesus, she left this ‘ol ball of dirt behind and walked into heaven! I call that day, “Graduation Day.”
Remember back to the day that you graduated high school? Do you remember the anticipation? It was the day that you left that school behind, to live the life that was before you! Graduation opened the door for the next level of your life! Well, that’s what death is like for the Christian. As we take our last breath here, we begin to live there! A whole new life with no pain, no struggles, no enemy, just abundant life – for eternity, walking with God!
And for those who prefer to walk away from God, well there is an eternity waiting for those folks as well – that eternity in hell! So, let’s visit about that place for a moment: Hell is a place of complete isolation, no playing poker and drinking beer with friends. That makes hell the perfect place for the introvert because you will never be around another person, for all eternity. Just you, all alone, in constant torment.
Look at Luke 16:19-31, here we find some statements about the condition of hell: It is “far away” from heaven – indicating in the “opposite direction.” Next, hell is the place where a person will eventually cry out to God, also hell is a place of “agony in this flame.”v.24 Note in verse 25, the person in heaven is “being comforted” while the person in hell is “in agony,” again a mention of opposites. Verse 27 reveals that the rich person who had denied God, soon becomes a beggar. Verse 28 clearly states that hell is a place of “torment.”
Heaven is portrayed as a place of constant celebration, a place of peace and comfort, a place of being united with friends, family and other saints who are there, but more importantly, a place of walking joyously with Jesus! In heaven there is no torment, nor agony, nor flame of judgment – each of those are reserved for the opposite place.
Could it be that is why Christians are to live their lives on earth as opposites of those who do not know Jesus. We will spend eternity being opposites. The amazing thing is that God allows every one of us to choose which place we want to spend eternity in. You see, God never sends anyone to hell, people choose to go there by refusing to accept God’s amazing gift of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.
Remember, opposites attract. As long as professing Christians live their lives just like folks who do not know Jesus, there is only judgment and strife. But when Christ-followers live lives that reveal the amazing grace and power of God, those around us will be drawn to Jesus. For the most part, we humans know when we are walking away from God, we need someone to help us walk toward God. And that someone is supposed to be everyone who knows Jesus Christ as Savior! Let’s do our part so the Holy Spirit can do His part.
I close with this age-old statement, “This earth is all the heaven the unbeliever will ever know, and all of the hell the believer will ever know.” Sounds pretty much the opposite to me. So, do you want your heaven now or later? Your choice. “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord,” here and now, so that we can be with Him there, for ever!
Yep, “Ma” graduated on Tuesday as Jesus welcomed her home!
Spending eternity with God, and hopefully with you, Neal
I know that I have mentioned today’s topic before, but some things bare repeating, especially when those things are the truth of God.
In Psalm 46:10 we read, “Cease striving and know that I am God;” I know that I, and most likely we often make things more difficult than they need to be. The first time this phrase appears in the Bible is when the nation of Israel had just crossed the Red Sea and Pharoh’s army was closing in on them. Panicked, Moses askes what “he should do,” when God tells Him to “stand by and know that I am God.”
Most often we want to understand the “cease striving” of Psalm 46:20 as being still, in a prayerful attitude, waiting for God to reveal His truth to us. Although this may be a great practice, it is not at all what this Psalm is teaching. Our Heavenly Father is really telling us something like this, “After you have prayed, after you have waited upon Me, “cease striving!” God is saying, there comes a time for you to quit trying to do something. He wants us to do nothing but to watch Him do what only He can do.
In spite of our American technology, and even beyond AI, there is GOD! Sometimes we need to stop trying to do that which only He can do. There comes a time in every trying situation when God wants us to just stand by and watch Him do His part. Sound familiar? “Watch and see.” There is a time to pray, there is a time to take action, there is a time to gather the troops to help, but there is also a time to quietly wait for God to be GOD!
Yep, I know, you are asking, “So when do I know when that time arrives?” Perhaps when you have done all that you can do, quit worrying, quit trying to find something new or different to do, and just let Him work – “watch and see.”
I often marvel how God used non-Christian parents and friends to begin teaching me His principals and methods. As I often declare, “What an awesome God we serve!”
From the Home Place 