Rough Road

All traveling is not smooth and easy. Sometimes the path comes long and lonely, difficult and dangerous.

Often times, the rough road is a direct result of our wrong decisions. We are responsible for our actions - good and bad.

Our lives would run a lot more smoothly if second thoughts came first.

We need to think things through before we put ourselves in action.

Have a good day!
Love,
Dad


If then ye were raised together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated on the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are upon the earth. For ye died, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall be manifested, then shall ye also with him be manifested in glory. Put to death therefore your members which are upon the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry; for which things' sake cometh the wrath of God upon the sons of disobedience: wherein ye also once walked, when ye lived in these things; but now do ye also put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, railing, shameful speaking out of your mouth: lie not one to another; seeing that ye have put off the old man with his doings, and have put on the new man, that is being renewed unto knowledge after the image of him that created him: where there cannot be Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, bondman, freeman; but Christ is all, and in all. Put on therefore, as God's elect, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, longsuffering; forbearing one another, and forgiving each other, if any man have a complaint against any; even as the Lord forgave you, so also do ye: and above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to the which also ye were called in one body; and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts unto God. And whatsoever ye do, in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Wives, be in subjection to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them. Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well-pleasing in the Lord. Fathers, provoke not your children, that they be not discouraged. Servants, obey in all things them that are your masters according to the flesh; not with eye-service, as men-pleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing the Lord: whatsoever ye do, work heartily, as unto the Lord, and not unto men; knowing that from the Lord ye shall receive the recompense of the inheritance: ye serve the Lord Christ. For he that doeth wrong shall receive again for the wrong that he hath done: and there is no respect of persons. (Colossians 3:1-25)

Fear of the Lord

If some watcher or holy one who has spent his glad centuries by the sea of fire were to come to earth, how meaningless to him would be the ceaseless chatter of the busy tribes of men. How strange to him and how empty would sound the flat, stale and profitless words heard in the average pulpit from week to week.

And were such a one to speak on earth would he not speak of God? Would he not charm and fascinate his hearers with rapturous descriptions of the Godhead? And after hearing him could we ever again consent to listen to anything less than theology, the doctrine of God? Would we not thereafter demand of those who would presume to teach us that they speak to us from the mount of divine vision or remain silent altogether?


... the self-assurance of modern Christians, the basic levity present in so many of our religious gatherings, the shocking disrespect shown for the Person of God, are evidence enough of deep blindness of heart.

Many call themselves by the name of Christ, talk much about God, and pray to Him sometimes, but evidently do not know whom He is. ”The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life,” but this healing fear is today hardly found among Christian men.

~ from A. W. Tozer (1897-1963)

The Gift

"I can't see that it's all right with me," said Treffy, in a trembling voice; "it seems dark and dim to me yet. I don't feel that I've got it; I can't feel happy."

"Treffy," said the clergyman, suddenly, "do you think I would tell you a lie?"

"No, sir," said old Treffy; "I'm sure you wouldn't; I could see it in your face, sir, if nowhere else. No, sir, I'd trust you anywhere."

"Now, Treffy," said the clergyman, taking a half-crown from his pocket, "I've brought this for you. You cannot work now, and you need many things you cannot get; I will give you this money to buy them with."

"Thank you, sir," said old Treffy, the tears running down his cheeks; "I can never thank you enough. We are very badly off just now, Christie and me."

"Stop, Treffy," said the clergyman, "it isn't yours yet, you must take it."

Treffy put out his trembling old hand, and took the half-crown, with another murmur of thanks.

"Do you feel that you've got it, Treffy?" said the clergyman.

"Yes, sir, it's here," said old Treffy.

"Are you sure you've got it, Treffy?" said the clergyman again.

"Yes, sir," said Treffy, in a bewildered voice, "I know I have; I don't know what you mean, sir."

"I will tell you what I mean," said the clergyman. "The dear Lord Jesus has come into this room just as I have, Treffy. He has brought a gift for you, just as I did. His gift has cost Him far more than mine cost me; it has cost Him His life. He has come close to you, as I came, and He says to you, as I said: 'Old Treffy, can you trust Me? do you think I would tell you a life?' And then He holds out His gift, as I did, Treffy, and He says, 'Take it; it is for you.' Now, Treffy, what have you to do with this gift? Just exactly what you did with mine. You have not to work for it, or wait for it. You have just to put out your hand and take it. Do you know what the gift is?"

Treffy did not answer, so the clergyman went on:-

"It is the forgiveness of your sin, Treffy; it is the clean heart, for which you are longing; it is the right to enter into 'Home, sweet Home,' for which you have been praying, Treffy; will you take the gift?"

"I want to take it," said old Treffy, "but I don't know how."

"Did you stop to think how you were to take my gift, Treffy?"

"No," said the old man, "I just took it."

"Yes," said the clergyman, "exactly; and that is what you must do with the Lord's gift; you must just take it. Would it have pleased me, Treffy, if you had pulled your hand back and said, 'Oh, no, sir! I don't deserve it; I don't believe you would ever give it to me, I can't take it yet?'"

"No," said Treffy, "I don't suppose it would."

"Yet this is just what you are doing to the Lord Jesus, Treffy. He is holding out His gift to you, and He wants you to take it at once, yet you hold back, and say, 'No, Lord, I can't believe what you say, I can't trust Thy word, I can't believe the gift is for me, I can't take it yet.'

"Treffy," said the clergyman, earnestly, "if you can trust me, oh, why can't you trust the Lord Jesus?"

The tears were running down the old man's face, and he could not speak....

"...And remember, the Lord wishes you to know you are forgiven, not to feel you are forgiven. There is a difference between feeling and knowing. You knew you had taken my gift, and you did not know what I meant when I asked you if you felt I had given it to you. It is the same with Lord's gift, Treffy. Your feelings have nothing to do with your safety, but your faith has a great deal to do with it. Have you taken the Lord at His word? Have you trusted Him? That is the question."

excerpt from "Christie's Old Organ" by O.F. Walton

Rest Assured

"The sight of them [the hills around Berkhamsted] affected me much, and awakened in me a lively Recollection of the Goodness of the Lord in caring for and Protecting me in those dark and dangerous days of Ignorance and Enmity against him, and his own Blessed Word teaches me to draw an Inference from these Premises of more Worth than Millions of Gold and Silver; If while I was an Enemy he loved Me, much more reason have I to rest assured of his Love, being reconciled by the Blood of his Son."

-William Cowper (1731-1800; Poet and penman of the hymn "There is a Fountain Filled With Blood")

Goal Setting

For every mile on the highway, there is a mile marker. These help to determine miles traveled and/or distance to go. They also help with location in times of trouble.

As we travel, we must also have mile markers. Are we still progressing? Are we traveling properly?

Goal setting is fun and rewarding when results are obtained. A goal, the dictionary says, is "an aim or purpose." Life means more with goals than without goals.

Predetermine the objectives you want to accomplish. Think on them and set out to reach your goals.

Have a good day!
Love,
Dad


"I press on toward the goal unto the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."
(Philippians 3:14)

"Therefore let us also, seeing we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us," (Hebrews 12:1)

"Heaven is the prize of the high calling; to brabeion - the prize we fight for, and run for, and wrestle for, what we aim at in all we do, and what will reward all our pains. It is of great use in the Christian course to keep our eye upon heaven. This is proper to give us measures in all our service, and to quicken us every step we take; and it is of God, from whom we are to expect it." (Matthew Henry's commentary of Philippians 3:14)

Look Ahead

You had a nice long weekend in which I hope you had a most enjoyable time. I'm thankful for the time that we spent together.

You must get back to your routine journey. Be sure to apply yourself. Don't get lazy!

Remember:
"If we drove an automobile like we try to run the world, we would have the steering wheel looking out the back window to see from whence we came. The only thing that is important is where you are going."

Keep your eyes on your goals.

Have a good day!
Love,
Dad




We had a most enjoyable vacation with our dear family. It is so important and refreshing to get a break from the routines of our lives. It's unfortunate that it goes by so fast. I am so very thankful for my parents who made this trip possible. I appreciate the help with the kids from everyone (especially my aunt and uncle who come for relaxation). And it was so good to share the time with my brother and sister-in-law and their children. It doesn't get any better than diving after footballs and frisbees in the ocean, watching your children interact with their cousins, enjoying delicious meals and just making sweet, sweet memories. All of the laughs were so very precious. I hope that you are able to share this type of bliss in your lives!

Mine Eye Seeth Thee

"I had heard of thee by the hearing of the ear; But now mine eye seeth thee:" (Job 42:5)

Vacation

Dear 3M Followers,

We are headed off for vacation. I make no guarantees of posts next week, but look for new content to appear soon.

Enjoy your week!

MCA

Forgiveness

Travel with great caution! Proceed with care.

Don't let hard feelings with your loved ones drive you away from the joy of living.

Ten words that help heal all heartaches in a relationship:

"I'm wrong,
I'm sorry,
Please forgive me,
I love you."

How can there be any divisions when that is our attitude toward one another?

Have a good day!
Love,
Dad


"Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and railing, be put away from you, with all malice: and be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, even as God also in Christ forgave you." (Ephesians 4:31-32)

Forgiveness does much for a relationship in settling difficult matters and bringing peace to a home, but that should not be the driving force for such an action. Rather, forgiveness should be a response of the heart as a joyful duty because God has forgiven you of ALL past, present and future transgressions through Christ's sacrificial atonement on the Cross.

Lessons from Job

"But as for me I know that my Redeemer liveth, And at last he will stand up upon the earth: And after my skin, even this body, is destroyed, Then without my flesh shall I see God; Whom I, even I, shall see, on my side, And mine eyes shall behold, and not as a stranger. My heart is consumed within me." (Job 19:25-27)


Gill says of the article "but" that it should be read as an explanative, "to wit" or "namely." In the preceding verses, Job states that he wishes his words were written down, inscribed in a book, engraven on a rock to endure forever. Why? Because it is so important for all to know that despite the fact that Job has just lost his family, his wealth, his health and his friends are attacking him, he is still hopeful in His Redeemer. And it is not any mere man of whom he speaks, nor of God himself. Job speaks of The Christ, the Son of God.

Satan thought that he would get the upper hand of Job, after all he took from him everything. He thought that now would be his chance for someone to forsake the Master, indeed he told God that Job would falter in his faith. As is evident in this verse, Job held strong to his faith. But it was not by his own strength, but that which the Spirit of God gave him.

Job was a righteous man, but still a fallen man. He was righteous because his Redeemer is righteous.

Some lessons to learn from Job:

1. There is only one Redeemer: Jesus Christ the Lord.
2. You do not have to endure trials by your own strength, but lean on the strength of the Lord.
3. Even Satan knew and believed in God, but he did not worship Him nor submit to His will. He did not claim Christ as his savior. There are many who appear to be Christians, but do not truly submit themselves to Christ by His grace.
4. When our life on this earth has come to an end, all that matters is who is our Master. Is your master your family, your wealth, your health or is it the One who promises an eternity in a land flowing with milk and honey?

"Faith is not believing that God will do what I want him to do, or what I think I need him to do. Faith is believing that God will do what he said He would do. Faith in Christ is an abandonment of our own thoughts and ways, and a complete, unreserved trusting of him as our Righteousness, Sin-offering and Sovereign." Pastor Chris Cunningham

Optimist

Tonight the football team travels to Mt. Vernon to play against Rockcastle County. This should be their biggest challenge on their way to Louisville (i.e, state championship-which we won).

Throughout life's journey, we are confronted with challenges, heartaches, trials and obstacles.

There are basically two types of people who deal with these challenges:

1. Pessimist - Those who have a tendency always to look on the dark side of things.

2. Optimist - Those who have a tendency to like the most hopeful view of things.

If you are prepared, have confidence and are ready to accept your challenge, you'll have a better chance at being a winner.

The Apostle Paul said it best, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

Have a good day!
Love,
Dad

Fellowship

As we travel through life's journey, we will be confronted with ill feelings and divisions among those who are our loved ones. Sometimes and for some people, the division is so great that the relationship is broken. Family relationships cannot be broken, but fellowship can be destroyed.

Each of us has an obligation to each other to do our part not to be guilty of being the cause of broken fellowship.

Have a good day!
Love,
Dad

Joy in Life

Repeatedly throughout our journey of life do we find people, places, things that give us a laugh, a good feeling, a joyful spirit.

Learn to appreciate the good and sincere matters of life.

The ultimate fulfillment of joy lies in the person of Christ.

Paul said, "For to me to live is Christ..." Philippians 1:21

What is your life?

Life is worth living because He lives.

Have a good day!
Love,
Dad


"This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118:24

Esther

"How the providence of God watched over the Jews that had returned out of captivity to their own land, and what great and kind things were done for them, we read in the two foregoing books; but there were many who staid behind, having not zeal enough for God's house, and the holy land and city, to carry them through the difficulties of a removal thither. These, one would think, should have been excluded the special protection of Providence, as unworthy the name of Israelites; but our God deals not with us according to our folly and weakness. We find in this book that even those Jews who were scattered in the provinces of the heathen were taken care of, as well as those who were gathered in the land of Judea, and were wonderfully preserved, when doomed to destruction and appointed as sheep for the slaughter."
(from Matthew Henry's commentary on Esther)

I love the book of Esther. It is a mere ten chapters. It shows how all things work together for our good and His glory. And as Henry points out, we are not dealt with according to our sin, but through the redemptive work of Another. Take the time to read through this chapter and savor the works of the Father.