Wrong or Right

Often times in life's journey, we are confronted with decisions which can lead us to joy or sorrow, happiness or heartaches.

Many times, it is quite clear what direction we should go. While at other times, it is questionable.

What's wrong or what's right?

Just remember, "Wrong is wrong even if everyone is doing it."

Have a good day!
Love,
Dad


Hear, my sons, the instruction of a father, And attend to know understanding: For I give you good doctrine; Forsake ye not my law. For I was a son unto my father, Tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother. And he taught me, and said unto me: Let thy heart retain my words; Keep my commandments, and live; Get wisdom, get understanding; Forget not, neither decline from the words of my mouth; Forsake her not, and she will preserve thee; Love her, and she will keep thee. Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom; Yea, with all thy getting get understanding. Exalt her, and she will promote thee; She will bring thee to honor, when thou dost embrace her. She will give to thy head a chaplet of grace; A crown of beauty will she deliver to thee. Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; And the years of thy life shall be many. I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in paths of uprightness. When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; And if thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble. Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: Keep her; for she is thy life. Enter not into the path of the wicked, And walk not in the way of evil men. Avoid it, pass not by it; Turn from it, and pass on. For they sleep not, except they do evil; And their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall. For they eat the bread of wickedness, And drink the wine of violence. But the path of the righteous is as the dawning light, That shineth more and more unto the perfect day. The way of the wicked is as darkness: They know not at what they stumble. My son, attend to my words; Incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; Keep them in the midst of thy heart. For they are life unto those that find them, And health to all their flesh. Keep thy heart with all diligence; For out of it are the issues of life. Put away from thee a wayward mouth, And perverse lips put far from thee. Let thine eyes look right on, And let thine eyelids look straight before thee. Make level the path of thy feet, And let all thy ways be established. Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: Remove thy foot from evil. (Pro 4:1-27)

Michtam of David. Preserve me, O God; for in thee do I take refuge. O my soul, thou hast said unto Jehovah, Thou art my Lord: I have no good beyond thee. As for the saints that are in the earth, They are the excellent in whom is all my delight. Their sorrows shall be multiplied that give gifts for another god: Their drink-offerings of blood will I not offer, Nor take their names upon my lips. Jehovah is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: Thou maintainest my lot. The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; Yea, I have a goodly heritage. I will bless Jehovah, who hath given me counsel; Yea, my heart instructeth me in the night seasons. I have set Jehovah always before me: Because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth; My flesh also shall dwell in safety. For thou wilt not leave my soul to Sheol; Neither wilt thou suffer thy holy one to see corruption. Thou wilt show me the path of life: In thy presence is fulness of joy; In thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. (Psa 16:1-11)

Stop

Sometimes it is good to stop! Everyday activities become tiring. We need time to relax and rest. You've had a busy week as you've traveled on your individual course of life.

After today, you'll get to stop for the weekend. Don't stop too early. Make it through the day.

Have a good day!
Love,
Dad

Relatives

"We have careful thoughts for the stranger
And smiles for the visiting guest;
But oft for 'our own'
The bitter tone,
Though we love 'our own' the best."

Why is it that we have the harshest words for our immediate family? We find ourselves being the cruelest toward those that we say we love!

Wouldn't it be better if we put forth our best display of patience, love, understanding and gentleness to those that are our relatives?

Have a good day!
Love,
Dad

Do Unto Others

We are always confronted with new relationships - new friends, new classmates and new associates.

Be friendly with all people. Open up your heart!

"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." We have committed the Golden rule to memory, now let us commit it to life.

Have a good day!
Love,
Dad


There are so many examples in the Bible and throughout history where people did unto others as they would want to have done unto them. There are also examples where people were cruel and violent towards others without any evidence of love. The key to how we treat others is love. Do we prefer others over ourselves? Do we love others and show others kindness, even if they do not do the same? I try to teach these lessons to my children on a daily basis (even though I do not always practice them myself).

Joseph was sold by his brothers into Egyptian slavery. But Jehovah was with Joseph and blessed him abundantly to the high rank of second to the Pharoah (Joseph, a Hebrew!). When Joseph's brothers begged of him for food during the famine, he loved them and welcomed them back into his life as opposed to hurting them or denying them.

In 1 Samuel, we see where David would not hurt King Saul because he was the annointed, chosen king of Jehovah. Yet, King Saul, knowing that David was the chosen successor by Jehovah, was full of anger and jealousy towards David. He searched and searched to kill him, but David was always a step ahead. David had ample opportunity to kill Saul, but never did.

In Acts, Saul persecuted and killed followers of Christ. He had a hand in the stoning death of Stephen. Saul saw the light of Christ on the road to Damascus and became the Apostle Paul, and never forgave himself the violent sins he had committed against God's saints, even though Christ had forgiven him. The first apostles could have avenged the death of so many of their brethren by killing Paul, but they loved him instead.

My family knew a man whose young adult daughter was abducted from her job, raped and murdered. The man was arrested and found guilty of his crime. Instead of being angry and resentful towards this man who took the life of his daughter, Mr. Miller showed love and kindness towards him. Mr. Miller would visit the man in prison (located a good distance from his home) and share the love of Christ with him. Could you do that?

The key to showing love to others is to be filled with the love of Christ. Open your heart today! Be filled with Christ, wear it! and share it with others!

Calvary

"'The place which is called Calvary' Luke 23:33

The hill of comfort is the hill of Calvary; the house of consolation is built with the wood of the cross; the temple of heavenly blessing is founded upon the riven rock-riven by the spear which pierced His side. No scene in sacred history ever gladdens the soul like Calvary's tragedy.

'It is not strange, the darkest hour
That ever dawned on sinful earth,
Should touch the heart with softer power,
For comfort, than an angel's mirth?
That to the Cross the mourner's eye should turn,
Sooner than where the stars of Bethlehem burn?'

Light springs from the midday-midnight of Golgotha, and every herb of the field blooms sweetly beneath the shadow of the once accursed tree. In that place of thirst, grace hath dug a fountain which ever gusheth with waters pure as crystal, each drop capable of alleviating the woes of mankind. You who have had your seasons of conflict, will confess that it was not at Olivet that you ever found comfort, not on the hill of Sinai, nor on Tabor; but Gethsemane, Gabbatha, and Golgotha have been a means of comfort to you. The bitter herbs of Gethsemane have often taken away the bitters of your life; the scourge of Gabbatha has often scourged away your cares, and the groans of Calvary have put all other groans to flight. Thus Calvary yields us comfort rare and rich. We never should have known Christ's love in all its heights and depths if He had not died; nor could we guess the Father's deep affection if He had not given His Son to die. The common mercies we enjoy all sing of love, just as the sea-shell, when we put it to our ears, whispers of the deep sea whence it came; but if we desire to hear the ocean itself, we must not look at everyday blessings, but at the transactions of the crucifixion. He who would know love, let him retire to Calvary and see the Man of sorrows die."
from Spurgeon's Morning and Evening, April 10.


Before the Day Star Knew Its Place - Don Fortner

Before the sun in heav’n was placed,
Or angel’s voice could sound,
God’s saints in bonds of sov’reign grace,
Were one with Jesus found.

In all Christ Jesus did on earth,
His chosen did in Him; —
From the obedience of His birth,
Through death in darkness grim!

For His elect He tasted death;
All glory to his name!
Triumphant in His dying breath,
With Him we overcame!

With Christ our Savior on the tree
We met the law’s demands;
“I am in them. They are in me.”
And thus our union stands!

Since Jesus slept among the dead,
He saved us from death’s fear;
For with our suff’ring gracious Head,
We’ve been triumphant there.

When from the tomb we see Him rise,
Triumphant o’er our foes,
He bore His members to the skies,
And with Him we arose!

This union cannot be dissolved,
By which all things are ours,
Long as eternal years revolve,
Or Deity endures!

Faith in the Valley

Life is such that we can never completely stop!

As we travel on life's journey, we should be progressing and making advances.

One of life's greatest risk is to do nothing.

Have a good day!
Love,
Dad


Sometimes our progress may feel like we're doing "nothing" and therein lies the advancement. Waiting upon God's providence to work out what He has for us. We know that we are the clay and He is the potter. He molds us and shapes us. It is not always comfortable. Job experienced this. In his lowest, he had no family, no friends, no wealth, poor health and thought he had been utterly foresaken. Yet, his faith remained. So in his doing "nothing," he was being faithful in relying upon God's grace and mercy. And upon this reliance, Job saw the Lord at His greatest. He delivered him and blessed him abundantly. Today, as you are working towards your goal, remember to rely on the grace and mercy of Jehovah Jirah (Lord our Provider).

The Valley of Vision

Lord, High and Holy, Meek and Lowly,
Thou hast brought me to the valley of vision, where I live in the depths but see thee in the heights;
hemmed in by mountains of sin I behold thy glory.

Let me learn by paradox
that the way down is the way up,
that to be low is to be high,
that the broken heart is the healed heart,
that the contrite spirit is the rejoicing spirit,
that the repenting soul is the victorious soul,
that to have nothing is to possess all,
that to bear the cross is to wear the crown,
that to give is to receive,
that the valley is the place of vision.

Lord, in the daytime stars can be seen from deepest wells,
and the deeper the wells the brighter thy stars shine;
Let me find thy light in my darkness,
thy life in my death,
thy joy in my sorrow,
thy grace in my sin,
thy riches in my poverty
thy glory in my valley.

(from The Valley of Vision)

Stardom

During the 15 years [now 30 years] that I have been in the insurance business, I have seen several individuals get into the business only to leave shortly thereafter.

* Many individuals have the God-given talent to be successful in the athletic field, and yet they never reach stardom.

* Many have potential, yet few have production!

* Reach your greatest!
*Apply yourself.

Have a good day!
Love,
Dad

Happy Birthday, Dad!

In my senior English class, we were studying the concept of altruism (I do not remember for what reason). We were given an assignment to write about someone we believed to be truly altruistic. The way I remember is that there was a pyramid whereby someone was found to be truly altruistic at the top. We were to give supporting arguments along each step of the gradation as to why we believed this person had achieved the highest honor of being considered truly altruistic. I'm sure many of the students picked presidents, civil rights leaders, athletes and others. I chose my father. The teacher tried to convince me that you have to be "great" to be truly altruistic and no mere man could fit all the criteria to reach the top of the pyramid. However, I was able to write a convincing argument to the contrary. Websters defines altruism as the unselfish regard for or devotion to the welfare of others. Anyone who knows my father, knows that he is certainly altruistic. And he is no "mere man." But more than his unselfish regard to his fellow man, is his supreme devotion to his God and his King!


Spurgeon's Morning and Evening for today describes Dad's devotion pretty well.

"'Let us go forth therefore unto Him without the camp' Hebrews 13:13
Jesus, bearing His cross, went forth to suffer without the gate. The Christian's reason for leaving the camp of the world's sin and religion is not because he loves to be singular, but because Jesus did so, and the disciple must follow his Master. Christ was 'not of the world:' His life and His testimony were a constant protest against conformity with the world. Never was such overflowing affection for men as you find in Him; but still He was separate from sinners. In like manner Christ's people must 'go forth unto Him.' They must take their position 'without the camp,' as witness-bearers for the truth. They must be prepared to tread the straight and narrow path. They must have bold, unflinching, lion-like hearts, loving Christ first, and His truth next, and Christ and His truth beyond all the world. Jesus would have His people 'go forth without the camp' for the own sanctification. You cannot grow in grace to any high degree while you are conformed to the world. The life of separation may be a path of sorrow, but it is the highway of safety; and though the separated life may cost you many pangs, and make every day a battle, yet it is a happy life after all. No joy can excel that of the soldier of Christ: Jesus reveals Himself so graciously, and gives such sweet refreshment, that the warrior feels more calm and peace in his daily strife than others in their hours of rest. The highway of holiness is the highway of communion. It is thus we shall hope to win the crown if we are enabled by divine grace faithfully to follow Christ 'without the camp.' The crown of glory will follow the cross of separation. A moment's shame will be well recompensed by eternal honour; a little while of witness-bearing will seem nothing when we are 'forever with the Lord.'"

Thanks, Dad, for teaching me so many things. I recall one Sunday morning in church that you were putting your offering into the offering plate before services started and I looked at the amount on the check. Astonished, I asked you why in the world would you give so much money to the church (I think it was only about $50)!! You proclaimed, "The Lord has blessed me with this money. It is my honor and my duty to return it to Him for the work to be done on this earth for His eternal kingdom."

I can only say that you're the best! I consider it to be one of the greatest blessings that the good Lord has bestowed upon me to have a man like you as my first teacher, my lifelong supporter, my daily joy and my eternal brother! I pray for the Lord's richest blessings on you today and for many days to come! Happy Birthday! I love you!

Commitment

I heard a very interesting statistic the other day that got me thinking--maybe it will do the same for you.

"Over 80% of the Presidents and CEOs of America's largest companies are regular attendees of church. They also are married and have never been divorced."

The financial and business leaders are committed to their business, family and God. The spark plugs and go-getters of America's economy understand the importance of worship, relationships and devotions.

What about you? Is our relationship to God and one another important? Examine.

Have a good day!
Love,
Dad


"Things Needful

Thou Eternal Source,
Author of all created being and happiness, I adore thee for making man capable of religion, that he may be taught to say:
'Where is God, my Maker, who giveth songs in the night?'
But degeneracy has spread over our human race, turning glory into shame, rendering us forgetful of thee.
We know it is thy power alone that can recall wondering children, can impress on them a sense of divine things, and can render that sense lasting and effectual;
From thee proceed all good purposes and desires, and the diffusing of piety and happiness.
Thou hast knowledge of my soul's secret principles, and art aware of my desire to spread the gospel.
Make me an almoner to give thy bounties to the indigent, comfort to the mentally ill, restoration to the sin-diseased, hope to the despairing, joy to the sorrowing, love to the prodigals.
Blow away the ashes of unbelief by thy Spirit's breath and give me light, fire, and warmth of love.
I need spiritual comforts that are gentle, peaceful, mild, refreshing, that will melt me into conscious lowliness before thee, that will make me feel and rest in thee as my All.
Fill the garden of my soul with the wind of love, that the scents of the Christian life may be wafted to others; then come and gather fruits to thy glory.
So shall I fulfil the great end of my being - to glorify thee and be a blessing to men." from Valley of Vision


"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly. So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat." Teddy Roosevelt, 1858-1919

Be Little

Never be guilty of looking down on others. It is so easy to laugh and make fun of other individuals. In doing so, we think it increases our status. Not so!

"To belittle others is to be little."

Look for the good in others. If there is to be any belittling, let it be toward ourselves. The Bible continually speaks of humility.

"He must increase, but I must decrease." (John 3:30)

"Yea, all of you gird yourselves with humility, to serve one another: for God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble." (1Peter 5:5)

Have a good day!
Love,
Dad