As Time Flies

We casually use the phrase "time flies" to express awe and wonder at how quickly the years pass, i.e. how children move from adolescence to teens to adults. How true it is that time does seem to ... fly. God says, "There is an appointed time for everything." (Ecclesiastes 3:1a NASB). From an earthly perspective, we all understanding appointed times ... with the dentist, financial adviser, auto mechanic, etc. Those appointments are set with specific date, time and purpose. Times appointed by God Himself, however, refer more precisely to the good we pursue that is profitable with eternity in mind. "What profit is there to the worker from that in which he toils? I have seen the task which God has given the sons of men with which to occupy themselves." (Ecclesiastes 3:9-10 NASB). Among the list of times God gives in Verses 2-8, one is "a time to give birth and a time to die;" yes, life has a set beginning and end. What matters most is what we do between that beginning and that end. How tragic when the end comes with frivolous pursuits. What a precious and timely prayer asking God to "teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom" (Psalm 90:12 ESV). How precious time is and time is fleeting! May the pursuits of all our days be God-appointed ... as time flies.

Read On!

Perhaps none of us realize the importance of our eyesight until it is impaired. I can personally testify to this. Several places in Scripture, as God spoke, He instructed men to "write down" His words. None of us can fully realize how wonderful it is we no longer have to rely on dreams and visions from The Lord: we have His Truth written down and preserved through the ages! To the prophet Habakkuk God said, "Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it" (Habakkuk 2:2 ESV). The written Word of God gives wisdom, comfort, guidance ... instruction. As we read, The Holy Spirit does something miraculous: He writes them on the hearts of Its readers. To Joshua, God said: "Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law ... Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left ... The Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it." (Joshua 1:7-8 ESV). The words we see and read with our eyes find their rightful place in our hearts. I've just had eye surgery to correct a problem with my right eye, and I'm so blessed that the problem is resolved and my vision is improved. My prayer is that I not neglect to use my eyes to read what is good and right for this heart of mine ... read on!

Medical Blog Break

 Blog Break due to Medical Reasons
Hope to be back soon!
Stay in The Word
Miles of Smiles, Beverly  

In-Stride with God

During chemotherapy treatments, Mister Bill walked five miles almost every day. I tried to walk with him a few times, but I just couldn’t keep up! Oswald Chambers wrote this: “The test of a man’s religious life and character is not what he does in the exceptional moments of life, but what he does in the ordinary times, when there is nothing tremendous or exciting going on.” Ordinary tasks and times aren’t always our favorites; they tend to lull us into a state of apathy. I think of Mister Jim who spent most of his life in education, however, after his retirement he took a position as a custodian. He found joy in the simple and otherwise mundane -- admiring a good shine on the bathroom floor and the sparkle of brass handrails. We have trouble at times getting “in stride” with God, getting our “second wind spiritually.” One of my favorite Bible heroes is Enoch.  We know very little about him except that he was Noah’s great-grandfather and Methuselah’s father yet his spiritual fame says it all, “And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.” (Genesis 5:24 ESV). His walk-with-God wasn’t just a small stretch – no, it was some 300 years! Three hundred years and there’s no mention of Enoch being out-of-step with Almighty God! Enoch never tasted the bitterness of death; he and God just walked on into eternity. Can there possibly be anything sweeter than being in-step with God, anything more deeply rich than that kind of communion with The Father! Be zealous in your walk with God, and don’t ever fret about matching strides with The Father … He’ll never leave you behind!

Consider Your Resemblance

Those who know him may be surprise to learn Mister Bill was quite the letter-writer in our high school years. Four grades ahead of me and in different schools, he wrote and sent by courier a letter to me every day! God’s children have been given a particular pattern for living.  We are to adopt a way of life that imitates Christ.  Everyone knows what it is to be a son or a daughter; our birth certificates bear the names of a biological mother and father.  So our souls bear the Name of the One Most High, and it is our lifestyle that identifies us as His.  In his Gospel, Luke wrote, “But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High.” (6:35 ESV)   These weren’t suggestions to sinners telling them how to behave, rather a reminder to Believers of who they are in Christ Jesus.  Loving enemies isn’t the world’s way, but God’s way; doing good isn’t so common, but a trait of God; to give anticipating nothing in return isn’t sensible to the world, yet perfectly sensible to God.  When we do life God’s way, we’re rewarded far greater than we can imagine.  Also, we are identified by God and the world as genuine disciples of Christ.  Yes, those Mister Bill letters thrilled my heart and I found a sense of acceptance in his words; there was a real resemble between his words and his affection for me.  Genuine Christianity always bears the mark of the Father. Take time right now to ... consider your resemblance!