June 8
This isn’t your typical yard sale. All he owns is in the front yard. He is desperate. He is broke, his rent is due, he needs medications and he has no food.
When I arrive the first thing he asks is, “will you pray with me? I’m upset.” I ask the Lord to help my friend through this. Two hours later the phone rings. He returns saying, “That was a lady who wants me to paint her house. I gave her a bid four months ago and she calls today. Go figure!"
I say, I think I know who percipitated the phone call. My friend tears up and so do I. The yard sale is over.
“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
(Matthew 11:30)
Monday, June 7, 2010
Sunday, June 6, 2010
An Apology to my Teachers
June 7
I am sorry for:
-causing my fifth grade teacher to hit me with a pitch pipe that squeaked afterwards;
-putting a cat in my history teacher’s desk draw and kudos for how he handled it;
-breaking the glass in the door when I backed into it during horseplay in English;
-my part in the food fight that splattered an ice cream bar on the Principal's suit.
-waiting so long before taking my ultimate teacher seriously? Thanks for Your patience.
This student is ready and now I see the Teacher appearing everywhere.
“If we confess our sins he is faithful…” (1 John 1:9)
I am sorry for:
-causing my fifth grade teacher to hit me with a pitch pipe that squeaked afterwards;
-putting a cat in my history teacher’s desk draw and kudos for how he handled it;
-breaking the glass in the door when I backed into it during horseplay in English;
-my part in the food fight that splattered an ice cream bar on the Principal's suit.
-waiting so long before taking my ultimate teacher seriously? Thanks for Your patience.
This student is ready and now I see the Teacher appearing everywhere.
“If we confess our sins he is faithful…” (1 John 1:9)
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Normandy Revisited
June 6
This is the anniversary of D-Day, 1944.
A reporter I met in 1959 had returned to Normandy to do a 15th anniversary story.
He said the beach was empty except for a couple in their early thirties walking hand in hand along the water’s edge. He asked the couple where they were that day in 1944. They pointed to a concrete bunker. Both, teens then, had been conscripted as
orderlies by German gun crews. The couple met when they took cover from the Allied barrage.
Later they married. Isn't that what the invasion was about, to free people from bondage to love one another?
"Love endures all things. Love never fails." (1 Corinthians 13:7-8)
This is the anniversary of D-Day, 1944.
A reporter I met in 1959 had returned to Normandy to do a 15th anniversary story.
He said the beach was empty except for a couple in their early thirties walking hand in hand along the water’s edge. He asked the couple where they were that day in 1944. They pointed to a concrete bunker. Both, teens then, had been conscripted as
orderlies by German gun crews. The couple met when they took cover from the Allied barrage.
Later they married. Isn't that what the invasion was about, to free people from bondage to love one another?
"Love endures all things. Love never fails." (1 Corinthians 13:7-8)
Ethnic Joke
June 5
Don is a good minister. One Sunday he tells a joke about a minister who wired all the pews in his church. He asked "all who pledge $100 a week stand up," He pushes a button and several people are jolted to their feet. Applause. He does it again for $50 etc. After the service the preacher notices a Scotsman slumped over in his pew. As I leave I tell Don he needs to take the Scotsman out of the joke. He does and none to soon, for at the next service there is a visiting family from Scotland.
"Rebuke one who has understanding, and he will discern knowledge.”(Proverbs 19-25)
Don is a good minister. One Sunday he tells a joke about a minister who wired all the pews in his church. He asked "all who pledge $100 a week stand up," He pushes a button and several people are jolted to their feet. Applause. He does it again for $50 etc. After the service the preacher notices a Scotsman slumped over in his pew. As I leave I tell Don he needs to take the Scotsman out of the joke. He does and none to soon, for at the next service there is a visiting family from Scotland.
"Rebuke one who has understanding, and he will discern knowledge.”(Proverbs 19-25)
Friday, June 4, 2010
Our Final Words
June 4
A pastor friend shares that when his car was about to collide with another, he yelled "Oh Sh--." He felt ashamed, horrified. “These could have been my last words,” he laments.
Are last words important? They certainly were for one thief at Calvary.(Luke 23:42)
God, just in case I don't get the chance to say something appropriate, let me echo Your Son's last words now.
"Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit." (Luke 23: 46)
A pastor friend shares that when his car was about to collide with another, he yelled "Oh Sh--." He felt ashamed, horrified. “These could have been my last words,” he laments.
Are last words important? They certainly were for one thief at Calvary.(Luke 23:42)
God, just in case I don't get the chance to say something appropriate, let me echo Your Son's last words now.
"Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit." (Luke 23: 46)
Missing Fish Sign
June 3
For my birthday Joy gives me, among other things, a key chain with a medal fish sign, the symbol adopted by the early followers of Jesus. A few days later I notice the fish sign is missing from the key chain and we are leaving for a long trip.
Our car is showing its age 11 years and 175,000 miles. We drive some 3,500 miles that summer on faith and prayers. The engine is noisey and is leaking oil. I take it to a repair shop. The mechanic returns to me and holds out his hand. “I found this
on top of the block.” It is the fish sign.
“You called in trouble, and I delivered you.” (Psalms 81:7)
For my birthday Joy gives me, among other things, a key chain with a medal fish sign, the symbol adopted by the early followers of Jesus. A few days later I notice the fish sign is missing from the key chain and we are leaving for a long trip.
Our car is showing its age 11 years and 175,000 miles. We drive some 3,500 miles that summer on faith and prayers. The engine is noisey and is leaking oil. I take it to a repair shop. The mechanic returns to me and holds out his hand. “I found this
on top of the block.” It is the fish sign.
“You called in trouble, and I delivered you.” (Psalms 81:7)
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Can You Top This?
June 2
Tonight I share, “A God Thing,” with the other members of the Gifts from God board. The Chairman related he helped a man who was out of gas. That encounter lead to a grant from the man’s family foundation. “That was a year ago,” the Chairman said, “I ran into him last month on the same road again out of gas? He said, ‘guess it is time for another grant.” And we received another grant.
Who else can arrange a timely rescue, twice leading to needed funding?
“The Lord hath done some great things for us; whereof we are glad.” (Psalm 126:3)
Tonight I share, “A God Thing,” with the other members of the Gifts from God board. The Chairman related he helped a man who was out of gas. That encounter lead to a grant from the man’s family foundation. “That was a year ago,” the Chairman said, “I ran into him last month on the same road again out of gas? He said, ‘guess it is time for another grant.” And we received another grant.
Who else can arrange a timely rescue, twice leading to needed funding?
“The Lord hath done some great things for us; whereof we are glad.” (Psalm 126:3)
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