FEBRUAR7Y 2023 NEWSLETTER

                                             

                                          FEBRUARY 2023 NEWSLETTER

 

                                          HOW TO KEEP ON KEEPING ON

 

                                             Psalm 113:1-3 Message Bible

 

Hallelujah!

You serve God; praise God!

To speak, His name is Praise!

Just remember, God is a blessing –

now, and tomorrow and always.

From east to west, from dawn to dusk,

keep lifting all your praises to God!

 

      But you don’t understand.  I’m hurting so bad.  No one understands what I’m going through.  I worked hard all my life and helped the poor and needy, and look at me now.  These are the words people were down and out and under dire circumstances.

      I was going through such a time as this recently in my life.  I saw more sickness than most because I lived with it constantly.  I must admit I wanted to run away and hide or have someone lock me up and throw away the key.  I was at my wit’s end.  I woke up in the morning and had a heavy weight pushing down on me, but I got up.  After all these years – too many to mention – I was ready to throw in the towel and just give up.  But, hey, at 87, going on to 88, no one would notice.

      I had made up a set of goals for myself that I have written in a journal that I tried to do daily.  To my surprise, I had reached three of these goals, so I kept on keeping on.  Then my pastor gave me a hands-up of some writing I had him look at it, we had revival services in our church, and the evangelist actually shook my hand and talked to me.  The Holy Spirit used those meetings to make me see that “Jesus loves me; this I know for the Bible tells me so .”

       So the answer for me is in these verses: Praise Him, just to speak his name is Praise, remembering what He has done, is doing, and will do is Praise, so keep on keeping on praising Him.

 

PRAYER: God, thank you for the closed doors.  Thank you for not allowing me to settle for second best.  God, whenever I thought I was being rejected for something good, you were re-directing me to something better.  God, I pray,  You will usually give me peace when restoration creates in.  I pray you will provide me with strength when I’m told “no.”  Thank you for teaching me that “no” is just a step to a bigger and better “YES.”  AMEN

 

 ARE YOU HURTING?

 

The Bible tells us in Psalm 62:1-12 that we can find refuge in the time of storm.

      The meaning of the word “refuge” is a shelter against harm.  For example, when a violent storm arises, we all try to find a safe refuge so that we will not be harmed in any way.  However, we must be careful in our selection because what may look safe may, in reality, not be safe.

      We sing a hymn in our churches called “A Shelter in the Time of Storm.”  The first verse tells us, “the Lord’s our rock, in Him we hide . . . Secure whatever ill betide.”  The psalmist declares the same truth to us in Psalm 62:7-8.

      Another hymn says, “in times like these, you need a Savior, in times like these, you need an anchor.”  Truly, we live in days of turmoil, and how prescient it is to have the assurance of having the Lord as our anchor and refuge.  However, this assurance can only be yours if you have personally accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior.                          

      Some Christians have not learned all the truths of Psalm 62: 38.  Some Christians are still looking to other places for their safety, but they are all as quicksand; only Christ is our solid rock, our only place of refuge.  Not only is there safety, but trusting also brings happiness (blessing) of the Lord in our life (some 2:12).  Do you have the right refuge?

      Day by day and with each passing moment, the strength I find to meet my troubles here;

Trusting in my father’s wise bestowment,

    I have no cause for worry or fear. 

      He whose heart is kind beyond all measure

         Gives onto each day what He deems best 

            Lovingly, its part of pain and pleasure,

              Mingling toil with peace and rest.   

 

I AM A PRODIGAL

 

I want to tell you how my life became a prodigal person.

 

No, this isn’t a list of terrible sins I’ve committed; it is some of the ways I strayed away from my faith.  One day this respected person left home.  There were no assertive words of goodbye, no angry words; in fact, I didn’t even say goodbye.  I didn’t pack up and walk out the main gate of the Homestead.  It just happened that morning.  I was working at my job and heard a bouncy melody.  I needed to make out the words, but they sounded familiar yet surprisingly new.  So, gifted with an intriguing nature and energetic determination, I decided to find out more.

      Maybe what I would discover will make my life better.  I wanted all the gusto the world had to offer.  I made up my mind to follow my simple desires, and I began to whistle that catchy tune.  I headed out to follow that compiling urge.

      When I reacted to the broad highway, it was easygoing.  Until now, I had no idea how big and fascinatingly complex.  The word actually was.

      As I began my exploitations, I didn’t succumb to the temptation to do anything bad.  I just sort of wonder impulsively here and there, following a newfound freedom.  I ate what I wanted when I wanted.  Entertainment became a full-time pursuit.  People there invited me to go with them to see dinner theaters with the wrong connotations and even drink an occasional toast for a better life.

      At first, I thrived in this environment, and I can’t really recall when I drifted over to the Worldly Café.  Here I ate my fill of better grapes, crab apples, and an appetizer called GRUMBLE CRUMBLES.  With a little urging, I tried the barbecue creatures and chased it down with whiners wine (great).  After a while, I acquired a taste for everything and had it pulled me down without expecting it.  Instead of being happy, I was miserable.  What can I do to be happy and peaceful again as she and Mark?

      Time went by.  One morning I woke up and realized I missed the love relationship.  I once had with my maker, I missed being home.  Although variety a lot.  I was starving for real food.  I remember those in the father’s house who would be singing praises and sounds of gratitude and eating His word.  How pointless my life had become.  I’ve got to get back home, I said aloud.  Then I took my first step back.

     I saw Father on the housetop.  He was looking for me to return.  As I got closer, I lost sight of Father, but not for long.  It came out of the house and ran to me, but at His hands.  It took me into His breast and helped me for a long time.  Finally, he caught angels to bring the robe of righteousness and put it on me.  He spoke in my ear and told me that the marriage supper of the Lamb world would have a place of honor.  He told me, “I love you, my son, with everlasting love.  Welcome back!”

 

On February 3, I will be eighty-eight (88) and longing to see the Golden Gate and God the father, God the Son,  God the Holy Spirit.  God is good (great) all the time; all the time, God is good (great)!  Amen?

                                                             Jesus loves you, and so do I  

                                                                                                                Ol’ Uncle Bob, storyteller