Steady steps

I am always amazed at how much time I can spend getting the work done in and around the house and today was no exception. I feel that I am about on top of those details so will get a quick blog out for all of you dear people that keep checking and praying.

Our camping trip last weekend went well but we did have rain and got soaked. Quite honestly I wondered if neighbor Keith would every want to camp again but on our way home he said he was ready to go again, any time I wanted company. I was reminded that a trip like this is one that you remember and will talk about many times in the future. When everything goes just right, it is fun but takes a back-seat in our memory bank.

As I have been reflecting on the promises of God this past week I was encouraged by my reading in The Daily Message which included a portion of Psalm 119.

“You’re blessed when you stay on course,
walking steadily on the road revealed by GOD.
You’re blessed when you follow his directions,
doing your best to find him.
That’s right—you don’t go off on your own;
you walk straight along the road he set.
You, GOD, prescribed the right way to live;
now you expect us to live it.
Oh, that my steps might be steady,
keeping to the course you set;
Then I’d never have any regrets
in comparing my life with your counsel.
I thank you for speaking straight from your heart;
I learn the Pattern of your righteous ways.
I’m going to do what you tell me to do;
don’t ever walk off and leave me.”…

“I’ve banked your promises in the vault of my heart
so I won’t sin myself bankrupt.” (vs. 11)

Hopefully I am starting to get it. We have everything that we need for life and godliness but we need to know the promises and in faith ask Him to fulfill them. I plan more study and reflection on those promises this coming week.

Might our steps be steady along that course He has set!

Love to you all, Chuck

Promises

The other day a friend asked; "What have you been reading lately" and I had to stop and think about it for several moments. Even with the reading that I do each morning, it seems that my days get so full that the "food" I started with from the Word of God gets pushed way back in my thoughts. I was challenged by that question to do a better job of meditating about what I read earlier during the day. Filling those available moments during the day with the encouragement and challenge I read about during the early hours.

For several days "Indeed" has been focusing on the "Great and Precious Promises" from God. The author reminds us that all of those promises are assured. But..."The only catch is this: You have to know the promises and you have to ask Him in faith to fulfill them. Other than that, there are no overriding restrictions...Everything for life and godliness has been promised."

Here are a few brief promises that were mentioned. You may wish to look up the verses and read a more complete account. "Whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16) "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9) "He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear." (1 Corinthians 10:13) "In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." (Proverbs 3:6) "Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." (Matthew 6:33) "Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart." (Psalm 37:4) Looking ahead, I see that there is a new promise for each day right on to the end of the month. But as I read these wonderful promises, I am reminded that with each comes requirements, but there again He has promised to provide the strength and wisdom to claim them if we but trust and obey Him!

This weekend I am going camping in the mountains on the Blue Ridge Parkway with my neighbor Keith and a dear couple from the mission. I am praying that this will be a refreshing and restful time for each of us and a time to share a bit about what the Lord has been doing in each of our lives. Thanks so much for your prayers. I am always encouraged knowing that you are out there praying for me as I do for each of you.

I trust that each of you will have a special weekend with family and friends enjoying some of the rich blessings from the Lord.

Love,

Chuck

Where is my trust?

The past few days, my reading of the Scriptures in The Daily Message have been in the book of 2 Chronicles. I got a bit behind during the week but caught up on the readings over the weekend between yard work and house work. Reading about the numerous kings and how they reacted in their influential positions reminded me that they were no different in many ways than each one of us as we live lives of varying degrees of leadership in our families, neighborhoods, work site, and churches. The age at which they assumed their responsibilities did not appear to be a big factor. The “real deal” was their obedience to God and that was clear as we see the end of their lives. I have been feeling God speaking directly to me as I have been reading those chapters.

I especially was struck by the life of King Asa in chapters 14-16. We read; “There was peace in the land for ten years, for Asa did what was pleasing and good in the sight of the LORD his God.” Then as trouble arose from outside we read; “Then Asa cried out to the LORD his God, ‘O LORD, no one but you can help the powerless against the mighty! Help us, O LORD our God, for we trust in you alone.”

The words of Azariah impacted Asa when he reminded him “The LORD will stay with you as long as you stay with him! Whenever you seek him, you will find him. But if you abandon him, he will abandon you.” (15:2) And as he obeyed the Lord we read “So there was no more war until the thirty-fifth year of Asa’s reign.” In his 36th year, Asa made some bad decisions, putting his trust in a strong neighboring king rather that in God. Hanani the seer called him on his root decision telling him; “…you missed your chance... The eyes of the LORD search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.” Asa become angry throwing Hanani into prison and things rapidly fell apart in his life, dying of a life threatening disease for which he did not seek his Lord’s help even after many years of walking with Him. (16:7-14)

This is a strong reminder of how easy it is to live a God-honoring life and because of his many blessings, allow pride to take control of my thinking and make bad decisions. Decisions made on my understanding or desires and not according to God’s will.

Thank you Lord for your Word and for your Holy Spirit that interprets that Word to speak specifically to me and often my situation/need at the moment!

May each of you have a blessed new week.

Love,

Chuck

If my people...

Thanks to all of you who so faithfully continue to pray, and for your calls and notes regarding my weekend trip to DC spent with daughter Lisa. The trip went well and I am safely back in Charlotte catching up on things at the office as well as at home.

Lisa planned several fun events for us so we were quite on the move much of the time. We attended a portion of a jazz concert in the park, visited some interesting museums, went sailing on the Potomac with a friend of hers, and took a most interesting walking tour from the Ford's Theatre where Abraham Lincoln was assassinated, around the district learning much about that era from our guide that was dressed in a very full (and hot)1800's dress. She played the part of Elizabeth Keckly, seamstress and confident to Mary Todd Lincoln. It was most interesting to step back into history and see those years through the eyes of black woman who purchased her freedom for the amazing sum of $1,200. Truly amazing when we learned that her usual income was $3 a day!

Her close friendship with the Lincolns gave her much insight into their lives right on through the assassination in 1865 and the aftermath when she stayed with Mary and the two children. She even helped Mrs. Lincoln sell some of her fine dresses to raise funds as she was financially destitute after her husbands death. It was quite in contrast to current presidents that leave the office far from destitute.

It was interesting that while in Washington, my reading in The Daily Message focused on 2 Chronicles chapter 7. Verse 14 especially spoke to me; "...if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land." That certainly is what we need today. But verse 19 warns "But if you turn away and forsake the decrees and commands I have given you and go off to serve others gods..." That will be disaster! It is easy to point a finger when we read those verses, but I was convicted of my own responsibility in relation to those verses.

May God help us to to seek him above all other gods including that god of self!

Love to you all,

Chuck

God leads gently

I have been reading an exciting book; A Doctor without A Country written by Thomas A. Lambie, M.D. who happens to be the uncle of our teacher Tom. It is an amazing story about Dr. Lambie's travels into Anglo-Sudan Africa in the early 1900's with experiences that keep you on the edge of your seat as he pushes through unbelievable situations and with much prayer and persistence was able to push in to Abyssinia. Here are a couple of quotes that have jogged my thinking:

"...I have found that we can learn something from the humblest native of the remotest jungle. It requires humility to learn, and that is perhaps the point at which we missionaries are weakest, for there is a pride of the spiritual man far harder to overcome than pride which springs up in the man 'of the world'."

His travels frequently encountered dangerous animals and groups of people that had never laid eyes upon another white man. For me, I believe that the constant cloud of mosquitoes would have been most difficult for me. As he described sleeping under a mosquito net, keeping well away from the net covered with the hungry critters. He said; "I once estimated that there were 130 mosquitoes sitting on every square foot of the wire netting, seeking to get in."

"So we advanced toward Abyssinia and toward a deeper trust in God through experiences on the reaches of the White Nile...travelling tens of thousands of miles for Jesus Christ in Abyssinia. Had we know where the journey would end and the responsibilities we were afterwards to bear, we might have qauiled from it. God leads us on gently like a good shepherd."

That is so true. God does lead us gently on. And how thankful I am for that gentle leading. I have been trying to journal each day this past year, keeping a record of His leading. Frequently I turn back a few pages just to remind myself of His goodness and be encouraged to continue ahead.

Tomorrow I am driving to Washington DC to spend the weekend with daughter Lisa. She was the only one that was not able to join the family for the weekend of the 4th. I am looking forward to a special weekend together.

Love to you all,

Chuck

Overwhelmed?

Have you every felt overwhelmed? I think that is a word that frequently describes my feelings. I can’t believe how many dear friends are struggling with health, grief, emotional and spiritual issues. I want to “fix” them but realize that is God’s job, but it is my job to continue to pray for them and be available when I can help and encourage them.

Recently I was reading an article by David McCasland referring to Romans 12:9-21. He said; “Paul gives ways to express practical Christianity. ‘Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.’ (vs. 15) We can give a hand to grieving friends and family by understanding their sorrow and not expecting them to ‘get over it.’ We can mention the name of the person whose death has brought such desolation and then share a fond memory. We can be quiet, listen and pray for God’s help. Only God can help the deep wounds of the heart, but we can lend a hand…No one is strong enough to bear his burdens alone.” Well said!

My plans to do some yard work in the cool of the morning were changed today by a nice shower, so I focused on a bit of cleaning and organizing inside. I took care of one cupboard containing many medications which Carol used as she battled cancer. That was one of those things I have put off many times but needed to be done. It is emotional for me to remove memories…even pills.

Tomorrow I plan to have a few people in for dinner. I found a package of meat in the freezer that is more than I wish to use for myself, so it is a good excuse to have some folks in for a meal. So many continue to invite me for meals and I know that there is no way that I can reciprocate, but I try to connect with as many as possible. On Monday I will have guests over night as they travel from New York back to Florida. Visitors are always a blessing! Stop in when you can. You are always welcome.

Love to you all,

Chuck