GOD's Loyal Love

I had seen groups riding Segways in Washington on several occasions and thought that it looked fun, not expecting to ride one. Then one of my coworkers thought that a group of us should take a tour on them together. He made the arrangements and as you can see, I enjoyed a delightful 3-hour ride around the Latta Plantation. The training was a bit unsettling and I just about wiped out on the “ditch test” when I had to slowly descend to the bottom of a ditch, stop and stand still for a few moments, then drive up the other side. I made it and found the 30-minute training to be a perfect preparation for our tour of the 1000+ acre property which is along Mountain Island Lake that provides the water for Charlotte and surrounding communities.

Recently while reading Lamentations in The Message, it spoke to me as I continue to go through this period of adjustment which I suspect may be endless. But these verses were a great encouragement to me:

“I’ll never forget the trouble, the utter lostness,
the taste of ashes, the poison I’ve swallowed.
I remember it all—oh, how well I remember—
the feeling of hitting the bottom.
But there’s one other thing I remember,
and remembering, I keep a grip on hope."

"GOD’s loyal love couldn’t have run out,
his merciful love couldn’t have dried up.
They’re created new every morning.
How great your faithfulness!
I’m sticking with GOD (I say it over and over)
He’s all I’ve got left.” (Lamentations 3:19-24)

I especially like the instructions in verses 28-29:

“When life is heavy and hard to take,
go off by yourself. Enter the silence,
Bow in prayer. Don’t ask questions:
Wait for hope to appear.
Don’t run from trouble. Take it full-face,
The ‘worst’ is never the worst.”

I trust that each of you will have a wonderful week. May you experience a special portion of GOD’s loyal love!

Love to you all,

Chuck

Weekend activities

Thanks to the lovely fall rain, Saturday was a major appliance cleaning day for me. Refrigerator coils and it’s interior, dryer and vent along with the area under each and also the oven which needed some spills eliminated. After all of that it was necessary to clean the kitchen and laundry room floors and vacuum and dust throughout the house, wrapping up the day by getting the laundry out of the way. Fortunately it was not all work. I took a couple of hours off in the afternoon to celebrate the wedding anniversary of some dear coworkers. I confess that I did have “some moments” during their celebration, but did quite well. Being in the same room where we had celebrated Carol’s last birthday here made it a little difficult but I am thankful for the strength which the Lord provides day by day.

I have been reading the book of Jeremiah in The Daily Message. In Chapter 29 we read the message from “GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies, Israel’s God” as he reminds the exiles whom had been taken to Babylon that “as soon as Babylon’s seventy years are up and not a day before, I’ll show up and take care of you as I promised and bring you back home. I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.”

How often we quote verse 29:11 forgetting that seventy years of exile was also part of His plan for them. I am afraid that today we may be a little too much geared to an instant response as we pray, and forget that our timing may not necessarily be His. This spoke loud and clear to me as I read it and hopefully will impact my anticipated response to prayers in the future.

Our class today with Tom was a delight as usual, studying Psalm 56, reflecting on David’s words after being seized by the Philistines in Gath. What an encouragement to know that even the strong David experienced fear but was quick to put his trust in God and continue to praise Him during the ordeal. Another good lesson for me!

It is always a delight to hear from so many of you and be encouraged by your prayers. Thanks for keeping in touch!

Love,

Chuck

Weekend at the beach

I enjoyed a delightful weekend with friends camping at Myrtle Beach. Former neighbor Keith and the Longs joined me for a wonderful time together enjoying the unseasonably warm weather along with a bit of rain on Saturday. It is always a thrill to experience the vastness of the Atlantic Ocean and the salty air. We were able to do a fair amount of hiking in the state park and on the beach but Keith was having trouble with his back and Bud had a painful leg which limited the two of them a bit.

Fortunately the rain did not hamper our fun. As we ate one meal at the picnic table under our umbrellas we were reminded that these experiences are the ones that we will remember well. We spent our evenings playing games and even took time for a quick game of Rummy Cube by the ocean before leaving for the drive home on Sunday. I have to admit that the clean-up when returning home is a bit more challenging with soggy items and a fair load of sand, but it was a special time of enjoying a beautiful portion of God’s beauty and the fellowship with good friends.

In spite of the warm weather and the rain, we had a campfire going all of the time we were in camp. Keith and Bud are experts at the task. There is something special about sitting around the fire watching the embers glow, listening to the crackle of the wood and enjoying that hint of wood smoke in the air. I am sure that most of us recall a special evening by a campfire or possibly in front of a fireplace when we enjoyed pensive times and possibly made some major decisions that impacted our lives. Often as I watch a fire, I think about the similarity to our lives. From a spark to a huge blaze down to a dying ember…A good reminder to use wisely each day to glorify our Lord while there is still a glow coming from our “ember”.

Yesterday was one of those fall-like days with a chill in the air and a light rain for most of the day. Perfect weather for the new grass that I have started to fill in the dead areas where I killed the unwanted invasive Bermuda Grass that likes to take over yards in this part of the country. There are now hints of color in the trees and a shortening of daylight hours that confirm the close of summer.

I am thankful for continued health and strength to enjoy the blessings of life but am also aware of so many friends that are having many struggles these days. My prayer list continues to grow but I am thankful that this life is only the beginning. We have so much more ahead of us…an eternity free of stress and pain to enjoy with our Lord and Savior. It is my prayer that each of us will hold fast to that hope as we continue to encourage each other and prepare for the day when we come face to face with Him.

Love to you all,

Chuck

He Put Our Lives Together

Reading the book of Titus in The Message this morning, I found Chapter 3 to be a great reminder of God's continual working in our lives....especially mine!

"It wasn't so long ago that we ourselves were stupid and stubborn, dupes of sin, ordered every which way by our glands, going around with a chip on our shoulder, hated and hating back. But when God, our kind and loving Savior God, stepped in, he saved us from all that. It was all his doing; we had nothing to do with it. He gave us a good bath, and we came out of it new people, washed inside and out by the Holy Spirit. Our Savior Jesus poured out new life so generously. God's gift has restored our relationship with him and given us back our lives. And there's more life to come -- an eternity of life! You can count on this." Titus 3:3-7

This was my early morning at the office so I am feeling a bit tired and will be sure to get some extra sleep tonight. 4:00 AM always comes too soon for me on Thursdays but we are thankful for the donation of bread items for the mission.

Pray for neighbor Keith who has moved to Wake Forest where it appears that he may find better job opportunities in his field. I will sure miss spending time with him and frequently enjoying his excellent cooking skills.

Also pray for friend Bobby who is scheduled for a heart cath tomorrow morning and is anticipating heart surgery. This is a big surprise to he and Anne being that his condition was not symptomatic.

Carol's cancer buddy John goes in on Wednesday for the first of ten planned radiation treatments for a tumor in his shoulder which has cracked a cancer ridden bone and is very painful. Pray that this will relieve the pressure and thus the severe pain. Also pray for minimal side-effects from the radiation which the doctor indicates could be a problem.

Each one of you is so special to me. Thank you for your continued encouragement, support and prayers!

Love to you all,

Chuck