THAT'S THE BOOK FOR ME

 

For this cause also thank we God
ceasing, because when
ye received the word of God
which ye heard of us,
ye received it not as the
word of men, but, as it is in
truth, the word of God, which
effectually worketh also in you
that believe.
I Thessalonians 2:13

In Sunday schools earliest days, we sang:

The B-I- B-L-E.
Yes that's the Book for me.
I stand alone on the Word of God
The B-I-B-L-E.

That was good preaching in song whether at the time, we knew it or not.

Apostle Paul loved the Thessalonian people. His words to them were encouraging. He spent time encouraging new believers to grow in the Lord. He encouraged the people to live lives of holiness. Paul also encouraged them regarding the Lord's coming. Both I and II Thessalonians are wonderful books to spend time in. Paul wasn't just speaking to them, but the Holy Spirit speaks to us in our dy from these very same words.

I parked on the above verse not too long ago as Paul addressed those folks and their acceptance of God's Word. It reminded me of how I should be reviewing my own regard of God's Word.

They accepted it as being truth.

Those folks had received the Word as from God, and
were allowing the Word to really work in their own lives.

My personal view of this was to ask myself if I approach the Word of God fully as they did. So often, I take the Bible for granted. After all, the Bible has been a part of us and our country from it's foundation. However, the Bible isn't a relic or souvenir of some sort. It's a love letter and tool for our use in developing in the Lord for His glory. Our Bible is very practical in it's guidance and direction. We don't have to have a seminary degree to understand it. All believers have the blessed advantage of having the same teacher...God's own Holy Spirit.

My mind goes back to that simple song we sang so long ago. Do we still stand alone on the B-I-B-L-E? It's an old song but with a fresh message for today.

Thank You, Father, for Your Word. What a wonderful gift You have left in our hands. Through it we know of Your love, direction and truth to stand on. May be never leave it sitting idle on a table unattended or ignore what we read. Forgive when we are negligent in reading and obeying what it teaches. In Jesus' precious name....Amen

FILL IN THE BLANK

She was the prettiest high school girl I had ever seen, a distant relative I had never met before. Jesus just radiated from her life and I had the privilege of spending a few days around her. This was the first peer-age person I had ever just sat and talked with about spiritual things. She gave me a senior picture and wrote a nice message on the back. In the corner she wrote the Bible reference I'm dealing with today. I made it my verse at the time and for a few years after that, but did I have the right perspective regarding that verse?

A few weeks ago, Brian and I had the privilege of being back at the Billy Graham Training Center for a seminar led by Dr. Jerry Vines. He led a study on the book of Philippians which was a very timely thing for me. The first of September, our Sunday school literature would begin a study in Philippians. I was looking for additional information on the subject as I would be teaching part time during the quarter. Little did I expect how I would be convicted in a personal way.

All Dr. Vines had to teach was wonderful, but he seemed to “circle the field” on one particular verse. It was a verse that took me back many years as I had kind of adopted it for myself even signing it to notes and letters. I have loved the verse, but was shocked to learn those weeks back to the seminar, how wrong I had been in adopting that verse. It's a wonderful verse, one anyone can claim if it is treated in a spiritually accurate way. That verse reads:

For me to live is Christ,
and to die is gain.
Philippians 1:21

That was Paul's testimony and rightly so. That was his life in every way. But it is different for for the rest of us whose testimony might not be that up to par.

Dr. Vines pointed out two places in that verse where there are two blanks. One blank is where we see the word “Christ” and the other is where is seen the word “gain.” Paul's verse was accurate from his own personal life. However, for me to live is what? What would we put in that blank...family, money, job, etc. or could we put Jesus' name in that blank?

The last blank has only two possibilities depending on what we put in the first blank...it is either “gain” or “loss”. If we put “Jesus” in that first blank, then “gain” is the appropriate word. Anything else in the first blank means “less” that would be appropriate for the last blank.

I pondered that during our time there and have since thought often of it probably on a daily basis. I want to be able to write that verse as Paul did. My goal is having Jesus first, my all in all and eventually it will be gain, gain, gain. It should be the same for us all. With Holy Spirit help, I'm working to that end.

Father, thank You for Your word and how clearly it speaks to us in every way. Thank You too for Your convicting power through Your Holy Spirit who teaches us and corrects us. I want my life to always radiate Jesus...Who I love and Whose name is above all names...Amen.

BETWEEN HERE AND THERE

Being confident of this very thing
that he which hath begun a good
in you will perform it until
the day of Jesus Christ.
Philippians 1:6

A major event in our family life when I was little was Monday wash day. My Mother rarely missed doing that. Monday evening she “sprinkled” the newly clean clothes that needed ironing the next day. Usually nothing else was done on those two days. With a move to another house, clotheslines had to be put up in our back yard.

My Daddy's huge contribution to all of that busyness had been to plant support poles that would hold clothes lines. One was put on one side of the yard and the other on the opposite side. He had a man weld two sturdy metal pipes with a cross beam on the top of each one. There was a huge hole dug, poles planted with lots of concrete poured in the hole to secure the poles. There were four hearty clothes line ropes pulled between those two posts. He would also make some tall wooden props with a notch at the top of them that could be put on a sagging rope holding clothes that would raise the clothes higher in the air as if raising a flag.

I never knew a week when something wasn't hanging on one or more of those ropes. In the time during spring cleaning, rugs would be taken out, thrown on a clothes line or two and then with metal rug beaters would be used until it would seem there couldn't be an ounce of dust left in them. There were times when my sister Kay and I were allowed to make tents by throwing a large, long cover across a clothes line to make a tent to play in. We didn't get to do that often, but when we did, it was more fun than most kids in our day will ever know in a lifetime.

What do clothes lines have to do with anything spiritual in nature? I look at our spiritual experience with regard to those clothes lines. One pole to me represents our beginning with the Lord...that time when we came to know Him as personal Savior. The other reminds me of our end...our journey to Heaven...beginning and end...those support poles stand ready to do their jobs from our spiritual beginning until Heaven.

However, for many Christians they seem to feel that the beginning and end is all there is to the Christian life. Some accept Jesus as Savior and don't consider there's a lot of rope between the beginning and the end. However, most of us know there's a lot to be done from beginning to end. There's a lot to be hung on those lines through our years of living with and for Jesus. We hopefully will come to know Jesus better, a devotional life to be developed so we can know Him better, and there's service for others needed that we do in Jesus name...there's a world that needs Jesus. God knows how He wants to use us but we must be available to His leadership

There's a lot to hang on those ropes in our lives. It's vital we realize our responsibility in it all and not just lope along through life having never hung out anything for Jesus on those ropes of our lives. Rain may bring anxiety, storms may bring problems, and birds may fly over our clothes lines dropping their private drops of ugliness, but negatives will come. Despite the set backs, we are to tend our spiritual clothes lines. We don't even have to take the things off the lines of our lives...Jesus will gather all of those things and then will let us in on it all when we see Him in glory.

Thank You Father not just for Jesus and Heaven to come but for everything You give us the privilege of doing for You. Strengthen us for the tasks You call us to and we will give you the glory. In Jesus' precious name....Amen

DOOR OF WELCOME

Behold, I stand at the door and knock:
if any man hear my voice, and open the
door, I will come in to him, and will
sup with him, and he with me.
Revelation 3:20

For years, in church classrooms and even in the homes of Christian people, one could find the picture of Jesus knocking on a door. Jesus is seen holding a lantern in his left hand standing at a door with His hand in knocking position, hoping to be invited to enter. A house itself is not prominent but the door is enough to give the impression of a building. For many years, I didn't really notice one of the most important parts of that picture. As the lantern's light glowed against the door, it seemed to reflect the shape of a heart. The real evident thing about the door is that there is no door knob or handle on the outside. The door in the picture has to opened from the inside.

I've heard evangelists refer to this picture that Jesus was knocking on the door of the heart of an unsaved person. However, the above verse is found where God is speaking to the seven churches in Revelation. In fact, God is speaking to the church at Laodicea, a church satisfied with their lives and yet was a lukewarm church at best.

Prior to the above verse in verse 19, we find not just a rebuke but an invitation is extended. It's a verse that moves right into verse 20 where God says:

As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten:
be zealous therefore, and repent.

Have you ever gone to someone's house for whatever reason where you knocked on the door but there was no response? You knew someone was home. but they just didn't answer the door. We have a picture of a very loving Savior knocking on the door of one's heart. Jesus will never force Himself on us. His promise to us is if we open the door of our hearts to Him, He will enter where He can fellowship with us and we with Him. His fellowship with us is one on one, very personal.

I've asked myself when the last time was that I opened my Bible and prayerfully asked Jesus to enter through His Holy Spirit and then to give Him unlimited time for us to be together in close fellowship. How often do I leave Him outside knocking on the door of my heart, trying to draw me to Himself but I'm just too busy or spiritual numb. May He never have to knock twice when He calls on any of us.

Dear Jesus, no one has come close to do for me all You have done. You continue to love me despite my spiritual slackness at times. Forgive me for those times I have left You standing outside the door of my heart. May I consistently desire more times of fellowship with You. In Your precious name....Amen

LOOKING BACK

Be ye kind one to another,
tenderhearted, forgiving one another,
as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
Ephesians 4:32

There are times when someone does something for us in secret and they have no way of knowing at the moment what it means to us. This last weekend is one of those times when a friend couldn't have known the impact of leaving a precious gift at my front door.

I grew up with the greatest of neighbors. I often went to the house of Mr. & Mrs. Rennie. They lived two doors down from us. We referred to them as Old Mr. Rennie and Old Mrs. Rennie. Our parents always referred to them as “Old”. They were probably in their mid sixties...they weren't just old. They were very old....OLD. I loved them and often went to their house. Old Mr. Rennie's entire backyard was a garden. Many people in those WWII days had gardens, but he grew about anything you could think about.

In the summer I learned to walk through our neighbors back yard to Old Mr. Rennie's back door. He would come to the door and I would tell him I wanted to eat a tomato. He had taught me how to pick one that was ripe and the right size. We would sit on his back steps, each eating a tomato. He would bring a salt shaker and we would both indulge. I knew I had to sit on that step until I ate all of my tomato leaving only the stem part. There just was no taste like Old Mr. Rennie's tomatoes.

I have spent my life loving tomatoes and really looking for just one tomato that tasted like those tomato's I ate on those concrete steps with and OLD friend. I've sought that taste and although most tomatoes have been very good, there has just been something missing.

Sunday, a friend left four gorgeous tomatoes on my front porch. I don't know who did it but brought them in anticipating eating one when I got home after church. I couldn't wait to dig in and did so after grabbing my salt shaker. I took my first Bite. I just sat there chewing on that goodness. All I was thinking was “Old Mr Rennie.” I couldn't believe that after 78 years, THE tomato had finally made it's appearance in my life. Sounds strange I know but that's the way it was.

All of that for this....we never know when we show a kindness in another's life what that might mean to that person. I've done those things and it's kind of fun pulling off a secret on someone. At the same time, on the other end and in many cases, we may not know until Heaven what that act of kindness meant to one who was perhaps going through a hard time and an “Old Mr Rennie: memory may be stirred in that person's mind and are blessed. How fun to be that kind of encouragement. A person need not be going through a tough time for such thoughtfulness. We can all use an extra smile at anytime.

As Christians, we're called to be people-conscience whether they be saved or unsaved friends. Maybe that “tomato” could be a seed sown in an unsaved heart that would draw that person to seek and find. Perhaps a Christian who is discouraged with life would feel a warmth that someone thought of them in a special way and they were blessed. Often just such a thing can encourage our own hearts as givers knowing that for a moment, we took our eyes off of our own problems and thought of someone else.

It may mean a phone call, a card, or a word of kindness...even a tomato We live in a needy world and are still called to be “Jesus with sin on.” Let's not be weary in well doing. Too many people need us.

Thank You, Father for the people You have brought into my life through the years who have blessed me in so many ways. Thank You for the notes, church friends, teachers, green beans, squash and yes, tomatoes that have brought me through some tough times. Thank You mostly for Jesus Who is my all in all. In His precious name....Amen 

UNDER THE FEATHERS

 

He shall cover thee with his feathers,
and under his wings shalt thou
trust: his truth shall be thy
shield and buckler.
Psalm 91:4

Anyone who gets a card from me knows that in the inside bottom right corner of that card, I print “Ps 91.” The “Ps” doesn't refer to “public school” as it has in the past, but refers to the book of Psalms. For several years, it has been a Psalm I read often, especially in a time when I need a warm hug from God. It's a Psalm of strength, comfort, security and love, among other wonderful benefits. Through all those things, I've come to know God so much better and it reinforces my trust and faith.

The entire Psalm is precious, but there are qualities I see sprinkled through this Psalm that remind me of who God is, such as:

*Most High -1
*Almighty-1
*Lord-2
*Refuge-2
*Fortress-2
*My God-2
*Feathers and wings-4
*Shield and buckler-4
*Angels on duty-11

There is so much more in all the verses of that Psalm that connect it all. Verse 4 is one I have on a plaque and even on a necklace I wear often. In that verse I see the warmth and tender care of the Father as expressed as a mother bird would protect and provide for her little ones. In that warmth and tender care, security and trust is built up.

The story is told of a prairie fire that occurred many years ago. A family had to forsake their homestead because of the fire. When all was over, the family returned to find total devastation. However they found the charred body of a hen. The man just kicked it over and from there three or four little chicks scurried from under the mother hen's charred body. She had extended her wings pulling her chicks down and under her wings for protection.

As I look at the above verse, I am reminded of that mother hen, providing love and life for her chicks. In that verse is not only the protection and warmth under His wings, but we see a God armed for battle...shield and buckler. He's prepared in every way to be our defense. A shield is a large item that would cover most of a soldiers body,. The buckler was a smaller round shield with a strap the soldier could hold on the forearm while holding a sword in the other hand. It was used for closeup skirmishes. All of this is a way to describe our God, our protector and defender from the evil one.

All in all, this Psalm spells for me L-O-V-E as only God can show and feel for me. I'm not worthy of one moment of His attention, but that is just who He is in my and your life as well. In these days, we need to read over and over who God is in our lives. Jesus gave His all on this earth that we might know this wonderful love and care only God can provide. He is as near as the breath we breath. Under His feathers we find comfort, help, security, love and so much more. Join me...under His feathers

Dear Father God, how we thank You for all You are in our lives. We can't begin to make the list of Your times of protection, provision and peace You have extended to us all because of Your love for us. May Your Holy Spirit continue to guide and teach us. Help us to walk in obedience and grow in You. In Jesus' precious name...Amen

ONE FOUNDATION

Neither pray I for these alone, but
for them also which shall believe
on me through their word;

That they all may be one; as thou,
Father, art in me, and I in thee,
that they also may b one in us:
that the world may believe
that thou has sent me.

And the glory which thou gavest
me I have given them: they may
be one, even as we are one.
John 17:20-22

One of my favorite Bible studies is from John 14-17. These chapters are so rich in love and concern on Jesus' part. In chapters 14 through 16, Jesus spoke to his disciples with regard to His soon departure. He gave a lot of promise and encouragement they couldn't have understood in the moment. By the way, those promises are important for us today the same as back then. Chapter 17, however, is what has come to be known as Jesus' High Priestly Prayer. It is a gem above all gems as He prayed for those dear men He had loved and led. The last part of that prayer looks down through the ages to where you and I are right now. The above verses are just a samples of His concern for future believers.

This all has come to my attention because of an event that happened recently at the supper table where we were at the time for a five-day seminar. The tables seat eight and we happened to be alone at one table. A couple approached and asked if they could join us which is the usual question no matter how many are already at the table. We welcomed them.

I would say the couple was perhaps early 60's, nice looking and quite personable, especially the gentleman. They took their seats and proceeded to say grace between them which again is normal for that setting. Usually people look at each other's name tags to at least see where folks are from as a point of conversation. This time, that didn't happen. With his very polished voice, he looked at us and simply asked, “Are you Baptists?” He could have asked us most anything to begin a conversation, but this sounded a little odd, but Brian answered in the affirmative.

With that, in between bites, the man began with giving us his history with Baptists. He had been an association director a couple of times, had offers to pastor but not I'm sure what he ended up doing. He did indicate he was finished with Baptists and they were happy in a non-denominational setting. He had even told his pastor that their church reminded him of a Baptist church. His pastor replied that he was honored to hear that.

After eating, we went into the auditorium. The guest pianist began playing a short concert prior to the speaker coming to teach us.. For at least ten minutes, she played one hymn using a variety of style for each time she played it. As God would have it, after our interesting supper, she played “The Church's One Foundation.” It brought back lines to my mind as she played. Some phrases from that blessed, old hymn came to my mind:

*The Church's one foundation is Jesus Christ, her Lord.
*One holy name she blesses; partakes one holy food
*Yet she on earth hath union with God, the Three in One

...and there are others describing our Kingdom citizenship because of what Christ has done for each of us. There were several usages of the word “one” throughout the hymn. Name tags gave no church affiliation at this place. I never heard denomination discussed, only this one time. We were there as God's Kingdom Kids and it was so refreshing. We believers are all a part of God's family, no matter the name of the church or denomination. We believers stand on our mutual foundation....Jesus.

Thank You dear Jesus for doing so much to bring us to Yourself. Thank You for Your Word and Your Spirit that teaches us from it. Thank You for the fellowship we have with other believers because of You dying for each of us. Forgive our sin and keep us from the evil one. We love you...in Your precious name...Amen 

PREPARATION OF A PLACE

Let not your heart be troubled:
ye believe in God, believe also in me.

In my Father's house are many
mansions: if it were not so, I
would have told you. I go to
prepare a place for you.

And if I go and prepare a place for
you, I will come again, and
receive you unto myself; that
where I am, there ye may be also.
John 14:1-3

With the exception of where we now live in beautiful East Tennessee, there has been something very consistent in my life with my husband. We have lived many places, five of which meant the construction of a house where we would live. We have leased a couple of times, but Brian has usually seen those places before I did. When we made a move to Virginia, he went ahead to find a place to lease for a couple of years. He brought back pictures of the house we would live in for that time. When it has come to the roof over our heads, most of the time Brian has taken me to the places he already arranged for. I trusted him to the fullest in the making of such decisions.

Brian has always had good taste in so many ways and choosing a place for us to live was n exception. He's usually picked a place as new a possible for many obvious reasons. All places have been clean and nice and some brand new even to the point of our building a new place. We've never lived in a mansion, nor would we go looking for one.

I must admit when I think about a place to live in Heaven, I get a little concerned. You see, I don't care all that much about anything gold...jewelry, gilt items, etc. For ten years now, I've lived in Eastern Tennessee, a stone's throw from our house to the Smoky Mt. National Park. We are surrounded by “green” as far as the eye can see. I love trees in all of their various shades of green glory. I can't imagine from Scripture what Heaven will be like, but I read of gold, gates of pearl and various precious stones in Heaven's foundation. It's sounds lovely. but I sure would like a green tree or two I can look at.

In pondering all of this not long ago, the Holy Spirit just put on my heart that it really doesn't make that much of a difference the physical make up of Heaven. The cosmetics of it all are going to pale in light of what it will be like with being with Jesus, the Light of the World. Just the privilege of sitting around the throne with Jesus at the right hand of the Father with all believers will be more than we can comprerhend. It was the same with Brian's preparations. Even if I hadn't liked a place, it would have been home because Brian would be there.

Jesus was very clear about His leaving the disciples and as disturbed as they were, Jesus gave them some points of encouragement that are meant for us to consider as well. Those are found in the above verses. Read them and try to soak it all in. Wrap yourself in John's chapters 14-17 and immerse yourself in Jesus' final, personal time with His disciples..

We read these verses and feel they are for the disciples only. Jesus spoke on our behalf as well. We won't always be on the earth in the middle of all it's muck. There will be a day when we, His children, will know eternal peace, an uninterrupted peace...an eternal peace like we've never known. We'll have no more political promises of unity or military promises of peace treaties. There will be no more striving between races or other cultural concerns. We will know a peace and contentment we can't even imaging right now. What a glorious day that will be.

Thank You Jesus for going to prepare places for us where we'll abide with You forever. Thank You for the hope you have placed in our hearts and for Your shed blood that covers we, Your chidlren. In Your precious name I pray...Amen 

GOD GOES BEFORE US

And the Lord, he it is that doth
go before thee; he will be with
thee, he will not fail thee,
neither forsake thee: fear not,
neither be dismayed.
Deuteronomy 31:8

Moses had already said similar words as above to the Israelites he had been leading. A new leader was required as Moses wasn't going to lead the people himself into the Promised Land. Moses took Joshua to one side to make it official that he would be the new leader of the people in his place. The above verse is just a part of of what Moses said to Joshua.

I don't know what can “rattle our cages” more than huge change in our lives. Even if a family makes a move, going together, there is something very lonely about a huge move of some sort. I didn't have a family at the time, was single working in a Christian Center. I thought I would spend my life there, but God had other plans. After a sermon on Sunday morning, I sensed God's leading for me to leave the position and work I loved so much. Making such a move seemed an impossible thing to do. I had no money, no car, forthcoming job or place to live. It was overwhelming.

Early one morning while praying and pondering, it “came to me” that I had enough college library science hours to have minored in the subject. Just down from my church was a fairly new public library. I borrowed the Center's car and ventured to that library and spoke with the head librarian. After a lengthy conversation, he simply said: “When can you start?” I told him it wouldn't be for at least a week or so. That was fine with him.

I walked out the door of that library and looked across the street. A lady was putting up a “For Rent” sign in the door window of a very old apartment building. I hurried over to speak with her. She had a very small furnished apartment for rent. After conversation and telling her I had no money, she offered the place to me with no deposit. I would be a block from Kroger's, two blocks from my bank, a half block from my church and three large blocks from downtown. I got back to the Center that day exhausted from all the blessings of the day.

From that move, in a matter of a couple of months, I met Brian and within a year, we would be married. It was almost unbelievable how God led in less than a year having gone ahead of me. I didn't know that the library needed new personnel, nor did I know an apartment would need a tenant, but God knew. He knew THE day I needed to go to that library and how He already had my life planned out.

I usually don't like to give this much personal information, but God can teach any of us so much in such a short period of time. I learned to listen and trust Him when he led. I can't say I was a great person of faith at the time, but my faith was reinforced times over in just that one day. A big thing I learned is how God goes before me. When I got to the library, He was already there. When I walked out and looked across the street, God was already there. It was if He had swept everything out of my path to get me where He wanted me to be.

This kind of incident in my life isn't unusual. Probably anyone reading this can think back and see how God wonderfully led in their lives. For us all to have experienced such, something had to die. My dream of living and working where I had been had to die for new life to begin and any kind of death isn't comfortable for any of us, but drastic change usually demands dying to self. In it all, God is always in charge and leads in our lives in very personal ways. We can't see how He's working, but we must have faith to believe that He loves us beyond comprehension and does all things well.

Father God, I continue to be amazed at how You work in the lives of people. You are Sovereign, Someone who knows all and can function on my behalf in such amazing ways. I am so grateful and dearly love every part of You...Father, Jesus and Holy Spirit. It's in Jesus name I pray...Amen

DO NOT FEED THE BEARS

There hath no temptation taken you but
such as is common to man: But God is
faithful, who will not suffer you to be
tempted above that ye are able; but
will with the temptation also make a way
to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
Corinthians 10:13

Black bears are a real fascination for folks who come to our mountains. People swarm to our nearby cove to just have the joy of spotting a bear or two. We are near enough to the park to even have bears occasionally visit in our town. If a neighbor spots one, he is quick to alert other neighbors. Black bears are not like stuffed animals one can purchase in a visitor's center. They are very much alive, very fast runners, defensive of their young, unpredictable and usually very hungry.

Black bears really are beautiful signs to behold. The smaller ones are fun to watch as they follow close behind their mommas. As fascinating as it all is, there are signs that warn people to stay at a good distance from any bear they see in a nearby field. My shock is to see the carelessness shown toward these seemingly friendly animals by well meaning visitors. We have seen people do really stupid things. We saw a father with a two year old little boy, edge up to a bear to the point of being just about 10 yards or less from the bear. He just wanted his son to get a good look. There is no way that dad could have outrun that bear if the bear had turned on him and his son.

People are cautioned about feeding the bears. Human food can turn that animal's system into something that is unnatural. If used to human food, bears will seek out human food and such a venture can mean real danger for a well-meaning tourist. Bears can see or sense food left in a car while a family goes for a hike. Bears have been known to open car doors to gain access to delicacies left behind in it. Bears just being bears can end up being euthanized because of the careless behavior of human beings.

Sin can at times look as innocent as a cuddly little black bear. The sin may seem innocent enough and harmless at best. The problem with little bears is that they quickly grow to be bigger ones, bears that can show their fierceness at times with little provocation. A live bear always has to eat to keep alive and satisfied. Such is the same with sin.

There are so many seemingly innocent things that can take hold of our lives and I'm speaking of we Christians. Somehow because we are God's children, we feel we are immune to the horrible effects of little innocent temptations that can eventually have destructive effects in our lives. Moderation can go out the window when presented with any sin.

One of the attributes of sin, like our bears, is that it demands to be fed. It will plead, beg and nag to be fed. It is relentless. This is why temptation is such a dangerous thing. Many Christians feel they are immune to temptation. Satan loves when we feel like that. What tempts you might not tempt me. Satan has us and our weaknesses all figured out and knows just the right thing to dangle in front of us.

I think the older we become, the more immune we feel we are from most worldly things and that may be true. However, we may have our own set of sins that God still hates. Where some younger person may get hung up on alcohol, an older person may get great delight in gossip and spreading as much negative information as possible. We can have issues of anger and resentment that may seem harmless when just the opposite is true.

I know the “bears” in my life that demand my attention, time and response. Let the real black bears feed on all the berries and nuts they can find. Our answer is to be folks who feed regularly on the Word of God. When faced with the roar of temptations, flee it as quickly as one should get away from any black bear found in a park. Both can be terribly damaging.

Father, thank You for Jesus who died for our sin and to give us life eternal. Keep us alert as to Satan's tactics. May we act against such with Holy Spirit power to resist him while clinging to Your precious word. In Jesus name...Amen