THE MAN WITH THE TRACH TUBE

 I wondered if I did the right thing.  But I knew I felt the nudge to do it.

As it often happens, Wal-Mart didn't have one item I needed.  Since when does a W/M NOT have even ONE can of spray starch?  Really?  So, that means I have to stop at another store on the way home.  It wasn't in my plans.  I already have a to-do list....but, Food Giant, here I come.

This is the week! We leave Friday for another trip to Belize where we assist with building churches.  We have a rather large team going this trip.  It will be a great week.  

You know how it is...when the days are counting down and there's a multitude of little things to handle before the final day to PACK, get to bed early and sleep 2 or 3 hours ... because planes love to leave at 5am.  I'm not a 5am person.  I'm a 8am person due to staying up too late at night.  Each day this week has it's own list to accomplish and one of them (yesterday) included errands.

I went inside the grocery store, found spray starch (which W/M should have had) and walked to the front, joining a crowd of folks lined up to check out.  Waiting patiently trying to find the shortest line, I realized that I was the only white person in the group. That's fine.  No problem.  

The man with the trach tube was in front of me.  I only had the one can of spray starch in my hand.  He could not speak, but motioned for me to go in front of him.  He only had a few things in the top of his cart, but was kind enough to allow me to take my 1 item and go ahead of him.  I nodded and moved to the counter.  I checked out and paid ... and glanced back at the man's cart.  The man with the trach tube. The checker was about to reach for his cart. 

I knew that I should pay for his purchases.  Not sure why, but I knew it was the thing I was being led to do.  I spoke to the checker to let her know I wanted to pay for his items.  She had a surprised look on her face.  Smiled and made a humming sound ... I could interpret it as, Wow.  I explained, "Well, he was nice enough to let me get in line ahead of him."   I waited for her to check out his items and used my debit card to pay.  The checker smiled.  I could tell that this made her feel just as good as it did me.  

I was through.  I didn't look back or say anything to the man with the trach.  I just headed to my car. Knowing I did something right. Or, I thought I did something right.

I got in my car and looked to the front of the store.  The man with the trach was getting in his car.  A shiny ... blue ... mustang!  Shiny!  Blue!  Nice!   I thought, "Did I do the right thing?  Maybe he didn't need help ... he is probably better off than I am."  These thoughts plagued me.  Did I miss it?

This morning as the 'get ready to leave' chores resumed, I was ironing and I suddenly KNEW why I was led to pay for the man's groceries.  I understood, and it surprised me!  

Remember?  I was the only white person in the front of the store, including customers and checkers!    

I realized this morning that it was not so much for the man with the trach that I felt led to pay for his groceries.  It was for the lady checker!  

It was an obvious act that made a statement:  I'm not racist.  I'm the only white in here, but I have a heart for all humanity.  

There is only one race and it's the human race.  

Red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in His sight.  
Jesus loves the little children of the world.

Thank you, Lord, for showing me why I was led to help the man with the trach ...  at the store that I didn't want to go to.  I had an appointment.  Perhaps, it was to let someone know that there is not as big of a hatred or racist problem among many Americans as we are led to believe.  

We have a great country.  Our country is made up of good people and many  hearts are still turned towards God.  

I love Divine Assignments.  I love it even more when I listen ... and follow through, even if I don't understand it every time.

... 

WHEN YOU GET TO BE MY AGE....

DO NOT LAUGH.
DO NOT JUDGE.
YOU WILL BE HERE ONE DAY, TOO

When you get to be my age, you are allowed strange behavior ... all that you do, or desire to do, must be done quickly... so you grab anything that is fun, better, or an improvement, and go with it.  Thus, Snapchat.  Lol.

I spontaneously snapped this picture on (what else?) Snapchat this morning, just for fun.  Then sent it to my daughters, again, just for fun.  I may not be brave enough to share it on my personal FB page - not yet.  Who knows about an hour from now??  

Today (Monday) is my "start getting ready for the trip" day.  We leave Friday, before the world wakes, for Belize!  I'm not sure why planes like to take off before anyone should be out of bed, but here we go.  

I'm excited, as always, to go back to Belize.  I love the people.  They are my friends.  Living there a short time really ruined me for anything else ... and our visits are beginning to slow down as we see getting old-er on the horizon!  So,  why not have fun while we still occupy a body on this earth.  Practice happiness down here because that what you will experience in heaven! Practice makes perfect.  Isn't that what they say?  

The phrase "Practice Makes Perfect" is used to indicate that the more a skill is practiced, the better one becomes at it.  The term was once expressed as 'use makes mastery.'  The current expression was first seen in the late 1500s.  

It's still a useful expression for our time:  2020. 

The Word of God tells me that there will be no tears in heaven.  No sorrow.  No worries.  No pain. No depression. No sadness.  Maybe it's time to shake off the dust of dreariness on this earth and ready ourselves for the transition to pure joy and eternal rejoicing with the Heavenly Father.  Think I will.  So, that means that I will probably continue using Snapchat ... just for the fun of it.

They (?) say that if you want to be good at something, make sure to spend a lot of time doing it!  

I'll admit:  I have not spent a lot of time practicing joy, or happiness.  Pablo Picasso is a famous artist, known for creating amazing paints and sculptures. . . because he worked hard for his whole life.  Accomplished pianists worked hard for hours a day ... practice, practice, practice!  Could this be what the Lord is saying to us when we are told to take captive every thought ... bring it unto obedience to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5).  And to possess our vessel in sanctification and honor (I Thessalonians 4:4).   


This sounds like a personal responsibility to me.  I am the only one who can make this happen in my thought life, in my earthly body, and my born-again spirit.  Practice possessing my own self.  Spirit, soul, and body.  In fact, I can't find in Scripture where I have permission to be down, depressed, worried, without hope, or even sad.  

I've often read that we should live the last of our years with a life of no regrets.  Could that mean that we pursue those things that make us happy?  Or, give us purpose?  Yep.  That's what it means.  There are some thing we should do on purpose.  That's the only way it will happen!!

I don't have a bucket list.  Never made one.  Perhaps I should.  Maybe one day I will do that.  But, again, I need to hurry !!!  Haha....

Enjoy life.  Jesus came that we might have life abundantly!!!     

Yes, HE did.

So, back to the subject of today which is getting ready to leave for Belize this Friday.  My to-do list awaits.  It might even include a spontaneous picture in Snapchat!!  (Smile) 

IS HELL CROWDED?

The Word of God tells us much about hell.   Jesus preached about hell more than he preached about heaven.  

Some people do not believe hell exists.  And, there are some who believe that everyone, including the fallen angels, will be redeemed in the end and taken to heaven.  Both are in error.  There is a literal hell.  

Once it is established that there is a literal hell ... the question always arises, "How could a good God send anyone to hell?"  Especially since God IS LOVE.  He not only has love for mankind, or has the attribute of love,  He IS love.  Out of that love, He created humanity to know Him and have fellowship with Him.   But, we must realize that He also created mankind (men and women) with a free will.  We are not as animals or plants. We have an eternal spirit and a free will to choose or reject our Creator.    Scripture says that HE is not willing that any should perish...but that all should come to repentance.  (2 Peter 3:9)

While we acknowledge that God IS love, we must also recognize that God IS holy.  Unholy behavior and sin cannot enter heaven.  We have magnified the LOVE of God while minimizing the HOLINESS of God.  Hebrews 12:14 says, "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord..."   Obviously, since sin cannot enter heaven - there must be a place that accepts the sinner!  That sound harsh, doesn't it?  But, it is the truth!  That place is called hell.  

Hell is the eternal dwelling place for those who refuse salvation through Jesus Christ ... hell is consequence of choosing a life of sin.  Can you imagine Adolf Hitler (who committed suicide after committing one of the greatest atrocities that the human race has ever seen - 6 million Jews exterminated) .... can you imagine an unrepented Hitler getting away with it and making heaven his home?  NO,  I can't, either.   So where do the 'Hitlers' of this world spend eternity?  Not heaven.

Vance Havner was questioned after he preached on hell ...  "Why don't you preach to us about Jesus, meek and mild....instead of all this Hell stuff?"   Havner answered: "Oh, that's interesting, that's where I got all my information on Hell from!"

If we believe what Jesus said about Heaven, 

then we have to believe what He said about Hell.

Back to the question, "IS HELL CROWDED?"  One verse of scripture may provide the answer for this question.

   

Isaiah 5:14, "Therefore hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure."    

This verse in the Amplified Bible states: "Therefore Sheol (the unseen state, the realm of the dead) has enlarged its appetite and opened its mouth without measure; and [Jerusalem's] nobility and her multitude and her pomp and tumult and [the drunken reveler] who exults in her descend into it.

Hell's desire after the dead is insatiable and one of those things which are never satisfied, or have enough ... the grave welcoming and craving those who are in sin and without repentance and forgiveness.  

There are no boundaries to Hell's cravings and desires.  The regions of Hell are obliged to "enlarge" themselves in order to receive the lost ... those who have exercised their free will in rejecting Jesus Christ and the price He paid on the cross to save us from our sins.

Habakkuk 2:5 speaks of a proud man with an appetite that is large like that of Sheol and [his greed[ is like death and cannot be satisfied...

 Is Hell Crowded?   No.  There is always room for one more.  But you don't have to go there.

In the United States one day, in the Senate, Vice President Calvin Coolidge was the presiding officer that day, and one senator told another senator in a heated row: 'Go straight to Hell!', that's what he said. Of course there was a furore, and the offending senator along with the victim was brought into the presiding officer's office, and the two of them sat down before the desk. It seemed that Calvin Coolidge had a rulebook on the table before him, and it was as if he was flicking through the rules to see what to do, and the two of them were still at one another's throats. Then he interrupted them in the midst of their bickering, and he said: 'I've been looking through the rulebook' - and then they noticed it was the Bible - 'I've been looking through the rulebook and, gentlemen, you don't have to go there'. The rulebook teaches that you do not have to go to Hell. It is real, Jesus warns us of it, but you do not have to go there.

You do not have to go there.  How do you escape Hell?  Very simply:

1.  Recognize that you are a sinner

2.  Ask Jesus Christ to forgive your sins and wash you clean by the blood of Calvary

3.  Turn from your sins - and walk in holiness with the Lord

If you need help making the conversion from sinner to saint ....  then sincerely pray the following prayer.

"Dear God,
I know I’m a sinner, and I ask for your forgiveness.
I believe Jesus Christ is Your Son. I believe that He died
for my sin and that you raised Him to life.
I want to trust Him as my Savior and follow Him as Lord,
from this day forward. Guide my life and help me to do your will.
I pray this in the name of Jesus. Amen."

Did you pray this prayer?

 

SOLEIMANI and ....

BOOM!  What now?  What does tomorrow hold?  


Why the division in our government?  Why are the DEMS defending Iran?  Why do they hate Trump so much?  Why?  Why?  Why not unite for the good of our nation?  Why are they defending Soleimani through his death?  Why are they calling Soleimani a national official  instead of the terrorist leader that he was?  Why doesn't someone reveal the acts of Soleimani to the world?   What about the pain and suffering caused to families from the murderous actions emanating from his leadership?  

I have questions.   Perhaps, you have questions.  I don't have the answers.  But, this one thing I know.  Out of the chaos of the world - the confusion and division of our nation - I do know Who holds tomorrow!  

I know there is a God in heaven.  I know His Son, Jesus Christ, is the Savior of the world.  I know He hears me when I pray.  I know that His blood saved me from my sins.  I know He is coming soon.  And I know that He has the whole world in His hands!  

I know there is a plan.  His plan.  

We are living in the last days.  Matthew 24 and Daniel, and the book of Revelation make it plain.  These books have answers to what is happening in our world.  Hallelujah!!  I can turn to the Word of God and find the answers I need.  

If you are feeling stressed over current events - let me encourage you to read the story that gives the ending in full detail !   It's awesome.  No one but the Hand of God could write the past, present, and future in such detail ...  and each step of the plan happens on schedule whether we believe it or not.  Ok.  Let's raise a Hallelujah!  again.  God's got this!!

This is where I must insert the words to a great hymn, I Know Who Holds Tomorrow.

I don't worry o'er the future
For I know what Jesus said
And today I'll walk beside Him
For He knows what lies ahead

Many things about tomorrow
I don't seem to understand
But I know Who holds tomorrow
And I know Who holds my hand

I'll walk beside Him!  I'll hold His Hand.  I will find shelter In the Arms of God.  I will enter His presence through His Courts of Praise.  I will find rest for my soul.

Isaiah 41:10  "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God:  I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness."

What does tomorrow hold?  Who will rise up to replace Soleimani?  What will happen in our divided country of America?  I don't need the answers ...  but I do need to walk beside the One who does have answers.

I pray you will do the same.  I pray your mind knows peace, that your body is in health, and that your spirit is connected to the Holy Spirit as we walk this road together.

....Once more,  Let's Raise a Hallelujah!  God's got this.

Many things about tomorrow
I don't seem to understand
But I know Who holds tomorrow
And I know Who holds my hand

REPENT

Matthew 4:17

From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Matthew 9:13
But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
Mark 1:15

And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

Luke 15:10

Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

REPENT.  Why is this word hard for some to swallow and difficult for some to actually DO?

REPENT means to turn around --  If I am headed in a direction opposite of God - I need to turn around and go towards God.  Turn from sin - and walk in righteousness.  One states it this way: To repent and to convert involves obedience to God's revealed will, placing trust in Him, turning away from all evil and ungodliness.

When we turn from sin, we must turn to something and someone.  That something is righteous living. That Someone is Jesus Christ.

It isn't easy to admit that we are sinners.  It isn't easy to give up control of our own life.  For some, the flesh is so strong and the will to live independently from God has bound their soul and blinded their minds.  

Yielding to the Lord in repentance is the most satisfying state for a soul.  Repentance is cleansing.  It is healing.  It is freedom.   

Through prayer, one can express regret for past wrongs, sorrow for sins committed.  We can be assured that Jesus Christ accepts this kind of prayer and responds with forgiveness for our sins.

That ... is real freedom.  How freeing it is to abandon trusting in my own works, opinions, or goodness and turning to the One Who is all-knowing, all-powerful, and everywhere at once.  The One who is Love.    

We are unable to perform fleshly, personal works to place ourselves in a right relationship with God ... but through faith in Jesus Christ ... and through accepting the righteous blood sacrifice which Jesus shed on the Cross for us ... which satisfies the payment for sin ... we are restored to God and enjoy salvation leading unto eternal life with the Lord.  Jesus did everything necessary to place us in right relationship with the Father. 

Repentance opens our eyes to the greatness, the holiness, and the purity, of God.  

Repentance fully reveals the love of Jesus Christ for humanity through price He paid at Calvary.  

Repentance is our roadway to Heaven. 

Chaos may abound, but we are safe in the arms of Jesus.  With a spirit reborn - our minds renewed - our soul at peace - we live the abundant life promised by the Lord.  

Repent is a good word.  The action of repenting  gives a feeling of hope and love which is not attained outside of a relationship with Jesus Christ.    Daily, make the decision to turn from and walk toward a life filled with goodness and mercy.  

I've never heard one person say they were sorry for unloading their baggage of sin at the cross.  

AT THE CROSS  (Hymn)

At the cross, at the cross where I first saw the light,

And the burden of my heart rolled away

It was there by faith I received my sight,

And now I am happy all the day!

Repent.  You will never be sorry. And angels will sing.

.