Life Blogs Archives - Page 13 of 21 - GraceAndWorks

Thursday I had an appointment with the skin cancer Doctor. I arrived at my appointment about 20 minutes early. Got checked in and was just sitting, waiting for the Nurse to call me back to see the Doctor. This wasn’t my first rodeo, so I kind of knew what was going to happen. As I was sitting there, I got to thinking about how cancer is like sin, if you don’t address it and get it taken care of, it can create major problems. I thought to myself, how nice it would be if one could take a sharp knife and just cut the sin away just as the Doctor would do with my cancer. Then it came to me that with God and His living word, I don’t need needles or knives, all I need to do is talk to God and ask for His help. After all, He is the Great Physician and can solve any problem. Thankful for no knives or needles.

The Nurse called my name and took me back to my room and soon the Doctor came in. He looked at the spots and said, “This one we can freeze off.” YAY!! I thought. That’s easy enough. Then he looked at the second  one and said, “This one can be scraped and frozen.” YAY!! I thought. That’s easy enough. No knives or needles. Then he looked at the third one and said, “This one needs to be cut out for biopsy and sent off.” Oh, no!! Knives and needles, I thought. This isn’t going to be good. He leaves and here comes the Nurse with a HUGE needle (Not really, but it’s the thought that counts). I don’t know if you all have ever had a needle poked in your forehead, but it hurts like crazy. 4 shots later all was numbed up and in came the Doctor to use his knife on me. I was laying there still thinking about sin and cancer and I thought about Jesus, how he died for my sins and the horrible death He had gone through for me. He carried a crown of thorns on His head. Now I just had the “BIG” needle and the shots, so I knew how that felt. I can’t imagine how a whole crown of needles digging into my head would feel like, but it has to unbearable. Here I am complaining and Jesus has no complaints to offer. Thoughts like these really puts things in prospective.

Have a good week all!!

Find a safe place in times of trouble. Hail storms, tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, and life itself all have times we find ourselves looking to find shelter. I remember one time when my uncle was on the golf course and a hail storm came up quick. He found a culvert to take refuge in. The problem being was that he was a big man and couldn’t fit all the way in. He did get his head and upper body covered but his backside was exposed and got pretty badly bruised. The Midwest has storm shelters underground to shelter them from tornadoes. Those who live in the gulf coast states sometimes have to evacuate to higher ground for refuge from a hurricane. All different, shelters in times of storm, yet they all serve the  purpose of protection.

We have trials, tribulations, and storms in our daily lives that we take refuge from. These can range from a falling out with friends or family, job loss, loss of a loved one or friend, loss of a home with fire, flooding, or some type of storm, depression, fears, illness, and the list goes on endlessly. How do we cope with these situations? Where do we find refuge? Many will rely on friends or family to help them get through. Some will crawl into a hole and try to deal with them by themselves, many times causing even more problems. Want a better solution? Try taking refuge with God!!

Our belief and obedience to God can be satisfying and very gratifying. The Bible speaks in several places about God putting a hedge around us for protection. Paul’s letters speak about handing our troubles, sorrows, anxieties, and struggles of to God and let Him help us work things out. In God, we always have a “Friend In Need” to find shelter with in times of storm. Take refuge in your storms of life with God. He WILL get you through!! Friends and family may be there for you, but sometimes they just don’t have the answers or solutions. Just like my uncle in the culvert, friends and family can help a part of you but may not be the refuge you seek for a complete shelter from the storm.

Have a good week all.

I hear a lot of people say that they believe in God. That’s OK. However that only makes them a believer. I want to take a look at what being a Christian entails. The first thing is realizing what Christian means. Very simply it means to be Christ like. So what do we need to do to be Christ like? Here is some of what the Bible says.

A) Christ set the example to be baptized. John 3:15-17

B) We need to follow that example and be baptized. Acts 2:38

C) We need to be obedient. Acts 5:29

D) Jesus says that we need to be obedient and He will prepare for us a place. That place is called Heaven. John 14:1-4

E) Obedience to attend Worship services on the First day of the week. Don’t forsake the assembly of the Saints. Hebrews 10:24-26

F) We need to walk as Christ walked. Living a life of righteousness. 2nd Corinthians 5:21)

G) We need to have tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering, bearing one another and forgiving one another. Colossians 3:12-13

H) We need to have Faith. Hebrews 11:1

I) We need to have Hope. Colossians 1:27

J) We need to have the proper Love. 1st John 4:7-8

These a just a few examples of what being a Christian means. It is MUCH more that just being a believer in God. Being a believer is the beginning of being a Christian. 2nd Timothy 2:14-15. Be diligent and study to show yourself approved. Through study we will find the path to righteousness and salvation. Without the understanding of God’s word, we will find ourselves lost without hope.

Let the study now begin!! Have a good week all.

Yellow caution tape is used at almost every Police, FBI, and Fire investigation. It warns us that we should not enter because it is a crime scene or that it is not safe. Sometimes the tape is across a door, around a building, or blocking off a street. The point being, no matter how big the crime scene is, authorities can and will use the tape to protect their scene and to protect us.

So, as I was thinking about this, I got the idea that it sure would be nice if we had some of that yellow caution tape to use when we have areas in our life that we shouldn’t enter. Areas that may be harmful or areas that might lead us off in the wrong direction. Just take some yellow caution tape and tape that area off so you know not to enter. Boy, would that ever make things simpler. See the tape and just avoid that area. It could be used as a protection for our life and keep us out of trouble. No greed in our life–that would be taped off. No lust of the eye in our life–that would be taped off. No pride in our life–that would be taped off. Life would be better and this would be a much better world to live in.

Now with all that being said, if we are a part of God’s Kingdom, we have a hedge around us for protection. In Job the 1st chapter, Satan makes reference to Job having a hedge around him put there by God for protection from evil. God tells Satan that Job is a blameless and upright man who fears God and shuns evil. The hedge concept for protection is used in many places throughout the scriptures. If we are obedient to God, blameless and shun evil as Job did, God will put a hedge around us and protect us from evil just as He did Job.

No need for the “Yellow Caution Tape”–Just be obedient to God and let the “Hedge” protect you.

Have a good week all.

Entertainment comes with many different levels. Movies, musical shows, bowling, skiing, skating, playing games with friends and family, golfing, and the list goes on. Friday night, Saturday night, and Sunday have become “Party” time. I hear things such as let’s have a Sunday “Fun-Day”, where’s everyone partying, and “I” want to……..It’s become a way of life for many to just do their own “Thing” and have fun.

We have no regard to what God wants us to do. We can’t seem to make time for ourselves to attend Worship services on Sunday. Sunday “Fun-Day” should be having the enjoyment of family time and God time, not “Where’s the party?” The writer of the book of Hebrews tells us to not forsake the assembly of the saints. We should want to attend Worship. You want a Sunday “Fun-Day”? Go to Worship with family and friends, sing to your heart’s content, pray to God and thank Him for the blessings that you have in your life, Commune with Him to show your respect and thanks for Jesus giving His life for you and me, and you can also hear a lesson from His written word so that you may become a better person. Worship services are not for entertainment as one thinks of entertainment. They are to Praise God with all our heart, soul, and mind. We don’t need instruments and choirs because we all sing in unison with our hearts and voices.

Next time Sunday rolls around, attend Worship services and create a God “Fun-Day”. Create a good habit instead of relying on the bad habits that the world has. SMILE God loves YOU!!

Have a good week all.

When driving down the road, how easy it is to lose concentration. You see something off to the side of the road and glance over for a look. Conversation can be distracting to the driver. Talking of the phone or texting. Listening to the radio can take your attention away from driving. There are all kinds of things that will cause us to lose focus and some times it will cause accidents.

I watch a lot of sports. I see teams get a big lead and think they have the game won only to lose concentration and end up in a close game and even losing. In football, teams will employ what they call “Prevent Defense” only to see a lead evaporate, trying to run out the clock and win the game. I call this a “Prevent to win Defense” because there are times when the team loses focus and ends up losing the game. Individual sports like golf, tennis, and track and field require extreme focus. You hear athletes say “my head just wasn’t in the game today.” What that simply means is they couldn’t gather the concentration or focus to make good things happen.

Life is full of distractions. We lose jobs, friends and family members pass on, health issues, bad attitudes, not knowing what is going to happen, worry, stress, procrastination, bull headedness, and the list goes on. However, things are going to happen to cause us to lose our focus on the job at hand and we must be able to adapt and overcome. Not easy at times, but can be done with the concentration, attitude and focus.

Christian lives are also suspect to losing focus. We get tired, grow apathetic, and lose interest. We become comfortable and lose focus on the goal. All of this persuades us to slow down, back off, drop out, and give up all because we lost focus.We don’t like quitters, we hate ourselves for giving up, and the very word SURRENDER leaves a bad taste in our mouths. Even when things are bleakest we need to persevere, hang on, not giving up, and never cry “Uncle”. We have sayings we use, such as “Keep on keeping on”, “Never say die”, “Tie a knot and hold on”, and “It’s not over ’til it’s over”. Catching sayings, but they won’t work unless we can stay focused.

In 2nd Timothy chapter 2, Paul gives us good examples on how to remain focused. He tells us to be as single minded as a soldier, be as disciplined as an athlete, and be as hard working as a farmer. Most of can relate to one or all of these. We need to be patient under hardship, abstain from wicked ways, and be a pursuer of a good and pure heart. If we can do these things, we will remain focused on the goal. That goal being Heaven.

SMILE God loves YOU!! Have a good week all.

Tractors without cabs, air conditioning, stereos or radios. Cars, pickups, and trucks with no air conditioning and not much of a heater. Up at 6 AM and work until 6 PM. Get done what you could and start all over the next day. Winter time, up early in the morning to feed the cattle and then off to school. Working on a farm was a way of life. It wasn’t easy, but you never gave it a second thought. You just did the work without question.

We had about a thousand acres of wheat land to farm and 125 head of cattle to take care of. We had alfalfa, cane, and grass for the cattle. Some 15,000 bales were put up each summer so we had feed for the cattle in the winter. We didn’t have the equipment that is available today. Bales were rectangular, weighed 50-75 pounds, and all had to be handled by hand. We would load them on a trailer and haul them to a stack to store for the winter. Hard work, yes!! But a way of life and we never questioned doing it. We had miles of fence to take care of and tended to that when it had rained and it was too wet to work in the fields. Working in the fields we sat on open tractors as the dirt swirled around us. We were never concerned about spraying for weeds or bugs and sitting in the open breathing all that in. This was back in the 50’s and 60’s. I don’t know exactly what farming is all about today, I’ve been away from it for many years now. However, I do know it has evolved with better and more efficient equipment. The work still has to be done. The work is still not easy. The work is still a way of life.

Why did I tell you all this? In 2nd Timothy 2:6, Paul encourages and admonishes us to be as hard working as a farmer. He is talking about our work in God’s kingdom. Are we as dedicated as the farmer? Are we as diligent to our work as the farmer? Are we as focused as the farmer? The work has to be done. The work isn’t always easy. The work should be a way of life.

Count your many blessings and thank God for them, through prayer and your work for Him in the Kingdom.

If you are like me, it seems that life is like a NASCAR race. You just go around and around in circles making nothing but left hand turns. Sometimes we don’t even get the circle completed before something else comes up.

There are several paths as we go through life. When I lived on the farm we had paths that we drove on through the fields. They were bumpy and rough to ride on. Then there were the gravel country roads. Better that a path, but could still be bumpy and rough to ride on. We then graduate to the paved roads. Smooth sailing along the way. Until…..you hit that dreaded “Chuck Hole”, then BOOM, the ride turns bumpy and rough.

If this all sounds waaaaay to familiar, take a look at your life. Are things bumpy and rough and the ride you have isn’t as smooth as you thought it would be? Maybe it’s time to do something about the rough patches.

Awwww if only we would do what God wants us to do, life would be a much smoother ride. He doesn’t want us to hold grudges, harbor anger, worry about things that don’t matter, covet what others have–be satisfied with what He has provided for us, have a disrespect for others, and being self-centered. He wants us to be obedient to Him. Lead a righteous life, go to Worship services on the first day of the week, be baptized for the remission of sins, be cordial to others, and have the love and respect for others that they deserve. What a better world we would live in, if all would abide in God’s rules instead of just doing what we want!! No more lying, cheating, murder, stealing, and gross immorality. Those things would all be gone and out of our lives. Awwwww the smooth ride through life that we desire.

Everyone has an opinion!! However, they are like armpits–everybody has a couple and most of them stink.  Millions of voters have once again been duped and misled by the President, Congress, and Senate. Voters were promised that the Affordable Care Act would be overturned and replaced. Well, how did that work out? I have a couple takes on this: 1) Congress has gotten so used to saying no that they don’t know any better. The last administration put up with this for 8 years. Soooo it’s only fitting that they continue the practice of “Just say no”. 2) The Republicans that said they hated the Affordable Care Act, now, can’t find a way to make it better. They must have decided it wasn’t so bad after all. The past Administration and the Democrats must be having quite a chuckle over the “Non” vote to make changes.

Since when is it OK to hate all Muslims, when the majority are good people? Is this not an act of prejudice? We don’t hate all blacks because there are a few that create problems. We don’t hate all whites because there are a few that create problems. We don’t hate all Indians because there a few that create problems. There is an old saying, “Because one white dog bites you, do you shun all white dogs?” I think most of us would say, “No that is crazy!!” I, personally, don’t see the difference. God created all men equal and I don’t think He intended us to have hate or prejudice in our hearts toward our fellow man.

I’m extremely happy to be a Christian!! God is my Commander In Chief. His decisions are always the right ones. He doesn’t have to rely on anyone to say, “It’s OK.” He has made Christians a promise to prepare a place for us, if we are obedient and live righteous lives. You can go to the bank with His promise. It’s fair, just, and will not change.  God will not lie to us, He will not dupe us, and He will not mislead us. His commands are simple ones and VERY easy to understand. 2nd Timothy 2:15 and following tells us to study to show ourselves approved, rightly dividing the Word of God. Know what He has to say, don’t take things out of context, and all will be good for you.

God has the say!! Quit worrying about things you have no control over.

I suppose as you read this title, many thoughts came to mind. I look  around the neighborhood and see signs in many yards that advertised their home is protected by security systems. That’s all well and fine, however, they are not fail proof. We put new tires on our vehicles to protect us when driving down the road, however, there may be flaws and they are not fail proof. I’m sure some of you thought about safe sex when you saw the title, however, what ever the protection, it is not fail proof. We can put safeguards on our bank accounts and credit cards, however, those safeguards are not fail proof. We go to the doctor for checkups to make sure we are OK, however, no matter what he does or says, he can’t make our health fail proof. We have police on our streets and in our neighborhoods to keep us safe and protect us, however, they can’t guarantee our safety because they may not be there when you need them. We lock our doors on our homes, cars, and businesses to protect us and our belongings, however, a thief can nearly always break in and those locks aren’t fail safe. The list could go on and on, but I think you get the idea.

There is one protection that IS fail proof. God!! In Ephesians Chapter Six  verses 10-20, it talks about putting on the full armor of God. Firemen, policemen, and soldiers put on armor to protect themselves, however that is not what Paul is talking about in this letter. He says, “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may stand against the wiles of evil.” Verse 14 tells us to gird your waist with truth (God’s Word-The Bible) and put on the breastplate of righteousness (doing as God commands to live the right life). These verses also tell us to always be prepared with the Gospel of Peace (God’s word). Above all take the shield of FAITH, so you can stop all the evil you will encounter.  Take the “helmet” of salvation and the “sword” of the Spirit, which is the word of God; Pray always with prayer and supplication in the Spirit. Now be watchful to the end with all perseverance and steadfastness in the Word. The full armor of God: The Bible, Faith, and righteousness living.

God will protect you. He IS fail proof!!

Have a good day all!! Please share if you like this blog.