Faith

An old confederate soldier soke of a young lad who had left home to join the 'war of the 60's.' He was barely grown. He would go to war, and his mother pressed into his hands a copy of the New Testament. She pressed her lips against his forehand, and with mingled tears and prayers she bade him good-bye. She urged him as he went to war to read that little book every day, and follow its teachings. She also said, 'That whether he should come back or die on the field of battle, if he would follow the light of that little book, all would be well.'

This month The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage and her amazing husband will celebrate 54 years of marital bliss. I can’t believe how fast the time has gone. It only seems like yesterday that we got married. Maybe that’s the benefit of getting old.

I have been reading a book about the Amish people. I have several books about them.

At least once a month The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage and her daughter will spend a day visiting thrift stores in our community. I’m not sure, so don’t quote me, but I think there’s a 100-mile radius where they do their shopping.

It is my week to do a devotion on Monday night. As usual, I am seeking God and searching the Bible. I want to know what, He wants me to say. I don’t want to just fill up time. I want to be a blessing to someone. I want to encourage someone. Soon, I had settled on hope. What do we hope for? I hope first of all, that all of my children will be saved. Then, I hope that the body shop won’t charge me, an arm and a leg to fix my poor car. I don’t have full coverage insurance. Just liability. That may change tomorrow. I hope it won’t cost too much, for it. Hope seems to be a pretty important word. It is found 72 times in the Old Testament and 56 in the New Testament. There’s lots of encouraging scriptures about it. I hope that I always use them and hear the voice of God.

The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage and I were finishing our supper. If anyone can put together a marvelous supper, it is she.

What if God did not take the time to bless us today, because we could not or would not take the time to thank Him for yesterday? What if God decided to stop leading us tomorrow because we did not follow Him today? What if we never saw another blooming flower because we grumbled and complained when He sent the rain and sunshine? What if God did not walk with us today because we failed to recognize, worship, praise and honor Him on His day? What if God took away His Word (the Bible) tomorrow because we would not read and study it today? What if God took away His message because we would not listen to His messenger? What if the door of the church building were closed because we would not open the door of our hearts? What if God stopped loving and caring for us because we failed to love and care for others? What if God would not hear us today because we would not listen to Him yesterday? What if God answered our prayers in the same way we answer His call for worship and service? What if God met our needs the same way that we give Him our lives? The Bible says, 'Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatsoever a man sows, that will he also reap' (Galatians 6:7). God bless..