2011

The promise of a new year; hope for a second chance; escape from the failures of yesterday. All the disappointments,sorrow and pain composted by the Gardner into the soil of our lives, offering new life from the dead. Traveling new roads; exploring the unknown days of the future; letting go of the misery of THEIR words and leaning on the promises of HIS WORD. jfs

Joh 15:1 "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.

The Greatest Gift

In 1947 I was eight years old. My dad was just out of the army, broke but rejoicing that the war was over. We lived in an old house on a grown up farm. Dad had bought the 89 acres for about $1,800 which he borrowed from the bank. He and mom were facing Christmas broke. A time for giving and they had nothing to give. Of all my seventy-one years of Christmases, that one stands above all others. My brother and I were kept from going in one room of the old house so we knew something was up. Turns out our dad was hand making toys--a wagon and two wooden trucks, painted with red paint. We pushed those red trucks for miles in Mr. Vales corn field which was just across our property line. Christmas is about giving and a giving heart always finds a way. That Christmas my dad gave himself, which reminds me that our Heavenly Father found a way to bring joy to the world by giving His Son, Jesus. The greatest gift the world has ever known was not found under a tree but on a tree. Through the cross we find forgiveness and restoration so one day we can go Home.
(Luke 2:10-11) Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. "For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. (NKJV)

A Tribute to Grandma McManus

I remember Christmas at Grandma’s; how can I forget her happy face? A real fireplace kept us warm on the outside; a loving Grandma kept us warm on the inside. Grandma always looked at Christmas as a child would, and as she grew old she continued to love Christmas. In her later years she always gave me a box of chocolate covered cherries. It became something we all laughed about and added to the memory of the special person I call Grandma. As she grew older, like her frail body, her Christmas trees were nothing to photograph--but she never stopped celebrating. Of Course I don’t remember her as a young person, but I knew something of the little girl inside even when she was old and feeble. At Christmas that little girl always lived again--she couldn’t keep secrets and she couldn’t keep her hands off the presents. And did she enjoy opening presents. She also loved Christmas cards--she just couldn’t throw them away. She read them over and over again and cherished them as long as she lived.
Christmas brought to surface a joy that flowed in the heart of my family. Our life was difficult, but we knew what was most important. Life was about people and the special relationships that make life worth living. Grandma was a child in disguise and remembering her warms my heart. May her joy find a place in your heart as you remember the REASON FOR THE SEASON. jfs

Baby's Cry

It’s five am and I lay awake in the darkness of a December morning hearing in my mind the sound of the cry of a new born baby. Who would know that God would one day breathe, for the first time, the cool air of Bethlehem? Healthy babies do cry you know, and babies need diapers. The Great Shepherd had come to look for lost sheep, but the journey begins on his mothers breast. A loving mother tenderly caring for a dependent child. A carpenter burping a baby on his strong shoulder is not difficult to imagine, but God needing to be burped is difficult to fathom. The angels were told to sing to the shepherds, but they must have found it difficult to understand that the One who created them would put Himself in such a predicament. Why do I keep hearing that new born cry? It is the cry of new life. It is the cry of a loving God who became one of us so we could become like Him. It is Grace stepping into life’s pain, bringing new hope. He cried in Bethlehem so one day He could wipe the tears from our eyes. Oh!! The Joy of Christmas. jfs

Merry Christmas Brothers and Sisters!!

We love you,
James, Mary and Tramp

Authentic

"The branch cannot bear fruit of itself." Jn 15:4 The Church needs to learn this lesson. All Christian work flows from relationship. No relationship, no fruit. It is that simple. Jesus said, "Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name? And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!' Mt 7:22-23
Not all things which look Christian are Christian. It is not what we do which makes us Christian but what we are. Doing can never take the place of being but you cannot be without doing. jfs

Church????

If Church is a place instead of a people then marriage must be a house instead of a relationship. jfs

1Pe 2:5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
Eph 2:19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,
20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone,
21 in whom the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord,
22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
(NKJV)

One Way

Don't live life looking in the rear view mirror, life is a one way street, you are not going back. Fix your eyes on Jesus, it's what's up front that matters most. jfs

Using Suffering

I talked with a pastor friend today and he is discouraged. I told him I understand, I was a pastor for 39 years. Mondays were not always good days for me. Sheep are not always faithful, and at times they act like goats. What I learned from the disappointments of life is that in all of them there is opportunity to draw closer to Jesus our Lord. He too had some down moments and that is why “He is touched with the feelings of our infirmities.” For example, when we feel the sting of the rejection of friends, we are feeling what He felt as He stumbled down the street with a cross on His back. Suffering serves us when it helps us draw near to our Lord. Knowing about Jesus and knowing Him are two different things. Don’t let your sorrows go to waste and rejoice that you have not been nailed to a cross. Jfs

Heb 2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone.

Nothing is true because I say it is, and nothing is untrue because I say it is. We don't make truth, we only embrace it. Jesus said, "I am the way the truth and the life." It is the most important truth we will ever encounter. "Who was Jesus" deserves a personal inquiry. He is the truth who can change our lives. Truth in the person of Jesus Christ is our hope. jfs

Joh 14:3 "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.
4 "And where I go you know, and the way you know."
5 Thomas said to Him, "Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?"
6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
(NKJV)

God is the answer!

To You, O LORD, I lift up my soul. O my God, I trust in You; Let me not be ashamed; Let not my enemies triumph over me. Indeed, let no one who waits on You be ashamed; Let those be ashamed who deal treacherously without cause. Show me Your ways, O LORD; Teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; On You I wait all the day. Psa. 25:1-5

Is it worth it?

Recently on the way to a Church service I asked Mary if all the travel and the weariness of the journey was worth it. I love home, my yard, birds, sitting on my deck with a cup of coffee. I have moments when I wonder if it is all for nothing - then I remember that Jesus left His Home and came to our yard. I wonder as He walked the dusty streets of Jerusalem if He ever questioned if it was worth it? When I arrived a few minutes early for the Church service a dear sister told me how much the service the day before had blessed and changed her life. It was the answer I was looking for; I told her if she was the only person there I would have come just for her. My heart says if Jesus would die for one I should be willing to live for one. I pray the Master will lead me to one on our next trip. Pray for us. It is not always easy to get seventy-one years moving. jfs
P.S. Jesus didn't reach for crowds, He reached for ones.

Psalm 77:20

Ps 77:20 "You led Your people like a flock By the hand of Moses and Aaron."
The first part of this verse we all applaud, "You led your people like a flock" is about the Good Shepherd. The second part is about frail men. This is the part that gives us trouble, but the truth is God works through men and if we want His leadership we must submit to those whom He calls in spite of their warts. jfs

Tomorrow's Blessings are birthed in today's obedience. That is one of the points of my message tonight. Like Abraham we must be committed to the follow Him when we don't know where He is leading us. Trust Him, He knows your need. jfs
Ge 22:2 Then He said, "Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you."

Thinking of You

Sorry, but I haven't been able to blog for the past week. Tonight I am thinking of all my friends and wanted you to know how much I love and appreciate you. The older I get the more thankful I am for friends. People are what matters most in my life and I pray you are well. Remember we are His sheep and He takes care of His own. He loves you and so do I.

In Service of our King,

james

"I"

Friends came by to visit last evening. The fellowship was good and the conversation was interesting. Somewhere in the conversation spiritual issues surfaced and a comment was made about prayer that is so true I thought I would share it with you. “’I’ gets in the way of prayer.” I am guilty, too much prayer for me and not enough praying for others. Oh Lord, today bless and keep all my friends, fill them with hope, give them peace and help us take some of the “I” out of our prayers. Jfs

Jas 5:16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
(NKJV)

SUCCESS??

Success is not so much about what you have accomplished but about what you have become. I want to be known for my walk not my work. We are often focused on the success and God is focused on the becoming. Many times the things we think are blocking our success, God is using to help us become. Be careful how you label the stuff which hurts. Not everything which hurts comes from the enemy. jfs Lu 6:40 "A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher.
(NKJV)

In Trouble Hummer

Yesterday morning brought another backyard lesson. Mary found a hummingbird that could not fly. It was near death. I cradled it in my hands and took a closer look. It had a yellow jacket tangled in a wing. How it happened I have no idea, but with a gentle hand I removed the pest. I then fed her, she drank and drank. It reminds me of how many times I have been rescued by the loving hands of my heavenly Father. The small pests of our spiritual lives can entangle themselves in our hearts and sap our life away, but then the Father shows up and in His care we are made whole again. Keep us flying Lord! jfs

What is on your mind?

Ps 94:19 "In the multitude of my anxieties within me, Your comforts delight my soul."
The Hebrew word translated anxieties means “of my thoughts” I wish they would just translate it the way it was written. Anxieties and thoughts are not the same. I have lots of thoughts that I choose to throw in the mental trash can. This is another verse which tells us that what we think about is so important. We are confronted everyday with the problems of the entire world, stuff we can’t do anything about but we can respond with the promises of God. There is no hope like the hope our Lord gives us. Peace! jfs

Wasted Tears

It is a story of what could have been. “So all the congregation lifted up their voices and cried, and the people wept that night.” Numbers 14:1 They were in a moment of decision on the verge of taking the land God had given them but the twelve men doing surveillance had returned with a report and the people didn’t like what they heard and what they saw. It was a land of plenty but there were giants in the land. Only two of the twelve were willing to act on the promise of God and no one was willing to listen to them. They let their feelings and emotions take over so they cried. It is still the big problem all of us face. Do we live by the promises of God or what we see and hear? I confess I am guilty. Looking back on my life there were times when I cried when I should have been laughing. Let us all look the giants of our lives in the face and live by the promises of the Kingdom of which there will be no end. jfs

Sheep Food For Today

I will lift up my eyes to the hills-From whence comes my help? My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel Shall neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD is your keeper; The LORD is your shade at your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, Nor the moon by night. The LORD shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul. The LORD shall preserve your going out and your coming in From this time forth, and even forevermore. Psa.121
One of my fellow sheep needs this for today. God Bless, eat well. jfs

Fifty Years Ago

Fifty years ago today I became a father for the first time. The big moment happened about 7:30 on Friday morning. We named him Mark and from that day till this we have been proud of him. He has always honored us and blessed us with his kind demeanor and wisdom beyond his years. Today his mother and I honor him, a son who never kept us awake at night wondering where he was or what he was doing, a son who became a father and led his family by example, a life that has become a light in his world, a light reaching to Haiti and beyond, a good teacher and writer and most important, a follower of Christ. Happy Birthday son!
jfs

THE KING IS IN THE HOUSE

I woke up this morning with the thought, “THE KING IS IN THE HOUSE.” I’m not sure what God is saying to me, and it may not make sense to you, but the thought simply will not go away. For all who feel God is a million miles away, the truth is, ”He is in the house.” It says to me that He is available and I need that assurance in a troubled world like ours. I plan to spend my day with HIM, conversing with Him and enjoying His birds and flowers. Like the song says, “I just feel like something good is about to happen today.” With the failure of the political systems of this world, I am glad God’s people have a forever King. Jfs
Ps 24:9 Lift up your heads, O you gates! Lift up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in.
Ps 47:2 For the LORD Most High is awesome; He is a great King over all the earth.
TH

His Strength

A line in Psalm 86 caught my attention this morning, “give your strength to your servant” What a blessing to know that His Strength is available to us. Often we sail into storms too big for our sails. Rowing against the current drains us of all our strength. Our work on earth must be powered by heaven’s strength. What a joy to know that we have access to our Fathers strength. His strength is more than enough. As a boy I was always aware of my dad’s strength. I saw him lift things that were impossible for me. So I learned a great lesson, when you need more strength, just call on Daddy. Oh Lord, we look to you for strength to be all you want us to be, to live our lives in ways which bring glory to You. Amen! Jfs

Dinner with Jesus

If you could have dinner with anyone tonight, who would you choose? That is an easy one for me. I pick Jesus and He will come. We are having fresh greenbeans, new potatos, fresh tomatos and cornbread. If you don't believe He wants to have dinner with you, then read this verse. "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. Re 3:20 Some of us need to answer the door. As for me, I have taken the door off of its hinges. jfs

His Work

God's work is accomplished through relationship not intellect. It is not more brains the Church needs, it is intimacy with God. jfs

Joh 5:30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.

A Teachable Spirit

"Show me Your ways, O Lord: Teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; On You I wait all the day." Psalm 25:4-5

Oh Lord give us a teachable spirit. jfs

Waiting

Mary Tramp and I sit on our sundeck while Mary reads Psalm 103. Do we have too much to do to be sitting? NO. Do we have lots of things on our plate? YES. You are not wasting time when you sit before the Lord. Open your eyes and ears and your heart will be blessed. As I write this I am thinking about you, my friends, who will read this blog. Take it from the old man, you are not wasting time when you make yourself available to the Shepherd. There is an old saying that idleness is the Devil’s workshop but business can also be his workshop. The journey is too important to get ahead of the Shepherd. When you don’t know what to do, you need to do some waiting. The first five verses reads: Bless the LORD, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. (NKJV)
Mary Tramp and I think you should take the time to read all of Psalm 103. jfs

The Living Bible

Have you read from the living bible lately? Oh I know, some don’t believe in reading any other bible but the JKV. Two verses from the writing of Paul got my attention today. He writes about what may be the most important translation of all. I call it the life translation. It is the one translation people read when they don’t know they are reading. It is not confined to a drawer in a motel room. It is not bound in leather. It is not a red letter edition. It can’t be banned from a public building or a secular school. It can look very ordinary or it can be beautiful. I read this bible before I could read and it greatly impacted my life. You too have been influenced by this bible. Just listen to what Paul says, You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men; clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart. 2Co 3:2-3. An “epistle of Christ,” now that is something to think about. When people read from my life, I pray they are drawn to Jesus. jfs

Rest

Today, I shall rest in God's completed work. "It is finished"

Heb 4:9 There remains therefore a rest for the people of God.

Psalm 36:9

For with You is the fountain of life; In Your light we see light.

Psalm 66

Make a joyful shout to God, all the earth!
Sing out the honor of His name; Make His praise glorious.
Say to God, "How awesome are Your works! Through the greatness of Your power Your enemies shall submit themselves to You.
All the earth shall worship You And sing praises to You; They shall sing praises to Your name." Selah
Come and see the works of God; He is awesome in His doing toward the sons of men.
He turned the sea into dry land; They went through the river on foot. There we will rejoice in Him.
He rules by His power forever; His eyes observe the nations; Do not let the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah
Oh, bless our God, you peoples! And make the voice of His praise to be heard,
Who keeps our soul among the living, And does not allow our feet to be moved.
0 For You, O God, have tested us; You have refined us as silver is refined.
You brought us into the net; You laid affliction on our backs.
You have caused men to ride over our heads; We went through fire and through water; But You brought us out to rich fulfillment.
I will go into Your house with burnt offerings; I will pay You my vows,
Which my lips have uttered And my mouth has spoken when I was in trouble.
I will offer You burnt sacrifices of fat animals, With the sweet aroma of rams; I will offer bulls with goats. Selah
Come and hear, all you who fear God, And I will declare what He has done for my soul.
I cried to Him with my mouth, And He was extolled with my tongue.
If I regard iniquity in my heart, The Lord will not hear.
But certainly God has heard me; He has attended to the voice of my prayer.
Blessed be God, Who has not turned away my prayer, Nor His mercy from me!
NKJV)

God's Song

I just returned from Palcon at Eastern Nazarene College where I taught a class on redefining success. I pray that God used me to encourage pastors as I was greatly encouraged myself. God has His way of touching our lives through His people. I got to spend time with some of my dear friends and shared a room with one of them, Rev. Kerry Willis. What a joy to be with the people of God--reminds me that heaven will be a celebration like the universe has never known.
I live my life looking for seeds of truth which will help me on my journey. Kerry dropped a seed in my heart that I plan on watering and nurturing. For years Mary has awakened every morning with a song in her heart. I often ask her what her song is for today and she never has to think about it, she just starts singing it. I must admit I seldom hear a song in the morning, but an experience a couple of weeks ago has made me rethink the issue. In a time of prayer the Lord sang to me. It has never happen before, but oh how it touched my heart. Then the Lord confirmed it all through my friend Kerry. He took me to Zep 3:17 “The LORD your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing." jfs

"Take Me Home Son"

There are moments in all of our lives that become markers--moments burned in our minds and hearts that stay with us for a lifetime. One such moment happened to me a few years ago. My boys and I had flown to Canada to fish for a week. As you can imagine, the week went by too fast. The fishing was good and the time together will always be cherished. The flight home brought the moment I shall always remember.
The day we were leaving was gray with a drizzling rain and I dreaded the flight in IFR conditions. As an instrument rated pilot I had filed many flight plans, and as an experienced pilot I had done most of the flying, but my fishing had left me relaxed but tired. In that moment I pulled the key to the airplane from my pocket and handed it to my youngest son, John, and said, “Take me home son.” It was the first time I had ever crawled into the back seat of my own airplane and trusted myself to John. The truth was, he had a commercial rating and was well qualified. The challenge was, I was used to being in control and putting yourself in a place of dependence and trust is never easy. You can’t fly an airplane from the back seat. The lesson learned is that much of the Christian life must be lived in the back seat trusting our Lord to take us home. In our moments of weariness it is always wise to sit in the back seat. Maybe it is time you gave Jesus the key.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.
Pr 3:5-6 (NKJV)

Duty

It stormed yesterday at my house. I sat inside in the dry and thought of the female cardinal in a bush in my front yard sitting on her nest protecting her eggs. It is only natural to want to find shelter from the storms of life, but there are times when duty calls us to stay put, there are some things more important than our comfort. Until we find something beyond ourselves to live for, life is disappointing and empty.
Jesus said, "For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it. Mr 8:35
jfs

Offense

Mr 6:3 "Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?" And they were offended at Him.
Some people are easily offended. Like some of the people of Jesus day, they don’t want to accept God on His terms. God as a baby, or hanging on a cross is not what we expect from God. We want a take charge God,a manipulating God,a God who is responsible for everything that happens both good and bad. Then we can blame and make excuses for our own actions. We are offended by a God showing up as a baby, a God in diapers. Before the babe in the manger could say mama, the event of His birth was speaking and still speaks today. Joh 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” His story is about Love Giving itself to empty hearts. It is about God becoming one of us, so He could be touched and heard, so He could touch, not from heaven but from earth. It is about revelation and hope for the future. The sad thing is, many don’t want that kind of God. They are offended by a God in a bassinet. He came to us so we could come to him. His knock on your heart’s door is your greatest opportunity. Open the door and you will find fellowship with the God of the universe. jfs

Titus Ministry

Nevertheless God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, and not only by his coming, but also by the consolation with which he was comforted in you, when he told us of your earnest desire, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced even more. 2Co 7:6

God is in the comforting business. He knows life sometimes turns on us like a mad dog, and we need spiritual band aids, someone to hold our hand. There is noting like hearing from God in the time of trouble. Like a wounded sheep, I often find myself praying Baa, Baa to the Great Shepherd. The above verse has taught me much about the way the Shepherd comforts His hurting sheep. He reaches through Titus. That can be anyone who hears the call of the Great Shepherd and is willing to go into the Titus Ministry. I have received two Titus calls in the last couple of days, one from my friend Dr. Phil Fuller and the other from Kerry Willis, a brother who knows my heart like no other. What a blessing to be comforted by God through His servants. My prayer is that I will be a Titus to others who need the comfort of God. Join me as we keep the Titus ministry alive. jfs

Momma

Thanks for all the prayers you prayed for me. They are still being answered.
The memory of walking by your bedroom door and hearing you pour out your heat to God will remain with me forever. The little boy inside of me still longs for Momma. Give my love to dad and tell Jesus your little boy still needs help. jfs

Pr 23:25 Let your father and your mother be glad, And let her who bore you rejoice.

God's Heart

“When you can’t see God’s, hand trust His Heart.” This line from a song I heard in the middle of Wednesday night was a special blessing to me. I had a fever of 102 and didn’t feel spiritual at all. For me, sickness and spirituality don’t go together, but I know that “all things work together for the good to those who love the Lord….” I may not feel good, but I can love Him and I do. I am much better today and I thank God for doctors and for His hand even when you don’t see it at work. His Heart can be trusted to do what is best for us. I do realize that His Heart so often works through human hands, in fact, His hands can take many forms, but it is His heart that is always reaching for us. So if you find yourself in a place or at a time when you don’t see His hands, join me and trust His Heart. To have the Heart of God interceding for you is the greatest comfort of all.

Heb 7:25 Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.

Running Out of Gas

When I was a boy our one and only old car had a leak in the gas tank. My dad used soap to stop it temporarily, but rough gravel roads made it a short lived fix. He patched it over and over. I just repaired a lawn mower tire I have been putting air in for two years. What I have learned about life is when you repair something, something else will break. No matter what I do I can’t get everything working at the same time. The more you have the more you have to patch. I am not complaining, I am a blessed man, but I don’t like living with “what next?” Makes me smile when I think of Heaven where nothing will ever wear out. No repair shops repairing those crazy weed eaters that won’t start because you left last year’s gas in it. No washing machines, I wonder if we will wear the same robes all the time? Come to think of it, a real Church is a kind of repair shop where broken hearts can be mended, where confused lives can find new purpose. Church is not a place it is a people who share each others burdens as we make our journey toward Home. “It will be worth it all when we see Jesus.”

Heb 10:35 Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward.

Paths

Paths
A path is an expression of a habit,
Evidence of a journey often made,
A habit made visible where others can follow.
Most of us think of a path made by footprints,
But there are paths in the mind, both good and bad.
They are made by repeated words and actions,
Some sharp as daggers, others kind and gentle.
We all leave paths in the minds and hearts
Of those who journey with us,
And it is up to us to see that our path
leads somewhere worth going. jfs
Ps 17:5 Uphold my steps in Your paths, That my footsteps may not slip.

Overload

I sat watching a beautiful sunset, inspired as I watched our Creator paint in living color. I wish I could have know at thirty-nine what I know now. At seventy-one I now realize the importance of taking in a sunset. Why does it take a lifetime for us to learn what is important? We give ourselves to the plastic stuff. We bow to the pressure of the expectations of others. The out of control life is not confined to the person on skid-row. To be out of control simply means we are not in control. We travel roads we were never meant to travel, take on tasks that are not ours. Looking at all the needs around us, it is so easy to pick up more than we can carry. We are not eighteen wheelers. We were not built for heavy loads. Emotionally we can’t deal with the pain of the entire world. We have become victims of our own inventions. We have expanded our reach beyond our ability to cope. We were created for community, but today our community is the world. We can see around the world any day. We can hear the cry of a child from the other side of the planet. I can leave home in the morning and have lunch in Haiti the same day. Jesus said, “My yoke is easy, my burden is light.” Now that is a life I can handle. With the help of God we must learn to live within the bounds of our creation. Think about it, how far can you see with your eyes? To the neighbors house down the road? How far can you walk in a day? How much can you hear just with your ears? Living within the bounds of my creation I don’t have the problems of the world to cope with. I once ruined a car by pulling a heavy load with it. It just wasn’t made for a heavy load. You were not made for a heavy load and the only way to deal with it is to learn to say NO. Then you will have time for a sunset. jfs

Mt 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
(KJV)

Looking for Jesus?

One shouldn't have to visit the empty tomb to know that Jesus is alive; all it takes is for the Church to be the Church. The exciting thing about the empty tomb is where He showed up; IN HIS CHURCH! jfs

Joh 14:23 Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.

Whale Belly Praying

And what on earth is “whale belly” praying? It is prayers we would not have had to pray if we had done the right thing in the first place. I have done my share of it. It is the right thing to do when you are in trouble. Our Heavenly Father is very familiar with this kind of praying. Like Jonah, who disobeyed, we too, go our own way. Like children, we too often shrug our hearts and do our own thing. There is a big difference with God if we do it the way Jonah did, deliberately, or if we just wonder off the spiritual road because we are not paying attention.

Every road of life brings with it consequences. We can pick the path, but we can’t choose the consequences. Although the consequences can be the same, God knows if we have a rebellious heart. In either case, praying is the right thing to do. “Whale belly” praying is asking God to get us out of the mess, just do something Lord, make this whale sick or have him decide swimming with a rebellious preacher on board is not a good thing. Or how about, “Oh Lord, I know I should have listened to you, and if you will get me out of this mess I will never do it again.” Does God hear these kinds of prayers? He must, we have all prayed them and we are still here.

Wouldn’t it be better if we all prefaced our lives with prayer? Asking our Lord to lead the way is the best way. He knows what is down the road, so letting Him go ahead is the safe thing to do. We all have needed His grace and mercy to pull us out of the ditch, but how about grace and mercy that goes ahead of us to keep us out of the ditch. I choose the latter. Prayer seeking the right thing to do is much better than “whale belly” praying. Jesus never did any “whale belly” praying because he was never out of place. He said, “ I do only what my Father tells me to do.” Maybe if we would take the time to listen and obey we wouldn’t have to deal with so much sea weed. It is worth thinking about. jfs

Jon 2:1 Then Jonah prayed to the LORD his God from the fish's belly.
1Sa 15:22 And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.
(KJV)

Spiritual Tracks

Another way to say it is, Spiritual Footprints. Our lives do leave evidence that we have passed by. Recently in a worship service my pastor asked me to pray for a friend who will soon be going to Iraq. As I prayed for him, a new thought came into my mind, “Lord help him to leave spiritual tracks everywhere he goes.” Of course the first thing we prayed for was his protection. We asked that God’s grace and mercy would go before him. In thinking about the prayer, I realize that what we often think of is survival, just making it to the finish line, or in his case, finishing the tour of duty, but the truth is we are called to be salt and light in our world. The Lord uses our lives to touch other lives and that influence can linger long after we have gone home. I am thankful for all the spiritual tracks, or footprints if you prefer, that my father, mother and grandparents left for me. Spiritual tracks are important, they help us find our way. They are about the power of lingering influence. If you and I had to cross a desert that you had never crossed, it sure would be nice to find footprints of someone who had already made it successfully. We all leave spiritual footprints everywhere we go, and making sure they point in the right direction is very important. Jfs

Re 14:13 Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, "Write: 'Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.'" "Yes," says the Spirit, "that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them."
(NKJV)

Holy Ground

Moses was in the wilderness, not exactly a place you would call holy. Baron land, scrubby trees, desert sand are far from what most of us think of as holy. Or we could look in another direction to large cathedrals, stain glass, painted murals. Maybe the places God considers holy is different from the places we designate as holy. I prefer to think of moments as holy rather than places. Moses moment was one of encounter with the God of the universe and he was told to take off his shoes because he was standing on holy ground. God’s presence can make any place holy. The Holy of Holies spoken of in the Old Testament was a place, but what made it Holy was the presence of God. Any place where we meet God becomes a holy moment and a special place to us. As I walked my path on a gray, cold, winter day I had one of those moments. I had been sick for several days and was looking a trip to Haiti in the face. Here I was sick, planning a trip to Haiti to care for the sick. I had been claiming the promise in Isaiah that “by His strips we are healed,” all the while blowing my nose and coughing up my toes. It was one of those moments when you wonder if there is anything to faith. As I prayed, I came to a place in the path where I sensed the presence of God. I didn’t hear any voices or see anything but trees and the path I walk almost every day, but it was such a powerful moment that I took off my shoes. It just seemed the right thing to do. As I walked away I had a new assurance that he was with me and would be with me. The coughing didn’t stop and I can’t say I felt any better physically, but it will forever be a Holy Ground moment for me.
I am reminded that Jesus said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you,” but that is not a promise he will blow our nose for us. I have never been to the holy ground places of the Christian faith, but I do have my own Holy Ground Moments. They don’t come as often as I would like, but when they do come they cannot be forgotten. “I am the vine and you are the branches,” says Jesus. He also says, “my father is the gardener.” This all says He is involved in our lives. Any time, any where He works in His Garden is a Holy Moment. jfs

Mud Puddles

I must admit, most of the time I think of myself as a child. At seventy-one the reality is I am a father and a grandfather with the prospects of being a great-grandfather. Scary stuff! A few years back my youngest son called me after I was in bed, he was in trouble, not with the law but with some mud puddles. He had just gotten his first four wheel drive truck and had decided to try it out at the local mud hole, a place near the river where all the locals enjoyed the challenge of who could survive the course of doom. The call began with an apology. An apology for doing such a stupid thing to an almost new truck. So happens I also had a four wheel drive truck and after gathering everything I could think of that we might possibly need, droopy eyed, I headed to the local mud hole to rescue an embarrassed son. At the time I was not happy about the prospects of slopping around in the mud, rescuing a son who had done such a dumb thing. Looking back on it all I remember the good feeling of being a father, helping my child in trouble. I remember that he just could not stop thanking me for coming to his rescue.  My Father has rescued me over and over again. Seems that every life has its mud holes. We get stuck and can’t get out of the mess so we call on Father.  He is in the rescuing business. Just call on Him, you won’t wake Him, He never sleeps. The truth is, He has been watching you spin your wheels all the time and has been waiting for your call. He will help you, He loves you. Your big problems are not big to Him. He has no problems and you have no problems He can’t solve. He may ask you to take your hands off, to let go, but He is waiting for your call. In the light of who He is and of eternity, we are all children. Your heart may be covered in mud, but He will wash you and make you clean. You were not made for mud puddles but for the river of life. He invites you to come and live in the flow of His Divine Purpose. Your Father is waiting for your call. jfs
Romans 11:36

The Glorious Future Part 2

Joh 14:2 "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.
Joh 17:24 "Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.
(NKJV)
Some say the future is unknown but that is not true, “I go to prepare a place for you” is a promise our Lord gives to all of us. My imagination runs free when it comes to “what the Lord has prepared for those who love Him,” but my heart longs to see Him most of all. I really don’t care so much about where it is as I do about just being with Him. He has been with me for many years now, walked with me through some painful times and loved me with a love which would not let me go, but there is this veil of flesh which we all wear and to have it torn away will be a glorious thing. Paul speaks of it as a dark glass which is not easy to see through. The Jesus of the New Testament is our Father revealing Himself as our Savior offering forgiveness to sinful hearts. Jesus said, “he that has seen me has seen the Father,” so our Father wants us to come home. Jesus looked forward to our home coming, "Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me;” It is hard for us to conceive that the Jesus of Jerusalem is the WORD creating the earth in Genesis one. “The WORD became flesh and dwelt among us.” He looks forward to our coming home where we will get a better look at Who He really is. Get ready for some big surprises. jfs

The Glorious Future

1Co 2:9 But as it is written: Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him."
When I was a boy growing up and occasionally going to Church services, I was never impressed with the image the Church gave me of heaven. They talked and sang about gold streets and pearl gates, crowns and robes and eternal worship services. What excited me was fishing at the creek, swimming in the river, big trees, butterflies and birds, and as for attire, I liked blue jeans and caps, no robe or crowns for me. Seriously considering the heat of the other place, I decided I would just have to live in town and wear the robe. And then I found the above verse. It gives me permission to dream of what heaven will really be like. It says we have never seen or heard anything on this earth which can compare to heaven. It challenges my imagination and gives me permission to think of the things which are important to me. The phrase, “nor have entered into the heart of man” says to me, it will be better than anything I can dream up. Now that is an open invitation to a dreamer like me. I can imagine green grass, giant trees, clear streams, flowers, birds and butterflies, grapes, and watermelons, fruit trees loaded with fruit, (no worms) and if I want a peach from the top of the tree I will just fly up and get it. If you don’t like my dreaming, then do your own, but I see the dogs I have loved and cared for running across a green meadow greeting me with slobbery kisses. It is my kind of place and I don’t want to miss it. Oh! don’t overlook the last phrase, “for those who love Him.” It is the most important part. Heaven is not for those who go to Church and do good, it is not for the self-righteous, but simply for “those who love Him.” Do You? jfs

Redneck Lessons

I confess, I am a redneck and proud to be one. I know redneck jokes are in these days and they are not politically correct, but I am not into political correctness. Now before you look down your nose at us rednecks, there are a few things you should know. If you eat, you eat because a redneck has spent his or her days working on the farm in the sunshine. Farmers have rednecks because they work long days in the sun so the rest of us can feed our face. My informative years were spent on the farm working in the fields of watermelons and corn. It was difficult not to get a sunburned neck as you worked to keep the weeds from choking out the fruit bearing plants. I know farming has changed, but I am glad I grew up in a time when the food you ate came from the hard work of a redneck. The lessons I learned are cherished ‘till this day. A fruitful harvest does not come easy. Things don’t just grow on their own. In a fallen world the weeds will take over, they have to be confronted. Grapes must have arbors and arbor building is not fun. Stable manure doesn’t smell like roses, but it will make watermelons grow. Our Lord expects a harvest from all of us, and if we work in the SON we might become a Christian Redneck. Nothing will grow without the SON, “Without ME you can do nothing,” and when we allow Him, He will use life’s manure to help make us more fruitful. jfs

Seventy One Years Later

Well, February 15 and I have turned 71. I can not tell you how fast my life has gone. It has for the most part been a wonderful trip with my sweet wife, Mary. Looking back we both realize that the difficult moments helped make us what we are today. We stand ready to say "AMEN" to Ro 8:28 "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." I Praise Him for His many blessings.

How Much things cost in 1939
Average Cost of new house $3,800.00
Average wages per year $1,730.00
Cost of a gallon of Gas 10 cents
Average Cost for house rent $28.00 per month
A loaf of Bread 8 cents
A LB of Hamburger Meat 14 cents
Average Price for new car $700.00
Toaster $16.00
Due to increased number of users Electricity prices have been cut by 1/2 in ten years.
In about 1946, my mother worked a 40 hour week and her take home pay was, $18.00.
In the early 50's my dad was excited when he got a raise to $1.00 an hour.

CERTAINTY

Put a UN in front of the word and you are tempted to get nervous as you sit in Haiti and don’t know how or when you will get home. That is the position 26 of us are in. We came to Haiti on a Medical trip. We have seen hundreds of people with all kinds of needs--a woman with two children who lost their home, a person whose family is still buried in the rubble of a destroyed house, hungry children, people sleeping outside because they are afraid to go inside, and I must admit as I laid in a Haitian bed and looked up at a concrete ceiling, I had my moments. Truth is, life is filled with uncertainties. I am learning not to focus on the uncertainties but on the certainties, and there are some that you can hang your hat on. It is a good thing to acknowledge there are some things over which we have no control. We had planned this trip for months and then the earthquake came and it looked as if it would be impossible to make the trip. I remember the frustration of the uncertainty. Finally I waved a white flag to our Lord and surrendered to His will. I said to Him, “If we get there we will know it is because you want us there,” and then a door opened and United Airlines offered to fly us to Haiti without charge, but they could not come back for us. So the big word flashed again, “Uncertainty.” In the midst of all this there was a snow storm and just getting to the airport was a challenge. I remember saying to the Lord, “I am signing a blank piece of paper and you will have to fill it in your way.” We don’t like feeling out of control, but it is when we are out of control that we learn about His faithfulness. He is never out of control. He has no obligation to help us with our plans unless they are His plans. Helplessness is opportunity for us to learn of His faithfulness. Living in the desert of life we learn how faithful He is to all who call on Him.
So today I sit in the warm sun of Haiti with the uncertainty of how I will get home, but I know the God who got me here will also get me home. I don’t have to know how, I just trust the one who has the power to get water from a rock. When His plan becomes our plan we don’t have to worry. He will work his plan in His own way and in His timing. Faith must march down from the pulpit and work for us in life’s uncertain moments. What we preach must be lived on the street.
Two days before we left Nashville with a one way ticket, Mary and I were reading our Bible at bedtime. Our pastor had asked us to read through the book of Psalms, we were at Psalm 121 and when we read the last verse we knew it was for us and our trip to Haiti. It was as though God marked it with a yellow marker. Ps 121:8 “The LORD shall preserve your going out and your coming in from this time forth, and even forevermore.”
Today we are still in the “going out” phase, but I know God is in charge of the “coming in” part. I am looking forward to seeing my family in Nashville and my heart smiles when I think of the greeting I will get from Tramp. The certainties of trusting in God are far greater than the uncertainties of this troubled world. JFS
PS: We are all home, my group came home on a US Air Force C17, what a ride! Thanks for all your prayers. jfs

Truth or Opinion

As I took my daily walk this morning I could not stop thinking about Pat Robinson’s statement about Haiti and all the flack it has drawn. He has indeed found himself flying through a barrage of opinions both negative and positive. The following is an attempt to put into words some of the many thoughts I had as I walked. I start with the premise that we do not make Truth, nothing is true because I say it is true and nothing is false because I say it is false. A scholar does not make truth and a primitive native of the Amazon does not make truth. Truth stands on its own feet. One of the problems I have with scholarship is that it is so often the propitiation of bad ideas. I believe that is especially true of moral and ethical concepts. Opinions are not scholarship. We can’t make God who we want Him to be. He is Who He is, the “I AM.” There is certainly nothing wrong with trying to understand what is going on in our world, but we must keep our minds and hearts open or we will find ourselves pointing our fingers in the wrong direction. If we must point an accusing finger lets start by pointing it to the person in the mirror. jfs

The Church

Joh 15:5 says, "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”
When you say the word “Church,” what do you think of—A Building? The Church is not a place but a people. It is a living organism receiving its life from its connection with the One who said, “I am the way the truth and the life.” When He said, “ I am the vine you are the ranches,” He was using the grapevine as an example of His relationship with His Church. It is to be a relationship of LIFE, His LIFE. It is through His life that the Church produces fruit. He made it very plain, “Without me you can do nothing.” It is easy to confuse organism and organization. Think of it this way, if you plant a grape vine in your yard, and I have, you have a living organism, but grape vines do best when they have an arbor to support them. Take a look at any vineyard and you will see that there is a support system for each vine. The arbor can never produce grapes, but it does serve a very important function. It is a servant to the vine. The vine is not the servant to the arbor. Building arbors alone will never produce fruit. Grapes come only from the organism. We must give ourselves to the health of the branches and no amount of organization can take the place of healthy branches. A building is an arbor, Wednesday night suppers are arbors, mission trips are arbors. Any civic organization can do much of what we do in the Church. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t do it, but it does remind us that we must bring something to the needy world that only we can bring. It is the LIFE OF JESUS. The fruit produced by the vine through the branches is unique. It is the work of heaven brought to earth. Lets not quibble over the methods—arbors or fences—but let us give ourselves to bringing the Life of Christ to a hurting world. Your neighbor needs grapes, not arbors. Jfs
P.S. Next week, God willing, thirty-two of us are taking grapes to Haiti, please remember us in your prayers. Thanks.

Why?

I was awake this morning at three a.m. thinking about this one word question. I haven’t been able to get any work done for thinking about Haiti. Up until now I have been thinking about the people and what they are going through. For Mary and me it is very personal. As we talked this morning in the dark hours of the day, she was talking about people we have met in Haiti who were victims of the earthquake. There are some questions for which we do not have answers, but they flash like a neon sign in our minds until we are compelled to respond. The atheist has the easy answer, just a matter of cause and effect, nature doing its thing, being at the wrong place at the wrong time. I suppose he would add, that at times we are victims of our own inventions. But for us who believe there is a God, and the evidence is strong if you look for it, we don’t have such simple answers. What I am about to say are my own thoughts, I don’t speak for anyone else but I have spent a lifetime with the neon sign flashing “WHY?” in my head and heart. For me it began with a simple truth and that is, Christianity is a relationship not a religion. My answer also stands on the premise that God is Holy and good, full of grace and mercy. Our view is not the same as His, He has an eternal perspective on life and we have a temporal one. Some people see God as a manipulator of humanity. A button pushing, lever pulling God who controls every aspect of our existence. I do not see it that way.
Now back to the relationship idea. I have three wonderful children and a good relationship with them, but I do not try to control their lives. I am here for them, I will help them when they ask, I will give them advice when they ask, but I did not raise them to be robots. I am sure they are at times victims of their own decisions and I hope they don’t blame me. I am most proud of them when they live by the principle of the Word of God by their own choice. Whatever you may think of God, it is obvious that He does not force people to serve Him or live by the principles of the Christian faith. Much of the world demonstrates this every day. The inconsistency is that when trouble comes these same people want to blame God. They reject the lever pulling God when it comes to their personal lives but embrace Him when tragedy strikes. They want God to be a dictator until He infringes on their personal freedom. It is a kind of “leave me alone attitude, I will call you when I need you.” But when trouble comes they are the first to ask, “where was God and why didn’t He do something?” Well, I have learned that you can’t have it both ways. You can’t have freedom and then blame God for not being there when you have left Him out of your life. Now for a couple of important points. Good people get hurt because our lives are intertwined. We drive on the same roads. We share the same space and we live in a fallen world. The Earth today is not what God intended and it is because of the Free Will issue. God is not looking for robots. Robots cannot love by choice, they cannot serve by choice, but we can and that is the best kind of love. I choose to love God. Rom. 8:21 “because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.” This verse says, we live in a world bent out of shape but God will have the final say, and bring it back to what He intended. Until this happens, it will continue to “rain on the just and the unjust.” Now before you jump on my case for what I am about to say, think about it. Back to the tragedy of Haiti, there are two views; the physical view which is devastating, a major disaster by anyone’s standard, and the spiritual view. Simply put, the way man sees it and the way God sees it. We know what He thinks, 2Pe 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. Joh 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God the important thing is “everlasting life,” for us it is so often the extension of this life. The important issue is where we go when we leave here. That is what Jesus Christ is all about. He is “The Door” “The Way,” “The Truth” and “The Life.” He took the penalty for sin upon Himself. He paid for our ticket to Heaven, He simply ask us to repent, “turn,” and ask for forgiveness. I think of the two crooks who hung on the crosses beside Jesus. One of them asked to be remembered and Jesus said to him, “Today you will be with me in paradise.” Here is the point, for this man his tragedy turned into the way home. When we dare attempt to see things from an eternal perspective it gives us hope. I believe thousands of Haitians have gone home, buried in the rubble all they could do is ask, “remember me,” and a loving, gracious God has welcomed them home. My faith says they would not come back if they could. What God does not cause, He uses. For the thousands buried in the darkness of crumbled concrete, He was there with open arms. In the end He will have the final say. Like children playing in the back yard, doing our own thing for the moment, we dare not assume that we are not responsible and that God will not have the last word. I have a feeling that “Why” is not about God but about us. jfs

Caught in the Moment

It’s not a bad thing to be caught in the moment, because life is lived one moment at a time. We cannot live in the future or the past. The moment is important, but it is part of a bigger story. It is like one page of a book. You can’t read a page of a book and draw a good conclusion about the whole story. Last Sunday we were studying the fourth chapter of Mark--one event in the life of Jesus and his disciples. After a long day of tiring ministry He says, “let’s get in the boat and go to the other side of the lake.” On the journey he falls asleep, and while he is sleeping a storm arises and almost fills the boat with water. They wake Jesus, and I must admit that is exactly what I would have done. After all what do you do when you encounter a storm too big for your oars? I suggest to you that the disciples had nothing to worry about. This storm was just one page in the book, one part of a bigger picture. Jesus asked them, “Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?” Our faith must be bigger than the moment. It must operate on what He has said, “let us go to the other side.” It must see the future of the Divine Purpose for our lives. If you are in the midst of a storm, just remember, it is just one page in the story of your life. Boldly speak to the storm in His Name and keep rowing. Stay in the boat with Jesus, it is unsinkable. Jesus himself is a great example of this truth. Hear this verse, “looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Heb 12:2 . Suffering on a Roman Cross was a difficult moment for our Lord, but it is not the whole story. When the winds of adversity blow in our face, it is easy to forget that one page or one chapter does not determine the outcome. Put your faith in what He has said and know that you will make it to the other side. jfs
jfspruill@aol.com

Fig Tree Saga

So the saga of the fig tree continues. Last night a female cardinal spent the night in the fig tree. She found warmth from the cold night under the umbrella. Now I must confess, I went to Home Depot and paid thirty four dollars for thirty feet of heat tape. I wrapped the tree trunk with the tape and plugged it in, voila! a warm tree and a bird smart enough to come in out of the cold. This morning at four a.m. it all began to make sense to me. In the Bible the fig tree is a symbol of Israel, you know, God’s people. The Father went to great lengths to save His people, but He was just too human for them, Jesus was the son of Joseph and Mary. He paid with His life in order to bring His people under the umbrella but they preferred to stay out in the cold. So He invited the rest of us to spend the night under His fig tree. So the tree has become a sanctuary from the cold to all who will come under the umbrella of His redemption. It is now five forty a.m., the coldest part of the night, and my heart is warmed to know there is one bird warmed by my provision. She sits there waiting for the morning sun. My brothers and sisters, stay under the umbrella of His love, don’t leave the fig tree, the Son is coming. Jfs

Tit 2:11-14 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men,
teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.
(NKJV)

Captivity or Freedom

Yesterday I was reading from 2 Timothy and when I got to the last phrase of this passage it was like a light being turned on the world’s problems. Just read and listen to verse 26, “and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.” Our world is living the reality of this verse and it is easy to see the devil is up to no good. He does indeed come to, “steal, kill and destroy.” It is really not difficult to tell the difference between the devil’s work and God’s work. One ends in death and the other brings life. One is full of love and hope and the other is driven by hate. It is amazing that sin in man was birthed in his desire to control, to do his own thing. A world seeking to control and force its will on others is a world that has “been taken captive by him to do his will.” Christ Jesus never forces Himself on anyone. He makes us an incredible offer of eternal life at His expense. You don’t have to blow yourself up to make it to heaven, the ticket is on Him. And so it comes down to this simple matter: millions have been taken captive by the devil to do his will and millions have been set free by the blood of Jesus Christ to do His will. Look at the fruit and it becomes easy to tell whether we are held captive or have been set free. Jesus offers freedom, the devil offers captivity.

2Ti 2:23 But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife.
24 And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient,
25 in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth,
26 and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.
(NKJV)

Figs

If you came into my backyard today, you would say, “What on earth is he doing?” You would see two brightly colored beach umbrellas deployed over the top of my fig tree. Then you would think, What on earth is he doing with a fig tree in Tennessee?” In case you don’t know, fig trees don’t like cold weather so I am in a big battle with winter’s yearly assault. I have a heater under the umbrella and the trunk wrapped in a blanket, so I am doing everything I know to win over the cold. I love the tree because it reminds me of Jesus. In fact, I call the figs it produces, “Jesus Fruit.” Jesus Fruit is important to all of us, I mean the kind He grows in our lives. Love, joy, peace, gentleness, etc. are all fruit for hungry hearts. Like my fig tree, we live in a hostile environment. The world blows the cold winds of hostility on us all the time, so we need Jesus to keep us spiritually warm. The world wants to freeze us out, but the warmth of Heaven can warm any heart. So the battle goes on. I have been warned of seven degrees tomorrow night. With the help of heaven I shall eat figs this summer.
Joh 15:5 "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
Mt 21:19 And seeing a fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it but leaves, and said to it, "Let no fruit grow on you ever again." Immediately the fig tree withered away.
Jas 3:12 Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh. jfs

Mr Al

Dear Mr Al, I was wndern if you new how cold it is in Tennessee? I here tell you been saying hits getting warmer but sompun aint right with yor theromermeter, wes bout to freeze here on the hill. Have you ever heard of a two dog night, that’s a night so cold hit takes 2 dogs on your bed to keep your feet warm. Well last night was a 3 dog night and I here tell tomorrow will be a 4 dog night. problem is we aint got but one dog. Can you help us with a couple more dogs. Sir, your thinking jest don’t make no sense, if hits getin warmer, how com our teeth are chatterin? Can you please send some of that goblewarmin our way.

sincerely cold in tennessee
elmer shiverley

Sawdust Pile

When I was a boy my father was a part time saw miller. He learned the trade from my grandfather. He set up an old mill near the house under some pine trees. It was just one of those many things he did to keep food on the table. I have many fond memories of playing around a saw mill. It was also the place where I got one of my first jobs; we called the job doodling sawdust. When the mill was in operation a chain pulled the sawdust away from the saw and pilled it up in a pile. At he top of the pile was a pulley, and it was there where I worked with a big scoop keeping the pulley from getting clogged. When the mill was not working we often played in the sawdust, climb to the top and slide down. It was Alabama sawdust sledding. It is just one more memory of life in Lamar County, Alabama. Thinking about those huge mounds of sawdust, I now realize it was made by individual grains of wood. So much like life, we tend to see it as a whole measured by hours and days weeks and months and years, but in truth, life is made up of moments. The longer God lets us live the bigger the pile, but in reality it is the moments which count, moments of kindness, moments of appreciation, moments of watching a sunset or holding your wife’s hand, moments when you kiss your child on the cheek and tell them how much you love them, moments when you say to Kerry and Paul, “thanks for being my friend.” I would like to think that when I am gone my children and grandchildren can laugh and play on my pile of moments. Oh! To all my friends, make the most of your moments in 2010. I love you all, I’ve got to go play on the sawdust pile. jfs