The Truth

"Absolute truth belongs to God alone."

Gotthold Ephraim Lessing (1729-1781)

I recently purchased Will Graham's first book, Redeemed: Devotions for the Longing Soul. It has 50 short chapters, easy to read, good stories and filled with a lot of wisdom.

One chapter I read recently spoke about God's Word being the Truth. We've heard many sermons and read many books proving God's Word to be the truth, but sometimes, a certain way someone explains it just hits you different. And this one did to me.

It spoke about the time Billy Graham was having a hard time answering the difficult questions when he was just starting out in ministry for God. I was aware of this struggle because we have the DVD on his life: Billy, The Early Years of Billy Graham."

"Truth lies in character. Christ did not simply speak the truth; he was Truth--truth through and through, for truth is a thing not of words, but a life and being."

Frederick William Robertson (1816-1853)

A quote used in this chapter by Billy Graham talked to me: "I pondered the attitude of Christ toward the Scriptures. He loved those sacred writings and quoted from them constantly. Never once did He intimate that they could be wrong."

Billy Graham kept seeing the phrase "Thus sayeth the Lord," as he read through scripture for answers to his doubts. "Those four words finally sparked the realization in his heart that the book he held in his hand was not the work of man, but the divinely inspired, eternal, and powerful voice of God," Will wrote.

"Truth is mightier than eloquence; the spirit is stronger than genius; faith greater than learning."

Martin Luther (1483-1546)

There is so much proof of Jesus' life and ministry from Christians and non believers that His life cannot be ignored. And Jesus believed in the scriptures. He knew they were truth and He depended on them when He was on earth.

I haven't been having any doubts, but reading this devotion story sparked my thoughts, knowing the one I believe in and trust is completely truth. It was one of the aha moments when what you believe is affirmed. Another moment to be thankful, even after 40 years, for my faith and Savior.

Do you read books by God's people? You will be rewarded with encouragement, inspiration and joy reading how God worked in other people's lives. Do you want the Truth? Read on, my friend, read on!

"Old truths are always new to us if they come to us with the smell of heaven upon them."

John Bunyan (1628-1688)

The Music is Playing

"Next to theology I give to music the highest place and honor. Music is the art of the prophets, the only art that can calm the agitations of the soul; it is one of the most magnificent and delightful presents God has give us."

Martin Luther (1483-1546)

Jerry must be happy! The music is playing. Joy is filling the air.

The new year has brought to my attention that I'm not as happy as I could be. I'm still adjusting to life without mother in our home and the six years brought a lot of stress to us. It may have been a devotion I read that helped me know I wanted to change. I don't remember. But I do remember that I wanted to be happier.

I always listened to CDs when driving back and forth to work. I loved singing the songs, being encouraged by the words and inspired by the music. That didn't carry over to home. I haven't played music in the house for many years.

But the music is now playing. We purchased most of the Gaither Homecoming DVDs over the years, and with your purchase you received a CD of the show. Mostly, the CDs have just sat in our home. But the other week I went downstairs and brought them up. I plugged the player in the dining room where I sew. And I've been playing them most mornings.

I've loved singing along, smiling and feeling good while they played. And Jerry has commented a number of times about how much he is enjoying listening to them.

It seems like a small thing, but, as most of us know, small things can be very important. Small things can change a life. I know. Mine was changed. I received one written note, so many years ago, and it changed my life. That's why I've been so diligent in my calling of writing notes.

The telephone call . . . the quick hello . . . the warm hug . . . the caring heart--small things that make a big difference.

"Small things" caused me to remember a favorite story I've told often when I spoke to a group about note writing. It's the January 7th devotion in the original Streams In the Desert and it talks about a heart's-ease. I didn't know what a heart's-ease was the first time I read it and had to look it up. A heart's-ease is a wild European pansy which typically has purple and yellow flowers. It has given rise to hybrids from which most garden pansies were developed. Following is an abbreviated form of the writing:



"The story goes of a king who went into his garden one morning and found everything withered and dying. He then went about the garden asking each tree and flower what the problem was. They each answered saying they wanted to be something else: the oak tree wanted to be tall and beautiful like the pine.  The pine tree wanted to bear grapes like the vine. The vine wanted as fine fruit as the peach tree. And so on all through the garden.

Then the king came upon a heart's-ease and found its bright face lifted as cheery as ever. So he asked it why it wasn't disheartened like all the other plants. The heart'-ease answered: 'I'm not of much account, but I thought that if you wanted an oak, or a pine, or a peach tree, or a lilac, you would have planted one; but as I knew you wanted a heart's-ease, I am determined to be the best little heart's-ease that I can.'"

Small things matter. And if what God gave you to do is small, do it with all your heart. You may never know the difference you have made to another's heart, but you can be sure, if you gave out of love, you made a difference.

That's why I've been making these Valentine pillows to give away. Something small. But to another heart, it could be something big. I have a few more to do before the calendar says February.

Yes, the music is playing. Joy is filling the air. And I'm happier. Is your music playing?

"Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life."

Berthold Auerbach (1812-1882)

70?

From a recent Facebook page, anonymous.

“The young feel tired at the end of an action; the old at the beginning.” 

T. S. Eliot (1888-1965)

1949. Me and many of my friends were born that year. And this new year we’ll turn seventy. 70. SEVENTY. That’s caused me to ponder this event for awhile now.

As my friends know, I love to celebrate my birthday. When I turned 50 I started celebrating the entire month of my birthday. Breakfast, lunch and dinner dates with my friends. There aren’t many opportunities to celebrate, and I didn’t want to overlook an occasion!

The week of my 50^th birthday, each day I brought in a homemade treat for my fellow co-workers. I didn’t want black ribbon around my cubicle. I wanted celebration!

When I turned 55 I had the best birthday party of my life! I called it the “Celebration of Friends” party, and invited 16 of my closest friends from elementary school through my life. It was one of the best things I have ever done celebrating all of them!

Turning 40, or 50, or 60 didn’t affect me. I’ve never been bothered about my age. That is until this year. Turning 70 brings with it decisions and actions I’ve not thought about before. I spent a good part of this past November and December thinking about my life. What good have I done. Is there still something for me to do in the time I have left in this world.  I want to make a difference.

Turning 70 brings to light a subject no one enjoys thinking about. Death. Friends will begin to have health concerns. Some will die. I may die. March I'll be four years cancer free. I am thankful for that. I’ve already said goodbye to several friends. I don’t like it. But it is reality.

Yes, Linda, Penny, Steve, Roy, Sharon, Cindy, Susan, Yvonne, Jack, and all those I can’t remember, this is the year. I invite you to join me in considering what you have done and what you can still do for however long you have here on this earth.

There may be gray hair, more weight, thicker glasses and slower reactions, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing more to do.

“Oh Lord, let me not live to be useless.” 

John Wesley (1703-1791)

So this year when my birthday month comes around, and I turn 70 years old, I hope I will have pondered my purpose for these last years of life and stand strong in my determination to be all God wants me to be.

“Little self-denials, little honesties, little passing words of sympathy, little nameless acts of kindness, little silent victories over favorite temptations—these are the silent threads of gold which, when woven together, gleam out so rightly in the pattern of life that God approves.” 

Frederic William Farrar (1831-1903)

The ending of a year is a great time for reflection, for introspection—a time to reevaluate our priorities, look at how we are spending our time, and most importantly, our relationship with God. 

Have we grown closer to Him in the past months or are we slipping farther away? As 2018 is now over, take time to ask yourself—Is God #1 in my life? Jesus said, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment” (Matthew 22:37-38). Franklin Graham

My pastor posted this on Facebook: Ecclesiastes Chapter 3 tells us that for every aspect of life we experience them only but for a season. This means that all things are temporary. Biblically God's average life span for mankind is 3 score and 10 or 70 years. Some live much less and some much more, but average life span given is 70. This sounds like a long time, but on the radar screen of time it is only a blip on the screen. Everything that we do and everything that we say matters. Let's do all we can in 2019 to live life with an understanding that each day counts, that each moment matters. "Only one life will soon be past and only what's done for Christ will last!

“The person born with a talent they are meant to use will find their greatest happiness in using it.” Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

How about you? You may be older than 70 or younger than 70, but taking thought of your life makes sense at any age. It goes by fast. What will you do to make a difference?