The Unexpected

Yesterday in the paper there was an article of a young man that allegedly had a coughing fit while driving.  It caused him to run off the roadway and into a crowd of people outside a bar, killing three and injuring others.  He was over the limit on his blood-alcohol test.  It happened right after the bars closed and when responders (or bystanders, I don't remember which) came over his first thoughts were, "Was anyone hurt?"   He was a caring person, yet he just killed three people.

The bars are filled with boozers every night and the bar parking lots empty out when the 2 am hour strikes.  Someone is driving drunk tonight, thinking they can handle any situation.  The guy referred to in the previous paragraph, was a big guy, 33, and probably thought he was in complete control.  But that night, the unexpected happened.  If he is found guilty, he will be spending most of his life in jail.  Everything he has earned will be gone to pay for the families' burials of their loved ones.  For the rest of his life he will be carrying the grief of knowing that he killed three people and he could have prevented it.

How often do fathers and loved ones set examples of irresponsibility that their children only see as a freedom?  How many times does a death have to happen before others are awakened to the dangers of drinking and driving?  Will our children be the next victims?  Don't let alcohol be your strength, your comfort or your life, set the pace for those who look up to you and just don't drink.  If you don't know where to start--start with prayer.  The Lord will guide you and open doors for help.

Living on the Edge

At church tonight, the sermon centered around "living on the edge."   I love that phrase--"living on the edge."  It referred to those who spoke of Jesus, those willing to put it all on the line to follow the Lord.   The Bible is replete with examples of those who stepped out in faith. 

In our lives, God has blessed us abundantly -- we have family, we have food, we have shelter, we have all that we need, and more!   We are snug in our little spot, but this time will pass.  Our foundation needs to be firm when we stand against the world.   The pastor told a story of a woman during wartime. (I am ad-libbing the parts I missed, as the children distracted me during the story.) --  Emma was part of a group of women quilters.  One day enemy soldiers were walking by and she took her broom out after them.  The soldiers shrugged her off.  The other women laughed at her when they heard and asked her what she thought she was doing.   She said she knew she couldn't win a battle, but she wanted them to know what side she was on. 

Don't we feel like we are waving a little broom against enemy guns, when we go against the world?  Yet, we stand.  Whatever happens, God will be there with us. In the battle, let us stand on His side.

ROMANS 8:31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written:

“ For Your sake we are killed all day long;


We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”


37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Long days.

Last week, my son and his wife moved my storage out of a large storage unit and into one half the size (and almost half the cost.)  I have been moving stuff out of the unit over time, resulting in quite a bit wasted space.  We then moved the clothing boxes, linen boxes and "fragile" boxes back to the house to go through.  It appears to be an overwhelming task, as I sit and look at the boxes.  But, proceeding with one foot in front of the other, I will eventually get it done, one box at a time!!

We have had heavy rains these last few days and they have saved our stressed out trees! The grass, that was withered and brown, has once again turned green.  You would never guess that this is October!!  I like this weather--it is nice.  If we don't see snow or cold, I will be happy. 

My grandson was baptized the night before his father left.  He was baptized by his father.  The other children were all baptized in church, but Timmy wasn't.  Time constraints overwhelmed us, with all that was going on, so it fell on Tim to baptize Timmy.   I believe God brings about happenings in our lives, to strengthen our faith, and bring families together.  Does a pastor have more authority to do a baptism?  Would someone more knowledgeable about the Bible have more authority to do a baptism?  No.  The answer is "no" to both questions.  It is not our knowledge, it is not our authority, power or any act of ours, that brings about the washing away of the sins, it is all  done by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.  He knows our heart and that is what is important--that we love Him.

All is good.