Fighting the Wind

 

Saturday, I was using my gas blower (thanks for the gift, Eric) to blow off the church parking lot.  But the wind was contrary and kept blowing the twigs and leaves into my face.  I would make progress, but then a gust would undo what I had accomplished.  I was frustrated until I stopped and thought for a moment.  I turned around and blew the debris with the wind and cleaned the entire parking lot in short time.  I not only didn’t have to fight the wind, I actually used the wind to my advantage.  I was reminded of the Jewish Sanhedrin examining the apostles in Acts chapter 5.  Gamaliel offered this wise advice: Acts 5:38&39, “… if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.”  Well said, Dr. Gamaliel!  Hey, don’t fight against God; fight with God; be on the Lord’s side!

Tape Measure Troubles

 

In 1961 my dad bought some property in the country in Maryland and moved our trailer onto it.  After he had saved a while, he built the front half of our house with the trailer attached to the back.  Then two years later, he moved the trailer and finished the back half of our house.  While building the back half, he bought a new tape measure.  After laying out the framing, he began to notice problems.  The new walls were off, and the floor joists were too short.  After examination, he discovered that his new tape measure was off by only 1/32” per inch.  But at the end of the 45’ long house, it was almost 1 ½” too long!  That tiny difference added up to a big problem.  His new tape didn’t correspond to his 6’ folding rule.  The error was in the new longer tape.  Hey, do you seem to have problems in your life?  Do some things just don’t add up?  Go back to the Bible and see how your life compares to God’s standard.  Solomon spoke of “unjust weights” in the marketplace that fooled some people.  Proverbs 16:11 says, “A just weight and balance are the LORD'S: all the weights of the bag are his work.”  God compares all of our lives to His perfect standard.  God doesn’t grade on a curve; God is fair with everyone.  The problem is that we are ALL sinners and in need of a Savior.  And after salvation by God’s grace, we ALL still have a sinful nature to overcome.  We overcome our sinful flesh by surrendering each day to the dear Lord.  Hey, don’t struggle against God; surrender to Him.  Make your life measure up to God’s expectations and you will live a peaceful, spirit-controlled life.

Junkyard Yardsale

 

This is where Marleen and I spent our honeymoon.  NOT!  We found this junk yardsale between Ellijay and Blue Ridge, GA.  Hey, when you think of heaven compared to the beautiful places here on earth, it is like a honeymoon in a junkyard.  I Corinthians 2:9, “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.”  If you think of the most gorgeous places on earth, your heavenly home will be much better than those!  Hey, take a moment to thank the Lord for His love (and preparations) for you!