Redneck Ramp

 

A week ago, I changed the oil in my truck and noticed something that puzzled me.  It appeared that I was missing some rubber parts connecting the front stabilizer bar to the frame.  I wasn’t sure, so I drove the truck to the parts store to ask someone smarter than me.  The truck clearance was a little tight for the chuncky counterman to crawl under, so I took advantage of the curb using it as a makeshift ramp.  He confirmed my suspicion, and I went away with the necessary parts.  Hope you like my redneck ramp.  Just use what is available.  After all, God does.  I Corinthians 1:27, “But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty.”  And why does God use imperfect people?  Verse 29, “That no flesh should glory in his presence.”

Decisions

 

Yogi Berra once said, “When you come to a fork in the road, take it.”  A little confusing and amusing, but true.  At a fork in the road, don’t hesitate too long or you will get run over by others crowding behind you.  Gather the facts as quickly as you can, make the best decision that you can, and just go with it.  Right or wrong, go with it.  Hey, that pretty much sums up life.  You can’t make every decision right because you can’t see into the future.  But make the best decision that you can and go with it.  And, you can’t keep second-guessing your decision or you haven’t really made a decision.  If more information becomes available, you have the option to change a poor decision, but otherwise, you can’t keep waffling back and forth.  Stick with your gut feeling.  But best of all, ask the dear Lord for direction because He is already there in the future, and He can give you good advice.  David said in Psalm 37:23&24, “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.”  Isn’t it comforting to know that God can help you make decisions?  And when you blow it, God will keep you from disaster.  Trust God and rest in His care.

Power Interruption

 

Two weeks ago, I woke up in the middle of the night and sensed that something was wrong.  I sat up in the dark and tried to orient myself.  I got up and worked my way to the bathroom in the dark.  No problem because I do that all of the time.  I don’t like to turn on the light because it wakes me up and I can’t go back to sleep.  I cautiously felt my way back to bed when I realized the problem: my sound machine was off (that background-generating thing) and the house was quiet.  I pushed the “on” button on the little gadget, but nothing happened.  Upon closer investigation, my electric clock was off too.  I located my ready flashlight and went downstairs to the electric panel.  The breakers were on, but still no power.  Then I looked outside and saw that the streetlights were off and the neighboring houses were dark.  The problem was with Northwest Georgia Power Co-op.  TVA was generating power and supplying it to the local company, but the power wasn’t making it to my house.  Hey, how often do I look inside of me to find the problem in my spiritual life.  But the problem isn’t with me; the problem is with my relationship with Jesus Christ.  Ephesians 1:19&20, “And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places.”  God has the power, but am I accessing that power through Jesus Christ?  So … are you?!

Choices

 

D.L.Moody, the great evangelist of a hundred years ago, told the story of a man buying a ticket on a stagecoach headed west.  The ticket agent asked, “Do you want a first-class ticket, or a second-class ticket, or a third-class ticket?”  The man thought a moment and asked the ticket agent, “Don’t they all ride in the same coach?”  “Oh yes,” the agent said.”  So the man bought a third-class ticket and saved his money.  But after all of the passengers had gotten into the stagecoach, the driver called down, “When we come to a hill, first class passengers stay in the coach.  Second class passengers please get out and walk.  Third class passengers get out and push.”  Have you ever made a poor decision and found that it was too late to have a “do-over”?  It happens to me all of the time.  David found himself in such a situation and lamented in Psalm 42:5, “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.”  The good Lord delights in helping His children.  He likes to come to your rescue.  When you find out in life that your third-class ticket wasn’t such a bargain, cry out to the Lord.  He will help you and he will rescue you.  You can always depend upon God.