No Parking

 

When I was in college, money was tight.  We lived in a tiny trailer and drove an AMC Gremlin.  I took college classes in the morning and worked the afternoon shift.  One day, I went to Erlanger Hospital to donate blood for $15.  I didn’t want to pay for parking, so I drove a block away and walked to the hospital.  There was a “No Parking” sign on the street, but everyone else was parking there, so I did too.  But later that morning when I got back from donating blood, all the other cars were gone except for my car, and it had a parking ticket tucked under the windshield wiper blade.  The night nurses knew to leave before the meter maid came around.  The only car left was mine, with the ticket on it!  I had to pay a $10 parking fine.  So much for my money-making idea.  Hey, I got the ticket and I was guilty.  Everyone else knew how to avoid a ticket, but that was no excuse for me.  I got caught.  That’s the same with my spiritual life.  I can make excuses and blame other people, but in the end, MY sin is MY responsibility. Paul said in Romans 3:10, “… There is none righteous, no, not one.”  Others may be guilty, but that’s no excuse for me.  I am guilty MYSELF!  Hey, what about you?  Will you take responsibility for your own sin?  Trust Jesus and let Him take your sin for you.  What a great bargain: give Jesus your sin and He will give you His eternal life in exchange!

Children

 I didn't post Tuesday because I left for Knoxville at 4 am. Yikes! My niece has her house all torn up with floor renovations in preparation for me new little great-nephew sometime in December. Instead of spending Monday night with Allie and Easton, I drove up early Tuesday for elementary chapel at Temple Baptist Academy in Powell, TN. The 100+ elementary kidos are well-behaved. Kudos to the teachers and staff. Kids don't normally act good; they must be taught. Really. My lesson was on Peter and John and the lame man healed in Acts 3. I had a creation creature: the Emperor penguin. The memory verse was John 8:12 "...I am the light of the world; he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." We said the verse a couple of times, then I had the girls stand and say it. Then I had the boys stand and say it. Then I asked the students, "Do you think that the teachers should say the verse?" They're eyes lit up and they enthusiastically said "Yes!" The teachers were good sports, stood, and said the verse flawlessly. I am always thrilled when children memorize God's everlasting Word! It's good for them; it's good for the teachers; and it's good for you!

Big or Small Problems

 

Last Monday, we went to the SRM concrete plant to buy 4 “trailer pads” to use as the base for a pergola.  Trailer pads are substantial chunks of concrete (4”X16”X16”) used in mobile home installations.  I went into the office to pay for them, and a worker was fighting with a new baseball cap.  He was trying to hang it onto a small pushpin on the cork board above his desk.  But it kept falling down.  He picked it up and hung it up again.  And it fell off the tiny pin again.  He saw me watching his dilemma, so I said, “Having a little trouble, aren’t you?”  And I smiled.  He nodded, shrugged, and said, “Would you like a free hat?”  And he tossed the hat to me.  I had a new hat, and he was relieved of his problem.  Hey, some problems in life are petty, like the hat falling off the little pushpin.  But other problems in life are huge!  May I remind you that the dear Lord can solve your problems big or small?!  Psalm 34:19, "Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all."  So today, let God deliver you from all of your problems.  He can … and He will!  Just ask Him.

Vinyl Paint Container

 

Marleen and I have been painting the church office this week.  I rolled the walls and wainscoting while Marleen cut in the edges.  After we finished painting Wednesday afternoon, I dumped out her vinyl paint container and brushed out the leftover paint back into the gallon paint can.  I like the vinyl paint container because after the paint dries, the dried paint peels right off the vinyl surface leaving the container ready for its next use.  So last Wednesday night, we were early for church, so I stopped by the office to enjoy looking at our progress.  The vinyl paint container was sitting there …  Something came over me, so I began to peel off the dried paint.  But I found that it had not quite dried.  Then I had paint on my fingers, and here I was in my dress clothes for church!  What started out as a nice evening deteriorated quickly.  Hey, often I get myself into trouble!  But I’m so glad that the dear Lord can get me out of my spiritual troubles!  Psalm 46:1, "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble."  P.S. Don’t tell Marleen.  ;<)