Honeysuckle

 

In the 60’s, while I was in middle school, I worked for an old lady in Churchville, Maryland.  Miss Vogel was a tough old bird and knew exactly what she wanted.  And my job was not to think but to do exactly what she told me to do.  She gave me instructions and then went about her business.  But, make no mistake, she would be back to inspect what she had told me to do.  She had a long driveway that was edged with a low stone wall on each side.  There was a second entrance for trucks to use, but her front driveway was reserved for a grand entrance.  Climbing all over the stone wall was honeysuckle.  In the spring it had a subtle fragrance that added to the driveway’s grand effect.  But the honeysuckle was an enemy of mine.  It seemed that it grew a foot every night.  Each month I had to trim the honeysuckle back to keep it off the driveway.  But Miss Vogel would not let me cut it back too far because she liked it.  But as much as she liked the honeysuckle, I hated it.  Because hidden in the honeysuckle was poison ivy.  And every month I would get a rash of poison ivy while cutting back the honeysuckle.  Hey, are there insidious sins in your life that cause you problems?  Problems that keep popping up day after day?  Year after year?  You never seem to completely deal with them.  If you overcome them, they just pop up again.  Paul asked the Lord to remove his problems in II Co 12:9, but the dear Lord said to Paul, “… My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.”  Then Paul added, “Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”  Hey, does God get glory in your life as you overcome chronic sins?  Or does Satan get the upper hand in your life when you let these sins have control?  Think about it and make good choices today.  Glorify God in your life.  You’ll be glad that you did.

Swerve

 

Friday, I had to swerve to keep from hitting a big piece of truck tire that had peeled off of an eighteen-wheeler on the interstate.  Truckers call them “alligators”.  I was upon it almost before I could react.  And I was driving my little X-B Scion.  That piece of tire was as long as the car, curled up on both ends, steel cords poking out, and right in the roadway.  Since I was in the right lane, I swerved onto the shoulder and then eased back into my lane. Pastor Jamie mentioned “swerve” in his message last Sunday.  Paul warned Timothy of false teachers in I Timothy reminding him that the truth of the Bible was paramount.  Paul went on to say in I Timothy 1:6, “From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling.”  When you leave the truth of the Scriptures, you are following nothing but noisy racket: “vain jangling”.  Hey, evaluate your life.  Read your Bible.  Have you swerved from the truth?  Then it’s time to ease back into the proper lane and move on.  Swerve to avoid dangers in the roadway, but get back into the right lane as soon as you can

A Cup of Cold Water

 

My dad had a good friend who was a farmer near Churchville, Maryland.  Mr. Briney was an enterprising man always looking for ways to make his farm profitable.  One summer, I was working for Barberry Sod Company in Darlington, two miles from Mr. Briney’s farm.  They negotiated with Mr. Briney to cut sod from his pasture.  For the next two months, Mr. Briney mowed his pasture and got the grass into good shape.  Then, we arrived with sod cutters, pallets, and trucks.  It took us a week to remove sod from the ten-acre pasture.  It was Friday afternoon and everyone was hot and tired.  The week was over, and the work was almost done.  Over the hill came Mr. Briney on his old International Harvester tractor with his milk wagon in tow.  And inside the wagon was a #2 wash tub full of soft drinks.  There were Cokes, Dr. Peppers, Orange Crush, and Sprites, all covered with ice.  What a treat on a hot day!  He drove down to the spring at the foot of the pasture and parked the tractor under a spreading oak tree.  We hurried down, took off our shoes, and cooled our feet in the spring water.  Everyone had a cold drink and relaxed in the soft grass.  Paul said in Galatians 6:10, “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men …”  St. Francis of Assisi said, “Preach the Gospel at all times.  When necessary, use words.”  That day, Mr. Briney didn’t have to say a word.  Everyone knew his Christian testimony, and it spoke volumes.