Work Boots

 

I have a pair of C. E. Schmidt work boots.  They are very comfortable because I have worn them for five years.  My toes, heels, and bunions have molded them into a perfect fit.  But I have had them for six years.  Let me explain: Tractor supply rebranded their C.E. Schmidt line in 2019 (after 102 years).  I had worn C. E. Schmidt jeans and work boots for twenty years when I heard about the coming changes.  So I went to Tractor supply to buy one last pair of my beloved boots, but, alas, they were out of my size.  But my daughter found a pair in Springfield, TN and bought them for me.  But now, those boots are almost worn out.  Even though they’re only work boots, I still use mink oil on them a couple of times a year (tonight being one of them).  Reminds me of my first work boots in 1971.  They were black, and I kept them polished too.  The old ladies on the assembly line in Michigan liked to see me take pride in my work boots.  They scorned two other “boys” about their shabby-looking work shoes.  Hey, people do notice when you take care of your things, even if they’re old work boots.  And God takes care of old men who are well-worn … and I’m so glad that He does!  Isaiah 46:4, “And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you.”  And, whatever the Creator of the Universe says that He will do, you can rest assured that He will do it.  Yes, I can!

The Wrong Number

 

Some of you are Sudoku puzzlers, but some of you are not.  So let me explain Sudoku to those of you who are not familiar with it: the puzzle consists of the numbers 1 to 9 in each box of nine sets (an array of 81 numbers).  Then there are the numbers 1 to 9 in each column and each row.  That’s all it is.  So, this week I was stumped on a medium level difficulty puzzle for several days.  I worked up and down each column and then back and forth across each row, but still no solution.  And then Thursday afternoon, I found a column that had two sixes in it.  I had put a second six in a row that already had a six in it.  My wrong six was taking the place where a three should go that would let other numbers fall into place.  Hey, have you ever had trouble in your spiritual life?  Nothing seems to work?  Go back to where your mistakes were made and get right with the Lord.  Elisha had just the same trouble.  His preacher boys were cutting wood to make a bigger Bible college building.  II Kings 6:5, “But as one was felling a beam, the axe head fell into the water: and he cried, and said, Alas, master! for it was borrowed.”  Elisha calmed his fears and told him to go back to where the axe head fell into the muddy water.  Elisha miraculously caused the axe head to float, and the preacher boy rescued it returning it to the axe handle.  And when you are spiritually distressed, go back to where you were content in the Lord.  Get back to God and everything else will fall into place.  Hey, God loves you and wants to resume fellowship with you.  Get back to where you belong … close to your heavenly Father.

New Year

 

Well, Christmas is over.  We plan and prepare for months, but the very next day after Christmas, it’s back to normal.  So, suddenly, today on December 26^th, I realize that the year is almost over!  2025 begins in 6 days!  Yikes!  The TV commercials begin for weight loss and cigarette cessation.  The new year begs for new beginnings (New Year’s resolutions).  Old habits are hard to break and new habits are hard to maintain.  But, if you can manage to establish good habits, those same two facts will help to keep the good habits active.  I picked up a 12-ounce cup from a thrift store that advocates five 12-ounce cups of water each day to maintain good health.  And it’s a good habit that I want to develop.  I have the cup where I take my morning and evening meds, and for the last week, I have committed to drinking the full cup when I take my meds.  And although it’s a small step, it’s a step in the right direction.  Hey, Paul knew the value of good spiritual habits too.  He told Timothy in II Timothy 2Ti 3:14&15, “But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”  Hey, commit to reading the Scriptures each day in 2025.  Now that’s one habit that will really do you good!