Keep Your Eyes On The Road

 Normally, I am relaxed while driving.  Only one hand may be holding the steering wheel.  I carry on conversations with my passengers, while traveling at the speed limit.  Clear weather conditions allow me to trust I will have plenty of warning to avoid obstacles.  Under these circumstances it is a good possibility I will have forgotten to seek the Lord’s protection. 

As the sun sets, my driving becomes more focused.  Glare from the setting sun necessitates a two-handed grip on the wheel.  Slightly reducing my speed would be prudent, as well as more frequently scanning the road for potential hazards. 

However, when the weather is bad, especially at night, my senses are “on alert”.  I must avoid danger.  Traction can be slippery.  Visibility can be blinded.  On these occasions I earnestly pray to the Lord, “Please protect us and keep us safe.”
In my spiritual life, I am tempted to become relaxed and even complacent; deceiving myself that my strength and ability is sufficient to navigate this journey safely.  Paul warns me to think otherwise.  There is danger ahead. 

Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.  With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.  Ephesians 6:18 

Paul encourages all disciples of Christ to pray to the Lord on all occasions.  Our senses should be heightened since we are in the middle of a spiritual battle with the devil (Ephesians 6:10-17).  The armor of God provides the strength and protection from the devil’s attacks.  The warning to “be alert” means we should be awake and attentive; watchful.  We can’t be distracted.  Nor can we become so content in our self-sufficiency that we fall asleep in our faith. 

We can defeat the devil’s schemes!  Prepare yourselves for battle.  The Lord is the one providing the strength and power.  Be alert and keep your eyes on the road.  

Dear Father, please give me the strength to be watchful for the devil’s schemes.  Thank you for your promise to protect me from the evil one.  The victory is in Jesus.  Amen. 

Carl Smith
Stephenville, TX

The Process of Salvation Begins…Now?

The process begins when the mind transfers to the heart that belief is a reality.  The process begins when your trust begins to formulate and move toward fully ascertaining salvation in Jesus Christ.  Your believing ability is beginning to form and move forward.  Your movement realizes where you are in life and how to change your living status.  Change is concurrent to belief, which allows your prefrontal lobe to come to a conclusion that change is vital and significant as our new life takes form moving from old ways to a wonderful form of newness and life.

This change is not like anything we have known before.  My alert factor calls for a change, which is called “repentance.”  Repentance creates a reality within a person that changes our belief and lifestyle.   Now, our discussion, communication, and conversation will be congruent with God’s thoughts.  Therefore, we will begin to speak and converse the same as God converses with us.  This is how we confess to God our lack of living right and having sinful thoughts. 

The process continues.  As one follows God completely, you will now follow the pattern by going down into a metaphorical grave for burial, then being raised up from the grave, which symbolizes a new birth, new conditioning, a new beginning, a newness like never before. The process of faith begins. Now faith will lead us from day to day. The Word of God is our mind and heart. We read, and then we transfer to our heart.  God’s message is holy.  The message leads our minds toward the heart for change. 

Now, it is possible for our hearts to lead us on the faith journey.  Our faith is our compass.  Our compass is led by the Holy Spirit.  Now faith leads us through a life on the earth.  We have confidence in the journey. The journey will be swift.  The earth life will be over. Now, the real life begins.  Living in the light.  Seeing God and Jesus Christ and walking daily with the Angels.  

Don Parker, A Person On the Journey

Romans 1:17; Hebrews 10:38

My Words, Too

A few days ago, while waiting for traffic to clear out after a “fender-binder”, I had the opportunity to watch a fellow operate a back hoe in a road construction area. It is amazing how precise they can be with such a large piece of machinery. Abrupt movements of a few levers allowed him to dig in just the right places and remove both small and large amounts of soil and rock.

One of the most incredible gifts we have is the gift of speech. I’m constantly amazed at the impact a few syllables can have once they are turned loose in human discourse. Words have power. James said that a long time ago (Cf. James 3:1-12)

The Book of Proverbs contrasts wisdom and folly. They represent much more than mystical ideas. They are practical matters that begin in our hearts and empty into concrete actions. The way we use words says something about our character. Proverbs 18:21 says “Life and death are in the power of the tongue.”

I still remember a man telling me about six months after obeying the gospel about how the gospel was training his mouth to work differently. He said, “I’m learning how to stop certain words before they jump off my tongue. And, I’m learning how to say words I never knew how to say.” Then he said, “I wrestle with giving God my bad words and taking the ones He wants me to have.” Wow!

Jesus said, “The mouth speaks out of what fills the heart.” Paul adds, “Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment that it may give grace to those who hear.” He continues this thought in the next verse: And do not grieve the Holy Spirit by which you were sealed for the day of redemption.” Sobering words to say the least. Good medicine indeed!

I like these thoughts from an anonymous writer:

“Watch your thoughts, for they become words.

Watch your words, for they become actions.

Watch your actions, for they become habits.

Watch your habits, for they become character.

Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.”

O Lord, the words of your servant David are our words too. Who can discern his errors? Forgive our hidden faults. Keep us from willful sins; may they not rule over us. And, may we be blameless and innocent of great transgression. We acknowledge that you created speech to be used in grace and wisdom. May the words of our mouths and the meditation of our hearts be pleasing in your sight. Amen.

Randy Daugherty
Stephenville, Texas

Rush

It seems I am always rushing to get projects completed; at work, at home, for family or friends, for Church. I even have a new exercise video entitled “Rush” because it is an abbreviated version that may be squeezed between other projects.

I took some time for myself this weekend to go to the Women of Faith conference in Dallas. I persuaded two young women from my office to accompany me to the conference. I am an accountant and am accustomed to deadlines; we had the corporate tax return deadline last week, and the individual deadline, October 15, looms ahead.  In addition, there are many other tax, auditing and accounting deadlines to deal with. I decided three accounting professionals could benefit from some “Me time”.  I wished to beat “Rush” hour in Dallas so we left a little earlier than required. We arrived in good time and only came to a standstill on the highway at the last couple of miles of the trip. There was a little extra time to spend before the conference began, so we walked across the street to the Dallas World Aquarium, to pass the time. We had no huge expectations, but were very pleased with the experience.  I was expecting fish, but enjoyed so much more.  There were strange and beautiful fish, exotic birds, reptiles and amphibians, deep sea creatures, tropical plants, a jaguar, manatees, sea otters, and the epitome of slow sloths. I am not suggesting we should be sloths, but these sloths seemed to really enjoy posing for their visitors’ photos as they hung out on their vines.

We enjoyed watching the sloths move in very, very slow motion, we fed the baby cockatoo birds, and let the chameleon climb our arms (note the look of concern as he got closer to my face). We “meandered” through the exhibits and enjoyed the respite from our hectic, rushed, normal schedules.

The Women of Faith Conference was uplifting, encouraging, and another deviation from our rushed lives. I highly recommend taking a break periodically from the rush, rush, rush we are accustomed to.

King David agrees with my position and says this in Psalms 39:5-7

5 You have made my days a mere handbreadth;
the span of my years is as nothing before you.
Everyone is but a breath,
even those who seem secure.            SELAH

6 “Surely everyone goes around like a mere phantom;
in vain they rush about, heaping up wealth
without knowing whose it will finally be.

7 “But now, Lord, what do I look for?
My hope is in you.

Note the word “SELAH” after verse 5.  The Women of Faith conference had as guests the Christian musical band Selah. The concert they performed was encouraging and uplifting. The band’s name comes from the Hebrew word above used often in the Psalms.  The meaning of the Hebrew word is not exactly clear but is believed to mean “Pause, take a break, and think”.

Dear God:  Thank you for the renewing break I enjoyed this weekend. Help me to use my renewed resources to your glory.

Sherilyn Svien
Stephenville, Texas

Wisdom from Proverbs

Today I was reading Proverbs 6:16-17, which begins, six things the Lord hates and 7 things that are detestable to Him. I thought to myself, surely I am not guilty of any of these infractions. The Spirit pulled me into reading them anyway. As I examined the scripture closely and dwelled on the meaning of the words, I realized these scriptures had something to say to me.

The following are the 7 things that are detestable to Him and the wisdom that I gained from each.
Haughty eyes- which means proud, vain, arrogance, scornful and self –satisfied
Lying tongue- anything said that is not completely the truth.
Hands that shed innocent blood-to attack and harm the innocent
A heart that devises wicked schemes-to form or arrange in the mind something contrary to God’s will. For example: going to internet sites or television programs that we know are not wholesome. Planning to cause disaster or harm or a negative outcome to an enemy.
Feet that are quick to rush into evil- Consider your friends are planning to shun or gang up on a person who does not fit in and you are right there with them. 
A false witness who pours out lies- you walk into the middle of something going on. You are a witness of a partial event, but in your mind you fill in the gaps with your own bias, which is possibly not true. Now you spread the entire story as truth.
A man who stirs up dissention- you see things from your own perspective without taking the time to consider another person’s thoughts, feelings or background. When something is going on that you don’t like you talk to others and openly discuss why you don’t like it. You cast a negative light on the other person or persons. You attempt to rally others to your side.

I saw myself in the very first one, I am guilty at times of being vain and self satisfied. Would it turn out well if God examined you? Could you deceive Him as you might deceive men? Job 13:9 This scripture laid up against my life reaffirmed how much I am in need of God’s mercy. I am thankful that I have that mercy and that I can sleep at night knowing I am forgiven.  I need to share that mercy and the story of God’s redemptive plan with others.

Prayer:  Father God, I want to live my life pleasing to you. My heart is deceitful at times and I rationalize  evil behavior.  I am thankful that your word is living and active and that it pierces my soul. Convict me of any wickedness within me and remove it. Thank you for your mercy and forgiveness! Give me an opportunity to share your mercy and grace with someone in my path today.  In the name of Jesus, Amen

Terry Smith
Stephenville, Texas