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For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.  Philippians 3:20

Courage is being scared to death and saddling up anyway.  Charles Martin

It’s interesting how we as people hardly ever think we can make  a difference in our life, the lives of others, our country, our world or even our family.  We seem to think that since we are just one person, that our opinion or our actions can’t make a difference.  I’m so thankful that others throughout history didn’t hold that opinion.  They were courageous, and they believed that with God’s help, they could stand up for their freedom and their country.  Such a man was Francis Scott Key.

Francis Scott Key was a Georgetown attorney and a devout Christian who was heavily involved in politics.  In September of 1814, he embarked on a mission at the request of the President of the United States.  His task was to seek the release of a prominent physician who had been taken captive by British forces during the battle of Baltimore Harbor.  During this mission, Francis was detained by the enemy forces and forced to watch the twenty five hour bombardment of the Eastern seaboard.

When it became clear that the American forces had withstood the attack, he penned the words to the Star Spangled Banner on the back of an envelope.  We all know the words to the first stanza, but I don’t think I’ve ever heard the last stanza.  It shows the witness of a Christian man in the aftermath of a dangerous situation.

Blest with victory and peace, may the heaven rescued land                                            Praise the power that hath made and preserved us a nation.                                                 Then conquer we must when our cause is just                                                                       And this be our motto, ‘In God we Trust’.                                                                        And the star spangled banner in triumph shall wave                                                          O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

The next morning, Francis Scott Key was released and formerly transcribed the song.

America has withstood wars, hatred, and division over the many years since this song was written.  Now, more than ever before, we need patriotic individuals who will stand for our country and our God.  We never need to underestimate the things one person can accomplish with courage and God.

Happy Birthday, America!

Your words I have treasured in my heart that I might not sin against you.      Psalm 119:11

Movie fans always seem to choose a special scene, phrase, or “ism” that is used in their favorite movies.  It’s funny, but when our family is together, all you need to do is mention a certain phrase, such as “Are you serious, Clark?”, and we call up cousin Eddie in Christmas Vacation.  We still laugh in spite of ourselves.  Folks might change the words around a bit, but you still get that visual image of the scene and the movie.

I did some research on some of the more famous lines in movies, and it is surprising how some of the words we think were spoken actually were not.  Take for instance Casablanca with Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman.  Bogart never  actually said, “Play it again, Sam.”  The only time a similar phrase  was used, it was said by Bergman when she said, “Play it, Sam.”

The phrase, “Just follow your heart and believe, and you can do anything,” has been associated with Christian sayings, but it is actually from the Song of Disney.  The verse “Direct me in the path of your commands for there I find delight” (Psalm 119:35) is the closest thing to the old saying.

People quote This too shall pass,  and most of us assume it was said by Jesus, but it’s not in the Bible.  The closest thing is 2 Corinthians 5:17 which says, Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature;  the old things passed away, behold new things have come.

The one I hear most often is God helps those who help themselves which  I just assumed must be from the Bible, but it’s not.  It seems that it originated in ancient Greece, but Benjamin Franklin gets most of the credit for using it.  Proverbs 13:4 is one verse in the Bible that might be the inspiration:  The sluggard craves and get nothing, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied.

The mind will believe everything you tell it.  You have to feed it the right information or you’ll end up believing anything you read or hear. It’s interesting how we seem to just adopt sayings and assume that they must be inspired by God.  If we all spent as much time learning scriptures as we do learning lines in movies, we’d make God’s job a lot easier on this earth.

Arthur Fletcher said  the mind is a terrible thing to waste.  We should all strive to know the difference between “isms” and fact.

Have a nice day!  (First appeared in the 1948 film, A Letter to Three Wives)

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow and forever.  Hebrews 13:8

Randy and I grew up in different home towns, and each of us had special friends there.  We both went to college at Georgia, and we each had special friends and relationships there.  After we married, we moved for school and for church appointments approximately seven times, and we each had mutual as well as different friends in each place.

We have been most fortunate to make life long friends, and we cherish each and every relationship.  There are friends close by that we love as family, and we know the ties that bind us are strong.  However, there are those unique friendships which withstand the test of time, distance, and separation which seem to have a quality all their own.  When we get together with these folks, it’s as though time has stood still, and we take up right where we left off years ago!  It’s comfortable and easy, it’s fun and relaxing, it’s full of laughter and tears.  We know them so well that there is no need to try and impress each other, we just love and celebrate our time together.

I think God would want that kind of relationship with each of us, so what is the secret to that kind of relationship?

The story is told of a college professor whose beautiful life was a wonder to his students.  Some of them desired to learn the secret to his life, so they sent someone to hide in his study to observe his evening ritual.  When the professor came home, it was late and he was tired, but he spent an hour reading his Bible.  Then, he lowered his head to pray, and he was heard to say, “Well, Lord Jesus, we still have the same old relationship.”  What a great thing to know that God is unchanging!

There are so many times when I neglect my Bible study and my prayer life and substitute trivial things.  It comforts me to realize that when I return to my Bible and my prayers, Jesus is waiting for me and offering the same old relationship.  The relationship is comfortable, loving, sustaining, exciting, fascinating, peaceful, and strong.  It makes me realize how much I miss it when I neglect it.

Just as we cultivate and sustain personal relationships, above all else, we should cultivate and sustain our relationship with Christ.  He becomes more real to each of us when we spend time with him.  Talk with Him just like you would a dear and trusted friend.

Now, let’s have a little talk with Jesus; Let us tell him all about our troubles;             He will hear our faintest cry, and He will answer by and by                                             Now when you feel a little prayer wheel turning,                                                               You’ll know a little fire is burning and                                                                                     You’ll find a little talk with Jesus makes it right.                                                                    Just A Little Talk With Jesus   The Statler Brothers

To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor, and immortality, he will give eternal life.  Romans 2:7

Persistence is defined as continuing firmly or obstinately in a course of action despite difficulty or opposition.

Nature and the many ways God has everything working amazes me! Randy’s grand mama had a big board outside her kitchen window, and she fed the birds every morning with out fail.  If she was late, they would sit and chirp loudly until she fed them.  They wanted their breakfast!  They were persistent. The other day, a wren was trying to build her nest inside my porch eaves.  I love the birds, but I didn’t want the nest there, so every time she would bring nesting material up, I would take it down.  In twenty minutes, it was back. This went on for a day or two with her persisting.

That same day as I was walking the dog around the track at Dickerson, a golfer who practices there regularly was hitting golf balls.  A flock of geese had landed on the grass right where he was hitting the golf balls.  I sent our dog to run the geese away, and then I asked him, “Could you not get the shot close enough to scare them away?”  He said, “Nature is persistent.  They know I’m not that good of a shot.”

I began to think about just how persistent I am about the wrong things sometimes.  I try to solve problems on my own, make decisions without asking for God’s help, and try to control my own circumstances and their outcome.  I can be relentless!

Out of the blue the other day, I began to hum the tune of an old hymn entitled, All The Way My Savior Leads Me, and it occurred to me that God had sent this to help me give up some of my persistent ways.  Every word speaks of another kind of persistence, reliance on God.  The song goes like this:

All the way my Savior leads me, what have I to ask beside?                                             Can I doubt His tender mercies who through life has been my guide?                         Heavenly peace, divinest comfort; en by faith with Him to dwell                                For I know what e’er betide me, Jesus doth all things well.   Fannie Crosby

Jesus leads us if we will only be as persistent in following Him as we are in trying to do things ourselves!

When the Lord finished speaking with Moses on Mt. Sinai, He gave him the two tablets of the covenant law, the tablets of stone inscribed by the finger of God.  Exodus 31:18

When our family moved into the first and only home we had ever owned in 1990, the initials of the children who had lived there before us were etched into the concrete next to the basketball goal on the driveway.  They remained there through storms, heat, wind, rain and lots of basketball!

I began to think about how strong things are that are written in stone and how long they can endure.  God gave Moses the Ten Commandments written by the finger of God on two stone tablets.  These rules were written in stone because they are God’s rules, and He wanted them to stand the test of time.

Last week, I had the opportunity to spend some time with the widow of an American veteran as she reminisced about her husband, his character, and the country he loved.  She referred to her Bill as courageous, fearless, loving, faithful, and loyal.  He flew countless missions in wars, saw unspeakable atrocities, felt the adoration of his country, the pride of saluting his flag, and the honor of serving his country.

She teared up when she told of how hard it was for him when “the bands stop playing, the parades stop marching, and the crowds fade away”.  It seems that he began to miss the excitement, the challenge, the brotherhood, the dedication, and the service.  He died eighteen years ago, but she said the service to his country, his family, and his faith were his greatest achievements.

As we celebrate Memorial Day with cookouts, water sports, and days off, let’s write it in stone that we will never forget the men and women who served our country so faithfully and so well.  Let’s never forget to give them a salute, a well done, a thank you for your service, and a heartfelt thank you.

Is it enough to think today of all our brave, then put away the thought until a year has sped?  Is this full honor for our dead?                                                                      Is it enough to sing a song and deck a grave; and all year long forget the brave who died that we; might keep our great land proud and free?                                        Full service needs a greater toll, that we who live give heart and soul to keep the land they died to save, and be ourselves, in turn, the brave!  Annette Wynne

All gave some;  some gave all.  copied

Charm can mislead and beauty can fade.  The woman to be admired and praised is the woman who lives in the fear of God.  Proverbs 31:30  

They have been a wonderful encouragement to me as they have to you.  You must show your appreciation to those who serve so well.  1 Corinthians 16:18

A few months ago, Randy and I had the opportunity to visit my hometown church for a Ladies Night Out program.  As I was greeting old friends of mine and friends of Mama’s, a lady approached me with these words, “I loved your Mama, and I see so much of her in you that I just have to give you a big hug.  When I hug you, I feel like I am hugging her.”

That was so special to me because it conveys the specialties that Mama shared with so many others.  I began to wonder what had made our Mama so special to this sweet lady.  Did Mama make Mac and cheese for her?  Did she send her a card?  Did she sing at an important event in her life?   Did she visit with her in her store?  Was it just the way Mama had of showing love?

Every Mother has a specialty in the way she loves and teaches her children that is uniquely hers just like most women have a dish that they make that’s their specialty.  Mama’s dish specialty was Mac and cheese. She made it every Sunday when we were growing up for Sunday dinner, she made it every time we came home for a visit,  she made it for every church supper or luncheon,  she made and took it to those who were sick, she made and took it every time someone in the community lost a loved one.  It was so good that it just made everyone feel good.  It was a labor of love she shared. We took for granted how special she could make it, but now that she is no longer here, we would give anything for one more serving of her specialty.

She also had specialties as a mother, and she shared them with her girls, her grandchildren, and her great grand boys.   She was kind, loving, forgiving, smart, fun, joyful, a good listener, talented, humble, set a great example, planted seeds of good character, and loved Her Lord with all her heart.

Everyone has a mother whether it be a biological one, an adopted one, a foster one, one whom we love like a mother, or an important woman in our life.   Mothers have many specialties, but there are some I feel are the most important. The Moms I love are dependable, trustworthy, devoted, courageous, diligent, wise, loving, prayerful, never give up on their children, fair, faithful, and they go through life with grace.  In short, remarkable.

The Hebrew word, Chayil, when translated means strength, valor and in all ways excellent.  It goes on to include those who are dependable and above all love the Lord.  Those are the specialties of a Mother.

Happy Mother’s Day!

The mother is the one supreme asset of the national life.  Theodore Roosevelt

Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.  Matthew 7:12

A neighbor is defined as one who lives close to you.  Recently, we had the opportunity to watch the movie, Won’t You Be My Neighbor?  the story of the life of Fred Rogers.  When our kids were growing up, Mister Rogers was on TV every afternoon, and it was usually quite popular with them.  The adults in the room thought it was a bit corny at the time,  but after seeing this movie, we were so wrong.  Mr. Rogers had it right.  The movie sheds a whole different light on him;  his background as an ordained minister, his strong Christian beliefs, and his desire to help children with positive reinforcement, self esteem and qualities of a good neighbor.

This movie begs the question, Who is your neighbor?  In the story of the Good Samaritan, Jesus is asked the same question, and he responds with the parable of the Good Samaritan.  What qualities would Jesus consider worthy of being called a good neighbor?

When I picture this parable in my mind, I always remember the pictures in the Bible stories for children. It helps to set the scene.  The road from Jericho to Jerusalem is roughly 17 miles through rocky country and desert.  The road is winding, and it provides many places to encounter robbers and thieves along the way.  It was here that the traveler was robbed, beaten and left for dead on the side of the road.

Hypocritical clergymen ( a Priest and a Levite), see the injured man, and they not only pass him by, but also cross over to the other side of the road to avoid making contact with him.  They ignored the quality of faithfulness that was required of them, and they failed to exhibit the empathy required to be good neighbors.

The Samaritan on the other hand, showed mercy to the injured man.  The Samaritans were looked upon as outcasts and heretics by the Jews of this day.  In making the Samaritan the hero, Jesus illustrates how important showing mercy is no matter the bias we might feel as we strive to be good spiritual neighbors.

Finally, Jesus shows us that justice has been served here.  The priest and Levite were exposed for their unfaithfulness, the Samaritan was seen in the light of mercy, and the wounded man was restored through the kindness of the most unlikely man.

Everyone is our neighbor.  Jesus uses this story to illustrate to us that He wants us to be givers of love as well as recipients of love.  Always strive to keep the Golden Rule.  If others should fail, it is them, not us!

It is true.  The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.  Luke 24:34

It always amazes me how we seem to run into people we know in the most unexpected places.  One year we were vacationing with friends in Costa Rica at a very sparsely populated resort.  We were sitting out by the pool, got up to go swimming, and from across the pool, we heard, “Hey Randy”!  The next year, we were on a cruise ship on deck for the sailing when someone tapped us on the shoulder and said, “Hey Preacher, should I be worried about this cruise?”  As we say, “You just can’t take him anywhere.”  People can appear in the most unexpected places, and I always love the encounter.

After the resurrection, two disciples were walking to Emmaus which is about 7 miles from Jerusalem.  They were downcast and disheartened about the crucifixion of their Lord.  On their way, Jesus joined them, but they did not recognize him.  He encouraged them to tell of all they had witnessed, and still they did not know him.  They asked him to dinner, and it was only when he broke the bread and gave it to them that they realized it was their Lord.  When they recognized him, he disappeared.  Jesus turns up in the most unexpected places.

There have been and are still so many times when Jesus shows up in my unexpected places.   He shows up when I need strength to face trials, He shows up when I need comfort, He shows up when I need reassurance, He shows up when I need a friend, He shows up when I’m afraid, He shows up when I pray, and He shows up daily in the face of others.

The unexpected places was brought home to me in the early 70’s when my friend Sheryl and I were returning home from UGA.  We were late, and I was driving a little faster than I should have been.  Outside of Columbus on a two lane road as we topped a hill and headed down, there, on the side of the road, sat a Georgia State Patrolman.  We blew by him, and suddenly reality struck.  I looked at Sheryl, and she looked at me.  We said together, “We’ve got to turn around and go back.”  When we approached the scene of the crime, there he stood, outside the car now.  He had his hat on, his arms folded, ankles crossed, a giant of a man, and he was leaning on the car waiting for us.  You see, the patrolman was Sheryl’s Daddy, Mr. Ed, and he was waiting for us to come back because he knew we would.  He recognized us, and we recognized him.

We got out and approached him, heads down, eyes averted, waiting for the inevitable tongue lashing and consequences.  He didn’t do that, he treated us with grace and mercy!  He said, “Now girls, where are you going in such a hurry?  I am not gonna tell your Mamas, I am not going to chastise you, and I’m not gonna give you a ticket.  I think you may have learned your lesson. I’m just glad it was me here instead of someone else because you would be in deep trouble.”  Yep, to this day, I slow down when I come to that area of South Georgia because you never know what’s waiting on that road and over the hill.

Jesus waits for us while we find our way to recognizing Him.  He waits for us to repent and turn back to Him so he can forgive and restore us.  He wants us to rejoice in the Resurrection and recognize him as our Lord and Savior. We can find Him in the most unexpected places.