Topic(s): Forgiveness, Love

Heavenly Father,

Help us remember that the jerk who cut us off in traffic last night is a single mother who worked nine hours that day and is rushing home to cook dinner, help with homework, do the laundry, and spend a few precious moments with her children.

Help us to remember that the pierced, tattooed, disinterested young man who can’t make change correctly is a worried 19-year-old college student, balancing his apprehension over final exams with his fear of not getting his student loans for next semester.

Remind us, Lord, that the scary looking bum begging for money in the same spot every day (who really ought to get a job!) is a slave to addictions that we can only imagine in our worst nightmares.

Help us to remember that the old couple walking annoyingly slow through the store aisles and blocking our shopping progress are savoring this moment, knowing that, based on the biopsy report she got back last week, this will be the last year that they go shopping together.

Heavenly Father, remind us each day that, of all the gifts you give us, the greatest gift is love. It is not enough to share that love with those we hold dear. Open our hearts not to just those who are close to us, but to all humanity.

Let us be slow to judge and quick to forgive, showing patience, empathy, and love.

“All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them . . . ” —Matthew 7:12

Fireflies

Topic(s): Children, Humor

Two boys from the city were on a camping trip. The mosquitoes were so fierce the boys had to hide under their blankets to keep from being bitten. Then one of them saw some lightning bugs, and said, “We might as well give up, they’re coming at us with flashlights!”

“A merry heart doeth good . . .” —Proverbs 17:22

 

What Time Is It?

Topic(s): Time

A few years ago, there was a commercial which asked, “It’s 10 o’clock; do you know where your children are?” This commercial has always seemed to stick in my mind. I could not tell you what was being advertised or spoken of in the commercial, but I can tell you that it has a real application in the lives of men today. For many today the time in their lives is 10 o’clock, and soon their souls will be required. Perhaps we are nearing 10 o’clock ourselves. Do we know where we are?

The lifespan of a person is around 74 years. I am sure that this fluctuates somewhat depending upon location or vocation, but this is the average age. Moses wrote about the brevity of life, “For it is soon cut off, and we fly away” (Psalm 90:10). The point is this: Man at best will not be here long, and truthfully is not guaranteed a moment. The clock may stop at any time. I can name numerous friends who have passed from this life before they really had a chance to begin to live. Many of those, unfortunately, had not made preparation for the life after this one and will be lost, and so will we if we lay not up treasures in heaven.

Perhaps we think that we will live long enough to make things right. That is a great risk. The time to be saved is now for each one of us. Someone has made a mathematical parallel of the lifespan with a 24 hour day. It is as follows; see what time it is in your life.

• If you are 15 years old…………………. it’s 8:51 a.m.
• If you are 20 years old…………………. it’s 11:08 a.m.
• If you are 25 years old…………………. it’s 12:25 p.m.
• If you are 30 years old………………….. it’s 1:25 p.m.
• If you are 35 years old………………….. it’s 2:59 p.m.
• If you are 40 years old………………….. it’s 4:16 p.m.
• If you are 45 years old…………………. it’s 5:43 p.m.
• If you are 50 years old………………….. it’s 6:50 p.m.
• If you are 55 years old………………….. it’s 8:08 p.m.
• If you are 60 years old………………….. it’s 10:00 p.m.
• If you are 70, you are getting near…….. MIDNIGHT

While we are not all 60-years-old, I will repeat the earlier question. “It’s 10 o’clock; do you know where you are?” How many people have wondered where the time went? James 4:14 shows the brevity of life in certain terms, “Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is a vapour, that appeareth for little time, and then vanisheth away.” It is always my hope that you will make the most of today and look to God for salvation. —Daniel F. Cates, Philadelphia, Mississippi

Why People Go to Church

Topic(s): Church

• Some go to church to laugh and talk. Some go there to smirk and balk.
• Some go there to meet a friend. Some go there with time to spend.
• Some go there to meet a bride. Some go there a fault to hide.
• Some go there for speculation. Some go there for observation.
• Some go there to doze and nod. The Wise go there to worship God.

“ . . . worship God” —Revelation 22:9