9-21-09
OUT ON THE RANCH it is a beautiful Monday morning………but a cold front is on the way. At least that is what Mike Morgan on Channel 4 says. We are supposed to get a little rain as well. I am kind of enjoying this late summer sunshine, but we will enjoy whatever comes…..by the Grace of God. Today I have to go to the other side of the river and check the cows and fence. Later on today I plan to plant some wheat. Cameron Dusek is coming over at 10AM to ride with Elizabeth. We had 28 people yesterday for church, which is a big crowd for our little church on the ranch. We have had as many as 50 and as few as 10. Yesterday would have been my mother’s 83 birthday if she had lived to see it. I went to check phone messages yesterday and pushed play on the old messages by mistake and mom was speaking. I almost lost it!!
The 21st has always been kind of an odd day for the kid because mom’s birthday was the 20th, and mine the 22nd. I can still see the twinkle in her eye and the voice that was almost eager to laugh. I miss her but have the wonderful promise from Scripture that I will see her soon for her trust was in Jesus Christ and I am confident her name was written in the Book of Life. Her race is run. While I am here I can enjoy the promises of what waits, but I must be about the Father’s business. Today is another day (even if it is a Monday) and I have opportunities set before me that I must tend to.
Well, it is evening now and we had a great horseback ride this morning. We saw a covey of about 20 quail, twenty or thirty turkeys, and several deer. We checked the fence on the other side and had the opportunity to visit with my neighbor to the Northeast. It was a gorgeous day for a ride. We enjoyed lunch with Cameron and his grandfather Wayne. Of course I had my siesta before starting to plant wheat. I really enjoy getting on my tractor and planting or shredding or digging. I guess I am just a big kid that still likes to play in the dirt. We had two sets of visitors that came in today to just look around. Our census on the ranch today, including visitors etc… was 11 people.
Eccl 11:6
6 In the morning sow your seed,
And in the evening do not withhold your hand;
For you do not know which will prosper,
Either this or that,
Or whether both alike will be good. NKJV
Whether it be planting the seeds of eternal life in visitors or sowing wheat seed into the ground for winter pasture we need to be diligent understanding that we don’t know which seeds will prosper. But we do know that “some” of the seeds will………..So Keep On Sowing My Friend!!
GOD BLESS
ALWAYS YOUR FRIEND
RIDGE
Please send responses to ridgelamar@hotmail.com THANKS!!
If you have someone that would like to receive the OUT ON THE RANCH devotion please send me their e-mail address and I will include them. GOD BLESS
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Saturday, September 19, 2009
The Sticker Patch
9-18-09
OUT ON THE RANCH we are enjoying the company of Jerry Tawney and his precious wife Jeanne tonight. They brought with them a special friend, Devie. We had a wonderful time of conversation this afternoon and then took them to Carter for a little piece of Americana at Kay’s Café. Lorene and Dan Kissick joined us for supper. After supper we came back to the ranch and gave them a late evening tour. Jerry was responsible more than any other single person for the construction here at the ranch. He was responsible for getting our house built overseeing all the subs and for minimal remuneration. He is one of the most giving people I have had the pleasure of knowing in this life. His wife Jeanne is an excellent counselor and Bible teacher.
A couple of the thoughts that she taught that have stuck in my heart are:
1. If you get off the path out into the sticker patch you are going to get stickers till you get back on the path!!
2. When things get tough you have to dig deeper into Jesus.
3. If you have to stand on your head and spit BB’s………don’t quit!!
John 6:66-69
66 From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. 67 Then Jesus said to the twelve, "Do you also want to go away?"
68 But Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."* NKJV
This passage has supported me through a multitude of difficult situations. When the going gets tough and I am tempted to think about quitting on God, the Holy Spirit reminds me of the misery of sin (THE STICKER PATCH) I have come out of. He also reminds me of this Scripture and the truth that I can’t quit, because I have know where else to go, for He is the only one with the Words of eternal life. When I get through the difficulty I always think how crazy I was to even think of giving up, but I need His encouragement to sustain me through the trial. I may have to stand on my head and spit BB’s for awhile, but God will never give us a trial that He doesn’t also make the way of escape. If we are in a trial……He will give us the strength to deal with it. Don’t Quit!!!
GOD BLESS
ALWAYS YOUR FRIEND
RIDGE
Please send responses to ridgelamar@hotmail.com THANKS!!
If you have someone that would like to receive the OUT ON THE RANCH devotion please send me their e-mail address and I will include them. GOD BLESS
OUT ON THE RANCH we are enjoying the company of Jerry Tawney and his precious wife Jeanne tonight. They brought with them a special friend, Devie. We had a wonderful time of conversation this afternoon and then took them to Carter for a little piece of Americana at Kay’s Café. Lorene and Dan Kissick joined us for supper. After supper we came back to the ranch and gave them a late evening tour. Jerry was responsible more than any other single person for the construction here at the ranch. He was responsible for getting our house built overseeing all the subs and for minimal remuneration. He is one of the most giving people I have had the pleasure of knowing in this life. His wife Jeanne is an excellent counselor and Bible teacher.
A couple of the thoughts that she taught that have stuck in my heart are:
1. If you get off the path out into the sticker patch you are going to get stickers till you get back on the path!!
2. When things get tough you have to dig deeper into Jesus.
3. If you have to stand on your head and spit BB’s………don’t quit!!
John 6:66-69
66 From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. 67 Then Jesus said to the twelve, "Do you also want to go away?"
68 But Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."* NKJV
This passage has supported me through a multitude of difficult situations. When the going gets tough and I am tempted to think about quitting on God, the Holy Spirit reminds me of the misery of sin (THE STICKER PATCH) I have come out of. He also reminds me of this Scripture and the truth that I can’t quit, because I have know where else to go, for He is the only one with the Words of eternal life. When I get through the difficulty I always think how crazy I was to even think of giving up, but I need His encouragement to sustain me through the trial. I may have to stand on my head and spit BB’s for awhile, but God will never give us a trial that He doesn’t also make the way of escape. If we are in a trial……He will give us the strength to deal with it. Don’t Quit!!!
GOD BLESS
ALWAYS YOUR FRIEND
RIDGE
Please send responses to ridgelamar@hotmail.com THANKS!!
If you have someone that would like to receive the OUT ON THE RANCH devotion please send me their e-mail address and I will include them. GOD BLESS
Thursday, September 10, 2009
"The True Blessings"
9-10-09
OUT ON THE RANCH today I have to take my daughter Rachel to the airport in OKC. I have been in “DAD” heaven while she has been here. For those of you that don’t know Rachel, she is a 5’ ball of energy.
Ps 127:3-5
3 Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord ,
The fruit of the womb is a reward.
4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior,
So are the children of one's youth.
5 Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them; NKJV
I count her (Rachel) as one of the true blessings in my life. She truly is a reward from the Lord. In my last devotion we talked about the rewards of the Lord. In this country much of our thinking concerning blessings involves material things. If we have a lot of money in the bank we think that God is blessing our lives. And certainly we have His Promise to provide for our needs. But the “real” blessings of our life, involves relationships. Our greatest blessing is our relationship with God the Father, His Son Jesus, and the blessed Holy Spirit.
I have been pondering the story of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32). If you remember a man had two sons. The younger received his inheritance before the father’s death and wasted it. When the younger son repented and came home his father killed the fatted calf and had a party rejoicing over his son’s return. The older son was upset and jealous. The older son was not “seeing” the true blessing that he had………..His relationship with his father. While the younger son may have been having a party, he was missing out on a relationship with the father. If the older son had realized what he had (the true blessing) in his relationship with his father he would have been thrilled that his younger brother could once again share in that joy.
As someone that has missed out on a relationship with his father for the last thirty years……I can attest to what is really important. I don’t know of anyone on their death bed that wants someone to bring them a fatted calf. They want the company of their loved ones……..and the comfort of the Father, His Son, and The Blessed Holy Spirit. Your relationships are the true blessings…………Work on those today!!
GOD BLESS
ALWAYS YOUR FRIEND
RIDGE
Please send responses to ridgelamar@hotmail.com THANKS!!
If you have someone that would like to receive the OUT ON THE RANCH devotion please send me their e-mail address and I will include them. GOD BLESS
OUT ON THE RANCH today I have to take my daughter Rachel to the airport in OKC. I have been in “DAD” heaven while she has been here. For those of you that don’t know Rachel, she is a 5’ ball of energy.
Ps 127:3-5
3 Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord ,
The fruit of the womb is a reward.
4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior,
So are the children of one's youth.
5 Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them; NKJV
I count her (Rachel) as one of the true blessings in my life. She truly is a reward from the Lord. In my last devotion we talked about the rewards of the Lord. In this country much of our thinking concerning blessings involves material things. If we have a lot of money in the bank we think that God is blessing our lives. And certainly we have His Promise to provide for our needs. But the “real” blessings of our life, involves relationships. Our greatest blessing is our relationship with God the Father, His Son Jesus, and the blessed Holy Spirit.
I have been pondering the story of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32). If you remember a man had two sons. The younger received his inheritance before the father’s death and wasted it. When the younger son repented and came home his father killed the fatted calf and had a party rejoicing over his son’s return. The older son was upset and jealous. The older son was not “seeing” the true blessing that he had………..His relationship with his father. While the younger son may have been having a party, he was missing out on a relationship with the father. If the older son had realized what he had (the true blessing) in his relationship with his father he would have been thrilled that his younger brother could once again share in that joy.
As someone that has missed out on a relationship with his father for the last thirty years……I can attest to what is really important. I don’t know of anyone on their death bed that wants someone to bring them a fatted calf. They want the company of their loved ones……..and the comfort of the Father, His Son, and The Blessed Holy Spirit. Your relationships are the true blessings…………Work on those today!!
GOD BLESS
ALWAYS YOUR FRIEND
RIDGE
Please send responses to ridgelamar@hotmail.com THANKS!!
If you have someone that would like to receive the OUT ON THE RANCH devotion please send me their e-mail address and I will include them. GOD BLESS
"The True Blessings"
9-10-09
OUT ON THE RANCH today I have to take my daughter Rachel to the airport in OKC. I have been in “DAD” heaven while she has been here. For those of you that don’t know Rachel, she is a 5’ ball of energy.
Ps 127:3-5
3 Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord ,
The fruit of the womb is a reward.
4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior,
So are the children of one's youth.
5 Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them; NKJV
I count her (Rachel) as one of the true blessings in my life. She truly is a reward from the Lord. In my last devotion we talked about the rewards of the Lord. In this country much of our thinking concerning blessings involves material things. If we have a lot of money in the bank we think that God is blessing our lives. And certainly we have His Promise to provide for our needs. But the “real” blessings of our life, involves relationships. Our greatest blessing is our relationship with God the Father, His Son Jesus, and the blessed Holy Spirit.
I have been pondering the story of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32). If you remember a man had two sons. The younger received his inheritance before the father’s death and wasted it. When the younger son repented and came home his father killed the fatted calf and had a party rejoicing over his son’s return. The older son was upset and jealous. The older son was not “seeing” the true blessing that he had………..His relationship with his father. While the younger son may have been having a party, he was missing out on a relationship with the father. If the older son had realized what he had (the true blessing) in his relationship with his father he would have been thrilled that his younger brother could once again share in that joy.
As someone that has missed out on a relationship with his father for the last thirty years……I can attest to what is really important. I don’t know of anyone on their death bed that wants someone to bring them a fatted calf. They want the company of their loved ones……..and the comfort of the Father, His Son, and The Blessed Holy Spirit. Your relationships are the true blessings…………Work on those today!!
GOD BLESS
ALWAYS YOUR FRIEND
RIDGE
Please send responses to ridgelamar@hotmail.com THANKS!!
If you have someone that would like to receive the OUT ON THE RANCH devotion please send me their e-mail address and I will include them. GOD BLESS
OUT ON THE RANCH today I have to take my daughter Rachel to the airport in OKC. I have been in “DAD” heaven while she has been here. For those of you that don’t know Rachel, she is a 5’ ball of energy.
Ps 127:3-5
3 Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord ,
The fruit of the womb is a reward.
4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior,
So are the children of one's youth.
5 Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them; NKJV
I count her (Rachel) as one of the true blessings in my life. She truly is a reward from the Lord. In my last devotion we talked about the rewards of the Lord. In this country much of our thinking concerning blessings involves material things. If we have a lot of money in the bank we think that God is blessing our lives. And certainly we have His Promise to provide for our needs. But the “real” blessings of our life, involves relationships. Our greatest blessing is our relationship with God the Father, His Son Jesus, and the blessed Holy Spirit.
I have been pondering the story of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32). If you remember a man had two sons. The younger received his inheritance before the father’s death and wasted it. When the younger son repented and came home his father killed the fatted calf and had a party rejoicing over his son’s return. The older son was upset and jealous. The older son was not “seeing” the true blessing that he had………..His relationship with his father. While the younger son may have been having a party, he was missing out on a relationship with the father. If the older son had realized what he had (the true blessing) in his relationship with his father he would have been thrilled that his younger brother could once again share in that joy.
As someone that has missed out on a relationship with his father for the last thirty years……I can attest to what is really important. I don’t know of anyone on their death bed that wants someone to bring them a fatted calf. They want the company of their loved ones……..and the comfort of the Father, His Son, and The Blessed Holy Spirit. Your relationships are the true blessings…………Work on those today!!
GOD BLESS
ALWAYS YOUR FRIEND
RIDGE
Please send responses to ridgelamar@hotmail.com THANKS!!
If you have someone that would like to receive the OUT ON THE RANCH devotion please send me their e-mail address and I will include them. GOD BLESS
Thursday, July 9, 2009
7-9-09
OUT ON THE RANCH I thought it was hot yesterday @ 103. Today, it is 106 and it is supposed to be hotter tomorrow. We still have the baking South wind of 15-20 mph. The good news is that the swimming pool is crystal clear and ready for action, so come on down (or up, whichever the case may be) and join us for a swim. We had guests, today, from Kansas City, Kansas and Oklahoma City join us for the day. Rev. Dawn Richards brought her beautiful daughter Morgan (now a senior in college), her brother Mike and his daughter Ashley out for a day of fun in the sun. They toured the ranch and enjoyed an afternoon in the pool. Dawn and Morgan are like part of the family. Dawn was Lorene’s pastor for several years in Carter.
This evening we have two families of five coming from Dallas, Texas for a few days on the ranch. I am sure that will mean some early mornings saddling horses. But that will seem like a piece of cake after cleaning those darn windows at the bunkhouse. We are loving our life on the ranch -- just wish we had the energy we had twenty years ago. But God provides the strength that we need for each day, and for that we are grateful. I am going to get out of my king size (have you seen me since I weigh 260) recliner in a few minutes and turn some water on the lawn.
Today, I cleaned the boys' bunkroom at the bunkhouse. The girls' bunkroom wasn’t too dirty…except for the windows. The boys' bunkroom was a mess. I know that I was never that messy!! (Right Sisters?) LOL It reminded me of this Scripture from Proverbs:
Prov 14:44 An empty stable stays clean-but there is no income from an empty stable. TLB
We could have a nice clean bunkroom if it wasn’t for those darn boys. But then if it wasn’t for those boys, girls, dads and moms what would our purpose be. We are here to provide refreshment for the minds and bodies and nourishment to the souls -- people. The people are what are important, they are eternal. The rooms, swimming pool, and Bible Studies are to serve God’s precious people. And you are one of those precious people. I remember as children one grandmother that opened her home to us -- everything in it was ours. Another grandmother opened her home to us as long as we didn’t make any noise or mess. Which grandmother do you think we preferred to go see?? SELAH
GOD BLESS
ALWAYS YOUR FRIEND
RIDGE
OUT ON THE RANCH I thought it was hot yesterday @ 103. Today, it is 106 and it is supposed to be hotter tomorrow. We still have the baking South wind of 15-20 mph. The good news is that the swimming pool is crystal clear and ready for action, so come on down (or up, whichever the case may be) and join us for a swim. We had guests, today, from Kansas City, Kansas and Oklahoma City join us for the day. Rev. Dawn Richards brought her beautiful daughter Morgan (now a senior in college), her brother Mike and his daughter Ashley out for a day of fun in the sun. They toured the ranch and enjoyed an afternoon in the pool. Dawn and Morgan are like part of the family. Dawn was Lorene’s pastor for several years in Carter.
This evening we have two families of five coming from Dallas, Texas for a few days on the ranch. I am sure that will mean some early mornings saddling horses. But that will seem like a piece of cake after cleaning those darn windows at the bunkhouse. We are loving our life on the ranch -- just wish we had the energy we had twenty years ago. But God provides the strength that we need for each day, and for that we are grateful. I am going to get out of my king size (have you seen me since I weigh 260) recliner in a few minutes and turn some water on the lawn.
Today, I cleaned the boys' bunkroom at the bunkhouse. The girls' bunkroom wasn’t too dirty…except for the windows. The boys' bunkroom was a mess. I know that I was never that messy!! (Right Sisters?) LOL It reminded me of this Scripture from Proverbs:
Prov 14:44 An empty stable stays clean-but there is no income from an empty stable. TLB
We could have a nice clean bunkroom if it wasn’t for those darn boys. But then if it wasn’t for those boys, girls, dads and moms what would our purpose be. We are here to provide refreshment for the minds and bodies and nourishment to the souls -- people. The people are what are important, they are eternal. The rooms, swimming pool, and Bible Studies are to serve God’s precious people. And you are one of those precious people. I remember as children one grandmother that opened her home to us -- everything in it was ours. Another grandmother opened her home to us as long as we didn’t make any noise or mess. Which grandmother do you think we preferred to go see?? SELAH
GOD BLESS
ALWAYS YOUR FRIEND
RIDGE
Saturday, July 4, 2009
7-4-09
OUT ON THE RANCH it is Saturday morning and the day we celebrate our nations’ independence. We have guests staying at “Grace” and Elizabeth is out with riders as I write. I helped her gather horses this morning and Danny and I helped her saddle. We have a 34 year old truck driver (Ruben) and his 9 year old daughter (Cynthia) joining Elizabeth for the ride this morning. I cannot express enough how much it touches me for fathers to show such interest in their children. While it may be a loving sacrifice for this father to shut his truck down for the day and come out here, his daughter will remember and be blessed for a lifetime. Dad (Ruben) is taking his daughter on his trip to California. It just doesn’t get any better than this for a little 9 year old angel.
The phone rang as I was writing this. It was Elizabeth on the phone and the neighbors cows are out on the river. I have been looking for a phone book, ever do that?? I called but guess what, the line was busy. Press 3 and you will get a call back if the line becomes available in the next 30 minutes. So many conveniences, and it doesn’t help with the frustration one little bit. Now, I think I will pray ………….. Why didn’t I think of that earlier?? OK….Love your neighbor as yourself…If they were my cows what would I do? I would go put them back in. That isn’t the answer I was looking for………I thought maybe go take a nap, relax, and they will get back in by themselves. Oh well, I am off to herd cows!!
Everything was OK on the river. It looks like our neighbor is letting his cows get into the river for water. That works fine as long as we don’t get a big rain. We are about to do the same thing next week, but we fence the river off temporarily. I did my part. I listened to hear what the Lord would have me do. I believe that He answered and I obeyed. My heart is at rest. Now back to the days writing and tomorrows’ sermon. In my mind when I started as a pastor I could see myself sitting in a nice office studying for the message. I find experientially that most of the messages come just like this. Some problem comes up while I am trying to study and I end up learning something from it that turns out to be the message.
So what did I learn from this? Or rather re-learn. Getting out of my chair and taking care of my neighbors’ cows was not what I had in mind for a Saturday. What I have discovered over the years and continue to re-discover is that I am always blessed when I obey the voice of the Spirit.
GOD BLESS
ALWAYS YOUR FRIEND
RIDGE
1 Sam 15:22-23
22 So Samuel said:
"Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices,
As in obeying the voice of the Lord ?
Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice,
And to heed than the fat of rams.
23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft,
And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.
NKJV
OUT ON THE RANCH it is Saturday morning and the day we celebrate our nations’ independence. We have guests staying at “Grace” and Elizabeth is out with riders as I write. I helped her gather horses this morning and Danny and I helped her saddle. We have a 34 year old truck driver (Ruben) and his 9 year old daughter (Cynthia) joining Elizabeth for the ride this morning. I cannot express enough how much it touches me for fathers to show such interest in their children. While it may be a loving sacrifice for this father to shut his truck down for the day and come out here, his daughter will remember and be blessed for a lifetime. Dad (Ruben) is taking his daughter on his trip to California. It just doesn’t get any better than this for a little 9 year old angel.
The phone rang as I was writing this. It was Elizabeth on the phone and the neighbors cows are out on the river. I have been looking for a phone book, ever do that?? I called but guess what, the line was busy. Press 3 and you will get a call back if the line becomes available in the next 30 minutes. So many conveniences, and it doesn’t help with the frustration one little bit. Now, I think I will pray ………….. Why didn’t I think of that earlier?? OK….Love your neighbor as yourself…If they were my cows what would I do? I would go put them back in. That isn’t the answer I was looking for………I thought maybe go take a nap, relax, and they will get back in by themselves. Oh well, I am off to herd cows!!
Everything was OK on the river. It looks like our neighbor is letting his cows get into the river for water. That works fine as long as we don’t get a big rain. We are about to do the same thing next week, but we fence the river off temporarily. I did my part. I listened to hear what the Lord would have me do. I believe that He answered and I obeyed. My heart is at rest. Now back to the days writing and tomorrows’ sermon. In my mind when I started as a pastor I could see myself sitting in a nice office studying for the message. I find experientially that most of the messages come just like this. Some problem comes up while I am trying to study and I end up learning something from it that turns out to be the message.
So what did I learn from this? Or rather re-learn. Getting out of my chair and taking care of my neighbors’ cows was not what I had in mind for a Saturday. What I have discovered over the years and continue to re-discover is that I am always blessed when I obey the voice of the Spirit.
GOD BLESS
ALWAYS YOUR FRIEND
RIDGE
1 Sam 15:22-23
22 So Samuel said:
"Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices,
As in obeying the voice of the Lord ?
Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice,
And to heed than the fat of rams.
23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft,
And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.
NKJV
Monday, June 22, 2009
6-22-09
OUT ON THE RANCH this morning it is a gorgeous day. The temperature is supposed to get hot, hot, hot, this week!! Last night we drove over to Carter to see Ben Day, my late mother's widower. Ben is moving, today, to an assisted living center near his daughter in Oklahoma City. It made me want to cry. I feel so sorry for him. He misses Mother so much, and yesterday was 5 months since she passed away. I know he needs some assistance, but I am selfish and would like to keep him around here a while longer. I offered for him to stay with us, but I know his girls want him closer to them, and I don’t blame them. I would want Mother to be here if she were still alive. I miss her terribly this morning. I really need to talk to her for just a few minutes!! But I suppose I will have to wait awhile, unless, the Lord decides to take me today.
One of the last things that mother said was, “I can’t believe how short life is!!” And that is a statement coming from a woman who lived a full life of 82 years. Some memories are so vivid they seem like yesterday. I can remember so clearly living in Farmington, New Mexico and the smell of the Russian Olive trees along the ditch banks, near our house in the country. I would leave my window open at night to catch a cool breeze and the aroma of the blooms from the Russian Olives. It was a simpler time and somehow the smell still transports me back over 40 years to my bedroom in Farmington. It is amazing how we can forget all the problems of the past and remember the smells and the emotions from those days long gone by. I can’t tell you what someone looked like back then, but I can still remember how I felt about them.
I pray for me, today, and you that we can let go of the worries and fears of today, and cling to the sweetness of life. Life is short, and the problems we are encountering today are not nearly as big as the devil and our minds might make them out to be. Close your eyes for a moment and imagine everything in the room that is temporal disappearing and only the eternal remaining. What is there in the room with you that is eternal? If there are other people there, they are eternal. God is there, but you can’t see Him. Everything else is only here for a season, and will be gone. Even the mighty General Motors is going through bankruptcy. Everything changes and will soon be gone, except the precious people that are around you. Let us focus, today, on the eternal. Let us focus on our relationship with God and each other. These are the things that will remain when all else has vanished from this earth and our lives. Life is short and there is no reason to sweat the small stuff. And, other than the relationship with Him and the wonderful (less than perfect) people around us, it is all small stuff.
God Bless
Always Your Friend
Ridge
OUT ON THE RANCH this morning it is a gorgeous day. The temperature is supposed to get hot, hot, hot, this week!! Last night we drove over to Carter to see Ben Day, my late mother's widower. Ben is moving, today, to an assisted living center near his daughter in Oklahoma City. It made me want to cry. I feel so sorry for him. He misses Mother so much, and yesterday was 5 months since she passed away. I know he needs some assistance, but I am selfish and would like to keep him around here a while longer. I offered for him to stay with us, but I know his girls want him closer to them, and I don’t blame them. I would want Mother to be here if she were still alive. I miss her terribly this morning. I really need to talk to her for just a few minutes!! But I suppose I will have to wait awhile, unless, the Lord decides to take me today.
One of the last things that mother said was, “I can’t believe how short life is!!” And that is a statement coming from a woman who lived a full life of 82 years. Some memories are so vivid they seem like yesterday. I can remember so clearly living in Farmington, New Mexico and the smell of the Russian Olive trees along the ditch banks, near our house in the country. I would leave my window open at night to catch a cool breeze and the aroma of the blooms from the Russian Olives. It was a simpler time and somehow the smell still transports me back over 40 years to my bedroom in Farmington. It is amazing how we can forget all the problems of the past and remember the smells and the emotions from those days long gone by. I can’t tell you what someone looked like back then, but I can still remember how I felt about them.
I pray for me, today, and you that we can let go of the worries and fears of today, and cling to the sweetness of life. Life is short, and the problems we are encountering today are not nearly as big as the devil and our minds might make them out to be. Close your eyes for a moment and imagine everything in the room that is temporal disappearing and only the eternal remaining. What is there in the room with you that is eternal? If there are other people there, they are eternal. God is there, but you can’t see Him. Everything else is only here for a season, and will be gone. Even the mighty General Motors is going through bankruptcy. Everything changes and will soon be gone, except the precious people that are around you. Let us focus, today, on the eternal. Let us focus on our relationship with God and each other. These are the things that will remain when all else has vanished from this earth and our lives. Life is short and there is no reason to sweat the small stuff. And, other than the relationship with Him and the wonderful (less than perfect) people around us, it is all small stuff.
God Bless
Always Your Friend
Ridge
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