Oct. 24, 2021
Years ago when our boys were quite young ,we were on vacation in Florida. We were in a gift shop and just browsing until the boys found what they wanted.
At one point , I picked up a small round candle holder. It was about the size of a baseball. It was made of plastic and had tiny mosaic pieces of several colors all the way round and looked like stained glass.
The reason I can describe the candle holder to you is because it is sitting on y bookcase. That candle holder holds a very special place in my heart because our oldest son ,Josh, bought it for me as he watched me pick it up in the store. He bought it for me using his own money and presented this present after we went outside and were about to leave.
I cannot remember shop or even the city we were in. I think the price was $2.95 but don't hold me to that . Time many details of that day.
It is one of my most treasured possessions. it has traveled with me with me several times as I speak in different in different churches. I put a small candle inside and since I am in the pulpit they see the light as red, green, blue, orange, or yellow because of their position . I ask for a show of hands as I question each color. I use this to explain we we are determines what we see. We are all correct but our answers are different because of where we are.
Sometimes we see people doing things and looking at things differently. As we mature ,we see that our view may not be the only one. Sometimes we are quick to judge their view as wrong , failing to factor they might be in a different place in their journey in life. Then I spin the the candle a time a time or two and ask again the colors they see. More times than not , their answer changes. If I took the time to ask them to move forward or backwards , again they would see the flame in a new light. As we move through life, we look at things differently. When we were 18, we were sure we had it all figured out. As we age ,we come to realize just how little we know.
Why can' others see this? They are just in a different place . They can't see what you see. They have no idea ,that nothing in this world can hold a candle to the joy of knowing Jesus. the exciting thing is that your words, prayers, or actions may just enough to allow them to see Jesus in a new and different light.
When we get to heaven the things that God has in store for us will never end. We will see colors this world does not know. There will be unparalleled joy and peace. Jesus is God's only son. He knew how much God loves us. There was a breech between us and our heavenly father. Jesus knew how precious we are to him. He laid down his life for us. A gift for his dad, if you will. He gave up his life to buy us with his blood. It is so clear to us who know Jesus and trust God to save us .
My prayer is that my words and your words as well, move others towards Jesus!
All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of a single candle.
Francis of Assisi
Mehmet Mural IIhan
What distinguishes a candle from all other lights is that it appeals to our soul , not our eyes.
Oscar Wilde
Mer color can speak to a soul in a thousand ways.
As you come up our drive and after you cross the small creek,you pass between two field stone
pillars that match the stones on our home. There is a light atop both of them . Right now, one is green and the the side is white. The green light is to show support for all the people who serve our military as well
as those who have done so in the past.
At Christmas i hang white lights along the 4 rail horse fence. We change the white one to red and
The entryway is good to go. The placement of the red and green has a reason behind it as well.
It may seem to be be random but Iassure you is not the case.
On a plane the red light is always on the left side and the green is on the right side. green and right both
have 5 letters and this was how I was taught to remember as a boy. This applies to boats as well.
Our oldest son, Josh, is a navel aviator. He and his wonderful wife , Christina, are a week or two from going
to Japan. They have lived in several places over the last few years. They lived in Fallon Nevada
most recently and we were blessed to have all of our boys and their girls under our roof and together
the holidays.
Since they aproached our farm from the west the right light was green and the left one was on the left
came home. When they were out east in Va it was the reversed. Japan is on the other side of the world
so I am not sure what I will do. I have not stepped it off but am told it is about as far east to west as it is
west to east.
God is a concerned loving Father who loves you so much! He has made a way for you to come
home through his son Jesus. The porch light of heaven is on . You have a green light my friend.
Because of the red blood of Jesus ,your sins are forgiven . Your approach is cleared as well as all your sins.
As far as the east is from the west,so far has removed our transgressions from us.
Psalm 103:12
ENTRY
Yesterday I went out to check on the horses. It has again been vey hot here of late and a daily chore
to top off the water troughs will cool clear water.As I make my rounds the horses ususlly get excited when they hear the sound of our old red ATV. Because this vehicle usally has horse feeds as well as carrots, we c call it "Chuck" short for chuck wagon .
There is a mare and two young ones in the south pasture. I whistled and they did not come. I banged on the
red tubes on the gate with the scooper. It makes a sound that sounds like a hillbilly dinner bell. I had seen them the evening before and knew they were ok. I surmised they had found a place with a breeze and had it made in the shade.
I set the bright orange bucket filled with feed and carrots in front of the gate. This bucket was a physical reminder for me to "lets do this later". I had some mowing to do and that filled several hours of the afternoon. I kept looking down at the water tank seeing they had not yet drank from it and for the first time became a little concerned.
I went down to the gate and did the two tone whistle my dad taught me. I do this in honor of him and have taught my sons to do the same. They all would turn and prick up their earsand know it was me if I did this even in a crowd.
I banged again on the gate and in no time flat heard the three of them flat out running as hard as they could
go. They seemed happy to see me and even more to see Chuck .They were breathing heavy as they devoured their snacks.
My friend I believe God is calling all of us. As we read Scripture, we learn he calls us all differently . Many people tell me after I speak that I missed my calling. I would quite my practice and enroll in seminary school tomorrow if I felt in my heart that is what God wanted for me. I answered my "call to the see" many years ago. I love the interaction I have with patients for the most part. I never would have believed God would and could could use me to write these stories for his glory.
He has blended and used the very things I love and hold dear such as horses, hunting , and rivers . I am often very surprised at how stories and lessons come together in such a way that I know it is not me but him working through me. Here is the exciting part, he wants to do the same with you. You may not be called to write or do eyes but you are being called . What do you do that gives you joy and satisfaction? There is your best clue in regard to what God is calling you to do.
I pray that at times this website feeds you. I write for all God's people and not just those who gather under the steeple. All I know is when I do this with the hope of pleasing my Savior, it just feels so "write"!
Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things
you do not know. Jeremiah 33:3
When you empty yourself, God rushes in.
A.W. Tozer
For the man who prays in his heart ,the whole world is a church.
Sylvain of Athos