August Heat

As I struggled with the stubborn copper wire in the stifling August heat and humidity, sweat saturated every stitch of my clothing. I pursed my lips in an effort to keep ugly words from escaping and strained to suppress the feeling of aggravation as I forced the bulky conductor into the main lugs of the electrical panel. The perspiration fogged my glasses as my frustrations grew.

The thought of spending eternity in an unbearable boiling place crossed my mind. The elevated temperature reinforced my thinking and strengthened my resolve to do whatever it takes to insure against such a scorching fate. As I torqued down the connections I thought of that Thursday night in the garden of Gethsemane. I thought of Jesus. I thought of Jesus sweating it out…without complaining or grumbling.

So I prayed

Dear Lord, thank you for this warm warning of where I don’t want to spend eternity. Thank you for showing me the way, the truth and the life. Please give me the stamina to do whatever it takes to avoid that eternal hot spot.

Amen

A Note...Just to let You Know

8/11/2009

Dear Jesus,

How are you doing? I thought I would write you a note just to say thank you, thank you for everything. It seems I am always asking You for stuff…stuff I want…stuff I think I need.

As of late it seems I have made numerous requests for rain…as, I’m sure, everyone has. I am not questioning the fact that rain is a real need, but it occurred to me while washing my wife’s car after her return from a one thousand mile trip to her mother’s, that there was only a half dozen bugs splattered across the front. I realized that the whole summer had almost passed yet I had not experienced one single mosquito. Also, I have not had to muck around through the mud on any job site, and my home improvement project (replacing the exterior siding) has not been rained out…not even once. So, I want to thank you for these particular blessings.

Please accept my apologies for any grumbling, moaning or groaning on my part in regards to what I don’t have…as I am most thankful for what I do have. I am convinced that you know what’s best.

I just want to assure you that I think you are doing a good job and I encourage you to keep up the good work.

Hope to see you soon.

Love always

Toothpaste ?

Returning home from a job readying a steam boiler for inspection early Saturday morning I remembered that I was out of toothpaste. I spied the HEB sign from almost three traffic lights away and recalled the memories of aisle # 8, a virtual shrine to the jelly bean with every color and flavor under heaven. But my resolve was strong and I was above and beyond those temptations; so I marched past the endless rows of fresh fruits and vegetables with my integrity intact. Then I was engulfed by the smells from the bakery. The essence of fresh baked breads and cookies quaffed up into my nostrils as I staggered past the displays of pastries, pies and tartlets. I regained my resolve as I passed the health food section. I recalled…we were also out of peanut butter. I did not want that organic stuff my wife buys, you know, the kind that spreads like dried stucco. I wanted the real thing with all the trans-fats, saturated fats and hydrogenated whatever. I also grabbed a large jar of black raspberry jam making sure the word “REDUCED” did not appear anywhere on the label. As I passed a “help yourself” bulk display of treats…my eye caught sight of chocolate covered raisins. I decided I needed something from the fruit group to balance my diet so I loaded a couple of large scoops into a bag…actually I added a partially filled third scoop just for good measure. I could feel my will power slowly softening like chocolate left in the summer sun. Then I passed the infamous aisle # 8…I quickly filled a bag with Cherry Sours and tucked it under the loaf of white bread as if to hide it from my guilt…but at this point I knew I was done for. I slinked to the check-out and stood there as the checker scanned the ice cream, potato chips, and pizza; not to mention all the other processed and preservative filled man-made products that delight my taste buds and leave my body mal-nourished.

I couldn’t help but think…is this the way it is going to be on judgment day…with God scanning my grocery list of sins, as it prints out for the whole world to see.

Maybe I need to start taking better care of my body and my soul.

Dear Lord,
I know once the toothpaste is out of the tube it is almost impossible to get it back in. So please, Lord Jesus, help me avoid all those places that do no benefit to my body or my soul. Please help me to just “not go there”.
Amen.

Grocery Store Parking Lot

As I loaded my numerous bags of groceries into the trunk of the car…from out of no where came a voice asking for help…just enough help to get to Cuero, TX only thirty miles away. Almost like a knee jerk reaction I reached for my money clip, pulled off a twenty and handed it over. I did consider the single one dollar bill…for a split second but it seemed a bit stingy on my part. Besides if this was God’s way of testing my generosity, I didn’t feel like one dollar would cut it. She thanked me and even pronounced a blessing over me…then disappeared among the rows of car.

Then it dawned on me. This is not the road to Cuero. This road goes to Hallettsville. I wonder…was she just asking for directions, not a hand out.

Then all the second guessing started, I began to think…what if I have been panhandled? What if she was a drug addict? How was she going to misuse the money? What if? What if? What if? Wait a minute, I did my part…what she does is her problem. I was asked and I complied with the request. That should be all I have to worry about. The rest is in God’s hands and He works in strange and mysterious ways.

Thank you, Lord Jesus
For blessing me with money to share
For knee jerk reactions beyond compare
Please help me, Lord
Not to over-think a situation
That only leads to consternation
Please give me, my Lord
The wisdom to pass Your tests
And the strength to do my best

For this I pray. Amen

Into The Dark

As I stepped outside into the dark early morning, wearing nothing but my under garments, on a mission to deploy the water sprinkler…I stubbed my toe on a pile of construction materials left from my current home improvement project. The pain shot up my leg as I recovered from my stumble without completely falling. As I hobbled back inside to doctor my bloody toe…I couldn’t help but think how this stupidity paralleled the stupidity in my spiritual life. How many times have I allowed the “evil one” to lure me into the darkness where I would stub my toe and sometimes fall? How stupid, when…with just a little effort, I could have dressed myself and turned on the light?

O Lord God I praise your name
I bow to you in all your fame

Thank you for your gifts so many
For these indeed I have a plenty

Please, Dear Lord, light up the dark
For You’re my everlasting spark

Dress me in your protecting grace
And keep me safe ‘til I see your face

Amen.