Echoes from the Campfire

Every morning, first task was to bask in the peace that vista brought to his heart.”
–C. Wayne Winkle (One Last Chase)

“You will enjoy the fruit of your labor. How joyful and prosperous you will be!”
–Psalm 128:2 (NLT)
——————————
The ol’ steel mount is packed and we’re ready to head out in the morning. Not sure when I’ll get back online, but we’re heading east at our leisure. Don’t worry, I’ve packed some coffee just in case we pull off the road somewhere to just enjoy life. So you keep a-looking and as was a slogan in our family, look for me when you see the dust flyin’. Hopefully while on our trip I’ll finish my book.
——————————
I’m going to borrow some thoughts from my pastor’s sermon yesterday; commentary is mine. The title, “Lessons From Harvey”.
1) There are a lot of good Samaritans. I’ve written often about the wickedness of man’s heart and the evil of the world. However, man can and does do good. The Good Samaritan in Scripture was not particularly a “good man”, but he stopped and did “good” for his fellow man. James Michener said that war made good men better and bad men worse. That is true of any kind of war.
2) If you have befriended someone in the storm, maintain the contact afterward. Helping someone along the road is one thing for the chance that you’ll see them again is slim. But someone who might be in your neighborhood, try and contact them after the storm.
3) Your stuff matters. We often fall into the cliché, I have my life and that is all that matters. To a point that is true, but “stuff” does matter. The question is what stuff? Pastor made mention of a man whose wife died a few years ago, and now he has lost all his stuff in the flood. He is in his 80s and is too old to go back to work. Those things that were lost to him that do matter. Be careful of being too trite.
4) There are many different types of tears. Jesus asked Mary why she was crying and she gave an answer that her Master’s body had been taken away. Some cry tears for various reasons, there are even tears of joy. Be sensitive to the tears and the situation.
5) You can make an impact if even to only one person. Our church is doing quite a bit to help, especially locally and in those little towns that are never mentioned in the news. No, we cannot reach the whole region, but you might be able to help right where you are.
6) Jesus is the firm foundation. No matter the type of storm. No matter what was lost. If you have Jesus as your Rock and Refuge, you can hold on and make it through.
7) God rides on the wings of the wind. I almost can picture the Lord mounting the wind, one hand in the air, “yeehaw” He shouts. “And He rode upon a cherub [a storm] and flew [swiftly]; yes, He sped on with the wings of the wind.” (Psalm 18:10, AMPC) Storms do not phase Him. He rides on the wind and He can walk on the raging sea.
8) God gives the ability to rebuild. Nehemiah is a great story about rebuilding and there is a key verse, 4:6, “the people had a mind to work.” To rebuild you must have the mind to clean up the rubble, get the tools and equipment, and start the work. One of the most important phrases in all of Scripture are two words, “But God.” When life comes at you like a storm, “but God.” When there is no hope, “But God.” Try adding that phrase to areas of your life.
————————–
Principle of the Big Squeeze
What comes out under pressure. It all depends on what was in before the pressure.