And right is right, and wrong is wrong to me.  I wonder what’s the matter with me?”
–Luke Short  (Play A Lone Hand)

“Then you will understand what is right, just, and fair, and you will find the right way to go.”
–Proverbs 2:9 (NLT)
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Seems like there have been several well-known people die lately.  I see things posted on Facebook by Christians and it makes this ol’ fence post wonder.  With these celebrities and others who have died I’ve seen posts R.I.P.–rest in peace.  Now, the Christian who writes this is either trying to be nice, or they are ignorant.  Only those who are in Christ will R.I.P., for the Bible says, “And just as it is appointed for people to die once—and after this, judgment—” (Hebrews 9:27, HCSB)
Now is the day of salvation.  We should be doing our part to win the lost for Christ so folks who die can truly rest in peace.
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If you happen to be a “friend” on Facebook you may have noticed that the past couple of weeks I have used quotations from John Vermillion.  I have read two of his novels, “The Supe,” and “Don’t Call Me, General.”  In those books he stands for true values and calls America back to these values.

“You cannot merely do your assigned duty; you must go beyond, never ceasing to improve your professional qualifications.  You must, every single day, re-examine the right to call yourself a professional soldier.”

When I served in the military, most first-termers were there because they were drafted for Vietnam, or they wanted a job.  Some wanted to truly serve their country.  A large percentage of first-termers were exactly that; they only serve their term, and because of that often put a casual effort to their job.  Their motto, “Close enough for government work.”  I learned very quickly another motto of most who were making the military a career or those who were conscientious, “Do it right the first time.”
After my two terms in the military I went into education.  I very quickly realized as a new teacher that I didn’t know it all.  Hmmm, sounds kind of strange for I have worked with teachers and administrators, and seen others who were new that knew it all (or thought they did).  Because I didn’t know it all, I took a weak area and begin to read books on that area.  
Military, teachers, professionals in any field must always take inventory to see if they are truly the professional they call themselves.  Are they, first, doing the best they can, and second, are they trying to improve.  I have seen so many “play the game”, and in truth they are just sliding by.  For those who are teachers it would be good for them to etch in their hearts James 3:1, “Not many should become teachers, my brothers, knowing that we will receive a stricter judgment.” (HCSB)
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As a very good friend of mine would say, “We have lost it.”  There are now transgender day-camps starting at age 4.  The American Pediatrics have called this nothing less than child abuse.  There is a group who have purchased a town in California, not far from Las Vegas and it will be the first “Pot Tourist Town.”  Yep, a place to go to enjoy the high of pot.  Kaepernick is trying to be a martyr.  Yes, the NFL is racist, just note the lack of black players in the NFL.  What they are not saying is that he was offered a position, but turned it down–not enough money.
We have lost it!
Then you look at the families.  I saw a sign on a car Monday that asked the question, “Where will your children spend eternity?”  Good question, so I would ask, what are the parents doing to make sure their children are on the road to heaven?  Are they like the world, or teaching them sound doctrine?
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One more little tidbit.  Folks have asked how I choose the hymn that I make commentary on.  Usually it is from one that has been going through my mind.  This week I had one.  I went to get the words and saw that I had already used it this year, so I turned to “Trust and Obey.”  It wasn’t marked, but after I wrote it, my wife said that I had already written on it.  Somebody out there must have needed to read the words of “Trust and Obey” again.  Remember, obedience is better than sacrifice.

It came to him that the human body, like the human soul, was a strange thing and capable of recovering from terrible shocks.”
–Zane Grey  (Riders of the Purple Sage)

“For what God has said applies to everyone— it will not be changed! Not one person whose life is twisted by sin will ever recover.”
–Ezekiel 7:13 (NLT)
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The key to living a Christian life has always been faith.  “Now without faith it is impossible to please God, for the one who draws near to Him must believe that He exists and rewards those who seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6, HCSB) And we must remember that we are saved by grace through faith. (Ephesians 2:8)  Now, how do we show faith?  It is not really that hard, and if we follow the key phrase of this hymn our life will be much more joyful and faith will continue to grow.

          “When we walk with the Lord, In the Light of His Word
           What a glory He sheds on our way!
           While we do His good will, He abides with us still,
           And with all who will trust and obey.”
                    –J.H. Sammis

What is it that can ever bother us?  What is it that can even bring us down?  Why should we doubt?  In fact, doubting is the opposite of faith and trust.  If you truly want to be joyful, no matter the situation you find yourself in, then trust and obey.  Do the days seem long and the burden heavy.? At the end of the day you can’t wait to get rid of the burden and sit down in your easy chair or recline of the sofa.  The day is done, but the burden will be there for you to pick up again tomorrow–oh joy!  Yet, we are told to pick up our cross daily.  We must obey, and He is there to ease the toil.  His burden is light, but only when we remember to trust and obey.

          “Not a shadow can rise, Not a cloud in the skies,
           But His smile quickly drives it away;
           Not a doubt or a fear, Not a sigh nor a tear,
           Can abide while we trust and obey.

           Not a burden we bear, Not a sorrow we share,
           But our toil He doth richly repay;
           Not a grief nor a loss, Not a frown or a cross,
           But is blest if we trust and obey.”

The key to it all is trusting and obeying.  We cannot hold on to things ourselves.  We cannot strive to be autonomous.  Grief, sorrow and the toil will seem oh so heavy if we don’t put everything down on the altar.  People pray, “Lord, bless me,” but still want to go their own way and do their own thing.  Blessings come, true blessings that is, only when everything is on the altar and we are fully trusting and obeying.  Do you want a joyful life–then trust and obey.  To walk by His side means just that–trusting and obeying.  Do you truly say that you will do what He wants, what He tells you?  If so, you are on the right road.

          “But we never can prove The delights of His love
           Until all on the altar we lay;
           For a favor He shows, And the joy He bestows,
           Are for them who will trust and obey.

           Then in fellowship sweet We will sit at His feet,
           Or we’ll walk by His side in the way;
           What He says we will do, Where He sends we will go,
           Never fear, only trust and obey.”

We so often want the happiness that the world seems to offer.  We think God has blessed us when we attain the material goods that man has to offer, when in reality we are missing the true concept of wealth.  Many shrink from God because they think He wants to make them miserable and deny them the things that they think will make them happy.  They are so wrong, for true happiness comes only when we trust and obey.

                    “Trust and obey,
                     for there’s no other way
                     To be happy in Jesus,
                     But to trust and obey.”

All things cost a price.  Good or bad we’ve got to pay the ante.”
–Ernest Haycox  (Discovery Gulch)

“God paid a high price for you, so don’t be enslaved by the world.”
–1 Corinthians 7:23 (NLT)
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Many times things happen to us and we do not see the hand of God in it.  We get caught up in the situation or the ordeal and do not see what He is doing, nor do we happen to think of what He wants us to be doing.
I have often asked the question, “How does God work on me when I’m sleeping?”  God is always at work in our lives, so what kind of work does He do on me while I’m asleep?  It is probably the only time He gets me still and quiet enough to use His spiritual hammer.  Perhaps that is why I wake up sometimes in the night.  I felt the whack and it woke me up.  
Sure, some people have those “dreams” and even a few have the “visions.”  I don’t have those, but I do believe He is working, even in our sleep.  I recall the story of Jacob.  I found a little note written by C.H. Overman that discusses what happened one night to Jacob.

“Sometimes faith is weak.  The outward and often adverse circumstances prevent us from recognizing the presence of God.  Such was the case with Jacob.  Having left his home and countrymen, he spent the night out under the stars with stones for a pillow.  While he slept, he dreamed about a ladder reaching into heaven, with angels ascending and descending on it.  Above the ladder stood the Lord God, and he spoke to Jacob, reminding him of the covenant made to his forefathers that in his posterity all the nations of the earth would be blessed.  Jacob awoke in a new light, recognizing that he was in the presence of God.
The Lord is in this place!  It matters not where that place is–a place of isolation and aloneness, a far country where all is strange–God is there.
To fully and personally know this truth, there must be individual heart and soul response.  Jacob believed and vowed to serve his God.  And this is what God desires of us.  He loves us and seeks us.  May we acknowledge and trust the God who is present everywhere and with all.
Prayer:  Father, grant that I may trust in your divine presence and protection.  Even when the day seems hard, long, and lonely, comfort me with thy loving presence.  Amen.”

So, go to bed tonight knowing that God is with you, even in your sleep.  He is working His plan out for you.  If you happen to wake up, be like Samuel and ask the Lord what He wants.
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Proverbs 17:3, “The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but the Lord tests the heart.”

Remember the Scripture, “The Lord is a consuming fire.”  Tremendous heat is needed to refine silver and gold.  All the impurities must be removed from it.  Man’s heart is evil and desperately wicked, so God uses heat to reveal and remove the evil.  The heart of the child of God must be refined, and it takes the fire of the Holy Spirit to do it.  The heat is used to sanctify us.  If God is doing it, then why do so many of God’s children run from the thought of sanctification?  Because they are rebellious, and the Lord must melt away our slag of rebellion.
There is no easy way.  The child of God must go through the heat; he must feel the flame that comes from the altar of heaven.  Remember, there is purpose in it–refined, pure gold–a refined pure heart.  Even in the fire, God gives a song, “in the night season and all the day long.”