This desert solitude was the storehouse of unlived years, the hush of the world at the hour of its creation. It was solemn, grand, incorruptible. It did something to one, something inexplicable; it drew one’s narrow soul from out oneself, and poured in something big, so big it was almost too great to bear.”
–Zane Grey (Captive of the Desert)
“Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass.”
–Psalm 37:7 (NKJV)
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I have never been one who frets much about tomorrow. At times the devil has wanted me to do that or he will try and put fear in my mind about something possibly happening to one of the kids. Most of the time I can just wave it away, for I trust in the Lord. Now, that’s not saying that I shouldn’t look at the possibilities and be prepared should something happen, but I don’t let it disrupt my living.
I enlisted the last big year of Vietnam. Graduation was looming in front of me, and there was a desire within me to serve my country. There was that possibility that I would be sent to that dreadful place of death and destruction–Vietnam. My wife and I talked about it and we came to the conclusion that I could be killed walking across the street by a pink Volkswagon beetle. If God couldn’t keep me in Vietnam, He couldn’t keep me when I crossed the street. Now, that may be too simplistic, but there is a vital truth there–God is God no matter where, no matter the circumstance.
Much of this goes back to the training I received from my Aunt, Grandma, and church in which I was raised. We didn’t believe in hyper-faith, but daily faith. Faith that God is there with you throughout each day. Draw attention to the following verses:
“There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. For he who has entered His rest has himself ceased from his works as God did from His. Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience.”
–Hebrews 4:9-11 (NKJV)
I never thought about it before, but it takes diligence to rest in the Lord. We are to learn to rest in Him, not be fearful of the path ahead whether it be today or tomorrow. It seems to indicate that if we do not learn this we are apt to fall into disobedience.
What does it mean to “rest in God”? David Wilkerson defined it this way. “It is to come to a place of total trust in the Lord’s promises–a place where there is no longer any struggle of doubt or fear, but rather a settled confidence. It is a continual belief that God is with us, that he cannot fail, and that he who has called us will see us through.” “Settled confidence,” I like that. He is able, or He isn’t. I think Bill Gaither wrote a song titled, “Calm Assurance.” When we get to that point we are truly resting in the Lord.
However! Remember, the enemy of your soul doesn’t want you to rest. He wants your mind to stay in turmoil. He wants you to fret, fumble and stumble around through the day. He wants you to strike out at others with a confused, frightened, and agitated soul. Wilkerson says he will come at you by saying that you are a failure. Look at your life, you’re further away from God today than you were yesterday; you are not making any spiritual progress. He will say you are too weak. Look at yourself: you may be sick, tired, fatigued, diseased, crippled and you fail over and over again. You are just too weak to continue on following the Lord. Or he may say that because of your actions, your attitudes, and your failures that you have grieved God. He can no longer stand the sight of you. Go away… DON’T LISTEN! These are lies to make sure that your soul is not at rest in Him.
Go away today knowing that you can rest in the Lord. REST–“But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.” (Jude 20-21, NKJV)
Month: July 2019
The Saga of Miles Forrest
I had been riding hard for twenty minutes; I had to slow down or the horse wouldn’t be any good. It seems like the outlaw didn’t drop Molly off at the edge of town. I knew this road well, and these men were smart for it was a well-traveled road and their tracks were mix in with those of others. However, a group of men, one of them holding a woman, would rise the attention of any travelers, so they had to do something soon.
Slowing down I began to look for places where they might venture off the road. This area was covered mostly with sage, few trees, and was covered with boulder formations. I was getting close to being halfway to Hesperus when on the horizon I saw a figure walking down the road toward me.
Giving the horse a kick I had him running again. The gap between me and the person began to close and soon I could see that it was Molly. I slowed him down to a trot and when I was a few yards from her I stopped, almost fell off and ran to her. She fell into my arms and we held each other tightly, neither of us saying anything.
Finally she muttered, “Thirsty.”
I hadn’t thought about water. I went to the horse hoping that the owner had a canteen and that it was full. That was the habit of most anyone riding in this area.
Molly had found a rock just off the side of the road to sit on. Thankfully there was a canteen and I rushed it over to her. “Here,” I said excitedly, “just drink it slow.”
The sky was clear except for two clouds that looked like cottonballs hanging above us. In that high country the sun just seems to beat down on a person and it being so dry, well, a person can easily dry up.
Taking off my bandana, I reached for the canteen. She looked at me as I began to pour some of the water on the bandana. “Unt uh,” she muttered. “Is that bandana clean?”
“Clean enough,” I answered, then completely soaked it. I wiped her face with it, then wrung it out her hand and arms. She reached for the canteen to take another drink as I placed the wet bandana on her head.
I watched her take a couple of deep swallows. Then capping the canteen she handed it back to me. “We need to get back,” she informed me. “I’m worried about Marta.”
That was Molly. Always worried more about someone else than she was about taking care of herself. I helped her up and we walked back to the horse. I mounted and looked at her.
“In my lap, or astraddle behind me?” I asked, now smiling.
“Behind,” she stated, “but you’ll let me down when we come to town.” I removed my foot from the stirrup and she put hers in. I reached back to grab her and between the two of us she swung up behind me. The horse started balking and I had to hold on. It must not have been used to riding double.
I started walking the horse back toward Durango. Molly put her arms around me and settled her head against my back. Neither of us said anything, but I could hear her quietly humming some tune.
Feeling her pull her head away from me, she said, “Miles, that man scared me.”
“How so?” I asked.
“He was different than most of those that have come after you. Most of them are scum, braggarts, but he, he seemed to be under control. Am I silly for thinking that?” she asked.
I didn’t answer right off. “He was a logical man. Now, he has armed robbery behind his name. If he had shot someone then he would be runnin’ for his life.”
“Miles,” she said tightening her grip around me. “I really thought he was going to shoot you.”
“So did I, and there wasn’t a thing I could do about it,” I replied. “The Lord must have sent an angel to stand between us.”
She nestled her head back against me and we continued on down the road without any more talk. When we were about a quarter mile from the town I stopped.
“Want to walk from here?” I asked.
I felt a sigh against me, but she began to slide off to the side. I dismounted as well, and handed her the canteen as she took the bandana from her head. Handing it back to me she then took the canteen and drank several deep swallows. As we started walking she started brushing back her hair with her fingers. I looked at her and smiled.
“What?” she exclaimed.
I wasn’t about to reply.
We could see people begin to form where the town proper began. Molly was holding on to my arm and I gave her a little nudge. “Look at the welcomin’ committee.”
Martin Olson, new councilman, with Wilson Foster standing behind him some were in front, along with the new bank president. I didn’t know his name; I had hoped that the job would be handed over to Ooverholm, but the powers that be brought in somebody from Kansas City.
I saw Olson elbow the bank president and as we approached he stepped out from the crowd and began to jabber. “Aren’t you going after them?”
“Nope,” I simply replied.
“But you’re the marshal, that’s your job. I pay taxes and I expect you to do your job,” he was speaking so fast I thought he might pass out.
“Not a federal case,” I said as I helped Molly up on the boardwalk.
Then Olson piped in, “I think Miles is afraid of the outlaw.”
Stopping, I turned to glare at the man. “You call me Forrest, or Marshal,” I hesitated then looked him up and down. “I’ll never be Miles to you.” Then I pushed Molly on through the crowd on down to the diner.
Echoes From the Campfire
The first article of the creed of the frontier is to be game. Good or bad, the last test of a man is the way he takes his medicine.”
–William MacLeod Raine (Crooked Trails and Straight)
“There are thorns and snares on the path of the crooked; the one who guards himself stays far from them.”
–Proverbs 22:5 (HCSB)
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“Lead, kindly Light, amid the encircling gloom; Lead thou me on.
The night is dark, and I am far from home; Lead thou me on.
Keep thou my feet; I do not ask to see
The distant scene–one step enough for me.”
–John H. Newman
Have you ever been walking along a path, looking down the trail or maybe along the scenery to the side, and all of a sudden you catch your toe on a rock or root and begin a headlong tumble? Perhaps you have done something similar at work or at home and put something on your calendar looking forward to it and forgot to do the duties of the day. I have known teachers who so looked forward to summer vacation that they didn’t fulfill their responsibilities the last month of the school year. Shame! Nowadays, most folks are looking down, but not at the trail, but at the phone in their hand. Do you think your soul could be in the shame situation? Let’s look at the first part of Psalm 25 (HCSB).
1 – LORD, I turn my hope to You.
2 – My God, I trust in You. Do not let me be disgraced; do not let my enemies gloat over me.
3 – Not one person who waits for You will be disgraced; those who act treacherously without cause will be disgraced.
4 – Make Your ways known to me, Lord; teach me Your paths.
5 – Guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; I wait for You all day long.
6 – Remember, LORD, Your compassion and Your faithful love, for they have existed from antiquity.
Right now, if one looks at the media, it would seem that those who mock God and the truth of His Word are sitting there gloating with a sneer on their faces. The question is!”, if you find yourself in that situation where you enemy seems to be gloating are you looking up to the Lord? Are you trusting in Him?
It is in times like these that we truly need the direction of the Lord. I really like the way verse 4 is stated, “Make!” Sometimes in life we must be made to do things. We need for the Lord to “make His ways known to us. We want to know the right direction, yet sometimes we refuse to walk there. It is in the fog or battle that we cannot see the way, the path becomes unclear and we need for the Lord to make us take the next step.
One other aspect I see in this verse is that of a trainer. Sometimes we need to be made to do something and then there are those times that we need to be trained to do it ourselves. I am personally brought back to basic training. Train me how to use my weapon, train me how to follow commands, train me how to make use of my equipment, train me how to be alert. How do we use our weapons? We are told to put on the armor and hold the sword. But then what?
Our responsibility here is to take the next step; to call out to the Lord and put our trust in Him. Are you doing what you are supposed to be doing–today? Are you obedient today? I like what Samuel Amnesley said, “Do what you know to be your present duty, and God will acquaint you with your future duty.”
Coffee Percs
Fresh eggs and coffee sat on the dining room table along with butter, cheese and fresh onions picked from the garden plus peppers and herbs filled a bowl sitting in the middle of the table.”
–J.S. Stroud (The Old Rider)
Yur just in time. Coffee’s just finished boilin’, an’ if’n yuh sit yurself down I’ll pour yuh a cup. Ahhh, hot enough to burn all the hair off yur tongue. Strong–just like I like it. Don’t want to be wastin’ time drinkin’ weak coffee.
It was a fine week that the Lord gave me last week. How was yourn’s? On Thursday, I had a grand time speakin’ for the Coldspring Library’s yearly dessert fundraiser. I told them some stories; stories I tell yuh, not yarns. Yarns are not truth, but my stories are, at least from my humble perspective, and in my mind.
Doin’ my best to stay away from the stupidity of politics. Politics has always been a worrisome game, but it’s somethin’ that we need, but just tell me how some folk can get so crazy and absurd with their ideas? There seem to be so many whiners out there anymore. I used to keep a big poster on my classroom wall–NO WHINING. If people would could quit their whinin’ and fussin’ maybe there could be some work done.
Mercy, Pard, yuh guzzled that cup right down, here’s another. We’ll drain the pot before I finished my jabberin’. What I was fixin’ to say, was that if I remember right, one of the major sins of the people of Israel; one of the things that kept them out of the Promised Land was all their whinin’. Bible called it “murmurin'”. Why they even whined/murmured about how the Lord was takin care of them. Just look at the table: enough food to eat, yuh have coffee, and there’s even a wooden table to sit at. I reckon before we ask for Lord from some of those extra blessin’s to be thrown our way, we need to be thankful for what’s He’s already given us.
Saw a movie about a young kid ridin’ along with the herd. The herd started to run and he had to abruptly change direction. The kid fell right on his head–his cinch had come loose. Now a-body never know when they might have to do some hard ridin’, so always make sure to check yur cinch.