What if’ is a fool’s game that nobody wins. We’ve got to deal with things the way they are.”
–Elmer Kelton (The Buckskin Line)
“Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.'”
–Hebrews 13:5 (NKJV)
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I wanted to do that, I wish I had this, if only I had this job, that would be a better career for me…and on goes the discontent. People are upset that they no longer can or are able to do things they wanted to do. Perhaps it is because I am on the elderly side now that I see with a new/different perspective.
“Better is the sight of the eyes [the enjoyment of what is available to one] than the cravings of wandering desire. This is also vanity (emptiness, falsity, and futility) and a striving after the wind and a feeding on it!”
–Ecclesiastes 6:9 (Amplified)
Listen! Nothing on this earth will ever satisfy the cravings of your soul. This is one of the deceptions that the devil will throw in front of you. He will make you crave for something faster, prettier, better. More, more, I want something better becomes the cry of the soul.
The enemy of your soul wants for you to indulge in your cravings. Then he’ll make it so you want more, then more. Frustration will come, depression will grab hold of you, for you cannot ever satisfy your cravings. You hunger after the things of the world; your eyes lust after the lure in front of them. Like Adam and Eve in the Garden, one fruit looked better, therefore it must taste better. They were not satisfied with everything else, they wanted something more.
Paul instructs us to be content with what we have. “Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content.” (Philippians 4:11, NKJV). If you are given an added blessing, be thankful and content, don’t be wishing you had more, or that you deserved the additional blessing. Learn to be content. For example, people are constantly complaining about the weather and there is nothing they can do about it. Learn to be content in all situations and circumstances… hmmm, it could be worse.
When God gave Moses the law, one of them was, “Do not covet” (Exodus 20:17). I would venture to say that all of the previous nine laws could be listed under coveting. Why steal, why lie, why commit adultery, why make idols? Because you are not satisfied, you want more. Be content–only contentment can conquer the constant craving for more. Enjoy what you have for wanting more is emptiness and futility.
2021 is here, learn to be content with the Lord. If you have plenty, be content. If you have less, be content. Be at peace with what God has given you. Do not murmur or complain but give thanks for what you have. As Solomon wrote, craving more is useless, it will not satisfy.
Author: Ira Paine
Echoes From the Campfire
There are times when we must do that which is not ours by personal choice, but made necessary by external circumstances. These are the tests which prove who we are. What is our character? Can we stand and make the tough decisions which will take us into harm’s way and put our lives at risk, or do we cower and make excuses for refusing to do what is required of us? You have taken the path of hardship and courage. Your mission will end one day. Then, you will see the brightness of the future for the man who lives by truth and righteousness.”
–Lloyd E. Foley (Spirit of Lone Warrior)
“That you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.”
–Philippians 2:15(NKJV)
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Doctrine! I’m saying it again–one of the major problems in the church today is that they either do not know the doctrines of God’s Word, or they ignore them. It is doctrine, the teachings of the Bible, that will get you through the storms, the hard times, the persecutions, yes, and even the viruses of the world. And, I want to mention that there are all sorts of viruses, not just the COVID. There are heart viruses, emotional viruses, mental viruses along with the physical type that we are currently seeing.
“It [doctrine] impacts what we think; it affects our worldview; it determines what we believe is right and wrong; it guides us in life, determines our convictions and standards, and affects all our actions.”
–Rick Renner
Our knowledge of the Bible does affect our worldview, or it should if we are truly practicing what it says. Our values system, our morals, and our character are all determined by how much we know and study God’s Word.
In all that I want to bring to you something from the last part of Matthew. Jesus is ready to ascend to the Father and He leaves the disciples with these words:
“Teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen.”
–Matthew 28:20 (NKJV)
There are many Christians who question this statement of Jesus. Oh, maybe not verbally but in their actions and how they face life they do. Too many are fixed upon “feeling” and they focus on that rather than focus on the reality of it. Some may wonder where God was when tragedy struck or when the COVID hit their family. I’ll can easily tell them–He was there, right with them whether they “felt” Him or not. He is always there!
Frances Havergal goes so far as to say that Christians call Him a “liar” by their actions and beliefs. Here Jesus has declared that He is with us always. Not sometimes, but always! The way we act in times of troubles and crises seems to say that Jesus did indeed lie. We say, “‘No! He is not with me!’ All you can say is, ‘I don’t sense [feel] His presence.’ Yet He was there with you while you said it. What must He have thought?” (Havergal)
I am reminded of the storm that arose upon the Sea of Galilee. Jesus was sleeping in the boat, while the storm raged and continued to grow in strength. Even seasoned men of the sea were afraid. They woke Jesus, and He looked at them disgusted at their lack of faith then calmed the storm. They had not grasped the truth that He was there, in the midst of the raging storm.
Going into 2021, get this doctrine, this great truth down in your heart. Believe it, heed it, understand it, practice it, for no matter what, Jesus is with us “always, even to the end of the age”!
Echoes From the Campfire
Sometimes I think the knot-heads in this world are taking over.”
–Lou Bradshaw (Man With No Face)
“The words of his mouth begin with foolishness, And the end of his talk is raving madness.”
–Ecclesiastes 10:13(NKJV)
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“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.”
–John 14:1 (NKJV)
There are many believers who are making themselves sick because of a troubled heart or mind. They live in despair, despondency, fear, and anxiety and this then produces more troubles in the heart. Why are so many believers fearful?
I think that one reason is that there is a lack of sound doctrine being preached today. Paul exhorted Timothy and Titus to “guard the truth.” Our foundation, therefore our lives must be based on sound doctrine. But, how can this be if the people in the church do not hear it? Many Christians today have their foundation built upon an emotional experience, upon hype rather than in the truth of God’s Word. Many Christians will even go so far as to say “in my opinion” rather than “thus saith the Lord.” When we do not know God’s Word fears can assail and overcome us.
So many cannot be still in front of the Lord meditating and contemplating upon His Word. Lloyd-Jones said, “The greatest need of men and women in this world is the need of what is called ‘the quiet heart.'” Even in church there is a tendency to let the emotions rule instead of quieting the heart to rid it of trouble. People today are restless, fearful, and how do they try to overcome it–by more emotion. There is a false teaching regarding worship–it is not hype; it is recognizing the Person of the Almighty God in all of His glory.
In this world of turmoil there is the need of a quiet heart. In this time of fear and depression due to a “virus” we need a quiet heart. In the day of riots and terror there is a need of a quiet heart. “My heart will not be really quiet until I have been told the very worst and faced it, and then I can surmount it.” (Lloyd-Jones) Look at the world, not the fake world of the media; it is full of lies, turmoil, death, sickness, and then look into the truth of God’s Word. Let the words of the Holy Spirit then begin to flow into your heart. In the midst of all the world has to offer, our hearts need not be troubled.
I urge you, as 2021 begins to get into the Word of God. Tell God your difficulties and problems and troubles then delve into the Word and let the words begin to sooth, to calm and to comfort you. Let the Holy Spirit guide you and to do that there must be a time of quietness, a time when you can listen to what He has to say.
Rest in the calm assurance of His quietness; let Him ease your troubled heart. Rest in Him! Make the chorus of Manie P. Ferguson’s hymn bring a calmness to your soul this New Year.
“Bless quietness, holy quietness,
What assurance in my soul!
On the stormy sea,
He speaks peace to me,
How the billows cease to roll!”
The Saga of Miles Forrest
Charlie left to see Doc Jones. I watched the rough-looking character for a few seconds then thought I ought to make my acquaintance.
“Miles! Are you leaving?” came the voice from the edge of the kitchen. I turned to see Molly standing there with a pie in her hand. “Do you think you could get this to Luciana and the boys without falling and dropping it along the way?”
I met her halfway where she handed me the pie. “Does Mateo get a piece or is it just for the boys and his wife?”
She gave me that look, then answered, “Tell Luciana that he can have a piece if he’s helping around the house,” she paused then inquired, “Why don’t you leave that old shotgun here?”
I glanced at the shotgun, then at the pie. “I think I can manage both.”
Hesitating at the table of the man, I decided not to stop and talk, but headed on outside. It was still snowing, but not nearly as bad. With that I could feel the temperature dropping. Trudging through the snow I had several thoughts going through my mind. Could that man be Upton Shaw? I didn’t get a close enough look to rightly tell. Maybe it was the man who had shot Charlie. Most likely it was neither, but the mind can start to work on a body.
It then shifted to the Blackstones. Jessie was working with Darnelle at the store. And that thought made me think of Wilson Foster. He wasn’t a bad guy, in fact, he was the kind of man a town needed on the city council. Maybe what led to his stroke is what was causing all his animosity. I wondered about Keim and how he was doing.
In all my wondering, I wasn’t paying real good attention to my footing. The next thing I knew I was in the snow; the Greener was in my hand, but what happened to the pie? Looking slightly in front of me I saw an indentation in the snow. Reaching down I picked up the pie. Half of it was still on the plate so I picked up the pieces and began to fit them back on the plate. Fortunately it was cold enough that the pie was partially frozen.
Quickly I looked back toward the diner. Thank goodness Molly wasn’t standing out front, but I did see the rough-looking newcomer exit the diner. He glanced around some then started across the street. Was he going to Doc’s office?
I crossed the street, then set the pie on the window ledge at Solly’s place. I wiped the snow from the shotgun, but I didn’t have time to check the barrel. There was a notion inside of me to go check on Doc so I headed that direction. One thing about the snow, I had to move slowly and it was quiet. As I came to the end of the block, I peered first over toward the diner, then peeked around the corner where Doc’s office was.
The man was standing out front, hunched inside his coat, smoking a cigarette. He looked around several times, then flicked the finished smoke into the snow. Pulling his gun, he entered the office. I had to hurry.
“Sit yourself down,” hollered Doc from the back room. “I’m in the process of cleaning out a wound.”
The man walked on into where Doc was working on Charlie’s arm. “You can stop now, Doc. He won’t be needing it.”
I entered and heard him him cock his pistol. There was only a second’s time in which I could react. “Goodbye, Sheriff Gold.”
His few words before firing gave me time to swing the Greener down on top of his head. When I cracked him on the skull, he dropped immediately but not before he fired his gun. The bullet struck the table where Charlie was sitting lodging in it. Charlie had jumped up, and now there was blood coming from his arm.
Doc had been working on cutting out the infected parts, and when Charlie jumped, the scalpel slid across his arm opening it up. “Sit down and be still!” yelled Doc. Then he looked in my direction. “Now see what you’ve made me do! Get out, and drag that bum with you!”
“Uh, I hit him pretty hard, Doc. You might want to check him.”
Doc wiped his face and down his chin. “Well, just let him lay there until I’m through with Charlie. I’ve had to do some cutting on him.”
Before long Edith had joined us, and from across the street in ran Molly. She looked at the man on the floor, then up at me. “Miles, have you been to Luciana’s? Where’s the pie?”
There was no “are you all right?” “what happened?” none of that, only “where is the pie?”
“Headin’ there now!” I exclaimed then rushed out, not explaining. I’d let Doc do that.
Upon arriving at Solly’s place, I found the pie gone. Was it a bum? I’d check with Solly first since his place of business was now open.
“Well, if it isn’t the Marshal. Come in Miles, join me in a piece of pie that some dear soul left on my window ledge.”