I just kept hobbling along, never looking back because I knew the sight of how little I’d done would discourage me. My eyes were on the trail ahead, as they’d always been.”
–Louis L’Amour (Passin’ Through)
“By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.”
–Hebrews 11:8 (NKJV)
——————–
I never laugh or made fun of older people. Perhaps it was because I was raised by my Grandma and my Aunt. They were hard workers, in fact, all of my parents and grandparents were. I remember as they became older they were not quite a spry as they once were. But they continued to work, in one capacity or another, none of them ever became what you would call bedfast.
I mentioned the past yesterday, and said how important it was, but that we were not to live in it. One reason is that when we dwelt in the past we would see and realize how much we didn’t accomplish. Those dreams–what happened to them? Were you able to fulfill them or where they like the clouds, only a vapor? Often looking at the past puts us in a rocking chair, twiddling our thumbs, and living in remorse.
Look ahead, the goal is still before you. Heaven awaits, now is not the time to stop and live in the past, but now is the time to continue forward, even if you have to hobble. The way may be rough, the obstacles many, but a person continued to take a step at a time–steps that are ordered by God, mind you.
You may have noticed that I used quotations from Louis L’Amour’s book, “Passin’ Through,” the past couple of days. When I get back to Texas, I’m going to pull it from my bookshelf and read it again. The title itself presents a lot of truth. Truly, we are just passin’ through this world. All of us, pagans and saints, the nonbeliever and the believer will one day come to the end of the road, end of life. After death comes the judgment–for all. Nonbelievers will be judged for not accepting Jesus Christ; believers will be judged for their works, how they walked the trail since accepting Jesus.
Author: Ira Paine
Echoes From the Campfire
Remember—the secret is never to forget your hold on the past—your memories—an’ through thinkin’ of them to save your mind an’ apply it to all that faces you out there … if you fight an’ think together like a man meanin’ to repent of his sin—somewhere out there in the loneliness an’ silence you will find God!”
–Zane Grey (Wanderer of the Wasteland)
“Remember the word which Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you, saying, ‘The Lord your God is giving you rest and is giving you this land.’”
–Joshua 1:13 (NKJV)
——————————
It has been said that history is what links the past with the present and the present with the future. It is vital that we remember the past. Memories, good and bad, are important for they helped mold us. We are to learn from the past, the lessons are there to make us a better person. However, there are two things to remember about the past. First, we should learn from the lessons. Memories of the past do not do us any good if we don’t learn from them. Secondly, remember the past, learn from the past, but do not live in the past. Yesterday is dead and gone, remember, learn and go forward.
Ravi Zacharias was talking with a student (must have been a Millennial) who said that there is nothing worse than nostalgia. To which Zacharias answered, “except amnesia.” One cannot progress without using the past as stepping stones. I know there are people who do not have any pictures from the past, those who do not care for the old photos, or want to listen to the old stories. These are doomed to live a discontented life.
One other thing–to remember how the Lord worked in the past gives us hope for today and for tomorrow. It is the faithfulness of God and how He fulfills His promises that gives us the assurance for today, and the “blessed hope” that He will return. God is not slack in fulfilling His promises. Yea and amen!
——————————-
How does one obtain rest? Rest only comes by completely work, fulfilling a task, doing one’s duty. God rested on the seventh day, not the fifth. His work was complete, as far as creation went, before He rested. Rest when the job is done, not before or in the midst. How many times have I seen work only partially complete because the person stopped to rest before completion.
“The gospel does not command us to do anything in order to obtain life, but it bids us live by that which another has done: and the knowledge of its life-giving truth is not labor but rest, rest of the soul, rest that is the root of all true labor; for in receiving Christ we do not work in order to rest, but we rest in order to work.”
–Horatius Bonar
Why is rest needed? Why, dummy, for us to work! We rest at the end of the day to rejuvenate the body, calm the mind so that tomorrow we can continue on with our duties and responsibilities. Rest comes after a hard day’s work simply in order for us to be ready and refreshed to work tomorrow.
Rest is important, but we need to know when and why. We also know that we need our strength renewed, physical, mental, and spiritual. We need to learn how to rest in Him.
The Saga of Miles Forrest
Marta informed me that Molly went down to the butchers. The customers at breakfast had eaten most of the sausage and Molly liked to keep sausage ready to fry.
“Keep me informed about Mr. Creeps,” I said with a laugh then went over to the stove to replenish my cup of coffee. I had just gone back to my chair in the corner when Molly came in.
“Elena, here is five pounds of sausage. Go ahead an use half of it in whatever way you need. Mister Vandemeer said that he will butcher up half a beef and have it brought down. Have you seen Lucas?” She was saying all of these, taking off her wrap and putting on an apron, and I just sat there and smiled.
Then she turned towards me, “And you, how long will you be there, getting in our way?” she snapped.
“I didn’t know I was in anyone’s way,” I replied. I stood up and started for the backdoor.
“Where are you going?” Molly barked. “If you think we’re in danger, don’t you dare leave!”
I stopped to look at her. She avoided my glance then Marta came in giving an order. Marta looked at me, “Senor Creeps told me that he’d see me tomorrow.”
Molly turned toward her. “Who?” she asked sharply which seemed to stun Marta.
“The man out there, sitting in the corner by the window.”
Molly rushed to look out from the kitchen. The man was walking out the door with his back to her. She turned to us, “Miles, there’s something familiar about that man.”
I went to her, she started to turn away when I grabbed her shoulder and brought her to me. Wrapping my arms around her, she finally sighed. “After this is over I’ll go huntin’ to get some fresh meat for the diner.”
“How long do you intend to stay here?” she questioned.
“Two, maybe three days. I just feel that I need to be here,” I replied then released her.
The day passed by slowly. Sitting back in the little alcove was not my way of having fun. All I did was doze, and ponder, and pray. Now, pondering ain’t bad; it just depends on what you’re pondering on. Praying is always good, but I don’t know about the frequent naps.
I was awake the next morning when Elena and Marta came to open up. Marta went around the diner lighting the lamps while Elena began firing up the ovens and stoves. She was good at keeping a constant temperature; to me that is somewhat of an art. Too hot and the biscuits burn, to cold and they don’t cook properly. There were two large stoves in the kitchen.
Molly came in about twenty minutes later and she went to work making pies. I hadn’t realized how much work was involved in the morning to open up. Marta said that Lucas would be by to cut some firewood for the box. I would have done it, but didn’t want anyone to see me.
Marta was out in the diner with her usual smile and greeting to the first customers that came in. The morning was usually fairly busy and the diner filled up. Molly and Marta were hustling around waiting on customers, and Elena was doing a dance between the stoves in the kitchen. I could see that they needed to hire someone to clean the pots and skillets, as Elena had to do that before she could prepare another meal.
About 9:30, the last customer left from the morning rush. Molly started to get a cup of coffee to sit with me. I shook my head. She realized that would be breaking habit, so she and Marta went out to sit at the table to rest and sip coffee.
It wasn’t long when I heard the front door open. A few minutes later Marta came in the kitchen. She came by me on her way to get coffee for the customer. “It’s Senor Creeps,” she whispered.
She was on her way back to the front when I heard the door open again. I heard some muttering out front, but I couldn’t make out what was being said. Molly came in the kitchen. “Two men, one dressed in black, but not sitting together. I know I’ve seen them before.”
I went to the edge of the kitchen so I could listen. “Thanks for the coffee, darling,” I heard the man comment. “Where’s that marshal, the one who brought me coffee last time?”
“He’s been gone a few days,” Molly replied.
“I sure hope he didn’t have an accident,” laughed the man sitting at the other table.
There was a small laugh from the other man. “Come here, sweetheart,” he ordered. “I know you recognize me even with the beard. You’ll get used to it.”
I was hoping Molly moved back toward the stove.
There came a shout, then I heard the cup crash to the floor. It was time to play this out. Entering the diner I said, “Pick up the cup!”
Coffee Percs
As soon as the coffee was ready we filled our cups. Then, we took deep swigs and mulled over our current situation.”
–Tell Cotton (Confessions of a Gunfighter)
Glad yuh could join me, Pard. Seems like forever since I sat down with yuh over a cup of coffee. Listen, Pard, there’s strange things happening in the land. My mercy, the devil is workin’ overtime, and I reckon it’ll get worse.
There’s so much hate. Hate like I’ve never seen before. Why that one Mad Max, no not the movie, the woman, she looks like she has a case of the hydrophoby. People can be mean, and full of so much hate that it just spews over into what they look like and say.
More than ever we sure need the Word of God, not only in our hands to read, but in our hearts so that our soul can digest it and we can recall it when the times get tough. If you look at things out there it is clear to see that there is a famine in the land. People are starvin’, yet the Word of the Lord is right there for them to eat. Guess they just don’t want to bother to take the time. Instead they feed upon the hatred around them, they feed on lies of the world, they fed on amusements and entertainment, which is more of a diet of cotton candy than anything.
Why, at least when yuh come by my place I have the pot on. What yuh say, we finish it off? Yuh be sure to move slow and easy, don’t be makin’ any rash actions, and durin’ yur busy day, don’t forget to check yur cinch.