How almost impossible to exercise eternal vigilance!  Habit was more powerful, in the long run, than the most implacable of wills.”
              –Zane Grey  (Arizona Ames)

    “But Jesus said to him, ‘No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.'”
              –Luke 9:62 (NKJV)
——————-
March is upon us!  Remember the old saying, “In like a lion, out like a lamb.”  Well, in some parts of the country the cold wind is howling and there are freezing temperatures.  I reckon that’s lion-esk.
    Here are a few random thoughts I gathered from the “Old Farmer’s Almanac.”
          –Blue was the color originally associated with St. Patrick.  Somewhere, somehow along the line it was substituted for green.  How and why, I have no idea.  I used to wear orange in my classroom for the Protestant Irish on St. Patrick’s Day.
          –Don’t forget, St. Patrick’s is the day for the planting of peas.
          –Cabbage seeds are to be planted on St. Patrick’s as well, but to make them grow better you have to plant them while wearing your nightclothes.
          –St. Patrick didn’t chase all the snakes out of Ireland.
For some reason St. Patrick’s Day is just another day for drinking and carousing (as if another day was needed).  It would be something that St. Patrick would not condone, despite the stereotype of the Irish.
——————
Groan–it’s upon us again!  Daylight Saving Time.  I do wish they would just leave us to nature’s time and quit messing with things.  There is really no need for it today, especially the switching back and forth.
    Here’s a little history (again from the “Old Farmer’s Almanac”).
           –Benjamin Franklin supposedly suggested it back in 1784 as a joke.  It was again proposed by George Hudson, British, in 1885, but he was ridiculed along with his idea.  In 1907, the idea was revived by William Willett.
           –The Germans were the first to officially adopt the concept in 1915 during World War I.  The British copied it in 1916 and the U.S. adopted it in 1918.  This was at the time when our time zones were established.  (Imagine traveling today without a time zone.)  The law was repealed in the U.S. in 1920.
    No matter what happens, ahem, “time marches on” (pun intended).
——————-
Habit truly is much easier than vigilance.  And how often do bad habits take hold of us!  If we are not careful those habits may get us off course.  Our goal, that is in the distance, and because we do not have vigilance it seems to be getting no closer.  However, we may seem motionless, not moving when God is going forward.  He is never still.  He is never hurried and never lost.  He never doubles back.  He knows how long it will take to arrive at His destination, and He will arrive right on time.  
    Two things then:  don’t lose vigilance and don’t look at things with carnal eyes.  Your progress must be seen with supernatural eyes.  We are borne along by God, and He has us moving forward on His charted course.
——————-
Today in the Texas Revolution:  Travis’ letter of desperate plea arrives at Washington on the Brazos.  Houston orders Fannin to go to his aid (too late!).  Fannin receives news of Texas’ declaration of independence.  Houston and his staff head for Gonzales.

He had never allowed himself to dwell on the darker times, for to live them once had been more than enough.”
              –Elmer Kelton  (The Good Old Boys)

    “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”
              –Matthew 6:33 (NKJV)
——————-
We had communion last Sunday in church.  There’s nothing in Scripture that tells you how often a person should partake of it, but there are some guidelines.  Whenever we partake we are to remember Christ–His death, resurrection and return.  He will have communion with us again.  We are also to examine ourselves; do some inner sweeping and mopping.  The early church had communion whenever they came together, thus the practice that is in Catholic churches.  It doesn’t mean a thing if the heart’s not right and we do not remember Him.
    Yesterday was “Lent.”  I’m not a real proponent of what it represents.  Choose one a day a year to give up something.  If we listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit it is most likely more than one day and most likely more than one thing is given up.  The key is that we should do regular inventory of our spiritual life.  There should be constant introspection, not just on Lent or during the communion.
    Consider the following questions as you take time to look deeper into your soul.  Here, I going to assume that you do it.
         1)  Are you keeping God’s commandments?  (Phooey on those who say the Old Testament isn’t important.  Jesus said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15, NKJV).
                a)  Are they positive or negative to you?
                b)  Do you welcome them as you would good food?
         2)  Are there particular temptations to which you succumb?  (Are you working on these with the help of the Holy Spirit?)
         3)  Do you enjoy spiritual exercise?
                a)  As you read the Bible are the suggestion given to you by the Holy Spirit repulsive or exhorting?
                b)  Do you talk about Scripture?
                c)  Is meditation at the top of your “exercise” list?
                d)  Are thoughts of God pleasant for you?
         4)  Have you done things that are unhealthy?  (we’re talking spiritually here)
There are other questions that could be added to this list, but I figured these were enough to contemplate on and digest.
    For the true believer the life is one of continual sacrifice and surrender.  The “whats” and “hows” may change but they are always there.  The Lord may tell you to give up something, or he may tell you to take more time for him.  If you truly love God, nothing can distract your attention.  While at work He can speak to you, He can give you a lesson, you can be a witness, you can live in joy.
    Don’t let Lent or communion be the only time that you check out your spiritual habits.  Do it often (daily) and see your growth, your strengths, your failures, your weaknesses.  Seek always to grow and improve.  Access your character; it is becoming more and more like the Holy Spirit?
    Perhaps you are just out of tune.  If so, tighten, or loosen the strings.  Tune yourself up by reading God’s Word.  Seek His way and not the the worthless things of the world.  In your inventory of your soul do not hesitate to thank God for even the slightest movement forward in your spiritual growth.  Seek forgiveness for failures; ask God to guide and keep you faithful.  Simply be honest with God.

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)

    “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.”
              –Ephesians 2:8 (NKJV)
——————–
Stop!  Right now, first thought–what comes to your mind when you think of the Garden of Eden?  Now that may depend on where you live and what you see around you.  Or maybe it is the picture that we have of a lush garden.  What comes to my mind was orchards of various fruits and through them ran several brooks and between the orchards were meadows of soft, velvety grass, the kind you could lie down in to gaze upward.
    Hmmm, now that’s a thought right there.  Were there clouds?  Why would Adam gaze upward?  He didn’t have to look into heaven for God, Himself, would come down and walk with Adam and talk with him.  Did he have dreams?
    A couple of Sundays ago, my pastor mentioned something about Adam that I had really never thought of before.  Adam knew God in a way that we will not know Him until we get to heaven.  I don’t care how many sermons and seminars are given about the concept of a relationship, it will not be completely fulfilled until we walk with Him in that heavenly city.  He had heard His footsteps, he recognized them.  He heard God’s voice (ever wonder what it really sounds like?).  He has a unique and special relationship that was broken because of sin.  After Adam was cast out that relationship was broken.  Never again did he heard God’s footsteps coming to meet him; there is no record of God speaking to Adam again.  How those last words must have haunted him, “For you are dust, And to dust you shall return.” (Genesis 3:19, NASB)
    We think of the “Fall” as something negative, and for sure it brought a curse upon man, upon the animals, and upon the earth.  Could man have remained pure–possibly, but we have to remember God’s greater plan.  Because of his sin, Adam now saw a characteristic of God he did not know existed.  He could no longer look upon God, but God provided something else – that the future of mankind could look upon Him.  GRACE!  Without the fall, there could be no bestowment of grace and mercy.  Right at the beginning we see that grace requires blood.  Adam and Eve tried in their vain human way to atone by making sewing fig leaves together to cover themselves.  God knows what is needed and “The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife, and clothed them.” (Genesis 3:21, NASB)
    One more little thing to ponder.  This grace and mercy was something that heaven had never seen.  I think Satan was appalled when he saw that side of God; it is something that he could never do–offer grace.  Here is something given to man that was not offered to the fallen angels.  For Adam, even in the wondrous beauty of Eden, had not lived where the glory of God was spread forth in all of its magnificence.  Satan and the angels saw God’s glory, therefore, no grace was offered them.  Man is the only recipient of grace.  The words of Julia Johnston’s great hymn should always be on our lips.  “Grace, grace, God’s grace; grace that is greater than all my sin.”
———————–
Today in the Texas Revolution:  The Alamo falls!