When minds are allowed to wander unhindered, accusations and recriminations often fill the void with guilt and despair. When thoughts were directed by the Scripture, God washes our minds clean and fills it with His comfort and guidance.”
                    –B.N. Rundell  (Naches Trail)

       “Moreover we know that to those who love God, who are called according to his plan, everything that happens fits into a pattern for good.”
                    –Romans 8:28(Phillips)
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One thing age does for you is that you get a better perspective of the past.  When something happened when you were younger you might think, why in the world did the Lord allow that to happen?  Now, looking back you can see the hand of God at work in the situation.  Joseph is a good example.  Why did the Lord allow him to be cast into the pit, then sold into slavery, then the dungeon of Egypt?  Wasn’t his dream from God?  But then the day came when he told his brothers, “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to keep many people alive.” (Genesis 50:20, NASB)
     The Holocaust, as evil as it was, brought about the nation of Israel. Israel, so important to God for we read in Zechariah, “For thus said the LORD of hosts, after his glory sent me to the nations who plundered you, for he who touches you touches the apple of his eye.” (2:8, ESV).  What we see happening since 1948 is the fulfillment of prophecy.  People wonder and some fear, about what is happening with Iran.  Israel will be protected.  Is it the end time prophecy?  Yes (and no)–for all things that happen are part of the end times, and Jesus said that there would be wars and rumors of wars.  
     Have you ever wandered off a trail while hiking?  I was hunting once in the mountains south of Eagle, Colorado.  It was rugged terrain, with downfalls everywhere.  It was hard to follow a game trail because of that.  It was cold, so cold as to make it miserable.  One ol’ boy we met in the woods was from Texas.  He remarked, “if yuh was to shoot an elk you’d have to bring a skillet an’ eat him there.”  That’s how rugged the terrain was.  My hunting buddy was hunting below a wooded area and on the way back he got off the path that would lead him back to camp.  He arrived just at dusk and it was easy to see that he was frightened.  He wandered for an hour or so in the woods.  
     The following by Dietrich Bonhoeffer helps us to see the hand of God.  “I believe that God can and will bring good out of evil, even out of the greatest evil.  For that purpose He needs men who make the best use of everything.  I believe that God will give us all the strength we need to help us resist in all time of distress.  But He never gives it in advance, lest we should rely on ourselves and not on Him alone.  A faith such as this should allay all our fears for the future.  I believe that even our mistakes and shortcomings are turned to good account, and that it is no harder for God to deal with them that with our supposedly good deeds.  I believe that God is no timeless fate, but that He waits for and answers sincere prayers and responsible actions.”
     So don’t be worrying so much about your past.  Put it under the blood of Jesus, and perhaps, when you reach the “old codger” age you can see how God used your blunders to do things in your life.  If nothing else we can use our reckless stupidity and say, “chalk it up to experience.”  The Psalmist wrote, and maybe you can relate, “I used to wander off until you punished me; now I closely follow all you say.  You are good and do only good; make me follow your lead.” (119:67-68, TLB).  Allow God to use your life, stay close to His guiding hand and His Word, but if you find yourself wandering, get back quickly.

This is the first time I saw the sunrise today! And every sunrise is a gift from the creator!”
                    –B.N. Rundell  (Washita)

       “When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, ‘I am the light of the world.  Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
                    –John 8:12 (NIV)
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Holy moments, holy experiences–a special time when we should be in wonder.  I can recall a few wonderful spiritual experiences in my life.  When was the last time you had one or recognized that you were in the midst of one?  Max Lucado defines one this way, “When your world touches God’s world, the result is a holy moment.  When God’s high hope kisses your earthly hurt, that moment is holy….  What matters is that holy moments occur.  Daily.”  Ponder that!
     I am going to use much of Max Lucado’s description in this wonderful, holy moment.  Read slowly, read thoughtfully.
          “It happened this morning.  Right after you awoke.  Right there in your house.  Did you miss it?
          “The alarm rings….You’ve already hit the sleeper button three times; hit it again and you’ll be late.  You’ve already asked for five more minutes…five different times; ask again and you’ll get water poured on your head.
          “The hour has come.  Daybreak has broken.  So, with a groan and a grunt, you throw back the covers and kick a warm foot out into a cold world.  You lean up and sit on the edge of the bed and stare at the back of your eyelids.  You tell them to open, but they object.  (The moment isn’t holy yet, but it’s almost here.)
          “You stand.  At that moment, everything that will hurt during the course of the day hurts.  It’s as if the little person in your brain that’s in charge of pain needs to test the circuits before you make it to the bathroom.  Back pain?–Check.  Stiff neck?–Check.  High school football knee injury?–Still hurting.  Flaky scalp?–Still itching.  Hay fever reaction?–Achoo!  With the grace of a pregnant elephant, you step toward the bathroom.  You wish there is some way to turn on the light slowly, but there isn’t.  So you slap on the spotlight, blink as your eyes adjust, and step up to the bathroom sink.
          “You are approaching the sacred.  You may not know it, but you have just stepped on holy tile.  You are in the inner sanctum.  The burning bush of your world.  The holiest moment of your life is about to occur.  Listen.  You’ll hear the fluttering of angels’ wings signaling their arrival.  Trumpets are poised on heaven’s lips.  A cloud of majesty encircles your bare feet.  Heaven’s hosts cease all motion as you raise your eyes and…
          (Get ready.  Here it comes.  The holy moment is near.)
          Cymbals crash.  Trumpets echo in sacred halls.  Heaven’s children race through the universe scattering flower petals.  Stars dance.  The universe applauds.  Trees sway in choreographed adulation.  And well they should, for the child of the King has awakened.  Look in the mirror.  Behold the holy one.  Don’t turn away.  The image of perfection is looking back at you.  The holy moment has arrived.”
     Holy?  Look again, you look anything but holy, at least in your mind.  But ponder!  We read in Hebrews, “Because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.” (10:14, NIV)  “Underline the word perfect.  Note that the word is not better.  Not improving.  Not on the upswing.  God doesn’t improve; He perfects.  He doesn’t enhance; He completes.” (Lucado)  But note also, “being made holy.”
     We try to cover our imperfections.  Bumps, pimples, moles, scars, wrinkles and we do it in various and sometimes ingenious ways.  Get this, when God sees us, He also sees Christ.  Paul tells us, “For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.” (Colossians 3:3, NIV)  We are hidden in perfection–the perfection of Christ.
          Lucado goes on with his imagery.  “No wonder heaven applauds when you wake up.  A masterpiece has stirred.”
     That holy moment has occured this morning, and ponder–it happens every morning.  When we wake up a child of the King has awakened!
               “Oh yes, oh yes, I’m a child of the king
               His royal blood now flows in my veins…”
                       –Cindy Walker
     On top of that, know that this day is special.  The Psalmist wrote, “This is the day the LORD has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” (118:24, NKJV)  This day, right now, this moment has been given to you.  All that comes your way this day is from the Lord or has been allowed by Him.  Nothing on this day has slipped His notice.  He has given this particular day, and all others, to His child.  So in one way, as we worship in truth, every moment is a holy moment.  The words of Joseph Alleine come back to my mind, “Let us live this one day well!”
         
(Max Lucado, In the Eye of the Storm, 1991)

As a man, you have the responsibility to lead, teach, cover your family with your life. If you fail in this, you fail as a man.”
                    –B.N. Rundell  (The Trail to Retaliation)

     “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.”
                    –Philippians 2:5 (NIV)
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Proverbs 10:12:
     “Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers all sins.” (NKJV)
     “Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses.” (ESV)

       Bob Beasley simply puts it like this, “Sin separates us from intimate fellowship with both God and our neighbors.  Love reunites in its perfect bond.”  We read in Peter that “love covers a multitude of sins.” (1 Peter 4:8).  Now, don’t get the wrong idea.  Love does not hide sin.  As we repent, love covers our sin (atonement).  This verse does not deal so much with our salvation as with relationships.  The New King James Study Bible states, “This verse describes interpersonal relationships, not salvation.  When people respond in love to each other, they cover over the sins, or offenses, that would otherwise come between them.”
       Right from the beginning when Adam and Eve sinned, “their bond of intimacy slipped away” (Beasley).  They realized their shame and tried to cover their sin.  They knew that some type of covering was needed.  God had to intervene and in His love, “covered them with the skins of animals, slain in anticipation of the One who would be slain for their salvation and eternal unity with Him.” (Beasley)  
       We must also not get confused over the term “love.”  Superficial, pseudo-love is worthless.  The term is thrown around very loosely today.  Love is not happiness; oh it can bring happiness, but love is commitment and sacrifice.  It is not self-serving, but serving, the giving of self.  This is the love that covers offenses.  Fausset declares, “Love does not condone sin, but takes no notice of a friend’s errors.”  It is important to understand that a relationship is involved.
       Look at our country.  There is much hatred and it has stirred up much strife.  It keeps, what Charles Bridges says, “alive rankling coldness, disgust, dislikes.”  There is no forgiveness, no love, but only anger and strife.  This hatred is insatiable, hate breeds hate.  Know this, as J.L. Flores points out, “hatred is blind” it strikes out at whomever is in its way.  Hatred indeed stirs up strife even within the calm, decent person.  The serene, peaceful lake only requires some disturbance to stir up the mud lying at the bottom.  “Malicious hatred will but incite to more sin.” (Flores)  The calm person to whom hatred is shown all of a sudden reacts because of the stirring, the strife.
       Though love covers all offenses, at least it tries to, but remember that even though love attempts to end the strife and hatred, the person must be willing to accept the love, the covering, the pardon that is offered.  There are some who enjoy having a bitter spirit, some who live to stir up hatred.  I reiterate that this love does not deal with salvation but with relationship. We often take 1 John 1:9 out of context and apply it to everyone.  John was writing to Christians, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (NKJV)  This is relational.  We are children of God, therefore He is there to hear our repentance and to forgive.  His great love covers all offenses.  

It struck her suddenly and strangely that to know the real truth about anything in life might require infinite experience and understanding. How could one feel immense gratitude and relief, or the delight of satisfying acute hunger, or the sweet comfort of rest, unless there had been circumstances of extreme contrast?”
                    –Zane Grey  (The Call of the Canyon)

       “Sing, O heavens! Be joyful, O earth! And break out in singing, O mountains! For the Lord has comforted His people, And will have mercy on His afflicted.”
                    –Isaiah 49:13 (NKJV)
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         “Blessed are the meek:  for they shall inherit the earth.”  –Matthew 5:5 (KJV)