Echoes from the Campfire

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

I sat down on the rocker and for a while just gazed at the moon, pondering the blessings and workings of the Lord.”

                         –D. C. Adkisson (Redemption)
 
        “The blessing of the LORD makes one rich, and He adds no sorrow with it.”
                         –Proverbs 10:22 (NKJV)
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My Aunt Bern had a real problem with insomnia.  She simply couldn’t sleep at night, but then during the sermon on Sunday mornings she would invariably start to nod off.  This embarrassed her to no end, and finally she went to the Pastor to apologize.  He was a gracious man, and taking her hand he said to her, “I’m so glad that my sermons are helping somebody.”
       There have been few times in my life when I couldn’t sleep.  It would be hard for me to remember them, therefore, it is hard for me to understand the reasons why sleep just doesn’t come to some people.  William J. Petersen gives this advice, “As you hit the pillow, don’t waste time fretting about your enemies or the various struggles in your life.  Meditate on the Lord through the night, and let him give your soul the rest it needs.”
       Psalm 63, shows that David was having a problem sleeping, but he took the right action.

               6 — When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches.
               7 — Because You have been my help, therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice.
               8 — My soul follows close behind You; Your right hand upholds me.
               9 — But those who seek my life, to destroy it, shall go into the lower parts of the earth.
              10 — They shall fall by the sword; they shall be a portion for jackals.
              11 — But the king shall rejoice in God; everyone who swears by Him shall glory; by the mouth of those who speak lies shall be stopped. (NKJV)

I have mentioned before that I pray before going to bed that if I wake up I expect the Holy Spirit to bring to my mind a “Midnight Hymn.”  Troubles can keep us awake.  Why?  Isn’t the Lord our answer?  Worries about the virus, the vaccine, sickness, and death can keep a person awake.  Why?  Isn’t Jesus the Prince of Peace?  Worries about tomorrow, jobs, security, safety, finances, and on…why?  Jesus is our Rock and strong tower.
       Notice, David remembers God and all that He has done for Him in the past.  He remembers the times that God has helped him through situations in life.  God is always there; He is always faithful.  When sleep vanishes, begin to meditate on what the Lord has already accomplished for you.  Begin to do what the chorus of the old song says,

               “Count your blessings, Name them one by one;
                Count your blessings, See what God hath done;
                Count your blessings, Name them one by one;
                Count your many blessings, See what God hath done.”
                              –Johnson Oatman, Jr.

     Count your blessings, don’t dwell on your problems.  Count your blessings, don’t dwell on your failures.  Count your blessings, don’t focus on your regrets.  Count your blessings, put worries, fears, and doubts aside.  If we are awake at night the devil would like for us to lose sleep, become fatigued and dwell on failures, past sins, and regret our lives.  “The meditation of anything hath more sweetness than bare remembrance.  The memory is the chest in which to lay up a truth, but meditation is the palate to feed upon it.”  (John Wells).  Remember the greatness, goodness, and faithfulness of God.  Meditate upon His Word, and how He brought you through trials of the past.

               “Jesus, give the weary
                Calm and sweet repose;
                With Thy tend’rest blessing
                May mine eyelids close.”
                               –George Matheson

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

The recent rain had scented the air with the heavy aroma of grass which cleared the head and made a soul fee good about life.”
                    –Mike Stotter  (McKinney’s Law)

       “Dead flies putrefy the perfumer’s ointment, and cause it to give off a foul odor; so does a little folly to one respected for wisdom and honor.”

                   –Ecclesiastes 10:1 (NKJV)
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I was sitting the other day in my rocker doing some reading, when an aroma from the kitchen floated in my direction.  Annie was making broth from the left over bones from the prime rib we had for Emmalee’s birthday.  Then, the day before yesterday, I was sitting on the sofa, just laying there, pondering and praying, when the smell of her baking cake wafted out from the kitchen.  Ahhh, sweet smells.
       When I was a kid seldom was there a time, especially when I was in elementary school, that I didn’t enter the backdoor of the house and get hit immediately with the smell of Grandma’s baking.  It might be cookies, or cinnamon rolls, or bread.  I recall the wonderful smell of entering a bakery or a coffee shop.  I remember one in Pennsylvania where they roast the beans in the shop.  Plus, I can’t forget the numerous times I have smelled the frying of bacon in the morning, at home or around a campfire.
       Now there is even a pseudo-science dealing with aroma therapy.  Essential oils are used to bring a mood to a home, or a person.  They are used to create an effect upon one’s physic and emotions.  Certain oils mean certain things.  They are to be therapeutic, comforting, and satisfying.  Certain aromas are used for certain ailments.  I do like to put a drop of two of eucalyptus or lavender on my pillow if my nose is clogged up.
       Those are sweet smells, but I’ve also had some not so savory aromas come to my nostrils.  I remember when we first moved to Panama City, Florida.  There was an atrocious smell that was sickening.  I found out later it was a place where paper was made.  And who can forget a time when you stepped in dog-poo and carried it around on your shoe?  Death has an aroma, a putrid smell.  I have smelled animals that have been dead for days.  I remember when rats would die in the air conditioning vents and the putridity of their remains floated through the auditorium.   I’ve gone into candle stores and passed through perfume sections of stores where the aromas, which are supposed to be fragrant, are so strong that they clog up the sinuses.
       God speaks of aromas.  

               “And the LORD smelled a soothing aroma.  Then the LORD said in His heart, ‘I will never again curse the ground for man’s sake, although the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; nor will I again destroy every living thing as I have done.'”
                              –Genesis 8:21(NKJV)

This aroma was given by Noah’s sacrifice after the flood waters had subsided and he and his family walked out of the ark.  It was in thanksgiving, praise, and worship to the Lord for His safe-keeping and deliverance.  In Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers we read of several different sacrifices that will give to the Lord a sweet, soothing aroma.  However, the prophets speak of a stench that goes to the Lord from people who no longer observe the sacrifices and the law of the Lord (I am speaking of the law written upon the heart).  It is a stench that is sickening.  It is vital to understand that the soothing aroma comes from a proper sacrifice.
       As believers we are to carry a soothing aroma with us.  We are the Temple of the Holy Spirit, therefore the sacrifices of our heart should be pleasant unto the Lord.

               “For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.  To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life.  And who is sufficient for these things?”
                              –2 Corinthians 2:15-16 (NKJV)

We are to be as the “essentials oils” because we carry the oil of the Holy Spirit with us.  When we serve in love there is a sweet aroma that goes to the Lord. (Ephesians 5:2).  Paul said that he received a gift from the church and it was a sweet-smelling aroma because of the sacrifice. ((Philippians 4:18)  When we serve the Lord, when we offer the sacrifice of praise and do all things as unto Him, we send up a sweet aroma.  When we serve others in love there is a wonderful smell that arises.
       So, I ask, what kind of smell are you giving off?  Do you have BO (body odor) or the did you put on your Old Spice or whatever deodorant you use?  What comes out of your mouth?  Does it make people want to shy away from you?  Because of your lifestyle, your actions, your words and deeds, do people smell the essential oil of the Holy Spirit?

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

We had never taken a trust lightly. It was a matter of deep honor, and a debt owed was a debt to be paid.”
                         –Louis L’Amour  (Galloway)

        “For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe.”

                         –1 Timothy 4:10 (NKJV)
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How to Live in a Pagan, Apostate, and Foolish World

Key Verse:  “We know that we are of God, and that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.”  –1 John 5:19 (NASB)

Do you seem to be going against the flow?  Everyone and/or everything seems to be hitting you square in the face.  Don’t be surprised!  I recently read the following by C.S. Lewis, “When the whole world is running toward the cliff, he who is running in the opposite direction appears to have lost his mind.”  The world is in darkness–remember you are of the light and wherever you go you bring light to those in darkness, and I might also say, their deeds.

               “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”
                            –1 Peter 2:9 (NASB)

When so many around us seem to have lost their way, when those in the church seem to be faltering and slipping, remember you have been called from “darkness into His marvelous light.”  Remember, Cain’s deeds were evil and Abel’s were righteous and that was why Cain murdered his brother.
       We are now children of the light.  Once we were interested in the affairs of this world, now we are interested in the Kingdom of God.  Now we are people who seek holiness and our supreme ambition is to live life for Christ.  D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones wrote, “Life and nature simply cannot be hidden.  What we are, we are bound to express.”  We now express life and righteousness.
       For a minute, let’s look at Cain and Abel.  Cain wanted praise.  Abel received praise and the result was that Cain became angry.  That anger resulted in murder.  That illustration in itself tells us why there is war, why there are riots, why there is turmoil and terror.  Cain was self-centered.  Read again the following,

               “For this is the message which you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another; not as Cain, who was of the evil one and slew his brother.  And for what reasons did he slay him?  Because his deeds were evil, and his brother’s were righteous.”
                             –1 John 3:11 (NASB)

       It is important to note that the world does not hate good people–only Christian people.  There was nothing hateful about Abel, yet Cain hated him.  The world hates Christians because they bring the light to the darkness.  The world hates because it feels condemned.  John writes, “Do not be surprised, brethren, if the world hates you.” (1 John 3:13, NASB)
       Therefore, make sure you are not just good, but that you are Christian!  Christians rejoice in the work of God in themselves.  Christians rejoice in the work of God in others.  I recall the words from Shakespeare’s “Henry V” — “Oh we few, we happy few–we Band of Brothers.”

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

A man needs to see some mountains every morning so he stays humble.”
                         –Duane Boehm  (Gideon Johann)

       “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.”
                         –James 4:10(NKJV)
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Once in a while, I get to pondering.  The pea-brain begins to swirl and I get to wondering about things.  Well, over the weekend I was reading, and pondering about a verse so often quoted in this day.  It is a vital verse, and a verse that is a promise, and like all promises there are conditions.  

               “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
                              –2 Chronicles 7:14 (NKJV)

This verse carried with it numerous things to contemplate, but I want to look at one small part of it–“humble themselves.”  How does a nation humble themselves?  How does a person humble themselves?  It is a thought carried in both the Old and New Testaments–to humble oneself.  Notice it is place first in the conditions.  Once a person does that the rest come more easily.  A few verses later in 2 Chronicles we see the following:

               “Now when the LORD saw that they humbled themselves, the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah, saying, ‘They have humbled themselves; therefore I will not destroy them, but I will grant them some deliverance…'”
                              –2 Chronicles 12:7 (NKJV)

               “When he [King Rehoboam] humbled himself, the wrath of the LORD turned from him, so as not to destroy him completely; and things also went well in Judah.”
                              –2 Chronicles 12:12 (NKJV)

       “My people” in 2 Chronicles was Israel, but in the new covenant it is the people of God–Christians, the Church.  This needs to be done as a unit, but also individually.  The question is now, how does an individual humble themselves?  Think on that.  How can you humble yourself; what steps can you take?  Be careful that you don’t fall into saying “I’m so proud I’m humble.”  In my reading I came across some words by Dale Schwarz that will help in our endeavor.

               1)  We humble ourselves by being with Jesus.  God gives more grace to the humble.  We need to get away from our selfish pursuits and simply be with Jesus daily in prayer, worship, and Bible study.
               2)  We humble ourselves by being likeminded with Jesus.  We must decide to think like Jesus thinks and think of others like Jesus thinks of others.
               3)  We humble ourselves by obeying Jesus.  We follow His example by trusting and obeying the Word of God and the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
               4)  We humble ourselves by suffering for Jesus.  We need to be like Moses who chose to suffer with the people of God instead of taking part in the sinful pleasure or perks of the culture of the day.

       It is also important to notice in the verses above that for healing in a nation to occur the humbling must begin at the top–the leadership.  Our prayers should not be only for ourselves but that the Holy Spirit will bring them to their knees.  The Word of God must be proclaimed throughout the land so that it may be heard and the people take heed and humble themselves.
       “Humble yourselves,” if not, God will humble us.  He has all sorts of ways to bring us to our knees in humility to recognize Him.  He does it through wars.  He may use natural catastrophes, or even a pestilence in the form of a violence.  But remember, there is always a choice.  We can humble ourselves, we can let the Lord work and then humble ourselves, or we can ignore the warnings.  Many in history have done so and God turned His back on them.
       A proud heart in the person of leadership is a dangerous thing.  A proud heart within the individual is a dangerous thing.