Anyway, it was the pattern of his life. If a bucket was empty, you filled it. If a wood box was empty, you filled that, too.”
–Louis L’Amour (The Man From Skibbereen)

“For simpletons turn away from me—to death. Fools are destroyed by their own complacency.”
–Proverbs 1:32 (NLT)
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Morning to you all. How about that, I’m not burnin’ daylight this mornin’. I’m up, trying to get back into a routine. Hard to do right now, but I sure do function and feel better when I’m in a somewhat regular routine. Now, I’m not saying that a person shouldn’t have a little sponteneity every now and then, but not so that there is no order to their life.
I just finished reading a book that is, if nothing else, interesting. There are some really good things in the book, but if a person is not careful it can reach into the New Age thinking. The authors write with the premise that it is not New Age, but without the knowledge of Scripture one could be duped unawares. Saying all that I’m going to use one of the writings discussed in the book. It is titled “The Breastplate of St. Patrick.” It was written by Patrick of Ireland.

“I awake today in power’s strength, invoking the Trinity, believing in threeness, confessing the oneness, of Creation’s Creator… .
I awake today in Heaven’s might and in the brightness of the Sun, in Moon’s radiance and in glory of Fire, in Lightning quickness and in the swiftness of the Wind, in the Sea’s depth and in the stablity of the Earth.
I awake today with the power of God to guide me, the strength of God to sustain me, the wisdom of God to teach me, God’s eye to look ahead of me, God’s ear to hear me, God’s word to speak to me, God’s hand to protect me, God’s way before me, God’s shield to shelter me, God’s host to deliver me from the snares of devils, evil temptations, nature’s failings, all who wish to harm me, far or near, alone and in a crowd.
As I awake today may Christ today protect me against poison and burning, drowning and wounding, so that I may have abudant reward; Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me; Christ within me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me; Christ to the right of me; Christ to the left of me; Christ in my lying, Christ in my sitting, Christ in my rising; Christ in the hearts of all who think of me, Christ on the tongues of all who speak to me, Christ in the eyes of all who see me, Christ in the ears of all who hear me.
I awake today in power’s strength, invoking the Trinity, believing in threeness, confessing the oneness, of Creation’s Creator.”

One thing Patrick wanted above all else was Christ. Every breath he took, every step he took, he wanted Christ in it. In these few words, you can almost feel the heartbeat of Patrick. How much should we seek to be like him. Ask yourself, is Christ with you at work, in the car, at school, at a party, in the restaurant, at your home? And on…  I fear that we get too much of the world in us, we rationalize, we have our opinions instead of looking and wanting Christ.
By the way, the passage came from the book: A Spiritual Field Guide: Meditations for the Outdoors, by Bernard Brady and Mark Neuzil.
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There is a verse posted on my daughter’s wall in the kitchen: “Joy comes in the morning.” It is written in the midst of a coffee cup. I like that for several reasons. First of all, whoever gets up first makes the coffee and that is usually me. Oh, joy in the morning! Coffee! (but that could be any time of the day.) Second, it in the kitchen where all the good smells and flavors come from. Bacon frying, eggs or pancakes or french toast, adding to the aroma of the morning coffee–oh what joy. Third, the morning is the beginning of a new day. Remember, each day is from the Lord, it is up to us to make it joyful. Ahhh, have a good day my friend, drink a cup (or 5) of coffee, rejoice in this day for it is the Lord who has given it to you.

KAPOW! The thunder rolled rattling the windows, shuttering the shutters, shaking the shingles, and making the house quake. After I was wakened the lightning danced for the next thirty minutes like sheets hanging on the line. I like to sleep during a storm, but it was a shock with that boom waking me from a sound sleep. After realizing what it was I laid my head back on the pillow and this old song came to my mind. It was like the voice of Jesus saying to rest, go back to sleep, that He was in control.
If you have read my writings for long you will remember I have used this hymn a couple of times. However, since it came to my mind, perhaps someone out there needs to see the words and be comforted by them. One of my favorites, and the composer is unknown.

“I’ve seen the lightning flashing, And heard the thunder roll;
I’ve felt sin’s breakers dashing, Trying to conquer my soul;
I’ve heard the voice of my Savior, Telling me still to fight on;
He promised never to leave me, Never to leave me alone.”

Harvey hit us this past year. The winds howled, and the rains beat down. When a person stops to think of a storm and then the analogy of temptation, they are very similar. Temptation beats down upon us, just like the winds and rains of a fierce storm. Anxiety may come, but we should not fear, for the Lord our peace is with us no matter how severe the storm, no matter how severe the temptation.

“The world’s fierce winds are blowing Temptations sharp and keen;
I feel a peace in knowing My Savior stands between;
He stands to shield me from danger, When earthly friends are gone;
He promised never to leave me, Never to leave me alone.”

It was 1964, a scrimmage game and I was on the mound. I was in the process of taking my windup and bringing my arm forward to release the pitch when KAPOW! Lightning struck and knocked everyone down. We never did figure out whether the lightning bolt hit the lights or the backstop, but we were all tingling from it. After picking myself off the ground, I found that the ball was still in my hand; I didn’t release it. For many years afterward I was quite concerned when one of those electric storms came; and living in Colorado, they were quite often. It wasn’t until I was in college that the Lord came me victory and assurance over the storm.
Affliction, disease, sorrow, suffering, are like the bolt of lightning that strikes out of nowhere and brings us into a world of care and woe. Or it may be as we walk the path of life the storm hits and we stumble off the well-trodden path and get caught up in the briars and brambles on the edge of the road. The rains assail and we are entangled, frustrated, and ready to give up. Then the Savior comes, cuts away the briars that hold fast to us and reminds us that He is always there to guide, to give rest and comfort.

“When in affliction’s valley I’m treading the road of care;
My Savior helps me to carry My cross when heavy to bear;
My feet, entangled with briars Ready to cast me down,
My Savior whispers His promise, ‘I never will leave thee alone.'”

Jesus, in His time of woe and suffering, was left alone. His friends ran away, and maybe worse of all, His Father turned away from Him. It was sin. On that dreadful day of storm that none of us will never have to face, He hung in our place. His precious blood purchased our salvation. He left to go back to the Father and sent the blessed Holy Spirit to be with us until that day that we walk with Him in glory.

“He died for me on the mountain, For me they pierced His side;
For me He opened the fountain, The crimson, cleansing tide;
For me He’s waiting in glory, Seated upon His throne;
He promised never to leave me, Never to leave me alone.

No, never alone! No, never alone!
He promised never to leave me, Never to leave me alone;
No, never alone! No, never alone!
He promised never to leave me, Never to leave me alone!”

The storm might last for several days. He leaned back and stretched his legs under the table. The coffee was strong, black, and hot.”
–Louis L’Amour (The Riders of High Rock)

“I worked for you through the scorching heat of the day and through cold and sleepless nights.”
–Genesis 31:40 (NLT)
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“Why do you run and hide from life, to try it just ain’t smart
Why can’t I free your doubtful mind and melt your cold, cold heart.”
–Hank Williams

Brrr, it was cold outside last week. Not only that, it was cold inside as well. One of the natural gas stations here in Cleveland had a malfunction last week when it was 17 degrees. Yep, you guessed it, no gas–no heat, no stove, no fireplace. On top of that the water in the pipes froze and two of the pipes burst. Yep, it was downright cold. Now, I’m not making excuses, but I fully planned on sending out one more Echo last week before we headed for Lake Conroe, but it was cold.
It reminded me of a few folk that ventured through my life from time-to-time. Maybe you’ve come across folk like that; those with a cold heart. Those who dredge through life, whining, complaining and thoroughly disgusted with people and life in general. At Christmastime we refer to them as a “Scrooge”, but they can be seen in other seasons of life as well. Some folk just seem to have that “bah-humbug” attitude.
These folk need something cheery; something to warm their cold, cold hearts. They need a touch from the fire of the Holy Spirit to touch their lives. I just happened to read the following in my devotions yesterday morning and thought I’d pass it along. It’s from A Charles Dickens’ Devotional by Jean Fischer; this section was simply titled “Fire.”

“The man looked at Nell again, and gently touched her garments, from which the rain was running off in little streams. ‘I can give you warmth,’ he said, after a pause; ‘nothing else. Such lodging as I have, is in that house,’ pointing toward the doorway from which he had emerged, ‘but she is safer and better there than here. The fire is in a rough place, but you can pass the night beside it safely, if you’ll trust yourselves to me… See yonder there–that’s my friend.’
‘The fire?’ said the child.
‘It has been alive as long as I have,’ the man made answer. ‘We talk and think together all night long.’
The child glanced quickly at him in her surprise, but he had turned his eyes in their former direction, and was musing as before.
‘It’s like a book to me,’ he said…’and many an old story it tells me. It’s music, for I should know its voice among a thousand, and there are other voices in its roar. It has its pictures too. You don’t know how many strange faces and different scenes I trace in the red-hot coals. It’s my memory, that fire, and shows me all my life.’
The child, bending down to listen to his words, could not help remarking with what brightened eyes he continued to speak and muse.
‘Yes,’ he said, with a faint smile, ‘it was the same when I was quite a baby, and crawled about it, till I fell asleep.'”
–The Old Curiosity Shop

On a cold, wintry day when the temperature drops to below the chill line, a nice warm fire is a comforting sight. I can remember many a time coming in from a cold day at work when the warmth of a fire woke up the bones that were chilled.
It is important for us to understand that our God is a consuming fire (Heb 12:29). One of the most common symbols of God and the Holy Spirit is that of fire. The altar is also an important symbol and on an altar is placed the sacrifice to be consumed by fire. We are to have our hearts consumed by the Holy Spirit–dead to self, alive to God.
“God’s wrath and scorch and burn, if He so desires, but His love and mercy also provide us with comfort and warmth” (Jean Fischer) Let not the fire of God be a stranger to you. Let Him thaw out that cold, cold heart and free your doubtful mind.

Hard to believe that here in South Texas we are experiencing our second snow of the winter. Times and seasons seem to be changing. Now, I no longer care for the cold weather, but there are really few things more beautiful than a field of fresh fallen snow, one that is undisturbed, pristine in its beauty. No matter what the earth looked like underneath, it is now white. It could have been a pasture, or a field of dirt, but now all that is seen is the clean, whiteness of snow.

“Lord Jesus, I long to be perfectly whole;
I want Thee forever to live in my soul;
Break down every idol, cast out every foe—
Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.”
–James L. Nicholson

The idols may be there; the foe may attack and try and thwart our lives. But if we let the Lord perfect us we shall be like that pristine snow that has fallen. I’ve always thought it amazing that the red blood of Jesus washes whiter than the snow. It brings the holiness of God into our lives to drive out all temptation and evil. It cleanses the sin that darkens our heart and soul.

“Lord Jesus, let nothing unholy remain,
Apply Thine own blood and extract every stain;
To get this blest cleansing, I all things forego—
Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.”

Coming from Colorado, I grew up with snow. The winter months were sure to have snow; actually anytime from September through April there could be a snowstorm. Funny thing, I don’t remember having “snow days” back then, and we sure had some doozy storms. My hometown of Boulder is very well known for its wind; add that to snow and there is a blizzard. Snow can drift because of the wind and pile up. Maybe that’s what needs to happen with some of the darkened souls out there. They need a good pile of “snow” to land on that darkness.

“Lord Jesus, look down from Thy throne in the skies,
And help me to make a complete sacrifice;
I give up myself, and whatever I know—
Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Lord Jesus, for this I most humbly entreat,
I wait, blessed Lord, at Thy crucified feet,
By faith for my cleansing, I see thy blood flow—
Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.”

I can remember playing outside until my hands would ache. It’s a wonder that I never had frostbite. The ears were kept warm with a sock-hat, but in a snowball fight, or playing “king of the mountain,” or sledding, the gloves could get wet. When that happened the fingers would start to go. Of course, my worst enemy, even as a kid was cold toes. When the toes hurt, it was time to come in from the snow, no matter how much fun we were having.
Then there was the job of shoveling the snow off the walks. That quickly became my job. Most of the time, if you stayed at it and didn’t let it accumulate it wasn’t so bad. I’ve heard of many, over the years, who have had heart attacks while shoveling snow. One thing a person doesn’t have to fear when being washed whiter than snow is cold ears, fingers, or feet. They won’t have a heart attack, nor even a cold heart, because the only affects will be a new heart that is now whiter than snow.

“Lord Jesus, Thou seest I patiently wait;
Come now and within me a new heart create;
To those who have sought Thee Thou never said’st “No”—
Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

The blessing by faith, I receive from above;
Oh, glory! my soul is made perfect in love;
My prayer has prevailed, and this moment I know,
The blood is applied, I am whiter than snow.”

Notice that the beginning and ending of each verse are pretty much the same. Nothing can help us much until we accept the fact that Jesus is Lord. When He become “Lord” of our life then the dark stain is removed. When He washes us with His precious blood we are made whiter than the snow. Now, ponder that for a minute. I have never seen snow, when it falls, in a darkened stage. After sitting on the ground with all the elements and when it begins to melt then it may get dirty and sooty. But that fresh fallen snow, laying in a field, is white. Tell me then, what can be whiter than the snow? The life and heart that has been cleansed by the Lord Jesus.

“Whiter than snow, yes, whiter than snow,
Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.”

Can you see it? Can you feel it? That freshness, that beauty, that clean, wonderful air that is present when the snow falls. Can you see it? Can you feel it? That freshness, that clean-feeling of a heart that has now been made whiter than the snow.