Echoes from the Campfire

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

I say praise God when the sun shines, and bear up as best you can when it rains.”

                     –John Deacon  (The Provider 2)

       “But if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.”
                    –1 John 1:7 (NASB)
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     Resolutions!  Absolutely, they should be made, not flippantly, but seriously.  They are not to be made with the attitude, “resolutions are made to be broken.”  No, my friend, God looks at them very seriously.  However, I’m not going to start off the year writing about resolutions, that is between you and the Lord.
     I want you to focus, this first day of 2025, on the light that God sends into our lives and its purpose.  The light that shines on our path as we journey through life and enter into this new year.  That light is always there.

          “Walking in sunlight, all of my journey;
          Over the mountains, thro’ the deep vale;
          Jesus has said, ‘I’ll never for sake thee,’
          Promise divine that never can fail.”

     What great words!  This joyful hymn was written in 1899 by Henry J. Zelley.  All of our journey, no matter the terrain, whether mountains or valley, His promises will never fail–they are sure.  His presence never fades away for He is always with us, never straying away or leaving us.

          “Shadows around me, shadows above me,
          Never conceal my Savior and Guide;
          He is the light, in Him is no darkness;
          Ever I’m walking close to His side.”

     When we walk through the shadows, we may see strange, vicious things.  Some are real, but many are the figment of our imaginations.  Even when we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, His light is ever shining on the trail–lighting the way, giving security, hope, and assurance.  The Lord may not be seen because of the shadows, but rest assured we know that He is there.  His Word declares that in Him there is no darkness and since He is in us we have light to see us on our way.

          “In the bright sunlight, ever rejoicing,
          Pressing my way to mansions above;
          Singing His praises gladly I’m walking,
          Walking in sunlight, sunlight of love.

                 Heavenly sunlight, heavenly sunlight,
                 Flooding my soul with glory divine;
                 Hallelujah, I am rejoicing,
                 Singing His praises, Jesus is mine.”

     Dare to sing His praise in joyful times, but also in times of sadness and sorrow.  When the world comes at us with its terror and fury we can rejoice in the sunlight of His love.  When there are no obstacles along the way, the path is clear, the storm clouds are gone, we can and must rejoice.  
     Is His light flooding your “soul with glory divine”?  Enter and continue through this year with your heart full of the light of Jesus.  Know that He is guiding, then rejoice–“hallelujah, I am rejoicing, singing His praises.  Jesus is mine.”  What a way to start the New Year!

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

How many campfires have you built? Enough that you can have a good fire going in just a couple of minutes.”
                    –Robert Peecher  (Through a Lan Accurst)

       “Blessed [joyful, nourished by God’s goodness] are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness [those who actively seek right standing with God], for they will be [completely] satisfied.”

                    –Matthew 5:6 (Amplified)
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     This will be the last “Echo” of 2024.  Another year has gone by and as you look back was it a year of milestones, of reaching onward and upward, or one filled with regrets?  A year presents all types of problems and scenarios, and how we react to them often determines how they affect us in the future.  Grasp on to the nuggets that were found in 2024, let go of the woes, especially if they do not contain a lesson.
     How much of the year do you actually remember?  Was it all routine?  I dare say that to most of us, the daily events are like the wisp-o’-smoke that rises from the campfire.  It may come in your direction, burn your eyes and even cause you to cough, but that is soon over as it dissipates and floats away.  Much of life is that way; we don’t really take time to inventory what happens, to draw upon the day and reflect on the blessings of the Lord.
     Most likely this little note will be like that wisp-o’-smoke, a vapor that floats away.  Even as James writes that our life is like a wisp-o’-smoke (mist) “that appears for a little while and then vanishes,” (4:14, NIV) we should strive to make it meaningful.  As the smoke rises and is soon gone; we are to make sure our life is not just a puff of smoke, but a flame–a campfire–that warms the hearts of others, that shines and brings light in the darkness, that will echo throughout the year and years to come.
     As the year draws to an end stir up the coals, throw another log on the fire, rekindle the gifts and fruit of the Spirit, and continue to grow in grace.  Seek to know your Redeemer; that is a choice.  “Those who apply Jesus’ words to their lives are given more spiritual truth, making their lives richer.  Those who do nothing with His words, lose what little spiritual understanding they already possess.” (David Jeremiah)
     Regrets in 2024?  I’m sure there are some.  If so, learn from them, then press forward.  From my notes I took last January 1, are the words of Ray Stedman, “If you are content with what you are today, then you will never be any better than you are now; you may become worse.”  And from that same day I wrote, “So teach us to number our days, that we may present to You a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 90:12, NASB).  We have 365 days, the Lord willing, and we should be using them for His glory and for the Kingdom of God.
     So as we close 2024, let us seek to draw closer to the Lord, to know Him better, and to obey His Word.  Be ready–here comes 2025!

 

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

The manger’s message is one of liberating mercy. God has wondrously taken the initiative and come to rescue us through Jesus.”
                    –Alistair Begg

       “Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil.”
                    –Hebrews 2:14(NKJV)
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The flickering flames from the year 2024, are fast going out.  Soon 2024 will be but an “echo” to remember.  In the next couple of days, ponder the coming of the Lord Jesus.  He came as a babe to Bethlehem.  The shepherds heard the chorus of angels, the magi saw the star.  The next time He comes there will be signs in the heavens, but there will not be a heavenly choir, but the sounding of the trumpet — be ready!

     “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God.  All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.  In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.  And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.”
                    –John 1:1-5 (NKJV)

     “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!”
                    –2 Corinthians 9:15 (NKJV)

     “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.  For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”
                    –John 3:16-17 (NKJV)

     “But made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.  And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.”
                    –Philippians 2:7-8 (NKJV)

 When I think of Christ, leaving heaven to come to earth — I am amazed.  When I think of Him putting aside His glory — I am in marvel.  When I think of Jesus coming to die for me — I am humbled.  Oh what a Savior we have!  Oh what an opportunity that is ours!  Make Him real in your hearts and minds this Christmas.

       “And if that isn’t love
       The ocean is dry
       There’s no stars in the sky
       And the little sparrows can’t fly.
       If that isn’t love
       Then heaven’s a myth,
       There’s no feeling like this
       If that isn’t love.”
               –Dottie Rambo

This will be the last “Echo” until after Christmas.  I am not sure right now when I will write again, hmm, maybe not even until 2025.  Until then I will tell you that my new book–Lawman–is available for purchase at Amazon.  
From my home to yours — have a very MERRY CHRISTMAS!

 

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

You can never truly enjoy Christmas until you can look up into the Father’s face and tell Him you have received His Christmas gift.”
                    –John R. Rice

       “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

                    –Romans 6:23  (NKJV)
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               “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!”  –2 Corinthians 9:15 (NKJV)

How often do we put into words the gift of God of His Son, Jesus?  At Christmas we have a wonderful opportunity to begin to express our thanksgiving.  We can’t fully describe His Gift, and the ESV translates it, “inexpressible”.  It is too marvelous for our comprehension; it is too magnificent for our soul to express our feelings.  We can quote the verse, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16, NKJV).  Look closely and ponder.  Let your heart’s-mind dwell on the giving of the Father; a heavenly Father who did not spare His only Son for the redemption of mankind.
     We give gifts.  We like to give and we like to get, don’t get too pious.  However, most of the gifts we give are material, and really there’s nothing wrong with that as long and it is not manipulative and the motive is right.  The gifts we give tarnish, or tear apart, or break, and even traditions fade away, but the Gift of the Father is eternal.  God, in His goodness and mercy, reached down to give mankind an eternal, personal gift.  A special gift for everyone who has ever taken a breath on this earth.  It is not a gift that can be purchased; it is not a gift that can be won as a door prize.  It is priceless and eternal and it has purchased your eternal soul if you but reach out and take it.
     Look at the last two words:  “indescribable gift.”  How can the birth of Jesus be described?  Put all the prophecies together, then add the situation and circumstances of the time of His birth and describe how it could happen.  It cannot!  Indescribable means that it cannot be fully expounded upon; that is cannot be compared to anything; that it cannot be completely explained, and there is no ending to this Gift. (Whitmire)

               “The half cannot be fancied, this side the golden shore;
               O there He’ll be still sweeter than He ever was before.”
                         –W.C. Martin

We cannot begin to even know even the half of this Gift; we cannot come to know even half of the Father’s love that He has for us.  We accept His grace by faith.
     You want to have a wonderful Christmas?  Then receive the wonderful Gift of the heavenly Father.  If you already have then begin to praise Him for that Gift.  When you receive Jesus, this Gift, you are actually praising God by receiving.  It is not until we receive that we can begin, and I say only begin to understand God’s Gift.  We must love Christ before we can begin to enjoy Christ.  “Christ gives us the right perspective, the right estimate, the right measure of a human being.” (George W. Truett)
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(Note:  I have been blessed with a wonderful Sunday School teacher–Troy Whitmire.  I want to give him credit for stirring the thinking pot of my mind.  Several ideas came from his lesson last Sunday.)