August 2014 Articles

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Just Rambling, August 2014

Just Rambling:
What a summer we have had. Ample rainfall which means ample hay. My son was home from New Orleans last week and as we were building fence I caught myself complaining about all the hay I had to cut. How could I complain? After three consecutive years of drought I must have had one of those slothful moments. As I get older I seem to have them more often. As the old saying goes—”I must be getting sorry in my old age.” After I made the statement I told Cody I should be ashamed of myself—the Lord has blessed us with a good year and here I am complaining instead of giving thanks. Do you ever find yourself complaining when you should be giving thanks? Just yesterday morning as we were getting ready for church, my wife, Donnette, looked at me and said, “You know we have a good life.” I agreed but as I agreed I thought to myself, I really don’t acknowledge and thank the Lord as much as I should. Do you? While writing this I think about the Christians in North Iraq and other places throughout the world that are having their lives upturned because of their Christian faith. They are facing persecution and even death in many instances if they don’t denounce their faith. Would we denounce our Christian beliefs to save our lives—I pray that my Christian faith is strong enough to remain steadfast with the Lord regardless what I may face. Jesus says in Matthew 28:10 “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” We enjoy religious freedom in America today but we don’t know what the future may hold. Let us pray for continued freedoms in this country and for the Christians throughout this world who are facing persecution. You can see why I call this column “Just Rambling” because that is what I have done. I am going to end with a scripture that admonishes me for complaining. Philippians 2:14 tells us, “Do all things without complaining and disputing.”
I recently attend a memorial service for Mrs. Lurah Nale. I had done business with she and her husband for many years when I worked for Farm Credit. The following writing was given out at her memorial service. I thought it was so beautiful that I wanted to pass it on. 1 Corinthians 2:9 tells us “ Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man, The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”
“If You Could See Where I Have Gone”

If you could see where I have gone
The beauty of this place
And how it feels to know you’re home
To see the Savior’s face.
To wake in peace and know no fear,
Just joy beyond compare,
While still on earth you miss me yet,
You wouldn’t want me there,
If you could see where I have gone.

If you could see where I have gone,
Could stay awhile with me
Could share the things that God has made
To grace eternity.
But no, you couldn’t ever leave,
Once heaven’s joy you’d known,
You couldn’t bear to walk earth’s paths
Once heaven was your home
If you could see where I have gone.

If you could see where I have gone,
You’d know we’ll meet some day,
And though I’m parted from you now,
That I am just away
So thank you, dear ones, for loving me,
And living for the Lord
For encouraging me to love Him,
Secure in every way,
I’m waiting here at heaven’s door,
To greet you some sweet day.

-Author Unknown