Doses of Faith

Tommy was on the wild side.  He would try anything and lived on the edge.  He liked things and what money allowed him to have.  He had long hair and an earring.  He looked like a rock star or a drug salesman.  Then, he noticed this group of men who always had fun at a party and still happy the next morning.  So, he started asking questions about those Christians who were always happy and having fun. One of those men told him about Jesus and invited him to come join him at church.  Tommy accepted the invitation, and he came to know the same God they worshipped.  No longer did he fill his life with drugs and alcohol. because he was drunk on knowing more about this awesome God who changed his heart.  He had his Bible with him all the time.  He studied and memorized scripture.  He was in church with a congregation who loved him and encouraged him.  Yes, with the long hair and earring, Tommy was changed inside and everything in his ...

      Survivors of a hurricane, a tornado, or any disaster, never forget the trauma.  I'll never forget Hurricane Hugo.  We all went to my parents' house, because it was in a low area and built well.  It was a house full.  We knew it was coming.  We waited for the storm to come.  The storm came with the wind pounding all around and the cracking noise of trees as they fell to the ground.  Then, the calm of the eye of the storm came.  We walked outside.  It was dark, but we had our battery operated lights.  Then, the tail of the storm came.  The wind seemed to blow harder.  My son was sleepy, so we went into the bedroom at the end of the long hall.  We slept.  Everyone else remained awake fretting as the wind bared down on all the surroundings.  While nine people sat in the hall in fear, I slept.  While all of my father's shop and sheds blew away, I slept.  While the old giant pecan tree ca...

      The spoiled prince.  He had everything prepared for him before the crown was placed on his head.  His father had fought the battles to bring peace to the kingdom.  King David had dreams of building a beautiful temple, so he drew out the plans and instructions, and he stored the materials needed to build the house of worship.  Prince Solomon had everything he needed to establish a great kingdom, because his father fought the battles and worked to establish a kingdom for God's chosen people.  The young prince only had to make wise choices.      Soon after being crowned, young King Solomon asked for wisdom.  It is written in I Kings 3:3, "Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the statutes of David his father."  He had gone to Gibeon to make sacrifices to God.  After the sacrifices, he went to rest.  As he slept, he had a dream.  In his dream, God said to him, "Ask what I shall give to you." (5)  Solomon...

 My mother was beautiful.  So, I thought.  I dreamed of growing up to look just like her.  She was tall and perfect.  At least in my eyes, she was perfect. I noticed how men turned to look at her when we walked pass them on the street.  Also, my mother had an inner beauty.  It was how she loved and cared for others. She always had enough at meal time for anyone dropping in unexpected.  She made dresses for many girls whose parents could not afford to buy them a pretty dress.  Even as her physical beauty faded due to scleroderma, her inner beauty was still there caring for everyone. I believe my Daddy saw that inner beauty in her the first time he looked into her eyes.  It was a double date.  It was a blind date and Mama was not his date.  Mama told us the story how they met many times.  She worked at the Dime Store in Timmonsville.  Her friend met her after work.  They walked across the railroad tracks to the oth...

 As I was thinking about November birthdays this morning, I was remembering those who are no longer with us.  My parents were a sweet pair.  My last memories of them are from 1986.   It was a cold winter, and my father was working in Rock Hill to earn money to make ends meet.  He was a farmer and close to bankrupt in his eyes.  Many farmers were losing their farms due to the droughts of 1980 and 1983.   However, he wasn't like other farmers.  He didn't buy a new truck every year, and he put aside a percentage of his profits to purchase seeds and supplies for the next year.  He did not borrow money for living expenses.  His burden was my mother's high medical bills.  So, in 1986, he worked during the winter months with a construction company. He left early on Monday mornings with a bag of groceries and a cake my mother baked.  After a day of work and a shower, he always found special love notes in his pockets from my m...

  Every way of a man is right in his own eyes; but the Lord searches the heart.   (Proverbs 21:2 NKJ)        Isaac, an accountant, could not make ends meet.   He wasn’t making enough money to cover his living expenses.   He saw the vast riches of his employer and felt like he was not being paid enough.   Since his employer trusted him with his finances, he decided it was time to make up for his lost wages.   His reasoning was that since he was earning the money, it was acceptable to change the books.      He didn’t consider it wrong to show that the Gas Company paid $500.00 instead of the $1000.00.   Instead of recording the $100.00 the Flour Company paid, he recorded $80.00.   Isaac considered his actions acceptable.   He considered himself a just man because he was taking what he felt belonged to him.   In addition, he liked having the big house and nicer things.    ...

  “Let the beauty of the Lord of our God be upon us, let him establish the work of our hands; yes, establish the work of our hands.” Psalms 90:17      This summer I have enjoyed the many hummingbirds attracted to my flower garden.   I haven’t been able to count how many.   They are in my front yard and back yard.   Without planting the seeds, watering the plants, and nourishing the blossoms, the yard would have been void of colorful blossoms for the hummingbirds to feed themselves.        This morning during my morning prayer, I looked up to see a hummingbird at my window over the flower box.   I thought about the work it took to establish a garden for the hummingbirds.   It reminded me of Psalms 90.   We have work to do, and I want God to be my guide and establish the work of my hands.  

                Be still and know that I am God.      I will be exalted among the nations,      I will be exalted in the earth!   Psalm 46:10           The simple sound of "Be Still" seems so impossible in this world today.  Is there any place where we can be still?  The busy parents with the bustle of keeping up with their children dream of a quiet and still moment.  The student rushing to classes, studying, and trying to have a social life wonder is there a place to be still.  Even, for those who are alone, their minds may not give opportunity for a dedicated silent moment.              The silence gives us rest which gives the body, soul, and mind time to rejuvenate and renew.  You need to stop at some point to examine your purpose.  You need to find that place where you can be still.  We all don't have a l...

      During the last four presidential elections, I was dismayed with what people will believe.  They don't like the candidate, so they make the decision to believe every lie and spread it on social media.  After the first go round, I stopped posting anything.  Someone told me concerning a false post, "She is a good Christian and would not post anything that isn't true."  Well, she did.  I chose not to argue, but I do wonder what will happen next and consider the consequences many will suffer.       While reading Proverbs 14, I see the scorner, the prudent, fools, the simple, and understanding.  After reading through, verse 12 stands out: ' There is a way which seems right to man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.'  The scorner, the prudent, the fool, and the simple consider their way to be the right way.  Is it?        Is it our responsibility to dwell on anything more than we...

      What comes out of the mouth matters.  Words can hurt or give joy.  Words can destroy or give new life.  Words matter.  This may be reason we see so much in Proverbs covering the sins of the words coming out of our mouths.  Nearly every chapter in Proverbs has parables about what words can do.   Proverbs 12:17-23 He who speaks truth shows righteousness : but a false witness deceit . There is those speaking like the piercings of a sword; but the tongue of the wise is health. The lip of truth shall be established forever ; but a lying tongue is but for a moment. Deceit is in the heart of them that imagine evil : but to the counsellors of peace is joy. There shall no evil happen to the just: but the wicked shall be filled with mischief. Lying lips are abomination to the Lord : but they that deal truly are his delight . A prudent man conceals knowledge: but the heart of fools proclaims foolishness.      What we say matters....

The fruit of the righteous Is a tree of life; He who wins souls Is Wise.                                                  Proverbs 11:30        Again, as yesterday, the Proverbs continue to remind us to win souls.  Today, let's look at our hearts and the reason we choose to win souls.  I hope you want to win souls because your heart holds the love and compassion Jesus had for the multitudes in Matthew 9:36.  I hope your heart is full of God's love and understanding, so you will want to help others and reach the lost.  Note in John 3:16, John writes that God loves you so much that he sent his only son as the sacrifice for your sins.  Jesus came to demonstrate the life God wants from us and because he loves y...

        G rowing up on a farm, I learned the importance of gathering the crops before the produce faded away.  There was no waiting until tomorrow.  We were in the fields just as the sun was rising over the great pine trees to beat the heat of the day.  We worked all day.  My father grew tobacco.  This was in the 50's and 60's when tobacco was 'the money crop' of the south.  Tobacco had to be picked when ripe and not too ripe.  The large leaves could not be too green and not yellow at all.  There was a timing for each process of preparing the crop for the market.        Just the same with the cucumbers my father planted in a field near our house.  The cucumbers were our clothes money.  There was a crop of cucumbers before harvesting tobacco and another after the tobacco was harvested.  We learned which stage of the cucumber's growth made the most money and how to grade the cucumbers for t...

  You are invited to come Dine  The table is prepared If you desire understanding, Wisdom calls. You set the time & For your benefit RSVP       The invitations come, we mark the date, and RSVP is required.  As the time draws near, we make preparations to go and enjoy the dinner party or wedding.  I love weddings.  I just received a wedding invitation and will not forget to RSVP and keep the date clear for this special wedding.  I was reminded of the wedding as I read Proverbs 9 this morning.              God sends you the invitation and has everything prepared for you.  There is one stipulation; you must want understanding.  The mocker and evil one isn't invited, because they don't want wisdom and understanding.  But, God keeps the door open in case they have a change of heart and desire to become wise men.  You see, only the wise are invited because they love corr...

When the storms of anxiety, fear, or loneliness come, it is easy to fall into despair.  Tears flow as we consider all that we think needs to get done.  Our hearts race while the cloud of pain hang over us.  Recently, a sweet lady posted on Face Book about her anxieties.  She sees all that she thinks have to be done, and the anxiety attack over takes her emotions.  Then, there is the caretaker juggling the tasks of being a mother to her parents, working a part time job, and rushing children to school, music lessons, and ball practice.  Wait!  She has a Sunday School lesson to prepare each week and the monthly Bible study with the ladies.  When will she find peace in this storm of life? Has the storms overtaken you?   I can throw some Bible verses at you, but I'm sure you have read them all.  The truth is that I had to learn to juggle priorities and realize somethings can wait until tomorrow.  It isn't easy.  In addition, I ...

M orning wakes me and I pray before I rise from my bed.  Prayers for my loved ones and prayers for those who chose not to believe.  Believing and receiving God is important to our faith.  A faith that knows that God is always there.  Life isn't perfect, and we should not expect perfection in life.  As we live in this broken world full of the rages of evil and death, we need our faith to make it through the day.  Our faith should lead us to love as Jesus loved, even our enemies and those who seek to harm us.  I was reminded of this again as I watched "Free Burma Rangers."  With never ending civil wars, Christians lose everything, yet they show love to their enemies.  In all the suffering, they keep their faith.  So, as I read Proverbs 2, I think of King David and Psalms 51.        David had sinned with his lust for a married woman.  He not only lust for her, but he arranged the death of her husband for his be...

     Wisdom is calling!  God is calling!  He promises, "I will pour out my spirit into you. and I will make known my words to you."  (Pro. 1:23)        Then, what happens when we refuse the wisdom of God?  He calls, yet you refuse.  He reaches out, yet he is refused.  God is love and wants you to believe and seek his wisdom.      Atheist have called me and asked for prayer.  Yes.  It does seem odd, but it has happened.  At funerals or in conversation,  some have let me know that they don't believe in any god.  Then, a life crisis came, and they called me.  They called, because I am a believer.  Does this mean they believe in God?  I wonder.      Then, look at us in church.  Do we wait until a crisis happens to call on God?  Do we live like we have God's wisdom?   I wonder, as I read, "Then shall they call upon me, but I will not ...