One day Emory came through the back door grinning. "You know, it cost me about thirty-five dollars to put the floors on both of our new porches, and I've walked across them hundreds of times. Those "sawmill reject" boards have gotten me to where I was going just as well as if I had spent hundreds of dollars for gold plated ones. Either way, I'd still be the same person inside.
I had to laugh because what he said expressed perfectly our whole perception of life, but it took us years to come to this understanding. We have learned to K.I.S.S.--keep it super simple--because that is what Jesus taught. Matthew 6:19: Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there WILL your heart be also. Luke 12:15: Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.
Like most folks we were caught up in the hassle of getting together as much of this world's goods as possible, and we were miserable. We were never quite satisfied, we worried about the safety of our possessions, and we were so married to our stuff that we had little time for anything else. Then God spoke to us loud and clear that we were hiding among our stuff and neglecting the more important things. Things like more money to invest in the kingdom, more time to pray and read His word, more freedom to spend time with family and friends and time to sow into the lives of those who crossed our paths.
Now we live in a small house filled with used, inexpensive or home made furniture, drive a quality vehicle, eat a simple diet and have a very small wardrobe. When we shop we ask ourselves these questions: Is it necessary or frivolous? Is it quality as opposed to luxury? Is it low maintenance and relatively worry free? If we can answer yes to all three questions, we buy.
So, dear friends, you know your family's needs best, but if you are feeling stressed out because your life is consumed with gathering more stuff, maintaining what you have, or worrying about protecting it, perhaps you might learn to K.I.S.S. You'll never be sorry if you do.
---Rebecca Somoskey
|
|
|
Proverbs 18:24 A man who has friends must himself be friendly, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. (NKJV)
We live in the Virginia coal fields. Some folks may consider that with contempt, but most anyone who has worked in the mines for a few years will gladly declare that most coalminers are some of the hardest working, greatest risk-taking, caring folks that ever lived.
Gene Turpin was born in Coalwood, West Virginia, and suffered many of the limitations of the African-American race. But after he served in the Army for three years he returned to Coalwood, and went into the mines.
Having never been underground, he was terrified at first, but learned to love it in spite of the bumps. A bumping section is where the mountain becomes so heavy on the support pillars that they literally explode, and shoot coal out from the ribs in every direction. Any miners who are close enough are covered up.
Gene had worked in the mines about eighteen months-- and was running a shuttle car-- when the section he was on “bumped” and the falling coal threw him against the steering wheel. It broke several ribs and punctured his lungs.
His family was called because he was at deaths door, but he survived. Later he caught pneumonia. During his worst times someone had to stay with him day and night, and that’s when his friend, Wesley Bailey, another coalminer, stepped in to relieve the family by sitting with him all night, then took a short nap and worked his full day’s shift. He continued this routine for a good while.
Gene said that he was so afraid he was going to die, that he wouldn’t shut his eyes. He thought if he did he wouldn’t wake up. He told Wesley, “If I die, I will die with my eyes open.” But Wesley would always reassure him by saying in a calm voice, “Get some sleep, Gene.”
Seven months later Gene returned to the work he loved, and worked many more years. But he never forgot his friend, Wesley Bailey.
Dear Readers, how many of us can claim a friend like Wesley Bailey? How many of us can be a friend like Wesley? After reading Gene’s story, I am determined to be a better friend. Proverbs 17:17 A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. (NKJV) . I’m here to tell you that the GREATEST FRIEND OF ALL IS JESUS! Have you accepted His offer of friendship? Will you be a friend to Him? No longer do I call you servants—but I call you friends. John 15:15 (NKJV) –Rebecca Somoskey
|
Time to Exercise
Have you done your exercise today? No, I'm not talking about walking, stretching, jogging, or any of the routines we do to keep ourselves physically fit. These are good and necessary if we are to keep the Temple of the Holy Spirit in good repair. See 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 & 6:19&20. I'm talking about our spiritual exercises. In the past I have become negligent in this area, and become weak and sickly and of little value as a Kingdom builder. If you are in this predicament, then read on.
What do I mean by spiritual exercises? Spiritual exercises are things we should practice every day to keep ourselves spiritually and emotionally fit. If we fail to feed our spirits and souls they will die. If you have not done them today, then join me now.
First, lets warm up with some Bible Reading. Read at least a chapter a day. Begin with the Gospels. Read them through several times. Get to know Jesus intimately. Let Him speak to you. Read a chapter a day from Proverbs or Ecclesiastes. After that read the rest of the New Testament, and then the Old Testament, a chapter a day. The more you read the Bible the more you'll love it. Make a habit of memorizing scripture.
Next lets do some power walking through prayer. Let your prayers walk you through Jerusalem (your family and community), then Judea (your state), Samaria (your neighbors) and finally to the ends of the earth.
Third, join me in some jogging of worship. Praise God in whatever way is comfortable for you, and I guarantee that it will raise you to a higher level spiritually. Psalms are good for this. Consider a walk to meditate on God's creation, sings songs, surrender your all to God. Both attending church on Sunday and paying your tithes are ways of worshiping.
Fourth: It's time to lift those weights by denying ourselves and serving whoever God sends our way. Help carry their burdens.
Finally let's cool down long enough to listen to a lost soul, and then share our testimony of what God has done for us.
1 Timothy 4:7&8 Don't waste time arguing over foolish ideas and silly myths and legends. Spend your time and energy in the exercise of keeping spiritually fit. Bodily exercise is all right, but spiritual exercise is much more important and is a tonic for all you do. So exercise yourself spiritually and practice being a better Christian, because that will help you not only in this life, but in the next one too. (TLB) --Rebecca Somoskey
|
God’s Housekeepers
It's unfair!! MR. BUZZARD USUALLY GETS A BUM RAP!! Buzzy(as I like to refer to him), and his great big family live in the high trees behind our daughter's house on Virginia Avenue. At first he gave me the creeps until one day I was reminded of why God created him. Buzzy is one of God's housekeepers. He plays a major role in keeping our world clean. Any time some varmint dies, Buzzy is on the scene to clean up the mess pronto. Within a short time all the dead flesh and debris that could cause odor and breed germs disappears. Buzzy is extremely homely and can often be pesky, especially when I am in a hurry to get somewhere and have to slow down because he is having his road kill breakfast where I need to drive. He'll fly away, but will return to his job just as soon as I pass. Often Buzzy's name is used as a derogatory word to describe someone unpleasant. But with the short life span of most of the critters that roam our hills, mountains and valleys can you imagine how many die in just a day's time? Add to that the carcasses of animals who kill each other. What an incredible job Buzzy and his family do!
But unlike the homely Buzzy, there is another creature that is God's housekeeper also. He is the heavenly dove, God's Holy Spirit. His job is to clean us up, inside and out. First of all He was there assisting in the creation, and was present all through the old Testament, coming to rest upon people like Gideon, Samson and David, as well as many others, to assist them in their tasks. Since the time of Jesus' resurrection He has been busy convicting lost souls of their sins. Once we surrender to the Lord, the Holy Spirit cleans us up-removes all our dead flesh- and we come alive. Then He takes up residence in our hearts and works tirelessly to keep us clean by growing His fruit in our hearts. That in turn will keep our spirits, souls and bodies free from the dead flesh that sin brings to pollute our lives. If we reject Him, He will return again as soon as we open our hearts to Him. What a housekeeper He is!
John 16:8 And when He (The Holy Spirit) has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment. (NKJV)
1 Peter 3:18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but made alive by the Spirit. (NKJV)
|
God's Housekeepers
It's unfair!! MR. BUZZARD USUALLY GETS A BUM RAP!! Buzzy(as I like to refer to him), and his great big family live in the high trees behind our daughter's house on Virginia Avenue. At first he gave me the creeps until one day I was reminded of why God created him. Buzzy is one of God's housekeepers. He plays a major role in keeping our world clean. Any time some varmint dies, Buzzy is on the scene to clean up the mess pronto. Within a short time all the dead flesh and debris that could cause odor and breed germs disappears. Buzzy is extremely homely and can often be pesky, especially when I am in a hurry to get somewhere and have to slow down because he is having his road kill breakfast where I need to drive. He'll fly away, but will return to his job just as soon as I pass. Often Buzzy's name is used as a derogatory word to describe someone unpleasant. But with the short life span of most of the critters that roam our hills, mountains and valleys can you imagine how many die in just a day's time? Add to that the carcasses of animals who kill each other. What an incredible job Buzzy and his family do!
But unlike the homely Buzzy, there is another creature that is God's housekeeper also. He is the heavenly dove, God's Holy Spirit. His job is to clean us up, inside and out. First of all He was there assisting in the creation, and was present all through the old Testament, coming to rest upon people like Gideon, Samson and David, as well as many others, to assist them in their tasks. Since the time of Jesus' resurrection He has been busy convicting lost souls of their sins. Once we surrender to the Lord, the Holy Spirit cleans us up-removes all our dead flesh- and we come alive. Then He takes up residence in our hearts and works tirelessly to keep us clean by growing His fruit in our hearts. That in turn will keep our spirits, souls and bodies free from the dead flesh that sin brings to pollute our lives. If we reject Him, He will return again as soon as we open our hearts to Him. What a housekeeper He is!
John 16:8 And when He (The Holy Spirit) has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment. (NKJV)
1 Peter 3:18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but made alive by the Spirit. (NKJV) --Rebecca Somoskey
|
Somebody’s Watching
As a child, I used to sing an old song, There's an all seeing eye watching you. I learned that God was watching me at all times and would reward me according to my every word and deed, whether it was good or bad. That song helped to keep me on the right path.
But what about people who are watching us? From the time we crawl out of bed in the morning until we close our eyes at night, others are watching. Our family members, coworkers, every person who crosses our path each and every day are watching us. If we say we are followers of Christ, are they seeing in us the kind of words and actions that show we are what we say we are? Or are they seeing words and actions according to the world's standards?
The Apostle Paul wrote these words to the young pastor, Timothy. Be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. 1Timothy 4:12. Recently, as I pondered the meaning of each word in the verse, I thought, This could be a one-verse checklist we could use every day to keep ourselves on the right path as a testimony to all those who watch us daily. I share my thoughts with you.
What kind of example am I in word? Is my word reliable? Are my promises sure? My word, good or bad determines my integrity. What kind of example am I in conversation? Is my conversation in all my relationships always with grace, seasoned with salt (Colossians 4:6). How does my charity measure up; the unconditional love of 1Corinthians 13 that God wants me to have for all mankind? What about my spirit? Is it a good attitude or a bad attitude? Do I have faith? Does my life show that I trust the Lord completely, or am I a constant worrier? What about purity? Is my life free from unholy thoughts, words and actions? Am I striving to be Christ-like in my body, my mind, and my soul?
Dear Friends, be vigilant. Somebody is always watching.
--Rebecca Somoskey
|
|
|
