STAND STILL AND CONSIDER GOD'S WONDERS

Photo provided by Michael Cooper 

...stand still, and consider the wondrous 

works of God.  Dost thou know when 

God disposed them, and caused the light 

of his cloud to shine?  Dost thou know the 

balancings of the clouds, the wondrous 

works of him which is perfect in 

knowledge.  How thy garments are warm, 

when he quieteth the earth by the south 

wind?  Hast thou with him spread out 

the sky, which is strong, and as a molten 

looking glass?  Teach us what we shall say 

unto him; for we cannot order our speech 

by reason of darkness.

Job 37:14-19 

BE NOT IGNORANT

But, beloved, be not ignorant of this 

one thing, that one day is with the 

Lord as a thousand years, and a 

thousand years as one day.  The Lord 

is not slack concerning his promise, 

as some men count slackness; but is 

longsuffering to us-ward, not willing 

that any should perish, but that all 

should come to repentance.

II Peter 3:9-10

TEST, TRIED AND PROVEN

Photo provided by Balinda Zimmerman

O bless our God, ye people, and make 

the voice of his praise to be heard:

Which holdeth our soul in life, and 

suffereth not our feet to be moved.

For thou, O God, hast proved 

us: thou hast tried us, as silver 

is tried.

Psalm 66:8-10

HIS BANNER OVER ME IS LOVE

Photo provided by Balinda Zimmerman 

I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys. 

As the lily among thorns, so is my love among 

the daughters. As the apple tree among the trees 

of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. 

I sat down under his shadow with great 

delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste.

He brought me to the banqueting house, 

and his banner over me was love.

Solomon 2:1-4

REMEMBER THE DAYS OF THY YOUTH

Photo provided by Ramona Adams

Remember now thy Creator in the days 

of thy youth, while the evil days come 

not, nor the years draw nigh, when 

thou shalt say, I have no pleasure 

in them;

Ecclesiastes 12:1 

WE PRAISE THY GLORIOUS NAME

Photo provided by Kathy Mitchell

 Both riches and honour come of thee, 

and thou reignest over all; and 

in thine hand is power and might; 

and in thine hand it is to make 

great, and to give strength unto all.

Now therefore, our God, we 

thank thee, and praise thy 

glorious name.

I Chronicles 29:12-13

THE END OF HOPE

Photo by Torsten Dederichs on Unsplash

A devotion by Steve Long 

The end of hope: I know that sounds like a bad thing, but in reality, it will be good.

We who believe in Jesus Christ are people of hope. This is not the kind of hope that guesses or wishes but the kind of hope that knows. It is built upon faith which is built upon the promises of God. Our hope is sure and steadfast. It is real and certain.

We hope for things that we cannot see with our eyes or feel with our fingers; things like heaven, a perfect glorified body, a state of existence that is without sin, where there is no violence, no pain, no grief, no death. We hope and long to be reunited with other believers who have passed away from us and to see the face of Jesus our Savior.

For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance. (Romans 8.24)

It is possible to have peace that comes from hope because we know it will come. To borrow from the blessings of tomorrow is better than borrowing from tomorrow's troubles. That's called worry.

What happens to us when all hope is gone? Well, praise God, that is when everything we ever hoped for will be seen:

Let's imagine that we are way out on the sea on a small ship in the midst of a great storm. The wind is blowing fiercely, the cold rain is pelting down upon our skin, the waves are rising above our vessel and it is being tossed up, down and sideways. The sky is dark but for the bright lightening which loudly cracks with thunder.

We hope and pray for the dawn and for the end of the violence. We long with expectancy for peace and serenity. In hope, we trust for that state of blessedness which is yet to come.

And then it comes: a new day of calm, rest, and relief. Now the storm is over, the wind has ceased and the waves have subsided.

In life, as in our story, we live with expectancy for "that day." When "that day" comes, we no longer hope for a state of rest; we enter into it. We see it with our eyes and experience it in our bodies. This is the end of hope, not because we've given up but because hope is no longer needed. Our hope has become substance and we can take that hope, fold it up and put it away. It has been our friend but a better friend has arrived, that for which we always hoped.

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11.1)

So, let us one day be prepared to welcome the end of hope, for when all hope is gone the fulfillment and fruition of everything we hoped for will have come.

GREATNESS OF OUR GOD

Photo provided by Kassidy Mitchell

Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the

power, and the glory, and the victory, 

and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven 

and in the earth is thine; thine is the 

kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted 

as head above all.  Both riches and honour 

come of thee, and thou reignest over all; 

and in thine hand is power and might; 

and in thine hand it is to make great, 

and to give strength unto all.

Now therefore, our God, we 

thank thee, and praise thy 

glorious name.

II Chronicles 29:11-13

GRACE IS SUFFICIENT

Photo provided by Michael Cooper

Yesterday the blog was on tough love.  Today is 

finding grace to handle the things that the Lord 

doesn't remove from our lives.  There are things

in life that we need to endure and deal with.  

We live in a generation that tends to close

the door and start over verses enduring.  

For those who have decided to stick it 

out and endure, find there are many 

lesson learned while traveling this

path that could never be learned 

otherwise. 

There is also the rude awaking of 

realizing that during walking this  

journey with the loved ones there  

will be times decisions are made 

causing deep pain even to our own

lives.  

There will be times, during the journey 

a person has to give up their own pride.  

They have to learn how to accept the 

fact that others are going to misunderstand 

and many times make accusations about 

them that are not true and are very painful.  

Keeping the focus on the goal of getting 

a person to ultimately heal from an addiction

or anger they are experiencing is far more 

important than others viewing us in a 

certain way.  

Once you are at the end of this journey, the

time will come when you can look back

and view the strength gained during the 

process is far more valuable and honorable

than the pride given up to bring each of you 

to the point of ultimate healing 

May the power of God rest upon you 

as you endure this journey. 

My grace is sufficient for thee: for my 

strength is made perfect in weakness. 

Most gladly therefore will I rather 

glory in my infirmities, that the 

power of Christ may rest upon me.

Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, 

in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, 

in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when 

I am weak, then am I strong.

II Corinthians 12:9-10

YOUR STEPS HAVE BEEN ORDERED

Photo provided by Kathy Mitchell

The steps of a good man are ordered 

by the LORD: and he delighteth in 

his way. Though he fall, he 

shall not be utterly cast down: 

for the LORD upholdeth him with 

his hand.

Psalm 27:23-24

Your steps are ordered by the Lord. 

Sometimes in life we may have wondered if 

this statement is true.  

Growing up, I often heard the scripture
paraphrased,  "The Lord will not allow things
to be put upon us that we can't handle but he

would make a way of escape." 

I have found the way of escape 

is one we don't always desire to 

take.  Sometimes it may force us 

to show tough love and there are 

times we would rather verbally

argue than to show that tough 

love. 

Tough love may be a path that makes 

life tougher not only for the other 

person but perhaps for you. It may
mean you also have to become tougher,
work harder, or suck up pride. 

You can choose to stay in a relationship 

doing the same things, still getting the
same results, not understanding the
proper way to love and be loved.

Or, you can show tough love and find
you will both grow stronger due to your 

willingness to be stronger than the battle

you are presently facing. 

Love is more than a feeling.  Love is 

giving respect and support but it is also
about loving yourself enough to understand 

that you are worth not being stepped 

on and taken advantage of. 

I have spoken to multiple people over 

the last few months that just want to 

throw in the towel on life and end it all. 

I can personally tell you this isn't the 

answer to your problem as it only moves

you out of the picture.  Most of the time

the person acting out keeps living the same 

as they previously did, so that the only thing
accomplished was to  transfer that pain and
hurt to other loved ones or someone new. 

Tough love draws the line and says, "Enough

is enough," and forces the other person to 

face reality and see themselves for who 

they really are and become a better person 

though the process.   

Most of the time, the person having to 

administer tough love needs extra prayer

and support to stay strong and not run 

back too soon, as running back too quickly 

only shows the other person you will run 

out of strength and melt. Then, they tend to
 pick up right where they left off and continue

being the same person. 

Whether you are struggling with someone 

who is ill and has started demanding beyond
what is acceptable, or have a relationship
where the other person has become addicted
to alcohol, drugs or even pornography, the 

only long lasting result is tough love.  

There are times when distance makes 

things worse.Most of the time, however
when dealing with a person who is ill, out of
control or addicted, it takes distance to clear
your mind and gain the strength needed to
face the battle that lies ahead.

Sometimes tough love is going for 

a few hours at a time to a local 

coffee shop, shopping center or park.  

Sometimes it takes longer periods of time 

before the person realizes their issues are 

not acceptable and out of control.

Love yourself and the other person(s)
in your life today and show the kind 

of love that is lasting and healthy.  

Stay with your commitment by showing
tough love long term, for your loved one
may continually test your patience and
endurance. 

Remember, the steps of a good man

are ordered by the Lord and it's up to 

you to put your feet into those steps

and grow stronger instead of erasing 

those steps by giving up.  

LOOK UNTO THE LORD

Photo provided by Kathy Mitchell 

Therefore I will look unto the LORD; 

I will wait for the God of my 

salvation: my God will hear me.

Micah 7:7

THE HAND OF THE DILIGENT

Photo provided by Kathy Mitchell

The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son 

maketh a glad father: but a foolish son 

is the heaviness of his mother. Treasures of 

wickedness profit nothing: but righteousness 

delivereth from death.  The LORD will not 

suffer the soul of the righteous to famish: 

but he casteth away the substance of 

the wicked.  He becometh poor that dealeth 

with a slack hand: but the hand of the 

diligent maketh rich.  He that gathereth in summer 

is a wise son: but he that sleepeth in harvest 

is a son that causeth shame.  Blessings are 

upon the head of the just: but violence 

covereth the mouth of the wicked.

Proverbs 4:1-6

THE LORD ABIDES WITH THEE

Photo provide by Kathy Mitchell

And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you 

another Comforter, that he may abide with you 

for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom 

the world cannot receive, because it seeth him 

not, neither knoweth him: but ye know 

him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be 

in you. I will not leave you comfortless: 

I will come to you. Yet a little while, and 

the world seeth me no more; but ye see 

me: because I live, ye shall live also.

At that day ye shall know that I am in 

my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.

He that hath my commandments, and 

keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: 

and he that loveth me shall be loved 

of my Father, and I will love him, 

and will manifest myself to him.

John 14:16-21

THE LORD GIVETH WISDOM

Photo provided by Faye Boston 

For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his

mouth cometh knowledge and

understanding.  He layeth up sound

wisdom for the righteous: he is a

buckler to them that walk uprightly. 

He keepeth the paths of judgment,

and preserveth the way of his saints.

Then shalt thou understand righteousness,

and judgment, and equity; yea, every

good path. When wisdom entereth into

thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant

unto thy soul;  Discretion shall preserve

thee, understanding shall keep thee:

Proverbs 2:6-11

MASTER BUILDER

Story and Photos by Bill Price

Transitioning through differing stages of life is hard as we journey along drinking from well to well we sometimes lose the clarity to remember that what we do conforms to a plan that is not our own. How we do it is a choice we are given and that the entire journey is in a grace given with nothing asked in return. A friend I have come by during the process of building this Hot Rod reminded me the other day to give credit to the "Master Builder." The Master Builder's unseen hand guides me my entire life and the route of this narrow path is no exception. The Master Builder's guidance has crossed my path with truly wonderful people and created friendships I treasure and count on every day of my life. The gentle but firm hand on my shoulder has brought me closer to God, the true Master Builder.

This journey began as I closed my eyes one hot July afternoon saying "thy will be done" as the l looming front end of a moving van I was meeting in a head on collision. I was driving a car that I had invested 10 years and a good deal of my own self-image. I had let that project become me. It had been my way of insulating myself from the world that was becoming more and more difficult as I aged. That time of my life and that project had come to define me as I pushed relentlessly to invest time and money into it. The time and money invested stemmed from probably the only reasonable decision I made, that the money and time would be from the hours of idleness spent in a world that somehow had no use or time for me anyhow.

Somehow, I came back to consciousness after the crash and found God had set me on this path. The discovery was not an epiphany; it didn’t come in a flash or with heralded trumpets. It came out of a journey that began down a narrower path and through which growth in faith was a critical process. Right up front as I gathered the resources to rebuild and salvage from the wreck things that would let me respin the cocoon, I watched my wife through her faith contribute to our church from her parent’s estate. She inspired me to open up funds to the Solid Rock Ministry and to expand my giving to our church. In the search or quest for some meaning I found another project that I could focus on. My wife encouraged me. I met a man in Illinois that had a dream I shared. He had suffered a stroke and was partially paralyzed so he could not continue with this dream of his. He and his wife seemed genuinely happy about my enthusiasm and I have endeavored to keep him informed of the project as he turned it over to me to complete.

This was a time I was pretty well out of gas on a personal and professional level. The old taunts were still at work and I was headed down the same path as before, alone. One day a colleague and I had a talk about not letting work define us. I realized that there was a lot of truth in not only work but every aspect of the way we live our lives that could keep us from realizing the true reward and in that quest realize a joy that was not to be found among stuff. Another friend had pointed out that we dig wells in our lives and that others that follow us would drink from those wells.

I worked hard on the wells I was digging and the path to complete this car project has been the most influenced. It has taken much longer than expected to complete it but along the way the friends I have made and their masterful assistance has become the more important part of the journey. Dozens have helped me doing work I could never accomplish on my own. In each of those people I have found a reinforcement of my faith and a better understanding of what God has set for me as a narrow path to follow. In the final stages of the project, sitting in the shop with true masters of the craft of auto restoration, I found a copy of Sherry Long’s book among the papers, instruction sheets, nuts and bolts on the desk. When I saw that book, I realized who the master builder was, and what he was building. I pray every day for those who have come into my life and for the opportunity to see this with clarity.

HOLD FAST

Photo provided by Kathy Mitchell 

For every house is builded by some

man; but he that built all things is God.

And Moses verily was faithful in all 

his house, as a servant, for a testimony 

of those things which were to be spoken 

after;  But Christ as a son over his own 

house; whose house are we, if we hold 

fast the confidence and the rejoicing of 

the hope firm unto the end.  Wherefore 

(as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye 

will hear his voice,  Harden not your 

hearts, as in the provocation, in the 

day of temptation in the wilderness:

When your fathers tempted me, 

proved me, and saw my works forty 

years.  Wherefore I was grieved with 

that generation, and said, They do 

alway err in their heart; and they 

have not known my ways.  So I 

sware in my wrath, They shall not 

enter into my rest.) Take heed, 

brethren, lest there be in any of 

you an evil heart of unbelief, in 

departing from the living God.

But exhort one another daily, 

while it is called To day; lest 

any of you be hardened through 

the deceitfulness of sin.  For we 

are made partakers of Christ, 

if we hold the beginning of our 

confidence stedfast unto the end;

Hebrews 3:4-13

EXHORT ONE ANOTHER

Photo provided by Kathy Mitchell

Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of 

you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing 

from the living God.  But exhort one 

another daily, while it is called 

To day; lest any of you be hardened 

through the deceitfulness of sin.

Hebrews 3:13

GRACE OF GOD APPEARED TO ALL MEN

Photo by Kathy Mitchell 

For the grace of God that bringeth salvation 

hath appeared to all men, Teaching us 

that, denying ungodliness and worldly 

lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, 

and godly, in this present world. 

Titus 2:11-12

LOOKING THROUGH THE WINDOW

Photo by Jana Cox 

Today Steve and I went to the nursing 

home in a nearby town. We sang 

with the elderly and Steve gave a devotion.  

As we were leaving one of the ladies started 

weeping.  I went over and she said, "Will you 

just hold my hand".  I gently took her trembling 

hand and she said, "While we were singing I was 

looking through that little window in the door 

and I thought I saw my son".  

My heart broke for her as you could see 

how she longed to see her son so much.  

I came home and my niece had posted this 

photo and I realized that many of us are 

looking through the small window 

for something. 

When we are young we are looking 

through the window for mom, dad, 

a friend, a little animal or toy.  

When we are in high school many 

times we are looking for the love 

of our lives.  

In our early adulthood we are 

looking through the window for 

our future children.   

As we move into our forty's 

and fifty's we are looking for our 

first grandchild to be born.  

Sixty's we are looking through the 

window into retirement and a life 

of relaxation.  

Seventies we start looking back and 

longing to have our children by our 

side just one more time.  Just one more

conversation.  Just one more hug.  Just 

one more cup of coffee together.   Just 

one more laugh.  Just one more...

As we live beyond that I have noticed

that people start looking at the window 

into the next stage of life.  As their bodies

become tired and worn out and all the 

reasons for living are not coming to visit

very often they look into the window 

of eternity.  

Most of the ones who know where 

they will spend eternity show signs

of anxiousness for that day.  Those 

who do not seem gloomy and 

in distress.  

My prayer for everyone is that no

matter what stage of life we are 

in, that we take time to look 

into the window of what our life

will be like when we come to the end 

of the journey.  

Looking for that blessed hope, and the 

glorious appearing of the great 

God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

Who gave himself for us, that he 

might redeem us from all iniquity, 

and purify unto himself a peculiar people, 

zealous of good works.

Titus 3:13-14

PROVE ALL THINGS

Photo provided by Stacey Briscoe Brinkley 

In every thing give thanks: for 

this is the will of God in 

Christ Jesus concerning you.  

Quench not the Spirit. Despise 

not prophesyings. Prove all 

things; hold fast that which is 

good. Abstain from all 

appearance of evil. And the 

very God of peace sanctify 

you wholly; and I pray God 

your whole spirit and soul 

and body be preserved blameless 

unto the coming of our Lord 

Jesus Christ. Faithful is he that 

calleth you, who also will do it.

I Thessalonians 5: 20 - 24