Why attend church?

 

WHY I QUIT ATTENDING BALL GAMES

 

With the football season – High School, College, and the Pros – in full swing and the Major League Baseball playoff games under way, I thought I would share with my readers why I have quit attending ball games.

 

1. The coaches/managers never came to visit me.

 

2. Every time I went they asked for money.

 

3. The people sitting in my row didn't seem very friendly.

 

4. The seats were hard and uncomfortable.

 

5. The referees and umpires made some decisions I didn't agree with.

 

6. I was sitting with hypocrites—they only came to see what others were wearing.

 

7. Some games went into overtime or extra innings and I was late getting home.

 

8. The band played some songs I had never heard before.

 

9. The games are scheduled on my only day to sleep in and run errands.

 

10. My parents took me to too many games when I was growing up.

 

11. Since I read a book on sports, I feel that I know as much as the coaches, umpires, and referees and I do not need to attend the games.

 

12. I was afraid I might catch the latest strain of virus.

 

13. The weather was often disagreeable—oppressively hot, extremely cold, the chance of rain, snow, icy streets and roads, etc.

 

14. I don't want to take my children because I want them to choose for themselves what sport they like best.

 

Do the above "reasons" have a familiar ring when it comes to why some folks have quit attending the services of the church? Hmmm.

 

(From the bulletin of the Stuart, Florida Church of Christ of July 24, 2022, with some slight editing).

 

Hugh Fulford

What If?

 

What If?

 

Hezekiah has become mortally ill and Isaiah is sent to him with the message: Set your house in order, you are going to die"—2 Kings 1:20

 What if you knew, absolutely knew, that you had only one more week to live on this side of eternity? Would you live that week any differently than you have lived previous weeks? Would the daily conduct of your life suddenly change? Would the importance of wealth, possessions, amusements and recreational activities seem less important now? Would you suddenly find time to do those things you know you should do but just couldn't find time to do them, especially those of a spiritual nature? Would you suddenly become very much concerned about seeking first the kingdom of God? Would feeding on God's word, being an example to others, seeking and setting affection on things above suddenly take on great importance? What if—opens up a pandora's box of interesting thoughts for me. How about you? My question now is simply this: Why do we not live every waking moment as if we knew we were going to die the next moment? The thought occurs to me that we had best be living that way because not one single one of us is guaranteed another moment, much less another week on planet earth (Heb. 9:27; 1 Samuel 20:3).

 For every person the end of time on this earth will be the end of something. For the faithful child of God, it will be the end of all conflicts with the flesh, the end of suffering and trial, the end of all groaning under the burdens of life (2 Cor. 5:1-6; Rev. 21:4; Rev. 14:13).  For the faithful, it will be the beginning of a new life with Christ (Phil. 1:23; 2 Cor. 5:6-9).

 For the unbeliever and disobedient, it will be the end of all opportunity to be saved (Rev. 3:20; 2 Cor. 6:2; Eccl. 9:10). One day Christ will cease his knocking and then those who have not obeyed would give the world for just one more knock but, no the end has come! For the unfaithful Christian, it will be the end of God's patience (Rom. 12:1-2; Eph. 4:1; 1 Cor. 15:58; Eph. 5;14-17;2 John 8-9). The "end" will really be the beginning. Time will end but eternity will begin.  For the lost, it will be the beginning of an eternity of separation in a place of horrible punishment (Matt. 25:30, 41, 46; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9).

 Proverbs 27:1: "Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth."  All our hopes, dreams and plans for future tomorrows must be based on "the Lord willing" (James 4:13-15). Today, I leave you with this thought, "Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God. that He may exalt you at the proper time" (1 Peter 5:6).

 Charles Hicks

 

 

Life Is Short Lived

Life Is Short-lived 

Man, who is born of woman, is short-lived and full of turmoil. Like a flower he comes forth and withers. He also flees like shadow and does not remain (Job 14:1-2). 

There are a number of passages in God's word that put a special emphasis on how short-lived life on this earth really is (2 Sam. 14:14; Job 7:6-7; Job 9:25-26; Psalms 90:10; James 4:16). As Job speaks about the brevity of life in Job 14:1-2, he goes on to tell us in verse 5 to that the days and months of our life are determined by God. They are determined in the sense that God has decreed that it is appointed that man will die (Hebrews 9:27).

It matters not how young or how old we may be in terms of months and years, that moment when we will take that journey from whence we will not return is always near at hand (1 Sam. 20:3). Perhaps we should pause and listen to the words of Moses from Psalms 90:12, "So teach us to number our days, that we may present to you a heart of wisdom."  We number our days only in the sense that we realize how short-lived they are and that the present one may be the last on this earth. Applying our hearts to wisdom we will live as dying people should live, taking into account that one day we will stand in judgment before the Lord giving account of how we have lived (Rom. 14:12; 2 Cor. 5:10; Acts 17:30-31).

 Realizing how short-lived our life is on the side of eternity should inspire us to savor each moment we have here. A number of years ago I often visited with an elderly lady in a nursing home facility. This lady's mind was sharp and we had some interesting conversations. One day I just had to ask her how old she was. I don't remember her exact age but it was in the mid 90's. I do remember what she said a few moments later. After a short pause she said, "that's a long time to live and then she added this, but when you think about it, it's not so long after all is it?" I recently turned 91 years of age and I tell you unequivocably, that lady was 100 percent correct.

 Cherish each moment you have on this side of eternity. Treasure the time you have with those you love dearly. Every day tell them that you love them, don't just assume they know it. Laugh with them, cry with them because the day is coming when you will not be able to do these things. Whatever you intend to do, do it now (Ecclesiastes 9:10). Be happy, enjoy your life to the fullest but as you do always fear God and keep His commandments and His only (Eccl. 12:13-14). Today these words from a beautiful song, Anywhere is Home, just sum it up for me: "I will labor on till I am called away, Till the morn shall dawn of that eternal day; Looking unto Him who keeps me in His care, Anywhere is home if Christ my Lord is there." What say you?

 Charles Hicks

 

 

Be of Sober Spirit

Be of Sober Spirit 

Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8).

 Genesis 1:1, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Then follows the creation of everything, including man. Verse 31 tells us that God saw all he had made and said, "it was very good." Genesis 2, God planted a garden in Eden where he placed the man he had created. God then created a woman to be a helper with the man. As chapter 2 comes to a close, all is well and good in the Garden of Eden. But now as chapter 3 begins, it all changes when the serpent being used by the devil deceives Eve into disobeying God (Genesis 3:1-13; 2 Cor. 11:3, 14; Rev. 12:9). The devil is alive and well today and is still attempting to influence people in the same way he influenced Eve in the garden. Simply put, that way is to cheapen the word of God in the minds of people.

 The devil works tirelessly in the effort to convince us that the Bible is just another good book in a long line of good books. It's okay to read it, but you don't have to believe it, after all, God doesn't really mean what he says. Isn't this exactly what he told Eve? And we know what the result of that was (Gen. 3:14-24).

 We live in a land of Bibles. It would be difficult to know just how many Bibles are in existence today. Most of us have several Bibles in our homes. Yet, sadly to say, for a lot of people, it is a lost book because the devil has convinced them that it is not an important book. You have a Bible, where is it? Is it just sitting out being displayed for others to see? Is it hidden in a book shelf with all the other unread books you own?  What does your Bible look like? Are its pages still clean and crisp as the day you bought it or are those pages worn, some with little folds in them. Do the pages have passages highlighted or little notes scribbled on them? The devil has convinced many that they have time for the morning newspaper, the nightly newscast, all kinds of books, magazines and novels and television but little or no time for the word of God. Many have time for golf, tennis, fishing, ball games, movies and all kinds of recreational activity but just not enough time to seriously feast on the word of God.

 The home robbed of the book of ages is a home where there will be ignorance where there should be understanding (Acts 17:30-31; 2 Tim. 2:15). It will be a home where there is uncertainty where there should be certainty (1 John 3:18-19, 24; 1 John 4:4, 13; 1 John 5:2. 13). It will be a home where there will be confusion where there should be peace and strength (Phil. 4:6-7; Eph. 3:14-21). It will be a home where there will be trust in man when there should be trust and reliance on God (Prov. 3:5-6, Psalms 118:8; Acts 5:29). Our faith is under constant attack by the devil. Don't fall prey to him by believing any of his lies. Arm yourself with the truth (Eph. 6:10-18; 2 Pet. 1:5-11; John 14:15, John 8:32).

 Charles Hicks

 

 

 

 

FIVE STEPS TO CHURCH AND SEVEN TO HEAVEN

HUGH'S NEWS & VIEWS

 

FIVE STEPS TO CHURCH AND SEVEN TO HEAVEN

 

Some people belittle the idea of "steps" in the plan or way of salvation. They think it is too mechanical or legalistic or lacking in acknowledgment and appreciation of God's grace.

 

Beyond all question, we are saved by the grace of God (Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:3-7). God's grace has been extended to all (Titus 2:11-12). Yet, not everyone will be saved. Jesus Himself said as much (Matthew 7:21). He is the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him (Hebrews 5:9).

 

Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6). He has invited all to come to Him (Matthew 11:28-30). I do not know of any way to "come" to Christ other than by taking steps. In the book of Acts, the church is described as "the Way" (Acts 9:2; 22:4). We must take some steps to enter the Way, and we must continue to walk (take steps) to continue in the Way. It is somewhat inconsistent to make so much of the church as being the Way and then belittle the concept of taking steps.

 

The title of this essay is that of a sermon preached many years ago in many places by the great African-American evangelist Marshall Keeble. As a boy in my early teens I read the BIOGRAPHY and SERMONS of MARSHALL KEEBLE, edited by B. C. Goodpasture. Brother Keeble's sermons were simple, yet profound. In the sermon referenced, he set forth the five steps one must take to obey the gospel, be saved from sin, and added to that number of people who constitute the church (see Acts 2:47). Those steps are: 1) Hear the gospel of Christ. The gospel is God's power to save, and without hearing the gospel salvation is not possible (Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:15; Romans 10:17). 2) Believe the gospel (Mark 16:16; John 8:24; I Corinthians 15:1-2; Hebrews ll:6). 3) Repent of sin (Luke 13:3, 5; Acts 3:19; Acts 17:30-31; II Peter 3:9). 4) Confess faith in Christ (Romans 10:9-10; Acts 8:37 [KJV; NKJV]; et al). 5) Be baptized for the remission (taking away) of sin (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; Acts 22:16; I Peter 3:31). Baptism is the climactic act or step that one takes to enter the body of Christ, the church (Acts 2:41, 47; I Corinthians 12:13; Galatians 3:27). To be sure, brother Keeble was not talking about taking five literal steps to a physical church building; rather, he was talking about the scriptural conditions with which one must comply to be saved and added to the church, the body of Christ, composed of all those who have taken the steps leading to membership is this one body!

 

Once one has obeyed the gospel by taking the preceding five steps, he must then take the steps that will lead to heaven, the eternal abode of all the redeemed. The apostle Peter, in a beautiful passage in his second letter, sets forth seven steps one must take to remain faithful to the Lord and be saved eternally. These steps are a summary of a faithful Christian life. They are: 1) Virtue; 2) Knowledge; 3) Self-control; 4) Perseverance; 5) Godliness; 6) Brotherly Kindness; 7) Love. By the development of these seven Christian graces, one can make his calling and election sure and have an abundant entrance "into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (II Peter 1:5-11).

 

As has been noted, the penitent believer enters the Way when he is buried with Christ in baptism and then raised to "walk in newness of life" (Romans 6:4). Once one has entered the Way he is to "walk by faith, not by sight" (II Corinthians 5:17). We are "to walk worthy of the calling with which [we] were called" (Ephesians 4:1). We are to "walk in love," "walk as children of light," and "walk circumspectly" (looking around, knowing what is going on about us [see I Peter 5:8]; Ephesians 5:2, 9; 5:13). God's children are to "walk in the light" and "in truth" (I John 1:9; III John 4). In all of these passages the reference is to the way Christians are to live. One of the richest studies one could engage in is to note the many texts that speak of how the Lord's people are to walk. And walking involves taking steps.

 

I have not the slightest hesitancy in talking about the steps in the God's gracious plan of salvation. Many years ago, I took brother Keeble's sermon on "Five Steps to Church and Seven to Heaven" and developed my own sermon on "God's Twelve-Step Program." If the alcoholic needs to take steps to sobriety, how much more does the sinner need to take steps to salvation in Christ! When a person has been sick and in bed for an extended period of time, it is always encouraging when he is able to get out of bed and take a few steps. How much more so when the sinner begins to take the steps that lead to Christ and to salvation in His church, followed by the steps that lead to heaven! After all, "Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that [we] should follow His steps" (I Peter 2:21).

 

Hugh Fulford

O Glorious Thought

O Glorious Thought 

For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, that by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself (Phil. 3:20-21). 

I know that in the not too distant future, I will fold up this earthly tent and take that journey from whence I will not return. This world is not my home nor is it yours. We are strangers and pilgrims on this earth and as such we are seeking that city whose builder and maker is God (1 pet. 2:11, Heb. 11:10, 13, 1 Pet. 2:11). Our treasure is in heaven so our hearts are centered on things above not on things on earth (Mat. 6:19-21. Col. 3:1-3). 

Often in this life we find ourselves in places where we would rather not be. That will not be so with heaven. What a joy it will be to one day fly away to God's celestial shore and with the redeemed live forever with the Lord Jesus Christ. Most of the time when we think and talk about heaven our thoughts center on the things that will not be there: no tears, sorrow, crying, pain or death (Rev. 21:3-4).

 Certainly, thinking about this home where all things are made new, where there will be nothing to ever trouble our heart is a source of great joy, comfort and peace but there is another aspect of heaven that multiplies that joy in my heart and that is the people who will be there. God, our creator and sustainer of life will dwell and be among us, the one who will wipe away all tears from our eyes will be there and dwell with us. Jesus, Son of God, whose love for us was so great for us that he went to the cross and died for us. I have never seen either one except through the eye of faith yet I love them dearly and trust them with all my being. Just thinking about being with those heroes of the bible, Abraham, Moses, Daniel, David, Paul, Peter, John (Heb. 11), thrills my soul.

 Heaven is even more personal because there are those I have known and seen and loved with all my heart and one day in that not too distant future, I know I will see them again. O glorious thought. Someone once said, "It's not so much the place as it is the company that makes heaven so beautiful." Today, heaven tugs at my heartstrings and I am going to strive to serve the Lord to the best of my abilities, clinging to him with great anticipation of the day when I will fly away to live forever in the lasting city. How about you?

 Charles Hicks

 

But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned

 

WHY DO WE TALK AS WE DO?

 

Our Lord said, "But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned" (Matthew 12:36-37). The apostle Paul wrote: "Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt (salt, mind you, not pepper!, hf), that you may know how you ought to answer each one" (Colossians 4:6).

 

In the light of the above passages, it is amazing to hear how some people talk. Profanity is found on the lips of many people, including many who profess to be Christians. God's name is uttered in vain (in a shallow, thoughtless, irreverent way). "O My God" is heard all too often today. OMG  (acronym for O My God) shows up too often in print, even from some professing to be Christians. "My Lord" and "Good Lord" are frequently spoken in thoughtless, flippant ways, thus taking the Lord's name in vain. Vulgarities of all kinds spew freely from the mouths of many. These speech patterns, though senseless, disrespectful, and unnecessary, are sometimes defended on the grounds that the speaker means no harm by them. I once heard such language defended on the grounds that such words are just sounds—verbal noises by which the speaker means no real harm, that they are just a part of the pattern of the person's way of expressing himself or herself.

 

Well, the preaching of the gospel involves the use of words and a pattern of speech that in one sense may be said to be just "sounds" or "verbal noises." In fact, the psalmist, in extolling the message of God's inanimate creation, said, "Their line (footnote, "sound") has gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world" (Psalm 19:4). By inspiration, Paul quotes this very verse and applies it to preachers of the gospel. He says, "Their sound has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the end of the world" (Romans 10:18). (How is that for an apostolic example of what is often ridiculed as "proof-texting"?) But what a difference there is between the "sounds" and "verbal noises" of those who utter profanities and vulgarities and the "sounds" and "verbal noises" of those who speak forth "words of truth and soberness (reason)" (Acts 26:25)! In Iconium Paul and Barnabas made such "sounds" and "verbal noises" as to cause "a great multitude both of the Jews and of the Greeks to believe" (Acts 14:l). Do our "sounds" and "verbal noises" result in such?

 

Make no mistake about it—our words are significant. They are not mere "sounds" or "verbal noise," but a reflection of our heart and of our reverence and respect for God and His holiness. Jesus said, "Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks" (Matthew 12:34b). Paul exhorted, "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers" (Ephesians 4:29).

 

God's word likewise forbids gossip, tale-bearing, murmuring, and lying. In the eyes of the Lord, these things are just as sinful as profanity and vulgarity. Paul wrote: "Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice" (Ephesians 4:31). Elsewhere he said, "But now you also put off all these: anger, wrath, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old man with his deeds" (Colossians 3:8-9). James admonished, "Do not grumble against (grudge not against, KJV) one another, brethren, lest you be condemned" (James 5:9). The eternal fate of all liars will be with "the cowardly (fearful) and unbelieving and abominable and murders and sexually immoral and sorcerers and idolaters...in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death" (Revelation 21:8). Not a very likable bunch to have to live with throughout all eternity!

 

How right James was when he wrote: "For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect (mature, complete, hf) man, able also to bridle the whole body" (James 3:2).

 

Hugh Fulford

Life Is a Daring Adventure

Life Is A Daring Adventure

 

And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life: and man became a living soul—Genesis 2:7 

 Aside from saying that life is a great gift from God, I do not know how you might describe your life but as for me, life has been one daring adventure. We awake each morning not knowing what will occur during the course of the day. We cannot be sure that we will have in the next moment what we have in the present moment. Will there be good news or bad news coming our way? Will there be continued health or will we or a loved one be struck down with illness before the day ends? Will we experience prosperity or will poverty strike us? Will we enjoy success or failure in our endeavors? Will we be surrounded with comfort, peace and contentment or will pain, heartache and turmoil beset us? Will we still be alive when the sun sets at the end of day or will we be absent from this earthly body? 

What will we do, what will we have, where will we be? We just do not know from one moment to the next what changes lie in store for us. The present moment of time is all we have and it is gone, replaced by the next moment before we can even think about it and suddenly there will be no more moments for us on planet earth. Changes in our physical well-being, changes in our bodies or our mental abilities can and often do happen in the blink of an eye and all this is what makes life one daring adventure for me. Helen Keller said about life, "Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all." 

I pray that each of us will be found seeking the strength, courage and patience needed in life to draw closer to God each day because everything about us in this life, everything that surrounds us, even our own life can and often does change very quickly. I love to sing (and often do): "I am weak but thou art strong, Jesus keep me from all wrong, I'll be satisfied as long as I walk close to thee. Just a closer walk with thee, Grant it, Jesus my plea; Daily let it ever be Just a closer walk with thee." 

We don't know what is going to take place in our life one moment from now, not even a clue. This thought may sometimes be a little scary but it does make life a daring adventure. One thing I do know, come what may, the God we believe in, the God we love and trust with all our being is in control of all things and we are in his hands (Psalms 121:1-8, Prov. 3:5-6, 1 Cor. 10:13, James 4:6-10).  

Charles Hicks

 

 

 

 

 

 

Have We Kept Our Promises

Have We Kept Our Promises 

When you make a vow to God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools; pay that which thou hast vowed. Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that shouldest vow and not pay (Ecclesiastes 5:4-5) 

A vow is defined as a solemn promise, one by which a person is bound to act. When we make the decision to be baptized into Christ, we make a transition from walking in the way of the world to walking in newness of life as a new creature in Christ (Romans 6:4, 2 Corinthians 5:17). Now, when we make the decision to walk in newness of life, do we not make some solemn promises to God on that day? 

I know we do not literally say, God I promise…, but I firmly believe that in our heart we make a lot of unspoken promises. A promise that we are going to love and serve him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength (Mark 12:30). A promise that we are going to live for him, doing whatever he tells us must be done (Philippians 1:21, Galatians 2:20, 1 Corinthians 15:57, Matthew 5:16, Matthew 6:33, Colossians 3:1-3, Romans 12:1-2, 1 John 2:15-17). A promise that we are going to live our life in a way that will be pleasing to him (2 Corinthians 5:9, 1 John 3:18-22, Revelation 2:10). 

 We promise to give Him the best of our gifts, of which the best gift of all is ourself (2 Corinthians 8:1-5, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20). This promise also includes time, talents and money. We promise to give Him the best of our labors (Matthew 5:16, Luke 10:7, 1 Corinthians 15:57). I suppose that in all this I am in a feeble way trying to emphasize that walking in newness of life, becoming a new creature in Christ carries the thought of making a rock-solid commitment to God, letting him have full possession of our life, yielding every member to him (Romans 6:11-19, Romans 12:1-2) and aren't all the spoken and unspoken promises we make to him wrapped up in this commitment?  

 Now the big question is: Have we, are we faithfully keeping the spoken as well the unspoken promises we make to God. Over the years of preaching, teaching bible classes and writing weekly bible thoughts, I have many times felt so limited in my abilities. Often I have wished that I had the ability to reach down deep into my soul and find the words to speak or write that would be so powerful they would move all who heard or read them to do everything within their power to make their journey to eternity a safe one—I do not have that ability but I can tell you that if we fail to keep the promises we make to God, whether spoken or unspoken, it will cost us dearly when one day we exit this world and enter the world that will never end (Eccl. 12:13-14, 2 Cor. 5:10).

 Charles Hicks

 

 

 

Strength to the Weary

  Strength To the Weary

 

Do you not know? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, the creator of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable. He gives strength to the weary, and to him who lacks might He increases power. Though youths grow weary and tired, and vigorous young men stumble badly, yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary (Isaiah 40:28-31) 

This passage from Isaiah is a favorite of mine. The thoughts that spring from it often echo within my heart bringing to me a measure of strength, courage, hope and peace when the path I must walk becomes a difficult one. Never does a day pass in which in some way or another we are reminded that life on this side of eternity is fraught with afflictions that will cause us to groan being burdened (2 Corinthians 5:2-4).

 John 14:27, Jesus says to his disciples, "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful."The  peace that Jesus gives is durable and lasting. It will not waver under any circumstance and will never fade with the passing of time. He who could rebuke and calm the storm tossed Sea of Galilee by simply saying, peace be still, can surely protect and grant to us the strength to not grow weary and tired to the point we stumble badly when the way becomes difficult (Mark 4:35-31)

 How powerful and comforting are the thoughts that fill my heart when I think about the message bursting forth from Psalms 4:8, "In peace I will both lie down and sleep, for you alone, O Lord, make me to dwell in safety." When we wait for the Lord, we will gain new strength and with calmness and peacefulness of soul lie down and sleep the night through knowing that all is well with our soul. We can awake in the morning and begin a new day of existence confident that the all-seeing eye of our Lord will be watching over us and will so long as we honor, and obey him, putting our trust and confidence in him, he will lead us safely through the day (Proverbs 15:3, Hebrews 4:13, Psalms 33:18-22, Psalms 35:17-19).   

The writer of Hebrews tells us in Hebrews 12:2-3 to fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith and consider what he endured so that we will not grow weary and lose heart. As a faithful child of God we have a hope that goes beyond the bounds of planet earth (2 Corinthians 5:1-9, John 14:1-3). As for me, I am at peace today no matter what I have to face as I press onward. I know the Lord is with me and watches over me and one day I want to stand in the wonderful city of God and simply cry out, it sure is good to be home! I pray you feel the same about yourself today but if you don't, I ask you, why not?

 Charles Hicks