4/22/23 Spring! Finally!
It wasn’t a very normal Winter. Spring is having a frustrating start.
Maybe we should un-adapt seasons. We had a “pseudo” Winter, a late-application Winter, A Winter-like Spring, and who knows what’s next—supposed to get chilly again, but! I’m just glad and full of hope to think that’s all behind us and Spring/Summer/Fall—the best of practically every year thus far, is upon us. There. You have my formula for handling the global climate change. My partner in literary expression is now asking the gurus if there has ever been a normal year—true to all averages in every season all year long. It may take a while to get that question answered.
So, on we go to the next international crisis—we got this. Just as we now have word from China that worse weather is coming; and they would know, right? Since they invent everything bad that comes our way!
Sometimes prayer requests come to me for which I have no formulated thoughts as to what the prayer content should be. Most often I just say I will pray for it (or them.) When it is a request for something of international events to pray for such as some peril or other, I generally ask the Lord to protect us not from weather, but from war. Does that sound too vague? Well, yes, it does. But, you see, how would I know for whom or for which side the Lord would intercede? You might say, inform yourself on this, or ask questions until you know more: from whom or upon “whose truth” would you then say I should rely?
I’ve read the ending of the book! You have too, no doubt! Then what would be a prayer that mattered? I can only pray for the next event which is promised to begin: (“please, Lord, bring it on.”) Let 1 Thess 4:16 begin. But, then I think about those in the world who’ve never had any regard for the Lord Jesus Christ, where would that leave them? It would leave them with no hope; no hope! I have a hard time praying for the rapture to occur.
So, no matter where the problem is in the world, I pray for the saving gospel of Christ, the very “power of God unto salvation”—that itbe preached to any and all who have never placed their trust for their personal eternity in His finished work. Remember, How that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and was raised again for our justification. Would the Lord save anyone and everyone willing to TRUST THAT GOSPEL? Yes, He will: and it’s individual peoples that He will save. Not countries, not political dogmas, He does not have any favorites in this world. Just people willing to trust Christ. End of international problem. Just be sure and thank the Lord for His love and mercy toward all who shall call upon His name. To us who have that testimony of a moment when we trusted Christ and are saved already, it shouldn’t matter who is the next one to be saved. However, it does behoove us to pray for those we personally know and for those with whom we’re privileged to come in contact. Praying that we will have the words that make a difference in their lives.
Bessie the great(—toy Aussie) and I love to go to the front door each morning and look out at the “new day” right after dawn. We stand and look up and down the street and I tell her with great enthusiasm how beautiful the new day is. She never argues with me about it. Perhaps that’s because she is searching the front yard for the dreaded squirrels who’ve buried their Winter’s supply in our mulch. If she sees one, she asks me with a certain low growl and her serious voice to let her go chase them away. But, she’s learned to be happy I don’t let her do that for down deep she understands the squirrel’s speed would make her look foolish.
Many mornings we’re visited at the curb with a couple of fine 4-legged friends from up the hill—Morton and Cooper. They’re good-looking fellas that she would love to go ply her wiles upon, but she doesn’t know why or what the outcome would be. She likes them, though. Then, every now and then that horribly useless big ol’ brown dog comes by and she is insistent on getting out the door to run him off (she bit the end of his tail in the first chase), but I remind her he’s none of her business—let him go! Bessie’s a lot of fun. We think the b-o-b-d would be fun, also, but Bessie is adamant!
Well, college basketball didn’t end the way I wanted, but it was a fun season watching my favorites, as usual. I really enjoyed the women’s NCAA tournament more than the men’s. These girls are so fundamentally good at the game and I prefer them to the phi-slamma-jamma of men’s. College basketball is a little too much like NBA pro ball for me. Still, it is my favorite sport and I watch a little high school, a lot of college each year, and just leave the NBA to worry it through without me.
About the only pro sport I watch is baseball—cause I’m a CUB fan! Have been sense 1964—59 years. And they are looking pretty good this year. Look out now! Another world series could be coming our way!
Thanks for reading, The Elder
the Elder's Blog 