740 Golden Street

Years ago, I was planning to forward my current address at my son's request. I later emailed and told him that it would be changing in the spring, and I would forward it then. As I reflected upon how disillusioned my son must be with the moving around that I've done, I felt that some of his bitterness about his upbringing stems from that.

Then with the chin up, cheer up, buck up pep talk, that we are sometimes able to give ourselves, when we feel uneasy about others' perception of us, I encouraged myself. I thought well one address that I give will be permanent for all time. When I move to 740 Golden Street my address will never change again. You see, seven is God's number, the number forty is significant to God, and somewhere in eternity the streets are paved with gold.

There is much that has been said about where we will be when it is all said and done. When time is no more, when there is no more sea, and when I know God as I am known, I know that I will be somewhere from which I will never have to leave (Revelations 22:5). I won't have to worry about rent payments, property taxes or homeowners fees since Jesus paid it all in advance, forever.

I won't have to worry about making do with cramped quarters, or poorly located quarters. Jesus said in his father's house are many mansions, and that he was going to prepare a place for me (John 14:2). Whether that scripture is figurative, or literal, or both matters not to me. Jesus said it. I believe it. That settles it.

When I move to 740 Golden Street I won't have to be concerned with obtaining electric service and keeping it on (Revelations 21:23). I will exist in eternal light.

I've been packing for a while, sending my things on to Heaven for my final relocation (Matthew 6:20-21). At my final address I won't need fire, flood, tornado insurance or insurance against Acts of God. It is the act of God (John 3:16) which allowed my name to be written in the Lamb's Book of Life. Jesus Christ is my permanent insurance for my final dwelling place.

I do look forward to having a more permanent worldly address. Depending on how much longer God will allow the world to stand, or how much longer I will be here, I may have 1, 2 or 10 more addresses. I don't know. However many more there will be, and where ever they may be, none will equal the address I am most looking forward to. That address is and will always be my permanent one.

The most reliable forwarding address I'll ever be able to give you
is 740 Golden Street.

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Image 1 Credit: tlj515 
Image 2 Credit: BowenMurphy       

Feel Depression Coming On Today?

Begin to thank God for anything and everything, around you, and on you, and in you, that you deem as good. It's like praising God (though you don't feel like it), and it will help lift you up.

Be strengthened the rest of this day, and receive God's presence throughout this week. It is not over. God is still working on your behalf.

Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God.

Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth .

 (Romans 14:22, KJV)

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Both Images Credit: Gary Lerude
Scripture Taken From: Bible Study Tools

Poetry: It Matters To Me About You

My child, I know thy sorrows,

Thine every grief I share;

I know how thou art tested,

And, what is more-I care.

Think not I am indifferent

To what affecteth thee;

Thy weal and woe are matters

Of deep concern to Me.

But, child, I have a purpose

In all that I allow;

I ask thee then to trust Me,

Though all seems dark just now.

How often thou hast asked Me

To purge away thy dross!

But this refining process

Involves for thee-a cross.

There is no other pathway

If thou would'st really be

Conformed unto the image

Of Him Who died for thee.

Thou can'st not be like Jesus

Till self is crucified;

And as a daily process

The cross must be applied.

Just as the skillful gardener

Applies the pruning knife,

E'en so, I too would sever

The worthless from thy life.

I have but one sole object-

That thou should'st fruitful be!

And is it not thy longing

That I much fruit should see?

Then shrink not from the training

I needs must give to thee;

I know just how to make thee

What I would have thee be.

Remember that I love thee!

Think not I am unkind,

When trials come to prove thee,

And joy seems left behind.

'Tis but a little longer

Until I come again;

What now seems so mysterious

Will all be then made plain.

Take courage then; and fear not!

Press forward to the prize,

A crown of life awaits thee,

Glory before thee lies!

 

~ Alice C. Lefroy ~

 

 

Hold on. Don't give up. Tell God.

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Poem From: The Tract League, Grand Rapids, MI 49544-1390
Image Credit:  bcjordan

Meeting God In The Morning

 

Spending time with God early in the morning has become such an important part of my life that I talk about it a lot; like now. No matter where I have lived, I've tried to find a park nearby, where I can walk and enjoy God's presence along with nature.  If there's no nearby park, I'll find a quiet street, preferably with nice foliage along twisting and turning sidewalks.

I've found that business and office parks offer a serene and lovely walking experience, with their professionally landscaped environs. On Saturday, and especially on Sunday mornings, I can walk in these areas without having to avoid the disturbance of traffic and people.

Meeting God in the morning sets my day for success. I didn't say that my day necessarily goes the way that I want it to when I meet God in the morning. When I fellowship early with my Lord, I am, however, able to handle, with confidence and spiritual strength, whatever may come. On days when everything goes well, my joy is magnified through knowing that I spent time first thing that morning, with the Author and Finisher of my faith.

God In The Morning

by

Ralph Spaulding Cushman

I met God in the morning
When my day was at its best,
And His presence came like sunrise,
Like a glory in my breast.

 

All day long the Presence lingered,
All day long He stayed with me,
And we sailed in perfect calmness
O’er a very troubled sea.

 

Other ships were blown and battered,
Other ships were sore distressed,
But the winds that seemed to drive them
Brought to us a peace and rest.

 

Then I thought of other mornings,
With a keen remorse of mind,
When I too had loosed the moorings,
With the Presence left behind.

 

So I think I know the secret,
Learned from many a troubled way:
You must seek Him in the morning
If you want Him through the day!

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Image Credit: largeprime at flickr

Poem obtained from BibleReadingSchedule.com 

Such As It Is

I walked briskly out onto the boulevard, then made a right onto the drive, and then another right onto the side street. I was having my usual morning walk, talking to the Lord and enjoying nature.

The same old troublesome thoughts began to insinuate themselves into my mind as I prayed along my peaceful journey. Turning it all over to God, I said

Thank you God for happiness and health,

and as the depressive thoughts tried to reenter, I added,

such as it is.

Though some things in my life are not as I want them to be, I don't allow that fact to prevent me from thanking God. Such as it is means that I have in my possession all of the good things that God has created. I may be waiting for the manifestation of many things, but I thank God for those things now. Such as it is dis-empowers the thoughts that will ask do you really have that, do you really feel that, do you really mean that. I always want my answer to be a wholeheartedly YES! Such as it is declares that what I currently have is worth thanking God for, and I also have the increase that is coming.

And so I am filled with gladness, and my words are full of joy.

And I, mortal though I am, will rest assured in hope,...

(Acts 2:26, GNT: Good News Translation, BibleStudyTools.com) 

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Image Credit: OCVA

Grace, Restraint & Peacemaking

Responding with grace and diplomacy is always the best policy.  It is a lesson that builds upon the saying if you can't say anything good, don't say anything at all.  It is a lesson that I use when my response has the potential to be too heated, too emotional, unfair or belligerent.  When debating and contesting may not increase knowledge, or foster friendly relationships, I choose this tact.  Thinking like this helps me to defuse situations and to also practice good conflict resolution.

Many years ago, I bought an electronic typewriter that began to have problems shortly after purchase.  I contacted the company, but was not able to resolve the issue to my satisfaction.  Though I was disappointed, angry and dissatisfied, the customer service manager was graceful in her formal letters to me.

Unfortunately, their service plan never served me well, so I never purchased an item with that brand name again.  I had always liked that company and they lost a customer.  However, I never forgot the consistent grace with which that person used to communicate with me.  Despite my angry and aggressive approach, she did not allow herself to respond in kind.  It did not cause me to remain loyal to her company, but it worked to diffuse my anger.  It prevented the situation from escalating, which was very helpful to me, emotionally and socially.

As you can see I am still impressed, after almost 20 years, by that manager's skill in the practice of restraint.  I choose to use the lesson of responding with grace and diplomacy in all of my interactions, and you know what? It always works.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.

(Matthew 5:9 New International Version)

By a soft answer wrath is turned away, but a bitter word

is a cause of angry feelings.

(Proverbs 15:1 Bible in Basic English)

Whoever loves pure thoughts and kind words will have even the king as a friend.

(Proverbs 22:11 New Century Version)  

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Image Credit: OCVA

Breaking The Rule To See The Cats

I should report it, I thought, as I stared at the two little, plastic, black pans.  They were at the bottom of the steps on the concrete stoop.  One was lying sideways, half on the grass as if it had been knocked aside.  An impatient or playful paw had swiped it after emptying it in leisurely dining.  If I tell, I won't see the cats anymore.

The apartments lease plainly stated that stray cats were not to be fed.  Some kind soul was breaking the rule, and had been ever since we'd moved into this complex.

Watching the cats gives me great pleasure.  The four blacks, a stripe and a tabby always had their favorite areas on the property.  Now I only occasionally see two black ones.  They like residing in the back yard, near where the rule-breaker lives.

As I stared at the evidence, I began to miss the cats already.  If I told, that is.  The rule-breaker would be reprimanded.  No more food.  No more milk.  No more cats.

I try not to pad the truth, tell little white lies, straddle the fence of law-abiding and law-breaking.  You know, that type of thing.  I try not to change my tune when it suits me.  This time though, I think I'll become an offender .  If I'm not part of the solution to keep pigeons and wild rodents from congregating to eat the illegal cat food, then I'm part of the problem.

My hope is that when I come out, in the early morning, to observe nature, that I'll see one of the cats.  As I sip my steaming mug of coffee, and read the Bible, I hope that I'll look up to see the yellow, almond-shaped eyes blinking at me.  As I pray, and read Christian poetry for my morning devotion, hope is always present.  Hope that I will see an occasional cat, as I enjoy God's outdoor splendor.

Therefore my heart rejoiced, and my tongue was glad; Moreover my flesh also will rest in hope.
  (Acts 2:26, Kings James Version)
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Image Credit: Kevin Dooley

Watching Birds Fly South

As I sat drinking coffee and enjoying the Fall morning, I kept seeing dark flickers from the corner of my eye. Looking out, I saw drifting shapes dipping and dodging past my window.  Squinting without my glasses, I thought I can't believe that many birds are flying past. Then I thought I can't believe that many leaves are falling. Then I realized that it was birds and leaves swirling madly.

I walked to the window to get a closer look because I have always loved watching birds.  I raised my son to enjoy the delight of observing their daily antics. I've probably written at least twenty poems about them. As I looked over the fence, I saw that there were more birds than leaves, and they whirled dizzily as one, shifting direction effortlessly.

Like a giant, undulating, black sheet, they settled into the neighbor's backyard. A few of the small, glistening black bodies stalked stiffly along the fence top. More stragglers continued to whirl and alight. I wondered what in the world they were after as they mixed with the carpet of colorful leaves, making a darker carpet themselves. They were too little to be crows, unless they were young crows, which I don't recall ever seeing.

This fascinating activity reminded me of when my siblings and I were young. We used to lie on our backs in the grass, and watch the birds fly south every fall, without fail. Fall was a real three-month season and the birds left, making a spectacular show of their departure. Some made V-formations, and some flocks just swirled and whirled several times, before making a final pass over to wave goodbye.

I lamented on why I haven't seen the birds fly south since childhood. We know the answers to that are many. Things always change.  Nothing stays the same. The cry of the aging. I don't even live in the same locale where I enjoyed this show-stopping finale to hot summer days.  We know from what the Bible teaches us that this world is not going to remain as it is anyway.  John, when he was exiled on the Isle of Patmos, received visions of a new heaven and earth.  He reported that the first heaven and the first earth were passed away (Revelations 21:1). In Genesis 2:19, we are told that God formed every fowl of the air out of the ground.  Interestingly, in Leviticus 14, I learned that the Lord instructed Moses to use birds in the cleansing of lepers.  Other than this, and the mention of specific birds in priestly ceremonies, and owls being unclean, I found only cursory mention of birds as a whole in the Bible.

Will there be birds in the new Heaven and the new Earth?  I don't know.  I don't feel a need to research it. I do know what I would say if God asked me this question, Daughter, what is one minor thing that you would like to do again before you leave this earth?  I would respond, Father, I would like to lie in the grass, look at the sky, and watch birds fly south.

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Image Credit: ob1left