The older I become, the more God reveals to me how much I have blown “it” (“it” being defined as doing the right and correct thing). All too many times for all too many reasons,…mostly conveniences,…or out of total ignorance, or even selfishness,…I have bought into wrong thinking, ignorant teaching, or wrong associations without even knowing what I was doing. Have you ever known anyone who did something like that? I didn’t know that what I was doing or believing was incorrect or wrong at the time. I was just saying, doing, or thinking that which had been passed onto me from or by others who were involved with me in both business and nonbusiness transactions. Because of my blatant words or actions,…I was “guilty by association” in most of these such instances in which I found myself. More often than not, the damage had been done before I could extricate myself from being classified and identified as being an affiliate with those people, places, or things that others readily understood as being acceptable, when in fact they were not correct and not acceptable. The old phrase,…“Ignorance is Bliss” is not a true statement. If it is your desire to become successful,…I must tell you that ignorance is nothing to be proud of or classified with as you live out your life.

What has taken me over almost seven decades to learn…“the hard way”… is that no matter who you are affiliated or operating with,…it is your own personal responsibility to do the necessary research to make certain you are conducting your life in the honest, correct, and proper manner and way. Never just listen to someone and do exactly what they say or what you think they are saying, without first knowing they are correct.

Now obviously in order to be able to do what I have just suggested that you should do,…you must first know The Truth. In order to learn and know the truth, you must go to the source of truth,…there is only one source of true truth,…the infallible Word of God,…The Holy Bible.

We know this is the truth because God’s Word tells us that it is true.

In The Book of John, Chapter 18, verse 37 (NKJV), Jesus tells us all about The Truth when, as He was being tried by the Roman Leader, He says in response to Pontius Pilate:

(37) “Pilate therefore said to Him, ‘Are You a king then?’

Jesus answered, ‘You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the TRUTH. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.’ ”

One very obvious conclusion can be drawn from these words of Christ, and that is: You are always standing on solid and holy ground whenever you are acknowledging and standing on the principles and precepts of The Word of God.

As you go about the living of your own life, there will be many different types and kinds of people who will walk into and out of your life. Always remember….Only true friends, real true friends will leave footprints in your heart.

The Bible tells us how and why we should always be bold in our convictions, beliefs, and speech about God, His Son, and The Holy Spirit. It is all recorded in The Book of Matthew, Chapter 10, verses 32 and 33 (NKJV): Jesus Christ is speaking:

(32) “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.

(33)  But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.”

Never cease praising and thanking your Heavenly Father. Remember without Him, you would not be here today. It was indeed God who knitted you together in your mother’s womb. You were and are fearfully and wonderfully made. God has a great plan for your life. Your submission and obedience to His Laws will be what determines whether or not His Plan for your life comes to fruition.

May God hold you in the palm of His hand and may His angels watch over you and protect you against any and all harm. Please share this message with any or all of your family, friends, relatives, or even some strangers. When you know to do good and right and you do it, it is very pleasing to God.

Have you ever walked by a person who is in need or in apparent need,…and you failed to stop and offer your assistance? Have you ever been asked to help a stranger and you failed to respond to the request? Have you ever failed to visit a hurting person you knew who was hospitalized or imprisoned? Do you all too quickly make excuses as to why you cannot get involved in another person’s life who is in great need,… rather than immediately coming to that person’s assistance? These are tough questions aren’t they? I am guilty of not helping enough,….are you?

Permit me to share with you a poem that was passed onto me by a dear and precious friend who lives in the pristine coastal area of Southeast Alaska. This poem puts it better than I ever could, about the love and care that God Almighty intended for all of His Creation to learn from and then to start living by. A word of caution, get a box of facial tissue out before reading or listening any further.

If you like this poem and its story and are not ashamed of your confessed belief in Jesus Christ, please pass it on to all those people you know who might be encouraged by its message.

This Is Me……..JUST CHECKING IN TODAY

A minister passing through his church in the middle of the day, decided to pause by the altar just to see who came to pray.

Just then the back door opened, and a man came down the aisle. The minister frowned as he saw the man hadn’t shaved in quite a while.

His shirt was torn and shabby, and his coat was worn and frayed. The man knelt down and bowed his head, then rose and walked away.

In the days that followed at precisely noon, the preacher saw this chap. Each time he knelt for just a moment, a lunch pail in his lap.

Well, the minister’s suspicions grew, with robbery a main fear. He decided to stop and ask the man, “What are you doing here?”

The old man said he was a factory worker and lunch was half an hour. His lunchtime was his prayer time, for finding strength and power. I stay only a moment because the factory’s far away; as I kneel here talking to the Lord, this is kinda what I say:

‘I just came by to tell You, Lord, how happy I have been, since we found each other’s friendship and You took away my sin. Don’t know much of how to pray, but I think about You every day. So, dear Jesus, this is Ben, just checking in today.’

The minister feeling foolish, told Ben that it was fine. He told the man that he was welcome to pray there anytime.

‘It’s time to go, and thanks, ’ Ben said as he hurried to the door.

Then the minister knelt there at the altar, which he’d never done before.

His cold heart melted, warmed with love, as he met with Jesus there. As the tears flowed down his cheeks, he repeated old Ben’s prayer:

‘I just came by to tell You, Lord, how happy I have been, since we found each other’s friendship and You took away my sin. Don’t know much of how to pray, but I think about You every day. So, dear Jesus, this is me, just checking in today.’

Past noon one day, the minister noticed that old Ben had not come. As more days passed and still no Ben, he began to worry some.

At the factory, he asked about him. Learning he was ill. The hospital staff was worried, but he’d given them a thrill.

The week that Ben was with them, brought changes in the ward. His smiles and joys contagious. Changed people were his reward.

The head nurse couldn’t understand why Ben could be so glad, when no flowers, calls, or cards came,…not a visitor he had.

The minister stayed by his bed, he voiced the nurse’s concern: No friends had come to show they cared. He had nowhere to turn.

Looking surprised, old Ben spoke up and with a winsome smile; ‘The nurse is wrong, she couldn’t know, He’s been here all the while.’

Every day at noon He comes here, a dear friend of mine, you see, He sits right down and takes my hand, leans over and says to me:

‘I Just Came By To Tell You, Ben, How Happy I Have Been, Since We Found This Friendship, And I Took Away Your Sin. I Think About You Always And I Love To Hear You Pray, And So Ben, This Is Jesus, Just Checking In Today.’

And now from my heart to yours as intimately and personally as I am able to make it. May I say to you the very same words that The Lord instructed His servant, Moses, to speak to his own brother Aaron and his sons so many years ago as is recorded in The Book Of Numbers, Chapter 6, verses 22–26, NKJV:

“May The Lord, bless and keep you; May The Lord make His face to shine upon you, And be gracious unto you; May The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.”

 

Peace And Love To All Of You…………….Poppa Bear