Month: July 2019

Run over anyone’s mailbox lately?

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And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.   Matthew 22:39

Our neighbors may know we go to church but they also know see how we clean our house and what laundry we hang out on the line! As God’s children we need to act in loving ways to all kinds of people at all kinds of unexpected times.

Long ago when I worked on a tree trimming crew our practice was to eat our lunch in the truck on the job site. So one day while we were clearing along  a narrow road at lunch I pulled the truck off to the side as far as I could in order to allow cars to pass. When it was time to get back to work, I started up the truck and began to pulling forward when I suddenly heard a loud crunch. Slamming on the brakes and jumping out I discovered that I had run over someone’s mailbox.

Kevin, my co-worker was doubled over with laughter, “You’re in trouble now Pete!” he said with glee. I was frustrated and embarrassed but humbly I walked up the driveway, knocked on the door of the house.  What a relief it was that the lady who owned the mailbox was understanding and accepted my apology as well as my offer to come back to fix it after work.

When I got back to the truck Kevin had stopped laughing and as I started to pick up my tools to return to work he turned and said, “Now I really believe you are a Christian!”  It wasn’t too long after that when Kevin gave his heart to the Lord. So if we want to love our neighbor as ourselves  sometimes, apologizing for running over their mailbox is  the best way!

Taking Advantage

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Taking advantage of an opportunity sometimes goes down the wrong staircase. What begins as a bright possibility sometimes steps down to focusing on our own goals and forgetting people around us. From there sadly it is not such a giant leap to gently manipulating friends to get what we want. But Jesus, who had the closest friendship with the very highest friend, never once pulled strings for His own advantage. Instead He humbled Himself and yielded His life for us.

We will never find freedom to be who He has called us to be till we cease looking to get ahead and simply serve those he sends us to. Remembering all that He gave up to come to our rescue how can we do less for Him?

This Is My Father’s World

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I often to sing this hymn when I am on my morning walks. I love especially the lines, “In the rustling grass I hear Him pass; He speaks to me everywhere.”  They remind me that when God seems silent in my life it is not from His lack of speaking, rather from my lack of hearing. I pray this acoustic arrangement will be a blessing to you as you listen.