I Met An Angel

The Bible tells us in Hebrews 13:2, “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.”

Last Tuesday, as Anzie and I were leaving the Buffalo Post Office, my very laden trailer came off the hitch. Praise God that I had safety chains on. Well, here I am with two used up knees trying to hold back this trailer from breaking loose when a stranger happened along. He got out of his car and with his strength, we were able to re-hitch the trailer.

I do not know who this stranger was. But if you are reading this journal today, I want you to know that God put you in the right place at the right time! Please tell your wife so she gives you plenty of T.L.C. because you sure do deserve it. And I want you to know that God saw you also. He wants to thank you for helping His son in his time of need.

You know, folks, not all angels have wings. But God wants to put us in the right place at the right time if we will just listen to His voice, trust Him, and be obedient to Him.

May God bless my angel in many ways, my brother!

A Choice

It was a beautiful, sunny, spring day. I had just finished driving my daughter to the airport to catch an early morning flight. My sons and I then went to a fast food place for breakfast before heading back home. After eating we all got into the car and pulled out of the parking lot. The restaurant was at the very top of a hill. At the bottom of the hill was a stop sign so we found ourselves at the end of a long line of traffic waiting while the cars at the bottom turned onto the main road one at a time.

As I looked down to the bottom of the hill my eyes saw an elderly man standing by the stop sign. His clothes were old and worn. He held a cardboard sign with the words: “Need Help Please!” written on it. My heart went out to him and I imagined myself in his situation.

As car after car turned onto the road without stopping for him, I reached for my wallet to look for whatever cash was left in it. As I was pulling it out of my pocket, though, I saw a young woman walk up to him along the side of the road. She was carrying a bag full of take-out food from the restaurant I was just at. I watched as the old man thanked the young girl and smiled as she reached in to give him a hug.

Suddenly a loud “HONK” from the car behind me made me realize that I hadn’t been moving forward, because this simple choice for kindness had so captured my attention and my heart. By the time I reached the bottom of the hill both the man and lady who had helped him were gone. Yet, as I drove home the sun seemed to shine even brighter and Heaven felt a bit closer to Earth.

A choice is such a powerful thing. It can touch a heart and change a life. It can bring us closer to God and make Heaven smile. Each day we are given a thousand choices. May you make all of yours for kindness. May you make your whole life a choice for love, joy, and God.

Out Of The Mouth Of Babes!

Children have a way of taking a different “slant” on the Bible stories that we listened to as we grew up. If you do not believe me, just read the following:

Moses And The Red Sea

Nine-year-old Joey was asked by his mother what he had learned in Sunday School.

“Well mom, our teacher told us how God sent Moses behind enemy lines on a rescue mission to lead the Israelites out of Egypt.

When he got to the Red Sea, he had his army build a pontoon bridge and all the people walked across safely. Then he radioed headquarters for reinforcements. They sent bombers to blow up the bridge and all the Israelites were saved.”

“Now, Joey, is that really what your teacher taught you?” his Mother asked.

“Well, no, mom, but if I told it the way the teacher did, you’d never believe it!”

The Lord Is My Shepherd

A Sunday School teacher decided to have her young class memorize one of the most quoted passages in the Bible — Psalm 23. She gave the youngsters a month to learn the chapter.

Little Rick was excited about the task, but he just couldn’t remember the Psalm. After much practice, he could barely get past the first line.

On the day that the kids were scheduled to recite Psalm 23 in front of the congregation, Ricky was so nervous. When it was his turn, he stepped up to the microphone and said proudly, “The Lord is my Shepherd, and that’s all I need to know.”

Unanswered Prayer

The preacher’s 5-year-old daughter noticed that her father always paused and bowed his head for a moment before starting his sermon. One day, she asked him why.

“Well honey,” he began, proud that his daughter was so observant of his messages. “I’m asking the Lord to help me preach a good sermon.”

“How come He doesn’t answer it?” she asked.

Do We Have A Drug Problem?

A friend sent me this and I am forwarding it to you because it is “oh so true!”

The other day, someone at a store in Buffalo read that a methamphetamine lab had been found in an old farmhouse in Chester county and he asked me a rhetorical question, “Why didn’t we have a drug problem when you and I were growing up?”

I replied, I had a drug problem when I was young: I was drug to church on Sunday morning. I was drug to church for weddings and funerals. I was drug to family reunions and community socials no matter the weather. I was drug by my ears when I was disrespectful to adults. I was also drug to the woodshed when I disobeyed my parents, told a lie, brought home a bad report card, did not speak with respect, spoke ill of the teacher or the preacher, or if I didn’t put forth my best effort in everything that was asked of me. I was drug to the kitchen sink to have my month washed out with soap if I uttered a profanity. I was drug out to pull weeds in mom’s garden and flower beds and cockle burs out of dad’s fields. I was drug to the homes of family, friends and neighbors to help out some poor soul who had no one to mow the yard, repair the clothesline, or chop some firewood, and, if my mother had ever known that I took a single dime as a tip for this kindness, she would have drug me back to the woodshed.

Those drugs are still in my veins and they affect my behavior in everything I do, say, or think. They are stronger than cocaine, crack, meth, or heroin; and, if today’s children had this kind of drug problem, America would be a better place. God bless the parents who drugged us.

Birthdays

Celebrating birthdays last week were Kristy Farr on Thursday, Aug. 30; Eddie Goins, William Lee, and Broadus Roark on Friday, Aug. 31; Devin Gilkison on Sunday, Sept. 2; Johnny Jones and Jim McCullough on Wednesday, Sept. 5.

Celebrating birthdays this week are Lisa Taylor and Todd Justice on Thursday, Sept. 6; Nancy Braxton Browning and Pearl Lawson on Saturday, Sept. 8; Aiden Hogan and Jenna McAbee on Sunday, Sept. 9; Trevor Langford on Monday, Sept. 10; Ann Murphy on Tuesday, Sept. 11; and Mary Moore on Wednesday, Sept. 12.

Whether on time or belated, my prayers are that each of you will have the best NEXT YEAR that you have ever had; that your dreams will come true; and that you will experience unbelievable health.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ONE AND ALL!!!

Prayer Concerns

I am asking all of my readers to keep Heather Fleming, wife of Chris Fleming, in our prayers. She is suppose to give birth on Oct. 8, but is having some medical issues. Let’s pray that she will be able to go the distance and have the baby on the due date.

Our Anniversary Couple Of The Week

goes to Mark and Jo Anna Haney, who are celebrating their union of love on Tuesday, Sept. 11. If you know Mark and Jo Anna, let’s make it a point to congratulate them on their wedding anniversary!

Thought Of The Week

In life everyone uses a GPS. Which GPS system do you use: GPS system of Satan — Gullible Prompting of Satan or GPS system of God — God’s Plan of Salvation?

If You Have Good News

When you see, hear, or make news, hear good, funny, and clean jokes, please email your news and jokes to me at cap9296@aol.com, call me at 864-441-2371, mail your news to me at POB 128, Buffalo, or stop me on the street. When you celebrate good things in your life, I would like to share that with the good people of Buffalo. You want to laugh. I want to laugh. So please make me laugh. And remember, Anzie “edits” all of my journals! Until next week, may God bless you richly.