People

People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime. When you know which one it is, you will know what to do for that person..

When someone is in your life for a REASON, it is usually to meet a need you have expressed.

They have come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide you with guidance and support,

To aid you physically, emotionally or spiritually. They are there for the reason you need them to be.

Then, without any wrongdoing on your part or at an inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end.

Sometimes they die. Sometimes they walk away. Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand. What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled, their work is done and now it is time to move on.

Some people come into your life for a SEASON, because your turn has come to share, grow or learn.

They bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh. They may teach you something you have never done. They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy. Believe it, it is real. But only for a season.

LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons, things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation. Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life. It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant. Thank you for being a part of my life, whether you were a reason, a season or a lifetime. Angels exist, only they haven’t got wings and we call them friends; you are one of them.

Birthdays

Having birthdays this week are Amber Ferrell and Hayleigh Murphy on Friday, Sept. 14; Wendell Ferguson, Leon Davis Jr., and Jean Wood on Monday, Sept. 17; and Suzette Simmons on Tuesday, Sept. 18. I do not know these folks personally, but God does. So let’s join together with God and bless these “birthdays” this week.

A Foreign Language?

With all of the different cultures living in the United States I was wondering if I needed to learn a foreign language. But then the other day I learned that I did not have to.

A German, looking for directions in Union, pulls up to Charles and me in front of Wal-Mart as we waited for our ride.

“Entschuldigung, sprechen Sie Deutsch?” he asks. We just stared at him.

“Parlez-vous français?” he says.

As we continued to stare, the German tries again “Parlate italiano?”

No response.

“¿Hablan ustedes español?”

Still nothing.

Frustrated, the German guy finally drives off.

I said to Charles, “You know, we should learn a foreign language.”

“Why?” asks Charles. “He knew four languages, and it didn’t do him any good.”

Like A Fish

Sometimes a child can explain deep theological issues better than adults. Here is as case in point: A 12-year-old boy accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Savior and Lord during a weekend revival meeting. The next week his school friends questioned him about the experience.

“Did you hear God talk?” one asked.

“No,” the boy said.

“Did you have a vision?” another asked.

“No,” the boy replied.

“Well, how did you know it was God?” a third friend asked.

The boy thought for a moment and then said, “It’s like when you catch a fish. You can’t see the fish or hear the fish; you just feel him tugging your line. I felt God tugging on my heart.”

So often we try to figure out life by what we can see, hear, or experience with our other senses. We make calculated estimates and judgments based on empirical evidence. There’s a level of truth, however, that cannot be perceived by the senses or measured objectively. It’s at that level where faith abounds. It is our faith that compels us to believe, even when we cannot explain to others why or how or to what specific earthly end.

By our faith we only know in Whom we trust, and that is sufficient. Remember, it’s really not the outlook but the up look that counts.

Lord, Prop Us Up

Every time I am asked to pray, I think of the old fellow who always prayed, ‘Lord, prop us up on our leanin’ side.’ After hearing him pray that prayer many times, someone asked him why he prayed that prayer so fervently.

He answered, “Well sir, you see, it’s like this… I got an old barn out back. It’s been there a long time. It’s withstood a lot of weather. It’s gone through a lot of storms, and it’s stood for many years. It’s still standing. But one day I noticed it was leaning to one side a bit. So I went and got some pine poles and propped it up on its leaning side so it wouldn’t fall.

“Then I got to thinking about that and how much I was like that old barn. I’ve been around a long time. I’ve withstood a lot of life’s storms. I’ve withstood a lot of bad weather in life, I’ve withstood a lot of hard times, and I’m still standing too. But I find myself leaning to one side from time to time, so I like to ask the Lord to prop us up on our leaning side, ‘cause I figure a lot of us get to leaning at times.”

Sometimes we get to leaning toward anger, leaning toward bitterness leaning toward hatred, leaning toward cussing, leaning toward a lot of things that we shouldn’t. So we need to pray, ‘Lord, prop us up on our leaning side, so we will stand straight and tall again, to glorify the Lord.’

Our Condolences

go to the family of Mr. Glenn Dwayne Dill, 86, formerly of Gin Circle., Buffalo, passed away Saturday, Sept. 8, 2012 at Ellen Sagar Nursing Home. When our short life here on earth ends, our forever life in heaven begins.

The Difference Between A Mechanic And A Surgeon

Morris, the loudmouth mechanic, was removing the cylinder heads from the motor of a car when he spotted a famous heart surgeon who was standing off to the side, waiting for the service manager to come take a look at his Mercedes.

Morris shouted across the garage, “Hey Doc! Is dat you? Come on ova’ here a minute.”

The famous surgeon, a bit surprised, walked over to where Morris the mechanic was working on the car.

Morris straightened up, wiped his hands on a rag, and asked argumentatively, “So, Mr. Fancy Doctor, look at dis here work. I ALSO open hearts, take valves out, grind ‘em, put in new parts, and when I finish dis baby will purr like a kitten. So how come you get da big bucks, when you an’ me is doing basically da same work?”

The surgeon leaned over and whispered to Morris the loudmouth mechanic, “Try doing it with the engine running.

Prayer Concerns

Let’s continue to pray for Heather Fleming (wife of Chris Fleming) as she nears the day of delivery for their baby. One day closer to Oct. 8. Our prayers are with you, Heather.

My Thoughts: A Good Attitude

I am getting older by the day. And I am having quite a time because my mind still wants to do things that my body just can no longer do. And sometimes my stubbornness almost drives Anzie, my wife, up the walls! Life is special and we must try to enjoy and appreciate the time we have left. Here is a story that reminds us how special life is.

A 92-year-old, petite, well-poised and proud man, who is fully dressed each morning by eight o’clock, with his hair fashionably coiffed and shaved perfectly, even though he is legally blind, moved to a nursing home today. His wife of 70 years recently passed away, making the move necessary. After many hours of waiting patiently in the lobby of the nursing home, he smiled sweetly when told his room was ready.

As he maneuvered his walker to the elevator, I provided a visual description of his tiny room, including the eyelet sheets that had been hung on his window.

“I love it,” he stated with the enthusiasm of an 8-year-old having just been presented with a new puppy.

“Mr. Jones, you haven’t seen the room; just wait.”

“That doesn’t have anything to do with it,” he replied. “Happiness is something you decide on ahead of time. Whether I like my room or not doesn’t depend on how the furniture is arranged … it’s how I arrange my mind. I already decided to love it. It’s a decision I make every morning when I wake up. I have a choice; I can spend the day in bed recounting the difficulty I have with the parts of my body that no longer work, or get out of bed and be thankful for the ones that do.

Each day is a gift, and as long as my eyes open I’ll focus on the new day and all the happy memories I’ve stored away. Just for this time in my life.

Old age is like a bank account. You withdraw from what you’ve put in.

Thought of the Week

“When you run low on spiritual energy, just refill yourself with God’s Word.”

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.