Sobering?

(12.01.21– What I Possess! –Matthew 13: 45-46)

My friend, may I ask you a question? When we touch others before considering ourselves, are we putting a value on life beyond ourselves?

My friend, Life’s a story, welcome to This Passing Day.

I'm M. Clifford Brunner.

This past weekend I had a long list of chores. One side of the list were outside chores; all of great value such as splitting wood, installing several outside decks lights and putting away some outdoor furniture for the season. The other side of the list consisted of inside chores ranging from helping Holly shampoo some rugs and furniture and blacking the wood stove in the Great Room. Both sides of the list possessed value and the dilemma was how to complete as many as possible in the time allotted. Since there were more tasks than time, a decision had to be made as to which tasks had the greater value. In the end the inside tasks took precedence since each of these affected Holly's ability to complete her long list of cleaning chores as well. As much as I wanted to go outside, staying inside had a greater value. I needed to own the inside tasks first because they reached beyond just that which affected me.

When we touch others before considering ourselves, we put a value on life beyond ourselves.

Here's a story: George Washington Truett was a preacher in Dallas for 47 years. He once visited a wealthy West Texas rancher and had dinner in his huge ranch home. After dinner, the rancher took Dr. Truett up to a veranda on top of his house, and lit up a big cigar. The sun was setting, and if you've ever been to West Texas, you know you can see a long way out there. The man pointed to the south toward some oil rigs and said, "I own everything in that direction as far as you can see." He pointed east toward some cotton fields and said, "And I own everything in that direction, too." He pointed north toward a huge herd of cattle and bragged, "And, preacher, I own everything as far as you can see in that direction." He turned to the west, and said, "And I own everything you can see in that direction, except the sun, of course." Dr. Truett turned to the man and pointed straight up the sky and said, "And how much do you own in that direction?"(Author unknown.)

It's a sobering question for all of us. We're surrounded constantly by the "things" of this world, and it is so easy to think that these "things" are the things that matter most–a nice car, a nice home, nice clothes and don't forget that all-important "to-do" list. And so, if we're not careful, we may seek to satisfy first ourselves, without regard to our relationship with God. We're foolish unless we admit we will all one day will be forced to recognize that the material things, including our own self-interest, have no eternal value. Clinging to things, especially to our own self-interest, is nothing more than a bad habit. It may be natural, but it is evil. Putting others before ourself is the first step to replacing evil with good.

We pray. Heavenly Father, if we're not careful, putting ourselves always first before others, we may seek to satisfy only ourselves, without regard to our relationship with You or those here on earth we do or ought to love. Forgive us Lord when we're foolish by not admitting that one day will be forced to recognize that the material things, including our own self-interest, has no eternal value. Clinging to things, especially to our own self-interest, is nothing more than a bad habit. It may be natural, but it is evil. Putting others before ourself is the first step to replacing evil with good. Help us by Your Spirit Lord to do this, and not the “me first thing.” In Jesus name we pray. Amen!

Therefore my friend, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry for itself; each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matt 6:34) This Passing Day. May this passing day honor our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and be a blessing to you and everyone you meet. Find a stranger and say hello. Don't let another day pass without your day blessing someone else

If you have a special prayer request, please send your request to ”This Passing Day!”

<thispassingday@gmail.com> From Beech Springs, God bless you for Jesus sake.

Sobering?

(12.01.21– What I Possess! –Matthew 13: 45-46)

My friend, may I ask you a question? When we touch others before considering ourselves, are we putting a value on life beyond ourselves?

My friend, Life’s a story, welcome to This Passing Day.

I'm M. Clifford Brunner.

This past weekend I had a long list of chores. One side of the list were outside chores; all of great value such as splitting wood, installing several outside decks lights and putting away some outdoor furniture for the season. The other side of the list consisted of inside chores ranging from helping Holly shampoo some rugs and furniture and blacking the wood stove in the Great Room. Both sides of the list possessed value and the dilemma was how to complete as many as possible in the time allotted. Since there were more tasks than time, a decision had to be made as to which tasks had the greater value. In the end the inside tasks took precedence since each of these affected Holly's ability to complete her long list of cleaning chores as well. As much as I wanted to go outside, staying inside had a greater value. I needed to own the inside tasks first because they reached beyond just that which affected me.

When we touch others before considering ourselves, we put a value on life beyond ourselves.

Here's a story: George Washington Truett was a preacher in Dallas for 47 years. He once visited a wealthy West Texas rancher and had dinner in his huge ranch home. After dinner, the rancher took Dr. Truett up to a veranda on top of his house, and lit up a big cigar. The sun was setting, and if you've ever been to West Texas, you know you can see a long way out there. The man pointed to the south toward some oil rigs and said, "I own everything in that direction as far as you can see." He pointed east toward some cotton fields and said, "And I own everything in that direction, too." He pointed north toward a huge herd of cattle and bragged, "And, preacher, I own everything as far as you can see in that direction." He turned to the west, and said, "And I own everything you can see in that direction, except the sun, of course." Dr. Truett turned to the man and pointed straight up the sky and said, "And how much do you own in that direction?"(Author unknown.)

It's a sobering question for all of us. We're surrounded constantly by the "things" of this world, and it is so easy to think that these "things" are the things that matter most–a nice car, a nice home, nice clothes and don't forget that all-important "to-do" list. And so, if we're not careful, we may seek to satisfy first ourselves, without regard to our relationship with God. We're foolish unless we admit we will all one day will be forced to recognize that the material things, including our own self-interest, have no eternal value. Clinging to things, especially to our own self-interest, is nothing more than a bad habit. It may be natural, but it is evil. Putting others before ourself is the first step to replacing evil with good.

We pray. Heavenly Father, if we're not careful, putting ourselves always first before others, we may seek to satisfy only ourselves, without regard to our relationship with You or those here on earth we do or ought to love. Forgive us Lord when we're foolish by not admitting that one day will be forced to recognize that the material things, including our own self-interest, has no eternal value. Clinging to things, especially to our own self-interest, is nothing more than a bad habit. It may be natural, but it is evil. Putting others before ourself is the first step to replacing evil with good. Help us by Your Spirit Lord to do this, and not the “me first thing.” In Jesus name we pray. Amen!

Therefore my friend, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry for itself; each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matt 6:34) This Passing Day. May this passing day honor our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and be a blessing to you and everyone you meet. Find a stranger and say hello. Don't let another day pass without your day blessing someone else

If you have a special prayer request, please send your request to ”This Passing Day!”

<thispassingday@gmail.com> From Beech Springs, God bless you for Jesus sake.