“The Man In the Black Car”

"The Man In the Black Car"

   I will likely never see him again, and wouldn't know if I did.  I don't know his name, where he is from, or anything about him.  Except…

   ...Except that he slowed down his vehicle to volunteer aid as Frances and I stopped on an interstate offramp.  I left the gas cap off after a stop at a service station.  It flapped against the side of the car, alerting me to my error.  I got out and replaced the cap.  By the time I finished, a car approached.  The driver slowed his vehicle, and through the passenger's side window asked,  "Everything ok?  Need some help?"  I assured him we were fine, thanked him, and he waved and went on his way. 

    The man's gesture and generous offer of help touched me deeply.  It also made me a bit sad because I would have loved to thank him face to face, shake his hand, and tell him what a blessing and example he had been to us.  I'll never be able to do this, but the thought occurred to me, "There is something I can do for the man, despite not knowing a thing about him other than the fact he graciously offered to help someone he didn't know.  

    I determined to pray for "the man in the black car who offered to help us".   I will do this for the rest of my life, as God directs.  Of course, I don't know if he is a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, although he certainly acted like one.  I am also unaware of any detail of his life.  However, I know the One who does know.  Thus, I can ask our Heavenly Father to work in the man's heart and life in accordance with Divine wisdom, knowledge, understanding, and most of all, the redeeming love of Christ.  I can do something for the man, or rather, I can ask our Lord to work in his heart and life for the glory of God, and the man's benefit.  This may involve salvation, or it may involve the fruits of an already received salvation.  Birth or growth.  Whatever the case, how wondrous that God grants us the privileged responsibility of interceding for others, whether we know them or not.  "I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men" (I Timothy 2:1).

   I have no doubt that the Lord orchestrated the events that led to the encounter.  I don't suppose He caused me to forget replacing the gas cap.  I own that blunder!  However, He knew I would do so, and thus fit my forgetfulness into His eternal purposes.  Again, the gentleman's kindness greatly blessed us and exemplified the Lord Jesus.   I trust he will also experience blessing through God's answer to our prayers.  I also hope you are encouraged by this account of a truly wonderful gesture by a stranger who acted like a friend.  Perhaps we will follow his example in some manner, and our Lord will use the encounter that lasted little more than 5 seconds as an ongoing reminder to help others.  Or maybe we will pray for those who help us.  Seems like a win-win situation to me, and all because "the man in the black car" served as God's reminder and example.  I am grateful for that, for the opportunity to pray for him, and the privilege of sharing this with you.

"As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men."

(Galatians 6:10)

Weekly Memory Verse

   Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

(Philippians 4:8)

    

    

   

   

   

 

“Go From the Presence”

The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…

"Go From the Presence"

   While our Lord calls us to be merciful, kind, and patient with people, He does not call us to suffer fools gladly.

   "Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge" (Proverbs 14:7).

   Sometimes we encounter people who are, at least for the moment, beyond any help we or even God can be to them.  We are under no obligation in such cases to venture beyond the call of duty.  We go far, doubtless as led and enabled by our Heavenly Father.  However, when we perceive that the one we seek to benefit simply will not be helped,  our calling involves the determination to waste no further time or effort.  The Apostle Paul acted in this manner when the Jews of Macedonia "opposed themselves and blasphemed": "Your blood be upon your own heads" declared Paul, who also added, "Henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles" (Acts 18:6).

   God helps those who will be helped.  As His children, we follow suit.  If an open heart exists for the love of Christ we seek to communicate, we leave no stone unturned in finding ways to express and exemplify God's grace, truth, and loving purposes.  For the closed heart of the fool, however, we "go from the presence".  Perhaps the day will come when that heart opens as a flower to the sun (Son).  Until then, we waste no precious time seeking to cultivate seed for which no soil exists.  Much wisdom is required, and through the Lord Jesus, much wisdom is promised.  "Christ Jesus… is  made unto us wisdom" (I Corinthians 1:30).  Our Father will lead us unto those who will listen and perhaps respond, but away from those who will not see, hear, or open their hearts to Him, or to us.

"Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding."

(Proverbs 9:6)

Weekly Memory Verse

   Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

(Philippians 4:8)

    

    

   

   

   

   

"Selective Consumption" Or... “I’ll Just Have a Bite Of Those Pop Tarts!"

The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…

"Selective Consumption"

or…

"I'll Just Have a Bite Of Those Pop Tarts!"

   Her gravestone lies in a beautiful spot on the edge of a wooded area, where deer often come to graze.  Trees provide shade throughout most of the day, and the people who loved her (love her still!) can look toward her peaceful resting place and remember with much thanksgiving the blessed time they shared with her.

   Sheba was the beloved pet of our dear friends, the Wheeler family, who live in Suwannee, Georgia.  We met Bryan and Peggy through these devotionals, along with their daughters Brittany and Brooke (haven't met the sons yet!).  And Sheba.  A beautiful Labrador and sweeter than honey, Sheba blessed the Wheelers for more than a decade. Friends like ourselves also loved her, affectionately thinking of her as the canine Wheeler.  Sheba passed away several months ago after a good long life.  Remi, another Lab, has taken her plac… well, that's not possible.  Bryan and Peggy adopted the now 65 pound "puppy" just before Sheba's passing.  While not replacing her, Remi has already found his own home in the Wheelers' hearts.  Oh yes, if perchance you need an energy transfusion, Remi has more than he will ever need, and will doubtless be glad to pass some along to you! 

   I share this with you because the Sheba story we most remember involves a time when we visited the Wheelers after a hike in the mountains of North Georgia.  We brought our backpacks into the house, and stored them in the bedroom Bryan and Peggy so graciously provide for us when we visit them.  One morning, Peggy, Frances, and I went for a drive (likely to get ice cream!).  Sheba stayed at home, and decided to visit our room to ensure that all was safe and sound.  It was, including the extra food that remained in our packs.  This necessitated an "inspection" by Sheba.  She found sunflower nuts, beef jerky, jelly beans, and… Pop Tarts!  These required further examination, and ultimately, consumption.  She opened the frosted strawberry treats, removed them from their packaging, and saved us the burden of having to eat them ourselves!  Peggy discovered the remnants of Sheba's labors on our behalf, and we still smile and laugh when thinking of Sheba's selective consumption of our treats.  "Nuts?  Nah!  Jerky?   Hmm… no!  Jelly beans?  Are you kidding?  How do you humans eat those things?!  Well, well, what have we here?  Pop Tarts?  Frosted Strawberry?  Don't mind if I do!"

   Sheba's culinary discretion illuminates a vital spiritual truth.  "Try (test) the spirits, whether they be of God.  For many false prophets are gone out into the world" (I John 4:1).  A lot of nuts, jerky, and jelly beans, as it were, offer themselves to our hearts these days.  False teachings and teachers bound, just as the Lord told us they would as history winds its way to God's conclusion.  The believer that doesn't remember this will inevitably consume poisonous ideas, notions, and proposals that lead to deception, distraction, and discouragement.  Being a believer means that we are also disbelievers.  We choose carefully that to which we expose our hearts and minds.  Those who do not saturate their communication with the person and work of the Lord Jesus, or who do not interpret Scripture with Scripture, must at best be viewed as unworthy to teach us, and at worst, as literally dangerous to our spiritual well being.  "Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ" (Colossians 2:8).

   When the memory of a dear one also reminds us of THE Dear One and His truth, a beautiful grace settles upon our hearts.  Sheba's legacy abides, and I never think of a Pop Tart without thinking of her.  Even more, I ponder her selective consumption in terms of its lesson to us.  Let us read, but not believe everything we read.  Let us listen with a discriminating consideration of the speaker's content.  Most importantly, let us prepare ourselves to test the spirits in order to be enabled to discern truth from error, fact from falsehood, and light from darkness.  We need Pop Tarts, as it were, rather than nuts, jerky, and jelly beans. :):)  Sheba taught us that, and the memory of her continues to remind us that selective spiritual consumption determines much of the course of our walk with the Lord in faith and faithfulness.

"But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies."

(II Peter 2:1)

Weekly Memory Verse

   Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

(Philippians 4:8)