'Discipline'

Good Morning Everyone,

Yea, the sun is shining today and the temperature is going to hit the 70’s today. With the light breeze blowing, it is just a marvelous day to be alive.. Our friend’s son from Texas, Michael, has gotten a job in Tenn. and left yesterday for the week. Jr. and Sharon are in the bus and we are gong to try an paint the fancy scallops Thursday and Friday.. Lord willing and the weather complies. (smile) Connie girl didn’t have to baby sit today so we get to be together.. I sure am happy about that. Dianne is feeding the chickens and fancy the pig so everything is up and running..

I have finally decided to start my diet so I will probably be grouchy for about three days.... eeeeeek.. But not to grouchy because with three wild women here I might end up with a knot on my noggin... LOL I am going to have to assert great discipline and trust God to achieve my weight reduction goal.. I plan to go and weigh on the tow motor scales at Jimmy’s work tonight and see how much over 450 lbs. I have gained.. yuck!

I haven’t had my thought on here for two days and for that I must apologize. I just couldn’t stay on here long enough to make one for you all. After answering a few letters I had to go... Lost all my mail yesterday because of a virus and I totally wiped out everything in my Outlook Express mail to make sure it hadn’t spread.. I don’t think they can but not taking any chances..

This was a rough weekend for me also. Had several bad spells Saturday and passed out three times.. We had company and I guess I kinda scared them pretty much.. And after I got off here yesterday I spent the day in my easy chair... So far, so good today.. Not going to push it and save my energy for Thursday.. (smile) Lazy, Huh? Well, that should catch you all up with the goings on around here.. I sure so hope that your weekend was more rewarding. (smile)

Matthew 16: 23, 28
[23] But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.
[24] Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
[25] For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
[26] For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

The effective Christians of history have been men and women of great personal discipline. To be a true, effective disciple of Christ, we must seek to discipline our lives and endeavor to walk even as He walked. And how does your personal discipline in everyday living demonstrate your walk with Jesus? Mine, for sure doesn’t show me much and at 450 pounds it doesn’t reflect well to others either.. Each of us have a vice(s) to combat don’t we? And it is going to take a great perseverance, personal discipline, and total surrendering to Jesus to walk in the victor’s lane. Don’t waste your time with a half hearted attempt. Set your mind and then as verse 24 says:
“If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”

'Suffering Is Endurable'

Good Morning Everyone,

Well we had a great day yesterday but just a little bit to big I’m afraid. Connie girl and I took Jr. and Sharon, our visiting friends from Texas, to the land between the lakes and we all had a great time looking at the bison and the ole home place, etc. We left there and went to Dover, Tenn. and visited with another Boilermaker friend, Jim and wife, Joyce. When we got home Dianne had an outstanding supper ready for us. Meatloaf, garden corn from the freezer, taters, fried corn bread, fresh onions from Connie’s little garden, dressed eggs, brown beans, and homemade zucchini bread. hmmm, hmmm, good.

It was after supper that the fun began.. It was lighting and raining, I felt a spell coming on and made it to my easy chair and passed out. After bringing me around, Jr. and Sharon left to go to the bus for the night and Jr. fell off of the porch, over a concrete statute, and onto the driveway. Jr. is also disabled and we were afraid he might have broken something so Connie took him, Sharon and Michael to the hospital. Fortunately, Jr. was just bruised pretty bad but no broken bones. They got back home about 12:30am and Connie had to get up at 5:00 to go to Bowling Green to baby sit

John 14: 12, 18

[12] Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
[13] And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
[14] If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
[15] If ye love me, keep my commandments.
[16] And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
[17] Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
[18] I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

Suffering is endurable if we do not have to bear it alone; and the more compassionate the Presence, the less acute the pain. When things go wrong, isn’t it comforting to know that we have the Holy Spirit to guide us and ease our troubles, our problems, and our pain? This is why it is so important to have a close relationship and walk with Jesus. It also helps us to be compassionate when others are suffering.. May God grant you peace and contentment and ease any pain you may be going through...

'The Importance Of Prayer'

Good Morning Everyone,

It is a beautiful morning here at the Bar-K-Ranch and I must hurry if I am going to get this on here today.. Jr. and I are going to go to Cleveland, Tenn. today and take the 1960 Ford truck to Scott. He is without a vehicle and said that he would put a concrete garage floor in for me in trade for the old truck... I have the little Ford running pretty good so My friend Jr. said he would ride along and keep an eye on me so I could take it down there... Is going to be a long ole day for sure..

Connie girl has left for Bowling Green to baby sit our grand daughter. She left this morning at 5:30am.. A little to early for me.. LOL I am going to wait until about 8:30am to leave.. Jimmy is going to come and help me load the 60 Ford on the car hauler trailer and I figure to miss the Nashville traffic by that time... Last evening Connie girl and Dianne brought home a bunch more chickens.. These are fully gown so we are going to have some fresh eggs before long..

Oh, I won’t be on here answering mail today but I have read some of it and will read the prayer request before I go and make that a matter of priority before I leave for Tenn.. It isn’t that God doesn’t know your request already but I feel He wants to see how we respond in the importance of our prayer life..

We should never be to busy to talk to and pray to God. a preacher friend of my in Pennsylvania, Harold Kelley, has a big ole ring of names hanging in his car and while he drives he prays for those people listed on that ring.. I rode with him back in the early 80’s and spotted that ringing hanging there and it impressed me on the importance of prayer. I never said anything to Harold and he probably has never known what an impact that little gesture has played in my prayer life.. Funny isn’t it, how little things like that touch a persons life without you even knowing it?

Philippians 2: 1, 5
[1] If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,
[2] Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
[3] Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
[4] Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
[5] Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

The human mind cannot be a vacuum. It will be filled either with good or evil. It will be either carnal or Christ like, We can control the kind of thoughts that enter our minds. Some unknown wise man has suggested: “Give your mind to Christ that you may be guided by His wisdom.” Let’s remember to pray for one another and follow the example of Jesus who by the way was not only God in the flesh but a great man of prayer.. You could follow no greater example than that of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, when it comes to prayer... May you have a blessed day, full of joy and peace... Well Glory!

'What Can I Offer God?'

Good Morning Everyone,

My, Oh, My, what a wonderful day to be alive today. I trust that you are enjoying this most lovely day which God has made. The sun is shining so brightly this morning and after the thunder storms last evening it is a pleasant change with 80 degrees and breezy winds.. The last few days I have only answered a couple of letters and had no thought on here. For that I must apologize.

I’m afraid I just wasn’t able to get on here much and spent two days in my easy chair. Yep, I passed out. One day in the kitchen and the day before yesterday I had gone to the garage to put the little Ford tractor back into the shed before it rained but couldn’t make it back to the house. I passed out in the yard and Connie girl, Dianne, Jr., Sharon, and Mike came to my rescue. (smile) I gave them all a thrill. LOL

Yesterday, Dalton Law came and fixed the bus for Jr. It is running now and they moved it out of the driveway and parked it on the side pad. Dalton goes to our church and brought his wife Kathy and I showed her our church site while everyone else worked on the bus.. Is that being lazy or what? Anyway, I had a spell again a little bit later but made it to my easy chair before doing one of my now famous swan dives to the floor.. I stayed there until 6 this morning and then went to bed and slept for a few hours..

But this morning? Well, I feel pretty chipper so far and figured I would try and make up for time lost. (smile) Jr., Sharon, and Michael have gone to Nashville. Connie girl, Dianne, (Aaron, Will, and Kourtney, who spent the night with us) have gone to church. That leaves just Jesus and myself sitting here with the window wide open and enjoying this lovely day together. And this is what I wish to share with you....

I Chronicles 29: 11, 17
[11] Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all.
[12] Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all.
[13] Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name.
[14] But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee.
[15] For we are strangers before thee, and sojourners, as were all our fathers: our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is none abiding.
[16] O LORD our God, all this store that we have prepared to build thee an house for thine holy name cometh of thine hand, and is all thine own.
[17] I know also, my God, that thou triest the heart, and hast pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of mine heart I have willingly offered all these things: and now have I seen with joy thy people, which are present here, to offer willingly unto thee.

After reading these verses, I have come to the realization that we have very little to offer God because everything belongs to Him already. Everything we have is His already, even the very breath which we breath. What is left for you and I to offer to Him? As I ruminate upon this the only thing I can offer to God is me. First, my heart, by accepting Jesus as my Saviour. Secondly, my time, as I pray and study His word. Thirdly, (vs.13) We MUST offer our thanks and our praises to His Glorious Name. Well Glory!

'Never To Busy For God'

'Face To Face'

Good Morning Everyone,

I sincerely hope that all is well with you this morning. That Connie girl is planting Cannas and digging around in the yard already. She is going to put out the Banana trees too.. the Humming birds, red birds blue birds, yellow finches, blue jays, and one red headed wood pecker, plus all the other little feathers creatures are flittering around the yard to mark that spring has sprung.. I can’t even see the top pasture this morning because the leaves in the woods have popped out enough to hide it. Oh, yea, the Lilac bush is in full bloom and smells sooooooo good... (smile)

It is partly sunny this morning and supposed to rain but yesterday it was in the 80’s and after all the rain we’ve had made everything come to life. Even the fish in Connie’s pond are jumping. The downside is the bumble bee’s and wasps are buzzing really bad this year... I don’t care for them.. (smile) Connie girl and Dianne worked all day yesterday in the yard mowing and weed eating. The only thing I did was move the old ‘60’ ford truck and ‘49’ dump truck so she could mow under them. I didn’t pass out again but was to shaky to be up so I spent most of the day just a swinging on the patio and taking in all of the goings on around here.. (smile)

Oh, before I forget. Did you get to see the space shuttle last night? It was only in view about 3 minutes, from 8:42 to 8:45, but was amazing to watch as it streamed across the clear, starry sky. It was such a lovely evening out side. Warm with a gentle breeze blowing... A perfect evening for sure.. (smile)

Genesis 1: 11, 12; 21; 17; 31
[11] And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so.
[12] And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good.
[21] And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good.
[27] So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
[31] And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

God has made such a beautiful spring here at the Bar-K-Ranch this year. Are you taking time out to appreciate all the beautiful splendors of God’s creation? I hope so. Don’t be so busy that you miss the simple and true wonders of this season which God has prepared.. Stop, go out side, take a deep breath, and allow our Lord to take you by the hand and lead you through His spring time garden. Thank you LORD, for giving me the breath of life, for saving my soul and writing my name in the Lambs Book of Life. Thank you, God, for allowing me to enjoy the awesome display of your creative power.. Just a tiny sample of the glories which are awaiting me. What a day that will be when I can explore all the beauties of Heaven. I thank you for the Holy Spirit which has sealed my soul. But most of all, I thank you for Your Son and look forward to the day when I stand before Him and will be able to say, “I love you, Jesus,“ face to face. Well glory!

The Love of Jesus

Good Morning Everyone,

After several days of rain and clouds I have awakened this morning to a beautiful sun shinny day and warm breezes. It is just one of those days which makes one feel so happy to be alive and seeing all of the splendors of God. I hope that today’s thought finds you well and enjoying all that God has given to you. I am so, so sorry about not being able to do the mailings of inspiration for you all and I am praying that this will be remedied before to terribly long. I’ll certainly be thrilled when this ole PC is back to normal and operating as it should be...

Well it has been several days since we have updated you concerning the happenings here at the Bar-K-Ranch. (smile) Connie girl and Dianne are babysitting our grand daughter, Madeline, in Bowling Green this week. So it has been quite around here. I have been going to the garage and piddling with the 51 red bellied Ford tractor. If you remember, I began painting and fixing on it in February.

Well, it is completed except for changing the oil and putting on the air breather. Yep, the painting is complete and it looks like a brand new one. I even air brushed the Ford names in flame red and put some blue pinstripes on it... LOL The little tractor will be ready to mow and do Connie girl’s garden after today.. When I get the Outlook Express mail program up and running again I will send you a picture of it. (smile) God is so good to this undeserving ole man that I can hardly stand it. What a thrill just knowing Jesus and having His love flood my soul each day.. Do you feel the love of Jesus in you daily walk? I hope so.

I John 4; 7, 16
[7] Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
[8] He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
[9] In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
[10] Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
[11] Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
[12] No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
[13] Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.
[14] And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.
[15] Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.
[16] And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.

Being a born again Christian and knowing the love of Jesus and having this love steeping deep down in my soul makes me sad for those individuals who have never received Jesus as Saviour. They have never felt the joy and peace which Christ only can bring. Regardless of our situation, the turmoil, problems, or even sufferings which come our way, we have this consoling comfort of God’s love. Time is short! Won’t you share this love which Jesus gave you with someone today?

'My Duty, My Joy'

Good Morning Everyone,

Well it look as though I am having some pc problems.. My out look express is locked up so bad.. eeeeeek! I can’t get it to do anything but show the hourglass.. No letters, no send or receive, can’t even view the letters I had saved on there.. I ran the anti-virus program first and no virus showed up, so that isn’t it.. I set the pc to restore to an earlier date and have run maintenance several times but nothing works.. My mail box will soon over flow at Volaris and everything will be kicked back so I am going to put this on the site page and hope that you find it.. (smile) it is the only way to get my daily thought out to you until I can figure how to repair my Out Look Express...

Guess that the devil doesn’t like this ministry and is messing with me... But the Lord will help me get it fixed before long and we can get back to normal mailing again... At least it is a beautiful day here at the Bar-K-Ranch today. A little bit cool, so I guess that ole man winter is hanging on. Connie girl and Dianne had to cover some of the trees and plants night before last to keep everything from freezing.. It got down to the 20’s... burrr..... We still have a house full and Eric and Joey came last night to spend the night with us.. Never a dull moment... LOL

Two days of missed mailing and the vote sites sure do show it.. dropped way down and ever went backwards at cross daily.. Didn’t show up at all on Christ Sites and hit the third page on Baptist Top 1000.. So it looks like the devil is having his day.. Maybe I can get this pc fixed before too long and we can move forward again with this ministry.. it is going to take an extra effort on your part also.. I will leave this on the page until Monday.. I am going to try and find someone to help me out here..

II Corinthians 4: 13, 18
[13] We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;
[14] Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.
[15] For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.
[16] For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
[17] For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
[18] While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

In the last essay he wrote before he died, the great Christian apologist C. S. Lewis said, “We have no right to happiness; only and obligation to do our duty.” it is in our duty that happiness comes. With this thought in mind, I am going to continue to put my daily thought on this web site as long as God gives me the grace to. This is not only my duty to you all but my joy in the knowledge that many are receiving a daily blessing from heaven.