THE NEW EWE

"What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!'"

Luke 15:4-6

May 22, 2024

LIFE IN THE FOLD

I suppose I should wait until next month and write this as a Father's Day post, but this is what is on my mind this week.

Recently, some of my family has been sharing memories of our family. Some have shared some words of wisdom that Daddy shared with them, and I've been thinking about his words.

Daddy was a quieter man and normally not a big talker. He was kind and well respected by everyone who knew him. He was a hard worker and honest and loyal. He had strong opinions about certain things and would share those opinions; but he wasn't obnoxious about it. Sometimes when asking his advice, he wouldn't tell you what he thought (even when you really wanted him to), but would allow you to make your own decisions. Daddy was content to sit back and didn't want any recognition or attention given to him. He would visit and talk with people and enjoyed that; but he didn't throw around empty words. When he did share advice or words of wisdom, you listened, because you knew that the words had been well thought out before he spoke them.

My oldest nephew shared that when he was in the 8^th grade the church that his parents were pastoring was building a new parsonage. His dad would change his mind on how they were going to do something, which was aggravating him. The only person he ever talked to about anything bothering him was his grandpa (my dad). One day he was complaining to his grandpa about his dad. Daddy told my nephew these simple words: "Only a fool never changes his mind." My nephew shared that he still doesn't like to change plans after they've been made, but he always thinks of his grandpa saying this and tries not to be a fool too often.

There is so much truth in what my dad told his grandson. Those who refuse to ever change their mind about anything are foolish. Millions of people would never repent of their sins and see their need for a Savior if they refused to change their mind. If they didn't see that the path that they are on is leading to destruction and that they need to change directions, they would have no hope for eternity.

There are times when we may make a decision about something, but after talking it out with our spouse we can see that we need to change our mind and do it differently than what we originally thought. Sometimes we may need to change our mind about career choices, financial direction, which route to take when traveling, etc.

May we all remember my dad's words of wisdom, next time we are faced with the need to change our mind about something: "Only a fool never changes his/her mind." Let's be wise; not fools.

One of my sisters shared that she was working at a job and her boss had given someone else a raise that had been there less time than she had. My sister asked her boss about it, and told her that she would think about whether she was going to quit or stay over the weekend. When she got home she was upset and crying. Daddy told her, "Just because you are a christian doesn't mean you have to let people run over you."

Another sister said that Daddy told her one time that being nice didn't mean that she had to be a doormat and let people walk over her.

There may be times when people try to take advantage of us and think that we won't respond or say anything, because we are a christian. In fact, they may try to make us feel guilty if we do stand up and defend ourself. We can do it in kindness and love; but still not allow others to run or walk over us. We aren't a doormat for people to clean their feet on.

We need to know who we are in Christ and be confident in that. We are beloved children of God. Our Father loves and cherishes us and sees us special and worthy. He has given us talents and abilities and intends for us to use those things. We can hold our heads up high and walk in confidence.

Something my sister told her children every morning before they left for school is, "You're the head, not the tale; you'll rise above, you will not fail!" Her daughter now speaks those words over her children each day. This is scriptural from Deuteronomy 28:13.

Don't go through life allowing people to take advantage of you and use you. You don't deserve to be treated as the tail -- the one that everyone sits on and abuses. You're not a doormat for people to walk over and clean their feet on. You're not stupid. You have worth and value; so hold your head up and act like the child of God, that you are.

My sisters remember Daddy saying that he never complained about getting a flat tire or getting behind a slow vehicle. He said God knew what was down the road and may be protecting him from something worse, like a car wreck.

This is something that my sisters have all remembered throughout their life. It's easy to complain when there are delays and you're trying to get somewhere. It's an inconvenience when you have a flat tire. It's sometimes aggravating when you are trying to get somewhere and it seems as if you keep running into obstacles. But what if we were to change our outlook when those things happen? What if we were to see them as God protecting us and being in control of the timing of our drive time and journey? We may never know the accidents that God protects us from. Just because we don't know doesn't mean they aren't there. We have no idea the number of times that our delays are really orchestrated by God on our behalf.

When someone speaks words of wisdom into our life, we need to take notice and remember their words. If words are spoken that speaks to our heart, perhaps we need to write them down so we'll remember and not forget. It could just be God speaking wisdom through that person and He desires that we pay attention and heed to those words.

JON'S PERSPECTIVE:

There are many ways to illustrate the difference between intelligence and wisdom. One is that intelligence is learning from your mistakes, but wisdom is learning from others' mistakes.

Something I didn't realize as a teen was that most of the rules and advice my parents ... bestowed ... on me came from their mistakes or mistakes they watched others making. I didn't exactly have the wisdom to understand that.

To truly have wisdom like that, we have to start by watching and listening to others. Then we have to be willing to accept what they teach us.

And by the way, the Bible is absolutely filled with people making mistakes. If we learn from all of them, we should all be geniuses.

ON THE MENEWE:

Eggs in a Basket

(I've seen this recipe called various other names.)

Butter bread on both sides. Using a biscuit cutter, cut out the center of the bread.

Heat skillet and melt a little butter in the pan so the egg doesn't stick.

Place bread in pan; then crack an egg into the hole in the center of the egg. Salt and pepper, to taste.

Cook on both sides until bread is golden brown and egg is cooked to your liking. If you want the yolk harder, you can use a spatula to break the yolk, after flipping to the second side.

Place the center cutout of bread in the pan and cook until golden on both sides.

You can melt cheese on top of the egg, if desired.

THIS, THAT AND THE OTHER:

Church Bulletin Bloopers: (I hope you enjoy these as much as we do!)

Sermon Outline: 1. Delineate your fear. 2. Disown your fear. 3. Displace your rear.

The 1991 Spring Council Retreat will be hell May 10 and 11.

Women's Luncheon: Each member bring a sandwich. Polly Phillips will give the medication.

Next Friday we will be serving hot gods for lunch.

The church will host an evening of fine dining, superb entertainment, and gracious hostility.

Eight new choir robes are currently needed, due to the addition of several new members and to the deterioration of some older ones.

THOUGHT TO PONDER:

God didn't remove the Red Sea. He parted it.

God doesn't always remove your problems,

but He will make a way for you to get through them. - TobyMac

OUR HEARTFELT THANKS TO YOU:

We love you!

Loretta & Jon

http://www.graysheep.org