December 12, 2013

From Gary... Things
































This has to be my favorite car of all time!!!  Something says it is a Dusenberg or an Excalibur, but I don't really don't know.  Anyway, I love this car.  I know that I will never have it (unless something life-changing happens) but it is sort of nice to imagine having it.  Funny how the days of ones life seem to intertwine in a commonality of thought!!!  Just last night our preacher (Larry Schatzer) taught on the parables again and guess which one he chose...

Luke, Chapter 12
 13  One of the multitude said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” 

  14  But he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or an arbitrator over you?”   15 He said to them, “Beware! Keep yourselves from covetousness, for a man’s life doesn’t consist of the abundance of the things which he possesses.” 

  16  He spoke a parable to them, saying, “The ground of a certain rich man produced abundantly.  17  He reasoned within himself, saying, ‘What will I do, because I don’t have room to store my crops?’  18  He said, ‘This is what I will do. I will pull down my barns, and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.   19  I will tell my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years. Take your ease, eat, drink, be merry.”’ 

  20  “But God said to him, ‘You foolish one, tonight your soul is required of you. The things which you have prepared—whose will they be?’   21  So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” 

  22  He said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, don’t be anxious for your life, what you will eat, nor yet for your body, what you will wear.   23  Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing.  24  Consider the ravens: they don’t sow, they don’t reap, they have no warehouse or barn, and God feeds them. How much more valuable are you than birds!   25  Which of you by being anxious can add a cubit to his height?   26  If then you aren’t able to do even the least things, why are you anxious about the rest?   27  Consider the lilies, how they grow. They don’t toil, neither do they spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.   28  But if this is how God clothes the grass in the field, which today exists, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith?   29  Don’t seek what you will eat or what you will drink; neither be anxious.   30  For the nations of the world seek after all of these things, but your Father knows that you need these things.   31  But seek God’s Kingdom, and all these things will be added to you.   32 Don’t be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom.   33  Sell that which you have, and give gifts to the needy. Make for yourselves purses which don’t grow old, a treasure in the heavens that doesn’t fail, where no thief approaches, neither moth destroys.   34  For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Everyone likes nice things, but with them comes a danger of giving them too high a priority in life.  God knows our needs and abundantly supplies them. But the things we lust after... well- not so much!!!   Still, seemingly unimportant gifts can mean a lot.  Just before Linda and I were married, I was working with my father in Mechanicville, N.Y. as a plumber's helper and when the lady of the house (Mrs. Flilippo Falco) heard that I was getting married, she dissappeared for awhile and returned with a gift (an inch square little book with Bible Verses in it).  I have kept that little book for over 45 years now and intend to do so for the rest of my life.  Why?  Because it means something to me.  If someone who is a stranger can show kindness like that- well, then there really is hope for the human race.  Gifts don't have to be fancy or expensive to be valuable, but if God decides to use someone to bring a little pleasure into your life, be happy with whatever you receive.  Still, there is that car...  Stop, Gary... remember the verse you just read...
31  But seek God’s Kingdom, and all these things will be added to you.

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