by George | Jun 30, 2022 | Community News, Devotional, Newsletter
Don’t Let Him In
“Now whom you forgive anything, I also forgive. For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ, lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.”
II Corinthians 2:10-11
I met a man who specializes in what he calls “exotic animal control.” He removes snakes, gophers, and the like from people’s houses.
This year, he said, snakes are more prevalent. New construction in our area seems to get them stirred up, as we are “invading their territory.”
He also teaches homeowners how to prevent snakes from getting into the house. One way is to put steel wool in the hole under the sink, where the pipes come in. On the outside of the building, steel wool can be put in the hole where electrical wires go into the house.
In the same way, we can prevent another snake, Satan from entering our lives.
James tells us how:
“Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”
James 4:7-8
Submitting to God, resisting the devil and drawing near to God are our “steel wool.”
The man I spoke to is not ignorant of the creatures’ devices, the way they try to get into our homes. In the same way, Paul said we are not ignorant of Satan’s devices.
Be on guard, and use the “steel wool” prescribed by James.
by George | Jun 24, 2022 | Community News, Devotional, Newsletter
Roll the credits
“Obed-edom had sons: Shemaiah the firstborn, Jehozabad the second, Joah the third, Sacar the fourth, Nethanel the fifth, Ammiel the sixth, Issachar the seventh, and Peullethai the eighth; God had indeed blessed him.”
1 Chronicles 26:4-5
At the end of the movie, the credits start to roll. Most people in the movie theater start to get up and head for the exits. If you are watching it on television, you probably hit the stop button or change the channel. We don’t pay much attention to the list of names once it goes past the actors’ names… No one cares who the “key grip” person was.
When you read 1 Chronicles, you sometimes get the feeling you are watching the credits, and your mind starts to wander. But, sometimes in the seemingly endless list of names, we find some gems.
Obed-edom is one of them. At the end of the list of his eight sons, it says: “…God had indeed blessed him.”
1 Chronicles 26:5
Why did God bless him? The answer is found back in 1 Chronicles 13:
“So David did not take the ark with him to the city of David but took it aside to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite. Thus the ark of God remained with the family of Obed-edom in his house three months, and the Lord blessed the family of Obed-edom with all that he had.”
1 Chronicles 13:13-14
David had tried to move the ark of the covenant back to Israel but didn’t do it the right way, and Uzzah was struck down when he touched it. (1 Chronicles 13:7-11)
So, David was afraid to move the ark any further. He chose Obed-edom to take care of it.
I imagine Obed-edom was surprised when the king arrived with the ark.
Being a faithful servant, he said yes.
If you ever have been given a new piece of furniture, you have to move the old furniture out of the way.
Obed-edom had to make room for the ark. He respected it, and took care of it. As a result, God blessed him with sons and grandsons who were valiant and strong.
“All these were of the sons of Obed-edom; they and their sons and their relatives were able men with strength for the service, 62 from Obed-edom.”
1 Chronicles 26:8
Wow, it all started with a faithful act of service.
Let’s be like Obed-edom and make room for God in our lives.
“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
Matthew 6:33
by George | Jun 13, 2022 | Community News, Devotional, Newsletter
The Why
“Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might; for there is no activity or planning or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol where you are going.”
Ecclesiastes 9:10
Do you ever wonder why you do what you do? We all have a lot of things to do each day. It’s easy to get bogged down in all the details, and somehow lose the “why.” I think it’s helpful to remember why you do the things you do… Here’s my story and the “why” I do the chaplaincy thing…
In May of 2003, I was working as a restaurant manager. It was steady employment, but I was not satisfied. One Sunday, I expressed this feeling to the church I was attending. I asked them to help me pray that I would find a fulfilling career.
That afternoon, I looked in the paper and saw that a hospice in Cartersville was looking for a Chaplain.
I prayed earnestly and felt peace about applying. I asked friends to pray as well.
The Lord answered my prayer and allowed me to minister there for 5 years.
Around 2009, a friend of my wife’s noticed that there was an ad in the paper for United Hospice. (UH later became Pruitt Health Hospice.) They were looking for a Chaplain. I prayed about it and applied. The Lord answered that prayer, and by the grace of God, I’m still here.
The best part of what I do is not the “knowledge “ I impart to patients and families. Instead, it’s what they share with me. Hearing their stories. Getting to know these precious folks.
My “why” is the feeling of satisfaction I get from being there and providing comfort to patients with life-limiting illness and their loved ones.
What’s your story? Why do you do what you do? Take some time to get back to the core, the “why” of what you do.
Then, take Solomon’s words to heart and “do it with all your might.”
