Marching Forth!

This morning I read of the interaction between Abram and Lot after their herdsmen had quarreled together.  So plentiful were their flocks and herds that the land was unable to support them both.  Though Abram was his elder, he graciously declared to Lot in an effort to make and keep peace in  Genesis 13:9 , " Is not the whole land before you? Please separate from me. If you take the left, then I will go to the right; or, if you go to the right, then I will go to the left ."  He gave Lot the opportunity to go wherever he wanted, and promised to go in the opposite direction. Abram was good as his word for  Genesis 13:10-11 tells us, " And Lot lifted his eyes and saw all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere (before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah) like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt as you go toward Zoar. 11 Then Lot chose for himself all the plain of Jordan, and Lot journeyed east. And they separated from each ot...

During the holidays it is easy to stay up a little later at night and rise a little later in the morning.  I set an alarm on my phone to ensure I do rise at an hour before the house is awake and bustling.  Eliminating these potential distractions is a big help to a sustained and focused time of prayer with God.  The scripture says a man's heart devises his way, but the LORD directs his steps ( Prov. 16:9 ).  One way this works out daily is I set the alarm, but God wakes me up when He wants. :) Today He woke me minutes before my alarm was to sound, and this is always lovely.  Whenever this happens I am convinced this is no coincidence, for my times are in God's hands.  After I knelt in my customary place it was a sweet time of thinking about God and affirming my appreciation for Him.  Time during prayer can rush by or feel like time stands still as a soul draws near to his Creator.  At one point I opened my eyes and noticed a flash of silver n...

It is newsworthy when a train derails, and always bad news.  No train goes "off the rails" without incredible damage due to the sheer size and weight of the train.  With immense force linked carriages pile into one another, creating a twisted pile of metal carnage.  A train which leaves the track whilst transporting people is a greater catastrophe still.  The aftermath is a nightmare for all involved. Sometimes the lives of people have been compared to a train wreck, a personal disaster which causes people to stare and wonder in amazement.  A life which seemed to be going along smoothly to a profitable destination suddenly veered off course possibly due to bad choices.  Complications and severe consequences can quickly escalate out of control.  We say such a person has gone "off the rails."  A life which was once promising can be stopped in its tracks through drugs, alcohol, and debt.  There are undoubtedly many factors which lead to the...

We have been experiencing summer in full swing in Sydney, and areas of our lawn without shade have begun to dry out.  Though the Sir Walter turf is very hardy, additional water is needed at times to keep it green and growing.  It took me mowing and edging to notice the dusty and dry condition of the lawn.  It's funny, isn't it?  I look across our green lawn every day, but it isn't until I tend to it that I notice areas of neglect which escaped notice.  Yesterday I spent a good half-hour watering the lawn and offering my skin to thirsty mosquitoes (I found this out later).  The soil was so dry it took a while before the water penetrated the surface.  A large portion of the turf slopes down to the street so it was necessary to water above the area I wanted to soak because of the water runoff.  Thirsty and dry as the soil was, it was like it was incapable to drink the water in. As I stood watering, it occurred to me dryness is one of the reasons s...