Being A Good "Roll Model"

When you live with a 16 year old 

mechanical whiz...

You quickly get used to having 

many projects going on 

all the time in the barn...

Lately, our youngest son

Has been working on his 1948 Ford truck...

The truck used to belong 

to my dad...

Many years ago,

My husband found the truck in a field...

My dad restored it.

Originally, Dad had intended to

leave it to Samuel in his will...

But then decided that he'd 

much rather get the opportunity

to see Samuel enjoy it...

 

Dad and Sam just love taking it

On little trips to town...

Or going to the local antique 

car shows together...

Because Samuel is always working

on some sort of "car" project...

He has made many friends

And acquaintances 

While searching for 

just the part he needs...

"Craigslist" and "Uncle Henry's"

are two of his favorite sites

to search for "deals on wheels"

There is a real camaraderie

Amongst those who rebuild 

and restore cars...

I love the way they help

each other out...

And trade parts...

And share information.

It saddens me to think...

That we in the "Christian" community

Don't always behave this way...

Last evening,

we had a nice man visit

who was interested in a S-10 frame

that Sam had done some work on.
Sam had originally hoped to use
this frame under a truck cab
he had acquired...
But it just wasn't quite right for the cab.

The man decided it was exactly

what he was looking for...

And praised Sam for doing such

a nice job describing it on the phone...

Then he told us this story...

He said that he recently bought 

a vehicle sight unseen

from a "religious man"

who "went to church and everything..."

He said that the man

Claimed that the car was in 

great shape...

But actually was far from it...

When he called the man
to discuss the situation

The man told him...

"What do you want me to do?

You bought it..."

Then he said something

that really broke my heart...

He said...

"I hope you  guys aren't 

religious or anything..."

Dearest Ladies...

Those of us who 

claim the name of Christ

Must realize that others are
watching us all the time...

The world around us

should see Christ in us...

Not just on Sunday...

Or in church...

But in everything we say and do.

One small act of unkindness

or deceit...

Might keep someone

from ever knowing 

our Saviour...

Yes, this is a big responsibility...

But as the scriptures tell us
Much is required of those
who walk with Christ...

"For unto whomsoever much is given,

of him shall be much required: 

and to whom men have committed much, 

of him they will ask the more."

Luke 12:48b

As we helped the man
load the frame onto his trailer...
And watched as he waved
and headed down the drive...
My quick-witted 16 year old remarked...

"Guess that's why it's
important to always be a
good "roll" model"

Just About "Purrrrrr-fect!"

We sure do miss this little guy...

 

He was a great mouser...

Which is always important
on a small farm...

But, now...

 We have two new additions...

Who...

Despite their small size
Seem to be more than capable...

"What are they doing here, anyhow???"

Of taking on the important role
Of  being a barn cat...

"Who do they think they are?"

After all,
They are already chasing away...

"Look who's ruling the roost now, bucko!"

 Those at least 5 times
as big as they are!

I'd say...
That makes them...
 Just about "purrrrrr-fect"
for the job...

Wouldn't you?

"Which way did that big guy go?"

 You see,
The Lord has created us all...
To be "perfect" in some way...

As He tells us in Matthew 5:48...

"Be ye therefore perfect, 
even as your Father which 

is in heaven is perfect."

  

The Lord has placed before us a goal...

Something we need to be
striving for in our daily walk.

That goal is to become
complete in Christ...
To "mature" or become "perfect" in Him.

God's standard for us
has always been perfect holiness.

Pursuing this standard of perfection
does not mean that we will never fail...

What it does mean is that our lives
should reveal growth
in grace...
and righteousness...
and holiness... 

 "Having therefore these promises,

dearly beloved,

let us cleanse ourselves

from all filthiness

of the flesh and spirit, 

perfecting holiness in the fear of God." 

2 Corinthians 7:1

A Timeless Treasure...

Our weekends here usually

include a trip to our 

transfer station/recycle center/

town dump...

And this past weekend 

was no different.

We had one load of brush left

from cutting down three trees

last weekend...

While throwing the brush

on the brush pile...

My husband happened to 

glance over to the wood pile

and noticed some old boxes.

 

With a quick...

"I might be able to do 

something with those..."

He tossed them into the back

of the truck.

He thought that someone

might have had them in an 

old workshop and just 

didn't need them anymore.

One of them still had

the old shipping label 

on the side...

 Later, that day,

I heard some "sawing" noises

coming from outside...

And found my husband hard at work...

Turning some old wooden boxes...

Into "Timeless Treasures"

Two of the boxes

he refashioned into

a smaller bookcase and

a larger bookcase

that we will use in one of the bedrooms...

The third box

became a bookcase

for the kitchen!

 As I was filling the bookcase

with some of my favorite

kitchen "treasures..."

I thought about how our Lord

is a "Timeless Treasure..."

"Lord, thou hast been our 

dwelling place in all generations.  

Before the mountains were brought forth, 

or ever thou hadst formed 

the earth and the world,

even from everlasting to everlasting,

thou art God..."

Psalm 90:1-2

But unlike the old boxes

that were "changed" into something new...

Our Lord is always the same

forever and ever...

"Jesus Christ the same

yesterday, 

and to day, 

and for ever. "

Hebrews 13:8

What a comfort it is

to rest in this assurance...

For what an incredible

Treasure He is!