Don Adkisson's Blog (80)

       "The recent rain had scented the air with the heavy aroma of grass which cleared the head and made a soul feel good about life."

                    --Mike Stotter  (McKinney's Law)



       "Dead flies putrefy the perfumer's ointment, and cause it to give off a foul odor; so does a little folly to one respected for wisdom and honor."

      “A man needs to see some mountains every morning so he stays humble.”

                         --Duane Boehm  (Gideon Johann)



       "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up."

                         --James 4:10 (NKJV)

--------------------------------------------------

Once in a while, I get to pondering.  The pea-brain begins to swirl and I get to wondering…

      “They swagger and make loud noises in their own little circle, but they are only coyotes that yap around the heels of the herd.... The coyotes aren't going anywhere, but the herd is, and so are the men who drive the herd.”

      “The trails out there can be dangerous. There are many that would do you harm. Keep your eye on the back trail and the horizon.”

       “No hardship could seem too great, no trail too long, no mountain impassable when the vision was upon them.”

                    --Louis L'Amour  (The Tall Stranger)

     “In part I looked toward the setting sun because terror may ride with beauty, and a man needs to milk his hours of the precious things. To ride fast, to travel far, these were empty things unless a man took the time to savor, to taste, to love, to simply be.”

               --Louis L'Amour (The Proving Trail)

     "He has made everything beautiful in its time.... And also that every man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labor--it is the gift of God."

   …

     "I'm never safe, but I'm always careful."    --David W. Bailey (Jericho James)

     "For false christs and false prophets will arise, and will provide signs and wonders, in order to mislead, if possible, the elect.  But beware; I have told you everything in advance."  --Mark 13:22-23 (NASB)

     I have been pondering the fact that people aren't interested in justice.  They seem to be only interested in their own self-serving, self-centered means and wants. …

     “Well—well, if you believed in God your case would not be hopeless. But some men—a few out of the many wanderers—find God out here in these wilds.”

               --Zane Grey (Wanderer of the Wasteland)

     "For it is God who works in you both to will and to do His good pleasure."

               --Philippians 2:13 (NKJV)

-------------------------

There is a verse that has long made me ponder, "...work out your own salvation with fear and trembling." (Philippians…

     “Today had always been more important than either yesterday, which could not be changed, or tomorrow, which he could only guess at.”

               --Elmer Kelton (The Smiling Country)

     “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full."

               --John 15:11 (NKJV)

------------------------

This world is evil, it is under the power of the devil. Yet we should traverse through this life with a smile on our…

     “They had not yet discovered the impartiality of death.”

               --Louis L'Amour (How the West Was Won)

     "O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?"

               --1 Corinthians 15:55 (NKJV)

--------------------------

What can happen in a year, a day, a moment? It only takes a second for an accident to happen. We may be going along on our merry way, when suddenly disaster strikes. Out of the shadows, the enemy lurks and then…

     “Each day is the start of something new that gives us the choice to decide what we want to make out of it."

               --Duane Boehm (Sun Over the Mountains)

     "By faith he [Moses] forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible."

               --Hebrews 11:27 (NKJV)

------------------------

I thought about saying that all want to live with a quiet heart. But upon second thought, there are many who are…

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me."

          --John 14:1 (NKJV)

     There are many believers who are making themselves sick because of a troubled heart or mind. They live in despair, despondency, fear, and anxiety and this then produces more troubles in the heart. Why are so many believers fearful?

     

     I think that one reason is that there is a lack of sound doctrine being preached today. Paul exhorted Timothy and Titus to…

     "Campfires are about the nicest things there are. They add a lot to makin' the uncomfortable...comfortable.”

               --Lou Bradshaw (Agular)

     "The work of righteousness will be peace, And the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever."

               --Isaiah 32:17 (NKJV)

----------------------

Are you saved? I mean, do you actually know and are assured that if the trumpet should sound and Christ return for His Church that you would go in…

     “We talked about fear and how it can keep us from freedom to experience all that God has for us.”

               --Dan Arnold (Bear Creek)

     "Better is a little with the fear of the Lord Than great treasure, and turmoil with the treasure."

               --Proverbs 15:16 (NASB)

-----------------------

I have a question for you this morning. Can a person have both fear and faith in their lives? Ponder that for a moment. Fear is the enemy of faith. Now, I am not…

     “We talked about fear and how it can keep us from freedom to experience all that God has for us.”

               --Dan Arnold (Bear Creek)

     "Better is a little with the fear of the Lord Than great treasure, and turmoil with the treasure."

               --Proverbs 15:16 (NASB)

-----------------------

I have a question for you this morning. Can a person have both fear and faith in their lives? Ponder that for a moment. Fear is the enemy of faith. Now, I am not…

     “A man living in wild country has to be aware of everything around him. He has to keep his eyes looking, his ears listening, his every sense alert.”

          --Louis L'Amour (The Lonely Men)

     "Now when these things begin to occur, stand tall and lift up your heads [in joy], because [suffering ends as] your redemption is drawing near.”

          --Luke 21:28 (Amplified)

----------------------

Some call chapters 24-25 of Matthew the Olivet Discourse when Jesus…

     “If there is to be civilization, if people are to live and make their homes here, there must be law. People often think of the law as restrictions, but it needn't be, unless it's carried to extremes. Laws can give us freedom, because they offer security from the cruel, the brutal, and the thieves of property. In every community—even in the wildest gangs and bands of outlaws—there is some kind of law, if only the fear of the leader. There has to be law, or there can be no growth, no…

“It doesn't take much guts when you cover your face and ride with a mob.”

--Elmer Kelton (Texas Standoff)

"Do not fret because of evildoers, nor be envious of the workers of iniquity."

--Psalm 37:1 (NKJV)

-----------------------

There has been much said during this time of "virus" about it being the "end times." That being said, is it really? Now, don't be alarmed that I wrote that. I am not one of those scoffers, but I do believe that we can spend too much time in…

“Take things as they come and stay cheerful.”

               --Elmer Kelton (The Day the Cowboys Quit)

"I know also, my God, that You test the heart and have pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of my heart I have willingly offered all these things; and now with joy I have seen Your people, who are present here to offer willingly to You."

               --1 Chronicles 29:17 (NKJV)

-----------------------

Interesting how a person can look at something…