I suppose I, as well as Shakespeare “…..find tongues in trees, sermons in
stones, and good in every thing.”

While helping my friend feed his heifers this morning, I told him how shiny their hair shone in the sunlight. They are well fed, and about to calve. He always makes sure they have plenty of salt, mineral, high quality hay and feed, cottonseed, supplements of syrup, and his pastures are always of the highest quality throughout the year. The grain has a majority of corn with other nutrients, and along with that he feeds cottonseed, a high source of protein for cattle. He gets back in dividends, strong healthy cattle, strong high quality calves and when they are sold, he always makes a profit. He sees to, and studies the best feed for his cattle. They are always fed on schedule, rain or shine, blistering hot, or freezing cold. It is consistency, study of the best feed, and diligence that produces his high quality Angus cattle. I thought about that in the realm of God’s Word, and how we should apply those same principles to our spiritual lives.

God’s Word is the best feed for our souls and will surely get us from this temporal world to the eternal realm. In His Word we find our way in life.

“Thy Word is a Lamp unto my feet, and a Light unto my path.” Psalms 119:105

If we don’t study His Word we will be lost. The world will tell you there are many paths to heaven, but God’s Word teaches otherwise. I have seen many become ensnared by that very thought, that God accepts everyone that believes in Him. ”

“There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.”
Proverbs 14:12

“Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.”
James 2:19

“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Beware of false prophets which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits…….” Matthew 7:13-16.

This world is not our home, and we as Christians are to prepare for eternity. God tells us in His Word to lay up treasures in heaven.

“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt,and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Matthew 6:19-21

We cannot accumulate treasure in heaven if we know not where we are going. Preparation for heaven is done here on earth, and we are required to study His Word to know His will.

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth.” II Timothy 2:15

…..and we cannot be prepared for eternity if we only give God’s Word a cursory glance during the week. Our souls have to feed upon His Word. Consistency and diligence is key, and no one can do it for us. I once heard a sermon on how shameful it would be if someone asked us how to become a Christian, and we did not have the knowledge of Scripture to teach them. A sobering thought indeed!

“So shall My Word be that goeth forth out of My mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” Isaiah 55:11

“It doesn’t make any difference what we have accumulated here. It doesn’t even make any difference what we leave here. If we don’t have our treasures accumulated in heaven, friends,we have done nothing, absolutely nothing except foolishly waste our time as we have been walking around in circles here on this earth.”

David Harris – Minister, Hillcrest church of Christ
Stephenville, TX
Eileen Light

The tall yellow flower spike of the Common Mullein, or verbascum thapsis, is a centerpiece right now in the front garden. This was a neglected bed since the heartbreak of eight roses being cut down in it after being stricken with an incurable disease. Because I wasn’t watching it carefully, this native plant grew to maturity before being weeded out. That’s alright with me. It’s a very cool plant!

Stachys and Rose Campion share similar qualities. These are a few plants that simply must be touched and felt. Their fuzzy leaves not only look pretty, but offer tactile enjoyment as well.

Other names for this statuesque six-foot wildflower are “flannel leaf” and “bunny ears” due to the softness of the silvery leaves. It is used as an herbal medicine for skin and respiratory problems. Unfortunately, it also contains the toxin Rotenone.

We often hear the words “It feels right” with respect to religion, or a church. Is this a good way to find a church home or belief system? The Bible is clear; it is not!

“There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death” (Proverbs 14:12, NASB).

An example of this scripture is given in 1 Chronicles 13. The ark of the covenant was being brought back to Jerusalem, but the method of transportation seems to have been borrowed from the Philistines, who had no knowledge of the law of God.

Uzzah no doubt felt like it was the right thing to do to reach out and steady the ark of the covenant as it was transported on an oxcart, but he was struck dead (1 Chronicles 13). God did not punish him for doing what he felt was right, or for his good intentions, but he died because the clear command of God was disobeyed.

Maybe it was not Uzzah who was responsible for the disobedience. Maybe even the priests who were in charge were not aware at the time of the proper transportation procedures, and only had good intentions.

But someone should have been studying the scriptures and consulted them on something so important as the vessel which was considered the earthly dwelling place of the Holy One of Israel. As a matter of history, when the ark was captured in the first place, the news was so devastating to Eli that he fell backwards where he sat and died. Even the news of his own sons’ deaths did not cause this reaction.

This is what happens when the words of Jehovah are not treated as important enough to be studied, learned, and followed.

Our good feelings and intentions are not a suitable substitute for following God’s instructions. We are increasingly told by society how we should feel or believe about certain things. Values now are often based on changing social mores and new notions of “tolerance” toward situations that God clearly has condemned as sin.

God has a pattern for our lives, and for worshipping him (Hebrews 8:5). Do we ignore that pattern, as Uzzah ignored the directions for transporting the ark? If we like something in worship that is not authorized, does it make it right to use it because it feels right? Whether we know about those instructions or rely on our spiritual leaders to direct us, it is still our ultimate responsibility to obey them.

This was the message of the tragedy of Uzzah. We dare not make the same mistake. Do you want something that feels good? Let me give you a mullein plant. Leave your feelings in the garden!

Christine (Tina) Berglund @ www.forthright.net