So many fish stories

There are so many fish stories in the Bible. This morning, I was looking for some details about the fish that figures in the miracles in the book of Tobit. I came across again the wisdom the father Tobit gives to his son Tobias as he sets out for the journey with the angel Raphael (although he doesn't know he's an angel). 

"Revere the Lord all your days, my son, and refuse to sin or to transgress his commandments. Live uprightly all the days of your life, and do not walk in the ways of wrongdoing; for those who act in accordance with truth will prosper in all their activities. To all those who practice righteousness give alms from your possessions, and do not let your eye begrudge the gift when you make it. Do not turn your face away from anyone who is poor, and the face of God will not be turned away from you. If you have many possessions, make your gift from them in proportion; if few, do not be afraid to give according to the little you have. So you will be laying up a good treasure for yourself against the day of necessity. For almsgiving delivers from death and keeps you from going into the Darkness. Indeed, almsgiving, for all who practice it, is an excellent offering in the presence of the Most High." Tobit 4:5-11 

Because Tobit, who is blind, thinks he is dying (there is a prayer about that), this advice to his son Tobias is followed by instructions on marriage, treatment of others and seeking advice. We readers know that his future daughter-in-law, Sarah, who is depressed and wants to die, is also praying. 

Great story.

Praising God, by Scott

I watched Scott grow up in our church; sat behind his family for years. Now he's a pastor with many children, and I still watch him grow through Facebook. I don't know the details, but apparently there was an accident and his wife was driving. His praise and thanks are worth re-reading.

"Tonight I give thanks. My Deanna is okay—better than okay—after a box truck pulled in front of her this afternoon. A devastating and violent collision. Amazing fire rescue, police, and EMTs. And medical experts that have helped us navigate this evening. For phone calls and texts. For prayers and love. For the rescue of Ms Paula to watch my kiddos and Mr. William for his presence, comfort, and guidance through Piedmont Hospital. Tonight I give thanks because what was could have been so much worse. Tonight I give thanks for engineers and inventors who develop safety features for cars. Tonight I give thanks to the men and women who installed airbags on our van. You can see in the picture a cross. It has been hanging from our mirror for as long as we can remember. Tonight, I give thanks to our almighty God who has protected my wife through this day and has surrounded us by such a great cloud of witnesses. Tonight, I give thanks.

 
We are headed home from the hospital in a few minutes. All of Deanna’s tests and scans came back clear. Soreness is moving in for a little while. Gratitude—that is staying."

A good prayer for these times

A Lakeside friend sends several e-mails a day--sometimes jokes, sometimes political comments, and then one like this. This is really good. I’ve been grumbling again about some of the failings of our church (as I see it), but perhaps the Lord is making biscuits.

A pastor attended a men's breakfast in the middle of a rural farming area of the country.

The group had asked an older farmer, decked out in bib overalls, to say grace for the morning breakfast:

"Lord, I hate buttermilk," the farmer began. The visiting pastor opened one eye to glance at the farmer and wonder where this was going.

The farmer loudly proclaimed, "Lord, I hate lard." Now the pastor was growing concerned.

Without missing a beat, the farmer continued, "And Lord, you know I don't much care for raw white flour."

The pastor once again opened an eye to glance around the room and saw that he wasn't the only one to feel uncomfortable.

Then the farmer added, "But Lord, when you mix them all together and bake them, I do love warm fresh biscuits.

So Lord, when things come up that we don't like, when life gets hard, when we don't understand what you're saying to us, help us to just relax and wait until you are done mixing. It will probably be even better than biscuits. Amen."