Reptile Gardens yesterday.  My two boys really liked it.  It was difficult to get them to leave. 

Prov 1:26  My Devotion to my Kids this Morning.   I told them that God’s voice was continually going out in all the air.  In fact there were a lot of voices in the air.  If we put a radio on our table we could pick up many voices that were in the air.  God’s voice can’t be picked up with earthly devices – only by our spirits by his Holy Spirit.  We can choose to listen to his voice or disregard it and then he’ll disregard us.  It’s our choice.  These Proverb verses have three different types of people that reject God:  The Simple, Scofers and The Foolish.  I’m choosing to hear and obey God.

Mt Rushmore was great.  I enjoyed going on the trails.  (I found out how out of shape I am – ha ha)  I continually told my girls to slow down going up the steps. 

My devotion to my kids this morning:  Proverbs 1:23  Simple how long will you stay in simplicity?  Simple and simplicity is the same word.  It doesn’t change.  I told my kids that they had a choice today.  They could live life and not change -thus stay simple or they could choose to grow.  I’ve seen many people that have not grown up.  They are simple.  They stay in simplicity.  Those people falsely think they’re having fun but they don’t enjoy life to it’s fullest intent.  Those people don’t grow emotionally, spiritually or intellectively.  Why?  I don’t know the answer.  I wonder if anyone does.   

We’re enjoying our time in the Black Hills.  We went to a chuck wagon last night.  The kids enjoyed that.  Today we’re looking at going to Mount Rushmore and Keystone. 

I’ve been thinking about wisdom.  It’s like searching for treasure.  In Job 28, Job talks about wisdom as a person.  He ends his discourse on wisdom by saying that God sets limits in nature.  Then he says, “The beginning of wisdom is the fear of God.”  When we have reverence for God we know his limits actually protect us and give us more life.  That’s what I want.

On Vacation in the Black Hills

Canada Senate approves gay marriage bill   Late last night Canada’s Senate approved the same sex marriage bill.  Already it’s a hate crime in Canada to speak anti views on homosexuality.  It’s just a matter of time before it’s a hate crime to not marry someone you disapprove of.  I’m appalled and sickened by this Canadian move.  Why warp the purity of marriage?  Maybe all the U.S. homosexuals will move to Canada like the Vietnam draft dodgers did. 

Inspiration   

I love this word.  Inspiration is cool rain on a hot summer day.  It’s a warm word to a cold heart.  Many things inspire us.   I’ve watched my children spring in the air like spiderman after leaving the movie theater.  I listened to a friend of mine speak of his recent cruise to Alaska.  He related the inspiration of enjoyment.  Reflecting upon this word I began to see seeds of darkness in my own heart.  I immediately asked God to forgive me and remove them.  I quickly praised him for his cleaness and purity.  The Bible was written from God’s inspiration to his authors.  I want to have life more abundantly.  God inspire me towards your greatness today as I guard my heart.   

The Journey

As he climbed the steps, he knew it was so right.  Another had introduced him to the conductor and now he wanted to experience it for himself.  He took his seat as the whistle blew and the steam released.  A jolt of movement forward excited him.  He watched old things pass by the window, but he didn’t care because someone began speaking at the front.  The conductor had sent the “Helper” to speak to everyone in the compartment.  The young man listened with enthusiasm.  The train stopped and he followed every instruction given to him, he left the train and began looking for other potential passengers.

He found two others and eagerly brought them aboard.  The young man and his two passengers hurried to the front seats and sat down.  This time the passengers looked out the windows and watched their old things pass away in the distance.  The young man kept his eyes straight forward; he wasn’t going to miss a thing the Helper said.  Again instructions were given and again the train stopped.  As the three left the train they each followed their own individual instructions.  The young man helped the group to follow each and every word.   They encountered other teachers that tried to teach them something different but the young man was determined to follow only the “Helper” words. 

Stop after stop and talk after talk went on for many years.  The young man now old saw many come on the train and stay.  He also observed many that looked out the window and desired the things that passed by.  He watched them run from the conductor and the Helper, back to what they had.  He tried to talk them into staying on the track but they didn’t listen.  Now the old man knew there was one more stop – the destination.   

Some of you may have already figured out that I wasn’t speaking of a train but a journey with Jesus.  When we make a choice to follow him our old ways become distant.  We have a choice to yearn for the things of this life or the things of His life.  I want to be like the young man who made it to his final destination – Heaven.  I will stay on the right track will you?

Hurricane Dennis is said to have been punishment to Florida – after all Dennis spelled backwards is sinned.  I personally don’t know but if that was the case why wasn’t New Orleans hit instead of Pensacola?  I don’t understand how God deals with people or countries all I know is that he does.  The bottom line is that sin has created the situations that make it favorable for devastation.  After dealing with his people in Ezekiel, God makes a statement: “Nevertheless I will remember my covenant with you in the days of your youth.”  Wow, that’s what I was looking for.  In the midst of every storm is an eye.  Ezekiel 16:60-63 is the eye.  Our God is full of grace.  He puts peace in the midst of turmoil.  Tomorrow I’ll describe the eye of hurricane Helena – it was incredible.

News from Yankton South Dakota:  The torch that is going across the US is passing through Yankton at Noon. 

Eze 16:44-48 As is the mother, so is her daughter.  People tend to compare themselves to others.  “I’m not as bad as him or her.”  What’s the result of doing that?  It may make us feel better.  Since the people were into comparison, God compares them to each other.  Why would God do that?  He wanted them to think.  The problem with these people is that they didn’t want to consider the words of their creator.  It’s the same today.  If there is anything that is not peace within our lives; it’s because Jesus is not fully developed in it.  Are we going to get Jesus into it or are we going to comparatively evaluate.  The first will change us for eternity the latter will give us a temporary good feeling.     

I was struck by the words, “you wouldn’t do that to the king but you’ll do it to me.”  You could put other titles in place of king such as, boss, neighbor or friend.  Who said it?  The answer: God in the book of Malachi.   Do we treat people better than we treat God?  Do we treat ourselves better than God?  The book of Malachi deals with money.  ”What’s in your wallet?”  Answering that question will answer the question of who’s treated better.