Dixie, Lou and divine appointment

Last week my desire to photograph new daffodils took me to the one-time train depot in our community. There, as I scanned the area for my flower shots, a gentleman with a dog on a leash approached me.

"Would you take a picture of my dog?" he asked politely.

"Of course. I'd be happy to," I responded.

Man and best friend struck a pose or two. I positioned myself for a couple of "portraits" of the dog, too, discovering the clouded eyes that confirm blindness.

In the few minutes we shared together, Lou told me that he was afraid 14-year-old Dixie would not live to her birthday in August.

"How can I get these photos to you?" I asked. Lou gave me a telephone number and pointed to the apartment complex he calls home.

A busy weekend passed. I edited my photos, posted one on my photo website, and finally on Monday headed for a downtown store with an instant-print machine. Printed photos in hand, I called Lou.

"Oh, I've been praying you would call!" he said, adding: "My dog Dixie died the same day you took our picture."

Minutes later I met Lou outside his apartment complex. Tears welled up in his eyes as he thanked me for this precious gift. Because of Covid restrictions we parted with a handshake, but not before I gave Lou my telephone number.

"I'm very sorry for your loss," I said. "We'll talk again."

My hope is that when Lou said, "I've been praying," it was evidence that he is a Christ follower. Either way, I look forward to the day we can get together again and talk about Jesus. After all, we were drawn together by divine appointment.

"The Spirit told Philip, 'Go to that chariot and stay near it.' Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. 'Do you understand what you are reading?' Philip asked. 'How can I,' he said, 'unless someone explains it to me?' So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him." Acts 8:29-31

The heart of the Father

As is the case with many of the "favorite" scriptures in the Bible, it is important to read and consider all verses, before and after the verse being considered ... taking care to read in context. Many have read or heard this verse:

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him might not perish, but have eternal life." John 3:16

The verse immediately after that one, featured here in a photo card, also reflects the heart of the Father in sending His Son to a dying world. God's will is that all might be declared righteous because they have admitted they are sinners beyond hope without the redemptive blood spilled by Jesus on the cross.

It is vital to note the words "might be saved" in John 3:17. Contrary the universalist claim that all people will spend eternity with God in Heaven, that precious gift from a loving Father can only be received by acknowledging Jesus as our Messiah: "the way, the truth and the life (John 14:6)."

Ultimately then, whether at the time of our physical death or at Jesus' return, it is each person's decision regarding Jesus the Messiah that will determine whether his or her eternal life with be spent in God's presence (Heaven), or apart from Him (Hell).

 

Charles Spurgeon to "Nobodies"

 

A devotional from Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892)

“I cannot believe that salvation is meant for me,” someone says. “I am a nobody.”

A nobody, are you? I have a great love for nobodies. I am tired of somebodies, and the worst somebody in the world is my own somebody. How I wish I could always throw my own somebody out and keep company with none but nobodies!

Nobody, where are you? You are the very person that I am sent to look after. If there is nothing in you, there will be all the more of Christ. If you are not only empty, but cracked and broken; if you are done for, destroyed, ruined, and utterly crushed; to you is this word of salvation sent: ‘Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’

I have opened the gate wide. If the entrance led to the wrong track, all the sheep would go through. But since it is the right road, I can leave the gate open as long as I wish, yet the sheep will evade it unless You, the Great Shepherd, go around the field and lead them in. Take up in Your own arms a lost lamb whom You purchased long ago with Your dear heart’s blood. Take him up upon Your gracious shoulders, rejoicing as You do it, and place him within the field where the good pasture grows.

Thank you, Lord, for Your patience in those times when we take our eyes off Jesus, intent on satisfying the desires of the person we see in the mirror. Thank you for spiritual eyes to see our sin, our hopelessness without Jesus. And thank you for the love and compassion for others that you plant in our hearts as we surrender to Your will.

"All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because 'God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble'." 1 Peter 5:5