Ironworks

          Experiences and knowledge are the things that shape your outlook on life. It’s one thing to know something, but it is another thing to experience it. Take parenting for example. Have you ever met the single person who knows how to rear children better than someone who actually has children? Sure you have. There is a difference between theoretically knowing something and actually doing it. Going through experiences helps our knowledge of various circumstances, which is really called wisdom.           Continuing with the thought from previous weeks, after our wreck our perspectives changed. Most of our knowledge had not changed, but we had a new way to look at things. Let me share with you  a few lessons we have learned. Hold Tight to the Ones You Love           You never know when the last moment will be that you get to spend time with the ones you love. We are not promised a tomorrow...

  “I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers in a pure conscience, how unceasing is my remembrance of thee in my supplications, night and day longing to see thee, remembering thy tears, that I may be filled with joy; having been reminded of the unfeigned faith that is in thee; which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and, I am persuaded, in thee also.”  2 Timothy 1:3-5             What do you think about when you think of the term legacy? You may think of historical figures in this nation. You may think about different organizations that have stood the test of time. What do you think of when you think about yourself? Do you associate this word with your life? This is certainly a struggle for many as they go through life and make decisions. Sometimes this struggle is more often associated with failure than success. This can lead us to question just what kind of legacy we might leave.  ...

  Honesty is the best policy. This is the old adage that many people have valued for many years. In our employment we are expected to be honest. To be dishonest would be an offense that could lead to punishment including dismissal from that work. How many of us want to deal with dishonest people in commerce? None of us do. We recognize that honesty plays a large role in dependability, faithfulness, and love.  Lying in every instance is a sin, and, because of that, we must avoid lying at any time.  Occasionally, there are members of the Lord’s church that lie to one another. This takes varying forms. Some brethren will overtly lie. This can be premeditated or compulsive. The intent is what makes it such. This would be the case if a brother or sister seeks to defraud another. This, in most cases, would be very infrequent. Lying is condemned in such a clear fashion it seems almost elementary regardless of one's maturity in Christ. However, the events of Acts 5:1-11, in p...

  “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow; but woe to him that is alone when he falleth, and hath not another to lift him up. Again, if two lie together, then they have warmth; but how can one be warm alone?  And if a man prevail against him that is alone, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”  Ecclesiastes 4:9-12  Two are better than one. This is easy to understand when you are working on a job that you just cannot do on your own. We must also remember this in our marriages daily for this is the very example Paul utilizes in the Scriptures (Ephesians 5:22-33; Col. 3:18-19). We fulfill Godly marriages when husbands love their wives as Christ loved His church and when wives submit to their husbands as the church submits to Christ.   There is nothing demeaning about this. The helper that God designed for Adam was the perfect complement to him. ...

  “And Jesus answering said, Were not the ten cleansed? but where are the nine?  Were there none found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger?  And he said unto him, Arise, and go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole. “  Luke 17:17-19      I am so very thankful for the good Christians here in Grove. There are many faithful, kind, giving, and encouraging servants who work diligently for the Lord here, and we are truly blessed. Showing gratitude is something we all want to do because we have so much for which to be thankful. In Luke 17:11-19, Jesus healed 10 lepers, and, upon that healing, they were sent to show themselves to the priest. Only one of the ten turned and showed gratitude. He just so happened to be a Samaritan. How can we show the same thankfulness of this Samaritan? Thankful Children      Children can show thankfulness for their parents by honoring them (Eph 6:1-3). When we recognize how much our parents gi...