July 4, 2019
Dear friends, There are certain days of the year that are easy to remember: New Year’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, Canada Day, Labour Day and Christmas Day, to name a few. For Americans, today is a special day that is filled with celebrations and fireworks across their country. We enjoyed our national holiday on Monday, relaxing with family. That morning I found our canary, Lucy, motionless at the bottom of her cage. She had given us a warning of her poor health a couple of weeks ago, when she stayed still much longer than usual. Her death was not the shock that we received in an email on Tuesday. Dr. Richard Dussault, a chiropractor who helped many people, including Karen, to find relief from back pain, died suddenly on June 30th. We were very sad to learn that his life ended so suddenly.
Thinking about Dr. Dussault’s death reminded me of the saying: “Only one life, ‘twill soon be past; only what’s done for Christ will last.” We are all on the way to the end of life, although many people do not care to think about it. In the February 2019 edition of the “Have a Good Day” publication, Jim Kraus writes: “… the most critical – and everlasting – consequence of waiting too long happens when a person puts off a personal relationship with God. The Bible advises us, ‘Seek the Lord while you can find him. Call on him while he is near’ (Isaiah 55:6). The truth is we can hesitate so long we become less likely to respond. A person’s time on earth is not limitless: ‘Your life is like the morning fog – it’s here for a little while, then it’s gone’ (James 4:14).
Another expression comes to mind: “Time flies when you’re having fun.” When we are doing something that we enjoy, it is easy to lose track of time. This morning, a neighbour came by and I asked him how old his children are. He told me that the oldest son is 14 and is in France right now. I told him that my son is 31 and that Karen was five months old when her parents moved to France. I didn’t tell him to enjoy every minute of having the kids at home, but maybe I should have.
Scripture for the weekend: “And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding, in order that we might know Him who is true, and we are in Him who is true, in His Son, Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.” 1 John 5:20 (NASB)
Thought for the weekend: “To pass off the restoration of Israel as a political accident is like believing the world is flat!” – Derek Prince (quoted in “Understanding Israel” by Malcolm Hedding)
By His grace,
Steve