Holy Land Picture of the Day

Israeli nuts and dried fruit Today's picture is of nuts and dried fruit produced and sold in modern Israel. It reminds us of Genesis 43:11; "Then their father Israel said to them, "If it must be so, then do this: take some of the best products of the land in your bags, and carry down to the man as a present, a little balm and a little honey, aromatic gum and myrrh, pistachio nuts and almonds"  Why are We So Much Smarter When We are Little Squeezers? “Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.  Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart” (I Cor. 9:6-7a) Hey gang, Why is it when we are small and growing up we only stuck our finger in the fire once and learn  that is not such a good idea.  I learned very early it was not a good idea to sass mom or dad or the bully down the street who was six inches taller than me.  I suspect each and every one reading this blog or email this morning could relate stories of woe where they tampered with God's irrevocable laws and paid the Piper for it.  But, as we grow older, do we not sometimes become slow learners?  I came across a neat little story where the daughter of a business executive asked her daddy, who was preparing to go out on the town, “Why do you wear that black suit and bow tie when you know you will be deathly sick and have a splitting head ache tomorrow?”  A short trip through skid row with your children is not a bad idea.  But, only if you are not making the same mistakes those made to earn their position in the gutter.  It is always amazing to me that there is no question smoking and boozing and drugs are not good for your body and you will pay the piper down the road for using them. But it does not matter how much the price of these life-destroying things cost, people will sacrifice the finer things of life to purchase them. I wonder if someone opened a “Reap What You Sow School of Higher Learning" if anyone would come.  I confess there are many times when I stuck my fingers in the fire, even though I knew it was going to be painful.  But did you know the more you stick your finger in the fire the less the pain.  We can become so immune to pain, scar-tissued,  that we no longer feel it. Paul gave fair warning to all when he wrote, “God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows this he will also reap.  For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit  will from the Spirit reap eternal life.” (Gal. 6:6-7).  Paul's counsel,  “Don’t lose heart in planting the good seeds, “for in due time we will reap………..when we do not grow weary”. (v.9)  Paul closes this bit of truth with a challenge to those who love the Lord: “So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.” (V.10). Sooooo, it is time to close this epistle and get about some plowing, disking, planting, fertilizing and cultivating but keep in mind God is the harvester.   Blessings,  Gramps