AROUND THE TOWN
Ocala is known for its horse farms. Miles of painted white fences lining roads over gently rolling hills evoke memories from central Kentucky, instead of central Florida. This morning I set out for the Super Store to replace the forgotten camera, and took a drive to see Ocala while on the way.
Although it was only 9:30 A.M., a distinct odor filled the air. No, it was not from the horses, but from barbeque being cooked somewhere nearby. On the other side of the Interstate, I passed a restaurant, with smoke coming from out back and knew where I would be at lunchtime on my layover day.
What aroma is coming from your home these days? Do the people who know about your troubles smell the sweet aroma of unconditional love, or do thoughts about your marriage mess evoke the stench of bitterness, hatred, and unforgiveness? Remember that the restaurant sold me lunch based on the aroma alone. I went there because it smelled good.
Driving downtown, I was again reminded how much our sin-sick world needs to be told about Jesus. I saw bumper stickers that were almost obscene. Along the way, I saw churches, bearing evidence of their desire to claim the world for Christ.
I crossed a bridge and came to the government center. Across the street were two little ladies, wearing straw hats for protection from the sun. Each carried a picket sign. Before I could read their messages, I assumed they were campaigning or picketing on a political issue. The traffic light changed and I saw the sign. They were in front of an abortion clinic, declaring to all who passed by that ABORTION KILLS A LIVING BABY.
With my newborn twin grandchildren, Kyle and Kayla, having struggled to survive, I cannot imagine anyone ever attempting to take their little lives, yet that is happening legally all across America this morning. Those two ladies were so convicted that abortion is wrong that they were enduring 90 degree heat and catcalls from a few motorists to proclaim the truth.
Someday, about a million years from now, a man in heaven just might walk up the streets of gold and introduce himself to a little lady. “You did not know me, but my mom was going to have me killed one summer in Florida, because I was an inconvenience. She saw the sign that you were holding and it touched her and she did not keep that appointment. I was a preacher who brought scores of souls with me here to eternity. My children, grandchildren, and even their grandchildren are all here, because you carried a sign.â€
On another day out in Glory, a stranger might walk up to you and start much the same way. “You do not know me, but my mom was going to divorce my dad one summer in Florida. She saw the stand that you had taken for your own marriage, and prayed my dad home. He received Christ and is here with us. Their children, grandchildren, and even their great- grandchildren are all here, because she followed your example and would not give up on my sinful dad.â€
What a day that will be, when the face of Jesus we shall see! May you and I always look back to a millisecond called divorce, and thank the Savior that we did not give up.
Once inside the Super Store, I could have been back home. One youngster was begging for a toy that his mom was refusing to buy. Another woman was overheard telling how much her newborn was up at night. Had Charlyne been here, she might have interrupted with, “Lady, try keeping two happy all night.†Our “Two K’s†have been blessed with two praying grandmas. Not during these first days, but down the road, those prayers will give the K’s many nights of peaceful sleep.
Are your prayers protecting your prodigal right now? Are you like the mama in the Super Store, always ready to tell how bad things are, or are you confidently calling on God that His arm, never too short to reach into the pigpens of the world, will bring the one you love home to the Lord and to the family?
At one point, the background music in the Super Store had a man singing about how bad divorce was, asking how his wife could do that to him. It amazes me that some unknown Super Store singer can wail about the pain of divorce, while many of our pastors and counselors wail about “grounds†and “getting on with life,†or “God having a better mate.†“Attention shoppers. God says that he hates divorce.†Now, there is a special that no one can afford to refuse.
As promised, I was back at that good-smelling restaurant by 11:45 A.M. The building looked small on the outside, but was huge inside. A small army of waitresses stood at the ready. One was taking my order at almost the same time as I was seated.
The place was doing a good business, but it was far from being filled. Right at twelve noon, the man I assumed to be the owner or manager, began to fill jumbo iced-tea glasses with ice and then tea. He must have filled at least fifty. “How,†I wondered, “will he ever use those before the ice melts.â€
About two minutes later, people began to pile in. Cars were driving around the lot searching for a parking place. Waitresses soon began to grab those glasses of tea, and he was busy filling more.
How did that man know that crowd would arrive? I suspect they had done that before. It would have been sad for him to have said, “I will just wait and see if they come before I do anything.†How sad it would be for you to say, “I think I will just wait until my spouse comes walking in the door before I get ready.†If you have heard from heaven that your marriage will be restored, go on and pour the tea of faith, and add plenty of the ice of hope. Have everything ready, because prodigals do come home. Some even come at lunchtime. Just ask my wife!
Because He lives,
Bob Steinkamp
Rejoice Marriage Ministries, Inc.
Ocala is known for its horse farms. Miles of painted white fences lining roads over gently rolling hills evoke memories from central Kentucky, instead of central Florida. This morning I set out for the Super Store to replace the forgotten camera, and took a drive to see Ocala while on the way.
Although it was only 9:30 A.M., a distinct odor filled the air. No, it was not from the horses, but from barbeque being cooked somewhere nearby. On the other side of the Interstate, I passed a restaurant, with smoke coming from out back and knew where I would be at lunchtime on my layover day.
What aroma is coming from your home these days? Do the people who know about your troubles smell the sweet aroma of unconditional love, or do thoughts about your marriage mess evoke the stench of bitterness, hatred, and unforgiveness? Remember that the restaurant sold me lunch based on the aroma alone. I went there because it smelled good.
Driving downtown, I was again reminded how much our sin-sick world needs to be told about Jesus. I saw bumper stickers that were almost obscene. Along the way, I saw churches, bearing evidence of their desire to claim the world for Christ.
I crossed a bridge and came to the government center. Across the street were two little ladies, wearing straw hats for protection from the sun. Each carried a picket sign. Before I could read their messages, I assumed they were campaigning or picketing on a political issue. The traffic light changed and I saw the sign. They were in front of an abortion clinic, declaring to all who passed by that ABORTION KILLS A LIVING BABY.
With my newborn twin grandchildren, Kyle and Kayla, having struggled to survive, I cannot imagine anyone ever attempting to take their little lives, yet that is happening legally all across America this morning. Those two ladies were so convicted that abortion is wrong that they were enduring 90 degree heat and catcalls from a few motorists to proclaim the truth.
Someday, about a million years from now, a man in heaven just might walk up the streets of gold and introduce himself to a little lady. “You did not know me, but my mom was going to have me killed one summer in Florida, because I was an inconvenience. She saw the sign that you were holding and it touched her and she did not keep that appointment. I was a preacher who brought scores of souls with me here to eternity. My children, grandchildren, and even their grandchildren are all here, because you carried a sign.â€
On another day out in Glory, a stranger might walk up to you and start much the same way. “You do not know me, but my mom was going to divorce my dad one summer in Florida. She saw the stand that you had taken for your own marriage, and prayed my dad home. He received Christ and is here with us. Their children, grandchildren, and even their great- grandchildren are all here, because she followed your example and would not give up on my sinful dad.â€
What a day that will be, when the face of Jesus we shall see! May you and I always look back to a millisecond called divorce, and thank the Savior that we did not give up.
Once inside the Super Store, I could have been back home. One youngster was begging for a toy that his mom was refusing to buy. Another woman was overheard telling how much her newborn was up at night. Had Charlyne been here, she might have interrupted with, “Lady, try keeping two happy all night.†Our “Two K’s†have been blessed with two praying grandmas. Not during these first days, but down the road, those prayers will give the K’s many nights of peaceful sleep.
Are your prayers protecting your prodigal right now? Are you like the mama in the Super Store, always ready to tell how bad things are, or are you confidently calling on God that His arm, never too short to reach into the pigpens of the world, will bring the one you love home to the Lord and to the family?
At one point, the background music in the Super Store had a man singing about how bad divorce was, asking how his wife could do that to him. It amazes me that some unknown Super Store singer can wail about the pain of divorce, while many of our pastors and counselors wail about “grounds†and “getting on with life,†or “God having a better mate.†“Attention shoppers. God says that he hates divorce.†Now, there is a special that no one can afford to refuse.
As promised, I was back at that good-smelling restaurant by 11:45 A.M. The building looked small on the outside, but was huge inside. A small army of waitresses stood at the ready. One was taking my order at almost the same time as I was seated.
The place was doing a good business, but it was far from being filled. Right at twelve noon, the man I assumed to be the owner or manager, began to fill jumbo iced-tea glasses with ice and then tea. He must have filled at least fifty. “How,†I wondered, “will he ever use those before the ice melts.â€
About two minutes later, people began to pile in. Cars were driving around the lot searching for a parking place. Waitresses soon began to grab those glasses of tea, and he was busy filling more.
How did that man know that crowd would arrive? I suspect they had done that before. It would have been sad for him to have said, “I will just wait and see if they come before I do anything.†How sad it would be for you to say, “I think I will just wait until my spouse comes walking in the door before I get ready.†If you have heard from heaven that your marriage will be restored, go on and pour the tea of faith, and add plenty of the ice of hope. Have everything ready, because prodigals do come home. Some even come at lunchtime. Just ask my wife!
Because He lives,
Bob Steinkamp
Rejoice Marriage Ministries, Inc.
