122124 From the Banks of Burcham Creek...

From the banks of Burcham Creek…


What’s Your One Word Not Just for 2024
But for Life…

- Brian Dodd

I attended the funeral of a dear family friend.
During the eulogy, the preacher recounted
asking the widow what the one word was she
would use in describing her late husband.

She said, “Gentle.”  

Giving an example, she mentioned that
never in their 54 years of marriage did
she ever fill her own gas tank.

Interestingly,
Jesus described himself as gentle.

In Matthew 11: 28-30, he said,

“Come to Me, all of you who work and
have heavy loads.
I will give you rest.  
Follow My teachings and learn from Me.
I am gentle and do not have pride.
You will have rest for your souls.  
For My way of carrying a load is easy
and My load is not heavy.” (TLV)

I have lived almost six decades and met
thousands and thousands of grown men.  

Never had I heard of one described as
“Gentle.”

If you want to be like Jesus,
one of the qualities you must have is
gentleness.

What a legacy and honoring his life has
challenged me to be a better man.

Having a word for the year has become a
popular leadership exercise.  
I get it.  
Have a word for the year helps with focus,
intentionality, and the setting of priorities.
It also provides guardrails and helps you
know what to say “No” to.

But I was reminded that when our leadership,
and for that matter, our life is over,
people will not remember us for our
ever-changing word for each year.  

They will attach a single word to the
span of our entire life.

I encourage you today to give thought
to your legacy and the impact, you
want your life here on Earth to have.  

What one word would you want people
to say when describing you?

Start living that way now.

For the record,
the word I hope people say about me is
“Kind.”

I still have a long way to go.

- Brian Dodd

Edited by H.C.

***


Friend what is Your Word?

- Hayden Childs

I have thought about it and my word is
“Giver.”

I shared with my teenage Bible class and
told them you do not have to be a Warren Buffet,
Bill Gates or Elon Musk to be a giver.

The Bible affirms that…

“ Now Jesus sat opposite the treasury and saw
how the people put money into the treasury.
And many who were rich put in much.

Then one poor widow came and threw in two [o] mites,
(which make a [p ]quadrans.
[o] Gr. lepta, very small copper coins
[p] A Roman coin

So He called His disciples to Himself and said to them,
“Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put
in more than all those who have given to the treasury;
for they all put in out of their abundance,
but she out of her poverty put in all that she had,
her whole livelihood.”
Mark 12:41-44 (NKJV)

Remember this…

In the Lord’s eyes,
this poor widow gave more than all
the others put together,
though her gift was by far the smallest.

The value of a gift is not
determined by its amount,
but by the spirit in which it is given.

A gift given grudgingly or for
recognition loses its value.

When you give
gifts of any size are pleasing to God
when they are given out of gratitude
and a spirit of generosity.

The Lord watches how we give and
examines the motives of
our heart
(Matt.6:1-4).

He also sees how much we give and
measures the proportion,
not the portion
(1 Cor.16:2).

Holocaust survivor
Corrie Ten Boom wrote…

“What I spent, I had.
What I saved, I lost.
What I gave, I have.”

“We are not the sum of our possessions.
We are not the sum of our accomplishments.
We are finally the sum of our gifts.”
– Roger Kunkel

“And whoever gives one of these little ones only
a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple,
assuredly, I say to you,
he shall by no means lose his reward.”
 Matt.10:42


“Give, and it will be given to you.
You will have more than enough.
It can be pushed down and shaken
together and it will still run over
as it is given to you.
The way you give to others is the
way you will receive in return.”

Luke 6:38 (NLV)


***

“ Do not fear, for I am with you.
Do not be afraid, for I am your God.
I will give you strength,
and for sure I will help you.
Yes, I will hold you up with
My right hand that is right and good.
Isaiah 41:10


Overcoming Grief and Depression…

All of us are acquainted with grief and depression. It is estimated
That about 35 million people in this country suffer with these emotions.
It is one of the worst feelings one can experience. Many commit
Suicide rather than cope with it.

1. The first step is to determine the cause of your grief or depression.
The causes are many and complex. It may be disappointment, the
Loss of a job, business failure, serious illness, break-up of a marriage
Or death of a loved one. Job said, “Man that is born of a woman is of
Few days and full of trouble” (Job 14:1). We need a source of comfort
And strength for such times.

2. Faith in God as a Refuge and a help is necessary.
Paul said, “But My God shall supply all your need according to His riches
in glory by Christ Jesus” (Phil.4:19). David had to deal with this problem in
his life. He said, “I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness
of The Lord in the land of the living” (Psa.27:13). The godly men recognized
The need for God and turned to him for help.

3. The hope of Heaven is an anchor of the soul.
Jesus went back to Heaven to prepare a place for us. He promised to
return for us that we May be with Him (John 14:1-3). Hope is a strong
medicine for despair. The Hebrew Christians were struggling to hold on
to their hope. They were told that hope is an anchor of the soul, both sure
and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the veil (Heb.6:19).

4. Friends and loved ones can help.
Our friends hurt when we hurt. They usually want to help but feel helpless
to do so. Their letters, visits, cards, phone calls, and prayers can be so
comforting in times of distress and grief. Think of the strength and comfort
Mary and Martha must have felt when they saw Jesus weep at the tomb
of their brother Lazarus. Sometimes we just need a sympathetic friend to
listen while we talk. It is a well known fact that to “talk out” a problem is
good therapy. It can be helpful for the whole person; body, mind and spirit.

5. Prayer helps to overcome sorrow and depression.
God allowed His Own son to suffer pain and agony on the cross in dealing
with our problem of sin. He, therefore, understands fully the pain and agony
we sometimes suffer. He loved us so much that He gave Christ to die for us.
God has No pleasure in our grief. “Let us therefore come boldly unto the
throne of Grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time
of need” (Heb.4:16). David said, “In my distress I cried unto the Lord and
He heard Me” (Psa.120:1).


6. God is the God of all comfort.
“Blessed be God even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of
mercies, and the God of all comfort” (2 Cor.1:3). “Casting all your care
upon him: for he careth for you” (1 Pet.5:7). “Cast they burden upon the
Lord, and he shall sustain thee: He shall never suffer the righteous to be
moved” (Psa.55:22). “Fear thou Not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed;
for I am thy God: I will strengthen Thee; yea, I will help thee: yea, I will
uphold thee with the right hand of My righteousness” (Isa.41:10).
May you let God help you.

- G.L. Mann
Via Beacon

Edited by Hayden Childs

Like Abel of old our esteemed brother in Christ still “speaks being dead”
(Heb.11:4).


Try a Little Kindness Glen Campbell
live with the South Dakota symphony


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JX7NNMKBPsw