011125 From the Banks of Burcham Creek...

From the Banks of Burcham Creek…

Lisa and I like most of you enjoyed the snow day
Off from work yesterday, we sat by the fire pit a bit
And walked around our place on Burcham Creek.
Our dog Bella enjoyed the day too…

Yesterday was also my Dad’s Birthday I spoke
To him via telephone we had a nice visit this
Past Sunday with him and Doris my stepmother
In Corinth, MS.

Thankful to our God that he is still with us.

The late Toby Keith was inspired to write a song
When he asked actor Clint Eastwood what kept
Him active and going strong.

Eastwood replied,
“I don’t let the old man in”.

Keith would write the song and it
was also used In Eastwood’s movie “The Mule”.

I am attaching the song as well as this post
In honor of my dad, Rex H. Childs, Sr.

- Hayden Childs

***

Charles Spurgeon's Daily Devotions

The Eleventh of January

From Spurgeon's "Faith's Check Book"

Faith Sets the Bow


“It shall be, when I bring a cloud over the earth,
 that the rainbow shall be seen in the cloud;”

 Genesis 9:14

Just now clouds are plentiful enough, but we are not afraid
that the world will be destroyed by a deluge.

We see the rainbow often enough to prevent our having any
such fears.

The covenant which the Lord made with Noah stands fast,
and we have no doubts about it.

Why, then, should we think that the clouds of trouble,
which now darken our sky, will end in our destruction?

Let us dismiss such groundless and dishonoring fears.

Faith always sees the bow of covenant promise whenever
sense sees the cloud of affliction.

God has a bow with which He might shoot out His arrows
of destruction.

But see, it is turned upward!

It is a bow without an arrow or a string.
It is a bow hung out for show, no longer used for war.

It is a bow of many colors, expressing joy and delight,
and not a bow blood-red with slaughter or black with anger.
Let us be of good courage.

Never does God so darken our sky as to leave His covenant
without a witness, and even if He did,

we would trust Him since He cannot change or lie or in any
other way fails to keep His covenant of peace.

Until the waters go over the earth again,
we shall have no reason for doubting our God.


***

“To appreciate the beauty of a snowflake
it is necessary to stand out in the cold.”

Aristotle,
Ancient Greek philosopher and polymath

Aristotle’s philosophy encourages stepping
outside one’s comfort zone as part of pursuing
eudaemonia — human flourishing.

He emphasizes that achieving excellence and
virtue often require effort, discomfort,
and rational action beyond habitual or
pleasurable routines.

EXERCISE…

How has taking on life’s challenges and stepping
outside your habitual and pleasurable pursuits
provided you some of the more beautiful aspects
of living?

Where and when can you continue to step out into
some of the chillier aspects of life to discover
other kinds of beauty awaiting you?

- Barry Demp


***

“Generosity is not a loan to repay or a
debt to settle. It’s a gift to appreciate.”

Adam Grant,
American organizational psychologist and bestselling author

Adam Grant’s book, Give and Take, is one of my favorites.
If you have yet to read it, today’s quote could be one of
the top nuggets to summarize its wisdom.

Through his extensive research of givers, takers,
and matchers, it’s the givers of the world who seem to
lead the most richly rewarding lives.

Perhaps the best way to show our appreciation of the
generosity of others is simply to acknowledge it.

EXERCISE…

I hope you will take Adam’s advice and give the
generous people in your life your sincere appreciation
for their many gifts.

- Barry Demp



***


Don’t Let the Old Man In – Toby Keith
2023 People’s Choice Awards

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFfQDqY6mC4