Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
I am amazed at some of the things that take place in my life. It just seems like when I need something to lift my spirits, God sends something along that picks me up. At times I’m not expecting anything, but that’s when God sends me a wonderful surprise.
This past Friday while I was at the crossing guard, Sutton got out of the car then started running to the other side of the street from me. He was yelling something so I crossed over to meet him. When I got there he handed me a ‘fun size’ Snickers then said, “Papa, I just wanted to thank you for being such a great Dad to my Dad and teaching him how to be a good Daddy.”
I was so proud in that moment. Not that I got the Snickers but that my grandson said something that touched my heart and encouraged me. Then Sutton hugged me and said, “I love you, Papa.” I was so excited that Sutton did such a kind thing.
Then Harper came up and gave me a hug and told me she loved me. It was just a wonderful moment for me to experience as a new day was beginning. My heart was filled with joy. Then Danielle pointed out that I was getting ready to have some kids crossing the street.
As Sutton, Harper and Danielle headed inside I ran back to bring a brother and sister across the street. As they were crossing the boy looked up at me and said, “Thank you for all the funny and kind things you say to us when we’re going across the street.”
Wow! My heart was simply overwhelmed. In just a matter of a few minutes God had sent two young boys into my morning that blessed my heart. It was truly a blessing for me. Proverbs 16:24 says it well – “Pleasant words are a honeycomb, Sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.”
Paul said it well in 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 -- 1 If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing.
4 Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, 5 does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, 6 does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8 Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part; 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away. 11 When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things. 12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known. 13 But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.
On Friday I heard words spoken out of love that touched me. Now it is time we speak pleasant words that are ‘sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. It’s time we speak with love.
JESUS, JESUS, JESUS, there IS something about that name!!
Christ only, always,
Bro. Paul
Brother Paul Nachtigall is the preacher at Highland Baptist Church. He can be reached at bropaul@centramedia.net.
