.

I know why they change the time twice a year, but I do not know whose idea it was. This I do know; whoever it was did not have kids or enjoy sleep in any fashion. For 27 years I have had children and for much of those years there was a preschooler involved. Trust me when I say these preschool folks do not understand or care about the time change; their body just keeps on ticking on the old clock.

The weeks immediately following the time change are spent with people up at all kinds of odd hours while adults try to work out a strategy to get things back to normal. Fortunately us parents do finally get everyone straightened out, ourselves included. Normally this occurs about a month before the next time change. Change good or bad in our life is a constant, figuring out how to deal with it is the great trick of life.

Fortunately we have a God who has our back. He knows what is in front of us and is working, often behind the scenes, to prepare us for upcoming change. Funny in life it seems as though the minute you get things figured out life throws another challenge at you. We do best not to resist it, but learn to trust God on the journey that He has us on. The only thing more constant in life than change is the God who shows us the way.

Proverbs 4:18, “The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day.”

Nuggets of simple-truths written by Richard A. Harris #7

I must admit that I often make fun of the Hallmark channel. I tell my wife I could write a Hallmark movie in thirty minutes. It does not take long to figure out what couple is going to end up together and how it is going to happen. Most the movies are predictable and downright corny much of the time.

The world does not flock to the Hallmark channel; it’s a shame. What could possibly be wrong with entertainment that leaves you feeling good inside. The world argues those corny movies are not real life. If the other movies in turn reflect the real world then what does that say about our culture.

Think of this nugget not as a recommendation of the Hallmark channel but an encouragement to consider what we put in our mind. Let’s compare Hallmark verses the world to make our point:

Hallmark movies are about redemption, unconditional love, forgiveness, and long term commitment.

The world’s movies are about casual sex, vulgar language, revenge, greed and short term commitment.

What we put in our mind eventually seeps out in our life, be careful.

When it comes to Hallmark verses the world, give me Hallmark every time.

Romans 12:1-2a, “So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—you’re sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out.” The Message by Eugene Peterson

Nuggets of simple-truths written by Richard A. Harris

This devotional is neither a defense nor attack of Rush Limbaugh. I have not listened to him in years, making my knowledge base limited. All I know about Rush at this moment is that he said some things he obviously shouldn’t have a couple of weeks ago. I figure this puts him in the same category as 100 percent of the people in America at one time or another in their life. Problem is millions of people listen to Rush.

After making his mistake he asked for forgiveness. Knowing just a little of his personality my guess is this was not easy. Some might say he did it because of the public uproar or the fact that he was losing sponsors, thus he was losing money. His motivation for asking for forgiveness is anyone’s guess. Perhaps he really was sorry.

The person he asked for forgiveness from said she did not accept it because it was not sincere. My question is how do you judge the sincerity of an apology, any apology not just Rush’s. Here are some quick thoughts on forgiveness:

1) Always seek forgiveness when you have wronged someone. *side note: the less you say the more likely you are to not have to ask for forgiveness for misspoken words.

2) Be very willing to accept an apology because only God knows the heart.

3) When deciding if you will forgive someone, keep a good memory about what it feels like to need forgiveness and how good it is to receive it.

Matthew 6:14-15, “In prayer there is a connection between what God does and what you do. You can’t get forgiveness from God, for instance, without also forgiving others. If you refuse to do your part, you cut yourself off from God’s part.” The Message by Eugene Peterson

Nuggets of simple-truths written by Richard A. Harris

My family takes a mobile library to children in a mobile home park. A key ingredient in this ministry is plastic milk crates. The library books go in the milk crates thus making them critical. Unfortunately recently we ran out of milk crates as well as two of our resources in obtaining them.

I work at three grocery stores and none were in the mood to give me the milk crates sitting around the store. At one store they were stacked 10 feet high, but they would not release them to me. So God did and here is how it happened. As I was walking off of one dock I heard a familiar voice, it was the voice of a former church member. We got to talking and guess what he delivers to the stores? You got it, milk.

Obviously I did not waste any time asking him for some crates and he did not waste anytime filling my car up with them. He said if you need more just ask; I smiled. God worked it out.

Perhaps you have a need, a big need! Have you asked God about it? Be on guard if you have because you never know how he might meet that need. If God cares about milk crates for a small library, I assure you He cares about your needs as well.

Philippians 4:19, ‘And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.’

Nuggets of simple-truths by Richard Harris