Being OK

Posted on by Gary Fultz

Our furnace quit as the outside weather decided to sit at -25 (f). The first “emergency” furnace guy didn’t have the right igniter. The second “emergency” furnace guy didn’t either, but he banged on a bracket with a hammer to make a “close enough” igniter long enough to spark in the “propane path”. HIs parting words were “it works for now; we will let you know when the right part comes in.” Meanwhile, I get to choose how much to worry or not. I have thoughts about how to protect our handicapped daughter’s inability to control her bodies temperature as well as freezing the waterpipes in the house. A bridge to cross if another emergency happens. I now have 5 electric heaters I can borrow and use in case of another emergency. I’m also going to have a spare igniter handy.

In northern Minnesota it’s wise to be prepared for extreme weather. One can blame the weather for life problems only so far. I like to define “the weather” as the circumstances we live in today. Our political circumstances, choices made by our leaders, choices made by our neighbors and even crimes that affect us is a part of “the weather” and climate we live in. It’s life. It’s always been that way in every time and culture that has ever lived.

Some of our winter weather coping pictures…we are ok. I keep some outdoor Christmas till Easter…The birds and squirrels add to the decor.

I like nice weather. I like comfort. It’s attractive. While we hit our high weather temperature today of -6 (f), my wife was browsing at condos on a warm beach on the internet and checking the numbers in our savings. “Wow they all look new” she said. “that’s because they just built them after the last hurricane” I said.

I cannot help but feel very blessed. Despite “the weather” of life I have a wife who loves me, Great kids and grandkids, Knowing God loves me and wants to shepherd me through all life’s weather. I have been reading and rereading Psalm 23. A simple psalm with layers and layers of depth, laced with scriptural threads of truths about our Shepherd weathering us through life. I also want to share the best book I have used in going through Psalm 23 by Brian Troxel from “A Word In Season.” Go to Brians site, sign up for his Blog and buy some books to read and give away.

You will want to buy extra for gifts. Trust me on this one…Depths shared simply.

My last thought about being ready for “the weather”. One should walk with God and let his spirit make us ready for anything. His fruit is much better than what the world tells us how to believe and behave. Galatians 5:22-23: “ But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”

I hope you are wintering and weathering well.

Gary

Account Settled

Posted on by Gary Fultz

I leaned against the counter in the local building center as the salesman, a friend, said “I have a story for you.” He rang up my bill as I said “put it on my wife’s account.” He chuckled “Ok, it looks like she has a credit on her account so that’s a good deal. It’s already paid!”

“The story?” I asked? (In the salesman’s words)”Yes. I just played piano for a funeral of one of your distant relatives. He would have been your mothers cousin. He had heart problems, surgery and then was doing really well but died suddenly. A couple days before he died, his son was visiting and asked his dad if he had ever settled his accounts with God. He said no I don’t think so. His son then told him about sin separating us from God, an unpayable debt. Jesus dying and paying the price with his life for our sin and offering everyone a restored relationship with God, he just had to receive that gift God offers us, a restored relationship with him now and forever. Yep, when he realized God had already paid for his account to be settled, he believed and wanted to pray and ask Jesus into his life…just like that. He died a couple days later. Peaceful, his son said”

I pondered the story of my distant relatives son, about my age, finally sharing the gospel with his dad, as I was excited to share my latest pictures with friends and siblings. Knowing God, just the possibility of his guidance and knowing that kind of love in my life is the most exciting thing one can ever know. Ironically, coincidence? I think not, my pictures fit the story here. take a look at pictures and explanations.

These are the last ermine tracks made before the ermine was raptered (ya, play on word for some of you). He was hopping along and an owl carried him away. The final side slots in the snow, coming towards us, is wing tips pushing up. He’s gone.

Guess who took over the ermine tunnels in the snow? This red squirrel wasted no time. If he stays there, well, the owl is watching.
Nearby in the woods: the final resting place for an old white tail buck. A stop-over resting place for birds like this downy woodpecker. The old weeds have died but their seeds will replant in the spring.

I took these pictures at the warmest part of the day (-9F) with a bitter cold wind chill of -30F. The squirrel held his paws as if cold and would not leave his warm tunnel under the snow. As it got colder through the day, 6 deer came and laid in the snow by our garden shed in the sun out of the wind. They just hope to survive the winter.

Today, I was reminded that so many people just go through life with an unclaimed gift they forget about. A gift better than the biggest winning lottery ticket ever. A now and forever gift.

So today I ask you if you have accepted God’s offer of a relationship with him. Now and forever. I’m asking about a relationship that God sought with us through Jesus. Here’s a start for looking further

Gary

I think often of you Kim. So sorry. You asked me why I was so happy and I blew it. I could have taken the time to share