Good Time Charlie
The Fayetteville Church has suggested in its devotional for today to look back at 2011 and remember the ‘good times’. Not a bad suggestion, and one which most of us will do. This is also the same thing God does when our years of life come to an end. When we pass away, God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." God remembers not the sins of repentant believers and followers of Christ—"because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name." No, God only ‘sees’ and remembers the good in you as Jesus ‘hides’ the bad you do. Isn’t that just awesome? Isn’t that just GOOD?
The year 2011 has brought each of us plenty of good times, as well as, I am sure, plenty of bad. It is good to recall those bad moments as we can learn from them…it is like disciplining yourself, teaching yourself, bettering yourself when you reflect on the ‘valleys’ in your life. This reflection, this self-discipline, "produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it." And if you do take some time to remember those bad times, don’t dwell on them, as the Bible also says: "He seldom reflects on the days of his life, because God keeps him occupied with gladness of heart." Remember briefly the bad times, but concentrate and learn from also, the good times, and be glad.
Last evening The Fayetteville Church celebrated the life of "Mr. Jim" Campagna, a 72 year old beloved father, grandfather and friend who had been a disciple for the past seven years, and who passed away on the 23rd. During our celebration, the speakers took turns remembering the good times of his life. Although Jim’s diseases and pain were mentioned, the tone of each speech was recalling those great moments each had spent with Mr. Jim. The good times were remembered.
Why do people want to remember the good times in a life, or a past year? Simple…that is what God wants us to do. He wants us to have life to the full, not lives of despair and hopelessness. Did you have a ‘full life’ these past twelve months? Did you enjoy lots of ‘good times’? I did. My prodigal son returned from his ‘journey’…WHAT a warm heart I received when that happened. My wife and I met, for the first time, four ‘new’ grandchildren as my son got married to a ‘ready-made family’ for the first time. We joined a great church here in Fayetteville filled with loving disciples and caring leaders. I took possession of a 1934 Plymouth coupe I once owned in the late 60s. We travelled on mini-vacations to Washington State, Puerto Rico, Vermont and Virginia. My nephew got married, dissolving the sin of living out of wedlock with his new wife. My wife visited relatives in Texas, Chicago and Pittsburg along with us both doing the same in Florida, Atlanta and Vermont. We moved into a beautiful home in Raeford, NC and met some great neighbors. We shared our faith to several and have had visitors at church. We got to meet and love some 3rd, 4th and 5th grade boys and girls as we taught for the first time in the Kingdom Kids in The Fayetteville Church. Yes, my wife and I lived 2011 ‘to the full’. Bad times? Absolutely. We lost a fantastic brother-in-law to cancer. Our fathers are both suffering diseases in the sunset years of their lives. Another brother-in-law had a heart attack on Thanksgiving, but is doing great now with no side effects---Thank God. My dad was placed in two nursing homes, and thanks to the dedication of my sister, he was made ‘comfortable’ in his new surroundings. BUT, when we take tally on our lives in 2011, we learn from those valleys, we trust God in His plan, and we refresh ourselves with the good memories of this past year.
Did YOU have a good time in 2011? I would love to read each of your stories of YOUR lives this past year. As a matter of a fact, I bet everyone on this addressee list would love to hear them as well. Would you care to share? Yes? ….GOOD!