A couple of deer from another herd, the first come from Mill Creek area below us - these came from the orchards up behind us, chose to visit and partake of Carla’s garden this morning.  They don’t even spook anymore they just look at us as if to say, leave me alone – who do you think you are disturbing my breakfast?  Then they will amble out and back to their resting areas.

About the only thing we have left in our harvesting are the tomatoes and since they in cages it is more difficult for them to take them all.  The peppers and cucumbers are about done and they don’t seem to care for them much.

The days are speeding by faster and faster.  Here it is October 2015 and if you ask me quickly without giving me much notice what was the year 20 years ago I would answer the 70’s.  I am still thinking like I was back in the 1990’s.  I think we all heard it growing up as we wanted to get ‘old or big enough’ to do something – someone, usually a parent would say, “don’t wish your life away.” 

Now, all of our kids are at least 30 years old (some of you will remember when we were in the 1960’s and we were told not to trust anyone above 30) and now Carla and I have grandchildren driving – one who graduates this year and one next year. 

Seems like only yesterday, right after my my first child was born, someone told me to get an extra set of keys for the car, she would be driving before I knew it.  How right he was.

No regrets, just part of enjoying life on this planet in anticipation of eternal life with Christ.

Philippians 1:3-5 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,

⁴ Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy,

⁵ For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now;

KJV from Biblegateway.com

We have all heard the statement, “he thinks he is God’s gift to women – or she thinks she is God’s gift to men.”  Not a term we want to hear about us – it said in derision mocking the self-adoration of the person they are talking about.

But we also know that God does give mankind gifts.  We see it in the sun during the day and the moon and stars at night.  We see it in the beauty of the universe.

We see it in the food we eat and how our body parts works together that we live a coordinated existence.

We see it in the smallest growing things where even the simplest is very complex in its creation.  We see it in how one created thing benefits other created things.

But the greatest gift, of course, is the gift that God gave to us through the death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus, for our sins.

God gives us other gifts also, through the Spirit of God:

1 Corinthians 12:29-31 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?

³⁰ Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?

³¹ But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.

And by His Spirit we have many fruits for our spiritual living:

Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

²³ Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

But those gifts are not to be held and cradled in our hearts without sharing.  Paul says “I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,”

As Christians we are a gift of God; a gift of support to our brethren.  We are gifts to each other from God.

Philippians 1:23-24 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:

²⁴ Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.

God wants us to share our gifts with everyone, not just those that have accepted Christ – if that is all it was why doesn’t He just take us all up to heaven when we accept Jesus?

He wants us to be a gift to man, not in a vain prideful way, but as an ambassador to man, as a witness of what He has done for us and a promise of what He can do for them.

He could have done anything, chosen any means to proclaim the Gospel, what He chose was to use us.  We are His gift to man – not as Christ was, but preaching His Gospel and means of salvation to those that do not know Him.

1 Corinthians 1:21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

God has many gifts He has given to mankind, as Christians, we are one of those gifts.  We are given gifts to be given, let us act like it.

Later, Art :-)

From the ColumbiaRiverGorgeous
May Our Good Lord Bless and Keep YOU....’til we meet again