Yesterday was interesting, we had some snow – large flakes for a while and then rain, which basically washed it away.

The meter reader came up and read the electrical meter – then an hour or so later we lost power.

Now, I KNOW our bill is paid, it is automatically withdrawn from our account.  So, I was pretty sure that something had happened.

It was confirmed as I looked at the hillside and no lights were there – but I also checked with the company.  It was a transformer which had blown and taken out most of our side of town.

This seldom happens here, while I am sure we have had more power outages than I can remember, I can only remember a couple and this was by far the longest, lasting a couple hours.

Ken and his family, Josh and Deed, face the loss of power more frequently.  They live out of town and weather can impact their power supply – both families are prepared to endure for quite a while.

As we sat in a quiet, darkening house I couldn’t help but think that, if need be I can start a fire in the stove downstairs, I can get the butane burner to cook our food and, knowing the freezer will retain their low temperatures for a few days, we were basically ready for any longer disaster.  Canned food would supplement our diet and we could even live on it alone if necessary.

However, I also know that far too many people think that when long term disaster comes, they just have to go down to the store and get what they need – but if the store quickly sells out and there is nothing coming in, they are going to have some uncomfortable times.

Just as we had no idea the power would be down last night, we never know when we will need to call on our resources to carry us through – it is best to be prepared.

Hebrews 5:12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.

All of us have been around co-workers that don’t seem to improve, they may have 10 – 20 years’ service at their craft, but is it just one year repeated over and over.  They just don’t improve and what is worse they are satisfied with their mediocracy.

Part of that is because we have changed ‘step raises’ that were originally designed to pay a worker more money as they spent time on the job AND rose to a higher level.  These raises were not a gift, they were earned.

Today, there are few that understand that, these raises are an entitlement and they believe that time alone is the condition for which it is received and everyone is buying into that.

We are fortunate, indeed, that God does not say that your salvation is based on your growth on a regular basis – but He does expect us to grown and He blesses us accordingly.

Oh, those that still need the milk of the Word, no matter how long they have been saved, sing and join in the services, they believe that they are being blessed, but have no real conception of what blessings are – no understanding that the challenges overcome bring us closer to God.

Their emotions are satisfied, but their souls hungers after the meat of God so it can accomplish His work.

To attain the ability to receive meat, we must grow teeth, be able to devour it and allow our body to be stronger and overcome those things that stand in our way.  Milk alone is not able to do that.

Yet, far too many are satisfied with the milk; they don’t receive the nutrients necessary to withstand the trials of life and wonder why they are so troubled when they come.

We need to spend time.  Time reading God’s Word.  Time listening to those that have God’s blessings on them.  Time in conversation with Him.  Time meditating on what He tells us.  Time in applying what we learn to our daily lives.

We expect our children to grow in strength and provide more than just milk to help them. 

God expects the same of His children and wonders why we are satisfied with milk, when we could be feasting on the finest meals ever provided to man.

It is time to feast on the Word of God and allowing it to nurture our souls so we understand, more fully, who God is.

Later, Art :-)