Well now, then, in our neck of the woods we awoke to sunshine a bright Mt. Hood and angry clouds coming out of the Gorge.  There is a promise of 59 degrees today and we are supposed to be one of the warmest spots in Oregon, for a change.

It will be a nice respite, even with higher winds, in between rainy days.

Never let it be said that shoppers don’t exercise.  Teresa and Carla went shopping yesterday and Teresa said they walked over 4.5 miles. 

Didn’t buy much, although the fresh baked Russian bread, from the Russian store was good, and a few more seeds for the garden she couldn’t find here.  (and the crab cakes.)

Carla is at work now, but will have the afternoon off where, I am sure, she will be outside working and enjoying the sun.

Remember when they tell you to always back up your work?  Do it.

We had a brief outage, no more than a second, and I lost a lot of what I wrote this morning and had to go back and fill in those areas.  Fortunately I do back up every few minutes, but for some reason I hadn’t done it for a bit.

Oh, well, the message was pretty clear to me, and while time consuming, I got it rewritten.

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1 Peter 3:14-16 “ But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;

¹⁵ But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

¹⁶ Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.”  KJV

One of the things that all Christians need to understand is that we not only have the privilege and honor, but the obligation to share our Hope and our Joy in Jesus with others.

To not do so is actually being selfish; we are depriving others of the opportunity to learn about and follow Christ.

Now, I am not saying that everyone has to get on a soap box and preach.  I am not saying that everyone has to grab people by the collar and force them to listen.

Each of us has a different personality; each of us has a different mission, but the obligation for all of us is to share our faith in God and His Son as we are directed by the Holy Spirit.

AND if we let Him He will direct us.

The key is being prepared to hear Him, study His Word, spent time with Him, listen to Him and then follow His direction.

It doesn’t always come as a loud voice.  I still remember and regret the time I was in the rest room of one of our local stores.

I was washing my hands in one sink while another man was washing up in another.  He was obviously living outside and was using this opportunity to cleanse himself.

I must have looked at him in an accusatory manner, why else would he have said, “I am not like the others.”

This was a cry for me to recognize him as a person, a person who at the moment needed a touch and reassurance from a Christian that God cared for him.

A cry from the Holy Spirit to give him encouragement and let him know he was worthy of God’s love.

I failed.

I didn’t say anything to him, just nodded.  That was several years ago and it still haunts me.

It doesn’t take well practiced speeches, it doesn’t take special words, but it does take a heart open to God and a willingness to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit, then doing what He asks.

“be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:”

It doesn’t depend on age, it doesn’t depend on education or training, it doesn’t depend on one’s job or salary, it just depends on the heart, mind and willingness of us to obey God.

It isn’t easy.  There are times we will fail.  There are times that a lump will grow in our throat and chest and we become fearful of what to say.

But, once we make it a way of life, to be open to the Holy Spirit and the people He sends our ways, as we follow His leading, it becomes a bit easier.

We may never know how our message will be received or what the outcome might be down the road, it doesn’t matter, we speak and the Holy Spirit will deal with them – if THEY let Him.

“be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:”

We may be rebuffed or even attacked verbally or physically, but I find that when we say it without judgement (unless it IS warranted) most people will either want to hear more, or just politely listen and then walk off.

But it doesn’t matter.

“and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;

THAT is easier said than done.  God isn’t unaware of our feelings but through Peter’s writing He is comforting us and telling us that He is there with us.

“be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:”

Lord, may I always be ready.

Later, Art (-: