[Faith-talk] {Spam?} Daily Thought for Thursday, June 2, 2016

[Ericka]

Many times I have had that urge. Unfortunately in the recent past I had no way to share a concern. All I could do is pray. I still don't know the outcome, but the person is in the best place – gods hands!

Ericka Short
"What is right is not always popular; what is popular is not always right."

 from my iPhone 6s

> On Jun 2, 2016, at 1:26 PM, Paul Smith via Faith-Talk <faith-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Hello and greetings to most of you for the second time today.  Of course for you in Australia and New Zealand, it's already your Friday as this message is being written.  At any rate I hope that your day is going well, by God's matchless grace and His providential care.
> 
> Have you ever been engaged in doing mundane and routine things around your house or apartment, when, all of a sudden, the urge to visit someone you really are very close to hits you? Well, for all practical reasons, if this person doesn't live fairly close to you, the best way to do this, in my opinion, is to pick up the phone and call him/her.  Maybe you've been in a situation whereby it would be so good if someone would either visit or phone you.  I've personally been on both ends of this topic.  If I've observed female psychology at all, I understand that ladies are much more prone to talk out their true feelings with other ladies than we guys do.  Anyway I say all this because Audrey Carli from Michigan has a contribution written along this line.  Entitled "Why My Rush To Visit Beth?", it is rendered as follows:
> 
> I woke up in the gray dawn with my middle-aged friend Beth in my thoughts.  I sensed she was weeping, her blue eyes tear-filled.  I realized she had fresh grief for her late husband, John.  When we had met for lunch at our local family restaurant, she said that when she looked at wedding, anniversary, birthday and holiday photos, sadness often engulfed her.
> 
> She smiled and said she would soon adjust.
> 
> We both knew that others had also adapted to being alone.  And we realized our faith would keep us going.  We agreed that prayer strengthened us.  Thus, our visits ended with, "You will be in my prayers."
> 
> So why was Beth on my mind with the urgency to visit her that morning?
> 
> Whenever she and I had met for lunch at the Family Corner Cafe, we had agreed our visits eased sadness and enhanced tranquility.  Thus, each visit concluded with a prayer for each other.
> 
> I kept busy by dusting the living room end tables.  Suddenly, I knew I must visit my friend! So I tossed down my dust cloth and hurried to my car.
> 
> While driving, Beth's recent temporary move came to my mind.  She had sold the family residence before her planned move to her hometown, Milton Falls, a two-hour drive away.  However, her new hometown residence would not be ready for a month.  That was why she had moved to a furnished upper flat until she could return to Milton Falls.  She had not ordered a land line telephone for that brief time.  She would get a cell phone after moving to her new address.
> 
> After parking my car beside Beth's temporary home, I knocked hard at the stairway entry door.
> 
> Quickly, she descended the stairs and welcomed me.  Her tear-wet eyes beamed.  "I prayed for a visitor! It's a special day--and I miss John a lot."
> 
> After we ascended the steps, we sat in two facing chairs--and prayed.  We expressed gratitude for the nudges that sent me to visit Beth on her sad day.
> 
> After a tea break and chat, we prayed thanks for our visit and why that day had been extra lonely.  "It's John's and my wedding anniversary."
> 
> We prayed thanks for the years we had our devoted husbands.  Now that they were gone, we were blessed with our friendship.  Our mutual prayers could link us--and offer comfort before and after our visits.
> 
> Beth said their pastor often taught them to pray for their needs as well as for others.  "He emphasized the short verse in 1 Thessalonians 5:17, Pray continually" (NIV).
> 
> It had become clear why Beth had been in my earlier thoughts and I felt the urgency to visit her.
> 
> Reading this article from three years ago reminded me of an incident back in 2003.  For several years I had been in phone contact with Belle Mills of Birmingham, Alabama, whom I had met over the old E-Voice system.  (Perhaps some of you remember that).  We were so close that for the last year we were on this phone chatline, she paid for my time with her credit card, as I didn't have one at the time.  Well, in February of 2003 my late Mom had to be taken to hospital and a nursing home, and this was the first time I was without anyone in the house.  One Saturday evening, feeling so lonely, I was about to end it all by taking an overdose of pills when Belle called me on the phone.  I can still remember her exact words:  "Don't do that, because I've been where you are right now." And it's a good thing that God led her to do what she did, otherwise I wouldn't have met so many fine and wonderful people, and I wouldn't be here today.
> 
> If anyone knows where or even how I can get in touch with her, I'd really appreciate it, if anyone reading these lines knows her.  Of course it would be proper to ask her permission before contact is made. Just want to touch base and catch up on the news.  She is probably married, so her husband's OK might also be good to get.
> 
> And that will do it for today's Daily Thought message and article.  See, I told you it would be considerably shorter.  Until tomorrow when, Lord willing another such article will be posted, may the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob just keep us safe, individually and collectively, in these last days in which we live.  Your Christian friend and brother, Paul
> 
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