THE GOOD NEIGHBORWritten by Irvin L. Rozier
Matthew 22.39 "And second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."Mrs. Kelly, a dear departed neighbor, was a woman who really practiced what above scripture reads. She was a quiet-spoken humble woman of God. I met her and her husband when I first moved back to neighborhood in 1987. Both of them enjoyed their yard, especially all flowers and shrubbery they had planted over years. Christmas morning, 1989, was especially beautiful here in south Georgia. It had snowed, and ground was covered. All water pipes in my mobile home were frozen, so I went next door to my sister's house to take a bath. No one was home; they had went to Mama's for Christmas dinner. I was supposed to meet my family there. I finished my bath, put on some warm clothes, and went out door. Across road at Kelly's was an ambulance. I went over there; Mr. Kelly had taken sick. He and his family had celebrated both his birthday and Christmas. Before he died, I had privilege of praying last prayer for him. He finished celebrating Christmas in Heaven. After this, Mrs. Kelly and I developed a deep friendship. She had two granddaughters she was raising and she worked full-time despite her handicap. She had contracted polio when she was a youngster. She still cut her own grass and worked in her yard. The other neighbors and I would keep a close watch on her to see if we could be of assistance. If a big pecan limb fell in her yard, some of us neighbors would see it was cleaned up. Mrs. Kelly had a strong faith in God and she took her problems to Lord, and He would help her. Jesus particularly loved and cared for widows.
| | DESTINYWritten by Irvin L. Rozier
Destiny..the future to which any person or thing is destined.Jonah 1 verse 1 "Now word of Lord came unto Jonah son of Amittai, saying, verse 2 Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me." Jonah was picked by God to go preach to Nineveh. He tried not to heed call, and instead headed in other direction. While on sea Lord sent a great storm and everyone on ship were afraid for their lives, except Jonah, who was fast asleep. The shipmaster came to him and asked him to call upon his God (he recognized that Jonah was a man of God). They cast lots to find out why storm was so great, and lot fell on Jonah. He then testified to these lost souls and requested that they throw him overboard. Then storm ceased. Then men of ship feared Lord exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice unto Lord, and made vows. God used Jonah even when he was running. God could have thrown Jonah away, and picked someone else to preach to Nineveh...but God is sovereign, and chose Jonah (this was Jonah's destiny). The great fish swallowed Jonah and in this dire predicament, Jonah prayed unto his God. Then Lord spake to fish, and it vomited (spewed out) Jonah upon dry land. Then Jonah went and preached to Nineveh (his destiny). Lo and behold, an amazing thing happened...from King on down, every one repented, believed Jonah's message, and Lord spared city.
|