Ps 1:1

Psalm 1:1 “How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked…”




I wish I could go back throughout my life and take back the times I compromised my relationship with Christ to follow a wicked man’s counsel. Reflection over one’s life can prove sorrowful with many regrets. True, some unsaved folk will have great advice for us in this world, but we must stay attuned to the Holy Spirit as to when to follow this advice and when to reject it. “Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools…” (Romans 1:22) Is it safe to trust in the counsel of fools? Surely not, rather, first go to the Maker of all things, who contains all wisdom ad knowledge, and “Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!” (Romans 11:33). So, “if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God,” (James 1:5) instead of walking in the counsel of the wicked.

A Great Woman

"Leave your orphans behind, I will keep them alive;And let your widows trust in Me." -Jeremiah 49:10-11

Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world." -James 1:27

This past semester I have been living with an elderly widow.  She is quite capable, even to the point of insisting in her mowing her own yard--roughly three acres.  When I moved in, the plan was for me to cook and provide my own food.  She simply would not have that plan much longer after the week I moved in, insisting that she would provide some of my meals.  She enjoys going to the Senior Center and other like places to hear some old country music live, and does not have a complete week without going to Sunday service at First Marion Baptist.  Her nights are not complete without a call from her daughter and with utmost diligence going through her lengthy prayer list.

Lavene had tragedies plague her life in the past decade.  A mother, husband, and two sons passed away.  I am sure much more tragedy struck, but I do not know many details.  She has been living alone in a small country town in Southern Indiana for some time.  About this time last year, she agreed to let me stay with her while I commuted to Bible college in Louisville.

Her husband served and faught in WWII.  He was a part of the Battle of the Bulge and Victory for Europe (VE) Day.  He fell victim to some mental issues, but had indeed accepted Christ shortly before His death.  Lavene's sons seem to be in the same boat as their father.  One summer day, with tears in her deep, dark eyes, Lavene lamented that she should have done more to bring her family to Christ.  That was not hardly it.  She followed with one of the most touching things I have ever heard in my entire life:

"I always tell my friends that God gave us all talents, but I started to think I don't have any talents. But then I though, "Well I love people, so maybe loving people is my talent."
-Lavene Lemaster

Blood Soaked -or- From Adam to All

From Adam to Noah to Abraham to Moses
To who knows whence and where it goest
God's grace spread through Jesus, and then
To the disciples, and then all men.

Somewhere along the way that grace reached me
While I was afar sinning, lost at sea.
Until that light shone and my mind's eye was awakened
And the Lord my heart captured, and my sin was taken.

My sin was not covered by the good works I hath done,
But rather my sin was blotted out and burnt up by the Son.
Thus my hands will raise, and my tongue will dance!
May I spread this Good News whenever I've the chance.

Hath thou known that He created man from dust?
Hath thou known that His love He did thrust?
Hath thou known worlds spun at His word spoken?
What price wilt thou pay to obtain this buried token?

I was shocked to notice that He struggled this for me:
Bloody, beaten, disregarded, heart ruptured, hanging on the tree.
How do I reply to such a sight? With each sin I pound the nails in tight
With each sin I pound the nails in tight, my sin reflecting my malice and spite.

The Love that saved humankind from an earth-drowning flood,
The Love that turns a seed into a flower bud,
The Love that noticed thee and raised thee from the mud,
Didst hang there for you, soaked in blood.

Copyright © Billy James Edwards