Tag: Friends

By Clay Collins, Guest Columnist
207 837-0564

Jesus said, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”                                                             

  John 13:34-35

My friends and fellow Grangers, happy spring and happy Easter! As I write this today, I am looking out the window at the snow. Just sitting here watching the snow come down makes me think about all the things going on in the world.

All of the homeless people, the high cost of groceries, and the cost of gas and heating oil. We might not be able to do much about these things, but there is one thing that we, as a human race, can do to make it more bearable, and that is remember what Jesus said. “Love one another as He loves us!”

Many of you already do this, and I commend you for it. For the few that are stand-offish, take it slowly. When you meet someone, say, “Hello”, and strike up a conversation. Before you know it, you have a new friend. It might not be easy to start with, but do it long enough, it will become second nature. Think about it.

Until the next time, remember, “Be well, do good work, and keep in touch.”

Benediction: “Gracious Father, thank you for giving us your Son, Jesus, for whom we would never have learned how to love one another as He loves us.   Amen.”

Thought for the month:

“May your right hand always be stretched out in friendship, and never in want.” [Irish Blessing]

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While Chaplain Christine is burdened with technology challenges, she has invited Past MSG Chaplain Clay to share some spiritual thoughts with our Grange Flock.

By Clay Collins, Guest Columnist
207 837-0564

“A woman from Samaria came to the well to draw water. Jesus said to her, ‘Give me a drink,’ (For His disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.) The Samaritan woman said to Him, ‘How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria? Jesus answered her, ‘If you knew the gift of God, and who it is saying to you, Give me a drink, you would have asked him, and he would have given you  living water.’ The woman said to Him, ‘Sir, you have nothing to draw water with, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water?”    

  John 4:7-11

I apologize for such a long scripture this month, but it said volumes to me. This was the scripture we heard in church this week (third Sunday in Lent). I took the middle part of it. The full scripture lesson is John 4:5–42.

Naturally, we, as good grangers and Christians, would think nothing of giving the stranger a drink of water, but in those days, the Jews and Samaritans were total opposites from one another. It would be very strange for the two of them to even be sitting in the same area, much less talking to each other, especially a man and a single woman.

The woman was correct in saying that Jesus had nothing to draw water, and that the well was very deep. Jesus was not talking about water from the well that we drink. He was talking about the living water that only God Himself provides us. That is what God feeds our soul with to help us understand the teachings of Jesus and God.

The ”Living Water” that comes from God is what sustains us so that we may do good here on earth. We need to drink it in so that we can continue to do God’s work.

Until the next time, remember, “Be well, do good work, and keep in touch.”

Benediction: “Gracious Father, continue to give us the living water.  Amen.”

Thought for the month:

“May your blessings outnumber the shamrocks that grow and may trouble avoid you wherever you go.”  [Irish Blessing]

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While Chaplain Christine is burdened with technology challenges, she has invited Past MSG Chaplain Clay to share some spiritual thoughts with our Grange Flock.

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By Clay Collins, Guest Columnist
207 837-0564

“You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything but is thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house.In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.”

  Matthew 5:13-16

Here it is, another month. What happened to the month of January? Here we are in the second month, looking at a lot of snow and very cold weather, wondering if spring is ever going to get here. Well, take heart, my fellow brothers and sisters, it will come.

While we are waiting for the warmer weather to come, let’s work on letting our light shine on others. By that I mean during the cold weather, many people (especially the elderly) are spending more time indoors trying to keep warm.

Those of us who can and are able to get out should spread our “light” to those who need help. By calling our friends and neighbors to see if they are doing fine or if they need rides to the store or the doctor. They might just need to talk.

Until the next time, remember, “Be well, do good work, and keep in touch.”

Benediction: “Gracious Father, help us to be better people. Teach us to learn how to help those who are sad and mourning. Amen.”

Thought for the month:

“May good luck be your friend in whatever you do, and may trouble be always a stranger to you.”

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While Chaplain Christine is burdened with technology challenges, she has invited Past MSG Chaplain Clay to share some spiritual thoughts with our Grange Flock.

By Clay Collins, Guest Columnist
207 837-0564

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.”

  Matthew 5:4

Happy New Year to one and all! I hope you had a very nice and rewarding Christmas season. Please remember that the season just doesn’t end on the sixth of January.

The Lord God did not want us to just worship Jesus’ birth; He wanted us to carry the feeling of love into the world every day. He wanted us to help the downtrodden. By helping those who are mourning, you will be helping yourselves.

Until the next time, remember, “Be well, do good work, and keep in touch.”

Benediction: “Gracious Father, help us to be better people. Teach us to learn how to help those who are sad and mourning. Amen.”

Thought for the month:

“May good luck be your friend in whatever you do, and may trouble be always a stranger to you.”

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While Chaplain Christine is burdened with technology challenges, she has invited Past MSG Chaplain Clay to share some spiritual thoughts with our Grange Flock.

By Clay Collins, Guest Columnist
207 837-0564

“And He saith unto them, ‘Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?’ Then He arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.” .   

  Matthew 9:26

Friends! Have you ever taken the time to determine just who your friends really are? Who are your rainy-day friends? Who are your casual friends? Who are your good friends? The ones who are there for you when you need them?

These are just a few questions to help you put your friends into the right perspective. Not all friends are alike! There are friends from work or school who are more casual acquaintances than friends. There are those friends who would drop everything and come running (literally) if you should need help of any kind. Then there are those friends who will stick by you when all of the other friends have long gone.

We must cherish all of our friends, as they each have a purpose in our lives. God would not have given us the friends that we have if there were not a purpose to it. It has been said that friends are like a fine wine; both add comfort to a significant situation. For if it weren’t for good friends, how would we be able to cope with our day-to-day lives?

Friends are a gift from God that we cannot overlook. I am thankful every day for all of my dear friends, for without them, I could not appreciate the true gifts from God. Thank you one and all for being my very dear friends.

Until the next time, remember, “Be well, do good work, and keep in touch”.

Benediction: Our Father, thank you for our friends for without them, life would not be worth living. Help us to realize that our friends are really a true and loving gift from You. We give our thanks in Thy holy name. Amen. 

Thought for the month:

“Life has many gifts – take time to unwrap them all!”

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While Chaplain Christine is burdened with technology challenges, she has invited Past MSG Chaplain Clay to share some spiritual thoughts with our Grange Flock.