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The Little Things ... you know Don’t Sweat em’ by Pastor John Trotter Have you ever had a bunch of stuff go wrong all at the same wrong time? I’ll never forget New Years day 2005, I woke up, went into my basement, and found out after just one step off the last step, that it was flooded. The well pipe had sprung a leak some time in the night. Because all the stores were closed, I had to get my welder out and cobble some fittings to make it work. Then, two days later (everything was closed the following day also because it was Sunday) when I got the right parts I got to fix it again! Then, I had to get another part for something else that I was working on and I had a guy tell me that he had the right part. Taking him at his word, I drove two hours to get it and when I got there, He said that he was wrong; it wasn’t the right part after all! Another special event was one Sunday morning when I awoke to the sound of somebody pounding on my door at 5 am. I got up and it was the guy next door. He needed the water shut off in his place, because the toilet had broken and was flooding the little guesthouse. I did finally find a bolt and rubber, no thanks to my wife who is always ‘encouraging’ me to get rid of all that ‘junk’! On another occasion I remember wanting to go and put an axle in my truck, when someone came in for a visit. While I always enjoy a good visit, I was sort of itching to go and get this job done. Just as he was leaving, my wife phoned me to tell me she is stuck in a snow bank. After some aggressive shoveling and thanks to a friend with a good truck, you know, the kind with an axle, we were able to get her out after only about a half an hour. I was very quiet during all that time, ‘cause if I hadn’t kept my mouth closed, it wouldn’t have been good what would have come out. Then when I think about my trouble, it fades in comparison to what happened to people who are affected by Tsunamis, Hurricanes, Fires, and Droughts etc. So I ask the question, “Why do we let such little things get to us?” I know that there is a scripture in the Bible that says, “In everything give thanks,” not for everything, but in the middle of whatever you’re going through. We all have disappointments that we must deal with daily, but it comes down to how we face and deal with disaster. Will we use it to rise higher or will we let it destroy us? Don’t ever allow things to destroy you or take you out. I have seen too many people quit and/or leave everything, even kill themselves just because it seemed as though there was no way out. Even in the fiercest battle, the kind where you see no light anywhere, there is always a way out, and His name is Jesus. Nothing is too big for him; He is the way, the truth and the life. This does not mean that things in life still won’t try to get you down, but with Jesus you know there is a way out. Before I accepted Jesus, I would completely flip when things went wrong, now, I still get some ugly feelings, but I also have self-control in my heart. That is one of the gifts that God has given me, I employ it at will, but it is in me. God’s Word in me is bigger than any circumstance. Just think of Moses and the children of Israel, when the Pharaoh and his army cornered them at the shore of the Red Sea. They had a real problem! When Moses stuck his rod out over the water, God opened the sea and made a path for them to cross over on dry ground! With God there is always a way out. Things will still try to come against you, but you know that you will come out. It takes faith to believe this, but the Bible is true and if you will just let Jesus become a part of your life, He will always help you! To have Jesus become a part of your life all you have to do is welcome him into your heart and life. Remember that every day with Jesus is a great day! Your friend, John |
The North Kawartha Food Bank will have a donation jar stationed outside of local businesses in the Village during the summer. Canada Day July 1st Hunters Store Civic Holiday Aug 5th & 6th Sayers IGA Labour Day Sept 1st, 2nd & 3rd LCBO & RBC There are many families in our community in need, so please give generously!! Remember to bring a non perishable food item out to the Canada Day Parade. You can also recycle your used inkjet cartridges with the proceeds going to the food share program. They can be dropped off at Wellington Street, Pat’s Hairstyling or the Library located in Apsley. 
Willy-nilly ... What is the Meaning? The key to the answer is that while 'haphazardly' is indeed a meaning of willy-nilly, it is not the original meaning. The original meaning is 'whether one wishes to or not; willingly or unwillingly'. Example from the Elizabethan dramatist Thomas Middleton: "Thou shalt trust me in spite of thy teeth, furnish me with some money wille nille [sic]." Willy-nilly is a contraction of the phrase will ye, nill ye. Nill is an archaic word meaning 'to be unwilling' or 'to reject'; it is formed from the rough equivalents of modern no + will. The verbs are in the subjunctive, so the full phrase literally means 'be ye willing, be ye unwilling'. The sense 'in a disorganized or unplanned manner; sloppily; haphazardly' is more recent; it was once thought to be an erroneous extension but is now regarded as standard. The Middleton example quoted above, from 1608, is in fact the earliest known example of this expression. Willy-nilly could also come from a contraction of will I, nill I or will he, nill he, but a derivation from ye is more likely. Speak Up! 
Need to rant about something or just share what's on your mind? Just send a note to info@apsleyvoice.com. |