Devotional 12-30-12

Are you a fan or a follower of Jesus Christ?

I have asked myself this same question many times. I desire and strive to be a follower. I do not want to be just a lukewarm Christian. I want to pattern my life after Jesus. Lord, Jesus, come interfere in my life. If I open my mind and pray, the Holy Spirit will intercede and advise me how to live my life.

I find the words in Luke 13:24-27 somewhat disturbing. We all have many talents. If we are willing to search our hearts and pray – our answers will become very clear.

I personally look for ways to serve Jesus. I am not content just to be a fan – I want to be a follower!

Paul S. Riggs

Devotional 11-30-11

The Fishing Trip...

One of my favorite TV Programs is the daily NBC Today Show.

This morning I saw a story of some young people who went on a fishing trip off of the coast of Florida.

C.J. Wickersham, 21 years old was in the water spear-fishing and was having a pretty good day. Seems like he had located a school of fish, when suddenly a 9' bull shark clamped down on his leg (bit down upper thigh - tore back flesh so deep exposed his thigh bone). A couple of his female friends were floating in chair floats. After seeing C.J. being attacked and pulled under by the shark, they immediately got out of water. A long-time kindergarten friend, who was on the boat, also witnessed this event and immediately jumped into the water to distract and/or help Wickersham. The rest of the group helped get the injured lad out of the water and back on the boat. A tourniquet was immediately applied using some marine rope, and #911 was notified. They all returned to the shore as his friends tried to keep C.J. calm. At the shore they were met by a group of paramedics who transported him by Emergency Helicopter to a nearby hospital.

There was a returning military doctor who had just recently returned from a military tour in Afghanistan (who was familiar with these types of injuries). He was one of the doctors who assisted in (2) surgeries. After 800 stitches the doctors were able to not only save his life, but restore the thigh muscle and save his leg. I am giving GOD the credit. Thank GOD for highly-trained doctors.

As I write this I cannot help but wonder - if I would have the guts to jump into shark infested waters to help a friend in need??

GOD our FATHER, walk through my house and take away all my worries and please watch over and heal my family, and please protect our freedoms, and watch over our troops who are defending those freedoms. Amen.

Paul Riggs

Devotional 12-16-10

Ronald Reagan once said - "if we ever forget that we are one nation under GOD, then we will be a nation gone under."

Each year on the 3rd Friday of September - POW/MIA Recognition Day - the nation honors and remembers both prisoners of war and those missing in action who have yet to come home. Incorporated in Washington, D.C. on 28 May 1970.

As of Feb. 2010 the Dept. of Defense reported 4,450 - W.W. I; 78,384 - W.W. II; 8,050 - Korean War; 1,720 - Southeast Asia; 123 - Cold War.

The POW/MIA Flag is flown around the country - congressionally mandated POW/MIA Recognition Day - 3rd Friday in September; Armed Forces Day - 3rd Saturday in May; Memorial Day - last Monday in May; Flag Day - 2nd Monday in June; Independence Day - 4 July; and Veterans Day - 11 November. Also flown at every national cemetery, every military installation, and every Post Office, among many other sites nationwide.

The POW/MIA Flag honors the courage of our servicemen and women. It reaffirms our country's commitment to bring these men and women home. "Everyone wants to honor and remember people who served their country. The hard part is working to bring them home. That's the real mission."

Prayer - LORD - Hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us. Bless them and their families, for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need. Amen.

Paul S. Riggs
If you need/want pic. POW/MIA Flag...I have one.

Devotional 12-26-09

Old Farmer’s Advice

• Your fences need to be horse-high, pig tight, and bull strong.
• Keep skunks and bankers at a distance.
• Life is simpler when you plow around the stump.
• A bumble bee is considerably faster than a John Deere Tractor
• Words that soak into your ears are whispered - not yelled.
• Meanness don't jes' happen overnight.
• Forgive your enemies. It messes up their heads.
• Do not corner something that you know is meaner than you.
• It don't take a very big person to carry a grudge.
• You cannot unsay a cruel word.
• Every path has a few puddles.
• When you wallow with pigs, expect to get dirty.
• The best sermons are lived - not preached.
• Most of the stuff people worry about ain't never gonna happen anyway.
• Don't judge folks by their relatives.
• Silence is sometimes the best answer.
• Live a good, honorable life - then when you get older and think back, you'll enjoy it a 2nd time.
• Don't interfere with something that ain't bothering you none.
• Timing has a lot to do with the outcome of a rain dance.
• Sometimes you get, and sometimes you get got.
• Always drink upstream from the herd.
• Good judgment comes from experience, and a lotta that comes from bad judgment.
• Lettin' the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier than puttin' it in.
• Live Simply, Love Generously, Care Deeply, Speak Kindly, Leave The Rest To GOD.....

Paul Riggs

Devotional 12-17-09

Subject - 5th grade Assignment....

A Fifth Grade Teacher in a Christian School asked her class to look at TV Commercials and see if they could use them to communicate ideas about GOD –

• GOD is like "Bayer Aspirin" - HE works miracles.
• GOD is like a "Ford" - HE's got a better idea.
• GOD is like "Coke" - HE's the real thing.
• GOD is like "Hallmark Cards" - HE cares enough to send HIS very best.
• GOD is like "Tide" - HE gets the stains out that others leave behind.
• GOD is like "G.E." - HE brings good things to life.
• GOD is like "Sears" - HE has everything.
• GOD is like "Alka Seltzer" - Try Him - You'll Like Him.
• GOD is like "Scotch Tape" - You can't see Him, but you know He's there.
• GOD is like "Delta" - He is ready when you are.
• GOD is like "Allstate" - you're in good hands with Him.
• GOD is like "VO-5 Hairspray" - He holds through all kinds of weather.
• GOD is like "Dial Soap" - aren't you glad you have Him? Don't you wish everybody did?
• GOD is like the "U.S. Postal Service" - neither rain or snow, nor dark of night will keep Him from His appointed rounds.
• GOD is like "Chevrolet" - the heart beat of America.
• GOD is like "Maxwell House" - good to the last drop.
• GOD is like "Bounty" - HE is the quicker picker upper - can handle the tough jobs and HE won't fall apart on you.

Blessings from my house to your house.

Paul Riggs

Devotional 12-11-08

My Journey

My parents, the late Colonel Paul L. and Mary J. Riggs always taught my sister, brother, and me - “you are judged by the company you keep”. Even though I have never met this man; some day I hope to meet him, spending eternity with Jesus. He was the 18th President of the United States (1869-1877) and the Commander of the Union Forces during the Civil War: General Ulysses S. Grant.

My Great, Grandfather Esau Powell Scott, a Infantryman fought in General Grant’s Army and following the war was a active member in the Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.). As you read on you will understand my connection to Gen. Grant.

In March 2007, I developed a sore spot in my mouth on the right side. It felt like my tongue was rubbing against my lower teeth. After several trips to a dentist; I was referred to an oral surgeon. Following a biopsy, the results were in...I had tongue cancer. I contacted my family doctor, a Huntington Internal Medicine physician who referred me to a H.I.M.G. Specialist. He recommended I go to the University of Kentucky Clinic to see a specialist there. After several visits, tests and exams by other specialist my surgery was set for May 2007.

I recall the day of my surgery. I had to be at the hospital at 6:00AM. As I was lying on the preparation table I prayed the most sincere prayer of my life. I prayed for the forgiveness of my sins - and if I didn’t pull through- for GOD to look after my wife, brother, sister and my fishing buddy - my father-in law. If by chance I did make it; I would serve the LORD, anyway I could. This is why I do volunteer cooking at the church and the Huntington City Missions and other organizations. Back in August I cooked for a 150 Boy Scout Jamboree at Yatesville, Kentucky State Park. I recently cooked for the Rivercities H.O.G. (Harley Owners Group) Chapter Annual Picnic. Being a school-trained U.S. Army Cook gave me the training and knowledge I needed. For me - “it’s pay back!”- “Amen”.

When my surgery day rolled around, a team of 4 surgeons assembled to do my surgery which ended up lasting 12 ½ hours. The University of Kentucky doctors fixed my tongue and
made me a new one using instruments so small they had to use a giant magnifier to pick them up correctly. I have large scar on my arm where the muscle was taken to make me a new tongue. They pulled all my teeth (knowing I would undergo follow-up radiation treatments); they repaired my carotid artery in my neck by removing a vein from my leg - I had 80% blockage. They also removed some lymph nodes in my neck. Tongue cancer will spread to the nodes. In my case - it had not spread. The doctors also put a trache in my neck to enable me to breathe.

Following my surgery, I was in recovery when around 1:00AM my trache came loose. The doctors and staff thought they were going to lose me, and I was going to be with Jesus! The doctors faced a dilemma, insert the trache quickly down my throat and possibly destroy all the work done during surgery or continue attempting to re-insert the trache back into the hole in my neck. My family was called “to pronounce me”. When they arrived, I had been resituated. “Not yet”! “I still have work for you on earth” my heart and soul tells me this. You have all heard the bible term - “be still and listen” - “I took heed”. At 4:00AM my lungs collapsed and my family was called back to “pronounce me again”. I returned again - tubes were put into my lungs, and I was placed on a ventilator.

Following my surgery I had several friends and family visit me and several I never expected. Most of my friends wanted to pray with me. One friend said “that GOD won’t lay on you anymore than what you can handle.” I also received flowers and gifts and numerous cards. One such cards “which brought tears to my eyes” was from my former Army Aviation Buddies and signed by many of them. At one time I was a flight medic assigned to a UH-1 Army Helicopter.
I remained in intensive care for 3 days and on the 4th day I was moved to the Markay Cancer Hospital. Ten days after my surgery I was released and on my way home. Before leaving Lexington, I wanted a Wendy’s Frosty. - I had a feeding tube in my nose, but I wanted a “Frosty”!

Summer of 2007 I did 6 weeks of radiation treatments at St. Mary’s Hospital. Before this treatment began I weighed 285 lbs. I’ve lost 100 lbs since then. My diet after surgery was Ensure Plus. Now it’s Ensure, soup, jello, pudding, yogurt, ice cream - basically soft foods and oyster stew (yummy-yummy). I also love fresh, grilled rainbow trout. My tongue reconstruct was so severe my dentures will not stay in place.

It has been a long journey - but it’s my story and I am sticking to it!!” I feel the late Gen. Ulysses S. Grant would be a kindred spirit----he died from tongue cancer.

Paul S. Riggs

Devotional 12-5-08

As I was sitting around a campfire on a night with a full moon and the skies filled with shining stars, I couldn't help but wonder if perhaps men like Gen. Robert E. Lee, Gen. Stonewall Jackson, and their troops enjoyed the peace and solitude that I often enjoy or were they more concerned with their fate of what tomorrow will bring; will tomorrow be a victorious day - or will they go down in defeat??

This brings me to the words of the famous hymn found in the United Methodist Hymnal, "Battle Hymn of the Republic." Verse 2 goes like this. "I have seen Him in the watchfires of a hundred circling camps; they have builded Him an altar in the evening dews and damps; I can read His righteous sentence by the dim and flaring lamps; His day is marching on."

Verse 3: "He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never call retreat; He is sifting out the hearts of men before His judgement seat; O be swift, my soul, to answer Him, be jubilant my feet! Our GOD is marching on."

And finally Verse 4 - "In the beauty of the lilies CHRIST was born across the sea; with a glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me; as He died to make men holy, let us die to make men free; while GOD is marching on."

Refrain: "Glory, Glory, Hallelujah! Glory, Glory, Hallelujah! Glory, Glory, Hallelujah! His truth is marching on. - Amen."

SFC (ret) Paul S. Riggs