My Hometown, My Family & My Friends

"My Hometown, My Family & My Friends!!!"

Key Passage: Matthew 7:12

"Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets."

I have been truly blessed to have been raised up in northeast Louisiana with a great family and friends!!! Let me say, that whenever you are involved with people in life, it's always a possibility for little complications, because of all the different personalities. There is always going to be someone in the crowd, that wants to judge and criticize the way you live your life. Remember, the Lord Jesus Christ is the Only True Judge and we should live our life for His Approval and not the approval of others (Everyone has an opinion, but is it based on what God says?)!!! God looks at the heart of man's intentions, instead of his outward appearance (I Samuel 16:7). For example, I had short hair (A flat-top haircut) on my head as a young child growing up, but there were good kids, that had long hair on their shoulders, that were criticized cruelly by others as they grew up. No matter what you do in life, there will always be someone there to judge you rightly or wrongfully as you live in this world!!! There's a phrase in an old country song, that says "You can't please everyone, so you just got to please yourself." In my opinion, I believe the Lord would like us to live by the following phrase: ***"JUST DO RIGHT & LIVE RIGHT (According to God's Holy Word) AND ALWAYS SEEK TO PLEASE THE LORD JESUS CHRIST WITH YOUR LIFE!!!

As I grew up in my small hometown (In the 1960s & 1970s), I was really blessed, that my town was a down-to-earth loving and caring community, that existed with simple godly values from the "Old Black Book- The Bible (K.J.V. 1611)!!!" The predominate theme of daily life was to live by "The Golden Rule!!!" This "RULE" is spoken by the Lord Jesus Christ and found in Matthew 7:12 (Which is my scripture text). Again, "Treat others the way, you would want them to treat you!!!" If we, as citizens of this world, would live by these words of Christ, it would be such a wonderful world!!! I remember, the conversations we had sitting on our front porch or on a lawn-chair in our backyard. These conversations were normally over a pot of coffee, in which, we hashed out the issues that we faced in our daily life. In my neighborhood, everyone knew each other by name and greeted all people with a wave, as we met them on the road!!! I used to tell everyone, that my hometown was like the fictional town of Mayberry, North Carolina in the 1960s on the "Andy Griffith Show!!! In the 90s, there was a cute family TV show, that depicted a real small town called Evening Shade, Arkansas. The theme song of this show really said a lot describing my hometown. The following are the lyrics of the theme song written for the TV show "Evening Shade" (For the 3rd & 4th Season) by the legendary Bobby Goldsboro: "(1st Verse)- Got my front porch swing, a glass of lemonade, my baby on my knee, I think I got it made, you best be believing, I'm never leaving Evening Shade. (2nd Verse)- Got a southern breeze, singing threw the pine, cool as a julip in the summertime, you best be believing, I'm never leaving Evening Shade. (3rd Verse)- They got 10 cent stores, no locks on the doors, and everybody knows your name, they got Sunday Schools, the Golden Rule, and every day that passes is slower than molasses, you can't help but smile, lying in the shade, come on down, you'll be glad you came, don't talk about leaving, I'm never leaving Evening Shade. You better believe it." There were three (3) basic themes, that guided the direction of my life growing up, "God, Guns & Country!!!" We cared for each other in my neighborhood. When one neighbor needed help on a building project, much of the neighborhood would join in to give assistance. It was such a simpler time, when your neighbors were like your own family. Sadly, most of those neighborhoods are long gone in this generation of America, today!!!

As I grew up in my family, I was an only child with great loving parents!!! They instilled in me to be happy and to cherish the small simple things in life, as well as great things. I have learned, that the "Gift of Life" is short & precious, and we should never take it for granted!!! We live day by day, not knowing, if it is our last time to wake up and experience life on Earth!!! My life is the Lord's and I live it by His loving grace!!! I was influenced by my "Dad" to be a avid hunter and fisherman with a love for the outdoors. I remember, the deer and ducks that we had stuffed and displayed on the wall and shelves in our living room. He also taught me to work hard and to be the best, that you can be in life (Always Give It Your Best)!!! ***IF IT IS WORTH DOING, IT IS WORTH DOING WELL AND NEVER QUITTING!!! As a family, we travelled across the U.S.A. to the Rocky Mountains in the west and the Smokey Mountains in the east. I fell in love with America with all of its beauty!!! My loving "Mom" urged me "To have a Heart of Caring for Others" and "To Always Be Truthful & Honest To All People In Life!!!" As a child, she took me to Sunday school & church services to hear about "The God-Man Jesus Christ the Lord." I am also so very thankful to my "Grand-Mothers" that read the Bible to me as a child!!! At eleven (11), I accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Savior of my soul, in which, my life was changed forever for the glory of God (I received God's Gift of eternal life)!!! When I was 19 years old, God called me to preach!!! I have continued to spread Christ's Message of love around the world, to those in search of God's Salvation for their souls!!! Both of my parents are with the Lord now, waiting for me to join them one day in Heaven!!! Thank God for great parents that love their children and strive to help them to be successful in life!!! Think of them regularly and the place in which I was raised up as a child. I am reminded, of what one of my parent's good old friends said to me, "Remember, when people see you and your actions in life, that you become a reflection of the things your parents tried to teach you as a child!!!" THANK THE LORD FOR A GOOD LOVING FAMILY!!!

Concerning my friends throughout life, where do I start to begin!!! My Lord & Savior Jesus Christ has blessed me with so many wonderful friends!!! I can never thank them enough, for being a trusted and helpful friend to me, in all kinds of situations!!! My friends have encouraged me, supported me and have been great role models to live by in life (Thousands of friends from my family, neighborhood, school, college, military, law enforcement and the ministry of the Lord)!!! I will always remember their love and their sacrifice to help me!!! Sadly, many of my closest friends have passed into eternity from this place (I think of them often). The Lord sent these specific friends into my life, so I could accomplish various tasks for God's glory and to be a special blessing to me!!! The Bible tells us in Proverbs 18:24 "A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother." I cherish my true friends, but remember, that all your kinfolk are not always your friend!!! I would like to share some of my special friends with you, without giving you their real name: (1.) One of my friends, grew up with me and we did a lot of deer hunting, fishing, played backyard baseball & football together and when we were both in the U.S.A.F., the Lord even got us stationed together on the same Air Force base, (2.) One of my great teenage friends, we travelled in campers all across America together with our families. I remember, his dad took a bar of soap down to an ice-cold mountain river to take a bath and after he arrived back at the camper that evening to dine on some Cajun Gumbo, that we had cooking, a black bear decided he wanted to eat with us also (Fun & exciting times) and recently (3.) Many of my dear Christian friends prayed for me, when my leg was amputated and they also helped me in my recovery (Thank God for Good Friends)!!! It has been said, "True and devoted friends in a person's life, can be counted on one hand." I THANK THE LORD FOR MY LOYAL FRIENDS, ASSOCIATE FRIENDS & THOSE THAT CONSIDER ME A FRIEND TO THEM!!! Hallelujah!!!

IN CONCLUSION: ***THANK GOD ALWAYS FOR YOUR GREAT FRIENDS!!! I give praise to the Lord for my small hometown, my family and my friends!!! Most of us in life will face good times, fun times, hard times and even heart-breaking times. The key to being successful in these times is to simply put your faith or trust in the Lord Jesus Christ (Proverbs 3:5,6)!!! Throughout your life, KEEP YOUR EYES ON JESUS & ALWAYS KEEP HIM FIRST PLACE IN YOUR HEART & DAILY LIFE!!! The End!!!

***Give Your Heart To Jesus Christ Everyday Of Your Life!!!

***By Evangelist Rev. Clifford M. Smith