HAPPY NEW YEAR!  The Choice is yours.

 

“And whatsoever you do, whether in word or deed, do it ALL in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father thru him.”  Colossians 3:20. “Whatever you do work at it with ALL your heart, as working for the Lord.” Colossians 3:23

 

January 3, 2020!!  How many New Year’s resolutions did you make and already break?  Lose weight?  That is often one after the Holidays!  Work harder?  Take more vacation time?  Increase savings?  Less TV or Social Media?  Most of us are not very good at keeping these and give up when we fail to keep them just once

 

I have a suggestion:  call it life-style change and ask God to help you draw closer to Him   That is far more important and has eternal value!

 

He is God of second chances – even 3^rd, 4^th … etc. Read Hebrew Chapter 11 where the Fathers of Faith are listed.  Then check out their lives and what got them to this faith. often times it was failure or missing God’s mark.  Then came recognition of need, repentance and forgiveness.

 

Here are a few of the New Testament heroes:

     Peter, an apostle, often put his foot in his mouth – even denying he knew Jesus.  Luke 26:31-34, but when the Holy Spirit filled him, became a strong leader. (Acts 2-15)

     Zacchaeus was a Jewish tax collector who lined his pockets at the expense of his own people.  Then he met Jesus!  And his life was changed.  Luke Chapter 19

     Paul, a very religious man who persecuted those of The Way, met Jesus and was changed 180 degrees. The Book of Acts tell us the rest of the story- how he  traveled and spread the Good News of Jesus’ Love to Asia Minor, even while enduring much persecution from Jews and Romans.

 

Years ago, I learned three things that established my lifestyle:

      LOVE GOD – I need an active relationship with Him – search His Word and pray.

      LOVE OTHERS – I need an active relationship with Him, Jesus, who is the Living WORD.

He taught us to care for the  poor, widows and orphans and to love others in word and deed.

      SHARE JESUS – I need to obey the Holy Spirit (within me) guidance, nudges and leading to walk in the Love, Light and Joy of Jesus.    

 

Sooo my friends, I would challenge you to include Colossians 3:14-20 as a part of your Lifestyle: “Therefore as God’s Choses…clothe yourselves with compassion (and other fruits of the spirit)…Bare with each other… forgive as the Lord forgave you. And put on love that binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ dwell in your hearts…be thankful. Let the Word of Christ dwell in you….sing and gratitude…. do it all in the Name of the Lord Jesus!”

 

Blessings,

Gma J

 

--

______________________________________________

Jean Hainley

22816 Woodward Ave

Big Rapids, MI 49307

231-250-3207

ReplyReply allForward You can't react with an emoji to a large group

The Gifts I Remember

Friday, December 20, 2013

Gramps Memories about Christmas and his challenge to you.

"For God so loved the World that He gave his one and only son that whosoever believes in Him shall have everlasting life.’ John 3:16

 Hey Gang: what did you get last year for Christmas? I have wracked by brain for days trying to remember the very special things that I have received in my lifetime at Christmas.  I remember a very special one. Shortly after I finished my tenure in Korea, I asked a very special lady in my life if she would consider becoming my bride.  And she said "YES!"  That was more than 56 years ago but it is as clear as yesterday.   

 Last year I was especially intrigued to watch the little people, the great grand's open their Christmas packages.  Each were given a gift to open and after much prodding on the part of their parents the wrappings were separated from the gifts but in each case, the gift was ignored and the box and paper became the items of interest.  It reminded me that the gift of anticipation was the wonderful part of waiting for Santa's arrival.

 As I have mentioned, in previous blogs, I am the son of the coal miner and spent my very early ears living in the mountains of Pennsylvania. It is said we lived so far back in the sticks that even the hoot owls carried knap sacks, and they had to pump sunshine to us. 

 Depression years were very tough years. Every dollar earned was needed to keep bread on the table and heat in the house, but my Mom was a magician when it came to salting a dollar here and a dollar there to buy one special gift for her boys. With the exception of one Christmas, when I wanted a little yellow truck that had a dump bed on it, I do not recall Christmas mornings in the mountains when the stockings were "hung on the chimney with care", but I do have some warm memories of when we as a family hiked through forest to find a tree.

 And I remember the evenings when we cut colored paper in stripes and made little circles to hang on the tree.  I remember times when we looked for things like pine cones to place on the tree, popping popcorn and stringing it, and cutting colored paper and making decorations.  There were no lights, no tinsel, no beautiful star at the top, no commercially made decorations, but beautiful, because we did it as a family.

 My folks were not into religion in those years.  I do not recall their attending the church just down the road from where we lived, but I had a dear saintly grandma who made sure that we heard the Christmas story - that Jesus, the Son of God was born and came to set me free from the stupid things I did in my life,.  It was only after we left the mountains that my mom ushered me off to church every Sunday morning.  But the seeds of wanting to know Jesus as my Lord and Savior were planted on the top of that mountain, many years ago.

 Soo, I pray, that you will shut down all of the wonderful modern audio devices for a while, share or read the Christmas story and relate it to the crucifixion. Then join your hands and hearts together and give thanks that God so loved you that He sent His Son as a gift of peace within your heart and eternity with him.

 Blessings,

 Gramps

 

 

Joy to the World

SCRIPTURE:  " Fear Not! For behold I bring you tidings of GREAT JOY which shall be to ALL people! For unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a Savior which is Christ the Lord." Luke 2:10-11

As I read my writing of years ago, I decided to include, in this week of caring for others, Bells of joy, peace and love.   As think about sharing the JOY of JESUS with others, my mind immediately sees and hears bells – from the tiniest bell in my collection to the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia.  I would challenge you to listen for bells this Advent season.  You will hear them in the music and words of Christmas Carols, Christmas stories and Churches – from the old bells we pulled with ropes to the newer Carillons, sleigh bells (maybe in movies), silver bells, Salvation Army Bells, …..  What do you do when you hear them?  Smile??  Feel more joyful?  Be moved to give? They usually represent happiness.

Maybe there were even bells in heaven the night Jesus was born.   What excitement there must have been!   I imagine the whole realm of heaven was just bursting at the seams. If angels ever argued, surely it was that night; not all of them were chosen to go to the shepherds to sing of God's glory and JOY to mankind, but all of them wanted to do so!

We enjoy Christmas Pageants where ‘little angels’ squirm, make faces and even  wear halos a bit tilted, but the message is clear “Fear not!  I bring JOY…The long-awaited Messiah has come.  Joy to the world! Do you hear bells as you sing this favorite by Isaac Watts based on Psalm 98.                    

                               Joy to the world, the Lord is come!                                                                                                                                                     Let earth receive her King.                                                                                                                                                    Let every heart prepare Him room,                                                                                                                                                      And heaven and nature sing.    

I could fill each of these writings with carols, songs and Scriptures of joy – but I will only share a couple and let you think of those which are special to you. Christmas Carols have a special brightness of joy, hope and eternal love.  For days the chorus of the song Joy-bells has been ringing in my head. I have learned to check the web for Scriptures and lyrics, when I can remember only part of the words.  I looked for this one Joy of Jesus.                                                                                                                                                You may have the joy-bells ringing in your heart 

And a peace that from you never will depart;
Walk the straight and narrow way, Live for Jesus every day,
He will keep the joy-bells ringing in your heart.

Refrain:
Joy-bells ringing in your heart, Joy-bells ringing in your heart;
Take the Savior here below With you everywhere you go;
He will keep the joy-bells ringing in your heart.

The Old Testament is filled with JOY, (check it out, especially the Psalms). Jesus spoke often about JOY; His joy of suffering for us is indescribable, but he also challenged us to share with others – kindness, cup of water, a word of encouragement; “In as much as you have done unto the least of these my brethren, you have done it unto me.” Matthew 25:40. Check your heart.  Is there room for Jesus?

Christmas Joy is shared and remembered in stories:  The Grinch learned that Christmas was more than things, and Mean old Scrooge became the best of men when learning that ‘Joy’ is a life-style.  (Jesus is implied here, Dickens was a Christian man who shared his faith.)

   SOOO, this week as you think about caring for others, make an honest effort to share a smile; see how many smile back.  As Christians we have the most reason to be joyful.  Remember to tell your face! Let others see the JOY of Jesus in you ALL year long.  May your heart and spirit be touched with transforming power of the JOY of JESUS.

Blessings,

Gma J

Mary Did You Kno

 Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Paul wrote, "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God"  Romans 3:23).  I assume Mary was part of that "all", but she was also purified through God's grace- as is each person who accepts Jesus as Lord and Messiah.     

 This we also know, the Word is clear, God cannot tolerate sin or even have sin in His presence.  I sense there was no great pain to Father God than when He turned away from His Son, Jesus, as hung on the cross as our sin-bearer. 

A point to ponder:  Was Mary sinless in the nine months she carried the Messiah in her body?   I would think she had opportunity to say or hold some thoughts that might be construed as sin. And how did Joseph feel that night when Mary called him aside and said there is something I need to share with you: "I am with child, but no worry, the Holy Spirit is the Father.  Can you imagine the agony he must have gone through between her announcement to him and the Angel of the Lord's visitation telling him "not to worry, she is with child of the Holy Spirit"?

 With your permission I will do as I often do when teaching - take a side trip and give you some meat to chew on. Put yourself in Mary's shoes for a moment. How do you think she felt when a whole barn full of shepherds suddenly arrived in her palatial cave?  Keep in mind she had also had contacts with angels. Do you think she felt super blessed? Overwhelmed? or perhaps even a little fearful?    This we do know from the Holy Writ, "…she treasured these things and pondered them in her heart (Lk 2:19).

 Getting back to the question "Was she sinless during that nine-month period?  I have no question but that God gave Mary a special anointing when He said: "You are highly favored", I have a very special assignment for you, but does that mean she was sinless?  I will ask God when I get to heaven –May 2020. I don’t think this was on his mind!

 My bride has entered into the world of genealogical studies of her family and mine.  It has sparked an interest in my mind and heart to know more about one Grandpa that I never had the privilege of knowing.  It is said that he was a fiery Mennonite preacher who made the rafters shake when he preached.  I would have liked to have heard him.  But my real interest in knowing more about him is that he came from the Dutch-land of Germany where the Amish/Mennonite originated, was he Amish/Mennonite?    

 If God reached down and said to me this morning, Kermit, I am going to give you a very special gift.  I will open the door for you to interview any person who ever lived on this earth, my choice would be very easy.  No, I would not waste such a gift on my grandfather's background, but rather I would ask to interview Mary, the mother of our Lord.  Now some would say, why would you not choose to interview Jesus, her Son who takes away the sins of the world?  My answer, "we talk on a regular basis!"

 I would say to her with Mark Lowery........

        "Mary did you know that your baby boy would someday walk on water?   Mary did you know that your baby boy would save our sons and daughters?  Did you know that your baby boy has come to make you new?  This child that you've delivered, will soon deliver you.  Mary did you know that your baby boy would give sight to a blind man?  Mary did you know that your baby boy would calm a storm with his hand?  Did you know that your baby boy has walked where angels trod?  And when your kiss your little baby, you have kissed the face of God.

Oh Mary did you know The blind will see, the deaf will hear, the dead will live again. The lame will leap, the dumb will speak, the praises of the lamb Mary did you know that your baby boy is Lord of all creation?  Mary did you know that your baby boy would one day rule the nations?  Did you know that your baby boy is heaven's perfect Lamb?  This sleeping child you're holding is the great I AM?" 

 My dear friends, who honor me by reading, what I pray God is saying through me in gramps morning thoughts: "Do you know that Jesus is the Lord of all creation?" And one day He will rule all the nations"?   Perhaps we will celebrate Jesus’ next birthday in the New Jerusalem.  Come Lord Jesus! 

 Soooo, I ask you this morning "Do You Know Him personally?

 Blessings,

 Gramps