Blue Skies,Nothing But Blue Skies, But!......

“How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered! How blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit!” (Psalm 32:1-2)

Hey Gang: The day was beautiful, not a cloud in the sky. In the Air Traffic Control business that is what we prayed for each and every day. The pilots did not want to go through the instrument let down procedures and they certainly did not want to listen to my jargon. So, when on approach and they could see the runway, they tended to cancel their Instrument Flight Plan and take over visually.

On this particular day they were doing maintenance on our main runway so we advised each pilot that, when he reached the outer marker on the Instrument Landing System, he should break it off and line up on the secondary runway for landing.

All was going perfectly smoothly; then tower called down and said, “Advise the aircraft on approach to break it off and circle.” But, it was too late! The plane was too low to pull up so he completed the landing - in spite of the bulldozers and construction equipment. As he touched down, realized his error, he immediately cut his engine and pulled the aircraft off the runway into the grass.

Did you ever do that? O, I don’t mean do something stupid with your airplane, but did you even know better and go about and pull the plug and do something that you knew you would pay the Piper for later? Now, I know you are going to have a hard time believing it, but I certainly have.

Due to space, thank goodness, I do not have space to confess those ‘boo boo’s’ to you , I would rather tell you that, even when we do some of the stupid things of life, God stands ready to forgive us and forget. The Bible is filled with great men of God who made ‘boo boo’s’ and we know that God pulled them out of the ditch and used them in mighty ways.

Sooo, friends, I pray if you have done something that grieves the Holy Spirit, that you will confess it to the Father and then be willing to share with others the errors of your ways. There is something super special in witnessing when we share when we, too, walked the same wilderness mile others are walking and God used it for good.

Blessings,

Gramps

Which Side Of The Stone Are You On?

“And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean cloth, and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock; and he rolled a large stone against the entrance of the tomb and went away.” (Matthew 27:59-60)

Hey Gang: One of my fondest memories as a child living in the mountains of Pennsylvania was our daily trip to the water hole. The entire community would truck on down to the water hole and spend most of the day there.

But the one thing that really stands out in my memory was the huge rock that served many purposes, including being a picnic area, a diving board and a place just to lie back and enjoy the sun.

One of the profound things that we noticed about Israel on our first trip was the abundance of stones. Israel is a very stony place. I have also noticed in my reading of the Word that stones play a very significant role in the Bible.

A stone settled the score with Goliath and the Amalekites, Moses struck a stone to produced water for a million or so folks and their animals, and, in our scripture of the day, we note, “he rolled a large stone against the entrance of the tomb”.

As I thought about this tomb and the huge stone, I sense that stone was a stumbling block to many Christians. They see the gigantic stone permanently rolled into place that stands in the way of gaining the peace that surpasses all human understanding.

I want you to know you may be in the midst of the greatest battle of your life right now, but the risen Christ is on the move on your behalf, on the other side of the stone. He is writing His story into your situation – a story of resurrection life, bursting forth onto a scene once ruled by death.

Now hear this!! my cherished friends, I have stood at Gordon’s Calvary, which many believe is the tomb where they laid Jesus body on that cruel night, and I want you to know there was no stone!!. I stood in the tomb and there is no body!! He is alive and sitting at the right hand of the Father in intercession for you and me. Can you say “Praise God for that??

Blessings,

Gramps

Believe It Or Not!

“A fool has said in his heart there is no God.” (Psalm 14:1) “The wicked, in the haughtiness of his countenance, does not seek Him. All his thoughts are, there is no God.” (Psalm 10:4)

Hey Gang: Today we have “Hall of Fame’s” for everything from who ate the most hot dogs in a given period of time to who sat on a suspended platform for the longest period time. Personally, I question why anyone would want to be recognized for eating hot dogs or being suspended on a platform.

But, I wonder if it is not time to establish a “Hall of Flame” for all the stupid and blasphemous things that seem to be on the increase in our society today. Let me give you an example of one such statement that I believe is blasphemous, stupid and even very dangerous.

Mayor Bloomberg, the mayor of the largest city in the United States, when questioned about the coming dedication of the 9/11 memorial, stated there would be no pastors or religious speakers involved in the services. There would be no mention of God or any other religious deity in the services.

Now, take a minute and think about that! In the past week or so they have had an earthquake shake the city, and even though it was a minor earthquake – it was indeed an earthquake and as one ‘earthquake-ologis’ stated, “This could be a preview of a larger earthquake in the future.”

It is also reported that were fires out of control at that time in the outlaying areas. But both minor in comparison to the pending arrival of “Irene”, a category three hurricane that has been pegged as the most dangerous storm to hit the east coast in decades.

Soooo, what say you? Wise or stupid? Perhaps 2 Chronicles 7:14, “And My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land”, would have shown wisdom. As one elderly gent stated, “With leaders like this, we need no enemies.” I believe Mayor Bloomberg would qualify for God’s “Hall of Flames”.

Blessings,

Gramps

Trusting God In The Face of Impossibilities (Part II)

“Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your petition has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will give him the name John... Zacharias answered the angel, “How will I know this for certain? For I am an old man and my wife is advanced in years.” (Luke 1:13&18)

Yesterday we learned that Abraham did not blink when told he, at age 100 and his bride of 90 years were going to have a bambino. Today we see a wee bit of a contrast as Zachariah also received a visit from Gabriel announcing he, too, and his bride would be blessed in similar fashion.

But note the difference in Zack’s response "How will I know this for certain? For I am an old man and my wife is advanced in years.” (Luke 1:18). For Abraham, the announcement sounded reasonable but to Zacharias, it just did not sound reasonable.

God was displeased with Zacharias lack of faith and he remained silent until John the Baptist arrived on the hanger deck. The message is clear: God expects us to believe Him when He speaks.

I am convinced that the faith of the body of Christ is under fierce satanic attack; that all the demonic hordes of hell - Satan’s amassed principalities and powers of darkness - are waging an all-out war against the faith of God’s saints.

Satan knows the Word very well and knows that his days are very short. His goal is to take as many to the Lake of fire with him as he can deceive into following his ways.

Soooo, young buckaroos, we are seeing an unprecedented barrage of sickness, affliction, problems of every size and shape - all of which make an overcoming life seem more difficult even to believers. But…look up, keep your head high for Jesus prayed for us is, “I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail.” (Luke 22:32)

Blessings,

Gramps

Trusting God In The Face Of Impossibilities!

Paul wrote about Abraham: “Without becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah’s womb” (Romans 4:19)

Hey Gang: As I read this verse again I sensed that if you are seeking true faith, it can be found in this verse. God had just promised Abraham he would have a son, one who would become the seed of many nations.

Remarkably, Abraham did not flinch at this promise, even though he and his bride were well beyond the child bearing years. I believe I might have at least asked “Are you sure, Lord? Is this not impossible? I mean you created the body; You know its limitations.

But Paul dismissed that limitation when he wrote “Being fully persuaded that what (God) had promised, he was able also to perform.” (Romans 4:21)

Abraham did not reason with God. Why? Because he had tested God and his actions were built on experience. Have you tested God lately? In others words, through experience of testing God, Abraham had built up a trust that nothing is impossible for God.

Abraham did not stager in his faith for “he was fully persuaded that, what (God) had promised, he was able also to perform.” (Romans 4:21)

Soooo, my good lads and lassies, I believe if Paul were writing a personal letter to you today, he would say, “Hey, store in your ‘love-bank’ as many experiences of testing God and learning his ways and trusting in Him as you can, so that when the rubber-hits-the-road you will be as Abraham and ‘not flinch’.

Blessings,

Gramps

Have You Gotten Out Of The Boat Lately?

“We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against; principalities, against powers, against the rulers of darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” (Ephesians 6:12)

Hey gang, do you think you can be over confident in your faith? I believe most folks would agree that Peter was a man of tremendous faith, but in Luke 22 we find Satan in an all out attack against him.

Jesus had just warned Peter that Satan demanded permission to “sift Peter like wheat”. Peter responded, “Lord, with you I am ready to go both to prison and to death”. We sometimes refer to Peter as having ‘foot in mouth disease’ but I would rather address him as a “Man of action”. Some put him down because he began to sink when Jesus said “Come on over here Peter”. What we tend to forget is “He got out of the boat!”

True sometimes not the best action or the best words but grass did not grow under his feet. Did Jesus get ticked at Peter? No. not anymore than He gets ticked at us for our failures and transgressions and misdirected steps. Notice Jesus words to Peter and to each of us “I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail, and you, when once again have turned again, strengthen your brothers”.

Sooooo, my young friends, do you sometimes feel like you are in Satan’s shaker? Perhaps it is time to put your faith in action and get out of the boat.

Blessings,

Gramps

Is Your Eternal Insurance Paid?

Hey Gang: Do you have any special verses that you can grab when the ‘rubber-hit’s-the-road”? If someone were to ask me that question, I would be hard pressed to give them one or two verses for the entire Word of God is so very special to me. But as I thought about what I would challenge your heart with this morning, God seemed to direct me to the following portion of Scripture:

“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless, you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit, for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered, and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and MY words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you” (John 15:4-7).

As you read this Scripture could you feel a sense of power building up deep in your heart?

First, is it not a joy to know that the God of this entire universe, the creator of all things invites us to abide in Jesus, His Son? There are many types of vines but only one true vine and that is Jesus Christ.

One of the great blasphemies of the day is there are many roads to God. Don’t you believe that for one moment! Jesus said “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me” (John 14:6). He also taught us to be very careful as the end of the age approaches – there will be many false teachers, prophets, preachers who will lead us down the “Prime-Rose-Path”.

Soooo, young folks, I challenge you this day to check your branch and make sure it is attached to Jesus, the Right Vine. Where you will spend eternity depends on it.

Blessings!

Gramps

The Wonderful Joy Of "Anticipation"!

“There will no longer be any curse, and the throne of God and the Lamb will be in it, and His bond-servants will serve Him; they will see His face and His name will be on their foreheads” (Revelations 22:3-4)

Hey Gang: I think I have mentioned before, I am the son of a Pennsylvania coal miner which makes me a true - blue red-necked hillbilly. They used to say we lived so far back in the sticks they had to pump sunshine to us and even the hoot owls wore knap sacks. There is a television program titled ‘Dirty, Dangerous, and Low Paying Jobs’. That is a perfect description of coal mining.

Although we were as poor as the proverbial church meeses, my mother always managed to salt away enough money to buy something that we really wanted for Christmas. When I was four or five, I wanted a little yellow truck that had a dump bed on it. For months I dreamed of that truck and counted the days until Christmas morning arrived and I would find the truck under the tree.

And then the day arrived! I jumped out of bed and ran to the tree - only to find there was no little yellow truck with a dump bed under the tree. Pow! Words could not describe my disappointment. But I did find a box with a map inside that told me I should follow the path and there would be a surprise at the end of the trail. I donned my treads and set out on the treasure journey and just as the note said, there at the end of the trail was the little yellow truck!

I learned a lesson that year that has stuck with me for 77 years, there is great joy in anticipation. I believe one of the great sins in our nation today is that parents have taken away the tremendous joy of anticipation by buying too much NOW. And, keep in mind when we do not teach our children the joys of anticipation, they may miss the joys that await them in that place that God prepared for those who believe in Him.

Soooo, my young friends, keep in mind that Jesus is going to come again soon. I pray your anticipation is growing to fever pitch, for I suspect that day may not be too far in the future.

Blessings,

Gramps

Careful Which Dog You Are Feeding Today!

“Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.” (Matthew 26:41)

Hey Gang, I sense God telling me I am not finished with temptation yet. You see I was plagued with temptation throughout my lifetime and much as I do not like to admit it, I lost many of those battles. Several morning messages ago, I introduced you to the black dog and white dog that became an integral part of my life on the day I was born.

The essence of the story: each and every day of my life I must make decisions about which dog I will feed that day. The bottom line - the one I feed will determine my relationship with God for that day. How many of you know we are talking about two diversely different kinds of dogs, trained and obedient or untrained and rebellious.

Hebrews 2:17-18 tells us that Jesus also experience the same temptations that we experience. Notice the verse begins with a “therefore” so we need to take a minute and find out why it is “there fore”. “He (Jesus) had to be made like His brethren in all things”, WHY? So that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of people”.

Do you get the point? Jesus endured the same temptations that we endure so that “He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted.”

Sooooo, my young friends, I am probably talking to the choir and your walk is so solid that you can handle all types of temptation. Praise the Lord if that is the truth, and pray for me, a sinner, who is saved by God’s grace and who walks through the valley and shadow of temptation each and every day.

But my 77 years on this old earth has taught me that ‘slue foot’ has nothing to do but dangle big beautiful, scrumptious apples in front of my eyes and tell me ‘no one is looking and after all you deserve it. Hey. Go for it!’ But, while I am ‘going for it’ I need to remember another word from Paul that goes like this, “Careful, for you are going to reap what you sow”. (Galatians 6:7)

Blessings

Gramps

Did You Ever Have An "I Can't Live Without It!" Compulsion?

Hey Gang: Did you ever want something? I mean really want something and you would do just about anything to get it? Even something that you know is wrong? On our route home from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, last year, we stopped at a rest area on the West Virginia turnpike.

While there a young man, I would estimate to be around thirty years of age, waddled in, and I mean waddled. I would think that he tipped the scales at more than the 400 pound mark. He made a “bee line” to the ice cream counter and ordered a very special made to order sundae of monumental size.

He was a captive to the simple fact that he could not handle temptation. I am sure, if I would have asked him why he allowed himself to get into that condition, he would have had a multitude of excuses, including ‘I just cannot help myself’. Paul, in his first letter to the Corinthians broke that bubble when he wrote, “No temptation has overtaken you but such is common to man”.

But, we need to understand that there is a prerequisite to overcoming the desire to do those things that are not pleasing to Father God and grieves the Holy Spirit. Paul went on and gave us the key to not giving into the whims of the evil one, “God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it”. (I Corinthians10:13)

Notice Paul’s next comment in verse 14, “Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.” You mean when I give in to that ten pound piece of chocolate cake I am giving into an “idol”? I would suggest that is exactly what Paul is saying. Anything that stands between you and bringing honor and glory to Father God is, in Paul’s eyes and the eyes of the writer of this epistle, “an idol”. I talk from personal experience.

Paul also gives us a solid suggestion on how to be an overcomer in verse 24, “Let no one seek his own good, but that of his neighbor”.

Sooooo, my young friends, beware of Slue Foot, the evil one, who is going to dangle an apple in front of you today and try and convince you that “You surely will not die”.

Blessings,

Gramps

And More Choices!

“One of the criminals who were hanged there was hurling abuse at Him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us”. But the other answered, and rebuking him said, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation?” (Luke 23:39-40).

Hey gang, yesterday I talked a wee bit about making choices. One of my favorite sayings is ‘Your values determine your choices and your choices, your destiny’. But as I reread the morning thought from yesterday, I felt like I had finished with an incomplete sentence or thought. Soooo, with your permission I would like to pick up where I left off yesterday.

The absolute bottom line of choices is that God gives eternal choices, and these choices have eternal consequences.

Much has been said about the penitent thief, and it certainly warrants our admiration. But while we rejoice at the thief who changed, dare we forget the one who didn’t? What about him, Jesus? Wouldn’t a personal invitation be appropriate? Wouldn’t a word of persuasion be timely?

Does not the shepherd leave the ninety and nine to pursue the one lost sheep? Did the housewife not sweep the floor until she found the lost coin? Yes, the shepherd did and the housewife did, but the father of the prodigal did nothing.

The sheep was lost innocently. The coin was lost irresponsibly and the prodigal son left intentionally. The father gave him the choice. Jesus gave both criminals the same opportunity.

There are times when God sends thunder to stir us. There are times when he sends blessings to lure us. But then there are times when God sends nothing but silence as He honors us with the freedom to choose where we will spend eternity.

I wish I could say all of my choices were right on and brought glory and honor to God, but that would be one of greater falsehoods of all time. I look back over my life and say “what if”. If only I could make up for some of those bad decisions. And praise God, I can. One good choice for eternity offsets a thousand bad ones on earth.

Soooo my young friends, “But seek first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:33)

Blessings,

Gramps

The Choice Is Yours This Morning!

“There they crucified Him, and with Him two other men, one on either side, and Jesus in between. (John 19:18)

Hey Gang, did you know that Edwin Thomas became a renowned master of the stage as a Shakespearian actor at the age of fifteen? Did you also know that his brother, John, played the part of Brutus in Julius Caesar with Edwin?. But did you also know that two years later John assassinated President Abraham Lincoln?

Did you also know that Edwin, while waiting for his coach, saw a young, well-dressed young man who lost his footing and fell between the platforms and into the path of an oncoming train? Without hesitation, Edwin locked his legs around a railing and pulled the young man to safety. And finally, did you know that the young man was none other than the son of Gen. Ulysses S. Grant?

Edwin and John had the same mother and father, profession and passion – yet one choose life the other death. One wonders how that happens, but this we know, it does indeed happen.

Cain and Able - both sons of Adam and Eve; Cain choose murder, and God let him.

David and Saul – both kings of Israel; one choose God, the other chose power – and God let him.

Peter and Judas - both denied the Lord; one sought mercy and forgiveness, the other choose death, and God let them.

And no one delineates our choices more clearly than Jesus; according to Him we, too, choose.

Matthew tells us that we have the option to choose a narrow gate or a wide gate, a narrow road or a wide road, a big crowd or a small crowd. (Matthew 7:13-14)

We can choose to build on a rock or sand (Matthew 7:24-27); serve God or riches(Matthew 6:24); be numbered among the sheep or the goats. (Matthew 25:32)

Soooo, good folks, before this day is over we will have opportunities to make choices on feeding the white dog or the black dog. Jesus put it this way, “Then those who make the choice to go their own way are choosing eternal punishment but, praise God, we also have the option to spend all eternity in the place prepared for His sheep”. (Matthew 25:33-34)

Blessings,

Gramps

The Two Dogs!

Our Scripture this morning is very personal to me but too long to print here. I will leave it up to you to take a few minutes and find a quiet place and read Paul’s words found in Romans 7:15-25. It is a Scripture I use often, for it describes the dilemma I find myself in frequently.

Hey Gang, there was a tradition at good old Findlay College, when I first attended: each sophomore class challenged the freshman class to an old fashioned tug-of-war. There were few rules and minimal strategies. The outcome was based on pure brute strength.

Each side had but one goal in mind, bragging rights for the year. Plain and simple we wanted to pull the other team into the mud pit. As much as I hate to admit it, I experienced the ‘grossness’ of the mud pit both years.

It is a very simple exercise and many people believe that is what is going on inside our souls – a tug of war, raging inside of us, between good and evil. They believe Satan pulls us one way, and Jesus pulls the other way, each straining at the opposite end of the rope hoping to pull us in their direction.

Many people think that we are like the rope, powerless, just caught in the middle of two powerful forces. Some days, goodness (the white dog) gets the upper hand and some days evil (the black dog) has obviously eaten its ‘Wheaties’ and we lose the battle.

As president of a program that provided young folks who had made some bad decisions in their lives with encouragement and a shirt tail to hang onto, it was my privilege to speak in the Chapel services periodically. One of my favorite themes was “Who is winning the battle for your soul, the white dog or the black dog?”

Paul makes no bones about it; the world we live in has a very strong tendency to throw most of the bones the black dog’s way. Does that mean Paul is ready to throw in the towel? Not in your sweet bippy! His battle cry is, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” (Romans 12:2) Somewhere along the line, God whispers in our ear, “My son, My grace will rescue you.”

Soooo, lads and lassies, be advised that God’s grace is sufficient to whip the black dogs out of your life, but you have to be aware of your feeding habits – are you feeding the black dog with your thoughts and actions? Or are you feeding the white dog with Scripture and time with the Lord?. Which are you starving and which one are you nourishing?

Blessings

Gramps

What Next Lord, (Continued)

“For thus says the Lord of hosts ‘Once more in a little while I am going to shake the heavens and the earth, the sea also and the dry land” (Haggai 2:6).

In the New Testament, the Lord reinforced the shaking theme: “See to it that you do not refuse Him who is speaking. For if those did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape who turn away from Him who warns from heaven. And His voice shook the earth then, but now He has promised, saying, ‘Yet once more I will shake not only the earth, but also the heaven’….Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; for our God is a consuming fire.” (Hebrews 12:25-29)

Hey Gang: Bible prophecy is clear: The Lord shakes individuals and nations that we might let go of all of the flawed political, philosophical, intellectual and religions notions that we cling to. They won’t give us true peace; they don’t give us real hope; they can’t bring us any security; they can’t provide forgiveness from our sins, much less eternal life for our souls.

The God of the Bible wants to shake us loose of such things so that we might turn to Him, and to the life He offers through faith in His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord isn’t letting us be shaken because He hates us.

Soooo, be advised, He’s letting us be shaken precisely because He loves us and wants us to repent and turn to Him and call out to Him, as individuals, as families, and as nations. Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26)

Blessings,

Gramps

What's Next Lord?

“For thus says the Lord of hosts ‘Once more in a little while I am going to shake the heavens and the earth, the sea also and the dry land” (Haggai 2:6)

· The people of Norway have been shaken by seeing sheer evil unleashed against precious, innocent children.

· Japan has been shaken this year by the enormous earthquake, the resulting tsunami, and the horrific nuclear meltdown.

· The people of Egypt, Syria, Tunisia and Yemen have been shaken this year by dramatic and largely unexpected the revolutions underway there and throughout the Arab world.

· The people of Israel are being shaken by fears that Iran is rapidly closing in on building nuclear weapons and the world is not doing nearly enough to stop them in time.

· Greece has been shaken by its unprecedented debt crisis and resultant riots and social unrest.

· Americans, too, are being shaken. We face arguably the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. Stated Unemployment is over 9%. . The U.S. is now on the verge of financial default, and hampered further by political ineptitude in Washington that threatens to compound an already precarious situation.

Hey Gang: What if these events are not all random? What if the God of the Bible is allowing these to happen to shake us, to wake us, to get our attention, that we might turn to Him and ask Him to have mercy on us and help us?

In John 13:19 and 14:29 we find Jesus fair warnings: “Now I tell you these things before they happen, so that when it happens you may believe”.

Sooo, my question to you this morning – are you up to speed on what is happening in our world today? Do you agree with John Poole, “something is fixen to happen?” Have you checked the oil levels in your lamp lately? Matthew 25.

Blessings,

Gramps

Are You Living Alone?

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” (Psalm 23:4)

Hey Gang: Did you know “that man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God?”

Does that mean that if we seek His word He will reveal it to me personally? You bet your sweet bippy that is what it means! Peter put it this way, “As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious” . (I Peter 2:2-3)

Wow, that is pure milk to the soul. Stop for a minute, before the day begins to crowd in among you, and write these words down on a card or the palm of your hand “Your Word, my Lord is like milk and honey to my soul”.

I pray you will hear the words of a scared old dude who has been around the mountain a few times – I can measure the peaks and valleys of my life by the times I let God take control of my life and the times when I said, “Okay God, I can take it from here”.

Isaiah nailed it down in Isaiah 53:6 when he wrote, “All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way”. Now turn up your dome of intellect a notch before reading the final phrase of this verse, “For the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him”.

Wow dudes, can you beat that! He carried every sin, every iniquity every transgression to the cross on his back! I have heard many say they wish they could wash away the mistakes they made in their past –if that is you, wish no more for the price has been paid in full. That is what the cross is all about – forgiveness and being washed as white as snow. Neat – heh!

Soooo good folks, be advised that you will run into a clinker in the road today or tomorrow or perhaps you will luck out and make it to next week – but this I know… Satan has his dart machine loaded and will watch your every step and every thought and fire when he knows you have left your armor in the closet. But know this also,.. God has provided a hedge of protection to protect you from his attacks!

Blessings,

Gramps

Is Something 'Fixen' To Happen?

“Then He brought them out with silver and gold, and among His tribes there was not one who stumbled….For He remembered His holy word with Abraham His servant, and He brought forth His people with joy. His chosen ones with a joyful shout.” (Psa. 105:37…42-43)

The Friends of Israel

I’ve been reflecting today on the verse “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem” (Psalm 122:6). It is much, much more than a suggestion and never in my life time have I felt a deeper sense of urgency to obey this command.

Are we seeing the fulfillment of Zechariah 12:3 before our very eyes? The prophecy predicted the day when all the nations of the earth would turn against Jerusalem. Surely that does not include the United States, Israel’s best friend in the world? God forbid, for the day that this does happen is the beginning of the end for America. I was shocked out of my sox when I heard our President make the public call for Israel to retreat to its 1967 borders! No President before has ever made such a statement. Why? Because it is completely untenable for Israel to survive under the 67 boundaries. No true friend would make such a demand.

Encouraged by the revolution sweeping the Middle East, Israel’s radical enemies apparently see an opportunity to launch new attacks. A flotilla of Arab ships is preparing to sail into Israeli waters this month. Thousands of protesters are planning another mass march to penetrate Israel’s borders. The new Egyptian government’s opening of the Rafah Gate between Egypt and Gaza is a sure sign of worse things to come.

For many, the future seems bleak indeed. For Bible believers, however, there is a sure Word from the Lord! Despite growing hostility toward Israel and failed leadership in so many countries, Israel will survive. We are charged with the responsibility to petition heaven and be steadfast in our love and support of Israel and the Jewish people.

I have come to the conclusion that John Poole’s dad was correct when he shouted from the pulpit, “Something’s fixen to happen soon that will shake the very heavens. You must make a decision if you are going to be part of it.”

Soooo, young warriors for Christ, keep in mind, when all of these things happen, look up for your redemption draws nearer and nearer! This you can take to the bank God will never leave or forsake His chosen people and he apple of His eye, and he will never leave or forsake you.

Blessings,

Gramps