Are you In Satan's Sifter?

"Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat:  but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail".  (Luke 22:32)

Hey Gang:   Note in the Scripture of the day there are two very profound truths:  first, "Satan continually requests permission to sift God's children like wheat", and secondly, when we are being sifted we sometimes forget, "But I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail and you. When you have turned again, strengthen your brothers."  

I am reminded, on a daily basis, of the words of Hebrews, "Yet once more I will shake not only the earth, but also the heaven."  And what is he referring to?  "Those things that can be shaken".  Why?  So that those things that cannot be shaken may remain".  (Heb 12:27-28)  The writer then tacks on the power source for this prophetic set of events , "For our God is a consuming fire"  (v.29).

When I am sent back to this Scripture pertaining to "God's shaking", I always tack several other verses to the prophecy.    The first,  "And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil"  (Matt. 6:14); and then I go to Paul's words found in his first letter to the Corinthian believers, "No temptation has overtaken you but such is common to man; and 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 Cor. 10:13). I place great confidence and faith in these verses.

I am convinced that right now the faith of the body of Christ is under fierce Satanic attack.  In other words, “everything that can be shaken is being shaken.”  Why? I have a theory:  Satan is getting panicky because he is losing his grip on those nations that have been under his total domination for generations.  I am referring to the Muslim and Communist nations that were solidly in his camp.  But something profound is happening in those nations! The fires of revival are running rampant and the rivers are rising faster than Satan and his hordes can reverse the tide.

In a recent article the author gave startling statistics.  Startling to the Ayatollah and Mullahs was the vast numbers of people who have sought something that filled that chest cavities with joy and something they can sink their teeth into  and found peace abd blessings -  Yeshua, the Lord of Glory!     The article went on to say there is growing anxiety among the Ayatollah and Mullahs that, if they cannot stop this movement of God, they are going to lose power and control over these nations. 

Soooo, in closing this epistle for today, let me ask you a question or two?  God is moving mightily in the Muslim and Communist world.  Even though there are concerned efforts in all of these nations to wipe out anything that pertains to Jesus.  Yet, the underground church is growing like wild fire in all of these nations.  My question: "Why is it not happening in America? 

And question number two: if you were Satan and seeing the rapid desertion of his main power block, would you not be getting a wee bit nervous and begin to think about stepping up your campaign to rid the world of all those who have chosen to follow Yeshua as Lord?   Something for you to chew on today. Are you being shaken? Be sure you are firmly grounded in the Word.

Blessings,

Gramps

Careful The Maggots Are All Around US

"Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows this he will also reap". (Gal. 6:7)  "For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart" (Heb. 4:12). 

Hey Gang:  We were privileged, a few years back, to sit under the teaching an excellent Bible Scholar.  As an educator, Pastor Richard was a scholar who spent his waking hours reading the words of man, "Always  learning but never able to come to the knowledge of the truth" (2 Tim. 3:7). One day God taped him on the shoulder and said, "Now hear this, now hear this!  From this moment on you will read nothing by My Word!”      

For seven years that is precisely what he read.  No man-written books, no magazines, no newspapers, just the Word.  His example has rubbed off on me, especially in the last few years, for I find that the Word IS the living way, truth and life.  

 A quick trip through the prophecy section of the local Bible Book Store is absolutely amazing.  Just to read the titles requires an hour or more and most are based on the hidden things that God said, and they, the authors, have received a revelation that gives insight to that hidden truth.      

  

Now, I want to make a confession to you.  I spent a lot of money and a lot of hours in perusing many of these so called authorities in God's prophetic word and then one day I came across this verse that rang my bell– “When a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the thing does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it pre-sumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him” (Deuteronomy 18:22).  

 Our good friend, Jeremiah, also had a warning for those who would follow: "The prophet who prophesies of peace, when the word of the prophet comes to pass, then that prophet will be known as one whom the Lord has truly sent." (Jer. 28:9).

Good advice for this day and age, when Satan is on a rampage spreading ‘bad news’: remember that when Daniel wrote the most complete prophecy that has ever been written by man, God said, "lock it up until the latter times". 

Well, folks, I believe this is the latter times, not because of Hal Lindsay's book The Late Great Planet Earth, or multitudes of other such novels, but because Jesus laid it out in Mathew 24 where He gives his children  a panoramic picture of what the world will look like - just before He returns.

Soooo, young friends, are you willing to invest a little time to see what the Master Predictor of all that is to come has provided for you?  Then get alone and let the Lord of Glory tell you exactly like it is, and how it will be.  And, note in Matthew 24 the first warning that He gives is- "See to it that no one misleads you.  For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will mislead many" (v.4-5).   

Blessings, 

Gramps

Trustine God In The Face Of Impossibilities

"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:  Wait, stop, re-read the above verse.  Can you imagine how Abraham and Sarah felt when they received the message from the throne room that they were going to be with bambino? The essence of true faith is found in this single statement from God - Abraham was going to be a daddy and he would have a son, one who would become the seed of many nations.

Remarkably, Abraham didn't flinch at this promise, even though he was well past the age of siring children.   But remember this was Abram, the one who received a message from the Lord to "Go forth from your country and from your relatives and from your father's house, to a land which I will show you" (Gen 12:1). Hey,gang, how would you have handled this command from God?

Does God send out challenges like this today?  In 1967 I received a similar command from God: Sell your house, quit your jobs, pack up your family, and move to a place that I will show you.  And, after we did that, for the next two plus years God did a heap of preparation in my life for the tremendous challenge that was to come.  

When Abraham received this word from the Lord, we're told, he "considered his own body now, good as dead and the deadness of Sarah's womb”. 

Paul now goes on and challenges our heart with trusting God in the face of impossibilities: "Being fully persuaded that what God has promised He was able also to perform" (Rom.4:21).  To the natural mind there was no way this promise could be fulfilled.  But Abraham did not cry out "You got to be kidding".  Why, because he had tested God and his life actions were based on experience.

Abraham was anchored on the words of the writers of Hebrews, who gave us the foundation key to all those listed in the Faith Hall of Fame:  "Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him" (Heb. 11:6).   James built on that irrevocable premise of God when he wrote, "Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance" (James 1?2-3).  And if there is anything in this day of darkness and evilness that surrounds us, we need endurance.

Soooo, young warriors, let me end this message by saying the fact is, when God is at work producing a faith that is tried and better than gold, He first puts a sentence of death on all human resources,  Keep in mind Paul's formula for chance found in Colossians three,  We must first die to self, then put off all those things that offend the Holy Spirit, then fill that void with the fruits of the spirit and all those things that bring honor and glory to God and lastly the most difficult part - we must let God be our pilot - not our co-pilot.  Also remember, the Lord gives strength a day at a time.  We have no guarantees for tomorrow!

Blessings,

Gramps   

My God Shall

When asked to give one word the greatest fulfillment of Prophecy. the speaker replied "ISRAEL".

"

And My God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 4:19)

Hey Gang:  Have you ever felt like you were in God's shaker?  I can say, “Yes, indeed, I have been there".  But, now hear me!  I would far rather be in God's shaker than in the evil one's shaker.  I have been a student of prophecy for most of my adult life and one theme that runs though out the prophetic word is "Keep your armor in place and be prepared for God's shaker”.

Now let me share a piece of wisdom that I have acquired in my walk with Lord: in those times when all is going well, you best take an inventory of what you are doing.  Satan has no reason to throw his darts our way, if we are not doing anything to promote the King of kings and Lord of lords. 

James wrote: "Consider it all joy, brethren, when you encounter various trials". (1:2). Why in the world would he say that?  Because "Knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance."  (v.3). James goes on to tell us, "…let endurance" have its perfect results.”

It is amazing to me how many believe there is a Hezekiah 1:1 that says,  “God helps those who help themselves.” In reality the verse should read “God helps those who cannot help themselves!”

Do we not all go through times when we feel the alligators are winning?   Circumstances of want and necessity fill our lives and we sometimes we cannot see how we are going to make it. We instinctively, according to our faith look to God, but do we look to Him with the assurance He will really come through?

Who said that life is fair?  This we know, there are times when life is sometimes down-right brutal.   There are many with hearts that are broken, with dreams that are shattered, and with needs so heavy that they are burdened down to a point that they believe is beyond all hope and they have no thankfulness in the hearts.

We must always remember that God is faithful. No matter if we feel discouraged or disheartened, we must embrace the truth of God’s faithfulness. If we focus on our problems and troubles instead of God’s faithfulness, we are heading down the dangerous highway that leads to discouragement and unbelief. We must trust Him and know that he is faithful to us His children. He will Take care of us.

Sooooo, My young friends, I ask you again, do you feel like you are in God's shaker this morning,  If so "Trust and Obey" for we have the assurance that God will never leave us or forsake us.   Notice Paul's words in Phil 4:18, "But I have received everything in full and have an abundance, I am amply supplied, having received from Epaphroditus what you have sent, a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God."   Keep in mind where Paul was in prison when he penned these words.

We also notice that these reassuring words of Paul are sandwiched in between two other very powerful and reassuring verses, "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me" (V. 13) and "My God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus" (v.19). 

Blessings,       Gramps

Have you Been Silent Before the Lord Lately?

"Cease striving and know that I am God.; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in all the earth"  (Psalm 46:10).

Hey gang, have you ever read anything by Ken Gire?  If not, I  would strongly recommend that you might want to get your hands and heart around his books The Weathering Grace of God and Shaped by the Cross.  They are my kind of books, short and big print and carry a ‘big stick’.  We have been in a battle with cancer for the past two years, a battle we recently lost in the death of a grandson, and I might add, learned that such diseases are not restricted to the individual plagued but infect the whole family. 

In The Weathering Grace of God, Gire addresses such subject areas as ‘The Terrifying Upheavals of Life’, ‘The Weathering Grace of God’, and ‘The Continuing Landscapes of Faith’.  In section one where he addresses the terrifying upheavals of life, he lays out a scenario that we all need to take to heart.  As times begins to wind down, the Bible is clear that it will be a time of ever growing more sever upheavals and man’s hearts will fail them for fear.

The advice of the Psalmist is "Cease striving and know that I am God" (Psa. 46:10a).    The Hebrew word means ‘to relax, stop making fists’.  I once had a youngster in program at the Village, a twelve year old that came to us from a very violent home, who, if I placed my hand behind his neck I could raise him from the ground as I would pick up a plank of wood.    My goal was very simple in intent, but a war in accomplishment.   Oh, by the way, after six months of just plain love and support, I did accomplish my goal.

Ken Gire made a very profound point when he mentioned  artist, sculptors, painters, musicians, and poet seldom just decide to sit down and write a symphony and paint a Last Supper.  In his book Shaped by the Cross, which is a story about a magnificent sculpture of the body of Jesus laying in His mother’s lap (The Pieta) he tells us Michelangelo spent weeks and even months at the quarry where the marble would be selected to make the sculpture.  And, after choosing the perfect stone, there were periods of time when  he stood by the stone waiting for the sculpture to come forth.  

Ken made a very important point when he wrote, "What we are asked to listen to in times of upheaval is the voice of the Great Artist Himself, who will one day bring, out of the upheavals of the world, a new heaven and a new earth.  And who is in the process of bringing,out of the upheavals in our life, a new heaven and new earth within us as well.  Our culture knows little of hits kind of listening.That is true of our religious culture as well."   

Sooooo, my young friends, as I wrap up this morning ,message, I can think of no better closing than with a quote from A. W Tozer's book The Pursuit of God, "Religion has accepted the monstrous heresy that noise, size, activity and bluster make a man dear to God.  But we may take heart.  To a people caught in the tempest of the last great conflict God says, "Be still, and know that I am God"  and still He says it, as if He means to tell us that our strength and safety lie not in noise but in silence. 

Blessings,

Gramps

Contentment Begins When Comparison Stops

 "I know how to get along with humble means and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need" (Phil. 4:12).

Hey Gang:  I found the following statement in a magazine and it rang my bell: "Contentment begins when comparison stops”.  How true that is, at least for yours truly.  You see, I have always had a hard time being content at anything.  When I do a project I always end up doing far more than I anticipated.  If you don't believe that come and see the Christmas displays in our basement. When I set out to do a writing project, I am never content to leave it until it is completely done, corrected and published.

If I am in the final stages of a wood project and my bride calls for lunch or some other important chore, I tend to want to complete the project before I answer her call.  On top of this my brain seems to be stuck in a nonstop mode.  For me to sit down and read a book is agony and pain.  I presently have four books in the mill, one on page 18, the second on page 34, number three, on 59 and the last one on page 102.  Note:  the 102 is a tremendous victory.

That trait equipped me to be a role model for kids that I have worked with, for I have yet, in more than fifty years of working with dysfunctional children, found one who is content.  As a matter of fact I have often taught in workshops that they are dysfunctional because they are unable to find contentment.  It is like having a itch you cannot scratch and you spend every waking hour trying to fill that churning in your gut.

Does that mean I am plagued with non-contentment the rest of my life?  At age 79, if I am going to learn what Paul meant when he wrote, "Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am…." (Phil.4:11), I am going to have to get myself in gear. So, me thinks I am talking to you and not to me this time around.. 

Now let me share with you a neat diversion we developed in our girls’ wilderness quest program that seemed to lead to contentment.  We built four shelters in a remote part of the campus.  It had no electricity, no water, no facilities of any kind and the girls had to walk half a mile to get to the dining hall and to do most activities.  One day, one of the staff suggested we alternate boys and girls in the camp.  The result was open rebellion on the part of the girls and boys alike.  The girls did not want to move out and the boys did not want to move in.

When we asked why the girls were so adamant in remaining in the primitive setting the main reason was "Here, we can be us", we do not have to put on a front, no make-up, no being concerned about our clothes, etc.  In other words they were content to be who they really were.  

Soooo, do you get the point?  ‘Contentment does begin when comparison is put to bed.’   I believe I have learned that we cannot weigh our contentment on a scale of stuff,  When stuff is your measurement, you will never have enough, because there is always someone out there who has more ‘stuff".

Blessings.  

Gramps

There Are No Words

"Jesus said to her, "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).

We were there, his family and loved ones and thousands of others who came to pay honor to a dynamic and covenant- connected-warrior of His heavenly Daddy.  It was to be a day of celebration and the pastor did an admirable job in making it that, but how does one paint a picture of the path of a young man whose focus in life was not to climb the corporate ladder, or become a great political leader, or to be something who ‘people of the world’ place on a pedestal?

As I listened to the words of praise for this young warrior I could not help but think of the story of Lazarus, a very moving and familiar story in John's Gospel.  Mary and Martha had sent word to Jesus that Lazarus was sick, to which Jesus replied "This sickness will not end in death" (John 11:4).  And we know the ‘rest of the story’, Lazarus did indeed die!  His heart stopped and his body was anointed with oils and wrapped in graves cloths and placed in the family tomb.

End of story, right?  No!  One might say it was the beginning of a story of hope for all who come to the realization that there is a great emptiness in their hearts that can only be filled by surrendering their lives to Jesus as Lord. 

The pastor, Rev, Bob Tisset, had had the privileged of marrying Ryan and Kendra seven years ago. This Celebration was a very tough labor of love for Bob had long ago been adopted into this family and was loved.  How does one stand before a thousand people and paint a picture of one of your family, when you are aching from the depths of your heart.  He said the toughest part of this act of love was going through the mega writings, speeches, and conversations of Ryan and his bride and pick out only a few that painted a picture of this man. 

I am nearly eighty years old and have been to many funerals in my lifetime.  It is a time when my friends of many years are completing their race on earth and being called Home.  I have heard many eulogies and have even been privileged to deliver some for very special people in my life, but we were blessed when the Pearl of great price of Ryan's life, his bride, got up and talked about her life with this very special man. Wow, what courage! Wow, such depth of love;  she wanted the world to know the man she was blessed to share her life with and his passion for his Lord and master Jesus Christ.

At the cemetery we, my wife and I, arrived before the others and I had a few minutes to stand quietly at the gravesite.  I was standing in the middle of a five- grave plot; to my left was two graves, that of my father and mother- in- law who served the Lord as ministers of the Gospel of Christ, and to my right the grave site my son, who also was called home at the beginning of a life of service to his Lord. And this day we would place the body of Ryan next to that of David.  Four saints of God who made a tremendous impact for their Lord. 

Soooo, my friends, will the impact of Ryan's life ever be known?  I think not.  For it is like throwing a stone in a pond and watching the ripples go out.  This ripple creates another ripple until the ripples cover the pond.  No, I do not believe we have we closed the book on Ryan Prudhomme on April 13, 2013,  his legacy will live on through his bride and son, and through his mom and dad, his brothers, his grandparents ,family, and the mega people he influenced in his short time of planet earth.

To close and not share Ryan’s passion with you would be a dis-service: “What is your purpose In life?  Where do you stand with God the Father? What have you done (what is your relationship) with His Son?  If you don’t know, now is the time to seek Him.  If you claim his as Lord and Savior, choose now to live in High Definition with Him. Say with Paul (and Ryan), "I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings, becoming like Him in death and so attain to the resurrection  from the dead." (Philippians 3:10)

Ryan, my Christians brother, I praise God that I was blessed to rub elbows with you for these past 26 years. 

Blessings, 

Your Grandpa Peanut

Have You Been Kicked in the Gut Lately?

"But as for me, my prayer is to You, O Lord, at an acceptable time; O God, in the greatness of Your lovingkindness, Answer me with Your saving truth.  Deliver me from the mire and do not let me sink; May I be delivered from my foes and from the deep waters" (Psalm 69:13-14).

Sleep escaped me earlier this morning.  That seems to have become a way of life as I have grown more mature.  I have always been a morning person and feel if I have not made a contribution to the tasks of the day before the sun comes up, I have wasted a good portion of the day. 

This morning the darkness seemed to be so very intense.   I felt as if the weight of the world was hanging around my neck. Did you ever feel that way?   Of course that is not the case but, when we try to  move into God's turf it seems to be the yoke, mentioned in a previous message, seems to grow tighter around our neck.    

I think David must have had at least one day like that when he wrote, "But as for me, my prayer is to You, O Lord, at an acceptable time; O God, in the greatness of Your lovingkindness, Answer me with Your saving truth.  Deliver me from the mire and don't let me sink" (vs. 13-14a).

It is at times like that when we need to be obedient to God's word and get alone with the Lord and turn it all over to Him.  Again turning to the words of the Psalmist,  "Answer me, O Lord, for Your lovingkindness is good;  According to the greatness of Your compassion, turn to me. And do not hide Your face from Your servant, Fort I am in distress; answer me quickly."  (vs. 16-17).

This morning when I turned the computer on it presented me with screens I have never seen before.  Now, understand I am an old duck, (perhaps frog would be better) that requires a five year old to help me get to where I want to get on this one eyed monster.  After pressing about every button on the key board I hit the right button or perhaps the wrong button and the screen went blank, so I rebooted and praise God, a familiar face appeared.

Within the morning hours the can opener failed and the toaster crashed and several incoming calls did not fill my heart with peace, joy and contentment.  In other words the alligators were in high gear.  It soon became apparent I had to make a decision, would I allow this nonsense to continue, or would I do as David did, He cried out to the Lord, "Deliver me from the mire and do not let me sink". 

And then it happened.  The sun peeked through the trees and the skies began to brighten.  I am blessed to live on the edge of a small forest and the sun radiating through the trees can be a very beautiful picture. 

How many out there know when you are working with children who have severe emotional problems life can be a roller coaster.  I spent many hours i training our staff that they are only seed planters and not harvesters.  When you look for the harvest you are programming yourself for burn out.  And how did I try and get that message across?  By convincing them they needed to go home and cut the grass, sweep the deck or do something that they can see completed.

Soooo, I did as I preached .I shut off the one eyed monster, and went and cleaned the basement.  It looks wonderful!  But I also know that when the creepee's come a bothering (ya all know what a creepee is,  a hillbilly word for "thorn)) it will be there the next time I need to feel the sense of accomplishment and completion.

Blessings, 

Gramps

What Is A Poor Man Going TO Give His Son

 "You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk to them when you sit in or house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up.  You shall bind them as a sign on or hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead.  You shall write them on the door posts of your house and on your gates" (Deut. 6:7-9).

Hey Gang:  I remember the phone call announcing that Ryan Scott Prudhomme had touched down on mother earth, and mother earth would never be the same!  He was the first male grandson and, therefore, the patriarch of the grand kids and we soon learned that he fully intended to fill that role.   Some would say that he tended to be a wee bit strong-willed, but I choose to say, "He knew where he was going and had the confidence to follow the wisdom and common sense that God instilled him when He wired him in his Mama's womb.

We were privileged, when he was in that "three to four age bracket" for an overnight visit.  A wonderful evening was enjoyed by all but, in the middle of the night he decided it was time to go and sleep in his own bed, and he and grandpa got into a power struggle over whether Ryan would listen to me or set his jaw and let the war begin.  The war began! The swords drawn!  But I soon found he was holding a cannon and I a simple pea shooter. 

Soooo, we packed up he and his brother, Jeremy and took them home.  Now think about that for a moment, I was the head disciplinarian in the thirty-six bed boy’s treatment center at that time and he cleaned my clock! 

After Ryan learned that he had life threatening cancer, his relationship with his son changed from giving him all he could give him in the present, to giving him all he could give him while doing all in his power to pass down his legacy to his son, when God chose to call him home. 

Shortly after he and Kendra attended a family camp meeting at Miracle Mountain Ranch, Ryan wrote me a note.   It is much too long to duplicate here, but I feel the need to share some of his words with all of you who have various sized little squeezers in your lives.  He titled it, What is a Poor Man Going to Give His Son?  In my conversations with Ryan,after learning he had stage four cancer, I sensed he knew in his heart his time, until he was called home to be with the Lord, was shortened and his focus turned to preparing his family for his future departure.

Ry began his letter by saying, "I'm a rich man, but I don't have much.  When I think about my Legacy for Colton, I often think about the things I might leave him someday.  I have a few special things….".  He went on and listed some of those things, a baseball glove,  my saddle,  my Winchester rifle.

Each one of these could tell a piece of the story of who I am,  I loved sports, baseball best as dad was a pitcher in college.   My saddle was a gift from my uncle who cowboy'd out west, as I was privileged to do, which also cemented by passion for horses.  They're part of my heritage - but the story with each is so much more important.

But none of these tell ‘my story’.  He titled the part to follow "To Be Known By God”.  In September of last year he and his bride attended a family camp at Miracle Mountain Ranch.  The speaker challenged the families about leaving a legacy.  One practice the man has is that he reads through a different Bible year and, when finished, passes that Bible to a grandchild.  From this point on I will quote Ryan's words.

"This hit home with me as I stared down at my Bible.  Back home I had left the worn out, falling apart, tattered brown Bible I'd been given.  It was the same Sword my grandfather wielded for many year as he labored and fought to save kids  and families through the camp and treatment center he and my grandmother founded.  It has decades of notes, underlines, scribbles and prayers.  As I read my grandfather’s Bible, I encounter the same God he encountered so many years ago when he first opened this Book.  More than that I get to see how it impacted my ‘gramps’. 

The power of this book in his life is so evident that it jumped off the pages. I can hear his voice as I read his thoughts and it's almost like sitting here studying with him!

This book is so important to me, I had copied every line, note, jot, tittle, and scratch to "my Bible"  It too is worn and showing its mileage.  It's a blend of all my grandfather's thoughts and mine added into it as well.  It encompasses my heritage, my faith, and my personality. 

I have very little material things to leave to my son but " will leave him the most valuable thing I have - my Bible."

Oh my friends, there is so much more I would like to share about this young warrior for Christ and his bride, and I am sure he will live in future morning messages.  I close this with a heavy heart, not because he has gone to be with the Yeshua and is running leaping and praising God right now, but rather that I cannot be there and enjoy his first trip through paradise.  I send you his challenge: - Make sure you pass your legacy down to all you come in contact with.

Blessings,

Ryan's Gramps-  These devotions were started years ago as a heritage to out grandchildren

God's Perfect Plan

2007

"The Lord God fashioned into a woman the rib which He had taken from the man, and brought her to the man" (v. 22) "For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall be come one flesh" (vs. 24)

Hey Gang:  We are blessed to be surrounded by, and be a member of the "Golden Anniversary Club.   And who qualifies for the Golden Anniversary Club, only those who have celebrated fifty or more years of being equally yoked together.

We find in the creation story that" God created man in His own image and in the image of God He created him, male and female" (Gen 1.27).  Then down four verses we read, "God saw all that He had made, and behold it was very good".  And shortly thereafter God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him."  (Gen. 2:18). 

I believe God began to form this message in my mind several months ago but I rebelled against putting it together and sending it out.  If you had two rabbis in discussion, they would warn you to stay away from politics, religion and marriage.  The last being added in this age, when it seems everything is acceptable when it comes to marital relationships.  It is not my purpose to discuss this issue, but rather to share the tremendous news that God's way is the only perfect way.

A I mentioned we are blessed to have many friends who are members of the Gold Anniversary Club and listing them all would take a page or two but I want to share one very special couple that we were blessed to call "friends".  The Floyd and Roberta Bontrager relationship was a very special relationship.  When you found one of them you knew the other was in close proximity.  They were truly yoked into oneness. Floyd once jokingly said, "They fully expected to be called home at the same time". 

Those words were more than jest. Shortly after they retired and moved to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, they were traveling home when they met a gasoline truck head on and were instantly killed. 

Tragic, yes, but what followed was a beautiful story that involved their children.  The children, some still home but other married and in other parts of the country, assembled at the homestead and together built a coffin and buried their mom and dad in that same coffin.  It was their strong feeling that they lived their lives together, they died together, and they should be buried together.

In Ecclesiastes  4:9-12 Solomon wrote these words "Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor.  For,  if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion.  But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up.  Furthermore, if two lie down together they keep warm, but how can one be warm alone?  And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him.  A cord of three strands cannot not be broken".

As I think of all those who are members of the Golden Anniversary Club, all are also bonded together with that third strand which is the Holy Spirit.  I don't believe it is possible to become truly one without God completing that strand of three.  

Soooo, does that mean that the Golden Club-ers had no serious problems to deal with?  Not so.  As I think of the many deep valleys we walked,  often crawled through,  how blessed I have been to have the pearl of great price God gave to me more than 55 years ago to walk through those valleys hand- in-hand- oneness of Christ.   The writer of Proverbs summed this up when he wrote, "An excellent wife, who can find?  For her worth is far above jewels.  The heart of her husband trusts in her, And he will have no lack of gain.  She does him good and not evil all the days of her life." (Pro. 31:`10-12).

Blessings,

Gramps