You Are Something Very Specia

"I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, and my soul knows it very well" (Psa. 139:14).

Hey Gang, As I have traversed through this life on earth I have grown more amazed daily at the magnificence of God's creation, namely me.  I have been amazed with the unlimited capabilities of the control center that God placed in our heads.  I have read and heard it said many times that the average person uses but a tiny bit of that capacity.   Have you ever taken a moment or two just to take a deeper look at the center of your electrical system, your brain? 

 God placed this magnificent miracle in each and every person whom He created.  You do believe you were created by God even before time began, don't you?  Paul made this clear in his letter to the Colossians, "For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities - all things have been created through Him and for Him" (Col. 1:16).

 I woke up this morning with the song "We Shall Behold Him" running through my electrical system.  I wish I could say I always wake up with a song on my heart but that would be an untruth.  But within a few moments the song passed and the challenges of the day became my focus.

 Now for the ‘goodie’ of the day, God also gave us the ability to program our electrical systems to bring honor and glory to our Creator.  I have often used the analogy that we have knobs on the inside of our foreheads which are designed for us to hang knowledge so that God can pull it out of us when the need should arise. 

 Here is a question for you to ponder this morning?  Can God pull out of you knowledge or truth that you never put in? Oh, I know the God is all powerful and can do as He pleases but do you think He might depend on you to put into your brain things that He can pull out when the alligators begin to snap at your heels?  

 I do believe that is what Paul was talking about in his letter to the Romans when he wrote, "I urge you, brethren by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God which is your spiritual service of worship."   That is the principle; now he gives the application "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect" (Rom. 12:1-2). 

 Soooo, good and faithful believers in Yeshua, your task for the day is - take a few minutes and hang a new piece of God’s truth on one of those knobs in your head that God can use to mold you into the image of His Son, Jesus Christ. He gave you 66 books to choose from.

 Blessings, 

Gramps

Something For You To Ponder This Monday Morning

 "Thus I will punish the world for its evil and the wicked for their iniquity; I will also put an end to the arrogance of the proud and abase the haughtiness of the ruthless.  Therefore I will make the heavens tremble; and the earth will be shaken from its place in the day of His burning anger."  (Isaiah 13:11, 13)

 "From the Lord of hosts you will be punished with thunder and earthquake and loud noise; With whirlwind and tempest and the flames of a consuming fire. (Isaiah 29:6).

Hey Gang: Record Keepers say these are the worse fires in the history of the nation (summer 2013).  They say the winds in this storm have been the worse in recorded history in our country. They say it has been the worse tornado season ever.  They say there is activity in the heavenlies like they have never seen before!!!!  

*Joel Rosenberg in his book Implosion wrote, "Yes, I believe something has gone terribly wrong with the American experiment. Our families are imploding. Our national debt is exploding. Experts on the left and the right warn we are on an unsustainable trajectory and urgently need to change course. Yet too many in Washington, academia, the media and even the church are in a "business as usual" mode. As result, millions of Americans fear the ice is cracking under our feet". 

* William Bennett, the former Education Secretary and Drug Czar in the Reagan and Bush administrations notes that "Since 1960, even taking into account recent improvements, we have seen a 467 percent increase in violent crime;….a 461 percent increase in out-of-wedlock births; more than a 200 percent increase in the percentage of children living in single-parent homes; more than a doubling of the teen suicide rate;….a doubling of the divorce rate."..more than sixty million creations of God have been sacrificed on the altar of Molech.

 The question was put to Joel,  "Is it too late to turn it around?  His response, “No, God gives us the key to restoration in the following passage: "If I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among My people, 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 your sin and will heal their land" (2 Chron. 7:14).

 Sooo, those of you who read this message who are younger than I, which probably includes all of you, have you humbled yourself before the Lord of lords and Kings of kings this morning? Have you prayed diligently for the healing of our land? Have you examined your heart and placed all those things that grieve the Holy Spirit at His feet for cleansing?   Keep in mind that Jesus said, "I come quickly".

Blessings,

Gramps

Time Is Not Retrievable

  

"Man is like a mere breath; his days are like a passing shadow" (Psa. 144:4)

 Hey Gang, I had a conversation with man who is in the twilight years of his life and will have nothing to do with God or His Son Jesus.  It is my sincere opinion that the reason is, he does not want to give up total control of his own life; the bangles and beads that are more important to him than eternal life with the King of kings and Lord of lords.  He also said, “Sunday was his day and he just did not want to give it up.” 

It is also my sincere opinion that in the back of his mind he is planning on a death bed conversion and slip into the Kingdom of God on the promise of Jesus to the thief on the cross.  But, is that not placing your soul in jeopardy for all eternity?

How much time we have is not known to us; life could end in the twinkling of an eye.  A head-on car crash and a period placed at the end of a life.  A terminal disease and the light goes out.

 The Psalmist wrote, "As for the days of our life, they contain seventy years, or is due to strength, eighty years"  (Psa. 90:10).  I pray daily for the children in the St Jude Cancer Treatment Center; mere babies who are fighting for their lives.  They are not into seventy or eighty years of life but tomorrow may be their last. 

 James wrote, "You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away" (James 4:14b).  Does that not smack at our macho egos?  Are we so into power and control that we think we can put off the eternal things until it best fits into our agenda?  "No, I don't want to give up my Sundays!"

 Again returning to the words of Psalmist we read, "As for man, his days are like grass; as a flower of the field, so he flourishes.  When the wind has passed over it, it is no more, And its place acknowledges it no longer" (103:15-16)

 Soooo, I realize Gramps Morning Thoughts are addressed to an audience mostly firmly anchored in Jesus’ hands, BUT, perhaps, by accident, might be read by one who needs to know that the time that they think they have can be cut out from under them in the twinkling of an eye.   And then what?  

 John put it this way: "I must work the works of Him who sent Me as long as it is day, night is coming when no one can work" (9:4)  And how can we end this without a word from Paul? "And let us not be weary in well doing, for in due season we shall reap if we faint not" Gal. 6:9).

 Blessings,

Gramps

Tree? or Chaff?

 "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them" (Eph. 2:10).

 Hey Gang:  Do you know what God's desire is for you today?  Paul answers this question in Ephesians 1:19-19a, "I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe."

 And how do we make this happen?  We don't! "It comes through the working of the strength of His (God's) might which He brought about in Christ" (v.19b-20a).

 One of the first lessons I learned as a new Christian was that God is a compulsive decorator.  If you are sincere in your commitment to Him as Lord of your heart, be advised He will place you on the potter’s wheel and begin to cut and scrap and whittle in an effort to make you into the image of His Son.  

I suspect this might account for some of the discomfort we feel, for open heart surgery can be a very uncomfortable trip through the wilderness.  We don't mind it much when a new coat of paint is added or new carpet laid, but we can become a wee-bit testy when He begins to dig into the crevices and deal with those things we hold on to as sacred..

God's intent for His children: "That we not walk in the counsel of the wicked nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers!  But His delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night"  (Psa. 1:1-2).

 Soooo,  lads and lassies, notice God's promise in verse three, "You will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does, he prospers"

(Psa. 1:3).  So what are you?  A ‘tree firmly planted’ or ‘chaff which the wind drives away’? (v.4b).

 Blessing,

 Gramps

A Lesson in Persistance

"And Jesus said to  him, "The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no where to lay His head"  (Luke 9:58).

 Hey gang:  I was never much of a bird watcher in my growing up years.  Birds were something that flew over your newly washed car and deposited some excess baggage that made a mess on your shiny chariot. But in recent years I have gained a new interest in these little critters.

 Several weeks ago the Lord lead me to write a morning message on persistence, but since writing that message, God has been driving home the true meaning of persistence with a very fascinating object lesson. 

Over the entrance to my garage is a light that protrudes from the top of the door.  One day I noticed that it appeared that there was a heap of dirt and twigs that somehow accumulated on the light.  So I go out my trusty hose and washed what I thought was debris from the light, thinking another job completed.

 But, the next day as I was sitting on the deck, I noticed there was another accumulation of dirt and debris on the light and a bird working diligently to place the twig, that she had just returned with, in just the right spot. 

 Now with shame I tell you this, I, and that little bird, had a knock down drag out battle for more than a week.  She would build and I would hose, only to see her begin the process all over again within minutes of my destructive nature.  And then I learned, if you set a can on the light, the bird would give up the ghost and seek asylum someplace else.

 That was up until this year.  Once again, I know not if it is the same two birds that have built their tenement house on my light in previous years, but once again there appeared on my light dirt and twigs molded neatly into a nest and in the nest three tiny eggs.  Now, as Paul Harvey would say, here is the rest of the story. 

After the young hatchlings learned to use their God-given talents and flew the coup (nest) I cleaned the debris from the light thinking the birth process was finished for the year and once again washed the light off - but guess what, I came home after two days away and low and behold there was another clog of dirt and twigs on the light so I got out the hose and removed it.  I then placed a can on the light to end this process.

 End of story, right?  Not in your sweet bippy!  Claribelle, as we have fondly named her, returned and began to build her nest once again and this time she neatly built it around the can and today we are blessed with three little eggs waiting for the arrival of three creations of God.

Soooo, my young friends, Take a word from Claribelle this morning –‘If it ain't worth fighting for it ain't worth having’.  God said go and be disciples. We need to be persistent in following His command.

 Blessings,

Gramps

Are You Willing?

"He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season"  (Psa. 1:3).

Hey Gang, Mega times I have often heard the comment, 'That person really has potential' only to see that person totally fail to develop that potential.  In my tenure of working with young folks who have made bad decisions, I have seen many who do have the potential to do great things but they do not have a clue they have that potential.  

One of the great stories that has been part of what motivated me to give my life to helping those young folks who were not doing well is that of Dr. Theodore F. Stoddard.  He was a lad who began well but one day his world took a nose dive when he lost his mom.  In school he was the scourge of the classroom and the teacher even enjoyed placing the red "E" on his papers.  

   

Then one day the teacher, more from curiosity than any desire to find a solution to this menace, dug out his previous school records and found that Teddy was a sharp, personable and even loving child in the first grade.  But the next part of the report stuck out like a neon sign in a dark night, Teddy's mom died.

Mrs. Thompson realized the problem and she was ashamed of herself.  On Christmas when all the other kids brought beautifully wrapped gifts, Teddy brought a roughly wrapped brown gift that contained a bracelet that was missing some of the stones and a half bottle of perfume. 

On that day, she quit teaching reading, writing and arithmetic and began to teach children.  She paid  attention to Teddy and gave him some special encouragement. Teddy responded by becoming one of the top students in the class. 

The story is a wonderful story that had a wonderful ending.  Teddy not only completed that school year, with very good grades, but went on and graduated from high school and college with highest honors.  Throughout his years in college and medical school, eventually becoming a medical doctor, he sent periodic notes to Mrs. Thompson saying, "You are still the best teacher in the world."

And then one day she received a letter from Teddy announcing that he had found the’ love of his life’ and asked if she, Mrs Thompson, would be his mom for his Wedding Day.  On that special day she wore the bracelet and perfume that she cherished all of those years.  Teddy said, "You smell just like my mom".

Soooo, look at your hands this morning.  Do you realize that you have the power, through the leading of the Holy Spirit, to be a Mrs. Thompson to a Teddy?  But perhaps you will have to seek until you find that special child that God has commissioned for you to mentor and come along side.    Are you looking?   

Blessings,

Gramps

Be strong in the Strength of His Might Today

 “I do not cease [to pray] for the eyes of your hearts to be enlightened, that you may know what is the hope of your calling and what is the wealth of the glory of God’s inheritance in the saints” (Ephesians 1:16-18).   “The joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10)

Hey Gang:  As you traverse through the day do you look for those wonderful object lessons that God  provides for us?  Several days ago I was cutting and splitting some wood in preparation for the coming fuzzy-white-stuff season.  There were several types of wood in the pile, some easy and some more difficult.   I had forgotten about an old elm tree that came down in a recent storm;  it was hard as flint.

  I learned very rapidly that if I tried to go at the strength of those pieces, the eight-horse splitter did not have the power to penetrate and split the log.  But, if I studied the piece and looked for the fault line in the log and zeroed in on that weakness, I was able to split the log and, once it was split, the rest of the splitting process became much easier. 

 Throughout the day, each time I ran into a piece of that tough elm tree, God reminded me of Paul's words in Ephesians 6:10  "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might".   I have mentioned, in morning messages before, that I am a very weird person for I love to cut the grass.  I get great joy in getting on that noisy machine and making a skillion revolutions around the yard.  Why, because I can sing at the top of my lungs and no one can hear me and I have found that singing brings joy to my heart.  Nehemiah tells me "The joy of the Lord is my Strength".  

Paul continued on in his letter to the Ephesians giving us the formula for living a life of victory and joy:, First, and foremost, "put on the full armor or God".  Why?  "So that you can "stand firm against the schemes of the devil."  How many know that when our house is built on the sand we are like the foolish builder described by Matthew whose house could not stand against the storms?   

 Paul does not leave it there.  He always states the principle he is trying to teach us and then hangs the whys and wherefores on the knobs that follow:  "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places."  (Eph. 6:11-17). 

 Do you agree with me that we are in an evil age when everything that can be shaken is being shaken?   Paul closes his teaching on the importance of having every piece of the armor of God in place with this challenge "Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, so stand firm" (vs, 18) 

 An old salt country preacher after reading these words, "Stand firm having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace, in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the veil one and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God' (Eph. 6:14-17) said, when all the parts are in place, Satan cannot tell you from Jesus Himself!  

 Sooooo, time  for me to close this and you to do a quick inventory - make sure you have all the pieces of the armor in place.  Why don't you drop what you are doing for a moment or two and join me.  Your eternal life may depend on it.

Blessings, 

Gramps

A Latter thought Pertaining to Donkeys

   "You, too, be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near" (James 5:8). 

Hey Gang:  In the last morning message I shared the saga of the sortie into the wilderness to collect and transport six donkeys from their domicile of forty acres in Mid Michigan to the Village grounds.   The boys and maintenance crew had diligently, and with great effort, built a holding corral for our new guests but, we soon learned upon their arrival, it was a mere pittance and it was going to take additional efforts to keep these critters confined to our property.

 Not knowing how these beasts of burden were going to interact with our horses, we were not about to turn them loose in the mist of our forty horses.  That was a bubble that was burst within hours, as we searched and collected the escaped members of the long eared gang.  We made a brilliant decision at that time, based on the simple premise that, if we did not put them in a more secure corral, we would spend the rest of our lives searching and collecting these critters.

 Soooo, being the head honcho I made the brilliant decision that we would put the six rogue runaways in with the horses, in the more secure corral and pasture.  But I readily admit I did not sleep very well for the next few nights, until I was sure the new ‘bed and breakfast’ set up would satisfy them to stick around a check out the food program. I readily admit I had visions of searching and collecting not only six burros but also forty horses - at any given moment. 

 And now for the rest of the story!   Several days after the arrival of the testers of our patience on campus we had a cross country hike scheduled for the boys living in one of the houses. The boys, and I hate to admit it- the staff, came up with the brilliant idea that the burros should be made to work for their eats, as they were designed to do.  I mean why should we, boys, carry these heavy packs when we have these beast of burden just lying around doing nothing? 

 Two were too young for the project, two proved to me too emotionally unstrung to be used, and one had not had his hooves trimmed for who knows how long and walking that far would have been cruel and unusual punishment for the critter.  So it boiled down to Jack, the patriarch of the donkey family to carry the banner for the family. 

All went surprising well in preparation and they started out on their eleven mile hike, but..(How many out there know there is usually a "but" attached to an unknown experience)  Jack decided he had done his due and lay down in the middle of the road.  For more than an hour they coaxed, pulled tugged and I suspect did some cursing at Jack, who had made up his mind – ‘I shall not be moved!’ 

 To make the long story short, the hikers and all staff but one continued on.  One staff remaining to keep Jack company until a truck could be sent to return him to campus.  That is another story to long to divulge here.

When the idea to use the donkeys to be their pack bearers surfaced I had made up my mind that was not a good idea - but this particular group of youngsters were a wee bit salty and I thought perhaps four or five days of dealing with something that was more salty than they, might do what we, up that point had not had much success in doing.

 Soooo, as I study the Scriptures, I find that is precisely what God does in opening our eyes to the errors of our ways.   I have counseled many young people who tell me they are waiting for God to give them marching orders. I have learned that God knows how to close doors and He seems to like to direct the paths of moving vessels more than the ‘asleep at the wheel gang’.  I can attest to that as being fact!  

 Blessings,

Gramps

Have You Beaten your Donkey Lately?

The angel of the Lord asked [Balaam], "Why have you struck your donkey these three times?  Behold. I have come out as an adversary, because your way was contrary to me."  (Num. 22:32)

Hey Gang:  I would guess that Balaam was in absolute shock.  He had just been chewed on by the donkey! "Am I not your donkey on which you have ridden all your life to this day? Have I ever been accustomed to do so to you?" (vs. 30) 

As I read this account of the tug-of-war between Balaam and his donkey, I recollected a few battles that I have encountered with these beasts; I learned early "They have their own mind"!  My first encounter was with a donkey named Scrape Iron, a gift from a salty cowboy from Midland.  He called one day and told me he was sending a couple ponies to our ranch.  He did not mention this long eared critter that was about to become king of the corral.   I can attest that I lost far more battles with scrap Iron than I won.  I might add the boys loved this long eared critter - and me too.

But my favorite story centered on another gift of six donkeys.  The gentlemen who donated them neglected to tell me that were in a forty-acre field and had not had human hands laid on them in more than a year. 

Well, I had a friend – notice, I said "I had a friend" who I conned into going the 120 miles to pick up the critters.  Now David was even more salty than Matt.  It seems when I got involved in the ‘donkey gig’ I always ran into a salty sort of chap.

Did you ever try and catch a wild donkey in a forty acre field?  No I suppose you haven't. So let me tell you the procedure - you run your tail off for more than four hours, until the critters are too tired to run anymore.  Then the fun begins – (they did not want to get into the trailer!)  Did you ever wrestle with a donkey?  No I supposed not.  As David described it - is it much like hand to hand combat!

O, I neglected to tell you, it had rained several days before his arrived.  An hour later the sixth beast was loaded into the trailer and they headed for home.  Going through Lansing at peak traffic time they hit a traffic jam which ticked-off the Jack and he began to bellow. I will not include what he said, but can tell you, David had a wee bit of a temper being an Irishman and he was red from the neck up.      

I had been advised that David was a little ticked, when the staff who received his call said it melted the phone lines between Lansing and the Village.

Well, I think it would better to get back to Balaam and his confrontation with his life-long taxi.   Why was Balaam ticked at the donkey?  Because it made a fool out of him.  I suspect Balaam's mind was closed and God needed to open it.

Soooo, friends and neighbors, time to be honest. There are times God stands in my path, and I don't see Him.  All I see is that things are going wrong and I'm looking like an idiot and it makes me grumpy!  When pride snarls around my heart, my path becomes a reckless one.  I'm so glad God stand in the way, confronts my motives and prepares me before allowing me to continue.

Sharon Hinck, when confronted by a stubborn donkey wrote the following prayer; "Lord, next time I face an obstacle, help me leap off the donkey.  Fall on my knees and listen to Your words.  And Help me never, ever, beat the donkey You are using to get my attention".

Blessings,

Gramps

What Time Is It?

 “For behold, the day is coming, burning like a furnace; and all the arrogant and every evildoer will be chaff, and the day that is coming will set them ablaze,” says the Lord of hosts. “So that it will leave them neither root nor branch.” (Malachi 4:1).

Hey Gang:  Do you think this day has arrived or is just around the corner?  What say you, are we living in that time referred to by the prophets of old as the “latter days” or ”last days” or perhaps it is as it was in the days of the ark builder, Noah?

Mathew tells us, "Jesus came out of the temple and was going away when the disciples came up to point out the temple buildings to Him" (Matt. 24:1).  It appears from Mark's account that "they" the disciples were mesmerized by its beauty. They exclaimed,  "Teacher, behold what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings! (Mark 13:1b).  

His response, "Not one stone here will be left upon another, which will not be torn down" (24:2).  His words must have brought them back to the world of reality for we see a change of focus from man-made beauty to "Tell us, when will these things happen and what will be the sign of Your coming, and the end of the age"(v.3b). 

Their question? “When shall these things happen and what will be the sign of Your coming and the end of the Age?”  His first words in answering their question was one that we need to take to heart - “Do not be deceived.”   I recently heard a salty old preacher warn his sheep "beware of wolves in sheep's' clothing.  He mentioned three rapidly moving blasphemies that are leading even many of the elect to be taken down the Prime Rose Path.  Perhaps we had best read John 14:6, " I am the way, truth and the life, no one comes to the Father but through Me."

The first he referred to as the Oprah road where there is more than one road to God.    Notice in verse 25 of the Olivet Discourse:  Jesus said “Behold I have told you in advance?" (Matt. 24:25).    In other words, you have a choice, you can be as the five prudent virgins and have your lamps prepared for the coming of the Husband or hear the door slam shut when the bridegroom comes unexpectedly.

 The second blasphemy, called’Replacement Theology’, teaches that Israel is no longer the "apple of God's eye" but has been replaced by the church.  Again I would draw your attention to God's Word:  "For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery, lest you be wise in your own estimation, that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in; and thus all Israel will be saved; just as it is written, 'The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will remove ungodliness from Jacob,'” (Rom. 11:25-26).

The third, in the opinion of the writer is most damaging, is that to "believe" is all it takes to gain the eternal Kingdom of God and spending eternity with the Lord.  Well folks, I have very bad news for those that have been caught up in this web of deception.  James tells us "even the demons also believe and shudder". (James 2:16).    

Soooo, my good buddies, what am I trying to say here?  Very simply stated: "Be Not deceived".  "See that no one mislead you for many will come in My name saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will mislead many" (Matt. 24:4-5).  And how do we make sure we are not deceived?  By filling our minds and hearts with His Word and staying in communication with Yeshua and keeping our eyes on Him.

Blessings,

Gramps

A More Opportune Time

God’s power principle for this morning:  “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.  Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil” (Eph. 6:10-11).

Hey Gang:  I have a very important piece of wisdom that I need to share with you this morning: in order to beat the devil at his own game, we must have a solid understanding of his “wiles” ie., “enemy tactics”.  And how do we beat him at his own game – ‘put on the full armor of God”

Jesus did battle with Satan shortly after He was baptized in the Jordan by John the Baptist.  Notice the sequence: he was baptized and His Father declared He was His Son in whom He was well pleased.  In essence, He was equipped for warfare and did not tarry.  He was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil and, I sense, to let the Devil know his existence was going to become exceedingly more difficult. 
 .

Satan said, “If you are the Son of God…”;  Jesus responded, “It is written”.  And again Satan said “If you are the Son of God” and Jesus responded “It is written”.   And a third time Satan said, “If you are the Son of God” and Jesus said “It is written”! The battle was over and Matthew tells us “The devil left Him”, but  Luke adds these seven words to Matthew’s account and  we must be aware!,  “He (Satan) left Him (Jesus) until an opportune time.” (Lu.4:13)!

The point: Jesus said we are to go to the cross daily and put on our armor, for Satan's opportune times have no time limits, are always present, and  just around the corner. 

Soooo, my young warriors, Be advised - you have someone looking very your shoulder this morning.  He cannot read your mind but he certainly can read your actions. Be sure you are covered with His armor.  Every second of the day you will have opportunities to be a seed planter –positive and negative.  Every second of the day you will be a Pin Hole or a Pipe Line Christian.  When you lay your head on your pillow tonight, will you win with God’s word and will your seed planting program for the day be blessing to the Lord or a disappointment.

Blessings,

Gramps

Bitter Waters or Sweet Waters?

“Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him and by his wounds were healed. “(Isaiah 53:3-5),

Hey Gang:  Have you ever noticed that when studying the Old Covenant we find the Hebrew Scriptures depict God as one who both wounds and heals, who smites His people for sins to wake them up to their spiritual danger, but who also restores them when they repent?

If you read Genesis through Malachi you will find an awful lot of smiting, but very little true repentance.   We find a repetitious pattern that persist throughout the history of the “apple of God’s eye,’ Israel.  When under the authority of God they prospered and were at peace -but when they choose to put God aside and go their own way, agony and pain soon followed. 

God had many opportunities to give up on His chosen people but that is not God’s way.  Rather than give up on us, He initiated a deeper strategy, one that would not have occurred to us even had we millions of years to ponder the problem. 

Instead of continuing the smiting and healing, punishing and restoring, God allowed His own Son to be smitten and struck down for our offenses.  Wow! no wonder there is power in Jesus name!  More than two thousand years after His death and resurrection people are still being healed because of prayer. (I just read that a life with out prayer is like a house built without nails! - Gram)

Soooo, young lads and lassies, if bitter water are swirling around you or someone you love, if you are going through a wilderness experience, keep this in mind, God is the remedy and provides The Remedy!   He stands at the door of your heart waiting for you to open the door and invite Him in.

“Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting ALL your care on Him, because Hr cares for you.” (IPeter 5:6-7)

Blessings,

Gramps