Hey Gang: When you
reach that stage of your life where you are older that dirt, much of your life
is filled by praying for your friends and neighbors who are also members of the
“older than dirt” generation. Yesterday, we attended the funeral of a very
close friend who, through the years of our friendship, often bailed me out with
sound advice on many issues.
His loss created a hole that I will not try and fill. There are some holes that are sacred to me
and I do not want to fill: the loss of
my sons and others along the way who have added pearls of great price to my
life. As I sat there I believe God gave
me this message to share with you.
In the early tenure of our working with hurting families we
title our workshops ’The Toolshed’.
Through the years of development of the Village we became much more
sophisticated in our language and the “Toolshed” found its way into the
archives. However, several weeks ago, a
hurting mom stopped me and asked a question pertaining to a problem she as
having with her son. Suddenly the Toolbox illustration came flowing forth from
my lips.
But this time there were two toolboxes- with a message to
the young people of or land. I have a
great sadness in my heart for our millennial kids- and they are kids. We have failed them so horribly and I see
them floundering- seeking something that will fill the vacuum in their chest
cavity that is just the size of God. As
a counsellor in a detention home years ago, I saw an emptiness in the eyes of
most of the kids that passed through he facility. I see that same emptiness in many young
people today.
The two tool boxes were labeled: one said Jesus Fringe Package and the other Satan’s Tools. Both were based on Paul’s words in Galatians
five. A listing of Satan’s tools are
found in Galatians 5:18-21. The list is
too long to include and is incomplete here.
We find other list throughout God’s Word with warnings that we need to
heed very carefully. Paul emphasizes the
dangers of dabbling in Satan’s Toolbox in verse 21 when he warned, “…those who practice such things will not
inherit the kingdom of God”. His
warning sounds very clear.
But John tells us that if we have dabbled in Satan’s Tool
Box, God provided antidote to fix the emptiness and pain that dabbling has
caused in our mind and heart. He gave us
the fabulous news that is so familiar to mega people in our nation: “For God so loved the world that He gave
His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have
eternal life” (John 3:16).
With that wondrous gift to His creation, Paul tells us He
(God) included a Tool Box filled with fringe benefits, on that day when Father
God breathed life into His Son and up from the grave He arose. And, if we choose,
we can be freed from the bondage of sin.
What are those fringe benefits? “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy,
peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control;
against these things there is no law” (Gal 5:22-23).
Every morning, when we begin our day, those same two Tool
Boxes are on the breakfast table: we all
have the opportunity to choose which one to pick up - the one that feeds the
white dog? or the one that feeds the black dog? As you choose, keep Paul’s warning in mind:
“HE WHO PRACTICES SUCH THING WILL NOT
INHERIT THE KINGDOM.”
Blessings,
Gramps
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