A Lesson Leaned: "Persistence Is A Key to Success"

“As Jesus went from there, two blind men came up to Him, and Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?”  They said to Him, “Yes, Lord.”  Then He touched their eyes, saying, “It shall be done to you according to your faith.” (Matthew. 9:27-31)

Hey Gang, I mentioned in a past blog that words written by human hands have but one meaning, but the Word of God is a virtual source of new material, each time we read it, that meets us at the point of our need. 

I do not know about you but I must confess that many times I do not prepare my heart to receive what God wants to teach me from my Scripture readings.  I have always had a concern that people will become ‘habit readers’ and not ‘in-depth readers’ after years of a steady diet of gramps morning thoughts. 

Let me put that principle into living reality.  I have read the story of the two blind men, in the above Scriptures, many times but must admit I have always read through the story without seeking what God might be saying to me in the story. 

So, I decided to dig a little deeper. Although not amazed, because God’s word is so rich in showing us hidden truths that we so often just slide over, when we dig a little deeper we learn the bottom line of the story-  two blind men cried out for mercy and for Jesus to heal them, and He did!  End of story – right?

But is that all God wants us to see in this passage? Are there other lessons to be learned?  How about the persistence of the blind men – they saw their chance and went for it.  Or how about their determination – they were not willing to throw in the towel simply because Jesus was surrounded by a mob of folks also seeking healing. 

And then there is the fact that they were not intimidated by the mobs and certainly were not fearful to take their need to the Lord.  How about verse 31?  After being healed they went out and shared the good news that Jesus had healed them.  I plead guilty to the many times God met my needs at a critical time but I failed to do some bragging about His love and concern for me.

Finally, note, they were not afraid to make a tough request.    As I meditated on these words, I got the sense that God was saying, ”One day, when you stand before Me and give an account of what you did for My Son on earth, those times, when like the two blind men, you were as bold as lions and spread the good news that Jesus is Lord of your life, will bring a smile to your Lord’s face.”

So, my young friends, put on your armor and get ready for battle today, for Satan is as a roaring lion seeking to destroy the works of your hands. But also know that God’s grace is sufficient.

Blessings,  

Gramps

What You See Is What You Get!

“And others are the ones on whom seed was sown among the thorns; these are the ones who have heard the word, but the worries of the world and the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful” (Mark 4:19).

Hey Gang:  Many years ago, at least it seems that way, a Christian brother called and asked if I would pinch hit for him at a teen agers retreat.  At that time one of the hats I was wearing was Eagle Village Chaplain.  I had learned, in my tenure as presenter of the Word to kids who had no spiritual grounding, the kiss (Keep it Simple Stupid) method of presenting the gospel was essential, if I was going to be even remotely successful.

I readily accepted his invite for I longed to be able to share with folks who were not locked into the kinder-garden of faith and share some of the neat things that God had taught me.

Shortly after our arrival and first contact with the thirty or so teen agers and six adult support team, we learned that we were a wee-bit optimistic in the content of the materials we had prepared for the three days.    I learned the card game ‘Scum” was of far more interest than learning what God wanted to do with their hearts and lives.

One of the young ladies wore a T shirt that kind of focused on the attitude of the group, that night “ANYTHING GOES”.  I haven’t a clue what message she was trying to send but it certainly got my attention.   I wondered if anyone of the group had ever read the words of Daniel when he declared “I will not defile myself”. 

I changed my message that first night and centered on a little wooden match. I lit the match and invited anyone who was willing to come and put their finger in it.  I had no takers! As I read Revelation 20:11-15 to them, there was a hush that settled over the group and I sensed a change of attitude from what they thought they were there for – to why they needed to be there. 

In the following two days, God opened the hearts of teens and adults alike.  The weekend culminated around a fire where God moved in a mighty way in the hearts of all who were there.  A pact was agreed and signed by all the teens that they would remain pure until God showed them who was to be there help-mate for life. 

So, my friends, you may not have the opportunity to challenge a group of teens to put away their ‘Anything Goes’ T-shirts’ and ‘Scum cards’, but the Word tells us the harvest is rich but the workers few.  God may want to use you right now to do a mighty work in the life of a hurting soul.  Are you available?

Blessings,

Gramps 

Are You Standing in the Gap

“I searched for man among them who would build up the wall and stand in the gap before Me for the land, so that I would not destroy it, but I found no one” (Ezek. 22:30)  

Hey Gang:  It seems each time the phone rings it is to let us know that another of our friends, church members, relatives have been stricken by some infirmity.  I used to have a page in my prayer journal designated for those who were suffering from some illness. 

Now I have it broken down by categories; cancer, diabetes, heart problems—name it, it is there. It seems that almost everybody is affected, either directly or through a family member or close friend who is suffering.

When facing trials, how do you respond?  Do you first, place your trust in God?  King David wrote: “He only is my rock and my salvation; my stronghold; I shall not be moved”  (Psalm 62:2). But he does not leave it there: “Trust in Him at all times, O people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us” (v. 8).  Do we really believe and live by David’s words?

Paul challenged the Corinthians to take ‘stock of themselves’. He says : “Check yourselves – are you really in the faith?”  ...” Now I pray to God that you do no evil, not that we should appear approved, but that you should do what is honorable, though we may seem disqualified” (2 Corinthians 13:5-7).  

Paul wanted the Corinthians to understand that it is not enough to “appear” to be fulfilling the physical requirements of the law. The Pharisees did that, but were disqualified. He minced no words when he gave his opinion of the faith levels of the scribes and Pharisees: “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness” (Matthew 23:27-28).

 Through the prophet Ezekiel, God gave a powerful warning: “So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one” (Ezekiel 22:30).

Today, Jesus Christ stands in the gap for us! He is our intercessor and great High Priest. Are we willing to stand in the gap for our brethren who are suffering? James tells us the prayer of the faithful avails much (James 5:16). Paul reminds us: “Therefore, I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men” (1 Timothy 2:1).

So, As we think of those around us who are suffering serious illness, are we offering our fervent and impassioned prayers of intercession with every fiber of our being?  The needs are great and the prayers few.   Paul says, “Pray fervently?” 

Blessings,

Gramps

Are You Living In Battle Mode?

"But I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which dwells in me” (Ro. 7:23) Paul also said, "For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the wiling is present in me, but the doing of the good is not" (7:18 - read 7:14 through 25).

Hey Gang; Question? How many realize we are in an on-going war? A war that never ceases, nor will it cease until Yeshua Ha Mashiach returns and takes back what is rightfully His.   Years ago, I heard a pastor say, “The war begins the moment we put our feet on the floor in the morning.”  I would alter that!  I believe it continues even during the night time hours.  Satan is relentless and never sleeps and continues to harass us, even when we think our minds are beyond his reach

Paul writes, "The moment I decide to do good, sin is there to trip me up.  I truly delight in God's commands, but...not all of me joins in that delight" (Ro. 7:19). 

  

What's happening?  Your flesh (self) is at war with your spirit, seducing you into relaxing your defenses; and the moment you do, It will ‘nail you’.  Then comes the whisper, "Go ahead, it's no big deal, everybody does it.  Who'll know anyway?"  Learn to identify that voice before it becomes a thought entertained, a deed done, a habit formed and a character ruined.

I know you are very aware of this but let me remind you anyway, "Your New Birth doesn't do away with your old nature, it just brings it into sharp contrast!" You may be redeemed, but you still live in a carnal body and the enemy likes to twist even the good.  If you try to fight the flesh in the power of the flesh, you'll just end up fighting yourself.  What's the answer?  "Walk in the spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh" (Gal. 5:16) How do you do that?  By studying and obeying God's Word  - instead of doing what comes naturally!

So, if you ‘blow it’ occasionally, don't get discouraged.  You were programmed from birth to walk in the flesh but now you're learning to walk in the Spirit- - a new set of values, new companions, new priorities, new resources and New Management!  Your New Birth began a new battle. To win requires that you are fully clad with the armor of God; the helmet of salvation firmly fixed and sword, which is the word of God in hand and all parts between covered. (Ephesians 6:13-19).

Sooooo, when your armor is in place, Satan cannot tell you from Jesus! Be battle ready!!

Blessings,

Gramps

Be Strong in the Strength of His Might, Today!

A word we need ingrained in our head, heart and soul for these dark hours: “That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, and that you, being rooted and grounded in love may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breath and length and height and depth” (Eph. 3:16-18).

Hey Gang:  Notice Paul set the table for receiving and understanding this power Scripture in verse 14: “I bowed my knees before the Father”.   

Have you ever taken the time to see the world is filled with God’s object lessons?  Several years ago, I helped a friend split wood in preparation for the coming fuzzy, white stuff season.  He had several types of wood, some split easily and some with more difficulty.  But, he also had some grizzly elm in the pile. I noticed that if I tried to go at the strength of a piece of elm, the eight-horse splitter did not have the power to penetrate and split the log, but, if I moved an inch or so from the edge, it would, with a great deal of grunting, split the log.  It weakened the log enough that I could then attack the inner parts of the log and complete the splitting job.

Throughout the day each time I ran into a piece of that tough elm tree, God reminded me of Paul’s words in Ephesian 6:10-13: “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.  Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.  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.  Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.”

I once heard an illustration from an old country preacher: “As long as we keep the armor of God in place, the devil cannot tell us from Jesus.”  I certainly believe in that analogy. 

God gave me an example of that elm log in the form of a young lad who had many of the attributes of that grizzly elm log.  Although only twelve years old, he had developed a hardness of heart, soul and mind that exceeded his years.

When I read the story of his life (he had been in many previous placements and bombed out through his violent outburst, I readily admit) I had made up my mind that I did not need that challenge added to the eleven other challenges we had in our home at that time.  But God had other ideas. 

I noticed in his case file that he had always bombed out because of his violent temper.  I also sensed that when he blew, the recipient of his outburst reacted in kind.   In the weeks that turned into months of his arrival, God continued my education on how to penetrate the hearts of kids who had been hurt deeply inside but did not know how to get out of their prisons.

Lesson one: Do not react to their attempts to say, “You are not worth much, I am going to thrash you like everyone has thrashed me.”  Lesson two: Look for the fault- line in the grizzly behavior.  God showed me that the young lad telegraphed when he was building a head of steam; I needed to learn the signs and head him off at the pass.    From then on it was a piece of cake, right?  No way! 

The next step in the learning process:  Teach him that he reaps in the same measure that he plants, both on the negative side and positive side.  He had to learn the ice cream with chocolate syrup and a cherry on top came when the grizzlies were under control!

So, my friends and neighbors, the moral of this story? Make sure you have your grizzlies under control before you hit the bricks and run face to face with the alligators that have been assigned to test your testimony.  Make sure you have your armor in place before you begin to deal with the darts of the ‘powers of darkness’ this day.

Blessings,

Gramps

Did You Know That 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 a man who is in the twilight years of his life but 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 and the bangles and beads that are more important to him- right now- 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 that Jesus made to the thief on the cross.  However, is that not placing your soul in jeopardy for all eternity?

How much time we have is not known to us and 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, sometimes quickly.

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

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!"  Is that not a dangerous attitude? 

Perhaps he should take a moment and digest the words of Psalmist, "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)

I realize Gramps Morning Thoughts are addressed to an audience that is firmly anchored in Jesus hands but, perhaps, it might by accident fall into the hands of one who needs to know the time that they think they have can be cut out from under them in the twinkling of an eye.  We have no guarantees that we will be alive one second from now?  And then what?

John put it this way "We 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). 

Soooo, I cannot 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

How Willing Are You To Be Vulnerable?

"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 heard the comment. 'That Person really has potential' only to see that person totally fail in developing that potential.  In my tenure of working with young folks that have made bad decisions, I have seen many who do have the potential to do great things but they do not have a clue that they have that potential.   You see, potential, without action, is wasted 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, his world took a nose dive the day 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.     

And 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 gift roughly wrapped in brown bag which contained a bracelet with some of the stones missing 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 that special encouragement sometimes missing in classrooms today. 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 graduated from high school and college with highest honors.  Throughout his progress through 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."

One day she received a letter from Teddy announcing he had found the love of his life and asked if she would be his Mom for his wedding day.  What joy was in her heart to be his mom and on that special day.  She wore the bracelet and perfume that she cherished all those years.  Teddy, as he gave her a warm hug said, "You smell just like my Mom".

Is that not a neat story? Bruce Barton wrote: “There is no greater investment than to invest in the life of a child”.   There is no greater investment- for you have no idea how far they will go and what great things they will do.”   

God said, Come, and I will make you a fisher of men”.  Request?  No!  Suggestion?  No.  It is by your fruits that He will know you! 

Blessings,

Gramps

Seasons of 'Ups and Downs"

Solomon wrote: “God has made everything appropriate in its time.  He has also set eternity in their heart, yet, so that man will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end.” He also went on and wrote these words of wisdom: “I know that everything that God does will remain forever; there is nothing to add to it and there is nothing to take from it; for God has so worked that men should fear Him” (Ecc. 1:11, 14).

Hey Gang:  Do you know what I am talking about when I mention the phrase ‘Ups and Downs’? I believe most would agree that life is filled with its ‘ups and downs.’  Wise King Solomon certainly did.  He wrote “There is a time for everything” (Ecc. 3:1-8). 

Solomon’s daddy, David, was called “A man after God’s own heart” (I Sam 13:4, Acts 13:22).  Yet, David’s life was a perfect example of one whose life was filled with ‘ups and downs.’  He wept over the loss of His and Bathsheba’s first born (2 Sam. 12:22). 

Yet, he also wrote songs of praise and “His mouth was filled with laughter and his tongue with joyful shouting” (Ps. 126:1-3).  All the time?  No!  With the death of Absalom, he agonized in deep mourning (2 Sam.  18:33).  But when the Ark was brought to Jerusalem, “David put on his ephod and danced before the Lord” (2 Sam 6:12-15). 

I have taught many times that, if I were able to see my life charted on a graph with highs and lows, I would find that when I trusted in the Lord and placed Him first in all that I say and do, I would find myself on the top of the graph but, in those times when I said, “Okay, Lord, I’ll take it from here”, I would find myself on the bottom of the graph. 

We do a dis-service to ourselves and other when we portray the Christian walk as a ‘calm and peaceful walk through the park.’  Instead, the Bible portrays the believer’s life as one being filled with ‘ups and down.’  Jesus made it very clear that, “If the world hated Him, then it will most assuredly hate those who follow in His footsteps.” (John 15:18). 

We are also warned that, as the world winds down, to be a follower of Christ is to have a bull’s eye on your back.  The tragedy of darkness and evilness has become part of our culture, as Satan steps up his campaign to war against the goodness of God.  How sad that the leaders of one of our States saw the need to give pastors the authority to pack rods, while conducting services to protect their people.  Perhaps the time has arrived when every church should develop SWAT Teams.

But the bottom line is: “Where are you with Christ?” We have no assurances that we will see tomorrow.    Several days ago, the church bells rang and the people came; but, instead of hearing the Word of God, they heard gunshots and many of them died that day.  Sadly, this has become more like the norm. 

If there was ever a time when we need to make sure that we have our armor spit-polished and in place, it is now: have the helmet of salvation securely attached, the sword, which is God’s Word, in hand and heart and our lanterns filled with the Holy Spirit and all other parts protected.   

Blessings,

Gramps