Are You Creating Holes in TIme?

“Come your who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Matt. 25:34).  Do you want to know what those blessings are?  Read Revelation chapters 20 – the end of the Book. 

Hey Gang:  There are two schools of thought pertaining to the question of the saints around the throne.  The first is that the saints, who have remained faithful in this day of gross evilness, are waiting with growing anticipation for The Father’s order to His Son – “Go and collect Your Bride, the marriage Feast of the Lamb is ready!”  And who are these children/Bride? Those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. 

But there is a growing second school of thought that none of this prophecy stuff is real, just a figment of someone’s imagination.  I am always amazed when I hear someone say that they want no part of the study of prophecy.  Their reasons?  They do not have a clue what the Bible says because they have never been within the covers of the Bible deep enough to find out if it really is true and is the Word of God.

There are also the growing numbers who say, hey, we have heard the Second Coming stuff all our lives and we are still here!  My response to those very confused folks?  “What if it is true?”  Have you checked out what the Bible says about eternity?  Have you given much thought to how very long eternity is?   The Bible, which you do not believe says, “And if anyone’s name was not found in the lamb’s book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire” (Rev. 20;15).

In my years, as Chaplain at the Village, I often closed my messages by asking the boys, “What is the most important word in the English language?”  I would get a smorgasbord of answers, most in the love category.  When all was exhausted I answered the question- “the word is ‘NOT’.  Mathew tells us, “Jesus will declare, “I know you NOT; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness” (Matt; 7:23).

It is important to take the time to read what awaits those who have chosen to go their own way!  There is nothing as important in our world today than to do as the Lord has commanded - make sure you are a light in this dark world to all, especially those who are without the Lord as their Savior.

When I get a little weary and ask the Lord if is time to put Gramps to bed, He reminds me “just a little longer.” 

I think of a book I read, decades ago, and have used a thousand or more times called Holes in Time. It is a story of a hardened criminal serving a near-life sentence for his crimes and his shock to received a visit from Abba Father.   

The message was short and very much to the point, “Frank, when I created you I had a plan for you.  But you have squandered it.  Your failure to fulfill that plan has left those who were to receive My open invitation through you to come and eat at My table are lost.  You have left “Holes in Time” that will be passed down through the generations. 

 Frank heeded that call and gave his life to Jesus that very night. He became a Chaplain’s helper and several years later, the authorities felt no need to keep him in prison.  But he walked right back in, not as a prisoner of the State of Georgia, but a prisoner of Christ as a Chaplain in the Georgia prison system.

My Friends, I challenge you to do some research this week and find all the references pertaining to Hell, Hades, and the Lake of Fire. Years ago, I heard the way they train agents to recognize counterfeit money is not by reviewing counterfeit pieces, but rather totally memorizing the real thing! 

When I read of what is waiting for those who will hear the word ‘NOT’, it fires me up to do all in my power to snatch as many souls out of Satan’s hands as I can.

Hey, come along.  There is no greater joy in all the world than to snatch a soul from the clutches of the evil one.

Blessings,

Gramps    

Do You Have A Leak In Your Roof?

"I have seen His ways, but I will heal him; I will lead him and restore comfort to him; and to his mourners.  Creating the praise of the lips.   Peace, peace to him who is far and to him who is near, "says the Lord, "And I will heal him."  Is. 57:18-19).

Hey Gang:  I had a friend, who has now gone to be with the Lord, who had many very unique sayings.  One of his better-known sayings was, "I need to go home and see what is broken".  In recent weeks and even months I have adopted that saying for it seems I live in-the-midst of the Peter Principle: "If it can dysfunction it will".

Did you ever have one of those months?  One day several years ago, we had a horrendous rain storm.  (I suspect that the One who has His hands on the controls, was really angry and gave us a light and sound show to let us know He was not pleased with us.)  The results: I found water dripping in places it should not drip, like around a light fixture in the kitchen and around a window in the basement. 

Now some would say that is a good thing because it let me know there was a problem that could lead to a much deeper problems.  But I did not look at it in that way that night.  What I saw was my check book taking a sever hit, for it sounded like a major repair bill.

God knew I was I was not counting my blessings that day, so He sent me a message. It came in the form of an insert in my monthly bulletin from Voice of Martyrs.  Now if you really want to zero in on how blessed you are, you might want to look at what is happening in many parts of our world - where to be a Christ believe is not healthy for longevity.

 

It was about a family who had been attacked by rebels- simply because they loved the Lord.  They did not have to worry about a simple leak in the roof, because the rebels had not only had beaten them with rods and whips, but also had burned their home to the ground.

I do not have to look very far these days to find how very blessed I am, even when the roof leaks!  For a bucket of tar can heal such wounds, and, as our Scripture tells Me, “My God shall  supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus”(Phil. 4:19).

The Psalmist wrote, "He will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways" (Ps. 91:11).    Scripture is filled with God's promises of lavish protection.  "He promises to keep you as the apple of His eyes and to hide you under His mighty wings” (Ps. 17:8),  

So, I went to the local "Toys for Men store” (Menards), purchased a bucket of tar and a brush and attacked the leaks. Each time I swabbed the brush across an area, I prayed for that family that paid a horrendous price because they chose to love the Lord with all their heart and soul. How about you?  Do you have a leak in your roof?  If not, praise God, and pray for those who do!  And those suffering persecution that we cannot even imagine!

Blessings,

Gramps

PS this was written several months ago. Today we need to continue praying for the victims of the storms and flooding; first responders; those who are on rescue and restoration crews; volunteers who are there now helping and those who will come; and the Chaplains who are there to help grieving and hurting facing difficult losses.

POW - The Rapid progression of POW!

“Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless THE APOSTASY COMES FIRST, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction” (2 Thess. 2:3).   Apostasy as defined by Merriam-Webster is: an act of refusing to continue to follow, obey, or recognize a religious faith; abandonment of a previous loyalty. 

Hey Gang:  The writer of Jude wrote the following warning, “Woe to them!  they have taken away Cain, they have rushed for profit into Balaam’s error, they have been destroyed in Korah’s rebellion.” (Jude 11).

When the disciples asked Jesus, “What is a sign of your coming, and the end of the age?” He listed a whole barn full of things that we as believers should be recognize happening all around us.  But, as we read in the above Scripture, Paul tells us there is a sign that we should be especially aware of: there  will be a very serious falling away from the Lord, the Word and the Church – Apostasy!

In a recent periodical I read the following example of what I believe Jesus and Paul were talking about when they said “BEWARE”, as the end draws near, the world will fill with false prophets and teachers.

One Sunday morning, as the huge church filled with the huge congregation, the doors at the back suddenly exploded open and three masked gun-man ran to the front of the church with their AK 47’s and yelled at the congregation, anyone who is not will to die right now for the Lord should cut and run.

A mass exodus followed, not only from the pews, but from the choir loft and, most appallingly even a minister or two joined the Exodus.  After the church had emptied to a tiny remnant the head gunman stepped to the altar and said to the Pastor, “Here is your congregation!”  

Now let me make a confession, I do not like or feel comfortable in mega churches with all the glitter, praise bands, lights flashing all around and songs that do not proclaim the glory, honor and power of God Almighty.   And, have you noticed, that in recent months many of the mega churches are suddenly finding themselves covered with egg on their face.  The Hybal’s and Shuller’s, of the world have suddenly lost their luster because what they have advocated does not have the blessing of God over their ministry.

I learned very early, in my ministry to children who had no background in Bible understanding, that Scripture-based songs were often the opening that allowed me to share the love, the tremendous truth- that Jesus came, walked in my shoes and carried my sins to the cross and washed me clean of my past sins and transgressions, and that same love was open to them. 

Notice the power in Luke’s words in Acts 17:10-11: “The brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews”.  Now these were more noble -minded than those in Thessalonica”.  Why?  “Because they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.”

It appears that the folks in Thessalonica had adopted the same principle that God built into His greatest creation, MAN – WITHOUT FOODS WE PERISH.  That means an on-going input of food whether physical food or spiritual food is essential to growth and life!  I once heard an old country preacher say, “If it is not sacrificial, it does not carry much weight in God’s sight.”  His message title that day was simply. “What Price?” He continued by saying we need to examine our priorities by the price Jesus paid to set us free from the bondage of our sins.

I close this Epistle with an astounding observation seen over the past years: few people have a desire to learn one of the truly basic subject areas of God Word – what is happening all around them and what is going to happen in the future.  True, we cannot know the time - for only Father God knows the exact moment He will say to His Son, time for a marriage feast, go and collect your Bride.  

Why every child of God does not crave to know the times and the seasons that show us the time is near, when Satan is going to receive his just reward and set God’s family free from the influences of his evilness, is beyond my understanding.  I pray diligently for all who receive and take the time to read Gramps Morning Thoughts, that you are as fired up about God’s total Word, including His coming climax to this age, as I am.

Blessings,

Gramps

Where do You Go When There Is NO God?

“He caused the east wind to blow in the heavens, and by His power He directed the south wind.  (Psa. 78:26); “And He (Jesus) got up and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Hush, be still.” And the wind died down and it became perfectly calm” (Mark 4:39).  “When He utters His voice, there is a tumult of waters in the heavens, And He causes the clouds to ascend from the end of the earth; He makes lightning for the rain and brings out the wind from His storehouse” (Jer. 10:13).

Hey Gang:  There was a saying in the Second World War, ‘There are no atheist in fox holes!’  When you have said in your heart, “No, Lord, I don’t want any part of you,” Where do you go when the doctor says, “You have terminal cancer and only one month to live”? 

As the fires raged throughout the west, coming ever closer to your home and all your prized possessions, where to you go for help?  As the rains came in the south and the water levels rose even closer to your prized possessions- all those things that you have placed your faith in and represent your life, where do you go for help? 

The weather forecaster reported, there is a speck in the distant Atlantic which has drawn sufficient attention that they have named her ‘Florence”.  Each day the weather forecaster reported Florence was gaining strength and had now reached he point where it gained “Tropical Storm recognition. 

As the days passed the reports became more ominous. It was now a category one hurricane and on a direct line to hit a place that we know very well - having spent a period of our life and experience two hurricanes while there - the outer banks of North Carolina. 

As the days passed the weather reporters concern grew more serious as Florence gained in intensity and the track became more secure.  It was time to take action and put all of those precious things that are dear to you in your car and head for higher ground.  

And now you knew, Florence was heading straight for you.  Panic, yes, fear, most assuredly!  Help! Somebody help!  But, as we read in the Scriptures of the day, the One who controls the wind and the waters loves you so much He laid His life down on a hideous cross to be a part of your life when the Florences and other circumstances show their ugly heads.  We have the assurance that He is right here -right now -with us!          

It is at these times when Mark 11:24 kicks into action: “Therefore,  I say to you all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you” and we have the assurance of Luke 22:32:  “But I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.

Years ago, shortly after we have completed the construction of the Ashman and Sherk Homes, we had a near tragedy when a fire broke out and was working its way up the hill towards these new buildings.  We grabbed what was immediately available- rakes and brooms - and ran to the fire and attempted to beat back the fire, but to no avail!      

Suddenly, the fire jumped over me! I was now standing in-the-midst of the flames.  I dropped my broom, threw up my arms and cried out, “Lord stop the wind”.   Then I stood, along with others of staff and watched a phenomenal miracle-the wind not only stopped but the fired reversed course and burned back down the hill to it starting point and went out.  When the fire department arrived there was not even smoke from, the fire. 

Even the firemen were astounded.  But God does nothing by accident or without purpose.  At my side that day, as we tried to do the impossible by beating the fire with rakes and brooms, was a young man who did not believe Our God is the God of miracles and we, Kings kids, have the power to call His Name when the alligators are nipping at our tails.  I firmly believe to this day that God allowed the fire as an object lesson to a young man who needed to see God’s magnificent power in action.

But one last point before closing: teams that are committed to practice, conditioning and discipline are usually at the top of the winner’s column.  The same is true for those who are children of God’s family.  There will be times when the Florences of our life will surface and we need to have built-up a track record of faith in action, in our lives, and call on the Lord to intercede.  I firmly believe that if all the people of the Outer Bands would have gathered on the sea shore and prayed, “Lord stop the wind” Florence would have taken a hike in another direction.

Keep in mind ear friends, God loves His children and stands ready to stop the wind and alligators when we pray with humble hearts.

Blessings,

Gramps 

Triumph of the Kingdom of God!

                   Parade of Nations -Feast of Tabernacles - Jerusalem -100 nations represented

Hey Gang, fifteen minutes of the news of the day can, and often does, create a migraine headache in my brain.  So, this morning I want to give you a reprieve from the shaking that is going on in our world and turn our focus to some really good news from Malcolm Hedding, President of the Christian Embassy in Jerusalem.   It is a little lengthy, but five minutes invested can fill our soul with the joy of what is to come for those who believe!

The yearly celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles-September 23-October1, 2018-Tis one of the three great annual and biblically required festivals for Jews; the other two are Passover and Pentecost. These biblical Feasts have great significance in that they all speak of the glorious redemptive plan of God. Passover teaches us about the Door to the Kingdom of God - the salvation from our sins by the spilled blood of a lamb. This serves as a glorious picture of the death of Christ. Pentecost reminds us of the Power of the Kingdom of God. That is, the giving of the Word of God and the coming of the Holy Spirit upon blood-washed believers on the Day of Pentecost. (Acts 2:1-4)

The Feast of Tabernacles is a picture of the Triumph of the Kingdom of God since it reminds us that all of life is to be lived under the protection and sovereignty of God. The Israelites coming out of Egypt were required to build leafy booths and to live in them for eight days. These were very fragile and could not protect one from the harsh desert conditions. 

The lesson was clear; God would protect and care for them. We have to learn this lesson so often since, as Jesus pointed out, we are consumed with anxiety and worry about so many of life’s issues. Our Father in Heaven cares for us and watches over us every day because we are part of His Kingdom! How easily we forget this. (Matthew 6:25-34).

Jesus underlined this when on the Great Day of the Feast of Tabernacles, as He watched the water libation service in the temple, He cried out that if we believe in and follow Him a river of God’s love, empowered by the Holy Spirit, will flow out of our lives bringing joy and blessing to our lives. This is the triumph of the Kingdom of God in our personal lives and we should be living in it! (John 7:37-39)

The Feast of Tabernacles also points us to the future when, by the second coming of Jesus, the world will finally be subjected to the Kingdom of God. That is, Jesus will reign over the nations from Jerusalem and peace will for the first time envelop the world. War will be a thing of the past and for a thousand years the nations will live in the very light of the glory of God. 

What a day that will be and to celebrate it the nations will ascend every year to Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles. (Zechariah 14:16-19) We await then a glorious fulfillment of this great Feast and our annual celebration of it is a prophetic picture pointing to the coming Triumph of the Kingdom of God.
 
The Feast of Tabernacles is a joyful celebration and those living in the Kingdom of God are actually commanded to be joyful. All this remind us that serving Jesus bring much joy to our lives and this Joy is supernatural and powerful. Paul noted this when he wrote:
 
“For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” Romans 14:17
 
Those celebrating the Kingdom of God at the Feast of Tabernacles carry a Lulav, which amounts to four species of plants. These tell us that we are all at different spiritual growth levels in that some are weak, others are strong, some are complacent and yet others are discouraged. God loves us all and desires that we should all celebrate His love with much joy at the Feast of Tabernacles!

So my friends, I pray you took a very brief reprieve from the harrowing things that are happening all around us and he peace of God that truly goes far beyond human understanding filled your heart.

Blessings,

Gramps

Have You Made an Important Phone Call Lately?

“Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and wonderful things, which you do not know” (Jer. 33:3).  In the NASB, Psalm 91 is subtitled “Security of the One Who Trusts in the Lord” and verse 15 gives us the fabulous promise: “He will call on Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in times of trouble; I will rescue him and honor him”

Hey Gang:  Is that not an awesome promise in this day when it seems the sky is falling! :Notice the last verse of that Psalm: “I will bless him with long life and let him see My great salvation”.

In past blogs I mentioned I was having problems with my D14 Allis Chalmers tractor that is older than dirt.  I just could not keep it running and, being a total-mechanical illiterate, my recourse was to throw up my hands in despair and yell, “HELP”.  It never dawned on me that perhaps God was trying to teach me a lesson.

After several months of utter frustration, I bit the bullet, buried my pride (you see I didn’t want to admit I was a pure dummy when it comes to anything mechanical or electrical) and casually mentioned my problem to a farmer friend who, without hesitation said, “Been there, done that”.  Older tractors, that do a lot of setting, tend to build up rust and block the lines.  He said I have rust in my gas tank-- that leads to corroding the carburetor-- which leads to shutting the engine down-- which leads to putting too much pressure on the battery and starter-- which leads to my frustration!

Excited, no, I was more informed of the problem but still had no solution.  Butttttt – he went on to say, “The foot bone is connected to the ankle bone and the ankle bone is connected to the leg bone and etc. etc,  Disconnect each one and blow them out and the problem will go by the boards. 

 Now I must make a confession to you – I have had the name of this guy on my desk for several months and chose to handle the problem myself rather than seek help.  Does that sound like anyone you know?   I obeyed and did indeed disconnect all the lines and blew them out and the tractor is running like a smooth oiled machine.

Ya know folks, there is a principle in that little story.  Paul said, “We are going to reap what we sow”.   I recall a story of a chaplain who was walking through prison yard and came across an inmate who was binding the tarp holding the bedding in preparation for pick up. The Chaplain said to the inmate, “Sewing heh?” to which the prisoner replied, “No, reaping!”

We do have the unique power within us to turn minor problems- that we face on a daily basis- into major incidents when the answer is just a phone call away.  Jeremiah 33:3 tells us, “Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know.” Even how to fix a tractor!    We tend to forget that God wants us to turn our every need, our every thought, and our every problem over to Him and use our talents to be seed planters.

When I cranked up the old D14 this year, you guessed it, lack of power but I had learned my lesson and with trusty air house in hand, the problem, was quickly solved and I did not even blow by cork when it would not start.  Now folks, that is a miracle!

Blessings,

Gramps

Are You Aware?

"I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, And Make Your Name Great, And so you shall be a blessing; And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse.  And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed" (Gen 12:2-3).

Hey Gang: Are you up to speed in what is happening in our world at this moment?  Are you concerned?  I mean really getting to the nail biting stage of the daily news of our world?  I am.  Not so much for myself or my bride for we have been blessed with God's promise of three score and seven, and I am not as concerned with my kids and their spouses for they have passed the half-century mark, but I am really concerned for my grand's and my great grand's.

Abraham, the father of the Jewish people was given the profound covenant that would be the center stone of all that happens in our world.  In it God says you can judge all things by how they impact of "the apple of His eyes."    Very simply stated, “If you bless ‘My Land’ and ‘My people’ I will bless you, and, if you choose to curse ‘My Land’ and ‘My People, I will return the cursing on you!

Haggai wrote the following the very powerful and ominous words during the reign of Darius the King, as a warning of what is to come in the latter days, or even the last days. 

"Yet once more I will shake not only the earth, but the heaven."  This expression, "Yet once more," denotes removing those things which can be shaken, as of created things, so that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.  That is the black-dog portion of Haggai's prophecy. But notice he does not leave us without hope, "Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; for our God is a consuming fire!" (Hag. 2:6, Heb. 12:26b - 29).

Yesterday I completed my favorite chore once again.  You might think me weird, but I love to cut the grass.  Why?  Not because I like to hear the racket of the engine and mower for two hours, or because I enjoy the sun baking down on my frail body, but because the engine is loud enough I can sing at the top of my voice and no one can hear me.  The song that rang my bell yesterday was one penned by Albert E. Brumley -  I suspect he also had a mower. 

He wrote the following words that every believer can take to the bank "This world is not my home, I'm only passing through.  My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue; The angels beckon me from heavens open door, And I can't feel at home in this world anymore." 

So, friends and fellow believers, this truth is echoed throughout the word of God. The words "sojourner" and "pilgrim" are found many times in both the Old and New Covenant.  When the alligators begin to assemble, the rubber-hits-the-road, and your back is against the wall, take a moment or two to remember that this is just a preparation time and place for eternity in the presence of the Almighty Triune God! We are just passing through.  The question for you – to where?

Blessings,

Gramps

Do You Believe in Miracles?

"Therefore behold, I am going to make them know - This time I will make them know My power and My might; And they shall know that My name is the Lord!" (Jer. 17:21). 

Hey Gang:  Are you aware of the fact that God is doing some awesome things in our world now, today, this minute?  This story came across the wire from a very credible source that drives home this point. 

"A Muslim man in Egypt killed his wife because she was reading the Bible and then buried her with their infant baby and an 8-year old daughter. The girls were buried alive!

He then reported to the police that an uncle killed the kids. Fifteen days later, another family member died.  When they went to bury him, they found the 2 little girls under the sand - ALIVE! The country is outraged over the incident, and the man will be executed.

The older girl was asked how she had survived and she says: 'A man wearing shiny white clothes, with bleeding wounds in his hands, came every day to feed us. He woke up my mom so she could nurse my sister.' She was interviewed on Egyptian national TV by a veiled Muslim woman news anchor.  She said on public TV, 'This was none other than Jesus, because nobody else does things like this!'  Can you say amen and amen to that?

Muslims believe Isa (Jesus) would do this, but the wounds mean He really was crucified, and it's clear also that He is alive!  But, it's also clear that the child could not make up a story like this, and there is no way these children could have survived without a true miracle.

Muslim leaders are going to have a hard time to figure out what to do with this, and the popularity of The Jesus movie doesn't help!  With Egypt at the center of the media and education in the Middle East, you can be sure this story will spread. Christ is still turning the world upside down! Please let this story be shared. The Lord says, 'I will bless the person who puts his trust in Me”. (Jeremiah 17:7).

Many years ago, I was blessed to sit under the teaching of an old salt who loved the Lord and qualified in my book 'as a power preacher".  I do not remember many of the things he expounded from the pulpit but one thing that has stuck in my brain was, "We miss most of what God is doing in our lives because we are not in tuned to His workings".  In other words, we do not have even the remotest understanding of the many miracles God gives to us, each and every day, because we do not recognize them.

So, my good buddies, before you put your shoes on for the day, make a promise to yourself that you will lock into God's power supply, pray that God will give you understanding of His will for you for this day, and watch for those times when God  blesses your sox off with one of His fabulous miracles.

Blessings,

Gramps