Pray For Even the Little Things With Faith - and Stand By and Watch

“And Jesus answered saying to them, “Have faith in God”.  Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea’ and does not doubt in his heart, but  believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted him.  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” (Mark 11:22-24). 

Hey Gang:  Those of you who have gone through the joys and frustration of my D 14 Allis Chalmers Tractor that I recently said, it is finished and gave up the ghost.  Correction, I do not believe AC D -14’s have a ghost, but rather reach that point where they can no longer muster enough power to pull themselves out of the parking area.   Kind of like I feel on some mornings.

It was a sad day for me, for we had spent many hours together and there is no question I had placed a whole barrel full of confidence in that old bucket of bolts.  When the doctor informed me it would take far more money to bring it back to working order and, even then, he could not guarantee that is would be able to muster enough get and go to respond to the call of duty when asked to do so.

It was indeed a sad day when I saw the junk man loaded old Betsy on his truck in preparation of hauling her to her last resting place, but he assured me that they would do a close examination and all of her organs that were still functional would be made available, so that other Betsy’s might live a little longer.  That her death was not in vain. 

Now, if that ain’t corn ball, nothing is.  But let me share a little about what has been happening in the lapse of time since Old Betsy died.  When you are 85, thinking of purchasing anything can send questions like is it a good investment for the time I have left of earth. Another tractor might seem a wee bit on the weird and even wasteful side, so I have spent considerable time arguing with myself on the pros and cons and frankly speaking the cons were winning by quite a margin. 

But the other morning when I was once again in an arguing mood, when the thought came into my head that there was a much higher and more knowledgeable one who knew everything there was to know about tractors and other mundane things.   A source that is much to polite to butt-in on my trying to figure out what is the right direction.

Having exhausted my limited knowledge, I ate my pride and cried out, Lord, Help! “, What would you have me do.    Now as my good friend Paul, the computer guru would say, my knowledge of computers and how to get around in them is like a thimble full with room left over.  I am so archaic in electronic devises I do not even own a cell phone.

Well, to cut what could turn into a dissertation, let me cut to the chase.  I turned on the computer and typed “tractors” in and hit the enter key and low and behold a Allis Chalmers  D- 17 tractor came up.  A tractor very similar than the D--14 who a gave up the ghost.  Good enough, right!  Not for this block head.  I began to seek other sources and was unable to get back to the one that I believe God as saying, “Go for it!”  But in came my bride with her galloping key board -like the heroes of yesteryear and she did indeed relocate the first tractor. 

As I look from my window there is a D-17 tractor in my driveway.  The lesson!  Why not put your hands in the hands of the one who not only stills the waters but also created the waters!   Don’t wait until you exhaust all other resources before saying “Help Lord!” 

Blessings,

Gramps

Does Prayer WIthout Ceasing Work?

 Eagle Village Chapel

God’s Power Principle For Today:  “We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us”  (2 Cor. 2:1-12).  “Therefore, (I once heard an old country fire balling preacher say, when you run into a therefore, do not move on until you know what it is therefore!)  “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”. (Mark 11:24).

Hey Gang:  A few years back, I read a book by John DeVries, founder of Mission India by the title of “Why Pray?  My confession is, I have asked that question many times and even stopped praying for a season because I did not think God was listening. 

You see, I got into a time when I tended to measure the success of my prayers by what I received from Him in very short order.  There is an add on Television advertising Wentworth Finance; the people are shouting “I want my money and I want it now”.  That was kind of my attitude when I went to the throne room for a specific need. 

Have I had total victory over that, to a degree, but I must admit that battle has not been completely won.  When I see the continued escalation of man’s inhumanity to man, I wonder why God does not zap the culprits or send His Son to collect His sheep and get about cleaning up this world for the coming millennium.  The answer is always the same, “Not My Will but the Father’s will be done.”  It may sound strange, but on this issue, Jesus will take his orders from Abba Father.

But grey hair does tend to open memories of past times when I praised God that He did not answer my prayer. There was no question that God was a huge part behind the Village.  But I also remember times when my prayers were more like pie-in-the-ski that, if granted would have taken us down a path which we had no scar tissue of experience to wisely use. 

I remember one day when I drove by the Reed City Airport and saw the sign “FOR SALE”! My salivatory glands began to work overtime.  I said, ‘Look Lord!  Would that not be the perfect place for the Village Vocational Training Program.?”   Being an old air traffic controller, I could see myself sitting in my new office in the control tower.   God said, “If I would have given that to you there would be no Eagle Village today.”

I used to pray, “Lord, “If you just gave us a whole bathtub full of money, we could fill this oasis with hurting kids and families.”  His answer was always, “Trust and obey for there is no other way”.
When the deed was signed and we now owned 543 acres, my Father-in-law mentor said, “Be advised you are now the proud owner of a property with nothing on it and you are about to set out on a journey that will be filled with alligators and deep pits.” 

As John wrote in his book on prayer, when we have a specific need, we should put the development of the solution in God’s hand and shut up.  When Cathey, my daughter, assumed the role of Super Eagle of the Village, she inherited a very sick, near death entity.   On that very day her mom and I began a process that has continues today.  We knew from past experiences that the recovery and success of Eagle Village would be measured by where prayer was placed on the operational chart.

Our challenge to each one, if you are not willing to pray sacrificially, and as Paul challenges us, “Without ceasing” please do not sign up to be a prayer warrior.  I believe the prayer warrior ring that surrounds the Village today is the catalyst that has produced the changes and victories that have become a wonderful testimony to God’s grace.  Realize when you commit to pray for anything, when you fail you leave a hole in their covering. That Satan dearly loves!!!

Do you want to do something great in God’s Kingdom? Then join the prayer warrior brigade and help build an ever growing covering over and around the Village through the power of your prayers.

Blessings,

Gramps

PS You can be a prayer Warrior simply by praying regularly.  But if you want to join the team and receive information go to www.eaglevillage.org/prayer.

Eagle Village Camp DIning Hall

Pow, A Light Doth Shine!

“Therefore, God gave them over in their lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them.  For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie and worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever, Amen.  For this reason, God gave them over to degrading passions” (Rom. 12:24-26a). 

Hey Gang:  Two words that seem to dominate the news, coming forth from the prophecy gurus of the land, are convergence and exponential curve.   Jesus was asked three questions by His disciples:  ”When will these things happen? What will be a sign of Your coming?  What will be a sign of the end of the age?” (Matt. 24:2). Jesus gave us a listing of things that we should be aware of.  

The other day, as I was in the final stage of preparing for the class my bride and I have been privileged to share with a group of eager beavers to learn, was a question that has hounded me for many months: ‘What has caused the rapid growth in our nation of sexual perversion.’    

Now, I am not naïve to the point that I believe that this is a new perversion in our nation.  As we read in the word, it has been with us since the beginning of time.    But when growing up as a lad, I do not recall the blatant exploitation and openness that we see today in every facet of our society. 

There was often the sudden disappearance of one of our female classmates, who was sent to live with an aunt in a far city. We all had our suspicions but one day she would show up again and look very much like she did the day she disappeared, and all was forgotten.  While a college student, my bride was a tutor to no less than ten high school girls who were with child and not permitted in school.  Can we say that is a common malady in our time?  Common may not be a correct term but rare does not fit either.

That is the tragedy of sin. When the laws of God are violated and not recognized for what it truly is, SIN, it becomes part of the norms of the day including in the church. 

I remember when the 9/11 tragedy hit out nation, the pews in the churches around New York City were filled; however, ten weeks later the pews were as empty as they were before the tragic event.  Oh, there were a few that stayed the course, but generally it was only a short time until the memory faded, and most returned to their old ways, waiting for the next tragedy to hit.     

When the study gurus, who spend their lives seeking reasons for why things happen asked those who had hit the church doors why they are no longer hitting the church doors.  The basic answer was, “I went seeking but did not find”.     Is that not the tragedy of our day? The place where we should feel totally secure has turned its back on people of our nation.   Well, I could spend a day or two on that subject but let me close with a question for you to ponder.

Above I talked a wee-bit about the emphasis on sexual issues in our nation and, if the deviant population has its way, along with the ‘I –will-give-you-anything-for-your-vote law makers of out nation’ “We ain’t seen nothing yet”.  So, here’s the question: in Romans 1:26 Paul wrote these words, “For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions”.   What say you?  Do you think that warning is being played out in living color in our world today and while you are pondering that question; also include this thought in your pondering, ‘could that be yet another sign that  we are rapidly nearing the day when Father God says to Son, Jesus, “Go collect your kids and bring them home?’

I love that song, “Off we go into the wild blue yonder, climbing high into the sky”.  Yesterday we had the privilege of saying a few words at the funeral of a young lady who lived with a sever disability for the fifty years of life.  This was a celebration, for we know today she is running and leaping and praising God with a perfect body under the loving eyes of the King of kings and Lord of lords.

Blessings,

Gramps 

A Slice of Immortality Can Be Yours!

“Give, and it will be given to you.  They will pour into your lap a good measure – pressed down, shaken together, and running over.  For by your standard of measure it will, be measured to you in return.” (Luke 6:38)

Hey Gang:  In a recent morning message I mentioned all have the opportunity to be a ‘seed planters’ for Christ and invest in a chunk of immorality in the heavenlies.  This morning, as I was going through the archives, I came across a very special story of a very special man that I want to share with you once again.  

His name was Mr. Diggs.  I do not recall ever hearing his name mentioned in the Town Hall Meetings, or seeing his name in the paper for some wonderful thing he did to promote and bring honor to his community.  To most, he was just an old man who spent many hours sitting on his porch doing nothing but rocking.

But to the kids on the block, Mr. Diggs was something very special.  He had gained the title of respect of ‘Big Daddy’.  The neighborhood was, what we commonly call ‘transitional’. or to make it more clear – ‘rundown’.  Few of the boys who played kick ball on the street in front of Mr.Digg’s home had daddies in their homes. 

He was not sure how it happened, but one day one of the boys noticed that Mr. Diggs spent much of his time rocking and reading and asked, “Whatcha reading, man?”  His response, “How to be something special in this world”. 

To make the long story short, it struck a nerve in the boy’s heart and he wanted to know about this ‘success stuff’.  From that day forward, Mr. Diggs became a seed planter in the life of not only this one who wanted to know about ‘success stuff’’ but multitudes of other boys who played kick ball in front of his house.       

Mr. Diggs was a great believer in the following Bruce Barton adage: “The greatest sporting proposition in the world is, place a bet on a boy.  You invest a few dollars in his character and education and you can never tell how big a winning you may make.  Presently he becomes a man, through his life you live – your influence extends through him and his descendent.  You have purchased a little slice of immortality.”  Now reread the Scripture of the day.  

Notice two words, Give and Measure.  “In the same measure you give, you will be blessed to receive.”  I know! I have tested this and it works every time. 

Soooo, my young friends, do you want to purchase a little slice of immortality today? Then deny self, take up your cross and seek out someone who needs to have a seed planted in their life.  You won’t have to look very far, they are all around you!

Blessings,

Gramps

A Lesson I Learned in the Heat of Battle!

“The steps of a man are established by the Lord, And He delights in his way.  When he falls, he will not be hurled headlong, Because the Lord is the One who holds his hand.  I have been young and now I am old, Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken” (Psalm 37:23-24).

Hey Gang:  Paul wrote, ”Beware, tough times are going to come, times when the world will be filled with men of depraved minds and anyone who chooses to live godly lives will become the targets of these depraved minds.  A reading of 2 Timothy 3:1-7 removes any doubt about how very close we are to the coming of the Lord.  

Each time I read this panoramic overview of what man will look like in that final time, before Father God says to His Son, “Go and bring your sheep to the Marriage Feast of the Lamb”, I see our culture moving more that direction. How very powerful and filled with truth is that final verse (7): They will be “Always learning but never able to come to the knowledge of the truth”.

I do not believe it was an accident that Paul placed the following words at the end of this prophesy in II Timothy of things that will happen in the Later Day, for I have watched it come to fruition even in my lifetime:  “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching for reproof  or correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work” (2Tim. 16-17).  

I believe Paul was telling us that we should load both barrels of our weapon with the Scriptures and be ever prepared to do battle with the enemy.  I know you have heard this many times, always “Put on the full  armor of God, from shod feet to the helmet of salvation with shield of faith in one hand and the sword of God, which is His Word, in the other”. 

When the children of Israel returned to Jerusalem after the Babylon captivity to rebuild the walls the enemy was ever present to harass, threaten, ridicule and frighten the workers.  But it only deepened the resolve, in the hearts of the workers, to complete the task.  Nehemiah let it be known that he would not come down from the wall until it was finished.  The workers worked with sword in one hand and tools in the other.

O, how far we have gone astray!   Surely, you’ve noticed that in these reckless times Christianity has lost respectability and is looked upon, by growing numbers, as “intolerant” and “discriminatory.”  Churches that once preached the pure Word - including the prophetic word - have become ‘missing in action.’    Surprised?  If you are in the Word, you should not be surprised in the rapid decline of the influence of the church.  Paul said, “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution, but evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived” (2 Tim. 3:12-13).

In Revelation we read a description of the church of the last days.  Jesus called it “neither hot nor cold”.  He said “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot.  So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot or cold, I will spit you out of My mouth” (Rev. 3:15-16).

What say you, do you think that God has spewed many churches out of His mouth and even now continues the culling process?  Barna, a well-known Christian research group, recently reported that a hundred churches per week, I emphasize “PER WEEK” are closing their doors. 

My friends, if ever there was a time to stay glued to the Word, in touch with Abba Father and diligently listening­­­­ to -but verifying what is coming forth from the pulpits of the land, it is right NOW.  Jesus made it abundantly clear that in the final chapter of this Age there will be great deception!  Truer words were never spoken.

I would be remiss if I did not close with Jesus’ Words found in Revelation 3:21, “He who overcomes, I will grant to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.”    If you happen to come across this epistle and are not secure in the Father’s hand, notice Jesus’ Words in the next chapter, “I looked and behold a door standing open in heaven.”  

 A door to salvation in Christ that one day soon is going to close and then comes judgment and eternity!

Blessings,

Gramps

I Love the Power verses in the Bible!

“Behold, the Lord God will come with might, with His arm ruling for Him.  Behold, His reward is with Him and His recompense before Him.  Like a shepherd He will tend His flock.  In His arm He will gather the lambs and carry them in His bosom; He will gently lead the nursing ewes” (Isaiah 40:10-11).

I so enjoy it when someone out there sends me something that hit their hot button.  It is neat - for they often hit my hot button or something that I am working on at that time.  One of the great joys of sending out these morning messages is that it keeps my mind focused on those things, I feel God is telling me, that you might hit your hot button.  

Such was the case this week when a past employee, one of our kids, sent the following to me.  Perhaps it hit my hot button because we were privileged to share God’s Word with a group of Navaho Indian young folks on our trip to Arizona, a number of years ago.

This was written by George Hunt - a member of the Kiowa Tribe.

I like this because the reading is familiar but, passed through a cultural lens which many people do not associate with Scripture.

"An Indian Version of the Twenty-Third Psalm"

"The Great Father above a Shepherd Chief is. I am his, and with him I want not. He throws out to me a rope, and the name of the rope is love, and he draws me to where the grass is green and the water not dangerous, and I eat and lie down and am satisfied."

Sometimes my heart is very weak and falls down, but he lifts me up again and draws me into a good road. His name is 'Wonderful.'"

Sometime - it may be very soon, it may be a long, long time - when I walk into the valley it will be dark, but I'll draw back not. I'll be afraid not, for it is in between those mountains that the Shepherd Chief will meet me, and the hunger that I have in my heart all through this life will be satisfied."

Sometimes he makes the love- rope into a leaders' pole, and afterwards he gives me a staff to lean upon. He spreads a table before me with all kinds of foods. He puts his hand upon my head and all the 'tired' is gone. My cup he fills 'til it runs over."

What I tell is true. I lie not. These roads that are 'away ahead' will stay with me through this life, and after; and afterwards I will go to live in the big tepee and sit down with the Shepherd Chief forever."  Jesus, my family my friends. . .  So grateful. . .

Blessings,

Gramps

“Behold, the Lord God will come with might, with His arm ruling for Him.  Behold, His reward is with Him and His recompense before Him.  Like a shepherd He will tend His flock.  In His arm He will gather the lambs and carry them in His bosom; He will gently lead the nursing ewes” (Isaiah 40:10-11).

I so enjoy it when someone out there sends me something that hit their hot button.  It is neat - for they often hit my hot button or something that I am working on at that time.  One of the great joys of sending out these morning messages is that it keeps my mind focused on those things, I feel God is telling me, that you might hit your hot button.  

Such was the case this week when a past employee, one of our kids, sent the following to me.  Perhaps it hit my hot button because we were privileged to share God’s Word with a group of Navaho Indian young folks on our trip to Arizona, a number of years ago.

This was written by George Hunt - a member of the Kiowa Tribe.

I like this because the reading is familiar but, passed through a cultural lens which many people do not associate with Scripture.

"An Indian Version of the Twenty-Third Psalm"

"The Great Father above a Shepherd Chief is. I am his, and with him I want not. He throws out to me a rope, and the name of the rope is love, and he draws me to where the grass is green and the water not dangerous, and I eat and lie down and am satisfied."

Sometimes my heart is very weak and falls down, but he lifts me up again and draws me into a good road. His name is 'Wonderful.'"

Sometime - it may be very soon, it may be a long, long time - when I walk into the valley it will be dark, but I'll draw back not. I'll be afraid not, for it is in between those mountains that the Shepherd Chief will meet me, and the hunger that I have in my heart all through this life will be satisfied."

Sometimes he makes the love- rope into a leaders' pole, and afterwards he gives me a staff to lean upon. He spreads a table before me with all kinds of foods. He puts his hand upon my head and all the 'tired' is gone. My cup he fills 'til it runs over."

What I tell is true. I lie not. These roads that are 'away ahead' will stay with me through this life, and after; and afterwards I will go to live in the big tepee and sit down with the Shepherd Chief forever."  Jesus, my family my friends. . .  So grateful. . .

Blessings,

Gramps

The Detour – Part 3

“And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness,” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.  Therefore, I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficult ties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Cor. 12:9-10).

Hey Gang:  This may sound a wee bit strange to you but the reason for this Detour has been clearly shown to my bride and me from the beginning when I could not get even water down through my esophagus and the saga of the ambulance ride and trip to the hospital began.  We have received encouragement daily from many places and have been truly blessed with mega prayers being sent to the Throne Room of heaven on our behalf.  And I say our behalf, because cancer is not a one-person issue.  It affects every person that is in the family and close to the family.   

On the trip to the hospital, I was blessed t have the son of one of our past employees, who as a baby my bride held in her arms.  What joy there was in hearing his excitement as he laid out a future that will be focused on the needs of others and how he might make their lives just a little better.   

I question, if there was ever a person who enjoyed their tenure in a hospital.  We certainly need to be thankful for the ministry of these facilities and the many lives that that saved.  But we also need to remember from where their wisdom comes.  As our doctor so truly spoke, “God who does the work and doctors get the fee!” but it is really?”

In our week tenure in the hospital, we were truly blessed to have a steady parade of medical staff pass through our lives.   We tend to forget that these folks have chosen a life of service and their true intent for being there was to make my life more comfortable.  But we also need to also remember they, too, have their crosses to bear and a smiling face and up-beat word can be like one of the transfusions they give to make life more comfortable.

God used our room as an oasis, a place where they could escape the pain and agony that they dealt with in their tenure on the floor.   We were truly blessed that most of those who passed through our lives in that week were believes in Yeshua.  As one young lassie said, I want to start my day in this room because it is filled with Light.

Don’t get me wrong, I wanted to get out of there as quickly as I could.  Laying around in a hospital bed was nearly as bad as knowing what lay ahead for me in dealing with this foreign agent in my chest.  When they said go, they got no argument from me.  I was dressed in record time and standing at the door waiting for my transportation lady to come and wheel me to the outside door.

We have been blessed since coming home with visiting “angles of mercy” who come and make sure all if well.  And, in getting to know them is to hear their woes and give encouragement and even suggestions on how they can live their lives more effectively.

I tell you this, this morning, for you are my congregation.  I tell you this because each and every day you are alive you are given opportunities to be a tiny or even huge ray of Light and Hope for hurting people who have critical needs for light in their lives.   There is a saying that has been a guide in my years of working with hurting children:  ‘When I invest a tiny spark in the life of a child, I purchase a piece of immortality’. 

So, my challenge to you this morning, go out, seek opportunities to purchase a chunk of eternal immortality in the Kingdom.  And this I guarantee you will feel so much better inside!  There is no greater joy than to know we made life just a little better for someone who is hurting. 

Blessings,

Gramps

Detour -Part 2

“And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness,” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.  Therefore, I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficult ties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Cor. 12:9-10).

Hey Gang, Research completed, and plan in place, it is time to move to phase two of this treatment process - implementation!    The agreed-to plan includes a two-part program: first, through the use of chemo therapy and radiation they will attack the tumor with the intention of shrinking it; next, go in surgically to remove the tumor, if it is still an issue.

The options were Grand Rapids verses Reed Center Cancer Center.  The treatment program requires chemo one day a week for five weeks and five days a week for radiation.  In essence, this meant driving 140 miles round-trip five days per week, or 26 miles five days a week for five weeks.  If we could not get into Reed City, which we had been informed might be the case, and had to drive to Grand Rapids five days a week - there would not be much time left over for the finer things of life.

 Up to this point there was not much time for wringing of hands, and woe is ‘me -ing.’  I was now home in my Rehoboth, adjusting to a new life-style.    Let me tell you, folks, that tube sticking out of my abdomen, that we feed twelve hours a night, tends to even  interrupt every facet of your day.  We are just over two weeks into the feeding-tube gig and are learning how much of our lives are built around three-meals-a-day format.  

 I have always felt one of the greatest gifts that God gave us at creation was our ability to smell, taste, hear and see.  Today, when you bite down on that juicy steak, take a moment and thank Father God for your ability to taste.  I look forward to the day they say, ‘time to put the feeding tube to bed’ and send me out on my own – it’s off to my favorite ribs place for a gigantic plate of ribs - well maybe not the first day!!

So, my friends, that is a brief overview of my past month of woes, but that is not the real story.  A month or more ago, I awoke one day with a melody in my mind, heart and soul.  I did not have a clue what the words were until we happened, notice “WE HAPPENED”, do you think things just happen?  A singing group that we have enjoyed many hours of their ministry put the missing words to the melody.

Now turn off all the electronics and focus your heart, soul and mind on these words: “In the presence of Jehovah, God Almighty, Prince of Peace, Troubles Vanish, Hearts are mended, in the presence of the King”.    This morning, as I was waking, there it was again.  Do I believe God was preparing me for the announcement, “Kermit, you have cancer!”  Yes! with all my heart! 

Could He have prevented it? I have chosen not to go there but rather have enjoyed reviewing the many times when I really needed a miracle in my life and God did not let me down.    And if He provided miracles in the past to meet my needs, I have utmost confidence His will will be done in this detour in my path.  

Perhaps the greatest miracle of all has already established itself in my heart and soul.  As the bride-of-my-youth would verify, when the rubber-hits-the-road experiences came, the anxiety level would rise at the same measure of the crisis I was dealing with.  But this has been so very different.  When they said, “You have cancer.” My heart said, “My God is greater than cancer.”  The story of the three kids in the fiery furnace came to mind when they said, “Our God is greater than your furnace, but even if it is not His will to protect us, we know in whom we believe and He will not forsake us.” 

   

The miracle? I am at total peace! I am in the palm of my Lord’s hand and His will is going to be done in this detour through the wilderness.  I am in the presence of Jehovah.

So, my friends, are you being shaken today?  God said, as the clock winds down everything that can be shaken will be shaken.  But He also said to Paul who had a thorn in the flesh, “My grace is sufficient to carry you through”.   

If you are focused on the truth that you are in the presence of Jehovah, who is God Almighty, who is the Prince of Peace, who make troubles vanish, who mends hearts, you are truly in the presence of the King!! 

Blessings,

Gramps

Detour!

“Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance, and let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing” (James 1:2-4).

Hey Gang, The date had been on my calendar for months, Annual Physical, Dr. Goodman, 2:00 PM.  I am 85 years old and, with the exception of my being in a hospital at the age of seven for a tonsillectomy and appendix removal, had never been in a hospital since.  I was truly locked into that “just routine gig”, get it over with and put it to bed for another year.

The exam went as it has these many years.  The doctor went over the blood reports, a degree here low here and two high over there, okay for your age and shape, no big deal. Heart, same murmur that has been there for more than 50 years- the same one that kept me from flight school. 

  

As the physical was winding down and I reached for my coat, Doc asked me if there was anything of concern that he should check.  I said, “As a matter of fact there is.  You see I have been having increased problems with food getting hung up in the esophagus.  It did not seem like a big deal.  A little water and problem solved. 

He would have nothing to do with the “no big deal” and informed me my blood report also showed a dip in the anemia scale and perhaps the two were related.  Time to find out.  An examination of the esophagus was scheduled and the exam completed two weeks later.  The examiner did not have good news at all.  She informed us the blockage was such that she could not do a complete test.  She also informed us she had taken biopsies to find out if the tumor was cancerous.

Do you realize how long twelve days is?   We were informed the results would be back within a week’s time, but a holiday in the mist of the week set it back which only added to the stress that was building within us.    And then the bomb arrived at our door in the form of our doctor.  Who said doctors do not make house calls?  He had received the report in the afternoon and decided  to deliverer this news in person.  Yes, the tumor is cancerous, and the blockage is nearly complete.

By this time (Friday) I was able only to get liquids down and even that was a slow process.  But on the following Tuesday, I woke up to find the passageway was completely blocked.  A txt to the doctor created immediate action, ‘Get to the emergency room. NOW.  They will get you locked into an IV and ship you to Grand Rapids where they will take whatever measures are necessary to keep you secure while a plan can be developed to solve the problem.”

The trip through the emergency room was very focused, get this dude to Grand Rapids.  We were soon on our way to Grand Rapids.  I might add - the EMT who was with me on the trip was the son of one of our employees of past years.   Arrival are Butterworth and was met with a beehive of activity.  After getting me settled in what was to be my home for the next seven days, the parade of doctors and nurses began, each explaining what their expertise was and how it would impact on my stay.

In that week I do not have a clue how many times they took my blood pressure, blood sugar rates, blood test.  Even though they are very good and painless in puncturing, you do begin to feel a wee bit like a pin cushion.  But also included in that one-week span- PET/CT Scans, installing of a food intake tube and device, and a closer examination of the tumor.

We felt truly blessed that in less than a week the treatment plan had not only been established but scheduled for implementation in Reed City the following week.

So much for today.  Tune into the next blog for the next chapter of the story.

Blessings,

Gramps 

God's Shaker - Not A Nice Place to Be!

“Yet once more,” denotes the removal of those things which can be shaken, as of created things so that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.  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” (Heb. 12:26-29).

 Hey Gang, James wrote, “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials (when you are in the shaker) knowing the testing of your faith produces endurance and endurance the perfect result so that you may be perfect and complete lacking in nothing”  (James 1:2-4).

Now, I confess I am working through James’ words at this moment and also confess that I am in the ‘act-of-the-will stage’ of recovery from a tragic event yesterday. I really want to be angry and throw the computer down the basement stairs, but at the peek of my anger, my many hours of planting seeds of the Word into my heart, kicked in.

The bride-of- my-youth had answered the call to go north and speak to a Women’s Retreat and, since it was raining, I decided to spend the morning preparing and put the finishing touches in preparation for our coming class on Preparing the Saints For Action.  All went wonderfully well. I was in the wrap-up stage, page sixteen in my notes, when suddenly the screen went blank! 

For the next hour I searched every nook and cranny of the computer, but to no avail.  While searching my grandson who is a guru on a computer called and he, too, walked through the various modes of recovery - but still the blank screen stared back at me. 

This was not the first time this has happened to me, so I had learned the lesson to make sure everything I prepared was backed up on the hard drive. I had diligently followed these words of woe for those who failed to do so; within the previous hour I had taken a coffee break and had backed up all that I had completed.  

Now, I m not a computer guru.  As a mater-of-fact, I am not electronically gifted.  I do not even have a cell phone!  I am totally dependent on those with a gift of ‘compurese’ and one thing that I had been taught many times is back up your materials, for once on the hard drive they will not be lost.  

Well, I could go on and turn this epistle in a gigantic pity party.  But, you see, the material lost was a review of the Plan of Salvation and one section included how to deal with adversity.  I really had no excuse to yell and scream and throw the computer down the steps.  So, I shut the machine down and went out and cut some wood, and while my hands were busy, I had a conversion with God! 

 

This morning I began the rewrite of the materials.  I am anxious to see if He takes me down a different road.  Somehow, I suspect He will.       

Yes, my young friends, we are going to go through increasingly more difficult shakers, as the end of the Age of Gentiles - described so clearly in the Prophets, Minor Prophets and Revelation,  The writer of the Hebrews and James also knew that but they also had the words of Jeremiah in their computer banks.  Notice the power verse in Jeremiah 29:12 where God said, “For I know the plans that I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.”  Keep in mind he was addressing a people who were in bondage in Babylon.

So, my young friends, when it feels that God has you in His shaker, turn to Isaiah 25:1 and shout to the heavens:  “O Lord, You are my God; I will exalt You, I will give thanks to Your name; For You have worked wonders, Plans formed long ago, with perfect faithfulness.”   Even if you do not feel like it!

Blessings,

Gramps

PS Pray for Gramps.  Today he begins 5 weeks of Radiation and Chemo to counter Esophegal cancer.

We will tell more about this journey on Thursday 4 and Saturday 6 of this same week.