Just Be Ready

Monday, January 7, 2013

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

Hey Gang, about a thousand years ago, it seems that long ago (but then again I have never lived a thousand years, so I certainly do not know how it feels to live a that long)!

But, I was the ‘only unemployed director of a non-existent boys home’.  I had reached the point where I felt it was time for me to join the world of reality and become a provider  for my family and get a regular job.

Does that mean that I had given up on what I thought God had said to me, two years before in California, and driven the point home when he sold our home in a very miraculous way?

 Sometimes, but not really!  I did know that he honed Moses for forty years in the wilderness as a sheep herder before he called him to take on the task of leading a million or so complaining Jews to the land of "milk, and honey". Now keep in mind that Moses had all the best training available in the world as the adopted son of Pharaoh.

 I had no such training. I came to the conclusion that, if it took forty years to prepare Moses, who had already done great things, it would probably take me two or three hundred years to be honed for action. But, you all know that God does not work that way.  I interviewed at a child-care facility and they turned me down because I had too many children.  I learned there was a critical need for a maintenance man at a mission in Haiti and was turned down because I was over-qualified.  I even tried to sign on as a farm hand and was turned down because I didn't  know which end of the cow milk came from.   

Do you think I might have asked myself more than once, “Am I reading the signs wrong?”  Was it just a figment of my imagination that God was going to use me to help young lives in His Name? 

Do you think it began to eat at the root of my faith and surfaced all the feelings of unworthiness that I had tucked away in my heart and mind?  Have you ever reached a point in your life where you were ready to "chuck it all" and God would not let you?

Two years of agony and pain, questions, misgivings!  Two years of feeling that I had failed my duties as provider for my family!  Two years of wanting to run from what I thought was God's calling!  And then the light began to seep through my "stinking- thinking".  A tiny chunk of Solomon's wisdom began to creep into my mind, "There is an appointed time for everything. And then a time for every event under heaven" (Ecc. 3:1). 

In these times of woe and disappointment in our country, I have once again been drawn to the words of Habakkuk where he gave us words of hope when we feel the sky is falling. 

Notice his counsel to us, "For the vision is yet for the appointed time; It hastens toward the goal and it will not fail.  Though it tarries, wait for it; For it will certainly come, it will not delay" (2:3). 

Soooo, good friends and neighbors, are you struggling this morning? Not sure you are on track with Abba Father?  Well, take it from an old salt and note what Isaiah said to us a few years back, "In a favorable time I will answer you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you" (k49:8).

Blessings,  

Gramps

I Wonder If This Might be the Last Christmas On Earth?

 

 Monday, December 30, 2013

 “For today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord”.  (Luke 2:11).  “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God” (I Thess. 4:16). 

 Hey Gang, Have you transitioned in your walk with the Lord between verse one of the morning Scripture and verse two? Me thinks that many folks are still locked into the “Babe of the manger” and not the "King of kings and Lord of lords"! 

  This past week I came in contact, once again, with Paul’s words to the Philippian Believers. I must admit that, in the many times I have read Philippians, I never associated Paul’s words in chapter 2:5-11 as being Paul's Christmas story.  As I read this portion of Paul’s words, I was impressed that he did not stop at the manger but described the birth, life, death, resurrection, ascension, and Second Coming of the Lord!

 Several weeks ago, our Pastor preached a message that he titled “Hopeful Anticipation”.  I have said on many occasions that one of the great tragedies of our 'instant gratification generation" is the taking away the joy of anticipation.  Receiving a gift is nice but when you have prayed, dreamed, and waited with great anticipation for something you really want, and the day arrives when you can hold it in your hands, it is very special memory that you will remember forever.

 Those who know me know I have always gone to great lengths to make the Christmas Season very special for my family.  Some might even suggest the hundreds of feet of Christmas displays is a wee bit on the over-kill side.  But, as a “Seed Planter’ my heart has always been to implant that Jesus not only came as a babe but “He is going to come again as King of kings and Lord of Lords!”  We know not when Father God will tell His Son to “go for it”, but we do know from His prophetic word that all is in place for the final chapter to begin.  

 Sooooo, Yes, Jesus was born in a manger under very miraculous circumstances - but that was only the delivery system to get Him to earth.  This Christmas season as you have heard the Christmas Story once again, make sure you do not leave Jesus in the manger.  As Paul Harvey would say - “now here is the rest of the story"… “Then they will see The Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. And then He will send forth the angels and will gather together His elect from the four winds, from the farthest end of the earth to the farthest end of heaven” (Mark 13:26-27). 

 Blessings,

 Gramps

From Miracles to Blahs!

 Friday, December 23, 2016

 "But Mary treasured all these things pondering them in her heart.  The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them".  (Luke 2:19-20)  

 Hey Gang:  When I was a little squeezer, the time from Thanksgiving to New Years was "out of sight".  It was a time for digging the platforms and Christmas trimmings out of the cubby hole on the third floor of our house, lugging them down two flights of stairs to the living room, and taking out each peace with loving care.  It was an exciting exercise! Each year, as I grew older, I was allowed to be more involved in the building of the little Villages and putting up the trains.   

 We had a tradition that was handed down from my Dad's family: the tree did not go up until the little ones were tucked away in their beds on Christmas eve, awaiting the arrival of Saint Nick.  I was never quite sure how Dad trimmed the tree and set it in the middle of the platform without stepping on the houses, but he did. 

 There were other wonderful things that happened in that time period.  It was the choosing of who would be in the Christmas Pageant at the church, and then rehearsals two and three times a week.  I have since come to the conclusion it was not the involvement in the play that made it so special, but the fellowship and fun, even though there were times when Mrs. Holiday got on our case because we were not as focused as she wanted.    

 No doubt the script of our Christmas Pageant was based on the stories told in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke.  These accounts tell of the action surrounding the birth of Jesus Christ.  But the Gospel of John cuts through these descriptive accounts and simply tells the significance of what happened.  John's account provides no opportunity to fall into sentimentality or nostalgia about Christmas.  Neither does it lend itself well to pageants on Christmas Eve.

 John minces no words. He jumps to the chase and tells us,  "The Word, who was God, was made flesh".  I sense he wanted to make it as clear as humanly possible that Jesus was really and truly a man who subjected himself to the miseries and calamities of the human nature.  God became flesh!  That is really the purpose for this season; Jesus left the Father to become like us.  Do you think He ever wondered if that was such a good idea?

 The final days of preparation arrived and we did a walk though; they called it a ‘dress rehearsal’.  Not sure why because we were not dressed in what we would wear the nights of the performances.  Opening night was a very high point in my year.  Wow, was it neat to see the cars coming from all over the city to see the Nativity play.   Our sanctuary only seated 150 people but they could open the back doors and seat another 75.  Each night the church was packed.

 I never graduated beyond the shepherd level, which was just a very small step from being a sheep.  This role was given to all children who were too young to play the glamorous characters like Mary, Joseph, angels, and wise men.  There must have been at least a dozen of us traipsing and tripping down the aisle of the church each night.  I remember that my turban was an actual bath towel and my robe was the same bed sheet that had formerly transformed me into a ghost on Halloween.

 On the final night they served a banquet, or I thought it was a  banquet.  Today, I am not sure wieners and hamburgers quality as feast--food .  And, at the end of the feast, we donned our coats and visited all the shut ins in our church and sang Christmas Carols and wished them a Merry Christmas. One year a local farmer provided a horse and wagon which was neat.

 And then it was over for another year.  As I hung up my sheet, and put my staff in the corner for another year, I prayed that next year I would be elevated to one of the real key player positions, but tragedy struck our church that year.  The church board, after much prodding, decided the church really needed an organ to increase our level of songs and praise.  To make the long story very short - a war broke out between two factions in the church about who was going to play it.

  It would have been better if they would have called the Body together and torched the organ -Do you know what happens when power and pride get involved in God's work?  It not only split the church but also took the heart out of those who did not give a hoot who played the organ.  One might have gotten the idea there was some sort of plague in the church, for people were bailing out faster than if someone yelled "fire" .  The church died the day the truck pulled up and delivered the organ - from more than 200 regulars to 45.  

 Soooo, I still have a sadness in my heart that I never had the opportunity to move up and be a king or a Magi, or even reach the pinnacle of the Church Nativity Program - to be Joseph the father of Messiah - wow, would that have been neat!  But the bottom line is – Jesus came and paid the debt for you and me. Praise You Lord for You came! God in Flesh!

Jesus left His place, to come to my place, to die in my place, to take me to His place.

 Blessings, means that I pray God to impart his supernatural favor on those of you who read these blogs. (Psalm 90:17

 Gramps

PS  This one brought tears as I read it again. John 1 has been special to me this fall. I  Can picture the family carrying things down 2 flights of Very Steep stairs they- (they lived in the mountains) and setting it up.  Now you know why the mega Christmas platforms at our house - over 5000 pieces which we made over the years. It is going to be boxed up after the Holidays.  I had forgotten why, until our Kids were teens, that we didn’t have a tree until the day before Christmas. We, too, had special programs at church - but no organ!! Many special memories of 63 Christmases together!!  Our family shared many with Seniors and youth.

 Sooo, no blahs!!! Fill your life - year around - With the love of Jesus!

Gma J

Questions to Ponder!!

 

My goal was to start doing some blogs in January, but seemingly God had other plans.  These thoughts were laid on my heart so urgently, today, I had to get them on paper.  Those who know me know I was the teacher and facts person of our team.  (Yes, teachers also tell stories and give examples!! And I probably give more information than you really want to know- I just want you to know what I know.

I will continue through the years to regularly repost some Gramps writings, but you will also become my classroom for things the Lord lays on my heart.   Gma J

 “Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wisemen from the east to Jerusalem, saying, where is he that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the east and are come to worship him.” Matthew 2:1-2

Hey gang, it is not very often that we read Scripture about the rejection, passion and crucifixion of Jesus at this time of year.  However, in the last 24 hours I have read Mark 15 in Scripture and Gramps ‘Hillbilly Ramblings of that Scripture, prepared Scripture for sharing stories about some of the Christmas carols and read Christmas devotions.  My head is in a whirl.

Reading a favorite devotional, The Wonder of Christmas by Daniel Partner -which I have read every year since 2005- made me want to share some things with you.  The Bible is full of Mysteries - Mainly- how God the Creator could become the created, walk on this earth as man and give his life as sacrifice for my sin, then resurrected to be our hope of life everlasting with Him!  And there are others - but none so great as to keep us from Knowing Jesus Savior, Redeemer and LORD!

So, Mysteries in the above Scripture: (Remember Scripture is not full History of all that happened)  

       1. Wise men, Magi, Priests, Astrologers ?                                                                                                           Who were they really?  Scripture does not say.  Poets, storytellers and research scholar have thoughts. It really doesn’t matter!! They came a long way to worship Him!  If they came from Babylon, as most believe because of Daniels Influence there, at minimum have taken over a month. Questions: Were they all together when the Star appeared? Did they have to gather supplies and those who would travel with them (Caravans were safest)? Or did they leave impulsively?  Traveled at Night? Bright Star!!!

They did bring 3 gifts.  Did these have special meaning to them - as to us today?  Gold representing a King; Frankincense representing Priesthood and purity; Myrrh significant for burial?? 

     2. The Star - must have been unique orbit to travel east to west for whatever time period. ONLY GOD! With today’s computer programs and researchers, they can track stars orbits from millennia past and see them in the future as well.  (Interesting DVD at www.starofbethlehem/movie.)

     3. The Scribes and religious leaders knew the Scriptures and quickly turned to Micah 5:2. Bethlehem, only about 5 miles away. SO close, but they chose not to with the Magi, and He wasn’t there after Magi left! They missed their opportunity!!. Missed opportunity!! Were they concerned about their status? Or not want to be different? They knew the Scriptures in their heads but God did not first place in their hearts.  Magi came a long way to worship the King.

     4. Fresh in my mind were the Arrest, trial, rejection and crucifixion of Jesus. Joseph of Arimathea, wealthy, respected member of the Sanhedrin took a risk and asked to bury Jesus’ body, an act of great care and mercy in Jewish tradition. He knew his never used tomb was near-by. Nikodemus helped and brought abundant spices for the burial; maybe the women who followed them helped.  It was nearing sundown, the start of the high holy Sabbath, Passover.  Were these two men related to any of the religious leaders present when the wise men came to Jerusalem?  At some point, Joseph and Nikodemus became followers and were willing to risk lives, wealth and position for their LORD.  Not knowing there would be a NEW DAY!

Sooo, dear readers, questions for you???                                                                                                                                                                               1.  Do you know Jesus as Savior and LORD and have a personal relationship with him? If not, get in touch with me or someone you know is a true Believer                                                               

      2. If a stranger came to your door asking, “How do I find Jesus is, could  you tell them?

Blessings,

Gma J

The True Meaning of Christmas

  

Wednesday, December 30, 2015

"By common confession, great is the mystery of godliness:  He who was revealed in the flesh, Was vindicated in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Proclaimed among the nations, Believed on in the world, Taken up in glory" (1 Timothy 3:16).

 

Hey Gang, I realize Christmas is over and all the packages that were wrapped neatly and under the tree have been ravaged by eager hands but, as I was researching, I came across this neat saying, submitted by one Delmar Eby of London, Kentucky. It rang my bell so decided to extend Christmas thoughts and send it along to you:

 

The Bethlehem Babe of the Manger became -

The Calvary Savior of the Cross, who is -

The Resurrected Lord from the Grave and is now -

The Ascended King in Heaven, soon to be -

The Returning Judge in Glory -

He became all of this so we can be -

The Reigning Saints in Glory forever!

Alleluia!  What a Savior!

 

Eby followed this with the question, "Does the commemoration of Christ's birth mean all this to you?  Or are you satisfied with a manger scene of the Babe?  For, if we are locked into the manger scene and satisfied to leave Jesus in the manger, then there is no way we can look beyond the manger to the scenario listed above.   In other words, we are locked into the Bethlehem Babe of the Manger - period.

 

Delmar made a powerful point when he wrote, "All the attributes and titles given to Jesus in the Scriptures are necessary for our eternal well-being.  We must receive Jesus for who He is; 0nly then can we find the true meaning of His birth, and Jesus will become to us all that is most comforting and blessed".  

 

In other words, as you look at the past year and prepare for the New Year, are you satisfied to allow it to be just a continuation of the past year, or are you filled with zeal and excitement in the many opportunities that are yours to serve the King of kings? 

 

I am sure that each of you, who read these epistles, have your favorite Scriptures.  I certainly have mine but, also confess, as I have reached the ‘older that dirt age’ my emphasis has changed.  My ears perk up when I hear Jesus saying, "Come you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world" (Matt. 25:34).

 

Wow, is that not awesome?  But note what the King said are the prerequisites to inheriting the kingdom:  Yes, salvation is the foundation but note what Jesus said: "Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me." (vs. 40). 

 

Did what?   "For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; naked and you clothed Me.  I was sick, and you visited Me, I was in prison and you came to Me" (vs. 35-36).

 

Soooo, my young friends in Christ, I close this epistle with a promise from Yeshua HaMashiah: "Give, and it will be given to you.  They will pour into your lap a good measure - pressed down, shaken together, and running over".  Now note the next words of the Lord: "For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return" (Luke 6:38).  By whose standard of measure?  Your standard of measure!  What say ye?  Does that sound like we determine whether we will be blessed in the same measure that we give?  Wow! Awesome!   Think about it as you begin this New Yea!!

 Blessings,

 Gramps

 

"Greetings Favored One, the Lord is with You."

 

 Friday, December 11, 2015

 

“Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary.  And coming in, he said to her, “Greetings, favored one!  The Lord is with you” (Luke 1:26-28).

 

Hey gang:  Are these not amazing words that get your heart to pumping?  The Christmas story begins with an experience that is beyond description to our human minds.  Gabriel, an angel who stands at the Throne of God, was sent to tell a young lassie that she was the “favored one” who would be the mom to the King of kings and Lord of lords. 

 

All you mom’s out there, when you learned for the first time that you were with child, how did you feel?  Now, keep in mind she was a virgin, betrothed, but not married yet. Imagine the torrent of feelings that must have surged through Mary’s heart at that moment.

 

Then the angel spoke, “Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God.  And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call Him Jesus.  He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and He shall reign over the house of Jacob forever and His kingdom will have no end”. 

 

The Catholic Church refers to Mary as ‘The Queen of Heaven’ and has placed her on the same level as deity; however, Protestants tends to place her in what might be called the ‘second class coach of the gospel train’.  We need to rethink both and be mindful of the role that Mary played in the Christmas story. 

 

God did not give her divinity, but instead used her obedience to give Christ humanity!  Note Paul’s words in I Timothy 3:16: “This is the mystery of godliness, that Jesus Christ is entirely God and thoroughly man” (Hainley rendition).  And how did this happen? Through the young woman’s pregnancy and pain of labor.  

 

Mary’s response to Gabriel foretells her important place in the gospel story: “And Mary said: ‘My soul exalts the Lord, And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.  For He has had regard for the humble stated of His bond slave. For behold, from this time on all generations will count me blessed’” (Lu. 1:46-48).

 

As we begin the countdown, before we celebrate the birth of God’s Gift – His only begotten Son who came to earth for the specific purpose of giving His life a ransom  for you and for me - make sure your honor and worship and praise is for ‘Jesus, the Reason for the Season’.

 

Blessings,

 

Gramps

When Did Thanksgiving Really Begin?

 

“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His love endures forever.” (Psalm 136:1)

 Dear readers, Time for a History lesson!  We think of Thanksgiving as an American tradition, and so it is.

There have been many changes in time and traditions since 1621 when the Pilgrims and Native Americans shared a feast together after the harvest was in.  Thankful for blessings of food, shelter and God’s bounty and protection after the harsh and deadly winter. Thanksgiving this year of 2020 will be one of controversy and different celebrations. Covid-19 will separate some by death, others hesitating to travel and some just fearful and isolated.

 In  1623 The Pilgrims celebrated with fasting and thanksgiving again, after years of drought. Some in that area continued with celebrations, but it was not declared a Nation day of Celebration until George Washington gave a proclamation declaring November 26, 1789 a National day of Thanksgiving, following the end of the Revolutionary War.  Some states and cities continued to do so yearly.

 Early 1800’s Sarah Josepha, a writer, began advocating for a National Holiday.  During the height of the Civil war, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln heeded her request with a proclamation asking all Americans to set aside the final Thursday of November to pray for the widows, orphans, mourners and suffers  in this lamentable “civil strife”, and that God would heal the wounds of this nation. (Very fitting for today as well.) Soo the yearly celebration continued until 1939.

 In 1939, Franklin D. Roosevelt moved it to the 4^th Thursday, in an attempt to give people extra shopping time during the depression.  This was met with much opposition and he later  signed a bill making Thanksgiving the 4^th Thursday of November. 

HOWEVER, God’s Thanksgiving Day - The Feast of Tabernacles is found in Numbers 29:12-40.  God set the day according to the Biblical Calendar which is a 30-day month.  People of Israel would gather in Jerusalem (now that’s a crowd in one small place!!) bringing the first fruits of their harvest and give thanks for His blessings.   This was and continues as a festival of joy and thanksgiving.

 Sooo, if you want JOY in your heart, make it a heart of Thanksgiving.  “In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” (I Thessalonians 5:18).  Don’t let a day go by with out thanking God for His blessings. (Psalm 103:2) The Lord dwells in the presence of His people.” (Psalm 22:3). 

 Be a Joy-filled Thanks-giver!!  Make Thanksgiving into Thanks-living!!

 Blessings,

Gma J

 

 

 

 

Why Should We be Thankful to God?

 

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

 “And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another is psalms and hymns, and spiritual songs, sinning and making melody with your heart to the Lord; always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lo Jesus Christ to God, even the Father” (Eph. 5:18-20).

 Hey gang:  it is my sincere opinion that designating a day called Thanksgiving is, in reality, designed for those who are non-believers in the goodness of Jesus Christ.   Why do I say that?  Because Paul teaches us in I Thess. 5:18 “In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 

 Several years ago, I was pulling my recreation vehicle home from a weekend in the woods. I was on a back road doing around fifty miles an hour when a car pulled out of a driveway about five hundred feet in front of us. 

Corrective action preventing my hitting the car, but shortly after that the driver slammed on the breaks and began a left turn off the roadway.   There was no way in the world I was going to keep from plowing into the car, not only did I not hit the car, but it  did not shake up the contents of the coach! 

 I have thought about that incident each time I drive by that spot and thank God for what he did that day.

 Have you ever taken the time to sit down and make a listing of the times God blessed you with a very special blessing? - or just thank Him for daily blessings?  Have you ever considered the times He may have saved your life and you knew nothing about it?  Are you one Who tends to use the phrase, “Boy that was lucky” instead of “Praise God?”

 If the will of God in Christ Jesus is to give thanks to God in everything, every believer should know why we should give thanks and be grateful all time.  Gratitude is a feeling of thankfulness and appreciation of everything the Almighty God is doing in our daily life.  It also makes us joyful people!

 Soooo, young colleagues, may I suggest that sometime, in the leisure of your Thanksgiving celebration, take your Bible and concordance and do a word study on thanksgiving and gratitude.  You will find many such references in both Old and New Covenants - for it is God’s will. Read one a day so that it becomes conscientious thought.

 Blessings,

 Gramps

A Wonderful Story on this Veterans D

 

Monday, November 11, 2013

"I urge, then, first of all that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone... Kings and all in authority... "I Timothy 2:1

 Hey Gang, we just returned from Branson where we celebrated with a whole barn full of Veterans from the various wars and police actions that we have fought   Today, I am considered weird by some, because I would fight to protect our “land of the free and the home of the brave”.  

 When the tragedy of 9/11 hit our nation, I wanted to call and volunteer to return to the military.  True, I was an old duck at the time but I still had the energy to sweep floors, do dishes and be an encouragement to those who would be asked to put their lives on the line.

 I want to share a WW II story that is a favorite of mine, though I don’t remember where I read it..

 “Tour boats ferry people out to the USS Arizona Memorial in Hawaii every thirty minutes. We just missed a ferry and had to wait thirty minutes. I went into a small gift shop to kill time.  In the gift shop, I purchased a small book entitled, Reflections on Pearl Harbor by Admiral Chester Nimitz.

 Sunday, December 7th, 1941--Admiral Chester Nimitz was attending a concert in Washington D.C.  He was paged and told there was a phone call for him.  When he answered the phone, it was President Franklin Delano Roosevelt on the phone. He told Admiral Nimitz that he (Nimitz) would now be the Commander of the Pacific Fleet. Admiral Nimitz flew to Hawaii to assume command of the Pacific Fleet.  

 He landed at Pearl Harbor on Christmas Eve, 1941.  There was such a spirit of despair, dejection, and defeat--you would have thought the Japanese had already won the war. On Christmas Day, 1941, Adm. Nimitz was given a boat tour of the destruction wrought on Pearl Harbor by the Japanese.  Big sunken battleships and navy vessels cluttered the waters everywhere you looked.

 As the tour boat returned to dock, the young helmsman of the boat asked, "Well Admiral, what do you think after seeing all this destruction?"

 Admiral Nimitz's reply shocked everyone within the sound of his voice.  Admiral Nimitz said, "The Japanese made three of the biggest mistakes an attack force could ever make, or God was taking care of America.  Which do you think it was?"

 Shocked and surprised, the young helmsman asked, "What do you mean by saying the Japanese made the three biggest mistakes an attack force ever made?"

 Nimitz explained: 

 Mistake number one:  The Japanese attacked on Sunday morning.  Nine out of every ten crewmen of those ships were ashore on leave.  If those same ships had been lured to sea and been sunk--we would have lost 38,000 men instead of 3,800.

 Mistake number two:  When the Japanese saw all those battleships lined in a row, they got so carried away sinking those battleships, they never once bombed our dry docks opposite those ships.  If they had destroyed our dry docks, we would have had to tow every one of those ships to America to be repaired.  

 As it is now, the ships are in shallow water and can be raised.  One tug can pull them over to the dry docks, and we can have them repaired and at sea by the time we could have towed them to America.  I already have crews ashore anxious to man those ships.

  Mistake number three:  Every drop of fuel in the Pacific theater of war is in the ground storage tanks five miles away over that hill.  One attack plane could have strafed those tanks and destroyed our fuel supply.

 That's why I say the Japanese made three of the biggest mistakes an attack force could make or God was taking care of America. I've never forgotten what I read in that little book.  It is still an inspiration as I reflect upon it.

 In jest, I might suggest that because Admiral Nimitz was a Texan, born and raised in Fredericksburg, Texas -- he was a born optimist.  But, anyway, you look at it--Admiral Nimitz was able to see a silver lining in a situation and circumstance where everyone else saw only despair and defeatism.

 President Roosevelt had chosen the right man for the right job.  We desperately needed a leader that could see silver linings in the midst of the clouds of dejection, despair and defeat.”

 There is a reason that our national motto is:  "IN GOD WE TRUST"

  Soooo,  Why have we forgotten?  PRAY FOR OUR COUNTRY and THOSE WHO SERVE in every capacity.

Blessings and pray daily for our Country,

Gramps

We Remember Them

 

Hey Gang, This is a pre-Veteran’s Day story from this year’s Guidepost Devotional. August 20, that I set aside for this week.  We have many family members who have served and are serving our country today.  America bless God! We were blessed to have them return home -even  in different states of emotional and physical condition.

“He was buried with the kings in the City of David, because of the good he had dome in Israel for God and his temple.” II Chronicles 24:16 (NIV)

As my family and I were flying from an overseas assignment back to the United States recently, I noticed something out of place about a passenger wearing his military dress uniform.  Having lived overseas for a number of years, I knew that soldiers, for security reasons, are not supposed to wear uniforms while traveling.

My curiosity was finally satisfied when we landed and heard that our flight carried the remains of a World War II casualty being returned home to his family for burial.  The pilot asked for respect as the person in uniform escorted the body.  I am proud to live in a country where such effort and care is taken to brin fallen service members home.  Decades after this service member lost his life, he was returned home with great dignity and respect.  Service to others is service to the Lord.

I believe every American on board sat solemnly while the service member left the plane and retrieved the remains.  I prayed.  Unfortunately, some of the passengers from other countries carried on as if nothing was happening.  While this was disappointing, I took comfort in the reverence with which many Americans do honor out fallen heroes.

Displaying your beliefs, whether because of national pride or religious convictions, can often meet with misunderstanding, lack of regard, or even outright opposition.  Standing true sometimes means standing alone.  Even when I am surrounded by people who do not understand my convictions. I hope I will always have the courage to standup for my beliefs and to honor those who deserve my appreciation and respect.

Dear Lord, we thank you for those who have loved others above themselves, for those who have sacrificed their lives so that freedom can reign in our great nation.  May we continue to revere their sacrifice.                                                                                      -Jolynda Strandberg

 

Is America in Never-Never Land?

 

Wednesday, November 30, 2016

 “For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? (I Peter 4:17).

 Hey Gang:  Have you been asked the question, “Where were you when some significant even happened?”  We had just arrived at the Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, Israel when we learned that Donald Trump had been elected President of the United States.  I will remember it well, for the remaining days on my tenure on this earth for I believe God said, “Now go for it!”

 Soon after arriving, a young man, I would guess by his accent was from the Land of the Emerald Isle, recognized the stickers on our suitcases that we were blokes from the United States and asked, “Hey Yank, what did you think of the presidential election outcome. 

 When the conversation began, I sensed he was not a supporter of the conservative movement that is taking place in America.  My answer was the same as that given on a number of occasions before: “I asked him a question, “If you were going through a very tough time in your life and you were given the option to stay with the same road you were on or a second unknown option that appeared that have some new ideas and a willingness to stand firm for those new ideas, what would you do?”

  I sensed, as the conversation progressed and ended, I detected a wish in his eyes that perhaps the same thing could happen in his country that is also has issues.  I admit that when I received the message the Donald Trump had won it was like a huge milestone had been removed from my shoulders.  I really wanted to run and leap and praise God for the answered prayers of His people, but it is hard to do that in a bus. 

 One of his question that was of special interest to me was, “Why would you support a person you do not have a clue how he will rule and govern?”  Again, my answer, “Because I knew from history what the opposition candidate will do and how she would govern.  Sometimes it is best to purchase a pig in a poke rather than one that is badly tarnished;” Note: I am calling our new President “a pig”. 

As we met the incoming group of travelers who would be our companions for the next ten days, it was not difficult to determine who the winners and losers were.  There was a brightness about the eyes of the winners.

 As we headed for Jaffa, in route to Jerusalem for the first night of our tour, I spent that half hour thanking God for His mercy in withholding judgment from our nation.  My prayers for the past months were centered on ‘His will be done’, and that ‘His will’ was that He would not give us the President we deserved but one that will not lean on his own understanding and will put his trust in Jehovah God.  

 My prayers have changed now.  I believe with all my heart God answered the prayers of His people.  I also believe that this is only the first step to restoring our nation to the creeds of the Founding Fathers.  In the development of the Village the easy part was writing the mission statement; it was the implementing of the mission statement that was the blood and guts part of the growth process.

 While Mr. Trump‘s political agenda is important, even critical, to achieving worthy goal in turning our nation in the right direction, Heaven’s priorities are truly the matters for which God’s reprieve has been so mercifully given.  

Read the following words very carefully “Of course, the Church (all born again believers) should take this reprieve as a mandate to recapture moral ground-to roll back some of the social evils the Obama administration has brought forth-most through executive fiat.  It is the very church which has, in my estimate, allowed this slide toward the moral abyss through her acquiescence.”  

 Hear me my friends!! Yes, I firmly believe that God has answered the prayers of His people- which should give His people the confidence and faith to not lay down the gauntlet now, but to increase our commitment to prayer and sharing the good news that Jesus Christ is still in control and will respond to the prayers of His people.

 Place these words of John on your refrigerator door, bathroom mirror and rear view mirror of your car and pray them whenever you come in contact with them.  “And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask any thing according to His will, He hears us:  And if we know that He hears us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desire of Him.  (1 John 5:14-15).

 Blessings,

 Gramps

P.S.  Bottom Line: this is not the time to stop praying.