Shouts of JOY, Even When the Sky Appears To Be Falling!

 

Tuesday, March 17, 2015

"Those who sow in tears shall reap with joyful shouting.  He who goes to and fro weeping, carrying his bag of seed, shall indeed come again with  shout of joy, bringing his sheaves with him" (Psa. 126:5-6).

 Hey Gang:   I believe Satan hates hymns of praise.  As a matter of fact, I have tested this many times.   When the alligators are up to my armpits and my back is against the wall, I get out my lawn mower (or snow blower) and go out and ….  Now I may have cut the grass two days ago so there must be another reason why I am doing a repeat performance, when it certainly does not need a repeat performance at this time.

And there is.  You see my lawn mower (or tractor) makes a lot of noise and when it is running at top throttle and the cutter bar is whirling a full speed it makes a lot of noise, so much so that I can sing at the top of my lungs and no one but me and Abba Father can hear me.   I believe, when I am singing praise songs, and power songs and Scripture Songs, it is as a soothing aroma to Abba Father and an eviction notice to "Slue Foo

The Psalmist gave us these very special words of encouragement in times of trouble: "He who dwells in the shelter of the most High Will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.  ..For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper and from the deadly pestilence".  Now notice the next phrase, "He will cover you with His pinions and under His wings you may seek refuge" (Psalm 91:1, 3).

Paul said, "I became your father in Christ…Therefore I exhort you, be an imitator of me" (1 Corinthians 4:14-16).   He also said, "Be imitators of God".  (Ephesians. 5:1).   Do you think Paul was a man of joy?  He certainly had many reasons to believe life was a bummer.   I believe the one thing that Paul developed early in his ministry was to survive and remain firm in his walk with the Lord. You, too, will need a very strong "act of the will".  And where does the cannon fodder for the "act of the will" come from?  James says we grow strong through trials and tribulations so that we can handle even bigger trials and tribulations in the future. (James 1).

 In 2 Corinthians 4:17, Paul refers to his light afflictions as producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison.  Later, in 2 Corinthians 11:23-28, he lists what he considered "slight afflictions", any one which could send us into depression-ville.    How does one keep their Love Bank from becoming totally bankrupt when we encounter even one such experience listed in this passage? 

 I believe we can find the key to Paul's success, “…in keeping his eyes on the mark that is Jesus Christ,” Philippians 3:13-15.  It is truly a book of joy.  Paul begins by telling us there is great joy in knowing that there are those in the family of God who are praying for us.    (I fear the phrase "I will pray for you" has become a phrase with no meaning or commitment to many.) Tuesday, March 17, 2015

 When we started the Village, there is no question in my mind, we were successful because we had a solid core of grandmothers who prayed very faithfully for us.   I believe our Nation has taken the wrong path in recent years because our prayer life has become "pithy".  I am truly blessed and so very thankful to know there are faithful prayer warriors who take me to the throne room of heaven on a regular basis., and many who pray for the Village.

 Sooooo, my young friends and neighbors, I will close this epistle for today with Paul's words from First Thessalonians 5:16-18, "Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."  Paul has much more to say about joy and I will scatter them throughout these epistles.                (In case you need a reminder)

 

 Blessings

Gramps

 

 

 

 

Me? A Logo??

 Hey gang, today’s devotional reading from Mornings with Jesus is one that I believe we all need to consider, especially in these days that many are wanting to change our culture from God-led and God-fearing to trusting the wisdom of humankind. (read March 18, 2021)

 
Happy are those who are merciful to others….. Matthew 5:7

“I’m in awe of the talented people who take a concept or business and create a fitting logo.  With simple art, design, and lettering a logo becomes a symbol of the company or idea.  The public is reminded what the business represents when it sees the logo, without explanation from sales or marketing.

 My Logo for my writing business is a pen shaped like a threaded needle, which accompanies the tagline “I can’t unravel, I’m hemmed in Hope.”  Even if no one else recognizes the connection, I do.   It informs how I write, reminding me that hope lies at the core of it all.

 Haven’t we too often assumed that joy’s logo must be a smiley face?  The bright yellow sun-like image with two eyes and a single curved line or toothy grin has somehow cone to represent “I’m smiling” or I’m happy” or “That gives me joy.”

 But according to words Jesus said --His marketing copy- the truly happy and joy-filled aren’t represented by a smiley face logo.  How do you create a fitting and recognizable logo for “the poor in spirit….those who mourn…those who hunger…the merciful…those who are persecuted (for Jesus’ sake)” (Matthew 5:3-12, (NIV)? What symbol encapsulates all that Jesus said about authentic Joy?

The Fish symbol? No. That was born out of a coded method of letting others know of one’s authentic faith in Christ.  The cross?  That’s a priceless iconic symbol of authentic sacrifice and authentic love.  The empty Tomb?  Authentic victory and hope.  If only a graphic designer could capture a representation - an iconic image - of the depth of joy a soul knows when at peace, when fully trusting Jesus --- Cynthia Ruchti

Faith Step: You’ll come across may company logos throughout the day. Let them serve as a reminder of what Jesus offers you - authentic soul peace.

 This made me (Gma J) think that we are God’s logo for Joy! What is your Logo that others see?   “The fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23).

 Blessings,

Gma J

Spiritual Authority

 

 Monday, March 31, 2014

"The Lord said to him, what is that in your hand?"  "A staff”, he replied".  (Exodus 4:2)

 Hey Gang:  Many years ago, our Board President felt we needed a little rest and relaxation so he provided a scholarship for us to spend a week at the Christian Retreat Center in Bradenton, Florida. During our R & R months there over the next several years there  we were privileged to sit under the teachings of such people as Gerald Derstine, Iverna Thompkins, Judson Cornwell and many other anointed teachers.

  But one that I would place at the top of the list was a pastor by the name of Jamie Buckingham.  Jamie had spent many weeks in the Sinai learning what God would teach him the desert. He wrote a book, that graces my library, titled A way Through the Wilderness. 

 When I find myself in the midst of a wilderness experience, more times than not, I return to the pages of this book for encouragement and perhaps a better understanding of what I am going through.  He, like Jesus, Paul and James, he is a teacher who uses the simple things of the desert to teach us profound truths.

 For example, he points out that when God is looking for something for His service, He usually looks for something common to us.  An old country preacher once said, "When God needs something done, He looks for a broken vessel and smashes it and then places it on the potter’s wheel for molding into the image of His Son and preparation for what lies ahead.  

 In Exodus 4:2 we find such an example:  Moses was not red-hot on the idea of going back to the land of Pharaoh who had placed a price on his head for bumping off one of their citizens.  He, like most of us, opened his bag of excuses as to why we do not want to do something.  ‘I mean, Lord, I don't talk so good; I mean, Lord, I am a minimally educated, a hillbilly from the sticks; I mean, Lord, there are mega people more qualified than I.’

  I wonder if Saul might have come up with similar excuses as to why he did not want to become Paul the missionary to the Gentiles?  But God gave him no opportunity to open his excuse bag - He (God) looked down and said, "I'll take that one” and knocked him off his donkey".

 I wonder if God was not becoming a wee bit impatient with Moses when He said to him, "Hey, Moses, what do you have in your hand?” Moses answer, "A rod".  "Throw it on the ground".  We know the story, the rod turned into a serpent. God said pick it up by the tail.  The serpent turned back to a rod but without the serpent in it. 

 Soooo, my young friends, we know, from seeing all the movies about Moses, that he was never without that rod. Why?  Because the rod represents authority!  Moses was now a man under authority.  Does that mean we should all go and get a rod?  No!, I do not think that is the focus of the story; but rather that God can use anything that is given to Him. Keep in mind God honors simple things.

Blessings,

 Gramps

Take My Yoke Upon You

 Wednesday, March 20, 2013

“Come to Me all who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, or I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls, For My yoke is easy and My burden light”.  (Matt. 11:28-30).

 Hey Gang:  For those who do not know what a yoke is, Webster defines the word as “a wooden frame for harnessing together a pair of oxen.”  It also describes it as meaning “bondage or servitude, or something that binds.”  I suspect Jesus is referring to all three of these definitions when He said, “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light”.  (Matt. 11:29-30).      

 While serving in Korea, yoked oxen was a very common, everyday sight; they were used to work the rice patties.  To watch them struggling with the yoke makes one wonder what Jesus really meant when He said, “My yoke is easy”. 

 I found a neat little ditty that added some clarity to what I believe Jesus was saying in a book titled 199 Reasons To Be Thankful. God’s yoke is easy. Why?  Because He is the one carrying the load.  When you’re going thru those times when the alligators are nipping at your heels, He longs for you to hand over the heavy stuff to Him. Our deepest concerns are but a piece of cake to Him.  His deepest desire is that we have the faith to hand our burdens, disappointments, our fears, our pains over to Him. 

 But - there is a prerequisite to Jesus becoming your burden bearer, you must enter into covenant relationship with Him, surrender your life and join yourself with Jesus, the “…author and perfecter of our faith.”  (Heb 12:2)

  Jesus is talking to a crowd who knew what it meant for one animal to be yoked with another to pull a burden. His message was clear – you do not have to carry your burdens alone, you could be “yoked” with Him. In essence, He was sharing one of the basic principles of the Kingdom of God - when we are King’s Kids we are never alone!!!

 Soooo, friend and neighbors, as you traverse through this day, STOP and THINK about priorities. Jesus promised, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness; and all these things [earthly needs] shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33).  A single ox can pull a load, but when joined with another ox, the two can pull more than what each could pull separately.

 Blessings,

Gramps

Scrapiron! Not A Pile of Scrap but A Lovable Burro

 

 In his message on Sunday, our Pastor told the story of a donkey who would not give up. As I started scrolling through the blogs to choose one for this week - this was the first I read, made me laugh and thought it appropriate.

 , March 1, 2013

 

 "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!  Shout in triumph, O daughter of Jerusalem!  Behold, your king is coming to you; He is just and endowed with salvation, Humble, and mounted on a donkey.  Even on a colt, the foal of the donkey" (Zech. 9:9)

 Hey gang, as a child in the mountains of Pennsylvania I had a very special friend, Penny, the donkey that pulled the coal carts out of the coal mine shafts.   Penny was blind from her many trips in and out of sun to utter darkness, so she was dependent on her human care-takers to get her to the shed where she spent her idle times.    When she was in harness and hooked up to the coal carts, she was amazing.  She could navigate the various shafts without the help of human hands.

 Shortly after we opened Eagle Village a very good friend called and asked me if we would like to have two ponies. This hit my hot button.   I had been advised by my mentor that when offered a bucket of dung, do not turn it down because the donor may one day give you the cow.  I found throughout the years that was very sound advice.

 After many hours of cutting Poplar Trees and building fences, the day for delivery of the ponies finally arrived.   When the truck finally backed up to the gate the two ponies were quick to vacate their prison on wheels.  But the surprise of the day was this long droopy eared burro by the name of Scrapiron that lingered in the front of the trailer.    I believe I could write a book about this young friend who gained a place in not only my heart and our family, but the hearts of all the kids who had the privilege of getting to know him. 

 As I sit here this morning and recollect the many stories about this amazing animal, one seems to stand out as a favorite.  We were blessed to receive other gifts of horses and ponies and learned a great deal about the old adage "Be careful, all gifts are not what they are cracked up to be.”  On one occasion we were blessed to receive a magnificent animal, Geronimo, but he had one problem, he thought he was still a stud and riding him was out of the question. 

 During the months that followed we tried everything in our repertoire to settle Geronimo down, but with no success.  As a matter of fact, I believe he became even more hyper with each attempt to make him civil.  And then one day an old codger and his side kick came to trim the horse’s hooves and happened to see Geronimo in one his finest hours.  I was certainly impressed, but not Fuzz. He simply walked into of the tack room and came out with a halter for both Geronimo and Scapiron and a lead rope. He tried the two together!     

 It was an amazing experience over the next days  as I watched the transformation of Geronimo, not into a docile horse, but one that still provided a challenge for our more experienced riders. I thought of that experiment many times when we received a boy who was like Geronimo, a ‘Wild Stallion’.  

  Soooo, I believe Abba Father has a very special place in His heart for these long eared docile animals. He could have chosen a fine Arabian White Stallion for Christ’s entry into Jerusalem as their king, but, instead, we read in Matthew 21:2-3 that he sent two of His disciples into the city saying, "Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied there and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to Me".  In Revelation we read, "And I saw the heaven opened and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war" (Rev. 19:11).  Yes, then He will be on a white stallion but I would not be surprised if his warriors will be on donkeys.

 Blessings,

 Gramps