Friday, October 30, 2015

A Time to Weep and A Time to Fight

“Encourage the exhausted, and strength the feeble.  Say to those with anxious heart, take courage, fear not.  Behold, your God will come, with vengeance.  The recompense of God will come.  But He will save you,” (Isa. 35:3-4).

 Hey Gang:   We All Need a Word from God to See US Through Perilous Times.   I find it absolutely amazing that, as the world is being shaken to its very core, people are turning their backs on God in droves.  I wonder why every Pastor in our land is not shouting from the roof tops of their churches that there is a better way; that there is a God in heaven who stands at the door of every heart asking politely to come in and bring “The Spirit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control desires to enter every into every person’s life.

 I live in a small town and we have a small town newspaper.  This morning the front page informed me that two people were arrested for possession of and selling drugs, the police are looking for information on anyone who might have information on several burglaries, and the trial of a young person who is accused of child molestation was turned over to the jury. 

On page two there was an article pertaining to an atheist organization seeking to make a police department remove “In God We Trust” from the backs of their cruisers and their other attempts to make colleges and universities cease from allowing chaplains and coaches to pray with their teams.

 A few weeks ago, we had yet another tragedy in one of our schools that has removed prayer and reading of the God’s Words of peace and love and even forgiveness from their schools.  This very sick individual, before killing nine students, asked them if they were Christians.  Those who answered “yes”, were shot in the head and those who said “no” were shot in the leg. 

 We add this catastrophic event to the growing list of sick folks that believe killing will fill that vacuum that exists in their chest cavity.  One person asked the question, “Why would God allow that to happen?”  Another answered, “Don’t blame God, He is not allowed in our schools anymore.

 As a child in elementary school, we began each day with a ritual that included, the Pledge of Alliance to our country, a portion of Scripture and the Lord’s Prayer.  We allow no such rituals in our government funded schools today.  We do not want to make any of our students uncomfortable.   I wonder, was anyone was uncomfortable when the very sick person asked the students if they were Christians before he shot them? 

  I wonder how many youngsters, who have chosen the wrong paths of life, would have chosen the right paths of life, if the Word had been planted in their hearts, in their elementary school years,  and they had learned that there was a God who listened for and answered their prayers, and America was truly the ‘home of the free and the brave’. 

 Well, enough venting for the day.  The title of this epistle is a Time to Weep and a Time to Fight.  I am saddened by the rapid road to decay our nation has taken, but I am even more saddened that I do not hear more voices in the wilderness shouting “Enough, enough, it is time for God’s people to don their armor, fill their lamps with oil and come out fighting.”  I would remiss if I did not mention that Franklin Graham will soon begin his visitation to every state in our union to alert those who are interested in the dangers that face our nation.    You might want to consider signing up to support him in prayer both for the Word he is about to share, and for safety for he and his entourage.   

  Blessings

Gramps

Gloom VS JOY!

 

Precisely because they have misled my people, Saying Peace, when there is no peace… Ezekiel 13:10 (ESV)

Hey Gang, my Devotional, Mornings with Jesus, hit my hot button today and I thought it  might challenge you as well. Read to the end!

 

Though I’ve lived most of my life in the Northwoods of Wisconsin, I’m a fan of southern expressions.  To describe the string of high temps lately - the heat dramatically out of character for this area - The day is hot enough to sell ice cubes to a polar Bear.  Of a savvy salesman, I’d say, “He’s so good at it, that he could sell wool socks to a lifeguard.”

I’ve been thinking about catchphrases like that lately because of the pervasive air of sadness and gloom that’s as close to us as the evening news or a social media thread.  I’m glad I’m not joy’s marketing strategist.  How do you market Joy to a joyless, peaceless culture?  What enticements could anyone offer to a world that is noted for its perpetually sour mood, it’s quickness to complain, its daily evidence of hatred, and deeply embedded despair disorder?

WAIT! I am on the joy-marketing strategy team by virtue of my relationship with the JOY-GIVER, Jesus!  It’s part of my calling to promote what HE promoted.  I’m a carrier - a JOY carrier!  It’s in the DNA He gave me when I gave Him my life.

My marketing bullet points are: demonstrate what real JOY look like: show that real JOY is found in Jesus, despite circumstances; and keep JOY vibrant and visible even when life is hard.

Like selling wool socks to a lifeguard, right? NO, it’s like selling a concept to a world that is already hungering and thirsting for it: “Come and get your JOY.  JOY for the taking. No minimum age or height requirements.  It’s all here in Jesus, waiting for you.”    - Cynthis Ruchti

 

My friends, Gramps has asked this question before: “How does your JOY meter register.” Nehemiah was one of his favorite Bible characters and a favorite Scripture was Chapter eight, verse 10 the last line: “And the Joy of the Lord is your strength.” Peter, Paul and John all wrote that the Joy of the Lord is such a part of the Believers walk.

In John 15:11 Jesus himself tells us of the joy we should have and share: “These things have I spoken unto you that MY JOY may remain in you and that your JOY may be full.”

Soooo, Chase the sadness and gloom!  JOY - like Love, Peace other fruits of the Spirit - is a choice that you make.  Gramps often said that many Believers looked like they had been baptized in pickle juice.  Check your self: Do you reflect the JOY of Jesus? We are the only Bible many people read. Be sure others thirst for the Joy of Jesus in you.

Blessings,
Gma J

You Are Something Very Special

 

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

"I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, and my soul knows it very well" (Psa. 139:14).

Hey Gang, As I have traversed through this life on earth, I have grown more amazed daily at the magnificence of God's creation, namely me.  I have been amazed with the unlimited capabilities of the control center that God placed in our heads. (Remember he was an air traffic Controller for many years military and civilian). I have read, and heard it said many times, that the average person uses but a tiny bit of that capacity.   Have you ever taken a moment or two just to take a deeper look at the center of your electrical system, your brain? 

 God placed this magnificent miracle in each and every person whom He created.  You do believe you were created by God even before time began, don't you?  Paul made this clear in his letter to the Colossians, "For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities - all things have been created through Him and for Him" (Col. 1:16).

 I woke up this morning with the song "We Shall Behold Him" running through my electrical system.  I wish I could say I always wake up with a song on my heart but that would be an untruth.  But within a few moments the song passed, and the challenges of the day became my focus.

 Now for the ‘goodie’ of the day, God also gave us the ability to program our electrical systems to bring honor and glory to our Creator.  I have often used the analogy that we have knobs on the inside of our foreheads which are designed for us to hang knowledge so that God can pull it out of us when the need should arise. 

 Here is a question for you to ponder this morning?  Can God pull out of you knowledge or truth that you never put in? Oh, I know the God is all powerful and can do as He pleases but do you think He might depend on you to put into your brain things that He can pull out- when the alligators begin to snap at your heels?  

  I do believe that is what Paul was talking about in his letter to the Romans when he wrote, "I urge you, brethren by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God which is your spiritual service of worship."   That is the principle; now he gives the application "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect" (Rom. 12:1-2). 

 Soooo, good and faithful believers in Yeshua, your task for the day is - take a few minutes and hang a new piece of God’s truth on one of those knobs in your head that God can use to mold you into the image of His Son, Jesus Christ. He gave you 66 books to choose from!

 Blessings, 

Gramps

Where is your JOY Meter set???

 

“I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.” Psalm 27:13 (NIV).

Hey gang, In case you had not noticed, we live in a crazy-upside down world!!  Guess what?? God is not surprised or shaking in His boots!  He told us this would happen - (Read Matthew 24 and counter parts in Mark and Luke.) BUT we can CHOOSE to live in His Word and in His JOY or we can be over whelmed. 

The Lord seemed to say, this devotional, from my Mornings With Jesus, was one that many readers need to read. We all have circumstances that can overwhelm us.  God is still on the Throne and waiting for us to seek His help.

                Do you ever feel overwhelmed with bad news? In the last few years, I have had tough circumstances touch my life. A good friend was diagnosed with breast cancer, my husband had hip replacement surgery, one of my sons had his heart broken,and several friends shared with me their children’s addiction struggles. My spirit was heavy.

                Then I read Psalm 27:13. David’s confident words of faith,” I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living,” sparked hope in me.  David was fleeing from his enemies when he wrote these words.  As Jesus faced rejection and crucifixion, His faith in what was about to happen strengthened His resolve, for He is the One “who for the JOY that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2, NKJV). With Jesus’s hopeful perspective, we’re able to see goodness in the midst of discouraging circumstances (even as it affects our world today. Jn). I needed a hopeful outlook so my JOY wouldn’t be swallowed up by despair.

                I started repeating this verse to myself and began looking for the goodness of the Lord, in the here and now. When a saw a disturbing or tragic news story, I looked for the goodness and those running to help others. Concerning my husband, son and friends, I watched as the Lord tenderly touched each of their lives in their challenges and restored their hope.

                Now, whenever I look for the goodness of the Jesus, I see it.                        Jeannie Blackmer

                Faith step: Start a joy journal and log God’s goodness daily!!

 

SOooooo, friends in Christ, my prayer for you is that you LOOK for Jesus Messiah in everyday activities -always but especially as the hectic Holiday Days are soon here.  Look for Jesus in your friends, all the preparation and activities- especially as Christmas approaches!

Blessings,

Gma J - “The JOY of the Lord is my strength!” (Nehemiah 8:10d)