Are You In The Planting Mode?

 

Thursday, December 29, 2011

Dear Family and  Friends, our pastor started a series on Story tellers this morning - The Gospel writers.  He challenged us to share our stories with other.  Those of you who knew Kermit, Know that he was a storyteller. As I started to look for a blog this morning - this was the first to come up! Be blessed! These posts now number about 1400, including this year.

 

“He hath sent us to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captive, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound - and to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, the day of vengeance of our God and finally to comfort all that mourn.”  (Isaiah 61:1 NASB) 

I have said it before and I say it again, we have been truly blessed to have been used by God to send out Gramps Morning Thoughts – 395 of them.  But I sense it is time to stop, at least for a season.  We are packing the car preparing to head to Bartlesville, once again, where we will work \volunteer at the Voice of Martyrs ministry for at least  three weeks and then off to Kansas for a month or so with family. 

The work at VOM is hard for folks who are older than dirt and we probably should spend more time in a rocking chair, but we thoroughly enjoy being with the people and knowing that each piece of mail that we touch is an opportunity to send a blessing along to a persecuted Christian someplace in this world.  And the neat part of the hard work -God gives us the strength to put in eight hours of hard labor five days a week!

As I write this final message, my bride is out (you might have guessed it) volunteering her services at a local ministry.   I do not know how many hours we have spent in such services this year, but, we have driven over 4500 miles in getting to and from projects and will surpass the 5000 mile mark before the year turns.

Luke 6:38 has been our guide and the foundation of all that we have tried to do with our lives.

Luke wrote, “Give, and It will be given to you”. Wow, I like that Lord!  You mean I have something to say about the blessings I will receive?  I believe that is what He is saying;  “They, (the blessings) will pour into your lap a good measure- pressed down, shaken together, and running over”.  Now notice these final words of this text, “FOR BY YOUR STANDARD OF MEASURE IT WILL BE MEASURED TO YOU IN RETURN.” Does that not deserve a double Wow?!

The rock on which we have tried to build our lives has been based on Paul’s words in Galatians where Paul warned: “We will reap what we sow in our lives!” (Gal 6:7) Matthew adds to this in the parable of the sower: he tells us we will reap more than we sow, and it makes a difference where and how we sow.  (Matt. 13:3-9)

Returning to Paul for the fringe package that goes with ‘Seed Planting’, “Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.”  Now, notice the power part of this verse: “Each must do as he has purposed in his heart not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver”. 

 Do you want grace to abound in your life?  Do you want to have all sufficiency in your life?  Do you want to have ‘abundance’?  Then know, “He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness” (2 Cor. 9:6-11).

Soooo, my good buckaroos, my prayer for you - that you, too, will be a “seed planter”, and  that you will have a hunger and thirst for His Word and be a sacrificial giver to those who are not as fortunate as you are and need to see God’s love and plan of salvation through you.  For those reading this who might not know Jesus as Savior, we pray that you will read John 3:16, ask Jesus to be your Savior and Lord, and seek out a friend or pastor who will help you grow.

 Blessings,

Gramps

Father, In the Name of Jesus!

 

Wednesday, March 23, 2016

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!  In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living Hope through the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” (1 Peter 1:3)  “Surely  he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows” (Isaiah 53:4).

Hey gang; The bride-of-my-youth, who is a compulsive and avid reader, slipped yet another pearl- under my nose.   Since retiring from the world of children and families who are often   are at war with each other, I have refrained from reading stories of such children and families but this one was in a Daily Guidepost from several years ago and it caught her attention & mine. 

Why, because we cannot untuck the stories that have impacted our lives from our yesterdays.  They seem to raise their heads periodically, just to let us know the world has not totally forgotten the times when we wonder if the world is completely crazy and we will get swept up in its craziness. (Now 6 years later Oh, My!!!…)  But there are the wonderful pearls of those time when God’s firmness in our soul gave us the strength and stamina to do battle with His adversary until the battle was won.

Last week a Boeing 737 crashed when trying to land in Russia.  Let me tell you as a past Air Traffic Controller there was the constant fear that the bell would sound, and the computers would lock down, when an aircraft you had worked with went down and the investigations begin.  To return to the boards or radar scopes after such tragedy required a very special type of iron in you blood. 

My old-salt instructor said to me, “One of these days you will see airplanes flying around in your head.”  And then added, “But…when you see people in those airplanes, you are finished as a controller.”  He was right, two aircraft that I had worked through my sector an hour before got together over New York with total loss of life.  Today, more than fifty years since that fateful day, when I hear there has been an aircraft accident the anxiety levels in my heart and soul sky-rocket.

So, how does this connect with the story above?  As I read the story of the totally out-of-control six-year old and how it impacted the total life of the family, it was important that the mother had the power of God to give her strength, and not give up.  With each episode of total rebellion, on the part of her child, she placed her faith and dependence in her Heavenly Daddy to take her through yet another valley.

And as I read of her account of the battles that she fought with Satan for the life of this little fire-ball with out-of-control emotions, I asked the question, “Lord, what about all the families out there who are fighting the same battles but do not know you as Lord? And do not have the strength to endure all that the world can hand out?”   

As I read the account written by this mother, I thought of a family that we had the privilege of coming along side When they went through a similar war but with a teen-age daughter.  The daughter had made a decision that she was going to do as she pleased, and the mother had made a decision that she would stand toe-to-toe with her daughter and do what had to be done to show her daughter the depth of her love. 

For each rebellious act there was a consequence until her room had been stripped of everything but a pad on the floor for sleeping.  But, she was blessed to have parents and grandparents and a praying church behind her; and, one day, the light began to penetrate the darkness.  The wondrous part of this story is mother and daughter now mentor and teach classes on how to prevent your child from destroying their lives.

Look at the title of this epistle once again, “Father, in the name of Jesus, I……(Finish it!)  Is there someone in your life who is dealing with a child or family issue that is tearing the guts out of the family?  There is a solution.  Our Lord said, I am the way, the truth and the life” (John 14:6).  There is no greater statement in the Bible than “He is risen!” He stands ready to walk through the valley and shadows of death with you. We have visited the empty tomb! The sign says, “HE IS RISEN!!  We too can have resurrection power! Thank you Jesus 

Blessings to you this Easter Season/ Resurrection Sunday! 

Gramps

Good Friday -They Will Know That I Am the Lord!

 Friday, November 27, 2015       NOTE the date!

 

“Therefore, 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” (Romans 12:1).

 

Hey Gang:  There is no question that our nation is a mess and getting messier every day and it appears, at this moment that, if God does not intervene in a mighty way soon, the days will continue to get darker. But!  Neat word- “but” -God’s Word is very clear and filled with words of encouragement and reasons to be thankful.  I would guess that each of you had a good meal, in fellowship with loved ones, and in a warm house; something that many brothers and sisters in Christ did not have this Thanksgiving Day.

 

The days are growing darker but there are somethings the world cannot take away:  Jesus Christ is same today as He was yesterday and He continues to stand at the door of our hearts asking permission to come in and sup with us.  The gift of Jesus Christ, His death on the cross and His resurrection to redeem you and me has not changed one iota.  Is that not awesome?

 

In Ezekiel thirty six, verses twenty one through the end of the chapter, we read that our God is a sovereign God.  I have a hard time with that word, sovereign, because we have no role models in our lives that qualify as sovereign. My dictionary tells me that sovereign means “having supreme rank, power, authority, greatest is degree, utmost and extreme.”   Isaiah eleven, one through nine, give us the description of such a person; and, we read in Luke 1:30-31, who this person is: “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 name Him Jesus”.

 

In the world we are living, in the insanity which we find ourselves encompassed, we must remind ourselves that our sovereign God is above and beyond all the craziness.  Again, I emphasize that our God does not change! He remains a steady anchor! He is our refuge and strength!  Under His wings we have protection.

 

It was recently reported that the number one mental health issue today is anxiety and fear.   Being the nervous type, if I did not believe God was sovereign, I would be “fit to be tied and locked away.” I would be going to bed each night unable to fall asleep. I would be going crazier by the day, with no end in sight to my despair. Instead, I go to bed each night and wake the next morning with a song of thanksgiving on my lips.

 

Why? Because God is sovereign! It is our sovereign God who puts men and women in power and removes them from power.  I peeked- history is going to end exactly as God has determined it will end.  Look again at Ezekiel 36:22 “Thus says the Lord God, It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for My holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you went”.  Do you think that applies to America as well?  I suspect that it does.

 

Deterioration and decay are not new; it has been with each since Eve took a bite out of the apple. American culture has been decaying for more than a half-century and has reached the point of moral bankruptcy. Our value system has run amok. Isaiah 5:20 says:

 

“Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; Who substitute bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” Is this not where America is today? Morals once cherished have been placed in the trash heaps.  Faith in the God of the Bible is ridiculed. And yet, I still have hope!   Why? I have read the final chapter.  “That God loved me so much He sent His Son, Jesus, to die on a hideous cross that I might be freed from the bondage of sin and at that moment when I said, “Lord I commit my heart and soul to you”, my name was recorded in the Lamb’s Book of Life. I will one day be included in the Marriage Feast of the Lamb.  (read Titus 2:11-15). 

 

  I believe one day, very soon, Abba Father will say to Son ,Yeshua, “Go for it”.  Go and bring Your Bride home.  Wow, come Lord Jesus!  Oh, keep in mind when He does come, the door closes.  Make sure your witness is strong today.

 

Blessings,

 

Gramps

King of KINGS

 

Sunday, March 24, 2013

“Where is he who is born King of the Jews?”  (Matt 2:2)

This is the question asked by the Magi at the beginning of the Gospel of Matthew.  They followed the Star to worship the ‘King of the Jews’. Maybe they had heard about the coming King from Daniel in Babylon.  There are several Old Testament passages that relate to Messiah King.  Zechariah 14 is one of my favorites.  Speaking of Lord as one God he writes, “The Lord will be King over the whole earth (v9) and “The survivors from all the nations who have attacked Jerusalem will go up year after year to worship the King” (v 16). Through the ages and continuing, Jewish people have looked for  and anticipated Messiah’ coming to their rescue.

Matthews’s Gospel presents the Kingship of Yeshua ha Mashiach with might and authority over nature, disease, and demons. Read this Book with this Jesus in mind and you will picture the Kingdom of Heaven on earth and His glorious kingdom to come.

As I write this, I treasure memories of walking the “Palm Sunday Road.” This was a day in the life of Jesus when He allowed the people to hail Him as King, waving palm branches and shouting  ‘Hosanna’.   Palm branches were waved as earthly kings and royalty entered a city;  Shouts of Hosanna as He rode toward Jerusalem on a donkey fulfilled the Godly prophecy of Zechariah 9:9, “See your King comes to you… gentle and riding … on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”  Tradition tells us that a king riding into a city on a donkey indicates peace; riding a mighty horse indicates triumphant in battle.   When Messiah returns it will be as triumphant King of Kings riding a white horse (Rev 19:11)  Hallelujah!!! 

I wonder if any of these were in the crowd a few days later when, before Pilate, they cried out “Crucify him”?  Pilate washed his hands, when he found no guilt in Jesus, but gave in to the mob.   The soldiers mocked Jesus with a royal robe, crown of thorns and a staff as a scepter.  However, Pilate had the last word when he had the notice placed on Jesus’ cross- “JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS”!   

Today people and nations (including ours) continue to mock him and rile against Jesus, His people and His Kingdom.  Persecution and anti-Semitism are rampant.  We pray “Thy Kingdom come” but are they only words or do we mean that? Or do we say, “Not yet. Lord, have things on my ‘bucket list”, or unsaved family and friends? Do we long for Jesus to return and set the world straight?  Do we act like Kings Kids and reflect His Heavenly Kingdom?

The Old Testament predicted Messiah King; that is what the Jews of His day expected.

The Magi searched for the King of the Jews; King Herod (and Satan) tried to destroy Him.

Crowds saw miracles, healings, people set free from demons and wanted to declare Him King.

Pilate declared him King of the Jews.

John the Revelator saw him as King on a white horse, called Faithful and True, King of KINGS!!!

Is Jesus King of your heart??  Do you look and act like The King’s Kid??

All hail King Jesus, All hail Emmanuel, King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Bright Morning Star
And throughout eternity I'll sing Your Praises, And forevermore I shall reign with Him!!

Blessings,

Gramps

Have You Considered My Son Jesus?

 

Wednesday, April 23, 2014

 

                                    

"He has no stately form or majesty,  that we should look upon Him, nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him.  He was despised and forsaken of me.  A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and like one from whom men hide their face.  He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.  Surely our grief He Himself bore, and our sorrows He carried; Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted.  But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed." (Isaiah 53:2b-5).

Hey Gang:  As I prepared to write the morning messages on the Trial of Jesus, my sincere prayer was not that you gained a deeper understanding of the procedures of that day for handling capital offenses, nor to show the sadistic attitudes of the religious leaders but that you would get a firm grasp on the price that Jesus paid for our salvation.  Keep in mind, folks, He chose to submit to the cross.

John set the stage when he wrote, "Judas then, having received the Roman cohort (a Roman cohort consisted of 600 men) and officers from the chief priest and Pharisees, came there with lanterns and torches and weapons" (John 18:3). 

Mathew made that very clear when He entered Jesus words, spoken at the time of His arrest and into the archives of time: "Or do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels? (Matt. 26:54).  (A legion equaled 6,000 angels).  But notice Peter, the impetuous one, the one who vowed he would never leave or forsake Jesus, whipped out his sword and removed the ear from the head of Malchus, a slave. 

I wonder what those hardened Roman soldiers were thinking when Jesus calmly reached down and reattached Malchus’ ear? I certainly would have been awe struck!  How about you?  As I read this part of the account from John, I could almost hear Jesus saying, in a very loving and calm voice, "Peter,  put the  sword in to the sheath; the cup which the Father has given Me, shall I not drink it?" (John 18:11).  The battle of the cross had already been fought and won when Jesus cried out,  "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will...If this cannot pass away unless I drink it, Your will be done." (Matt. 26:39/42).   

Soooo, my young friends, I have read and heard the Easter story many times, and in eighty years of life, I am sure I have heard more than eighty sermons on the cross.  But this has been a very special year for me, and I question why?  Perhaps it was because I took the time to do some serious digging until I have a better understanding of the price Jesus paid for me.  Perhaps it was because I believe we are standing on the very threshold of His return for His children and I expect very soon to be running and leaping and praising God in His presence and sitting at His Feet.  Gramps was welcomed Home May 16,2020.

Yes, I am deeper in my love and respect for God and His love for me- that He was willing to send His Son to live in human form and pay the price on the cross for me.  Look in the mirror this day and say quietly to Father God, thank You Lord for loving me.

I close with a words of one of those hardened Roman Soldiers, who may have driven the nails in Jesus’ hands,  "Truly, this was the Son of God!"   Is it not a privilege to be one of his children?

 

Blessings,  Gramps