Seed Planting to benefit Your Relationships!

Hey Gang, those of you who have been with ‘Gramps Morning thoughts’ for any length of time know his “Seed Planter” heart. This recent Devotional from Daily Guideposts adds some new thoughts.  I thought it would be good to share.  My Mother was the gardener in our family.

 

“The LORD will guide you always; He will satisfy you needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.” Isaiah 58:11.

 

     “On any summer morning you can find my dad in his garden, picking a bounty of cucumbers, green beans, okra, tomatoes, and the like. As one of six children, Dad’s green thumb was cultivated at an early age, under the watchful eye of his father.  Amid dirt roads in Guilford County North Carolina, in the early 1960’s, he learned how to prepare soil and cultivate land, when to plant seeds and when to water, and how to prevent weeds from destroying what he has worked hard to procure. When properly tended, his crops have provided not only for him, but for his family and friends, with whom he regularly shared baskets of overflow.

 

     Recently, as my dad talked about preparations for an upcoming garden, he emphasized how his seeds only reach their full potential if he doesn’t neglect them. His words made me think of the things I want to flourish in my life. The patience I needed for my son as he navigated through his teenage years Needed  to be watered with love.  The roots of my marriage that I prayed would run strong and deep had to be strengthened with kindness. The peace that I wanted to shine over my life had to be cultivated with time in the Word of God.

 

       If my life is to flourish with long- lasting fruit, I must keep my soul cleared from the entanglement of sin and spend time in the Son-shine.                                              Tia McCollons   Jule 29, 2022

 

           LORD, let my life flourish with abundance. May every great thing that You have planted in me                   spring  forth richly.

Digging Deeper Psalm 92:12-14; Luke 8:15; Colossians 1:9-10; 2 Peter 1:5-9

 

Sooo, have you checked your ‘Seed Planting’ into others as well as into  yourself?

Blessings Gma J

  

An Ache Too Deep For Words

Monday, July 29, 2013

"Jesus said to them, "Let the children come to me, for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as they.  Don't send them away!  I tell you as seriously as I know how that anyone who refuses to come to God as a little child will never be allowed into his Kingdom." (Mark 10:14-15 Living Bible)

 Hey Gang,  His name was Tony and he was a spit-fire that could turn a peaceful and tranquil day into a roaring fire in a matter of minutes.  How he packed so much hatred into an eight-year-old body was beyond our comprehension but then we learned what "the bottom of the barrel really meant". 

 At the time we received a request to consider taking Tony into our very young and inexperienced program, we had visions of grandeur and believed there were no troubled young folks that we could not love and provide a "shirt tail for them to hand onto".   But, as we gained scar tissue, we also gained understanding that some children were beyond our experience level to deal with.

 Tony was one of those children.  I might add here, the younger the child referred, the more damaged the child.  On arrival, we found a zombiezed child.  His mom kept Tony locked in a closet and fed him the equivalent for a month’s supply of control drugs in a matter of days.  As the drugs wore off the temperature began to rise.  There was no way that we were going to place this child in one of the houses so, we did as we often did, we accepted the challenge and moved Tony into our home.    

 I could give you a running log of the two years we had Tony in our home, but it would fill many blogs and that is not the important point I want to make here.  Within several months my kids, who were the real treatment people in Tony's life, began to make huge inroads into his heart.  Tony became an integral part of our family and was soon functioning as an eight-year-old should.

 But,,,,,Toni provided his mom with a welfare check and found that if she moved to an adjoining county the judge of that county would return Tony to her.  This she did successfully.  Toni was taken from our family and returned to the same environment that had nearly destroyed him before.   She was very adept at keeping the legal beagles at arm’s length, moving frequently. 

 We lost contact with Toni for two years; then one day we received an application for a summer camper by the name of Tony.  Could it be our Tony? Miracle of all miracles it was.  

 The cabin he was assigned to went on a two-day camping trip several miles from the Village.  On pick up day, I notified the transportation person I would go and pick up the campers.  On the return trip home, I noticed that Tony's eyes were glued to the back of my head.  I invited him to come and stand beside me.  After several minutes he asked me a question that continues to hurt deep inside my heart.   He said, “Dad, why did they take me from you who loved me and sent me to a place that hated me?   I will not try and explain the pain that cut deep into my soul at that moment.

 Sooooo,  As I re-lived this tragic experience in my life, the Lord directed me to a passage of Scripture that I believe that every believer needs to place on their bathroom mirror, refrigerator door and the rear view mirror of their vehicles.  Shortly before the Lord ascended to the Father, He ask Peter three questions,  “Do you love me? Do you love Me? Do you love Me?" Peter's answer was the same, “Yes, I love You.”  Notice Jesus answers to those three responses: “Tend My lambs, shepherd My sheep and Tend my sheep.”  (John 21:15-17 KJV.)

 Now, tie- bar that passage with Matthew's words, "Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a heavy mill stone hung around his neck and be drowned in the depth of the sea" (Matt. 18:6).   Has a Tony crossed your path lately?

Blessings,

Gramps

My heart hurts when I think of Tony and so many  others whose wounds were so very deep. I wonder where they are, what they are doing, etc. Many we know and have been able to have some contact.  What we do know is- that every youth and family member who have participated in our programs have been loved and heard the Good New of Jesus’ love for them.  But we are only Seed Planters.  Choosing to follow Jesus is a choice we each have to make!!  Have you made that choice?  Gma J

Did You Ever Really Wish That?

 

Monday, July 25, 2011

Do not let your heart envy sinners, but live in the fear of the Lord always!” (Proverbs 23:17)

Okay, I admit it. I know I am not supposed to ‘envy’ people who have wonderful talents and can do all those things that I would like to be able to do, but I do! I would dearly love to be able to paint a beautiful picture or play an instrument, or be a great orator but God choose not to give me those talents.

But as I have grown more mature (a nice way of saying I am getting as old as dirt) Paul’s message that we each have very special talents has impacted my thinking. However, it is how committed we are to using those talents for the building of the Kingdom of God that determines the crowns that will be ours on judgment day!

Have you ever noticed that when God looks for something for His service, He usually looks for something common! Something that we all would understand! He prefers to hone His own edge out of rough metal. An old country preacher put it this way, “When He really needs something done, He looks for a broken vessel and smashes it, and then remolds it into the image of His Son!”

I believe most scholars would agree that Paul was a rough sort of dude. He was as anti ‘The Way’ as one could get; a Pharisee, a persecutor of God’s people. But, one day on the Damascus Road, God looked down and said, “I’ll take that one!”, and molded him into His image!.

When God chose the person who would introduce Jesus to the world, he chose a wild sort of prophet, the eater of locust and wild honey. Yet Jesus said, “Among those born of women there is no one greater than John”. (Matthew 11:11)

Sooooo, if God can use a murderer (Moses) who had just spent forty years being honed into a sharp edge to lead his people from the bondage of Egypt, why not you or me? Will you be that person who, when God asks, “Who can I send?” respond, “Here, send me!”

Blessings,

Gramps

Prayer Is Warfare!

 

Wednesday, July 30, 2014

"And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it:  but I found none - (Eze. 22:30).

 Hey Gang:  Wow, the rains have stopped and the sun was out bright and beautiful today!  So I got out my work cloths and enjoyed a day in the sun and it feels great to be tired.  I cut the part of the lawn that was   not under water, which is always a joy for me, for I can sing praises to God at the top of my lungs and no one can hear me but God.

 The past year has been a time of testing with some ‘slight afflictions' kicking at my heels.  At eighty, one expects to see some slow-down in their vim and vigor, but on some days it just plain ‘gets up and goes’.    A good friend once said the first thing she does in the morning is check the obits and, if her name is not there, she gets out her vitamin case and takes on fuel for the day.

 I spend a lot of time in the Book of James, during times of testing, just seeking assurance that there is a purpose for battling alligators on a very regular basis.  I have learned that when we are confronted with wilderness experiences, we have to make a decision - in whom we will put our trust? James gave us the key to victory when he said, "Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance" (1:2-3).

 He goes on and gives us the reason for staying the course, even in the midst of adversity, "Let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing" (vs. 3).  

 Years ago, in my tenure of working with young folks who had made some bad decisions, God taught me a lesson that has been the foundation of my efforts to help these young folks.  It seemed I was to be willing to share the mistakes I have made in my lifetime and how God bailed me out from those mistakes.  I learned that hurting people crave to hear someone listen then sit down with them as say "been there, done that." But I serve a living Savior who collects those things from anyone willing to lay them at His feet and take them to the cross daily.

 Our God is an awesome God! Isaiah 1:18 gives me the assurance that "Though my sins are as scarlet, they will be as white as snow, though they are crimson, they will be like wool, if you consent and obey."   Notice the "if". 

 Soooo, young warriors, reread the Scripture today and note – “He sought for a man so stand in the gap, but He found none".   Wow! Is that not tragic? Jesus said, "Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest" (John 4:35b).  What are your goals for today?  Do they include keeping your armor on, your antenna's up, and asking God to use you? To come along side someone and say, "been there, done that" but there is a God who loves you, who is willing to take your burden to the cross. 

 Blessings,

 Gramps

The Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave

 

Friday, July 4, 2014

Flag from Fort 1812.  US Smithsonian Institute

  Jesus said, "If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free" (John 8:31-32).

 Hey Gang:  Okay I admit it, when it comes to the Stars and Stripes, I am a pure and unadulterated softie.  I was never much of a racing fan until I happened to turn on a Nascar Race and was introduced to their respect for our nation, our flag and our military.  I have never been more proud than when I served my country as an airmen in the United States Air Force. 

 One of the favorite books of the bride-of my youth is titled Amazing Grace.  It is 366 inspiring stories from the hearts of sincere believers who have penned their relationship with Father God in ‘Psalms, hymns, prayers and love’.  In our many contacts with people who are struggling with the complexities of this life, we have suggested they carry a music truth with them throughout the day and let God speak to their hearts through the soothing voice of God through music.

 In the book Amazing Grace there is the story of "The Star Spangled Banner: and how it came into being.  I am sure all of you know the history of its development but ‘let’s take a moment and review it.  This song came into being during the War of 1812 when its author, Francis Scoot Key, was on the deck of a Truce ship nervously pacing back and forth on its deck while the British attacked the harbor of Baltimore.

 He had been sent there as an advocate of peace to plead for the release of a physician, who had been taken captive.  The night was frightful; the bombardment continued.  Then the firing suddenly stopped, just before morning. Key was fearful of the outcome, but as he looked hesitantly across the water, he saw the American flag still triumphantly flying with the assurance of our nation's freedom.

 Although the words, written on the back of an envelope, and music later added, which happened to be an old hunting song, the Star Spangle Banner did not become our National Anthem until an act of Congress officially adopted it on March 3, 1931. 

 As I read and reread the words of our National Anthem, a question surfaced in my mind:  In this day, when everything -in our once proud nation- was looked upon by the world as being the "Land of the free and home of the brave, will the flag continue to be seen triumphantly flying with the assurance of our nation's freedom"?   

 Sooo, my young friends, how about you.  When you see the Stars and Stripes or hear the National Anthem, do you stop and bow your head in respect for all who have given their lives to give us the freedoms that we enjoy?  As we celebrate the day our US Constitution was adopted by the Continental Congress and became the law of our land, we need to pray that God will protect it- for surely it is under attack from many sides today.

 Blessings,

Gramps

PS Now 8 years later - Continue to pray for our Country.  God is at work and revival is happening among ALL ages!  Gma J