Truth In Living Colo

 

Monday, February 9, 2015

"Behold, children are a gift of the Lord; The fruit of the womb is a reward.  Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one's youth.  How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them" (Psalm 127:3-5).

 Hey Gang:  As a senior counselor in a detention facility, one of my duties was to notify the parents that their son or daughter was an uninvited guest in our ‘house of concrete and bars’.  The response could usually be placed in one of three categories: “Oh, how sad, he or she was not raised that way”, or “I just knew I was going to receive a call like this someday!”, or “Don't call me, let him stew in his own vomit,” or some other neat verb. And there was also the three categories of responses on the part of parents: they came immediately; they came tomorrow at the hearing, where they were required to attend; or they did not come at all.

 I wish I could tell you the latter response was an absolute minority, but such was not the case.  Many asked, and even begged us, to keep their child locked up for a while- say two or three months. Their homes were much more peaceful places when youth were not there.   

 I want to share two cases, one that I personally knew and the second, one that I believe is an excellent story of the truth: "It is never too late to recoup a prodigal back into the good graces of the family.”

 The first is a fourteen- year-old who arrived at the facility, one a wet cold night, in the custody of one of our local police.  He was not what one would term a ‘run of the mill’ delinquent.  He stuck out like the proverbial 'sore thumb'.  He was well dressed, well- manicured, very articulate and even polite, which was a sign he did not belong in our facility. 

 A call was made to his parents and, within the hour, the father and mother arrived.   A short interview determined that the young man had never been involved in anything like this before and Dad would certainly have words with the lad.    Due to the backlog of other intakes that were awaiting my attention, I released him to his parents and suggested that he not show up here again.

 A few days later we had a repeat performance with same young man; however, this time he arrived at my door in cuffs and a more belligerent attitude.   The afore mentioned procedures were followed and due to an overloaded ‘house’ and many more violent and more sophisticated trouble- makers demanding attention, I sent him home, again.

 The next night, when the young man arrived at Juvy, the ‘house’, it was a slow night and I had time to sit and talk with Dad.  I learned Dad was an executive in a major industry and did not have time for his family.  One did not have to be a rocket scientist to see that the boy was doing all in his power to get his Dad's attention, and he would continue to do so, whatever it took.  

 Dad was adamant he would do anything to reconnect with the lad and become a good father to him.  I suggested he take out a business card, write on the back of it that he would be available to his son any time he called, and give it to his son.  I also told Dad we had a bed available, so we would give the son a good look at what it was like to even have to ask permission to go the bathroom!

 On Monday mid-afternoon, the son asked if he could make a phone call, he wanted to call his Dad.  His Dad happened to be a very important meeting with his executive team.  He had given strict orders not to be disturbed.  But, knowing the situation, his secretary slipped a note to him, ‘your son is on the line’.  He immediately ordered a coffee break and took the call.  The message was simple, “Dad, if you love me, come and get me now!”  Dad, cancelled the meeting, drove to Juvy and picked up his son.  They spent the remainder of the day together.  I never saw the boy again.

  Soooo, be advised that the story of the seed planter where it clearly states, "You will reap what you sow" (Galatians 6:7).  This works every time, negative or positive, with every child.  Each of us must choose, am I willing to place my spouse and children immediately after my love for my Heavenly Daddy? And give sacrificial love to each

 Blessings,

 Gramps

Tribute to a Very Special Person

 

Friday, February 13, 2015

"Call unto me and I will answer you and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know". (Jeremiah 33:3 God's telephone number and never busy!)

 Hey Gang:  Did you ever notice how many times Jesus went off by Himself to pray?  The Bible makes it clear that God wants His people to pray.  In I Thessalonians 5:16-18 Paul tells those who trust and love God to "Rejoice evermore and pray without ceasing in everything, giving thanks, for this is God's will" for each of us.  Praying Scripture and His promises unleashes the power prayer in our lives.   But there is a prerequisite to praying God's promises, you must know what they are. 

 Through the Prophet Isaiah God promises, "It will come to pass that before they call, I will answer, and while they are still speaking, I will hear" (Isaiah 65:24).  Isaiah followed this power verse with another that we need to program into our hearts and souls: "But to this one I will look, To him who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at My word" (Isaiah 66:2B).  And where does this humbling and contrite of spirit and trembling come from?  His Word and relationship with Jesus.

 Jesus confirms this in our hearts in His Sermon on the Mount:  "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find, knock, and it will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened" (Matthew 7:7-8).

 I have spent the past several weeks reading in Jeremiah.  I have read Jeremiah many times before but this time it has captured my whole attention.  Why, because as I read each page, I could see the United States of America in each page.  And, as I read, I focused my study on two phrases that Jeremiah used:  God said, "Is not my word like fire and like a hammer which shatters a rock? (Jer. 23:29); the second phrase, which is found throughout the book, "They did not listen"(Jeremiah 23:29).

 I was blessed with a sainted Grandma; however, at the time, I did not realize what a pure and true saint she was.  As I think back, I see her on her knees in the local Post Office scrubbing the floors.    Having lost two husbands, six mouths to feed, and limited education she was restricted to menial tasks.  By the time I came on the scene she had retired and was living on the third floor of our tiny house.  It meant climbing two flights of stairs several times a day and the years on her knees on concrete had taken its toll.   

  We had a swing on our front porch and Grandma spent much of her awake hours on the swing.  She was a very avid embroidery addict and made many beautiful things.  She would take the floss that was left after clipping the end, put it in her mouth and then throw them up to the roof of the porch.  We had a very colorful porch. But her attention was not on the sewing, for that was automatic to her.  These were the prayers she sent heavenward from the prayer list that she had with her at all times.  Grandma was not known as a "prayer warrior", but a very special saint who knew how to reach the heavenlies with her prayers.

 As I think of her this morning, I would not call her a pastor, or even a teacher, even though she taught Sunday School for years, but rather a ‘beamer of light’.  She would share her faith in a way that was understandable and filled with the love of her Lord, but that was not what I remember about her.  She radiated Jesus every moment of her day, not by what she said or even her actions, but when you were around her you could feel the love of Jesus coming through her very being.  When I sing "This little light of mine, I am going to let it shine" which I do often, I think of my Grandma sitting on that swing with needle in hand, her lips praising her Lord and taking those who had heavy hearts to the Throne Room of Heaven.

 Sooooo, I have asked myself many times, how does one become a ‘radiator’ of God's love without saying a word?  Grandma would say, “Become a doer of the Word and an imitator of Jesus.”   When the little children (other than family) come to a person, you know that person is filled with the love of God - and the little children came to Jesus.  I look forward to the day I can give my Grandma a big hug.

 Blessings,

Gramps

No Greater Miracle!

 

Friday, February 6, 2015

God’s Power Principle For Today: “Do not fear for I am with you: do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isa. 41:10). 

Hey Gang, as I reread this verse, for the umpteenth time, it brought to memory a story told by an old-salt evangelist many years ago at the Christian Retreat Center in Florida.  He had been a very successful business executive, even an important cog in the early development of NASA.  However, he allowed alcohol to totally destroy his marriage and nearly his life.  But, when at the lowest point in his life, having lost his bride, his family and his business, God reached down, as He did with Saul on the Damascus Road, and said, “I’ll take that one”.
  

He told the story of a time when he was invited to visit and preach at the worst of the worst prisons in Georgia.  An invitation that he readily accepted.  When he arrived, he was ushered into the cell block that held the least dangerous prisoners and from there worked his way in to the most restricted areas.
 

As he was preparing to leave, he asked if there were any prisoners that he had missed.  The warden warned, "Yes, one area, but you do not want to go there".  We cannot insure your protection, but he would not take no for an answer. After signing a waiver saying he would not hold the prison responsible, if anything should happen to him, they opened the cell block door and let him enter.  

While ministering to a group of prisoners, one, who had a reputation for being the worst of the worse, came up behind him with a sheave, and threatened to kill him.  Hill’s response, “You can’t.  You can only kill this shell that houses me.  If you push that thing into me, I am immediately leaving to go and be with my heavenly Father, so go for it.”

To make the longer story short, not only did the con drop the shiv but also dropped to his knees and asked God to forgive him.   The con later related, “As the evangelist talked, the words planted by a saintly grandmother many years before began to surface in his mind and heart.  He not only went through a miraculous transformation but became a strong witness in the cell block until he was released. 

Soooo, friends and neighbors, it is not likely you will run into the worst con in the cell block today, but I suspect you can take it to the bank that you will cross paths with someone that is hurting deep inside’ someone who needs a friend to let them know there is a Savior, Christ the Lord, who stands at the door of their heart seeking entry.   There is no greater joy in the world than to witness the transformation of a person, who has no hope, to a Kings Kid. Grandmothers and others keep praying for family and friends and Neighbors.

 Blessings,   Gramps