Dare To Be A Daniel

 Friday, April 25, 2014

 Dear readers, I chose this because Daniel was a favorite of Gramps and has been the focus of my teaching & study  for several  months. Next month is the last class. I have been blessed by intense study and class interaction.   

 

“But Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself with the king’s choice food or with the wine which he drank; so, he sought permission from the commander of the officials that he might not defile himself.  Now God granted Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the commander of the officials.”  (Dan. 1:8-9).

 Hey gang:  Notice the last line of this passage of Scripture: “Now God granted Daniel favor”.   Wow, you mean, if we are obedient, God will give us favor?”   In the past two months our lives have been lives of contrast.  We spent five weeks in Bartlesville, Oklahoma as volunteers working in the mail room of Voice of Martyrs and presently we are volunteering at the African Missionary Retirement Home in Clermont, Florida. 

 Our main purpose for being at VOM was pure sweat and toil as we prepared hundreds of thousands of pieces of mail to go across this world telling all who are interested in learning more about the persecuted church.  Now get the picture: I am eighty years of age and my bride is seventy six.  Manuel labor is not unusual for us, but not always 8 hours a day. But how many know that God will supply for all our needs, if we put our faith and trust in Him and are obedient to His call.

 My prayer, prior to arriving at VOM was, ‘Lord you have called me to this ministry to help, I pray now you will fill my body with the energy and stamina to stay the course and complete the race.’  That has been my prayer in each of the past six years as we prepared to leave for Bartlesville, from our comfy home in Michigan.  And He has honored that prayer magnificently.  We always return with more strength and stamina than we had when we left home.

As I mentioned above, our lives have been one of contrast.  Have you noticed that the weather has been horrendous across the nation for the past several years? Do you think God may be giving His children a wakeup call?

 So, we did as Daniel did and “Made up our mind” that we would retreat to the sunny south for a time of rest and recuperation from Bartlesville, a place that was not all white but still very frigid. 

 We returned to an oasis from our past, the Christian Retreat Center at Bradenton, Florida, a place that was filled with many wonderful memories of the past.  It is a place we crawled into when we were exhausted during our years at Eagle Village.   Our Board president recognized the need for us to have an opportunity to just rest and be spiritually fed!  It was my privilege on one of those trips to baptize my Board President, his wife, Marjorie and David. One of the very high points of my life.

 It was here sitting under the teachings of many wonderful and powerful teachers of God that I gained an understanding of Daniel’s commitment to not defile himself with the things of the world.   If I could challenge to every daddy who reads this message, it would be to set aside a week when they would take their family out of the business of the world and spend a week renewing their commitment to Christ as a family.  (Grace Adventures and other Christian Camps offer such an opportunity).

 Soooo my friends, when was the last time you got alone with God for more than two or three minutes between appointments?  I mean really get alone with Him.  A lesson that was very hard for me to learn, and I am still struggling with is prayer - a two-way conversation! Unless we give God an opportunity to speak to our hearts, we will never come to know the Lord in a personal way.  Once again, I would challenge you to get up fifteen minutes early and spend that time alone with the Lord.  Your day will go much better, I promise.

 Blessings,

 Gramps 

My God Shall

 

Monday, April 22, 2013

 Will be 75 April 23.  Born May 14 ,1948 but, because this is celebrated on the Jewish lunar Calendar, the date changes yearly. Israel is certainly in God’s Shaker. BUT His promises to them and us are “Yes, and Amen – it is so!”

“When asked to give one word the greatest fulfillment of Prophecy. the speaker replied "ISRAEL".

 And My God SHALL supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus." (Philippians. 4:19)

 Hey Gang:  Have you ever felt like you were in God's shaker?  I can say, “Yes, indeed, I have been there".  But now hear me!  I would far rather be in God's shaker than in the evil one's shaker. 

  I have been a student of prophecy for most of my adult life and one theme that runs through out the prophetic word is "Keep your armor in place and be prepared for God's shaker.” And keep your eyes on Israel, God’s Time Piece!

 Now let me share a piece of wisdom that I have acquired in my walk with Lord: in those times when all is going well, you best take an inventory of what you are doing.  Satan has no reason to throw his darts your way, if you are not doing anything to promote the King of kings and Lord of lords. 

 James wrote: "Consider it all joy, brethren, when you encounter various trials". (1:2). Why in the

World would he say that?  Because, "Knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance." (v.3). James goes on to tell us, "…let endurance" have its perfect results.”

It is amazing to me how many believe there is a Hezekiah 1:1 that says, “God helps those who help themselves.” In reality the verse should read: “God helps those who cannot help themselves!”

Do we not all go through times when we feel the alligators are winning? Circumstances of want and necessity fill our lives and sometimes we cannot see how we are going to make it. We instinctively, according to our faith look to God, but, do we look to Him with the assurance He will really come through?

 Who said that life is fair?  This we know! There are times when life is downright brutal.  There are many with hearts that are broken, dreams that are shattered, and needs so heavy that they are burdened down to a point that to believe is beyond all hope and they have no thankfulness in their hearts.

 We must always remember that God is faithful. No matter if we feel discouraged or disheartened, we must embrace the truth of God’s faithfulness. If we focus on our problems and troubles instead of God’s faithfulness, we are heading down the dangerous path that leads to discouragement and unbelief. We must trust Him and know that He is faithful to us, His children. He will take care of us.

 Sooooo, young friends, I ask you again, do you feel like you are in God's shaker this morning?  If so, "Trust and Obey" for we have the assurance that God will never leave us or forsake us.  Notice Paul's words in Phiippiansl 4:18, "But I have received everything in full and have an abundance, I am amply supplied, having received from Epaphroditus what you have sent, a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God."  Keep in mind that Paul was in prison when he penned these words.

 Notice these reassuring words of Paul sandwiched in between two other very powerful and reassuring verses, "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me" (V. 13) and "My God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus" (v.19). 

 Blessings,      

 Gramps

Have you Been Silent Before the Lord Lately?

Friday, April 19, 2013

 

"Cease striving and know that I am God.; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in all the earth."  (Psalm 46:10).

 Hey gang, have you ever read anything by Ken Gire?  If not, I would strongly recommend that you might want to get your hands and heart around his books The Weathering Grace of God and Shaped by the Cross.  They are my kind of books, short and big print and carry a ‘big stick’.  We have been in a battle with cancer for the past two years, a battle we recently lost in the death of a grandson, and I might add, learned that such diseases are not restricted to the individual plagued but infect the whole family. 

 n The Weathering Grace of God, Gire addresses such subject areas as ‘The Terrifying Upheavals of Life’, ‘The Weathering Grace of God’, and ‘The Continuing Landscapes of Faith’.  In section one where he addresses the terrifying upheavals of life, he lays out a scenario that we all need to take to heart.  As times begins to wind down, the Bible is clear that it will be a time of ever growing more sever upheavals and man’s hearts will fail them for fear.

The advice of the Psalmist: "Cease striving and know that I am God" (Psa. 46:10a).    The Hebrew word means ‘to relax, stop making fists’.  I once had a youngster at the Village, a twelve year old that came to us from a very violent home, who, if I placed my hand behind his neck I could raise him from the ground as I would pick up a plank of wood.    My goal was very simple in intent, but a war in accomplishment.  Oh, by the way, after six months of just plain love and support, I did accomplish my goal.

 Ken Gire made a very profound point when he mentioned that artists, sculptors, painters, musicians, and poets seldom just decide to sit down and write a symphony or paint the Last Supper. 

 In his book Shaped by the Cross, which is a story about a magnificent sculpture of the body of Jesus laying in His mother’s lap (The Pieta), he tells us Michelangelo spent weeks and even months at the quarry where the marble would be selected to make the sculpture.  And, after choosing the perfect stone, there were periods of time when he stood by the stone waiting for the sculpture to come forth.  

 Ken made a very important point when he wrote, "What we are asked to listen to in times of upheaval is the voice of the Great Artist Himself, who will one day bring, out of the upheavals of the world, a new heaven and a new earth.  And who is in the process of bringing,out of the upheavals in our life, a new heaven and new earth within us as well.  Our culture knows little of his kind of listening. That is also true of our religious culture as well." 

  Sooooo, my young friends, as I wrap up this morning message, I can think of no better closing than with a quote from A. W Tozer's book The Pursuit of God: "Religion has accepted the monstrous heresy that noise, size, activity and bluster make a man dear to God.  But we may take heart.  To a people caught in the tempest of the last great conflict God says, "Be still, and know that I am God."  And still He says it, as if He means to tell us that our strength and safety lie not in noise of the world but in silence. 

 Blessings,

Gramps

THERE ARE NO WORDS

 Monday, April 15, 2013

 

 

Dear Family and friends, I did not read this through before selecting it.  I was looking for a Resurrection Blog, but I believe God put His hand on this one.  More later

"Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die.  Do you believe this?  (John 11:25-26).

 

We were there, his family and loved ones and thousands of others who came to pay honor to a dynamic and covenant- connected-warrior of His heavenly Daddy.  It was to be a day of celebration and the pastor did an admirable job in making it that, but how does one paint a picture of the path of a young man whose focus in life was not to climb the corporate ladder, or become a great political leader, or to be something who ‘people of the world’ place on a pedestal?

 

As I listened to the words of praise for this young warrior I could not help but think of the story of Lazarus, a very moving and familiar story in John's Gospel.  Mary and Martha had sent word to Jesus that Lazarus was sick, to which Jesus replied, "This sickness will not end in death" (John 11:4).  And we know the ‘rest of the story’, Lazarus did indeed die!  His heart stopped and his body was anointed with oils and wrapped in graves cloths and placed in the family tomb.

 

End of story, right?  No!  One might say it was the beginning of a story of hope for all who come to the realization that there is a great emptiness in their hearts that can only be filled by surrendering their lives to Jesus as Lord. 

 

The pastor, Rev, Bob Tisset, had had the privileged of marrying Ryan and Kendra seven years ago. This Celebration was a very tough labor of love for Bob had long ago been adopted into this family and was loved.  How does one stand before a thousand people and paint a picture of one of your family, when you are aching from the depths of your heart.  He said the toughest part of this act of love was going through the mega writings, speeches, and conversations of Ryan and his bride and pick out only a few that painted a picture of this man. 

 

I am nearly eighty years old and have been to many funerals in my lifetime.  It is a time when my friends of many years are completing their race on earth and being called Home.  I have heard many eulogies and have even been privileged to deliver some for very special people in my life, but we were blessed when the Pearl of great price of Ryan's life, his bride, got up and talked about her life with this very special man. Wow, what courage! Wow, such depth of love; she wanted the world to know the man she was blessed to share her life with and his passion for his Lord and master Jesus Christ.

 

At the cemetery we, my wife and I, arrived before the others and I had a few minutes to stand quietly at the gravesite.  I was standing in the middle of a five- grave plot; to my left was two graves, that of my father and mother- in- law who served the Lord as ministers of the Gospel of Christ, and to my right the grave site my son, who also was called home at the beginning of a life of service to his Lord. And, this day we would place the body of Ryan next to that of David.  Four saints of God who made a tremendous impact for their Lord. 

 

Soooo, my friends, will the impact of Ryan's life ever be known?  I think not.  For it is like throwing a stone in a pond and watching the ripples go out.  This ripple creates another ripple until the ripples cover the pond.  No, I do not believe we have we said earthly good -bye to Ryan Prudhomme on April 13, 2013, his legacy will live on through his bride and son, and through his mom and dad, his brothers,his grandparents, family, and the mega people he influenced in his short time of planet earth.

 

To close and not share Ryan’s passion with you would be a dis-service: “What is your purpose In life?  Where do you stand with God the Father? What have you done (what is your relationship) with His Son?  If you don’t know, now is the time to seek Him.  If you claim Him as Lord and Savior, choose now to live in High Definition with Him. Say with Paul (and Ryan), "I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings, becoming like Him in death and so attain to the resurrection from the dead." (Philippians 3:10)

 

Ryan, my Christians brother, I praise God that I was blessed to rub elbows with you for these past 26 years. 

 

Blessings, 

 

Your Grandpa Peanut

I said more later: I allow myself to grieve one week a year - April 8-13. That doesn't mean I don't miss them every day!  April 13, 1986 Our 21 year-old son David was killed in an accident;  April 8 1993, my mother,who spent over 50 years as a minister of the Gospel graduated to Glory at age 85; Grandson Ryan 27, in full-time service for His Savior, saw His   Lord face April 8, 2013. (His son turns 13 April 14, 2023.)  Our older son and Kermit  joined them more recently. Today has been a teary day. But praise God for his Resurrection  Power and our Hope with  Jesus for eternity.  He IS RISEN!   Gma J

King of KINGS

 Sunday, March 24, 2013

 “Where is he who is born King of the Jews?”  (Matthew 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 could be heard 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 (Revelation 19:11-16).   Hallelujah!!! 

 I wonder if any of these were in the crowd a few days later when, before Pilate, they cried out “Crucify him”? Remember there were thousands who came to Jerusalem for this feast time.   We know the crowd was picked by the religious rulers.  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 in my ‘bucket list” or unsaved family and friends? Do we long for Jesus to return and set the world straight?  Do we act like King’s Kids and reflect His Heavenly Kingdom?

 The Old Testament predicted Messiah King; that is what the Jews of His day expected. Somme one to fight for them. They missed the servant Messiah.

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??

Jesus Messiah is coming soon.

 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