Are You Comfortable?

 Monday, June 29, 2015

I am teaching a series this summer on the Names of JEsus.  Last week was ‘I AM’, so this blog caught my eye!

Jesus said, "Believe Me that I Am in the Father and the Father is in Me, otherwise believe because of the works themselves.  Truly, truly, I say to you he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I do to the Father."  (John 14:11-12).

 Hey Gang:  Notice, He did not stop with this promise but added several more to it that we need to heed in these days when God is shaking everything that can be haken.   "Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.  If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it and If you love Me, you will keep My commandments." (vs. 13-15).  (We sometimes for get to ask that the Father will be glorified!)

But, how Lord, can I do far greater things that You, who are all powerful?  His reply, "I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper that He may be with you, forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because He abide with you and will be in you." (Vs. 16-17).

I believe with all my heart the events of the past weeks have ratcheted up the final days of this earth. (2005) If there was ever a time when we need a comforter, it is today.!  The medical guru's tell us the number one malady in the world today is anxiety-driven infirmities.  The head doctors and pharmaceutical companies are getting wealthy as they try to glue people back together.   

I was watching the Kentucky Wildcats working to gain their 38th victory with no defeats.  As the camera man panned the huge arena of the ten thousand or more people, most wore the ‘blue’ of Kentucky and screamed with every point that was scored.  That still quiet voice put the thought into my brain, ‘probably, if Messiah were to come at half time and take His children home, there would be very few empty seats.’   

That still small voice also seemed to say: ‘If the church would be as excited about spreading the Good News of salvation to a hurting world, as these were about a basketball game that will be replaced by the realities of the day when they walked out of the arena, He could heal our land.’

How very tragic that so many people are hurting but turn their backs on the One who can heal their hurts and give them comfort during these very tough days.   The Bible tells us, "For the Lord hath comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his afflicted (Isa. 49:13).  In truth, our God is "... the Father of mercies, and  the God of all comfort ,who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort which we ourselves are comforted by God" (2 Cor. 1:3-4) .

God promises to give us "...beauty for ashes, The oil of gladness instead of mourning, The mantle of praise instead of a spirit of heaviness.  So, they will be called "oaks of righteousness', The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified" (Isa. 61:3).

Sooooo, Now hear this… the comfort that God gives does not necessarily make us comfortable, but it does meet our need in times of loss and discouragement.  When it appears that the sky is falling and the alligators are on the move, I turn to Revelation 22 and read again Jesus words:

 "There will no longer be any curse, and the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in  it, and His bond-servants will serve Him; they will see His face and His name will be on their foreheads" (22:3-4), and the last two verse of the Bible, "Yes, I AM coming quickly, Amen, Come, Lord Jesus.  The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen" (22:20-21).  And that my friends and neighbors you can take to the bank!

Blessings,

Gramps

In Times Like Thes

 

Monday, June 30, 2014

This was the first blog I came to today and I just reread this Hymn Story From my daily Hymn devotional. It is true today 10 yeqrs lqter – and could add more to the list with more hate, rage Woke and Sexual issues!!

“Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” (John 6:68).

 Hey Gang, Gma here again.  You have read the last couple mornings about the 'foundations' in peril. The day after I prepared these  for the blogs, This was my devotional Hymn. The words (at the bottom) so very fitting for today.

“Wars, earthquakes, famines, drugs, child abuse, humanism, the occult, New Age…..

    When world events and ideologies like these seem ominous and unsettling to us or when personal sorrows or tragedies confront us, where can we go but to the Lord?  How comforting it is to know we can always flee to him and rest securely on our ‘Solid Rock’.  During the fearful days at the height of WW II, when the stress and strain of daily living seemed almost overwhelming, the comforting hymn “In Times Like These “ was written.  In the midst of a busy day as a housewife, Ruth Caye Jones felt a direct inspiration from the Holy Spirit.  She stopped her work to quickly put down both words and music just as they were given to her by God.

Since that day the hymn has been a blessing to countless Christians at special times of need.  It has brought comfort during illness, has been used widely at funerals, has encouraged and challenged Christian workers, and has drawn many to salvation.  Mrs. Jones experienced for herself the consolation the words of the song could bring as she spent time recovering from serious surgery a few years after this was written.

The Scriptures warns that world conditions will continue to get worse as we approach the end of this age and the return of Christ.  In addition, we must prepare ourselves for the difficulty times that come to everyone as life progresses.  We can only remain firm when we know with conviction that our God is in control and that all things are working out for our ultimate good.  In the meantime, we simply grip the “Solid Rock” ......as these words tell us:

In times like these, you need a Savior; in times like these you need an anchor; be very sure, be very sure your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock.

In times like these you need the Bible; In times like these O be not idle; be very sure, be very sure your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock.

In times like these I have a Savior; in times like these I have an anchor; I’m very sure, I’m very sure my anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!

Refrain: This Rock is Jesus, yes, He’s the one; This Rock is Jesus, the only One! Be very sure, be very sure your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!

SOOO, our young and not so young friends, whatever difficulties, anxieties may surround you just now, be certain that you are anchored in the ROCK Christ Jesus. He, the God Head, is the only secure help.  His promises are yes and amen.  He is faithful to His word and us.

 Blessings,

Gma

Are You Sharing the Miracles of Your Lord?

 Sorry I forgot to put the date on this one. It has been in the file a long time!

 

 “…And a little Child shall lead them.” Isa 11:6.

“Assuredly, I say unto you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.” Matt 18:

 

Hey gang, how many of you ever were told, “Children are to be seen and not heard?”  It was popular when I was growing up – but not so relevant today.  My heart hurts when I hear young people without a “governor on their mouth .”  Scripture has much to say about that – read Proverbs.  But that is not my thought for today.

 

Recently, I reread the story in I Kings 5. Most people focus on the major character in this story, Naaman.  Yes, it is about God’s care for him and, after being humbled instead of honored, he obeyed the prophet, was healed and recognized that the God of Israel was the one true God. 

 

My focus, today, is the young girl – we don’t know her name or age, but we know her heart. She had been taken from her family in Israel and was now a slave, serving Naaman’s wife.  Remember, in Jesus’ day and before, children, especially in non-Hebrew cultures, were considered simply as property.

 

Several things jumped out at me that I think we all can learn. Read the entire story II King 5:1-19.

 

1.    This slave girl, now in a foreign county, remained true to God in difficult circumstances.  Instead of a hostile attitude, she respected her Mistress and Master and wanted God’s best for them - wholeness and health and shared her faith!

2.    She was trained from childhood to trust and depend on God.  Her natural outlook was that God could and would do miracles.  (Do you think God 

     is the same yesterday and Today?)

3.    Her gentle remark to her mistress, “If only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria, God would heal him of Leprosy.”(v. 3). Again we hear her heart. 

4.    Words are important, as are listening ears!

5.    God works in mysterious ways. Naaman responded, but his expectations and what happened – for God’s glory – were very different. 

 

God's ways are not our ways – so much greater! Naaman’s servants gave him wise counsel respectifully. Did you notice? Five times in the River didn’t make a difference – but Oh, the seventh time!!!

 

God has untold blessings for us, if we obey Him and follow His ways.  Not only was Naaman healed but he made the slave girl’s God his own.  Can you imagine the stories she might have shared with Naaman and her mistress on his return?

 

Soooo, if you are a child of God, with whom have you shared God’s love and the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus, for our sin-nature? Leprosy, in Scripture, is a type of sin and without Divine healing it leads to death. The same is true today of any who have not asked Jesus to forgive them of human sin nature. Are you being intentional about how you live your life, choose your words and share Jesus?

 

But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name. John 1:12.   

Blessings, 
Gma Jean 

Have You Checked Your Insurance Policy Lately?

Thursday, June 28, 2012

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overflow you.  When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, Nor will the flame burn you.”  (Isaiah 43:2). 

 

Yesterday was burn day!  The raking has produced many piles of leaves and pine needles and pine cones that needed to be cleared in order to begin repairing the lawn and flower beds from winter damage. This meant that I was tied to the fire for most of the day.   As I watched the fiercely burning flames I noticed that three things were happening: first the pile was getting smaller as the flames consumed the leaves, secondly, the fire was generating heat; and thirdly the fire was generating light.  As a lad growing up I remember my sainted grandma use to talk about God’s Word as a consuming fire.    Notice Jeremiah’s words, “The prophet who has a dream may relate his dream, but let him who has My word speak My word in truth.  What does straw have in common with grain?”  declares the Lord. "Is not My word like fire?”  declares the Lord, and like a hammer which shatters a rock?”  (Jer. 23:29)  How is God’s Word like fire?  As the leaves are burned and are turned to ash, so the Word of God burns away the chaff, if we will avail ourselves to read the Word, to meditate on it and learn to hear God’s voice.  I hear many people tell me that are avid Bible readers but not too many tell me they are avid Bible study-ers.   An old adage that I have tucked away in the leaf of my Bible is the fine print on my insurance policy with the Lord: “If God sends us down a fiery path, He provides sufficient shoes.”  At the end of the day, I looked with satisfaction at what was large piles of leaves and needles that was now clean and ready for new growth and beautiful flowers.  Is that not God’s way with the fire of His word?  John wrote, “...but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin” (I John 1:7).  Soooo, good folks, fire can come in many forms and many times it comes very unexpectedly.  That is why God suggests that we keep our minds and hearts honed to the wheel and our asbestos suits clean and polished.  James gives us the key to keeping our insurance up to date, “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.  Cleanse your hands you sinners.” (James 3:8)       Blessings,   Gramps