What An Awesome Blessings - Part 4

 May 29 2015

I didn't find a 2915 Memorial Day Message

"In that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which is in front of Jerusalem on the east; and the Mount of Olives will split in its middle from east to west by a very large valley, so that half of the mountain will move toward the north and the other half toward the south" (Zechariah 14:4).

 Hey Gang:  It has been my joy to open the memory bank and re-live some of those neat experiences that I was able to enjoy in the land of the "apple of God's eye".    When asked what impacted on me the most?  My response, “It changed the Scriptures”.  Now when I read of Jesus teaching and feeding the five thousand, I have a bright and shiny picture of the place and see the thousands of people sitting on the hillside, while Jesus opened His heart to them - not only in spiritual food but in the miracle of the loaves and fishes.

 When I as training to become an air traffic controller, I had an old salt teacher who had been on the firing line for more than twenty years.  He was a seasoned pro that had literally grown up with the development of the air traffic control systems.  As I was nearing check out day he said to me, “One of these days you will not see these strips on the board that identify all you need to know about the aircraft, you will see the aircraft flying around in perfect sequence in your head.”  I was not sure what he meant when he said it.  A month or so later I was up to my armpits with traffic when his prediction came true - I actually saw the aircraft in my mind. 

 As I walked the land of Israel on my more than ten trips, I found that same principle to be true.  When I stood in Gordon's Calvary and looked into the tomb where many feel Jesus’ body was placed, it suddenly became bigger than life.  And when we stood on the Mount of Olives, wow, what a fiery sensation went through my heart and soul.

 Looking down across the Kidron Valley with the valley of Gehenna to my right and Gethsemane on the left and straight ahead thousands of tomb stones of people who want to be resurrected first and enter the Gate Beautiful (the Eastern Gate) with Him, is a sight to behold.  If you are born again and a child of His, this takes your breath away.  It is there that the stones will be removed and He will enter the gate and take back what has always been rightfully His.

   Are there controversies as to what is the right place or the right time?  Remember the rating system of the guides –“Yes, it might have happened that way, or perhaps it did happen that way or no, it could not have happened that way.”

 But you see, it really did not matter what the guide, said for my guide on those trips was that voice inside that said, "Listen to my voice not the voice of a guide who does not even know me as Lord".  Read that sentence again - It does not matter what the person across from you is trying to get you to believe, it is only what God said through His Son and through His Word that will determine if your name is written in His Book of Life and you will receive an invitation to the marriage feast of the Lamb.

 People ask, “Are you not scared to death to go over to that place where killing is common?”  After I remind them that forty people were killed in Chicago last week, I tell them, "Yes, I do have apprehension going over (and I emphasize going over) for when you step on the tarmac at Ben Gurion Airport there is a peace that surpasses all understanding that fills your heart of soul - but we do have to go through Chicago or New York to get there!  Besides what better place to launched into the heavenlies than from Mount Zion, or the Mount of Olives or any place else in Israel.

 I pray you enjoyed your trip through the Holy Land and you will recall some of these experiences when you come across them in your study of God's Word.

 Blessings, Gramps

Are You A Missing Ingredient?

 

Friday, May 29, 2015

 

"I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.  Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that may bear more fruit...Abide in Me, and I in you.  As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me" (John 15:1-2, 4)

 Hey Gang: As I have mentioned before, my daddy was a coal miner and I spent my early years in a coal mining town consisting the three beat up houses.  My dad had to install more than thirty panes of glass before we moved in, so the pot-bellied stove to do its thing. 

I have also mentioned that we were as poor as church meeses, so one tended to grab hold of anything that could be called their own.

 I had a friend whose name was Jake.  Now Jake was not what one might say was of the brain surgeon class.  As a matter of fact, I never heard him speak a word or have an opinion on anything, but was faithful and could be counted on to do his job when asked. He, too, was a very essential part of the coal mining crew.   Jake had been in and out of the mines so many times, from total darkness to blinding sunlight that it had blinded his eyes.

 Jake was the mine donkey that pulled the coal carts out of the mine to the loading ramp.  Now most folks would say a menial animal, like a donkey, is not very important in the scheme of daily living, but one morning they found Jake dead and the mine had to be shut done.  There was no one to pull the carts to the loading dock.

 

 What a tragic event that was.  As I think of Jake, I am reminded that every living created being was placed on this earth for a purpose. Every time I come in personal contact with a mosquito or a wasp I wonder what purpose God in mind they would fulfill - perhaps to motivate us. 

 During World War II Admiral Nimitz was being interviewed and was asked the question: "Who is the most important person on this ship?"  I am sure the reporter expected to hear the admiral say, the captain".  But he said instead he said, “Do you see that seaman down there dumping garbage overboard?  When we are out to sea in enemy territory and he is dumping garbage, he is the most important person on this ship.  For, you see, if he does not spread it perfectly the enemy can follow the trails of garbage to our ship.

 Soooo, my young friends, I believe that is why Jesus told His sheep to be goer’s and spreaders of His Word.  Frank Constantine, while locked away in a Georgia prison heard the Lord say, “Frank, you are leaving "Holes in Time".  Be advised folks, God may send someone across your path today that needs Jesus as Lord of their life and you are the object that God is going to use to lead that person to Him.  Frank gave his heart to Jesus that night and became a powerful witness for his Lord.   Jesus said, "Be a doer of the word and go!”

 Blessings,

 Gramps

In Perilous Times We Especially Need God's Power

 Tuesday, May 26, 2015

 God’s Power Principle for Today, “Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” (Isaiah. 41:10). 

 Hey Gang: It is 6:03 am and I have already made ten or twelve decisions. I decided to get out of bed, fix the fire, put the coffee on, check the weather, turn on the computer, prepare the morning message for today, spend time with the Lord and in the Word, etc. etc.  I am now making decisions on what I will do with the rest of the day – stack wood, shovel snow, finish toys, clean garage, start tractor, ashes out, wood in, feed birds, etc, etc, etc. 

 Will I complete all these chores?  Probably, because I am a task-oriented chap who does not rest until my list is complete.  But if I had to choose one project from my list of chores for the day, there is no question, I would choose “spend time with the Lord and in the Word”, for all the others are mundane in nature and only time with the Lord and in the Word has eternal significance: it equips me for the battles of the day.

 In our v0lunteer work with Voice of Martyrs, we are in constant touch with stories of people who live their lives in harm’s way. Many are imprisoned, beaten and even killed for their faith in Yeshua as Lord.  In all their testimonies they echo the same words of Paul and the other disciples who voiced joy in being worthy to lay-down their lives for the Lord.

 I often find myself asking the question: “If someone aimed a gun at my head and said, “Give it up or die”, would I stand firm in my commitment to the Lord?  I think most people who are locked into God's power supply would answer "Yes", but I confess, until that day finally comes, I am not really sure.  I do know I would have less problems placing my life on the line for my Lord than having to make that decision for my bride, or child or grand children or great grands.

 I believe in God's principle: put on the armor of God.  As long as we keep all the armor in place -our head covered with the "Helmet of Salvation, the sword of the Spirit in hand, which is the word of God, with prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, and be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints" (Ephesians. 6:17-18).

 It is when we keep the armor spit polished and in place that we will be "Strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience joyously giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light" (Colossians. 1:10-11).

 Soooo, good buddies, I believe we would all agree that these are very perilous times when Satan has turned up the heat and released his minions to do as much damage as possible, he knows his days are very short.  "For the word of the God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword" (Hebrews. 4:12).

 Blessings, Gramps