Archive for the 'life' Category
What’s going on in my world? My first response is . . . oh, nothing much. But that’s really not true. A lot has happened and is happening.
My mother passed away in February and I’ve been amazed at how much I’ve missed her, although the person she had been, that I grew up knowing, had long since departed. Still I find myself wishing I could tell her something I thought of today or tell her something the grandkids did that would make her smile. But, I would not bring her back to this world for anything. She is completely at rest; no more pain or suffering. I think of her with daddy, her mom and dad, other family members who’ve made the trip ahead of her and almost envy her. She will get to see my firstborn, my son Billy who died when he was a year old. I look forward to seeing him again.
My youngest son and his wife are leading a group of teenagers on a mission trip to Uruguay for 2 weeks in June. Ellie, my granddaughter, will stay in Nashville with friends while they are gone. I’ll be able to spend some time with her and that is always a joy.
Oh, and I think there is a family reunion planned for the end of the summer.
I would like to spend some time with Will and Neil, but that will have to be worked out. Maybe it will.
And then there is always work; friends; church, and then more work. All in all I’d say that there’s a lot going on in my world. That should make mother happy for she always said idleness bred discontent. I’m very content.
Grams
Faithful to the End
Legs pulled up under him, the old man sat quietly on the sand. The waves rolled gently toward him, tugging at his toes. To the passing observer, he was just an old man enjoying a moment in the sun. But, he was more than that, much more.
John slowly got to his feet, brushing sand from his robe. The low rumble in his stomach told him it was time for lunch. After a short nap he’d come back and watch the sun slide into the sea.
His home was a small island called Patmos. He did not see his family and close friends anymore, but he didn’t mind. He chuckled to himself. He had not known he was such a troublemaker. The emperor had exiled him here in an effort to squelch the spread of Jesus’ followers. Somehow John knew man’s efforts would not stop the preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
The hardest part of his day had become the walk back up the hill to his cottage. It wasn’t very far but the pain in his knees made it seem longer than it was. Someday soon that would no longer be a problem. The anticipation of a new body and being at home with his Lord and friend brought a smile to his lips.
John finished eating the bit of baked fish left from his last meal. He’d have to do something about food for tomorrow, but right now he just wanted to lie down. He spread out his sleeping mat and settled down for his mid-day nap. These were becoming more frequent and necessary. He had finished the writing and had sent it by courier to the leaders of the church in Jerusalem. When one’s work is finished, it’s a good time to rest.
A gentle breeze ruffled the edges of John’s robes, but he didn’t seem to notice. He turned toward the open door where he could catch the glint of the sun’s rays as they danced across the water. It was a quiet time, a gentle time. It was a good day to go home. Well, why not? Slowly John’s eyes blinked, he let out his breath, and smiled. He was home.
Faithful to the end.
Beasts of Burden
The oxen strained against the weight of the loaded wagon. Just over the hill water, feed, and rest. But for now, the oxen stepped into the yoke, responding to the lash of the whip as the driver flicked it across their backs. Relentlessly, they plodded on; just a little farther and they’d be home.
Now put yourself in the place of the oxen. You say, “No way.” But consider this: “These things you carry are borne as burdens on weary beasts. They stoop; they bow down together, they cannot save the burden, but themselves go into captivity. ‘Listen to me, O house of Jacob, all the remnant of the house of Israel, who have been borne by me from before your birth, carried from the womb; even to your old age I am he, and to gray hairs I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save’” (Isaiah 46:1a-4 ESV).
God is confronting Israel, once again, through the prophet Isaiah about their propensity to idolatry. It seemed they would never learn. In this Scripture God says the Children of Israel are like weary beasts and the idols are as heavy burdens they struggle to carry. They are weary and miserable, toiling their life through with no relief from the terrible weight they carry. In essence, God says they have become captives to the burdens they bear.
But God comes right back with the assertion that He has carried them from before their birth, from the womb, even into old age. He declares He made them and He will bear them up; He will carry them.
What a contrast! Oh the freedom that is ours if we simply unyoke ourselves from whatever it is that is strapped to our backs and climb up into the arms of the gentle Shepherd. He will carry all who will come to Him.
The stallion stops and sniffs the wind. Turning quickly, he gallops across the plain, his mane glinting in the brightness of the mid-day sun. His mares race after him. No one rides their backs; no one has harnessed them to a wagon or a plow. No toil; no worries; no troubles. Just complete freedom.
Which had you rather be–the ox, a beast of burden, or the stallion enjoying the unbridled freedom of the open range?
Grams
I’m back at work, in my office, thinking. Close friends tell me I do too much of that, and maybe I do, particularly when I’m trying to figure out what God’s doing. Those who care will be happy to know that I do less thinking now than I did last year. It has been an effort like no other I’ve undertaken. You see, it goes against my personality. I call it being realistic, planning, practical, logical, and a myriad of other adjectives I could use to explain this process of thinking too much about too little.
I use the term little because when I compare those things that occupy my mind to the plan God has and is working out in my life, it is too much about too little.
Does God expect us to be organized, logical, practical, etc.? About some things. The rub comes in when we try to apply these processes to God. He can be organized, logical, and practical; creation proves that, but that’s another topic for another day. However, God is often disorganized, illogical, and impractical when it comes to guiding the lives of His children, or so it can seem. And that is what makes faith the only element that will hold it all together.
Am I still a thinker? Do I tend to view life from a logical and practical standpoint? I’m afraid so. But has my faith grown? I’d like to think it has. All I know is that I’m able to put my life as it is now and what it will be next year in the hands of God with complete assurance that He is in control; He loves me like no other ever has; my days are written in the palm of His hand and there I am content to reside.
Grams
Woodbine FWB Church is now Cane Ridge FWB Church. The building we once met in is now the property of a Spanish FWB church. Cane Ridge FWB Church meets each Sunday in the cafeteria and gymnasium at A.Z. Kelly Elementary School. Each Sunday morning the set-up team meets an hour or so before services and sets up the chairs, mics, keyboards, etc. to enable us to meet for worship. The different Sunday School classes gather in groups in corners, behind the drapes on stage, or anywhere that is possible. Sometimes a group will have a loud outburst but usually there is just a quiet hum as the groups discuss the day’s lesson within their own group.
The same thing takes place for the evening services with one difference. After that service is over, everything has to be dismantled, stacked together, and carried out to vans, trunks, and trailers to be stored so we can meet in seven more days and do it all over again.
Is it tiring? Of course it is. Can it be exasperating? Absolutely, if you let it. Do people’s tempers get short? They could, but I’ve not heard that yet. You see, Cane Ridge folks are on a mission; they have set a course toward a goal and have no plans of looking back with regrets, backing up, or sitting down.
Sunday, April 5, 2009, Cane Ridge FWB Church will break ground on the property where we will build the first building of the new Cane Ridge FWB Church! What an exciting time that will be. Scores of us will ride by the property as the building begins to take place just to see how much progress has been made. As the the building takes shape the excitement will mount until one day we drive by and it is almost complete. Just a few more finishing touches and then we can move in. On that day, the glory of the Lord will fall and just as the Children of Israel stepped up the bank of the Jordan River to take possession of Canaan, Cane Ridge Church will take possession of the land and building God has given us with the task of conquering new territory for Him.
Are we up to the challenge? We’d better be. God does not do things halfway and He doesn’t expect His children, His warriors, to fall victim to that attitude either. So, we march on; we work; we give; we pray; we encourage; we remain faithful and the God of heaven and earth has promised never to leave us. He will finish the work He has begun.
Come see what God is doing at, and with, Cane Ridge FWB Church!
Grams
Christians have a way of throwing around smart, catchy phrases that sound really spiritual; i.e., God is so good; All you have to do is trust Him; Whatever is His will that is what I’ll do, and the list could go on and on. I’ll admit some of these, if not all, are sound and biblically based. My problem with them is that most of the time it is just talk; a pat answer to someone’s question who has no clue as to what God really wants or purposes. How many times have you actually watched someone put his or her faith into practice? I observed that just today.
One of my dearest friends has recently gone through a terrible ordeal. Even as I write it is not finalized, but there are some positive signs and the end is drawing near. Yesterday she and I talked and she read a Scripture from Mark where Jesus said if you believe you will receive it, it will be done. She told me that tomorrow, which is today, that she fully expected the Lord to do something unusual, even miraculous. I agreed to pray with her, as have scores of others. She would not be denied. She grabbed on to the altar of our Lord, the God of heaven and earth, and she did not let go. Today, God did something unusual, against all odds, humanly speaking.
This lady’s faith is not show or talk; it is real, the genuine article. To say she has had a profound affect upon my life is an understatement. If nothing else, I have witnessed first hand that God does listen to His children; He will move mountains; He does care that we suffer, and He provides a way where there seems to be none.
This kind of faith is the kind I saw lived out in the lives of the older generation, the generation of my father. Those old pioneer saints took God at His word and acted upon it. We don’t see that kind of faith very much in this present generation. I count it a great honor to know someone who asked God for the impossible and He delivered.
Grams
“One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want” (Proverbs 11:24, ESV).
When I read that verse I had to think about what all it was saying. Certainly it had to encompass more than “getting.” The only way I knew to think about this was to consider what all a person could give.So, here goes.
Of course, the most obvious act of giving that comes to mind is the giving of money. It is said that Americans give more to other causes than any other people. That’s probably because we have the most to give. However, taken in light of this verse (and others), that fact alone may very well be why we have the means to give. But, as time goes on, with the present difficulties with jobs and layoffs, people will inevitably give less to outside causes. One word of caution: never think you can short-change God and still prosper. His Word is very clear. If you honor Him with what He has blessed you with, He will pour out still more blessings, abundantly.
Now think about this a minute–is money the only thing you have to give? I think not. We are more than the balance in our check book. What about giving of your time? If you have a family, that’s a good place to start. God gave the father and mother the responsibility of teaching and training their children to become mature adults who will love God, accept His Son as their Savior, and work to advance the kingdom. You can’t fulfill this responsibility if your mind is somewhere else and your heart is cluttered with unnecessary, worldly pursuits.
Do you need friends? Do you desire a close relationship with someone? The Bible says that if a person would have friends, that person must first be a friend. So, offer your friendship; give of yourself; open your mind, your life up to those around you. So what if there are some who are not willing to respond in like manner? Others will. I had to learn that the hard way, but it works.
Do you want a closer walk with the Lord? Know how to get there? Dive into His Word. Give yourself to studying the deep truths of the Bible. God will respond. He says if you will draw close to Him, He will draw close to you.
Do you feel like no one loves you; no one cares whether or not you live or die? Jesus cares and let me let you in on a little secret. He has other children who loves just like He does. But sometimes these people who would love you are pushed back because you refuse to let them in. It’s up to you to open the door. When you begin to love others, the response of love from others is almost instantaneous.
There may be other ways a person can give, but these are the ones that readily come to my mind. So, you want to have what you need and that in abundance? Then open up; give of your self, your intellect, your emotions, your time, and yes, even your money. God has said you will grow even richer. I believe HIm. It’s amazing how it works.
Grams
My previous blog espoused the theory that organization was the key to productivity and also a promise that I would resume my daily/weekly blog. I checked the dates and as of today it has been 6 weeks since I posted anything at all. So, what happened?
Now I must come up with all kinds of excuses to justify my failure to organize and keep my word. Of course there were the holidays. I spent 2 weeks with my boys and their families. That was a great time. It was a very special time as well. The grandkids are growing up and each trip is an adventure; new things to learn about them, stories about their latest escapades, and lots of hugs, laughter, and fun. Then of course there was the dreaded “crud.” I am beginning my 6th week and the fifth round of antibiotics. Yep, you heard right. So, I guess that explains what happened.
Even though the last few weeks have been kind of tough, physically, the time spent with family and friends made the trip a lot easier and enjoyable. God is a good God. He provides what we need when we need it, even in the midst of the hard times. Just like He did those many years ago in Bethlehem. God provided what we needed in the hard times. Thank you, Lord.
Grams
“Don’t sweat the details.” I’ve heard that statement made several times and just never paid much attention to it. Why would I or anyone else for that matter be overly concerned with the details? If you organize your life around the principles of God’s Word; if you control your environment, being sure never to let anything in that could disrupt the balance; if you focus on what you do and who you are, striving to be the best everyday of your life, then the details just automatically take care of themselves. Right? Well, no, they don’t and I speak from experience.
There will come a day, early or late, when everything falls away and you’re left only with the details. At that moment those unimportant, minute, bothersome incidents, people, problems, etc. become your whole world. And then, what do you do with it? You find yourself sitting amidst a pile of junk. What you once thought made sense no longer does. What you thought people expected of you no longer matters. You are like a cork bobbing on the surface of a lake while the wind whips you first one way and then another. Someone or something must reel you in; indeed, they must. But who?
The good thing about this is that you can be grasping for any kind of lifeline, almost about to go under, and your faith still be intact. That may sound contradictory, but faith in God is not the issue here. The issue is lordship. That’s where the details come into play. A person may function for years within an overall structure of faith, goodness, service, and all the other things that appear right, but all the time trying to manage the details. If one is sincere in his or her commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ, then at some point God will tear down the main framework in order to get to the details. Once He’s got control of the details, then you finally belong to Him; He is finally Lord of your life.
Today I sit atop my mound of details, much like Job of old, waiting for God to put it all back together. Will He? If I let Him or I can continue to bob across the waves until I go under. God reaches down as I look up and in desperation I take His hand. Gently my heavenly Father whispers, “It’s going to be OK.” And I believe Him.
Grams
“Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.” — Corrie ten Boom
The thing that is so compelling about this statement is the one who made it. Corrie ten Boom lived several years in some of the most adverse circumstances any woman might find herself in. And yet, after all she suffered, she kept her faith in God. She didn’t doubt Him when she faced the ovens at Ravensburck; she didn’t doubt Him when her sister died while they were inmates in a concentration camp during WWII; she didn’t doubt Him when an infestation of fleas kept the guards out of her barracks, allowing her to continue Bible studies, and I’m sure she didn’t doubt Him on the day she went home to be with Jesus. Faith and dependence such as this causes one to stop and take a second look. And our turbulent times demand that we do.
I’m not the oldest person alive, but I’ve lived a significant number of years and never in my life have I known our country, yes, even the world, to be in the condition it is today. A lot of people say this sort of thing and I repeat it only to add emphasis. We are faced with a future that no one but the Almighty knows the answer to; only He knows what will be the import of what we do today. The future, by its very name, has always held a certain fear or trepidation, but today’s world seems to be unraveling from it’s very foundation. To say one is not concerned would be to refuse to face the truth. We are all a little uneasy.
However, not only do the words of Corrie ten Boom offer hope, but so does the eternal Word of God. My Savior, Jesus Christ the Lord, has promised to provide for those who put Him first in their lives; those who live in obedience to His commands. And I think that is where the fear comes in. Most people today know they have not lived in that relationship with Jesus Christ; they are really not in a position to trust anything to Him, neither this present day or a future one.
That is a sad commentary on the greatest nation in the world, a people who have had the truth for hundreds of years and refused to walk in its light. The light has faded and darkness produces fear and fear causes one to lose hope, to fail to trust. And now, those who do not know Jesus as Savior faces an unknown future devoid of “a known God.”
Grams