Tis The Season of GRACE

I just came in from our backyard where Fiver and I played a little catch… or rather a game of toss the ball and chase after the dog… and I am feeling exhilarated and thankful with an overall sense of peace!  It’s a beautiful fall day here in Oklahoma.  When we took our morning walk along the golf course a couple of hours ago, the weather was in the mid-thirties with a bright blue, wispy cloud filled sky!  Then, by the time we went into the backyard, the setting was the same, except the temperatures have gone up about ten degrees.

To me, this is the perfect weather to get one in the mood to enjoy the traditions and family adventures of Christmas.  We had two wonderful Thanksgiving gatherings with our kids and their families, which enabled me to get in some quality Grandpa, or as my Oklahoma City granddaughter calls me, “Grandpa Papa”, time. 

The weather on Thanksgiving was brisk but did edge its way up into the low sixties.  Yesterday started out in the low twenties with a cold northern wind and forced me to put on some thermals for Fiver’s and my morning walk!  But by the time we gathered with the family, the weather was at a much more manageable temperature. 

Today started out cool, much like yesterday with blue skies but no wind that made for a very enjoyable morning walk!  This afternoon though, the forecast is for increasing clouds with some rain and even a chance of snow over the night time hours! 

So, yeah… It’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas in the flatlands of Oklahoma!  And with that atmosphere filling my home, I can’t help but to go back to the Old Testament prophecies and New Testament stories that tell of the coming King of Kings and Lord of Lords!

As I have begun to re-visit those precious verses of scripture over the last few days, I have been especially drawn into noticing the multiplicity of times that the GRACE of God is spoken of.  The verse that started it all off for me was the prophetic words as recorded in the book of Luke explaining,

“Then Zechariah was filled to overflowing with the Holy Spirit and he prophesied, saying: ‘Praise be to the exalted Lord God of Israel, for He has seen us through eyes of GRACE, and He comes as our Hero-God to set us free!’” *

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges, with its biblical commentary, states that Zecheriah’s prophecy,

“was early recognized as the last Prophecy of the Old Dispensation, and the first of the New, and furnishes a kind of key to the evangelical interpretation of all prophecies.”

So, if I understand this correctly, GRACE and the concept of God viewing us all through the eyes of GRACE, is then the key to unlock the underlying meanings of all the evangelical prophecies that tell of the plan, purpose and power of the Gospel message.  Jesus thought so highly of the importance of God’s GRACE in the life of the believer, that He reassured us declaring,

“But don’t worry. My grace will never desert you or depart from your life.” ** 

Strong’s and Thayer’s Greek/English dictionaries tell us that God’s GRACE is defined as,

“the divine influence upon the heart and its reflection in one’s life, the spiritual condition of one governed by the power of divine Grace, one’s kindly bearing, favor and the reception of beneficial opportunities”

I get excited when I read of the underlying explanations and foundations that define God’s intentions of His GRACE and of His seeing me and my fellow brothers and sisters through the eyes of that loving, favor giving, opportunity presenting, divinely influencing, power of God’s GRACE operating in, for and through our lives!

I would encourage you to begin to think about everything that you do in celebration of Christmas this year… in the celebration of the coming of the Savior of the world… with the joyful understanding of God’s GRACE operating in the activities of your daily lives. 

Meditate on and then expect to see and receive the beneficial opportunities of His Grace in every part of your life… in everything you do, with everyone you interact with and within all the plans, hopes and dreams that you hold dear in your heart.

Enjoy the rest of your Thanksgiving weekend and then set your heart for a wonderful and more meaningful experience of the Christmas season… by your personal and hands on knowledge of the real intent and power of God’s GRACE working in your life… and then pass it on to others!

 

*Luke 1:67-68 – The Passion Translation

**Luke 21:18-The Passion Translation

Happy Thanksgiving!

As I drove away from my local grocery store yesterday morning, I had to smile for I was pleasantly surprised that the store was less crowed than I thought it might be on the day before Thanksgiving!  I’ll be spending Thanksgiving Day with our oldest daughter and her husband who are preparing a complete KETO friendly feast, including turkey and my favorite homemade pumpkin pie!  Then we’ll connect with the rest of the clan on Friday with the other two Oklahoma families in town and online with the Tennessee Berruto’s.

It has been fun for me to observe as our oldest daughter has flawlessly stepped into the family organizer role which her mom had seamlessly performed… and she does it with the same joy, order and grace as Piper did!  I couldn’t help but to tear up yesterday, after discussing our holiday plans with Jamie, when I proudly put down my phone, looked upward and said… “You know Piper?  You’d be very proud of your older daughter… for she’s acting just like you, as she has stepped into your shoes as the family gathering expert!”

So, with those plans getting ironed out, I started thinking this morning, that I am very THANKFUL for the strong foundation of LOVE, GRACE, RESPECT and HONOR that Piper and I established beginning in high school as our relationship blossomed, and continued to grow in our family through the years as our children matured into adulthood.

I was telling Jamie that it deeply saddens me that Piper was not able to enjoy watching the fruit of her labors in our adult children, from the limitless hours that she joyfully endeavored to put into the raising of our kids as their mom, their daily spiritual and moral example, and guide… and as their very much hands on, dedicated homeschool teacher.  But then I had to pause and smile as Jamie and I agreed… that she most likely is keeping a watchful and very THANKFUL eye over us all!

I’m THANKFUL over this THANKSGIVING week, that I see many of the unique and special qualities that marked Piper, demonstrated in each of our four children.  I catch familiar glimpses of her in their words, their smiles, their caring hearts, in the practice of their faith and in the ways in which they are raising their families.

In his first letter to the church in Thessalonica, the Apostle Paul encouraged the church saying,

“In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” (I Thessalonians 5:18 – KJV)

If I was forced to choose one thing that I am most THANKFUL for… I would have to say that I am most THANKFUL for the GRACE of God operating in my life.  Paul prayed for us, through his letter to the church in Rome, that God’s

“Joyous GRACE and total well-being, flowing from our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, rest upon you.” (Romans 1:7 – TPT) 

Thayer’s Greek Definitions tells that the word GRACE in this verse speaks

“of the merciful kindness by which God, exerting his holy influence upon souls, turns them to Christ, keeps, strengthens, increases them in Christian faith, knowledge, affection, and kindles them to the exercise of the Christian virtues.”

This definition informs me that God’s GRACE isn’t just a one-time salvation experience, but a life-long anointing that gives us the wisdom, the strength and the love of God to continually grow in our Christian faith and live lives that positively influence those with whom we interact with in our daily lives.

To be perfectly honest… I don’t think that I could have made it through the last 20 years of my life without the power and blessings of God’s Grace working in, for and through my life!

If you were to pick the one thing that you are most THANKFUL for right now in your life… What would it be?

I invite you to list your answers in our comments section, under our Facebook posting or on whatever platform that you are reading our THANKSGIVING post on.

So…however you celebrate today’s special holiday that (at last to me) opens up the door for the all-out, no holds barred, celebration of Christmas!... I pray that you have a very blessed, enjoyable and downright fun THANKSGIVING Day!

And if you remember… save a piece of pumpkin pie for me! (One can never have enough of a good thing!)

Adventures in GRACE!

As I continued to study the Word today through the idea or predetermined filter of “ADVENTURE,” I found some interesting scriptures that talk about GRACE. 

Through the whole ADVENTURE of faith that Piper and I experienced with the attack of Alzheimer’s upon the last twelve years of her life, and the ensuing five years since then, I have come to understand that God’s GRACE is the power of His love toward us, in us, for us and through us unto others.

I found it exciting this morning as I read from some of the initial mentions of the GRACE of God at the very beginning of the New Testament gospel message, when Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist, prophesied of the soon coming Savior declaring:

“Praise be to the exalted Lord God of Israel, for He has seen us through eyes of GRACE, and He comes as our Hero-God to set us free!” (Luke 1:68 - The Passion Translation) 

I had never seen this verse translated with this amount of description before, so I had to go back to the familiar King James rendering of this verse and look at the original Greek meanings of the words… and you know what?  The above Passion Translation does bring out the actual intent of Zechariah’s words.

And that is when the revelations of the Biblical “Adventures of GRACE” flooded my mind… and my heart exploded with fireworks as I sat back in my chair and shouted out loud that: “God looks at us… at you and me… through the eyes of GRACE!

That’s why verses of scripture like Romans 8:1 are so important and even foundational to our personal faith.  In speaking to us Christians, the Apostle Paul simply but yet concisely writes,

“There is therefore NOW NO condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.” (KJV) 

If some of you go back to do your due diligence and check this out in your own King James Bible, you will see that I did not include the last ten words written therein that say, “who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”  Most theologians agree that the last phrase is not a part of the original manuscripts.  The renown American pastor, author and theologian C.I. Scofield (1843-1921) notated in his bestselling annotated Bible that, “The statement ends with "Christ Jesus"; the last ten words are interpolated.”  From what I have seen, the vast majority of the more modern translations exclude the last phrase.

I believe the Apostle Paul was emphasizing the power of the GRACE of God in Romans 8:1 by clearly stating that the blessings of God only come to us through the power of His loving GRACE and NOT through following an Old Testament-like system of Do’s and Don’ts.  Does that mean that we don’t need to live our lives according to Jesus’ standard of love?  Of course not!  But it places the emphasis of how and why we live holy lives, on the ever-growing foundation of our love for God and our acceptance of His amazing GRACE that functions toward us, in us, for us and through us unto those around us!

Our scripture in Luke 1:68 tells us that God looks at you and me - and the activities of our daily lives - through the eyes of GRACE… and NOT with condemnation!  And if you, like me, take Jesus as your example to follow in this life… then we should be doing the same… right?

Proverbs 3:5 tells us to,

“Trust the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding.” (God’s Word ©) 

Another translation says to “not rely on your own opinion”*

When I look back on this verse, I often wonder how many times I have looked at people or at situations with the filter of my own opinion… and thereby judging or forming my response by my own life experiences… without the benefit of knowing the point of view of those involved.  Does any of that sound familiar?

I realized as I was forming my own opinion this morning, while watching a neighbor from my study window, while enjoying my daily Bible study, that I really had no idea what they were doing.  As it turns out, I do my morning Bible study at the same time everyday and I notice some of my neighbors following certain routines.  The individual I saw today has a weekend routine where they come out when I’m studying, jump into their vehicle, drive away and then return a few moments later with a cup of coffee and a small white bag. 

So today when they came out looking like they had just got up, wearing running shorts, slippers and a heavy coat (it was 35 degrees outside) and hopped in their truck, I assumed that I’d witness the return trip as usual… but you know… they never came back… at least for the next hour while I was in my study.  At one point I got up and walked into the kitchen to pour myself a freshly brewed cup of coffee and then returned to the study. 

Once in there, I stood in front of the window and started talking to the dog who was resting comfortably on the loveseat next to me, about all the things that our neighbor could be doing… when I suddenly stopped and laughed as I realized that I had absolutely NO idea what the person was up to.  I hardly know the individual and was coming up with an opinion of what they were doing based on MY personal life experiences… that may or may not have anything in common with my neighbor’s!

Then I looked over at my Bible opened up on my desk and read from Luke 1:68 and thought… Hummm… I should be looking at this situation through the eyes of GRACE… through the eyes of the power of God’s love in action!  And so, I did… and found myself praying blessings and protection for my neighbor… then I sat back down at my desk and continued my morning study!

What do you think about that?  Have you ever found yourself in a similar situation?  I’ve been on both sides of that coin… both judging people unfairly and also being judged unfairly by others… who had absolutely NO idea what they were talking about… and neither one of those experiences felt very good!

I’m learning that seeing myself and others through the eyes of God’s GRACE brings freedom, peace and the breath of Godly LIFE into not only my life… but also into the lives of the others involved!  And you know… It makes for a pretty sweet life!

So, have a sweet weekend as you begin to see life around you… through the eyes of God’s GRACE!

 

*The Passion Translation

The Adventure Begins...

After taking the dog out in the wee hours of the morning today, I sat down on the edge of the bed, in the dim of the nearby nightlight and found myself lost in thought over my past, present and future.  For some reason, I began to recall the day near the beginning of my senior year in high school, when my new girlfriend… to whom I was growing rapidly attached to… gave me a used gray colored paperback version of The Good News Bible.

And with that thought in mind, I turned around and grabbed hold of the little Passion Translation Bible that I had sitting on the other side of the bed.  It reminded me of that old paperback version as it also is gray in color, although this one is bound in leather.

As I held the Bible in my hand, I recalled coming home from school that day, so many years ago, and walking down the hallway toward my bedroom.  I held many school books for homework in my hands, but at the very top was the slightly worn, paperback Bible… which… at the time… I didn’t know why… it just felt special.  Then today, right there at around 5:30 in the morning… it dawned on me why!

And before the thought actually formed in my head, I called out aloud, “That’s it!”  And I immediately realized that EXPECTATION for the Word of God working in my life, was born at that very moment in me!

Nowadays I can’t help but to smile every time I see a Bible sitting on a self or on a table in somebody’s house or on the seat in their car… but it especially warms my heart when I see one that is open in someone’s hand!  Over the years, the Bible has become a personal friend to me… You see, it’s not just a book, but it is the very words and power and will of God that speaks directly into yours and my daily life.

Once I climbed back under the covers this morning, I began to think of all the ADVENTURES that Piper and I experienced, both individually and together, over the years, as we stepped out in faith due to our ever-increasing understanding and personalization of the Word of God that is contained between the covers of our Bibles. 

The Apostle Paul talks about these ADVENTURES in I Corinthians 1:9 when he wrote,

“God, who got you started in this spiritual ADVENTURE, shares with us the life of his Son and our Master Jesus. He will never give up on you. Never forget that.” (The Message)

Lying there in bed also got me to thinking about the early 1980’s children’s TV program that we used to watch and record for our kids called “SUPER BOOK.”  It was a Christian anime television program that was produced in Japan in cooperation with the Christian Broadcasting Network here in the United States.

The series chronicled the ADVNTURES of two children, Chris and Joy and their toy robot Gizmo, who comes to life after they find an ancient Bible that can speak and send them back in time each week, to experience ADVENTURES from various stories within both the Old and New Testaments.  Each episode began with the deep and booming voice of the Bible talking to them, followed by an explosion of bright light as the ancient book opened its covers and magically sent the time travelers off into a new ADVENTURE of faith as taught in the Word of God.

I know that I’ve said it before, but now that Piper has gone home to be with the AUTHOR of our Bibles, I find myself feeling closest to her when I read the many, many highlighted, circled and underlined portions found within her different Bibles.  I can sense what ADVENTURES she was feeling, learning and experiencing when she read those particular verses… and assimilated them into her life.  And as each of her Bibles were used at certain times during her life, I can also recall what was going on in our relationship, our family and in the world at that time!

When I peeked out from under the warm covers once again this morning, I set my attention on that little Passion Translation Bible sitting next to me on the bed.  And I couldn’t help but to smile and laugh as I pictured that little Bible beginning to shake, hear its deep voice beginning to speak and witness the bright flash of light as its covers dramatically flew open and began to draw me into the next ADVENTURE of faith that God was desiring for me to experience and learn today!

What about YOU?  When was the last time that YOUR Bible drew you into an EXCITING, NEW and LIFE-CHANGING (for you and/or others around you in your daily life) ADVENTURE of faith?

When you look at YOUR Bible… or at any Bible for that matter… what do you think about?  Do YOU think ADVENTURE… or something else?  How would you define YOUR interactions with God’s Word?  Hummm… something important to think about… wouldn’t YOU say?

Have a great weekend… and as you do… take a moment or two to consider the ADVENTURES that God might have awaiting you!

More EXCITEMENT!

I was thinking on Fiver’s and my morning walk a little while ago, of the many things that have brought EXCITEMENT into my life over the past 70 years.  One of my first remembrances as a child was our summer camping adventures with my family.  I enjoyed just about every aspect of those vacations… Okay… maybe not so much when we got home and had to unpack the car and store away the camping equipment into the attic racks in the garage.  What I recall the most about those times was my dad’s irritability and his relatively short range of patience… which was unusual for him… as we kids dragged our feet and didn’t want the vacation to end. 

But later in life, after I began to walk in his shoes, and experienced coming home with our four kids after a week of non-stop activities and a six-hour drive home from camping… I rather found myself acting out with the same impatient behavior as my dad!  Funny how things come back to haunt you!

I remember one time in particular when my mom and dad took us to spend a week camping at DL Bliss State Park on Lake Tahoe.  The park did not take reservations at that time and was on a first come, first serve basis.  So, with that in mind, my dad planned for us to leave a few hours before the break of dawn, in order to get there bright and early and be first in line to grab a vacant campsite!  My greatest remembrance of that vacation was the EXCITEMENT bursting in me throughout the previous day and the early hours of the day we left. 

What an adventure!  Going somewhere I’d never been, driving in the dark and finally catching a view of the magnificent Pine forests as the sun began its climb through the trees and glimmer off the pristine, clear waters of Lake Tahoe!

And you know?  That EXCITEMENT never left me in my adult years as we would pack up the station wagon… looking a little like the Beverly Hillbillies*… and drive away from our home, and head toward the pine or redwood forests (depending on the park we were going to) with smiling kids and a beautiful wife enjoying the EXCITEMENT she observed all over the kid’s faces!

Needless to say, there were all kinds of adventures throughout my childhood and teenage years that brought EXCITEMENT into my life, with the highest attainment reached when I met my future wife at the beginning of our junior year in high school.  Our relationship brought the two of us into a great variety of EXCITING adventures throughout our 48 years together.  For me though, the pinnacle of that EXCITIMENT was Piper’s introduction to me of the life-changing, positively challenging, fun-filled and EXCITING Christian lifestyle that we dove into from practically day one!

Romans 12:11 in The Passion Translation encourages Christians to,

“Be enthusiastic to serve the Lord, keeping your passion toward Him boiling hot! Radiate with the glow of the Holy Spirit and let Him fill you with EXCITEMENT as you serve Him.” 

After Fiver and I returned from our morning walk today and I stood at the stove cooking breakfast, I got to thinking about the EXCITEMENT that Piper and I shared throughout our marriage.  I realized that we blended our Christian faith into just about EVERY aspect of our lives… from the mundane daily activities, to the growth and training of our four children, in the performance of our jobs, within the relationships we had with our extended families and even in the midst of our most intimate times together.

And for us… that is what made our lives to be EXCITING!  In Psalm 71:18 the Psalmist implores the Lord to,

“Give me grace to demonstrate to the next generation all Your mighty miracles and Your EXCITEMENT, to show them Your magnificent power!”** **

We made a decision very early in our marriage to not just observe the potential benefits of Christianity from the sidelines… that are promised throughout the pages of yours and my Bibles… … but to jump in and regularly practice and hone our faith… so as to be able to play on the field, as members of God’s first-string team, in the game of life!

And WOW!  What a life it has been… I can’t think of a more EXCITING way to live it… CAN YOU?

Have a terrific week and as you do… share the EXCITIEMENT of your faith with others.  After a week of C-O-L-D weather, I’m back to wearing shorts and enjoying temps into the high 70’s!  Yep… Life in Oklahoma can also be pretty EXCITING!

 

*I had to put air shocks on the Pontiac wagon in order to level the car!  Otherwise, the back bumper would have been dangerously close to the road!  Funny though… we never had that problem with the Suburban we finally purchased!

**The Passion Translation 

EXICITING Times!

Ever since my sweet wife passed onto her heavenly reward some five years ago, I find that the coming of the Holiday season always brings with it a flood of heart warming and at times… heart wrenching memories of the 48 holiday seasons that we enjoyed together!  For us, with our involvement in the church, those special memories would actually flow non-stop from the summer until Christmas! 

It was a continuous adventure of fun church events that Piper and I planned, organized and led, including Vacation Bible School in mid-summer, back to school special events and lessons in the fall, a large carnival-like Family Fun Night on Halloween and a variety of special Christmas events in the classrooms and of course, the seasonal extravaganza Christmas program for the whole church to participate in or just to sit back and enjoy!

To be honest… it was a lot of work… but we enjoyed just about every minute of it!  For me, it was a time when I could let my creative juices flow in making the gospel message to be EXCITING, fun and very meaningful to our students and the adults in our different church congregations… and it didn’t hurt having a very supportive and talented wife who could wear so many different hats throughout the organization and performance of the different events!

As the time continues to pass since her home going, I find myself crying less and laughing more, as I recall different aspects of the variety of fun events we participated in from the original song we sang together as husband and wife in the foyer of the First Baptist Church in 1975 during their annual Christmas Tree Lighting and Carol Sing, to the Adams Family themed video our family put together, acted in and filmed as a promo for the last Halloween Family Fun Night we led before leaving for Bible School in 2006.

What I realized last night as I sat in the living room with the dog at my feet, wondering if we would have many Trick or Treaters come to our door… and how I was going to hold back my over-friendly, 65lb dog and hand out candy at the same time…* was that our Christian ministry as well as the way we chose to live our Christian faith was rather FUN and EXCITING!

Going to church almost every time the doors were opened and participating in the various events on the Church calendar was far from boring… and while I enjoyed creating, writing, organizing and leading the many programs, Youth retreats, puppet skits, songs and even an original Children’s Church curriculum before moving to North Carolina in 2014, it was the honor and joy of seeing the lives of the children, youth, college age and adults mature, change and improve in the light of the EXCITING message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ that drove us to put out our best effort in everything we did!

As I pray and thank the Lord each day for His continued direction for me in this new season of my life, I can’t help but to remember that old, cold-air-leaking cabin at Snow Camp near Lake Tahoe in California, that I shared with the young Junior High boys from our first youth group in the mid-seventies, when I heard the clear and concise voice of the Lord calling me into His ministry… and especially now, as I declare Psalm 71:18 from The Passion Translation saying,

“God, now that I’m old and gray, don’t walk away. Give me grace to demonstrate to the next generation all your mighty miracles and your EXCITEMENT, to show them your magnificent power!” 

His Gospel message is still as EXCITING to me today as it was to Piper and I throughout our marriage.  It still ignites my heart with purpose and passion to see lives change as thy are exposed to and then spend time in learning about the EXCITING principles and promises that the Bible contains for all of us.  I find it difficult to understand how anyone can be bored in their Christian experience… especially if they are serious about their personal faith and their continued growth in it.  His message NEVER gets old and it NEVER loses its power!

So, while I may be missing my wife, my best friend and my fun-filled and talented life and ministry co-conspirator… I can and do rejoice in the fact that although my personal circumstances may have dramatically changed, God’s Gospel message hasn’t and it is still as EXCITING, powerful and life promoting as it ever was.

My life with HIM has always been… and promises to continue to be EXCITING!  Wouldn’t you agree with that statement of fact in your life as well?

Have a terrific rest of your week.  After a few days of morning freezes, followed by ice-cold northern winds and chill factors in the 20’s… our weather is forecast to get back up into the 70’s over the weekend!  So, if that isn’t EXCITING… then I don’t know what is!

May your week be just as EXCITING, and as you enjoy it… share HIS EXCITING message with those around you!

 

*As it turned out… it was especially cold in our area last night and we didn’t have one Trick or Treater all night!  So, I guess I’ll have to figure out what I am going to do with all that delicious chocolate candy I bought… He! He! He!  Yum……