Gramps

Last Friday my grandpa passed away. He was sick - very sick, and we knew that the time was nearing. He had battled cancer and various types of illnesses off and on, for the past 3 years. As I think about that, I am in awe of how gracious our God is. He allowed Gramps to live 79 full years. And, when he was at his worst health-wise, God in His great compassion, gave him more time to know more family members and experience many of God's blessings. He then ended Gramp's pain and suffering quietly and peacefully, laying in his bed here at home with Gram at his side. The Lord did not allow many years of pain and suffering for him. And, Gramps did not have to die alone in a hospital bed, all things that give his family comfort and open our eyes to God's mercies to lowly sinners such as we are.


My Gramps was more then a distant relative thought about only during holidays. He has been an earthly father and caregiver to me. I cannot remember a time when he wasn't part of my life. As children, my siblings and I lived with him, watching him work in his shed, drive his lawn mower to church to mow, and enjoyed walks with him as he named all the different flowers, trees and birds.

Gramps built us a playhouse years ago. That thing was a fortress. Our friends loved to come over and play in it; they had never seen anything like it! Of course, Gramps would watch us play and freak out every single time he thought we were doing something dangerous, like when my brother and his friends rode their bikes down the ramp he built leading up to this fortress. We thought after that, for sure we wouldn't ever be allowed to play in it again.

I remember him spending hours building bird houses, and various things like medicine cabinets and shelves. When I was a teenager and desiring to display some knickknacks, he built a beautiful corner shelf in my room and a matching ones for Kat. There was nothing he couldn't build.

I remember going over to run around church while he fixed things here and there, mowed the lawns, and cleaned, and found whatever projects weren't finished, and finish them. He never asked for anything in return and he never received any acknowledgment or recompense of any sort for it; he just did it, and loved every second of it. I know he has received his reward in Jesus when went to be with Him in eternity.

He was not just an integral part of my childhood, but on into my life with a husband and children. It has been a tremendous blessing that 4 out of my 5 children have had the opportunity to know him and love him and be loved by him. He built a crib - a beautiful , sturdy crib, when I was pregnant with my first child. He built a beautiful cradle as well. He would come over and tend to flowers and mow my lawn and play with the babies before he moved in with my family and me six years ago. Then my husband could barely keep up with the gas in the mower because he completely took over all the yard work, and took my little toddlers out to weed and water the garden.

He would give them access to his paint and give them wood and nails to work alongside him in the garage. Gramps was the main reason we built a garage; I only wish he could have used it more and we could have made it nicer for him. In fact, Calvin has a pair of jeans that he wears all the time now, that have the paint stains that I cannot get out, because Gramps gave him some paint and told him to go to town! Calvin was Gramps' little shadow when it came to yard work and woodworking. All the kids had hoped to build a birdhouse with grandpa this Spring. I guess we will have to build one in his memory now.

I have pictures and many memories of him taking my kids out to play on the swing set he built them. In the last 3 years when he has been weaker and sicker, he would still swing the little ones and sit on a chair by the trampoline and watch them while he sipped on lemonade ---- or Pepsi! All my kids were addicted to Pepsi at a young age because of him. He'd sneak it in their sippy cups, and also give them free sipping access to the Pepsi can he was drinking from. Many a summer day was spent sitting on a bench outside talking about birds, and plants and squirrels with grandpa.

I thank God for all the time we had with Gramps. He was always there when I needed him. He walked me down the aisle on my wedding day, he loved my children, and helped my husband in any way he could. I rejoice that he is in the presence of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, but I really miss his presence here with us. I am sad that Gabe will not be able to work with him in the garage, or plant flowers with him in the garden. Every time we mow the lawn there will be sweet memories of Gramps--- boy will I miss him when I have to mow the lawn! That grass is actually going to get a chance to grow!

Grandpa Baldy made a difference in my life and the life of my family. I will always feel the pain of his absence, but I am filled with joy at the thought of all the sweet memories I can savor and be able to share with others. Thank you Lord!

Sarahs children

Continuing my thoughts on marriage... in 1 Peter 3:1-6 God tells us wives: "Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, when they see your respectful and pure conduct. Do not let your adorning be external- the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear- but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious. For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening.

I have been thinking about vs. 6 lately... especially how it says that we will be Sarah's children if we do good and don't fear anything frightening. I have heard different versions of this that say things like "don't fear anthing fearful" or "don't fear what the world fears". It was that last phrase that really got me thinking. What is it that the world fears? For my part, I see (and feel!) that the "world" (especially women) fear not being beautiful enough, not being sexy enough, betrayal, unhappiness, having problems with their children, being alone, being unappreciated, being unable to express themselves, being unhonored and disrespected, etc. The list goes on and on. It was pointed out to my discipleship class recently that the author acknowledges that these things are frightening. However Christian women are reminded that we are to chose to not give in to the temptation to fear, but rather we are to be marked by a hope in God that sees beyond the "maybes" and "probablies" and the worldly wisdom, to the great God who is in control and lovingly holding us in His hand. We are to believe His promises for our lives and the truths that God has declared regarding what is beautiful, precious and proper for holy women and then we are to "do good". We are to act out our hope in God by showing our husbands respect ("calling him lord") and living fearlessly in a day and age when women are wearing their fear filled hearts on their "sleeves". I know that my own fears can have a tendency to cause strife, contentions and stress in my own marriage; so this verse really hits home with me and yet is such a blessing to me. It holds such promise for me! God is faithful! God wants me to hope in Him (even with the really scary things like submission and my husband)! He will bless me as I trust in Him!

So what will that fearless living look like in my life? How about in your life? May we walk in fearless hope in God; for "He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things?" (Romans 8:32)

Like a Little Boy on Christmas Eve

"A man lying on his deathbed was asked by his son, 'Dad, how do you feel?'

The man replied, 'Son, I feel like a little boy on Christmas Eve."

Wow! I found this little story on a blog a couple month's back and made a note of it. What a powerful statement by a man who knew who his Savior was and who truly viewed eternity with Him as the ultimate event to look forward to.

We all know how little kids are on Christmas Eve. There are presents under the Christmas tree and they've been there for a while. The kids are obsessed, staring at them, picking them up and shaking them, guessing at what is inside. By the time Christmas Eve comes around they are bouncing off the walls with excitement. One more day, one more day!! They wake up ridiculously early Christmas morning, filled with joy that the long awaited day has finally come!

Oh that we would have the faith of little children, that we would have our minds consumed with the prize to come in such a way that when this life finally draws to an end we literally cannot wait to go home! Our God is so big and so beautiful and so wonderful that our sinful minds cannot even come close to comprehending his greatness and majesty, and because of this we are so easily distracted by the trinkets that this world has to offer.

My prayer for myself and for you all is that God would become so great in our minds that the temptations of this world no longer have any power over us. That our understanding of the love God has for us and the immense sacrifice that was made for us would forever grow. And that because of this, our love for others would increase and be manifested by greater patience and kindness shown to all, closer unity with the church, and an urgency in sharing our faith with unbelievers.

Witty Wednesday

Church Bulletin Bloopers Part 3

The ladies of the Church have cast off clothing of every kind. They may be seen in the basement on Friday afternoon. -------------------------- This evening at 7 PM there will be a hymn singing in the park across from the Church. Bring a blanket and come prepared to sin. -------------------------- Ladies Bible Study will be held Thursday morning at 10 AM.. All ladies are invited to lunch in the Fellowship Hall after the B. S. Is done. -------------------------- The pastor would appreciate it if the ladies of the Congregation would lend him their electric girdles for the pancake breakfast next Sunday. -------------------------- Low Self Esteem Support Group will meet Thursday at 7 PM. Please use the back door. -------------------------- The eighth-graders will be presenting Shakespeare's Hamlet in the Church basement Friday at 7 PM. The congregation is invited to attend this tragedy. -------------------------- Weight Watchers will meet at 7 PM at the First Presbyterian Church. Please use large double door at the side entrance.

Chapter 3 of the Cross Centered Life is about breaking the rules of legalism. The author, C.J. Mahaney, defines legalism as "seeking to achieve forgiveness from God and acceptance by God through obedience to God." I think it is important to obey the Lord's commands given in the Bible, but our salvation is based on faith alone not our works. We can't earn our way to Heaven.

The chapter goes on to explain that if a person thinks he can earn his way to Heaven then it is equivalent to telling God that Jesus' death on the cross was either unnecessary or insufficient, and that His plan didn't work - that the cross wasn't enough and that he needs to add his own works in order to be saved. This way of thinking must hurt God. He had to give His own Son to die a horrible death so that we could be saved and then we turn around and tell Him it wasn't enough, that I need to help too.

The author gives us the example of a man that he once saw on TV who was spinning plates on top of a flimsy stick. He started out with one plate spinning and then proceeded to increase the number of spinning plates until it seemed that he could not keep up with going back and forth to keep the plates spinning. Have you ever felt like you had so many things going all at once that you didn't know how you were going to accomplish everything without allowing something to crash? That is how many Christians feel. They become so involved in things that it becomes overwhelming.

I know that sometimes I get overwhelmed by trying to do things that I feel God would like me to do. I always end up not being able to handle it all and then I feel like God is disappointed in me. I forget the gospel message and put my trust in my own works.

The moment that a person repents of their sin and trusts in the Lord for his salvation, he is immediately justified in God's eyes. There are no degrees of justification. You are declared just once and for all.

After a person is justified, God works in their lives to make them more like Jesus and that is called sanctification. This is an ongoing process and will continue until the day God brings you home to Heaven. Its not a matter of then earning or maintaining your justification. You are already completely just in God's eyes and that will not change.

I remind myself often that I have been saved by grace. It is all of God and nothing of me. These thoughts cause me to praise and thank God for saving me. The Holy Spirit gives me the desire to study the word, and to tell others about salvation. I do those things because I want to, not because if I don't God will be mad at me.

I urge you to take a look at your life and decide if you are "going through the motions," trying to please God through good works. If you are, please stop and remember that God loves you so much that He gave His Son for you. He made it possible for you to be just in His eyes. Just put your trust in Him and forget about trying to please God with works.


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