Dec 13, 2018

“You, O God, sent a plentiful rain,

Whereby You confirmed Your inheritance,
When it was weary.” (Psalm 68:9)

It was a typical Saturday morning. I had just stepped off the ice rink, put my hockey gear in my bag, loaded everything up in my car, and got inside of the car to head home.

I put the key in the ignition and turned the crank as I have done every time I have driven the car for the past four years. The car started right up, but immediately started jerking as though the engine was running on diesel fuel that was gelled up.

I managed to drive the car a short distance when all of the sudden the engine stopped and the car came to a slow halt.

I put the car in park and turned the key. Once again, the engine started, but this time the car was jerking even more profusely. I managed to drive in close to a curb before it “died” again.

I noticed that where the car had come to a halt was a “tow away zone”; which meant that I couldn’t leave it parked there for very long; especially since we were scheduled for a snow storm in a few hours.

I also realized that I hadn’t brought my phone with me and all of my teammates had already driven away.

I stopped and prayed and sought direction before I tried to start the car once again. I was able to get it started (still firing erratically) and drove it between the sputters out of the area where it had been parked.

The thought occurred to me that I was only a few blocks from the home of one of Cathy’s sisters as I looked for a safe place to park the car. I decided to crawl my way to her house.

When I arrived, I parked the car in a spot across from her house and made sure that it would not get towed.

I got out of the car and knocked on her door and was greeted by two of her children who informed me that their mom and dad wasn’t at home and wouldn’t be back for several hours.

I asked if they would call Cathy for me and they said that they didn’t know her number…But neither did I because all of my numbers for my friends and family are on my cell phone!

Realizing that I had Cathy’s number on a piece of paper in my wallet, I asked to borrow a phone.

I called Cathy (who was at a craft sale with one of my daughters) and let her know what had happened and proceeded to secure some numbers; including a ride and a tow truck.

Cathy’s response was almost nonchalant when she said; “We will see how this all works out…”

My daughter told Cathy that she would ask her husband to pick me up.

While I waited for my son-in-law to arrive, I called for a tow truck and was informed that it would be at least two hours; which was ok as long as they got it off the roads before the snow storm arrived in three hours. They said that they would do their best.

I returned the phone to my nephew and waited outside for my ride; which arrived in a short time. I loaded my hockey gear and sticks in his car and thanked him for the ride.

Long story short, the car was delivered and after praying about it, we donated it to a non-profit that fixes up cars for people in need. They even towed it away!

And, simulcast with this, someone was purchasing a different car with the intention of giving it to us as an early Christmas present.

In less than one week we had a new vehicle and had the old one taken away. Praise the Lord!

It is in these times that my faith gets tested; will I simply trust the Lord to provide? It is during times like this that it is easy to miss provision as one gets stuck with questions of “why?”

The truth is the Lord knows so much better what we need than we do.

But we want provision without any loss. We want a miracle without a need that requires a miracle. We want sunshine without the rain (or snow or storms or…)

We want the flowers without the rain.

And yet the Bible tells us that the LORD “makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” (Matthew 5:45)

As I reflect, this didn’t come as a total surprise. The car had been occasionally idling a little rough and we had (a different) son-in-law who is a mechanic look at the car and told us that the timing chain was damaged and needed to be replaced very soon. We were driving on borrowed time.

I also realized that the Lord had been preparing me all week when I had a passing thought; “You need to get rid of this vehicle in order to get a different one…”

I also had a gut-check to wait before I purchased license tabs for the car along with purchasing hub caps that were missing for the car.

And, that same week, two different people said; “If you ever need a car, here is a place that I would recommend…”

I also had heard to bring my phone to my hockey game (which I never do).

Bottom line is that we were taken care of on all levels and all areas. Our posture was to be one of trusting Him as we sought FIRST His kingdom.

Knowing that upon us all a little rain must fall; and that isn’t necessarily a bad thing if we want to see the flowers (provision)…

Psalm 65:9 says;

          “You visit the earth and water it,
          You greatly enrich it;
          The river of God is full of water;
          You provide their grain,
          For so You have prepared it.”

Or as Al Bowlly sang;

          “The roses may be there

          Behind the garden wall,

          Before their fragrance fills the air

         A little rain must fall.”

All Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Sep 13, 2018

The Lies We Tell Ourselves

In the 1960’s, there was a popular children’s song that went like this:

       Nobody loves me
       Everybody hates me
       I think I’ll go eat worms

       Big fat juicy ones
       Little tiny skinny ones
       I'm gonna eat some worms

       Chop off the heads
       Suck out the guts
       I'm gonna eat some worms

That is supposed to be a children’s song???

And parents all around the world have taught it to their children thinking that kind of repetitive mantra would help their little ones…do what…???

What is wrong with you people? Who was the person who wrote this song and then said; “Hey, what a great song! I am going to teach it to children…”???

When I was young, it was bad enough that children sang it. But in my case, those words were sung TO me; not by me. Usually it was sung TO me when ever I was melancholy and feeling as though I was all by myself in the world, which is really strange because I came from a very large family.

You see it’s one thing if I am singing is as a ditty because I’m feeling sorry for myself.

It’s quite another thing when the song was sung TO me because I REALLY felt as though no one loved me.

I was thinking of the song as I pondered two recent encounters that brought to light how deep that belief of no one loving has run in my life. It is a root that I constantly have to pull up in order to not walk in a spirit of rejection; something that I have struggled with my whole life.

The first encounter happened to me at a wedding I had officiated. At the reception, one of the groomsmen came up to me and asked if he could take a photograph with me.

It must be a joke; right? Why would someone want to come up to me a take a photo with me?

Man, that root shows it ugly shoots very quickly at times!

My immediate response to him was; “Are you serious?”

A woman who turned out to be his wife, answered my question; “Yes, he is serious. He asked me if I would take a photo of the two of you.”

I looked at the groomsmen who was shaking his head “yes”, put my arm around him, and said; “cheese”. My heart was filled with love. We spent the next several minutes conversing about music, and guitars. It turns out we live about eight blocks from each other….

The second encounter took place at a birthday party for my grandchildren. Both sides of the family were in attendance; including my daughter-in-law’s grandfather.

I spent some time in conversation with him catching up with the events that took place in both of our families over the past year. I was amazed that he remembered so much about who I was, where I lived, and what I did.

Several times throughout the rest of the day he would ask another question as I was going through the room where the party was taking place.

The joy of his presence and conversation was overshadowed by his loss of hearing, which made it difficult at times for him to hear me.

At the end of the party, I heard him ask; “Where’s Tom?”

I assumed that he was referring to my daughter-in-law’s brother; who was his grandson and went on with the conversation that I was in.

My daughter-in-law found me and said; “My grandpa wants to say ‘goodbye’ to you. He said that he wants to say ‘goodbye’ to Tom before he goes.”

I went to find him and was surprised to see his big smile and hand extended towards me. “I was looking for you”; he said to me. I extended my hand towards his and received his firm handshake.

Two encounters of people wanting to be with ME that I almost missed because of the root that tries to grow up and choke out the life that I was created to live.

I was loved! I had believed a lie that I wasn’t loved! Good thing that I didn’t follow through and eat the worms!

My friend, have you also believed the lie that you weren’t loved? Have you lived long enough entangled by the root of rejection? Have you eaten your fill of worms?

Don’t go through any more believing that you are not loved; YOU ARE LOVED!

“Instead of your shame you shall have double honor,

        And instead of confusion they shall rejoice in their portion.
        Therefore in their land they shall possess double;
        Everlasting joy shall be theirs.” (Isaiah 61:7)

My friend, we live in a broken, sinful world that is so far away from how God created it to be. Read Genesis chapters 1 & 2 before things got messed up and Adam and Eve chose to sin. The good news is that not only do we have a God who cares; but Jesus Christ died and rose again to destroy the curse. Jesus came that we could once again walk in the garden with God.

This same Jesus knows what is like to be rejected by family; Mark 3:20 tells us that his family thought that Jesus was out of His mind! During His lifetime, His nearest and dearest didn’t understand Him.

This same Jesus KNOWS what we are going through because He, too, was misunderstood and rejected by the leaders of His synagogue, and even His followers.

This same Jesus is calling out to YOU today; wanting for you to hear Him say to YOU; “I LOVE YOU!”

You can today, right now, join the family of God!
Don’t wait. His arms are open to receive you!
Simply put, Jesus is calling out for you today.
All you have to do is respond to His calling to you to turn from your ways and ask His forgiveness. He will take care of the rest!

Need further help? Someone is waiting to talk with you. Call either:

1-888-NEED HIM or 1-877-2GRAHAM (1-877-247-2426).

Or drop me an email; I always reply…