A Fathers final Embrace

I remember being a small boy, around 10 or eleven. My family and I were living in Fair Grove Missouri. I was sound asleep one night when suddenly I was awoken by commotion and shuffling about in the hallway. It was the sound of my mother and father hurrying about, almost frantically. I wasn't sure what was going on but I could tell that something was wrong. And it was.

I crawled out of my bed, opened the door and made my way down the hallway to see what the fuss was all about. There I saw my dad and with a look upon his face I will likely never forget. You see, it seems that his father, my grandpa, had suffered a severe stroke while painting his fence and had been rushed to the hospital. I wasn't there, but in my mind I imagine Grandpa with an old rusty can of paint at his side, a highly overworked and frayed brush in his hand, and the sun in his eyes, working tirelessly to finish the fence before sundown...when he collapsed.

I can still see the taillights of my fathers Nissan pickup racing down the dark driveway as he headed off to be by his fathers side for what possibly could be the last time.

Grandpa lived in St. Louis, so my dad had about a 3 hour drive ahead of him. Dad drove like any son would drive when faced with prospect of losing his father. To hear him say it, it's a miracle that didn't crash or get arrested because he told us he was driving over 95 mph most of the way. God was watching over him that morning.

Dad drove for almost two hours and was just 20 miles from the hospital when he said he felt a sense of peace come over him. Like a warm blanket of comfort, yet a sense of sadness as he realized that his dad had passed. Nobody told him, he just knew. So much so that he decided to pull off the main highway and stop at a gas station for a bathroom break and some coffee. As he sat drinking his coffee, his cell phone rang and it was his younger brother Gary. Gary told dad what he already knew, Grandpa was gone. He had passed about 15 minutes earlier, at nearly the same time my dad had his overwhelming sense of calm.

I believe with all my heart that Grandpa passed and saw his son driving like a maniac, and came down to give him one last hug as to say "Son, slow down, it's okay, I've already gone but I'm going to be alright."

God is amazing, and I'm so happy to know that my Grandpa is with him now.

Only You and God Know: Which one describes you?

Isaiah 29:13

 ¹³ The Lord says: 

       "These people come near to me with their mouth 

       and honor me with their lips, 

       but their hearts are far from me. 

       Their worship of me 

       is made up only of rules taught by men."

I will tell you "I love you" but not really mean it.

I will tell you "I need you" but never reach for you.

I will rarely ask your advice, but never take it.

I will accept your gifts, but never say "Thank You".

I will only call on you when you can do something for me.

I will blame you if anything goes wrong in my life.

I will spend one, maybe 2 hours per week with you.

I will let someone else read to me the letters you wrote to me.

I will use your name in vain.

I will never defend you when others make fun of you.

I will not honor the sacrifices you have made for me.

I will not turn off the TV to spend time with you.

I will not stop the behavior that makes you angry with me

I will continue to live my life my way, in spite of your wisdom.

I will not obey you.

I will not honor you.

I will not respect you.

I will not exalt you.

I will not tell anyone about you.

I will not follow you, unless you are going in my direction.

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Ezekiel 36:25-27

²⁵ I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. ²⁶ I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. ²⁷ And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.

I will tell you "I love you" and really mean it.

I will tell you "I need you" and reach for you constantly.

I will ask your advice, and pray for the ability to hear and obey it.

I will accept your gifts, and will pass them on to my neighbors.

I will only call on you for everything.

I will Thank you if anything goes wrong in my life.

I will spend not one minute without you.

I will read your word daily.

I will never use your name in vain.

I will defend you jealously when others make fun of you.

I will humbly honor the sacrifices you have made for me.

I will turn off the TV to spend time with you.

I will stop deliberately sinning.

I will live my life to in honor of your wisdom.

I will obey you.

I will honor you.

I will respect you.

I will  exalt you.

I will tell everyone about you.

I will follow you Lord... Forever.

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God's Name in Vain

Deuteronomy 5:11

¹¹ "You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.

I work with the public everyday, and I have decided that I'm going to start a little tally of how many times in a given 9 hour day I witness blasphemy. I'm considering any phrase involving "God", "Jesus", "Christ", "Holy" or combination there-of used in a manner that most would deem inappropriate or disrespectful. Let me say that it grieves my spirit to hear these terms day in and day out. May God convict their hearts and cause them to repent of this sinful blasphemous behavior.

This will be a one week study. From July 24th to the 31st.

Day 1-6

• Holy ? 10
• Jesus Christ 4
• God D**** 5
• Jesus 5
• Good Lord 2
• Good God 3
• God 3
• Swear to God 1
• Oh My God 17
• Sweet Jesus 0
• Total: 50

I must Say, I am thrilled to be done with this little survey. I can go back to "tuning it out" again. However it is very telling that in (1)week, (1)man was exposed to 50 attacks on the Lord via blasphemy. 2600 blasphemy's per year!

1 man--------------50 bpw-------------2,600 bpy

10---------------500 bpw-----------26,000 bpy

100-----------5000 bpw----------260,000 bpy

This study made me think! How many praises are we as Christians giving GOD per week, day or year?

I don't know about you...But I'm on a mission NOW!

Let's give Glory to our Father who art in Heaven!

Hollowed By Thy Name!