Graceman’s Musings

This will be a short blog…More later. We learn to value certain things that are truly priceless. In GOOD economic times we are enamoured with trinkets, junk and material stuff. We take for granted the essentials. It’s like last month for a week or so gas went up to 4.99 a gallon. The trinkets and non essentials at the local Gas Mart or Wal Mart were simply overlooked. A gallon of gas and a gallon of milk were priceless. You cannot drive or eat some weird “widget” . The spooky people that control the economy found that after they plundered our pocketbooks for the 4.99 that we had nothing left for normal discretionary spending and “miraculously” gas dropped to 2.76 a gallon so we would buy their widgets.

Even going through the grocery store we looked at paying for the packaging or convenience and said no to that and yes to making it ourselves. We used to go out to eat ( in good economic times ) and drop thirty bucks on a meal and now realize we can make an “Entire POT ” of chicken soup for under ten bucks…..How cool is that. I cleaned an expensive gym’s pool area and they gave me a membership in lieu of paying for the membership. In hard times no one is joining expensive gyms so I work out in my “private ” multi-milliondollar gym virtually alone….The manager looks at me when I come in and realizes ” Oh, he’s the free guy” Most importantly I appreciate my Faith, the presence of God, my relationship with HIM ( God ) more than anything….I’d rather spend time with the Lord than watch a ball game or some inane show or movie. I learned this in Hard times. I also value my time with family and sitting with Annita as she drinks tea or talking about dogs with my daughter or calling one of my precious girls. I appreciate good worship and word at church and to all my true blue, fierce weather friends…I value you. As Paul said in the Word. I thank my God upon every remembrance of You. I have been so blessed by appreciating the change of leaves and the Fall and releasing kindness and receiving kindness.

I recently took a load of garage stuff to the Goodwill and was sidetracked as I met some poor people and shopping cart ladies. I decided it would be their Christmas. I passed out pillows and a lamp and a nice chair and some toys etc. Man did I have fun. Try it….The most valuable things in life are free. Did not our Lord say ” It is more blessed to give than to receive….” My daughter and I read a lot together and have a book with the pictures from the “Passion of the Christ” I show her the pictures so she never forgets what Jesus has done for us.

I also reflect  on all the sins I have committed and am most grateful for Jesus and for forgiving such a sinner as myself. You see we learn a lot in hard times. Perhaps we learn to think and meditate and pray and reflect and become appreciative for our daily bread.

                                                                            Love Ya..You are precious to me

 

                                                                                    Graceman

Good question re: my last blog entry ” Comfort for troubled times ”

My thoughts

I do not have answers for the complex questions regarding God and life. Some answers will have to wait till I reach Heaven. Perhaps I cannot see the whole picture now. It’s kind of like seeing the earth from a plane. There are gorgeous landscapes and beauty beyond description

and several miles later a tornado has ripped a town and lives apart. Good people, bad people

all afffected. Someone said ” God doesn’t make sense “…I disagree it is Life that does not make sense. It is like viewing the backside of a tapestry with knots and strings and all . When you turn it over the beauty will take your breath away. I see things from the ugly side and God is creating a beautiful tapestry when all is said and done and the earth is filled with the Glory of God….I am a simple man with a childlike faith. I feel often as the footprints poem … that I am being carried by the Lord. There are so many things I do not understand. All I can do is trust the wisdom and love of God. I must realize that I view things from an earthly/temporal perspective and God views things from a divine/eternal perspective. I will be on this pain filled, cursed earth with a lot of hurt and sorrow, disease, crisis and death

for a short season. I trust God for my present as well as a brighter future with him in My Father’s House ( John 14:1-6 ) While I am here I am on a mission to love Him and tell others of his love and when there are things I do not understand…I need to be honest and say I do not understand. I Cor. 13 ( I see through a glass darkly )…All I can do is offer my love and prayers, hugs and tears. The Holy Spirit uses people to convey the Love of God and to all who read this… I today convey His love and my love to you. It’s the best I can do. You may say ” that’s too simplistic”…..I agree, I am simply God’s beloved child and here to seek to alleviate the pain of my fellow human beings until I die or Jesus comes back for me….

I call upon my Abba Father and I wait and he comes to me with His manifest presence and assures me that it will all be OK one day. I trust not myself but I have learned to trust my Abba ( daddy ) Father…I walk by faith and not by sight. I do not operate by how I feel or by my fears but by my faith. Though I weep tonight, Joy comes in the morning…..May His Joy arrive shortly for you….The Joy of the Lord is my strength. Let’s all do what we can do to heal the hurts of others around us. PS. Pray for the remainder of my financial provision for my Africa Mission/Jesus Project.

                                               Love ,

                                               Graceman

This week has been one of great turmoil from Wall Street to Your Street. One man in Cal. killed his entire family over his financial losses and frustrations regarding finances. He did not realize that money and things can be lost and then regained but he killed the ones who were his most precious “possessions” those that loved him. Job in the scripture lost all of his earthly substance during a severe time in his life but still maintained his FAITH in the one who would never let him go. I have been through a time of severe financial crisis, loss and pain and have weathered the storm. I am older and hopefully wiser. I have learned three things 1. Possessions are meaningless 2. Family and loved ones are priceless and 3. God’s love and care is endless…… A favorite passage regarding God is Romans 8:15….” We have not received the spirit of bondage again too fear but we have received the Spirit of Adoption whereby we cry ” Abba Father ” Abba, he is our dad…. more than one that sires a child but

one that loves deeply. I love my four daughters more than life itself. It is painful for me to see many parents pursue their businesses, the acquisition of possessions, position, prestige and power while never stopping to express their love to their children. This time of Global economic crisis will test your faith and expose your true value system. You may lose it all

( I mean materially ) Is that what you think life is all about….Man, do you need an education in life. I am not being cocky. I had to come through some near ( I mean really near ) death experiences like the loss of my dear brother Jonathan to shake my soul to the core. I want to live my life with no regrets and to live each day as if it were my last. Today the family went to a ” Pumpkin Patch ” several years ago I would have declined going. Now I have come to live my life for the joy of others. I wrote all of you a poem regarding the role of God as our Father, dad, Greek: Abba Father from Romans 8:15…Trust me, God, Abba Father is no ” Deadbeat Dad ” Here is my poem/song for you….

                                                                        Abba Father

God has not given us the Spirit of fear

He wants us to pursue Him

Like the lovely deer

His presence will protect us

In danger or in fear

Just call upon our Abba (daddy)

He is always near ( He’ll be right there )

You see my precious child

He loves you so

He Adopted you

He cares for you

He’ll never let you go

Don’t give up, cave in

He will be right there

He’s a wonderful God

Who really cares

The next time you’re in trouble

Or in a lot of Pain

Cry out to Abba Father

In Jesus Name

He will help you

And he’ll hold you

And wipe away your tears

In his presence

He’ll remove every fear…

Love to you and yours, Graceman 10/11/08