Category: Inspirational – I hope

I’ve been writing on this for a good while, I’ll work on it, delete parts, write some more and repeat.  I think it’s the nearness of it to my heart that makes it so special to me.  Sitting in daddy’s truck, waiting on daylight, on the opening day of squirrel season or so, we could cut a load of firewood. I wasn’t always happy about being there, but looking back, I cherish those memories.  Listening to the country radio station and knowing how much he loved music.

My Daddy was a fan of music. Country and bluegrass were music to him, and pretty much everything else was not.  I heard a lot of Cal Smith’s Country Bumpkin and pretty much everything Jim Reeves ever sang, and also liked a little Fats Domino every now and then.  I enjoyed listening to his records as a child.
Every once in awhile, a song will pop into my head, and I’ll catch myself singing it over and over.

Had Daddy lived into this modern-day, I’m sure the “Okie from Muskogee” by Merle Haggard would have been a play-list usual on his phone, though I have a hard time imagining him with a cell phone.  One of the Hag’s songs in particular that I catch myself singing a lot is “Sing Me Back Home.”  Sing Me Back Home is a particularly sad song about a death row inmate on his final walk.  As he walks to his execution, he asks the Warden to allow one of the other inmates to sing him a song from his happier days, so he could feel the comfort of home one last time.

It seems that the older I get, the more fondly my memories of childhood and the protecting arms of my parents become. The kindness of my Momma and the strength of my Dad. I always felt safe at home and in their presence.  As a young man, I always sought daddy’s approval for most things and wanted to please him as he was the main example of how I assumed a man should act.  After he was gone, I caught myself heading across the field to his house to ask his opinion for several years.

With my career path, I often find myself far from home for extended periods of time.  Working in foreign places is, in my being, I get, what I call itchy feet when I’m in one place for very long, but every adventure is punctuated by driving up to my house and seeing the beautiful smile of my Bride.  While I’m away, home is always on my mind.

Also, with age comes the realization of how short life is, and as I often say, life rarely goes as planned.  My life plans were never that firm, but I’d never have thought it would have gone the way it has.   But, even if it all works out the way we planned, we all still leave by way of the grave, so that’s always a sobering thought.

As Christians, we are taught and sing about how this world is not our home.  How we should ‘Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world” and look unto the Author and finisher of our faith.  We have the unique perspective that Home is ahead of us, and even though we haven’t been there before, we have friends and family waiting there, preparing a welcome table for our arrival.

The Apostle Paul said that for him, to live is Christ and to die is gain.  I remember realizing that scripture as a young Christian and being excited about it.  Everything I face in life will be by the grace of God, for me to live is His anointed will, but to my flesh to die, in God’s Will is a promotion.
Trusting God to know what is best for me.  Knowing Him well enough to hear his voice and knowing that His will doesn’t mean you’ll be prosperous, well situated, or even liked in this world.  It doesn’t mean you’ll never face the storm or find yourself in bad situations.  It does mean that at least for His Children, things will get better.  We are in His Hands, there is a light at the end of the tunnel, and He is that Light.

That old song says:
Sing me back home, to a place I used to know,
make my old memories come alive,
take me away and bring back the years,
sing me back home before I die”.

While some of our memories are fond and happy, we can never travel that way again, except in our minds.  We can only move forward, learning, and growing or repeating past mistakes.  Our longings and our goals should be firmly planted in Jesus and in knowing, trusting, and following his will.  And while the memories of my youth call to me and sometimes stir up the desire for a simpler time, the Song of my heart should always be “Sing me home to a place I’m gonna know.”

Proverbs 3:5&6  5. Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Learning to lean on Jesus and trusting that His plan for me is perfect, that I don’t have to understand it, one be willing to participate in it.

Thanks to my Momma for making sure I knew the Gospel.  For making sure that I had an opportunity to feel the mighty presence of God. For exposing me to His truth, and for guiding me, sometimes with a switch, onto the narrow way.

 

God Bless you richly, hope you enjoyed
Greg

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On March 3rd, 2004, I was a passenger on a Boeing 737 that combat landed in Baghdad, Iraq.  I don’t mean to make that sound special, it really wasn’t, it happened several times a day for many, many years.  Combat landing for those unaware is landing an aircraft in a way to minimize the dangers of landing in a combat zone. In our case, we were landing at BIAP (Baghdad International Airport), formerly known as Saddam International Airport.  The airspace above the airport was restricted and protected. Any unauthorized flights would be dealt with, and the area was monitored for anti-aircraft weapons.  That landing was, of course, eye-opening and exciting. Seeing the ground out the side window of the plane was not something I expected, but being one of the first flights I’d ever taken, it didn’t really strike me as that odd either.  That was only the beginning of new and exciting for me.

As an unarmed civilian landing in a warzone, I was instantly dependent on an external force beyond my control.   I had to trust an organization bigger than myself to keep me safe and to supply my basic needs like keeping me warm/cool, clothed, fed, and sheltered.  Left to my own devices, I would have starved, succumbed to heat exhaustion, or ended up executed as a war prisoner.  That force, in this case, was the United States Military.

One aspect that I’d never really even considered was that of a rocket, RPG, or mortar attack.  Every so often you’d hear that distinct whistle coming in your direction.  It’d be almost deafening by the time it landed and exploded.  Any items within a fair distance of the impact would be destroyed.
All our electricity came from massive generators positioned around the camp.  As a safety precaution, they had impact sensitive fuel pumps.  If a shock or jolt occurred close by, the generator would shut the fuel off and we”d lose power.  If the power went off in my accommodation, I knew the impact was close by.

After a few years over, the Navy was called upon to bring in an air defense system called C-Ram.  It’s also known by other names, but the C-Ram system is a radar-guided anti-artillery system designed for ships, but they adapted it to work in the desert by mounting them on trailers.  It looks like a large Ruth Berry well pump if you’re familiar with those. And it sits upon a swivel pedestal.
It constantly scans the air for enemy activity. Once an unauthorized incoming device is detected the system automatically determines the trajectory, adjusts for interception and fires a burst of 3000 to 4500 20mm exploding rounds per minute into the path of the rocket, mortar or RPG.  Essentially building a wall of fire and shrapnel to detonate the explosives midair, safely away from the intended target.

It is a site to see, day or night, and the sound is unique and unforgettable.  The sound is like if you put all your forks into a garbage disposal, turn it on high and then sped it up…a lot.

It’s a strange sound, a sound distinct to war, and one that reminded me of two things every time I heard it.
1. There are forces at work that want to destroy me and everyone like me.
2. There is a force at work that stands in the way of the enemy and keeps me safe.

After getting accustomed to it, I’d often hear that sound as I lay in bed at night. I’d be reminded of where I was, and then I’d remember that someone is looking out for me. I called it my peaceful easy feeling, where I’d roll over, pull the covers up to my ear and drift back off to sleep.

It’s hard to imagine that level of trust, even to me, 10 years removed from that life.
But if you look around with spiritual eyes, you recognize that, even now, there’s a battle raging.  Evil wants to control. Evil wants to destroy us and everyone like us. Evil has NOTHING to offer. No control, no leadership positions, no letting you off easy, nothing but destruction.
Like the serpent in the garden offering the knowledge of good and evil.  All he was really able to offer was evil. They already had the good. The devil has nothing to offer, only evil.

God has built a hedge about us.  God is that anti-evil system that is standing guard. Watching over you day and night.
Stay inside that hedge and let God be your protection.  Trust in the Lord, acknowledge Him and lean not to thine own understanding.
There is rest and peace in Jesus Christ, even in the midst of the battle. Find comfort and shelter in that Mighty Name.

Hope you enjoy and are blessed by this message
Like, share and please leave a comment.
God Bless You Richly,
Greg

Isaiah 9:6
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Christmas is my favorite holiday. I wouldn’t sleep on Christmas Eve as a child and even into adulthood I would bearly doze off at all.  I’m so thankful for Christmas, as I’ve known it my whole life, but I’m even more thankful for what Christmas should be.

We’ve heard stories of the naughty and nice list, of Santa Clause checking it twice and all the bad kids getting coal in their stockings.

While it is desirable to be the best human being that we can be, I’m glad that God didn’t use this model when introducing salvation to mankind.

Have you ever considered the state of the world when Jesus was born?  The turmoil, the confusion, the upside-down-ness of it.  The seeming unworthiness and ungodliness of the common man of that day.  Now think about the state that most of us were in when Jesus found us. I was admittedly a “piece of coal in my stocking” kind of person when Jesus found me.

Yet, God so Loved the world that he Gave!

He didn’t wait for the world to get it’s act together. For the government to agree and work out all the worlds ills.  While the world was probably at its darkest point in history, up to that point, God followed through with his plan to purchase salvation for Mankind.

Likewise, He doesn’t expect us to fix all our problems before he saves us. Only that we repent, and be willing to accept His Plan and His help to get fixed.

As Christmas Day approaches we often lose focus of what Christmas should be.  I’m not saying that gifts are bad, celebrating is wrong or that we shouldn’t observe Christmas.
I just want to remind us all that the World was offered Salvation when it deserved Salvation the least both Then and Now. And That is what we need to remember and celebrate.

Romans 5:8
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

I often think of the Wise Men that came to worship Jesus and offer Him gifts.
I’m sure I’ve mentioned this before but want to touch on it again.

They brought Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh.
These were wise men who traveled a great distance, by primitive means, across a harsh landscape to worship the King of Kings.  They also bestowed upon Him the gifts that they carried with them, which made their trip more treacherous and difficult and meaningful.

I believe that the answer to what God wants from us lies in those three gifts.

Gold – represents our worldly positions, wealth, belongings, income, or money.  God wants us to surrender those to Him. I’m not saying we have to live in poverty, but that we must give God control, follow his leading and use our resources for His Glory.

Frankincense – an incense or sweet savor, used in the Temple in worship. God wants our free will adoration, our full worship, without restraint.  Our Love, our time, our hearts, our home should all be used as instruments of  worship and praise unto the King of Kings

Myrrh – an ointment or medicine. To me, this represents the bad days, the worries or concerns and situations of life.  God wants the bad days to give Him as much Glory as the Good ones.  Put things in Gods Hands and leave them there.  Don’t snatch them back when things get uncomfortable or when they go differently than you think they should.

In short, God wants you, all of you.

The greatest Miracle is that there is a Salvation, bought and paid for by Jesus Christ our Lord and that It is available to the likes of us.

Remember to Keep Christ in your Christmas celebrations.
Merry Christmas from the Fee Family to yours

 

My last blog post was “Things Change”  which I posted a couple weeks ago.  When I wrote that, I had no idea what changes were in store for me. I’d been kicking around some ideas for the future, but couldn’t really see a way that I’d be able to accomplish them.  When I try to figure things out, I’m limited to what I know and what I can imagine. God’s ways are above mine. When He inspired me with the framework of these ideas, He already had the details worked out. All my fretting and figuring didn’t even scratch the surface of what God already had in motion.
When you can’t see a way out just know that God has doors that you don’t even know about.  He has a way that the vulture knows nothing about.  He has a Way where there seemeth to be NO WAY.  Greg’s inability to figure out God’s plan has no bearing on God’s ability to fulfill it.

It reminds me that so often we go through life wearing the blinders of this life.  I tend to look at things through a very narrow window.  Only seeing what is in the lens of that moment but so often my focus is not on God’s Plan, it’s on my wants or my problems.  I must practice and make a habit of bringing God into the picture, into focus from the beginning.

I recently posted a comment on facebook about how that in photography, especially video, that the main subject is in focus, but everything else becomes blurry.
In life, if my focus is indeed on Jesus, then the problems and the cares and concerns of this world become less focused and fade into the background.  The opposite is also true, in that, if you focus on the problems, or on the successes or on your own plans then Jesus fades into the background of your life. Then when you face a need and start to look for Him, He’s no longer in the frame at all.  Not by His choice but by our neglect.

So, I traveled to work this morning and was singing as I often do, the words of this little chorus started flowing, just the little chorus. Then later, as I went about my day the rest of the lines began filling in, and I figured I’d better write them down.
I’m fully aware that this is God speaking to me and chastening me. But if there’s something that you can learn from this, from my lesson then take it.

How Oft

How Oft I would have called you out
How Oft I would have used thee
How Oft I would have called you out
but Often you refuse me

Refusals rarely put in words
but actions and in deeds
Ignoring when I call your name
My call you do not heed

I wanted most to be the one
on whom you would Depend
To be beside you all the way
To be your closest Friend

If you would listen
And talk to Me some too
there’d be no Situation
We can’t get through

Everything I’ve ever done
has been with you in mind
To bring you Peace and Love and Joy
No better Frind you’ll find

How Oft will you receive of Me
And let Me be your All
I’ll open Heavens Windows
Won’t you heed my Call

This may all seems a little scattered, but it all flows from the same place and fits together perfectly in my head and heart.
God has a plan, the success of His plan for me doesn’t require my understanding only my participation.

God Bless You Richly
Greg

As I ponder the events of recent days, the loss of a friend, the storms in Florida, and several situations within my close family I’m reminded of how temporary things are and how quickly things can change. The Bible tells us that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Hold on to that, there is comfort in that promise.

One of my favorite quotes and one that I’ve used often is:

“There are only two constants in the universe –
God Almighty and Change”

God never changes, everything else does.

All the planning and programs in the world cannot prevent or prepare you for the changes that may occur in the next 15 seconds, minutes, hours or days. I venture to say that no one has ever said from their deathbed: “Huh, that went exactly as I planned it.”

Change is part of the deal.  I believe that God allows change to help us realize how temporary things really are.  To help us look not to the temporal but to the eternal.

Some people like change, others do not.  Either way, it’s important to realize that Change is part of God’s plan.  The Bible likens God’s people as Sheep, Soldiers, and Pilgrims.  Common to all those is that movement and change is part of their existence.  It’s part of this life that God has called us to.

I personally crave change, love change.  My own mother has said of me “If you plant anything it should be planted in a pot so you can take it when you move because you’re gonna move.”

But above everything else, I am a Christian.  God has to be first with everything else taking its place behind Him and His Plan.  To please Him is my first and foremost task or at least it should be.  After that is, Family, Church, job and so on!  I must realize that to please God I must Love Him, Believe in Him and Trust Him.  I must trust Him in All, or I’m not really trusting Him at All.  That’s easy to say, harder to live.  Lord, I believe, help thou my unbelief.

My plans will come to nothing if they are not also God’s plans.  “This world is not my home, I’m just passing through, my treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue.”  The important things in this life are the things that will affect my eternity, the things that I can take with me and the things that will help me to get there.  The Beauty of living for God and truly Loving Him is that there is no better Life.  Even surrounded by change it is a life filled with Joy and Peace.  Peace in the midst of the storm, peace that is beyond understanding.

When change happens our first instinct is to resist or push back, but through the lens of time, we often realize what we thought was the end was actually God giving us a new beginning.

Things Change,

God Bless You Richly
Greg

Several years ago, more now than it probably seems, I was traveling home one evening, well after dark.  As I turned onto T. Fee Road something off to the side of the road caught my attention.  First, I noticed a big house cat and it was acting a little odd, so I stopped to see what was going on. As I watched from my vehicle, the cat seemed to have something tree’d in one of the small bushes or pine seedlings next to the road.  He was toying with whatever it was as if he had a plan, knew he was in complete control and could just take his time.  Essentially he was playing with his food.
It turns out that he was tormenting a flying squirrel.  I don’t know much about flying squirrels and have only seen a few in the wild in my lifetime.  A few things I do know is that Flying Squirrel’s main defense is not to defend at all, but to run, or more aptly to glide to safety.

Flying squirrels can’t fly, but using a flap of skin which connects their front legs to their back legs and body, they glide through the air.  When they jump off an elevated object and stretch out their legs, they can glide between branches and trees or down to the ground as a means of escape or simply as a mode of transportation.
Somehow this little rodent had ended up on the ground and had been caught by the cat.  As I observed, the cat would bat the squirrel around, hold it down with his paws and then let it go. The frightened squirrel would run a short distance before the big cat would easily catch it again and start his cruel game all over.
The cat ran off when I approached to get a closer look.  The little squirrel was so exhausted that I thought the squirrel would not survive, but miraculously he did.
As I pondered the little flying squirrel’s battle of life and death, it reminded me of the battles that every one of us faces at one time or another.  The enemy always wants to have the upper hand, he wants us to be under his control and playing by his rules.  I want to remind you that God placed the serpent’s neck under our boot heel way back in Genesis and that he is not, nor ever has been the rule maker.  His lies and deception are designed to get you to surrender to him, that is where his power over you comes from. The devil doesn’t control anything that has not surrendered to him in some way.

Satan is not the only force at work either, there is another force equally as menacing, that I believe the devil is often falsely accused of or given credit for. And that is the Self-Will of mankind. The man in the mirror is probably the Devils best friend and closest ally.

In my mind, I can see the old forked tailed, slimy devil making his rounds to check on his progress. Some houses he’ll stop by and whisper doubt, the next house he may spread some hate or a seed or two of jealousy.  Then he gets to a house where self-will is in control, he just smiles and says “Gregory’s got this, nothing needed from me today, good job.”

God’s Love is the key. He has given us every tool needed to succeed in this life, and his word holds the answers. God never intended His word to be secret, salvation is in the word of God, but I believe it’s the Love of God that illuminates the Word. He never intended us to stumble in darkness. He never intended us to be on an even playing field with sin or the devil.

The flying squirrel’s security is not only in his wings, but even more important is the elevation. Sure he has the same wings on the ground, but they are useless if not a hindrance on the ground.  For his wings to work, he must be elevated, living high up in the trees. When troubles come he doesn’t have to panic; he simply dives into the sanctuary of the air that God has built into his existence.

As a Christian, the elevation of our walk is also key to our security. We must dwell in the presence of God always.  Loving God first, putting Him First and allowing Him to put us where He will.  Not self-righteous, not looking down on others as if we’re somehow better, but merely living where God intended us to live, in His Spirit.

Trying to live in the world, as a Christian, without truly dwelling in His presence is a lesson in frustration and frankly a waste of time. The wings that carry you from place to place and out of danger while living in His will, only cause you to be isolated and not really a part of either world when not in God’s will.

I’m reminded of the seven sons of Sceva in the book of Acts, they wanted to be part of something big but did not have the power within them. They used the right words but had not the authority of the Name. They tried to command a demon in Jesus name without the power of that name within them. The demon possessed man leaped on them, beat on them a bit and drove them away.

How can I live this way? How can I maintain a walk truly in the spirit? Truly reciprocated Love. God’s Love to us is without question. Once I fall deeply, truly, unashamedly, undeniably, head over heels, can’t get enough of His presence, in Love with Jesus Christ then I will live for Him, truly Live for Him.  When His Love starts to spill over onto the world around me, then old things will pass away, and all things become new.  When His will and unction outweighs the questions, doubts, and fears.  I know that we are flesh and bone and prone to fleshly mistakes. And sometimes we fall, but like God allowed me to rescue that squirrel He is never far away and will rescue us from our own folly if we will call on Him.

God bless you richly,

Greg

 

A couple days ago the chorus of the old song “Go Down Moses” popped into my head.
I hadn’t heard it in years but remember my Sisters and me singing it as small children.  I don’t know any of the verses and only vaguely ever remember hearing them.
According to the interweb, the Lutheran Hymnal has it listed as being titled “When Israel was in Egypt’s land.”

All I remember is a repeat of these few words.

Go down Moses,
Down in Eygpt’s Land
Tell Ol’ Pharaoh,
Let My People Go

As I drove to work, I spontaneously started belting out those words over and over.  And then began to think upon the story, the faith, albeit a little shaky at first, that allowed Moses to follow the command of God to go into Eygpt and rescue God’s people.

When God called Moses at the Burning Bush, he made some excuses, like they won’t listen or I can’t speak very well.  One by one God took away his excuses.  Finally, God turned his staff into a serpent that Moses could see that our limitations are NOT God’s limitations.  That He is not bound by natural constraints and that through Him, neither are we.

The Church has the same basic call on it today that he gave Moses, Go into the World and rescue His children.  I’ve said it over and over that, “not everyone will heed the message but everyone deserves to hear it,” and it’s the Churches job to get that done.
The Devil, like Pharaoh, is not going to give up without a fight. He’s going to try to hold them down, keep them oppressed by the sins and cares of this life. We have to stay in tune with God, be loving, kind, patient, and understanding. And remember that Receiving the Lord, becoming a Christian is the beginning of the journey. Never expect a new child of God to be perfect or to know anything, let alone everything.  The Children of Isreal didn’t cross the Red Sea into the Promised Land, there was a long journey before they arrived.

I think a lot of us miss out on Great Works because we wait on God to change our situation so we can do a work for him.  When in truth He’s waiting on us to do a work before He changes our situation.  If we wait for things to be perfect before we step out, we’ll likely dry up and die right where we sit, waiting.

Trust in the Lord, He has it worked out, He has a plan. It doesn’t have to make sense to us, God knows what He’s doing. Trust that He’ll put ground under your foot when he asks you to take a step, and you can’t see anything for your feet to land.  Walk by faith, not sight, and He will make a way.

The Bible says that the Fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom, and I believe that the acceptance of His Will is the beginning of Joy and Peace.  He will not leave you Comfortless, trust Him.  God calls who He will for works, usually beyond our comfort zone. When He calls, GO! Go down into whatever land he sends you.
Just remember if God brings you to It, He will bring you through It.

God Bless You Richly,
Greg

 

A little rhyme that came to me a few minutes ago, thought I’d share.  Maybe it’ll bless you too.

Faith

Our faith will be rewarded
by the King of Kings.

Whichever way our heart does lead
will be the way of things

If faith is toward revival,
revival we shall see,

But if it is toward defeat, defeated we shall be

Now Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen!

God Bless You real good!

Greg

Thought for today, nothing new, just whats on my mind.

In the Garden Of Eden, Adam and Eve had the best of everything. They were the masters of their domain and overseers of all that was around them. They apparently lived in a climate controlled atmosphere as they didn’t need coats or clothes for that matter.  All their needs were provided by the God that created them. They could eat from every tree in the garden, but one. No work, no toil, just pick and eat.  And God would walk through the Garden and commune with them in the cool of the day.  How sweet a life, no worries, no pressure, no sadness, no sorrow, no sin.

Then the serpent beguiled Eve and convinced her that they needed to eat of the tree of Knowledge so they could be like God, knowing good and evil.  I don’t know, as the Bible doesn’t really say how long it took to wear her down, but I hope it was longer than the thirty seconds it takes to read the account in scripture.  I also don’t think that it was a coincidence that he used the same thing that cost him his place in God’s court to entice Eve, To be like god.  He convinced her that she was entitled to know everything, to be like a god.
You know the Story doesn’t end well for Adam and Eve and cost the rest of mankind everything as well.

There was nothing but Good in the Garden, but all Adam and Eve got out of the deal with the serpent was the knowledge of evil.  Genesis says it several times “the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil.”  They already had the good, all they gained was “And Evil.”

The Born Again Believer has, within their power, the closest thing to a Garden Relationship with God that can be had on this earth.  As God’s children, it’s our Birthright and as Spirit-filled children of God in the cool of the day.  We have a direct line of contact with the throne.
The enemy’s job is to disrupt that line of communication between God and us.  He wants to distract us, confuse us, mislead us and cause us to abandon our fellowship with our God and he doesn’t really care how.  If he just can separate us from our source of strength and from the wise counsel of the Holy Ghost, then we’ve already taken the first few steps on the path to our own destruction.

God gives us Good, He wants us to fellowship with Him, to trust Him, to follow Him, to live with and for Him. Peace, Joy, and Life Eternal await the faithful.
All the devil can offer is Evil. No matter how he paints it, explains it, pitches it, it is still evil, still sin, and will cost you everything if you follow his path.
Anything, and I do mean anything that puts a separation between you and God should be rebuked and rejected from your life.  Practice taking everything to God and waiting for His answer before acting. Talk to Him about everything. Talk to Him like He is right there, because He is.
Tell Him about the serpent’s beguiling, before you are enticed to taste the fruit. Keep your Garden Relationship open, resist the serpent and he will have to flee.

God Bless You,
Greg