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Several times during His earthly ministry the Lord Jesus warned His followers to be ready for His coming again. For instance, He said in Matthew 24:42, "Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming." Two verses later Jesus warned, "Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect" (verse 44). In the parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins Jesus said, "Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming" (Matthew 25:13).
All born-again believers believe that the Lord Jesus is coming back one day. Now, we may not agree on just when we think He will return, particularly for His bride, the church, but we believe that just as surely as He came the first time He is coming again one day. The question is not, "Is Jesus coming again?" It's not even, "When is He coming again?" because no one but the Father knows when. The question we as believers need to ask ourselves is, "Are we ready for our Lord's return?" Are we heeding His warning and watching for His return?
The late evangelist and pastor R.A. Torrey once said, "The return of our Lord is the great Bible argument for a pure, devoted, active life of service." Indeed, if we truly believe that Jesus is coming again and that He could come at any moment then our lives will reflect our belief. Unfortunately, though we believe that our Lord is coming back one day many of us do not live with the urgency that indicates that it is a real belief. Instead of loving and serving our Lord as we should, many Christians give mere lip service to Him.
What if? What if our Heavenly Father chose to warn us that on a particular day the Lord Jesus would return? Gone would be our lip service. Many who have for years set as spectators on the sidelines would suddenly get busy for the Lord. Those who have never shared their faith with a lost person would immediately begin to tell the Good News. Those who have robbed God of His tithe would try to play catch up. Those church members on our rolls who have not set foot in a church in ages would suddenly become some of the most faithful members our churches have ever had.
I think you get the picture. If we knew that Jesus was going to return in a week, a month, or a year that knowledge would impact the way we live for Him. Well, friend, we know that He is coming again one day. Therefore we ought to live each day as though it were the day of His return.
As faithful followers of our Lord Jesus Christ we must be ready because He is coming again one day and today could be that day!!! So as our Lord taught us, let us be dressed and ready for His return. Let's keep the lamps burning and watch, and as we watch let us be faithful and fruitful servants!
Jesus is coming! Are YOU ready?
I have talked about our children before so you'll have to forgive me for writing about our daughter Hannah (that's her in the picture with her mom and I) again. I just want people to know what an amazing young lady she is. Now, she is a typical young person and there are times when I feel like killing her and telling God she died (just kidding of course), but she really is amazing.
Hannah truly amazed and humbled me recently when I overheard her tell our church secretary that she wants "to marry someone just like my dad." I was blown out of the water when I overheard that because I know I am anything but a model husband and dad. I feel much like the preacher who said before he had children he had a sermon entitled "Ten Sure Fire Ways to Raise Godly Children" but since becoming a father he had changed his sermon to "Ten Suggestions That May or May Not Work." Now I can really identify with that pastor! That's the reason I was totally shocked when I heard Hannah make the comment that she wanted to marry someone just like me. My hope and prayer is that she will marry someone who will be a better husband to her and father to their children than I have been to her and her mom.
I am grateful to God for the amazing young lady Hannah has turned out to be. He has done an incredible job in molding and shaping into what He wants her to be inspite of the many mistakes I have made in raising her. Hannah has made a commitment to save herself for her future husband and by the grace of God she has stuck to that commitment. When many young people around her have turned their hearts to this world and the things of the world, she has kept her heart on God and the things of God. To God be the glory great things He has done!
In her 20 years short years of life Hannah has been uprooted and moved three times due to the Lord moving us to a new church field. Each move has been difficult but the most recent (December 2008) has been the most difficult. Hannah misses her friends back in Bronson, FL greatly yet she presses on knowing that we are right where the Lord wants us to be. I am grateful to God for the people in our church and community who have reached out to her to make her transition easier than it otherwise would have been!
Although Hannah has not received the praise and encouragement from her dad that she deserves, she has turned out to be one very special and incredible young lady. I thank God for who Hannah has become. And Hannah I want you to know that I am EXTREMELY PROUD to be your dad!!! You are an incredible young lady and I am proud of who you are in the Lord. I am praying for you as you continue to seek the Lord's will for your life. Always remember to keep your heart on Him and He will make your paths straight (Proverbs 3:5-6). Love You!!! Dad
During my morning quiet time recently I was reading from Psalm 78. As I read verse 72 it grabbed my attention. To be honest, it challenged me. Asaph, the author of this psalm, wrote of King David in verse 72, "So he shepherded them according to the integrity of his heart." What a wonderful testimony to the man God had chosen to shepherd His people the Israelites.
As I read that verse I was reminded as a pastor I have been called to shepherd one of God's flocks, the family of God known as the First Baptist Church of Bronson, FL. I was also reminded I have been called to shepherd them as David did the children of Israel, "according to the integrity of his heart." After I finished my reading and had spent a few minutes meditating on what I had read, I then asked the Lord to help me to always pastor/shepherd according to the integrity of my heart.
It is my earnest prayer that one day someone may be able to say of me, "So he shepherded them according to the integrity of his heart." There's a lot that could be said but few things would be a greater compliment and honor than what the psalmist said of David. May those words be the testimony of every man the Lord has called to shepherd His people.
Because I had to go to Valley, AL (mine and Sherry's home town) this week (8/18-21) for a funeral I got to spend a little while with Daniel and his family since I have to go through Albany, where they live, on my way to Valley. Now, is that convenient or what?
Daniel and Michelle's oldest, Lydia, loves Krispy Kreme donuts. Therefore, it's becoming a "family tradition" that whenever I/we visit with them we take a trip to KK. It is so much fun to watch Lydia whenever we go there. One of the first things she does when she walks into the store is she goes to the counter and gets one of the hats to wear, thus the picture at left. It is also fun to watch as she devours her donut. She usually crams half of the donut in her mouth at once which results in both cheeks bulging to the point that they look like they will pop at any moment. Although the picture at left will give you an idea of what I'm talking about, I failed to get a really good one this time, one with her cheeks really bulging and KK frosting all over her face. It's worth the trip to Albany and expense just to see the pleasure she gets out of the trip to KK.
As I related in an earlier post, grandchildren are really special. While I was in Valley I had the opportunity to visit with Sherry's uncle and aunt, Owen and Jeanene Colley. The Colley's have 8 or 9 grandkids. As we were talking Ms. Jeanene said, "You know, grandchildren are just really special." That they are!!! I'm grateful for the two wonderful granddaughters the Lord has blessed Sherry and I with and I look forward to when Trinity is old enough to enjoy a trip to KK along with her big sister and the rest of the gang. Until then, Lydia will remain the center of attention as she devours her KK donut.
King Solomon, the wisest man to ever live, said in Proverbs 18:22, “He who finds a good wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor from the Lord.” Now I know Solomon was the wisest man to ever live because the Bible says so, but excuse me if I have a little trouble accepting that. I mean, if he was so smart then why in the world did he have 700 “official” wives and 300 concubines? That sure doesn’t sound like a very wise man to me (Sorry ladies. I just had to say it.).
Now, back to Proverbs 18:22. Almost 36 years ago I found a good wife. Actually, I found a real keeper! To be honest, I believe as a result of my parents’ many prayers the Lord found her for me. There were some who knew us that predicted our marriage wouldn’t last long but I guess the Lord fooled them. What an incredible wife He has blessed me with. I constantly thank the Lord that He brought Sherry and I together. But not only did He bring us together, He is the glue that has kept us together. I am almost certain that if it had not been for Him and His grace in the early years of our marriage Sherry would not have put up with me. It wasn’t that I was a really bad person or husband but neither was I the easiest person to get along with.
Sherry amazed me then and she continues to amaze me today. We had dated for most of three and one-half years before we married on December 23, 1972. When we married I had been in the Air Force for three months so she was somewhat aware of what she was getting into when she became a military spouse. Sherry was aware of what lay ahead if I decided to make a career of the military which I ended up doing; moving away from family and friends, living in strange places (Oklahoma City, our first duty station) and strange countries (Germany). I can tell you that she accepted all of that readily and supported me fully throughout my 20 years in the Air Force.
Now, I said all of that to say this. When Sherry and I married she didn’t bargain on being a pastor’s wife one day. I can assure you that idea wasn’t even remotely in her thoughts at the time. After all, I wasn’t even a Christian when we married and, although she was, she wasn’t living for the Lord at that time. It was four and one-half years later that I trusted Christ as my Savior and Sherry rededicated her life to the Lord. So in the summer of 1982, while stationed overseas in Germany, when the Lord began to speak to my heart through His still small voice and tell me that He wanted me to dedicate my life to vocational ministry as a pastor I knew exactly what Sherry’s reaction was going to be when I told her. I knew she was going to say, “No way! When I married you I didn’t sign on to be a pastor’s wife. That was not part of the deal!” If I live to be 100 I don’t think I will ever forget the day I told her I was fairly certain God was calling me to ministry. It had taken me a few days of prayer to gather the courage to talk with her about this matter because, as I have already said, I was certain of what her reaction would be. I well remember telling her that I had something I needed to talk to her about. Then I proceeded to tell her I had been sensing that God was calling me to be a pastor. Her reaction? She looked at me and simply said, “Well, that doesn’t surprise me.” While my announcement did not surprise her, her reaction to it blew me away. I realized that not only had God been working in my life, He had also been at work preparing her heart for what He had planned for us.
I wish I had time to tell you what a great mother, wife, and pastor’s wife she has been. I can tell you that she has been magnificent at something she didn’t bargain for almost 36 years ago when she said, “I do.” Unless you are a church staff member or the spouse of one you have no idea of the challenges they face. Sherry has faced and met those challenges in a wonderful way! She has been subjected to things she never bargained for nor deserved. Our family has faced challenges that no family should ever have to face. Sherry has faced those challenges and passed with flying colors. I may be a little bias but I believe she is the consummate pastor’s wife. It has been rightly said that a pastor’s wife either makes him or breaks him. Well, I can tell you that Sherry helped to make me. She is a wonderful partner, supporter, and encourager in the work the Lord has called us to. I honestly don’t know where I would be or what I would do without her.
As Solomon said, “He who finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor from the Lord.” Sherry, I can tell you that God showed me great favor when He blessed me with you. Thanks for being the wonderful wife (pastor’s wife), mother, and now grandmother that you are. You have excelled in something that you didn’t sign on for when you married me. They may not realize it, but the churches we have been privileged to serve have been fortunate to have you as their pastor’s wife. You have been a blessing to your spiritual family just as you have to your physical family. Thanks for just being Sherry! I love you more than words can describe. Now, would you please go wash clothes so I will have some clean underwear! J
I suppose every child has a hero or heroes that he looks up to and admires as he grows up. I’m sure I probably had several as I grew up but honestly I can only remember one. His name was Gary Barnes. Gary was the son of Horace and Ruth Barnes, close friends of my parents who are now in heaven with the Lord they dearly loved. Gary is a few years older than me. He played football and basketball at Valley High School in Valley, AL where we grew up. During the summer of his high school days Gary worked at a textile mill that was a block away from his house. Many days I would meet Gary when he got off work and would carry his tennis shoes as I walked home with him. I didn’t think about it then but as I look back on it now I realize those shoes must have been nasty and probably didn’t smell all that well after working all day in that hot mill, but I didn’t noticed. After graduating from high school Gary signed with Clemson University and spent his college years playing for the Tigers (wrong Tigers since I pull for Auburn). When he finished his playing days at Clemson Gary signed with the Green Bay Packers. This was during the Vince Lombardi days. Now my hero had made the BIG time. Gary was fortunate to play on one of the Packers’ championship teams. Needless to say, my hero was bigger than life to me! I still have heroes today. One of my greatest heroes is my dad, Leonard “Boochie” Garnett (to be honest I don’t know where he got the nickname). Unfortunately, it wasn’t until I was in my late 20’s that I recognized how blessed I was to have the dad I have. As I finally began to grow up I began to realize how much my dad (and mom) had sacrificed to provide for my sister and I as we grew up. However, it wasn’t the material things he provided that made him my hero. It’s his relationship and walk with the Lord Jesus Christ that I most admire about daddy. For as long as I can remember he has known Jesus as his personal Lord and Savior and has sought to live in a way that would always honor his Lord. Because of his relationship with Jesus and the life he has lived, my dad has been a very positive influence in my life ever since I was born. It’s just that it took almost 30 years for me to recognize that daddy is one of my greatest heroes. I thank God that daddy continues to encourage me and influence my life today! Thanks daddy for all you’ve been and continue to be to me!!! You are my hero! I do have one hero who is an even greater hero to me than my dad and that is the Lord Jesus Christ, my personal Lord and Savior that my dad introduced me to as I grew up. It wasn’t until I was almost 27 years old that I committed my life to Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I was a member of a Baptist church at the time Jesus came into my life but before that night in March 1977 when I met the Lord Jesus all I was was a lost church member. But on March 9, 1977 I gave my life to Jesus and have sought to follow and serve Him ever since that day. Jesus is a true hero because He gave His life not only for me but for the whole world. As Jesus Himself said, “For God so loved the world (that’s you and me) that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever (that’s you and me) believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). Just think, the Lord Jesus Christ, God the Son, left the glory of heaven and came into this world that He might die on a cross to pay the debt of our sin. Now that’s a hero in the truest sense of the word. Everyday my hero, the Lord Jesus Christ, continues to prove His love for me. Although I have failed and disappointed him many times over the years, He has never failed or disappointed me! Not once! His promise is, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5). That’s my hero the Lord Jesus Christ! He is always with me and especially when I need Him most. If you do not know Him as your personal Lord and Savior, I encourage you to talk with a Christian friend or a minister who can tell you how you can have a personal relationship with the One who gave His life that He might be your Savior and your biggest hero!
I was always confident our son Daniel would amount to something one day. Well, I am thankful to say that day has come. He has fathered two of the most precious little angels this world has ever known, Trinity Brooke and Lydia Grace. Of course, Daniel could not have accomplished this wonderful feat without the help of his precious wife Michelle.
Sherry and I were able to spend a few days (Jul 30-Aug 2) with Daniel and crew this week. They live in Albany, GA which is about 3 and 1/2 hours from where we live in Bronson, FL. We try to get up to see them or have them come down to see us every 4 weeks or so. It doesn't always work out that way but, thank the Lord, most of the time it does.
It is truly amazing how fast the girls grow and change. I had forgotten that with our own two children, Daniel and his sister Hannah. Of course, at my age there's a lot of things I have forgotten. Anyway, our trip to Albany turned out to be everything we had hoped it would be and more. Lydia, who will be 3 in October, amazes me every time I see her. She is so smart. I know she didn't get that from her dad's side of the family. The things that she says at her age blow me away some times. But the thing she says that I enjoy hearing most is, "I love you Papa." Those words melt my old heart. If I live to be a hundred I don't think I will ever tire of hearing her say that.
Trinity is 3 months old. She has the most precious smile (I might be a bit prejudice) and she has starting "talking" when she's in the right mood (when she's in a bad mood she can tell you a thing or two as well). I so enjoy holding Trinity and watching her make those faces that little ones make and watching her smile. As I heard someone once say, "If I had known being a grandparent was going to be this much fun I would have skipped the kids and gone straight to the grandkids."
It's truly amazing to watch Lydia and Trinity as they grow and develop. They remind me of what King David said in the 139th Psalm: "For You (God) formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise you for I am fearfully and wonderfully made" (verses 13-14). Again, I may be just a little bias but when God made Lydia and Trinity He outdid Himself! What a blessing they have been to our families. As that wonderful old hymn written by Fanny Crosby many years ago says, "To God be the glory, great things He hath done."
Now, in case you don't know me well, I was kidding when I said earlier that I knew Daniel would amount to something one day. He had already done that long before Lydia and Trinity came upon the scene. Daniel is a fine young man and his mom and I are extremely proud of Him. What do we most admire about Him? His love for His Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Daniel was saved as a young child and has walked with the Lord ever since the time of his salvation. Today he is serving the Lord as he serves as pastor of Beacon Baptist Church in Albany, GA. Sherry and I are very proud of him and his wife Michelle. We know the Lord has great things in store for them.
Well, I've said a lot to say that I had a blast with the grandkids the past few days. Oh yea, I enjoyed being with Daniel and Michelle as well. :-)
