Generation to Generation

There are generations of little ones who are hungering after the food of the Word of the Gospel. As they are fed, they will grow into those who in turn will feed another generation.
Scripture teaches us that “When the Lord shall build up Zion; he shall appear in his glory. He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer. This shall be written for the generation to come; and the people which shall be created shall praise the Lord. For he hath looked down from the height of his sanctuary; from heaven did the Lord behold the earth; to hear the groaning of the prisoner; to loose those that are appointed to death; to declare the name of the Lord in Zion, and his praise in Jerusalem” (Ps. 102:16-21).
Christ the Savior and King, has appeared and he is building up Zion. The people for whom he has given himself on their behalf; for he “was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all” (Isa. 53:5-5; 1 Pe.2:23-24).
Have we looked at our children and children’s children as we proclaimed the Gospel, as we studied and practiced the Word, knowing that our thoughts and deeds are not for us only but will affect the generations that follow? “The Lord shall bless thee out of Zion; and thou shalt see the good of Jerusalem all the days of thy life. Yea, thou shalt see thy children’s children, and peace upon Israel” (Ps. 128:5-6).
Whether in the home or in fellowship of the Church (which Christ is building), we separate not our children from the adults. We gather together to hear what the Spirit has to say through his inspired Word. Children learn best when they hear the Word of God as they nestle in the arms of their parents. Do we explain the message from the pulpit to your children or are you satisfied with the picture they colored? Do we look at our children and children’s children and see the Word of God nurturing them and the generations to follow? There should be a special joy as the fellowship of Father and Son discuss the Word of God that our children may be blessed. Churches that do not preach the Gospel with the generations of those for whom Christ died, having looked only on the present generation, have not fully understand the great commission of their Lord. Discipling nations are not an obedience that one rests from, but is a continual struggle and battle against the gates of hell which shall not prevail because Christ is at the head of the host of his subjects.
Men, take a good look at your children, and see the generations. As head of the household love your wife and fruit of her womb, as Christ so loved his church. Also, Patriarchs nurture both the home and the church body in their faithfulness to teach and practice the Word of God in sight of their children and children’s children. Thus are the mothers encouraged to be disciples who teach their children, especially the girls who will be a blessing in the homes to come.

Remembering our children and children's children,

Grandpa

Gifts From God

While talking with my son Philip his son Andrew could be heard playing on the piano. It reminded me of a picture we received last week of the boys. One picture showed Andrew helping the youngest, Matthew, practice for his first concert. Could it be that Matthew has learned to read music before learning to play? By the way, Andrew is playing real well.
Not too long along Grandpa received a wonderful gift of a book titled, The Gift of Music, written by Jane Stuart Smith and Betty Carlson. It is a book of short stories of “Great Composers and Their Influence.” Music Appreciation was one of the courses you had to take in the sixth grade in Brooklyn, New York, where Grandpa grew up. The last day of the year we had to come together in the Assembly room and take a test where you listened to parts of one hundred classical pieces and write from where it was taken. I believe it was a yearly thing when the sixth graders laughed when the lower grade students heard the tune of the William Tell Overture and they blurted out, “the Lone Ranger.” Grandpa may not have learned to play an instrument, but his ears have always enjoyed great music.
Back to the book; two examples of composers who remind us of the great gifts that God has given to men are seen in George Frideric Handel and Franz Joseph Haydn. The authors write of Handel, “He said little of himself in his lifetime. The central fact of his life was his music. He would be happy to know of the joy and pleasure his music, particularly Messiah, gives to so many people” Acknowledging that his gift was from God, this example is given, “When Handel was writing Messiah, which he put down on paper in twenty-four days without once leaving his house, his servant brought him food, which Handel often left untouched. While Handel worked on the ‘Hallelujah Chorus,’ his servant found him with tears in his eyes. Handel exclaimed, ‘I did think I did see all haven before me and the great God Himself!’”
Franz Joseph Haydn wrote, “God gave me a cheerful heart, so He will surely forgive me if I serve Him cheerfully.” Haydn “respected God and the order of His creation. He saw beyond the momentary excitement of violently changing the present political, religious, and educational systems without putting into the void a real base—found only in true Christianity. Those who deny the truth of Scripture never find freedom.” One of his best known works is called the Surprise Symphony. “The title comes from the andante movement where there is a surprise chord to wake up the audience. Haydn said that it would make all the women scream. Such jokes came naturally to Haydn because of his inherent good nature.” Two of my favorites are mentioned, The Clock Symphony and La Poule (Chicken), which “received its name from a peculiar cluck in the second theme. The first theme sounds like a rooster chasing a hen, and in the last movement of the fugue, a prize egg is laid. Cheerful and childlike, Haydn wanted to make people smile, to relieve their hardships and troubles.” Haydn also wrote The Creation, “inspired as a result of Haydn hearing a mighty performance of Handel’s Messiah. He was stunned and thrilled with the music and the words and awed at the way it was received by the audience with absolute storms of applause. Haydn told his biographer that while composing The Creation, ‘daily I fell on my knees and asked God for strength.’ The words are taken from John Milton’s writings and from the Bible. One of the sublime moments is the climax of the chorus, ‘And There Was Light,’ with its unforgettable, overwhelming fortissimo.”
Our Creator has given much to his Creation, granting wonderful and beautiful gifts to man, both male and female. Even his glory shines through those who deny him. Accept each gift as special and unique, given that we may glorify him and enjoy him in every area of our lives, forever and ever.

B I R D S

It has been a long and hot August in Iowa. Seven years ago Grandpa and Grandma moved to Washington, Iowa as our place of retirement. And it was hot. But the Augusts in-between have been not as hot. (So much for Global Warming, the Lord’ providential care of his creation is still active.) Nevertheless, it has been a pleasure to be near our daughter and her family; with a feeling of sadness that we are far from our son and his family, with a joy as we see the boys (now four, Andrew, Joshua, Titus, and Matthew).
What about the heading of this Blog, “Birds”? The picture before you is Grandpa with their grandchildren Micah and Emma Ruth. September has come and home-schooling has started, and Fall is upon us. The children came over for a visit and we are seen here looking at one of the books on birds. Great Pictures! The Lord has certainly given us some beautiful creatures, which he personally takes care: “He sends the springs into the valleys, which run among the hills. …By them shall the fowls of the heaven have their habitation, which sing among the branches” (Ps. 104:10, 12). Spring brought forth the fruit of the works of the hand of God, “For lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; the flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle (dove) is heard in our land” (Song of Songs 2:11-12).
The city of Washington is known for its trees and flowers. We do not have the Turtle Dove, but we do have the Morning Dove, along with the Robin, Cardinal, Blue Jay and Woodpecker, etc. We also enjoy seeing the Humming Birds coming to the feeder. Though Fall and Winter are near, we will enjoy other scenes of God’s creation, looking forward to another Spring. Man seeks death while the Lord redeems life. My favorite bird is the Eagle, another bird that is prevailing in this part of Iowa. We looked at the book of birds in our living room, which contains pictures and sculptures of the Eagle. The Eagle should remind us of the life we have in Christ, that we are held preciously in the hands of our Savior. David reminds us of our Lord’s providential care which is in him “Who redeems thy life from destruction; who crowns thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; who satisfies thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s” (Ps. 103:4-5).

Look to Jesus

Burn your candles at both ends...

Well may he scratch his head who burns his candle at both ends; but, do what he may, his light will soon be gone, and he will be all in the dark.

If the candle has burned all away, the Sun in the heavens is still alight. Look to Jesus, and live. His salvation is without money and without price. Though you may not have a penny to bless yourself with, the Lord Jesus will bless you freely. The depths of your misery are not so deep as the depth of God's mercy. If you are faithful and just in confessing the sins you would have forgiven, God will be faithful and just in forgiving the sins which you confess. -Charles H. Spurgeon, John Ploughman's Pictures.

How many verses can you list (and read carefully) in the above witness of Spurgeon?

Grandpa