Grandpa

Without faith it is impossible to please God…
Hebrews 11:6 (NIV)

September 10th is Grandparents Day. I never knew my Grandpa Merrill as a whole man. By the time my memories of my grandpa began he was in the advanced stages of Parkinson’s disease. Even with his physical limitations he was a giant to me.

People tell me he was a strong man. He always did what he had to do for his family and faith. No task was too menial or difficult if it needed to be done. My grandpa was someone not defined by position or title but rather by a job well done. He raised and provided for his family and pursued his life calling of ministry during the Great Depression and World War II. He was part of what has been recently defined as the Greatest Generation.

The thing that remained consistent throughout his life in the good times and in the bad was his never-relenting faith. He always placed his faith in the One who was greater than he. God would provide when there was no food for the family. God would heal when no doctor was available. God would come through when planting a church with little or no resources. My grandpa knew God would lead and provide and it was up to him to listen and follow.

The man I remember as my grandpa wasn’t the strong young man others remembered. He was, however, a powerful man of faith believing God for strength during a difficult physical day. Believing God would always take care of his family even if he couldn’t anymore. My Grandpa never lost his faith in God and His Word. He searched the scriptures for the promises of God and he held on to those promises in faith until he saw his Savior face to face.

Rest

Be still and rest in the Lord…
Psalm 37:7a (AMP)

This Labor Day weekend’s message is on the subject of rest from Hebrews chapter 4. I find it amusing how my children resist resting. Whether it be bedtime, naptime, or simply a moment in the day we want them to slow down and rest they fight it. Even when they are dead tired they stall as long as mom or dad will let them.

I remember those days as a kid of never wanting or thinking I needed a nap. Nowadays, I would jump at the opportunity to take an afternoon nap. My body would welcome the rest.

Rest is important. When we rest after a hard days work our body renews its energy to take on a new day. Simply put, good things happen when we rest and bad things happen when we don’t. Rest is so important that God commands it. He designed us to grow stronger through rest.

Read the 10 Commandments in Exodus 20 and notice the 4th commandment about the Sabbath is the longest one. Remember, God designed us for rest, but not just physical rest but mental and spiritual rest as well. We must disconnect from our crazy busy world every now and then and connect with God and the things He has deemed as eternally important. If we don’t there are consequences for breaking God’s law. Failure to follow God’s Word will leave us “unrested” in every area of our life.
So, don’t be like a child fighting your needed rest. Take time today and this week to disconnect from the world, connect with God, and rest.