Teach Me To Walk

You may use the greatest care
not to cause me to stumble.
You may be most patient and kind
and never once grumble.

You may shield me from some things
along the path we trod.
You may prevent many things
from coming between me and God.

But, I must not burden your walk
nor bring you undue strain.
For if I should cause you to trip,
your effort for me is in vain.

And unlike the days of old
when the Word was yet unpenned,
today we may know how, where,
and when, if we have sinned.

So teach me the Word and remember
me whenever you pray.
Then walk beside me, and I shall find
the truth along the way.

                                   Richard

copyright 2000
RLG





            

Osceola Won!

       The terms of the treaty were made known regarding a treaty to be signed. This treaty would finally end the fighting between the Seminole Indians and the US forces that had been going on for years. However one of the terms in this treaty would require the Seminoles to move from their home in the Everglades. An Indian warrior named Osceola determined he would not leave his beloved home, the Everglades. He soon found himself chief over five thousand other Seminole warriors. These warriors also had decided they would not leave their homes either. Thus began the Second Seminole War. This war pitted the five thousand Seminoles against two hundred thousand U.S. troops for eight years. The fighting finally subsided when Osceola was betrayed under a flag of truce, captured, and placed in a prison at Charleston, South Carolina. Osceola died in this prison about a year later. During this time in prison he repeatedly refused to surrender his warriors and would not sign any treaty that would require the Seminoles to leave the Everglades. Though the fighting basically came to a standstill after Osceola’s death, the war was not over officially until a treaty was signed in 1935. This treaty was signed, but it gave recognition to the Seminole nation’s right to reside in their home, the Everglades. Almost a hundred years after Osceola’s betrayal, capture, and his death, he won! Osceola won! Though he was betrayed, captured, and died at the hands of his enemy, he was not defeated. He won! He won!  We, too have won!  We, too have our homeland secured for us... eternally!  Jesus!

'There is a place called Heaven where I have staked a claim.  It's guaranteed by Jesus' blood and cosigned by His name.'  

　

　

Richard L. Grimes

(ã 2005 God Ain’t What He’s Cracked Up To Be… RLG)

　

　

　

One Life

        Another Christmas season has come and gone. In the Christmas program at our church this year I played the part of a Grandfather. Reflecting back, it seemed quite recent to me that I had played the part of a shepherd boy. In a somber moment, I realized it was not that recent. Wow! Where does the time go? I am reminded of a poetic phrase I heard somewhere; “One life to live, will soon be past. Only what’s done for Christ will last.”

The following is reprinted from a previous blog…

　

There Are But Two

I suppose all men of the earth

as they grow old and gray,

will in their twilight years pause

and in full agreement say,

That as they reflect upon their past regrets

they find they have but two;

things done, they should not have done

and things needing done, they did not do.

(thanks, Mama)

　

　

Richard L. Grimes

(ã 2000 Of Faith Professed , RLG)

Lip Service

       Early in the week of Thanksgiving (2011) my attention became focused on Ephesians 5:20; “Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” All things?… nothing excluded? I choked. How can I thank God for disease, mental illness, murder, rape, or any sinful act? I can be thankful in regards to Romans 8:28; knowing that God will cause all to work together for my good, but to be specifically grateful for ‘all things’ is a problem for me. If I say, “Thank You for all things.”, it would be nothing more than lip service to God and I don’t believe he would appreciate it. Later on in the week I heard thankfulness defined as an expression that comes from a spirit of gratitude within one‘s heart. “Ok, my Lord, no more lip service, I need knowledge and wisdom that will enable me to speak from my heart honestly to You and to others.”

       As I began to study, I found that Paul used ‘all things’ in 80 verses of his epistles. One of the verses I noted is Php 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” If I must thank Him for ‘all things’ then I can do ‘all things’ as well, right? Nonsense!

       In my opinion, the ‘all things’ Paul said we should give thanks for are the things that are consistently in harmony with all that he taught. Paul taught repentance, the pursuit of holiness, honesty, and faithfulness. He encouraged good works. As he proclaimed the message of mercy and grace, he demanded and expected Christians to demonstrate a Christlike discipline in their Christian walk. Moreover, I find from the Greek that; “… for all things unto God…” may be understood to mean “regarding all things Godly”. By no means am I a Greek scholar and God forbid that I should ever distort or twist the scripture to mean what I want it to mean. You be the judge.

Richard L. Grimes

copyright 2011　

How Many?

We are much like David if sometimes
we have done things we would like to hide.
But how many of us are like the David
who sought God’s heart far and wide?

And we may be like Job as sometimes
in pain and agony we have cried.
But how many are as determined as he
no matter how they are tried?

Like Elijah, we may sometimes sit alone
under depression’s heavy veil.
But how many are as bold as he when he
confronted the prophets of Baal?

Perhaps we are like Thomas as upon
our common sense we would rely.
But how many would follow the Lord
even if it meant they were to die?

And who has never failed like Peter
when overcome with cowardly fear?
But how many then repent and hold
the Lord even more precious and dear?

Like Mary Magdalene, we may be
forgiven of many a sinful thing.
But how many will worship and love
as she did; the Lord, our Savior and King?

Richard L. Grimes

(ã 2000 Of Faith Professed , RLG)

Going Home

       The Monarch begins its life as a caterpillar, deriving its sustenance from a diet of milkweed. The milkweed not only provides nourishment, but also protection. The ingested milkweed causes its body fluids to become noxious tasting and toxic to its natural enemy, the bird. Birds simply will not eat them. When the caterpillar goes through its metamorphosis, the taste and toxicity of the milkweed remains and the Monarch retains milkweed in its diet. Should an unwary bird attack a Monarch they will become educated very quickly and will immediately release it and become programmed to avoid the Monarch in the future.

       Another butterfly, the Viceroy, is also avoided by birds. Naturalist tell us the Viceroy is perfectly edible, but their striking similarity to the Monarch causes the birds to avoid them as well.

       This time of the year in early fall the Monarch senses a call. When you are out and about watch and you will notice occasional flecks of orange and black against the backdrop of the sky. As you first notice the Monarch he may seem to be aimless in his flight. But continued observation will reveal his direction of flight to be southwest toward home. No Viceroys are to be observed making this trip. Though their mimicking ways have given them a measure of security and protection they do not sense the call to come home. Soon the Monarchs will all be gone. The Viceroy will be left behind to face winter’s cold killing blast. You see, in the final analysis, it what’s on the inside that counts. Are you a Monarch? Will you sense the call… the call to come home?

　

Richard L. Grimes

(ã 2005 God Ain’t What He’s Cracked Up To Be… RLG)

If Clay Could Talk

            Early in my pursuit of salvation, I was given to understand that a Christian must not sin. At 11-13 years of age it seemed that anything I could think of could be sinful. Sunday night evangelistic services were times of repentant soul searching and preparation for Heaven. Then it seemed the next six days were spent preparing to go to Hell… dealing with authority, swearing, lying about homework, hormones, and on it goes. More than once I posed the impossibility of God’s expectations to His ever listening ears. “Why should I be branded a ‘sinner’ just because I came into existence? Why should I be expected to change or else burn in Hell? … forever? All I did was be born and at that moment somebody whacked me on the butt and it's been down hill ever since? Lord, I want no part of your celestial experiment. Can’t I just skip this eternity bit?”

          Have you ever had second thoughts about God’s authority, His integrity, or His rightness? Have you ever been angry or irritated at God? Have untimely deaths, lives of deformity and unending illness ever challenged your faith or trust in God Almighty? More than likely, we have all dealt with such uncomfortable questions.

       I have concluded; God has chosen to do as He has done and will continue to do as He chooses… today and tomorrow. God is the complete and total image of omnipotence, omniscience, and omnipresence. He is sovereign and in absolute control of all things. All things are proceeding according to His divine and sovereign plan. In all that He does, He does not answer to us or to any authority. He can and will do as He pleases! … and He understands me and loves me anyway.

　

Richard L. Grimes

(ã 2005 God Ain’t What He’s Cracked Up To Be… RLG