Brown's Daily Word 5/9/15

Praise the Lord for this sweet Saturday here in New York    The temperature reached here in to  mid 90's. It appears that we stepped from winter to summer with a brief interlude of spring.  My wife loves winter.  I love summer.  She had her season . I am having my season.  All is well in our household.  Thank you Jesus   This is the garden report.  For much of our lives we raised mega gardens with lots of vegetables  including corn and tomatoes.  We also had  strawberries patches.  I also  kept  bees. I have some honey still  left.  I used to  harvest over 200 pounds of honey each year.    We have lots fruit trees now.  This year we will not be raising a garden.   I walked yesterday in the garden area yesterday reminiscing the  bounty of our Lord's blessing over the years and His never failing faithfulness.   It was a summer like day the Lord blessed us  with yesterday.  All the trees look full with green foliage.  All the spring flowers are reaching their peak. "A thing of beauty indeed is a joy for ever"."   
Sunita and her family came home yesterday.  Jessica and Tom also came last night.  Laureen also did come. They all came for Jessica's baby shower today.  They will be celebrating  Mother's Day with their mom  tomorrow for the last time in the parsonage here.  I am planning to make a mega barbecue .  All is good.  All is a blessing.

  This is for my friends over seas tomorrow: the second Sunday is celebrated as the Mother's Day here in America the beautiful. Mother’s Day is that special day that comes around once a year when our attention rightly focuses on our moms.  I was deeply blessed to have a godly and praying mom in my life.  She told me the story of Hannah and her son Samuel.  I listened with great interest and deep intensity. I stlll rememember her story told to me  Mothers play a very significant role in a person’s development. They are game changers one way or another. There is not always a direct correlation, but godly people refer frequently to the influence of having a godly mother. Samuel had a godly mother. The fact is mothers have had a huge impact on the world. John Wesley credits his mother for his spiritual formation and passion for Christ. That experience could be told time and again. A mother plays a primary role in molding and shaping the lives of countless people. Mothers matter when they are committed to God and prayer. Even in her deepest anguish, Hannah was committed to God and prayer (v. 1:10). Her heartfelt pain and shame was that she had no children. On top of this, she had to endure the daily taunting of Peninnah mocking her barenness, particularly when they went to the house of the Lord each year. The mocking continued when she arrived at the temple to pray as Eli, the priest, accused her of being drunk (vv. 1:21-28). Nevertheless, she continued to pray earnestly, humbly trusting and persevering in God. God heard the mother with a humble and contrite heart.

Mothers matter when they commit their children to the Lord. We live in a world of entitlement and self-determinism. We believe it is our right to possess and determine how something or someone is used. This is a far cry from the biblical position of seeing all things as gifts to us from God and that we are to submit to God’s will in how we live and how we determine how something is used or how others are to live their lives. Hannah understood this. She recognized that Samuel was not hers but belonged to God. He was on loan to her from God. The Lord’s will for Samuel took precedence over her own desires for her child.

Mothers matter because they bless our lives. Some of you are mothers with an empty nest, and your children have started their own families. You are still their mother. I believe the key is blessing. Bless your children and your children’s children. This is a time to bless your children and encourage them in the hard stuff of life.

The fifth commandment, “Honor your mother so that you may live long in the land,” does not have a time limit or expiration date. It is for life. Jesus said those who humble themselves will be exalted, and those who exalt themselves will be humbled. It remains our task to humble ourselves before our parents to serve them, to be patient with them because it takes them more time to do things than before, to be gracious to them by empowering them to do things for themselves and others.

They are at that stage in life when they need purpose. Mothers never stop being mothers. It is in their DNA to serve just as it is in their Lord’s. Their role has changed, but their desire has not.

In Christ,

  Brown

https://youtu.be/0fPDFa8-Hjc

Brown's Daily Word 5/7/15

It was a glorious afternoon here New York.  It is like a summer day, very warm but less humid. The trees are coming to full foliage overnight.  We have one plum tree in the back yard in full bloom. The fields are looking a luscious green filled with dandelions.  The crab apple trees at the front of the  house will be in full blast tomorrow.  Tom and Jessica, Sunita, Andy, Gabe, Addie,and Laureen are coming home for the long weekend.  The temperature will be rising in the high 80's.  It will be like summer in India.  Praise the Lord that He surrounds us with so much beauty and splendor.  The Lord blessed  us with a wonderful Wednesday evening gathering.  It was filled with holy humor and sweet fellowship; We give thanks to Jesus  for all His simple gifts.

 

    I love to read about the life and times of the hymn writers.  In 1904, in Lestershire, NY, the Rev. W. Stillman Martin, a well-known Baptist evangelist, was invited to preach at a church some distance from the Bible school.  That Sunday morning, Mrs. Martin suddenly fell ill and was confined to her bed, making it impossible for her to accompany her husband to his preaching engagement.  Mr. Martin seriously considered canceling his speaking assignment, because he would have to be away for a considerably long time.  However, their young son spoke up and said, "Father, don't you think that if God wants you to preach today, He will take care of Mother while you are away?"  Agreeing, Mr. Martin kept his preaching appointment, and the service proved to be unusually blessed by God, with several people professing Christ as Savior.

    Returning later that evening, Mr. Martin found his wife greatly improved in health. In fact, while he was gone she had been engaged in preparing a new hymn text, inspired by the chance remark of their young son earlier that day.  That same evening, Stillman Martin composed the music for his wife's words just as they still are sung today.

    Be not dismayed whate'er betide,
    God will take care of you
    Beneath His wings of love abide,
    God will take care of you.
    God will take care of you,
    Through every day, over all the way;
    He will take care of you,
    God will take care of you.

 

    A year later, with help from friends, Mrs. Martin also wrote "His Eye Is on the Sparrow."  The God of Scripture is a caring and gracious God.  He is a God who loves us with a love that never fails.  He is a God who loves us and is committed to His Word.  He is a God who loves us and is faithful beyond comprehension.  His is a loyal love that is forever committed and forever unfailing.

 In Christ,

    Brown.

 Psalm 4:8

https://youtu.be/F_McdCfAXeA?list=PL5ECFA0AF063D5231

Brown's Daily Word 5/6/15

Praise the Lord for this Wednesday. Last night brought forth lots of showers causing the grass to grow greener and the flowers to blossom colorfully and beautifully. The Lord has blessed us with summer like weather all week long for which we rejoice and offer praise and thanksgiving to Him. I had planted several fruit trees in recent years, including peaches, pears, plums, apples, and cherries, which are blossoming with variegated colors. The lilac bushes are getting ready to bloom. The crab apple trees are about to burst forth. Flowers, flowers, everywhere we go. The Lord of beauty decorates the world with spectacular spring garb once again. We will meet this evening for our Wednesday fellowship and study at 6:00 PM, along with the children's ' ministry, and followed by choir practice at 7:30 PM.
  One of the hymns of faith we sing is titled "The Lord of the Dance". Early Christians wanted to say that when you think about God — and we all think about God, (even people who don't believe in God think about God) — don't visualize God just sitting there as a unity with nothing going on inside. Think, rather, of a glorious dance of love, joy, and self-giving grace, a movement and energy in the very heart of God from which has come all creation and to which He would invite us through the Lord Jesus Christ.
  Bishop Earl Hunt ( One of the beloved Bishops of our United Methodist Church )told a story once I never have forgotten, about a physician who told of a transforming experience he had when he was a young doctor just starting his career. He was on his way to check up on a patient who lived in a rather rundown apartment community. He pulled the car up to the curb and got out to go up to the apartment. A little boy was there bouncing a ball on the sidewalk, and the little boy said, "Man, that's a nice car, Sir. Where did you get that car?"
The doctor stumbled a bit in answering, because his brother, who was older than him, owned a car dealership. They had worked out a deal in which the doctor would take care of the brother and his family for free, and the brother on a regular basis would give the doctor a car. It worked for both of them. So the doctor started to try to explain and said, "Well, my brother gave me this car..." but before he could go on, the little boy said, "Your brother gave you that car?" "Yes, you see, we have this arrangement…" The little boy said again, "Your brother gave you that car?" "Yes," and before the doctor could say anymore, the little boy said, "Would you wait right here?" Then before the doctor could answer, the little boy went tearing off around the corner.
The doctor didn't have much time. He didn't really want to wait, but there went the little boy, and the doctor didn't know what to do. He kept looking at his watch, and after a few minutes the boy came back around the corner. He was pulling a wagon and in the wagon was another little boy, smaller than him, clearly younger than him. The little boy in the wagon had legs withered from the waist down.


The older boy came pulling that wagon around with the younger boy in it, sitting there with his withered legs. The older boy came pulling that little boy right up next to the car and said, "Joey! Do you see that car, that shiny nice car? His brother gave him that car! Joey, I promise you that when we get older, that's the kind of brother I'm going to be for you."
In telling the story the doctor got very quiet for a moment and then he said, "Years have passed since that happened, but I believe God has used that experience to keep me in His will and in His love. Because every time I have a decision to make with my practice, my family, my friends or with anything, I keep saying, ‘God, that little boy pulling the wagon, that's the kind of brother I want to be!'"
In Christ,
 Brown
 https://youtu.be/LNMZyytRym4

Brown's Daily Word 5/5/15

Praise the Lord for this spectacular spring season in New York.  The Lord blessed us with a wonderful day in His house Sunday in worship and fellowship.  Janice, Jeremy, Micah, Simeon, and Ada traveled to Philadelphia for the weekend  where Uncle Tom and Aunt Jess were able to bless  Micah, Simeon and Ada.  They all had sweet time in beautiful Abington, PA in the suburbs of Philadephia. 
    We were saddened to learn of the death of Jayne Flanagan.  Jayne and Kirk Flanagan were part of out church family in the 1990's, working with the youth.  They felt a strong call from the Lord to go to Africa as young missionaries.  The Lord opened the door for them to go to Africa and did provide for them.  Jayne had a heart like that of David Livingston to go to Africa.  She was blessed with the passion  of William Carey to share the Gospel beyond our borders.  She had the sweet smile of Mother Teresa to reach the least, the last, and the lost.  Kirk and Jayne were blessed with  three handsome sons who love the Lord. Jayne was in her early forties.  She was born in England, moved to the States, married her husband Kirk, and served the Lord together.   We praise the Lord for the faithfulness of Jayne. 

    The Lord blessed us with a marvelous Monday.  It has been like a summer day.  The temperature reached into the mid 80's.  Thank you Jesus.  All the trees are bursting.  All the fruit trees are blossoming with much brilliance.  Daffodils and tulips are in full bloom everywhere.  Many of the flowering bushes and trees by the highways and bi-ways are in full bloom.  Praise the Lord who makes all things so glorious and so colorful.  The moon last night was spectacular.   For all these things we give thanks to Jesus.This morning I was awakened by singing birds at4.30 AM.  It is going to be another triumphant day on earth , for Jesus the  Risen saviour reigns.

    One of the readings for Sunday was taken from John 15.  In 2005, the commencement speaker at the Stanford University graduation service took the podium and talked about how to live before you die.   He said, “You’ve got to find what you love… Your work is going to fill a large part of your life.  And the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work.  And the only way to do great work is to love what you do.  If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking and don’t settle.  As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it.  And like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on.  So keep looking.  Don’t settle.”

    That speaker’s name was Steve Jobs, former co-founder and CEO of Apple Inc., who passed away at the age of 50.  He’s been called a “tech titan,” a “visionary” and “pioneer”.   If you own an iPod, iPhone, iPad or Mac, you’ve probably heard his name before.  But in that same speech about doing what you love to do in life, Steve Jobs shared the question he asked himself to make sure he was living life to its fullest.  He asked himself, “If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I’m about to do today?”

    How would we answer the same question?  Are we satisfied with today’s activities?  Do we  have “great work” to do today?  Would we change anything on our schedule if this were the last day of our lves?  Jesus has a vision for our lives.  He has a vision for our joy.  He shares with us His vision with the picture of the vine and the branches.  Not only does He want our lives to be truly productive and fruitful, but He also says our life is filled with truly great work because it brings glory to God!  So, Steve Jobs advised that until you find great work that you love to do, you should keep looking.  Jesus the Risen Lord says to us “Stop looking.  I am the only Vine to a life that bears great fruit.  Look no further; only REMAIN IN ME!”

    One reason why Jesus calls us to remain in him is because “apart from me you can do nothing.”  Without Jesus, all people are unfruitful, dead branches.  Branches that have been cut off from the tree no longer bear fruit.  Sometimes it is not easy to agree with Jesus because we see lots of good people out there, doing “good things”.   We see charity and kindness, even in people who don’t believe God exists, but Jesus says everything done apart from Him is like nothing done at all.  As another verse says, “Without faith it is impossible to please God.”  (Hebrews 11:6)

    If today were the last day of our lives, would we still want to do what we are about to do?  It really doesn’t matter what’s on the schedule.  We have a thousand opportunities to bear some great fruit!  The only encouragement for us branches is this – REMAIN IN ME. .

In Jesus our Lord,

 Brown

https://youtu.be/twuLr5rQmp0