My family and I are going through the ringer today. It all started yesterday when our Papa G was driving to a meeting in Battle Creek for a job that has been very hard on he and Evonne. Someone was driving the opposite direction and crossed the center line, striking the truck my only father in law was in. We don't know much more than that right now, but ripples of grief have echoed through each phone call as one by one everyone needed to know. I feel as though God stopped watching over Rick for a brief moment. It seems that those promises to never leave and never forsake are not real anymore. There is a terrible gnawing at my soul to question what He said in His Word. Did He really stop watching? How could He have a lapse of judgment? Elijah says our God doesn't get tired or take a break. Where was He? Did He leave? Does He think about all the kids and grandkids who needed their dad? Did God forget?
No He didn't.
So people who trust in Him have had their beloved Papa ripped away. We didn't get a warning. We had no last thoughtful conversation. 9 grandchildren only have one grandpa now. Didn't God know that we were on his side? Didn't He know that we have stood with Him and His Word, and that He should protect us knowing that we were with Him? Does reading the Bible, praying, and going to church matter at all? Did God forget to see that we have been faithful to Him?
No He didn't.
So, a life is over, and nothing can be undone. There is finality to this unexpected event. No one can do anything about it. Death strikes everyone, but we weren't ready. Papa G's body is coming to Paw Paw today, and we will cry more, and bury his body. It's so surreal, and yet we know He didn't come home last night, so it must be true. Did God give Him one last chance to talk to us? Did He get more time to set things in order? Did Papa G just leave us forever?
No he didn't.
You see, our great heavenly Father has arranged for a grand meeting again. All of his saints will attend, and Papa G will be there. We will be there, and will all worship the one true King -the King of Kings. He doesn't grow tired or weary. He says the rain falls on the just and unjust all the same. We are in the world, but we aren't of the world. We shouldn't sorrow as those who have no hope. We are not hopeless, and neither is Papa G. He trusted his life to the one who can save the soul for eternity, and God himself made good on that promise yesterday. How strange that through death, a promise is fulfilled. This isn't the first time.
The last time I wrote was at the conclusion to our trip out west where we saw God in the hills, the trees, the land, and in all creation. He was here, I said, He was there, and over there, I saw him in the mountains, in the rivers, and sunsets. This day is not different than that. He is here. He is here in all of you who say things to us. He is here in all the people who show up for comfort. He is here in His Word perhaps more than before. He is here in Spirit. In the death of a man, He shows Himself strong. This is the God we need, and He is the one who manifests Himself to those who call on Him. We need Him today, and we still stand by Him in His choices. There is nothing He will do to cause the faith of his people to cease. Let today be the memorial of this.
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called, he also justified, and those whom he justified, he also glorified. What then shall we say to these things If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died - more than that, who was raised - who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, "For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered. No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:28-39
Did God forget about my Rick and my family?
No, He didn't.
Friday, December 18, 2015
Monday, July 27, 2015
There He was
My family and I have just returned from a trip to the western side of the United States. We travel to Idaho each year, usually by car, to visit my brother and his wife near Boise. We started planning this trip 3 months ago, sometime in April. We even counted down the days. We packed favorite games, guns, hiking and cycling gear- all planning to use the various items for their specific purpose. Matt and Staci even booked a cabin on a lake up in the mountains for three nights once we arrived.
July 10th came around, and we left the house at 3:30 in the morning in order to reach Rapid City, South Dakota in time to have maybe an hour of downtime before sleeping. We grabbed subway, then fell asleep. The next morning, I awoke before the rest in order to head out on a 47 mile uphill ride to Mount Rushmore. The kids slept in, and were to meet me at the monument. After Rushmore, we continued to Deadwood where we panned for gold, and found Wild Bill Hickok's grave along with Calamity Jane's. We continued to see Devil's Tower in northeastern Wyoming before we traveled to a small on-the-way motel somewhere in the state. It was late, and we were all exhausted, so we crashed.
Day three caught us motoring through Yellowstone to see Old Faithful, then heading down south to drop into Boise from an area of Idaho that I had never been. We were all doing ok.
With three hours to go, and set in cruise on the highway, the suburban suddenly lost power, and the RPM's raged. I pulled off the highway and we sat in park for a few minutes while we contemplated what just happened. I pressed on revving the engine to 5000 RPM's in order to reach an aptly placed rest area only 1 mile from where we stopped. We were out of harm's way, and now had to decide what to do.
Several hours later, we were all safely in Kuna with Matt and Staci ready for bed.
I guess I have missed a few details. Let's go back.
Traveling this path to Rapid City required a new plan, and different highways. We moved through several states that we had never driven through before, and some that we had never been in. Montana, for example, has always appealed to me because of its symbol of freedom and open country that in my mind anyway, we don't have here in Michigan. I have never been to Montana. If you have never driven across this country, you probably should. There are so many variations to each state, that you might think you're in a different country, or even planet. It is 85 degrees here in Michigan as I type this, and I'm covered in water, yet, I hardly move. 100 degrees in Idaho isn't enough to make you sweat...unless you move around. Michigan's humidity is remarkable, but better experienced and appreciated if you've been somewhere else. This is just one example. People know this, but don't experience it.
Continuing from Michigan to Idaho via South Dakota required us to skirt Indiana, Illinois, hit Wisconsin, and then cross Minnesota at the lowest point across the state. Driving from the Wisconsin border (I love Wisconsin) across a bridge to Minnesota, you will see giant cliffs falling straight down into the water below from a state that is known for lakes, not for cliffs. There He was.
We traveled across Minnesota through corn fields, and other fields to get to South Dakota where we noticed a lot of the highway looked red. We learned that there is a bountiful supply of red granite in South Dakota which they use for roads. There He was again.
Driving to the hotel that night took us right through the Badlands, and boy was that a treat. The kids got out to climb on the rocks which are multi colored, and in layers, while Sarah and I climbed some, we also took pictures. This was a nice break from the road. There He was still.
The next morning I rode 47 miles through the Black Hills on my way to Mount Rushmore, and I have a hard time describing this little ride of mine. There were hills everywhere, and all around. The pine trees were healthy, green, and tall. The road was smooth, quiet, and beautiful, and the sun had started to peak up above the terrain, softly lowering its glow over God's great creation, and there He was with me. Cycling here in Michigan, it takes a long time to gain elevation while you ride, and then there in South Dakota, hills arise without effort to challenge, inspire, and dominate you. In the 47 miles, I gained 5,700 feet, slowly and steadily. Because of the climb, I was slower than my normal speed, and that gave me more time to see what I was passing. What a glorious place this was. To think that I could come, and ride when I chose and how I chose was a blessing. Not every person can do that for a multitude of reasons. There I was alone, climbing, seeing, and worshiping. The God who formed these mountains was the same one who created the Badlands without effort. I could work my entire life and not create a mountain or a stack of sediment like the Badlands. It was so quiet. I continued riding, and after 25 miles, came around the bend to see a breathtaking lake. The water was like ice, and the sun had uncovered it before I arrived. Mountains and trees were perfectly reflected in the water below. It was set out in front of me like a picture that I hadn't taken, but I could ride through. God did this. It was hard to contain the splendor of His majesty in this little place in the world that was dominating my mind. Yet I was alone.
I thought about the red roads and how God supplied red granite for the people of the Dakota's so they could set a road in its place, and it would benefit thousands of people. People who wanted to ride in the mountains, for example. Some who might just travel to work. God set the granite in place for thousands of years for the people of today to discover it, work it, and use it for a purpose such as this.
All of this after we had passed Minnesota and its brilliant sheer cliffs falling to the water. What holds them up? How long have they been like this? Are there more places like this? Did a man make this? Could a man in 10 lifetimes make this? He was there too in the setting of the border of Minnesota, and knew that I would take pleasure in its beauty one day, but it took me 35 years to arrive there.
How does God reach solitary people while riding a bike in the hills? What part of a man can look and see Him and His design and not just trees? Why is a natural setting more impressive to me than carved faces in stone?
It is so easy to go from day to day and see what we expect to see, but I implore you to look past what you glance over in Michigan or anywhere, and see God's design, supply, and handiwork. It is only a glimpse of Him that I got to see driving thousands of miles, and yet it took my breath away. When you contemplate the universe, or the tiny spacecraft that left here in 2006 to arrive at small Pluto in the last 10 days, think of how long ago God made that body to be found and pictured when it was.
The splendor has been there the entire time, just like the Black Hills, the Badlands, and the cliffs in Minnesota. He makes these things for our benefit and for His good pleasure. There He is.
July 10th came around, and we left the house at 3:30 in the morning in order to reach Rapid City, South Dakota in time to have maybe an hour of downtime before sleeping. We grabbed subway, then fell asleep. The next morning, I awoke before the rest in order to head out on a 47 mile uphill ride to Mount Rushmore. The kids slept in, and were to meet me at the monument. After Rushmore, we continued to Deadwood where we panned for gold, and found Wild Bill Hickok's grave along with Calamity Jane's. We continued to see Devil's Tower in northeastern Wyoming before we traveled to a small on-the-way motel somewhere in the state. It was late, and we were all exhausted, so we crashed.
Day three caught us motoring through Yellowstone to see Old Faithful, then heading down south to drop into Boise from an area of Idaho that I had never been. We were all doing ok.
With three hours to go, and set in cruise on the highway, the suburban suddenly lost power, and the RPM's raged. I pulled off the highway and we sat in park for a few minutes while we contemplated what just happened. I pressed on revving the engine to 5000 RPM's in order to reach an aptly placed rest area only 1 mile from where we stopped. We were out of harm's way, and now had to decide what to do.
Several hours later, we were all safely in Kuna with Matt and Staci ready for bed.
I guess I have missed a few details. Let's go back.
Traveling this path to Rapid City required a new plan, and different highways. We moved through several states that we had never driven through before, and some that we had never been in. Montana, for example, has always appealed to me because of its symbol of freedom and open country that in my mind anyway, we don't have here in Michigan. I have never been to Montana. If you have never driven across this country, you probably should. There are so many variations to each state, that you might think you're in a different country, or even planet. It is 85 degrees here in Michigan as I type this, and I'm covered in water, yet, I hardly move. 100 degrees in Idaho isn't enough to make you sweat...unless you move around. Michigan's humidity is remarkable, but better experienced and appreciated if you've been somewhere else. This is just one example. People know this, but don't experience it.
Continuing from Michigan to Idaho via South Dakota required us to skirt Indiana, Illinois, hit Wisconsin, and then cross Minnesota at the lowest point across the state. Driving from the Wisconsin border (I love Wisconsin) across a bridge to Minnesota, you will see giant cliffs falling straight down into the water below from a state that is known for lakes, not for cliffs. There He was.
We traveled across Minnesota through corn fields, and other fields to get to South Dakota where we noticed a lot of the highway looked red. We learned that there is a bountiful supply of red granite in South Dakota which they use for roads. There He was again.
Driving to the hotel that night took us right through the Badlands, and boy was that a treat. The kids got out to climb on the rocks which are multi colored, and in layers, while Sarah and I climbed some, we also took pictures. This was a nice break from the road. There He was still.
The next morning I rode 47 miles through the Black Hills on my way to Mount Rushmore, and I have a hard time describing this little ride of mine. There were hills everywhere, and all around. The pine trees were healthy, green, and tall. The road was smooth, quiet, and beautiful, and the sun had started to peak up above the terrain, softly lowering its glow over God's great creation, and there He was with me. Cycling here in Michigan, it takes a long time to gain elevation while you ride, and then there in South Dakota, hills arise without effort to challenge, inspire, and dominate you. In the 47 miles, I gained 5,700 feet, slowly and steadily. Because of the climb, I was slower than my normal speed, and that gave me more time to see what I was passing. What a glorious place this was. To think that I could come, and ride when I chose and how I chose was a blessing. Not every person can do that for a multitude of reasons. There I was alone, climbing, seeing, and worshiping. The God who formed these mountains was the same one who created the Badlands without effort. I could work my entire life and not create a mountain or a stack of sediment like the Badlands. It was so quiet. I continued riding, and after 25 miles, came around the bend to see a breathtaking lake. The water was like ice, and the sun had uncovered it before I arrived. Mountains and trees were perfectly reflected in the water below. It was set out in front of me like a picture that I hadn't taken, but I could ride through. God did this. It was hard to contain the splendor of His majesty in this little place in the world that was dominating my mind. Yet I was alone.
I thought about the red roads and how God supplied red granite for the people of the Dakota's so they could set a road in its place, and it would benefit thousands of people. People who wanted to ride in the mountains, for example. Some who might just travel to work. God set the granite in place for thousands of years for the people of today to discover it, work it, and use it for a purpose such as this.
All of this after we had passed Minnesota and its brilliant sheer cliffs falling to the water. What holds them up? How long have they been like this? Are there more places like this? Did a man make this? Could a man in 10 lifetimes make this? He was there too in the setting of the border of Minnesota, and knew that I would take pleasure in its beauty one day, but it took me 35 years to arrive there.
How does God reach solitary people while riding a bike in the hills? What part of a man can look and see Him and His design and not just trees? Why is a natural setting more impressive to me than carved faces in stone?
It is so easy to go from day to day and see what we expect to see, but I implore you to look past what you glance over in Michigan or anywhere, and see God's design, supply, and handiwork. It is only a glimpse of Him that I got to see driving thousands of miles, and yet it took my breath away. When you contemplate the universe, or the tiny spacecraft that left here in 2006 to arrive at small Pluto in the last 10 days, think of how long ago God made that body to be found and pictured when it was.
The splendor has been there the entire time, just like the Black Hills, the Badlands, and the cliffs in Minnesota. He makes these things for our benefit and for His good pleasure. There He is.
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