Over the past, almost 5 ½ years since the Lord brought me back from the 'dead', calling me out of my own ‘tomb of darkness’, (my own personal ‘Lazarus’ experience), there have been multiple ‘defining moments’ where I know that I know that I know...I heard God speak to my heart and teach me things I pray I never forget. Yes...I’ve been back in His classroom these past 5 years and have had much to learn. You have no idea.

One of those defining moments occurred out here in California, just days after our twin grandsons were born. I’m pretty sure that within weeks of hearing that our oldest was pregnant with twins (our first and only grandchildren) my wife was ready to pack up and move west. I on the other hand was adamant- that was not going to happen! But admittedly, I did begin praying that God would put it on the heart of the kids to move out our way to Texas where we could be closely involved with watching the boys grow up.

But after they were born, I had several days to bond with them which doesn’t really involve a lot of activity other than holding them while they sleep and changing diapers. There’s just not a whole lot that goes on in those first few weeks as you probably know. But oh my...how those two gifts from heaven began burrowing deeply into my heart. There were not two more precious souls to be found in all the earth (IYKYK). :- )

Then, it was time for me to return home back to Texas as work was waiting on me. Kathy was staying behind to help Lisa out for those first five weeks, and I will never forget what a wreck I was that morning I had to leave. I was waiting out in front of the house for my Uber driver to take me to the airport well before the sun had risen. And as I stood out looking up at the sky, tears running down my face, I pleaded with God to extend His grace to me and comfort my aching heart. I did not want to leave those boys, and even admitted to God that I was not sure how I could even function given the deep holes those two had burrowed into my heart.

And it was just one word...I heard Him whisper to me. I remember it as clear and vividly as if it happened yesterday. There was also a sense where it seemed as if I could feel God reaching down and giving me a little tug on my shirt sleeve...and I heard this: “Careful!” And in that instant, I knew exactly...what my loving Father was conveying to me: “Don’t let anyone or anything ever take My place in your heart for being your source of joy.”

Loud and clear, His message was received. When I look back on that moment, it reminds me of what we do when we are driving down a road or highway and catch ourself ‘drifting’ out of our lane and we make that instant adjustment. That is what occurred that early morning. It was the loving correction I needed to hear in that moment, and yet...my heart still ached. Then...a verse just sort of ‘dropped in my spirit’; a passage that I had heard before, but rarely quoted or given much thought to. It was straight out of Psalms 84:11- “...no good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly.”

And that passage just went through me in ways that only God’s word can do, and I remember sensing the Lord agree with me when I whispered...”being a part of those boys lives would be a ‘good thing’. In that moment, I had no idea what the future held, but moving out here to California certainly was not even close to being on the ‘radar’ or in the realm of a feasible possibility. My only prayer at that moment was...”God...help me to continue walking upright before you.” The rest...they say is ‘history’...and what transpired over the next 24 months was nothing short of a miracle.

Yes...I realize I spent some time sharing with you here today, my ‘personal experience’; and a personal experience is just that...’personal’. It is not intended to replace or be a substitute for God’s word, merely the evidence of God bringing His word to pass in our lives. And His desire is for us all...to experience His goodness and faithfulness which includes Him ‘withholding no good thing’. And let me assure you now...this has nothing to do with one’s ‘performance’ either. Outside of His abundant grace...none of us can ‘walk uprightly’ which is what those who truly ‘abide in Him’...do (1 John 2:6)

So now I ask you to consider this, along with what I have shared with you here the past few days regarding wanting nothing but the best for our children and grandchildren; something God mentions frequently in wanting to bless. He actually makes it quite simple: “Do what I ask you to do.” That message has never changed and continues on through the NT (John 2:5; 14:11; Acts 3:22-23; Luke 6:46)

IF...we are unwilling to obey God for our own good...then why not...for the good of our children? And if we don’t love our own children enough to do what is best for them and ensures a blessed life at the hand of God, then what more...can God possibly do to change our minds? Remember the question He asked in Isaiah 5:4-5? Scripture bears out how quickly we can lose a generation when we disregard the commandments of God (Judges 2:10). And if you want to read one of the more sobering verses in your Bible, check out that last line in Hosea 4:6; and I mean...let that settle in deeply to your consciousness.

And this makes Jesus weep. Go read Luke 19:41-44 once more, nice and slowly. What does Jesus foretell we can expect when we fail to recognize the ‘time of His visitation’? And who is He clear to include will suffer... in that sobering warning?

It always points back to our unwillingness to ‘keep the commandments of God’. And sadly, the worst thing about all this is most of us have been taught that we can’t even do that...’obey God’. We’ve been misled to believe a lie...that we will always remain ‘imperfect, flawed humans’ who can never be holy enough for God. I will have more to say about this...tomorrow. Until then, may I leave you with Leviticus 26:3-13, which describes the good things that come to those who ‘He makes walk upright’ (13). And part of it means we are no longer ‘living as slaves’.  If your so inclined to point out and say: "But those were promises for the 'old covenant' ", then consider this- we are under a 'new covenant' with even..."better promises!" (Heb. 8:6). Imagine that if you can! 

Do you recall what Jesus said in John 8:34-36,32? “Most assuredly whoever commits sin is a slave of sin, and a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free!" 
Free from what?