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Struggles, who is void of them in their life? No one! What do you see when you see someone struggling with cancer, loss of limbs, or some other disease that maybe has no cure at the moment? Which hope is seen in these? It's like watching a war or being part of a war you don't know the outcome of. You HOPE you come out victorious. Problem is, there is no garantee! That's hope in the flesh. That's not the Hope that the Bible speaks of.

Imagine the cancer patient and his fight and wondering if will ever be able to live a normal life again,imagine the amputee fighting pain and the thought always being there that they will never have that limb back they lost, imagine that person with that disease that can not be cured with mans medicine,where is their hope. A fierce struggle and physical fight is going on. But each of these has a spiritual fight going on in the background that although still raging on, you can see has already been won.This can't be seen unless your spirit has been awakened by God which only He can do. This is the true Hope that can be seen. You can see death has already been defeated and that this physical battle will pass and you will be free from it all someday. Thats what gets the Christian through so many struggles with a strong hope others just don't comprehend. Other's who don't believe in Christ see it as blind faith and to them it is blind faith because they are trying to see it with their flesh. It can't be seen in the flesh, the flesh is doomed by a false hope.

Do you see that battle already won in the background that gives you hope to go on in your physical struggle? It's there my friend, trust it, no your struggle won't go ahead, but there is a comfort in knowing that Hope is sure. Hope everyone had a blessed Thanksgiving with their families. God bless you all.

~Grampy~

Edit: Just wanted to add that there is nothing wrong with the hope in the flesh. Everyone who has an illness hopes to get better, even hoping for a new car,a new job, you name. That hope is just fine. What I want to point out is, that hope eventually fails in the end.Those very sick who get well, still ultimately die,get a new car you ultimately need another new one, get the perfect job, eventually you have to retire. See where I am going. Hope in the flesh is  never eternal. It fails eventually and does not save or satisfy. Only hope in Christ last for eternity.

The last 3 days I have been quite sick. Over 103 at times. I had to miss our Thanksgiving meal at church lastnight because of it. Grammy brought me some food home which between that, the antibiotics that cost $264 and some Ibuprofin, I feel better than I have in 3 days. But to make me feel even better she brought me these flowers two of my granddaughters drew for me on teir napkins as getwell cards.

I mean how could this not put a smile on my face. If you are a grandparent you know what I'm saying, for those that are looking forward to it, it is well worth the wait. I mean, just look at them

Thanks for brightening my day sweethearts. Grampy loves his sweet girls. Just had to share these. Have a great week friends!

~Grampy~

I had an interesting day today. There is a guy that is 5 years younger than me that used to go to church at a former church I was a member of. He was given a ride to church by different people and I had always thought that the associate pastor was the one who was responsible for getting  him to church. Turns out it was the youth pastor (Ralph Brown...ifyou see this on Facebook Ralph, I'm talking about Bill Nelson) who made sure he got there.                                        

 At any rate, I have seen him at the Post Office many times asking for people to help him. It is always him asking for money to get a ride back to the Christian Mission where they let him stay. I had one other time I gave him some money and told him who I was and he said he remembered me but today he acted like he didn't know who I was til I told him. I have had other times when I just didn't bother, basically ignored him because I didn't have any money on me and I knew what he wanted. I always felt bad about not being able to help him but always wondered how he always ended up there at the Post Office. He has an eye disease and he can barely see. His eyes are almost closed shut. I have always wondered how he got that way. I had decided the next time I saw him there I was going to chat with him and see why he always ends up at that Post Office.

  The time came today. I swung by the Post Office to check my mail and there he was. He always stands at the door and my PO Box is right by the door. As I walked in he made a comment wondering why I wasn't playing basketball somewhere...you know, me being 6'10" and all. I just laughed and said, nope my Basketball days are over. Then he started his spill about needing some help as always and I was just about to start talking to him and a lady comes walking by and says, I gave this guy $20 a while back and I felt like I had been swindelled. She said she was an attorney and not long after giving him that $20 she saw him in her court  and thought great why did I think this guy was REALLY needing help. He told her he remembered her and said he was there because of a trespassing charge but that he did use the money for bus fair. It makes sense you know since he was homeless. He was probably just trying to find a place to sleep or rest and someone called the police saying he was tresspassing. Anyway, she leaves after saying she wouldn't trust him.

 After she left I told him who I was again and of course he remembered me. It was when my wife and I were dating and he was in the youth. My wife remembers him because she was the church secretary at the time. I told him I didn't have any money because of the areas I go into inspecting, I don't like to carry cash. He said if I could just give him a ride to Poplar and Highland, that was halfway, he could find a way to get back to the mission from there. I told him sure, I was done for the day and was headed home. I didn't see why I couldn't drive him back around the U of Memphis area. As we started off he said he stayed at the Christian Mission down on Cleveland and Madison and if I could take him that far it would be great. I said sure, I can do that, plus it would give me time to ask more things that I had wanted to know.

  Of course the first thing I asked was "How do you always end up at that Post Office and why?" Well St Francis Hospital is right next to the Post Office and he has to go there for his Eye treatments and the Post Office is the easiest place to find folks to help. I asked him what happened with his eyes since I remember him having problems back 30 years ago when I knew him. He said his mom had Chicken Pox when she was carrying him and it caused his eye problems since birth. I asked him if his mom was still around and he said oh yes. He said they don't get along and she lives in Germantown. Germantown is the rich area of Memphis so I REALLY wanted to probe more to find out what the deal was but he had gotten mesmerized with my GPS and had it off the holdster playing with it since we had left the Post Office. He had punched in the address I was taking him to and was having a ball messing with it. I called my wife to let her know what I was doing and told her about him playing with the GPS. I just said "Hey, I'm still a kid these things are so cool"

Anyway, we talked some more, I told him about Jill and what she was going through with loosing her right leg and the surgery she just had. Between that and him playing with the GPS I didn't get to find out a whole lot more except he said he had joined the Catholic faith now. As we were getting closer to our destination, he asked if I had enough to get him something to eat, like at Taco Bell or something. I told him I only had my credit card that I didn't have cash. He said well if you have enough credit could you buy me something to eat. He was REALLY wanting 3 bean burritos and a large Dr Pepper. I said sure Bill, I can do that. After that he had me drop him of at someones apt that was around the corner from the Mission because he had his pass. I dropped him off there and he thanked me again.

Sure, it was out of my way to drive all the way back downtown at rush hour none the less, but I'm glad I did. His whole attitude seemed to change when I agreed to help him in all these ways. It wasn't much but it meant a lot to him to know SOMEONE cared. I hope I can be more sensitive in the future to folks that appear homeless, I never just give them money, but I can always buy them some food or even give them a ride...although thats a little different since I knew who Bill was. I would have a hard time giving a complete stranger a ride even though I have done it before. You just never know when you are entertaining angels in these situations. I want to be a Christian who trully cares about other, one that ACTS instead of just talking about helping, DOING!!!!

Have you helped anyone lately who has not been as fortunate as you? Thats what it means to store your treasure in Heaven and not on earth I think. Help someone less fortunate than you today, you may find they end up helping you more than you helped them. Take care friends!

~Grampy~