A Hurting Word...
This week I honor a son...and a saint! Now the son is not a "saint" (except in the Lord's eyes, for he DOES loves the Lord...grin...), but a son AND a saint are both down in my book for well-deserved honors...and of course, a devotional--why not!
On Sunday night (1997), our son Joey received the Gold Medal of Achievement in a beautiful ceremony at our church. The gold medal is given by the Royal Ranger boys' program of the Assemblies of God, as the highest award a boy can achieve in a wonderful program similar to Eagle Scouts. A proud mom and dad watched, and Mom got to pin the gold medal on him--slyly remarking that she deserved it too! It represented years of hard work, many levels of achievement, and was quite an earned honor.
We were given the option of choosing a special person to present the gold medal to Joey, and had as our first choice, Pastor Emeritus Philip Wannenmacher, who had married us, had memorial services for both my parents, and had seen Joey grow up from a little boy. Much like YOUR pastor--if you've attended the same church for a number of years! For long-term pastors do indeed become a real part of your family, sharing joys and sorrows through the years.
We learned that Pastor W. was out of town and unavailable, and so chose another to present to Joey the gold medal. THAT was Sunday night....Monday morning, we learned to our stunned sorrow that Pastor Wannenmacher had returned home Sunday night, been suddenly stricken ill on Monday morning, and within a brief time had gone to be with the Lord.
A son and a saint...both receiving HIGH honors--one with a life still to be spent for God, one with a life already spent for God. And therein lies my weekly devotional! For "more precious than gold" is a son you are so proud of; "more precious than gold" is a saint you have loved dearly for so many years.
A Helping Word...or Two!
A Medal of Gold...a goal achieved!
Joey had a string of earned achievements--ranging from knot tying to--would you believe--cooking skills! And he did it, to his own pride of accomplishment and with God's help! Pastor W. had a life of achievement--ranging from pastoring the "flagship" of the Assemblies of God in Springfield, Missouri, home of our international headquarters, to being chosen as part of the 15-member Executive Committee in national leadership. In between both achievements--alot of dedication, hard work, love and service to a congregation, a community, a church organization and most of all, His Lord!
Do you have a goal in life you've achieved--or still to be achieved? Then go for it--God's Will involves goals, dreams, and hard work, but along with it, the privilege of earning HIS gold medal of honor--more than any badge man can give. On Sunday night Joey received a shiny medal from a national commander - on Monday morning Pastor received a golden "medal" from his Royal Commander! May God help us all to have goals, dreams, visions of what we can be for ourselves, our families, our churches, and most of all, our God--and in life or in death, be an honor to our Lord.
A Coin of Silver...a creed believed!
The Royal Ranger Pledge states, "With God's help, I will do my best to serve God, my church, and my fellowman; to live by the Ranger Code; to make the Golden Rule my daily rule." It's Motto is "Ready--ready for anything! Ready to work, play, serve, obey, worship, live, etc." On Sunday night Joey stood in testimony before a congregation that he had done his best. On Monday morning Pastor stood in testimony before His Lord, for whom he had done his best. He of surety heard a "Welcome home, thou good and faithful servant.."
Sterling qualities make up the life of a Royal Ranger--AND a faithful pastor. Now neither a son nor a saint are perfect--but strive to love God and believe in His Word as life's guidebook and creed! Joey is still learning--Pastor's "been there/done that" and his sterling qualities of spiritual integrity and faithful service remain. He's left behind a rich legacy for us all....but what about the COIN? Where does that come in the story? Pastor W. loved kids! He would stoop to their eye level--love them, praise them, hug them--and on special occasions bestow a silver dollar! Joey has one of those cherished silver dollars, given him as a little boy by his beloved pastor. And now our youngest son, Jason, does too. For as a junior usher, along with other kids at Monday's memorial service, he too received a silver coin in memory of the pastor he loved. Now both our boys have a sterling reminder of their beloved pastor, one who loved and believed in kids, in his church, and in his Lord!
Are we known as coins of silver--believable to our world for our integrity and faith in Jesus Christ? Do we proclaim by our lives and our deeds that He is supreme, One to be loved and served our entire lives? May God help us all to live each day so His love and grace are shown to a needy world! A simple smile or a silver dollar...each counts in the life of a boy--and our God!!
A Crown of Glory...a prize received!
Now Joey has yet to receive that eternal crown of glory--though there are many times Mom would love to "crown" him for the usual messy room, missing books, scattered brain, and the like...grin...He's a great kid, honest, and although Mom sometimes feels she needs her own crown of grace DAILY, it is with pride, she saw, on Sunday night, a display table filled with trophies, awards, sax stuff, Nintendo stuff, and all KINDS of stuff that already make up Joey's young life! He dragged half his bedroom to the display area, and we dragged it all back home--of course, proud of this young man we call our eldest son.
On Monday morning Pastor DID receive his eternal crown of glory--and I see him, through spiritual eyes, laying it down at His Master's feet. I hear his trombone playing "The Holy City," and I see him leading the angelic choir in his beloved "The Lord's Prayer," - "for Thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the GLORY forever, Amen." Monday morning was the "amen" of Pastor Wannenmacher's well-spent life for Christ on earth...and the "good morning" of his well-earned eternal life in heaven. May God help us to work faithfully and with "humble pride" receive earthly rewards and honors, but gladly lay them, even this day, in real life, at the Master's feet, knowing all talent, skill, and ability--and call to service--come from our Father above!
A son...and a saint...with goal achieved, creed believed, and prize received, all to the glory and honor of Him, loving Lord and Savior. May our own lives be spent for God and be precious in His sight--both in life and in death! For He is to be praised forevermore..."only one life, 'twill soon be past; only what's done for Christ will last!"
And that's just a thought or two--from my heart to yours!
