God is our Father. Thank You.

Treasure Every Moment With Your Earthly Father - LEONARD R. DAVIDSON

Cherish every moment you can with your earthly father. (iStock photo)

Treasure Every Moment With Your Earthly Father

 6/8/2014 LEONARD R. DAVIDSON

Over thirty-three years ago, my paternal grandfather passed away. We called him Paw Paw and my dad loved him very much. 

Paw Paw loved to listen to his "45" of Tennessee Ernie Ford on his console record player and walked through the house singing at the top of his lungs. He had a lava lamp on top of the TV and an old fashioned cuckoo clock on the wall. Even with thick coke-bottle glasses he still had to use a magnifying glass to read his Bible, which he did the first thing every morning and the last thing every night. He loved Jesus with all of his heart. In church he would "amen" after almost every sentence.

Paw Paw died suddenly from a massive heart attack while at work. He was 80 years old. I remember my dad hugging me and saying, "I hope I can make it without him. I talked to him so often. I already miss him ..."

My grandmother, Dad's mom, was 10 years younger than my grandfather and we called her Gran Gran. They got married when she was 16 and were married for 54 years. Gran Gran was so special. She was a hairdresser (we called them "beauticians" back then), and always smelled like the solution she used when she gave permanents. Every night she would rub lotion on her hands, and it was a treat for each grandchild to sit next to her and let her rub the extra (by design I think) on our hands. We argued to see who would sit next to her at church, because she always held the hand of the child sitting next to her.

One time, when I was very young, I got in trouble while my family was visiting her home. I ran into the kitchen where she was cooking, and hid behind her skirt. She turned and looked at my dad and said firmly, "Ramon Eldon, you are not going to spank this boy in my house!" Right then I thought that it might be a very good thing if we moved in with her permanently. 

Although he traveled all over the world, Dad never missed a day calling her, and when she died at 96 my dad was holding her soft sweet hand. For many weeks after she went to heaven, Dad caught himself picking up the phone to call her. He loved her deeply.

May of 2010, shortly before Father's Day, Dad stepped onto the shores of heaven. Many sermons have been preached, and many songs sung about a saint who has gone home wanting to see Jesus first. You know, I believe our Savior is so gracious that He looked at my dad and said, "Go hug your mom and dad. Visit with them. Catch up. You and I have eternity together." And Dad would do just that. He would hug the two people he had loved more than words could say.

While he was here I talked to him every day. In the last four years of his life he spent many days sitting on his recliner praying for me. Every time I talked to him he finished our conversation by saying, "I love you Leonard ... with all of my heart!"

Someone said that my dad lost his battle with cancer, but Dad lost no battle. My dad loved Jesus deeply. Fervently. Passionately.

Paul declares in 1 Corinthians 15:54 that "when this mortal is clothed with immortality ... death has been swallowed up in victory" (HCSB, emphasis added).Jesus said in John 11:25-26 that He is the resurrection and the life. If we believe in Him we will never die. Today, Dad would declare that, "to be alive was Christ ... but to die is so much better."

 A man who is one of my dearest friends and mentors has expressed often that we should give honor to whom honor is due. So, please understand when I would say, "Dad, this devotion was written to honor you. Well done, brave Warrior. You finished strong. You were my best friend. I miss you more than words could express. You finished well. I love you ... with all of my heart!"

This Father's Day, treasure the time you have with your earthly father. Embrace the wonderful memories and discard any negative ones and the emotions attached to them. Let the God of all comfort remind you of His great love and if your father is now in His presence, know that you will be reunited and spend eternity enjoying both.

Prayer Power for the Week of 6/9/2014

As we approach Father's Day this week, take time to thank God that He is eternally our Heavenly Father and will never leave or forsake us. Thank Him that He's promised to be a father to the fatherless, and the One who takes us in even if our natural fathers and mothers forsake us. Pray for those who have lost their dads through death, divorce or abandonment, and take time to honor yours if he is still available, and his memory, if he's not. Pray for our military and their families, especially those dads currently away from home. Continue to pray that believers would work and pray together for revival in our nation and the expanding of God's kingdom. Remember Israel and pray that our leaders would have wisdom in dealing with the issues affecting the nation and the world. Psalm 27:10; Psalm 68:5; Heb 13:5b; John 11:25  

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My Father Is With My Father

Father's Day, when memories abound...

Dad at 19 (Louis James Martin)

Minnesota

Louis & Lila Martin

On this Father's Day, when I am camping with my two sons and two oldest grandsons (start of a new tradition!), I will be thinking of those many vacations we had with Mom and Dad. Almost 99.9% of them were camping, as that was the most economical thing we could do, with eight kids in the family. And we loved it! 

Departing from our home in Cedar Falls, Iowa each August, when Dad got two weeks off from Viking Pump Company (the iron foundry plant shut down during that annual time), we motored down the highway in the baby blue, 1960 Ford station wagon, pulling the matching painted, homemade camper Dad had built.

We explored the Colorado Rocky Mountain highs (sing it John Denver!); experienced a mother black bear steal our food at our campsite, near Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, right under our pull out camper bed; and even got sun-baked in the Badlands of South Dakota.

If it wasn't a Far West trip, it was an adventurous time in the many state parks located in my land of birth, Minnesota. The "Land of 10,000 Lakes", or "God's country" as we knew it. Elba, Minnesota, home of numerous cousins on Dad's side, had a nice state park just down the winding, hilly, country road. Fun times eating s'mores over the campfire every night!

At age 65, in 1995, Dad and Mom moved from Iowa to North Carolina, just two years after his retirement from Viking when he was 63. He had spent more than 30 years at the foundry, and Charlotte looked like a great place to settle down now for the golden years, in a new home. Three of us kids were here already. I knew he also wanted to serve alongside, as a volunteer, with the ministry I was working with. 

We had some more times together then. Most memorable for me was working as a crew, gutting a horse barn to make it into a church meeting location. Once rebuilt, the Lord Jesus and His Holy Spirit sure did enjoy showing up in "The Barn", during our Friday all night praise and prayer meetings known as "The Watch".

But just four short years after his move to Charlotte, in 1999 the Lord rewarded my Dad with the best home. Though that was tough for Mom and the kids, the good Father knows best. He always does.

Dad's death came as a result of lymphoma cancer, at the young age of 68. (He had found out that he had it when he was 64.) His almost seven decade birthday was to have been just two days later in July. He had "hung on" so he could see his first granddaughter, Sarah Johnson, get married in Kentucky that June. The Lord had granted him that last desire of his heart. Dad had a father's and a grandfather's heart.

Sometimes you just have to trust in the Lord's timing, even if you don't know why. I am sure you have experienced those times too in your life.

These past 14 years seem like a long time in passing. Sometimes it seems like it was only yesterday. Eternity has no measured time. That too is a disguised blessing of the Lord, which we we won't fully understand until we get more into it. Dad knew Jesus as his Lord and Savior, so time for him is always joyful now.

Some of you have lost your father recently. My daughter-in-law Chelsie has, and also my brother-in-law Bob. Others in years gone by. I pray the Lord will touch their heart and yours this Father's Day, with His heart of love and compassion, even as He has mine. 

On July 7, 2008, nine years after my Dad's passing onto glory, I wrote the following poem in honor of him, Louis James Martin. I thought I'd share it again, with you this time, these five years later. 

My father is with my Father. God the Father is the Most Loving Father we can ever know.

My Father Is With My Father

Nine years ago this July month,

My Father took my father home to Him.

After sixty-seven years on earth,

He has him in His place, of far more worth.

A quiet man, who didn’t say much at all,

But who spoke with his hard work, and commitments too.

These made him the real godly man I trust he was,

Which few probably knew, though I think it ‘twas.

Two jobs a day, most of those years of life,

Providing for eight kids, and our Mom, his wife.

Two pairs of hands, a heart of determination and will,

Made him the one I often think of still.

Not one to complain – just do what it takes;

Fixing peoples homes and many churches, for God’s sake.

Foundry life was hot, dirty and most often forlorn,

But he still had the garden, providing all with beans and corn.

Putting in electric outlets, insulation and lights,

Made the evening hours long and not that bright.

But when finished, and another job was done,

Gave me a sense of pride, in being my father’s son.

So kids, love your dad on earth, and especially the One above.

Learn what you can now, as he shows you His love.

And fathers, keep your children taught, with all the good you know,

For they need to see the Way, but not just for show.

My Father has my father, now in his heavenly reward.

He’s probably fixing someone’s mansion, so far upward.

Maybe he’s tending a garden, or camping with some friends,

Or getting the rest he so deserved; but with helping hands still lends.

For you Dad, with love,

  

Steve and all your family

July 7, 2008

Dad's First Communion - Minnesota

Dad in high school 

with blue ribbon sheep on Minnesota farm

Louis James Martin & Lila Mae Subra wedding

June 28, 1952

St. Joachim's Catholic Church

Plainview, MN

- with Bill & Elaine Martin (Dad's brother)

1965? - Dad, Mom, Janet (in arms), Sue

Steve, Tom, Mary, Colleen

Dad & kids - a typical Martin family camping fire.

(Mom took the photo.)

Louis & Lila Martin family - 1973

1979 - a whole bunch of us. 

(By 2013 we have really multiplied on the earth.)

Sarah, who got married in 1999, 

is the one in the front row on Sue's lap.

Dad wiring "The Barn" in Charlotte, NC - 1995

Presenting my Dad with a plaque for his church service.

Father's Day, June 15, 1997. Last Sunday in "The Barn."

Teary eyed. Being honored for who he was,

and what he had done to bless many.

A creek bed somewhere...near a camp ground I am sure.

The last Christmas season before he passed on.

The last photo of Dad with all of us together. June 1999.