The Way

The Way

I stand and look about me,

On this Thanksgiving Eve day.

As the mass of human flesh walk by,

I listen to what they have to say.

“Did we buy the turkey, cranberries and pumpkin pie?”

"Yes, Mom," the child says, as he texts, then sighs.”

I turn and hear a husband say to his wife;

“It’s seems we have everything; oh wait, we forgot the rice.”

The chatter in the air is about the food for a day of giving thanks.

I sigh a bit and wonder to myself,

“On this festive day where does God rank?”

My thoughts are broken and solidified by a couple walking by.

They are seniors well beyond my age.

With smiles upon their face they say;

“Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day.”

“A day to give thanks for what God bestowed on man,

A sacrifice so great; on that day, our life began.”

So give thanks with a grateful heart,

And put a smile upon your face.

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving; a day to give thanks for His grace.

For on the cross, He laid down His life, for the entire human race.

So while stuffing yourself with turkey, potato salad and a slice of pie or two.

Take time to give thanks for the sacrifice God made for me and you.

By Carl M. Namahoe

November 21, 2012

Could you not tarry?

Matt. 26:40…40 And He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “So, you men could not keep watch with Me for one hour?

Last Sunday Aug. 19^th after attending church, we made a commitment to pray for America. This was to align with the “Harvest America” crusade. The church we visited, Calvary Chapel Kona, decided to pray for 24 hours starting at 8 o’clock Saturday morning and ending at 8 o’clock Sunday morning. Our assigned time was from 4 to 5 Sunday morning. The people could meet at the church and pray at their chosen assigned time. We decided to stay at home and pray.

So we rose at the appointed time and stumbled to the living room; not fully awake yet. We sat down and began to pray. I wasn't sure if I should close my eyes as I was afraid I’d fall asleep. We started to pray and there were a few yawns at first then our spirits were awakened. It was like having your first cup of coffee.

Well the purpose of this time of prayer was to pray for America. So we started. And it wasn’t long before we were lifting up the people of this great nation to God. Then we focused on those in leadership…those who hold the reins of this country in their hands. We did not pray that they would steer this country in the direction they believed it need to go. We prayed that they would turn from their wicked ways and turn to God. We prayed that they would place control of their lives in the hand of God. That they would individually humble themselves and pray and seek His face. That they would seek forgiveness. If they did that then we believe God would hear from heaven….forgive their sin and heal the land.

It wasn’t long before we realize that this country we call America is made up of millions of families. And it’s the family that needs our prayers as well. We then turned our focus toward our family. It wasn’t long before we were praying for our siblings and their children. Then we turned our focus towards you, our friends and neighbors. Quite frankly…all of us are part of the make-up of America. And we all have been ask to “Tarry for one hour.” We’ve been ask to pray for one hour every day. And like most of you…I’ve not done that. But I’m committed to do just that. I will do what Jesus asks in Matt. 26:38; Then He said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death; remain here and keep watch with Me.”

I would encourage all of you to do the same. I do this not for this country? I do it for me and my relationship with God. I do this because I need it and I desire to walk with God in the cool of the day. And as I or should I say “We” spend our hour with Him then I believe 2Chron 7:14 will happen…“If My people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

Come and join me and let’s commit to spend an hour of quality time with God every day. See you in the Garden.

Blessings

Carl Namahoe

The truth be told

It took every ounce of courage for 10 year old Eleanor to fix her eyes on her host. Fear still had a grip on her. She swallowed, cleared her throat then risked a few words. “What message do you have for me, she said?”

Slowly Cassandra rose from where she sat and walked toward her. Eleanor tucked her feet under her and covered her face with her hands and shouted; “Please don’t hurt me…please don’t hurt me!”

“I'm not going to hurt you said Cassandra.”

 

Peering between her fingers, Eleanor saw her standing only a stride length from where she sat. She could clearly see those deep red piercing eyes; the long white hair cascading down to her waist covering part of the dark green dress. She could see that Cassandra didn’t look anything like a witch. She didn’t look anything like the pictures she’d seen in books. Slowly she dropped her hands and lowered her feet. Cassandra set a stool in front of Eleanor, sat down and took her hands. And for the next thirty minutes she spoke to Eleanor. Filling her with the message. Then she rose opened the door and said “Go now child. Destiny awaits you.”.......??????

The Lucky Penny

My life is an amazing book of stories. From my first breath until now my life reads like a novel filled with so many twist and turns. This is one of many of the “true” stories that Ihave experienced. Come with me and enjoy the laughter.

We had just finished celebrating Christmas of 2009. Except this year we decided to wait until January 2, 2010, which was the date our family would all be together. Keala and I had shopped for the grandchildren and she wrapped all the gifts as only a grandmother could. Our grandson, Kiaha, opened his gifts and learned that we bought them from one of his favorite Christian store “C28.” It stands for “Colossians 2:8.” Keala and I soon learned that the shirt and sweater were too small. So we decided on Sunday after church we would go and make the exchange.

The church service started on time at 9:00am and concluded at 10:15am. Soon after we left the church and made our way to the Cheese Cake Factory restaurant in Riverside. I pulled into the parking lot and quickly located a space. Keala and Kawai exited the car and headed for the restaurant with Kiaha and me close behind.

We entered and a friendly hostess soon escorted us to our table. We each were handed a menu as we sat down. Before long the server was back and took our orders. 

Granddaughter, Kawai, kept us entertained with her sharp wit and never ending questions. Relief finally arrived with our food.

Lunch was great and it wasn’t long before our plates were cleaned. After lunch we made the short walk to C28 which was in the same Mall as the Cheese Factory. Keala and Kawai took the lead and chatted and laughed all the way to the store.  It wasn’t long before we arrived at our destination and I found somewhere to park myself while the rest of them went in to shop.

A short time later Keala and Kawai came to where I was sitting. Keala decided to cruise to Nordstrom and Kawai decided to play with the T.V. monitor located outside the store.

The monitor is use to advertise the local stores in the Mall and the area. I could tell Kawai was bored by the number of times she kept changing the channels. The boredom soon peaked and she decided to turn her attention toward me.

Now my granddaughter is a type of person who thinks “NO” means “try again.” She is like that proverbial gnat that shows up at your Bar-B-Q and bugs you, no pun intended.

Well she says to me “Tutu, do have gum?” I answer “no I don’t.”

Then she asks “Do you have any money?” Again I say “no.”

She then asks me to check my pockets and I tell her I don’t have any money. She persists and by now I’m thinking “Bar-B-Q and gnat.” But she doesn’t give up!

So I tell her “Kawai, I don’t have any money! I only have my lucky penny, grandma has all the money!”

Did I mention that she is persistent?

Well she wants to see for herself. She wants proof! By this time, Keala has returned from Nordstrom and is now witnessing the conversation between Kawai and myself. Kawai jams her hand into my pocket and pulls out my keys and my “lucky penny.” One would think that she is now convinced that I don’t have any money. But nooooooo, she turns to her grandmother and says “Tutu said he doesn’t have any money, just his lucky penny and that you have all the money.”

Keala looks at her with a perplex look on her face and says “Whaaaat?” 

Again Kawai says “Tutu said he doesn’t have any money, just his lucky penny and that you have all the money.”

Now Keala is laughing and I’m smiling because the attention is now directed toward her.A few minutes later Kiaha joins us as he is done shopping. We start walking down the Mall to another store and along the way Kawai turns her focus back to me.

Did I mention that she is persistent?

Once again she jams her hands into my pocket only this time she finds my cell phone. Then she asks to look at my wallet. So to humor her, but mostly because I want to know where this is going, I pull my wallet and let her look at it. 

Then I say “I told you I don’t have any money! I only have my luck penny, grandma has all the money.”

Did I mention that all of this started because she wanted gum?

Well, we’d just passed a candy store, so she looked at me and said “Use your credit card!”

Did I mention that she was persistent?

By Carl Namahoe

wc…820  January 2010

"Walk before Me"

“If you take the left, then I will go to the right; or, if you go to the right, then I will go to the left” —Genesis 13:9

As soon as you begin to live the life of faith in God, fascinating and physically gratifying possibilities will open up before you. These things are yours by right, but if you are living the life of faith you will exercise your right to waive your rights, and let God make your choice for you. God sometimes allows you to get into a place of testing where your own welfare would be the appropriate thing to consider, if you were not living the life of faith. But if you are, you will joyfully waive your right and allow God to make your choice for you. This is the discipline God uses to transform the natural into the spiritual through obedience to His voice. Whenever our right becomes the guiding factor of our lives, it dulls our spiritual insight. The greatest enemy of the life of faith in God is not sin, but good choices which are not quite good enough. The good is always the enemy of the best. In this passage, it would seem that the wisest thing in the world for Abram to do would be to choose. It was his right, and the people around him would consider him to be a fool for not choosing. Many of us do not continue to grow spiritually because we prefer to choose on the basis of our rights, instead of relying on God to make the choice for us. We have to learn to walk according to the standard which has its eyes focused on God. And God says to us, “walk before Me.” Gen. 17:1

Devotional for May 25^th from Oswald Chambers book…My Utmost for His Highest.

Devotionals share insight to God’s word and will lead us to a better understanding of His plan for man.

1)”These things are yours by right, but if you are living the life of faith you will exercise your right to waive your rights, and let God make your choice for you.”

This fascinated me because… I have free will and why would God want to choose for me? The key to this verse are these words…”but if you are living the life of faith you will exercise your right to waive your rights”… Ahhhhh…The choice is still mine to make.

God did not impede on my right to choose. I by my choice, gave Him the right to choose for me.

2)”The good is always the enemy of the best.” The “good” is always the enemy of the “best.” God always chooses what’s best for us. It may not align with our thinking but it is what’s best for us. The enemy appears to be what we think is good for us. Perhaps that’s what John the Baptist meant when he said “He must increase, but I must decrease.”

We need to push our self-righteous, self-serving attitude out and fill the vacancy with humility. Then and only then will we be able to understand God’s choice for us.

By Carl M. Namahoe

5/26/2012

Focus

By Carl M. Namahoe

My name is not important, but as you read this story my identity will be revealed. One might think that a good place to start would be at the beginning, but I prefer to start near the end.

The journey had been long and tedious, filled with excitement, surprises, disappointments, and success. The anxiety level had peaked, and tempers had flared, words exchanged, feelings and egos bruised. The attitudes over the months had slowly and progressively change from serving, to self serving and no one saw it coming for their focus was skewed.   In my desire to serve God, I forgot that He did not come to be served, but to serve. Matt. 20:28 says; “just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

I had put my own personal agenda ahead of His. I had established myself as the shepherd instead as one of His sheep in a flock of many. I became entwined in the reeds of deceit and embraced self serving. I was lured by my own self gratification that I soon found myself feeding my wants and not my needs. It is written; Phil.4:19 “And my God, will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

I, in my desire to serve Him, forgot this and became entrapped in my own self serving attitude. It’s true that I am a born again child of God, bought and paid for by the blood of His Son, Jesus Christ. It is also true that I have a sinful nature, however, I am His child and cannot and must not use that as a ticket to continue to listen to the voice of the world. I am in the world but I am no longer of the world. My loyalty must be to God, first, foremost and always. I must do as my Lord said; Matt.6:33 “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” One might ask, “What things?” The answers to your questions are in Him. As I said in the beginning; “My name is not important, but as you read this story my identity will be revealed.” My focus became skewed by my own selfish attitude. The Holy Spirit made an adjustment in me and the scales fell from my eyes and I regained my focus.  Who am I?

I am man, I am…you! 

Written; 8/17/10 @ 10:45am

WC 427

The Gardner

By Carl M. Namahoe

My name is “Lilly” and I’d like to welcome you to my home. During my younger days, I was wild. I had no boundaries; no directions and no accountability. I did whatever I wanted. Most of the time I rose early with the sun and there were days when I never slept; days when I lost track of time. My choice of friendly acquaintances was less then desirable as they often choked the life out of me. I was dying on the vine and didn’t know it or should I say, refused to admit it.

Then one day, while soaking up some rays, I heard what sounded like rain drops striking nearby leaves in a rhythmical tune. Slowly it became louder and louder. I fine tuned my senses and searched the air for the creator of this wonderful sound. I’ve experienced this tune before and it always brought joy and contentment to some. But to others like me, who over the years desired to be chosen, and weren’t; it brought sadness, disappointment and sometimes death.

But today…I am one of the chosen.  Albeit, I’m the last one…none the less…I was chosen.  I am so happy!

I don’t know why he chose me but I’m glad he did. Getting me to move was difficult, and as he started working, that beautiful rhythmical sound returned. Before long I was moved, transplanted and in his care. For the first time in my life I had a reason to survive. I was free, albeit limited only to areas that provided growth; not because I wasn’t allowed, but because I wasn’t ready. In my youth, I developed and nurtured many bad habits that hindered my life. I noticed as they were pruned from me, I felt lighter as if a burden was lifted. He diligently worked with me for a long time. Then one day he stopped; wiped the sweat from his brow, smiled and said…”It is finish.” He gathered his tools and as he left that rhythmical sound returned; only to slowly fade away.

It’s been a while since his last visit, at least a week or so. Sometimes I can faintly hear that joyous sound and I strain to get a glimpse of him; to no avail. I wonder if he’s ever coming back.

Well I’ve been here for more than a month now and I’ve made a few friends. One in particular is Rose. She and I have become close and shared past experiences. Rose shared that she had many struggles in her life. Seeking and finding food was difficult. She spent days searching for good water and many times settled for water that was filthy but thirst was too great and she drank. She said she was so happy when he came for her. In his care she blossomed and never wanted for anything and he always gave her clean refreshing cool water. She was on her death bed and he revived her and gave her a reason to live.

Suddenly, we heard that beautiful rhythmical sound and we perked up and turned our faces toward the sun. The sound increased and we anxiously awaited his arrival. We both saw him at the same time and acted like two school girls out on their first date. There he is with tools in hand, coming to care for us…oh happy days!

Smiling he did something he’d never done before…he began to speak to us! “Good morning ladies and how are you today?” “It’s time for your grooming. I’m going to give you a trim and when done…you are going to be more beautiful then you are now…if that’s possible.”

 Rose is first and he worked his magic on her, not that she needed it, and when done she is absolutely beautiful. I’m next and I’m putty in his hands. He skillfully addressed all my problems and before long I am…stone gorgeous!

He took a step back, looked at Rose and me; and said one word…BEAUTIFUL! We both agreed.

He turned and walked away, leaving us to wonder where is he going? We noticed he didn’t take his tools and he always took his tools. Suddenly we heard that beautiful rhythmical sound and it’s coming toward us. He returned carrying a bench and placed it in front of us. He slowly settled in and sought a comfortable position. Rose and I are curious as he has never done this before…at least not to us. What’s he up to? Did he groom us to get rid of us? Why would he do that? This is so unfair! Rose and I stared at each other like two wall flowers at a Sadie Hawkins dance.

He smiled, but our expressions are less then pleasant; if looks could kill he’d be dead.

Slowly and with compassion he began to speak; “Ladies you are two of the most beautiful creations of God. As instructed, I searched for and found you. You were in need of much care and it was my responsibility to prepare you for His garden.

In your youth you attracted many undesirables who suppressed your life. They stole the food and nutrients meant for you. You had no training and thus knew not your limits and ventured where you shouldn’t have. He sent me to move; transplant and care for you as He heard your cries.”

I am His gardener and care for all the plants and trees in His garden. He is…”The Vinedresser.” He trims and grooms His vine.  You two were in need of much pruning. Your branches and leaves were full of pest and parasites that kept you from growing. Like you, man refused His boundaries and chose reckless living. Eventually his image and likeness was not as it was in the beginning. Like you, man must turn his face to the Son, then “The Vinedresser” will hear, transplant… and groom him.

-to be continued-