Tag Archives: grandchildren

The Value Of A Birthday

dronesofheaven
My mom and dad bring me home!
My mom and dad bring me home!

Many years ago, I had a young woman who worked for me. A single mom, she went out of her way to be nice to me. I made sure she got home each night after work even though it was a drive. I accommodated her when she needed days off and all the things good people do. Continue reading The Value Of A Birthday

The Memorial Day Weekend Thought

On Monday I am going to post a full tribute to Memorial Day and what it represents. I will be posting a vision I had later on today, but honestly, I am just enjoying kicking back a little today.

I sometimes post older pieces. I amazed at the timelessness of some of them. I see how I had “no clue” about the actuality of what I was seeing and how I see it now as it unfolded. And there are somethings, like wine and cheese, that just get better with age. This is one of them. As I put together a teaching and book on gardens and Christ, I found this piece.

leejohndrowteamToday on this Memorial Day, I want you to have time with friends and family, but it is my hope that you will remember those who gave their lives.

I was talking to a new friend at work, from England and somehow God has connected us in this season. He has lived in the USA for 10 years. Yesterday, He asked me why we have Veterans Day and Memorial Day. Memorial Day is for those who have died serving our country. Veterans Day celebrates the living servicemen. (More about this at the bottom of this article.)
Continue reading The Memorial Day Weekend Thought

My Dad’s Birthday May 15th, 1926

BobJohndrow_PutneyVT_07-1995Today was my dad’s birthday. He would have been 88. 88… What a number! May 15th, 1926.

And on this day of celebration, my oldest daughter is in labor expecting her first child. How ironic. We shall see…

My dad will always be one of my heroes. He wasn’t the best, but he was always mine. I know some might not agree with him and his techniques. (I am still looking for my head…) He was a drunk. But he always loved me. He may never have known how to show it. I am not sure how I would be growing up without a father, finding out in your 40’s someone else was your mother, being in the military and receiving 2 Purple Hearts. Losing foxhole buddies at 17 years old. Just not sure…

So today is your birthday dad and I think you would be proud of me, of your children and your grandchildren. Today is bittersweet for me as I see Amy getting ready to deliver her first child. How much you cared about her and did everything to be her grandfather. (Between Amy and Mandy he was pretty much in love with the grandkids.) He put in a pool and such just so everyone would have a “place”.

I miss my dad. I certainly remember the day of his death. But mostly I remember his life. As you read though my stories, you can see how he taught me baseball, football, basketball and even soccer. He taught me horseshoes and Jarts. He taught me how to build and to fish. To repair motors and bikes. To see the world differently.

Dad-today is your day. Even now tears run down my face as I think about you. I miss you. I think you would be proud of your family.


His Blessings And Mercies Are New Everyday!

leejohndrowteamThe last few days I have been thinking about grandchildren and our communities. I think the way I think some might term me a “utopian” in my belief that we can change everything to be better. When I sit with God and see the beauty of heaven and the thoughts of His goodness, I know that there is a better way.

One year ago this week, I was sitting on an island, enjoying fun, family and food. The weather was awesome. Yet if you left the “compound” of the resort you immediately encountered the ravages of “third world” thinking.

Last night as I sat with someone I reminded them that “their experience” was not necessarily the kingdom of God. The people on the island would watch fancy cars, high powered people and great sums of money come to their island. Yet in their mind it was “untouchable”. As I prayed with this person I reminded them that a parent’s experience is not theirs either. The “sins of the father” are NOT delivered to the youth. In fact ALL the blessings of God are yours if you can wrap your brain about it. (That is the process of repentance-what you believe, and renewing-what you are putting in.) You can not let the enemy take real estate in your mind.

Just because my dad drank and did some pretty evil things does NOT mean I have to be like that. Nor do my children or grandchildren have to be like me. (And a collective AMEN rose from the crowd!)

Last year I published a book on “declarations and decrees” with the purpose of seeing people see themselves for who they are. But these declarations are not “incantations” with super powers but words of change, backed by heaven, your faith in the finished work and Jesus Christ.

I am often asked why I can not just give you a “short” message. “Lee, I do not read your stuff because it is too long.” I am okay with that. I wish everything in life had a short version. A one liner. But the reality of it is, it does not. Sure, I go to a Chinese restaurant and pull out the “prophecy” cookie. I declare over it and it is hardly ever that I receive something not connected to my life and good. BUT, I do not rely on prophecy cookies and one liners. In fact I think there is a danger in that on some levels. I do not await someone’s prophecy, or their one liner or a fortune cookie. Too many are running around quoting this or quoting that. I recognize that some of those are good, even awesome. BUT, how much process did someone spend with God at His feet working through a hardship in their life to get there? I get we can build on revelation, but too often revelation from another person does not constitute revelation for you or I. But soon becomes dependency on a system or a person? (I have been on both sides of that coin!) Nor do I think it is healthy to have revelation without application. Why? Because I think it establishes religiosity.

I get when you are in crisis you want an answer. I have been there. 25 years later I am paying the price for taking on someone else’s revelation (Like right now my spell checker is telling me “else’s” is wrong!) that I took on. It cost me. The pain of that move, of that decision will never not follow me. But find God’s answer for you.

BUT, if I am going to go with a “one liner” I want it to be His!

Last night I had a dream. It was one of my “two level” dreams. (I “awoke” from one to be in yet another.) In the dream I went to the post office to purchase a stamp. The stamp was a dime. No one waited on me. After a while I reached around the counter and removed a dime. A Mercury dime. The next day I did the same. A Mercury dime. On the third day the requirement was a dollar. (10 times as much.) Still no waiting on me. I awoke from this dream thinking “was I on camera” and “where were the people”. What was I doing? A dime? A dollar? A federal offense for a small amount of money. In the second level I was convinced of the reality of the first. I walked about and saw many people who needed hope. I thought “I have a message worth sharing”. With each person, I shared about Him and placed a dime in their hand.

“Lee-A-what does that dream have to do with the previous paragraphs and B-what does it mean for me?”

I get it.

Here is some “fact”. The Mercury dime was based on the Roman God. (Jesus asked “who’s picture is on the coin” when asked about taxes.) This dime represented “unity and strength”, as well as symbolized peace. The dollar bill carried a 10 fold increase over the dime and the picture of a founding father, George Washington. He was the first president.

The dream itself carries promise to me, to you and to the United States. We are going to see a delivery of the message of hope come about in unusual ways through “unusual” people. People who many are divided over because of their political and religious backgrounds. In a “ten fold” increase, we are going to go from a Mercury “based” existence (Mercury is described as this, He is the patron god of financial gain, commerce, eloquence (and thus poetry), messages/communication (including divination), travelers, boundaries, luck, trickery and thieves; he is also the guide of souls to the underworld) to a change predicated on truth and forerunners of change. “Founding fathers” will increase not in a governmental or political way (Though I guess there will be some.) but in a “Father’s way”. The cameras will not have effect. No longer will people be concerned about their identity and want to hide it. The carriers of the message will share peace, unity and strength.

Watchmen-On some levels this is a side note, but I have a growing concern about the “watchmen” who ONLY see what is wrong. It is not about balance but about truth. There is an increase in the kingdom. Wrongful theology has taken away our peace and increased our anxiety. A watchman is MORE than someone on the wall calling out sin, destruction and beware the coming in. They would watch over the city and see the interactions of the people. (Come out of your “towers” and your “closets” and see wht God is doing is a “good word” right here.) They were also called to with proclaiming the good news about salvation. (Isaiah 52:7-10) Good news…another good word! Prayers of peace! Life is not “doom and gloom”. If someone is only telling you about “how bad it is” you have to wonder about the woundedness, the fear and the hurt that is going on. (By the way, I am not a “pollyanna”. I can read the news…and turn it around with my words.)

“Lee-how does the dream relate to the words in the beginning?” It is about message. A simple text does not necessarily reveal my heart towards you. You must know me to know my heart. The message is on the table. The communication of the message is what is at stake. We are engaged in a battle of words, for our families and our communities. Who gets the “real estate” is who has power. We are the people of “kingdom rule and dominion”. It is important that we do not give up in the gains prophesied and set before us. The real estate I am talking of is in the mind. Who owns it? It is the “winner’s spoil”. We must be better at communicating the truth and the good news of Jesus than the enemy’s message of destruction.

It is time. It is a new season. In the “great words” of the Goonies. “Don’t you realize? The next time you see sky, it’ll be over another town. The next time you take a test, it’ll be in some other school. Our parents, they want the best of stuff for us. But right now, they got to do what’s right for them. Because it’s their time. Their time! Up there! Down here, it’s our time. It’s our time down here. That’s all over the second we ride up Troy’s bucket.” And that is because OUR COMMUNICATION is going to change schools and cities. The word Troy meant “foot soldier” in Greek. It is a trap for believers because we are called to the “air force” (heir force) as we are seated “high above” the enemy. You are not “just human” but in fact are a supernatural being with God on your side. It is time to make it here on earth as it is in heaven. (Honestly it is thought provoking and prophetic that Goonies II is on the table. There is another chance.)

And I have to add this, there is a “bad word” going around that we are facing an “event” that could make the “dust bowl” look like nothing. Only a week ago the Lord showed me the “dust bowl” event of the 1930’s (It was also called the “dirty thirties”.) The dust shaped ecology and agriculture. It is time to speak the goodness of God against the “famines” of the enemy. It is time to change our economy with our words, declare the salvation of the Lord and return peace to our nations.

Today is your day. His blessings and mercies are new every day. Lamentations 3:22-23

If you are interested in the book on declaration and decree, you can click here.

Family-Not Always Easy But Always Worth It!

leejohndrowteamThe Family

Today is a pretty typical weekend in my life. Grandchildren laying around various floors on sleeping bags and bags of clothes and such piled high in corners. Before the weekend is over I will see other grandchildren, some of their friends and many of my children. The weekend with grandkids will include swimming, walking, games, some B&W TV and of course food! There will be the “normal” weekend things as well of getting to our church fellowship on time, where a whole ‘nother set of family is. Continue reading Family-Not Always Easy But Always Worth It!

Hannah Lynn Wade

Hannah's Birthday!
Hannah’s Birthday!
Hannah Lynn Wade
Hannah Lynn Wade

Hannah Lynn Wade 7lbs 3oz, 19″ long 5:32am on 6/24/13

This morning my son Tyler and his lovely wife Emily welcomed Hannah Lynn Wade into the world. The wait was over. She made her entry.

In reality this is not the beginning but a “touch down” in the journey of life. Scripture records and tell us that

Jeremiah 1:5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, And before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations.”

Hannah did not come from her parents, but through her parents, Tyler and Emily.

Revelation 13:8 All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast — all whose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world.

Galatians 2:20 tells us “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

That means even when He gave His all, He had and has a plan for Hannah. Hannah in Hebrew speaks of grace and mercy. That is such an awesome place to start. Loving parents, loving God and a name that speaks of grace and mercy. Lynn most likely speaks of “lake” or “waterfall” or “pool.” There is something truly prophetic in that, there is a God who speaks like “many waters.”

So, how miraculous is birth? Specifically this birth? In December 2001 I received a call that Tyler had been involved in an accident and was dead. He was not dead, as it turned out, but he was in a coma for a few months and in rehab. In his life he has “beat” the odds so many times. God has been good Tyler. A few years ago he gave His life to the Lord Jesus. And then he married our beautiful daughter-in-love, Emily.

This birth is not just miraculous, but supernatural. So many issues have been defeated in their lives for the birth of this lively child.

Whenever you may be prone to doubt, I would ask you to be moved by this testimony of the goodness of God.

Hannah Lynn Wade
Hannah Lynn Wade

Hannah-we welcome you into this family with loving arms. Bless you Tyler & Emily. We love you!