Tag Archives: Lee Johndrow

Narrative Of A Revival of Religion 1834

dronesofheaven

Many years ago I lived in the community of Springfield. It was a fluke that triggered me to find this. The booklet was found and allowed to be copied by the library staff and faithfully transcribed by my wife , Tina.

A Narrative Of A Revival of Religion,
In
Springfield, Vermont

Continue reading Narrative Of A Revival of Religion 1834

A Narrative Of A Revival of Religion 1834

Many years ago I lived in the community of Springfield. It was a fluke that triggered me to find this. The booklet was found and allowed to be copied by the library staff and faithfully transcribed by my wife , Tina

A Narrative Of A Revival of Religion,
In
Springfield, Vermont

 

Daniel O. Morton
Pastor of the Congregational Church in Springfield, VT.
Springfield, December 20, 1834 Continue reading A Narrative Of A Revival of Religion 1834


Waiting For The Right Time

It is more than just a place to go. It may be how you get there.
It is more than just a place to go. It may be how you get there.

Too often we find ourselves waiting for the right time. When this happens I will do this. When that happens I will do that. The difficulty is we find ourselves waiting for a day or a circumstance or a sign.

As a believer my life is seated in heavenly places outside the realms or constraints of time. And if my life is in heavenly places, with no time, then the question can be posed, what am I waiting for?

Over the years inside and outside the church people are holding on to various things. Some real, some superstitious, some perceived. For instance, in the world we look for signs of good fortune or good luck. We might visit our favorite Chinese restaurant and indulge in a meal, followed by what the world has deigned fortune cookies and I think of as prophecy cookies. Either way we tear open a plastic wrapped morsel, breaking the cookie to read a small white piece of paper. It matters little what is said, but if you have been waiting or hoping, you may well find an answer. (God is not constrained by our narrow minded thinking…he used a donkey!)

What is at the heart of it, is you are looking for direction. Your comfort zone may be undergoing rehabilitation. I get it! You may feel you need more than direction, that you need encouragement.

I thought about this last night. I was waiting for my wife to arrive with my grandchildren. While preparing dinner, I would walk over to the window and look down to the parking area. When they got here, I wanted them to see me looking at them, ringing them in. Why? Because I want them to know I have expectancy!

I thought just like the father of the prodigal son who waited each day. Probably in the same place, walking back and forth perhaps, providing himself with the best view of where his son might come from. I am sure that there were many days where a tear ran down his face. Days where he questioned his parenting ability. Days where he might have cried out. Days where other family members and servants noticed his disappointment.

When we are waiting for an answer, we go through waves of emotions and turmoil. A few weeks ago, I simply said to God, “I am not taking another step. I have done what I believe to be right. I have done all that I know how to do.” Weeks later, nothing has changed, but I can say I am OK.

I am not looking for a sign or a circumstance. I am looking for Him. When I say that, I mean this. I am open to whatever manner, shape or form God would like to use to provide me with an answer. When I get on something, I cannot move away from it. I become one with the “answer” who in this case is the ANSWER. It is Him. I am not looking for a sign nor am I tossing a fleece. What appeals to my emotions may not be right for me long term. (I am not throwing away emotions!)

I do, however look to whatever way, shape or form God may desire to speak to me. I am open to His answer. I may see things during the course of the day that emphasize or enhance what I believe God is already saying to me. God is speaking a lot. He uses creation, He uses friends and He uses a lot, but the really neat part of it all, is “I know His voice!” When He speaks in whatever manner, I am convinced of what He may be saying. I am not throwing out a rope and hoping He catches it and pulls me up but I simply believe He has endowed me with His goodness, with His nature. And the more I focus on how good He is to me, the less I rely on alternative methods to reduce my discomfort or release my worries. When he tells me to “be anxious for nothing” I can take that to the “bank.”

So, is there a right time? I think there may be. It is probably when you recognize how good He is, how amazing His preparation is and how wonderful His habitation is. (You!) When this is determined you then realize that you are comfortable in Him and everything starts to click into place. It is not a situation or a circumstance that has set you free from the bondage, making you free, but it is Him. Devotion or focusing on Him makes the rest all fit together.

To answer the other question of what am I waiting for, my answer is simply nothing. Oh, I understand the chiros moments in one’s life and the seasons, but when we recognize our wrapped up position with Him, we see that it is all ours, all now. There is on the horizon a seasonless existence. One freed of the constraints of time. When we see that we have become ONE with Him, we recognize the needlessness of seeking a situation or an answer. (I am not saying stop what you are doing and give up. Do what He has called you to do.)

I feel I must add this. I see too many who are wrapped up in their gift, focused on their destiny, when in fact there is a rest He provided from that as well. When you learn to rest in Him, your destiny is not the destination but the place He is going WITH you. When you find yourself anxious about where you are going or what you might do when you get there, you will find yourself missing out on the excitement of being in the moment with Him. While you are headed down the road to grandma’s house, He is wanting to show you the rocks and the pebbles that David that were hidden from the days of Noah. He wants to show you the beauty of the flowers, the freedom of the butterflies, the song of the birds and rustle of the creatures.  H wants to hold your hand and hang out. You will get to grandmas. But you will miss the experience of being with Him.

Do not trade the treasures of today for the thoughts of tomorrow. His blessings and mercies are new EVERY morning.

Book Update July 8th 2013

An update for you!
An update for you!

Today as I ready for my grandchildren to be here and VBS to begin for a week, I am working on my book. Today I continue to write about people in the Bible and their interruptions.

Right now I am writing about Noah. Imagine being 480 years old and having the Lord show up and say “build me an ark.”

Build me an ark.
Right…what’s an ark?
(Bill Cosby)

Talk about interruptions! That would be an interruption.

I think about how crazy that would be. Forget being that old. I have had to explain some purchases in the past to my wife. Cars, real estate, etc.. But if I built an ark in the driveway and devoted 120 years to it…well…you see the dilemma!

So, in between grandkids and VBS, I will finish off the biblical interruptions.

The Fourth Of July – A Little History

The Declaration Of Independence
The Declaration Of Independence

I love the 4th of July. My birthday is July 3rd (A day later and my name surely would have been Samuel!) and ever since I can remember I have had just about the most awesome parties in the world. As a child, we spent our summers on lakes in the Adirondacks. And my parents made sure that we got to see the fireworks displays. (There is nothing cooler than being on a boat with fireworks in the air!) And so over the years I have made sure children and grandchildren have had the fireworks experience. But along with all the cool fireworks, food and parades there is a serious side. Continue reading The Fourth Of July – A Little History

My Birthday A Little History

My Birthday

As I mark 58 years today, I think back to a time where I was pretty convinced I would not see another. This year my birthday will be celebrated on the 3rd with friends and family at a baseball game and fireworks. Like most years I catch fireworks. And then this weekend is the big party.

I was born in what was called Grace-New Haven in New Haven Connecticut. My parents lived on Orange Street in New Haven on a 3rd floor apartment. A few years later they moved to Raymond Court. And just a few years later they moved to Old Turnpike Road in Northford Connecticut. My dad was a timekeeper at Sargent’s in New Haven and my mom with her Masters in hand began teaching in Foxon.

Many of my summers were spent on lakes in the Adirondacks. Schroon Lake, Indian Lake, Lake George. One summer I celebrated with friends like Donald Jones, Gary Gilbert and my family by going to Powers Pond(Blueberry Hill) in Wallingford and paddleboating! Other times Frontier Town, Santa’s Land and Ausable Chasm.

So here I am readying to celebrate with friends and family this weekend. My youngest grandchild will join us. I am looking forward to it. As I looked at pictures of previous birthdays and friends, I am so grateful for all of those I have connected with.

Thanks for all the memories.

Seasons of “Set Aside”

I always wake up with interesting thoughts, songs and visions.

At 3:30 the song “Nothing But The Blood” was running over and over in my mind. I began to sing the words softly. I felt the presence of God in the room “increase.” (Rally, probably just that more cognizant of He who is always there.)  The next few hours were dreams that included our president, a friend in the hospital and an acquaintance who has decided it is ok to beat me out of a couple of grand. Upon my final wake up I heard the lyrics from the Bee Gees and their song “To Love Somebody.” (Not a song I sing…)

Lyrics are below…

So what is God speaking? I think God speaks to us all the time. In pictures, words, impressions and more. Now theologically the words have some “error” but the words have power.

What if God is singing this to you?
You don’t know what it’s like, baby
You don’t know what it’s like

To love somebody
To love somebody
The way I love you

Yesterday a very good friend and I chatted. In many areas, we are in the same “walk.” We often find similarities. Currently both of us would like to see life get “on with it.” The inactivity is frustrating. I am not saying go do something just ‘cuz you can. I gave that up a while ago. There is the occasional activity that is necessary for priming the “pump” so to speak to get everything moving. But both of us have been feeling like God is “holding” us in play. Limbo is his word.  Others are seeing various things move, jump and leap ahead. I am rejoicing with you. I am excited for you.

And it always comes back to seasons. The President is daily being faced with choices. He needs wisdom. My friend in the hospital needs healing. The man with the money owed to me? He needs Jesus. In all of these people, it is “nothing but the blood.”

God will speak to you in many ways. He wired you for community and communication. And even when you are “not hearing” Him He is speaking.

I do not like inactivity (Sounds like a Dr. Seuss book!) nor do I like the feeling. Our natural thinking and culture easily “translate” inactivity to worthlessness, (I spent much of yesterday morning listening to “praise breaks” to get out of that feeling.) concern and “what am I missing” thoughts.

As my friend and I talked, I began to prophesy into his life a little. The amazing thing about words spoken is they have the power and potential to change you, those that hear and the atmosphere about. I know he felt better as the conversation went on.

Why can be “set aside” for a season? I am not sure the reasons, but I do trust in the Lord and His hand upon my life. Maybe we need a rest. A time of respite.  A time of reflection. (Pretty sure that is not for me. I spend WAY too much time there.) But I think it is extremely important that we are prepared for the goodness that is coming, increasing. Benjamin Disraeli asserted, “The secret of success in life is for a man to be ready for his time when it comes.”

So perhaps it really does come down to…faith.

 
There’s a light
A certain kind of light
That never shone on me
I want my life to be lived with you
Lived with you
There’s a way everybody say
To do each and every little thing
But what does it bring
If I ain’t got you, ain’t got faith ?
You don’t know what it’s like, baby
You don’t know what it’s like

To love somebody
To love somebody
The way I love you

In my brain
I see your face again
I know my frame of mind
You ain’t got to be so blind
And I’m blind, so, so, so very blind
I’m a man, can’t you see
What I am
I live and I breathe for you
But what good does it do
If I ain’t got you, ain’t got faith ?

To Love Somebody lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group