"The Harvest Is Ready"

Growing up on the farm, one of the joyous occasions was when the crops come in.  Now I don’t mean the crops from the field, but the crops in the garden.  Now many of you are saying, “Oh, vegetable garden.”  Well, yes and no.  Our gardens on the farm could be upwards to an acre or more.  So if you had 12 rows of pole beans 100 yards long (that is just one of the vegetables), that’s a crop in my opinion.  So, as these vegetables came in (ready to harvest) you would use some as fresh produce for the table.  You would put some up in the freezer or can them for winter use.  But my favorite thing to do was to carry some to the neighbors who didn’t have gardens.  Dad or mom would load a bushel of corn or beans in the back of the car and head over to a neighbor’s house and knock on the door and say something to the affect, “God has blessed us with an abundance again this year and we wanted to share some with you.”  Often these were folks that could really use this produce over the winter months.  The smiles were as one of the commercials state, “Priceless.”  I’ve never forgot those times.

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving 2016!  The "First Thanksgiving" was celebrated by the Pilgrims after their first harvest (their crops came in) in the New World in 1621.  The feast lasted three days.  Edward Winslow, an attendee, recorded that there were 90 Native Americans and 53 Pilgrims in attendance.  The New England colonists were accustomed to regularly celebrating “thanksgivings" days of prayer thanking God for blessings such as military victory or the end of a drought.

Fast forward from 1621 and the fourth Thursday in November in the United States which has been set aside as the public holiday known as Thanksgiving Day.  It originated as a harvest festival. Thanksgiving has been celebrated nationally on and off since 1789, after a proclamation by George Washington. It has been celebrated as a federal holiday every year since 1863, when, during the American Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national day of "Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens," to be celebrated on the last Thursday in November.  Old Abe, I believe, had it right.  Thanks and Praise to our Heavenly Father is the right course of action for His abundance of grace, mercy, and blessings.

A song that runs through my mind during the Thanksgiving week is one written by Henry Smith titled: “Give Thanks.”  The words are very simple, but so true.

“Give thanks with a grateful heart, 

Give thanks to the Holy One; 

Give thanks because He’s given Jesus Christ, His Son.” 

(That repeats)   

“And now let the weak say, I am strong, 

Let the poor say, I am rich 

Because of what the Lord has done for us.”

(That repeats)

“Give Thanks, Give Thanks, Give Thanks”

There is something about giving that warms the heart.  I’ve seen giving break down barriers between enemies, between disagreements, between couples, and bring ones far apart back together again.  In most cases (not all) giving just a simple hug to someone bridges a gap between us that often goes without explanation.  

Oh, wait a minute.  There is an explanation after all!  This is exactly what God calls us to do.  As He has given His Son out of love for us, so too, we are to do likewise and out of love give to one another.

What would the world look like if everyone would do this?  Yes, that is the correct answer!  Heaven!  And one day we will get there, but until then, it is going to take one person at a time giving of oneself to some else that will make the difference.  If God has blessed you in the harvest, how about sharing out of thanksgiving to, as Abe said, “our beneficent Father.”  There are so many ways to give, for the harvest is white and ready!

Folks, Jesus said, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.” (Matthew 9:37)  How about this Thanksgiving season us all look for ways to “give” since the harvest is ready!!!

Happy Thanksgiving to you all.  May the Lord’s blessings fall greatly on each of you for His glory!

Pastor Marty

Worship, Grow, & Serve                      

“The LORD Who Made You”

“Thus says the LORD who made you and formed you from the womb, who will help you, do not fear…” Isaiah 44:2

I am writing this article on Tuesday, November 15 and the memories of this day 12 years ago are as fresh as if they happened yesterday.  So please allow me to indulge myself in sharing this story.

I had been at a Church Conference in Phoenix AZ for 5 days prior to November 15, 2004.  I had flown back in on Saturday the 13th and planned to attend Terry’s (my wife) appointment with her doctor before going to work on Monday the 15th.  She was 34 weeks pregnant at that time and there had been some concern of our child’s size in development during her pregnancy.  Terry had had two miscarriages prior to this pregnancy and we knew that there was a risk of problems with this pregnancy also.  Early on in the pregnancy, as she had in past the months that the prior miscarriages occurred, our doctor suggested that we have a Amnio test done to make sure the baby was OK, so we could have the option to abort if needed.  We both looked at him and said about the same time NO!  There is no need to do that.  We would not abort regardless of what the test would show.  We were not going to be a part of the 3,000 + abortions that take place daily in the USA.  God had formed her.  She was alive!

A few weeks prior to November 15, 2004 during one of Terry’s appointments, our doctor said, “I would like to give you a hormone shot that will help to develop the lungs of the baby.  I am just not sure you will carry her to your due date, which by the way was our oldest sons birthday, December 31st.  They felt Terry may be able to go as far as 38 of the 40 weeks.  So we agreed.  Man, did that turn out the be the right call!!!

Back to our appointment on Monday, November 15th.  We arrived and were waiting, talking about the things we needed to do that day and the rest of the week.  Thanksgiving was coming and plans for Christmas, knowing the baby would be arriving around that time.  We were called back to the examination room where there was an Ultrasound machine for the doctor to take a look at the development of the baby since our last visit.  The doctor came in and started the exam, the minute she put the wand on Terry’s abdomen, she said, “We need to get you to the hospital immediately.  The baby is in stress.”  Tears welled up in both of our eyes.  The doctor said she would call ahead and let them know we were coming and for us to go straight up to the OB floor.  I don’t even remember driving over.  We both were in shock.  Once we were checked in and were waiting for the “on call” doctor to come in, I remember we prayed.  “Father, you have brought us this far, this baby is in your hands.  Please Father, let her live.”  

Things began to move very quickly by then and not long after that Terry was in the OR prepping for a C-Section.  I was dressed in OR clothes so I could be with her.  And at 2 PM, Monday, November 15th Emma Grace Duffell was born at 34 weeks.  She weighed 2.7 lbs. and within hours dropped to 2.5 lbs.  We were immediately cautioned of all the possibilities.  The Nic Unit doctor made that very clear.  But here is the thing, Emma Grace never had to have any intervention.  No breathing tubes, nothing.!  They told us that their requirement was for a premature baby to be 4.5 to 5 lbs before going home.  Emma Grace was doing so well they let her come home at 3.5 lbs.  The NICU doctor told us as we were leaving that he would see us back in the unit over the winter months.  To that Terry said, “No you will not.  God’s got this little one.”  And He did!  Every time the doctors have told us she will develop slower, be behind all her peers, they have been wrong.  She is, in our eyes, a miracle baby.  

Isaiah tells Israel, “… the LORD who made you and formed you from the womb…” reminds me that every child is a gift of God.  Yes, I know our story is not everyones story as far as the outcome.  I understand that.  But each of these babies are His creation and we don’t understand why some live and some die.  We don’t understand why some are lost to miscarriages.  And as far as Terry and I, we do not understand how anyone can abort these precious babies.  What we do know is that each child is knitted in their mothers womb by a gracious and loving God and all are in His hands.  God is creator, not only of the universe, but of all of us.  So do not fear, as the prophet says, for we know that God is Emmanuel - God with us!   Folks, that is with the “born” and the “un-born.”  Terry and I experienced His presence that day in a special way and are so ever grateful to Him!

I am thankful that God has allowed us to enjoy His daughter, our daughter, Emma Grace.  Happy 12th birthday sweetheart.  We love you!

Blessings,                                                                                                 

Pastor Marty

Worship, Grow, & Serve                      

An Appointed Time For Everything

“There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven ...” Ecclesiastes 3:1

I don’t usually like to draw attention to myself, but when this particular event fell today, it caused me to ponder. You know when Pastor Marty ponders, something is going to be said.

So, here is the event. Today is my birthday. I’m not going to give you my actual age, but will give you enough information for you to figure it out. My age today is exactly my birth year in the 1900’s. Yes, the 1900’s. Second, I’m a “Baby Boomer” so that will give the period in the 1900’s I was born. And lastly, if you take my age today and subtract it from this calendar year, you will get the calendar year of my birth, which again is exactly how old I am today.

Why do I bring my birthday up? That is a good question. As I said, I never liked drawing attention to my birthday. I know a lot of people bask in the day and love the excitement and attention. That’s not me. It is day that can come and go. Yes, I’m another year older, another 12 months logged in God’s book of life on His servant, Marty Egene Duffell. Don’t get me wrong. I am glad I was born. I am happy to be alive at this time and place. I am thankful for my wife and family. And most of all, I am thankful that God has chosen my to be an adopted son of His and made me an heir of heaven.

That being said, why then write an article about your birthday, even though it falls on the HOPE Connection day? I was thinking yesterday about another year in the books for me. What does that mean? What will this next year of my life bring me? What celebrations and what heartaches will I experience? How will I serve God this year of my life in ways that glorify Him who saved me? Most scholars believe King Solomon is the author of Ecclesiastes. Solomon, in his wisdom states that there is an appointed time for everything under heaven. Everything! A time to: give birth, to die; to plant, to uproot; to kill, to heal; to tear down, to build up; to weep, to laugh; to mourn, to dance; to throw stones, to gather stones; to embrace, to shun; to search, to give up as lost; to keep, to throw away; to tear apart, to sew together; to be silent, to speak; to love, to hate; for war, for peace.

This passage came to mind as I began to ponder these questions in my mind. Which of these will I face in this year of my existence? Many will come very naturally, others will be forced on my by the world. Some of these will bring me joy and happiness, while others will tear at my heartstrings.

Then I remembered once again, I’m not alone. I don’t have to depend on myself, but can lean on God. His Holy Spirit will guide me, lead me, comfort me, lift me up, & push me forward no matter what this year brings. I only have to remember “In Christ Alone” my hope is found. There is an appointed time for everything and I will embrace whatever those “things” are this year. Why? Because God’s got this! He has my back! And folks, that is a great feeling.

Where’s your hope in this year of your life? In the world? Or In Him? Where you place your hope will make a difference as to how you face the “things” coming at you this year.
Thank you LORD for another year of life! You’re Awesome!

Blessings my friends,
Pastor Marty.

Worship, Grow, Serve.

My Pleasure

All of us, I would guess, have been to Chick-fil-A to eat a meal. And it doesn’t matter whether you are in Kalamazoo, Michigan or Raleigh, North Carolina you are going to receive the same phase once your service is complete. What’s that phrase? Let’s all say it at the same time, “My Pleasure.” One of our church members at HOPE told me that he tries his best to phrase his response to being served so that they would have to respond in a different manner. He has not been successful yet.

“My Pleasure,” is ingrained in every Chick-fil-A employee. My son worked there for a while and said, if you are heard by a supervisor responding to a customer in any other way, you are reprimanded for it. So let’s break down this word pleasure.

Webster’s Dictionary says:
1.the state or feeling of being pleased. 2.enjoyment or satisfaction derived from what is to one's liking; gratification. 3.worldly or frivolous enjoyment:
the pursuit of pleasure. 4.recreation or amusement. 5.sensual gratification. 6. a cause or source of enjoyment or delight. 7. pleasurable quality.

But there is one phrase Webster gives that I want to focus on. Under the synonyms section it reads: “Enjoyment that brings about well-being from satisfaction.” By now, many of you are saying, “Where in the world is this man going with this?”

Ok, I’ll tell you. Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day. I know that the first Thanksgiving is traditionally dated 1621 in Plymouth where the Pilgrims and Natives joined together to give thanks. Later, the President of the United States, George Washington, proclaimed the first nationwide thanksgiving celebration in America marking November 26, 1789, "as a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favours of Almighty God”. If you need to read that phrase from George again, please do so. Many of our politicians today state religion had nothing to do with the beginning foundations of our nation. But let me move on!

You remember I said I like the phrase “...enjoyment that brings about well-being...” Then you read President Washington’s phrase, “...acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favours of Almighty God.” I believe there is a correlation between giving thanks to God and our well-being. As we give our continued thanks to the Almighty, as we worship, as we grow, as we serve Him, and when we pray and give thanks, our countenance is lifted up. Our well-being is given a shot of adrenaline. It makes us feel good. There is just something about giving someone thanks that they cannot (in most cases) respond negatively to.

So as you gather tomorrow to give thanks to the Almighty God for all He has done for you, how about also giving a few words of thanks to those around you, those that serve you, those that care for you, those that love you for just being you. I will tell you that not only will it bring pleasure to you, it will be good for both’s well-being.

So folks, it’s “My Pleasure” to serve you and serve God. I’m thankful to Him and for all of you!!!

Have a Happy Thanksgiving.
Pastor Marty.