The Greatest gift I can give my Grandchildren

Dear J.T., Avery, Emma, and Ella Rose I know you will receive all kinds of toys and clothes this Christmas that will ultimately end up in the back of your closet, and eventually, they will be thrown away. My dear grandchildren, there is one gift I hope you discover in your life that is not found under a tree. This gift will last a lifetime, and It will see you through every situation and every age in your life. I know your parents and Sunday school teachers will teach you the stories of Jesus, but I want you to learn more than the stories, I want you to know the heart of God, and I want you to know Emmanuel. “Immanuel, God with us” (Matt. 1:23). Immanuel is more than a name; it is a description of who He was, is, and will be for you. You are going to need Him more than you can ever imagine. “In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! (Immanuel, Jesus Christ, has) overcome the world (John 16:33).” When the world, your friends, call you names and cast you out of their friend circle, remember the story of Zacchaeus. Remember how Jesus called him by name and remember that Jesus thought Zacchaeus was worth spending time with (Luke 19:1-10). When the world thinks you are untouchable, unworthy, and unwanted, remember the leper, and remember how Jesus reached out His hand and touched the untouchable (Matt. 8:1-3). When you're broken, guilty, and humiliated by your shame, remember the woman who was caught in her sin and was brought to Jesus. Everyone wanted to destroy her. Jesus rescued her and forgave her (John 8:1-11). When you are overwhelmed by the storms of life, remember The One who can walk on water and calm your storm with just a word (Mark 6:47-52, Mark 4:35-41). When you are heartbroken and unable to hold back the tears from your loss, turn to the Christ of compassion. Remember that when Jesus saw Mary weeping for Lazarus, Jesus also wept (John 11:33-35). When Jesus saw the widow of Nain morning over her son, his heart went out to her (Luke 7:11-13). Know this, my dear grandchildren, when times are hard, and it looks like the entire world is against you, Immanuel, God is with you. You are not alone. I want you to know that Christ, The One who is the very heart of God. As you grow older, there will come a day when you realize the full weight of your sin. Guilt will try and make a home in your heart. When that day comes, remember the gift that God gave you so many years ago. God gave you, His one and only Son so that you don’t have to live in your guilt and brokenness. Remember the words Christ spoke on the cross “Father forgive them” (Luke 23:34). Freedom from guilt, the forgiveness of sin, Immanuel, this is the gift of God. Unlike some of the gifts you will receive this Christmas, the gift of God is not forced upon you. It is not like some of the sweaters and socks you will receive through the years. The gift of God is a choice that is waiting for you. My prayer for you is that you will find the gift given to you before you were ever born. Born in Bethlehem, crucified outside Jerusalem, Jesus is not found in a tomb. He is revealed in the pages of The Book and the heart of the seeker. He rose from the grave, conquered death, and showed His power to give life, forgive sin, and transform the believer. I look forward to the day when you accept the gift and enter into the covenant with Christ through the waters of baptism. I look forward to the day when we hear the words “Well done, good and faithful servant.” (Matt. 25) You will always be my grandchild. I look forward to the day when you will be a child of God. In Him Papaw Tom

Mary's Little Lamb

Mary had a little lamb His fleece was white as snow, And everyone should know this Lamb He is The Son of God. He taught us how to live and love and then He had to go. He died upon a cross one day To pay that awful cost. The sins that no one else could see were nailed upon His tree, But death was not the end of Him, He Rose to Victory. J. Tom Washburn July 2019

Same place, same lesson

Now that I am back I want all of you to know that I see Jesus in a completely new way. I always knew Christ came to forgive sins, what I didn't really understand was that everything about His life was meant to teach me something about God and about how I can live to glorify God. I have made two trips to Israel in the past three years and it opened my eyes to the way Jesus taught. I hope over the next few post to be able to share with you some of the great lessons Jesus taught at the same place over and over again.

Welcome Home

It has been years since my last post. There are a few things that I need to share. Since the last time I posted a blog, I have become a grandfather and God has remained faithful. That seems to be the theme of my life - God has remained faithful. I wish I could say I have always been faithful to God, but that would not be true. I wish I could say I have not sinned, but that would not be true. The truth of the matter is this, there have been times of fear and faithlessness, there have been seasons of silence in prayer and I have fallen short of the holy life I am called to live. The good news and the surprising news about God is this, He has been faithful even when I was not. He answered my prayers that I never offered and He welcomes me back home without a condemning look of judgement. In fact, He welcomes me back home with a joyful shout of celebration.

Being a Disciple of Jesus Christ

It has been a very long time since I have written anything, so I thought I would restart my blog. Over the past year I have become convicted that as disciples of Jesus Christ we should learn what it means to be a disciple. After much thought and study I have come to some simple truths. First, I believe a disciple of Jesus Christ needs to have the heart and passion of Christ. We know a disciple is to have a heart and passion for Christ, but I am thinking about having the heart and passion of Christ. How many times in scripture do you see the words "and He had compassion for them"? Jesus cared for the hurting, and as disciples we too must care for the hurting. The teachings of Matthew 25 keep ringing in my ear "whatever you did" for one of these you did for me. I know the scripture teaches that "By this will all men know that you are my disciples, if you love one another" how about loving those God has put in our path, isn't that also a testimony of a believer and a disciple of Jesus Christ? I believe we have, at times, focused only on the spiritual side of the good news and we have been silent in the area of temporal sharing. The mission is too important for us to be silent - too many hurting people need help before they will be able to hear - it is time to share His love. In Him J. Tom Washburn

Margins

Recently I was visiting with my brother Mike and he gave me a thought that has stayed on my mind. Mike said we need to live with margins in our lives. Too may people live to the very edge of their lives. Our schedule's have no room in them, our budgets have no room in them, our days have no room in them. We have filled up the page of our days and our lives and we have left no margins. When we live with no margins we have no room for the people God unexpectedly puts in our path and we have no resources for the opportunities that unexpectedly arise. As I have thought about living life with margins - I have noticed that this is not how the hurried families in our community and churches live. We run from here to there and we wonder why God doesn't seem to be using us. We fall into bed each night to tired to pray or even to think on the things of God and we wonder why He seems so far away. I desire for God to be at the very center of my life but I don't even seem to have space for Him in the margins because I have filled my life up with everything else but God and the things He wants me doing. It is hard to stop - It is hard to say no to "good" things. But I know the way most of us are doing life is not the plan of God. Margins - who knew.

The best is yet to come

There’s an old story about an elderly woman who was told by her physician that she probably wouldn’t live much longer. Soon there after, she called in her family to discuss her funeral arrangements. They talked about how the service would be, where she would be buried, what kind of casket would be used, etc. As the conversation was winding down, the woman remarked, “There’s one thing that’s very important: I want to be buried with a fork in my right hand.” Her children were understandably puzzled by that remark, and one of them couldn’t contain his curiosity. “Mom,” he said, “what are you talking about?” “I remember eating with my family when I was a young girl,” the woman began, “Each of us would help clear away the dishes. Every once in a while, mom would tell us, ‘Save your fork!’ We children knew what that meant. It meant that mom had fixed us a pie or a cake or some sort of treat. When she said ‘Save your fork!’, that meant the best was yet to come. So I want to be buried with a fork in my hand, for the best is yet to come!” This is a great story that I found that I thought you might enjoy