KJVIFB.com Devotions: Life in the Parkie

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12-16-14 A Post-Menopausal Miracle

“How can this be, Lord?” Mary had gotten the news that she would be pregnant. She knew how this works and she had remained chaste for her marriage day. She expressed her puzzlement to God and God replied through Gabriel.

I know I, for one, have heard the story of the birth of Christ many times. The focus is rightfully on Mary’s virginity, as a proof of God’s miracle working power. I like looking at some of the other things, too. Elizabeth’s pregnancy is one of those. Elizabeth and Zacharias were totally taken aback with the news of her pregnancy. They were amazed at how the Lord had chosen to use them. But nothing is too hard for the Lord (v. 37).

Some of God’s greatest miracles happen quietly and go almost unnoticed to the world. Some people don’t recognize them as such and some will simply not believe. I know I don’t always recognize how God is working in my life. Sometimes I take Him for granted. He has given me the gift of salvation and the gift of daily watchful care over my life, among other gifts.

When God does something wonderful, I need to remember not to say, “How can this be?” but rather “Is anything too hard for the Lord?”

“And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.” Luke 1:36.

10-17-14 Armed and Dangerous

“Whatever you do, do not put your hand in the hamster’s cage.” My childhood buddy told me as he gave me his hamster. “It’s mean.”

He was right. I had to put on thick leather gloves to handle the little tan and white rodent when I had to clean the cage. I discovered my free hamster wasn’t really a great deal. I suspected that my friend hadn’t been so friendly to his hamster.

One day, as I gave the hamster some food, I noticed that he had escaped and was on the lam. I could not find him anywhere. I did find some hamster food in one of my shoes. Thus, it seemed to me that this was a premeditated escape. He was on the loose, armed and dangerous with sharp teeth.

Later, bedtime came and I did not want to spend the night in the same room as a maniacal hamster. My dad still picks on me for abandoning my room because of a little harmless hamster. He didn’t know that this hamster might very well have been a serial killer in the making. Eventually, I captured him and returned him to his proper habitat.

Fear can be a powerful motivator. Some people respond to the love of God, while others trust Christ as Savior out of fear of hell. Both are legitimate incentives to trust Christ.

The kingdom that Esther and Mordecai lived in had many different peoples and cultures within its borders – much like America today. Some of those people responded to the news that the Jews could defend themselves by converting to Judaism. The Jews were now armed and dangerous.

“And in every province, and in every city, whithersoever the king's commandment and his decree came, the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast and a good day. And many of the people of the land became Jews; for the fear of the Jews fell upon them.” Esther 8:17.

9-8-14 Learning to Listen

“I’m always right.” My wife announced.

“You think so?”

“Well, most of the time.”

“You mean some of the time.”

“Occasionally.”

“Rarely.” Actually, she is right quite often and I can trust here perspective. Sometimes she is wrong and sometimes we simply do not agree. But I have spent a lot of years learning to listen to her.

Sometimes male pride or the idea of being the leader gets in my way of listening to good advice. I am learning to listen, then consider the advice given to me and implementing it if it is sound. I am learning to listen by watching my Pastor as he listens before giving spiritual guidance. I am learning to listen by discovering that my wife is right many times – not always, but many times. She can see a different perspective and has ideas worth considering.

Mordecai had told Esther about the new law ordering the extermination of the Jews in their kingdom. She was the only one he could approach that could possibly get an audience with the king. She understood the gravity of the problem and agreed to seek an uninvited meeting with the king. This could mean the death penalty if the king desired. Therefore, she gave Mordecai a commandment – have all the Jews pray and fast about this meeting. This role reversal meant Mordecai had to swallow his male pride, put aside his leadership ego and do the right thing.

I am learning that I can learn something from everybody I meet. Sometimes it’s what not to do, but most of the time I can learn something positive by listening. I have learned many things through the years and one of them is that I am still learning to listen.

“So Mordecai went his way, and did according to all that Esther had commanded him.” Esther 4:17.

7-19-14 Only Human

"STOP, LET ME OFF!" I hate this ride. "God, life is just too hard, I don't understand it. LET MEEEE OOOOFFFFF!

Ever feel like quitting? I know I do at times. Sometimes I want God to stop this ride called "Life" and let me off. It just gets too hard. Sometimes I don't know what God is up to, so I want to quit. It can be so confusing. Sometimes I feel physically lousy and just want to go to heaven early.

This world is full of options to quit. If a job gets tough - quit. If a marriage gets difficult - quit. People can be "unfriended" on Facebook with a click of the mouse. Of course, this works the other way, too. Bosses fire employees, friends part without trying to reconcile, FB groups "dis-member" without explanation. Our society teaches that quitting is quite ok.

I like the saying, "Quitters never win and winners never quit." How often we are ready to quit on God because He isn't doing things the way I think they ought to be done!

When I feel like quitting on God, I think of the words Peter said in response to Jesus' question. Where else can I go? Who else has hope? Who else can offer eternal life?

I think God puts these times in my life to force me to take a lengthy gander at who He is. Do I believe that He is the Christ, the Son of the living God? That settles it. Why would I abandon that for a counterfeit? Jesus is there everyday for me.

Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God. John 6:67-69

5-30-14 I Have Problems

I Have Problems

People frequently ask if they could pray for me, I have problems.

Please understand that I hate problems. The problem with problems is that they attract more problems. I would prefer to have a problem-free life. Problems bring stress and anxiety along with them, too. Some problems come in the form of negative circumstances and some come disguised as people. One of my biggest problems besides me, myself and I is Parkinson's disease.

When I ask for your prayers, I am not asking you to ask God to remove my problems or heal me of Parkinson's because that would be counterproductive to God's will. He allowed these problems to help me grow up spiritually, to trust Him more and to give Him to work through me to help others.

Instead, pray for me to seek God through the problem, to stick with God through the problem and not give up or give in. Pray for God's grace to give me peace and strength for enduring the problem. Pray that I would seek God's wisdom before I allow frustration to reign.

It is interesting to note that the word "problem" is not in the King James Bible. It is not necessarily significant, though, because many people in the Bible had lots of problems. Their stories are recorded there so that I could learn from them and see how they handled their problems. Please pray that God would bring those stories to mind when I need them or direct me to them in my daily Bible reading.

Thanks for your prayers, have a great day!

"Brethren, pray for us." I Thessalonians 5:25.

5-10-14 Life in the Parkie Lane

Delivery Service

"How has it been going?" I asked an evangelist freind of mine as we greeted one another after not seeing each other for quite some time.

"Mean, sometimes life gets downright mean." He replied, "At the same time, God is so good.

This idea that we will never get disappointed, discouraged, down, depressed or even despair even though we are Christian is wrong. We experience all the difficulties of life as everyone else does. Maybe even more so than some folks - at least I like to think so when I am throwing a pity party.

This passage reminds me that tough stuff will happen - even to the point of despair - even to the point of wishing for death. God uses this to bring me to the point of not trusting in myself - to the aha moment of, "I can't fix this." I cannot trust in myself. When I have tried that, I make a mess of things and cause myself more grief.

The greatest part of this passage to me is that He delivered me (past tense), doth deliver me (present tense) and will yet deliver me (future tense). I have God's help each day. My past has no power over me, fears of the future cannot hurt me, and each day is in God's hands, even if it gets downright mean.

"For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life: But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead: Who delivered us fro so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us" II Cor 1:1-10.

Copyright Kevin T Boekhoff

2/12 Life in the Parkie Lane

Just a Voice 2-12-14

Because of Parkinson's, my body and attitude will wax and wane. God will help me, even when my body can't, even when I just can't summon up the motivation, even when fears weigh heavily on my mind. "For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee" Isaiah 41:13.

"I may have Parkinson's, but Parkinson's doesn't have me," "Befriend PD, embrace PD" "I'm stronger than PD," "You just gotta show PD who's in charge." Basically, catch phrases such as these cause an eye roll on my part because they fall short. They are simply meant to muster up personal strength and attitude from a PD stricken body.

When the priests and Levites (religious experts of the day) asked John, "Just who are you? What do you have to say for yourself." He replied, "I'm a nobody. I'm simply a voice speaking in the wilderness. I just can't keep it inside."

The point is that I have a message to speak, not just catch phrases. Who am I? Just a nobody. But, I do have a purpose with a message of help, hope and comfort for others about Jesus. I am learning how God can use me with Parkinson's as a voice in the wilderness - He can use every Christian in the same manner. Jesus is more than a catch phrase for me!

Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself? He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias. John 1:22 -23