Letters From Grandpa #470

• LETTERS FROM GRANDPA
• 470

Dearest grandchild,

Today’s letter will be about love and marriage. All of our 19 great grandchildren are single, and most of you 26 grandchildren are also single. Other than finding Christ, finding the right husband or wife is a top priority. It is particularly important to find a mate that shares your Christian faith. This will become even more important if God blesses your family with children. I pray for all of you every day and hope, of course, that you will someday get married and “live happily ever after.”

I just received a news letter from the North Burma Christian Mission. Gary and Brenda Wheat have been forwarding agents for this mission for 40 years. Included with the newsletter is a beautiful story titled “A DIVINE APPOINTMENT”. I called Gary and he gave me permission to condense this article for you.

Here is a brief condensation of this “divine appointment”. Gary’s and Brenda’s son Caleb had been married to his wife Sara for 19 ½ years. God had blessed them with 7 sons. Two years ago Sara was diagnosed with cancer. They travelled to MD Anderson in Houston, Texas and Sara received the best medical care that was available. Thousands of believers were faithfully praying for her healing. Sadly, however, God called Sara home leaving Caleb to raise their 7 sons all by himself. Remember, however, God is a very present help in time of trouble (Ps. 46:1).

Caleb and Sara, as devout Christians, home schooled their children. This is at least one way to try and avoid the grooming and indoctrination too often associated with public schools. Caleb and Sara met in Branson, Missouri. They loved Branson and even owned property there. Caleb recently moved from Joplin to Branson with his seven sons. Branson is “family friendly” and local PR people there say that the road to heaven goes through Branson, Missouri.

Silver Dollar City is a 61 acre amusement park at Branson and Caleb took his sons there for some much needed recreation. Since the two youngest sons were too little to go on some of the rides, a Christian couple, (Dennis and Kay) went along to baby sit the smaller children.

While Caleb and the 5 older boys went on the water ride, Dennis and Kay kept a careful watch over the other two. Dennis noticed an attractive woman sitting by herself. Her name is Tamara. He boldly introduced himself and discovered that she was a widow with 4 young sons. Her husband had died of cancer just 8 months ago. Imagine her Caleb amazement when Caleb walked up. He had seven sons and had just lost his wife to cancer 9 months before.

This does not seem to be a “coincidence”. Both Caleb and Tamara are devout Christians. Both home schooled their children. Both had lost their mates to cancer. Both had sons and no daughters. Caleb had 7 sons that needed a mother, and Tamara had 4 sons that needed a father. Tamara’s oldest son is 14 and Caleb’s oldest son is 13. Caleb’s youngest son is 2.

A few days ago Caleb and Tamara became husband and wife. They chose to get married on Gary and Brenda’s 45th wedding anniversary.

For those who do not believe in God the meeting of Caleb and Tamara was only an unusual “coincidence”. To Caleb and Tamara, however, it was a “divine appointment”. Silver Dollar City is a popular amusement park with over 2 million visitors every year. The idea that these two total strangers

would meet in such a crowd, and then get married, is highly unusual. If you are a gambling man what kind of odds would you give for such an encounter? To the Christian, however, this is the very thing you should expect. The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord (Psalms 37:23).

Wise King Solomon agreed and said: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will direct your paths.” (Prov. 3:5-6)

Before Peter, Andrew, James, and John became apostles they were fishermen. On one occasion they had fished all night and caught nothing (See Luke 5:1-11). They had even washed their nets and were ready to go home and get some much needed rest. Then Jesus showed up, got into Peter’s boat, pushed out a little ways into the lake, and taught a crowd of people that had gathered.

When he had finished speaking Jesus said to Peter: “Put out into the deep water. And let down your nets for a catch.” Remember, Peter and the others had toiled all night long and caught nothing. The night time was the best “time” to fish, and the shallow water was the best “place” to fish. Never the less, when Peter obeyed Jesus they caught so many fish that their nets were breaking. Furthermore, they filled two boats with fish to the point that they were about to sink.

Then Jesus said: “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will catch men.” (Luke 5:10) Just as Jesus had guided Peter to catch fish, he would also guide him to catch men. After only one sermon, for example, Peter led 3,000 people to Christ (Acts 2:40-41). Some need to preach 3,000 sermons to save one soul, but with the guidance of God Peter preached one sermon and saved 3,000 souls.

Remember! “Those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.” (Romans 8:14)

I love you,

Grandpa Boyce