My Investment Portfolio

On Friday, September 6, 2013, our fifth grandchild joined our family. His name is Boyd Josiah Brooks, named after his father and his grandfather. He weighed 8 lbs and was 20 ¾ inches long. He is a very handsome boy. He has two big sisters, Adela age 5 and Eliana age 3, who are very excited about their new brother. We are all excited to watch him grow and develop in the special way that God has designed for him.

I have had the opportunity to hold him and gaze into his little face with wonderment. Each time I hold one of these grandkids I stand in complete awe of the creator-God. He has formed them and has made each so unique. Holding little Josiah, these words from David seem to take on new meaning:

 

 Psalms 139:10-15

13 For you created my inmost being;

you knit me together in my mother's womb.

14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

your works are wonderful,

I know that full well.

15 My frame was not hidden from you

when I was made in the secret place.

When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,

I really enjoy these grandkids, and I spend as much time as I can with them. They bring so much joy and excitement to our lives. I never know how they will respond to my questions and teasing. Most of the time, I am completely speechless.

I consider my grandkids to be my primary investment portfolio in life. I don’t how many years I have left on the earth, but ever how many they are, I want them to be fruitful. I want to be able to invest in the lives of these special people the way Marilyn and I did into our children.

We often hear about the risks and disappointments of getting older. I want to tell you that one of the best things that has happened in my life is becoming a grandpa. I intend to enjoy this to the hilt.

I don’t get see my California grandkids as often as I would like. However, they will be coming to Missouri in November, so I plan on spending some time with Donovan age 6, and Caitlin age 3.

Something to Boast About

Human beings have a propensity to boast and are often unaware of where pride may take them. Solomon warned, “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom” (Proverbs 11:2). God knows the areas we are most tempted to vaunt ourselves. That is the reason God said, “Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches.” However, he did tell us what we could boast about: “but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,"  declares the Lord” (Jeremiah 9:23-24). What God gave us here was three no’s and six yeses.

There are some 35 pyramids thousands of years old that testify to the boast of the Egyptian Pharaohs’ wisdom and power. The Pharaoh of Exodus arrogantly asked “Who is the Lord, that I should obey him?” (Ex. 5:2). Samson was one of the strongest men who ever lived, and he showed by his lifestyle that he was boastful of his strength. He began an illicit affair with Delilah who was determined to take him down, and yet Samson was completely gullible to her intentions. Samson played a game with her, and all the while his pride blinded him to the dangers around him. Finally, he was trapped, and the scriptures say this about him, “Then she called, "Samson, the Philistines are upon you!" He awoke from his sleep and thought, "I'll go out as before and shake myself free." But he did not know that the LORD had left him” (Judges 16:20).

Luke describes a rich man who fared sumptuously while ignoring the needs of others around him. He felt so confident and secure in his riches. However, upon death, he quickly learned that his riches had no eternal value. His story is one of utter regret (Luke 16:19-31).

Hunters once trapped turkeys by placing a net low to the ground and sprinkling corn all around. The turkey would bend down and get under the net to eat the corn, but when he was full and satisfied he didn’t know how to bend down to get himself out of the net. That is exactly the description of a proud person. It is no wonder that God warns us to not boast about ourselves but to boast about Him.

To know God is to know the greatest riches, wisdom and strength there is. To know that he is our provider, our protector, our peace, our righteousness and our sustainer is to have something to boast about. God says to us I want you to boast about these six things:

1) That He Understands and Knows Me

2) Yes, Boast Because I Am Jehovah

3)  Yes, Boast Because I Exercise Kindness

4) Yes, Because I Exercise Justice

5)  Yes, Because I Exercise Righteousness on Earth

6)  Yes, Boast in These Things For in These I Delight, Declares The LORD (Jer. 9:24).