Showing posts with label Ron Seabrooke. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ron Seabrooke. Show all posts

Saturday, October 3, 2020

Countdown Climax (and remembering Ron)


Photo of Ron used by permission...

This weekend our church family is remembering Ron
October 5th marks a year since
his Life-on-earth-clock ran out!
But Ron, well aware of The Countdown 
we all have in common, was ready!. 
His constant plea was that we will be as well!
He would urge us to be aware of the fragility
of the thread between time and eternity!
A thread that was severed so suddenly and unexpectedly for him!
Ron's passion was waking in us the awed awareness
of the love of God for man; (for you and me!)
so much so God gave His only Son Jesus to suffer and die
to be the eternal sacrifice for sin. He rose again, defeated death,
so all who believe in Him will 
never perish but have everlasting life! (John 3:16)


Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, 
for if you do these things you will never stumble;
2 Peter 1:10


His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness 
through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.

We live in a life of countdowns comprised of common highs and lows...
drawing us nearer with each breath to Curtain Close!

 Jesus is our Hope...
Salvation is found in no one else, 
for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind 
by which we must be saved.
Acts 4:12




People are always counting down to something, so it seems 
We move through moments drawing us toward both dread and dreams 
While balancing the best and worst of who we are within 
A very human-natured bark of heart, soul, bone and skin 

The numbered days we occupy are filled with highs and lows 
We laugh and weep where grief and joy blends high-fives and low blows 
As smile-and-frown with ups and downs lends what life tries to teach 
And reason rivals with Forces beyond four-seasoned reach 

Ah, here’s the kicker; we grow old much quicker than we dreamed 
Where Reasoning is vexed and tried; logic often esteemed 
More highly than the holy, lowly common bond we share 
A Countdown concluded beyond Time’s tick-tock dwindled stair 

Our temporal countdowns pale in comparison to This 
Where Reasoning is futile without Faith’s analysis 
Where pain and pleasure, gain and loss and all points in between 
Compose countdowns that climax in a blip upon a screen 

So then, it all comes down to this; The Hope that we embrace 
Where the forge of Forever appears very commonplace 
Where flesh which cups undying soul is altogether flawed 
And only faith can make us whole by the kind grace of God 

Let’s contemplate love’s countdowns and who they are geared toward 
What will they benefit after Soul to God is restored? 
For none of us can know how long until death’s Gong resounds 
And we open Immortal Eyes where Being has no bounds 


© Janet Martin 

I subconsciously count down to this moment every morning!



I purposefully count down to this (photo below) every day
(because discipline in spending time with God makes everything else in life better)
Ron challenged us constantly not just to read but to feed on God's Word, Truth
(the highlighted verses were included in the email to
our church family as they shared the sorrowful news of Ron's passing)


Monday, October 7, 2019

Hope...(and remembering Ron)


We at WBC as well as many worldwide are deeply mourning with his family,
 the sudden passing on Saturday Oct. 5, 
of our beloved teacher, counselor, pastor and friend, 
(above link is to the last message with us a WBC)

Hope is the holiness through which we grieve.
Hope is the word that came up again and again as we remember Ron.
His life was driven by The Living Hope that he shed with his last breath as faith became sight!
To all of us then on this side of Heaven...
 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, 
for He who promised is faithful.
Heb.10:23

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!
 In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope 
through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
1 Pet.1:3


Hope takes the trembling heart and hand
To draw us from despair
And makes the way twixt God and man
Thus possible to bear

It hones the hunger for the goal
With holy appetite
And fills the gap twixt God and soul
With faith intent on sight

It drives us to our knees with groans
Then lifts us up at length
And to the depth of grief intones
A supernatural strength

It consoles us beneath trust’s rod
Its comforts, cheers and heals
And tunes the time twixt man and God
With purpose-driven peals

Hope fosters faith and leads us on
Through deepest, darkest vales
Hope anchors us in sorrow’s storm
With love that never fails

© Janet Martin

Saturday, October 5, 2019

Jesus Makes All The Difference


Brandt Jean's Act Of Grace Toward His Brother's Killer

Brandt Jean's forgiveness gives us a small picture of what Jesus has or wants to do in every single life; forgive us...because as Brandt stated, we have all done something we should not do! 

In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so,
 I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
Jesus~




The window to the world flings wide with daybreak’s blush and gold
The life that we are lent extends Love’s promises once more
Where time, like a tugboat draws us; and whether young or old
We cannot tell how near or far we are to ‘yonder shore’

And who can bear to meet the One who wears redemption’s scars
And realize too late the awful state of Deathless Soul
Jesus and only Jesus breaks guilt’s hopeless prison bars
Jesus and only Jesus makes the broken sinner whole

Jesus makes all the diff’rence in the way we love and live
He wakes in us awareness of a fount where mercies brim
Then, because He forgave us we ought also to forgive
For He makes all things possible if we believe in Him

…and though we do not know as yet what battle we must fight
Jesus makes all the difference if we His Gift receive
Knowing the trying of our faith is but to prove His might
That indwells ev’ry one of us who repent and believe

© Janet Martin

Little did I dream that before this post is up...
how far more deeply relevant the above devotional would become!
(I wrote the poem early this morning but our internet is a little 
like a child playing with a light switch! blinks on and off non-stop)
...but oh, how little we know what a day will hold!
Our dearly beloved pastor Ron Seabrooke passed away suddenly this morning!
We are in heart-broken shock but
we do not mourn as those with no hope...
1 Thess. 3: 13-14

Please pray for comfort for his family
and our church family.
He touched lives world-wide and many mourn our loss and heaven's gain!