Ordination Anniversary

37^th Anniversary of Ordination

June 30, 1974 – June 30, 2011

Wayne Emil Graumann

A Haiku Poem to Honor the Occasion

Anniversary:

Thirty-seven years ago

Ordained to serve God.

Love for God’s people,

Passion to lead folks to Christ,

Commitment to serve,

Leadership sought out,

Skills recognized by others,

Character noted . . .

The Spirit called you,

God prompted you to respond –

The church has been blessed.

Thank you for serving

As ambassador for Christ;

May you now be blessed.

Guest Author

I am delighted to share my blog with my friend, Sharla Fritz, to whom I was introduced by our mutual friend, Gail Ficken. Please join me in welcoming Sharla's writings to my blog.

Sharla Fritz loves to communicate the transforming power of Christ's love and grace. Her own spiritual makeover began when she was very young and she rejoices that because of Jesus, her heart is always in style. She is passionate about helping other women enhance the beauty of their souls.

Sharla is a Christian speaker and author of Divine Design: 40 Days of Spiritual Makeover. The book is a “What Not to Wear” manual for the soul, encouraging women to get rid of unattractive mind-sets like the handbag of worry and the prom dress of pride and to embrace God-pleasing attitudes. Check out her website at www.sharlafritz.comand her blog at http://sharlafritz.blogspot.com

Instead of Boasting—Praise!

Instead of boasting, I am learning to praise! 

And especially--to praise God.

This is not something I am naturally good at. I love to read the Bible, but my prayer life is not always all it should be. And then when I do pray, my prayers often morph into a wish list for myself and my loved ones.

This week I want to concentrate on praising God. So I asked myself a few questions:

• Why should we praise God? He already knows everything and so He also knows that He is loving, strong, just, merciful, patient... Then I thought of how I feel when I receive a compliment. Suddenly my mood lifts, the world seems brighter, the sky seems bluer. Maybe praising God also makes His day!
• How do we praise? Praise is to express admiration of God's character and glory. It is not thanking Him for things He has done for us, although that is also a good thing to do. Praise statements begin with, "Lord, you are..."
• What should we praise God for? When we are reading God's Word, we can look for references to God attributes and praise Him for those.

Here are a few to get you started:

• Lord, I praise You because You are faithful.

"Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands". Deuteronomy 7:9

• Lord, I praise you because You are loving.

"And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him." 1 John 4:16

• Lord, I praise You because You are merciful.

"But in your great mercy you did not put an end to them or abandon them, for you are a gracious and merciful God." Nehemiah 9:31

• Lord, I praise You because You are my Burden Bearer.

"Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens." Psalm 68:19 

Praise the Lord today!

"Mimi's*" Day

June 29, 2011, Devotion:

My summer day as a grandmother is filled with a multitude of activities that includes providing piano instruction for my grandchildren, knitting lessons, baking yeast breads and making banana pudding with them, library time, swimming, diaper changes, and teaching them household management. Life is full, and "my cup overflows (Psalm 23:5)."

In the quietness of the morning, before my grandchildren awake, I take time to commune with the Lord and pray for His blessing upon my day:

Live a life worthy

Of the calling you've received;

Be humble, gentle.

Christ dwells in your heart;

Demonstrate to grandchildren

His amazing love.

Illumine your mind --

The Spirit lives within you --

Live victoriously.

May the unfailing

Love of Christ rest upon us

As we hope in Him.

Bible Readings:

1 Corinthians 3:16; Ephesians 3:16-21; Romans 8:9-11; Psalm 33:22

Prayer:

Dear Father, as I begin this  new day, may the power of Your Spirit living within me strengthen and equip me to be a noble reflection of Christ to all whom I meet today, especially as I live out this day with my grandchildren as their "Mimi." In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen.

*My first grandchild, Mikayla, began calling me "Mimi" from the beginning; "Mimi" continues to be the name bequeathed to me by every grandchild since.

A Tribute to My Husband

WAYNE GRAUMANN
(A Haiku Poem)

Precious child of God
The Spirit dwells within Him
Lives by faith in Christ

Loves the Lord his God
Blessed much to be a blessing
Loves his neighbor well

Anointed to serve
Accepts high calling bestowed
Ministers boldly

A visionary
A man after God’s own heart
Sees the big picture

Compassionate heart
A servant to God’s people
Respectful and kind

A life marked by God
Whose grace gives joy, hope, purpose
Love defines his life

Wise, skilled, courageous
God chose him for ministry
To make a diff’rence

Imperfect, yet changed
By God’s grace to change the world
A life used by God

Father's Day Thoughts

Bible Readings:
Psalm 78:1-7; Ephesians 6:1-4; Galatians 5:22

Written especially for my precious son and son-in-law,
the fathers of my grandchildren:

As we celebrate
Fathers on this Father's Day,
We thank God for you.

You have been chosen
As the spiritual leaders
Of your family.

Dads, be role models,
Following the best Father
Whom we know through Christ.

Imitate Jesus:
He was merciful, patient,
Kind, compassionate,

Offered forgiveness,
Was filled with goodness toward all,
Disciplined in love.

Invest in the lives
Of the next generation;
Train in righteousness.

May God bless all Dads
As they lead their families
To walk with Jesus.

Kathy Graumann
June 18, 2011

My Ministry

How comforted I am today by the Lord’s promise to me in Psalm 121:8 – “The Lord will guard your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forever.” As I pour myself into God’s Word during this quiet moment in my morning, I thank Him for His words of encouragement. I am reassured that, throughout my season of life in which I am immersed in the full-time role of grandmothering, God is accompanying me and leading me even in the “small” tasks. As I brush my grand-daughter’s hair, I remind her that God has given her beauty, and I softly exhort her to honor God all her life with the beautiful body He has given her. Opportunities to touch eternity are abundant throughout the day as I care for the needs of my grandchildren and demonstrate the love of Jesus to them through my words, actions, and the attitude I convey. This is my ministry in this season of life.

Bible References: Psalm 121:8; I Corinthians 16:14,15; Psalm 78:4-7

As grandmother, I'll
Tell the next generation
The great works of God.

Do all things in love;
Devote myself to service;
Stand firm in the faith.

Invest in their lives;
Teach them how to walk with Christ;
Share the Word of God.


Kathy Graumann
June 17, 2011

My Summer Shuttle Service

SUMMER SHUTTLE SERVICE

Devotion
As I continue
My summer shuttle service,
I am reminded:

The Lord watches me –
My coming and my going –
He watches my life.

My help comes from Him;
The Lord will keep me from harm
Now and forever.

As a grandmother of six grandchildren who are living with me this summer, I operate a full and exciting schedule, especially during this week of Vacation Bible School. My “summer shuttle service” hums busily throughout the day beginning at 7:30 A.M. when my teens arrive at V.B.S. to provide child care for the young children of V.B.S. volunteers. At 8:00 A.M. my pastor husband arrives at church. Shortly after, I deliver my three younger grandchildren who are participants in Vacation Bible School’s W.I.L.D. Week, i.e. Winning in Life with Jesus. I return home to devote singular attention to my little two-year-old grandson before returning to church to pick up the younger grandchildren at the conclusion of V.B.S. When responsibilities have concluded for my teen grand-daughters, I return to church to pick them up and return them home for lunch. The library becomes our afternoon destination. Through all the activity of the busy season, God provides all I need to serve Him with gladness. Each day my “summer shuttle service” offers me the opportunity to serve God by serving others with joy.

Bible Reading
“I lift up my eyes to the hills – where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth…The Lord watches over you – The Lord will keep you from all harm – He will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore. Psalm 121”

Challenge
Perform an act of service today for someone and demonstrate joy in serving another.

Read
Matthew 28:20; Ephesians 6:7

Prayer
Dear Father, thank You for giving me all that I need to be a loving servant to others. Help me serve You by serving others with gladness. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Kathy Graumann
June 14, 2011

A Life God Blesses

A LIFE GOD BLESSES

Devotion

Commit to the Lord

Schedules and activities,

Whatever you do;

Understand God’s Will,

Seek His guidance and purpose,

Then plans will succeed.

God wants to help us

Become how He designed us,

Reach our potential,

Achieve tasks He’s planned,

And honor Him with our lives

Each day that He gives us.

May we live each day

According to His purpose,

Spending time with Him.

The eternal trumps

The present circumstances;

Always put God first.

Care for each other,

Share your time with family,

Take care of yourself.

Love begins at home

Then moves beyond to others

To be a blessing.

Follow Christ each day –

Do not become distracted –

Joy in Christ is yours!

 Bible Reading

“Commit to the Lord whatever you do and your plans will succeed. Proverbs 16:3”

Challenge

Dedicate a daily time for private Bible reading and prayer and develop a schedule for reading through the Bible in a given time. Perform one random act of kindness today for someone in your family.


Read

Colossians 1:9-14; Hebrews 10:24,25

Prayer

Dear Father, I commit to You this day my life: myself, my schedule and activities. I seek Your guidance and direction so that each minute of each day may be lived according to Your will and purpose for my life. Help me grow in my love for You, my family, and others, and may I share this love lavishly with others. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

40th Wedding Anniversary

40^th Wedding Anniversary

June 19, 1971 - June 19, 2011

Wayne and Kathy Graumann

A Haiku Poem to Honor the Occasion

Anniversary:

Forty years of wedded joy –

What a ride it’s been!

So young and in love,

We consecrated our lives

Before God’s altar.

On our wedding day

I promised my dear husband,

Through my poetry,

That I’d be his wife,

And forsaking all others,

Be faithful to him.

Poor, but filled with hope,

We united hearts in Christ

To launch our marriage.

At seminary,

Mount Calvary, Raymondville,

And Salem, Tomball,

We left fingerprints.

Micah and Greta joined us

In our Christian home.

We bore pain untold

And weathered storms unnumbered;

We each have known grief.

We’ve carried burdens –

Our journey’s not been easy –

God was always there.

Though broken vessels,

God molded us for service:

We’ve been used by Him.

Through the years, love grew;

Commitment to each other

Was solidified.

Better together

God was good to unite us –

A team serving Him.

We both recognized

Because we had each other

We were more complete.

Each became more what

God created us to be

As our love blossomed.

Through ev’ry season

God’s promises sustained us;

Our faith was secure.

Love and faithfulness

Have been written on our hearts

As we’ve followed Christ.

We’ve trusted the Lord

And acknowledged Him always;

He’s guided our path.

God’s Word fills our souls;

We follow its instruction –

God has blessed our home.

Blessings abundant –

Never could we imagine

God’s gracious favor.

With Jesus in us,

His character lives within;

We will follow Him.

We pray fervently

As we look to the future:

Bind us together;

Grant us many years

Of service in God’s Kingdom

Blessed with joy and peace.

Time, from Ephesians 5:15-17

"Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise, but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is."

Ephesians 5:15-17

Time -- a gift from God --

Begin each day with the Lord;

Submit to His Will.

Irreversible,

Be careful to live your days

As stewards of time.

Do not be foolish;

We each are accountable

For the use of time.

Understand God's Will;

Align all activities

To God's purposes.

Seek guidance from God,

Invest in eternity,

Live each day for Him.

The Mind of Christ

Devotion:

Toward wholesome thinking

Second Peter 3, verse 1,

Was written for us.

God designed in love

To provide the mind of Christ:

To think as He does,

To view life events

From His divine perspective,

Aligned to His Word.

To experience life

Abundantly, as God wants,

Replace wrongful thoughts

With the mind of Christ.

Our lives will then be transformed;

We'll glorify God.

God will give to us

A clear mind controlled by Him;

He will guard our thoughts.

Bible Readings:  2 Peter 3:1; Romans 8:5,6

Prayer:

Dear Father, cleanse my mind from all impurities. Replace my wrongful, impure thoughts with the mind of Christ. Guard my mind, and transform my life into the likeness of Christ. In Jesus' name. Amen.

GUIDANCE FOR MY DAY

 

Morning has broken;

It's time to be in the Word;

God's Word brings me peace.

His Word fills my soul –

I follow its instruction;

God will bless my day.

E’en though I’m busy

I’ll not neglect His compass

Lest I miss His gifts.

Love and faithfulness

Will be written on my heart

As I follow Christ.

I trust in the Lord

And acknowledge Him each day;

He will guide my path.

Kathy Graumann

June 6, 2011

SUMMER GRANDPARENTING

Full-time grandmother:

Six grandchildren this summer –

My days are quite full!

Supervising them,

Providing activities,

Keeping them involved;

Potty training one,

A teen, ‘tween, and six- year-old

Make for a full house!

Meeting children’s needs,

Cooking, cleaning, and laundry,

Leave no time for Wayne.

Neglecting husband,

While devoting self to kids,

Is surely not good.

I have little time

For reading, writing, study,

And correspondence.

I cannot fit in

Relaxing, exercise, and

Deep cleaning my home.

Help me, Lord, avoid

Depression and self-pity;

Let me count my gifts.

I shall make a plan

To take care of Wayne and self

To maintain good health.

I want to thank God

For the opportunity

To influence kids.

May God give me grace

To offer love and nurture,

Serving all with joy.

n  A Haiku Poem by Kathy Graumann

n  June 5, 2011