Posts with the tag “pastor-greg-warmerdam”

Jesus had healed blind Bartimaeus. He had gone into Jerusalem in a processional on a donkey, a celebration fitting for a king. He had done His wild cleansing of the temple, knocking things over and dr...  Read More

I once traveled with another pastor, “sojourned” with him. Our trip took us across the US to a state on the east coast. We attended a church conference there, which turned out to be a blessed experien...  Read More

I write this devotional on day five. It is the fifth day of our confinement, per the instructions for those who have COVID. Lynn and I both tested positive earlier this week. This COVID invasion happe...  Read More

In my final year of coaching high school basketball, we were leading the league late in the year. It had been a long 7 years in rebuilding the program at Reedley HS. The league was strong, with usuall...  Read More

I grew up on a farm on the outskirts of the city of Fresno. In addition to the 10 acres of peaches, my dad farmed in between teaching school teaching and coaching demands, each of us kids got our own ...  Read More

The last time I saw my sister, Gloria, she was sleeping heavily on a hospital bed in the house of her son, Shawn. We waited on her for a time. We touched her shoulder and greeted her verbally, saying ...  Read More

When is the best week of the year? It is this week, Dec 25–31! It has long been my favorite. Why? Many reasons, not the least of which is that my birthday, Dec 28, always falls exactly in the middle, ...  Read More

I told Lynn I was going to go for a walk, which was only part of the truth. It was a Sunday. We had taken a trip to So Cal to visit Lynn’s relatives. It was our first trip overnight together. We staye...  Read More

I read a short story once called "The Monkey’s Paw" by W. W. Jacobs. Three wishes are granted to the owner of a particular monkey’s paw.  But while the wishes are granted as requested, terrible and tr...  Read More

Within a few months of my salvation, I became very zealous for all to receive what I had.  How many church goers, like I had been, did not even know about getting saved?  I did some street witnessing....  Read More

I was trained as a teacher and a coach.  It took six years to complete a BA, and an MA and secure a teaching credential.  Trained in physical education, biology, and coaching basketball.  Six years, p...  Read More

Let us not get too smug about the knowledge of God we possess.  It is my God, and yours, who appeared to Ezekiel in glory—a compelling and overwhelming vision.  Not too long after, he received these i...  Read More

We got married in a fever, hotter than a pepper sprout! (Song: "Jackson").  Lynn and I did.  August 1969.  It’s still hot!  As a country we were fighting a war across the ocean we were not willing to ...  Read More

How glib we can become.  We are privileged in these New Testament times.  We are bidden to come waltzing into God’s presence, and we do, in shorts and a t-shirt with flip-flops, and talk casually with...  Read More

When I was pretty little, I realized I had a small bald spot.  It is on the left side of my head, in the hair at the temple.  I worried often about that.  I did not want to look weird to other people....  Read More

I found myself in need recently.  I was awake in bed for 3 hours.  I finally got up at 4 am, quietly so as not to awaken Lynn.  I could not do my normal read the Bible and pray pattern.  I was in too ...  Read More

Faith Goes OutLynn had to go to the dentist this morning, the day I wrote this.  She could have stayed home.  She could have told herself it was too hard.  There might be pain. They might find things ...  Read More

When Lynn and I returned to Fresno after a 28-year absence, we came back as different people.  We were now among the redeemed of the Lord, having been birthed through faith in Jesus Christ.  I left as...  Read More

Some years back, I was up in the mountains in the Kings Canyon area. I was reading this passage, meditating on it and praying during a time of drawing apart with Jesus. I was walking on a rough kind o...  Read More

Once in awhile I like to go to an oldies’ car show.  Lynn and I got an opportunity to do so that fit, so we went to Kingsburg last Saturday.  We purchased a couple of drinks and a cookie from Kuppa Jo...  Read More

I recently had my grandson over to help me with some work in the backyard.  We were replacing 180 sq. ft. of overhead lattice.  There was an area on the fascia board of the house which had a tangle of...  Read More

I started my day early.  I had an appointment at Kaiser Hospital.  While it was only for a blood test, the hospital world is always a little foreboding! It seems a negative.  But the truth is, the blo...  Read More

Barry McGuire came to our church to speak and sing 2-3 times in Reedley. He tells the story of encountering Arthur Blessit at a gathering.  Barry was partying when Blessit looked at him and spoke to h...  Read More

It’s raining.  My list of things to do this Saturday is long.  Yesterday I was bummed, just thinking of having to buy a new laptop (mine 8 years old, operating system outdated).  I have other tasks wh...  Read More

Thus is my soul this morning.  It waits on God.  It yearns to connect with Him alone.  I wish for a “faith capsule” in which to function all the day; that in that capsule I would hear one voice alone,...  Read More

We made a plan for a trip for my birthday, to go to Pacific Grove.  When we reminded our daughter the day before that we were going, she said, “Oh no!  It’s going to be raining all day!”  I told her I...  Read More

I drove away from home, to get out and get some perspective. When I need spiritual clarity, it often starts for me by getting away. Away from the house. Away from the city. When I see the mountains an...  Read More

Who are we in Christ?  Who is He to us?  There are a lot of descriptions.  Sometimes we are warriors, and stand and fight. Sometimes we run, and escape to the Lord as our stronghold.  Sometimes we are...  Read More

This was the outcome of God dealing with His people.  He had called to them many times.  They would not hear.  After many decades He scattered them with a whirlwind.  They were sent away to live in a ...  Read More

I want to get some landscaping cobblestones for my yard, for a project I am working on in my front yard.  I have been hiring my grandson, Connor, to help me with that project.  He is 15 years old, and...  Read More

Back in August I had a “blast of faith” one morning, empowering me to believe that the week ahead of me was the week to accomplish building the Grandparenting Summit service teams, to accomplish all t...  Read More

I awakened softly, curled up under the warmth of the covers.  I found myself wrapped gently with the Lord’s love, with His presence.  I lingered, relishing the moment, seeking to grasp His presence.  ...  Read More

I headed out about 7am, from home.  It was my Monday “get away with the Lord” morning.  I did not tell Lynn where I was going, because I did not know myself!  I had reviewed several destinations in my...  Read More

What is an act of grace?  The grace of God worked in the Macedonians to be givers of their means, out of their poverty, to other believers in need.  In this context, it seems to mean giving to others ...  Read More

Why does this thrill me?  Because salvation is not a mere transaction, or a legal document.  It is not a spiritual business deal.  All these are impersonal descriptions of something the law might reco...  Read More

I am here at the Hilton Hotel Double Tree Inn lobby, downtown.  It is a Monday morning, the last in May.  I have the privilege of getting away to anywhere I want on Monday mornings, to spend a little ...  Read More

I spent some time, in a special way, in that word some days back.  A more focused time than my normal morning meeting with the Lord.  I was out in an orchard, and I was alone.  I read Zechariah 6, as ...  Read More

This woman likely did not know what to do with herself.  She stirred in the middle of the night in her bed.  She wrestled around early in the morning.  This Jesus had accomplished some kind of transfo...  Read More

Having been anointed to be king of Israel, and also having been selected by God by lot, when Saul hears of the threats of the Ammonites and sees the tears of the people of Jabesh, he becomes very angr...  Read More

All the valiant men arose…There is a time for valiant men to do their job.  To arise.When they heard, they arose.  They somehow talked to each other, and formed a plan.  They banded together after a c...  Read More