To Live is Christ - Volume 3: To Live is Christ, #3

By Dr. Danny Frazee

Everyone enjoys a good story. Stories inspire, encourage, and entertain. Stories, like a good country song, are about love, life, and loss.

 

What you will discover in this book is what each and every one of you experiences day in and day out. There are days filled with gladness, and there are days filled with sadness. There are days that you are more than a conqueror, and there are days that you have been conquered. There are days that you experience the presence of God, and there are days that you are asking, "God, where are you?"

 

These stories will remind you that God is near. He is with you in every moment, every movement, and every minute of your life. He is never farther than a prayer away. He is like the good shepherd that takes care of his sheep. He not only knows where you are, but also knows what you need.Enjoy the journey. Live with no regrets. Experience the presence of God. Stand on God's promises. Heaven is real. Jesus saves.

 

"I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.  For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain."  (Philippians 1:20-22, NIV)

 

In Volume 3, discover Pastor Frazee's humor, heart, and ministry with titles such as "The Whistler", "Smilin' and Bobbin'", "Keep Pedaling", and "Pumpkins, Watermelons, Chickens, and Sinners".

• Language: English
• Publisher: Danny Frazee
• Release date: Oct 16, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393823667

Dr. Danny Frazee

Danny Frazee began his ministry at Southmoore Baptist Church in May of 2017. Before coming to Southmoore Baptist Church he pastored at Wilmont Place Baptist Church from 1992 to 2016. In total, Danny has over 40 years of pastoral experience and has also worked as a teacher and coach for the Oklahoma public school system. Danny has a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education, Master of Religious Education, and Doctor of Ministry from Trinity Theological Seminary. Danny and his wife Judy were married in August of 1971.

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Copyright © 2020

DR. DANNY FRAZEE

To Live is Christ, Volume Three

All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture quotations marked MSG are taken from THE MESSAGE, copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress. All rights reserved. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.

Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked NASB are taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations taken from the Amplified® Bible (AMP), Copyright © 2015 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. www.Lockman.org

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Dedication

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This book is affectionately dedicated to

Judy Kay Frazee,

my best friend, my loving wife,

and special gift from God.

Acknowledgements

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I WANT TO BEGIN WITH a confession. Writing a book was never on my bucket list. Neither was jumping out of a perfectly good airplane. But now I find myself facing an almost impossible task – recognizing so many amazing people who have encouraged, helped, and supported me along this journey.

The book itself is a collection of articles that I had written over the past twenty-plus years. You will find my family in many of these articles. I do agree with my family who has told me that if it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t have anything to write about.

What you will find on the pages of this book are stories of everyday life. My prayer is that they will put a smile on your face and hope in your heart.

I want to thank Sherry Louthan, the publication secretary at Wilmont Place Baptist Church in Oklahoma City, OK, for not only typing my weekly articles, but also preserving them and presenting them to me upon my retirement.

I am also grateful for my secretary, Michelle Brown, for not only encouraging me to make this book become a reality, but also her part in making it happen. She has spent countless hours on this project. I am forever indebted to her. Michelle, you are a treasure!

I want to thank my wife, Judy, who, more than anyone in my life, has been my biggest cheerleader. She is the one who tells me that I can when I’m saying, I can’t. I am grateful also for my two children, Woody (who is in heaven) and my daughter, Rachel, Eric, my son-in-law, Lori, my daughter-in-law, and my four grandchildren, Deacon, Delaynie, Hagen, and Hudson. My life would be incomplete without them.

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Divine Appointments

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YOU HAVE HEARD IT SAID, Third time is a charm. In my case it was! I was looking for some household items. I went to the first store and came up empty-handed. I went to the second store, the same results. But, finally, the third store had what I was looking for.

I will admit that by then I was not only frustrated, but also just a wee bit agitated. I thought the first store surely would have what I wanted. But no, strike one. Then the second store which has the reputation, if they don’t have it, you don't need it!

Well, that's wrong. Strike two.

The third store not only had what I wanted, but also I found more than what I was looking for. I found a nice, very pleasant, more than willing salesman who was going above and beyond the call of duty. I thought people like that were only in the movies or in fairy tales.

His name was Mark. He met me with a smile and some questions: How may I help you? Is there anything I can show you?

My new best salesman not only made me forget how frustrated I was, but also reminded me that there are still some mighty good people who love what they do.

Although I was behind schedule, I was reminded that I was on God's time. As you know, He is never early or late!

After Mark  helped me find what I was looking for, I saw that there was something God wanted me to do for him. I asked him if there was something I could pray for him about. He answered, Do you mean you want to pray for me?

I said, Yes.

He said, Pray that I will make a difference in the people I meet and serve. Pray that people will not see me, but see the Lord.

Then I asked if there was someone else in his family I could pray for. He immediately answered, Please pray for my wife, Mary.

By now, tears had filled his eyes and were running down his face. I prayed for him and his wife right there in the store. Then we gave each other one big bear-hug. I'm not sure if God sent me to Mark, or Mark to me. Nevertheless, I left the store thanking God for this divine appointment.

Solomon wrote, A man's heart plans his way, but the Lord determines his steps. (Proverbs 16:9)

I'm convinced that God has many divine appointments for all of God's children in 2013.

Happy New Year,

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Originally Published January 3, 2013

A Life Lesson from A Pair of Skates

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THE YOUNG BOY WAS PROBABLY 10 or 11 years old. I drove past him a few days ago on a cold winter’s day. What was cold to me obviously wasn’t cold to him. As I carefully drove past him, I could not help but notice this big grin that covered his face from ear to ear. He-was wearing a short-sleeve T-shirt. On his feet were a pair of roller skates. I reasoned that the skates were a Christmas present.

It appeared that he didn’t have a care in the world. Any other person would be freezing, but not him. He wasn’t going to let a little cold weather or anything else keep him from living his dream. He glided along the pavement as if he not only owned his street, but every street his skates came in contact with.

I’m sure this young boy could not care less about the fiscal cliff that most Americans were worried about. I’m sure he didn’t care how much gasoline cost. I’m sure he didn’t care that Johnny Football defeated the not-so-mighty Sooners single-handedly. He was in his own little world. A pair of roller skates was all he needed or wanted.

Oh, to be young!!

Have you noticed that as you get older, you lose that sense of fearlessness? Too often you exchange the attitude that nothing can hold you down, with doubt, fear, and faithlessness. Now anything and everything bothers you. Then you begin to worry about anything and everything.

If this describes you, you're not alone. You are not the first to be called a worrywart. You're not the first, nor will you be the last, to fret.

Jesus tells you not to worry. He tells you not to be concerned with what you have to eat or what you wear. Then He tells you why you shouldn't worry. He said look at the birds, free and unfettered. Yet your heavenly Father feeds them.

Then He asked this question, Are you not much more valuable than they? (Matthew 6:26)

You don’t need me to answer that question.

When was the last time you put on a pair of skates and experienced the wind in your face, the world beneath you, the thrill of being worry-free?

May God give you many experiences like that in 2013.

Skate on...

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Originally Published January 10, 2013

Livin’ The Life

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HAVE YOU BEEN TO A hospital parking lot lately? If you have, you know trying to find a parking space is usually difficult. It is rare, especially during the day, to find a space close to the front entrance. There are times when you're glad you find one at all, regardless of whether it is close or out on the back 40!

Last week, I was walking to my truck after making a visit. Yep, my truck was on the backside of the parking lot. As usual, I saw three or four cars circling the parking lot trying to find a space. As I got closer to my truck, a woman rolled down her window and asked me if I was leaving. I said, Yes.

She then asked if she could have my space. I said, Yes. I would be glad to let you have my space, but it comes with a price. It will cost you a smile!

She responded with a big smile and said. I have plenty of those!

I said. Sold!

My little parking lot experience reminded me that whatever I have is really not mine; even what I consider the big stuff— my house, my truck, my golf clubs. In fact, whatever I do have is on loan from God.

Jim Elliot is not only remembered as a martyr, but also for these words: He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep, to gain what he cannot lose.

In a diary entry, Elliot wrote: God, I pray Thee light these sticks of my life, that I may burn for Thee. Consume my life, my God, for it is Thine. I seek not a long life, but a full one, like You, Lord Jesus.

Everyone sooner or later will choose to keep their life or give it away. Jesus talked about two alternatives in life, with two results. You don’t have to follow Jesus. You don’t have to deny yourself and take up your cross. You can choose to save your life, but Jesus said, if you make that choice in life, in the long run, you'll lose your life. The other alternative is the way of the cross — you can choose to follow Jesus. In doing that, you will lose your life, but the result will be that you will find your life.

That's a paradox. (Mark 8: 34-38)

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Originally Published January 17, 2013

Believe, Trust, And Enjoy

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ONE OF MY JOBS AS PAPA is taking the grandkids where they need to go — school, McDonalds, to the park, and sometimes on a road trip.

Between the bucket seats in my truck is a console, and in the console is a change holder. Yes, that is where I keep my change. One can say that the change holder is handier than a pocket on a shirt — handier than an eraser on a pencil — handier than cruise control on a car — handier than a remote control on a TV — handier than a drive-through restaurant. I like handy...

My two older grandsons are now seven years old. When riding with me, they sometimes ask if they can have some of my change.

And like any good papa, I say, Yes!

It is interesting as I watch the boys take the money. Sometimes they will take just three or four coins, sometimes several. I never tell them what they can or can’t have. I simply tell them to get what they want. I have noticed that the boys as they get older take more nickels, dimes, and quarters than they do pennies.

I have also noticed that the boys never take all my change. It's not that they couldn't or that I would even care, but they always leave some money. From time to time I will have a dollar bill or two in my console and they never take it. When it’s all said and done, I would not only give them all my change, but my dollar bills, and the money I have in my wallet. (Grandkids do that to papas and nanas.}

God called Moses to take His people to the Promised Land. In the summer of the second year after the exodus from Egypt, Israel was ordered to go into and possess Canaan. After the spies gave their report of the 40-day spying mission, the people became adamant in their refusal to believe God. This led to the great rebellion which delayed Israel’s entrance into Canaan by over 38 years. (Numbers 13-14)

The tragedy continues. Too often believers, like the prodigal son, settle for less than the Father’s best. Believers too often exchange silver for brass, gold for pennies, the promised land for a wilderness. Solomon writes, He who trusts in the Lord will prosper. (Proverbs 28:25)

Choose wisely,

Choose prayerfully,

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Originally Published January 24, 2013

What to Do While You’re Passing Through

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IT WAS NOONTIME, WHICH means it was lunchtime. I slipped into a convenience store to buy me a soft drink. Judy had made me a sandwich and I just needed something to drink.

No, I didn’t buy a beer or a Baptist beer (root beer). I bought a diet coke with just a tiny teeny splash of cherry. I really, really like my cherry diet cokes. Mmm-good!

As I was making my soft drink, I heard this loud sound. It was deafening! The windows in the store were shaking, my teeth were shaking, there truly was a whole lot of shaking going on. I'm now thinking, Is Elvis Presley in the house?

The loud noise was a car sound system. The five or six people in the store definitely weren't impressed, nor was I. In fact, we were not only irritated, we were downright mad. I was hoping the little lady standing next to me would go up to this young man who was about 6 foot 3 inches tall and slap some sense into him.

The little lady behind the counter explained that this fellow comes in all the time and does the same thing just to get under her skin. He is succeeding.

I know I'm getting older. I know I’m getting set in my ways. I know that I should be tolerant. I know that the world doesn't revolve around me. I know this is not my home - I'm just passing through.

But while I'm just passing through, I sure wish people would be a little more considerate.

Having written all that, I was proud of myself for not flipping out. It was what it was. I got my cherry diet coke and was ready to enjoy my lunch. I was ready to move on, you know. Let these kinds of things just roll off your back like a duck. Don't sweat the small stuff.

Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry. (James 1:19) Stop and consider what is truly important. Live and let live. Get the idea?

I've concluded that there are some positives of getting older. Read on, pilgrim. Here is some good advice from an anonymous writer: People grow old only by deserting their ideas. Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up interest wrinkles the soul.

You are as young as your faith, as old as your doubt, as young as your confidence, as old as your fears, as young as your hope, as old as your despair.

In the central place of every heart, there is a recording chamber. So long as it receives messages of beauty, hope, cheer, and courage - so long are you young.

When your heart is covered with the snarls of pessimism and the ice of cynicism, then, and only then, are you grown old — and then, indeed, as the ballad says, you just fade away.

To Really Live is Christ,

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Originally Published January 31, 2013

Smilin’ And Bobbin’

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I WALKED OUT OF THE fast-food restaurant full and happy. I not only ate one of my favorite fast-food meals, but also saw one of my favorite fast-food workers. I always looked forward to both when I go to this particular fast-food restaurant.

Heading to my truck, I greeted a woman who was cleaning up the parking lot. Immediately, I knew she was Hispanic. Her beautiful olive-colored skin, dark eyes, dark hair, and beautiful smile gave her away. I told her that I hoped that she was having a good day and was enjoying the warm sunshine in the middle of winter.

As I continued to carry on my one-sided conversation, it was obvious she didn't understand English. And since I don’t speak Spanish, the conversation ended rather quickly.

The lady was super nice. While I was talking, she was listening, bobbing her head like a cork in the water, and smiling from ear to ear. I realized I could be saying anything, and she would do the same. I could tell her that her shoes were on fire and she would keep smiling and bobbing. I could tell her that the restaurant was on fire and she would continue to smile and bob. I could tell her my guts were on fire, and yes, you guessed it, she would continue to bob and smile.

I did a few bobs myself, gave her a big smile back, and headed toward my truck thinking: This lady is no different than some people I know and meet who speak English, and some people who sit and listen to me preach.

I invite them to church – they bob their heads and smile. I tell them that Jesus loves them — they bob their heads and smile. I tell them that God has a plan for their lives — they smile and bob their heads. I tell them that Jesus is coming back – yep, they smile and bob.

Now don’t get me wrong. I'd rather folks smile and bob at me than poke a sharp stick in my eye. Jesus told His disciples that the reason He used stories (parables) to teach them is because, just like in Isaiah’s day, people had eyes, but they did not see, they had ears, but they did not hear or understand.  (Matthew 13:13)

I’ve wondered when Jesus spoke if the people listening to Him were bobbing their heads and smiling.

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Originally Published February 10, 2013

The Seasons of Life

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I STEPPED INTO THE hospital elevator and right behind me entered two young men. They looked like they were in their early twenties. As we went up, they were talking and laughing. I decided to break in and asked them how they were doing. One young man answered, We are going to see our friend’s new baby.

I responded, "Tell your friend congratulations for me!’

The two young men got off the elevator and I stayed on until the next floor. For the next few minutes, I thought of the contrast between the two young men and myself. These two young men were excited about a newborn baby. They were excited about their friend's new addition to the family. They couldn’t wait to see the bundle of joy.

On the other hand, my visit was just the opposite. The one who I came to see was knocking on heaven's door. The doctors had told the family that there wasn’t much hope. He was trying to prepare the family for the worst. The doctors had done all that they could do. Now it was in God’s hands. One was just entering into the world, the other was about to leave this world.

I have discovered that hospital visits help me stay grounded. I'll explain: Do I sometimes grow weary of making hospital visits? Sometimes. Do I sometimes wish I could be doing something else? Sometimes.

A few years ago, I was visiting Ms. Irene in her home. We were talking about church, life, and sick people. We both agreed that it seemed that our church had more than our share of sick, sad, and suffering. It was then that Ms. Irene taught me a valuable lesson. She said that she would rather send a get-well card than receive one. She said that she would rather visit a sick person than be visited. I will be forever indebted to Ms. Irene. She taught me to take my eyes off of myself. She taught me that I