April 12th , 2008 Newsletter #64 from the Moores.

Reflections of My Grandpa

Robert Welch is someone who I admire greatly.  His love for the Lord has been an inspiration to me.  I remember how he could be heard daily praising the Lord, thanking God for His goodness, and praying loudly.  His voice and his words still echo in my mind.  He ran the race without wavering.  He did not become bitter and leave the faith in his latter years, as many have done.  He ran the race with perseverance, his eyes fixed on the prize of one day being in the presence of Jesus.  He had a child-like faith towards Christ, one that I aspire to imitate.  I thank God for the brief times that we were able to share together.  I thank God for the heritage that I have.  My grandpa was an example of a true-believer – to the end.  He gives true meaning to “Chrétien jusqu’à la mort” (“Christian unto death”- a song that was sung in Guinea at the burial of Christians).  His life inspires me to serve God more than ever, to push aside petty distractions, focus my eyes on the One who truly matters and to examine my life to see where I am at and what I need to change in order to be more Christ-like. 

Even though I do not have much material wealth, I am reminded by my grandpa of how wealthy I am.  I pray that we would all consider Robert Welch’s life and strive to live lives of unfaltering honor and obedience to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  He is the ONLY ONE who matters.  This world means nothing compared to Him.  If you are serving Jesus, now is the time, today is the day to serve Him and devote your life to the only One who is worthy.  I look to the day when I will no longer be on this earth - “This world is not my home.”  A day when I, like my grandpa, will be dressed in new clothing, singing praises around the throne, our crowns laid at Jesus’ feet, as we honor and worship Him for all eternity.  “Grandpa, welcome home! Please tell Jesus that I love Him and please thank him for giving us you as a godly example of how we should love Him and glorify Him until our last breath.  Oh, for the day when we shall see Him as He is, not through a glass dimly, but face to face! That’s when we’ll know we are home.  Grandpa, I will see you soon.  Until that GLORIOUS day, I’ll miss you.”

These tears I cry are tears of sadness- knowing that I will miss you; of joy- that you are in the Presence of Almighty God; and of envy- because I want to be there too- with you.  But my time has not yet come.  I still have my race to finish- to complete the mission that Christ has set before me.  Oh, that I may run it well! That I may serve the Lord worthily with everything I have, and may I be faithful unto the end and bring many people with me!  There is no point in getting bogged down in past opportunities that were missed and in past failures.  Now is the time to look forward and to move on!  Live your life, fulfill your mission, run your race.  Never surrender! Keep going, even when your flesh tears, your heart is ripped out, you have no more energy and you feel you have nothing left to offer.  Keep going!  Your failures are not too big for Jesus to forgive.  The arm of the Lord is not too short to save.  He can save you!  He can use you!  You are of infinite worth to Him!  Give all you are and all you have to Him.  He is worthy of it.  Remember, He gave His all for you first!

Written by: Mike Moore in honor of his grandpa, Robert Welch. Mike is Bob and Evelyn’s second grandchild and is the second son of Tom and Sherry (Welch) Moore. He didn’t get to spend a lot of time with his grandpa because he grew up in Guinea, West Africa.