The bad things people have said about you......

 We who have strong faith should help the weak with their problems. We should not please only ourselves. Each of us should please our neighbors. Let us do what is good for them in order to build them up. Even Christ did not please himself. It is written, “The bad things people have said about you have been aimed at me also.” (Psalm 69:9) Everything written in the past was written to teach us. The Scriptures give us strength to go on. They encourage us and give us hope. Our God is a God who strengthens and encourages you. May he give you the same attitude toward one another that Christ Jesus had.  Then you can give glory to God with one mind and voice. He is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Christ has accepted you. So accept one another in order to bring praise to God.(Romans 15:1-7)

Being shut-in so much has caused me and probably you to be a bit strained at times.  Frustrated, irritable, anxious, and jittery can be just a few words to describe Corona times!

It has given me a lot projector reflect upon the past as I wonder where we are headed. I have lost count of the times I have been lied to, lied on, tricked, manipulated and deceived by folks I thought I knew, yes even Christ followers. As a result I realize I have installed a mental barrier of distrust and skepticism regarding people. Truth be told, it has deeply charred the relationships I do have!

Do you find it hard to forget even when you forgive? Do you have trouble trusting anymore? I have to force myself to be live God! Listen to what Paul writes:

The bad things people have said about you have been aimed at me also.” (Psalm 69:9) Everything written in the past was written to teach us. The Scriptures give us strength to go on. They encourage us and give us hope. 

I need the Spirit to help me to fully trust again. How 'bout you?

 

Honor THE KING

And He said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed.” (Genesis 32:28)

On this holiday of celebrating Rev. (Dr.) King's life and remembering he was killed almost 50 years ago (I vividly remember even though I was only 8), I am so encouraged by the words from Genesis 32 above. Dr. King struggled with God for sure in doing what was Godly over what was popular. He struggled against the injustices of man. He was not only hurt several times as Jacob was, but eventually he gave his life not just for the "cause" but I believe for the Gospel!

This modern-day martyr is to be honored for sure. He is to be remembered. He is also to be imitated in our society today. I and my family are eternally indebted to him and the many who sacrificially gave during the Civil Rights struggles and still give even to this day. However, we must be careful whom we side with and where our allegiance lies today. Not all movements are Godly. Not all causes are lining up with Scripture.

We as a Body of believers must not judge by the color of one's skin but by the content of character . . . are we united under the blood of Christ? Are our hearts set upon God's will or getting even. Vengeance still belongs to the Lord. Love still overcomes hate. Prayer, with Godly action, still changes things!

Honor the legacy of Rev. Dr. King today. Honor THE KING always!

Don't Miss the Savior

Imagine being a wife and mom anticipating your best birthday party ever . . . turning the big 4-0! There will be cake, gifts, decorations, etc. Yet the cake has someone else's name on it. . . . your husband's! The gifts have his name on them as well and not yours. Now that you look a bit closer at the decorations, they are for him as well. . . . all about sports . . . his team not yours! Those who popped up and yelled, "surprise!" aren't even your friends, but his!!!

Wait a minute! Your big celebration and the cake, the gifts, the decorations, the friends . . . all about him and not you? Huh???? Now we know how Jesus might feel . . . not just on CHRISTmas but every week when we go to His house to worship Him and we expect to be entertained!

Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming” (who is called Christ). “When He comes, He will tell us all things.” Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am He.”(John 4:21-26)

The Samaritan woman nearly missed the Savior. Let's not miss Him this Season of CHRISTmas!

Young men . . .Do Not be Disqualified!

Moreover, he must have a good testimony among those who are OUTSIDE, lest he fall into reproachand the snare of the devil. (1 Timothy 3:1-7)

It's tough to be a guy! While we all love our moms and respect all the ladies go through, it is still tough being a guy . . . especially an CHRIST-led young man! There is so much temptation available for the young male today. Yet men are still held accountable by God to lead by example and to not back down to the call of BIBLICAL manhood! The younger age it is taught, learned, and required the better! Once a man marries, his life becomes a total life of sacrifice and service (Ephesians 5:25). So young men, seek wisdom and knowledge from seasoned men in the faith. Young ladies, demand it from your male peers . . .require it! Single moms, teach it and require it from your sons and lead them to mature men of the faith. Dads . . .God is holding us accountable not only to teach it, but to live it out loud in front of our wife, children, and all the world to see!

A Father's Look Back

Counsel is Mine, and sound wisdom; I am understanding, I have strength . . .i love those who love Me, and those who seek me diligently will find Me. (Proverbs 8:14,17)

After a wonderful Father's Day weekend, I am resigned to the fact that all I am, all I have, and all I ever could attain is because of God. As I look back over my life, as well as look into the future, it has been God all along! Even when I simply gave Him lip service in my youth, not really knowing Him, but thinking I did, He still was there protecting me and guiding me to where I am today! I thank Him for the day I finally allowed Him into my life. What a change! Nearly twenty-four years ago I asked the Lord to wash me of sin by His blood sacrifice and He is still cleansing me to this day! I am so foul in His sight yet He saw fit to save me. He thought I was worth it. He has not only changed me, but the entire direction of my life and my family's direction. I thought I knew "me" and my plans, yet God knew better. I don't look at the past as wasted years, but rather years of preparation and pruning, so I could see what He saw in me. Even today, the pruning continues and the vision is still being refocused day by day. While some may not like it or even despise it, I can only say "Thank You Lord for saving me; for picking me out of the 'muck' and placing me into Your plan!" Literally, I know I would be dead had He not challenged me back then. I am convinced there is only one way to know God and to possibly please Him. There is only one way to be with Him for eternity. It is only through the sacrifice of Jesus upon the cross and His resurrection power over sin and death! Do YOU know Him? Even more so, does He know YOU? It only comes by faith and that faith is in a person, namely Jesus Christ!

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6)

Parents Don't Quit

For He established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which He commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children; that the generation to come might know them, the children who would be born, that they may arise and declare them to their children, that they may set their hope in God, and not forget the words of God, but keep His commandments; and may not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generations generation that did NOT set its heart aright, and whose spirit was NOT faithful to God.(Psalm 78:5-9)

As one who has been working with young people for more than thirty years, the last eighteen in direct youth ministry and counseling, I can honestly say that with every passing year comes a dummying-down of TRUTH and more and more tolerance of whatever the culture decides is ACCEPTABLE. 

God is specific about what is TRUTH and what is fabricated. His TRUTH endures from generation to generation. His WORD will be the only thing surviving this world . . .because it is not of this world! Every generation seems to get worse and worse, more and more rebellious as the psalmist Asaph wrote. Their hearts are not right with God. Their spirit is not aligned properly with His TRUTHS. 

So who is to blame? Is it society . . . the schools . . . their peers . . . NO! God is clear: It is the fathers' responsibility to teach and model what is right. He is spiritually responsible for his household. It is the mothers' job to nurture the children and care for the home. While that ideal is not always present in today's homes, the roles are still needed. Parents, CHRISTian parents, must be accountable to God. 

We have to take our roles seriously before God, not society. We cannot cave in to acceptable ways of culture and politically correct models of parenting. God requires much more. He requires TRUTH! Are we perfect? No. Should we strive to be? Yes! We stay on our faces before God. We repent when we have failed. We never give up. We never give in. We fight . . . We fight . . . We fight! 

The battle is not ours, it is THE LORD'S!

Fathers do not quit!.

And now, little children, remain in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame when He comes back. If you know that He is righteous, you also know that everyone who practices righteousness has been fathered by Him. (1 John 2:28-29) 

Fathering is a difficult job in these days. The closer we walk with the Lord, it may at times become an even bigger challenge.  The challenges of job, family, health, rest . . . They all challenge our time and resources. 

As a father, I have failed many times. I have neglected my children, not by choice or knowingly, but simply by being too involved in life.I have not done all I can as a husband, selfishly concentrating more on me than my bride. I have failed God and my church by being too worried about "me and my house" and not "my Father's business". But there is good news . . . 

My heavenly Father has never failed me and He picks me up and continues to carry me and teach me. He continues to mold me as clay in a potters hand.

 Even if no one else can forget, I ask them to forgive. As men, we have to be honest with God and others and continue in the fight to "father" as our Good Shepherd fathers. This is a daily battle. Challenged by my pastor, I am committed to father not only my children, but the many God has led my way.

 My prayer is that my entire life, not simply yesterday or today or even tomorrow, but my entire life will be a witness to draw others to Him. God is at work and He will continue working in and through me until the day He returns. I will not quit!

His Day....Not Mine!

He guides along the right paths for His name's sake. (Psalm 23:3)

Afraid of making the wrong decision? School choice....job searches....dating....marriage....friendships....vacation plans? 

God is more than ready and able to handle our choices. He desires to hear our dilemmas and counsel us along the way. 

Remember, as His children we were created to please Him, not ourselves!

Make Daddy proud, especially as we approach His day....yeah His day....

FATHER'S DAY!

I am NOT God and I am glad about it!

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. - Isaiah 55:8

Confused? Questions? Yeah . . . me too! I cannot always figure it out. Why this and why not that . . . If God is this and that than why is all this happening? Welcome to the real world! We do not have it all figured out! But I am so glad that there is One who has been there since before the beginning and has it ALL figured out!

"For I am the LORD, I do not change; Therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob. (Malachi 3:6)

You see, God knows and for this reason I have hope! He has a plan . . . He has not told me the ending yet, but I trust Him to get me through. I may not like my circumstances, but is there a better bet? Is there a better way? I don't believe so . . .

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. (James 1:17)

You see, for thousands of years the Word of God has remained true and God Himself has stayed faithful to His promises. It is I who have to adjust to His will and His plans. I must stop playing God and realize He is not changing and neither is His Word! I am NOT God and man, am I glad about that!

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. (Hebrews 13:8)

Sucess is . . .

Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither . . . whatever they do prospers. (Psalm 1:1-3) Coach Tony Dungy defines success by "how well we use those qualities (unique gifts abilities and passions given to each of us by God) to have an impact on the world around us." It sounds as though he is in tune with the words of the psalmist above. To really achieve lasting success, we must be in harmony with God and His plans for us. Success is defined in who we are, not what we do! I am . . . not I do . . . When Moses ask God, "Who do I say sent me?", do we recall God's reply? Tell them "I AM sent you!" (Exodus 3:13-15) It was enough for God to say who He was, not what He does! Integrity goes before us. Reputation can waiver. Integrity is who we are. Reputation is what others say we are and what they say we have done. It only matters what God knows about us! Who do we say we are? Eleven of the twelve disciples were murdered for who they were. They tried their best to killl John too, but God had a plan for him. Stephen was also killed for what He believed. Many of us have been rejected, maligned, even fired for standing on what we believe and why. The world may say we have failed, but if we have done all that God has designed for us to do . . . if we remain in Him, we are a success! (John 15:5)

Let's suit up!

"If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. And if Satan opposes himself and is divided, he cannot stand; his end has come. In fact, no one can enter a strong man’s house without first tying him up. Then he can plunder the strong man’s house. Truly I tell you, people can be forgiven all their sins and every slander they utter, but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; they are guilty of an eternal sin.”

(Mark 3:24-29) How could Jesus possibly be working in partnership with the devil? Even if he was, why would a demon go against a demon? They both have the same goal of dispelling Godly activity! However, Jesus goes even deeper in revealing His oneness with the Holy Spirit by reminding them that these so-called religious leaders were blaspheming the Holy Spirit! Rejecting Christ, the Holy Spirit, and/or God is a ticket straight to hell! They are one person. These leaders had no idea! No entity will survive with infighting. Petty jealousies, character assaults, lies, bitterness, all work like cancer eating away at the core of the group. Satan is the author of lies. (John 8:44) He still comes only to steal and kill and destroy. (John 10:10) We need to reject him and all his ways by knowing the Truth and what God says about us. Seek Godly counsel. Learn from a Bible-teaching church. Read and study His Word daily and know good from evil. Peter would tell us to love the brotherhood, Honor the King! (1 Peter 2:9-17) As a church family we need to be united. As a biological family, we need to be sure God is on the throne within our homes. His Word must be our guide and we all must be focused on Him throughout the day. Fathers (parents) must be focused upon scriptures. (Deuteronomy 6:6-9) We must live out His Word and not allow the lies of Satan to creep in. Set the example! Run to God. Resist the devil. Know the enemies tricks. We can win this battle, in fact, it is already won! This battle is not ours, but the Lord's! Do not sit on the side lines. Let's suit up and join the battle!

In His Hands

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.blockquote> (1 Peter 5:6-7) What a place to be . . . in God's will! It does not mean everything is going well, or according to my plans either! It could very well mean that we are experiencing some pruning! Perhaps we are experiencing some correction. Whatever state we are in, receiving rewards or receiving discipline, knowing that our Father has us in His hands is always better than the other alternative . . . not being His child!

...because the Lord disciplines the one he loves,and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.b>

(Hebrews 12:6) God cares and He wants to share in every aspect of our lives. He desires for us to share our needs and concerns with Him. There is no need to keep everything inside. He also sets us in a caring Body to also have support. In pain and sickness, we all turn to the medical field for advice. When emotionally troubled, we seek advice from friends, counselors, and ministers. When we screw up, we seek forgiveness from our peers. But why do we always seem to go to God as a secondary source of help? God wants to hear about all of our life! Good times, bad times, challenging times, stressful times, relaxing times . . .Even in our sins, God wants us to come to Him and receive His grace and mercy . . . but we have to come to Him! Peter writes to us to share our burdens with God because he cares! Try God . . . it's true . . . He really does care and will hold each of us in His hand . . . if we choose to stay there!

The Importance of Fathers

"See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers; or else I will come and strike the land with a curse."

(Malachi 4:5-6)

Do not mess with God when He gives a choice between blessings or curses. He means business, but always offers a merciful option. (Jonah 4:2) If we obey God on His terms, His offer of mercy is so sweet! However, we must accept things on His terms, not ours.

The prophet is letting us know that there will be a final time when God will seek reconciliation. One will come bearing a message (as Elijah did)pleading for the people to repent. Here he mentions fathers specifically. In today's society, there is no worse condition than fathers who are not involved with their children. Even some fathers who are within the home are abandoning their families by choosing jobs over family and happy hours over children's ball games and plays. The importance of fathers is never more important than today!

God has set the man up to be a leader. Fathers are designed to lead, provide, protect, and direct as He is led by God. Whenever the father (husband) abdicates his position, (though the mom fills in well)there is room for destruction. The fort (family)is vunerable to attack. The enemy is ready to pounce. The family (mom and the children) are in danger!

God is not pleased with a man who relinquishes his position as husband, father and leader. The whole earth is at risk, not simply the family. What a responsibility . . . what a privilege!

Men love challenges. We love to compete. So it's on . . .

And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

(2 Corinthians 5:19-21)

A Father's Day message from DADDY

But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.

(2 Chronicles 15:7)

This prophet (Azariah), who is mentioned nowhere else in the Bible, appears at this stage of the sacred story in the discharge of an interesting mission. He went to meet Asa, as he was returning from his victorious pursuit of the Ethiopians, and the congratulatory address here recorded was publicly made to the king in presence of his army.(BibleStudyTools.com)

The king was so encouraged by these words that he eventually went on to remove idols from the land and not satisfied with these minor measures of purification and improvement, Asa contemplated a grand scheme which was to pledge his whole kingdom to complete the work of reformation.

Sometimes we just need a bit of encouragement. It does not always have to be directly from God's Word, but when it is, we seem to really get a boost! I have recently been so encouraged as I sit in Bible Study or in Sunday service and I just know God is speaking directly to me through my pastor!

Well, this is one of those times! As I read, I hear from God: be encouraged . . . do not give up . . . do not look at the present circumstances . . . I AM watching you and I will reward you!

Thanks DADDY (ABBA): I needed to hear that . . . and the day after father's day too! WOW!!!

God loves those who serve Him with diligence and with a great joy in doing so. Complete obedience always brings blessings! Be on the lookout . . . do not quit!

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

(Hebrews 11:6)

June 13, 2008 Family Values…from The Father! (II)

Happy Father's Day everyone...even to the single moms who have the daunting task of being both mom and dad within the home!

“These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts.
Impress them on your children.
Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road,
when you lie down and when you get up.
Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.
Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.”
(Deuteronomy 6: 6-9 NIrV)


God is reemphasizing His commandments to the families through Moses once again. The parents (Dads too!) are to be the primary teachers of our children, not school teachers, not coaches, not mentors, not even the pastors. And we fathers must be held accountable to what is being taught within the homes. We are the priests, the spiritual leaders and the Lord requires us to be the stewards (house managers) of the home! We can’t keep putting all the work and responsibilities on Mom and be content with going to work five or six days a week! THE FATHER will hold us accountable!!!

Check out the example above as Moses shared what THE FATHER taught him. Let’s honestly examine our lives. Is God’s word established our heart? Do we as Dads meditate upon His word, spend time in reading and applying His word, gaining more and more of His wisdom for our lives? Do we as fathers teach our children, have personal devotions with them, and speak of the Lord’s greatness throughout the day, pointing out His majesty as we spend time with our families? Do our children see us in personal devotion and ever hear our heart talks with the Lord? Are the Lord’s values felt in our greetings, witnessed in the agreements we make, and experienced even as we enter a room? Is His love felt by our wife and children in our embraces, in the time we give them, in our efforts to protect them?

Finally, do visitors feel the presence of Christ as they come to our door? Does the pizza delivery person sense a different kind of spirit in us as they bring dinner to our home? Do neighbors see a consistent pattern of godly activity in our lives? Do our community and church family know they can count on us for integrity, accountability, and trust? In other words, are we as fathers carrying out the mandate from God to be fruitful, multiply, influence and make disciples of our family members and other acquaintances in our life?

It’s my prayer that I and all fathers will do our best to learn from the Word of God and then teach others to teach others about His love, from the time we awake until we lay down for the evening. May our FAMILY VALUES be directly FROM THE FATHER.

Happy Father’s Day…to You DADDY and to every father who reads this message!

June 12, 2008 Daddy…Daddy…Daddy II
(He must love to hear our voice!)

“So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek and you will find;
knock and it will be opened to you…
IF A SON ASKS FOR BREAD FROM ANY FATHER AMONG YOU, WILL HE GIVE HIM A STONE?...
If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”
(Luke 11:9-13)

Prayer is not a formal petition that needs to go through speech writers, spell checks, rewrites, and approvals. It does not require certain key words or required prerequisites, except one: we acknowledge that we can only come to God the Father through His Son Jesus Christ, whom He sent to live in the flesh and die on the cross, only to rise from the grave and become the perfect sacrifice (propitiation) for our sins. Prayer is a time of father and child sharing real needs, real hurts, real concerns, and real love. It’s letting Daddy know our heart and Him supplying our needs. It’s real simple, as Jesus explained above. Just as we parents give to our children, God gives to us. More importantly, He gives us power through the person of the Holy Spirit!

There is one thing most of us lack: the innocence we had as a child.

“Therefore, whoever humbles himself as a little child is
the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”
(Matthew 18:3)

God is not a pompous, uncaring, untouchable government official. We need to look to Him as our Daddy (“Abba”, Papa), perhaps the Daddy we never had. Imagine the joy we feel when we hear our child call out our name. Imagine the joy God must feel as we call out His name… “Daddy, I need you! Daddy, protect me! Daddy, HELP! Daddy, thank you for caring for me! Daddy…Daddy…Daddy!” He must love to hear our voice! We need to grow in our desire to hear His voice as well!

When is the last time we crawled up in Daddy’s lap and really shared with Him? Have we grown too old to let Him love us as only a Daddy can? Aren’t we still (and always) His child? Only if we know Him as Lord and Savior as well! Ummmm…..something to think about as Father’s Day approaches!

06 15-16 07 Man of Prayer
(How well do you know your DADDY?)

“The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” (James 5:16 NKJV)

One thing we need as a man is a living and real relationship with our Father in heaven. None of us have had a perfect father here on earth; some of us have had no relationship at all, some don’t even know their fathers. Not knowing God, however, is to not even know what love is! How can we possibly love our wife and children, not knowing how? It is essential to have a personal relationship with God, and the only way is through Jesus Christ! What makes us righteous; the blood sacrifice and atoning death of Christ, along with His rising from the grave and overcoming both sin and death, so we may have eternal life and an eternal relationship with our heavenly Father!

Therefore, humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time.........” (1 Peter 5:6 NKJV)

We as men need to be humble enough to realize we can do nothing without His help and His guidance. We need a daily and constant conversation with Him; that’s all prayer really is anyway, a conversation with our Daddy. A real part of that conversation is listening as well, not just talking! Do we hear what God is saying to us?

“Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding; giving honor to the wife........that your prayers may not be hindered.” (1 Peter 3:7 NKJV)

As Godly fathers, we need to do all we can to be in the proper relationship with everyone in our life, most especially our wife. We never want our prayers hindered, or blocked, do we? We want all our needs, concerns, and fears to get to God’s ears right? Then check it out: Dwell with your wife in understanding in, honor, in protecting her.

Happy Father’s Day guys; let’s get to know our Father better every day!

06 14 07 Be-getting or For-getting

“For though you may have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, because I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel.”
(1 Corinthians 4:15)

Borrowing from Pastor John MacArthur (www.gty.org ,“How to be a spiritual father”, June 14, 2007), living fathers are to be reproducing, or begetting offspring. Life reproduces life, according to its own kind. We fathers have a choice to make. Will we concentrate on begetting offspring, or find ourselves forgetting our offspring?

The New Testament Greek word gennao means to bring forth, or in one instance, in James 1:18 (“He gave us birth”) apokueo, to generate. Christ gave us a new birth, regeneration through His blood. As a father (and mother of course) gives birth to a child, we should be prepared to put the time in to nurture and care, and provide all that child needs to have a full life, including our presence in that child’s life. I am so proud of the many fathers I have witnessed spending time with their families: they go on field trips, coach ball teams, teach Sunday school, and even home school their children! My dad was tremendously involved in my life and it still impacts me today. In fact, I remember him changing jobs just to be home more often and sacrificing to provide a safe and secure home life.

Spiritually speaking, how many of us men have spiritual children? “What is that”, you ask? Very simply, it’s a young person we have led to Christ, beginning with our biological children of course! As we share the Gospel with them and they profess a knowledge of Christ as Savior, they have new life. Who will raise them? Who will feed them? Who will guard them from the wolves? We need to keep a special bond with those we have led to Christ and be willing to walk along life’s path with them, father to son, parent to child, teacher to student. We hurt when they fall short; we rejoice as they grow; we disciple (discipline) along the way; we love throughout the journey.

Are we begetting for the kingdom, or forgetting out of selfishness or laziness? Don’t give up Dads. It’s worth the struggle and sacrifice. I’m so glad my Dad did it! Our kids will one day remember the sacrifices we make. I know one thing for sure, God, my DADDY, will never forget. Only what we do for Him will be remembered in eternity anyway!

06 13 07 Three Essentials for Dad

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart.” (Deuteronomy 6:5-6)

(1) A Godly man must have a heart reality; that is that God governs his heart, not merely ceremony or simple conformity.

“You shall write them on the doorposts of your house…….“(Deut. 6:9)

(2) A Godly man must allow God’s will and principles to govern his home. He teaches both formally and informally throughout the day concerning the things of God to his family.

“……and on your gates.” (Deut. 6:9)

(3) A Godly man allows God’s principles to be evident in his habits and conduct outside the home and the church as well; in his business dealings and social activities.

“……..then you shall say to your son: We were slaves of Pharaoh in Egypt, and the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand…..then He brought us from there, that He might bring us in, to give us the land of which He swore to our fathers. And the commanded us to observe all these statutes, to fear the Lord our God, for our good always, that He might preserve us alive, as it is this day.” (Deut. 6:21-25)

Finally, as fathers, the more we give the Lord control of our personal and family activities, the greater testimony we have to share with our children of how the Lord brought us from slavery to sin (our Pharaoh/Egypt) and brought us to freedom in Him by the blood of Christ. It is so important that we share the blessings of God with our children, so they grow to depend upon Him and expect His provisions, as we trust Him and obey His will for us. It’s not just an Old Testament promise.

The Lord has a plan for us to succeed, not fail (Jeremiah 29:11). He promises us abundant life in John 10:10. (perissos in Greek, beyond measure). This is not a life of riches, but a life beyond measure; spiritually, mentally, and physically; far beyond what the world’s riches could offer. It’s a promise of eternal life with the Lord and His constant care for us.

Fathers; our hearts, our homes, our habits, (and as a result our history) need to all be devoted to God. What a life we’ll give to our families and what a legacy we’ll leave behind: Three essentials for Dad this Father’s day and every day!

06 12 07 Shepherd the Flock

“The elders who are among you I exhort, I am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed.
Shepherd the flock of God which is among you,
serving as overseers, not by compulsion, but willingly,
not for dishonest gain but eagerly. --- being examples to the flock---.”
(1 Peter 5:1-4)

I realize this passage is for pastors and elders of the church, however I agree with writer and speaker, Pastor Crawford Loritts, Jr. in his book Never Walk Away (Moody Press, Chicago, IL, 1997), when he writes, “I think a good secondary application has to do with the role of a father in the home. Leadership in the home has both to do with direction and protection---creating the environment in which they (the children) can have a relative degree of safety.”

Genuine fatherhood is ignored today. Have sex---have a baby---boom---you’re a father! That’s neither God’s intention nor his definition. A father should first be a husband, but as the result of sin and a downward spiral of our society, we have many issues to deal with and many actions we need to repent of and now move on by the grace of God. It does not stop a father from being a leader, a role model, and a shepherd of his flock! Men need to once and for all step up and be strong, confident, and (like their DADDY) be leaders, protectors, and providers. It’s hard however, without knowing the God who created us or seeing a Godly example to follow.

That’s where the rest of us step in! We need to be a light; a shining beacon of light set upon a hill so other young men and boys can see what a Godly man is: not perfect, but strong in character, humble, willing to serve his family and others, possessing a power and strength from within, and unashamedly living for Christ in everyday life!

Our fatherhood mantel doesn’t come from muscles, wealth, or titles. It comes from knowing and doing the will of our DADDY. Each day we humble ourselves before Him and ask for Hs help and guidance. Don’t be afraid to say “I’m sorry” to our spouse and children; what a way to exemplify our dependency upon our God! REAL Daddies never walk away, but rather run after the things of God and the things of their families. A shepherd would never leave the flock uncared for, even going after the one who is most lost. He keeps a gate of protection around the sheep (our prayers). His rod wards of enemy attackers and reels back in the strays (God’s Word is our sword!). He’s willing to stay up late and get up early (willing to sacrifice). Our begging question men: “Will we shepherd the flock?” I Wanna’ be Like My DADDY, was a favorite song of my daughter as she grew up. I loved it to. In fact, I still hum it from time to time to remind myself, I still have work to do!