MY FATHER’S BUSINESS

My Father's Business

 

Luke 2:48-49

When his parents saw him, they were astonished.  His mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you." And he said unto them, how is it that ye sought me?  Wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?

While the world rails and heaps their scorn upon the Christian witness, the words of Christ echo strong, we must be about our Father’s business.

Let no word or deed deter us from fulfilling our part of His business.

Answer strongly the question; “What is your business” with these words; “My Father’s business is my business.”

Let your prayer be; “Father let me live long enough to complete the task that is mine with nothing lacking;” so I will be able to say “it is finished”

Matthew 25:40 "The King will answer and say to them, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine,  even the least of them, you did it to Me.

Proverbs 14:31 Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.

Proverbs 19:17Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward them for what they have done.

Matthew 10:42And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward."

The opportunity to do God’s business is at hand each and every day.  Let us not grow weary in our well doing!

This post is shared at “Tell Me a True Story.”

 

 

HOW GOOD ARE YOU AT WAITING

HOW GOOD ARE YOU AT WAITING

It must have been in the seventies that I ordered a new vehicle for work. It was hard waiting day after day even though I had been told it would be at least a month before I would get it. This was in part because I had ordered it special. At least several times a day I would think about getting my new van and driving it.

 

I had requested they make some adjustments on it because of the way I would use it.

 

I had everything figured out so it would meet all my needs and then… I got a call from the dealership that my van was on the production line and it wouldn’t be long now.

But then… the news came on the T.V. the auto workers have gone on strike.

Week after week I waited for the strike to be over and then finally it was back to work. My van was half built when the strike started and when the workers came back to work they didn’t know where they left off when starting the strike. Another three weeks passed and I got the call to come and get my van it was finished.

Of course I was excited after having to wait all these months so I rushed down and brought my vehicle home. Within a few days the transmission had to be replaced so once again I had to wait for the old one to be removed and to be replaced with a new one. A few more days went by and the motor had to be completely rebuilt.

Another few weeks waiting for parts to be available (all the parts were being used for the new cars now being built) and for the motor to be put back together. When I got it back I got by for a couple of months till the whole brake system had to be replaced although it was done little by little instead of doing it all at once and I had to wait for the service a few days each time.

I had many more periods of travail with the van I had looked forward to after ordering it. Now as Christians I knew we are admonished to be angry and sin not so I more or less made that work but I didn’t know at the time how many levels of frustration there are.

About that time there was the song “Lord teach me to wait came out” sung by Stuart Hamblen.  Now telling you the truth I don’t know if that song helped my wait-ability or not but I have always enjoyed the song.

Over the years I have learned to wait a little better and not fret so much cause it is one of the little foxes that spoil the vines.  Another way to say it; waiting interrupts my fellowship with my Lord.

You know I have to ask this; how are you doing?

Can you keep your cool while waiting? Listen to the song and see if it helps you.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCNoFkzhT9o

This post is shared at “Tell Me a True Story.”

 

Emulate/emulation



Boy Wanting to be Just Like Dad

 

 

Each of us as Christians are called to be like Christ; (Walk, talk. act as he did and would do here on earth).

Tis easier said than done for at times it requires self- denial.

In the prayer Jesus prayed for those who belong to him he said;

John 17:15-16 "I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one.” They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

When he came he established a new world system.  One where we can be in this present world system and yet not be consumed by it. The truth that sets us free allows us to be in the world but not mastered by it. The world system he spoke of is one which accommodates the wants and desires of the natural man.

 1 Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

A quick perusal of the world system that rules our natural man conduct today shows us that he wants to be without restraint.  He wants riches without toil. Relationship without responsibility. Actions without restraint. It is a system that compromises just enough to maintain a form of existence. It is a kind of “Your rights ends where my fist begins” world.

It is in this world we find ourselves and we are instructed to “Emulate the Christ life.” Christ assures us he is with us in every situation and we are to practice acting as he would until it becomes our norm.

To be like Jesus, to be like Jesus

All I ask to be like Him;

All through life’s journey

From earth to glory

All I ask to be like Him;

To be like Jesus, to be like Jesus

All I ask to be like Him;

Not in a measure but in its fullness

All I ask to be like Him.

 

This is a prayer that is sure to be answered as we ourselves “Emulate” the Christ life.       https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpSivv3wpLM

 

This Post is shared at  “Tell Me a Story."

I HAD A DREAM



I HAD A DREAM

 

This morning I dreamed a dream where my child rushed into my room and shouted,  “Dad, I need this and I need it now.”   As I listened all I heard was a list of complaints and demands for stuff he wanted.

When I didn’t promise to immediately supply his request, he changed his tactics.

It went something like this. “Now dad, you know I love you and if you loved me you would give me what I want.”

When I still didn’t respond he said; “If you won’t give me what I want then I won’t love and trust you anymore.”

I thought over what he had said and concluded this is serious.  I can’t have him stop loving me so I gave in and provided what he wanted.

I didn’t want to cave in, for I was afraid he would consider me to be some old doting fool that he could manipulate with threats.

As my dream continued I thought how much better it would have been if he had just came in and told me how grateful he was for me bringing him into this world and caring for him.

How he could have confidence in me to supply his needs and not have to worry about having his needs supplied.  If only he had said, “Dad I love you for just being you,” and could have had tears in his eyes as he said it.

If he had said; “I wouldn’t trade you for any other dad in the world for you’re the best of all,” and I knew he really meant it with all his heart.

If I knew he wasn’t trying to butter me up to get something out of me.   If only!

With that I awoke and thought about the message I had received and saw myself as the child….

Give Thanks to the LORD
Shout to the LORD all the earth! Serve the LORD with joy.

Come before him with a joyful shout! Acknowledge that the LORD is God.

He made us and we belong to him;

We are his people and the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise.

Thank him and bless his name, for the LORD is good

and his gracious love stands forever.

His faithfulness remains from generation to generation.

 

This post is shared at “Tell Me a True Story.”

 

STAYING ON THE GOOD SIDE OF GOD

 

So, by his very nature man is a sinner
Cut off from his creator
Cut off from any hope of meaning
That’s what sin is all about
C.S. Lewis

For some reason I was drawn to the quotation by Lewis and still trying to figure out the full meaning he presented. On the surface I understand what is said but hauntingly there is a deeper truth I need to grasp.

GOD’S final act of creation in the garden was to create the woman for a helpmate for Adam. This completed both the world’s creation and the man Adam. He wasn’t finished until Eve was brought forth. Alone Adam was impotent but together they were life giving forces.

Surely we can understand this was GOD’S original intent. Only by understanding GOD’S original intent can we know how we should live. The will of GOD is revealed therein and the violation of His will doesn’t change original intent.

In the garden life was perfection. Perfect diet, perfect harmony in the animal world, perfect relationship between the man and the woman until sin, in the form of the serpent entered in. This is the pattern that continues until today. The power of suggestion becomes truth in eyes of the simpleton.

Cast from the garden, fellowship with GOD broken, no longer the perfect creation, sinners in need of grace. The sacrificial system was installed as a means whereby GOD could save them from further judgment when he clothed them with animal skins.

When in the fullness of time Christ came, the period of grace appeared and we entered the place where we once again we have full fellowship with the Creator God.  But like in the garden there are conditions that must be met.

 

First off is the new birth resulting in the human spirit being reborn.  Then obedience to GOD’S original intent.  That hasn’t changed since creation. This intent is spelled out in clear words written in the scriptures. We no longer need to ask; “How should we live?” for it written in plain words. There are clear paths outlined. Warnings of the enemy’s wiles and the judgments for disobedience.

One would like to live in a world without evil but that is not the case. We are in a war with spiritual forces where too many have yielded to the powers of evil who have railed against GOD and his people.

 

Not only do the forces of evil attack the people of GOD but also they try to destroy those who have not yet seen the wisdom of accepting GOD’S forgiving grace. Living in sin does not indemnify the sinner from Satan’s attempt to destroy them and even though they resist him they are still numbered among the lost.

If you desire to stay on the good side of your creator then be slow to sin, quick to repent and repeat it no more.   

 

John 14:15 If you love me, you will keep my commandments!

 

 

MISSED IT BY THAT MUCH

MISSED IT BY THAT MUCH

As many race fans know the recent NASCAR race at Pocono was won by the car that was running fourth in the last two laps.

The first three cars ran out of gas on the last two laps and the car that was fifteen seconds behind was the victor.  It was said they just needed a quart more of gas and the victory could have been won by anyone of the first three.

Whether that would have been enough is pure speculation but it was about being so close.

Some of the statements after the race by the victims of the fuel shortage were; “If I only knew I was going to be short I could have saved enough to have made it.”  

 

"We must have not got the tank completely full on the last stop."

The winner said; “I never expected them not to make it.”

So many issues in life fail because of not planning adequately especially in sports. First downs in football are missed by a half inch at times.

Baseball players are robbed of a home run because the hit was an inch too low.

Entrance exams into college can fail by one wrong answer ruining the chance for a good career.

When Paul the Apostle stood before King Agrippa preaching the Gospel to him;

Acts 26:27-29 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe. Agrippa said to Paul, "With a little persuasion are you trying to make me a Christian?" Paul said, "I pray to God, that whether with little or with much, not only you, but also all that hear me this day - -

There is no record of Agrippa ever accepting Christ as savior. He was afforded the chance to become a Christian but he missed out by that much.  Almost persuaded just doesn’t cut it.  All in is the only thing that counts.

On the day of judgment and rewards for faithfulness are given out;  the words no one wants to hear are; “You could have done great things for the Kingdom but you missed it by that much.”

1 Corinthians 12:18 But now God has placed the (church) members, each one of them, in the body (the church of Christ), just as He desired.  Meaning whether small or great you have been given a task to fulfill.

Not doing your part leaves a void in the totality of the church.  Set your mind to think even little is much when ordained by GOD. I will be faithful in fulfilling the tasks GOD has given me to do. It is time to “man up” in the service for the King

https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=66&v=fuCQh3Wv2GI

KEEP A STIFF UPPER LIP

Oh NO, they stole my Hub Caps !!

KEEP A STIFF UPPER LIP

Philippians 3:1 Whatever happens, my dear brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord. I never get tired of telling you these things, and I do it to safeguard your faith.

Philippians 4:4 Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again--rejoice!

There is an old English saying; “Keep a stiff upper lip” which means to show courage in the face of pain or adversity.

When Hazel and I were visiting Tulsa Oklahoma someone stole the hub caps off of our new car while we were in church.  When I became aware of it I must say I wasn’t in the mood for rejoicing.

A friend of mine told me, “Don’t let Satan steal your joy.”  He went on to say “just give them to whoever took them.”

This was stuff I had been taught in our classes at Rhema Bible College and I knew of what my friend was reminding me.

These kinds of issues are some of the most difficult to deal with. It requires you to submit to the word of GOD and forgive the guilty one.  Anger on several levels rises up and the fact you have to deal with anger is a greater wrong than what has been done to you.

So many today are being forced to face unthinkable wrongs of all types. One of the worse is the loss of a loved one through violence. Having to forgive in order to start the healing process is a difficult place. The hurt remains but the hate will eventually subside if you forgive.

This was my experience with the hub caps issue and other things that has been my misfortune to go through.

Bad things are going to happen to us all, and Satan is going to try to steal your joy. Don’t let him get away with his evil.  How? By forgiving and rejoicing in the Lord and again I say rejoice.

James put it like this; James1:2-4  Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

This post is shared at “Tell Me a True Story.”

GO AND SIN NO MORE

 

 

GO AND SIN NO MORE !!

Ephesians 5:3-7

But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person (such a person is an idolater) has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them.

Ask yourself are these words too hard to understand? Does the meaning escape you or does your escape mechanism exclude you from any part of these verses?

There is the great temptation to accept people that do not obey these words and while they don’t actually join in with their practices they do not find them offensive when others do them.

Admittedly there is a fine line drawn between loving the person and rejecting their life style and rejecting them totally.

Jesus is a prime example of being able to do this. He loved the sinner but didn’t accept their sin.

His words “Neither do I condemn you, go and sin no more” show us the path to follow.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5GXnM_TxSQ