The Father's Affirmation

The Father’s Affirmation
Timrufus

Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged. -Colossians 3:21

Every child longs for love from their father - The affirmation of love from their father. Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it. 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' (Matthew 22:37-39)

I remember how as a kid my sister wouldn’t talk to me for days because she thought our father loved me more, when in fact I was the one who got the most lashes at all times. While I liked to listen to his old grandfather's bedtimes stories, she would always hide under the bed and wouldn’t come out until everyone was gone. But when play time, we could literally raze the whole playground to plain. Come weekends, my sister would tell very interesting little story but I could only sit afar and listen readily at a corner.

It was this affirmation of love from the father she was deprived of. She felt she had been treated most unfairly but she never knew how our father loved her. I had a word with him before he passed on and I knew how he felt towards her but she never know because she had never talked to him all those years. The only thing she could have remembered were his last rebukes to her.

Today, many of us do not want to affirm others but yet we want our boss, our colleague, our friends, our relatives to affirm us in many ways. Most of us had needed an affirmation from one or the other most important person of our life but far more important than that, what we really need is The Father’s affirmation. Jesus said, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.” (Rev 3:20)

The Lord wants to affirm us today. A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. He who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. To love the Lord your God with all our heart and with all our soul and with all our mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. (Matthew 20:28) This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus.

Yes LORD, you will not accuse forever or will You be always angry. For then the spirit of men will faint away because of You - the very people whom You have created. Restore us to yourself, LORD, that we may return. Renew our days as of old unless you have utterly rejected us and are angry with us beyond measure.

Verse for meditation: Luke 15:11-31

Plans of God

A Heavenly Strategic Planning
Os Hillman

"And the Lord said, 'Who will entice Ahab into attacking Ramoth Gilead and going to his death there?' One suggested this, and another that. -1 Kings 22:20

There are few times we get a glimpse of what goes on in Heaven. Here is one instance when the angels were conferring with the Lord about the judgment of King Ahab for his sin and who was going to set up Ahab for this judgment.

If God wanted to use you to impact your world for Jesus Christ, what circumstances would have to be created in order for you to respond to His call? Would prospering you materially encourage you to this end? Would a major change in what you are presently doing be necessary? What would your response be should God and the angels conclude that the only way to move you into a position of fulfilling God's purposes was to remove some things that might be very dear to you? Would you agree with their plan if you knew this would be the only way you would achieve the purposes for which God made you? Hard questions, aren't they?

This is the very thing God does in many who have been called for a special mission. Moses had to be stripped of his royal position in the family of Egypt and sit in the desert for 40 years. The apostle Paul had to be knocked off his horse, blinded, and receive a personal visitation from Jesus. The 12 disciples had to leave their jobs for three years to follow Christ. Imagine what kind of disruption this had on their lives. There are many examples of God bringing major upheaval in the lives of those He called for His purposes. Why?

The reason is that we do not seek God with a whole heart in times of prosperity and comfort. Prosperity and comfort tend to breed complacency and satisfaction. It is rare to find the man or woman who seeks God with a whole heart who does so simply from a grateful heart. We often must have pain or crisis to motivate us. Eventually, that crisis bridges us to a new calling, and we embrace that calling if we are open to the Holy Spirit's work in us. We can actually thank God for the change that was required to get us to this place, but it is not without anguish of heart.

Would you be willing to sit in the strategic planning session for your life and agree with the plans God has for your life? Could you give God complete freedom to implement that plan, no matter the cost? Ask God to give you the grace and trust in His love for you to say "yes.

When Prayers Listen

When Prayers Listen
Moments with You

NASB "Give ear, O LORD, to my prayer;and give heed to the voice of my supplications!" -Psalm 86:6

I heard a wife talking about how prayer had enhanced her relationship with her husband. "When we pray together," she said, "we are communicating with God, but we are also communicating with each other and sharing our common love for our Savior." I hope this doesn't sound either irreverent or intrusive to you. I hope it doesn't make you feel threatened or bashful to know that part of what is happening when you're praying together is this: Your spouse is listening to you and gaining a deeper understanding for what's going on in your heart.

The truth is, when you actively listen to each other in prayer, you are able to empathize at the deepest, most honest level. You are putting yourself in your spouse's shoes. Prayer becomes a much more significant experience when you are listening carefully to the burdens your spouse is repeatedly bringing to the Lord so that you can join him or her in praying for those same things, as well.

This can only happen, of course, when each of you is willing to honestly verbalize what's on your heart, when prayer is not a routine exercise devoid of real-life substance and content, when prayer becomes your heart's genuine cry before the Father. Only then can you go to the Lord God almighty together--with both humility and confidence--asking the Lord to encourage your wife when she feels like a failure as a mom or asking God to grant your husband increased wisdom when he struggles to be the leader of your family.

From our own experience, Barbara and I can assure you that your times of prayer together will be greatly enriched and more productive if you communicate openly and listen attentively. Discuss and Talk about how praying together enriches your relationship. Share what you are facing today that could use your spouse's prayers. Pray and Turn your prayer today to the needs of your spouse, interceding for him or her with the understanding gained from knowing each other so well.

Passing The Test

The Test Of Success
Relevant Children’s Ministry

"Fire tests the purity of silver and gold,but a person is tested by being praised." -Proverbs 27:21

Success will test you. Just as fire brings out the impurities in silver and gold, so success will bring out our impurities. One of the hardest things for anyone to handle is when they are praised by others. Our fallen nature is quick to take credit for achievement.

The test is not whether you will allow others to compliment you or not. The test is how you will respond to the compliments. Here are some truths to keep in your heart when you are tested by success. Always remember that you can't accomplish anything without God. Keep John 15 in your heart. Abide in Him. Depend upon His power not your own. Fruit comes from the seed not the sower. Beg for His wisdom instead of using your own limited wisdom.

We don't bring success to God. He brings it to us. Stay teachable so you can remain useable. Don't let success turn you into a know-it-all. Keep a humble, teachable spirit. Be a leader who is always learning. Learn from everywhere you go and from everyone you meet.

Always give the credit to God. Doing this privately is more important than doing it publicly. When others praise you, don't become "pious" in your humility by saying something like "It's all because of Jesus." Everyone already knows that. Simply acknowledge their compliment with a simple "thank you" while internally thanking God for His work through your life.

I have watched godly leaders when others acknowledge them and this is what they do. Know that the commendations and condemnations of man will come and go. Don't let either sway you. Ask God to grow you to the place where the praises of men will not cause you to feel exalted in pride, nor will their criticisms cause you to become fearful or discouraged. Don't pursue success...pursue God. God hasn't called us to be "successful." He has called us to be faithful to love and serve Him. Success is knowing Him and making Him known.

Let your joy come from your personal relationship with God not from your performance for God. We all have a natural bent toward feeling valued based on our performance. You have nothing to prove. God loves you unconditionally. Rest in the fact that you are His child. What you do with past success can determine how much future success God gives you. The Bible reminds us that if we humble ourselves we will be exalted in God's time. If you are faithful to give God the glory for a little success, He may entrust you with more success.

Freedom and Boundaries

Freedom and Boundaries
Os Hillman

"Now the serpent was craftier than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, 'Did God really say, "You must not eat from any tree in the garden"?'" -Genesis 3:1

God is big on giving man freedom and boundaries-freedom to manage what He has entrusted to us, boundaries to protect us from evil. The boundaries in the Garden of Eden were not set for the purpose of limiting Adam. Man got into trouble when he questioned those boundaries. God had provided everything he would need for life. He also entrusted man with responsibility to manage and work the Garden. God gave him freedom in that responsibility. God knows we were made to express ourselves creatively through our work.

Each of us must have freedom and boundaries in our work life. Whenever you are hired for a job, you must have the freedom to make certain decisions. You must have the authority to manage things within your area of expertise. You must also have limits within your area of responsibility. You need to know where those limits are and stay within them. Both freedom and boundaries are always under the umbrella of God's authority and our authorities at work.
Jesus understood these boundaries. When He was tempted for 40 days by the devil after being baptized, He was challenged by satan to go outside His freedom and boundaries. (See Matthew 4:1-11.) Satan said that He had the power to turn a stone into bread. Jesus was hungry and easily could have justified using His power to feed Himself. However, Jesus understood He could do nothing outside the boundaries of God's will for His life. It was God's will for Jesus to be tempted and to withstand the temptation. God was showing His Son that "man does not live on bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God" (Matthew 4:4b).

You and I are tempted every day to go beyond our God-ordained boundaries. Whether it is solving financial problems that have arisen through debt, making wrong decisions due to pressure, or manipulating someone in order to achieve our ends, it all represents rebellion toward God. Ask God to show you His freedom and boundaries for your life. These are meant to enhance your life, not hinder it.

Strengthened Through Weakness

Strengthened Through Weakness
Chip Brogden

"When I am weak, then I am strong." -2 Corinthians 12:10

The way of the world says that in order to be stronger, we must build ourselves up and seek strength and dominance over others. Christians everywhere are keenly interested in how to be increased, how to be stronger, how to take authority, how to rise up, how to get more. They look for methods, formulas, and techniques for becoming bigger and better.

The results have been disappointing. Many mistakes have been made and many people have been hurt and disillusioned. The Lord has a different approach for us to take. He invites us to accept weakness in order to be strengthened. We do not become strong by embracing strength, but by embracing weakness! This is the secret of all spiritual power. When Paul learned this secret he was able to say, "When I am weak, then I am strong." This makes no sense to the natural man.

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Creator, the Almighty, You choose to use the weak and helpless to demonstrate Your power and might. You use me, not because of my strength and wisdom but because of my weakness and failure so that You will be revealed in all Your Glory. Praise You, my Lord and my Master. In Jesus mighty name, Amen and Amen.

Having Nothing Yet Possessing All

Having Nothing Yet Possessing All
Edward Powell

"As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich;as having nothing, and yet possessing all things." -2 Corinthians 6:10

The scriptures reveal many paradoxes that are perplexing to those who have not experienced God's saving grace. The unbeliever forms his opinions on outward appearances, and his evaluation is confined to his finite reasoning. How sad to see those who are rich in this world's goods but destitute of the peace, joy, and hope that adorns the Christian. Whatever happiness they have is shallow, transient, and delusive. They live in a vacuum of emptiness, an illusion of their own choosing, deceived by Satan himself.

Paul's life was a classic example of a believer's paradoxical experience. He was the "idol" of his day, the favorite of the ruling class, tutored in all the teachings of the Law by Gamaliel, and a persecutor of Christians. But then "HE MET GOD" on God's terms...and his life was transformed. He himself proclaims, "But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ...I have suffered the loss of all things that I may win Christ" (Philippians 3:7-8). His whole life was completely turned around. His priorities, goals, ambition, values...everything! The wealth of this world meant nothing. Christ was his all in all.

Regardless of our status in life, the Christian is rich, and has an inexhaustible resource in the grace of God. He has been reconciled to God...has access into the very presence of God...has the blessed assurance of eternal life...and is enriched with unsearchable riches. What inexpressible consolation the believer has when he contemplates the virtue of Christ's atonement, the efficacy of His intercession, the sufficiency of His grace, the extent of His promises, and His inviolable truth and faithfulness! He cries out with heavenly joy, "I am sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; having nothing, yet possessing all things."

The men of this world are altogether dependent on outward circumstances for their happiness. If the well of their happiness fails, they become the objects of pity, misery, and grief.
Not so with the Christian. Amidst devastating circumstances, he has the comfort of ONE that has said, "I will never leave you or forsake you." He may be deprived of this world's wealth, but he has the promise of the Father, he may be weak and heavy laden with the cares imposed upon him by this world, but he has the promise from above.

He may be destitute of loved ones, but there is ONE "who sticks closer than a brother." He may have no friends, lonely, and alone, but nothing can hinder his communion with the King of kings and Lord of lords. Though accused and criticized by the world, he can say, "If God be for us, who can be against us?"

What a blessed union the Christian has with Christ. He can say with Paul..."Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?...NO, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us." THIS is the paradox that portrays every Christian. HOW GLORIOUS!

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Gracious God, all that I have comes from You: my body and mind, my strength and intelligence, my time and abilities, my energy and possessions. Guard me from the temptation to use these gifts only for my personal benefit. Make me willing to use them joyfully in service to You and to Your people. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen and Amen.