Happy Father’s Day!

It’s not easy to be a father. The job entails more than just holding the title of daddy or passing down DNA. Ultimately, it’s a great sacrifice, as all true fathers can attest. It’s a tremendous undertaking to rear a child in the way to go. The task can be daunting, especially when a man does it in his own strength.

There is no official instruction guide for fatherhood, no protocol to follow for each child has different needs. Though the instruction book for life—the Bible—has everything one needs to accomplish the job. What better example to follow than that of our heavenly Father who, by His grace, has given us more than we deserve. That is, not to spoil us, but to show us the riches of His glory.

If you didn’t know your father or he was less than fatherly, remember you have another father, one whom you may not see, though He is very present, even more than if He were standing beside you. For He made you. The very hairs on your head are numbered. The love of this father–our Lord–is incomparable to any other. That is why we should celebrate this father every day. Our heavenly father deserves our continual worship.

Being a father brings great reward and often heartache as well. Just imagine the pain of our Lord when His children go astray. Though the beauty to be found in all of it is to remember that children are a gift from God and truly belong to Him first. Earthly fathers are merely stewards.

Earthly fathers, we are grateful for all you’ve done for us and hope that all fathers will seek their Father in heaven for the strength, wisdom, and courage to fulfill the earthly role you’ve been given.

Wonderful, Counselor, Prince of Peace…everlasting…

With our finite minds, it’s hard to conceptualize the awesomeness of the nature of Jesus. There are so many names for Him because no one name can describe, define, nor contain Him! Though we’re all familiar with the Christmas story, the concept is not so easy to fully comprehend. An infinite God who came to earth for our sakes yet was born of a virgin and lived a human though Godly life…it defies all logic.

Jesus was tempted, hungry, and scripture says that He identified with man’s sufferings. But that He humbled himself to endure such a low existence for the years He walked on the earth is such a study in contrasts for the human mind to fathom. For how can the limited mind of man claim with any authority the process of an infinite God?

That He always was and always will be the great God of all Creation is too immense to fathom. It’s not so much a matter to consume and comprehend through logic but more of a respectful apprehending through our faith. Thanks be to God for sending us Jesus!

His light in the New Year

The world is a dark place. Without God, there would be no light. When we walk in darkness, how can we not stumble? With God to provide the light to see, our paths remain clear to travel as we draw nearer to Him.

Even as we are sanctified, every day trials can get us off track, despite the Holy Spirit living inside. Our minds often race to quell the storms, and our tongue’s reactions to life’s situations can be fleshly and prideful.

In an effort to deal with what comes before us, the only thing that will steer us in the right direction and bring us peace is leaning on the everlasting arms. When confronted with tough times, God’s word tells us to be slow to speak and slow to anger because “man’s anger cannot accomplish the righteousness of God” ~ James 1:20.

When we put on Christ, we are renewed by and through the Holy Spirit. We have freedom now to be different from the world. Confronted with trouble? Pause. Take a deep breath and yield to the spirit inside with prayer…it goes a long way.

As the new year is upon us, let’s take our first steps of the year being fully clothed in Christ.

Happy New Year!