Walk With God!

He has shown you, O Mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8

On our wedding day some forty nine years ago last month, Randy and I chose an old song and tweeked the title just a bit to fit the occasion. Actually my Mama and my aunt, Joanne, (the resident musical authorities) chose it for us! The song is usually entitled, I’ll Walk With God, but we decided it should be, We’ll Walk With God since we were entering into a brand new career for which we had no roadmap and God was a big part of that career!

I know neither one of us in our wildest aspirations for our lives ever dreamed we would be taking on the ministry. The years we spent at UGA knowing each other as friends, never hinted at that particular avenue. Actually, I was doubtful that Randy would make it in this calling, not because he wasn’t capable, but because I wasn’t sure what this calling entailed. Early on, however, I realized that if he failed at ministry, he would make an excellent lawyer!! That man can argue a case!!

We were certainly ill prepared for many things as are so many young couples, but parsonages, below minimum wage salary, and no air conditioning were not on my wish list!

During the forty four years since he actually did make a pretty good minister, fulfilled that calling, and helped God build five churches along the way, there are many things we have learned. As many of us face uncertain times in the many things which are important to us such as our country, our church, our jobs, and our personal lives in general, it might be a good time to share some lessons I think we learned.

First, when God calls you into a profession, we need to know that sometimes we might have to walk alone. When God uses you, people often assume you are filled with God’s strength and you don’t need anything. They often don’t realize that you are just a regular person who’s scared to death a lot of the time and more amazed if you succeed at something than they are!

We have been so fortunate to have friends, church members and others who have stood with us during the years on a pretty wide variety of issues, but when friends or others don’t stand with you or minister to you it becomes discouraging. Nobody wants all people to be of the same opinion, but friends should be there to support each other in good times and bad. The good news is that with God, usually the people who stand with you and minister to you are more than those who don’t!

Secondly, we can rest assured that we will need God’s help pretty constantly. If you don’t think you will, you’re in trouble. Sometimes we get so busy and caught up in things and doing them our way, that we, like Samson, do not know that the Lord has left us. (Judges 16:21) We have to live with that sense of dependence on God because He can slip away if we don’t speak with Him daily.

Next, it’s God’s power not our own that makes the difference in all we do. If your ministry is truly a calling, then you know if you wait for God to give you supernatural powers before deciding to get in the fight for good, then you never will experience any victories. It’s His power and His alone that is with us!

Finally, God’s strength is made perfect in our weakness. When we can’t understand God’s ways or feel His presence in our trials or weaknesses, we can still trust in His unchanging and loving character.

There’s been so many rewards as well as trials through these years, but it’s always a certainty that God cannot break His promises, abandon His children, or fail to love and bless us. When you are called of God and adhere to that call, you’ll never walk without Him!

The lyrics to the following song are more true to me today than they have ever been.

I’ll walk with God, from this day on; His helping hand I’ll lean upon. This is my prayer, my humble plea; May the Lord be ever with me. There is no death though eyes grow dim; There is no fear when I’m near to Him. I’ll lean on Him forever, And He’ll forsake me never. He will not fail me as long as my faith is strong. Whatever road I may walk upon. I’ll walk with God, I’ll take His hand; I’ll talk with God, He’ll understand. I’ll pray to Him each day to Him, and He’ll hear the words that I say. His hand will guide my throne and rod; And I’ll never walk alone while I walk with God. Lyrics by Nikolaus Brodszky and Paul Francis Webster

Don’t Put a Period!

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us. Ephesians 3:20

In the last letter she wrote to George Burns before her death, Gracie Allen said, “Remember, don’t put a period where God puts a comma“. That seems to say don’t lose hope, God is still in charge.

There are times in everyone’s life where circumstances, problems, or failures make us want to quit, drop out, or just give up on things. We find ourselves thinking, “That’s it, I’m done. Period.” We put a period where only a comma is needed.

A period and a comma are two punctuation marks which look similar but have entirely different meanings. A comma means to pause, and it is used to connects things. A period means a full stop, and when its used, the sentence or thought is over.

The comma is used to encourage us while God is working on the situation we face. We can pause and rest because He has not given His final answer. We have hope in Him and in the resolution of the situation.

A period lets us know that it’s over, and God has spoken. When that happens, we need to obey and rest in the resolution.

Sadly, sometimes in our situations, we tend to rush to use a period when we really should use a comma. When we use the period before God is ready, we have basically lost hope. All through the Bible there are examples of people just like you and me who faced problems that seemed to have put their life on hold or full stop, but there was still hope. Hope is defined as the expectation of something good, and it is something we, as Christians, can count on because of what God has done and says He will continue to do.

When we are going through a crisis and tempted to put a period instead of a comma, there are three things we need to consider. First, God’s timing is always perfect. Secondly, God’s ways are not our ways. Finally, God always has the final say.

This past week as the Olympic Games in Tokyo continued, a situation reminded me that things are never over until God says they are over! An alternate gymnast for the U.S. team was preparing to board a plane back to her home state of Utah convinced that her Olympic career was over. Mykayla Skinner, the oldest alternate on the team, had accepted the fact that she would forever be an Olympian but not an Olympic medalist.

About that time, God said, “But wait, I haven’t said this is over.” Simone Biles withdrew from the competition, and by that evening, Skinner was back in her leotard and competing for a medal as she stepped in as an alternate. Only one gymnast earned a higher mark than she, and Mykala Skinner ended up a silver medalist! The door was also opened for Suni Lee and Jade Carey to take home medals! Don’t ever put a period where God puts a comma.

We can have some of the greatest encounters with God in the everyday experiences of life, but we have to be open and receptive otherwise we will miss it! Author William Barry once said, “Whether we are aware of it or not, at every moment of our existence we’re encountering God..who is trying to catch our attention…to draw us into a reciprocal conscious relationship.”

The difference in the period and the comma can change the entire meaning of a sentence just like their usage can change our trust in God’s timing. There is a time and place where everything connects like a comma. Imagination, faith, and effort come together with the spark of God’s grace and things become whole, real and good. Let’s use more commas and let God take care of the periods!

Victory!

For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that overcomes the world, our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world but he who believes that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. 1 John 5:4

The Olympic games in Tokyo have been leading the news and entertainment spotlight for over a week now. It is fascinating to watch these athletes compete in their individual sport and do their best to push through to victory and a coveted medal.

As we’ve seen, the athletes themselves aren’t immune to the stress, problems, and trials that each of us experience on a daily basis. Simone Biles is suffering from mental and emotional issues, COVID-19 has dashed the hopes of some, and defeat has taken its toll on some of the hopeful. It’s not always ecstasy in this quest – it can sometimes be agony. It’s the same for us in this life of ours.

Victory is defined as an act of defeating an enemy or opponent in a battle, game or other competition. These Olympians, just like us, are working toward victory in whatever battle is facing them in this life.

It’s interesting to me that the three times we tend to give up on victory and settle for something less, usually happens when we are facing what I call the three T’s. Either, we are tempted to give up on our circumstances, we are tired of our battle, or we are troubled about something over which we have no control. When these situations or T’s pop up, we need to recall Paul’s words: We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. Romans 5:3-4

These words of Paul remind us that when we are at our lowest, it is time to turn to three words which offer inspiration: endurance, strength, and confident hope. If we put these words into action, we can begin to draw on the amazing benefits God provides us when we face problems and we can be assured that He will carry us on to victory.

First, God provides us with endurance. Endurance in life is a commitment to draw daily on His grace and keep moving forward regardless of circumstances. Secondly, He gives us strength to use that inner fortitude which is based on our own personal integrity. Finally, He gives us confident hope that whatever it takes to achieve victory, He will ultimately bestow on us. We are guaranteed success in our mission for God because His hope will never disappoint.

In the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Michael Phelps captured the gold for USA in swimming. As he touched the wall, winning the race, nobody knew what he had undergone to accomplish it. Michael pulled off his goggles and the world watched as water poured out of them. He had swum 200 meters of the butterfly almost blind. Counting strokes, looking for any marks on the pool floor for guidance, he finally touched the wall, a victor in every sense. Phelps used his frustration to increase his stamina and determination to win. He was tempted to give up, troubled and tired, but he persevered. He employed endurance, strength and confident hope. We have the ability to do the same.

The fact is we all savor victory. We desire it in our own lives, and in the things we pursue. The path to victory is one of sorrow and joy, suffering and healing comfort, tears and smiles, conflicts and triumphs with a dose of hardships, dangers, persecutions, misunderstandings, trouble and distress sprinkled into it. Yet, we are more than conquerors through Him, and Jesus would have us turn our trials into chariots of victory.

Is He Satisfied?

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they will be satisfied. Matthew 5:6

You are blessed when you’ve worked up a good appetite for God. He’s food and drink in the best meal you will ever eat. Matthew 5:6 from The Message

This past weekend, Randy and I were privileged to participate in the celebration of life service for Dr. Frederick Mickler, Jr. of Jasper, Florida. Frederick was the last surviving child of the four children of Fred and Robbie Mickler and uncle to many first cousins. The service was so uplifting as we celebrated the life of a wonderful doctor, husband, father, grandfather, and servant of the community and the Lord. What a life of service he lived!

At the close of the service, we attempted to sing a hymn which most of us had never heard before, but since it was his favorite so we persevered. The words are so beautiful that I couldn’t believe it’s found in the Broadman Baptist Hymnal but not the Methodist! The name of the hymn is I Am Satisfied, and the last words of the chorus are telling. The words are: I am satisfied, I am satisfied, I am satisfied with Jesus, But the question came to me as I think of Calvary, Is my Master satisfied with me? B.B. McKinney

The song should beg the question from all of us, Is Jesus satisfied with us? Is He satisfied with us personally? Is He satisfied with us as a nation? Is He satisfied with us as churches? Is He satisfied with us spiritually? If not, where do we all need to improve?

The word satisfied is defined as contented or pleased. First, is God satisfied with our relationship with Him? Speaking for myself, I know that is an area which could be improved! From the very first chapter of Genesis, it’s clear that a relationship with God is the foundation upon which everything in our lives must be built. If we try to build on anything else, we’re building on quicksand. Human relationships don’t last, relationships with God are eternal.

Secondly, is God satisfied with our trust in Him? God told Joshua as he stood on the threshold of the Promised Land, No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life..I will be with you..I will never leave or forsake you. Jos 1:5 The movie Ben Hur is one of my all time favorites. Charlton Heston, the star, had to drive a chariot for his role. Of course, he was supposed to win the climatic chariot race, but there was a problem. He was having a problem learning to drive the chariot and an even bigger problem staying on it. He walked over to the director and said, “Mr. Wyler, I can barely stay on this thing much less win this race.” Mr. Wyler replied, “Son, your job is to stay on the chariot, my job is to make sure you win.” It’s all about trust. Don’t quit on God and don’t stop trusting in Him. That’s His job.

Finally, is God satisfied with our commitment to Him? The world is watching and waiting to see what God can do through a life committed to Him. He wants us to put aside our own personal glory, ideas, and be nothing so that Christ can be everything. If we fully commit to God’s purpose, receive His humility, faith, love, and power without hindering His plan, He will continue to do His miraculous work in and through us.

With a renewed purpose to work toward a better relationship, more trust, and a deeper commitment, God will be satisfied!

Please, never be satisfied until you can express from your innermost soul that God is an infinitely wonderful Being. There is no limit to what God can do through us if we do not seek our own glory. copied

I am satisfied with Jesus, He has done so much for me; He has suffered to redeem me, He has died to set me free. He is with me in my trials, Best of friends to all is he; I can always count on Jesus, Can He always count on me? I can hear the voice of Jesus, Calling out so pleadingly; “Go and win the lost and straying,” Is He satisfied with me? When my work on earth is ended, And I cross the mystic sea, Oh, that I can hear Him saying, “I am satisfied with thee.I Am Satisfied by B.B. McKinney

For Want of a Nail!

The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails – given by one shepherd. Ecclesiastes 12:11

I will fasten him like a nail in a secure place, and he will become a throne of honor to his ancestral house. Isaiah 22:23

For want of a nail the shoe was lost; for want of a shoe the horse was lost; and for want of the horse, a rider was lost, being overtaken and slain by the enemy. All for want of care about a horse shoe nail. Ben Franklin

During the long months of quarantine, Randy and I found some entertainment on Netflix. The series Heartland became a favorite of ours because, not only is it a heartwarming story about a multigenerational family, but also, it has been interesting to learn about the heart of horses. It is amazing to see them in the light of their different personalities, expressions, temperament, and love for each other and their human family.

Each horse has their own set of problems, suffer hurt, abuse, have a sense of humor, hearts of love, memories of good and bad committed against them, and many more human like emotions.

It’s interesting that in the 1973 Kentucky Derby, Secretariat (the winner), was the last to leave the starting gate and trailed the race until the stretch when he made his move. It is said that most horses are worn out by the first 3/4 mile mark, but they run the last l/2 mile on purely on heart. Secretariat won that race by exemplifying heart, but imagine the possible consequences if his shoe had been missing a nail.

The above proverb reminds us that seemingly unimportant acts or omissions can have grave and unforeseen consequences. Small things matter. A horseshoe without a nail can be catastrophic to the horse and its rider. It’s almost impossible to believe that because of a missing horseshoe nail, a kingdom would be eventually lost.

A nail, as small as it is, can be an example of a few things. First, the nail can puncture. Jesus had holes in his hands and feet from nails driven there by those who would punish Him for His beliefs. Sometimes in this life, there are those who try to punch a hole in everything in which we believe. It hurts, but sometimes the only way we can truly know what we believe is when we are forced to defend it.

A nail also usually leaves a scar. Jesus used those scars on His hands and feet to prove to His disciples that He was the risen Lord. Jesus was rejected, criticized and even despised, but because of those scars, He is now the cornerstone or foundation of everything.

A nail is an example of strength. When holes are punched in our life, we get scars, but we also change and grow. God is then able to build us up and fill us with strength and a life that is so much better than we had before.

A nail can also be an example of endurance. Once we have endured the pain, the scars, and found the strength, we find a new commitment to draw on His grace and keep moving forward regardless of circumstances. We realize we can endure!

Finally, a nail speaks of security – it fastens things together. When things are nailed together, it is the nail itself that makes the pieces secure.

The story is told of a man who attended a tent revival meeting and every night tried to give his life to Jesus. Yet, as he left each evening, Satan came to him to try and convince him that if he didn’t feel changed, he wasn’t redeemed. After many nights of the same scenario, the man drove a nail into the ground where he had knelt to accept Christ. As he was leaving, Satan tried his usual tactics to dissuade the man. The man quickly returned to the nail in the ground, pointed to it and said, “Satan, do you see this nail? This is my witness that God has forever accepted me.” Satan departed from him and the man never experienced doubts again. Still Small Voice

The take away for me is, nails can puncture, nails can leave scars, but nails can also symbolize strength and endurance, and nails can speak of security. If we look at the nails as only holes or scars, we miss the beauty they can bring from nailing us as Christians together and making us secure in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior. Don’t neglect the nails in this life; but rather, build on them.

Necessary Weights!

You are hopeless, you religion scholars and Pharisees! You keep meticulous account books tithing on every nickel and dime you get, but on the meat of God’s law, things like fairness, compassion and commitment, the absolute basics, (the necessary weights) you carelessly take it or leave it! Matthew 23:23 The Message

Probably twenty plus years ago, some of our couple friends decided that it would be fun for all of us to learn to scuba dive! There was among us a dive master, an assistant dive master, and the rest of us who did not have a clue! There are many things which a diver needs. I learned that among these necessities are a mask, flippers, a snorkel, an air tank, and a weight belt.

As we learned the basics of scuba diving and prepared to fly off to the Caribbean where we would take a test, become certified divers, and do some diving, I remember wondering why we would need a weight belt? The weight belt is interesting because it has pockets where one can add weights or take them out depending on how much weight is needed to keep a person submerged. I ascertained that I had more than enough weight on my body to do the trick so it probably wasn’t necessary for me,

The day of our first dive arrived, and as we “geared up” on the boat, the weight belt I wore seemed unnecessarily heavy, so I reached in and took out a couple of the weights. We entered the water, did our slow descent, and began to enjoy the beauty around us. Slowly, I noticed that it was taking an inordinate amount of energy for me to stay submerged and keep up with the others. As I floated closer to the surface and further away from the others, it dawned on me that some weights just might be necessary weights.

There are times in life when our burdens or trials seem like weights which encumber our lives, cause us undo stress, and hold us submerged in anxiety and apprehension. It would be so easy to reach in that belt of life, take each weight out, and rid ourselves of the trouble.

There are so many things we would miss in this life if we took away all the necessary weights. We would miss the weight of life’s journey. Life’s journey can be wonderful, peaceful, positive, but it can also be difficult. No one ever said the journey of life would always be easy and sometimes it is exhausting, but if we look at life as happening for us instead of to us, it is a blessed time of discovery. Take that weight and turn it into a blessing.

We would miss the necessary weight of compassion. Love in action or compassion should be the center of every Christian’s life. Expressing empathy for one another’s struggles and suffering isn’t enough. We need to turn that empathy into action as we show our compassion and love in concrete deeds of love.

Patience is a necessary weight. It is so hard to exercise patience especially when a wrong has been done to us. The scriptures teach us that just because we don’t understand what God is doing, does not mean that He doesn’t have a plan. The best place to learn patience is from God as we realize how patient He is with us all the time.

The necessary weight of forgiveness is a heavy one to bear, and it would be so easy to take that weight out of our belt and live in unforgiveness. Yet, how many times does Jesus forgive us on a daily basis?

Perseverance is a necessary weight. Even in the darkest times, God promises enrichment to any person who perseveres through hardships. As Christians, we encounter many obstacles to our faith, but Jesus inevitably overcomes if we just persevere. God calls us to look beyond the burdens or cost and persevere to the rewards.

At the end of our dive adventure, we had an opportunity to participate in a shark dive. Unbeknownst to me and some of the others, the purpose of this dive is to gather on the bottom of the ocean, kneel on the sand, stay perfectly still, and watch as hundreds of sharks attack a lowered frozen chum of fish. The weight belt is the only thing that stands between you and the hungry sharks. How grateful I am that I added some weight that day and stayed securely anchored on the bottom

There are times when we are tempted to lighten the load by ignoring the necessary weights of this life, but if we do, we will miss the beauty that is found during the struggle.

Julius Richter said, Our burdens (weights) sometimes seem like a tombstone hung around our necks. Yet, in reality is simply the weight necessary to hold the diver down while he is searching for pearls.

For there in the journey and stuck in the sting, the struggle, the struggle, is what gives you wings. Karen Kingsbury

Deeper!

Then Jesus said, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets. And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish.” Luke 5:4,6

Our PaPa and Ida had a beautiful cove lake house on the river when I was growing up. They would usually end each day by motoring on their boat out a little way from shore and catch a mess of bream. The fish were a really nice size, and just big enough to clean, fry with some hushpuppies, and enjoy for our supper. Instead of taking me with them in the boat, PaPa routinely stationed me on the end of the dock to fish because he didn’t want a novice ruining his special places. The fish he brought in were always bigger than the ones I could catch from shore. When I complained about never catching fish as big as he did, he admitted “the deeper you fish, the larger the fish”.

I think God works like that. The deeper we go in our faith, the bigger the rewards. Everything we do to cultivate a deeper walk with God and a deeper relationship with others and our family produces bigger rewards. Take for instance parents that put their children to bed with a routine that includes prayers and time together. Parents might not really know what they are doing while they are doing it, but it’s more than a routine, it’s building a family.

In order to go deeper, the first thing you need is “Jesus in your boat”. When Peter invited Him in, he caught more fish than ever before. Jesus will bless anything you give Him, and that will eliminate our fear of failure and worries about the results. Use Jesus in your boat of life to go deeper, and He will give you everything you need.

We can go deeper by giving Him our career. Too often we think we can separate our secular life from our spiritual life, but this prevents God from blessing our business or job. God is the CEO of the universe, and He promises we will prosper and succeed if we invite him to be our partner.

Go deeper by cooperating with God’s plan for our lives. Sometimes our own plan has to fail before we are willing to accept God’s plan for our lives. Instead of letting our own feelings control us, we should exercise faith in the promise of Christ. The results will be amazing!

We should go deeper in our relationships and treatment of others. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you (Matthew 7:12) has been largely ignored in this day and time. A kind word of love or acceptance goes so much further than disrespect or anger ever can. Many times those kind words offer hope to those who desperately need it and bridge the gap of anger and despair.

Finally, go deeper by standing on God’s promises. When we get God’s presence in our boat, His plan in our head, and His promises in our heart, we can’t fail. Start expecting God to act, and His promises will put new hope in our situation.

If we go deeper with God, there will be risks involved. Sometimes we think God has asked us to go too deep and we are content to stay in the shallow water, but we will miss out on so much! If we let His presence guide us, we will be blessed beyond our wildest dreams!

If we obey God in the small stuff of life, He takes us deeper and gives us bigger and better things. There’s only one thing to do when the reservoir of life is dry and shallow, build on His foundation and go deeper!

God of our Fathers!

God of our Fathers, whose almighty hand; Leads forth in beauty all the starry band. Of shining worlds in splendor through the skies; our grateful songs before thy throne arise. Thy love divine has led us in the past, in this free land by thee our lot is cast. Be thou our ruler, guardian, guide and stay; Thy word our law, thy paths our chosen way. Daniel C. Roberts

There were seven key founding Fathers of the United States of America. The seven are said to be John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson, John Jay, and James Madison. Some accounts add Samuel Adams to the key list. They all played critical and substantial roles in the formation of the country’s new government. These men were in large part responsible for a successful war for independence from England, the ideas celebrated in the Declaration of Independence, and the government defined in the Constitution of the United States of America.

It’s interesting that the group was composed of lawyers, farmers, merchants, businessmen, physicians, writers, and even ministers. They each added their expertise to come together to form this great nation. There were 56 who signed the Declaration of Independence. These men were motivated by their faith in Christ to pledge their fortunes, lives and sacred honor to the cause of freedom.

These founding fathers didn’t just write and plan a constitution, many of them wrote sermons, creeds, even hymns, founded Bible societies, Sunday Schools, and served God’s purposes for their generation. I am so grateful for the legacy they handed down to us as Americans.

If they could revisit the nation they helped create, the churches they left doing God’s work, the conversation in the homes of families today, the prisons housing so many, the homeless shelters which are filled, or even the schools where God’s name has been silenced, what would they think? Would they wonder why they and others fought and died so that so many of us might enjoy the freedom we take for granted?

They would probably quickly surmise that God’s place in this America has taken a back seat and that many people are confused as to His role in this country. It is apparent that as time goes by, we are pushing God further and further out of our society.

Did they fight for a country who has taken away our ability to express our Christian beliefs in a public arena? Did they fight for government control of our lives? Did they fight for educators to have the freedom to teach humanistic ideas of life? Did they fight for prayer to be removed from schools? It is a fact that the America they knew is but a vacant shadow of our past.

Where is our hope? It would make sense that if we know what makes a nation great, we would return to the things that made us great! Churches had a huge part in making America a great country. People were involved, they prayed, they made a vocal stand against anything evil, and they stood up for what was right. That should be the role of churches today.

In the mid 1970’s the US Marine Corp went through a rebuilding process where they were forced to eliminate from their ranks those Marines who were not committed to the Oath they took when they enlisted. The oath states: I, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the United States of America against all enemies, both foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of officers appointed over me, according to the regulations and Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God. Those Marines who didn’t comply were reassigned or asked to resign, and the Corp began the process of rebuilding with the truly dedicated men and women.

As my good friend and Marine Colonel said, ” The only one who is closer to a God than the Commandant is the Commander in Chief. Even when their Commander in Chief is one who is not respected by the troops for their actions, they respect the office and obey. Marines follow orders!”

Jesus has given this country a foundation of orders to be followed. Jesus Christ belongs front and center of all we do. God has baptized us with boldness and confidence for He is looking not for great people but for people, who will dare to prove the greatness of God. A.B.. Simpson

God Bless America!

Give Me Your Hand!

I have a serious concern to bring up with you, my friends, using the authority of Jesus, our Master. I’ll put it as urgently as I can: You must get along with each other. You must learn to be considerate of one another, cultivating a life in common. I Corinthians 1:10 from The Message

A formal greeting between strangers is usually some form of a handshake, smile, pat, or some other form of acknowledgement. The history of the handshake dates back to the 5th Century BC in Greece. It was a symbol of peace showing that neither person was carrying a weapon. Some even say it began in Medieval Europe where Knights would shake hands in order to shake loose any hidden weapons of their opponent. Handshakes were also a sign of trust and an acknowledgement that the person you were greeting was coming in a spirit of peace.

In modern times the handshake has evolved into a method of greeting and friendship. The gesture has been used throughout history at greetings, farewells, expressions of gratitude, cementing agreements, and sportsmanship, whether one wins or loses. I’ve always heard that you can tell a lot about a person by the strength and firmness of their handshake. The year long Covid virus has moved a normal handshake into a fist bump or other form of greeting thus limiting the special feelings that come with personal contact.

When we offer our hand to another we are symbolizing unity. The verse above speaks to that unity among Christians. Paul addresses the way the Christians there have divided themselves into factions based on which Christian teacher they follow. Paul urges them to be unified in and around Jesus Christ. After all, it is not a certain person that one follows that makes one a Christian, it is Christ that is at the center of it.

Paul sets up Christ as the standard for every thought and every judgment. Does that mean that people can’t disagree? Certainly not. In fact, he is saying that people always disagree, but disagreement does not have to mean division. The goal is not conformity but rather unity.

I love it when football teams gather in the middle of the field on any given fall Saturday to shake hands and toss a coin. Both sides play the game, and both sides want to win, but they will still be friends and continue to play the game no matter the outcome. They have unity of purpose and thought.

In this era of the blame game, the name calling, the gossip, the innuendos, the slander of innocent people, and the total disregard for others, wouldn’t it be nice if Christians united by giving up their individual egos and self interest so that the banner of Christ could be lifted up rather than lifting up one person or one cause!?

It would be a blessing to see a society where people refuse to blame others for mistakes that are made, a society where people are forgiving and not allowing bitterness, a society where people praise each other’s strengths instead of focusing on weaknesses, a society where people are conscientious, a society where people are dependable, and a society where people stay focused on the bigger goal. When we learn to work together, there’s no stopping us in any endeavor.

The songwriter and artist, Anne Murray sings it beautifully when she sings: Put your hand in the hand of the man who stills the water, Put your hand in the hand of the man who calms the sea. Take a look at yourself and you can look at others differently; By putting your hand in the hand of the man from Galilee. Lyrics by Gene Maclellan

John Wesley the founder of Methodism said it best: Give me your hand, I do not mean for you to be of my opinion, you need not: I do not expect it nor desire it. Neither do I mean I will be of your opinion. I cannot. Keep your opinion, I mine; and that as steadily as ever. You do not endeavor to come over to me or bring me to you. Only give me your hand. We must act as each is persuaded in their own mind. Hold fast that which you believe is most acceptable to God, and I will do the same. Let all these smaller points be put aside. If your heart is as my heart, if you love God and all humankind, I ask no more. Simply, give me your hand.

Purpose!

So you will need every piece of God’s armor to resist the enemy whenever he attacks, and when it is all over, you will be standing up. To do this, you will need the strong belt of truth and the breastplate of God’s approval. Wear shoes that are able to speed you on as you preach the good news of peace with God. In every battle you will need faith as your shield to stop the fiery arrows aimed at you by Satan. And you will need the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God. Ephesians 6:13-17

Years ago when we served Calhoun First Methodist, Ashley was into looking for the cocoons of caterpillars mainly because she wanted to put it in the “Box” on a Sunday morning so her Dad would have to open it and explain it during the children’s sermon. It would be even better if a butterfly flew out on that day.

We did find one, but that caterpillar was firmly nestled inside that cocoon. As we watched daily, the caterpillar began a struggle so great that it was exhausting for us. There was a valuable lesson in this struggle. The price of freedom, flight, and discovery is struggle, development, and finally breakthrough. The caterpillar has a purpose in becoming a butterfly.

Even Cicadas, though they are annoying us right now, have a purpose. They actually prune mature trees, aerate the soil, and once they die, their bodies yield an important nitrogen source for growing trees. Everything has a purpose.

God has given each of us certain relationships, skills, experiences and attributes that we can use to help Him fulfill His purposes in this life. If we let Him, He will cultivate talents in us that will serve His kingdom in ways we can’t even imagine.

Maybe someone has a God give athletic talent or musical abilities that can be used as a platform for His purpose. It could be our creative genius, our work ethic, or even our idiosyncrasies that God will use for His purpose. No matter what, we are to use our God given talents and create a purpose for our life and His kingdom.

Just as we all have different purposes, no purpose is better than another – just different. God created Fathers with a purpose in mind. These special guys are entrusted with serving as an example of the heavenly Father’s love for all his children. His love is sacrificial, kind, humble, honest, forgiving, faithful and selfless just as a father’s love should be. The job of being a dad is getting harder as society and its definitions and expectations change.

Fathers in this day and age are going to require the full armor of God to aid in raising their children in a Godly way. Truth will be required, faith will be tested, salvation will be questioned, and Biblical knowledge will be a strong ally to aiding Fathers reach their purpose in this world.

William Hodding Carter said: “There are only two lasting bequests that we can hope to give our children. One is roots; the other is wings.” When Fathers teach their children that they are loved unconditionally, those children have roots. They can stand up and handle whatever life throws at them. By the same token, when self confidence and encouragement are instilled in children, Fathers give them wings.

It’s paramount that children know that they are loved and accepted because of their unique worth. John McKay, the great USC football coach, had a son who was also a great football player for USC. When the coach was asked during an interview to comment on his son’s accomplishments, he said: “Yes I’m pleased that John Jr. had a good season this year. He does a fine job, and I am proud of him, but I would be just as proud if he had never played football at all.” His answer reflects his father’s respect for his son no matter the situation because the place in his father’s heart was secure and independent of his performance. Christ’s love is not performance based, it’s unconditional, unbreakable and unending. A Father’s love should be the same.

A Christian Father always keeps God’s purpose first. He knows a secular family, friendship, and country always lead to chaos and division. Purpose is our shield of armor. Frances Schaeffer said, “When man forgets his purpose, he forgets who he is and what life means.”

God’s armor is available for Fathers and for all of us. All we need to do is suit up and remember our purpose!

Happy Father’s Day to all the Dads.