Faith of our Fathers

Father's Day.
A day to honor fathers.
Today, the role of a father is sometimes misunderstood. But, God's plan, is explained in Ephesians 6:4.
"Fathers, don't exasperate your children by coming down hard on them.
Take them by the hand and lead them in the way of the Master." (The Message)
The father is to be the loving head of his family - the leader, the protector and provider -
a man walking close to God.

For centuries we have godly examples of the faith of our fathers.

In the Old Testament, Abraham is called the father of many nations. God spoke to Abraham and told him to pack up his family and move. God led him and his family to the promised land - Canaan. Abraham and his family were blessed abundantly for their obedience to God.

In the New Testament, a good example of a godly father, was Joseph. He was chosen by God, to be Jesus' earthly father. He was a man of faith, who listened to God. He kept his family safe, when Herod wanted to kill all male babies because he heard the Messiah had been born. Even though we don't read a lot about Joseph, we know he was a man who loved Jesus and spent time with him; after all, Jesus was known as the carpenter's son.

Early history of our country is filled with stories of our forefathers who left us a legacy of tradition and values. Many were like Abraham. They packed up their families and came to a new land - a land of promise, where they could worship God freely. Many of our forefathers believed in a land established on the Word of God, so much, they were willing to die - and many did. Today, many fathers are still dying for their belief in our country as a nation under God.

The faith that carries on today is rich and filled with promise. The fathers of old went through difficult, often severe times; but they held onto the faith that Jesus is Lord. His Word is true and He abides with us, no matter what. They were strong in the Lord and the power of His might. That faith is alive in our fathers today.

We are thankful for fathers who are willing to live the faith that endures and is victorious through Chrsit. We are thankful for fathers who love us and are willing to sacrifice and pass on to us the reality of a living God who is faithful.

Like the old song says, "Faith of our fathers! Living still. In spite of dungeon, fire and sword: Oh how our hearts beat high with joy, Whene'er we hear that glorious word! Faith of our fathers! Holy faith! We will be true to thee till death!"

It's a doggone good day

Every morning I go through my to do list.

To do...what to do...what to do first?

I decided to mow our overgrown lawn, even though I really wanted to go to the gym. 'Better mow while it's still cool,I thought.
Mowing is good for my soul. I enjoy the outdoors. I enjoy the sense of accomplishment when I see the lines of freshly mowed grass.
I pray, reflect and listen to my ipod.
This will be good, I thought. It's been a difficult week and even though the 'elephant' (as my friend Lori calls that feeling) of loss (the heaven home going of a friend) is still in my heart, there is a smile.

I felt better today.

I was at peace...I was ready to spend my quiet time mowing.

The dogs followed me to the garage to get the mower.
I was already in 'reflection' mode and was looking forward to my 'mow' time.

Griz ran into the middle of the yard.....he had to do his business.
Ok.
I came inside and got a bag...cleaned up his mess.
I returned to the mower, ready to begin.

Kaylee ran into the yard....
You guessed it.
So, I came back inside and got another bag.

Ok...now I can begin, I thought.
I went to the mower - it wouldn't start.

The dogs started chasing each other in circles right where I would be mowing, if I could get the mower started.

I stopped trying to start the mower for a minute; reviewed the situation and started to laugh.

I put the dogs inside.
I thanked the Lord for His peace. His joy. For humorous situations.
I did grumble a little when I picked up the first 'pile' - as if Griz thought, 'Aha! She's going to mow...now's my chance to poop.'
When Kaylee followed suite, I had to reflect and see the humor.

So the mower won't start.

Big deal.

I'll go out and try again in a little bit.

It's all good. . .. I thank the Lord for giving me a few chuckles.

It's going to be a good day.

The bitter not better

Me?
Did I hear You right?
Yes, He was talking to me.
It was that still small voice, but it came through loud and clear.
And it was in King James. "Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled."

The Message says it this way: "Keep a sharp eye out for weeds of bitter discontent. A thistle or two gone to seed can ruin a whole garden in no time."
Ahem.
He had my attention.

I lay in bed (I woke up to that  still small voice...that verse running through my mind) thinking - Wow, God. Have I allowed bitterness in my heart somewhere? (yes, I do talk to God that way).
I asked Him to show me where it started, since it wasn't a sermon where I could look around and say, "Hmmm..wonder who that could be."
He was speaking directly to me.

God is so faithful.
I thought of little things that someone said  that rubbed me the wrong way. 'Probably untintentional..we humans are that way...saying things without thinking. But I resented it.
I thought back a little...there was the time, I was sure I was being left out, ignored - and it hurt.
Resntment? Bitterness? Little things just seemed to bother me, out of nowhere (of course, to me, it was somewhere).
Bitterness blinds. Like a weed, it chokes out the beauty around, if it can. 
It starts out a seed, but if not caught in time, it grows and spreads.

God is my Father.
I am His child.
Sometimes He has to pull the slack in on me...reign me in...sit me down
in time-out, so I will listen.
Ouch.
But, I needed it - a 'heart' adjustment.
Whew. 

'Ever had one of those tiny stickers in your finger? It hurts for a while, then kind of goes away. You forget about it, till it hurts again. But, if you don't get it out, it continues to fester..at some point causing infection. That's how a little bitterness in the heart can be...unnoticeable at first...but then.....Well, you get the picture.

How I need my Savior.
I need Him all the time.

Do you know what I mean?

My Father; I am humble before Your throne. I am ever so grateful that I have access to Your throne through Jesus and because of His blood. I thank You that You love me so much, that You are not willing that I should wander. If You seem far away, Lord, I know it's not You. It's me. I thank You for speaking to me by Your Word and Holy Spirit. Thank You for forgiving me and rstoring me by Your grace. Hallelujah! I am free to love. I am free to give. Thank You for joy and peace restored.
I love You, Lord.
In Jesus' name.
Amen.

A Doggy Tale

I told myself I could watch the movie...it would be ok. I knew how it ended, so I would be prepared.

NOT!

I watched "Marley and Me", the story of the world's worst dog...anyway that is what his owner said. I laughed at Marley's antics...I cried when, after years of being a part of the family, he died.
His owner said, 'Marley, you are not the world's worst dog..you were the best dog.'

I have dogs of my own, so I totally understand why they kept Marley around. Those who don't like dogs...well, I can be pretty sure they would say, "I'd just get rid of that dog...it's just a dog."

Again, I say
NOT!

I had a pet when I was little, probably like four years old. But, I remember him...Tippy, my collie, left home and didn't come back. My parents said, that's what dogs do when they are going to die. I decided I didn't think I wanted a dog ever again...it was too sad.
So, I had a cat. She was a big yellow fur ball. When I went away to college, she got kidney stones and died. I didn't have a serious pet till six years ago.

Kaylee came into our lives - a little shelty-heeler mix. I wasn't sure about her at first...but, I couldn't help but  like the little furry puppy. She seemed to smile at us and loved chasing and rolling over a basketball. She was a lot of fun. She had so much energy, she didn't seem to ever get tired. She won her way into my heart.

Then, two years ago, my Marine son asked if I would watch his puppy.
Of course!
He was coming to Colorado for training, so I drove to the airport, where I met him and a kenneled puppy.
He had googly eyes that seemed to wander this way and that. His googly, sad eyes won me over, immediately. Griz, the brindle, boxer-American bulldog mix wandered into my heart.

Griz came home and became my buddy. He helped me through my Marine son's deployment to Afghanistan with Recon. His sad, droopy eyes were so understanding. Kaylee was supportive, too, and would come up and want to give me a 'lick' of encouragement...but since my son had brought Griz a few months before deployment, he was like a present for that particular time.

A couple of years ago, when my nest was empty of all five children, I had Kaylee and Griz to keep me company. They followed me from room to room. When I settled somewhere, they sat at my feet.

They have their own personalities. Kaylee is more of a watch dog than Griz. However, Griz can just stand at the door and when people see him, they want to run. But....
they are the friendliest dogs...I think they think they are people and are the official home greeters.

I'm a little nostalgic after watching the Marley movie.
I am thankful God made dogs. They really can win your heart.
They are so entertaining and yet, they can sense how you're feeling.
Dogs love unconditionally. They are very forgiving. They are faithful and committed.
Kaylee and Griz are always happy to see me!
They have wonderful traits.

If I feel overwhelmed, I look at my dogs (by the way, my son has allowed me to adopt Griz...bless his heart)
They look at me like they trust completely.
They know they are taken care of, with not a care in the world.

So like I should be with my Master.
I know it's how I should be, too. 'So trusting...knowing my Master knows my name; knows my needs.

Sigh.....

I need to take lessons from my dogs.

Prayer

I am humbled and blessed.
Lord, I praise You, today. You took me out of darkness and set me in Your wonderful light. You replaced loneliness with your presence. You took my broken heart and gave me a new heart. You took the brokenness of my life and made me whole. You took my uncertainties and gave me a hope and a future. You released me from my fears and filled me with your love - your love casts out fear. You took the lack in my life and filled me to overflowing. You replaced my limitations with faith - with faith nothing is impossible. You took me from depression and gave me joy - unspeakable and full of glory. You took the crooked places and made them straight. You made my blind eyes see, my deaf ears hear. You took me from the beggarly elements of this life and set me in heavenly places with You.

You are altogether wonderful and great. There is none like You, my God. You are my high tower and my refuge. You are my hiding place. You are my peace, my joy, my love.

I will ever praise You. Early in the morning, I will lift my voice on high and seek You, my Lord.

I am overcome. To think that You, the Almighty God of the universe, chose me, loved me and knew me, before the foundations of the earth. It is too big for me to comprehend.

How can I NOT praise you! You are Magnificent and altogether lovely. My Lord. My God.
I will serve You forever and ever, my Prince of Peace, my King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

My Jesus, My Lord, My Savior.

And then there is life after life

Being transparent, part 2.
Another perspective on death
Death makes people uncomfortable.
We went to a memorial service Saturday. Very touching. Hearbreaking.
As often as death occurs, we never feel at home with it. Anyway, I don't. It is so final...so sudden..so mysterious.

In my previous blog I said I didn't like that lives are cut short. Yet, I said, there is life after death.
Yes, there is.

There is a place called heaven. I know there is, without a doubt. I used to think when we arrived there we would sit on clouds and play harps...forever. I thought - Boring! I couldn't imagine sitting on a cloud for eternity.

However, that was before I knew anything about heaven. God's Word describes it in the book of Revelation, the twenty-first chapter. Heaven is beautiful! It is marvelous! It is a city...with gates made of pearl and streets made of gold.It's foundation is laid in precious stones. Wow. There are millions of people there -angels singing and praising God! God's very presence lights it up. There will be no more night and no more sorrow, pain or suffering.
There are mansions there.  I've got friends and family there. The more time marches on, the more people I know who are in heaven.
Imagine the huge reunion there will be over there.
I am reminded of times that were so wonderful I didn't want them to end. In heaven, wonderful times will be forever.
The best of times we have had here, will be even better, there.
There is everything to look forward to in heaven.
Who wouldn't want to go?

'One thing for certain...it is possible to know that's where we're going.

The Bible says, you must be born again in order to see the kingdom of God (John 3:3).
 It is true. It is what the Bible says.
'No one comes to the Father except through Me,'(John6:65) "He that believes in me hath everlasting life (John 6:47).  However, just because we don't witness a person coming to the Father doesn't mean it hasn't happened.

One day my Uncle Pat was workinng in his yard and suffered a heart attack. While he waited for the ambulance, he faded in and out of consciousness. At one point he looked at my Aunt Mary and said, "It is so beautiful Momma. You should see it... it is so beautiful." Then he died.

This happened years ago, when I was a young Christian. I was certain you had to answer an altar call to be saved. You had to be in the right church and do the right things. My Uncle Pat wasn't a regular church goer. The church he belonged to didn't teach salvation. Yet, I know he is in heaven. I have no doubt.

God uses altar calls. I've prayed with many people who have gone forward during an altar call. Yes, it is important to be in a church where salvation is taught and God's Word is brought forth.

Yet, I know God reaches people where they are. There are people who give their hearts to Jesus, while watching a TV program. Jesse Duplatnis gave his life to Jesus watching Billy Graham. Others are alone, desparate when they call out to Him. I was one of the 'alone'.

A Catholic priest answered my questions about the meaning/ purpose of this life and asked if I had given my life to Jesus. When I said I hadn't, he said that was what I needed to do. I remember going home, a nineteen year old with a broken heart, lying on my bed and crying to Jesus. My prayer - 'Take my life Jesus and live in me. Change my life. I give it to You.' I felt a peace I had never known. My life has never been the same.

I know one thing....God is in the business of saving lives. He sent His Son Jesus and He paid the ultimate price by dying for our sins. God uses extreme measures to seek and save the lost (those without hope). He goes the extra mile to reach people, so they will experience eternal life.
Even to that last breath, I know He calls.
I believe right before death, many respond.  Yes, I believe.

PS  Why gamble and take the chance...Jesus is the way, the truth and the life (John 14:6). He is the ticket to heaven - paid in full...eternity guaranteed! 
Ah....for heavenly days!

The short end of life....

Being transparent in this bubble of life...
Sometimes life hurts. Sometimes I don't understand and don't have answers.

I know life happens and so does death. Personally, I don't like death. It stinks.

A few weeks ago we had a sick calf. I stood over him while the vet gave him a shot. I petted him and told him it was going to be ok. I prayed for him (yes, I pray for animals). A few days later my husband told me the calf died. I wanted to cry.

A few days ago my husband called to tell me a friend of ours died. No warning..he was driving his tractor, had a heart attack and died. He was not old.
We visited him a few weeks ago. He laughed and told us about his plans as we walked through corrals. He was an entrepreneur and always had some new idea brewing. He enjoyed life.
I don't like death. It shouldn't have come and taken his life.

There are people who want to die...they are alone and just want to leave this ol' world. There are people who want to live and see their kids grow up...who aren't ready to die...not yet.
My kids and I have talked about such situations -why do some people linger.. maybe they aren't ready to meet their Maker...we don't know. Why do the young die? We don't know. Sometimes we can speculate...but to really know... I don't think so.

When Lazarus died, his sisters cried out to Jesus. "If you would've been here, our brother wouldn't have died." Jesus told them, "He will rise again." They cried anyway. "We know that someday we will see him. But, we want him alive, now!"
Of course, in that story, Lazarus was raised from the dead.

I believe people can be raised from the dead. Smith Wigglesworth prayed for the dead and they came back to life.  It happens.

Death wasn't on God's mind for us in the beginning...it is one of the results of sin. However, Jesus overcame death and the grave when He went to the cross and rose again.

There is living to be done. I don't like it when death comes and cuts it short. I just don't. Twenty, thirty,forty, fifty, sixty years old - all too young in my opinion.

Today is difficult. It just is. I know my God reigns. I know there will come a day with no more tears... no more pain...no more good byes. We will see Jesus. He will wipe away every tear.

There will be no more death.

However, as difficult as it is now, I know there is hope...even in death. Jesus says, "I am the resurrection and the life: he that believes in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. And whosoever lives and believes in me shall never die."