Archive for the 'Fathering Moments – The Daily Walk' Category
I suppose, the daily walk of faith is all about the promises of my Father, God – bringing His Word and my humanity – into ”R”elationship - Does that make sense? And I suppose that promises, can often take longer than we might like, for them to be fulfilled. 
When I consider Abraham’s daily Walk of Faith and compare it with my own – I keep finding out how very similar they are and how imperfect they are – while the Father God – continues to work his promises, in various ways and in His own time, through the years – bringing His Word and my humanity – into Relationship – with a capitol “R”.
…. Walking… Genesis 21:2 – Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised him. (Genesis 17:21; 18:10-14)
A lot can happen in 100 years! I mean, consider just a few of the highlights from the last one hundred years,… DON’T BLINK!
The Panama Canal was completed cutting travel time between California and the East Coast in half – The first long-distance telephone service was established between New York and San Francisco – Henry Ford’s innovations in automobile assembly brought the price of a Model T down to $290.00 from an original cost of $850, in 1908 – Charles Lindbergh piloted the Spirit of St. Louis on a solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean, landing in Paris, France 33 hours after taking off from New York – the Stock Market crash of the 1920′s sparked the Great Depression, the Xth Summer Olympiad was held in Los Angeles in 1932 – The Federal Housing Administration was established creating a form of mortgage insurance for homeowners – the Golden Gate Bridge opened in San Francisco – Pearl Harbor was attacked and the United States entered World War II in 1941 – World War II ended and a post-war economic boom began – The Korean War began with North Korea and later Chinese troops opposed United Nations forces – The de Havilland Comet, a British-built plan became the first jet airliner – The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed above 500 for the first time in the 1950′s – in the 1960′s The United States began a slow but steady escalation of troops in Vietnam, a small Southeast Asian nation. The Vietnam war sparked impassioned opposition and unrest – The Beatles came to New York – Former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, widely admired for her style and grace married Aristotle Onassis, a wealthy Greek businessman – NASA’s Apollo 11 mission landed on the moon – The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed above 1,000 for the first time in the 1970′s – The United States of America celebrated 200 Years in 1976 – The United States Men’s Hockey Team, not thought to be a serious contender, upset the Soviet Union and Finland to win the Gold Medal at the Lake Placid Winter Games – A former actor, head of the Screen Actor’s Guild and Governor of California, Ronald Reagan began a new job as the 40th President of the United States in 1981 – 52 years after hosting the Xth Olympiad Los Angeles puts on the Games of the XXXIIIth Olympiad – Christopher Reeve starred in the last of four Superman movies – Superman IV: The Quest for Peace in 1987 – The First Persian Gulf War erupted after Iraq invaded neighboring Kuwait, and ended with a U.S.-led coalition victory. – After 3 decades of laughs, comedian Johnny Carson ended his thirty year run as the host of The Tonight Show – The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed above 5,000 for the first time in 1995 – Senator John Glenn, Jr., the first American to orbit the earth, takes another ride into space, in his 77th year – aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery on a 9 day flight, becoming the oldest person to fly in outer space – The new millennium 2000-2001 is celebrated and a global sigh of relief is felt as “Y2K” fears of a mass computer meltdown vanish – 9.11.01 – The Second Persian Gulf War began as U.S.-led forces launched into battle – …….
Now, consider that in the first 100 years of Abraham’s life - many of those years were spent walking through each day by faith, however imperfect, - but faith none-the-less – in a promise, that he had received – from God – the Father – the Creator! — that his wife Sarah would give birth to a son – and that God would bless every nation through Abraham’s descendants! For sure, Abraham saw many things happen during those first 100 years of his life – wars, among nations and between family members, poverty, riches, the rise and fall of political and military leaders – and while we are never told that Abraham or anyone else during his time, ever journeyed into outer-space – and while that is surely a major highlight from our last 100 years – still among the highlights from Abraham’s first 100 years, must have been, the visits he received from the Lord God and from the angels! from “outer-space,” as it were I suppose, that our last 100 years, pale in comparison – don’t they?
I mean, everything that happened in those first 100 years of Abraham’s life led up to this text!
Genesis 21:1-7
The Birth of Issac: Now the LORD was gracious to Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did for Sarah what he had promised. Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised him. Abraham gave the name Isaac to the son Sarah bore him. When his son Isaac was eight days old, Abraham circumcised him, as God commanded him. Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. Sarah said, “God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me.” And she added, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet, I have borne him a son in his old age.”
Everything that had happened in those 100 years was in preparation, in one way or another, for this day! – while, nothing quite explains it – except, that GOD does it! Consider that biologically it was considered improbable if not impossible for Sarah to be having a child at the age she and her husband were! – while, theologically it is improbable – NO, impossible! for God to fail in delivering on a promise!
I suppose, what is amazing about this story is that God is at work here – in a life of faith, however imperfect – bringing into “R”elationship, with a capitol “R” – His Word and our humanity. I mean, Abraham and Sarah – much like you and me – bring to the promises of God – only our helplessness, imperfection, our sinful nature, our tired, weary and sometimes worn faith – while, God brings 100′s and 1000′s of years of involvement in His world – creating and resurrecting promises among us, that ultimately fulfill what He began - resurrecting for us, over and again, the promises of our imperfect faith – often, just when we are in the middle of giving up and giving in – lying face down on the ground in despair and sorrow.
Consider how the story of God’s fulfillment of the promise of Isaac – is like the promise fulfilled in the birth of Jesus. The fulfilled promise that Christians live and walk by, in faith, daily. Consider how our “100, 60, 40, 15…. years” – of living by faith, however imperfect – in God’s promise to us, through Christ, His Son – who died and was resurrected to bring us salvation – - - is still bringing into “R”elationship, with a capitol “R” – His Word and our humanity – - – not so very different from God’s promise with Abraham and Sarah.
In my daily walk of faith, help me Father to live beyond the improbable and the impossible – to live by your promises! Use my faith, however imperfect to bring into “R”elationship, with a capitol “R” – Your Word and my humanity! Amen
Don’t blink!
May 13 2010 | Fathering Moments - The Daily Walk and Living in the Word | No Comments »
….. Read Genesis 20:8-18
Then Abraham prayed to God; and God healed Abimelech, and also healed his wife and female slaves so that they bore children. Genesis v.17
You might read the entire chapter again, for clarity.
Do you feel anything like ”gravity” in this situation – in the way this story about Abraham’s faithlessness is unfolding, again? Sometimes, when we are honest, it feels as though - the force that has us firmly attached to this physical earth – is pulling even our “eternal” purpose” – literally to the ground? I mean, think about it this way for a second – - – what makes us unique - as Christians – as God’s children – is that we have an eternal purpose, right? Abraham sure had an eternal purpose, didn’t he – at least, that’s the way the “story” goes, right? – - – I can’t help feeling that in this chapter of Abraham’s walk – he must have been feeling the same sort of – “gravitational pull” – the human condition – pulling his “eternal purpose” – to the ground, as it were. The same sort of feeling I sometimes have - when I find myself “tied down”, as it were – to this old earth and beyond that – my humanity keeps getting in the way, of my eternal purpose, if I believe I have one. I know there are lots of moments in my life when that sort of “gravitational pull” – seems “heavy” on me. Maybe you feel it too, on occassion.
And while I am much more comfortable when I think that others see me as: “self-accomplished, mature and independent, or possibly even as a “spiritual-rock”, of sorts … upon which others might even, lean” – - – I find myself more often than not, wishing that my “testimony” before the world (how others see Christ, in me – or not) wasn’t so very flawed – - – and I am all too aware - of how human I am - and that I am no “spiritual rock”!
Consider further, that while it is certainly important that we live lives that are as consistent as humanly possible, with the Will and the Word of our Father – I suppose, sometimes we might actually misuse this truth - maybe to avoid responsibility. I mean, sometimes I actually find myself inclined to keep silent about my faith in Christ because I fear that my “testimony” has been so poor – that others might not want to trust Jesus. Sometimes the “message” of my life falls very short of what I “testify” about with my lips and my life - and so, I keep silent about my faith in Christ. Ever been there?
Do you feel the “gravity” of this situation? …. Am I making any sense?
Hmmm?
I once heard a story about a true believer who was saved – no joke – through the testimony of a drunken sailor! This fella, when he was an unbeliever, had scolded a drunken Christian for his behavior. The drunk protested – that even though he knew that he was a “discredit” to his Lord, he was never-the-less - eternally saved and secure! This fella, well he could not imagine how such a thing could be truth. But because of the certainty of this drunken Christian about his spiritual security, this fella – well, he studied the Scriptures for himself, to see if this could be true – and as grace would have it, as a result, he was saved! - to one degree or another – because of the ”testimony” of a drunken sailor.
Now I suppose, that while I should certainly strive to live in such a way, as to create an interest in that which makes me unique as a Christian – an eternal purpose – I may, more often than not – fail to realize – that the “gravitational pull” of all of my human failures – does not necessarily – prevent others from being drawn to Christ, as their Savior. What I am trying to get at is that - One thing seems to keep jumping out at me, about Abraham and his walk of faith – - – and that is that even at the very low moments in our Christian experience – our God can use us to draw others to Himself!! Hello! The daily walk with God – isn’t about me at all – it is all about my God – my Lord and Savior!!!
Read Genesis 20 again and consider the “gravity” of the situation!
What a humbling experience it must have been for Abraham to intercede on behalf of Abimelech. Talk about a sense of “gravity” – not to mention, unworthiness – that must have come over him, as his humanity got so very much, in the way of his eternal purpose – and in plain view of those around him! I mean, I can only imagine that Abraham too, much like me – must have felt, to some degree or another - very uncomfortable, that instead of others seeing him as: “self-accomplished, mature and independent, or possibly even as a “spiritual-rock”, of sorts … upon which others might even, lean” – - – they saw him instead - as he truly was. A human, a liar – flawed and imperfect in his faith. Not as a spiritual rock, at all!
Hmmmm?
I suppose, what I am learning from walking with Abraham – in his daily walk of imperfect faith – is that – to be sure – the Rock of my faith is not me! It is, indeed, my Lord and Savior – Jesus Christ!
My prayer, continues to be – Father, that you continue to bless my walk – with your incredible grace, my great God! Saving Grace – that works in the midst of sin and ignorance, arrogance and willfulness. My ”testimony” is never worthy of Your goodness and greatness. My sin is a constant reminder - of my true position – and my need for You! I strive to live every moment in continuing hope that you will finally lead my wandering feet into the path of truth and discipleship. Amen
April 03 2010 | Fathering Moments - The Daily Walk and Living in the Word | No Comments »
….. Read Genesis 20:1-7
Abraham said of his wife Sarah, “She is my sister.” And King Abimelech of Gerar sent and took Sarah. v.2
Can you believe it? There he is again, flat down on his face – in his walk, living faithlessly. Hello!?! Abraham!!!! Wake up!!!! How could he make the same monumental mistake, again? What in the world could he have been thinking?? ….
…. In our daily walk – I suppose, we do expect that we will improve, in the very least to grow to make smarter and wiser decisions. Isn’t that what is supposed to happen in a ”daily walk with God”, after all?
…. Stay with me here for a second 
– Consider that – while betterment-of -self and a better knowledge of how to live in God’s truth is most certainly an expected result from a daily walk with God – I suppose, it is rather possible and maybe even likely – that we can be tempted to put too much emphasis on ourselves, and our own achievements and abilities – concerning spiritual things, much like we tend to do concerning physical things …. does that make sense? Of course, when we put too much emphasis on self – we tend to take matters into our own hands – and make decisions motivated, too often - from a position of self-confidence, rather than by faith. We do have a record of being rather, “self-achievement oriented,” don’t we?
I mean, from reading through God’s Word and walking along (as it were) with Abraham’s daily walk - and the rest - I am finding myself aware – that while my “personal” - “daily walk with God” - is important to my spiritual growth as a believer – it seems, that I may at times overlook how important it is for me, not to loose sight of my need for God and for a total dependance on Him – - - perhaps I may fall into a bit of a “hidden-trap” - placing too much importance, in my daily walk, on obtaining some “righteous position” – that might bring me to a point where I begin to feel that I no longer have to be as dependent on God….does that make sense??
Don’t loose me here
I suppose, walking along with Abraham – and seeing him making the “same mistakes” over and over again …. well … I think that makes me a bit uncomfortable with my own “recurring” and often “repetitive” mistakes. My first reaction might be to be critical of Abraham and “call out” the obvious errors he continues to be making. While, what I might actually be doing – by posturing myself in such a way – is avoiding the guilt of my own mistakes. After all, my pursuit of a daily walk with God is supposed to be making me better and smarter and wiser, isn’t it??
I suppose, when I am truly honest with myself - I too, make more than my share of mistakes – over and over and over again. I know that I do! Some of which, I have even made promises to myself, to others and to my Father God – that I would never do again! I don’t much like to admit that. Makes me feel like others will look at me and my mistakes, some of which are too often, repetitive – and will think that I am not growing in my spiritual walk! I am much more comfortable when I think that others see me as: “self-accomplished, mature and independent, or possibly even as a “spiritual-rock”, of sorts … upon which others might even, lean.”
Hmmmm…..?????
Well, I suppose – not so much unlike our Father of Faith – Abraham – we too, when we are honest, find ourselves – again and again - flat down on our face, faithless. Abraham here, not only sins, but he repeats the same sins – over and again, because he had used Sarah this way before. Interestingly enough - it is the character in the story who has no religion at all, Abimelech, who seems to be the one who is seen having some ”integrity” – rather than the one we might have been expecting to have seen as “self-accomplished, mature and independent, or possibly even as a “spiritual-rock”, of one sort or another … upon which others might even, lean” – a “Father of Faith”, as it were.
I suppose the lesson is that, this daily walk of Faith – isn’t really about me, at all! It wasn’t about Abraham, either. The daily walk of Faith is all about God - talk about a “Spiritual Rock”.
And as far as what other people may see or say about me, as I walk along - my primary concern must not be how others see me - but do they see the Faithful God of my imperfect faith? Do they see how my Faithful God does so much for me and my imperfect walk of Faith!
Faithful Father, I return to you daily, and fall down on my face, putting my imperfect faith in the hands of your perfect mercy. I know, Father, that I don’t learn very fast - I repeat – time and again – old sins. My pride and my fears – too often get in the way of your promises. Forgive me? I am dependent on You to walk with me in the way of faith, again and again – by your grace. Amen.
March 08 2010 | Fathering Moments - The Daily Walk | No Comments »
I suppose – to one degree or another – most everyone is – at one time or another - ”running from something” or “running toward something”. For me, I have seen too many - children running away - from pain in their little lives – and adults and parents, too – running – this way and that – sometimes chasing and sometimes retreating – sometimes escaping and sometimes pursuing – sometimes lashing out and other times withdrawing for refuge. But all of them – too many of them – running.
Having run away from the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah – Sarah having turned her heart back toward the evil, reduced to a mound of salt – Lot and his girls found themselves, very much afraid and feeling rather desperate - retreating, escaping, withdrawing for refuge, in a mountainous cave, – perhaps feeling like they had barely escaped with their lives – I suppose – unaware, to one degree or another, that they were comfortably within the protection of the Father God.
Death and destruction of everything and everyone they had known - was just there – behind them – in the ruins of the valley below - and now alone, up in the mountains – desperation and fear about what was to become of their future – - – hopeless and afraid - it seemed, I expect – they felt as if, there was no place left to run.
So, that night they got him drunk with wine, and the older daughter went in and had intercourse with her father. He was unaware of her lying down or getting up again. v.33
It seems that fear and desperation, of one sort or another - pushed Lot’s daughters, not knowing where else to run, to get their father drunk and trick him into getting them pregnant. ”… that we may preserve our family line through our father,” they said.
I have a bit of difficulty with the “reasoning” of Lot’s girls – I suppose you might, too. As well, I have some difficulty with Lot himself – that he might allow himself to be in such a position with his daughters. What’s more troubling to my understanding of this story - is that, frankly, if it weren’t for the apostle Peter - I might never have known – that this “pathetic fella”, Lot – was a “true believer”!!! Hello!?!? - – - I know, but Peter describes, that God rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the filthy lives of lawless men – and that he was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard. 2 Peter 2 I find myself thankful for Peter and his gospel – because I might not have quite understood Lot – and his running – and his bad choices …. quite the same as I do, knowing – that – - - Lot with all his faults – was considered by God – a “righteous man”!?!?!
The story went that Lot - chose, “life in the city” – while Abraham chose – life as a sojourner. Lot also chose to take the best lands for himself and left what might remain, to Abraham in the countryside. I suppose, even then – Lot was “running” from something – perhaps from a weak opinion of himself, or worse. He seized opportunities that seem to have been motivated by a desire to create a destiny - made of his own hands, rather than God’s - a destiny to create for himself – something more than who he actually was. What we know is that he and his family ultimately, found themselves living among sin – so great - that God became aware of the crys of those souls suffering from its consequences – while at the same time caloused by prolonged exposure - – - all of them, I suppose – too many of them – running about, while unable to determine “where they were running to.” I can easily imagine – cities of people, running about – this way and that – chasing this and that, retreating, escaping, pursuing, lashing out, withdrawing for refuge – and I imagine – Abraham, the sojourner – from some high hill – in the countryside – looking down on the cities pain – and weeping, as it were – for his family. I imagine, too – Lot and his girls – - – having ultimately “run away” from it all – - – a “way out” provided by the Lord, urged by Abraham, and still – - – not knowing – - – just how or why or even – where, they were running to.
I suppose – to one degree or another – most everyone is, at one time or another – “running from something” or “running toward something”. For me, I have seen too many sad results of abuse – of all kinds – often the result of folks “running” from something – unsure of where they might ought to be running – while running all the same - and often smack in - to alcohol or drugs or illicit behaviors, of one sort or another – running, knowing that they must run – but not knowing where to run, at all. Once, kind parents – becoming harsh with their children - – or harsh with their spouses - many having run in to, too much “wine” - of one sort or another – like Lot and his girls found themselves running, too – not knowing where to run, but running all the same. Exceptional teens and adults - failing in life – because of dependence on one drug or another – broken pieces of hearts and thirsty souls – running about – not knowing where they are running to. Folks addicted to pain medicines and other mood-altering prescriptions. The list of things we run to – for escape – is endless. Running away – it seems – running in general - is all too common, among us.
In the Walk of Faith – when we often find ourselves running – away from something – perhaps from dangers we dared to get too close to – - – I suppose - knowing when to run – is very important! – while – knowing where to run to – is rather important, too!!!!
… Perhaps, having found ourselves – “on the run” – stumbling across a place to rest – after catching our breath – when we look around us, we might find that – now in a strange place – we begin to feel overwhelmed and desperate, all over again. Too often - it is desperation that causes us to make decisions that we later, regret. It seems that, Knowing where to run to, becomes rather important, now!
Consider that Peter, about Lot, said that … if the Lord “condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the filthy lives of lawless men (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)— if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue godly men from their trials”
In your daily walk – you may find yourself running - - – In The Running – RUN – TO THE LORD!
February 03 2010 | Fathering Moments - The Daily Walk and Living in the Word | No Comments »
I suppose, in the Walk of Faith – there are times we might find ourselves RUNNING! …. and in the running – it seems that we usually find ourselves - either ”running toward” something - or “running away” from something. It seems, too - that when we are honest - we find that in our Daily Walk - more often than we might like to admit it - we don’t find ourselves running “toward our God” – unless - we first, find ourselves, “running away from something”. 
Read Genesis 19:1-14.
Lot went out and warned the fiances of his daughters, “Evacuate this place; God is about to destroy this city!” But his daughters’ would-be husband’s treated it as a joke. v.14
I suppose, there is a real danger - that we might not consider often enough - how we can become spiritually and/or emotionally insensitive or unresponsive - from prolonged exposure, to what is going on all around us - such that we don’t even notice the monstrous evil, that presses in on us, from all sides – until it is too late. :(
Read Genesis 19:15-28
But he lingered; so the men seized him and his wife and his two daughters by the hand, the LORD being merciful to him, and they brought him out and left him outside the city. v.16
Lot was hesitant. It is telling – isn’t it? – that the angels of the Lord had to physically pull Lot and his wife and his children along, as it were, by the hand – to get them to run away from the evil that surrounded them. I suppose, that it was the “insensitivity” of their hearts - from prolonged exposure – that was the reason for their resistance – that kept them from running away, to the safety of the mountains - rather, they insisted on remaining close by, in the city of Zoar.
Consider how often we are guilty of trying to keep “0ne foot in the world” - and ”one foot in the country side, of faith” – - – hesitant - to separate ourselves - too completely, from everything that ties us to “this world, this flesh, the devil.”
Read Genesis 19:29-38
So it was that, when God destroyed the cities of the Plain, God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when he overthrew the cities in which Lot had settled. v.29
It is interesting to consider, that “God remembered Abraham” - and his walk of faith, when he had “run”, as it were, to stand in front of the Lord’s path – to intercede for those who might be spared from the destruction of Sodom and Gomorah – while Lot and his family were hesitant, to run away from the evil – much less toward God.
Sodom and Gomorrah – Nuremberg Chronicle – 1493
I suppose, in the Walk of Faith – there are times we might find ourselves RUNNING! …. and in the running – it seems that we usually find ourselves - either ”running toward” something - or “running away” from something. It seems, too - that when we are honest - we find that in our Daily Walk - more often than we might like to admit it - we don’t find ourselves running “toward our God” – unless - we first, find ourselves, “running away from something”.
….. Know When to Run!
January 02 2010 | Fathering Moments - The Daily Walk and Living in the Word | No Comments »
Walking …… Read. Gen. 17:18-27
On that very day – Abraham took his son Ishmael and all those born in his household or bought with his money, every male in his household, and circumcised them, as God told him… v.26
An imperfect faith – A faith that suffers – at times from sheer disbelief – Faith that stumbles and crumbles – Faith that is overwhelmed by fear and is burdened from weak knees, one day and an anxious spirit, the next. Yes, our faith is imperfect! – not unlike the faith of Abraham - who at times – doubted in his faith, too - - - but – - – when the Father commanded something – he did not procrastinate! He did it! And inspite of the imperfection of his faith – and possibly, even – partly due to his awareness of such imperfect faith – I suppose, in the end, it might be said that – obedience – was the key – to Abraham’s Faith?
Note: Be careful – before you agree with that – as a lesson to take away from this day in Abraham’s walk. …… The long pause within me – as I approach – writing these next few lines – tells me that – I may be “biting off more than I want to chew”.
Never-the-less – unhesitating, in his obedience - Abraham – “on that very day” – seems to have “acted – himself” – into a more mature faith. Faith without works/obedience – is dead? I suppose – the question of our faith walk – becomes – What commands - from our Father - do we put off – until tomorrow – or even dismiss – as less – than a necessary part – of our faith walk???? :( – might I suggest sitting still with that question for a bit? ……..
Father – I know – that you know – that sometimes – I tend to – “wait - “cautiously”? – until I see how things are going to turn out”? - before I commit myself – “unconditionally.” Perhaps – that is why – in the waiting part of my walking – with you - - I sometimes grow impatient and attempt to seize some control over your plan – in my life – maybe Father, I act this way to avoid - - doing what You have said for me to do – and instead – I justify my selfish actions - (which too often turn out to be wrong) - in order to avoid being OBEDIENT – to You? I am such a – stubborn and often rebellious child of faith. Forgive me – Father. Father – help me to – commit myself – “unconditionally” - with unhesitating obedience – so that you may use me to be a part of the way – You would have things turn out. Amen
Walking …… Read. Gen. 18:1-8
Oak of Mamre. estimated age: 5000 years old. hmmmmm……?!?
He looked up and saw three men standing near him. When he saw them – he ran from the tent entrance to meet them – and bowed down to the ground. v.2
I suppose – these “strangers” – traveling through the hot country side – in open-toe sandals – in the hot part of the day – saw the oak trees of Mamre – where Abraham was living – as an oasis of shade from the hot sun and refreshment for their labored bodies – a place to rest. Whew! We made it! I can imagine how they might have felt - when – for instance - when I have been making my way down from a hike in the Chisos Mountains – my water bottle long empty – the heat of the Texas sun, in the afternoon – bearing down – and the anxious arrival ‘neath the shade of the basin shelter. Seemingly – consistent with Abraham’s ordinary – everyday character - he offers his visitors a ”heavenly mental image” of pure and unconditional hospitality – by fetching first – water to wash their tired and dirty feet – and then offering rest in the shade of the oaks – and preparing a meal for them. In those ancient days – it was generally expected – that as a traveler – those you came across along your journey – were obliged to provide refreshment, as needed. Abraham - at first – does not understand, that - “the Lord” – is arriving at his home – for a visit – - and he is ”lively hospitible”. Abraham is not bothered – in the least – by the arrival of his guests – and in fact – it seems that his attitude was one of excitement and joy - in the opportunity to serve these strangers who are in obvious need of “refreshment”. Neighbors! Gotta love, ‘em. Abraham’s ordinary – everyday character - is a condition of his heart and his soul – in which God can use him - to do His Will.
It seems the question for my heart is its condition! Is my ordinary – everyday character – available and “lively” engaged – in a spirit of hospitality? If not – I suppose – God can’t use me for certain aspects of His Will.
Consider Hebrews 13:1-2 “Stay on good terms with each other, held together by love. Be ready with a meal or a bed when it’s needed. Why - some have extended hospitality – to angels – without ever knowing it!
Father God - how many are the times – that I have missed – having You – visit me - because I am disrespectful or unconcerned – for those around me – “strangers” perhaps – that I avoid contact with – or because I have grown unforgiving – of interruptions in my “daily routine”? Father – give me the pure and unconditional gift – of hospitality and develop within me - its manners – that I might “paint a heavenly image” – of such a spirit – for others to see – You – in my daily walk. Amen
Walking …… Read. Gen. 18:9-15
So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “After I have grown old, and my husband is old, shall I have pleasure?” v.12
Abraham and Sarah were old by this time – very old – even by ancient standards. Sarah was long past the age for having babies and her disbelief - explodes into laughter – at the thought of what has - for her – long since become - an “absurd” promise - she gave up on the ability to conceive – long ago. - – - I’m taking a deep breath and with a critical eye on myself – - – I suppose – that “coming to terms” – with an “unfulfilled life” – has been a common experience in the lives of many – down through the ages. I can relate to the “temptation” – to cower in the face of circumstances – that are clearly – “out of my control” – when the promise of a “fulfilled and abundant life” – seem to have illuded me - and the only prospect seems to be to - ”settle” and “come to terms” – with my position. But God’s promises – in the lives of His children – are never abandoned! He does not desire for us to abandon them, either! Instead - our Father – asks us to remain – faithful – as He is faithful. He does not intend to permit us to “come to terms” with or settle for an “unfulfilled life.” It seems – even – that if we can manage to remain faithful – in our daily Walk - - – ultimately – when – in God’s own time - the promises that once seemed “impossible” - are fulfilled – we are shaken - out of the rut – of our unbelief – - – Now that’s something to laugh about! – laughter, not born of disbelief – rather – laughter, born of relief – in the arms of safety - in the fulfilled promises, of our Father. Laughter – born of Praise and Thanksgiving!
I wonder – would I have laughed? Maybe.
Father – help me to distinguish – between Your promises – and “tall-tales”. Your promises are not ”tall-tales” to be laughed at! Help me to see the “impossibility factors” – in your promises not as “jokes” - rather – to see them as trail maps - to steer me along the path – of my daily Walk in faith. Remind me – often – that your promises - can far exceed my perceived inability – to hope and believe. Give me a heart – big enough to absorb the abundance of your blessings and your promises – and give me patience to allow for your timing and persistence, in my daily Walk – to trust you to guide all of my steps. Amen
Walking …… Read. Gen. 18:16-26
Then the Lord said, “How great is the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah and how very grave their sin!.” v.18
It is the intimacy of Abraham’s relationship with the Father – that strikes me the most - in that, he and the Lord are – In Relationship – to the degree – that firstly, God shares with Abraham - His personal interest and devoted attention – to the crys of those souls suffering in sin - in Sodom and Gomorrah – such that the crys are deafening to His ears - for their sin is so great - and He, God Himself, is going down there to see for Himself - if what they are doing, is as bad as it sounds. Now, if that doesn’t sound like a conversation of intimate relationship sharing – consider that the story goes that – the men then set out for Sodom – but Abraham, (get this) stood-in-God’s-path, blocking his way – as if to say – (much, as I might – in an emotional conversation – with someone, about a sensitive matter – who has said their piece and turned from our conversation to tackle the inevitable outcome of the conclusions that have been drawn) something like, “Hang on” - ”Are you serious? Are you planning on getting rid of the good people right along with the bad? What if there are fifty decent people left in the city – will you lump the good in with the bad and get rid of the lot?”
I mean – consider that - in the context of a daily Walk of faith – In Relationship with the Father – Abraham here – felt “close enough” in that relationship – to stand, as it were – in the way of God – and express the passion – the sincerity - and the truest nature of his heart – that of Servanthood! Brotherly Love! Concern for the souls of faithful men, women and children. This seems to be a “high point” – in Abraham’s spiritual life – the intimate relationship he has with Father God! and his determined faith – in the goodness and the mercy and the grace, of God.
Father - You know me better than I know myself. You know my weaknesses and my strengths. Teach me Your ways and hear my passionate heart. Forgive my selfish spirit. There are those around me who deserve your mercy and your forgiveness and your grace. Help me to identify them and to be an encouragement in their lives – that through me – You can use me – to bring them closer to you – in relationship. Amen
Walking …… Read. Gen. 18:27-33
Then he said, “Oh do not let the Lord be angry if I speak just once more. Suppose ten are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of ten I will not destroy it.” v.32
In Relationship with God – in a consistent and determined – daily walk with the Father. In the common and ordinary moments of life – living in the Word – we come before Him – on bended knee – as Abraham did – - aware of our position, as mere mortals - made from a handful of dirt - daring to open our mouths again and again before our Father – as His children – - - ”Father, don’t be irritated with me, but what if only thirty are found?” – “I know that I am trying your patience, Father, but how about for twenty?” – “Father, please don’t be angry with me, this is the last time – What if you only come up with ten?” – - – Prayers – Conversations with our Father – Intercession – standing between the righteous judgement of Good – and evil. Putting ourselves in a position between God’s righteous judgement and our sin – we are allowing Jesus to live within us – fulfilling His purpose – through us – to draw those around us - into the presence of the Father.
I suppose – God may have shared the intimate details of His concern, for the crys of those who were among the wicked in the cities of Sodom – with Abraham – full well knowing – that Abraham’s “true colors” would shine through - in the passion of his heart - humbled by what God had overlooked in his own life, as failures – in order to fulfill His promise to provide through such an imperfect faith-walk – a means for all men everywhere – for all time – to come back into Relationship with God, ultimately through the life of Christ. And in fact – Abraham’s passion for the promise God had made through him – did shine through! In brilliant colors! of intercession!
It seems that – God’s Righteous Judgement is really not – the closing of ones eyes, to those who deserve harsh judgement - taking a deep breath – and demolishing a contaminated society - - – Rather, it is a measured discernment in dealing with what is wrong – which requires from us, as it did in walk of Abraham - compassionate intercession and God’s merciful, attentiveness – to show us that there is nothing random or vengeful, in the carrying out of divine judgement. As well – and perhaps – more importantly – God, our Father – walking with us, His children – daily in a walk of faith – can use the passion of our hearts – Christ living within us – to draw all men to Him!
Father – it never ceases to amaze me – how your Word – throughout all time – has provided us with so much information about you – your heart – your passion and love for your children – and Father, your desire for an intimate walk with us.
December 16 2009 | Fathering Moments - The Daily Walk and Living in the Word | No Comments »
….this walk of faith….it’s hard! Harder some days than others – even – the stronger my faith becomes – it seems – the opposition – brings “bigger” weapons to the battle….
Walking …… Read. Gen. 16:1-2
…and Sarai said to Abram, “You see that the Lord has prevented me from bearing children; go in to my slave-girl, it may be that I shall obtain children by her.” And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai. v.2
It seems, the voices – that speak to us, advice – - while they may be born of good intentions - should be carefully examined, even feared – - perhaps as much, as those voices that speak – to us, advice – born of evil intention. Abram’s walk of faith, being so very much like our own – was undermined – by the voice of Sarai’s good intentions! Trouble was – the voice of Sarai, no matter how sincere and genuine - was not the voice of God! Curious enough - Abram’s faith – had been developing, in his daily walk – - -I mean, so recently – Abram, was in conversation with the Father – asking tough questions of the human heart – and receiving Fatherly redirection and guidance and renewed promise. I suppose - it seems a bit “back and forth” – on Abram’s part to now be listening to the voice of Sarai – and taking control of the management of God’s plan and promise. Hello?!?
There are usually – plenty of “voices” to listen to – especially voices that are “willing” to give us advice – of one sort or another.
My prayer is that You will provide for me – Father – ”clarity” - in distinguishing the voices around me that are genuinely trying to help me along the way of faith. Remind me of your voice - Father – when voices speak – and though – my heart may be captivated by their advisory – help me to discriminate – the sound of Your voice - among the good intentions – - and separate – Your will – from bad advice. In childlike faith – Father accept me into your presence – to ask again and again and again – for your Fatherly redirection – guidance and renewed promise – in your grace and mercy. Amen
Walking …… Read. Gen. 16:3-6
Yes, “the plan” – well, it worked – but the results – were rather unpleasant. Of course – as children – that is pretty much the normal way things go - we get what we wanted – and then - we find out – that we don’t really like - what we wanted – after all! Hello!?! – - – I am so – shaking my guilty-head - from side to side – with a childish and ashamed look on my face.
Father, I realize – that so often, the pattern of my behavior is - that, one minute I am selflessly determined to get your will done in those around me – and the next minute I am upset and troubled, because I don’t like the way I am being treated – nor the consequences, of my selfish choices. I am too often narrow-minded and emotionally small. Forgive me. Teach me a deeper faith – and walk forever with me. Amen
Walking …… Read. Gen. 16:1-16
“The angel of the lord found her…” v.7
Mistakes! Sin! Selfish choices! – - – Our lives are fraught with them! – - – I suppose….one of the most difficult mistakes we make …. to overcome – is the kind of mistake that causes other people – especially those we love – to hurt – or to be affected, by our mistake. Truth is – most all sin – has consequences that affect others – one way or another. Hagar – running away from the consequences of Abram’s sin and Sarai’s jealous anger – was met by the angel of the Lord – near a spring in the desert. – - - How to make things “right” – when things have gone “so wrong”? – - – How - indeed – to stop the momentum of the consequences – flowing from the mistakes and sin – of selfish choices? Abram and Sarai’s – lack of faith in the promise of God - is going to wreak havoc, far down through the centuries – and there is only one way to handle our sin!
Consider – that as bad as things seem – and as consequential as these sins were down through the ages ….. the answer – then - in the form of the “angel of the Lord” – who Hagar named as - ”the God who sees me” - Beer Lahai Roi – and the answer now – in the form of Jesus Christ – Emmanuel – God With Us – Is the same! God is greater than all our sin!
In my journey – in my walk of faith - I am begining to realize – God – my Father - that in running from the consequences of other peoples sin – there is no escape – on my own! And – Father – I realize, too - that there is no escape for other’s – from the consequences of my sin – on their own! Mistakes! Sin! Selfish choices! – Our lives are all – fraught with them! But Father, my God – as your children in this life – we are all bound up, together - in the same covenant relationship with You. The covenant you made and fulfilled in the life of our Father Abraham – and the covenant and promise of Salvation – for all of your children - fulfilled in the life and death and ressurection of your son Jesus Christ! Your mercy leads us. You are the God who sees us – and you, are greater than all our sin! Forgive us and save us – through Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen
Walking …… Read. Gen. 17:1-14
No longer shall your name be Abram – but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you the ancestor of a multitude of nations.
Abram was 86 years old when Hagar bore him his son, Ishmael. 13 years later – at 99 – the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am almighty God; walk before me and be blameless. I will confirm my covenant between me and you and will greatly increase your numbers.” - – - Face down on the ground – the promise of Lord, that He had been working, in the life of Abraham and his daily walk of faith – - – the promise that would provide for all God’s children, Eternal Salvation - - - Explodes! – sharpens! -and was revived! Abram’s name was changed from “father exhalted” – to “father of a multitude”, father Abraham. Down through the years of waiting – fearing – battling – stumbling – and walking – God’s promise was not impaired nor diminished!
I too often, allow challenges to my faith, in my daily walk – to diminsh the expectations, within me, of your promises. My impaired expectations – fail to allow for You to unfold them, in your own good time – with all the splendor they are due - in the covenant relationship - between you and your children. Help me, Father – to remain more consistently – in a position of trusting belief and determined faith, in the Glory of your Promises – to listen closely for you to speak – and to trust in what you say. Do not allow me, Father - to reduce your promises - in order to fit them into my diminished expectations – instead – help me to respond daily, in faith - and to be acutely aware of the developing fulfilment of your promises. Amen
Walking …… Read. Gen. 17:15-17
Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed, and said to himself, “Can a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Can Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?” v.17
Face down on the ground, again – Abraham falls – while this time, in a fit of laughter!? Abraham’s laughter, is not born of a merry or jolly spirit! - rising up from the belly. Rather, his laughter was born of complete amazement and of disbelief! Lack of faith! - rising out of the chest region, closer to the heart, where human emotion and rational belief come together, face to face and – colide! And in his disbelief, Abraham cries out in laughter – in the face of a faithful Father – and proceeds, once again - to assume control from God and try to persuade Him - to use what is a “sure thing”, in Ishmael. I understand. I even relate to Abraham being impatient, with the dangers and the unpredictability of faith. Perhaps, it is the hardest part of our daily walk in faith – to give IT ALL to the LORD! It is our nature, to strive to take some responsibility – for the way things turn out! But God will not be distracted from His Will to work His Promises, in our lives. * To steal a line from Queen Victoria, the Lord say’s – something like – “I am not amused”. He will not be – “pleasantly occupied” or distracted - by our disbelief! In our belief – we must be willing to go all the way! We must be willing to stand aside and trust the LORD – to do His Will!
Father, sometimes there are things that are hard for me to believe! And when the emotions of my heart colide with rational belief – - - Father, too many times – I fail to remain – faithful in my trust in You – to do Your Will, not mine. I say that I believe God, but too often I don’t act like it. I am such a child of faith. I desperately need You, to walk hand in hand with me daily, as my Father – teaching me your ways and your will! Help me to learn to become aware, of the “great mysteries” of your promises and your will in my life. Make me a sponge, Father – so that I can ”soak up” the wisdom of your ways and absorb them into my innermost being – such that - I may live them out in my daily walk – spontaneously. By your grace and your mercy and your love – Father, bless me this way. Amen
November 01 2009 | Fathering Moments - The Daily Walk and Living in the Word | No Comments »
These are the days of Abram…..by faith…..
Walking ….. Read. Gen. 14:1-12
…these kings made war…v.1,2
The personal story of Abram and his daily walk of faith – is challenging to me – as I see the humanity and the imperfection – that Abram struggled with – yet – God walked with him – daily and worked within him – and all around him – to perfect His divine plans – which ultimately found their blessing – falling on me! – In Jesus. Abram’s walk – this day – found him surrounded, as it were - with the sounds and smells of war – raging all around and threatening the life of Lot and his family. I suppose a lesson here might be that Faith - is not often – fully developed - in quiet - peaceful – out-of-the-way places - in the wilderness - rather - our Faith must sometimes weather the trials of - destructive people and events - emotional, and even physical violence – relational power struggles – and even wars – of one sort or another – to find its true meaning.
Father God - I long for faith – to live by – daily – give me the courage to come face to face with the forces – that bring fire to the battle – and develop within me a sincere and tested faith. Help me, Father – not to avoid the tests of faith – but to lean into them – putting more and more of my trust in you. Help me to also be obedient to your command and to follow your leadership in the battles that rise up before me. Amen
Walking ….. Read. Gen. 14:13-24
“I will take nothing but what the young men have eaten, and the share of the men who went with me – Aner, Eschol, and Mamre. Let them take their shares.” v.24
Abram refused to follow the typical tactics of a victorious king - positioning himself - in the spoils of battle – Rather – he gives! He uses this interuption in his daily walk and the victory of the Lord – to strengthen his faith and glorify his God.
When I am prosperous or victorious – I am tempted to position myself – above others and above my true worth. Father, give me the faith of Abram – such that whether in victory or in defeat - I will give You the Glory and the praise - with the same zeal of spirit – in times of blessing and in times of suffering! Amen
Walking ….. Read. Gen. 15:1-6
He brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” v.5
Like me – Abram - stumbled – in his daily walk - and still our Father – is consistent in His Promises. The calendar of our days – turns through the pages of time. And for Abram – a considerable amount of time had passed – but there was still – no child – to confirm the promise. I can understand - the pestering question – that kept crawling up the back of Abram’s throat. How long is it possible to live by faith – without some confirmation - in everyday life? How child-like is that? It might seem to be a “troublesome” question – to be asking God – But – Abram’s Father – God - addresses Abram’s question – by shifting his attention from “his feet” - to “His heavens”.
Lord – I am too often looking in the wrong direction. And when I am looking too close to my own feet – it is easy for me to become distracted by the lack of resources I find to deal with the challenges of life’s big questions. Father - Help me to look beyond my own understanding - I will look up – to the plans and promises you have in mind for me. When promises - Lord – Blessings – seem to be falling all around me – but not on me – Help me to look to your Heaven’s and be content and faithful and humble and patient in the waiting and in the walking. Amen
Walking ….. Read. Gen. 15:7-11
….”how can I know”……. v.8
Questions of faith - in fact – sometimes make us feel like we are being – unfaithful. Abram believed - although he also - asked questions. Our Father – is our father when we believe - and He is also our father when we ask questions. God hears our questions.
Father – in my faith – give me the sense of relationship that comforts me to bring before you my curious questions – the hard questions – that sometimes I allow to come between you and me. Father, teach me how to bring the questions of my heart to you for consideration. Help me – in relationship with you – to bring my doubting questions – as well as my faithful obedience - in to your presence. Father – teach me to ASK – SEEK – and KNOCK. Amen
Walking ….. Read. Gen. 15:12-21
On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your descendants I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates….” v.18
It seems that - sincere – genuine – commitment - in a daily walk of faith – does not - necessarily – mean that ”things” will get done – in a hurry. Maturity in faith – more often than not – requires that - we wait a lot. Abram’s walk with God - into the “unknown” – led him into - a land of wickedness – and darkness – and the Lord taught him – that promises are often fulfilled through the centuries – and not without - a considerable amount of suffering. The finer details of Abram’s vision are not totally clear- but one thing does seem to be clear - Abram and the Father - God, were connected – in Relationship – in a daily – walking relationship – on a deeper level than seeing – they were in covenant relationship – bound together – Father and Son – human faith & faithful God.
I am so very often self-centered in my faith, dear God. Too often I find myself “hung-up” on what I will get out of it and when. My faith is – indeed child-like – for I am such a child – in this relationship. Bring me into a deeper level of seeing – the larger picture and help me to be more in relationship with your plans and promises – and help me to walk more closely with you – each day – in human faith – in a faithful God. Help me not to become impatient with my circumstances and instead – walk – with you – in trusting faith. Amen
October 15 2009 | Fathering Moments - The Daily Walk and Living in the Word | No Comments »
Abram’s walk – much like our own walk – found him – too ….. stumbling ….. questioning …. fearful – with an anxious spirit …. and in battle …..
Pick up a copy of The Word and let’s go for a Walk -with Abram! Go on – get your Bible
Walking …… Read. Gen. 12:10-16
“Now there was a famine in the land. So Abram went down to Egypt to reside there as an alien, for the famine was severe in the land.” v.10
While Abram took his first steps in his walk with God - full of faith - it wasn’t long before an anxious spirit began to work against Abram – “Crisis Moments” perhaps, shook Abram’s faith – such that – can you believe that he was willing to risk his wife! - to save his own life?!?
God’s purpose – God’s plans - not only surrounded Abram when his faith was strong - but in his anxious moments - as well. While Abram stumbled in his walk of faith – much like we, too – abandon our faith and forumulate plans of our own making — God – continued - faithful!
Father - as I walk each day – keep me close to you – keep me faithful. I wobble and I stumble. In crisis moments - an anxious spirit and fear – like a fog – rolls in and hides from me – your promises – and challenges - my faith. But Father - when I stumble - you do not leave me. Thank you for your ever-constant grace and mercy. Amen
Walking ….. Read. Gen.12:17-20
“Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ so that I took her for my wife? Now then, here is your wife, take her, and be gone.” v.19
Consider – that our Father – remains our Father – even when we loose sight of His promises and stumble in our walk. Even more – consider – that we do not need to ever be afraid or overcome by an anxious spirit – because our faith is in a Father who will never leave us. When we walk with God – we stumble – boy do we! – never-the-less – in those moments when we loose faith – It is the very image and purpose of our Father – within us – that those who threaten us -must ultimately deal with – whether they are aware of it or not. I suppose the question is – are we aware of it? How do we view God? In Relationship?
Thank you Father - for being so true to me – In Relationship – even when I stumble! Help me stand firm in your faithfulness and to be more aware of how you work in all people – and in all events – not just in those that I decide - are worthy of Your purpose and Your will. Help me to consider how your faithfulness -provided for Abram – a way out of his mistakes – and a path forward – toward your plans for Him – in his walk with you. Help me to view you, Father – In Relationship – and in deeper trust – such that I will stumble less – yet – when I do stumble – help me to remain aware – of how you continue to work your Will for my life – as I return daily to our walk – together. You are an Awesome God! Amen
Walking ….. Read. Gen. 13:1-7
So Abram went up from Egypt, he and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the Negev. v.1
Change – Things have changed - Abram has become very wealthy and now he finds himself in a very different position. He has just been down in Egypt – burdened by an anxious spirit - barely surviving – with his life and now he is abundantly rich - faced with the problem of too much! It has been said that poverty brings with it one set of problems – while wealth – another. The extremes – are often difficult to avoid. Finding the “humility and contentment of the middle ground” – now, there’s a challenge to faith. I find it interesting that Abram traveled from place to place – until he came to Bethel – to the very place where he had first built an altar – where he must have been reminded – of his covenant with God – and where he surely considered – to one degree or another – that in his Walk – he had let “extreme changes”, “foolish pride” and “selfish plans” – rob precious Fathering Moments from his walk with God. He built another altar and Abram called on the name of the Lord.
Help me, Father – to avoid the extremes – the dangerous “edges”. Whether I have a lot or little - Father, lead me into a faith relationship with You - that seeks your plans and your kingdom first! Remind me, Father – often – of your promises – and more clearly – as we walk together - keep me humble and content. Teach me that poverty is not a curse – nor is wealth a blessing. In my daily walk - in whatever condition I find myself - I will be content - in pursuing your will. Amen
Walking ….. Read. Gen. 13:8-13
Then Abram said to Lot, “Let there be no strife between you and me, and between your herders and my herders; for we are kindred.” v.8
I suppose – it would be more common, than not – to find a stingy/greedy spirit – associated with “abundance” – rather than – a generous one. Abundance does tend to make us want more. But Abram was generous. It was far more important to him to – nurture “kindred” relationships – than position himself and his possessions – above others.
Dear Lord - nurture within me a generous spirit. I don’t want to be a person who ”clings to things”. Make me aware of how posessions – or the lack of them – in abundance – can affect my relationship with you. Help me to be a person who freely gives and shares – Thank your Father for such a gift of blessing – in Jesus Christ, my Savior. Amen
Walking ….. Read. Gen. 13:14-18
“…for all the land that you see – I will give to you and to your offspring forever.” v.15
Abram’s giving spirit released the best of the land to Lot and in return – God blessed Abram – with more. So Abram moved his tents and went to live near the great trees of Mamre, at Hebron where he built an altar to the Lord – sound familiar? - and with eyes of faith Abram focused his vision on the plans and promises of his Father. Perhaps – human ambition – could be said to be one of the most destructive forces – against faith. Consider how this walk began. Read Gen. 12:1-3, again. Consider the walk so far. How much farther and deeper – can the eyes of faith see - than the eyes of ambition?
Dear God, sometimes my sight is focused to near to my feet and I fail to see the land of promise and blessing you have stretched out before me - beyond even – the horizon. Help me to look for your plans and promises – as I lift up eyes of faith. Amen
September 01 2009 | Fathering Moments - The Daily Walk and Living in the Word | No Comments »
Adam walked with God – in the garden and – by Faith – Enoch walked with God (Genesis 5) – and Noah, too – walked with God and found favor in His Eyes (Genesis 6) – and now – Abram was called alone and he walked with God……
“Abram traveled through the land as far as the site of the great tree of Moreh, at Shechem. The Canaanites were then in the land, but the Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built an altar there to the Lord, who had appeared to him.” Genesis 12:6-7 NIV
Isaiah 51:2 “Look to Abraham your father, And to Sarah who bore you; For I called him alone, and blessed him and increased him.” KJV
“When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty; walk before me and be blameless.” Genesis 17:1
….and in obedient faith and trust – he went out, not knowing where he was going. Hebrews 11.
It seems that – what God had in mind for Enoch, Noah and for Abram – He needed them – to one degree or another - to walk with Him, alone – In His Presence - In Relationship – Walking with Him – Daily.
For what God – has in mind for you and me - too! – I believe – He desires for us – to one degree or another – to walk with Him, alone - In His Presence - In Relationship – Walking with Him – Daily. Sunday – right through – to Saturday!
I enjoy – perhaps more than anything else! - about my relationship with God – - His daily presence – when we – are walking, together…… Does that make sense?
It seems to me – that perhaps – what our Father is calling us to - more than anything else – is to a Daily Walk – In Relationship - a walk of faith - obedience and trust. Can you imagine – our Father’s point of view – in those precious moments and days following creation – walking with His children – in the garden – that must have been the most satisfying experience of – what – true Fatherhood - can be about! Walking with His children – in the garden. What an incredible scene that must have been!!
While – it seems – that – that kind of relationship with our Father is all too often – taken for granted. —- Consider that - if we only ”Walk with God” - in moments – of crisis – for instance – as I believe we are sometimes prone to do – then our relationship with our Father is exponentially diminished – from that original scene. Rather – it seems to me – that we only really - begin to experience true pleasure and appreciation for God’s presence - when we – Walk With God – Daily – through the – more common – ordinary – moments of life - - and, not so much – in those more - “miraculous” moments.
……Stay with me here!…..
In recent years – I have had the opportunity to be – very close – to several - family members and friends – when – critical illness - brought us all - in relationship – at the feet of hospital beds and on our knees – in the presence of the Father – in prayer. In those “crisis” moments – even as we were – in every way – clamouring to be close - to one-another and to the presence of our God – to feel Him there – with us – even to humbly lay before Him our emotions and our deepest feelings – on behalf of those whom we loved – who were suffering – - In those crisis moments – when we were in consultation with doctors and medical staff – who were providing vital care for our loved ones – - in those “crisis moments” - I don’t remember – getting anyone’s telephone number, for instance - or whipping out our calendars or pda’s - and making plans for lunch or to go fishing, etc. The kind of daily walking exercises that build friendship and relationship…..
……Ok. Ok. Don’t loose me here…….
What I am trying to describe is that – sometimes – it seems – that – too often - we tend to approach God – “about Relationship” – more than - ”in Relationship“ - and too often – only in crisis. I mean – we trust Him and we get very obedient and serious about faith – when we need Him to get us through an emergency and although we do appreciate Him – and are certainly – genuinely, thankful for His presence – - - after the crisis moments are over – we dont necessarily – stay in touch with Him – we don’t necessarily – keep joining Him for a Daily Walk…..
What I get from these stories of men who – Walked with God – (Enoch, Noah and Abram) – is that – our God – our Father – desires a sincere – daily walking – relationship – with His children – in order to work the plans He has for us – in this life. It seems to me that if our walk with Him isn’t daily – our willingness and readiness – to obey Him will eventually – just – fade away. I mean – faith and obedience - are based on trust - and trust – grows from a day-to-day relationship.
I do know from some experience – that when you no longer are able – to “walk daily” with your child – something goes missing. Perhaps – that is what we miss, as parents – when our young one’s – “leave the nest” – - the Daily Walk. The fathering and mothering MOMENTS! I believe Our Father – misses – the “Fathering Moments” – with us – when we are not walking with Him daily – much the way I miss them when my child is not “walking in my presence, daily.” Does that make sense?
God tells us – through His prophet, Jeremiah (29:11-13) - that our Father - is the One with “the plan”: “For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.’” I (with all of my ”well laid plans”) have absolutely no clue – where the paths I make – will ultimately lead! My best made plans – amount to little more than – dreams and wishes – while – what God has planned – for me -brings me – face to face with blessings – the likes of which – no eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has ever conceived or imagined! 1 Corinthians 2:9.
It seems to me that it is in – the Fathering Moments – that come when I am Walking with God - Daily – in faithful obedience and trust - keeping His number in my re-dial, putting time with Him on my daily calendar of events, discussing His plans for my life over lunch, planning a fishing trip - being in relationship – - that seems to be where the deeper lesson of Enoch – Noah and Abram – is found.
Consider that our Father – walks through the days of our lives – too often – alone – while we are busy filling the calendar of our days – with our own plans – sometimes struggling against fear and worry and a timid spirit – often our days are filled with a great many distractions – that we too often – disquise as – some sort of plan – that we have made – for our lives – to achieve some self-made-ish goals.
I suppose – the challenge of Walking with God – daily – amounts to how we view God – In Relationship. I mean, do we only – reach out for Relationship and Blessing – in the crisis moments of our lives? Or are we – walking with God – in the common – ordinary moments of everyday life – and learning to lean on Him in all things – for guidance?
Our Father – desires to walk with us – daily – on the path toward the plans He has for our destiny – in Him and in His Will.
We too, often – busy our days – looking back – on the pain and mistakes and habits of the past - while He is walking through the days of our lives – looking forward – toward His plan for our lives. Often, too – we busy our days with the worries and anxieties of our own plans and pursue our own destiny – while our Father – - – well,…… is missing out on all of those precious Fathering Moments – with His children.
Do we see how God desires – for us to - daily – walk with Him? Do we get that we are missing out on Fathering Moments! – when we are walking without Him?
Time is precious enough – the importance of time – Walking with our Father – cannot be over emphasized!
How do we fill the days of our lives? Where do we go? Who’s plan are we following? What more important things could we be doing with our days?
What blessings? – are we missing – on the days that we are not - walking with God?
Consider that Walking consistently – does not mean perfectly. It means we may stumble, but we will not fall! Abram stumbled – but he remained faithful in his walk with God.
It is interesting that Abram – as he was - walking with God – along the path and toward the plan that God had for him – chose a camping spot under the Terebinth tree of Moreh – rather than entering some of the cities of the land of the Canaanites. He certainly – could have seen the arrival at the “gateway” to the promised land – as an attractive alternative to the past days and months of wandering about the land. I can imagine he might have felt the urge to put a ”plan of his own making” to work.
Instead, Abram - remained faithful – in his walk with God. I believe it is possible that Abraham – was aware – to one degree or another of – the Fathering Moments that were occuring in his walk with God – and he did not want to miss a moment! Neither do I!
It is interesting that – God called Abram to himself – alone and at the tree of Moreh - Abram made an altar – before moving further into the land – and waited for God to point him more specifically into the land – that was spread out before him. Abram remained focused – on the promises God had made to him.
For me, when I am walking with God, alone - detached from the distractions of this present world, I hear the voice of God with increased clarity. It is in these – common – ordinary moments, alone – with God -that I truly feel that I better understand His will and His plan, for my life’s daily walk. It is in these moments that my Father – spends time with me being – my Father.
Very often, I find myself struggling to remain in this position, in my relationship with the Father – especially after returning to the crowds and the business of modern living. Almost immediately, I begin to chart my own path and make my own plans.
Father, hear my prayer this day. Draw me to your presence – everyday. Help me to remain focused on your will in my daily living, as I am surrounded by so many distractions. Help me to keep my sites set on things above. Help me to choose calm places to wait – with you and for you – to show me the “land” you would have me travel in. I love you, Father God. I place you, in the highest place. I long to walk with you – and never – Father – I never want to miss – a single Fathering Moment – with you. You are my God! I am your child!
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
August 18 2009 | Fathering Moments - The Daily Walk and Living in the Word | No Comments »