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Showing posts with label Father. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Father. Show all posts

My Father’s Valentine

0 comments Posted by Eric at 8:19 AM


It wasn’t the same every year, and I can’t be certain it was always on February 14th, but my father always made sure he expressed his love for us during this time. I don’t recall all the ways he expressed his love for us over the years, but one Sunday near Valentine’s Day I can never forget. 

The car’s engine had barely stopped spinning, and I was halfway into our house. I couldn’t wait to get my “church clothes” off and get into something more comfortable. As I rushed in the front door and began to tear through house toward my room, I stopped. No, not by the voice of my mother telling me not to run in the house, rather by what I saw. 
Most Sundays after church, while mom and dad got dinner ready, it was the job of us kids to set the table with the “good (or Sunday) China.”  But not today; the table was already finished. Moreover, each place setting was topped off with ornate heart-shaped boxes filled with chocolates. It didn’t take long to discern who was responsible for this scene; two clues gave it away. Dad’s plate was noticeably empty, while Mom’s plate was lost under the largest heart on the table.  Although Dad loved us all it was clear who was his Valentine. 
That didn’t matter, in fact in many ways it was refreshing to see how much my dad loved my mom. Besides, I know he loved me too. This clearly displayed how much by father thought of, cared for, and loved each of his five children. As I stood silenced by my Father’s actions, I felt loved - my dad thought of and cared for me. His actions plainly demonstrated it. I was special to him. I was my father’s valentine. In return, I couldn’t help but love him back. 
Yet, as wonderful as my father’s expression of love was, there is one Valentine’s gift greater still; given us by our Heavenly Father - the gift of Christ. I John 4:9-10 says, “This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”
The first Valentine ever given wasn’t a box of chocolates or dozen roses, it was God’s one and only Son. Jesus was sent not simply to be our teacher, example, or miracle worker; but as our replacement, our redemption, our salvation. Because of our sin, we deserve death and can never enter into the presence of God. Yet, because of His great love for us, God wasn’t going to let that happen. As a result, He did the only thing that could change our condition. He sent His Son, who was without sin to pay for ours. 
Out of perfect Love, God gave everything so we could be with Him. Christ not only took our sin, but God gives us His righteousness. 2 Corinthians 5:21 “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”  God’s Love not only paid our debt, but credited our account as well. 
Yes. The first and greatest act of love came from God. According 1 John 4:19 “We love because he first loved us.”  We are only able to love others, because God first loved us! For God is the origin and source of all true love. When one has experienced His Love, the response is simple; he can’t help but love God in return. Moreover, our ability and capacity to love others overflows from God’s love in us. As we experience God’s Redeeming Love, we are enabled and excited to extend it to those around us.

 

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A Faith-Filled Father

0 comments Posted by Eric at 7:00 AM

I’m not one for protests. I don’t particularly like picketing, nor am I an activist. However, there is one cause that needs more attention: fatherhood. It’s no secret, fatherhood (and Biblical manhood), is rapidly becoming extinct. Today, many lack a solid father figure in their life: or the life of their children. Others are left wounded, hurting, and in some extreme cases bitter by the difficult experiences shared with their dad. 

Many men today desire to be a great dad and yet have no idea who to be one. This is too bad, for even Sigmund Freud correctly stated the importance of fatherhood when he said,  “I cannot think of any need in childhood as strong as the need for a father's protection.” What makes a good Dad? One who is Faith-Filled. 

There is not a better example than the Father of Nations, Abraham. In Genesis 22:1-17, we read of the time when God asked Abraham to sacrifice his only son, his own heir, the one promised to him by God himself. In this account we see four distinct Characteristics of a Faith-Filled Father.

A Faith-Filled Father: Listens to the Lord. Throughout his life Abraham listened to God. From the calling out from his own land into a new one, from the warning against Sodom & Gomorrah to the  promise of a son; he listened. And this time was no different. In verses 1-2 when the Lord came and spoke to Abraham; he listened. Not just to part of what God said, but to all of it. He didn’t tune God out when half way through, nor did he argue with the Lord. He simply listened.


A Faith-Filled Father: Obeys the Lord. Abraham didn’t waste any time. Verses 3 tell of his immediate obedience. “Early the next morning Abraham got up and saddled his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac.” He didn’t ask God again, or wait for another sign to confirm what was said. He didn’t dilly dally around, instead he acted in direct and immediate obedience to God. Leaving early in the morning, despite how crazy the request of sacrificing his son seemed, he obeyed holding nothing back.


A Faith-Filled Father: Trusts the Lord. It didn’t take Isaac long to notice the missing element, a lamb; and when he questioned his father about it Abraham replied in verse 8. “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” Abraham had a complete and confident trust in the Lord; holding nothing back, not even his own son. He trusted God to keep His promise to bless the whole world through his seed.

A Faith-Filled Father: is Blessed by the Lord. As Abraham walked in faith and obedience, God stopped him from killing his son, and instead provided a substitute sacrifice, giving Abraham his son back. As they finished offering up the ram, the Lord spoke again, confirming the promise He had made many years ago. That it was through Abraham’s offspring all nations would be blessed, and saved. 

A FAITH-FILLED Father places God before anything; including himself and his family. He is constantly listening to hear God’s plan for his life and his family, is willing to trust and obey no matter how crazy God’s call seems, and to stand blessed by Him in this life and the one to come. 

 

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Waking up to see Dad

0 comments Posted by Eric at 7:00 AM

The buzzing of the alarm, the chirping of the birds, the crack of thunder, or rustling of the wind through the leaves; there are many sounds that can wake us each morning. However, none quite compare to the sound of little feet.

Most mornings, before my alarm sounds or the song of the birds reach my ears, I am awakened by the sound of little feet racing across the hardwood floors at our home. Soon the hinges on our bedroom door begins to squeak and before I know it, our bed has some extra occupants, a five and three year old.

Although, this has happened for years, it never ceases to amaze me. The first thing my kids want to do each morning is to be with their dad. They don’t reach for the remote, or rush off to play with their toys. No, they simply want to be with me. If I have gotten up before they have stirred, they quickly leave our bedroom and set out on a hunt to find me.

But what about us? What do we seek out each morning? Coffee? Breakfast? A shower? The paper?  Or maybe it’s the snooze button. Yet should’t we reach for something else?

Consider the words of David in Psalm 63:1 “O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water.” Likewise the Prophet Isaiah said “All night long I search for you; in the morning I earnestly seek for God.” (Isaiah 26:9)

Each morning before our day begins there is a need, a desire, a blessing in seeking God through His Word and Prayer; feeding our spiritual life as we do our physical one. Receiving nourishment, strength, refreshment, and encouragement for the day ahead. We are reminded that our sins are forgiven, that we are His, and that this day was made by Him for Him.

Before you reach for your morning caffeine or hit the snooze button one more time, grab your Bible and crawl up into your Abba Father’s lap and enjoy some time with your Dad.

I hope you are eager to see and spend time with your heavenly Father first thing each day.

 

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