Abba, Father - 8/29/09

Psalm 127:1, "Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it" (NASB).

I love the way God uses His word to speak to me! I understand why it is called "the living word," since a verse you've read before that didn't really apply can suddenly come alive - jumping off the page to speak to your current situation.

That's what this scripture above did for me. It began with my studying Hebrew. I think the Hebrew script is beautiful, and to satisfy curiosity I have been studying it during Corban's naps. The day I finished learning all the consonants, I turned to that day's reading in the Bible which began with Psalm 119 - an acrostic poem based on the Hebrew alphabet! Originally, each verse began with one Hebrew letter. I might have considered that a coincidence, but then I clicked through a couple pages online, and suddenly was looking at my first name written in Hebrew! One of only two names on the page. I think these two "coincidences" were God's way of encouraging me to continue studying the language.

So far, I learned that the Hebrew characters began as pictures that evolved into an alphabet over time. To infer deeper meaning in the words, some people have substituted the modern letters with the original pictograms, using the meaning of those ancient pictures to get a deeper understanding of that word. For example, "El," the root word for "God," (אֵל) can be traced back to a picture of an ox and a staff, the two images together meaning "Strong Leader." Likewise, the picture-word for "father," or "abba," (אָבּ) is an ox and a house, meaning "Strength of the House."

So with this in mind, I turned to today's reading in the Bible, Psalm 127:1. It states, "Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it." Abba. Father. Strength of the House. Who is the strength of the house? God, our Father, is the Strength of the House. He is the one who must build it; He is the one who must be the foundation for my family. Jesus said in Matthew 7:24-27, "

Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash" (NIV).

I can let Jesus Christ and His teachings be the foundation for my house, and it will endure life's storms. Or, I can try to do it on my own and watch it all "fall with a great crash" when those storms come along. I am a father now, I am Abba. I am supposed to be the strength of the house. But, without a foundation built by my God, my "Strong Leader," my efforts to establish a safe home to raise and guide my family are in vain. I must rely on God's strength, not my own, to provide for my family.

If a father is to be the strength of his family, then surely the enemy will recognize that threat and attack it first. As a father then, it is important to take extra care to anticipate attacks in areas where I am weak (i.e., temptations). How many families in our country live in a house without a father, without abba? Clearly these attacks have been successful in our culture, given the number of students I have without a father in the home. Fortunately for fatherless homes, our Heavenly Father can be our Abba.

He can be the strength of any house.

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Son Shine - 8/13/09

Psalm 84:1-2, 10, "How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD Almighty! My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the LORD; ... Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere..." (NIV).

Psalm 86:10, "You alone are God" (NIV)

Yesterday Melissa and I were talking about where to go on vacation at the end of the month. She's concerned that I didn't really get a summer break, having spent all my time with our newborn son. I love her. I didn't mind that, but I'll take a getaway! We kicked around a few ideas: the Oregon coast, Suncadia, and San Diego.

Ah, San Diego - my favorite U.S. city on the mainland. That night with San Diego on the mind, I read Psalm 84. This Psalm inspired the popular song by Third Day, "Better Is One Day." On any other evening, coming across this Psalm may not have seemed significant. But this evening, while dreaming of the warm sands of La Jolla and Pacific Beach, I'm reminded of my mother by the Psalm I read. She and I made dozens of trips to San Diego to visit her doctor before she passed away there. This song by Third Day was always one of her favorites. The coincidence between reading this Psalm and its connection to the destination I had in mind struck me. But then, with God, there really aren't many coincidences.

I kept reading the Psalms while listening to some music. My current favorite song by Hillsong United, "Till I See You," began to play as I read Psalm 86. The very second I began reading the line of verse 10, "You alone are God," those exact words played in my headphones.

Two notable parallels in one night's reading leads me to believe there is more than mere coincidence at play here. This is how God so often speaks to me or gives me encouragement, or words of confirmation.

So, I should probably try to figure out what He's trying to tell me ... though I think I can just take it all at face value. It's true that I may be exasperated by the region in which I live and I may pine for the sunshine and warm water of California. I may want to take that walk down memory lane in San Diego; to stand in the sun and laugh with the shadows. But, all this is temporary.

Because Better Is One Day in His Courts than a thousand days in California, Belize, Hawaii, or any other sunny place I dream of returning to. My mother knows for certain that better is one day in His courts than a thousand elsewhere. And, why should I chase after the sun, when I already have the son? This may be what God is trying to make clear to me. It doesn't matter where I am, this world is temporary. True, permanent happiness can only be found in the Lord God Almighty.

You alone are God. "And that my soul knows very well," to quote another Hillsong.

All I need is Jesus. I may want more, but "all of Him is more than enough for all of me."

So, I can dream of standing in sun, or I can dream of standing in awe of the Son. That's why I like this song that played so much, because as it says, until I see my heavenly Father face to face, I can just stand as a child in awe of Him. So here are the lyrics to that song, may you be blessed by them!

"Till I See You"
by Hillsong United

The greatest love that anyone could ever know
That overcame the cross and grave to find my soul
And 'til I see You face to face and grace amazing
takes me home
I'll trust in You

With all I am I'll live to see Your kingdome come
And in my heart I pray You'd let Your will be done
And 'til I see You face to face and grace amazing
takes me home
I'll trust in You

I will live to love You
I will live to bring You praise
I will live a child in awe of You

You are the voice that called the universe to be
You are the whisper in my heart that speaks to me
And 'til I see you face to face and grace amazing
takes me home
I'll trust in You

You alone are God of all
You alone are worthy Lord
and with all I am my soul will bless Your name

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Show Them The Way - 8/9/09

Psalm 78:5-7, "We will not keep them from our children; we will tell those who come later about the praises of the Lord. We will tell about His power and the miracles He has done ... He commanded our ancestors to teach their children ... so they would all trust God and would not forget what He had done but would obey His commands."

I'm seeing a theme here in the scriptures God is speaking to my heart this week. Today again, God focused my attention on the command to teach our children. Well, I am a teacher ... mission accomplished, God!

Except of course for the content I teach. It says in verse 4 that I am to tell of His power and the miracles He has done. This can't really be done overtly in my position as a teacher if I'm to keep my job.

But, this is a good reminder in general. I believe God is trying to re-focus my purpose in working with the youth group and preparing me for my greatest responsibility as a father. It seems it didn't sink in the first time...so God brought it up again tonight.

So I am to tell them of His power, glory, and miracles. Why? The answer may seem obvious, but I like how the book of Romans answers that question. Verse 10:14, "But before people can ask the Lord for help, they must believe in Him; and before they can believe in Him, they must hear about Him; and for them to hear about the Lord, someone must tell them, and before someone can go and tell them that person must be sent."

So, I have been sent. I'm here, working for Jesus. If any of these kids want to ask the Lord for help, or if I want to ensure they spread the Good News to the next generation, I must open my mouth. I must tell them of His power and the miracles He's done, from delivering Israel from Egypt to changing the hearts of people I love. Verse 17 ties in nicely with this idea, "So faith comes from hearing the Good News, and people hear the Good News when someone tells them about Christ."

I wasn't born with my faith, someone told me about Him. And as my wife pointed out, God doesn't have grand kids. You don't inherit your parents faith, but must develop a relationship with Him on your own. It helps to listen to what people have to say about the true Jesus Christ of the Bible, let them tell you of His power - not what the hate-filled "sandwich board Christian" says on the street corner.

It's worth the effort seeking Him and learning about his power, miracles, and love! In Romans 10:11 it says, "Anyone who believes in Him will never be disappointed."

I love that!

John 14:6, "Jesus answered, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

Sharing What Is Good - 8/6/09

Proverbs 16:17, "Good people stay away from evil. By watching what they do, they protect their lives" (NASB).

Psalm 73:28, "But as for me, the nearness of God is my good; I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of your works" (NASB).

Psalm 71:18, "I will tell the children about your power; I will tell those who live after me about your might" (NIV)

Today I read Proverbs 16 again, focusing on the verse that stuck out to me yesterday. I've been thinking all day about the concept of "good people," as stated in Proverbs 16 above. I'm reminded of the man who called Jesus "good teacher," to whom he replied that nobody is good. How can I be good, as mentioned in Proverbs 16, if I am not God?

The Lord answered me this evening with the 73rd Psalm. "The nearness of God is my good. I have made the Lord my refuge, that I may tell of your works." This issue may have seemed insignificant to so many people, but it was something I needed to work out for myself. God saw this in my heart and answered my question for me. He is so great! I love how He speaks to me through his word.

Drawing near to God, and making him my refuge, leaves only one more aspect of this Psalm to live out; I must tell of His works. This theme rose briefly in yesterday's devotion in Proverbs 23, to speak what is right. So then, what will I tell of, exactly, and to whom?

Perhaps that's why Psalm 71 also spoke to me during this past day in the Psalms. "I will tell the children about your power; I will tell those who live after me about your might." I feel in my heart when reading this verse that the high school kids Melissa and I host at our house every week are the children I will share God's power with - along with my son and his generation. I will tell them all about Your power.

I pray that my words and a life lived for Jesus will tell those who live after me about his might.

Wisdom Gained - 8/5/09

Proverbs 15:31, "If you listen to correction to improve your life, you will live among the wise."

Proverbs 16:17, "Good people stay away from evil. By watching what they do, they protect their lives."

Proverbs 19:20, "Listen to advice and accept correction, and in the end you will be wise."

Proverbs 23:15-16, "My child, if you are wise, then I will be happy. I will be so pleased if you speak what is right."

As I read through Proverbs, these verses really spoke to my heart. I wrote each one down in turn, without much attention paid to the other verses I picked. I just felt like God was speaking to me through these words but wasn't sure what He was saying. After I'd finished, I read them in the order I had written them down.

My God is also my Father, and I've often looked to Him for guidance, example, and fatherly advice.

Reading these verses in this order was a pretty direct admonition and reminder from God to live rightly and speak what is right. We are all sinners and have fallen short of the glory of God, as the scripture says. Here, however, my heavenly Father offers me correction, with the added benefit of wisdom. I can accept correction and live among the wise, and in so doing I can protect my life - simply by watching what I do. I can be a "good" son by staying away from evil - as the second scripture says.

The third verse then emphasizes what the first one said - but adding that "in the end" I will be wise, indicating that wisdom is a process gained over time. So then, I am to patiently and consistently listen to advice and accept correction. Easier said than done, but my goal nevertheless.

But ultimately, and this is the verse I loved the most, God said to me through the fourth verse that I will make him happy by gaining that wisdom earned through accepting God's advice and correction. The idea that my small, seemingly insignificant actions can make the Creator of the universe happy leaves me dumbfounded. What's more, it says He will be SO pleased if I speak what is right!

Who wouldn't want to please the Lord God Almighty?