Just some early morning thoughts from me to you…
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?…
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 8: 35, 37-39 (NIV)
“Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord and not for people, knowing that it is from the Lord that you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.”
Colossians 3: 23-24 (NASB)
Yesterday was Father’s Day.
I try to convince myself that I am doing a good job in my role as a Father.
I hope that I am. I hope I am God-centered, loving, affirming, encouraging, supportive enough to warrant a smile from the God I try to serve as the Apostle Paul reminds me to do in the passage from Colossians.
But I know I also fall short at times.
Because there have been times when God has poked me about something I need to do, or needed to do, and should do differently the next time.
And if not a poke from Him, a gentle one from my bride.
Two good places for me to look, and to listen, anticipating an occasional poke.
All trying to help me get it right.
Along with those pokes from a few other men who set a good example for me through the years.
Including my own son as he continues to love, mentor, advise, guide, respect, protect, and care for his two precious daughters. A Godly example worth following.
Because my friends, the world will pull us and call us to be someone different in the roles God entrusts to us.
Often suggesting to us that life is really about us, not about those sacred trusts God has given us.
Pulling us to think about ourselves, our image, our status, success, our comfort, and the stuff we can acquire. Often positioning at least one more ladder before us to climb, reaching for one more brass ring of success, money, status, wins, access, and applause.
While those sacred gifts He has entrusted to us—watch us, wait for us, wanting time with us, and a needed touch, direction, and affirmation.
And when we follow the world’s ways, those sacred gifts God has given to us in all the roles we occupy, become less than they could have been.
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ…?”
The Apostle Paul, inspired by God to write Romans, asks that question, and then makes it clear that nothing can separate us from the love of Christ.
God and His love are always there for you and for me.
But do we look to Him, do we seek after Him, do we spend time in His love and presence, sit on His lap, and fellowship with Him, and hold onto His back and follow Him as He leads us on our life journey?
Or do we put Him in box, then go off on our own way.
And miss all the fullness of the blessings of each sacred gift God has given us—to love, lift, nurture, shelter, help, encourage, and walk with every moment of their lives.
Whoever they are—family, friends, folks needing a lift up in life, fellow travelers, maybe someone who God places before us unexpectedly, whomever.
Where do we look to find the strength, the wisdom, protection, and encouragement we need to be all He created us to be, and all He created us to be for those other sacred lives entrusted to us who need us?
Our beloved Whitney Houston, sang the answer to that question, before she left us to her seat in Heaven, in the song below, when she sang— “I Look to You.”
That should do it for all our days.
Where do we look?
Look to God—Always!
In His Name–Scott
You will be blessed by this video of Whitney Houston in which she sings “I Look to Him.”
