TO EVERY MAN

Jim Harris

· To every man who married a woman and fathered children in that context:

Thank you sir!

To every man whose greatest goal of fatherhood was to win his children to Jesus Christ:

Thank you sir!

To every man who trained his children to honor God:

Thank you sir!

To every man who taught his children to love their mother:

Thank you sir!

To every man who poured love into his children:

Thank you sir!

To every man who taught his children respect for others:

Thank you sir!

To every man who instilled a work ethic into his children:

Thank you sir!To every man who in love disciplined an unruly child:

Thank you sir!

To every man who walked with God consistently:

Thank you sir!

To every man who taught his children to live life in dependence on God not government:

Thank you sir!

To every man who taught his children that life does not orbit around them:

Thank you sir!

To every man who taught his children to keep their word:

Thank you sir!

To every man who is the very embodiment of character, integrity, honor, decency, and godliness:

Thank you sir!

May you have a wonderful Father’s Day…Thank you sir!

Help We Need

(Exodus 17:9-12) And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: to morrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand. [10] So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek: and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. [11] And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. [12] But Moses’ hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.

We all need people like Aaron and Hur in our life. We all can be people like that for others. That is how God’s will is accomplished in and through us. Our success is in many ways dependent upon the support of others. Any success I’ve had in ministry is because of my wife, my children, my friends, and my church families held up my arms in so many ways.

A supportive person is not only needed during difficult times, but also during good times. When you support others, you encourage them, help them grow spiritually, even to the point that they exceed your own level of growth or ability. You use your strengths, capabilities, and skills to lift the other person above yourself.

This is an important way for our love to be reflected in our marriages, in our children, in our families, in our workplace, and in our church. There will be times when you need support, and times when you need to give it. Who is holding up your arms? Whose arms are you holding up?

WALKING WITH GOD

William Andrew Dillard

“That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man.” —Ephesians 3:16

It was all in fun because that is what young teenagers are about. Halloween had come and a thirteen year old was allowed to join his friends, but under stipulation that he not leave the neighborhood. Of course he agreed, anything to secure permission.

However, the consensus of the group was to walk the mile to the drive-in movie theater. How could the young boy resist by admitting his parents would not allow it? He caved to group-think!

Exiting the theater on foot, there were a lot of cars exiting and flooding the streets with lights. The teen group proceeded to cross the main highway, but the boy did not see the oncoming car that slammed into his body sending it hurling in the air and crashing down on the hard concrete.

The ambulance ride to Sparks Hospital was filled with confused amazement and fear. “Is death coming?” “If he survives, what will he tell his parents?”

When the boy’s father appeared in the emergency room, all the lad could do was confess in tears that he was so sorry that he had disobeyed. It was then that his father reached out to him in kindness and in tears of his own brought love to the forefront, thanking God that life has been spared.

In the months to follow there would be surgeries and slings, and lifelong scars to bear witness of the grace of a loving heavenly Father, and a loving earthly father.

The arm that was not supposed to grow to full development did so, and the extended time to sort out the meaning of it all brought a solidified conclusion. Earthly fathers may dearly love their children, but the Heavenly Father loves them more, and He wants them to walk in obedience.

As the years passed and the young teenager grew into adulthood, that terrifying incident continues to be viewed with deep thanksgiving. What a remarkable relationship that lad had with his earthly father, and what an astounding relationship was his with his Heavenly Father. What a blessed perspective of life, love, and goodness, and it all comes so freely though the Lord Jesus Christ! This perspective has served as the unbreakable tether in the toughest of trials.

It really is true that none of us are equipped to handle all the problems that life will serve up. But God is more that sufficient who can bless us exceedingly abundantly more than we think or ask.

Walking with Jesus is dependent upon the state of our heart. When that is right, we will be blessed in our walk with God.