Morning Moments

"I would, you would not"
Remember these words from Jesus? He said, "How often would I have gathered you as a chicken does her brood, BUT you would not." In context He was addressing Jerusalem, but there is clear application for us all.

Remember what He said about Nazareth? "He could not do many miracles THERE because of THEIR unbelief." Belief is the key to everything in the Christian walk. "All things are possible to him who believes." "Lord, I believe, help thou mine unbelief." "I am the resurrection and the life. Believest thou this?"

Growing up I was fortunate enough to have a dad I could believe. He never lied to me and I always trusted him (NOT always agreed with him). He had only a sixth grade education, but he was brilliant. For twenty eight years, he held the position of Tax Commissioner in Decatur County, Georgia. In all those years, no one ever ran against him. In all those years, even without computers, my dad never failed to balance the books and get approved audits. He kept meticulous records and wrote beautiful letters. He could type faster with his two index fingers that most can type with ten. He was a man of compassion, wisdom, and understanding and was often sought for his counsel. That was MY dad! I bear his name as a badge of honor and humility. He's been with Jesus since 1981.

Memories linger. I remember visiting home once, being awakened in the night by sobs. It was my dad, alone with his FATHER in prayer. I remember him sitting in the floor at the church, playing with little children at 75 years of age. I remember him selling our home for far less than he could have gotten, simply because he never wanted to take advantage of anyone. I remember the privilege of ordaining him deacon of the church I pastored and baptizing my mom who was terrified of water in an old fishing pond. How many of us have those kind of memories?

My dad knew I was playing games with God, and four months to the day before I trusted Christ, he gave me a Bible. I was 25, back in college after three years in Europe in the Air Force and still playing games, but dad knew, and in the flyleaf of that Bible he wrote, "It is our prayer that you will come to know OUR Lord Jesus Christ as YOUR personal Savior..." Those words were etched in my mind and I could not escape them. My dad knew. I had not fooled him. He knew I did not BELIEVE. He never condemned me but always expressed concern and compassion for me. And GOD captured my heart! HE began to do what my dad knew he could not do. HE began to free me from the hidden fear of being "half the man" dad was. HE began the arduous task of conforming me, not to the image of my dad, but to the image of GOD'S DEAR SON, my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

PRAYER: Dear Father, teach us to be men and women of God who are TRUSTING and TRUSTWORTHY. Who BELIEVE regardless. Teach us to believe when it seems impossible. Teach us that regardless of what goes on politically, domestically, vocationally, emotionally, financially, or intellectually, we can BELIEVE that YOU are on the throne with no hope of losing that position. We can BELIEVE that your way, your work, and your will are perfect and we can trust you without fear or frustration. AMEN.