Trustworthiness

To trust someone is to know that he will stand beside you - that he won't cut and run when the going gets tough.  Preston Gillham says, "Trust is the confidence that continues to believe, even if what you believe appears to be untrue.  To my way of thinking, trust is one step deeper than faith".

We are in a war - a spiritual war - and we need people around us we can trust to cover our backs - people who put our well-being ahead of their own.  We need men who care enough about us and have our best interest at heart so much that they are willing to challenge our actions and decisions even if we get angry with them.

Men who are trustworthy are dependable.  Can he be counted upon?  Is his word his bond?  Are his wife, children, and friends confident that he will be there for them when times are tough?  A man who is dependable can be counted on to do what is best for you and others around him.

These are the kind of men we need as leaders.  The Bible puts it this way:  "But select capable men from all the people, men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain; and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens.  Have them serve as judges for the people at all times; let them bring every difficult case to you, but the simple ones they can decide themselves"  (Exod. 18:21-22)

Talk to your son about your own life and what being able to trust someone means to you.  If you have trouble trusting due to past experience, discuss it with him so that he can understand how trustworthiness is such a strong character trait in a man and how damaging it can be when violated

(Taken from "Better Dads, Stronger Sons" by Rick Johnson)

THINGS THAT MATTER

It's often hard to understand

From where the other comes.

It may seem as if we're marching

To the beat of different drums.

The songs I like, some things I do,

The way I cut my hair,

Must seem to you as very dull

Just as the clothes I wear.

Your youth is now...a different day

Than days when I was young.

Some things I never dreamed would be

Are things you live among.

But all the things that matter, son,

Are still the same today.

If only those we understand,

 The rest shall fade away.

Don't be an April Fool

“The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’ ” Psalm 14:1

Warning! It’s April Fools’ Day!

I’ve had a lot of AF jokes pulled on me, and I must admit that I’ve pulled off a few pretty good ones myself. But one thing I’ve noticed. No one likes being called a fool, much less being made to look like a fool. We like to think of ourselves as savvy, wise, and sharp—not easily tricked or duped. But when we measure ourselves by God’s standards, we might be surprised at how much we deserve the title.
Did you know, for example, that the Bible says we are fools if we . . .

• spread slander (Proverbs 10:18);
• think we’re right in our own eyes rather than listening to wise counsel (Proverbs 12:15);
• reject our father’s discipline (Proverbs 15:5);
• delight only in revealing our own mind rather than in understanding (Proverbs 18:2);
• are perverse in speech instead of walking in integrity (Proverbs 19:1);
• quarrel instead of keeping away from strife (Proverbs 20:3);
• always lose our temper (Proverbs 29:11)?

Of course, the ultimate definition of a fool is found in today’s verse. The ultimate fool is one who lives as though “there is no God.” Notice that the verse does not say that a fool says with his mouth “there is no God.” It’s a matter of the heart attitude. In fact it would be quite possible to say with your lips that there is a God but then to have your heart think and act as though God does not factor into your dreams and choices at all. When our heart says that there is a God, we readily obey Him and surrender to His will and ways in our lives. Though it’s not always easy, a God-honoring heart is willing to begin the process of forgiving those who have deeply hurt us; to think of others as more important than ourselves; to choose generosity over greed; and to be sensitive to the needs of the poor and oppressed.
One of the most penetrating “fool” passages in Scripture is recorded in Luke 12. Jesus told the parable of a rich businessman who had more wealth than he knew what to do with. After signing the papers for corporate expansion (bigger barns), he congratulates himself and decides to throw himself a party. Everyone in his town would have said he was a smashing success. But God had a different take on him: “You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?” (v.20). Jesus concluded with the point: “So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God” (Luke 12:21 ESV). It is indeed foolish to be satisfied with our own wealth and to have given no thought to becoming rich toward God by preparing for eternity, or as Jesus said to become rich toward God by giving our money away to the poor and to those in need (v.33).
When we recognize the rightful place of God in our hearts, our lives are wonderfully transformed to enjoy the rewarding results of wisdom—life from God’s point of view—rather than the embarrassing outcomes of a godless, foolish heart.
I hope you get to pull off a good April Fools’ joke today. In fact, you may even have a good-natured laugh at having one pulled on you. But, while all that is going on, don’t forget to honor God’s will and ways in your heart. Life is too short and too serious to live it as a fool!
YOUR JOURNEY…

• Look back over the characteristics of a fool from the book of Proverbs. Are there any ways that “foolishness” has crept into your life?
• How might your life look a little bit like the rich fool described in Luke 12? Have you ever thought of giving away some of your money or possessions to the kingdom of God so that you could be rich toward Him?
• Maybe you haven’t said it, but are there ways in which you’re living as if there is no God? Take a few minutes to turn back to wisdom, which begins with “the fear of the Lord” (Proverbs 1:7).

Just Listen

If you want someone's friendship
Then while you both walk,
Just keep your mouth closed
And try not to talk.
  Just Listen.

 It is strange how people
Will think you so wise
When you don't say a thing.
But speak with your eyes
  And just listen.

Two ears and one mouth
Was for us a good start.
When used in proportion
We become twice as smart,
   So just listen.

Hermosa Luisa Fernanda

 

Our Daily Strength

Are We Small Yet?

“Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves.” Philippians 2:3 NASB

In Philippians 2:3-11, Paul tells us that we need to stop living to advance ourselves and our own interests and instead start considering others as more important than ourselves. In fact, he says that we should do nothing from “empty conceit”—which literally means the puffing up of our nothingness. I love the graphic picture in that thought. No matter how big you puff up a zero, it’s still a zero!
And then he points us to Jesus who didn’t consider His “big” standing in heaven a thing to hang on to, but rather He humbled Himself to care for our interests by becoming obedient to death on the cross. Think of that! Jesus thought of us and our needs as being more important than His own! He made Himself small that we by His abundant mercy might become big in the riches of His grace.
Let this mind be in you that was also in Christ Jesus!
Are you small yet?
YOUR JOURNEY…

• What would it take for you to have the mind of Jesus by being more concerned about others’ needs and interests than your own? Who could be an object of this change in your life?
• Read 1 Peter 5:5-7 and honestly ask yourself if there is pride in your life. What does God think of proud people?
• What are some ways that you can humble yourself? Are you willing to wait for Him to exalt you?

What is your greatest gift?

Yesterday my granddaughter was looking at all the diplomas in my home offices.  These were her father's diplomas, and her aunt's diplomas and her grandmother's diplomas and other various awards that we have saved over the years.  At the very top was one lone diploma that belonged to her Tata, and she asked me why there weren't more awards for me.  I thought of the many answers that I could have said to her, but the first one that came to mind was the greatest award that anyone man could have, and that was being a son of God.  


I explained to her that the day when I accepted Jesus into my heart was one of the most wonderful days in my life.  He changed my life for the better and there is nothing that He would not do for me nor I for Him.  I also reminded her that all of my family, her Nana, and all her aunts and uncles and cousins were a blessing to me and to her.  I also told her that when God gave me my little granddaughter, and my two grandsons, he gave me the best award ever.  But he also told me that I would need to take care of these beautiful gifts and teach them all to love Jesus as Jesus loves us.


Thank you for these gifts.  Thank you Jesus.