Through a Father’s Lens

By Jarrod Spencer –

My parents would probably tell you that I was a handful to raise. I did not do things that would have landed me in handcuffs or send me to the principal’s office. No, I was a smart aleck. My mouth caused me to be a “handful.” I remember being upset with my father and hollering down the hall, “You’re the worst father in the world!” Needless to say, my father came back and let me know he didn’t approve. My parents were smokers and when we didn’t go on a vacation one summer I told them, “If you guys wouldn’t smoke, we’d have at least $520 extra dollars a year to go on a vacation.” That didn’t go over too well, either. Still another time, when I was twenty-two years old, traveling to see my fiancé, I stayed at friends of the family overnight. Mom called to make sure I had arrived safely and I communicated to her that I didn’t need to check in with her. I was older now. This caused her to be very upset with me.

Can you see how I was a handful?

God must have been laughing at me as He knew that when I became a father I would be dealt some humbling blows. I have only been a father for three years, but have already had my fair share of humble pie pieces to eat.

The initial piece was when I saw my firstborn in the flesh and thought, “He’s mine and I’m responsible for him.” I started to feel a love that was unlike anything I’d ever felt. A love that feels pain and “hurts me more than it hurts him.” A love that loves always even when I do not like all the things he does. A love that is proud over the smallest of things.

The other pieces came in times when same said firstborn showed signs of stubbornness or a keen ability to ask for a snack or something to drink at bedtime to be allowed to stay up a few minutes more.

Looking at my son through a father’s lens has caused me to be more appreciative of my parents and what I made them endure. It has also caused me to look at myself differently by viewing what I do through God’s perspective.

PRAYER: Father, thank You for allowing me to become a parent. I’m grateful for the two kids You have blessed me with. I appreciate how my view of my parents has changed after having children. Guide me in raising my children to fear You as I fear You.

“He who fears the LORD has a secure fortress, and for his children it will be a refuge” (Proverbs 14:26 NIV).

Today’s devotional is by Jarrod Spencer. He is a seeker of God’s surprises in everyday life, looking for ways to be used by God with anyone he comes in contact with. He has a passion for encouraging people through the written word and exercises that passion with blogging and sending out a weekly text of encouragement. You can read more of his writings at http://jarrodspencer.blogspot.com and his church’s website is http://www.colbychurch.com.

A Microwave Heated Up My Prayer Life

By Aubrey Spencer –

I’ve become a regular at Sears. I know every appliance in the store. In fact, we are on a first name basis. I’ve met the lovely, shiny, way out of my price range, GE Profile. The fancy, bells-and-whistles, only-in-my-dreams Bosch. The Kenmores, the Maytags, the Whirlpools, and all of their “wouldn’t that look amazing in my kitchen” friends. I am not out to torture myself with endless, wishful window shopping. I’m on a mission. I’m searching for the perfect microwave: the over-the-stove, microhood kind. The one I had quit. No warning. No more warming. You wouldn’t think it would take so much effort to pick a microwave, but it has for me. I want it in a certain color. And—of course—a good price. I want it to look a certain way with the right handle, the right buttons, the right—well—everything. It has been such a tough decision. I found myself locked in the store two nights this week. That’s right, I was the last one there; the annoying shopper who holds everyone up from going home on time. You know, the one who ignores the repetitive announcements about the store closing in 10 minutes. . . 5 minutes. . . now! Not locked in just once, but twice! I did finally pick a microwave, felt happy with my decision, got relatively excited, then, found out it couldn’t be ordered. Out of stock. So, the entire process started over again!

The whole experience got me thinking. Am I putting as much effort into my prayer-life? I am a prayer-gal. I love to pray. I believe in the power of prayer. But, I have to wonder (I have to be honest), do I get lazy? Do I give up quickly when I don’t see the results I’m looking for? Do I let the devil convince me that I don’t have enough time? Am I attacking my prayers with the same fervor I did in my appliance search? Am I willing to “stay late” in the presence of my God in order to make sure that no praise is left unsaid, no detail left out, no blessing left unnoticed, no request left “on the shelf”?

Isn’t it interesting that in searching for the perfect microwave, I actually found a reheated prayer life?

PRAYER: Father, I want to make You my priority. Show me Your power and help me to not become lazy in my relationship with You.

“…pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done” (Philippians 4:6 NLT).

Today’s devotional is by Aubrey Spencer. Aubrey is a “real housewife of northwest Kansas.” She is a minister’s wife and a mom to two little miracles, Oliver and Ava. She has a passion for writing and entertaining but realizes her greatest ministry at the moment is to raise her children to be people after God’s own heart. She loves to see how God shows up in everyday situations. Read more of her writings at http://ministrymama.blogspot.com.

Singular Focus

By Kathy Carlton Willis –

Every year I try to come up with a singular focus for the year to keep me disciplined in the direction I believe God wants me to take for the year. The past few months as I’ve prayed over my focus for 2011, a phrase kept coming to me. I started hearing it everywhere. In sermons. In books. Even in commercials. And it’s not a typical goal-oriented phrase to motivate me to grow in Christ like most years. My 2011 phrase is:

REST ASSURED

There’s a lot to be said for this year’s focus. Last year I found myself trying to fix too many dilemmas in attempting to provide for my own needs. I ended up “worrying my prayers” rather than walking in complete faith. I wasn’t hot and bothered in my worry, but it was a silent pressure always weighing down on me.

This year’s rest is a different kind of rest. It’s not a blind rest or a doubt-filled tossing-and-turning type of rest. No, God wants me to rest assured that He’s handling my life. Rest assured that He is in control. Rest assured that if He leads me to do something He will equip me for the challenge. And rest assured that I don’t have to be involved in every good opportunity that comes my way. I knew all of those concepts already, but I’m not sure I was really living them.

So, this is my challenge, and I choose to accept it! Would you like to join me?

AUTHOR QUOTE: Rest assured, Jesus has it covered.

“How blessed the man you train, God, the woman you instruct in your Word, providing a circle of quiet within the clamor of evil, while a jail is being built for the wicked. God will never walk away from his people, never desert his precious people. Rest assured that justice is on its way and every good heart put right” (Psalm 94:11-13 MSG).

Today’s devotional is by Kathy Carlton Willis, Christ-servant, wife to Russ, editor, publicist, certified CLASSeminars speaker and faculty member. Kathy Carlton Willis Communications encompasses her many passions. Kathy’s tagline captures her essence—Light & Lively: His Reflection/Her Laughter. She shines, whether she’s shining the light on others through her communications firm or reflecting God’s light during her speaking opportunities. Schedule Kathy for a speaking event or contact her firm for promotional assistance.

Faith in the Spoken Word

By Carin LeRoy –

My little grandson will never let my husband or me get away with not keeping our word. When my husband mentioned he would make a swing in our backyard, he came in weeks later and said, “Papa, when are you going to make that swing? You said you were going to build us one.” My husband got busy and kept his word. Or to me he’ll say, “Nana, you told me I could have a Popsicle after you taught your piano lessons.” His expectation was that we would keep our word. As grandparents, we want to show our little guy that we can be trusted.

In John 4, we read the story of the official’s son who was sick and near death. When the father heard that Jesus was nearby, he went to Jesus and begged him to come heal his boy.

“Sir,” he said, “Come down before my child dies.”

Jesus said, “Go home. Your son will live.”

The man believed the words Jesus spoke and left for home. While he was still on the road, his servants came running to meet him and tell him that his son was alive. The father realized he was healed at the exact time that Jesus had spoken the word and told him his son would live.

As we look at Scripture we see great men and women of faith. Noah built the ark because God spoke. Even though he didn’t understand, he obeyed. The Israelites marched around Jericho for seven days and conquered it. God spoke, and they had faith to do as He said. Mary, mother of Jesus, didn’t comprehend how a virgin could conceive, but trusted that what God said was true. All of these incidents needed a listening heart and willingness to obey even when it made no sense to them. Circumstances that seemed impossible, took faith that God would do exactly as He had spoken. And He did.

Do we believe when God speaks? We have a Bible full of Scriptures where God speaks to us. We have promises to believe, commands to obey, admonishments to follow and warnings to adhere. We can become great people of faith, too, as we take God at His word. What is God speaking to you today?

PRAYER: Lord, give me the faith to believe that what You speak is true, and that You will fulfill all the promises that You have given in Your word.

“And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light” (Genesis 1: 3 NIV).

Today’s devotional is by Carin LeRoy, wife to Dale and mother of three grown children and one almost-grown teenager. She has been a missionary with Pioneers since 1982. Her passions are family, missions, piano, and writing to challenge others to live faithful lives for God.

A Simple Guide to Pleasing God

By James H. Pence –

If you had to tell someone (in as few words as possible) how they could live a life pleasing to God, what would you say? I’m not talking about how to become a Christian; rather, I have in mind a brief summary of the Christian life.

You can find many possible answers in Scripture, but one of the best short summaries of God’s expectations for our lives can be found in the book of Micah, chapter 6. In that chapter Micah asks a simple question, “What does the Lord require of you?”

His answer is equally concise. “To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8b NIV).

This verse breaks down the Christian life into three simple areas. Micah tells us first of all that we are to act justly. In other words, all of our dealings with others should be just. We’re to be mindful to do the right thing, no matter what situation we face.

Second, he encourages us to love mercy—be a people characterized by a love of mercy and kindness. Daily we can demonstrate compassion and be ready to show grace to those around us.

Finally he instructs us to walk humbly with our God. There’s no place for arrogance, pride, or selfishness. Also, our walk must not be solitary. We do not live alone in this Christian life. Our life is always conducted “coram deo” before the face of our God. A constant awareness of God’s presence in our lives will keep us mindful of how to conduct ourselves.

Sometimes we make the Christian life much more complicated than it needs to be. We get so caught up in the busyness and challenges of life that we forget that God expects us to act justly toward others, to always show mercy, and to walk humbly with Him. As you walk with Him through 2011, let it be your goal to live a simple Christian life.

PRAYER: Lord, please don’t let me become overwhelmed by the complexities of life. Grant that I might walk every day in the simple Christian life—acting justly, loving mercy, and walking humbly with You.

“And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8b).

Today’s devotion is by James H. Pence. James is an author, speaker, singer, and gospel chalk artist, but prefers to be known as a storyteller. To learn more about James and how he draws the stories of your heart, visit his Web site at: www.jamespence.com.

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