Showing posts with label father. Show all posts
Showing posts with label father. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Thursday, May 6, 2010
About that name of yours...
Have you ever read Psalm 9:10? I was reading the other day about the fact that the way you address God or how you refer to him reveals your intimacy with him (or lack of it).
What I am called reveals how well someone knows me. My last name is "Demastus". Do you have any idea how butchered my name gets by telemarketers? But that's okay. Because when I pick up the phone and the person says, "May I speak to Mister Demarksicus?" That alerts me that this individual does not know me.
Maybe I might take my family to a restaurant and have to wait for a table. After a few minutes, the hostess calls out, "Dee-Mast-Us, party of four!" The hostess may know my name and how to pronounce it. But we don't really know each other.
Sometimes I am called, "Pastor Mike." Then that probably means you know a little about me. You know what I do and have probably heard me speak. But even your use of a title for me doesn't necessarily mean you know me personally.
Sometimes I am called, "Mike." That means we are probably close. We're friends if you just call me, Mike.
But there are a couple of people on this planet who have reserved the right to call me by a very special name. These couple individuals are very dear to me. They call me "Daddy." They know me so much better than even those who call me, Mike. The name reveals intimacy.
What do you call God? Is He "The Big Guy Up In The Sky" to you? Is He "The Man Upstairs" to you? If that is the case, then you don't know him. Those may be funny, clever titles, but they aren't intimate.
If you know God you are going to be far more specific with him. Maybe you realize how big of a deal it is that God has forgiven you of your sins so you constantly refer to him as your "Savior."
Maybe you realize that everytime you have been in need, God has always come through for you, so you refer to him as "Provider."
Maybe, if you're a woman, you had a man in your life abandon you, so you might call him "Husband."
Maybe when you feel totally alone, you call him, "Friend."
What do you call God? Your answer may be a clue to how well you know him. Or don't.
What I am called reveals how well someone knows me. My last name is "Demastus". Do you have any idea how butchered my name gets by telemarketers? But that's okay. Because when I pick up the phone and the person says, "May I speak to Mister Demarksicus?" That alerts me that this individual does not know me.
Maybe I might take my family to a restaurant and have to wait for a table. After a few minutes, the hostess calls out, "Dee-Mast-Us, party of four!" The hostess may know my name and how to pronounce it. But we don't really know each other.
Sometimes I am called, "Pastor Mike." Then that probably means you know a little about me. You know what I do and have probably heard me speak. But even your use of a title for me doesn't necessarily mean you know me personally.
Sometimes I am called, "Mike." That means we are probably close. We're friends if you just call me, Mike.
But there are a couple of people on this planet who have reserved the right to call me by a very special name. These couple individuals are very dear to me. They call me "Daddy." They know me so much better than even those who call me, Mike. The name reveals intimacy.
What do you call God? Is He "The Big Guy Up In The Sky" to you? Is He "The Man Upstairs" to you? If that is the case, then you don't know him. Those may be funny, clever titles, but they aren't intimate.
If you know God you are going to be far more specific with him. Maybe you realize how big of a deal it is that God has forgiven you of your sins so you constantly refer to him as your "Savior."
Maybe you realize that everytime you have been in need, God has always come through for you, so you refer to him as "Provider."
Maybe, if you're a woman, you had a man in your life abandon you, so you might call him "Husband."
Maybe when you feel totally alone, you call him, "Friend."
What do you call God? Your answer may be a clue to how well you know him. Or don't.
Friday, April 25, 2008
My Encounter Journey (Day 5)
Today's Scriptures are Isaiah 55:6-12.
In having recent conversations with my natural father (he called me last night again) I have been struggling with what parts of my faith do I let come through? He knows I am a pastor. But we haven't really broached to topic of faith yet. He has cussed a couple of times while we've talked...not a big deal to me because he's not a Christian and that's what non-Christians do (they cuss...I think they take classes in it or something). So I'm not bothered by that.
But being that our relationship is really just beginning, I want to start it out on the right foot and not have it be awkward or odd that I would talk about the Bible and my faith with him.
But then, you think, What kind of Bible passage would be appropriate? I don't know. I just don't want the weirdness that I currently feel when we are near the subject to pervade the rest of the relationship.
Funny thing in that passage that I read today. God said that His word will never return to Him empty. Obviously His Word is a lot more obedient than His children because we would more often than not show back empty-handed. And then we would act surprised at God's disappointment.
But His Word always is able to accomplish something. That is helpful to me. Some time ago I began to change the way I thought about my sermons. Not every sermon I preach is a home run (believe it or not). But I have taken comfort in knowing that as long as I am sticking with Scripture, every sermon (no matter how well structured or delivered) does some good.
It's like breakfast. Sometimes it is bland. Just a bowl of bran flakes and cold milk. Sometimes it is amazing. It is a buffet of replenishing eggs and bacon and sausage and biscuits. Definitely the two breakfasts are in different leagues, but the accomplish the same purpose. They nourish your body.
We might not get overly amazed every time we read out of God's Word. We may even share a verse and it seems that it made little or not impact at all...but God promises that it always does what He intends. It nourishes. It fills up empty souls. It refuels the weary.
God's Word is so incredibly valuable. I want to move beyond my fears about talking about it with my father and just bring it up in our conversation with how God's Word helps me each day. I am going to trust that God will do the rest.
"Heavenly Father, I need your help and wisdom. I need you to enable me to speak boldly without fear of the effect upon the new relationship that you orchestrated. Give me tact and clarity. Give me the right opportunity. Season my weak words with Yours. I pray for my earthly father, Lord. Help me to learn to love him. Help me to see him as your lost child. In Jesus' Name."
In having recent conversations with my natural father (he called me last night again) I have been struggling with what parts of my faith do I let come through? He knows I am a pastor. But we haven't really broached to topic of faith yet. He has cussed a couple of times while we've talked...not a big deal to me because he's not a Christian and that's what non-Christians do (they cuss...I think they take classes in it or something). So I'm not bothered by that.
But being that our relationship is really just beginning, I want to start it out on the right foot and not have it be awkward or odd that I would talk about the Bible and my faith with him.
But then, you think, What kind of Bible passage would be appropriate? I don't know. I just don't want the weirdness that I currently feel when we are near the subject to pervade the rest of the relationship.
Funny thing in that passage that I read today. God said that His word will never return to Him empty. Obviously His Word is a lot more obedient than His children because we would more often than not show back empty-handed. And then we would act surprised at God's disappointment.
But His Word always is able to accomplish something. That is helpful to me. Some time ago I began to change the way I thought about my sermons. Not every sermon I preach is a home run (believe it or not). But I have taken comfort in knowing that as long as I am sticking with Scripture, every sermon (no matter how well structured or delivered) does some good.
It's like breakfast. Sometimes it is bland. Just a bowl of bran flakes and cold milk. Sometimes it is amazing. It is a buffet of replenishing eggs and bacon and sausage and biscuits. Definitely the two breakfasts are in different leagues, but the accomplish the same purpose. They nourish your body.
We might not get overly amazed every time we read out of God's Word. We may even share a verse and it seems that it made little or not impact at all...but God promises that it always does what He intends. It nourishes. It fills up empty souls. It refuels the weary.
God's Word is so incredibly valuable. I want to move beyond my fears about talking about it with my father and just bring it up in our conversation with how God's Word helps me each day. I am going to trust that God will do the rest.
"Heavenly Father, I need your help and wisdom. I need you to enable me to speak boldly without fear of the effect upon the new relationship that you orchestrated. Give me tact and clarity. Give me the right opportunity. Season my weak words with Yours. I pray for my earthly father, Lord. Help me to learn to love him. Help me to see him as your lost child. In Jesus' Name."
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