Good morning to all on this Father's Day Sunday. Hope all the Dad's are appreciated today and all of you with Dads are doing the appreciation. I had a Dad. A self made man who strived to do the best for himself and his family. As he left his father's home at the age of 13 I am not sure if her knew what a Dad was supposed to be when he set upon his own journey but his Dad Landon, ha my Dad come up north because his outspokenness who have endangered his life. I met my grandfather Landon on only 2 occasions. I don't have a vivid memory of him other than he was a very quiet light skinned Black man who married a very dark skinned opinionated woman, Ida, who brought her own bag of dirt with her from Mississippi to come to Milwaukee on the 2 trips she made. The purpose of the dirt was to eat it. I really thought my father's parents were very strange. Waine never had a father either. His Chinese father, change abandoned his mother and her two young children and Waine did not see his father again until his mid 20's. Waine none the less is one of the best father's I know. He is caring, non-judgemental. Delights in all his children do. He loves them warts and all and when they make him feel special my husband is on cloud nine. He is also one of the best grandfathers a kid could ever have. He is playful and generous. He indulges their every whim. So how does a guy without a father or grandfather develop into such a Great Dad and Grandfather? He treats his of spring and their progeny just the way he imagined he wanted to be treated! My husband is just a Great Human Being. When we were first married, I gave my husband a Father's Day card and gift. He very lovingly accepted my love and gratitude and then about a week later, he mused that although the gifts and sentiment were lovely, he was not my father. I had to think about that for a while but then I understood. He was by best friend, my companion, my lover and keeper but the job of Father was for someone else. As I said Greatness comes in all kind of packages.
I am continuing my journey in Thessalonians 3 verses 1-13, "So when we could stand it no longer, we thought it best to be left by ourselves in Athens. We sent Timothy, who is our brother and co-worker in God’s service in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith, so that no one would be unsettled by these trials. For you know quite well that we are destined for them. In fact, when we were with you, we kept telling you that we would be persecuted. And it turned out that way, as you well know. For this reason, when I could stand it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith. I was afraid that in some way the tempter had tempted you and that our labors might have been in vain.
But Timothy has just now come to us from you and has brought good news about your faith and love. He has told us that you always have pleasant memories of us and that you long to see us, just as we also long to see you. Therefore, brothers and sisters, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith. For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord. How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you? Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith.
Now may our God and Father Himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you. May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. May He strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all His holy ones." Amen and may God add a blessing to the reading and hearing of His Word.
Paul's heart was really concerned about the Thessalonians. He couldn't be with them to strengthen their "baby" faith so was worried that Satan would be able to turn them back to their old ways of living. Paul needn't have been worried. The Word of God had taken root and blossomed in Thessalonica and the early church there. There is a lesson here. We are to pray for one another and feed each other with the Word and Love of God. Not criticize each other or judge each other but encourage each other through the Love of God.
I come across folk every day burdened with financial debt; burdened with unruly children; burdened with illness and stress. In the flesh the first thing that comes to mind is that they bear the fruits of their labors and where they have placed the emphasis of their lives. Then I am reminded that if Christ had this philosophy, I would be bound for hell right now. His approach is to Love us out of sin! I was moved by the congregants of Mother Emanuel Church who were able to forgive this deranged child of God for killing their loved ones. I think they realized that only Satan would sit and pray among believers and then try to kill the love out of them. Instead Satan and this young man have only served to bring the Gospel forward. Hallelujah!
Just like Paul, we can't control situations or people. Our job is to encourage and love and leave the CHANGE to God through the Holy Spirit. So pray for me that God's Hand will ever be on me; guiding me out of myself and into His Pure Love. I am sure I will be challenged this week as I look forward to my being able to remember this lesson.
Now may the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace. To know Him is to Love Him. To Love Him is to serve Him. To serve Him is to Love you. Pray for me. Pray our nation!
Stephanie
