child – I AM for You!

God doesn’t kill to advance His cause, He died

The “religious” leaders in Jesus’ day used intimidation and murder to keep and/or advance their power over others. Claiming to be defending their “God” they could not have been any more against the one true God, Jesus (the very one who loves them and died for their sins). Jesus said this would happen. Jesus said that the day will come when anyone killing you (followers of Jesus) will think he is doing God a service.

“These things I have spoken to you, that you should not be made to stumble. They will put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service. And these things they will do to you because they have not known the Father nor Me. But these things I have told you, that when the time comes, you may remember that I told you of them.” John 16:1-4 NKJV

Killing in the name of “God” has been going on for millenia. Jesus, who had all the power in the universe, did not kill to advance His cause of love, His kingdom. He died, and more than that, He rose again, to advance His cause of love. And His cause is to love His Father, and love people; all people.

You may be wondering if you matter; if you make any difference being alive in this world. YOU MATTER TO GOD! It has been said, God would rather die than live in eternity without you; and He did, in the person of Jesus Christ. Now it is your turn to decide if you want to live with Jesus for eternity.

This is His character:

But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus. Aware of this, Jesus withdrew from that place. Many followed him, and he healed all their sick, warning them not to tell who he was. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:

He will not quarrel or cry out; no one will hear his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out, till he leads justice to victory. In his name the nations will put their hope. “Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations.

I love the fact that “a bruised reed he will not break.” And “a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.” I have failed at my own and others’ expectations, done evil, been hurt by others and have been a “bruised reed.” I have lost hope, wanted to die, wondered where God was, and if anyone cared. I have been a “smoldering wick.” How about you? Jesus heals the sick, he doesn’t kill them. He binds up the broken hearted, he doesn’t crush them. He will take care of you and me! He loves us!

And what else is His character?

If you will seek first His Kingdom (Jesus as Lord, that is, obedience) and His Righteousness (Jesus as Savior, that is, trust what He has done to please God for you) then God promises to supply all your needs.

So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:31-34 NIV84

And,

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”
So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?” Hebrews 13:5-6 NIV84

Christ is still “dying” because of His love for people, in the form of His followers being murdered because they love people and love the Truth. Jesus said that anyone who follows Him will never die.

Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”
Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies;
and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
“Yes, Lord,” she told him, “I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world.” John 11:23-27 NIV84

All the people of the world may hate us. But there is One Who always loves us and is greater than the world: Jesus. And He said,

So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy. In that day you will no longer ask me anything. I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.

“Though I have been speaking figuratively, a time is coming when I will no longer use this kind of language but will tell you plainly about my Father. In that day you will ask in my name. I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf. No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God.
I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.” Then Jesus’ disciples said, “Now you are speaking clearly and without figures of speech. Now we can see that you know all things and that you do not even need to have anyone ask you questions. This makes us believe that you came from God.” “You believe at last!” Jesus answered. “But a time is coming, and has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me.
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

If you want to know Jesus, He is waiting to hear from you right now. He has always loved you. Because He loves you He wants you to turn away from the things that you are doing and thinking that hurt God, hurt others and hurt you. God calls these: sins. I have sinned, and you have sinned, and that’s why Jesus had to die; to take away our sins. If you agree with God that you have sinned and resolve to turn away from them, trust Jesus’ death to pay your sin debt to God, and surrender to the leading of Jesus through the Holy Spirit who will live in you, God will make you His child. Go ahead, talk to Him, He can’t wait to listen to you, to love you, and to make you His child.

I was a perfect parent… until I had children

Preface

The great thing about being young and inexperienced is that you know everything. At least I did. Before I had children I knew what every misbehaving kid needed. Before children I had all the answers. After children I don’t even remember the questions. But it is not just the young and inexperienced who suffer from omniscience. Experienced parents who believe that what worked for their kids will work for all kids cause greater pain. And the parents of special needs kids, in my case kids with mental health challenges, feel that pain. Sometimes from the disapproving looks of strangers, but many times from the comments of their own parents, family and friend

I was a Perfect Parent… Until I had Children

By Jim McNaughton B.S. (Barely Sane)
(Style inspired by Dr. Seuss, only for parents)

Some children are brought home and sleep through the night
They are corrected according to the books
They don’t fight and they don’t bite
And fall in line with one stern look
The parents of these
Children that please
Sometimes take the credit
They write books and give others looks
When the others just don’t quite get it

But we are not the parents of these that please
Our children not only don’t get it
They study us intently to learn our faults and
Our buttons in hopes to upset it

They can weave a lie without batting an eye
They love the crowds all around
To yell “you’re hurting me” and “I can’t breathe”
Though you’re NOT and they CAN
(And YOU just want to LEAVE)

Try Love and Logic they say
It works the best
(Unless you’re kid has no
Cause and effect)
Put up a chart… Charge him for you to do his chores…
You just need to be firm… You just need to love more…
We know the answer… (Though we hardly know your kid…)
We think we know him much more than you ever did

So the next time you see my child and me
Struggling while we go through the store
Please lend us some of your compassion

Advice… We don’t need any more.

There is room for you at the "top".

Someone has said that Jesus’ kingdom is an upside-down kingdom. Our Lord and Master, our God, is also the servant of all. Our greatness is not measured in how many people are working for us, but in the works of love we do for others.

This attitude does not come naturally. It comes super-naturally. Jesus said we must be “converted”. Jesus said that He reveals His truth to “babes”. Jesus said that if we hear His message and receive it [do it] we receive Him and God the Father who sent Him.

(My son has given me permission to share the following). I am continually impressed with my 18 year old son and how he grasps who God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are and their ways. When faced with a problem, many times he is the first to say, “Dad, let’s pray. Let’s ask Jesus for help”. My son is brilliant socially and is one of the leaders in his classroom. He also reads and writes at a second grade level.

Though some in this world would overlook him, I admire him. He’s like the child that Jesus held in His arms and gave as an example for His disciples to be like.

I’ve explained to my son that he is smart, frequently pointing out to him when he demonstrates that quality. But I have also told him that he is wise, also pointing out that quality when he demonstrates it. And, I’ve explained the difference. My son loves God the Father and Jesus His Son and the Holy Spirit. My son reverences God and values God. My son is teachable about God and His ways. And so my son is wiser than some with multiple times his IQ.

Some value intellect. Some value athleticism. Some value popularity. God values love. Love for Him and love for others. And true love for God always expresses itself as obedience to God. Not that we are perfect. But when we do sin we repent (turn around), ask God and anyone involved for forgiveness, learn from our mistake, and press on.

So my goal is to humble myself and be like my son, like the little child Jesus gave as an example to be like. And the nice thing about Jesus’ upside-down kingdom is that there is always room at the top, or rather bottom. All of us can serve others and be like Jesus.

¹⁶He who hears you [Jesus’ disciples] hears Me [Jesus], he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me.” (Luke 10:16, NKJV)

²¹In that hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes.” (Luke 10:21, NKJV)

1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2 Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, 3 and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.” (Matthew 18:1-5, NKJV)

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