Beach Reflections…Does a grain of sand have any significance?
This past weekend my family and I went on a mini-vacation to the beach in Galveston, TX. It was my wife’s birthday on Sunday and we enjoyed the time away as a family. The rest of the devotions this week will simply give some devotional thoughts on some beach observations.
Genesis 22:15 The angel of the Lord called to Abraham from heaven a second time 16 and said, “I swear by myself, declares the Lord, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, 17 I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore.Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, 18 and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.”
I can’t imagine trying to count the sand particles on the seashore…just in a square foot…or even on the bottom of my Croc’s when I got back to our condo. They are small and many…and really impossible to count.
When the LORD came to Abraham with a promise of descendents as numerous as the “sand on the seashore” was he talking about a one-to-one correlation between a grain of sand and one person who could trace his lineage back to Abraham? Or was he getting Abraham to realize as was said by the Apostle Paul,
Ephesians 3:20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
When the LORD is at work for the benefit of his people, his Church, he is able and more than willing to do more than one could ask or imagine.
From a human standpoint, there was little chance that Abraham would have any descendants, let alone so many that one could not count or would lose count of them. Yet, the power of God would be at work in the life of Abraham to bring a son named Isaac, and from him many more descendants that would be hard to count at this point.
Why? To bring glory to his name throughout all generations and to see that the people of God would always have their roots in the power of God. To this day, the promise to Abraham is still seen as a miracle and a testimony to the power of God. The ultimate descendent of Abraham was Jesus Christ who would also carry out the miraculous by bringing life out of what was dead and bring about spiritual descendants of Abraham that also are too many to count. The reality of Jesus is still bringing change in people’s hearts and giving glory to the power of God at work in and among us. God can do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine.
The Gulf and its power and immensity of its shore is impressive enough. However, when you pause long enough to consider how many grains of sand there is on the shore, it is truly impressive reminder that God’s power and ability to build not just his world, but his Church is a testimony to his grace. Each one of us, by faith, is one of those grains of sand. Individually, a grain of sand is pretty insignificant, but combined with a multitude of others creates the shoreline of the coast.
Perhaps its the same for us. Individually maybe we feel insignificant like a grain of sand, but remember God takes the insignificant and that which seems so small to make something so significant. So next time you find yourself on the beach, take a look at the grains of sand and remember the promises and power of a glorious God who takes you and reminds you that you too are a recipient of his promise of grace!
Apply: What things around you remind you of the promises of God and his faithfulness to follow through on those promises?
Prayer: Lord, thank you for your grace that includes me in your promises! AMEN.
Gifts from our Father…The Gift of Approval!
Today’s devotion is based on “Gifts from Our Father!” (WATCH HERE)
First a short apology for leaving my devotion readers an empty mailbox this past Friday and yesterday. My family enjoyed celebrating my wife’s birthday at the beach in Galveston, TX and I just didn’t get a devotion ready to post before we left. So let me finish the last part of last week’s series on Gifts from your Father, because there is one more key gift that God, our Father, gives to us as he did to his Son and a gift that we as dads can give to our children.
The Father said of his Son at his baptism, “This is my son, whom I love, with him I am well pleased.”
This string of three gifts had to ring powerfully in the ears of Jesus, the Son of God. As he began his public ministry and the great challenges he would face, his Father in heaven desired him to know that he had his approval. This journey of Jesus would culminate in the cross for which his Father had sent him. He was pleased to send his Son to do for the world what the world could not do on its own.
These words were for the people within earshot of the words of the Father. What a statement of authenticity it was that God himself was putting his word of approval on Jesus, the one a few knew as the Son of God, but many more were just learning. The approval of the Father was a huge gift to Jesus emotionally and in his standing in the community around him to which he would minister.
Certainly, the relationship of Jesus to his Father was a unique and special one. However, while this relationship was unique, it also reflects the feeling of our heavenly Father toward us who have been connected to him by faith in Jesus.
In speaking to his disciples, Jesus indicated the Father’s pleasure to entrust the kingdom work to them:
Luke 12:32 “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.
As we live out the faith God has given to us, our Father is pleased:
Hebrews 13:15 Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. 16 And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
To have the approval of our heavenly Father is a wonderful gift. As earthly fathers, we get to reflect this truth to our children as well.
First, let them know often they are a loved, forgiven, child of their heavenly Father. They are the object of his love and the apple of his eye. In Jesus, they are secure in the grace and love of God.
Second, let them know often that you, as their dad, are proud of them, love them, and that they are the apple of your eye. Our tender hearts as youth have a desire for approval. As a dad, I don’t want my daughters trying to gain approval from individuals that will not love, support and affirm them. I want to provide that security for them. Our children are not perfect, neither are we. If God, in his love is willing to put his stamp of approval on us, I as a reflection of my heavenly Father can put my stamp of approval on my children. Sure they need encouragement, guidance, discipline and direction, but they also need the security of your love, acceptance and approval to know that it is safe to try and fail, succeed and do well. They will know that when they sin you will forgive them and their identity is wrapped up in God’s love for them and your love for them, not their performance and achievement. The irony in research is when the love, approval and acceptance of a father is real in a child’s life, their self-confidence, performance and success in life is real as well.
It makes sense because God designed and gave the gift of approval to us so we could pass it on to our children.
Apply: What can you do today to let your children know they have your love and approval, just as God has given both to you and to them?
Prayer: Father in heaven, thank you for your wonderful give of approval you have given to me because of the tremendous sacrifice of love your Son gave to secure my relationship with you. Help me as an earthly father to be just as giving of love and approval to my children as you were in giving it to me. AMEN.
Gifts from Your Father…The Gift of Love!
This week’s devotions are based on “Gifts from Our Father!” (WATCH HERE)
“I love you.”
These three words are probably some of the most powerful in the English language when said personally and with sincerity.
These words move a relationship from a transactional, surface interaction, to a heartfelt, inner connected relationship.
But what do they mean when a) our heavenly Father speaks them to us and b) when we as earthly fathers speak them to our children?
- “I love you” affirms the relationship.
The Father said to Jesus at his baptism, “This is my son whom I love.” This expression of love indicated that the Father’s relationship with his Son was not just a business relationship for the task of saving the world, but a genuine, close, heart-felt relationship that was deeper than even the mission he was on. When our heavenly Father says to us, “I love you,” it affirms that we are his dear children.
1 John 3:1 See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him
2. “I love you” forgives past actions and secures the relationship in grace.
When we speak the words, “I love you” to an individual, it means we are not holding a grudge or hoping to get even for a past hurt they perpetuated on us. The same is true for our heavenly Father. The fact that he loves us reminds us that he is more than willing to completely forgive our sins and allow the relationship to be at peace. His love covers over a multitude of sin and assures our heart that we are at peace with God. As earthly fathers, these words say the same to our children to remind them that the sins of the past are forgiven and the relationship is at peace.
Isaiah 54:9-10 “To me this is like the days of Noah, when I swore that the waters of Noah would never again cover the earth. So now I have sworn not to be angry with you, never to rebuke you again. 10 Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you.
3. “I love you” moves you to sacrificial action.
The concept of “love” in the Bible is not just an emotional affection toward someone, but rather a willingness to sacrifice one’s all for another. Jesus’ love for us is one that drove him to go to the cross and give his life for us. This sacrificial love is one that we as earthly fathers get to exhibit in our relationship to our children. They know that if their life is on the line, we will be willing to sacrifice ours to rescue theirs. They know that if they need food, clothing, or shelter, we will work our hardest to provide for what they need. Children may not always see or appreciate the sacrifices that a father goes through to provide for their children, but a heart of love puts another person, our children, and their needs above our own.
John 15:12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
Love is not just a powerful emotion, it is a powerful commitment to another person. What a gift our heavenly Father has given to us…what a gift we get to give to our children!
Apply: What does it mean to you when someone says to you, “I love you”? What does it mean to you when you say to someone, “I love you”?
Prayer: Lord God, thank you for your love for me that shows your forgiveness, grace, and willingness to give all for me. Your love inspires and empowers me to share that love with my family as well as the people around me. AMEN.
Gifts from your Father…The Gift of Claiming Us!
This week’s devotions are based on “Gifts from Our Father!” (WATCH HERE)
“That’s not my kid!” says the organized mom as her child leaves a room a mess.
“That’s not my kid!” says the tough dad as his child bawls at a little skinned knee.
There are times in parenting when our child does something that is different than how we would operate or react and we in jest say, “That’s not my child.”
However, there is a sad reality that there are times when a child is abandoned and both parents don’t want anything to do with the child. Or the child has done great harm to himself and his family and all ties are cut off. No one wants to claim the child as his own.
In a healthy family dynamic, children take for granted that they belong to their mother and father. They trust that they will be there, that they will be provided for and cared for. To be rejected would be devastating.
Claiming a child as your own is often a sense of pride too for a parent. Ask the parents of a star athlete, “That’s MY kid!” Ask the parents of a child who is praised by their boss for great work performance, “That’s my kid!”
Parents, in general, are proud to claim their children as their own, whether that child is biologically theirs or theirs by adoption. Children desire the security of knowing they belong to a mom and a dad.
Being claimed by a parent is a gift. It means we are part of their family.
When Jesus was baptized, his Father said, “This is my son.”
God the Father in the listening ears of those around claimed Jesus as his own. Jesus heard it and the crowd heard it.
We do not share the same relationship as the Son does to the Father, but pretty close. God the Father has put his name on us so we can be 100% secure that we are part of his family. In baptism God put his name on us and claimed us as his own. “This is MY son!” “This is MY daughter!”
Galatians 3:26 You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
To be sure we have given our heavenly Father many reasons to say, “I don’t know that kid.” Our sin separates us from our God. It leaves God many reasons to NOT claim us as his own. But he chooses, by his love, grace and forgiveness, to leave his name on us and remind us we ARE his children. This is a gift from our heavenly Father!
This is a gift we as dads (and moms, but again focusing on the important role of a dad this week) can give to our children. Our children need to hear and be reminded that you are proud to have your name on them. To hear you say with joy and pride, “That’s my kid!”
Sure, they give you many reasons to say, “That’s not MY kid.” But that’s where we as dads get to also express the love and forgiveness that our heavenly Father shows to us. We get to forgive. We get to show grace. We get to restore. We get to give guidance and wisdom. We get to influence the children God has given to us to walk in his love and grace because they are our kids AND His kids!
Apply: Tell your children today, “I am proud to have you as my son/my daughter.”
Prayer: Father thank you for continuing to claim me as your own, even though my sin gives you many reasons not to. Help me share this same gift with my children today or someday. AMEN.
Gifts from your Father…the Gift of Presence!
This week’s devotions are based on “Gifts from Our Father!” (WATCH HERE)
In my almost 20 years of parenting career, I can’t count how many times I have heard the call, “Dad!” In the early years it wasn’t articulated, but just a cry said the same thing. Sometimes the word “Dad” was followed by phrases such as…
- “Where are you?”
- “Can you fix my bike?”
- “Do you know where my water bottle is?”
- “I forgot my lunch.”
And the list goes on.
These requests of Dad are for help. From the simple and mundane to perhaps the more troubling or complex. A child loves to know Dad is close by to help.
The gift of presence is also being there for important events.
- “Dad, are you coming to my game?”
- “Dad, are you able to come to the awards night?”
- “Dad, did you see me make that shot?”
We want our Dad there when the event is important to us and we want him to notice and affirm the activity that takes place.
To be sure, I am not minimizing moms who are there and present, perhaps often more than dads are. But the gift of presence is an important gift to give our children.
At the baptism of Jesus, the Father in heaven was not going to miss it. He wanted Jesus to know he was there as well as he wanted those around the event to know he was there. Perhaps one might not think it was a big deal, but if you wanted validity to what you were doing and credibility to who you are, having your Father in heaven be there to give both is a wonderful gift.
The amazing thing is our heavenly Father gives us the give of presence in our lives. We maybe wish at times he were visible or his voice was audible, but his presence is real. He promised to the people of Israel through Moses,
Deuteronomy 31:6 Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Having Dad there when you are doing something hard or scary for the first time brings peace and strength. The Lord was promising his people that as they went into the land of Canaan and faced the opposition, he would be with them. There would never be a time when he was not present.
This gift of our Father’s presence is a wonderful gift to us Dads. We can be somewhat independent and feel like we have to carry the burdens of our family and situations. Maybe we forget that our heavenly Father is present for us to talk to, to unload our burdens, to walk with us through uncertain times, or to give us wisdom and guidance when we need it (and when we don’t think we need it!). He is there for all events of our life and knows what we need and when we need it. He loves to be with us, bless us and guide us through life.
Dads, don’t forget this amazing gift of your heavenly Father’s presence.
Don’t forget either that you now have the opportunity to extend this gift to your family. Work is important. Hobbies can be fun, but remember your children, your spouse, your family sometimes just needs you to be present with them in the quiet times and in the important times.
Apply: What might be one way you can be more present with your children/grand children this week and let them know that you are there to be with them, encourage them, and support them.
Prayer: Father in heaven, thank you for being present in my life in all times and all circumstances. Help me be a dad who readily gives the gift of presence for my children and spouse. AMEN.