Today’s devotion builds on the thoughts from Sunday’s Sermon – Week 2 of the Lord’s Prayer Series  (LISTEN HERE).

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“That’s not me!”

We fight vehemently to protect our name.  Mistaken identity or stolen identity is a dreaded event.  Mistaken identity can lead to the wrong person being arrested.  Stolen identity can lead to a large amount of financial mess to untangle.

Our name is a precious commodity.  It identifies us and represents all who we are and all we do.  It is a shortcut for people to use which communicates the sum total of our being.  We work hard to protect it and ensure people have an accurate depiction of our name and identity.

Recently I was talking with an individual whose girlfriend had a bad experience in a previous relationship.  Any time this individual did something that looked or felt like the previous relationship it triggered all the negative emotions related to it.  “I’m not your X,” he finally said.

We don’t want to be identified as someone who we are not.

Neither does the true God.

Yet our culture and society does it all…the…time.  It lumps the God of the Bible, Father, Son and Holy Spirit in the same camp and identity as everything else that is called God.

“We all call on the same God, but call him by different names.”

“There is one God, he just reveals himself differently to different people.”

“We have to unite around good, and not focus on the differences.”

And the list goes on.

All the other gods, Allah, Buddah, nature gods, spiritual entities, Hindu gods, etc. may be “ok” being lumped together as “one God,” but the God of the Bible is not.  He does not want HIS name profaned by being equated with all the pseudo/false gods of this world.  How do we know?  He tells us, “That’s NOT me!”

^{Isaiah 42:8} “I am the Lord; that is my name!
    I will not yield my glory to another or my praise to idols.

It defames the name of the Lord when we buy the lie that all gods are the same.  It’s like saying all “Mike’s” are the same.  It’s like saying all men are the same.  Sure they may have some similar characteristics, but they are NOT the same.

God’s name is hallowed, kept holy, when it is held above every other name of every other god.  Every other god is an invention of man.  Only the Lord is the true God.

Even God followers of Jesus’ time who “thought” they were following the true God, Jesus called out as deniers of the true God.

^{John 10:37} Do not believe me unless I do the works of my Father. ³⁸ But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father.” 

Our culture wants to minimize the discussion and make “religion” easy by lumping all faiths and beliefs into one bucket.  This on the one hand minimizes every god to the least common denominator, but most importantly diminishes the true God to the status of false God.

So we pray “Hallowed be thy name” often so that God’s name may be always holy in our hearts and be recognizes as the only holy, true God among many names for God that are NOT God!

Apply: Why is it tempting to buy the lie that all gods are the same?

Prayer: Lord, hallowed be your name.  Forgive us for minimizing your name to the realm of all gods that are false.  Heighten our conviction that your name and yours alone is the one, true, almighty God.  Thank you for revealing yourself to us through your Spirit and the Word of truth.  Help us to believe you and your words always!  AMEN.

Much has been said and written since SCOTUS overturned Roe vs. Wade.  I share this post from the blog “www.lutheranlenses.com” which was published on Friday, June 24, 2022 as it shares a biblical perspective on the issue and wisdom for our role as Christians moving forward.  Enjoy! – Pastor Mike

ROE VS WADE: NOW WHAT?

(This week’s devotions are based Week 1 of a Sermon Series on the Lord’s Prayer.  LISTEN TO IT HERE)

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“Let my prayers rise before you as incense, the lifting of my hands as the evening sacrifice.” (Psalm 141:2)

We begin the Lord’s prayer with the words, “Our Father in heaven.”  Each of these words or phrases is so significant.  “Our” implies a personal relationship we have.  “Father” implies the role God plays in our life. “In heaven”…why is that so important?

This short phrase distinguishes our requests we present to our earthly fathers from our heavenly father.  It does not diminish the importance of our earthly fathers, but rather heightens the blessing of having a heavenly father.  Jesus highlighted one:

Jesus said 9 “Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! (Matthew 7:9-11)

Our heavenly Father has perspective.

Earthly dads desire the best and want to give their best to their children.  Magnify that exponentially and one realizes they have a heavenly father who perfectly knows what is best for his children…and welcomes your request.

Our heavenly Father has an even larger and bigger perspective than our earthly fathers.  Sometimes our dads have or do withhold giving something because they know that it is not the best for their child.  As a child this can be frustrating, and perhaps only the perspective of time will allow us to see that dad really did know and do what was best.  How much more our relationship with our heavenly Father.  We can always trust that he knows and gives what is best…even if it doesn’t match what WE think is best.

Our heavenly Father is perfect.

This means a lot to me as an earthly dad.  I am not perfect.  My girls know that well.  I am grateful that I have a heavenly Father who is willing to forgive and restore when I fail.  I treasure that my girls always have a perfect heavenly Father to whom to look up when they see shortcomings in their earthly dad.

Our heavenly Father portrays pure justice and unconditional love.

No better example have I found to understand the balance God has of justice and love than to be in the role of a dad.  The two, justice and love, are perfectly compatible and one should not be overlooked for the sake of the other.  Justice can not exist without love and love without justice.  What do I mean?  It is loving to have boundaries and limits to life.  Justice from God is real because he gives us those boundaries in which to live so that we experience the greatest blessings on this earth and in heaven.  Just like a father tells his child, “Don’t run in the street” because he desires his child to not experience getting hit by a car.  In fact, if the child runs in the street, he may be disciplined to know the seriousness of the infraction and how much dad loves his child to ensure it doesn’t happen again.  Love from God is real because he desires the eternal blessing of his children.  Love is not a boundary-less grant to a child to do whatever they want.  Love desires to guide a child in the way of righteousness and to the eternal blessings of heaven.  I treasure that my heavenly Father is perfectly both and as an earthly dad can learn from his examples of justice and love.

Our heavenly Father is present…always.

Earthly dads get busy with work, hobbies, chores, and just life in general.  Sometimes we are not as present for our children as we would like.  Our heavenly Father is available 24/7…every day to listen to our prayers, remind us of his promises and guide us with his Word.

Earthly dads are great and a blessing from the Lord.  How much greater a blessing we have to be able to call God, “Our Father IN HEAVEN.”

Apply: What other blessings do you receive from your Father in heaven that is better and more perfect than from your father on earth?

Prayer: Our Father in heaven, thank you Father for your eternal perspective, your perfect love and justice, and your ongoing presence.  We treasure that you have thought enough of us to bring us into an eternal relationship with you! AMEN.

Today is my wife Christy’s 50^th birthday!  Happy birthday, honey!  (I know it’s not good to expose a woman’s age, but this milestone is worth celebrating!)

I treasure that I have had a chance to spend almost half of these years married to her and have known her for over 35 of them.  She is an amazing woman and a true gift to me, our girls, and all with whom she has interacted with for the past 50 years.

I give you two sections of Scripture that come to mind as we celebrate and mark this day together.  First inspired words of David in Psalm 139:13-16.  Each day is a gift and part of God’s eternal plan.

For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be.

The second is the sayings of King Lemuel at the end of Proverbs with a reflection on the characteristics of a noble wife, a noble woman.  While the details are not all parallel, the character, heart, work ethic, faith and impact of Christy match well this description.

10 A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.
11 Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.
12 She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
13 She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.
15 She gets up while it is still night;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her female servants.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.
18 She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.
19 In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
20 She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.
21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
22 She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.
25 She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
26 She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
27 She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all.”
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
31 Honor her for all that her hands have done,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

Thank you for allowing me to share this reflection on my wife’s 50^th birthday.  I treasure her, her love, her gifts, her faith, her person, her impact, and her love.

Christy, “Happy birthday!”  I and many others love you lots.  May God’s plan for you have many more days and years ahead!

Apply: If you’d like to send a birthday greeting, find Christy on Facebook, email her at christygeiger@gmail.com or send a card to 1235 Rowan Dr. Georgetown, TX 78628.

Prayer: Father in heaven, thank you for the 50 years with which you have gifted Christy.  Thank you for the gifts you have given to her and the impact she has had on us as her family and many others.  Love, protect, guide, encourage, and strengthen her for many years to come! AMEN

(This week’s devotions are based Week 1 of a Sermon Series on the Lord’s Prayer.  LISTEN TO IT HERE)

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For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” (Romans 8:15)

Perhaps for the first time, over this past weekend and early this week I heard a number of comments on the radio and in print lamenting the demise of fatherhood in our country.  One article (sorry can’t remember the source) indicated that America is the leading “fatherless” country in the world.

That’s not a statistic to be proud of.

While not the solution for every ill of society, the breakdown of the God-ordained family structure must be considered as a cause for a good amount of the dysfunction, mental issues, and crime in our country.  Statistics show that individuals who are without a father are more likely to have mental issues and be in prison for crime.

Why is that?

God designed the family with each person, mom and dad, having a unique roll to raise children.  (Note: If  you are a single mom or dad, may God give you wisdom and stamina to raise your children.  These comments do not diminish the importance of what you are doing or minimize the role of a mother.  They are simply highlighting and calling men who have fathered a child to step into the role they have and not slink away from it.  Children need a dad who knows and loves Jesus and seeks to guide his family to do the same.  It’s the way God intended it.)

So what is the role of a father?  Perhaps as we look at our heavenly father, we catch a glimpse and example of our earthly role as a dad.  Here are six key areas for us, with the Lord’s help, carry out as a father to our children, and encourage other fathers to do the same.

1. A father provides.

Often as guys we think of providing a paycheck which provides food, clothing and shelter (and more) to our families.  While this is important, don’t forget that providing is also providing emotional support and spiritual support to your family.  They need you involved in their lives, not just money in the bank.

2. A father protects.

Again we often think of protecting our families physically, but don’t forget again to protect your marriage, protect your relationship with your kids and with your Savior.

3. A father directs.

Scripture talks about training a child in the way he should go.  A father is directed by his heavenly Father and does his  part to direct his children and family in the ways of the Lord.

4. A father disciplines.

Discipline is the process of making a follower of Jesus.  Rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness are all appropriate activities of a dad.

5. A father loves.

As we have been unconditionally loved by our heavenly Father, we get to model that to our wife and children.

6. A father leads.

The Lord has entrusted godly leadership to the husband/dad.  Humbly follow your Savior and with the Spirit’s help lead your family to do the same.

Overcoming the title of “fatherless country” begins with each one of us who are in the role of father.  We set that example for our sons and the young men around us.  May God use us who call him “Abba, Father” to be a godly father to our families!

Apply: Which of the six would you say is your strength? Weakness?  Ask and seek the Lord to help you grow in that area!

Prayer: Father in heaven, thank you for your provision, protection, direction, discipline, love and leadership.  We are blessed by it and through it may we be a blessing to our families and others, AMEN.