About 35 years ago, handy hubby and I bought our first new car. It was the bottom-of-the-line model, but a big step up for us. We were elated. At the same time, an acquaintance bought his daughter a nicer new car for high school graduation. “I feel sorry for her,” hubby commented, “because she’ll never feel like we do right now.”
We don’t properly appreciate blessings that come too easily. Disciplined blessings are the best. 
Let us remember those who are persecuted for their faith.
Matthew 5:10 (NIV)
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
And all this time I’ve been thinking I am blessed because I don’t face persecution.
We mourn for the nine godly souls who died in the Charleston church shooting.
Here in America, church is usually a safe place to praise, pray and study the Bible. Elsewhere, these activities end in financial loss, imprisonment or death.
How do we respond?
When it happens here in America, we are outraged. When it happens on the other side of the world, we accept it as a cost of discipleship–the cost of someone else’s discipleship.
I went back to college when my youngest was 4. I felt guilty about leaving him home with Dad. He said, “Don’t feel bad, Mommy. While you’re gone Daddy and I put our feet on the coffee table like you don’t let us, eat pizza and have burping contests.”
Me: Dear God . . .
God: It is good.
And it was.
Trust Oswald Chambers for an intriguing thought:
“Do I look at my life as being in my Father’s house?
Is the Son of God living in His Father’s house within me?“
My Utmost for His Highest (Aug 7)
Is this world my home? Or is my real home with God?
You know the story about Jesus, age 12, left behind in Jerusalem. Mary and Joseph found him in the Temple.
Luke 2:48-49 (NIV)
His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.”
“Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?”
Did Joseph hear it as, “I had to be in my real father‘s house?” (I’ve had a child say, “You’re not my real mom;” it hurt). Did Joseph cringe? Weep? Or rejoice?
Parent, do you rejoice when your child has a real relationship with God the Father?
Yesterday was Father’s Day. Our culture sends out some mixed messages about fathers.
God thought so highly of fathers that he made sure his son had one. Thus Joseph is a central figure in the Christmas story.
Who says that fathers matter? God. And He knows whereof He speaks.
From Shine, Jesus, Shine (Graham Kendrick, 1987):
“As we gaze on your kingly brightness,
So our faces display your likeness,
ever changing from glory to glory.
Mirrored here, may our lives tell your story.“
Changing from glory to glory . . . it doesn’t get better than that!
Just about 20 years ago, our son came home from church camp and declared, “I want to be a disciple.”
I want to . . .
. . . follow Jesus.
I want to pray, study the Word, tell others. I want to obey. I want to live for God’s glory.
So simple, an 8 year old could figure it out. And he did.
Matthew 18:3 (NLT)
I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven.
