A Letter to My Brother

                                                    A Letter To My Brother

I’m having a difficult time writing this letter because my thoughts come so quickly and my emotions run so high when I think about our dad.  This morning I felt as though the Holy Spirit was pushing me to write it, so here goes.  I love our dad.  When I think of him I get wonderful, loving, happy, warm feelings.  He was my hero and he was my confidant.  He was funny and fun.  He had the biggest bear hugs that a person could give or receive.  We could talk for long periods of time.  Dad always did things for me.  Sometimes he did too much and sometimes he was over protective, at least to my way of thinking.  I know that he didn’t want to see me struggle or be disappointed, but that just happens in life.  You just can’t protect your children from life. It’s going to happen- to them, for them, and all around them. It’s a part of growing up.  I think dad knew that, but it didn’t stop him from doing his best to protect us and to be continually present in our lives. 

  Even though he’s gone now, I still love and appreciate our dad for so many reasons. 

     I know that he saved your life at age 8 when you fell in the lake.  He immediately dove into the lake to get you without thinking about his keys, wallet, or anyone else.  I remember his big dreamy smile the night you were born.  I watched him sacrifice for you.  He created special projects around the house and with the car so that the two of you could spend quality time together and so that you would be able to build things and make repairs yourself.  He loved you so much.  I remember the look on his face when you were little and you told him that you wanted to be just like him.  He took one last drag on that cigarette and he never smoked again.  I remember the look of pride on his face when you graduated from law school and joined the navy JAG.  His smile couldn’t be matched by a thousand suns.  You always brought him such joy and immense pride. 

     Let me tell you why I‘m writing this letter and making it public.  As you begin your new journey with the Lord, I want you to remember something.  When the disciples asked our Lord to teach them how to pray, the first two words he taught them were “Our Father”.  It occurs to me that when we pray, we get a picture of a father.  That picture depends largely on the person we knew, or didn’t know, as “daddy, dad, pop, or father”.  When children pray, “Our Father”, who do they see?  What image comes to their minds?  How do they relate to the word father? That is the only image they have to transfer onto God the Father.  How will they see our loving, faithful God?

     For us, we easily came to Christ because our perception of a father was one who was loving, kind, forgiving, a great teacher, protective, …well you know him.  But I ask myself each time I hear those words, “Who are the people envisioning when they say those words?”  Is it an absent father, or an abusive one?  Is it an unfaithful man, or one who never kept his word?  What picture do they have to transfer onto God, Our Father?

     As you embark on your  ‘Faith for Single Fathers” Ministry, I want you to know that I stand behind you.  I think that all our family, all of my friends and FB family members stand behind you.  Men fall, but it’s ok.  It’s our job as a community and as a society to help them stand back up.  I admire and respect what you are doing.  We are all praying for you.  I’ve often seen you beat yourself up when you felt that you’d made a mistake while raising your children alone.  STOP THAT.  You are amazing.  What an awesome example of fatherhood you are!  As you move forward with your single fathers breakfasts, bible studies, and your book on “What Happens When Fathers Fast”, know that we are all with you.  We are praying for you.  We are hoping for you.  Remember that when you begin to feel unworthy, that we are all unworthy, but GOD CHOSE YOU to do this work.  One day, when saying “Our Father”, many children will have a perception, a memory and a picture of a man who is a loving father whom God created, taught and ordained to be a daddy to His children.  One day, when our children begin with “Our Father”, all our children will know that God is Love. 

Be Blessed and encouraged in your –HIS work.

 Your sister, Lauren.

Jonah, rebellion, mercy and forgiveness

    Everyone seem to think that Jonah and the whale is a story about Jonah, and a whale. Maybe it is, but if we can get past the really huge sea creature, there could be something more. 
Jonah was a prophet who was called to warn the people of Nineveh that their sins and crimes were an abomination to the Lord and that in 40 days they would be destroyed. Jonah, as we all know, didn't want to do that. He hated Nineveh because they were the enemies of Israel. It has been said that the people of Nineveh (Assyrians) conquered and scattered the 10 tribes of Israel, among whom were members of Jonah's family. Why then would God send Jonah who was in such anguish about what they had done? Why not send someone else?
God is a forgiving God. He asks us to forgive also. Obeying God meant for Jonah, that he would be teaching God's forgiveness to wicked behavior to a people he wished would just die. It meant that he would have to witness and share God's love and forgiveness for people, and that he would have to see the people of Nineveh, whom he hated, spared, forgiven, restored. This story not only teaches us about the love and forgiveness of God, but that He wants us to love unconditionally and forgive unconditionally just as He does. It's extremely difficult to do that, but it's extremely important to God that we learn to do it and that we are willing to do it. That's how we become "One nation under God." Jonah needed to learn to forgive because God called him to do it. God didn't force him to do it, but He did encourage him to do it.
1. Jonah tried to run from God in pure rebellion
2. Jonah tried to hide his secret from the fishermen
3. Jonah willingly sacrificed himself so that the fishermen
would survive.
4. Jonah stayed between life and death for 3 days and nights
5. Jonah decided to ask God's forgiveness and obey God
6. Now Jonah had to show mercy and a way out of
destruction for his enemies.
7. Jonah saw the mercy of God several times during that
journey both toward him, and also toward his enemies.
8. God taught Jonah about mercy, forgiveness and restoration
9. Jonah is a story about rebellion, anger, unforgiveness and
hatred which changed to sacrifice, obedience, mercy and
forgiveness.
PRAY FOR YOUR ENEMIES. PRAY FOR THOSE WHO DESPITEFULLY USE YOU. FORGIVE. Get out of God's way, because His vengeance is more than you can imagine and HIs forgiveness is divine.
BELOVED, LET US LOVE ONE ANOTHER.

power and control

The Lord our God is all powerful, everywhere present, and all knowing, yet He doesn't control us. He doesn't treat us like puppets with Him as the puppeteer. He doesn't even try to exert his control over us. He doesn't force us to do one thing or another. He gave us dominion over the earth and He stepped back.

He does talk to us all the time. He warns us of trouble. He guides us into all righteousness. He protects us and leads us beside still waters. He doesn't FORCE us to stay anywhere, or to do any particular thing. He just makes certain that we know right from wrong.

*****If an all powerful God doesn't exert control over us, why then, do we try to control other people? The one who COULD control us, doesn't. The ones who CAN'T control others, try to do it all the time. Let's follow God's example and let's stop trying to control people in our orbit. We can love them, lead them, teach them, comfort them, but let's not manipulate, create fear, use control, or create alternative truth. If you see these control tactics, call them out. Don't be silent.

Beloved, Let us love one another.

Why does God let bad things happen?

Queen Esther discovered a plot by Haman to kill her people. 
- God waited until of his own free will, the Pharoah LET HIS PEOPLE GO.   The Pharoah changed his mind about freeing Moses people and became determined to recapture the Hebrew slaves. 
-David discovered King Saul was plotting to kill him.  Where was God?
- Satan asked to sift Peter like wheat, but Jesus didn't say, "NO" Jesus told Peter he prayed that his faith would nor fail.   Hey Lord, why not just SAY NO!?
God doesn't stop bad things from happening.  He DOES warn us and tell us what to do about it.
     He told Esther how to get permission to act first and save her people.   He told David to wake up and move. He told Moss to part the Red Sea and then close it up.  He told Peter to stay in faith. **God honors all His laws and promises.  Even the one about free will.  If the enemies of the people of God are determined to hurt God's people and refuse to listen to Him, he warns His people and tells them what to do. People aren't puppets and God isn't a puppeteer. He is our Father.
How valuable is free will to Him?  He sent His son to die for us.  It's about free will of EVERYONE, but  We still have the victory. Listen to God.  Follow his instructions.  PAY ATTENTION.  He WILL save your life, -maybe just not the way you thought. 
#His ways are higher than our ways.