Word Wednesday:Honesty

2 Corinthians 8:21Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.

Honest:

1 a : free from fraud or deception : legitimate, truthful <an honest plea> b : genuine, real  c : humble, plain <good honest food>
2 a : reputable, respectable <honest decent people> b chiefly British : good, worthy
3  creditable, praiseworthy

" You PROMISE? " are two words I often hear from three young and impressionable little men.  Can I be taken at my word?  Is what I say good enough?  As a Christian and a Father my word had better be good enough.  What we say matters and the impression our words leave on those within our family and without can last a lifetime.

Do we deceive others  and ourselves with our hypocrisy?  Integrity, honor, honesty, and character are all facets of who and what we are as Christians. 

1. Are we honest with our spouse?
2. Are we honest with our children?
3. Are we honest in business?
4. Are we honest with ourselves?

These are some questions that we must ask ourselves as we travel this road of life.  My boys know that if Daddy promises something it is all but assured.  We are not perfect and circumstances do change, but do others say of us, " He is as good as his word?  " When those outside the family of God see us they should ( if they are honest ) be able to give a good report of our lives.  God hates lying tongues and those who practice such will have their part in the Lake of Fire so I believe honesty is an imperative in our lives.

As I write this I am convicted and broken before the Lord.  I have not always been honest in all my dealings and often I have " went along to get along. "  We are required to be honest with both the Lord and with men and that includes ourselves and our families.  We are to dwell on things that are honest and pure and by doing so we are fulfilling the will of God.

Philippians 4:8Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Father, I thank you that you are True and Faithful.  Forgive me not always being honest, genuine, and reputable.  Lord, when others look upon me I desire that they see you living through me and I pray that my life will be honoring to you.  Amen

Word Wednesday: Accessibility

Hebrews 4:15-16

¹⁵ For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tested in every way as we are, yet without sin. ¹⁶ Therefore let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us at the proper time. 

After working in ninety five degree heat all day with a heat index nearing one hundred the last thing this body wanted to do is be accessible.  It wants to take a break, grab some ice tea, plop in the chair, and soak up some AC for a couple hours before bedtime.  That is not what happens though in the Stapleton Household.

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Word Wednesday:Disappointment

Luke 24:13

And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs

I wanted a bow and arrow for Christmas and my little heart was set on it as I was nearing the age of ten.  To watch my Grandpa and Dad practice out back was to inspire awe and wonder in the mind of this boy.  To be like them and cast arrows at indescribable speeds at a far away targets was my goal for this year and to do this I needed my own archery equipment.

Now my mind was much bigger than any budget my parents could work with so on Christmas, awakening with anticipation, my hopes were crushed when I found what I considered a rinky-dink bow and arrow under the tree.  It was not at all like Dad's or Grandpa's and my childlike aspirations were crushed.

Looking back I now know that what I wanted was not what was necessarily best for me and here is why:

1. I was physically unable to use a bow of the same size and capabilities of the adults.  I could neither hold it upright nor draw it back.  What I wanted would have been useless to me.
2. I need to learn and grow in increments.  We learn to walk by rolling, crawling, and falling.  No one learns Calculus without first learning 1+1=2.
3. There are limits on what others can provide for us.  People will let us down when we do not fully understand their situation also.  This does not excuse any wrongdoing on either ours or their part, but there very well may be good and valid reasons as to what has occurred.

Many if not all the disciples who had been following Jesus were disappointed at how His ministry apparently ended.  The Messiah of Israel was not supposed to die a gruesome death at the hands of the Gentiles and Jewish leaders.  Most of them were looking for an earthly Kingdom to be restored to Israel without having truly understood the plan and purpose of God ( it is hard to blame them on many parts ).  God was going to do a new thing in that the substitutionary death of Jesus had opened the way for both Jew and Gentile to be partakers of the family of God.  His plans were much larger and grander than what they had wanted.

Parents, children, and all others we will both disappoint and be disappointed in this life.  We will most certainly fail others but we can be assured that God will never fail us as He rules and reigns and will be faithful until the end.

²⁵Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:
 ²⁶Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?
 ²⁷And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.  ³⁰And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them.
 ³¹And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.

There is always more to the Story when we are dining with the Master.

Father, I pray that you will help us to deal with life's disappointments in a Godly and edifying manner.  That our lives will be marked by a faithfulness in You that transcends our circumstances and will be a testimony to others of your Faithfulness.  Amen

Word Wednesday:We Are Not Perfect

2 Samuel 14:24
And the king said, Let him turn to his own house, and let him not see my face. So Absalom returned to his own house, and saw not the king's face.

As I have read that story in the past I often focused on the drama, violence, and betrayal playing out in the King's household like a bad B-movie.  I mean there was intrigue, deceit, and murder among the King's sons with enough adventure to keep an adrenaline junkie hooked.  

I am now older and as a father with three young boys I see the story from a vastly different perspective.  All the same elements are still there but now other things have drawn my attention as the Lord reveals new aspects of the Scripture to me.  

Dads, we are not perfect and we never will be this side of Eternity but I honestly wonder how David, a man after God's own heart, could let such things happen in his house.  The rape of his daughter, the lack of justice to the rapist, the murder of the perpetrator ( his son ), the rebellion and deception of Absalom, and finally the death of Absalom.  It really is almost to much to comprehend.  

How could a father become so disconnected from his family that would allow that to happen?  How could Absalom return to Jerusalem and David not see him for years?  How could a son become so resentful and rebellious that he would want to murder his dad and steal his kingdom?

I want my relationship with my kids to be so involved and God-centered that things like that will not happen in my family.  That my sons will grow up respecting me and their mother, that a love of God will be instilled in them that will last a lifetime, and that they will love and protect each other.  I pray that the time we spend together will nurture and grow them into young men full of integrity, honor, and that God will save them unto Himself.  

One thing Dads that I want to reiterate; we are not perfect.  We will mess up, we will drive our kids crazy, and they will think that we are insane, but we must never lose the ability to say, " I am sorry " and " I was wrong."  We must acknowledge our failings and be real before our kids, our wives, and our God. 

Lord, help me today to be honest with my family.  Help me to be a man of integrity and allow my children to follow me even as I follow you. Amen

 

Word Wednesday: Sacrifice

Then they came to the place of which God had told him; and Abraham built the altar there and arranged the wood, and bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood.  Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.

Genesis 22:9-10

We as men are called upon to sacrifice in this life to varying degrees in differing circumstances.  Some give their lives for country, community, or a cause but for the most part we will never reach that level of self-sacrifice.  So what should our daily lives look like?

"  Daddy, come read my Bible Reader with me, " I heard my seven year old, Weston, say.  Usually that is a warm welcome to spend time with my son and the Lord in His Word, but that day I was comfortably piled up in my chair trying to recover from a cold.  I wanted nothing more than to sit there and do nothing, but his eager and expectant little face was beckoning me to read.  Against my bodies protests I got up and read with Weston, though I must admit it was not a huge sacrifice since it was something enjoyable and worthwhile.  If I routinely refused to give of myself, however, I would be sacrificing my family upon the altar of selfish convenience.

 What have you given up? What have you not given up?

1. That extra rung on the career ladder that may have cost time with the family.
2. Those extra man-toys many of us desire
3. Our own time apart from everything
4. That favorite television show or sports program

I am not advocating an unbalanced life where all we ever do is give ( which is not likely anyway ) but a lifestyle of self-sacrifice that includes loving others as ourselves especially in our homes.  Abraham was willing to sacrifice his son at God's command, but to often we are unwilling to sacrifice anything for anyone.

Father, help us to be living sacrifices to you and for your glory and to love those around us sacrificially.  Help us to realize the impact we as husbands and fathers have on the lives of those around us.  We know that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. Amen.

Word Wednesday: Fathers Love

Forever, and a Day, and the Weekend

1 John 4:7
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.

Matthew 6:9
" Pray, then, in this way:'Our Father who is in heaven,Hallowed be Your name.

Men, love does not always come easy to us in our rugged, individualistic, and He-manish American Society.  Real men do not cry.  Shrug it off.  Suck it up.  Don't let your emotions show.  It is a sign of weakness.  Have we ever heard these sayings and more as boys and took them to heart as men?  How often have we erected walls around our hearts keeping those who would love us out and wrecking meaningful relationships?  Do we play the " tough guy " with our children without ever showing them love?  Do they know that it is OK to let their guard down and be real because they have seen us do it?  Do our wives know we love them not only in word but in deed?

When did we become so emotionally impoverished that we fear one of the most glorious things we have been created for; to have relationships both with God and those around us?  Love is from God and we, as believers, have Him as a Father and as an example.  If we know how to give good gifts doesn't He also? Where did we learn how to give from?  Him.  He is the foundation of all our relationships and because of Him we know how to interact with His other creations.

" How much do you love us? "Mindy and I asked.

" Forever, and a Day, and the weekend, " replied our four year old son, Jackson.

His childlike faith and love were expressed in the most meaningful way he knew how.  Love between Father and son should last forever and to make sure of that he tacked on an extra day.  When asked about the weekend he simply explained that daddy was home and we were all together as a family.  Together in a loving family relationship ordained by God.

As children of God we can look forward to the moment when we will forever be with our Father in Heaven.

Forever, and a Day, and a Weekend.

Father in Heaven, help us to know your love and to reflect that love into the lives of those you have place closest to us.  Let us be your representative here on Earth and the type of loving fathers and husbands you would have us be.

Word Wednesday:Fathers Protect

Psalm 18:30 As for God, His way is blameless;The word of the LORD is tried;He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.

Matthew 6:9 " Pray, then, in this way:'Our Father who is in heaven,Hallowed be Your name.

I am not blameless. I mess up, foul up and hose up many things in my life both the trivial and the weighty.  However, I as a father, take that responsibility very seriously and  give thanks to my Father in Heaven for providing the perfect example to follow.  My God, who is forever faithful and blameless, is our protector and our refuge from all trouble and we should strive to be the same here on Earth.

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Word Wednesday:Fathers Provide

Genesis 3:17b-19a

Cursed is the ground because of you;
         In toil you will eat of it
         All the days of your life.
"Both thorns and thistles it shall grow for you;
         And you will eat the plants of the field;
    By the sweat of your face
         You will eat bread,

Honestly, some days I just don't feel like pulling on my boots and heading out to work.
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Word Wednesday: Fathers and Priests

1 Peter 2:9
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye  should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light

As believers we are all called to be priests and show forth the praises of the one who has saved us but I want to speak specifically to Fathers today and the awesome responsibility we have in the home.  The Old Testament priests were the mediators between God and man and as such they were responsible for revealing God to the people and interceding on behalf of the people to God.  As Christian Fathers we are to take on the same responsibilities in the home

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Word Wednesday:Loving Your Wife

Ephesians 5:25  Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her

That is a strong statement coming down to us today from the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul and it is just as timely today as it was then.  What manner of love is this and from where does it come?  What does it look like and how should we as Christians express this love on a day to day basis?
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