The Greatest Gift to Our Father

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For the last few days I have been doing a deep dive into Romans 8 for a Bible study I’m apart of. Every time I dwell in this chapter for an extended period of time I come away filled up. I often say if I had to choose one chapter in all of Scripture which has transformed me the most it would be Romans 8.

And on Father’s Day morning with these 39 verses fresh on my heart I was pondering on what would be the best gift to give my Heavenly Father on Father’s Day. After all He has absolutely everything. He is the Creator and Sustainer of the whole cosmos. Then it occurred what would bless Him the most is found right in this glorious chapter.

For me everything in this chapter hinges on this amazing truth found in verses 15-17:

“For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship (or, adoption). And by Him we cry ‘Abba Father.” The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs – heirs of God and co heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in His suffering in order that we may also share in His glory.”

It would take some hours to unpack all the truths found in these 3 verses but at the center of it is this phrase, “And by Him we cry ‘Abba Father!”  The Father’s great gift to us is His presence through the Holy Spirit, and His Spirit helps us shout out a powerful prayer – “Abba Father!”  Perhaps you have heard that the word “Abba” is used in all types of languages and as a term of endearment, or an intimate love relationship with your papa or daddy.

Calling out to our Father God as our “Abba,” is giving Him the greatest of Father’s Day gifts. We are declaring that we are His beloved children and we trust in Him with all of our hearts. I love watching my grandkids call out for their daddy or mommy. Sometimes it is when they are hungry, or when they stepped on something ouchy, or when they wake up from a nap, or wanting their parents to notice them, or simply wanting a hug.

When mommy and daddy hear those words, their heart melt with love and they respond quickly to the need. How much more does our Heavenly Father love to hear His kids cry out “Abba Father!” Those two words show our need, affection, and trust in our Daddy. When we as His children seek His authentic love and His affirmation, such a gift goes beyond anything in all creation, truly nothing can can separate us from such amazing love (8:39).

All of Scripture is the Good News of the Father bringing us back to an understanding of our Father’s love given to us through the sacrifice of Christ and the Holy Spirit. When we cry out as children to our “Heavenly Daddy” His heart explodes with unspeakable joy.  Such a response is an acknowledgement that we have received His gift of salvation. We know without a doubt we are the Father’s precious children.

Every day is our Abba’s Day. Bless Him today with greatest gift of joy by crying out to Him in prayer “Abba Father!”

 

At the End of the Detour

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The weather was perfect for an afternoon bike ride. I set out on one of my favorite trails looking forward to the wide open spaces and enjoying God’s glorious creation.  Just as my legs were warming up I spotted a big orange sign: “Detour Trail Closed!”

Bummed at the disruption of my plans, I took a drink of water and assessed my options. “Where now?” As I turned around and pedaled back from where I came from I thought about the many detours in my life. How is it just when I think I know where I am heading-boom, a big orange sign jolts my plans.

The detours in life are a definite reminder that I am not in control. I am definitely not the God of my destiny. This truth often ends up being an internal wrestling match of my will. Will I surrender to the Spirit? Or will I fight against Him to press on through the detour and attempt to forge my own way?  As Proverbs 16:9 reminds us:

“In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD, determines his steps.”

As I was processing the “detour”  on my ride, I remembered another trail l I heard might be open. So I ventured out, found the trailhead, and sure enough it had just opened. This trail was a good workout with some hills and got my heart pounding. It was a whole new area to explore and was exhilarating!

If it wasn’t for the detour I would not have tried out this new trail! Over the years countless detours have resulted in new trails.  I am continuing to learn that our Good Father is in still in the midst of the unexpected routes of life.  It is good to make a plan, but how many times such paths don’t always go as expected and I am reminded He is still in it, perhaps even protecting us from something else.

So when a detour signs appears, I attempt to take deep breath. Step back. Wait and see what my Heavenly Father  wants to teach me. Usually it is the same point He makes again and again, “Tim, surrender and trust Me, I have the right path for you!” Perhaps one of the most important lessons in a detour is to show us at the end of the day: He is all we need. The greatest trail is one that leads to His glorious face of love. He is enough!

The well known verses in Proverbs 3:5-6 are a profound truth:

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your path.”

Trust. Don’t try to figure it all out. Keep surrendering each day to Him. Allow the detour to lead you to His heart for you. Life is filled with detours, and yet this may be the trail which will lead you to Him, the source of abundant life.

Whatever detour you maybe facing at the moment, remember Jesus is still with you and will be waiting you at the end of it.

Becoming a City On The Hill

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20 years ago a miracle happened which would not only grow our faith, but also teach us the rhythm of the Father’s heart. My friend recently sent me this picture of a prayer and dedication service for City on a Hill Ministries. Hard to believe this was in 2006. So many memories resurrected from this season.  Here are a few lessons learned from this God encounter:

A Vision Birthed in Prayer – When God is on the move you will always find prayer at the cornerstone.  The Holy Spirit will prompt people to pray into a God-sized vision which only He can bring about. This story began when four women from a church in Zeeland, MI learned the local Community Hospital was for sale. Together they committed to weekly gather to pray for God to have it turned into a ministry center.

These passionate prayers were birthed from hearts that experienced pain and loss and believed God could turn the hospital into a place of both physical and spiritual healing,  a place that would  touch many lives with Jesus’ hands of love. The prayers of these ladies ignited a fire within the church with many catching the vision to step out in faith and follow His leading.

A Father who Faithfully Provides – If it is God’s vision He will provide the people and the resources. I will never forget walking into the president’s office with my friend Steve to make an offer to purchase the hospital. The offer was 1.1 million-way below asking price. We knew the response could be a laugh and a polite decline. But to our surprise God had already been working on his heart and the boards, they were open to seeing a non-profit obtain the building.  An agreement was made.

The next obstacle money, we had none. Yet again as we moved forward in faith at just the right time God supplied the funds needed. Not only did He provide funds, but also the right people to make it happen. We saw first hand how the Holy Spirit anointed people to do the work with the necessary gifts and talents to make the vision a reality. It was a beautiful picture of the whole body of Christ coming together with the Father’s vision uniting as one.

A Cosmic Power Struggle – When you follow the leading of the Spirit there will be spiritual warfare. We saw this first hand from many different fronts and it reminded us how weak we are but how strong our Father is. Prayer again became the life line. Pastors prayed weekly in the building as a united front calling on God for protection and power to move forward. Many gathered for community worship in a local gym next to the hospital. Many prayer walks took place in and around the building. Truly the Father heard the cry of His children and He claimed the victory.

All Praise to the Father- When the Father moves through His children His glory will shine brightly.  20 years later there are 48 non-profits ministering out of the City on a Hill building. Physical and spiritual needs are literally being met all around the globe. The impact is mind boggling. This building is truly a standing stone for the glory and the power of what our Father God can do if we faithfully follow His leading.

The Father showed so many of us through this experience how He grows His Kingdom. Just as His Son taught and challenged us in the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount:

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Mt. 5:14-16)

Where is the Father calling you to be His light today?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other World

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Written by Mike Verkaik

This past week I quickly stopped into the administration office at Holland Christian. As I was walking out, I ran into the former principal whose granddaughter had gone on Oceans Kingdom Encounter the previous summer.

She stopped me and asked, “Did you read Bella’s writing in this year’s Scripta booklet? She won first place.”

Reading her writing carried me back onto the paths of Jim-Se-Bos, where I once again caught a glimpse of our Father’s heart in Bella — still captivated by her Kingdom Encounter almost a year later.

Other World

      Bella Hernandez

Walking through Jim-Se-Bos, and informal town in South Africa.

Mud soaked the ground everywhere we walked; it was

like walking through a sea of feces and dirt.

Flies swarming every house and every person.

Looking around at the metal shacks that housed

families of 6.

Feeling the hand of a child in mine.

How could their lives be like this?

I looked down; the little girl staring at me in the eyes.

With a smile on her face. How?

She has so little, but she has so much joy. She didn’t

see the troubles and the dangers she was living in.

She was excited to show me her home, to show me

where she slept and ate. I was trying to

understand how someone could survive living there.

She didn’t know any better; she didn’t care about her

circumstances.

When she looked at me again, I could see it. The Lord

gave her joy, and that’s all she needed.

After reading her published piece, I asked Bella what compelled her to write her story. She responded, “Because of how impactful this experience was for me and my faith. God really opened my eyes in these moments in Jim-Se-Bos and throughout the whole trip. He showed up to me through people and how they lived. This was one of the most impoverished places I have ever been. Right when we arrived I knew in my heart this was gonna be a difficult time and a difficult experience to be in. But God opened my heart and my eyes to enjoy the time with these people. He was able to show me when we don’t worry about the worldly things or the physical things around us, we can see him show up even more through his creation.  It also helped me see how in the States we care so much about our things and our plans. But the people in Jim-Se-Bos live everyday as a blessing and a gift. They give everything they have everyday and they take joy even in the hardest moments. This was super inspiring to me and it encouraged me to be grateful for everything I have and to put my full effort everyday to be joyful and to love like the Lord.”

Sing the Song of Pentecost

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It was 24 years ago and I still vividly recall spending the day in prayer by the beautiful Pacific Ocean. I was pondering Habakkuk 2:14, and felt prompted to write in my journal, “one day you will be part of a ministry called Oceans!”

I was reminded of that life altering moment as last week a good friend sent me a daily worship devotional by Shane and Shane. This musical duo was sharing how they had just been at a conference with missionaries from around the world. What grabbed the hearts of them more than anything was found in the hope and glorious calling of Habakkuk 2:14.

Shane and Shane were so moved by the passion of these believers that they wrote a worship song from the verse:

For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the King as the waters cover the sea,  for the church will be thrilled with the knowledge of the glory of the King, every nation gathered to sing.

Chorus:

Salvation belongs to our God who sits upon the throne and unto the Lamb be blessing, honor, power unto Him, Amen!

Listening to the song from Habakkuk 2:14 and subsequent verses from Revelation 5, my mind lifted from administrative details and to the Father’s vision for His church. I found myself praying for His children all over the world  to be droplets of His love, flooding the nations with the glorious gift of the Holy Spirit given to us in Jesus- the now reigning King.

While in South Africa my favorite place to pray is a peak where I can sit on a rock and oversee the vastness of  both the Indiana and Atlantic Oceans disappearing in the horizon. God often uses the visual to remind me how small I am and How big He is. His big vision is to cover the entire world with His glorious reign of grace. And one day the whole earth will be gathered together to sing His praise.

A few days ago churches around the world celebrated Pentecost Sunday, the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the Father’s sons and daughters. I can’t think of a better vision statement for what started that Holy day than Habakkuk  2:14.  On that day 3000 droplets of grace started a river flowing from Jerusalem which is turning into an ocean of people touching the nations with true healing love and eternal hope.

Did you read the story of 2500 people being baptized last week in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Florida? This reminded me of those who have been baptized in the Indiana and Atlantic Oceans off the coast of South Africa. What a joy to witness such hope for those choosing the way of Jesus.

I was so thankful for my friend sending me this simple but powerful song last Thursday. It reminded me once again of the Father’s vision for His children. Each one of us is called to join in this ocean of His saving glory covering all the earth with His love-and  that it is happening all around us is such an encouragement!

May we keep singing and living out the Song of Pentecost believing in it’s powerful promise!