Perpetual parenthood . . .

Well, tomorrow our baby (sorry Steve, even though you are the tallest you are still the baby) is going to be 35 years old! That fact along with recent health issues with a couple of our grandchildren, the impending arrival of another grandchild, and difficult school adjustments with other grandchildren have reminded me again that once a parent, always a parent.

It is an incredible privilege to watch our grown children deal with life's emergencies and the daily issues that arise in their lives and the lives of their children. Frequently I can see how history repeats itself and the very issues they are facing we faced many years ago with them. Fortunately, they seem to handle those issues much better than we did. One of the truly special blessing that God gives parents is being able to watch your children take the spiritual foundation you attempted to establish and then to grow exponentially beyond that foundation into amazing God centered and God fearing individuals with insights and abilities that far exceed your own!

As a father, it has been difficult at times to stand back and allow God to use life's trials to minister to my kids, yet we are so blessed and so appreciative of God for all His tender mercies in our family. I still have the "fix it" mentality, but in His wisdom God has prevented me from messing everything up by jumping in where He is working. Instead of reacting and running to aid my children, He continues to teach me to fall on my knees and ask Him to aid my children. I am a slow learner, but I do know that no matter how much I love and adore my children and grandchildren, God loves and adores them even more!

What a great God we have!

“The Folly of Fools is Deception.” (Prov. 14:8)

I have been spending time in the Proverbs recently and found it interesting the number of times that the NIV text uses the word "fool". It is amazing what the Lord says about a fool. It is also amazing that we, as individuals and as a nation, have forgotten what the Lord says about a fool. Here is just a sampling of the many verses that refer to a fool.

Proverbs 1:7: "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline."

Proverbs 1:22: "How long will you simple ones
love your simple ways? How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge?"

Proverbs 10:18: "He who conceals his hatred has lying lips, and whoever spreads slander is a fool."

Proverbs 10:23: "A fool finds pleasure in evil conduct, but a man of understanding delights in wisdom."

Proverbs 12:15: "The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice."

Proverbs 14:8: "The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways, but the folly of fools is deception."

Proverbs 14:16: "A wise man fears the Lord and shuns evil, but a fool is hotheaded and reckless."

Proverbs 15:2: "The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouth of the fool gushes folly."

Proverbs 17:16: "Of what use is money in the hand of a fool, since he has no desire to get wisdom?"

Proverbs 18:2: "A fool finds no pleasure in understanding but delights in airing his own opinions."

Proverbs 20:3: "It is to a man's honor to avoid strife, but every fool is quick to quarrel."

Proverbs 26:11: "As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly."

Oh Lord, Your Word is so clear that true wisdom comes only from You and that man's wisdom is folly, yet we have all acted as fools so many times by ignoring Your teachings and refusing Your wisdom.

Father, forgive me for being a fool!

Father, forgive the church for being foolish and not demonstrating to the world Your wisdom and truth.

Father, forgive our country for turning away from Your counsel and foolishly choosing to follow the wisdom on man instead.

Have mercy on us Lord and direct our hearts back to the Your wisdom found in the Bible.

Amen!

The Healer of My Soul . . . . . . . .

Oh how I appreciate the way the Word of God ministers to my soul!

Thank you Lord for speaking to me through David in such a loving and fatherly way.

"I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. My soul will boast in the LORD; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. Glorify the LORD with me; let us exalt his name together.

I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.

Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.

This poor man called, and the LORD heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles.

The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.

Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.

Fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him lack nothing.

The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.

Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD.

Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies.

Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.

The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their cry; the face of the LORD is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth.

The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles.

The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

A righteous man may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all; he protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken.

Evil will slay the wicked; the foes of the righteous will be condemned.

The LORD redeems his servants; no one will be condemned who takes refuge in him."

(Psalm 34)