The Glory of God

"My God is immense beyond imagination. He measured the entire universe with merely the span of His hand.
He is unimaginably awesome in all of His perfections, absolutely righteous, holy, and just in all of His ways.
He has also been unbelievably good and merciful to me as the Creator and Sustainer of my life.
Every breath, every heartbeat, every function of every organ in my body is a gift from Him.
Every legitimate pleasure I experience is a gift from His loving hand to me.
All that I am and all that I have I owe to Him and to His goodness.
My life in every way is, and will continue to be, utterly dependent upon Him in whom I live and move and have my being.
This wonderful God is the most supremely worthy Object of admiration, honor, and delight in all of the universe;
Ad He has created me with the intention that I might glorify Him by finding my soul's delight in Him and by living in joyful obedience to Him in all of my ways."

by Milton Vincent


These words have been expressed so well. I need not change them, but provide you with them...

Meg's Miscellaneous Monday Mentions

Doing a quick trip around the blogosphere this week has led me to many and varied interesting, challenging, convicting and thought provoking posts by several authors. What has stood out most to me this week have been the awful amount of stories about newborn or young babies dying.

I have read way too many heart breaking stories this week of parents suffering the loss of their babies. It has led me to weep for people I will most likely never meet this side of eternity. It has also led me to give thanks to the Lord who has so graciously spared our family from such tragedy. Above all, it has caused me to praise God for His amazing grace upon these families lives who have surely brought much glory to their Lord and Saviour by the way in which they have responded to such pain and suffering.

The amazing thing is that each one of these parents, or grandparents, writing about their loss, have openly bared their rawest of wounds as they grieve the loss of their precious children, and yet they have more so declared the goodness of their Almighty Heavenly Father. Amidst their tears and sorrow and agony, they have still lifted up praise to their King, even as He has ushered their babies into His magnificent presence. I have been amazed at such faith and have been forced to wonder whether I would give such an amazing testimony if I were in their shoes. I greatly fear that I would not.

Here are just 3 of the families I have read about recently. I pray that the following posts will move you to pray for these dear brothers and sisters in Christ. I pray that it may cause you to hold your kids, grand kids, nephews or nieces a little longer, a little closer and be thankful that they are still within reach of precious hugs and kisses. I also pray that you would be able to testify to the goodness of Jesus in their lives and yours, for He is truly good in all things.

*John Piper on the death of his granddaughter and the speech he gave at her funeral.

* Dennis Rainey (of FamilyLife) writes a beautiful account of his precious granddaughters' passing.

* The Story of Audrey Caroline is heart-wrenching blog about the love and loss of one family's precious baby girl.

Teaching Children about Priorities

Training children can be tricky. Especially when things happen that are outside of our control. However it is so important that we walk/lead our children through these times to give them the skills and understanding that they need, when facing disappointment or hurt. I find these times to be strategic for imparting wisdom.

Tonight, my eldest son has once again faced disappointment. His soccer game has been canceled for the 3rd time this season. Now he really, really, really enjoys playing sport. I think he has been so blessed by God to have been put on the team that he is. His coach is fantastic, his team members have been very accepting and welcoming. This has really been a wonderful experience for Caleb so far.

Now with all these game cancellations, there are going to be re-matches. But we have just learnt that these rematches are going to be held on Sundays. In fact the first rematch is on a Sunday Morning at 9:00 AM. But this is the time that we are at Church. So what do we do?

A very wise man once told me that "priorities precede privileges". Man I have banked that quote and I repeat it often. It is a gold nugget. Because it is so true!!!

So what are our priorities as a believer in Jesus Christ? It is the meeting together of the saints. Sure, there are exceptions and the like, but how quickly our priorities become confused. It is important to keep your priorities your priorities.

Anyway, we knew what we should do, but how do we teach and train our son, so as not to provoke and frustrate him. Instead to teach him and encourage him in godliness?

My wife and I spoke to our son and told him about the decision that we face, and asked his thoughts on the matter. He was quick to recognize the struggle but admitted the right thing to do was not play at that time.

A few days later we were on our way to soccer practice, and I asked my son what he would say to his friends when they asked if he was going to make it to the rematch games. I was so shocked I was silenced. He said, "I'm going to say that I won't make it to those games because I am a Christian and I will be at Church."

My usual sensor picks up the tone of how it is said, and the facial expression that accompany the words. To my delight, the tone was humble and passionate, and the face was serious and committed. I think I said, "Wow son, that is really awesome you feel that way."

So, back to my question, "how do you teach your children to deal with disappointment?"

Brothers, it is as simple as teaching your children what God's Word instructs us. "You, your children and grandchildren must respect the Lord your God. You must do this as long as you live. Obey all his rules and commands I give you. Then you will live a long time." (Deuteronomy 6:2)

Further down, we read, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and strength." Now this is not just taught orally, but by your actions along with your wife's actions.

Do you model for your children what it is to, "love the Lord God with all your heart, soul and strength?" Oh, I have struggled at doing this, but I think it is important to model for your children what it means to love the Lord your God. That means, not allowing other things to creep in and confuse your privileges over your priorities.

Now my wife and I normally let our children express their disappointment, as long as it is done with respect, and not out of a heart of grumbling against God or others. Depending on location and timming we take the opportunity to help them see the sinfulness of their hearts, and identify where we have struggled with this sin as well. We then encourage them to repent of this sin and will pray with and for them. Then after we have cried and got it all out, we focus on our hope, HEAVEN! Being in God's presence, where He is!

I hope you will walk/lead your child(ren) through their disappointments! Leading them straight to the cross of Christ!

Showing Appreciation

When my wife was away with the kids at her mums place, I racked my brain as to what I could do to bless my entire family.

So I called a good friend, who is very "gifted" creatively and asked for some ideas... His suggestion was brilliant - all it took was a phone call - and it was done.

So when my family came home, on the notice board, that we have hanging at a central location to be seen by all, I wrote in big letters, "VERY VERY VERY BIG Surprise! Be ready to leave at 9:15 AM...

Well today finally came and it was such a delight to show my children a little appreciation for the way that they have served me these past three years, as I have been studying.

Again, I am so blessed to be a husband and a father!

Here are some pic's

Degree Completed

It is wonderful to complete something that you have started! Today I finished the last exam of my degree. How wonderful it is...

I have learned so much and am so grateful for this experience.

35 years old

the most supportive and encouraging wife (you really have no idea... well... if you know me - you do! LOL)

6 children - who have been great encouragers and prayerful for their daddy!

not much money to my name...

bills bigger then what we can "afford"

ends won't meet...

HOW can we do it? My wife and I were asking ourselves three years ago...

Today my wife and I are a bit nostalgic walking down memory lane. God has provided and provided and provided - above and beyond what we have required.

Thank you to all who have prayed for us, supported us, and loved us through this time!

TO GOD BE THE GLORY GREAT THINGS HE HAS DONE!!!

Quote

"Because of lack of fortitude and faithfulness on the
part of God's people, God's Word has many times
been allowed to be bent, to conform to the
surrounding, passing, changing culture of that
moment rather than to stand as the inerrant Word of
God judging the form of the world spirit and the
surrounding culture of that moment."

Francis A. Shaeffer (1912 - 1984)
American Presbyterian Minister and Speaker

Origin II - QLD vs. NSW

An Important event happened in Australia last night. It was the second match in the State of Origin. Boy was it loud...

Here we have the NSW team... They won the first state of origin game. Last night was the second state of origin game. There is to be a decider state of origin game on July 2nd.

Now, in my humble opinion this game beats any NFL game, hands down. I can say this because I played American Football as a kid. I grew up supporting the Pittsburg Steelers. My dad was a Oakland Raiders fan...

Last night - the state of Qeensland (QLD) served the state of New South Wales (NSW) up a beautiful defeat. In other words, they cleaned their clocks. 30 - 0!

That is pretty disgraceful when you understand that selectors pick the best of the best from each state to field the team. So these guys are suppose to be the cream of the crop!


Rightly, QLD played a brilliant game! I have a great mate who is a QLD supporter and I am sure he would have been so happy by this victory.

In fact - I am adding his picture below...


Actually - I don't know this guy - but my friend will know who he is... Good on ya Van-ill-a! I bet you enjoyed the game!!!

Another Poem???

Not sure what has gotten into me... I truly am not a poem person... However this is so worth reading... Especially if you have ever been forgiven!

Melody in F
(The Prodigal Son)
by Bob Philips

Feeling footloose and frisky, a featherbrained
fellow
Forces his father to fork over the
fartherings.
And flew far to foreign fields
And frittered his fortune feasting
fabulously with faithless friends.

Fleeced by his fellows in folly, and facing
famine,
He found himself a feed-flinger in a filthy
farmyard.
Fairly famishing, he fain would have filled
his frame
With foraged food from fodder
fragments.

"Fooey, my father's flunkies fare far
finer,"
The frazzled fugitive forlornly fumbled,
frankly facing facts.
Frustrated by failure, and filled with
foreboding,
He fled forthwith to his family.
Falling at his father's feet, he forlornly
fumbled,
"Father, I've flunked,
And fruitlessly forfeited family fellowship
favor."

The farsighted father, forestalling further
flinching,
Frantically flagged the flunkies to
Fetch a fatling from the flock and fix a
feast.
The fugitive's faultfinding brother
frowned
On fickle forgiveness of former folderol.

But the faithful father figured,
"Filial fidelity is fine, but the fugitive is
found!
What forbids fervent festivity?
Let flags be unfurled! Let fanfares flare!"
Father's forgiveness formed the
foundation
For the former fugitives future fortitude!

Meg's Miscellaneous Monday Mentions

Well, it's been quite a few weeks since I added anything to the blog... life has been busier than usual around here and Monday's have been a little crazy. As is often the case, I have not always responded well to the extra busyness that encrouches upon me at times!

Yes, the sinner within rears it's ugly head and complaints start to bubble up from my heart and often make it to my mouth... I will start to whine about how tired I am, or how stressed I feel etc etc etc, to the detriment of those around me. I forget the many blessings the Lord has given me, I forget that I am called to serve my family and others joyfully, and I definitely forget to do all things as if doing them unto the Lord!

Here is a great post from Covenant Fellowship Church that is all about the very things I have just mentioned, and how to combat those feelings that can threaten to rob us of our joy in the midst of busy and exhausting schedules. Cindy Campbell is writing from the perspective of a mother, but of course these principles can equally be applied to both men and women, no matter your vocation or stage of life.

I pray you will be encouraged to go about the rest of your week with joy and gratitude instead of joyless grumbling!

Essential Traning for Young Men and Women!

A hero of mine shared about essential training for his son. He writes, "my twelve-year-old son's life is very different from how mine was at his age. He's being raised in a Christian home. He has been taught God's Word. And unlike his father, he's surrounded by people in a local church who respect godliness and humility, not worldliness and pride."

In our situation, I can identify with most of what this man shares, however this is what challenges me and yet excites me. It excites me because I see the need to do this. It excites me because I love a challenge. But it challenges me because, if I fail, it has serious ramifications. Let me explain.

He goes on to write about his son entering his teenage years and young adulthood, "the most important thing I can teach him is that, even though he's being raised in a Christian family and is leading a moral life, he's a sinner who desperately needs the substitutionary death of Christ for God's forgiveness." He goes on to explain, "for years I've been teaching him the gospel, day by day. I tell him that he's a sinner just like his dad, and that sin is his most serious problem. I don't ignore or minimize the seriousness of sin. Through his actions and attitudes he has rebelled against his Maker. And this great God is perfectly holy and must respond with fierce opposition to sin. He must punish it."

Are you surprised by this man's approach? Why? God's wrath toward sin is real! Sure God's wrath has been satisfied in Jesus. However we still must teach our sons and daughters about God's wrath toward sin.

"It is surprising," my friend writes, "that any loving person would withhold this truth from another person they love. Because only when we understand God's wrath toward sin can we realize that we need to be saved from it. Only when we hear the bad news that we're deserving of judgment can we appreciate the good news that God, through His Son, has provided salvation and full, continuing forgiveness for our sins. Only those who are aware of God's wrath are amazed at God's grace."

I want to emulate this godly and wise style of parenting for my sons and daughters. You and I can hold out this hope for their lives. That Jesus, God's perfect, righteous Son, died in their place for their sins. Jesus took all the punishment; Jesus received all the wrath as He hung on the cross, so people like Caleb, Abigail, Noah, Elisabeth, Isabelle, Keziah, Patrick & Meg could be completely forgiven. It's for you and your families too.

There are many things my wife and I hope to teach our children, but the most important thing that we can teach them, the most essential thing that we can teach and model for them is the gospel.

May we never forget this essential training for our young men and women, that God has entrusted us with...

Arguing?

Do you have arguments in your house?

What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.
You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the spirit he caused to live in us envies intensely? But he gives us more grace. That is what Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."
James 4:1-6

The root cause of quarrels and fighting is envy; setting our hearts on something we want and determining to get it no matter what. James says that we align ourselves with the world when we behave like this. That means that we are God's enemy because the world is not friends with God.

Oh brothers -be humble. Resist evil and submit to God who lifts up the humble.

Tonight I have been reminded about this.

I came home from a class and saw some adjustments to the home taking place but really did not register what was taking place. I left for a meeting and returned. When I returned I went upstairs to change clothes, but my clothes were not in the closet. There were some pretty girl dresses on my side of the closet. "HONEY - WHEre are my CLOTHes GonE?" I half shouted and half spoke.

After I found them I went downstairs and asked my wife, "why"? "Why are we changing things now?" "Don't you know how busy I am"? "Don't you care how this is going to affect us"? "ME"?

So... I come and read James 4.

Why am I upset? Because I ain't getting my own way!

How silly aye?

Thankfully my wife graciously and genuinely accepted my apology and forgave me. Brothers, there is a huge temptation to want things our own way. At least for me there is. I pray you will consider when you and your wife are arguing, and remember why!

Humble yourself and repent if you are the reason why. Seek forgivness from her and God... Then thank God for HIS grace!!!

A Poem: True Love

I am not a poet man... Poetry is not my thing, and yet, this poem has caught my eye. I am deeply moved by the insight and wisdom of this young lady.

As you rush over this poem as I did the first time... I trust as a man, you will remember, others are watching and observing your life.

You may be leaving a lasting impression on someone, observing the way you care for your wife or care for your children...


True Love

I saw true love today,
Not on a movie screen -
No passion clogging reason,
No clinging to be seen.

I saw true love today
Walk through a waiting room
Where I was sitting by myself,
Disguise I did assume...

An older man, an ugly man,
Tall figure, worn and bent;
No dashing prince with golden crown
To beauty's side was sent.

A woman who was fat and grey,
No fairy princess she,
Moved by the side of that old man -
She wasn't much to see.

And yet, they caught my notice,
The quaint and ancient pair,
They took my full attention
Though they were unaware.

For as they lingered by the door
He held her coat for her
And then he went and fetched the car-
The ice made her foot unsure.

And when he brought the car around
For her, the door he gained
And placed a step before it
That her body not be strained.

They drove away that morning
And though they could not know
They left me with a picture
Of how true love should go.

I saw that day no handsome prince;
No princesses were seen,
But in the realm of Truest Love
I saw a King and Queen!

by: Mary Beth Hackett
Faribault, Minnesota, USA

Feeding the Lambs

The best in the church are none too good for this work. This service is not for others. Dad's it's for you too. 'Feed My lambs'. That commission is given to the ministers, and to all who have any knowledge of the things of God. See to it that you are looking after children that are in Christ Jesus.

When you walk into your church on Sunday, stop and say g'day to a child. Look for evidences of grace, (eg. ways of encouraging them).

Sure, I know - 'what do you have to offer them?' 'They think your just a dad anyway'... or 'you have nothing in common'... May I suggest, you are looking to your own comfortability and not at an opportunity to 'feed the lambs"!

I observe myself that children don't seem to be comfortable. Or they are insecure in talking with adult's. Nevertheless stop, and ask them a question about themselves. I tell you what - they will be so encouraged. They might roll their eyes, or say, "i dunnaknow" or "whatever". But I bet they will never forget that you made the effort to speak to them.

Another thing that you can do is, let the child's parents know your observations. For example, my son was with a great mate of mine. They went on an errand and my son and another boy were telling my mate what they wanted to be when they grew up. If they thought about kids and marriage etc... My mate encouraged me with my son's response.

Pastor's, deacon's, elders, leader's & father's don't leave the work to the ladies, modeling for our future pastor's, teacher's missionaries, parliamentarians and father's.

STOP and feed the lambs...

Memorizing the Gospel

God instructs us in the Psalms to store up His Word in our hearts. What a beautiful picture. God wants us to tuck His promises into our hearts so that, no mater where we are or what we are doing, we can pull them out and be strengthened by their truth.

Not good at memorizing Scripture? That's OK! Keep doing it! Work at it! No one is keeping score - well God's not at least. Even if others do it quicker or better, it's worth it and I encourage you - DON'T STOP!!!

Have you heard of "strategic Scripture memory"? Good! I hadn't either! But, it is so clever. What you do is, you start memorizing things you want to memorize. So for example, as a father, you might want to remind yourself and your wife and kids about the Gospel. So you find verses about the gospel and memorize them.

I'm going to provide some verses for you that have helped me to love my Lord more and to also encourage my wife and children. But before I do let me try to show you when you want to pull these verses out. It's when you find yourself alone, or when you find yourself praying to the Lord. It can also be when you find yourself losing perspective in the midst of life's daily troubles and inconveniences. Traffic jams - after you have blew up at your wife and kids for no reason, etc... Instead of listening to yourself - preach God's Word to yourself.


2 Corinthians 5:21 - For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

If your struggling with condemnation over a sin that you've repented of and turned away from, reflect on this passage.

Romans 8:31-34 - If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died - more than that, who raised - who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.

Just quickly, a couple more. Here are some great verses that speak of God's work of salvation through the cross.

Isaiah 53:3-6
He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he was borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Romans 3:23-26

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

Galatians 2:21

I do not nullify the grace of God, for if justification went through the law, the Christ died for no purpose.

1 Corinthians 15:3-4

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.

Oh I hope you will try doing this... It is a wonderful practice.