Habakkuk 3: 17-18

As fathers, husbands, sons, sons-n-law, brothers, men in general, we are faced with trying and sometimes challenging circumstances. And whether we like it or not, our wife and children pick up on that.

When they pick up on it, how do they observe we are handling the trial we are being entrusted with?

At the moment, I am being strengthened through trials. The question is - what are my wife and children and friends observing in their husband, father, friend? A mate of mind said to me the other day, "don't loose your joy in these circumstances mate". My son said to me last night, "dad, you seem angry!"

So clearly, joy is not being evidenced! I'm not angry, but I am allowing myself to let my mind wander and question if God is going to come through. Will He? Won't He? Has He ever let me down? No! But sometimes I do allow myself to play that game too long and it breeds unhelpful thoughts which then affects my joy.

I was reading some helpful thoughts from one of my hero's Charles Spurgeon. He was offering some cross centered reflections on these verses from Hanakkuk.

A song of joy, in a state of affliction:

Habakkuk 3:17-19

"Though the fig tree should not blossom,
nor fruit be on the vines,
the produce of the olive fail
and the fields yield no food,
the flock be cut off from the fold
and there be no herd in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the Lord;
I will take joy in the God of my
salvation.
GOD, the Lord is my strength;
he makes my feet like the deer's
he makes me tread on my high places."

Oh Lord, thank you for salvation! You are my strength! In You I trust!

Contending for Supremacy with God...

There is a book that I have been wanting to revisit once I finished my theological training.

The book is called;

'Humility, True Greatness' by: CJ Mahaney.

WHY???

Great question!

The reason I want to study & reacquaint myself with HUMILITY is because, I see a struggle with PRIDE being evidenced in my life. Let me share with you how; as I am finishing up theological training and ministry in a local church, there is a desire I have to want to be affirmed and valued. I am very tempted to want to comfort myself with all of my achievements. I am tempted to tell myself how much I have done and how hard I have worked & how much I deserve.

Friends, trust me, this is not the proper talk I need to be giving myself. Instead, I ought to be reminding myself of all that God has done for me. I ought to be reminding myself that my purpose is not to glorify myself but glorify Him who gave me life.

As I have been re-reading this book - I am once again, convicted by the Holy Spirit, of the evidence of pride in my life.

Oh, the temptation to reason, excuse, justify & deny the evidences of pride in my life, are numerous. However I do not want to be guilty of contending for supremacy with God. I do not want the opposition of God. I mean, really - who is going to lose that battle? Not that that is the reason I don't contend for supremacy with God, however it is because of the gift of salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ.

So what is contending for supremacy with God? Contending for supremacy with God is when I am taking away the glory from God and putting it on myself, or allowing it to be placed upon me instead of Him!

My purpose is to glorify God. That can be done in whatever circumstance I find myself. In theological training or not in theological training. In "paid" ministry or in "lay" (unpaid) ministry. What ever I am doing I am to glorify God.

Revisiting this book has ministered to me greatly. If you are a father, husband, son, male... READ this book... It will highlight your thoughts about the topic - it deals with our objections & understandings on the topic.

By reading this book, I dare say, it will help you better serve your Lord, your wife, your children and your family...

It's a great tool to assist you in parenting with an eternal perspective...

Leading in Temptation and Not Tempting My Family

"No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it".

1 Corinthians 10:13

Do you ask yourself, 'what's the good of temptation'?

Oswald Chambers explains that the word 'temptation' has come down in the world; we are apt to use it wrongly. He says, "temptation is not sin, it is the thing we are bound to meet if we are men".

So many times as a husband, father, brother, son, son-in-law etc... I am tempted. I am tempted to be self absorbed. I am tempted to put my needs before others. I am tempted to want my way and not consider how my choice will effect others. It is a real battle. God's Word is such an encouragement to me knowing He will not allow me to be tempted beyond what I can bear. What a wonderful truth to live out, not just mention!

Let me share with you another area that I have recently been considering. It's not only how I am being tempted, but how I can tempt others to sin.

Have you ever considered how you are able to tempt others to sin?

Here are some ways I have discovered that I can tempt my family to sin. I can tempt my family to sin by my actions or lack of actions. I can do this by my tone of voice. Am I yelling, being harsh, patronizing in the way I speak to them or question them? If I am, I need to change this behaviour. It is not serving

In my role, I am tempted in many ways. However God has entrusted me to lead my family. I must consider how I am tempting my family.

I am so grateful that during these times I can run to the Gospel and remind myself of His great saving power! It is in these times I am provided with an opportunity to rehearse the Gospel. For it is the power of salvation to all who believe.

I trust you will consider how you are serving your family when you are being tempted. Are you being tempted to sin? Are you tempting others to sin? Remind yourself of the Gospel of Jesus Christ...