I AM Proud of my Citizenship
I just finished watching the final medal sport of the 2010 Winter Olympics. The Canadian Men’s Hockey team beat the USA team in overtime.
I was born in Hong Kong to missionary parents. By birth- determined citizenship is Canadian. I am living in the States and have been a Naturalized citizen of the USA for more than four years now.
Over the last couple of weeks, I have been proud when USA team members won gold, I have been proud when Canadian teams won. I was ecstatic when the Canadian hockey team won.
There was something that happened earlier today that made me even more ecstatic though. Something tied to another, more important, citizenship that I also hold. When I was child, I became a citizen of heaven and what truly brought a tear to my eye was watching a handful of people walked to the front of a church auditorium and make the decision to follow Christ! Now that’s something to be proud of!
Philippians 3:20 “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ”
I am proud of my citizenship in heaven!
The call a parent doesn’t want!
I went to get my hair cut the other day and while I was in the chair, a call came in that no parent wants to get. The place I go is family owned and operated. Two sisters and a brother. When I was there, the two sisters were there and the brother had yet to arrive. When the phone rang it was the brother. Turns out his son was snowboarding in Vermont and landed badly off a jump. He broke his wrist and also broke his back.
This lead into a discussion about how you never know what a day is going to hold and different aspects of parenting.
I told the gal cutting my hair of a comment that my father told me when our first was born: "Welcome to the time in your life when you don't know how to raise children. There are two times in your life that you know all you need to know about rasing kids... before you have them and after they leave your house!" How true it that!
The conversation covered other areas as well but I left that haircut session once again reminded how we can do all that we can to protect our kids from harm, and it still won't be enough. we have to trust that God is in control. But more than that... God has a plan. God doesn't prevent hardship and pain and suffering in the lives of our children, but he does watch over them and keep extending his love for them. He is in control. We must continue to trust him.
Tying God’s Hands
There are some verses in Scripture that both excite me and make me nervous. Matthew 6:14 is one such verse: “If you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.”
I am excited by the fact that forgiveness is available for me. Those times when I've blow it and made sinful decisions and done, said or thought something I shouldn't have. Those times I've had a wrong or bad attitude. God's forgiveness is available so that I can remain in good standing with Him.
But there is another part to this verse... the opening word in particular: IF.
The reality is that there are conditions to God's promise of forgiveness. If...
If I don't forgive someone, then God can't forgive me.
We can actually tie God's hands simply because He has put a condition on his provision of forgiveness. I don't always like it. There are times times that I want to hold onto my hurt feelings or keep judging some one's motives or actions. However, doing so puts up a roadblock to experiencing His forgiveness.
That is a place I don't want to be. That is a place you don't want to be. Let's live each day by extending grace and forgiveness in the same way God wants to extend grace and forgiveness to us!
An Incomplete List of People
Over the last few days I've been reflecting on the people who have been in my life over the years. God has brought many people who have impacted me in various ways into my life. Most importantly various family members; my wife, who has been a wonderful partner for more than 20 years in life and ministry. My three children who have brought joy and excitement through the years. My parents and sister who actually lived what the Bible teaches!
I look back to the youth pastor who encouraged me in leadership roles when I was a teenager. The pastor who first risked hiring the young college grad with more ideas than sense. The pastor who saw in me potential and challenged me to grow.
The people who have allowed me to be real, being willing to give themselves. People who have loved my family and reached out to care and accept them. People who have been willing to follow my lead.
The list goes on and throughout the rest of the day I will continue to count these blessings 'one by one.'
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What I'm Doing...
- FInished a group life call to Ohio. Former group member of ours is starting up a group in his church. seeds from more than 5 years ago! WIN! 2 hrs ago
- To be sure of hitting the target, shoot first, and, whatever you hit, call it the target. 7 hrs ago
- My wife came home with an extra child tonight! I think a parent forgot to pick her up from school. Joanna really goes the extra mile! #fb 19 hrs ago
- 2 mnths ago I received, filled out Census form. Yesterday got mail that said I would be getting a Census form next week. Another 1? #census 1 day ago
- Daughter #2 produced Curried chicken and brocolli for dinner! She's become quite the domesticated gal. #fb 1 day ago
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