You Shall Find Him, Matthew 2:11a

You Shall Find Him

Matthew 2:11a On coming to the house, they saw him with his mother, Mary.

The Magi from the East saw the star when it had reappeared and followed it to the place over where it stood. There they found the child.

We have heard it said that "wise men still seek him". But a better phrase might be... Wise men, and ladies, still find him! Deuteronomy 4:29 states that we shall find the Lord if we seek him with all our heart and soul. The wise men of old left their land to find the new king and when they found hi they gave him gifts and worshipped him.

K and A, be wise. Seek the Lord with all your heart and soul. If you do, he promises that you will find him, close and precious he will be to you. The gift to give him is yourself and all that you have. Give it all to him and worship the Christ. He is worth finding.

~Dad

Christ Is The Blessing Genesis 22:1-19 (18)

Christ Is The Blessing

Genesis 22:18 and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.

The Lord said, through your offspring, all nations on earth will be bless because you have obeyed... that blessing is Jesus! Because of Abraham's faithful, full surrendered life, Jesus was born in his line of descendants.

A and K, who will find Jesus because of your faithfulness? Who will find the peace and joy that is possible in life because you surrendered everything in you life, your hopes, your dreams, your family, your time, your all? Who? The results from your holy living has great potential!

~Dad

Full Surrender Blesses Others, Genesis 1:19 (18)

Full Surrender Blesses Others

Genesis 22:18 and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because yo have obeyed me.

Abraham's descendants were going to be a blessing to others, because Abraham was faithful. Certainly, Abraham had already been a blessing to the people around him. He had helped save people from marauders, gave gifts to the King of Salem, and pleaded for Lot's life. Now, God tells him that his faithfulness was going to bless others in the future.

Obedience to the Lord is proof that we love him (John 14:21). The Bible make record of the struggles of serving God. There are many poor examples, ways not to live, but conversely there are great examples of how to live righteously. Abraham is a great example of the results of being fully surrendered to God. It is beneficial to our lives and to others as well.

K and A, God loves to use you to be a blessing to others. Even though God could help others by himself, he wants you to reach out and bless others. One of the ways in which he does this is to use your example of a righteous life. You rarely know that he is even using you, but he is. Only when you get to heaven will you fully understand the impact of how you lived your life and the blessing it became to others, and throughout the generation beyond you. So live a holy life, fully surrendered to him. Others will be grateful you did!

~Dad

Full Surrender Claims Ground, Genesis 1:19 (17b)

Full Surrender Reclaims Ground

Genesis 22:17b Your descendants will take possession of the cities of your enemies.

God had told Abraham to look around. From the top of the mountain, he saw the land the Lord would give to his descendants. The promised land was all around him but not yet his. But now, because Abraham was willing to give up his most cherished possession, God declared that his offspring would certainly take possession of the land.

I know what I want to say here, I struggled over the title for five minutes or so. Wrote and rewrote it and plan to go back and change yesterday's - okay, I just did. But why? Because, obedience, no matter how much I like the word is not where it's at. It is only when we surrender our ways to his way that counts. Doing "it" because God said so is good for society and the church but that doesn't bring about the life God is looking for in us. It is much bigger than that.

We have struggles in our life. Some are related to our physical life, but there are spiritual struggles that affect all of our life and certainly our eternal life. There are areas in our life (plots of ground) that we just can't seem to take hold of, those we can't control. Maybe it's jealousy or anger, pride or conceit? Maybe we tear others down to puff ourselves up? Maybe we have hatred or envy, slander or tell lies? Possibly, there are impure sexual thoughts or we may even carry them out? Can these "plots of ground", these "cities" be conquered? Yes, they can! And we better (Galations 5:21)!!

God has given us this "land". It has been promised to us. But to take possession of it is our choice. Yes, the Israelites returned to conquer the land as the Lord had told Abraham, but a whole generation of people never got to enter his land because they refused to surrender to the will of God. They refused to believe and obey, they had little faith in God. (Numbers 14:23). How sad. But how wonderful for those that fully surrender to him. They shall take possession of it and rid their lives of all that works to strangle them (Hebrews 12:1) and keeps them from taking control of it!

A and K, take control of the those areas of your life that you know are not pleasing to God. Oh, they will not be conquered on your own no matter how hard you try, but as you fully surrender to God, like Abraham did, being willing to give up everything, anything, you will find that the promises of God will be fulfilled in your life. Reclaim the ground that God has promised. It is yours forever if you surrender all to him.

~Dad

Full Surrender Brings Blessings, Genesis 22:1-19 (15-17)

Full surrender Brings Blessings

Genesis 22:15-17a The angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time, "I swear by myself, declares the Lord, because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the sand on the seashore.

From Genesis to Revelations, God's Word is full of commands, covenants, and promises explaining the blessings received for being obedient. Here is just one of them. Abraham was blessed for giving up his son as the Lord had commanded him; the Lord reiterates his promise which he had made before to Abraham. It was conditional when he made it and here we see what God expected of him... full obedience.

Is there more than just blind obedience to this accounting of Abraham's actions? Doesn't Paul say that obedience to the law is not required, therefor obedience is not needed? Yes, and No. The Bible is a rule book for living life, that can't be denied, but obedience to those commands is not blind. It is life itself. But why do we do them? Because we believe, that's why. But, what do we believe? We believe who God is and we believe what God says. And, because we believe, we act. Like James says, faith and deeds are inseparable, I will show you my faith by what I do (James 2:18). Faith is more than just facts and belief, it is action! And, these actions bring blessings, because we are "putting legs" to our faith.

K and A, There are rewards for serving God: God repays each one according to what they have done (Romans 2:6), That it may go well with you and you may live a long life (Ephesians 6:3) You will receive an inheritance from the Lord (Colossians 3:23-24),  Receive honor (Proverbs 22:4), Be given a prize (Philippians 3:14), God will give you the crown of life (James 1:12), and much more. Remain faithful, serve him, follow his commands both written and those the Spirit gives you. For, God is waiting to richly bless you. (and no my name isn't Daddy Jay Osteen Brubaker!)

~Dad

In My Place, Genesis 22:1-19 (13-14)

In My Place

Genesis 22:13 Abraham looked up and there in the thicket was a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt instead of his son.

I lay there terrified. What is my father thinking? Why would my father do this? He reassured me that all would be okay, but when he picked up the knife, fear shot through every part of my body. My father thought so highly of me, but now he was going to slay me! Then the voice of the Lord rang out. Abraham, Abraham... Do not lay a hand on the boy! Now I know that you fear God for you have not withheld from me your only son. And there in the bushes a ram was caught. My father untied me and sacrificed the ram in my place. Peace flooded my soul and all was well...

In the midst of our torment and trails of life, God calls to us. He says, I have provided a way out. I have a substitute for all your sin and heartache. Look, a Lamb will be given. It is Jesus. He offers to die in your place.

A and K. Satan wants to sacrifice you. He knows that punishment awaits you, and he is willing to offer you up. But, God has provided a way out. He offers his son to die in your place. He has taken the punishment you deserve. You must have faith that this is true and live for him what ere you do. So, live a life worthy of your calling, bearing fruit by doing good works that please him. This will cause you to grow in the knowledge of the Lord (Colossians 1:10). Like Isaac, you will live with the hope of a future. Take his offer throughout your life and peace will always flood your soul (Philippians 4:7).

~Dad

God First, Part Two, Genesis 22:1-19 (12b)

God First, Part Two

Genesis 22:12b Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.

Monument des martyrs, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

Abraham was willing to give it all. He held nothing back. His love and fear of the Lord compelled him to full surrender.

In yesterday's post I spoke mostly of the importance to be like Abraham in completely submissive to the will of the Father. There was no holding back when it comes in our willingness to faithfully serve and honor him. May God find us faithful.

Today, I would like to cover another area of our willingness to yield to the will of the Lord, the ability to let those we love serve God.

There are parents who hinder their children from following the Lord. Once, I lead a teenage girl to the Lord. When I spoke to her parents, who confess to be Christians, the mother said that she didn't want her daughter to get too involved, because when she was young, she do a lot with the youth group, and it was too much church stuff. I was youth leader at the time but could never get her to attend Tuesday night meetings, so she never had any discipleship. As I have watched this young lady develop over the next ten years or so, she professes Christianity in theory but her life doesn't show it. Throughout high school and college she listened to secular music, went dancing, when she was young and drank alcohol. She began dating guys and found a few winners online. finally she settled on  marrying one who, while they were dating, wasn't yet divorced. She has stayed on the fringes of serving God and believes all has turn out well. She is blinded to the fact that God does not have first place in her life for the world continuers to pull her down. When she was converted, she felt the tug of the spirit calling her into nursing on the mission field. Today, she works in a nursing home performing OT work while raising a family. I pray God moves in a special way in her life and grabs ahold of her husband's and children's heart as well.

What's the point of that story. Do I believe she failed her calling? Am I disappointed in her? Yes and yes. But, that isn't my point here. Much of her outlook on life was perpetuated by the belief that her parents held, specifically her mother. Instead of encouraging her new found life in Christ, she held her back and allowed the world to develop her worldview.

When God calls those we love, we must spur them on to love and good deeds (Hebrews 10:24). Encourage them to follow him fully (1 Thessalonians 5:11). Instead of holding them back, build them up in the training and instruction of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4) Some parents hope God doesn't called their children off to some foreign land! Abraham was willing to give his only son to the Lord. God gave his son for us. We must be willing to give our loved ones to him.

K and A, where is God calling you? If you don't know, seek to find out. In the mean time, be faithful where he has placed you. Here is the reason I wrote this to you today; I want you to know that if God calls you to Timbuktu or Ouagadougou, my heart will be full of joy! My concern is not where you go, even it means certain death. My desire is for you to serve the Lord in holiness where he places you. That can be anywhere, even in Virginia, just so you have forsaken the world and are clinging on to Jesus. Put God first, and I'll be a pleased papa.

~Dad

God First, Part One, Genesis 22:1-19 (12b)

God First, Part One

Genesis 22:12b Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.

For God so loved the world that he held not back his son, his one and only son.

Do we love God so much that we would do anything he asks of us not matter what? Think of God's request of Abraham, but first take away the fact that he was asked to kill his son and substitute in the important lesson which was this: Abraham waited over 80 years to have an heir, a son from his wife, Sarah. Now he was asked to turn the clock back and make it as if it never happened. He was asked to give up his family line. He was asked to destroy all his hope and dreams that had finally be realized. To what point would life be worth living now? "You want me to give it all away?"

New parents hope and dream of what their children will become. It is said that one of the hardest funerals to attend is the funeral of your child. It is like the future, your dreams and expectations have ended.

I met a lady a few years ago that was close to 80 years old. She had a child die some 40 years earlier in a tragic bicycle accident in Ickesburg while delivering newspapers... I think I still have a school picture she gave me not more than a year before it happened. When I was told the lady's name, I mentioned her daughter and how I appreciated the memory of her smile and attitude. She broke and cried. All the hopes and dreams she had for her never happened. Forty years later it still hurt.

What all God has for our children, we do not know. What he will ask of us cannot be foreseen. But, for we who truly love the Lord this resolve we must have: to love him with all our being, strength, mind, and soul (Luke 10:27) no matter what he requires of us. When we do, we will give up all and follow him. This will include family! Jesus said unless you love him more than your family - father, mother, siblings, and children - you cannot be his disciple. God must be first and foremost.

K and A, where does your allegiance lay? Is God first? Do you put him above family events and relationships? Abraham was willing to give up someone he loved to follow God. Family matters should not regulate what you do for the Lord, nor how much you serve him. Don't allow the world to dictate how much time to give to God as opposed to time for you and those you love. K, you are just married and give much time to the church and youth. Many will say that it is too much and you need time for yourself. Careful in this area. Allow the Lord to dictate that schedule. If you are close to him, you will here him say, "K, K, Do not lay a hand on the boy." (If you don't understand that, read verse 11 & 12 again or 1-19). God will provide a way out when it is time... stay faithful until then. 

Daughters, fear the Lord and serve him. He knows what he is doing, and you can trust him when you put God first.

~Dad

Of Course Not, Genesis 22:1-19 (11-12)

Of Course Not

Genesis 22:12a "Do not lay a hand on the boy," he said. "Do not do anything to him."

As Abraham reached for his knife to slay his son, God intervened.

Would God really have let Abraham sacrifice his son? Of course not! Remember, God was testing Abraham. He loved Isaac too. God would not do such an evil thing.

K and A, never think ill of God. He is not some cruel taskmaster. He loves and cares about all people, for you as well as the most vile person. Even the work that he has for you is easier than a path of pleasure you may choose (Matthew 11:30). Never fear the path God has for you. He will never have you to do something evil for him, but he will test your faithfulness. Work hard, Do well, Excel, in everything he calls you to do.

~Dad

Follow Thru, Part 1: The Father And His Son, Genesis 22:1-19 (John 3:16a)

Follow Thru, Part 1: The Father And His Son

John 3:16a For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son..

Abraham wasn't the only father considered crazy for being willing to give up his one and only son to die. No, God the Father willingly gave his son to die. He sacrificed him, so that the sins of mankind could be paid for. Isaac wasn't the only complacent son who went along with his father's request to be bound and laid on the altar. No,  Jesus the Son willingly went to the cross (John 10:18) and was bound to it by nails and hung on it as a sacrifice. Isaac carried the wood for the offering. Jesus carried his own cross (John 19:17). Isaac became the heir to the promise and had many descendants. Jesus adopted many descendants who became heirs with him.

It took great love for Abraham to be willing to give up his son Isaac, yet God's love was even greater. Abraham reached up to heaven to find strength in God. God reached down to man to renew his soul! Abraham was stopped from sacrificing his son and received him back. God's son was killed and died as a sacrifice for all, yet, in God's power, Jesus was made alive and lives as the first born from among the dead (Colossians 1:18).

K and A, what Abraham was willing to do showed a great love for God. But, there is a love shown greater than his. It is the love of the Father. Unlike Abraham, he actually gave his one and only son to die for you. He was willing for his son to suffer death so that you might never die. Do you appreciate his great sacrifice for you enough that you are willing to give up everything to receive that love, then willing to live a life that shows you have given it all up. Daughters, above everything else in life, love the Lord with all your heart, soul, and mind, and may he sanctify you through and through that you might be kept blameless (1 Thessalonians 5:23).

~Dad

Follow Thru, Part 1: Abraham and Isaac Genesis 22:1-19 (10)

Follow Thru, Part 1: Abraham and Isaac

Genesis 22:10 Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay the boy.

Abraham had prepared the altar and placed his son on it to sacrifice him to the Lord. God commanded him to do so and his love for God was greater than his love for his son. Yet, he believed God's promise that through the line of his son Isaac all nations would be blessed. He also knew that somehow God too would follow through and that God would fulfil his promise. So, believing in Him, Abraham picked up his knife to slay his son as a offering to the Lord.

This certainly is an incredible story of love and devotion to God. Our first thought are how could God ask his follower to do such a evil deed. But remember the first verse of this chapter... this was a test. Yet, Abraham didn't know that. He just loved the Lord above all things and was willing to carry out what God had asked of him even if it meant giving up his own son. We might think this crazy on his part, but Abraham knew God's promise and figured that God would bring him back to life (Hebrews 11:19). So, Abraham wasn't crazy. He knew he could trust God.

K and A, you can trust God. You can put your faith in him and carry out all he asks you to do. You can follow through and live a holy life knowing that even if others think you are crazy for what you do for him... or for what you don't do like them. But, he asks that you love him above all things if you are to receive the blessings he has promised. Do you love God that much. I pray that you do.

~Dad

Bound By Love, Genesis 22:1-19(9)

Bound By Love

Genesis 22:9 When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and placed his son on it, on top of the wood on the altar.

The boy had asked his father about the offering, where was the lamb, Father? Content with his father's answer, they walked on together to the spot of the sacrifice. There his father built the altar and laid the wood on top of it. Still there was no lamb, no animal for the sacrifice. But, it didn't take long for the boy to realize what was to be the offering for this day. It was He!. In love, he was bound. In love his father placed him on the altar. In love, he did not move from on top of the wood. Could his father really do this? Did his father really love him?

Our father really loves us. I am not talking about our earthly father. I am talking about our heavenly one. I am not sure how complacent Isaac was. We do know that he was bound. But, we also know that he did not need to be killed first and then laid upon the altar. He submitted to his father. As Christians, we are told to offer ourselves as living sacrifices (Romans 12:1). They are to be holy and pleasing to the Lord. It has been said many times that the problem with a living sacrifice is that it can just crawl off the altar... after all, why do you think Abraham bound Isaac?

K and A, I encourage you to be that living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to the Lord. But, like Isaac, allow your self to be bound, bound with the love of Christ, bound for his purposes, tied to his eternal love which is able to keep you dead to self but alive to all that is in Christ (Romans 6:11). His cords of love are gentle yet strong enough to keep you from sin.

~Dad

The Lord Will Provide, Genesis 22:1-19 (8)

The Lord Will Provide

Genesis 22:8 Abraham answered, "God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son." And, the two of them went on together.

And again we see the faith of Abraham. Here we find a great truth spoken of the character of God. Only later in the account do we see the real truth of this statement. God does provide in an amazing way!

It is easy to get worried when it appears that life is against us. Problems arise and seem insurmountable. They are mountains to big to climb and too large to go around. But, we must forge on and tackle the impossible. God says he will be there for us (Hebrews 13:5). In fact, he says that he has gone before us to prepare the way (Deuteronomy 31:8). We can take confidence in the fact the Lord will provide a way.

A and K, do not fear nor fret over your lot in life. God has great things for you and has promised that if you live for him and wont deny his name, he will bring them to pass. Trust that the Lord will meet all your needs for his supply is unending (Philippians 4:19). Have the faith of Abraham.

~Dad

Honoring Dad, Part 2: Trust, Genesis 22:1:19 (7-8)

Honoring Dad, Part 2: Trust

Genesis 22:8 Abraham answered, "God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son." And, the two of them went on together.

Abraham gave Isaac a wise answer. He knew what God has commanded, what he was asked to do. Somehow he has to care about his son and yet follow through with what his Lord asks of him. When posed with a tough question, he satisfies his son's inquisitiveness and gives an honest and thoughtful answer. God had provided the sacrifice and Abraham was walking with him. The time of worship was nearing, but now wasn't the time to convey all the information to the son, but soon he would have to. For now, they walked together, the son and his dad. His full trust knowing his father new best.

Children do not need to know everything. It is very true that we must not lie to them. But there is a time to tell and a time to keep quiet. Today's worldly wisdom say we should be open with children on household affairs, parent relationships, sexual things, drugs etc... I believe that to be foolish. Things of life need to be revealed in time as children mature. Some things after they leave home and other things they never need to know. Children's fears need quelled and sometimes we just add more than they need too early. They need to learn to trust their parents. We need to live in such a way that they do. We need to wisdom and understanding and fear of the Lord (Proverbs 9:10), then we can answer their questions in such a way that they walk with us in confidence.

A and K, I certainly haven't told you everything about life. I am not all wise and should have explained somethings more than I have. Like Isaac, if you have a question, ask me. I will do my best to help you learn and grow. Raising children has it difficulties; how much to discipline and what type and how stern to be, when to cuddle or when to sit them down and burr them out... its not easy. I pray you do better than I have. Above all train them in the admonition of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4), pray often and walk with them... take their hand and walk with them.

~Dad

Honoring Dad, Part 1: Respect, Genesis 22:1:19 (7-8)

Honoring Dad, Part 1: Respect

Genesis 22:7 Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, "Father?" "Yes, my son?" Abraham replied. "The fire and the wood are here," Isaac said, "but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?"

The key word that spoke to me in this verse is the word Father. Remind me of the radio program Odyssey. The was a character named Rodney, and when he spoke to his dad, he called him Pops. His father then would say not to call him that, then Rodney would say it again, "Hey, Pops?" Interesting note to that... Rodney was a bad boy character.

Isaac had respect for his father. Not only did he call to him respectfully, he called to him to learn. He called to him to find answers to things he couldn't understand. He sought the wisdom of his father. Rightly so, not only was it right to show respect and honor to his father, his father was worthy of it.

K and A, it is right for you to honor and show me respect. You are to the age now that you should know that, and I believe you do, and I have seen that in your demeanor. Yet, there will be times when you will see things differently than I have and you will go your own way. As you grow up, you earn that choice, not because of what you do but because of place in life. You have the right to choose, yet this God requires this one thing... that you continue to honor your father and mother. When I give advise, you get to choose, not me and you also get to live with the consequences or rewards it brings. You reap what you sow (Galations 6:7)

And, there is nothing better for a father that to have his daughters come to him for advise. There is true honor in that. I hope my girls feel safe in coming to me and asking for advise in personal and spiritual matters. I am here for both of you, at any time of day or night. Always

Father, a call of respect from a child to her father, no matter how old. Living a life of holiness and obedience to the Lord, the great honor a father could receive!

~Dad

btw... The word Father just has a higher level of honor. Pops not a name I would like to be called, but Dad is fine with me.

Determined to obey, Genesis 22:1-19

Determined to obey

Genesis 22:6 Abraham took the wood for the offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife.

There is something important here and I don't quite have it all settled in my mind. Here are my thoughts...

We cannot imagine what thoughts must have been going through Abraham's mind. Certainly there must have been seconds thoughts, maybe third and fourth thoughts... maybe not for Abraham. Maybe I'll just talk about me...

As I would place the wood on my sons shoulder and see him bogged down with the load and walking away, my heart would ache. My mind would surely talk to me and say, are you really going to carry this out. How can this be happening, why would God ask me to do this? Certainly I would be crying, if not on the outside, I would be on the inside. Heartbroken, I would turn and pick up the fire and reach to grab the knife... Here is where the next test of faith would come in. I look at the knife and think of what it means. With this knife I will slay my son and sacrifice him to the Lord. I would have to consider God's promise and his faithfulness. Is God trustworthy? Can I count on him to carry out his word? yes. Yes! YES!! I do believe! Then I would pick up the knife and walk with my son.

K and A, What has God promised to you? What has he called you to do? Be determined to obey. You did it for your initial salvation, now follow through for your sanctification. God has given you the determination to carry it out. Now pick up the knife and walk (John 5:8)!

~Dad

Amazing Faith, Genesis 22:1-19

Amazing Faith

Genesis 22:5 He said to his servants "Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and the we will come back to you."

How many times can you discuss one verse? When the verse is so rich and you can find may truths that you can take to heart, you just have to talk about them. Here we see in action the great faith of Abraham portrayed. Faith usually precedes actions. Hebrews talks about that; by faith Noah built, by faith Abram went, by faith Rahab welcomed (Hebrews 11)... Abraham tells his servants to stay and they, he AND the boy, would return. Even though his plan was to sacrifice his boy on the altar to the Lord as commanded, Abraham said "we will come back to you". Before his obedience to God, Abraham had the faith to believe that God would carry out his promise that Isaac would be his heir.

K and A, Do you trust God to do as his word says? Do you believe can will protect you, will guide you, and lead you throughout your life to better and higher ground. If you do, then carry out his tasks for you. You may wonder what that is... look ahead to see what he has for you but don't forget to do those thing you already know to do: Be faithful to others. Keep you word, Be diligent in your tasks, live holy lives, Care about and for others. It is hard to do the work of the Lord if you don't believe he will be there for you. First, know that he is faithful, then trust him to walk along side of you as you step into his will. He is faithful, and will build in an amazing faith in you!

~Dad

Alone With God: Part Two: Private Meeting, Genesis 22:1-19

Alone with God: Part One: Private Meeting

Genesis 22:5 He said to his servants "Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and the we will come back to you."

From the movie War Room

Abraham made his servants stay behind as he and Isaac went up on the mountain to worship God. Alone, they went. Alone they planned to make sacrifice before the Lord. Alone, they would honor God by carrying out his desires.

What is it that makes being alone with God so special? One could ask the same question of why it is so special to be alone with your fiancé. Why get married? Why do they have booths for two at restaurants? I guess there could be all kinds of answers, but suffice it to say that when two people love each other that time creates a feeling that can't be denied.

Loving God is similar. There is a special and undeniable feeling, a connection that happens when we love God and let him know it. Remember that Christ is described in the Word as our husband. That connection is real. It is developed by spending every breaking moment with each other. It is enhanced by words said and loving acts given. Not only do we do that for him, he does it back to us... in fact he did it first! Certainly we would want to spend uninterrupted time with him to worship and adore him.

K and A, Find time to be alone with God. He is there for your hurts and your joys. He want to know all of them and wants to help you solve every issue, rejoice with you in every happy moment. The Bible says to go into your closet and close the door behind you and pray to the Lord there (Matthew 6:6). You know where my corner is, my prayer corner and writing corner. I have spent some special times with the Lord there some at one in the morning (or is that night). I felt the special presence of the Holy Spirit so great that I asked him not to come any closer. Sometimes I wish I had never said that. Now, I seek those times again. I pray that you find Christ so real in your life, that you love him so much that his presence blesses you beyond anything you ever thought possible. When you do, you will understand true worship. Your desire for him will be so great that you will want to do everything he ever tells you. And you will want to spend even more time in private.

~Dad

Read and sing the words to this song. Will help build your resolve to be alone with God.

Alone With God - Hymn, One arrangement appears to be written by William J Kirkpatrick. He was a native to the local town of Duncannon.

Alone With God - Video with Lyrics

Alone With God: Part One: Worship, Genesis 22:1-19

Alone with God: Part One: Worship

Genesis 22:5 He said to his servants "Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and the we will come back to you."

In continuing on with story, Abraham, his son, and two servants traveled three days to the region of Moriah. Arriving there, Abraham, who hasn't told anyone what God had asked him to do, told his servants to stay put while he and the boy went to worship God alone.

There is specialness that comes when one worships God alone. Corporate worship is very important, but to be alone with God is crucial to ones spiritual health. The sad thing is that most people that call themselves Christians do not worship God alone. If and when they go to church, most people believe they have done their duty; they have met with others, waved their hands, rocked back and forth to a contemporary rhythm while repeating words to a catchy melody... "Oh, I feel good now. I must have worshiped." they think. Feelings aren't worship. Swaying together as if you went to a secular music concert isn't worship, hopping up and down to a heavy beat while in smoke fills the room isn't worship, neither is head banging, break dancing, or surfing across the crowd! Worship has less to do with us and more to do with God. He becomes the focus of our attention, our honor and our respect. We seek to lift him up in all parts of our life. Worship is a life thing, making a "worship" service a very small part of our act of worship. Worship is living a life holy and pleasing to God (Romans 12:1).

A and K, do you know how to worship God? It can be confusing with all the stress that is put on feeling good, today. But, it is important for you to remember that feeling good is to be a result of true worship. Maybe you have noticed how some "worship" services use songs and atmosphere to heighten your emotions to get you to feel good. These can make you feel good, but they do not cause you to worship... Daughters, figure out what the Lord desires by reading his Word, then live out those desires. This will bring the feelings sought by so many, feelings of satisfaction, hope and love.

~Dad

Prepared To Follow, Genesis 22:1-19

Prepared To Follow

Genesis 22:3 Early the next morning Abraham got up and saddled his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about.

Abraham was directed by the Lord to sacrifice his son. Now, we know this was just a test for him, but to Abraham, it was real. So, the next morning he began the preparation.

If you are going to bake a cake, you need to gather all the ingredients, cookware, and utensils to satisfactory complete the task. The first time you would have watched others or received some training. Follow the Lord in the same way. It doesn't come naturally. It takes preparation. Here are some areas where you might need to prepare

• Training - being in church and around other Christians is important, but there is more that is needed to serve God effectively.
• Formal training may not be required, but it is helpful. If you can afford it, and have the time, do it.
• Avail yourself to seminars and trainings. VBS meetings, even SS and Worship helps to prepare us.
• Bible study, Special services, Revivals, Discipleship classes, especially one on one discipling is effective
• Ingredients - giving the right info and truths from the source are crucial
• Of course having Christ to give out is most important
• The Bible, books, study material, and task specific materials are very important
• Cookware and Utensils - got to be able to take the ingredients and put them together and to serve the product with
• Start with the Spirit to lead you
• Use a well oiled plan
• Stir in the ingredients
• Try it out on friends to see how good it is
• Serve it - what good is it to make, if no one gets to partake
• When ready, serve it to the hungry

A and K, get your donkey saddled up. Gather all you have been through over your short lifetime; your experiences, your training, and take them on the road God has asked you to travel and feed the spiritually hungry he has called you to. You will be surprised how effective the preparation becomes as you go out to serve the Lord to others.

~Dad

Instant Obedience, Genesis 22:1-19

Instant Obedience

Genesis 22:3 Early the next morning Abraham got up and saddled his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about.

God had given Abraham a strange command, go to the mountain and sacrifice your son to me there. Certainly, that would have been a difficult command. In the least, that command would cause you to think and wonder, did I hear God correctly? Once you were sure it was God speaking and you had heard him correctly, you would now deal with the issue of obedience, would you or could you do such a thing as sacrificing your only son. Then, you would need to agree to the concept of sacrificing your only child, and finally you come the decision whether to actually follow through. What is it that causes one to delay in doing what God says?

Instant obedience requires full surrender. When one is not fully surrendered, they obfuscate or muddle around in order to delay carrying out their commitment. Of course, how could one be fully committed if they procrastinate in order to purposefully delay completing their task?

A and K, God calls you to complete surrender. That is what holiness is. And, it is what God has told you to be (1 Peter 1:16). If you ever find it difficult to act upon what you believe God is calling you to do, check you heart. See if you are fully devoted to him. Do you really trust him as Abraham, who believed and went on his way the next day. Faith demands action, immediate action. How quickly you respond shows the authenticity of your faith. Surrender yourself to him, act without reservation, and you will find his promises being fulfilled.

~Dad

Complete Obedience, Genesis 22:1-19

Complete Obedience

Genesis 22:18 and through your offspring, all nations will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.

Abram believed and it was credited to him as righteousness (Genesis15:6). Paul repeats this truth in the New Testament in the books of Galatians and in Romans as well. He said it, because we who have the faith that God will do what he says through Christ will be saved (Romans 10:9)! This is great! But, where does obedience fit in. Works alone do not save us. But neither does faith by itself save us (James 2:24)! They must work hand in hand.

Here, in this story of Abraham's willingness to be completely obedient to God even if it made no sense nor no matter the cost he would incur, we see the great picture of true faith. Abraham didn't know what God would do. He knew God's promise that Isaac was the avenue through which God would bless the world and through which he would have descendants. Despite this strange request to have his only son sacrificed (the scripture calls him his only son even when there was Ishmael) as an offering to the Lord, Abraham also knew that somehow God would work it all out. Somehow, Isaac would live even though he died (John 11:25). This truth Abraham believed (Hebrew 11:19), therefor he obeyed God when it seem wrong to do so.

K and A, how strong is your faith? Believing God requires obedience. You technically are not Protestants, you are Anabaptists, and as Anabaptists we believe that we are called to follow the commands of the Lord. All of the Old Testament must be viewed through the eyes of the New, but follow we do. Looking at life this way, we work to follow what he asks of us because of our faith in him, believing he will lead and guide us in ways that will best complete his plan. Daughters, believe in the Lord and give yourselves completely to him. Obey his Word and walk on the path he is laying out for you. There is now sweeter place to be.

~Dad