Two Fathers and Learning to Be a Son

The Father's Day That Was

God in His holy dwelling is
a father of the fatherless
and a champion of widows.
Psalm 68:5 (HCSB)

Father's Day.  Two days ago.  A day when fathers were celebrated.  A day many pastors and orphan care advocates used to point to God as our Heavenly Father.  

It was also a day when bitterness welled up in many who resent their fathers, many of whom really were not in their lives at all.  It was a day -- along with its reminders -- that couldn't pass quickly enough.

Not Me

Many people who advocate for a particular cause do so because of some type of negative experience or suffering that they don't want others to go through.  It's the principle of 2 Corinthians 1:3-4: "Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort.  He comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any kind of affliction, through the comfort we ourselves receive from God." 

Not me, though.  I advocate for the orphan because of what I do have in my life.  I do have a strong father who taught me right from wrong, taught me the value of simply being there, taught me how to walk on my own two feet.  Our view of God as our Heavenly Father begins with our view of our own fathers.  I can see why so many people that I talk to about God have such a hard time believing He is who He claims to be.  I, on the other hand, had a terrific head start.

Just hanging out on the back porch with with dad.

 Not a day goes by that I don't think of my dad.  Oftentimes, it's one of those sayings that is unique to him (or his father before him), including my all-time favorite, "You thought like Parker's dog."  (Ask me sometime; I'll explain it to you.)  

Sometimes, it's something he did or is in the process of doing, like when I'm working in my really small garden and thinking of his working in his much bigger garden.  

My favorite photo: 3 generations & a mess of fish!

Every once and a while, not nearly as often as I would like, I will just sit down on the couch and peacefully doze off, like my dad can do like a champ.  I think of him then, too.

Transferring What I've Learned

Not a day goes by that I don't think of my Heavenly Father, either.  Oftentimes, it's one of those sayings that is unique to Him, something in His Word or in a Scripture that I have heard so often that I know it by heart.  Something like James 1:17: "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change."  Or Psalm 67:7: "God shall bless us; let all the ends of the earth fear him!" 

Welcome to one of my conversations with God -- always better when He does most of the speaking.

Sometimes, it's what He's doing or in the process of doing.  Like conforming me into the image of His Son.  Like allowing me to come alongside others while they do the same.  Like causing my heart to melt over 13 Haitian children and the ones who are spending their lives caring for them.

Sometimes, it's just in the quiet, peaceful moments that I get to spend with my Heavenly Father.  Moments when He doesn't have to say or do anything, just be there.

I'd say I got quite a head start knowing and loving God, my Heavenly Father, because of the example of my earthly father.  Thanks, Dad.  You have not only prepared me to be a father but a son to my Heavenly Father, as well.  As far as I'm concerned, every day is Father's Day.

Thanks for reading.

4theVoiceless,
Al

6 Sources of Inspiration for You Today

Think about the things that inspire you.  Some we search out; some just cross our paths.  What inspires you?  I've included six categories and some personal inspirations to get your mind moving today.  Certainly there are more that I could have included; use these as a conversation starter today, and be inspired to do more than you thought you could!

Songs

I first heard Phil Wickham's "You're Beautiful" as the background for 2012's Orphan Sunday video.  It paints a beautiful portrait of how God has revealed Himself since creation and especially through Jesus Christ.  I used the song with a photo slideshow of my last trip to Haiti, too, so it inspires me on several different levels.

Books

I have read many books that have inspired me.  Radical inspired me to the point of change.  Just ask me about Psalm 67:7 sometime.

Movies

The ten most inspiring words in the history of moviedom (one man's opinion):  "To my big brother George, the richest man in town."  The bar scene prayer  in It's a Wonderful Life is also as real as it gets in the movies.

Stories

I was just telling someone this morning about the story I saw on the news a couple of months ago about a group of retirees in a small town in Iowa.  They volunteer their time and skills to make hand-cranked off-road wheelchairs that are sent to third-world countries all over the world. 

Quotes

"If we will be naive enough to believe that God can do anything, perhaps He will."  (Steven Furtick)

People

So many to choose from.  So many that I know personally.  But for today, I choose this guy.

What About You? 

 I'd love to know who and what inspires you to do more than you ever thought you could.  Keep the conversation going on the 4theVoiceless Facebook page.

Sound the Trumpet

One of the greatest blessings over the last year-and-a-half or so that God has been stirring in several of us at CHC to begin an orphan care ministry now known as 4theVoiceless is how many new relationships God has given us.  We have met many people in our area as we have raised awareness about God's call to Christ-followers to help the orphan.  We have met others from outside our area via various technology.  Just a few weeks ago, I was able to connect two potential ministry partners, neither of whom I knew when God began to stir in our hearts to care for the orphan.

As some of the point people who helped start 4theVoiceless began to move away throughout this year, one of our greatest needs and greatest prayers was for God to send us new people who had a passion for orphans.  He has begun to answer that prayer through a number of people.

One of these people is Shannon Shaw, who began attending our Orphanology study just a few weeks ago.  You can see the fire in her eyes as she shares what God is moving her toward (though, like most of us, she can't really tell you what that looks like right now!).  We noticed this fire when we first began to talk about dignity bags and what we could do for children taken into foster care.

Shannon recently wrote a testimony about what God has done in her life over the last year or so in preparation for the CHC SHE ministry's Christmas party.  The theme was "Sound the Trumpet."

Shannon's Story

Over the past year I can honestly say, "I've grown"!  Why?  I chose to move.  I stepped out in faith and quit teaching middle school to be home with my family.  HE has provided!

I began my first Bible study and have learned so much while being surrounded with Christian women who love, encourage, and pray for me.  HE has delivered!  I spoke at a women's conference and realized I can do ALL things through him.  HE gave me courage and strength!

I'm now participating in the Orphanology class here at CHC.  I'm amazed at the opportunity I have to serve in this area of ministry!  HE reassures!

God doesn't promise a bump-free road along the way when we decide to move and follow his call.  However, I can now say from my experience, the blessings far outweigh the bumps.  I'm looking forward to continued growth in and through Him!  And one day when I hear the final trumpet call, I hope to hear well done, good and faithful servant.

What is HE calling you to do today?  You have nothing to lose and everything to gain living a life that glorifies Him!  God Bless!

Shannon Shaw

While You Are Giving Thanks This Week

During this week when we focus (or at least, should focus) on what we have to be thankful for, I'm thankful for the people God is raising up both in our church family at Colonials Hills and in churches and organizations throughout the world to care for orphans.  I'm thankful that more and more Christ-followers are stepping up  in some way to answer God's call to reflect His character to orphans.

As Thursday approaches and many of you sit down with your family to enjoy a meal and God's blessings in your life, consider the orphan.  Maybe that orphan is nameless and faceless to you (and maybe not), but that longing that he feels deep in his heart -- the longing for a forever family that most of us will enjoy and perhaps even take for granted on Thanksgiving Day -- is very real.  As you thank God for His blessings in your life, pray for His blessings on the world's orphans today, too.

God blesses us, that the ends of the earth my fear Him.  --Psalm 67:7 (HCSB)

Thanks for reading.  Happy Thanksgiving.

4theVoiceless,
Al