Father’s hands, so rough and scarred,
Father’s hands, so strong and bold,
They fix, they work, they are there to hold.
Blunted fingers, callused palms,
Weathered, cracked, broken nails
Missing fingers, life’s story it tells.
Rough but gentle, hard yet soft,
Familiar with a hammer, accustomed to a saw,
Used in correction, extended in love.
Hands holding a Bible, God’s Holy Word,
Hands that were familiar with the pages,
A friend, a comfort, a confident through the ages.
Father’s hands, so strong and caring
Father’s hands, treating all alike,
Helping the old with a window, the young with a bike.
Father’s hands, so much like him,
They tell who he is and how he lived.
With them, to so many, he loved to give.
They are a picture of those hands,
Nail scarred, battered, splintered and bruised,
Hands of your heavenly Father, extended to you.
By Don Doran
In Memory of my father David L. Doran 1930-1999
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Evil is Present
Have you ever tried to do the right thing and it seems every way that you turn there is something blocking you from getting it done? Maybe you are doing chores around the house and the phone rings. Of course with caller ID we know not to pick up the sales call or the bill collectors calls, but we will stop and talk with a friend because our curiosity won’t let us miss that call. Just when you start back to the chore that is demanding your attention one of the children comes crying and needs your love and attention. Finally you return to the demanding chore when the doorbell rings. Thank God for garages to hide the car in and peep-holes in the door so you can check and see who is there. No it isn’t Avon calling, but a neighbor with a three layer chocolate cake in her hand. Gotta be neighborly even if the chore is calling.
Paul made a statement in Romans that came to my mind today. He said, “I find then a law, that, when I would do good , evil is present with me.” Romans 7:21 I know that his reference here is to the war of the flesh against spiritual things. When we try to live for God and serve Him with all of our hearts, our flesh is going to fight against that happening. There is an ongoing struggle between the flesh or carnal man and the spiritual man.
However, let me take this just a bit further and maybe look at it from a different point of view. Have you noticed when you try to do something more for God, evil is present. I am not talking, now, about your flesh warring against the spirit. I am talking about outside forces that try to hinder, stop or discourage you from doing more for God.
Let me give you an example that comes to mind. I know of a case several years ago where some young people were desiring to have a deeper relationship with God. They wanted God to do something out of the ordinary in their lives. They began to pray, fast and read their Bibles. They began to become more focused in their worship. They would spend hours at the church praying and seeking God. They spent extra time in Bible Study. They were hungry for a move of God in their lives. Yet while this was going on there were others who were criticizing them. Trying to distract them from continuing. There was evil present when they were trying to do good.
Paul encountered this more than once in his ministry. I recall he is on his way to Jerusalem. He stops to visit a church and while there the people beg him not to go. Prophecies are made of beatings and imprisonment. I am not accusing these people of being evil, but I am saying there was evil present to stop him from obeying the call of God in his life. Paul asked them to stop breaking his heart! He had to obey that call.
Ordinary things happen to people who are content with the ordinary. Just give us the “common place events“. We are happy with the “run of the mill” accomplishments in our lives. We are content with the mundane, humdrum that has been going on in their lives. Don’t rock the boat is our motto and it is a motto we are too often happy to live by.
However, when we become disillusioned with the ordinary and long for the extraordinary, things will change! Once we get a taste for the astonishing power of God doing the unexpected and surprising us, there is no going back. Step into the realm of a supernatural experience with God and you can never be content with the ordinary again. Once you see God touch a life that you have influenced for Him, you will never be the same. Once you see a healing take place you will not be willing to have it any other way.
Just recently I was asked to come teach in a church on a Sunday morning and Sunday night. The subject was one where people will not be running the aisles or swinging from the rafters. In fact, you will be fortunate to get a few amen’s. I had been asked to teach on giving! All week I prayed and told God how I felt. I love teaching on Apostolic giving! I love teaching that God loves cheerful givers! I love teaching people that God has a financial plan for His church and when we test God, look out! However, I wanted God to show His pleasure in His Word and that is what I asked Him to do. As I was teaching I could feel resistance from some of those that were there, they didn‘t like the subject matter nor did they agree with my teaching. However, at the end of the one hour and thirty minutes of teaching on that Sunday night the majority of the people rose and with cheerful excitement came and gave to God, for a second time that night, a love offering. The power of God fell in a mighty way as people began to worship God. I looked over and witnessed a lady being healed right there in that offering time!
When I would do good… I can’t let anything or anybody stop me from doing the good God has impressed upon my heart. I can’t let anything stop me from the relationship with God that He is drawing me to. Years ago someone said, “They never built a statue to a critic.” There will be those who will stand around and criticize me for what I am doing and desiring from God, however, they will not be standing in my place before God and answering Him to why I didn’t heed His direction. I am the one who will have to answer that question.
Let me assure you there will be evil present to stop you from experiencing that extraordinary. Jesus experienced it from His closest friends and His reply was, “Get behind me Satan…” No He wasn’t saying Peter was Satan! He was, however, saying the spirit that was being shown there was evil. When I want to do good, evil is present…
Just a thought! God Bless…
Paul made a statement in Romans that came to my mind today. He said, “I find then a law, that, when I would do good , evil is present with me.” Romans 7:21 I know that his reference here is to the war of the flesh against spiritual things. When we try to live for God and serve Him with all of our hearts, our flesh is going to fight against that happening. There is an ongoing struggle between the flesh or carnal man and the spiritual man.
However, let me take this just a bit further and maybe look at it from a different point of view. Have you noticed when you try to do something more for God, evil is present. I am not talking, now, about your flesh warring against the spirit. I am talking about outside forces that try to hinder, stop or discourage you from doing more for God.
Let me give you an example that comes to mind. I know of a case several years ago where some young people were desiring to have a deeper relationship with God. They wanted God to do something out of the ordinary in their lives. They began to pray, fast and read their Bibles. They began to become more focused in their worship. They would spend hours at the church praying and seeking God. They spent extra time in Bible Study. They were hungry for a move of God in their lives. Yet while this was going on there were others who were criticizing them. Trying to distract them from continuing. There was evil present when they were trying to do good.
Paul encountered this more than once in his ministry. I recall he is on his way to Jerusalem. He stops to visit a church and while there the people beg him not to go. Prophecies are made of beatings and imprisonment. I am not accusing these people of being evil, but I am saying there was evil present to stop him from obeying the call of God in his life. Paul asked them to stop breaking his heart! He had to obey that call.
Ordinary things happen to people who are content with the ordinary. Just give us the “common place events“. We are happy with the “run of the mill” accomplishments in our lives. We are content with the mundane, humdrum that has been going on in their lives. Don’t rock the boat is our motto and it is a motto we are too often happy to live by.
However, when we become disillusioned with the ordinary and long for the extraordinary, things will change! Once we get a taste for the astonishing power of God doing the unexpected and surprising us, there is no going back. Step into the realm of a supernatural experience with God and you can never be content with the ordinary again. Once you see God touch a life that you have influenced for Him, you will never be the same. Once you see a healing take place you will not be willing to have it any other way.
Just recently I was asked to come teach in a church on a Sunday morning and Sunday night. The subject was one where people will not be running the aisles or swinging from the rafters. In fact, you will be fortunate to get a few amen’s. I had been asked to teach on giving! All week I prayed and told God how I felt. I love teaching on Apostolic giving! I love teaching that God loves cheerful givers! I love teaching people that God has a financial plan for His church and when we test God, look out! However, I wanted God to show His pleasure in His Word and that is what I asked Him to do. As I was teaching I could feel resistance from some of those that were there, they didn‘t like the subject matter nor did they agree with my teaching. However, at the end of the one hour and thirty minutes of teaching on that Sunday night the majority of the people rose and with cheerful excitement came and gave to God, for a second time that night, a love offering. The power of God fell in a mighty way as people began to worship God. I looked over and witnessed a lady being healed right there in that offering time!
When I would do good… I can’t let anything or anybody stop me from doing the good God has impressed upon my heart. I can’t let anything stop me from the relationship with God that He is drawing me to. Years ago someone said, “They never built a statue to a critic.” There will be those who will stand around and criticize me for what I am doing and desiring from God, however, they will not be standing in my place before God and answering Him to why I didn’t heed His direction. I am the one who will have to answer that question.
Let me assure you there will be evil present to stop you from experiencing that extraordinary. Jesus experienced it from His closest friends and His reply was, “Get behind me Satan…” No He wasn’t saying Peter was Satan! He was, however, saying the spirit that was being shown there was evil. When I want to do good, evil is present…
Just a thought! God Bless…
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Why Percentages of Fruit?
A few weeks ago I was reading the story in Mark 4 as Jesus told of the four types of soils. There was the wayside, the stony, the thorny and the good ground. We have all read this parable many times, I am sure. What caught my attention, in fact I poised it as a question on Face Book and no one responded, "Why did the good soil produce different percentages of harvest.?"
Jesus said "And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred." Mark 4:20
Why didn't all of the seeds sown in the good ground bring forth a hundred fold? Today I was again studying this passage and Jesus goes on to talk about the farmer sowing a kernel of corn and not knowing how it grows but is ready to harvest it when it produces fruit. As I began to study about corn I found that there are many different things that can effect the amount of fruit a stalk of corn produces.
Ears that are near the top of the stalk will produce more kernels. Ears near the bottom of the stalk will generally produce little or no kernels. If there is hail during the pollination time it will likely keep the ears from being pollinated and there will be no fruit. Too much water, weather that is too cold or too hot can all effect the yield of the fruit.
I came to realize there is more to the amount that is harvested than just what is planted, it also has to do with the response of the plant to the environment it is in, the stresses that come upon it and how it is able to weather the storms. The same is true in our lives. We hear the Word of God, we receive it and we will bring forth fruit from the Word...but the amount of fruit we bring forth will be dependent upon our ability to deal with our environment...the stresses of life...the problems that come our way...our faith and trust in God. Some will bring forth thirty percent, and others will bring sixty percent, I want to bring a hundred percent to present to God.
Just a thought! God Bless
Jesus said "And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred." Mark 4:20
Why didn't all of the seeds sown in the good ground bring forth a hundred fold? Today I was again studying this passage and Jesus goes on to talk about the farmer sowing a kernel of corn and not knowing how it grows but is ready to harvest it when it produces fruit. As I began to study about corn I found that there are many different things that can effect the amount of fruit a stalk of corn produces.
Ears that are near the top of the stalk will produce more kernels. Ears near the bottom of the stalk will generally produce little or no kernels. If there is hail during the pollination time it will likely keep the ears from being pollinated and there will be no fruit. Too much water, weather that is too cold or too hot can all effect the yield of the fruit.
I came to realize there is more to the amount that is harvested than just what is planted, it also has to do with the response of the plant to the environment it is in, the stresses that come upon it and how it is able to weather the storms. The same is true in our lives. We hear the Word of God, we receive it and we will bring forth fruit from the Word...but the amount of fruit we bring forth will be dependent upon our ability to deal with our environment...the stresses of life...the problems that come our way...our faith and trust in God. Some will bring forth thirty percent, and others will bring sixty percent, I want to bring a hundred percent to present to God.
Just a thought! God Bless
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