Family

Family is a weird concept. We all were part of a family at some point in our lives. We had a mom and a dad. Maybe even a brother or a sister. We had no choice in choosing our family unless, as parents, we adopted a kid of two. Some families can't stand each other while others are so close that even death cannot separate them.

Some people long to have children and cannot conceive. Other people don't want kids and, when they find out they are pregnant, decided to kill their child before it's even born.

Whether we are part of a big family or we have none, we all want to feel the love that family brings. Basically, we all want to feel loved.

Did you know that there is a family waiting, often hidden, for each of us? We all can become children of God. There are no forms to fill out - adoption papers if you will. It is a simple desire that seals the deal.

We are not forced into God's family. It is our choice. God knows us and He knows which ones will be His. He waits patiently for His children. Is He waiting for you?

In the story of Abraham, he and his wife Sarah longed to have a family yet Sarah could not get pregnant. Yet God had promised Abraham a big family. Where was this promised family? Abraham was 100 years old. Yet God delivered, then Sarah delivered Isaac, a son. The beginning of a huge family so numerous they could not be counted.

If you are alone and long to be part of a big family, seek out God and ask Him to adopt you. He will. Then tell others what has happened to you and watch all of your brothers and sisters appear. Love is a wonderful thing.

"Now the Lord was gracious to Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did for Sarah what he had promised. 2 Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised him. 3 Abraham gave the name Isaac to the son Sarah bore him. 4 When his son Isaac was eight days old, Abraham circumcised him, as God commanded him. 5 Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him.

6 Sarah said, “God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me.” 7 And she added, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.” - Genesis 21:1-7

In a few days my wife and I will be visiting a childhood friend of mine. I hadn't seen this friend until a few years ago but when we met recently it was as if we'd known each other our entire lives. It was like we were brother and sister. Why? Because we ARE. In Christ.

The Robertsons - I Am Second

Brothers In Arms

I am a firm believer in the sovereignty of God - that all things are under God's rule and control. That even when we are in doubt, God is not, and that he "works all things together for the good of those who love Him."

Wednesday night I had dinner with a good friend of mine. I hadn't seen my friend for several months and it was good to see him and hear his stories of how God is working in his life.

His story actually started a few months ago when I heard that he had lost his job. That loss for my brother-in-Christ resonated with me. A handful of years before, the same thing had happened to me. That's the reason I had wanted to get together with my friend. To reassure him that God is in control, God saw ME through, He will do the same for you.

There is much that goes through the mind of a man when life-changing things like that happen. Sudden events, out of our control for the most part, it is difficult to rationalize and make adjustments on the fly. Yet we do. And we grow as a result of them.

I am reading through the Book of Ruth right now. What an amazing story of faith, family, redemption and God's provision and sovereignty. Read it. It's only four chapters.

The Book of Ruth

In chapter one we learn of Ruth's devotion to her mother-in-law Naomi. Devotion to family. In chapter two we meet Boaz, a relative of Naomi's dead husband - her kinsman redeemer. Basically, He was Naomi's relative and she was in trouble so he came to her rescue. A wonderful foretaste of Jesus and what He did for us on the cross . . . but back to the story about my friend.

As we ate our food the other night, my friend told me about the interview process he had for his new job. It was very typical of how God works. The company he applied at wasn't hiring, yet they hired my friend. The interviewer spoke of a spiritual need in his company. My friend was created to do the very thing that his new employer needed - to share the love of Christ and His message to those who are in need. God is using my friend, a willing participant, to reach people with the Gospel.

I'm sure there were nervous moments for my friend and his wife, just like their were for me and my wife when the same thing happened to me. But there is great comfort to be found in the Book of Ruth, where we can see how God orchestrates and conducts this amazing symphony called life. There is also great comfort in looking back at things from where God has placed us - to see all of the steps He had us take along the way.

Yesterday morning as I was getting ready for church, I grabbed my belt and began to thread it through the loops on my pants. These verses came to mind and I thought about my friend. Read it as a prayer. A prayer for my brother-in-arms.

¹⁴ Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵ and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; ¹⁶ above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. ¹⁷ And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; ¹⁸ praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints - ¹⁹ and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, ²⁰ for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak." - Ephesians 6:14-20

We are all soldiers in God's army. Our battle is "not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places" (Ephesians 6:12). And "if God is for us, who can be against us." (Romans 8:31)

Love you, my brother. It is a pleasure serving along side you.

"Through these fields of destruction

Baptisms of fire

I've witnessed your suffering

As the battle raged higher

And though they did hurt me so bad

In the fear and alarm

You did not desert me

My brothers in arms" - Dire Straits

Brothers In Arms - Mark Knopfler
Hacksaw Ridge Movie Trailer

A Family Reunion

Each year around this time members of my family (on my mother's side) gather outside of a small, central-Michigan farm community and renew family ties. We tell old stories from long ago. We eat WAY too much food and laugh enough to make our faces hurt. There is nothing quite like family. There is nothing like being loved. :)

This week at work the father of one of my friends died. Death is never a FUN thing. Someone we loved gets taken from us. It is always a sad time - losing family. Losing friends. Emotions can range from psychological breakdowns in some to those who exhibit no feelings whatsoever. Do you know what my friend did when she lost her dad? Even though she had just lost her father, my friend praised God for the time that she DID have with him. That's exceptional.

Here's a trick question for you. When is your brother or sister NOT your brother or sister? Or better yet, when does someone, who is not a brother or sister BECOME your brother or sister? Confused yet? The answer can be found in the Bible.

^"25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, ²⁶ for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. ²⁷ For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. ²⁸ There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. ²⁹ And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise." - Galatians 3:25-29

My friend, the one who lost her father . . . I consider her my sister. In fact, all those who believe have millions of "relatives" they haven't even met yet. My dearest friend is my sister in Christ. Think about that for a moment. Think about who is your brother or your sister. Do you love people that way? As family?

Who are you looking forward to seeing again when you get to heaven? My friend will enjoy seeing her father again. I will enjoy seeing mine. What will they look like? What will WE look like?

I have a sister or a brother out there somewhere who I have never met. A grandchild too. How amazing will that be?!? I will get to see my friend Victoria again. Doreen, Jeanie, my buddy Juergen. and . . oh, my . . 

I will see . . . Kameron . . . and Austin. Two young people whose lives ended WAY to soon.

People spend so much time and money these days trying to stay young . . trying to find the fountain of youth. Are you kidding me? I can't wait until this life is over. I don't have a death wish and, no, I am not suicidal. I am simply looking forward to, and have complete faith in, the promises of God. And to be able to see Jesus . . . face-to-face!

Here's another trick genealogical question for you. How can someone be both your brother AND your Father at the same time? The answer is . . when He is your Lord and Savior, Jesus.

^"14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. ¹⁵ For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” ¹⁶ The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, ¹⁷ and if children, then heirs - heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him." - Romans 8:14-17

No one knows exactly what heaven will be like. We can only imagine. But I can tell you this. We will be totally and completely surrounded by the love of God and the love of family - all of our brothers and sisters in Christ! And our King!! Halleluiah!!

I Can Only Imagine - MercyMe

Susan

Each day at work I have the incredible joy of praying with my sister-in-Christ, Gayle. When we pray we often ask God to allow us the privilege of being used by Him, as He wills. We pray that we might become willing vessels that He could use to pour into the lives of others. Why then are we always so surprised when He takes us up on the offer?

This past Sunday I met with someone I hadn't seen in nearly 40 years, my sister's best friend . . . from the 6th grade! She and my sister have kept in touch all these years, recently aided by everyone's favorite social media network, Facebook. This story is an example of how God can, and will, use ANYTHING to accomplish His will - even us humans!!

A couple years ago I began seeing posts from my sister's friend, whose name is Susan by the way, in case you were wondering. I noticed that her beliefs were very similar to mine - political, spiritual, etc. I wondered what had made her become a follower of Jesus. A friend request was sent and accepted. Facebook conversations ensued, Christmas cards were exchanged - all at a relatively safe Facebook-ish distance. And that's where our relationship stayed . . . until this past Sunday.

It was definitely a God-thing because I had events scheduled for both Saturday and Sunday. But for "some reason" everyone canceled and my schedule was wide open. I still had no idea what was about to happen.

Sunday morning before church I opened up Facebook and saw a message from my sister's friend Susan. She was going to be in the area and was wondering if I would like to get together to catch up on things. Umm . . . Absolutely!

Later that day, as I was driving to Oshkosh for our meeting, I wondered what God had in store. What would she look like. What would I look like in her eyes? Would she go running from the building, screaming? Probably. But all that's up to God.

When I got to the restaurant I didn't see her at first. However, as the hostess took me to her table, the recognition was immediate, by both of us. We smiled and hugged as if we hadn't seen each other in decades . . . which was absolutely true. We sat down and began to talk and to fill each other in on 40 years of family, events, tragedies, births and deaths - woven together with Bible verses as they came to mind.

We shared both our struggles and our joys. God tells us to ALWAYS encourage each other and we did that. Being those willing vessels, exhorting one another in our faith.

"13 But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin." - Hebrews 3:13

It was an amazing conversation. Before we knew it three hours has passed and it seemed like we were just getting started. I honestly believe we could have talked for at least another three.

I have had other such conversations with other believers - my friend and sister Gayle, my brother-in-law Curt, my brother-in-Christ Ron and my son-in-law Travis, his boss Kathy and now on Sunday with Susan.

It's hard for anyone living in the secular world to understand the special bond that exists between followers of Jesus Christ. In the Bible, we who believe are referred to as brothers and sisters. That is SO true! That's exactly what it feels like! What an incredible gift that is!

Another thing I noticed as we talked was the similarity between our relationship and the relationships many Christians have with Jesus. Prior to Sunday afternoon I had just known ABOUT Susan. I knew WHO she was and WHERE she lived, but I didn't really KNOW her or have a relationship with her beyond Facebook. Our relationship with Jesus really changes when we actually come to know Him and to love Him. That is true of ANY relationship.

I am not sure when I will see Susan again . . . I hope it is soon. But I know that when we DO meet again we will have another amazingly long conversation. In the meantime I am going to think about my relationship with Jesus. When was the last time I had a three-hour conversation with Him? Never. Maybe it's time I did that. After all, isn't the God who brings people together after four decades worth a chat now and then. I think He is. And so we shall. In the meantime . . .

Lord Jesus,  I thank you for my friend . . . no, my SISTER, Susan. I thank you for the smiles and the laughter we shared. I thank the Holy Spirit for directing the conversation and I thank God for the gift of family.

And Susan? I thank God for you, for your husband and for your precious daughter. I came away from our conversation on Sunday feeling like I had a new sister. How can I not praise God for a gift like that. Love you!

"50 For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister" - Matthew 12:50

Believer - Kutless