Good, Better, Best–The Best Fathers Emulate The Great Father!

“Houses and wealth are inherited from parents, but a prudent wife is from the LORD.” (Proverbs 19:14 NIV)

In the King James Version, the fathers is used instead of parents, but I chose to use the NIV to maintain consistency in the translation I use, but it serves the purpose.

In God, we have the greatest example of what a father should be and even though we are all encouraged to be like our heavenly Father, none have reached that goal, but many are on the right track. In comparing stages or levels of attaining Heavenly Father greatness, there are good, better and best fathers–here on earth.

A good father is more than a male who fathered a child. He does the right thing by taking care of the child, owning up to his responsibility and loves his children. He knows what The Word says, and tries to live by it.

A better father is not just the provider for his children, he spends time with them–helping with homework, attending events in which children are involved, and encourages by example, how to be a man of God.

The best father–is a provider, a protector, a disciplinarian, and teacher. He provides for his household and teaches his children how to do what is right, according to The Word. He is a living example of integrity, wisdom. He finds time to talk to–not talk at–his children, and teaches them all he knows–about life, living, loving and pleasing God. He is not rude or violent, but firm and immoveable in all that is right. He not only knows The Word, but lives it daily–looking to his Heavenly Father to solutions for all problems and hearing and obeying. He corrects and forgives, loves and chastises, guiding his household in the things of God at all times.

While all fathers are not the same, if they have attempted to do all that God requires of them to do, they deserve recognition. Whether you’ve had a good father, a better father, or the best father, honor them today by telling them–you love them. If your father is no longer here in the earth realm, honor them with how you live your life.

To all the fathers–good, better, best–I wish you the best this day as you seek God to become more like the Great Father.

Happy Father’s Day!

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I Will Sing!

“I will sing to the LORD all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.” (Psalm 104:33 NIV)

The birds of the earth sing their praises every morning, their chirping so loud that sometimes, it becomes annoying, until one realizes they are simply doing, what they are meant to do.

The crickets sing their praises and when we forget–they remind us–they know our awesome God.

Every creature in the earth and those in the water have a song of praise for the God of all creation who gives them food when they are hungry and shelter in which to rest.

I am a uniquely created being, created in His image and He does supply all my needs and when I please Him, He gives me the desires of my heart. What an awesome God! He who set the moon, the sun and stars in their place, to give light and hope against darkness and loves me enough to provide all my needs–even when I didn’t deserve it.

What love He has for us, His creation made a little lower than the angels,

Yet giving us opportunity to judge them for their care of us.

What other god can claim to know how He exists or explain,

All He has done and will do, for those who trust Him and obey?

He, who was before time began in the minds of man

And will be–long after the dust has accumulated every hand,

That ever made anything with what He provided, before it was ever needed.

Oh yes, I will sing His praises, loud and long

My voice I’ll raise, whether weak or strong

There is none like Him, no one who can compare,

With Him or His Love, Mercy and Grace,

I will sing until I see Him face-to-face, and

Even more after, since all will be finished,

I will accomplish all He has planned

To His Glory, and everyone I meet shall know,

When I tell them of His goodness, everywhere I go.

I will sing, though many may cringe at the sound of my voice,

I will sing, He chose me and now it’s my choice,

To serve Him and sing His praises, forevermore.

This is my song, and like the critters who sometimes annoy us, this song may annoy since it has no rhythm or melody other than what’s in my heart. Since I am not alone in my quest to please Him, He’ll give a song to any and all who desire to sing His praises–loud, long, and strong–reminding all creation–He’s given us a song!

Yours, Lord!

“Yours, LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, LORD, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all” (I Chronicles 29:11,12 NIV).

How wonderful, how great is our God?

Everything that was, is and will be–is a result of the greatness of The Lord!

He is exalted above all things because He created all things!

Wealth and honor–power to prosper and succeed–all come from Him and through Him.

He is the King of Kings, Lord of Lords, the Great I Am–He is all we need–our healer, our provider, our protector, our comforter–the lover of our souls and we will exalt His Name forever!

He gives strength to weak, vision to the blind, insight to wise, healing to the sick, comfort to the lonely, and direction to all who are willing to hear Him and obey!

Yes, Our God is an awesome God–He reigns from heaven above and looks upon His children with mercy and grace, ready to forgive when we repent, and never leaves us alone in the battle. Our God is awesome! Keeps us in the valley, on the mountain tops, no matter where we are–we are never alone–He is always there!

Who is like our God? There is none like Him. No one who can do the things He does for those who love and honor Him. Nobody greater than our God!

We will bless The Lord at all times; His praise will continually be in our mouths, on our lips, our hearts shall sing with gladness and as we proclaim His greatness to all who have ears to hear! We will magnify Him until the sun no longer shines in the universe or moves in its orbit. We will praise Him until the mountains fall into the sea. We will exalt the name of our God until there is no one left to hear–How great is our God!

Bless Him all people, of all nations, bless His Holy name while we yet have a chance!  Give Him the glory that only belongs to Him. Hallelujah!

There’s a praise in my soul that just cannot be held back and this is the day, I will praise Him with everything in me--I will lift my voice in song, I will clap my hands, I will dance in praise of Him and I will shout the victory I have in Him from the rooftops so all will hear–Our God is awesome–He can move mountains, dry up the seas and in an instant–restore all that was ever lost–there is nothing too hard for Our God to accomplish, when we believe and trust in Him! I am His and He is mine! Yours, Lord! Glory to God in the highest!

Become The Magnifier!

“O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together” (Psalm 34:3).

Most of us (those over 60 years old) have had an opportunity to use a magnifying glass at one time or another.  In fact, if we wear bifocals or use reading glasses, their job is to magnify (help us see clearly) what we see when we read print that is too small for our “unaided” eyes to see.  Magnifying works!  We can see small print and continue to enjoy reading!

If magnifying the print works well for us to read, how much more would magnifying God help others to “see” Him for who He is?  Didn’t Paul say, “we are epistles read of men?” So, what are they reading when they see us? Are we magnifying the One we say we love or are we magnifying the one who hates God? Time to think!

When you finish thinking, “magnify The Lord with me” and let us together help others see, just how good God is, just how great a provider He is, just how awesome He is, just how merciful He is, just how wonderful a healer He is, just how forgiving He is, just how loving He is!  Magnify Him wherever you go, whenever you get a chance–let your lifestyle magnify The Lord on a consistent basis.