Archives for June 2017

A Poem For Dad

My dad has done so much for me. So, this week, for Father’s Day, I wrote him a poem. This poem is also for all those dads who diligently teach us children to love and serve the Lord with all of our heart! Thanks, Dad!

Dad 
You have always been there 
To protect me and to guide. 
You have taught me with care 
To hide God’s word deep inside. 
You have made it clear 
That when we hide His word,
It should be so near 
That His love can be heard 
Resounding from our life 
Into the world around
In every joy or strife. 
So that His glory may abound 
Throughout every tribe and nation. 
This is the anthem of your heart 
And your soul passion
May it never depart.

3 Reasons for Trusting Others

“You can do it, Alyssa. I believe  you can!” Dad said as I practiced steering, went more than 25 mph, and drove down the highway for the first time. I was nervous and scared. “I think I’m going too fast!” was a common phrase heard those first days along with, “I feel like I’m going to fly off the road!” and “Dad, I can’t go that fast!” 

I had to trust my dad that what he said was true. He had to trust that I wouldn’t make us crash. 

But who can we trust? And why should we trust them?

#1: They Have Proven Themselves in the Past.

My dad is, my dad. I have lived with him all my life. I know that when he says something, he will do it. A while back when he said that he would catch me when I jumped in the pool, he did. Because of that, when he said to me a few days ago, “Alyssa, I want you to drive at 55 mph (the speed limit) because that’s what is safest and I know you can do that,” I knew that I could drive that fast and that he would help me do it.

#2: They Have Experience in the Area in Which They are Coaching You.

What if you have never met a person before and you still need to be able to trust them? For example, when I went to my gymnastics class for the first time, I had never met my instructor before. Yet, I trusted him to not drop me when I was flipping.

Why did I do that? I was able to trust him because he had experience. He had done gymnastics for a long time and had taught many other people as well. He knew what he was doing.

#3: They Care About Your Safety 

In both instances, the people I trusted care very much about my safety.

I know that my dad loves me so much he wouldn’t purposefully let me crash. He wants to teach me to the best of his ability – not only for my safety but also for those who will eventually be riding in the vehicle with me.

Also, my instructor would not want me to fall on my head or break something. 

Some Exceptions to #3

Now, if my dad didn’t know how to drive a car, then no matter how much he cared about me, he wouldn’t be a good person to teach me how to drive. And, if my gymnastics instructor had not done any gymnastics before or had never taught anyone, I might have been a bit more hesitant to let him spot me. So, we need to make sure that we don’t falsely place our trust in someone.

However, there is someone who will never fail us – someone we can trust completely. God. He will always do what is best (even though we may think otherwise). We can trust Him with our entire being – with our lives.

 We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. ~Hebrews 6:19-20

 

C.S. Lewis Quotes – #2

Last time we looked at our first C.S. Lewis quote.

I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.  C.S Lewis Quotes – #1

Here is the one for today. . . 

Reflections: Have you ever had a time in your life when you just met someone? I’m sure you have. It could have been someone from school, from church, or someone you just bumped into. 

What was the first thing that you did after you met them (other than saying your name)? Most likely, you asked them something about themselves – what their favorite subject was in school or what their hobbies are. And, don’t you get excited when you find something you both like? You had a common ground on which you could build your friendship.

As Christ followers, we also have another thing in common with other Christians. We have a firm foundation on which we can build our friendship – Jesus Christ. If you and your friend both devote your entire life to the magnification of Christ’s name, you both have the same purpose for your lives. 

What a great and marvelous foundation for a friendship!

 

C.S. Lewis Quotes – #1

 

C.S Lewis has some very noteworthy things which we should think about. So, I am going to do a six-part series on the quotes of C.S. Lewis. I hope that you enjoy reading them as much as I did.

The first one is . . . 

 

Reflections: Jesus changes everything. We don’t have to see Him to know and believe that He exists and that He has saved us. I can tell this by the changes in my life: how I can now love others better, my desire to do His will, and how my perspective about the world has changed. Also, you can see God’s work in other people’s lives as well. All of this strengthens our faith in Christ to save us and to do what is best in our lives and around the world.

For His Great Name