I Care about Mankind - Whisper from Your Father, God

When I consider your heavens,
    the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
    which you have set in place,
⁴ what is mankind that you are mindful of them,
    human beings that you care for them?^[c] Psalms 8:3-4 NIV

My glory is evident in all of my creation. With a word my creativity burst forth into the brilliance that you now see, hear and feel. When the stars started their first twinkle I thought of them as winking to the rest of creation. I smiled throughout the creation adventure, it was all good.

At the end of the adventure, I made man. Then out of man I fashioned a woman as a helper for him.  She would be the emotional, intellectual, social, physical, and sexual complement to the core of his very being. Other than Me, he would have someone to devote his loving affection.

Everything that I created was to be admired, appreciated, and invoke a deep sense of awe. But, none of my handiworks were to be worshiped.  They are all powerful and complex.  Much can be learned by understanding the times, the seasons, and the order in which creation interacts with itself.  But these are all shadows of my glory.  Don’t focus too long on the shadow without appreciating the one for whom it reflects. 

I am your creator.  I am fully engaged in the lives of everyone in the world at the same time with no stress or extended effort on my part. It is my joy to watch you grow and mature.  I love how a newborn baby changes the burliest man to a gentle and quiet person. I love the spring as couples walk hand in hand engaging in the talk of intimacy. I love when you teach a child that the universe does not revolve around them and their wants, remind them it revolves around me.

As a father has compassion on his children, so I care about you. I created you with two physical ears, but also with spiritual ears to hear my voice.  Learn to seek me as I am seeking after you. Love is part of the core essence of who I am. I love you.

Whispers from Your Father, God

God, Bring an End to Violence

When will God bring an End to Violence

Bring to an end the violence of the wicked
    and make the righteous secure—
you, the righteous God
    who probes minds and hearts.

¹⁰ My shield^[d] is God Most High,
    who saves the upright in heart.  Psalms 7:9-10 NIV

Protection is a foundational expectation for a father. When you know that I have your safety in mind it creates a restful night’s sleep.   For I never sleep nor slumber.  There are many who are confused by my protection because of the presence of evil actions in your world.  They may ask “if God is strong enough to stop the evil, why does he allow it to happen?  Why doesn’t God bring an end to the violence of the wicked?”

Although it may be very little comfort, there is far more damage that I withhold from happening.  When I created the world, I established boundaries to make life work properly.  I separated the land from the water and the earth from the sky.  Boundaries are my first order of protection.  Following my laws keeps you within the boundaries of my care.  When you are honest and tell the truth, I am able to defend your cause.  When you resist envy and greed, you can experience my provision for your needs.  I indeed established the boundaries of principled living to aid in your protection.

I have also given you My Spirit as an internal alarm.  He will lead and guide you in the way that you should go.  Elisha was not afraid of the army that surrounded him, because My Spirit revealed to him the hedge of protection that I was providing.  My Spirit will direct you away from traps that the enemy would bring your way.  He will reveal to you about those who approach you with impure motives and give you an escape.  He will speak to you about temptations that lead you into harm for yourself.  Follow His lead and walk in my protection.

There are still times when the evil in this world brings harm to you.  Earthquakes destroy homes and lives.  Many lives are inflicted with the pain from floods, fires, and winds.  Those who are hurt are not in any way deserving of the pain any more than anyone else.  When man chose his own path, evil entered this world.  This was not My plan for my creation. But evil is present, and evil men perpetuate its influence. 

My Son ultimately endured evil’s full force of impact in experiencing death for one who was innocent.  My Son felt all of the pain of those who are recipients of evil and vile actions.  He died.  I know the anguish of a parent losing a child to the cruelest torture that a body can endure.  The Crucifixion.

Trust in my faithfulness to carry you through your pain.  I am a just God and I know how to navigate you to a place of safety.  I am your shield and a very present help in times of trouble.

My voice is steady, sure and safe

Whispers from your Father, God

Lord When Were You in Prison?

Lord When Were You in Prison?

Reflections in Hebrews 13

³ Remember those in prison, as if you were there yourself. Remember also those being mistreated, as if you felt their pain in your own bodies. Hebrews 13:3 NLT

Prison and jail are places were hope is chained to the cell walls and bars…hope enters and is released with those who visit.

The late Keith Green wrote a song about Jesus dividing the Sheep and the Goats.  The following are a portion of the Lyrics concerning the goats.  It’s a long song, but very thought provoking.

Then he shall turn to those on his left, the goats.
Depart from me, you cursed ones, into everlasting fire,
Prepared for the devil and his angels.

For I was hungry, and you gave me nothing to eat,
I was thirsty, and you gave me nothing to drink,
I was naked, out in the cold, in exposure, and you sent me away,
I was a stranger, and I knocked at your door,
But you didn't open, you told me to go away,
I was sick, racked in pain upon my bed,
And I begged, and prayed, and pleaded that you'd come, but you didn't,
I was in prison, and I rotted there,
I'd prayed that you'd come.

I heard your programs on the radio, I read your magazines, but you never came.
Depart from me!
Lord, there must be some mistake, when?

When Paul tells us to remember those in prison and in pain he is referring to an intentional action of “calling to your mind”, not “oh yea, I almost forgot”.  In other words, you would go over a mental check list of friends and family people that you know who may have someone in that status.  Then it is incumbent upon you that you do something.  The Holy Spirit is probably already prompting you about some actions that you can take, but I would like to give you some ideas for ministering to those who are in jail or prison.  It is much easier to visit those who are suffering like those who are in the hospital.  But remember to include those in nursing homes and shut-ins who also need to visited.

Actions to remember those who are in prison.

• ·      Not everyone is physically able to visit in the jail, but there are ways to engage.
• ·      Pray for those who ae involved in jail or prison ministry.  If someone in your church goes frequently, ask how you can pray for them.  Ask which day of the week that they attend and pray for the person and their effectiveness on that day. Get feed back of those who become saved so that you can pray for them to grow in their relationship with God.
• ·      Support those who are in regular ministries like Prison Fellowship and Kairos Ministries.  There are also probably local ministries that could use help with funding for Bibles.  I knew one group that helped cook for special events.
• ·      Do your research about the needs of your jail or prison near you.  Many times there is a Chaplain at the institution that would be happy to share what the needs are at their place and how you can be of assistance.
• ·      Join a local group that does Bible studies in the jail on a regular basis.
• ·      Support groups that assist those coming out of jail.  Many return back into prison because of lack of support when they get out.  There is a direct correlation to those who have received assistance and been visited by people while in prison and the ability to not return.  Want to know why so many go back?  Who is visiting them?
• ·      If you know someone in jail or in prison at the very least write to them.  Find out from the jail what the rules are for receiving letters and begin a regular correspondence. 
• ·      If you know someone in jail – THEY REMEMBER WHO VISITS THEM AND WHO WRITES TO THEM.  It will make an impact in their life forever.
• ·      Jesus does not give us a pass!  We will have to give an account for our negligence in visiting those who were in prison.  Too busy will not be a valid excuse.  Unsure of how to be involved is a lame response.

 

If you knew that Jesus was in your local prison or jail, what would motivate you to go and see him? When you have done it unto the least of these, you have done it unto me…Jesus

Father, forgive us for not visiting you in prison or when you were sick.  Forgive us for not being able to adjust our schedules so that you became a higher priority than our own agendas.  Teach us what to do.  Teach us how to be engaged in the ministry of caring and visiting those who are in prison.  I am sure that you will be quick to lead us in the direction of helping the hurting.  Help us move beyond the guilt of inactivity to a place of real involvement.  In Jesus Name, Amen.