The Joyful Steward

As we go through our daily activities it seems sometimes that each new challenge brings us closer and closer to one of two points. A point of breakthrough, or breakdown.

There’s an old saying out there that goes something like this ” God won’t give me more than I can handle”.
This saying is missing one very important clarifying phrase and that is this ” more than He knows I can handle”
Father is the only one who intimately knows each of our personal limits and He knows where the line between Breakthrough and Breakdown exists. We have to be pushed beyond our own points of ” more than I can handle” to get to His place of Breakthrough.
It is so awesome to have a Father who watches so closely over our lives and the experiences that we go through.

Here’s a Word of refreshment from Gods Word.
“Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint. (Isaiah 40:30, 31 NIV)”

http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DzHPhVTw3YgM%26feature%3Dyoutube_gdata_player&feature=youtube_gdata_player&v=zHPhVTw3YgM&gl=US

The Star Spangled Banner
In 1814, Francis Scott Key wrote the poem, Defense of Fort McHenry. The poem was later put to the tune of (John Stafford Smith’s song)The Anacreontic Song, modified somewhat, and retitled The Star Spangled Banner. Congress proclaimed The Star Spangled Bannerthe U.S. National Anthem in 1931.

Oh, say, can you see, by the dawn’s early light,
What so proudly we hail’d at the twilight’s last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, thro’ the perilous fight,
O’er the ramparts we watch’d, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets’ red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof thro’ the night that our flag was still there.
O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore dimly seen thro’ the mists of the deep,
Where the foe’s haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o’er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning’s first beam,
In full glory reflected, now shines on the stream:
‘Tis the star-spangled banner: O, long may it wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle’s confusion
A home and a country should leave us no more?
Their blood has wash’d out their foul footsteps’ pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

O, thus be it ever when freemen shall stand,
Between their lov’d homes and the war’s desolation;
Blest with vict’ry and peace, may the heav’n-rescued land
Praise the Pow’r that hath made and preserv’d us a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause is just,
And this be our motto: “In God is our trust”
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Having just experienced my 17th Fathers Day I can say that there is no privilege greater than being chosen by God to be a parent. Does that mean its easy, NO!
Every day brings a new set of challenges, concerns, or needs that can sometimes be disconcerting. But through all of this it is always a joy to see your child smile when they have accomplished something, had a realization maybe that you aren’t such a bad guy after all, or spent some quality time investing in what they enjoy.
I am by no means a perfect Father but through Gods grace I am learning. I’m learning to love unconditionally, I’m learning to express frustration differently, and I’m learning that when a child does something that is wrong I must let them answer a question rather than me telling them how bad they were. The question being.” does that represent who I am in Jesus?”
When you put it in that perspective for them they will answer that themselves and make the necessary modifications to properly represent our Lord. Thanks Dad for raising me in a Godly home and thanks Alex for sharing with me how to father differently, to father in a life giving gracious way.
I was just reading a blog posted by Steve Sjogren and I’m going to share a bit below.
-7 Things I Wish I’d Told My Dad When I Was Younger – Confessions of a Stumbling Servant
by Steve Sjogren on Jun 16, 2012 3:42 PM
This Father’s Day has me thinking of some things I wish I’d shared with my dad a long time ago. Perhaps you too have some things you’d like to share with your dad. It may not be too late. My dad passed away years ago so this is more of an exercise in journaling, but for you there is tomorrow.

1. ”No matter how long I live, you will always be my greatest role model.”
I’ve had models for various areas of expertise come and go throughout life. Most of them have been helpful as they’ve left their mark, but at the core of all I’ve received is the deposit my dad made. He didn’t have to be the world’s best at everything. All I needed to know was that he was the greatest – period.
2. ”Deep down, I want to become like you in your best traits.”
He wasn’t perfect, but his imprint will have the greatest effect on me. I want to be like him in the ways he was strong. I want him to be proud of the person I’ve become.
3. ”Thanks for the sacrifices you made for me.”
I know my dad felt the strain of work many times. Perhaps he even wondered what he’d gotten himself into! But honestly what hard working guy who is totally honest doesn’t have that thought cross his mind occasionally.
4. ”Thanks for having me.”
Looking back it is clear to me there were a lot of decisions he made that led up to me being conceived and born. God orchestrated that but my dad cooperated. I’m grateful for his love for me before I was born.
5. ”Thanks for working hard to provide for me.”
Forty hours plus per week takes the starch out of anyone after a while. To do that for years on end requires a lot of love. No matter where your dad appears to be spiritually on the outside, keep in mind that no man can put in years, even decades, of sacrificial work for a child or a family, and not have some glimmer of spiritual life.
6. ”Thanks for being tough on me at times.”
There is a hard side to love that’s hard to see when we are young.
7. ”Sorry I spent so much time being angry at you instead of listening to you.”
This is a big one for me. It took years to gain the perspective I needed to realize that my old man was pretty smart all along. Based on conversations and reading it seems that many of us have lived as angry young people while we were home. It took getting out of the house to wake us up to our limitations and our dads’ perspective and big time wisdom.

If it is too difficult to call your dad tomorrow I’d recommend you go ahead and just tell him you love him, then do something unusual in our day – actually write him a letter by hand. It doesn’t need to be long. Share a few points – maybe lift some of the ones here. You don’t need to be original. Then see what happens. Whether he acknowledges your letter or not – many dads don’t do all that well with words – send it anyway.

If your dad is gone, write a letter anyway. You can’t send it so hold onto it for a couple of days then read it again on the third day to let it sink in. This is something sacred between you and him no one else needs to see. If the contents are something you wouldn’t mind sharing with your grandchildren file it away. If you rather not see it again, burn it. It will just be something important you expressed that was good to get out. Now move on.

I have to tell you that I am appalled at customer service in most dining establishments lately. It seems , no matter if its a small cafe or a national chain, that the servers simply do not understand that they are present to insure our experience is a good one. I was at an authentic Mexican restaurant yesterday that we have been going to for a while and they now are offering a “dollar menu” on Mondays. So we were ordering off the dollar menu and loved the service we were getting from our server, however the table adjacent to ours was doing the same and I loudly heard their server walk off and say” That’s a dollar, That’s a dollar, and That’s a dollar..Oh my God”. I began thinking to myself ” I am not certain that this young woman is in the right business.” 

You know as I am in and out of businesses across Florida I see this over and over. It really is a sad state of affairs to know that in this weak economy folks are still going out and spending their hard earned money, only to receive service that is way below par. 

There are literally thousands of talented people looking for work and yet we have to put up with people who serve us, who seem to not care about the precious job that they have. I would encourage all managers out there to strongly evaluate your employees service and if you find it to be unsatisfactory, please do something about it. I strongly recommend a book titled “QBQ” By John G Miller. Read it and see how your organization improves.

I was listening to a sermon by a very prominent Pastor this weekend and here are a few exerpts of his points.
•You can not serve your God while your agenda is still focused on your material goals.
•Selfish people do not serve.

•When are you going to step away from the dinner table, and go wash someone’s feet. (This one rings true with me as I continually watch people come to Church and “eat at the table” and then go out and do nothing to put it into action)
When Jesus knelt to wash the disciples feet , he was also washing Judas feet, the very one who would play a part in His crucifixion.

•Is there anything in your life that is bigger than you.
•Maybe it’s difficult to get people to worship in Church because they are so centered on themselves.

As I listened to this message I really took a look inside my own life and where I have had my priorities throughout the years. For most of my adult life I have been very self-absorbed and focused on success and material possessions. Over the past 24 months God has truly changed my focus and motivation in life. I have learned what a blessing it is to serve others, and God has revealed His Grace to me through these acts of humility and selflessness.
If you haven’t had the opportunity to “serve” someone less fortunate run, don’t walk and get your serve on.

— Matthew Chapter 25:(35) For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home.
(36) I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’

40 “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters,t you were doing it to me!’