DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- Strong Character

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – Strong Character
I Kings 21:1-3
 
"And it came to pass after these things that Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard which was in Jezreel, next to the palace of Ahab, King of Samaria. So Ahab spoke to Naboth, saying, 'Give me your vineyard that I may have it for a vegetable garden, because it is near, next to my house; and for it I will give you a vineyard better than it. Or if it seems good to you, I will give you its worth in money.' But
Naboth said to Ahab, 'The LORD forbid that I should give the inheritance of my father to you.' "
 
I admire Naboth because he was a man of integrity, who would not be intimidated by the king's power, nor be enticed to sell the inheritance that had been passed down through the generations. The value of the field was worth more than money to Naboth because it represented his spiritual legacy. He could not be bought. It takes a person of strong character to stand in the face of this kind of pressure. I want that kind of internal strength to stand for what is right, regardless of the pressure to conform.
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: A person of character will not bow to the pressures to compromise his spiritual legacy in order to appease another person, even an authority figure, nor to receive financial gain.
 
Have a "strong character" day. Love you.
 

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- Running After God

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – Running After God
I Kings 19:20-21
 
"And [Elisha] left his oxen and ran after Elijah, and said, 'Please let me kiss my mother and father, and then I will follow you.' And [Elijah] said to him, 'Go back again, for what have I done to you?' So Elisha turned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen and slaughtered them and boiled their flesh using the oxen's equipment, and gave it to the people and they ate. Then he arose and followed Elijah and became his servant."
 
Following God's call to be His servant may mean a complete change of life-style. Elisha answered the call, and then burned all the bridges behind him. He bade his parents farewell, left his farm, killed his oxen and used their yokes for firewood. There was no Plan B to return to. Running after God calls for that kind of commitment. As the old song goes, "I have decided to follow Jesus – no turning back, no turning back."
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: Running after God to become His servant requires a commitment that includes forsaking the old life.
 
Have a "running after God" day. Love you.
 

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- Passing By

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – Passing By
I Kings 19:19
 
"So he departed from there and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he was with the twelfth. And Elijah passed by him and threw his mantle on him."
 
God chose a farmer to receive Elijah's mantle. He did not choose a Levite or other person whose occupation was religion. This sounds so very much like the men Jesus chose to be his disciples. He did not choose priests or Pharisees (religious professionals) or even his own brothers.   Rather, He found fishermen, a tax collector, a political revolutionary, and other non-religious men, and said, "Follow Me." How unlike kings whose sons inherit the throne, or sons of preachers who inherit the their father's ministry (ala Oral/Richard Roberts, Billy/Franklin Graham, Jimmy/Danny Swaggart, or Robert Schuller's family). This is not to denigrate their calling. God does indeed sometimes call sons to pick up the mantle of their father. But He also chooses farmers, doctors, or IT specialists for ministry because He sees the willing heart.
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: God does not call people to ministry based on their religious ancestry, but on their willing heart.
 
Have a "called" day. Love you.
 

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- Mentoring

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – Mentoring
I Kings 19:15-16
 
"Then the LORD said to him: 'Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus; and when you arrive, anoint Hazael as king over Syria. Also you shall anoint Jehu the son of Nimshi as king over Israel. And Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel Meholah you shall anoint as prophet in your place.' "
 
Not only were there other god-fearing people in the land, but God had chosen one – Elisha – to take Elijah's place. The ministry would continue. Sometimes spiritual leaders think that no one can take their place – that they are the only one who can speak for God. But none of us are irreplaceable. Elijah was nearing the end of his life, and he needed to mentor a younger man to continue his ministry. The point is that no one is indispensable. God's work will continue – with or without me -- but I can be involved in the ongoing process.

TODAY'S THOUGHT: The work of the Lord will continue because God is in control.
 
Have a "mentoring" day. Love you.
 

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- We Are Not Alone

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – We Are Not Alone
I Kings 19:14, 18
 
"And he said, 'I have been very zealous for the LORD God of hosts; because the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left and they seek my life' " [Then the LORD said to him, ]" 'Yet I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.' "
 
Elijah thought he was alone because he looked at his nation and did not see anyone else standing up for righteousness. He did not see the thousands who had kept themselves holy. Sometimes I look at the state of affairs in my nation and see how that all around me the masses of people – even in the church – have forsaken the true God, have forsaken His laws, torn down His altar, and have kissed the unholy. I am tempted to feel that I stand alone in my zeal for holiness. Where are those who serve Him in righteousness? But God has thousands who have not bowed their knee to Baal. I may not see them, but God knows who they are. I am not alone.
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: Even though it seems that there are very few people who are zealous for the Lord, there are still
thousands who love and serve Him in truth.
 
Have an encouraged day. Love you.
 

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- "What Are You Doing Here?"

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – "What Are You Doing Here?"
I Kings 9:8-9
 
"So he arose, and ate and drank; and he went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights as far as Horeb, the mountain of God. And there he went into a cave, and spent the night in that place; and behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and He said to him, 'What are you doing here, Elijah?'  " 
 
Elijah isolates himself even further by walking 40 days into the wilderness to Horeb, also known as Mt. Sinai, which was located in the far south of the Negev. This was "the mount of God" where God had revealed Himself to Moses (Exodus 3:1ff; 4:27; 19:1ff). I think Elijah went there because he needed to reground himself in his faith. But God did not allow Elijah to live in the past, but, after asking the same question again, told him to "Go" (vs. 15).  Sometimes it is good to return to the roots of my faith – where God had been so real – to reground my spirit.  But I can't live in the past, because God has plans for the future. So He comes and says, "What are you doing here?" God will not let us wallow in our self-pity forever, but moves us on to tomorrow.
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: When I am tempted to live in my yesterday, God says, "What are you doing here?", and moves me
into my tomorrow.
 
Have a "tomorrow" day. Love you.
 

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- The Second Touch

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – The Second Touch
I Kings 19:5b-7
 
"Then suddenly an angel touched him, and said, 'Arise and eat.' Then he looked, and there by his head was a cake baked on coals, and a jar of water. So he ate and drank and lay down again. And the angel came back the second time, and touched him, and said, 'Arise and eat, because the journey is too great for you.' "
 
God did not abandon or chastise Elijah when he was in depression. Instead, He gently ministered to him to give him strength. He knew that the journey was too much for Elijah, and he needed to rejuvenate his body and spirit. In God's patience, He gave Elijah a second touch. After we resigned the pastorate at Jasper, I hit bottom. I remember clearly a Sunday night at the altar of the church in Springfield when I was crying out to God in my depression. I felt a touch on my shoulder. I thought it was someone praying for me. I looked around to see who it was and there was no one. I do believe it was Someone giving me that touch of assurance that He was there in my sad state. Oh, the compassion of our wonderful Lord.
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: When life overwhelms us, when our strength is gone, when the journey seems too great, the Lord
touches again and again.
 
Have a "touched" day. Love you.
 

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- Hitting Bottom

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – Hitting Bottom
I Kings 19:3-5a
 
"And when he saw [that Jezebel wanted to kill him], he arose and fled for his life, and went to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there. But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he prayed that he might die, and said, 'It is enough! Now, LORD, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers.' The he lay down and sept...."
 
Elijah had the classic symptoms of depression – isolation, loss of hope, self-pity ("I've had enough!"), sleepiness, loss of self-worth, and even a desire to die. Depression often comes after a great emotional high when the adrenalin quits flowing. When I was teaching, I hit bottom after every concert. Preachers often take Monday's off because of the let-down after a Sunday of ministry. God did not scold Elijah. He knows our frame, and He does not condemn, but allows time for healing and regaining our strength.
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: God created us and knows that we sometimes hit bottom but He does not condemn us for it.
 
Have a renewing day. Love you.
 

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- Blind Unbelief

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – Blind Unbelief
I Kings 19:1-2
 
"And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had executed all the prophets with the sword. Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, 'So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time.' "
 
Some people – like Jezebel, Pharaoh, and the Jews who refused to believe in Jesus after all his miracles and resurrection – are so blinded by the god of this world that nothing will convince them of the truth. Jezebel had the evidence – fire, rain, and the impotence of Baal – but still she refused to believe. It reminds one of Paul's writing to the Romans. "What may be known of God is manifest [evident] in them, for God has shown it to them [through creation] ....Although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God ... but became futile in their thoughts, and they foolish hearts were darkened; who exchanged the truth of God for the lie" (Romans 1:19, 21, 25a). People talk about "blind faith." How about "blind unbelief"? The evidence of Creation attests to a Creator, yet people will believe in evolution in spite of the evidence.
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: Blind unbelief will cling to a lie in spite of the evidence.
 
Have a truth day. Love you.
 

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- The Hand Of The Lord

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – The Hand Of The Lord
I Kings 18:45-46
 
"Now it happened in the meantime that the sky became black with clouds and wind, and there was a heavy rain. So Ahab rode away and went to Jezreel. Then the hand of the LORD came upon Elijah; and he girded up his loins and ran ahead of Ahab to the entrance to Jezreel."
 
I can imagine the look on Ahab's face when he came racing up to Jezreel in his chariot only to see Elijah standing at the gate waiting for him. "Didn't I just leave him on Mt. Carmel?" Elijah had just run a "miracle mile" because the hand of the LORD was upon him. The hand of the LORD gives ability to do things that are impossible in our own strength. Lord God, I need your hand upon me today.
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: The hand of the Lord gives strength to do the impossible.
 
Have a strengthened day. Love you.
 

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- The Rewards of Persistence

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – The Rewards of Persistence
I Kings 1:41-44a
 
"Then Elijah said to Ahab, .... 'there is the sound of abundance of rain.' So Ahab went up to eat and drink, and Elijah went to the top of Carmel; then he bowed down on the ground, and put his face between his knees, and said to his servant, 'Go up now, and look toward the sea.' So he went and looked, and said, 'There is nothing.' And seven times he said, 'Go again.' Then it came to pass the seventh time, that he said, 'There is a cloud, as small as a man's hand, rising out of the sea!' "
 
Elijah anticipated rain even though there was not sign of rain in the sky. He had assurance in his spirit. So he put himself in a position to see the answer, at the top of the mountain. While others ate and drank, he did the hard work of prayer. He was not deterred by the negative reports, but kept anticipating in faith. He did not give up, even after the 3^rd or 4^th or 5^th times when it seemed his prayer was not being answered. He kept looking. Finally on the seventh time, his persistence was rewarded. Persistence has its rewards. I wonder how many blessings I have missed because I gave up too quickly. We shall reap if we faint not (Galatians 6:9).
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: Persistent prayer brings answers.
 
Have a persistent day. Love you.
 

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- The Fire!

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – The Fire!
I Kings 18:38-39
 
"Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice and the wood and the stones and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench. Now when the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, 'The LORD, He is God! The LORD, He is God!' "
 
"Our God is a consuming fire" (Hebrews 12:29). Oh, that I was that sacrifice, that I would be so consumed with God's presence that people would say, 'The LORD is God!" "Oh Christ, of burning cleansing flame, send the fire .... to burn up every trace of sin, to let the light of glory in, the revolution now begin. Send the fire! Send the fire! Send the fire!"
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: When the fire of God comes, it consumes everything.
 
Have a "consumed" day. Love you.
 

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- Re-turned Hearts

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – Re-turned Hearts
I Kings 18:36-37
 
"And it came to pass, at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near and said, 'LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel ... Hear me, O LORD, that this people may know that You are the LORD God, and that You have turned their hearts back to You again.' "
 
In a 30-second prayer, Elijah accomplished more that the prophets of Baal had done in their all-day prayer meeting. Elijah's one desire was that the hearts of the people would once again be turned to the God of their fathers – Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Israel). Just before Jesus comes again, Elijah will once again come to "turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers" (Malachi 4:5-6; see also Revelation 11:3-6) – that is, to the God of their fathers. So many have drifted away from the faith of their fathers to serve other gods – materialism, pleasure, their own egos. My prayer is that God will reveal Himself in power so that many hearts will be turned again to the LORD God.
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: We need a Great Awakening that will turn the hearts of people to the LORD God.
 
Have a "re-turned" heart.
 

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- God-Sized Problems

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – God-Sized Problems
I Kings 18:32-35
"Then with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD, and he made a trench around the altar large enough to hold two seahs of seed ... and said, 'Fill four waterpots with water and pour it on the wood.' Then he said, 'Do it a second time;' and he said, 'Do it a third time,' ....So the water also filled the trench with water."
 
Three times Elijah doused the sacrifice with water. He was not tempting God, but he was making sure the people would understand that God had done the miracle. The greater the test, the more the power and glory of God can be revealed. The greater the trial, the greater the victory. When James said, "Count it all joy when you fall into various trials" (James 1:2), it is not because of some masochistic need to suffer, but because God reveals Himself in the midst of trials. In my life, Lord, be glorified.
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: God-sized problems can reveal God's sized victories.
 
Have a power and glory day. Love you.
 

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- Remember Who You Are

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – Remember Who You Are
I Kings 18:31
 
"And Elijah took twelves stones, according to the number of the tribes of Jacob, to whom the word of the LORD had come, saying, 'Israel shall be your name.' "
 
God had changed the name of Jacob to Israel as a sign that he had a special calling – no longer Jacob the deceiver, but Israel, a Prince with God (Genesis 32:28; 35:10). By rebuilding the altar with 12 stones, I think that Elijah was reminding the people who they were and where they had come from. They were a special people with a godly heritage who had drifted far from their spiritual roots to serve other gods. I need to remember that in whatever I do, I am a Christian of the lineage of Christ. To forsake that is to wander into the wasteland of idol worship.
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: Christians need to remember who they are and where they came from.
 
Have a remembering day. Love you.
 

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- The Broken-down Altar

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – The Broken-Down Altar
I Kings 18:29-30
 
"And when midday was past, they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice. But there was no voice; no one answered, no one paid attention. Then Elijah said to all the people, 'Come near to me.' So all the people came near to him. And he repaired the alter of the LORD that was broken down."
 
When I cry and cry but there is no answer, could it be that I am at the wrong altar? Perhaps I have forsaken God's altar for the altar of the god of my own selfish desires and ideas. Then it is time to repair God's altar that has been abandoned. I hear God saying, "Come to Me. Repair My altar." It may take some effort, rethinking, and rededication on my part, because I get so wrapped up in seeking my own will instead of God's will. But God will meet me at the broken-down altar after it is repaired.
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: If I want to hear God speak, I must worship at His altar.
 
Have a "repairing" day. Love you.
 

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- Quiet Confidence

DAD'S RAMBLING – Quiet Confidence
I Kings 18:26, 28
 
"So they took the bull which was given them, and they prepared it, and called on the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, 'O Baal, hear us!' But there was no voice; no one answered. Then they leaped about the altar which they had made .... So they cried aloud and cut themselves, as was their custom, with knives and lances, until the blood gushed out of them."
The longer they prayed, the more desperate the priests of Baal became. In the beginning, they were just praying, but as the day went along, they began dancing around the altar, until in the end they were screaming and cutting themselves. In the meantime, Elijah waited patiently, with only an occasion comment, mocking them (vs. 27). It seems the less confident a person is about what he believes, the louder he gets and the more animated becomes his body-language. God does not answer our prayers because of how long or how loud or how violent we become. A quiet confidence marks the person who is secure in his faith.  I am still trying to exhibit this quality.
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: In quietness and in confidence shall be your strength (Isaiah 30:15).
 
Have a quietly confident day. Love you.
 

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- The Test: Let God Be God

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – The Challenge: Let God Be God
I Kings 18:23-24
 
" 'Therefore let them give us two bulls; and let them choose one bull for themselves; cut it in pieces, and lay it on the wood, but put no fire under it; and I will prepare the other bull, and lay it on the wood, but put no fire under it. Then you call on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the LORD; and the God who answers by fire, He is God.' So all the people answered and said, 'It is well spoken.' "
 
Elijah put his faith in God on the line. If he had any niggling doubts that God would not answer, he didn't show it. With confidence he presented the challenge. If God did not answer his prayer, he would be ridiculed, but that was not an issue with Elijah. That is my problem. Sometimes when I pray for people, I'm afraid that I will be a laughing-stock if nothing happens. I am more concerned about my own reputation that God's. But in reality, my reputation is inconsequential, and God's reputation does not need to be protected. Fear of damaging my reputation closes the door to allowing God to prove that He is God.
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: God's reputation does not need to be protected, and neither does mine.
 
Have a challenging day. Love you.