Father's Day in December

Scripture for reflection

Music for meditation

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Dad prompted me to officially begin this ministry on December 14, 2010. I say officially because He has been leading me into it for a while. The only unknown I have in responding to this calling is the financial end of it. In leading me into it though, He asked me if, as Dad, if I also trust Him to be CEO and writer of my checks, to which my wife and I, after prayerful consideration, answered yes.(this explains why this ministry is being provided on a donation basis as well as my only request being that you consult Him in prayer concerning any donation He leads you to give)

Regarding this agreement though, I have to admit something that took place in order to be completely honest and because it becomes significant later on in this writing. Upon submitting to these terms, in jest and what I thought was privately to myself, I told Dad it would be nice though if I were to receive my first “paycheck” soon simply as a token of proof that this is His will (ala, Gideon and the fleece). As I stated, I will be making reference to this incident again shortly as a display of how gracefully Dad loves us and hears the requests of our hearts, no matter how subtle or private we think they may be. In addition, I had received confirmation through agreement on the part of my wife concerning this, so with that we were off.

The following Sunday at church, December 19, our pastor was preaching on the significance of Jesus’ name being Emmanuel, God with us, and whether we trusted that fact or not. In absorbing that question and given the decision we made regarding the ministry, I was led to go to the alter to pray for boldness to continue to walk the path we believe Dad led us on. For one of the first times in my life, I wasn’t going to the alter for direction, but rather boldness to continue in the pointed out direction. Little did I know my responding to this prompting would set off a chain of events on Dad’s part to confirm me in this.

I went to the alter to pray about this and Dad led Liz to come up and pray for me as well. In discussing later what was about to happen, she told me Dad had revealed He was going for the jugular to heal me of a wound I was still carrying, though He didn’t reveal to her what that would look like on my end. With that, she began to pray.

On my end, Dad had manifested my earthly dad who was a Christian and passed away in 1999, in a vision to me as a voice in a cloud. Although I couldn’t see him, the voice was unmistakable. Due to a history that both Dad and my wife have helped me understand and come to terms with along the way in my journey with Him, while alive here on earth, my earthly dad was not always entirely supportive in regards to certain decisions I made along the way in seeking out who I really was in life. In this current encounter, he apologized for that and said thanks to his current Heavenly perspective, he both understood and supported it. Anyone who has ever struggled with a similar issue as such, can appreciate what kind of an impact an encounter as such can have. I got up from sitting down, released, weeping, hugging my wife, and just basking in this gracious moment a bit.

As we were going back to our seats to get our stuff to get ready to leave, a friend of ours came up to me, asked how we were doing and then we shook hands and hugged. He then handed me a check and told him Dad told him to do it. I was overwhelmed by this gesture but accepted it knowing it was true (remember my private request in jest?)

And so our journey into Fields of Grace Ministries begins. We don’t know where it is going to take our family, both nuclear and “extended”, nor do we know how we are going to get there. The only one thing we do know is the only thing we really need to know and that is that Dad is leading. I also know He has been asking me the same question for a while now, it just sounds different at times: Do I trust Him? Am I willing to let the “homeless man” pay my way? In short, am I willing to live by grace? And by that grace, my family and I have answered yes.

That same evening, my father-in-law who went home to be with Dad in January 2008, appeared to me in a dream. He walked past me on a country road and as he did, simply through up his hands and said “Tell em I’m okay Mike.” Thanks to Dad continuously displaying His loving grace through actions such as my Father’s Day in December, my family and I are going to be as well.

Am I My Brothers' Keeper?

Music for Meditation

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Dad answers this question with an emphatic yes. We tend to know this when it comes to pointing out one another’s flaws. However, we often plead the fifth when it comes to caring for one another, particularly when it comes to our brothers and sisters who are less materially blessed than we are. Fortunately, Dad is not the one who modeled this behavior for us(pleading the fifth)and is very clear with His answer to this question, who are brothers and sisters are, what His will is toward them, and our part in that will.

Dad stated through big brother Jesus that His family is anyone who does His will. He then further stated what that will is, as well as the consequences of not fulfilling it. Richard Stearn, CEO of World Vision and author of an awesome book entitled The Hole in Our Gospel, rephrased this will and consequence in a powerful way that makes it relevant today:

“For I was hungry, while you had all you needed. I was thirsty, but you drank bottled water. I was a stranger, and you wanted me deported. I needed clothes, but you needed more clothes. I was sick, and you pointed out the behaviors that led to my sickness. I was in prison, and you said I was getting what I deserved.”

Finally, in stating what that will is, Dad also stated our part which is to be His body in fulfilling it.

So what are some things you can do to fulfill your part? The first thing is to pray. Pray for our brothers and sisters who are less blessed materially…..regardless of the reason! Pray for their protection, that Dad would supply their needs, and then what your role might be in that supplication. Then take some time to be still and listen to His answer regarding that role. In discerning this, He will not expect you to do it all, for that is His job. However, He does expect you to do your part.

In discerning His voice, here are a few examples of some actions He may lead you to take. He may lead you to simply pray for and/or with others in a very specific way such as for practical healing. He could lead you to regularly tithing and/or donating of your time, talent, and/or treasure to a church and/or other organization if you are not doing so already. He could have you sponsor and/or adopt a child locally or elsewhere who needs a home. Previously noted Scripture as well as His exclamation through John the Baptist point to some examples of what He may ask you to do.

Despite what the call may look like, if you claim to be a child of Dad’s, then you are your brothers’/sisters’ keeper. Your brothers and sisters are all humans and Dad’s will for you is to love and take care of them like He does you. Many think Dad’s will, will be accomplished whether they respond or not. That may not necessarily be the case as, for example, He tells us His will is that none should perish and yet also reveals that many will. You may be the person through whom He wants to fulfill a specific part of His will. You can begin fulfilling that role in His plan for the family today by praying, listening, and then doing what He tells you to do.