"Take Me Home Son"

There are moments in all of our lives that become markers--moments burned in our minds and hearts that stay with us for a lifetime. One such moment happened to me a few years ago. My boys and I had flown to Canada to fish for a week. As you can imagine, the week went by too fast. The fishing was good and the time together will always be cherished. The flight home brought the moment I shall always remember.
The day we were leaving was gray with a drizzling rain and I dreaded the flight in IFR conditions. As an instrument rated pilot I had filed many flight plans, and as an experienced pilot I had done most of the flying, but my fishing had left me relaxed but tired. In that moment I pulled the key to the airplane from my pocket and handed it to my youngest son, John, and said, “Take me home son.” It was the first time I had ever crawled into the back seat of my own airplane and trusted myself to John. The truth was, he had a commercial rating and was well qualified. The challenge was, I was used to being in control and putting yourself in a place of dependence and trust is never easy. You can’t fly an airplane from the back seat. The lesson learned is that much of the Christian life must be lived in the back seat trusting our Lord to take us home. In our moments of weariness it is always wise to sit in the back seat. Maybe it is time you gave Jesus the key.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.
Pr 3:5-6 (NKJV)

Duty

It stormed yesterday at my house. I sat inside in the dry and thought of the female cardinal in a bush in my front yard sitting on her nest protecting her eggs. It is only natural to want to find shelter from the storms of life, but there are times when duty calls us to stay put, there are some things more important than our comfort. Until we find something beyond ourselves to live for, life is disappointing and empty.
Jesus said, "For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it. Mr 8:35
jfs

Offense

Mr 6:3 "Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?" And they were offended at Him.
Some people are easily offended. Like some of the people of Jesus day, they don’t want to accept God on His terms. God as a baby, or hanging on a cross is not what we expect from God. We want a take charge God,a manipulating God,a God who is responsible for everything that happens both good and bad. Then we can blame and make excuses for our own actions. We are offended by a God showing up as a baby, a God in diapers. Before the babe in the manger could say mama, the event of His birth was speaking and still speaks today. Joh 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” His story is about Love Giving itself to empty hearts. It is about God becoming one of us, so He could be touched and heard, so He could touch, not from heaven but from earth. It is about revelation and hope for the future. The sad thing is, many don’t want that kind of God. They are offended by a God in a bassinet. He came to us so we could come to him. His knock on your heart’s door is your greatest opportunity. Open the door and you will find fellowship with the God of the universe. jfs

Titus Ministry

Nevertheless God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, and not only by his coming, but also by the consolation with which he was comforted in you, when he told us of your earnest desire, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced even more. 2Co 7:6

God is in the comforting business. He knows life sometimes turns on us like a mad dog, and we need spiritual band aids, someone to hold our hand. There is noting like hearing from God in the time of trouble. Like a wounded sheep, I often find myself praying Baa, Baa to the Great Shepherd. The above verse has taught me much about the way the Shepherd comforts His hurting sheep. He reaches through Titus. That can be anyone who hears the call of the Great Shepherd and is willing to go into the Titus Ministry. I have received two Titus calls in the last couple of days, one from my friend Dr. Phil Fuller and the other from Kerry Willis, a brother who knows my heart like no other. What a blessing to be comforted by God through His servants. My prayer is that I will be a Titus to others who need the comfort of God. Join me as we keep the Titus ministry alive. jfs

Momma

Thanks for all the prayers you prayed for me. They are still being answered.
The memory of walking by your bedroom door and hearing you pour out your heat to God will remain with me forever. The little boy inside of me still longs for Momma. Give my love to dad and tell Jesus your little boy still needs help. jfs

Pr 23:25 Let your father and your mother be glad, And let her who bore you rejoice.