“So imitate God as His dear children.”  Ephesians 5:1

When I read this verse out of my Jewish bible recently, I was struck by how children imitate their parents.  A child’s eyes will focus on the face of Mom or Dad and they will be saying what they hear and tilt their head the same way to imitate their parents.  Our little two year old granddaughter fell when running up our ramp recently.  She exclaimed “Dang” in just the same intonation her dad would have said.  Then she jumped up and kept on running.  It was so funny.

Some of you may have read this story of the wooden bowl but it is well worth a review.

THE WOODEN BOWL

Author Unknown

A frail old man went to live with his son, daughter-in-law, and four-year-old grandson.  The old man’s hands trembled, his eyesight was blurred, and his step faltered.

The family ate together at the table.  But the elderly grandfather’s shaky hands and failing sight made eating difficult.  Peas rolled off his spoon onto the floor.  When he grasped the glass, milk spilled on the tablecloth.

The son and daughter-in-law became irritated with the mess.  “We must do something about father,” said the son.  “I’ve had enough of his spilled milk, noisy eating, and food on the floor.”

So the husband and wife set a small table in the corner.  There Grandfather ate alone while the rest of the family enjoyed dinner.  Since Grandfather had broken a dish or two, his food was served in a wooden bowl.

When the family glanced in Grandfather’s direction, sometimes he had a tear in his eye as he sat alone.  Still, the only words the couple had for him were sharp admonitions when he dropped a fork or spilled food.

The four-year-old watched it all in silence.

One evening, before supper, the father noticed his son playing with wood scraps on the floor.  He asked the child sweetly, “What are you making?”

Just as sweetly, the boy responded, “Oh, I am making a little bowl for you and Mama to eat your food in when I grow up.”

The four-year-old smiled and went back to work.

The words so struck the parents so that they were speechless.  Then tears started to stream down their cheeks.  Though no word was spoken, both knew what must be done.

That evening the husband took Grandfather’s hand and gently led him back to the family table.  For the remainder of his days he ate every meal with the family.  And for some reason, neither husband nor wife seemed to care any longer when a fork was dropped, milk spilled, or the tablecloth soiled.

-E-mail

The bible encourages us to “focus your minds on the things above, not on things here on earth” Col. 3:12. Also, Phil 4:8 tells us to ‘focus your thoughts.’ We are natural imitators.  A child must watch carefully what his parents are doing in order to imitate them.  In the same way, we must gaze into the face of God if we want to imitate Him.  You have probably read the verse in Psalms 32:8

“I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.”

Do you remember when your mother instructed you so that you knew exactly what you were to do even though she hadn’t said a word?  There was a simple look in her eye and the slightest twitch of her head and you knew you were to leave and do whatever.  You would never have known had you not been looking at her.  In the same way we need to keep focused upon our God if we want to understand His direction for us.

Also, we need to study the heart of God if we are to truly imitate Him.  What is the heart of God like?  Let’s take a moment and look at the heart of God expressed in this beautiful poem by Annie Johnson Flint!

HE GIVETH MORE

“He giveth more grace” – James 4:6

“He increaseth strength” – Isaiah 40:29

“Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied” – Jude 2

He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater.

He sendeth more strength when the labors increase;

To added affliction He addeth His mercy,

To multiplied trials, His multiplied peace.

When we have exhausted our store of endurance,

When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,

When we reach the end of our hoarded resources,

Our Father’s full giving is only begun.

His love has no limit, His grace has no measure,

His power no boundary known unto men;

For out of His infinite riches in Jesus

He giveth and giveth and giveth again.

-Poems for Sunshine & Shadow (Back to the Bible c.1962) p.41

Subject: UNITED STATES MAP – Short But Good!

A father wanted to read a magazine but was being bothered by his little girl, Shelby.  She wanted to know what the United States looked like.

Finally, he tore a sheet out of his new magazine on which was printed the map of the country. Tearing it into small pieces, he gave it to Shelby and said, ‘Go into the other room and see if you can put this together.  This will show you our whole country today.’

After a few minutes, Shelby returned and handed him the map, correctly fitted and taped together. The father was surprised and asked how she had finished so quickly. ‘Oh,’ she said, ‘on the other side of the paper is a picture of Jesus. When I got all of Jesus back where He belonged, then our country just came together.’

-E-mail

I think that would take care of all our problems.  If we could but just focus on the face of God, and put Jesus back where He belongs in our lives, what a miraculous change would take place!

“Thou hast made known to me the ways of life;

Thou shalt make me full of joy with Thy countenance.

Acts 2:28

THE OLD PATHS

I liked the old paths, when

Moms were at home.

Dads were at work.

Brothers went into the army.

And sisters got married BEFORE having children!

Crime did not pay;

Hard work did;

And people knew the difference.

Moms could cook;

Dads would work;

Children would behave.

Husbands were loving;

Wives were supportive;

And children were polite.

Women wore the jewelry;

And Men wore the pants.

Women looked like ladies;

Men looked like gentlemen;

And children looked decent.

People loved the truth,

And hated a lie;

They came to church to get IN,

Not to get OUT!

Hymns sounded Godly;

Sermons sounded helpful;

Rejoicing sounded normal;

And crying sounded sincere.

Cursing was wicked;

Drugs were for illness;

And divorce was unthinkable.

The flag was honored;

America was beautiful;

And God was welcome!

We read the Bible in public;

Prayed in school;

To be called an American was worth dying for;

To be called a Christian was worth living for;

To be called a traitor was a shame!

Preachers preached because they had a message;

And Christians rejoiced because they had the VICTORY!

Preachers preached from the Bible;

Singers sang from the heart;

A new birth meant a new life;

Salvation meant a changed life;

Being a preacher meant you proclaimed the word of God;

Being a deacon meant you would serve the Lord;

Being a Christian meant you would live for Jesus;

And being a sinner meant someone was praying for you!

Church was where you found Christians

On the Lord’s Day, rather than in the garden,

On the creek bank, on the golf course,

Or being entertained somewhere else.

I still like the old paths the best!

“The Old Paths” was written by a retired minister who lives in Tennessee

A few years ago tomorrow some men took a horrible path as they destroyed The World Trade Center in New York, killing so many precious Americans! Since then, a lot of terrorists have continued to take lives around the world. This is not a path we want any of our children to take. Many Flags are flying in yards around the nation as a remembrance of those who lost their lives that day and in the war following. Let’s remember to pray for the families of those who gave their lives for our Freedom!

THE FIRST PRAYER IN CONGRESS

By Rev. J. Duche

“LORD, our Heavenly Father, high and Mighty King of Kings, and Lord of Lords who host from Thy throne behold all the dwellers’ on earth, and reignest with power supreme and uncontrolled over all the Kingdoms, Empires and Governments; look down in mercy we beseech Thee, on these American States, who have fled to Thee from the rod of the oppressor, and thrown themselves on Thy gracious protections, desiring hence forth to be dependent only on Thee; to Thee, they have appealed for the righteousness of their cause; to Thee do they now look up for that countenance and support which Thou alone canst give; take them therefore heavenly Father, under Thy nurturing care; give them wisdom in Council and valor in the field; defeat the malicious designs of our cruel adversaries; convince them of the unrighteousness of their cause; and if they persist in their sanguinary purpose, let the voice of Thy own unerring justice, sounding in their hearts, constrain them to drop the weapons of war from their unnerved hands in the Day of battle!

“Be Thou present, O God of wisdom, and direct the councils of this honorable assembly; enable them to settle things on the best and surest foundation, That the scene of blood may be speedly closed; that order, harmony and peace may be effectually restored, and truth and justice, religion and piety prevail and flourish among Thy people. Preserve the health of their bodies and vigor of their minds; shower down on them and the millions they here represent, such temporal blessings as Thou seest expedient for them in this world, and crown them with everlasting glory in the world to come. All this we ask in the name: and through the merits of Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Our Savior.” (Likely December, 1777)

-Morning Glory, (The Bible Friend Vol. 106, No 7) p.1

As we take a few moments to think about the path we want to take, let’s follow Charlie Grier’s demonstrated life of obedience to Almighty God. Here’s a beautiful poem He wrote:

CLIMBING THE HILL

By Charlie Grier

If you have reached the top of the hill

Where sunlight floods your life,

Remember I’m still climbing

And my soul is torn with strife.

The path seems dim – the thorns are sharp –

There’s pitfalls to evade!

My Savior said He’d walk with me

In sunlight or in shade –

But somehow, in my weakness,

I need a human friend

To cheer me, as I climb the hill

And lend a helping hand.

They say there’s valleys past the hill

And hills beyond each valley.

I do not know the dangers

That lurks in each dark alley.

I know there’s One who trod this path

Who’ll walk with me forever!

And tho some friends may fail me,

He will forsake me never!

He makes the rough road beautiful –

The hard things a delight!

I never walk in darkness

For Jesus is my light!

But still I need YOUR voice of cheer;

Together we are climbing –

We’ll help each other thru each cloud

To see the SILVER LINING.