This verse came into my inbox this morning after my previous post…. I thought it fit well…

I know i struggle to love others well…How well do you love others?

For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. – Romans 7:19 NIV

This roadblock of fear can bring Gods incredible plans for your life to a screeching halt. So it is very important for us to realize that this type of fear is actually a tool of the devil. What better way to thwart the plans of the Almighty then to break the tools (you and I) that He uses to accomplish His will.

We desperately need to understand why fear is opposite to the Truth we say we believe.

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. – 1John 4:18 NIV

Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the lord is kept safe. – Proverbs 29:25 NIV

Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way;
say to those with fearful hearts, “Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you.” -Isaiah 35:3-4 NIV

These truths bring to light three truths that I am finding very encouraging during these tough times and in the face of some tough choices.

1. Love is part of the new self in Christ and fears part of the old. We need to heed the teaching of Paul to toss off the old self and to put on the new which includes love not fear.

2. Fear shows a serious lack of trust in the Father God. Matthew writes that God takes care of the grass and the birds, how much more does He love you and wants to take care of you and give you good gifts.

3. Probably the most important reminder for us in tough times is that fear contradicts the promises that God has made to us, His sons and daughters, throughout scripture.

“I tell you, her sins—and they are many—have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love.”

As I read this scripture this morning, it struck me as a parent. As I work to grow kids into Godly adults, I wonder if I am doing a good enough job in this area of forgiving much.

I will be honest forgiving is not something I am strong at. But then if I am being really honest, I have struggled the last few months, dare I say years, at being the kind of Dad that my kids really need.

I have never really thought the two, forgiveness and much love, were connected though. On those days when I hold grudges against kids who don’t listen or are disrespectful, I do notice I get little love in return. But on those “shining moments” when I honest forgive them and express that to them, the response far exceeds what I would expect.

So what I am taking away seems to be that loving and forgiving does return far more love than holding grudge or hiding my feelings. Imagine that, God’s Word applying directly to a situation – duh! of course…

What are your thoughts about parenting and the extent one should forgive their kids even in the face of disrespect?

I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that men will revere him. -Ephesians 3:14, NIV

I’ve also concluded that whatever God does, that’s the way it’s going to be, always. No addition, no subtraction. God’s done it and that’s it. That’s so we’ll quit asking questions and simply worship in holy fear. -Ephesians 3:14, The Message

Above are three versions of the same verse and in all three a phrase stands out (italics) to me as good reminders about our God…

EVERYTHING GOD DOES WILL ENDURE FOREVER

God is God and nothing He does will fade away! There is nothing anyone or anything else can do to cause what God does to be destroyed, taken, or removed without His permission. Isn’t that an awesome and comforting thought?

God is love and “His love endures forever” That’s just one example of the things God does that will NEVER go away! (“Praise the LORD. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.” Psalm 107:1)

NOTHING CAN BE ADDED TO IT AND NOTHING TAKEN FROM IT

No matter what you want and no matter what you think, you can’t change what God does. His Word is unchanging and stable through all time! It’s a cornerstone that we can trust to lead us in the directions we go in our lives. Lean on God and don’t try to create your own path. Be on the same page with God and things will go a lot smoother…

O Sovereign LORD, you are God! Your words are trustworthy, and you have promised these good things to your servant. -2 Samuel 7:28, NIV

GOD’S DONE IT AND THAT’S IT.  THAT’S SO WE’LL QUIT ASKING QUESTIONS AND SIMPLY WORSHIP IN HOLY FEAR

And when it comes down to it, Just worship God. Don’t freak out! Don’t worry yourself to death! Don’t do the things that your “old self” drifts toward. In the good, the bad and the ugly, “simply worship in holy fear.” It’s really not much harder than that. Just trust God and praise Him for the fact “that in all things God works for the good of those who love him” (Rom 8:28, NIV)