As I sit here at 5 am in the morning, (a mere 5 minutes after waking up), I’m overwhelmed at God’s mercy and grace that He even cares about what we would call the small things.
I’m reflecting on celebrating my sons 15th birthday with him and his sister last night.
The Lord is so kind (I’m borrowing this phrase from someone, more on that in a minute).
Our family is fractured since the divorce. (Not impossible to be restored or healed.) But I can still see His mercy and His goodness amongst the fractures and the fragments. (Morning by morning new mercies I see)
As a brother in Christ and his wife and family are grieving the loss of their daughter, I’m celebrating the next milestone in my children’s life, I cannot help but mourn with those who mourn, and still pause and still thank the Lord above that I can do these things with my children. No parent wants to be going through what they are going through and I cannot help but continue to pray for them and hopefully I learn from them the legacy of their daughter and the steadfastness of their spirits in making sure He gets the glory in it all.
See more here: https://michaelcoughlin.net/bailey4/?fbclid=IwAR0YeF2fmPioLUVFWfXJMkx2gY9mb4xgYzk6FEaXjILO-mB6WxxyVY
My children at this hour have not made confessions of faith in Christ. Every day I ask the Lord about this, and somehow some way although it may seem like they “don’t get it”- whether it’s changing churches, or going to a new one, I can still say with confidence, the Word has been planted. By me, by faithful teachers, by faithful ministers of the Word. It’s there. For that I am grateful. Amongst all of the distractions, the sins of me their father, their mother, they can call to memory what they have received. Especially my son Lucas.
As his birthday card says he can be a pain to me at times, I still love him. His wit is a true wit, that only a Fritz can possess. The sarcasm, the grit, that Fritz men have, is in him. My prayer is that that part of him is subdued and controlled, and a heart of flesh and compassion blossoms to serve Christ.
So as I have taken 30 minutes to write this down this morning I reflect on Gods kindness to me as a father. In recent days, God has opened up doors. God has answered years long prayers of mine concerning my family. Things I thought would never happen, have taken place. And somethings that have disappointed me, still occur. In all of it, I can say what the hymn writer poignantly said:
“ I serve a risen Savior He’s in the world today ; I know that He is living whatever men may say. I see His hand of mercy I hear His voice of cheer, in just the time I need Him He’s always near.”
“In all the world around me I see His loving care And though my heart grows weary I never will despair I know that He is leading, thro' all the stormy blast The day of His appearing will come at last!”
“Rejoice, rejoice, O Christian! Lift up your voice and sing Eternal hallelujahs to Jesus Christ, the King!
The Hope of all who seek Him, the Help of all who find. None other is so loving, so good and KIND.”
He lives! He lives! Christ Jesus lives today!
He walks with me and talks with me
Along life's narrow way
He lives! He lives! Salvation to impart!
You ask me how I know He lives?
He lives within my heart!
As so reflect on this, I appreciate salvation all the more as this relationship between God and myself deepens on this side of heaven. He walks with me and talks with me along life’s narrow way. That’s the road I’m in as well as you are, (if you are indeed in Christ)
Today friend as you read this, consider what eternity will be like. In the sunrise as I type this. Consider it. Contemplate it. Have you trusted in Jesus as your Savior? Have you thrown to the side your own righteousness? (God calls them filthy rags before salvation) Have you repented of your sin by turning away from your sin, forsaking it and hating it?
Have you thrown yourself at the mercy of Jesus? Have you truly considered what He accomplished at the Cross? An appeasement to God’s wrath poured out on Him? Wrath that you deserve for your sin? Contemplate it. Jesus lived a life on this earth as a Man of Sorrows, acquainted with grief. He bore our sin in His body on a tree. He defeated death. He conquered the grave. He arose from death and has taken what looked liked the worst day of humanity and tor the bars away, and rose by appearing to the women, and disciples that very day, 2000 years ago. And for forty days after He appeared to 500+ people. The story still continues, as true Christians are still being born again, born from above. My friend, is that you today? Do you realize there is forgiveness of all your sin available to you? Eternity is available. Jesus said come unto Me and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28-30). Run to Him. He is near. He is alive. Celebrate His kindness.
God bless you,
Josh Fritz