Tag: Faithful

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The Waterview Legacy…Feb. 1st

This coming Sunday morning, Waterview church of Christ will walk with Robert Oglesby as he comes to Waterview logothe end of a fifty-two year journey. Every Sunday, Robert has stepped into the Waterview pulpit to break the bread of life to the congregation. He and his wife, Willora, have walked this Robert Oglesbypath with love, loyalty and faithfulness. An example of a Christian life that has set a legacy for the Waterview family.

 

This Sunday as we recognize Robert for his years of service, we’ll be reminded of our responsibility in our Christian walk. Just as the Israelite nation was admonished to, ‘Take this book of the law and place it beside the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, that it may remain there as a witness against you.’ (Deut. 31:26) And though a new minister has yet to step forward, we have assurance of the future of Waterview church of Christ. We will continue to teach Jesus Christ and Him crucified. He will be the focus of our lives and we will daily honor our God! We will never forget the Waterview Legacy!

“…I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also.” I Corinthians 14:15

Sunday morning, Feb. 1, 2015

You’ll notice the following songs come from the hymnal, Songs of Faith & Praise.

“I Know that My Redeemer Lives” – 528

We sing with confidence this 98 year old spiritual song. If we know that our Redeemer lives, how proud are we of that fact? Do we share His love with others or do we just keep it to ourselves. If we truly ‘know’ that He lives and gives eternal life, let us show it through our lives, through our legacy.

“It Is Well with My Soul” – 490

Before we pass the ‘collection plate’ we sing this familiar spiritual song to set our minds on His sacrifice. Notice the 2nd verse which in some of our hymnals has been edited out; “Tho Satan should buffet, though trials should come, let this blessed assurance control. That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate and hath shed His own blood for my soul.” Indeed, God’s people should say, “It is well with my soul!”

“I Gave My Life for Thee” – 354

Before the Lord’s supper we will sing a reminder of His sacrifice as we sing what Christ would say, “I gave My life for thee, My precious blood I shed, that thou might’st ransomed be, and quickened (make alive) from the dead.” We sing what Jesus might be saying to us, but don’t forget, each verse ends with a question we must all answer. What have you given, have you left all, what have you borne (endured) and what have you brought? Honestly, do you have an answer for those questions?

“Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus” – 276

A simple chorus to a beautiful song. People will look at our legacy when this life is over, what will they see? Perhaps when they look at us, they’ll be turning their eyes upon Jesus.

 

“Remind Me, Dear Lord” – 606

Everything we have is a gift from God. Do you hold this life so dear that you’re missing the big picture? Our legacy is to honor God and show others His mercy. We can do that when we remember…“Nothing good have I done to deserve God’s own Son, I’m not worthy of the scars in His hands. Yet He chose the road to Calvary to die in my stead; Why He loved me, I can’t understand. Roll back the curtain of memory now and then; show me where You brought me from and where I should have been. Remember, I’m human, and humans forget. So remind me, remind me, dear Lord.”

“Ancient Words” – no book

As Moses encouraged God’s people to remember the law, we sing about those ancient words. Are we heeding the ancient words of life? These holy words have been long preserved, let’s follow them, share them and live our lives by them.

“Jesus Calls Us” – 399Jesus calls us

Our invitation song this Sunday morning is a reminder that Jesus is calling for us to follow Him and love Him more than the world. You’ll notice the poetry of the last verse as we ask Him to “make us hear” His call. We know we’re free agents, but what a thought that we would ask for God to make us do something. But that control only comes when we “give our hearts” to His obedience. Then, we’ll serve and love Him more, ‘best,’ of all.

“Footsteps of Jesus” – 416

We just sang an invitation that says, “Jesus calls us…,” then transition to “Sweetly, Lord, have we heard Thee calling, ‘Come follow Me!’.” He calls us, but we still must determine whether or not we’ll answer. But more importantly…will we follow? Singing from our hearts we’ll close this song with the affirmation, “we will follow the steps of Jesus, where ‘er they go.”

“God Bless You, Go with God” – 752

To provide the Oglesby family time to go to our congregation-wide luncheon, we’ll sing one more spiritual song that calls for us to hold fast to our legacy. May we always hold on to the fact that, ‘Christ is the only hope for all the world.’ As we go through this world let’s continually pray that we will ‘go with God’ and follow the Waterview legacy.

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Is God’s Love Conditional?

One of Jesus’ disciples, John, wrote in 1st John, chapter 3; “See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.”

When was the last time you stopped to consider how much love God has for you? Do you take time in the hustle and bustle of your life to stop and see ‘how great a love the Father has bestowed too busy to stop(presented as a gift) upon us?’ We often consider how much love we’re given by how much love we give. And too many times in this life, that’s not much. But the scripture is clear in Romans chapter 5, verse 8; “But God demonstrates His love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us…” Why would He do that? What motivation does God have to love the sinful? And is His love conditional? Will He take His love away?

This same question is asked in a song by the McCoy Family Singers, “As If.” Many wonder how a pure, holy and divine God could possibly love a sinful, unholy mortal man. The words, as sung by the McCoy Family Singers are simple…

“There is a question now and then, that comes into my mind again…
Will Jesus someday cease to love me because I’m weak and full of sin?

I know the answer, Yes I do. I know His promises are true;
But still the question comes to taunt me, will His love fail to see me through?

As if the moon would fall down from the sky,
As if the pretty birds would cease to fly
As if the waves would stop their tossing on the sea
As if my sweet Lord would stop loving me.

As if the moon would fall down from the sky,
As if the pretty birds would cease to fly
As if the waves would stop their tossing on the sea
Oh No, my sweet Lord won’t stop loving me.”

Is God’s love for His children conditional? The answer in the Bible is “NO,” but don’t think He won’t hold His children accountable for their actions. Any parent who understands love, understands discipline. We love our children unconditionally, but we also expect our children to obey. Why should we think our heavenly Father would be any different. Will God ‘cease to love us?’ No! Will He hold us accountable for our actions? Without a doubt!

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Day By Day…

sorrowful tearsWhen your life is reeling with sorrow and pain, where do you turn for comfort? Do you have faith in God or is your faith in this world…or yourself? What do you do, where do you turn on a daily basis?

Believers know we must stay faithful to God’s Word. We know it’s paramount because straying from the truth…we have nothing. At the same time maintaining an environment of connectivity with the church family is vital as we encourage faithful workers to be more than just ‘church goers.’ But is ‘keeping busy’ and going to Bible class all there is to the strength we find in the church? Would that we focus our lives so as to bring glory to God and edification of the saints. And not just when it’s convenient, but ‘…day by day as long as it is called today.’ Hebrews 3:13

Written by Carolina Sandell Berg in 1865 (at the threshold of the Civil War), this poem was put to music shortly after the war between the states. It’s message is one of hope and assurance knowing God is our source of power, strength and protection. We have a family with God’s people. But will we find comfort, day by day, in knowing that the Lord, Himself is our Father?

  1. Day by day, and with each passing moment, strength I find, to meet my trials here;
    Trusting in my Father’s wise bestowment, I’ve no cause for worry or for fear.
    He Whose heart is kind beyond all measure gives unto each day what He deems best—
    Lovingly, its part of pain and pleasure, mingling toil with peace and rest.
  2. Every day, the Lord Himself is near me with a special mercy for each hour;
    All my cares He wants to bear, to cheer me, He Whose Name is Counselor and Pow’r.
    The protection of His child and treasure is a charge that on Himself He laid;
    “As your days, your strength shall be in measure,” this the pledge to me He made.
  3. Help me then in every tribulation so to trust Thy promises, O Lord,
    That I lose not faith’s sweet consolation offered me within Thy holy Word.
    Help me, Lord, when toil and trouble meeting, e’er to take, as from a father’s hand,
    One by one, the days, the moments fleeting, till I reach the promised land.
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Five Non-Negotiable Duties of a Father

Bruces pictorial directory pixBeing the father of three young adults and writing an article for fathers may seem a little pretentious.  But by no means do I intend to come across self-promoting.  Realizing our youngest is 15, and our older two children are college students is humbling in its own right.  But perhaps there are a few small token ideas we fathers should consider together…

Let me propose to you that there are 5 Non-Negotiable Duties that fathers have toward their families and for their children.  Whether you have one or a dozen children, if you lose sight of these five principles for raising your family, you will surely struggle to fulfill your obligation as a father.  (Singing may be absent from this list, but you will find it’s influence is ever present.)

1) A father must cultivate a sense of family identity.  Hold up the family as not only important but a place each member is valued.  I remember growing up and being told, “Remember, you’re a Bruce.”  One youth minister, before taking the kids on mission trip, would remind the students with these words, “Remember whose you are.”  As a family we found honor in our name sake, and as God’s children we cherished the identity we share in His family.  Perhaps the connection (music-wise) is found in the spiritual song written by Isaac Watts in the early 1700’s; “I’m not ashamed to own my Lord, nor to defend His cause…”  When we cultivate a strong sense of family, our children will know they are safe and unashamed of who they are.  Solomon gave a commendation in Proverbs 22:1, “A good name is to be more desired than great wealth…”  Father’s, cultivate your families identity but teach them to honor Jesus, the name above all names.

2) A father must regularly demonstrate love to his wife.  Without Mom and Dad's wedding day.docxhesitation we consider Paul’s words to the church in Ephesus (Ephesians 5:25) as he writes, “Husbands, love your wives…”  Alone, these four words are scripture and suffice, but we are left with the question, ‘HOW do I love my wife?’  The next seven words answer the question, “…just as Christ also loved the church…”  But to the un-churched the question may remain, how did Christ love the church?  Complete the verse, “…and gave Himself up for her.”  We realize this means the ultimate sacrifice.  Christ died for us!  Husbands (Fathers) is your wife, your family, important enough to you that you are willing to sacrifice yourself for them?

3) A father must give his children the freedom to fail.  Look no further than Luke 15:11-32 when Jesus tells us the story of the ‘prodigal son’.  (Go to the text and read it again for a refresher.)  The father of two boys is very affluent and provides for his family.  But when his youngest decides to ‘move out’ and make his own way in life, his father doesn’t stop him.  The young man is about to experience some difficult times and his struggles will be crippling.  Certainly his father realizes this, but is still willing to give him his ‘freedom.’  Why would a loving father allow such a foolish mistake?  Why not tell him ‘no’ and look out for his son’s best interest?  The father, in Christ’s parable, is letting his son fail so he’ll learn what’s most important.  Never assume it’s easy to let your children struggle through difficult times.  But if they are to grow and learn and appreciate the blessings of life, they often have to fail.  But it’s then that I remember the old invitation song written by Charles Gabriel, “Patient, loving, and tenderly still the Father pleads; Hear, O hear Him calling, calling now for thee…”  Fathers hurt when their children fail, but often in failure our children learn.  Our prayer is that they’ll learn and grow from their mistakes, then return home.

4) A father must guard his tongue and tone.  This can be hard for those who are ‘manly men.’  We’re rough and Your-Words-Have-Power-Use-Them-Wiselygruff and often bark out commands to the troops.  Fathers, we must be very careful to consider the example we’re setting.  You’ve heard the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.  The way you raise your children will be the way in which they learn to treat themselves and eventually raise their families.  Discipline falls into this category too.  We are commanded to discipline our children, but unbridled punishment can be detrimental.  God’s word is our guide…Proverbs 13:24 “He who withhold his rod (discipline) hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him diligently.”  Notice that when we fail to discipline (withhold the rod) we, in essence, are ‘hating’ our children.  However, if our discipline is rooted in love we’re following God’s word.  Solomon tells us again in the 16th chapter of Proverbs, verse 24…“Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.”  Often we reserve kind words for strangers and inject venom upon our family.  How about giving our family (our children) some of that ‘pleasant honeycomb.’

5) A father must build a relationship of trust with his children…built on God’s Word and not on human knowledge.  How much do you value God’s word in the presence of your children?  Do your children see you embrace the word of God and make Him your focus?  Or do we have a tendency to slide up next to the world and let culture dictate our choices?  Reading God’s word, and making God your priority is building a relationship on Him and His word.  Taking your children to the soccer game instead of worship on Sunday morning is not building a relationship on God’s Word, but on the world’s ways.

father and childrenPerhaps Solomon says it best in the first seven chapters of Proverbs as he writes the phrase, “My son…” seventeen times.  Would that we instruct our children over and over again about the glory of God and the admonition to live for Him.  “My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments; for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you.  Do not let kindness and truth leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.  So you will find favor and good repute (reputation) in the sight of God and man.  Trust in the Lord with all your heart  and do not lean on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”  Proverbs 3