And He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and He continued in subjection to them; and His mother treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.
(Luke 2:51-52)

It doesn’t seem right for God to “fast forward” through the mundane. I’m sure Jesus experienced everything from diapers to the awkwardness of puberty. He embraced the natural order of things. All for our sake He became human. Experiencing the things we do so He could be an effective model that we could identify with and emulate. FJ13

As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust. Psalm 103:13-14

Some of the most moving photos of American GIs in action are those of soldiers taking care of children. In a past issue, the cover of the “Army Times” exhibited one of our finest carrying a wounded child to aid of the medics. The muscular warrior with camouflage and body armor is a stark contrast to the small defenseless kid in a hostile environment. The photo speaks volumes of the protector and defender. Power coupled with compassion is perhaps one of the most striking characteristics of the American soldiers. Could it be that we are only following the example set by our Maker? In this war torn world there are also spiritual casualties and the Almighty scoops them up in His loving arms and rescues them. He knows our frailties and weakness. He is our protector and defender. The Great Almighty and Compassionate Warrior comes to our aid in our time of need. SP298

Finding her “lost” son, Jesus’ mom asks, “why have you treated us this way?” He replies, “Did you not know I had to be in my Father’s house.” Answer: the Father has priority in my relationships. Jesus would teach about these competing loyalties later in His ministry. He would explain how relationships, material goods, or pride may become an obstacle to following Him completely. Each disciple must make a choice because ultimately they could not serve two masters. Jesus demonstrated as a 12 year old boy that His supreme loyalty belonged to the Father. FJ12c

http://docs.google.com/EmbedSlideshow?docid=ddzgs57z_91c4wxtzd6

“Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, O Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all.” 1 Chronicles 29:11, 12

I’ve witnessed some pretty awesome things in my life; skies filled with parachutes over Panama, sunsets in Kuwait, an M1 tanks firing the main gun, early morning flights over the North Georgia mountains, a demo charge sending debris 100’s of feet in the sky, and the beaches of the Solomon Islands. But there is nothing more awesome than our God. I have seen miracles of healing and reconciliation. I have seen His crushing judgment on those who would practice evil. I have seen Him rise up the down trodden from the ashes. Our God is awesome God, He reigns from heaven above! Worship Him for He is worthy. SP297

You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4:22-24

One of the toughest transitions I’ve ever had to make was going from enlistedman to Non-Commissioned Officer. I went from follower to leader, from carefree to the burden of responsibility, from one looking up to one being looked up to. It was a challenging transformation. It meant a different relationship with my peers and my leaders. I could no longer do some of the things I could as a private. I now had to set the example. I took on greater responsibility for technical and tactical knowledge. I had to shed the old enlisted ways and take on the new NCO ways. In like manner we do the same as we go from an unregenerate person of the world to a child of God. We have new values, responsibilities, and even new authority. Live up to those stripes. SP296

The righteous perish, and no one ponders it in his heart; devout men are taken away, and no one understands that the righteous are taken away to be spared from evil. Those who walk uprightly enter into peace; they find rest as they lie in death. Isaiah 57:1-2

The bad news carried on the airwaves. A plane carrying soldiers from the 101st had crashed in Gander. Initially, we had no report of who was on the aircraft. But three of the Company Commanders in the Battalion were very close friends of mine and the odds were high at least one of them was on that plane. In time, I discovered Brian had perished in the crash. Brian was an energetic young West Pointer with loads of potential. He was a man of God who had committed his life to the mission field while deployed to the Sinai. Why would God take such a talented young disciple in the infancy of his service? The answer may never be clear, but my wife found the verse above in her quiet time and it was great comfort to me. Perhaps God was bringing him home early to protect him from some evil. Even in our deepest grief we can be certain that God is in control and has a plan. SP295

Then, after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions.
(Luke 2:46)

The two most important skills of a disciple, listening and asking questions. At 12 years old Jesus was listening and asking questions in the temple. As He did so intently as a child, He would expect the same of His disciples later (Mk 4.3,9-10). Carefully listening is the first step of faith in Jesus. Not allowing all our presuppositions to plug our ears but straining to take in all that He says. The next is having the spiritual hunger and thirst to ask questions. To be inquisitive, investigate, to be humble enough to say to God and others, “I don’t understand.” God loves a seeker. (1 Chron 28.9) Listen and ask questions. FJ12b

They came to Capernaum; and when He was in the house, He began to question them, “What were you discussing on the way?” But they kept silent, for on the way they had discussed with one another which of them was the greatest. Sitting down, He called the twelve and *said to them, “If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.” Taking a child, He set him before them, and taking him in His arms, He said to them, “Whoever receives one child like this in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me does not receive Me, but Him who sent Me.” John said to Him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we tried to prevent him because he was not following us.” But Jesus said, “Do not hinder him, for there is no one who will perform a miracle in My name, and be able soon afterward to speak evil of Me. “For he who is not against us is for us. “For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because of your name as followers of Christ, truly I say to you, he will not lose his reward.
(Mark 9:33-41)

If we are in the business of training young leaders there will be mistakes. How do we treat young men who make mistakes in their zeal for Jesus? Here’s how Jesus did it.

“But there is such a thing also as honest scrupulosity, and it is more common than many imagine. There is a certain tendency to intolerant exaction, and to severity in judging, in the unripe stage of every earnest life. For the conscience of a young disciple is like a fire of green logs, which smokes first before it burns with a clear blaze. And a Christian whose conscience is in this state must be treated as we treat a dull fire: he must be borne with, that is, till his conscience clear itself of bitter, cloudy smoke, and become a pure, genial, warm flame of zeal tempered by charity.” A. B. Bruce “The Training of the Twelve”

Who has saved us and called us to a holy life–not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. 2 Timothy 1:9

I received an Army Commendation Medal for my service in Korea but I’m not sure why. First, I never wanted to go to Korea and after a year deferment, thinking the Army had forgotten, I was finally sent to the “Land of the Morning Calm.” Once I got to Korea, I didn’t quit sniveling about being there until I was on the plane coming home. The only reason I was in the ROK was because my Army and Country wanted me there and I decided it would be best to follow orders. It was my duty. And there I was getting an award for something I didn’t want to do in the first place. Sometimes serving God is a lot like that. We are blessed simply by being a part of His purpose. There are times we may go kicking and screaming. Sometimes we don’t even do the best job we could. And yet because it’s His purpose we end up reaping the benefits. We’d probably live a lot longer if we’d just relax and go with the flow, God’s flow that is. SP294