“Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household.” Ephesians 2:19
Today is my Father’s Birthday! If he hadn’t died, he’d be a nonagenarian at 94…and my day would look TOTALLY different than it does. I would be making plans to meet him for a little get together, a gift and birthday cake. But he’s in Heaven now..so THAT won’t happen. No birthday song and no blowing out candles for HIM. Which is actually just PERFECT!
My dad’s name was Kenneth, from which I get mine. Life wasn’t looking very good for him from the beginning. Dad had dropped out of high school to join the Navy. I guess when Hitler heard about his enlistment, he gave up! So dad celebratorily worked on becoming a drunk. After marrying my mom, THAT career goal had to stop. With time and discouragement, he Bounced from job to job. Until God happened!
He was working on the railroad (all the live long day) as a brakeman, coupling railroad cars together. One day his foot slipped and was caught between the couplers, crushing his foot. En route to the hospital he was told he would lose his foot! That statement haunted him in more ways than one!
It wasn’t a miracle…but it was! He DIDN’T lose his foot, but went through several tough operations which left him questioning, “WHY didn’t I lose it?” He knew ABOUT God…but didn’t KNOW God. That question bothered him, as he walked in front of a little black attended church in Pittsburgh. He heard singing, was drawn inside and then SAVED! Not long after, having never even given a speech before, Jesus called him into the ministry! I was 5!
My dad was tender and quiet, but tough. He wasn’t creative in the discipline department and had a long fuse. But when he went off, it was with a BANG! Being busy trying to figure out the whole Jesus AND ministry thing out at the same time, he bounced a lot of ideas and lessons off of ME…his practice dummy! He made me learn HOW to read Scripture, pray, preach and teach in the church from a young age. His expectations were HIGH! When he and God let me know I would be following in his footsteps, I rejected the idea with prejudice! I had SEEN what ministry was like first hand.
Today my dad would be 94 and I WISH we could have a party! My gift would be to bring Katie, the kids and grand-kids so he could see them all. He would be SOOOO proud! Because each and every one of us are burning candles for Jesus Christ, lighted by Dad’s life and legacy. We are Children of Most High God and WILLINGLY SERVE Him like my dad taught ME to serve. It is MY commitment that OUR candles NEVER go out! Cuz there IS a Party coming! And he’ll be there… WITH Jesus!
How bright is YOUR legacy and what are YOU doing about it?
