Turning Water into Wine

TRUE PURPOSE

   

The awareness for a purpose creates simplicity in our complex existence. Yet, some individuals never realize their purpose and allow the complexity of life to overshadowed the true reason for living. So I encourage you to ponder about your purpose for a few moments. Do you know your purpose? Are you somewhat hesitant about your purpose? If so, I encourage you to think about the Apostle Peter who definitely demonstrated similar hesitation when he heard that the Savior had risen from the dead. Do you remember his actions - displaying bewilderment when the women delivered the message of the empty tomb and running to the grave to find an empty tomb? He eventually escaped to his safe haven of fishing, his passion. Yet, from this passion, his purpose evolved, allowing him to realize the simplicity of following with a meaningful life. 
       As you study the Scriptures, with a focus on Peter after the resurrection, you will notice a baffled young man who returns to his comfort zone for answers. Yet, the Savior met Peter in his comfort zone to refocus him about his purpose. The setting occurs on the shore of Galilee where Peter, John, and other disciples fished all night without any success. Afterward, the Savoir appeared on the shore and provided specific direction leading to a huge catch. When the group came ashore, the Savior had a healthy meal waiting. After the meal, the Savior and Peter had this dialogue.
          
So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jona, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.  John 21:15 KJVA

       I believe the repeated question by the Savior defines Peter’s purpose. Remember the group had just caught a large quantity of fish numbering 153 fish and after eating the prepared meal, the Savior asked Peter, “Do you love me more than these?”  Many times one will question your love to reciprocate the same love. In other words, the person wants to hear a similar affirmation of love from the recipient. Nevertheless, this question suggests an unnoticeable love known as comparative love. Comparative love determines a relative effectiveness to unfold a purpose, because this love compares to something tangible. The comparison includes the love for Christ likening to the love for possessions. Since the Savior asked Peter this question three consecutive times without variation, the emphasis of the question resonates on the comparison “more than these.” In other words, the phrase “do you love me more than these” means, will your passion for fishing ever interfere with my purpose. Remember, fishing for Peter was an intricate part of living because it produced an income and enabled him to sustain his life style. So, Jesus never took the fishing duty from him, but created opportunities with fishing by multiplying his catch. I tend to believe that Peter continued this profitable skill to enhance his ministry instead of forsaken such a skill just to focus on ministering. Likewise, even the Apostle Paul maintained his trade of tent building while ministering.
       Therefore, purpose synchronizes with passion. So one must use passion to grasp his purpose. Passion and purpose work simultaneously to enable stability when uncertainty ventures in your path. Instead of forsaking your passion when you are unsure about something, learn to incorporate your passion as a benefactor to bridge opportunities. Notice that the Savior encouraged Peter’s passion by multiplying the catch, then he replied “feed my lambs” of which he stated three times.  The Savior’s dialogue with Peter includes two actions -- love and feed. Love demonstrates your inward passion for something; whereas, feed expresses an outward purpose to benefit someone else. For growth to occur, one must tap into your passion, like fishing, in order to feed someone as a purpose. Notice the parallel in how the Savior utilizes the catch of 153 fish when he states “do you love me more than these.” If you affirmed your reply with I love you more, then you must demonstrate such love by feeding my people as a purpose for love. Without a thorough understanding of your passion, you will fail to develop your purpose and fail to aid others as well. Then you will only aid self by continuing to use your passion as you feed your selfish never-filling appetite.
         Finally, as a believer you must grasp how to incorporate your passion to render a purpose. So if you are waiting for your purpose to do this or do that, and lack clarity about your passion, then ask yourself, “Do you love me more than these…then feed my lambs.”

The Essence of Life

Human life can become complex with its obligations both written and unwritten. Yet, I believe the Creator’s original design intended a simple way of life centering on your ability to worship from HIS chosen purpose. One can easily discern the original purpose in Scriptures before the fall of man. “And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the Garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.” (Genesis 2:15 KJV) From this verse, notice the simplicity of God’s original design. 

          The Master Designer, God created the ultimate garden with an array of flowers, bushes, and trees, which produced all kind of fruits both edible and nonedible. Just imagine in one location, you could see all types of fruit, vegetables, and nuts. For instance, this paradise had plenty of fruit-bearing trees like oranges, bananas, apple, figs, and tangerine. Also, it contained nuts-producing trees of all kinds like pecans, almonds, walnuts, as wells as edible vegetables – carrots, tomatoes, spinach, collards, etc.  Here, the Master Designer created man in HIS image and placed him, an intelligent being like HIM for the sole reason to cultivate and nurture this paradise.  Therefore, the Garden of Eden provided the ultimate worship center as man performed his only specified task of maintaining and cultivating these plants and trees for producing fruit. In this garden, man found harmony with meaning as he performed this specified purpose “to dress and to keep it.”

          Today, we perish in this complexity of life when we move from our simple purpose to our ego driven-passions.  Similarly, the tempter (Lucifer) turns us away from God by feeding our ego of selfishness.  When you observe the scenario with humankind and the serpent (Lucifer) via the conversation with Eve. You will notice the shifting from simple to complexity purposed by Lucifer. “The serpent said to the woman, ‘Surely you will not die, for God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will open and you will be like divine beings who know good and evil.’” (Genesis 3: 4-5) Planting such a thought in ones’ minds quickly moves you away from cultivating HIS purpose to desiring your own garden. Likewise, the tempter used this same technique with the Savior. In Matthew 4:3, “The tempter came and said to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become bread.’” If you analyze the tempter’s routine, you will notice a similar pattern with each person he entices. The tempter reminds you of self-fulfilling outcome, which entices you toward selfish desires instead of God’s will. In other words, the tempter wants you to move from dependence on God to independence from God. While Adam cultivated the Garden of Eden, the tempter used the terms “you will be like divine beings” in other words you will have no need for God for you will become God. Likewise, the tempter used the same tantalizing words with Jesus, “If you are the Son of God.” How often do we feel unfulfilled from lack of purpose or we feel our job seems meaningless because we have yet to prove ourselves or to establish who we are among others. Again, the tempter uses ego driven-passions to move us from God’s dependence to our independence while thinking we can control the outcome if we do this or that.

        Recognition of our dependence on God becomes the key that will open the simplicity of harmony and peace that awaits us. We must realize our true purpose of being ourselves and fulfilling that simple task of cultivating the work where God puts us right now, instead of where we want to go. Whether you are a student, employee, or retiree, you must execute this simple purpose to dress and keep the fruit of your life pleasing before God so ultimately you will remain as God intended – sons of God.

Example for Children

This truism extends blessings...

This truism extends blessings from generation to generation by creating an eternal marking upon one’s offspring. Take a look at your past photos of your parents and even your parents' parents. Can you identify similar features that you share with each of them? If one recognizes physical resemblance, what about the intangible similarities to include characteristics and traits that you share? Because of such a profound connection with self to one’s family, the Savior proposed a unique question to his disciples when questioned about who is the greatest in the kingdom. He placed a child in midst of them followed by this statement: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.” (Matthew 18:1-5) Although, this lesson explains humility, the Savior points the disciples to their younger selves when they too were children of innocence. So notice that this truism reminds us that a blessed child results from a righteous parent who never forgets his child-like spirits.  The need for greatness and outward distinction becomes less in the child’s mind than the adult way of thinking. A child incurs the dependence on his parent less than an older self. So a child develops into adult-like traits By imitating his parent. Consequently,  the humbleness of mind as demonstrated in selflessness returns when one has a child-like spirit. As one resonates his child-like spirit, it will lead to righteousness, resulting with blessed offspring.

If one subscribes to old idiom, “the apple does not fall far from the tree” meaning that children are like their parents. I can definitely agree with this idiom; simply because I see my father’s ways and behavior as I interact daily with people. So as one avoids the pitfall of self-centeredness and gravitate toward a humility mindset, your child will tap into positive experiences instead of negative experiences as life unfolds. In other words, a person gravitate toward his parent’s action under life stresses from a learned behavior instead reacting in one’s best interest under such challenges. For instance, if one seeks aspiration to have a blessed child, then one must demonstrate how to bless others through humility to implant such behavior in his child. Remember, the writing of Apostle Paul to the Philippians, as he explained humility in describing the role of the Savior: "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." (Philippians 2:5-9) As Jesus imitated his Father through humility, likewise; the recipient of a blessed child emanates self-effacing for his child to replica.

Remember that a heavenly mindset allows you to impart the same selfless life style to your child. So the formula for a blessed child evolves around you living the same child-like life in front of your child. Equally, the child will repeat the same imparting to his child, reflecting a child-like spirit comparable to the truism – “The righteous lead blameless lives; blessed are their children after them." (Proverbs 20:7 NIV)

Lessons Learned from my Father-n-Law

I grasped a new revelation regarding the role of a father as Rev. Rufus Grant (pastor of New Beginnings Missionary Baptist) explained the difference of a hireling and a shepherd during Sunday service. Although, I have heard similar sermons about the “Good Shepherd” but today his message unfolded a new revelation from an unlikely Scripture. “Let the Lord, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation, which may go out before them, and which may go in before them, and which may lead them out, and which may bring them in; that the congregation of the Lord be not as sheep which have no shepherd.” (Numbers 27:16-17). This verse provides the necessity of a shepherd for the congregation likewise each family needs a shepherd to aid with the growth of the family. During his sermon, I thought about the role of a father like the Good Shepherd for a congregation. For instance, Rev. Grant listed five points in his comparison of a hireling:

     1. The hireling is a hired person who works for money. Hired individual only considers the gain that he receives during the course of his serving. 

     2. The hireling as a hired person lacks the value of working because his heart centers on the profitable gain of monetary value.

     3. The hireling runs away when the work faces opposition.

     4. The hireling lacks faithfulness if such service become unprofitable.

     5. The hireling seeks only self-gratification.  

Unlike a hireling, God places a father in charge of the family. Likewise, a father must value his role wholeheartedly. He must demonstrate an unwillingness to relinquish his family responsibilities despite oppositions. In John 10:12 (NIV), “the hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it.” This Scripture reveals that a hireling runs away from the sheep when the wolf comes comparably a father faces the wolf unwavering while protecting his family with an attitude that he will lay down his life for them. As demonstrated in John 10:15… “I lay down my life for the sheep.” Since, the wolf symbolizes any issue that bring hard times, the father serves as the resilience for the family while each family member explores the various opportunities of life.  

Unselfish love drives the will of the shepherd unlike money for the hireling. The monetary profit for a shepherd generates an irrelevant commodity since a shepherd’s perception coincides with a heavenly outcome. Likewise, the father views his family through the eyes of love while making decisions from the heart instead of a selfish mindset. 

Ultimately, the father through love becomes the center of gravity that sustains a family for each member to live life fully and abundantly. So I encourage fathers to awake to this new revelation and fulfill your shepherd's roles in the family. 

Reasons for Groaning

For verily in this we groan, longing to be clothed upon with our habitation which is from heaven:
2 Corinthians 5:2

What if no person ever dies? If persons live forever on this earth, will we have a need to grow spiritually? We noticed that in the New Testament that we groan for a heavenly presence while on earth echoing a need to exist beyond this earthly realm.

Groaning can easy communicate a painful effort of moving from one state to another state. Such occurred to me after a knee surgery when I accidentally rupture my patella tendon playing basketball. During rehabilitation which immediately occurred the next day after surgery, I literally cried from the excruciating pain as I tried bending my knee. I wanted to rest but the bending of the knee to a certain degree became paramount to prevent freezing. Therefore, my groaning resulted in exercising the knee at the prescribed level that eventually enabled me walk again.

Equally, life situation causes us to groan and to escape such groaning ones must recognize the need for growth. The groaning provides a glimpse of being clothed in your heavenly body while living on earth. Therefore, life situation that causes us to cry on earth brings us closer to the growth needed for heavenly preparation. So instead of criticizing your situation just embrace these earthly circumstances with groaning while realizing that each groan enables growth needed for heavenly profits. As noted in Romans 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

What is the age of accountability?

His parents answered and said, we know that this is our son, and that he was born blind: but how he now seeth, we know not; or who opened his eyes, we know not: ask him; he is of age; he shall speak for himself.                                                                                                        

St. John 9:20-21

How many times as parents, we linger with our parenting responsibilities for an extended time?  When can a parent stop acting as parents?  My mother-n-law (Granny) quotes, “children cling to your knees when they are young but when they get old they weigh on your heart.”  Conversely, in Saint John chapter 9, you see a different parental attitude for the parents of the blind man that Jesus healed. When questioned by the religious authorities, they quickly suggested that their son was of age meaning that he is accountable so he can defend for himself. 

Jewish tradition suggests that a child after the age of 13 becomes accountable for his or her actions. However, many states put the age of majority at 18 or 19 which allows a person to enter into a contract or even vote and run for a political position. Although when declaring independence for federal financial aid purposes, the applicant must reach the age of 24 unless he or she meets other exceptions like being married or having legal dependents.  Yet, Scriptures incline another age of accountability that we often tend to overlook. When the Israelites entered the Promised Land after wondering in the desert, the ones who entered were 20 years or younger when they first left Egypt. The primary reasons for their wondering of 40 years involve unfaithfulness by adults making ill-decisions. So the 40 years of wondering was the consequences when these adults failed to display faith. “So tell them, As surely as I live, declares the Lord, I will do to you the very thing I heard you say:  In this wilderness your bodies will fall—every one of you twenty years old or more who was counted in the census and who has grumbled against me.” (Numbers 14:28-29) Thus, this passage recognizes age 20 for accountability.   

These age disparities easily create a vague picture of pinpointing the exact age of accountable. As parents, we must analyze our perception about our children despite their poor choices and allow them to learn from mistakes to better their selection for future opportunities. In other words, allow growth to occur from poor choices instead of rescuing them from consequences.  At the age of 12, I delivered a weekly advertisement flyers for the local grocery store in the neighborhood for an earnings of $1.00 every Wednesday. Until I decided to ditch the papers in a nearby gully because it was too cold to ride my bicycle on that day. When my father heard of multiple grocery sale papers flooding the gully, my rationale for this decision was pointless. I suffered severe consequences from my father which lead to an apology to the store owner. Afterward, the store owner rehired me, and I recommenced delivering those colorful sale papers. Now, I am earning only $0.50 per week. Recanting this story as an adult, my father decided to include some missing gaps.  My father met with the store owner prior to our visit and explained that he wanted to teach me the value of work. So dad negotiated with the owner that he will pay the owner $1.00/week if the owner will allow me to deliver the flyers again.  My father actions uncovered a valuable parenting lesson for us reflecting as accountable parents who increase opportunities for their children will make them responsible.     

Defending children poor choices can easily prey upon self-consciousness of failing at parental duties. When children face consequences they become responsible for their actions. As parents, we must never overcompensate for failure with irrelevant justification and excuses to avoid consequences. Embrace choices that teach responsibilities; knowing, that responsibilities lead to better selection of choices in the future.  When our youth become responsible, then each parent can easily say, “he is of age; he shall speak for himself” creating accountable adults who value their choices.