Dirty Hands...

A Deep Cleaning!

Psalm 51:7 Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)

7 Remove my sin and make me pure.[a] Wash me until I am whiter than snow!

Proverbs 20:9 New International Version (NIV)

9 Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure; I am clean and without sin”?

My son loves to wash his hands. I don’t know if it is the joy of splashing water all over the place, the sticky-gooey feeling of the soap against his hands, or the thought that his once dirty hands are clean that matters most. The interesting thing is that when I put the drop of soap into the palm of his hand, he quickly smashes it into the palm of his other hand and just rubs them together.  He never washes the back of his hands or in between his fingers.

Here is where daddy steps in. I always add some soap to my hands then lather both of our hands together. Although my son does a decent job by himself, dad’s hands are a bit bigger and little more thorough. Together we achieve a deeper clean.

That’s how I see the Father in heaven working with us. In Proverbs 20:9, Solomon says that none of us in this life can take credit for making and maintaining our cleanliness. It is the grace of God that has allowed us to become clean. The Son of God took our dirtiest of deeds and washed us in His blood.

When King David lamented in his transgression, He begged God to cleanse Him. He knew that a renewed state of mind could only be accomplished through God. He didn’t want a quick wash off – David wanted a deep cleaning.

My challenge to you this week is to consider your cleaning techniques. Although your work is good – in order to get the crevices that hold the dirt you can’t or won’t remove – you need a bigger and more thorough set of hands. The kind of hands that flung the moon and the stars into the sky, the hands that healed and multiplied, the hands that held a sinless man to a cross, and the hands that snatched the keys to hell and death.

You can truly be clean if you let your Daddy help…

A Despised Hero...

A Despised Hero...

Luke 10:33 (NLT)

“Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him."

Today, I read about Bryant Collins, an unexpected hero. Mr. Collins was traveling down the highway when he noticed a small figure in the distance. As he got closer, he realized that it was a 15-month old infant. The little girl had crawled 300 yards from her home, through a heavily wooded area, fell down an embankment, and was about to cross a busy highway. He swiftly stopped his vehicle, jumped out, and ran to her rescue. The article continued to say that the little girl had a few scrapes and was crying. Mr. Collins grabbed her, held her close, and soothed her with gospel music from his phone. I am confident that the blend of her arduous journey mixed with fear created an overwhelming rush of emotion. Mr. Collins stayed with the little girl over two hours just to be certain she was ok. 

Great story, the clincher is that Mr. Collins once traveled far from home and needed saving. Five years prior, Mr. Collins finished serving TEN years in a federal institution for manufacturing cocaine. It was in prison that his life changed forever.

Here are my thoughts. When we consider the story of the good Samaritan, we often recognize his benevolence and rarely mention his identity or past. Samaritans were not "neighbors" to the Jews and subsequently there was no love being passed between them. However, at the sight of someone in need, the Samaritan rejected his unfavorable identity to reach out and help. He not only stopped but stayed to take care of someone who possibly reminded him of himself. The parable doesn't give the circumstances of the Samaritan before he met the man. But, I believe that something in him was ignited when he saw someone being despised just as he was titled. 

Mr. Collins' past is not only a reminder that everyone needs help but also that anyone can help.

I challenge you to consider those in need. Remember the time you were helpless and someone came to your rescue. You didn't ask them about their past before they helped you. All you did was accept the help. All of us are qualified to help - will you reach out and return the favor someone once extended to you? 

http://www.wwltv.com/news/Georgia-man-saves-child-crawling-near-highway-263486401.html

Dad Time!

As children grow up they become constant entertainment for their parents and their parent’s friends. Whenever the child learns some cool talent, the parent will ask the child incessantly to repeat the action for their amusement. And, if the action is really cool, the parent will encourage the child to perform it for their friends, the neighbors, or really just anyone that will be an audience.

My son has a lot of “cool” talents. Besides his ability to loudly belt the alphabet in quiet locations, sneak with catlike stealth regularly into my room at 3AM, and use the restroom standing up – He has one talent that I completely love.  Let me explain…

A few weeks ago I walked into my son’s daycare and was immediately approached by his teacher. She said, we are learning how to say our names and although your son is always full of energy, he tends to cower when asked to say his name. So, as any overly proud parent would, I took him home and we practiced. I even took time to explain what it meant to carry and pronounce our name.

Now, he says his name with extreme pride. In fact, even if you call him a nickname, he will correct you and say, “that’s not my name, my name is William Cumby!” When you ask him his parent’s names he says, “Daddy Cumby and Mommy Cumby”.  He wears his last name like a first place medal. Frequently, I ask my son to pronounce his name so that not only he knows who he is but also if he is ever questioned, he is confident enough to boldly proclaim it.

As a father, it is my responsibility to teach my son about his identity. I have to remind him about the power of his name, his bloodline, and his ability to lead with authority.

Just the same our Father in heaven takes time to remind us of our blood line and the pride we must possess from being made in His image.

Recently I read a book by my favorite author, Max Lucado. Appropriately available for Father’s day, Dad Time is a dynamic compilation of great quotes, stories, and anecdotes.

There isn’t a better gift for any Max Lucado fan or father who could use a divine pat on the back.

In one of my favorite stories from the book Max says, “I once asked my dad what I should do as an adult. He was a mechanic. His dad was a mechanic. Three of his brothers worked on engines. You might expect him to urge me to do the same. But he’d seen me change the oil. He knew better. So he said, “Do what you love to do.” Such words set a child free.”

A father loves and leads their child as his Father in Heaven has lovingly lead him.

What is your favorite story about your dad or about being dad? Respond below and I will randomly choose someone to receive a copy of Max Lucado’s new book Dad Time.