#TheFathersWord - Remember Why you Started

'Remember why you Started'

'If you remember why you have started, then you will get to the end of your journey'

There are people who have started, but didn't finish. There are people who started but forgot where they were going and there are people who simply don't start.

On the other hand there a group of people who start and they finish, they finish what they start. These people know where they are going and so they don't give up, they know the great prize at the end so they will carry on and get to the end in whatever means possible.

Let's look at athletes, formula one drivers, all these famous sportsmen etc. Whenever they start a race or they start a football match or even a new season, they know that the prize or the trophy will come at the end, when the chequered flag is waved, when the team lifts the trophy or when the athlete receives his medal. All this was because they started at the beginning, they started and they got going.

The reason why they won and never gave is because they remembered why they had started

Now, lets look to scripture so we can set the foundation and have a starting point.

2 Timothy 4 v 7 – 8

'I have fought a good fight of faith, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day, and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing'

Before Paul came to the end of his life or his time on earth, we learn that he was persecuted, he was thrown in prison, he was abandoned by people (John Mark) who came with him on his journey. Now, you could have agreed with Paul if he had given up when no one was around him, he could have quit his journey and went back home but he didn't do that. He knew what was at stake, he knew what he could enjoy if he just finished his journey. After all he had gone through, after all was said and done, there he was on his bed at the end of his course, ready to receive the crown of righteousness which had been prepared for him.

'I have finished my course, I kept the faith' – This might mean different things for you all but for everyone what connects them is this – You are all on a journey, no matter where it is, but you are on a journey. Maybe you've lost the first game or you lost the first race or you are stuck on the bench waiting to be called up into the first team squad, in this instance you can never lose your faith. There's people who have started a journey but then the road gets longer, they get stuck in traffic jams and their faith starts to diminish but remember why you started, remember why you started to make the journey and you will get to the end.

At the end of that passage, Paul said that not only is the same crown of righteousness available to him, it is available to everyone, it is available to me and you, all we need to do is to fight the good fight of faith. That could mean making several journeys, that could mean sacrificing your time to get something right, it could mean waiting for the light to turn from red to green, it could even mean waiting to be called into the room, whatever it is remember why you started and keep the good fight of faith.

'If you remember why you have started, then you will get to the end of your journey'

It could be writing a book, starting a business or just simply reconnecting to God but whatever it is, remember why you started

Today, I want you to remember why you started – Why did you start? What is it that you have started? What was behind your decision to start?

Don't stop. Maybe you've got out of the car or got off the bike because you thought you couldn't finish but remember why you started and get back on that road and start again.......

'Remember why you started'

#TheFathersWord - It's not too Late

#TheFathersWord

Ever had the feeling that you couldn't attend an event or you couldn't start something because there was no time. It's stressful when you feel like you are running out of time but hey, there is time. Today, the word from above is this – It's not too late

It's not too late. The Context of the message comes from Genesis 18 v 10 – 15

The Lord said, “I will be sure to return to you at this time next year. And your wife Sarah will have a son.” Sarah was listening at the tent door behind him. Now Abraham and Sarah were old. They had lived many years. The way of women had stopped for Sarah. So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “Will I have this joy after my husband and I have grown old?” Then the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘How can I give birth to a child when I am so old?’

Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return to you at this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.”

But Sarah said, “I did not laugh,” because she was afraid. And He said, “No, but you did laugh.”

In this passage, we see that the Lord spoke to Abraham and told him that he and his wife, Sarah would have a son at that time the following year. Now, both of them were old so they both had their doubts about what the Lord said to them. Sarah laughed at the idea, but the Lord responded by saying “Is Anything too hard for the Lord”. He kept his promise, God was faithful. He told Sarah, it's not too late for her to have a child and in Chapter 21, is where the promise is fulfilled.

'Then the Lord visited Sarah as He had said and did for her as He had promised. Sarah was able to have a child and she gave birth to a son when Abraham was very old. He was born at the time the Lord said it would happen'

So, we saw that in the beginning Sarah and Abraham doubted whether they could still have a child together. Sarah looked at herself and because she was old, she thought it couldn't happen but the Lord had other plans. It's not too late, Sarah, nothing is too hard.

The next year, God showed up and delivered his promise, he kept his promise to Abraham and Sarah.

Let's look at this in a modern day context. You've been planning something for a while, time is ticking and then you decide to go something spectacular but you decide that is too late and that you should leave it as it is. At that time, you get a phone call telling you that the very thing you have always wanted to is now possible, you laugh it off and you head back. The next day, you now see the manifestation of the promise and you then wonder it to yourself 'How even was it possible'

When God really wants you to have something, no time zone, no clock, lateness, early arrival, or missed appointments will stop him from giving it to you. When God Promises you something he will deliver it to you on time.

In the New Testament when Peter and his fellow disciples were in the middle of a storm, God showed up just on time. It wasn't too late for God to step in and calm down the situation, he timed it to perfection. One of the greatest moments was when Jesus rose Lazarus from the dead. Lazarus laid in his resting place for 4 days, now his sisters knew Jesus had the power to do it but because it looked a hopeless situation, they doubted but Jesus came through and knew it could happen because of his Father's promise to him. He called forth Lazarus, Lazarus rose up and was freed.

What looked like a lost situation was not lost anymore, God showed up on time. What seemed late to the sisters didn't look like lateness to God. He had an appointment and showed up on time

What are you currently looking to do. What is the one thing you have always wanted to do? What is the one thing that is stopping you? Is there something that you have given up or left to the side because you felt there is no time?

It's not too late to start again, it's not too late to start a new job, it's not too late to start a new business, it's not too late to say sorry, it's not too late to resurrect dead dreams, ideas. Resurrect it and bring it back to life.

It's not too late, It's not too late

#TheFathersWord - Unity

The Father's Word

Unity, United, Unite. If you look at that word closely, they all contain the word Unit. Now, lets look at what the those three words mean -

Unity – 'The State of being united or joined as a whole'

United –'Joined together for a common purpose, or by common feelings'

Unite – 'Come or bring together for a common purpose or action'

Thinking of all these words, there are words which actually can be described the same such as – fuse, integrate, bond, connect, combine, unify,

The word Unit means – a single thing, person or group that is part of something larger

Now, when you think of a team who are united together, they look like a unit who are strong, look out for each other and will support each other. Everyone works together, each person covers someone until they get back or return from other duties (fill in the gap). The Unit will run like clockwork, it keeps on ticking over.

In a building i.e. hospital, there are different units that all have their different functions but they support each other and work with each other. So you would have an A and E (Accident and Emergency), Mother and Baby Unit, ICU (Intensive Care Unity) amongst others. Looking at that, they all have a purpose but they can also request the support of other units to complete the work that is necessary. There isn't a department or unit that could say they don't need the other department because there will be a time where a letter needs to be sent out or someone needs to be transferred to another unit or someone might need an x-ray. If the communication in that unit is broken, imagine the chaos it would bring......... messages not getting through, a pile up of missed appointments, cancelled appointments etc

Now, lets look at some scriptures which tell us about Unity

1 Corinthians 12 v 12 – 'For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ

1 Corinthians 12 v 25 – 26 – 'That there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it'

Ephesians 4 v 13 – 'Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the fullness of Christ. That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive'

Ephesians 5 v 29 – 30 'For no man yet hated his own flesh, but nourisheth and cheriseth it, even as the Lord the Church. For we are members of his body, of his flesh and of his bones'

Ecclesiastes 4 4 v 12 - 'Though one may be empowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken'

For a while now, Unity is something that should come naturally but is never closely looked at in detail. We all need to be united together, we all need each other, everybody will need somebody.

Let's look this saying – Everybody said to themselves that somebody would do it but in the end nobody did it. This right there, is not how a unit should be run. To be a successful Unit, each member should communicate with other, look after each other and care for each other. A Unit will run much better if everyone is working in harmony together, in one accord with each other. Everyone in the unit is just as important as the next person, therefore each person should be treated with importance. If someone has a question, listen and deal with it rather than letting it go and not dealing with it. Another important function to the unit is how people respond to their leaders / captains. The leader / captain is responsible for organizing everyone on the ward, the rest must be able to understand and carry it out effectively.

In this season, it's important to find a fellowship or church or even have someone to talk to. Don't attempt to go on a walk by yourself, have someone with you who can help you, guide you and point you in the right directions. Surround yourself with like-minded people, people who will build you up, edify you with words of encouragement and also have your back.

Bond together, fellowship together, network together, stick together, talk together, study together

• Be Strong
• Be In Communication
• Be Approachable
• Be Trustworthy
• Be Honest
• Be Loyal
• Be United

Remember, when you are United as one people, the rest of the body will run like clockwork. If you're in a team, part of a department or you deliver a service, work on unity within the group and over time you will see the strength and unity be displayed.

'A Solider never goes to fight by himself, if he did, he would never return. The Soldier always goes with his unit who has his back and will fight with him'

Don't be by yourself, join a fellowship, join a church. Be a Part, Be a Team Player

Be United