Like Father, Like Son! – Emily's Snippets

Ed and I married in 1952 and I was not aware of
all the lessons having a family would teach me about God’s Love. In the
afterglow of our love, I reminisce through memories and realize how like their
father our four children became. Ed taught them generosity and caring for
others. He taught them to help others and to mend broken things and
hearts. Each child, now with grown children and a grandchild or two, continue
on in his footsteps of caring and loving.

The first son learned electronic connections when he was young, enjoying the
adventures of ham radio. The second son loves little children, has a deep
faith, and likes to mend broken things. The third son spent hours in his
father’s shadow in the basement workshop, learning and watching. Our
daughter received her father’s encouragement of learning to play the piano and
gently care for others.

Their father lived a long life and even in death will be remembered by his
children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren and know they were loved.

I witnessed Ed reading the Bible endlessly. When I read, the chapter entitled Unseen
Friend, from Robert J. Morgan’s book, Always Near, the title of this
writing came. Like Father, Like Son.

When God appeared to Moses within a burning bush, telling him to free the
people of Israel. Moses ask, who shall I say sent me?

God replied to Moses, “I am who I am. Say this to the people of
Israel: I am has sent me to you.” God also said to Moses, “Say
this to the people of Israel: Yahweh, the God of your ancestors—the God of
Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you. This is my
eternal name my name to remember for all
generations.” Exodus
3:14-15.

Jesus Christ, The One and Only Son of Father God, the Great I Am, existed
before anything was created and is supreme over all creation. (Colossians
1:15)

And it is this same Jesus who dwelled
with God through the creation of the universe. He knew God planned the people
on earth to have a home. God provided all the animals and ways to produce
crops to feed them all.

         Jesus knew his Father’s Distress and
grief when wickedness became rampant after sin entered Adam and Eve. God saved
people from the flood.  He freed others from slavery and various
other enslavements.   In God’s time, He sent Jesus to free
to His Children from sin.

“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son so
that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”
John 3:16.

As Jesus came to earth and began teaching people of God’s Way. Jesus often
prefaced His teaching with “I Am!”

I am the Living Bread (John 6:51) and I am not of this world
(John 8:23). Jesus is The I am before Abraham (John 8:58), I am the
Good Shepherd (John 10:11), the Door (John 10:7-9), the Light of
the World (John 8:12) and the Resurrection (John 11:25). I am the
Way, the Truth, and the Life. (John 14:6).

Who is this “I Am” Father of Jesus? He is the Creator. He has no
Origin.

He
is Powerful and understands all things. He does not change. He is always
the same. He is self-sufficient. He is all knowing.

God infinitely loves us, He is Holy; He is Gracious, Compassionate and Kind. He
is Faithful, and He is Everywhere at once. He is Wise.

When
we worry, we discount and doubt Who He is. Is it too hard to believe in
God? Believing God is part of the promise of our peace! Ask Abraham.
Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew
stronger, and in this, he brought glory to God. He was fully convinced
that God is able to do whatever he promises. And because of
Abraham’s faith, God counted him as righteous. Romans 4:20-21.

God sent His Son, Jesus, to earth. Jesus
prefaced his teaching with ‘I Am’ for one purpose. To teach God’s people
the Way to God the Father.

Jesus
told him, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one can come to the
Father except through me.If you had really known me, you
would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know Him and have
seen Him!” John
14:6-7.

The
characteristics of God teach us Who God is, and the teaching of His Son brings
us entrance into sweet fellowship with God the Father while on earth.

Knowing
God and Jesus bring us the Fruit of the Holy Spirit, from The Comforter.
This Fruit helps us to see a preview of Heaven. On earth, we are pulled from
Love, Joy, and Peace. When we live with Patience, Kindness, Goodness,
Gentleness, Faithfulness and Self-Control, and with Love, we find Joy and Peace.
“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart.
And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So, don’t be
troubled or afraid.” John 14:27.

Even before He made the world, God loved us
and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.God
decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself
through Jesus Christ. This is what He wanted to do, and it gave Him great
pleasure. Ephesians 1:4-5.

In those moments when I weaken, I remember these words: But when I am
afraid, I will put my trust in you. I praise God
for what He has promised. I trust in God, so why should I be afraid? What can
mere mortals do to me? Psalm 56:3-4.

And I sing, “Through it all, Through it all, I’ve learned to trust in Jesus,
I’ve learned to trust in God!” (Andrae Crouch)

Comments? eacombs@att.net