Tag: men

A poverty stricken man had to travel to his job, which was located in a distant city. Because he was so poor and it was the only job he could find, he had to make the trip there and back each day in an old, barely running rust bucket of a car. His livelihood depended on that car. It was the only means for him to get there, even though it often broke down, causing him often to almost lose his employment.

So every morning long before anyone else was even up, the man packed all that he would need for the trip, and took off down the road in a cloud of smoke that would obscure him from sight the further he would go. Late at night, he would return exhausted, only to have to do the needed repairs on the car so that he could make the trip the next day.

One day, as the man pulled over on the side of the road to make some repairs so that he could continue on his journey, a kindly man in tattered clothes walked up to him, seemingly from nowhere. "I've been watchin' ya make this trip every day. Been lookin' at  ya from my porch over there," he said, pointing to a run-down shack just off the highway behind some trees. "I feel sorry for ya with this no-luck car that ya got, so I'd like to help ya," he continued.  "In that barn over there," he turned and pointed to a barn that looked even worse than the house, "I got me this limo. It's yours if ya want it cuz I don't use it no more. I'll even drive ya wherever ya gotta go if ya want me to. Got nothin' better to do."

"Get away from me, old man," the traveler spat with  impatience. "I have enough trouble without someone like you making promises that you can't keep." With that, he returned to the well-worn muffler to reattach  it.

The next day from his front porch, the kindly man sat and watched as the beat up jalopy hobbled its way down the road again. Shaking his head in sorrow for the embittered  traveler, he headed  toward the  barn to polish the new limo he had inherited, wondering how he might use it to help someone that day.

How often do we, as husbands and fathers, respond in the same way to God’s offer to be in charge of every situation we face?

Let’s talk more!

Jim Corbett

Smith Wigglesworth, an evangelist from the early 1900’s, would enter a train compartment and people would have to leave it because the presence of God in him convicted them of their sins. He didn’t preach or say anything.

We don’t even begin to understand that. We spend the largest portion of our lives providing for our feathered nests; and finally, if we have any time left over, it goes to God. Then we wonder why we are powerless to affect - for eternity - the people that God brings across our path or help our families find real safety during deep challenges.

Think about it. How many people have you been in contact with since you were saved? How many have seen Jesus, even a little bit, because of that contact? I’m not talking about today’s version of Jesus – the scurrying around to put out social fires lit by others rather than helping them to see Jesus. I’m talking about the Jesus Who came to show us His Father’s love, the One Who came to die for them. That Jesus is supposed to ooze out through every one of our pores, because we have given God full possession of our lives.

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Jim Corbett

As important as game plans are, the wise person considers other options when the plan in use no longer works. He will rethink the game to see if it has changed. If it has, for whatever reason, he will modify his plans to overcome the change and win.

How is your marriage and family game plan working? Have you analyzed your strategies in light of the changes that are happening throughout the world? Is the game plan you’ve been using going to allow you, your marriage, and your family to succeed when others around you fail?

God knows the beginning from the end. He knows how to win. He knows what it will take for you to walk in His wisdom and power to win any game at any time.  He is waiting for you to come to Him with the challenges you face. He delights in the fact that you seek Him.

Go over your family game plan with God. Ask Him if changes are needed for you and your family to overcome the world, as it reels out of control and changes the game. Find His answers and walk in His Holy Spirit, guiding others to do the same. By His side and undergirded with His love, you will win!

Let’s talk more!

Jim Corbett

Lives that are significant to God are always found when we choose to walk above the fears, habits, social norms, and dictates of the crowd. That kind of life is acquired by spending time in the presence of God - learning His ways, enjoying His companionship, and allowing Him to impart His life to you.

The “I do nothing of Myself” lifestyle of Jesus seems impossible to live at first, until we find that lifestyle to be the safest, most productive avenue we’ve ever known. To lay down our own will and strength and do the Father’s will in His strength is a road map to experiencing the most profound kind of success because it is eternal.

As a husband and father, your job is to find a way to guide those in your care to a walk above the crowd and its bondages. You have the privilege of accessing the wisdom of God to accomplish your task. Jesus certainly walked above the crowd. Because of the cross, you have that same capability if you go to the true source of power and life as He did. If you choose His ways, the world can’t really touch you and yours, because they can’t reach as high as you are living. They’re not capable of breathing the air that you and your family breathe above the crowd with Him.

Let’s talk more!

Jim Corbett

I remember playing “kick the can” as a child. One person would be designated to guard the can – also called “home”, while the others ran away and hid. As everyone sought their hiding place, the guard counted to a certain number with his eyes closed. When the guard opened his eyes, we each found an opportunity to run toward “home” to kick the can. If we accomplished our mission, we were safe. If the guard caught one of us before we could get to the can, that person would have to be the new guard.

Often I remember being the guard because I was smaller and much slower than the others. The frustration I felt was immense, as one by one the others would make it home safe. It seemed that I could never protect the can as I wanted to. I just didn’t have the skills to do so.

Those frustrations come back often as I begin to understand my responsibility before God as a husband and father. I’m acutely aware of the times I’m incapable of loving, guiding, and nurturing as I should. Often I find myself with no answers.

That’s when I’m reminded that my weakness is the strongest qualification I have for my job. I was never called to have answers for the task I’ve been given. I’ve only been called to need God. In my need, He is my answer. He is my strength. He is my wisdom and power to function as I’m called to function. Instead of me trying to stop others from being safe at “home” as in the game, I welcome them to a place of safety created by My loving Father.

Let’s talk more!

Jim Corbett