Lots of babies being born lately. In the past year or so alone we’ve probably had at least a dozen or more newborn’s welcomed into this world in the English congregation alone. Our children are truly gifts and joyful blessings from God. But with parenting comes a great responsibility of raising them. There is a verse in today’s sermon passage about how we as Christians are storing up our inheritance in Christ by enduring the challenges in this lifetime. It got me thinking about inheritance and the “spiritual” inheritance we as parents are imparting upon our children in this life.
In our society inheritance is a firmly established custom and practice. Complex Wills & Estate laws exist to ensure and promote one’s ability to leave behind whatever material wealth one has amassed in life to one’s children and loved ones. It’s natural for a parent to want to provide a better future for their children than they had growing up. But as Christians there is the challenge of what we are bestowing upon our children in terms of our Christian Faith.
It’s fairly straightforward to assess whatever money and assets that remain after one’s death. Those materials things are carefully accounted for as the inheritance children receive. But in terms of spiritual inheritance, our individual Christian faith is not something that we can simply bottle up as an asset to be presented to our children after we pass on. The spiritual inheritance our children receive from us is a lifetime’s work of our love for the Lord expressed in our love for our children.
We receive unconditional love and forgiveness as children of God and yet condition our approval and acceptance of our children as we live vicariously through their successes and failures. God never required us to “earn” his love and acceptance. He just wants to have a relationship with us. We spend a lifetime killing ourselves amassing material things for the sake of providing for our children’s future security when what they needed most was to be loved. What they needed most was for us to stop for a moment and spend time with them as a witness of our love and faith in the Lord to provide all things.
One of my favorite passages is Psalm 127:1-7. Unless the Lord is present our labor is in vain. For

"It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest,
eating the bread of anxious toil;
For he gives to his beloved sleep.”

From Pastor Mark’s Heart
May 18, 2014

Happy mother’s day!  To all the biological and spiritual mothers in our congregation, God bless you and keep you!  To the sons and daughters, do whatever it takes to make them happy.  Happy mom, happy life=).  Mother’s day is always interesting for me.  I thank the Lord that it is a national holiday; no matter what ethnicity, religion, age, or gender you are, on this day, we recognize nationwide how amazing our mothers are and are reminded to thank our mothers for what they do.  However, it’s also a rude-awakening on how much I don’t appreciate my mom enough every other day throughout the year.  Let’s remember to thank the Lord for one another all the time.  God is indeed an amazing gift giver, solely based on the people he has placed in our lives.
I remember a particular instance in high school when I got into big trouble.  My mom heeded the Word of the Lord and certainly did not spare the rod.  But this time her discipline was different.  I don’t quite recall what I did or said, but what I do remember is my mother’s response as if it happened yesterday.  I remember her sitting me down with tears welling in her eyes and saying in Korean, “It’s my fault.  I wish I was there for you every day when you came home from school, to be able to ask you how your day was, and to cook you a meal.  I wish I was there.”  Even now, thinking of her response, emotions rise but more than that, one thing is absolutely clear; the power of presence - the ability of a loved one to simply be who they are created to be and just BE for the people around them.  My mom knew in her heart that she could DO a lot of things for me to express her love (and she did!) but none would compare to the simple assurance of who she is and that she would be there for me no matter what. 
That is what God does for us.  He is a faithful God whose actions are consistent with His promises.  He is a loving God who pursues His people from the beginning of time to the end of time who provided the ultimate sacrifice in Jesus.  He is Father.  He is Counselor.  He IS all these things and acts it out.  And one of the greatest promises and truths in scripture, He is Emmanuel, God WITH us through the Holy Spirit.  Jesus promises this gift and it’s available for you and me.  We have God who does amazing things throughout our lives that increases our awareness of Him, but when things don’t seem to go as planned and His works are not as evident, we have the truth of scripture that says “[He] will never leave you nor forsake you”.  Emulating this aspect of God is one of the greatest gifts a mother and father can give (or be) to their children.  In 1 Corinthians 4:14, Paul writes to the church in Corinth that they have many guides (ESV) or guardians (NIV) in Christ but not many fathers.  There were so many “do-ers” in the church who taught scriptures and did good works.  There were many relationships that resembled the modern day congregation to preacher dynamic.  But Paul is clear when he says that there’s too much of those relationships but not enough spiritual son/daughter and spiritual father/mother relationships.  Paul knew when a spiritual parent makes himself or herself available to spiritual children, gives time and presence to them, they are emulating an aspect of God that is so profound and powerful, that has the ability to spur children in holiness and Christ-like character – the ABBA God, or Father God.  Today, I challenge you all to look beyond your family unit to see the people that you serve and worship with as potential mothers and fathers, sons and daughters in Christ. 
Mothers, we celebrate and honor you today.  We praise God because of you and pray that you would be encouraged and appreciated by all.  We love you!

From Pastor Keeyoung’s Heart
May 11, 2014