January 16, 2003

When the Father calls your Name Newsletter #50

“Give us the tools, and we will finish the job.”

(Broadcast, February 1941, Addressing President Roosevelt)

Prime Minister Winston Churchill

“Do not let any part of your body become a tool of wickedness, to be used for sinning. Instead, give yourselves completely to God since you have been given new life. And use your whole body as a tool to do what is right for the glory of God.”

Romans 6:13

Q. What kind of pliers do math teachers use?

A. Multipliers

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Retooled (Part 1-Love)

Some men’s pride and joy is their tool collection, however, that is not the case with me. You would think the son of a carpenter would have faired better in the tool-gathering department, but no, not yours truly. Here I am, a man over 40, and I do not possess one single power tool. In fact, the closest thing I have to a power tool is a coffee grinder, which I’m pretty sure can be used as a router in an emergency. The rest of my tool collection is even less impressive, consisting of a few screwdrivers, 3 hammers and a hacksaw with a dull blade. My near empty toolbox is so pathetic that I am practically shunned by the other patrons at the local Home Depot.

On the bright side, this lack of tools has made me more “inventive’ in the home improvement arena. I have developed what I call “Jay’s Rules of Home Repair”, so Bob Vila, eat your heart out! Here are two of the most important ones:

1. Almost anything can be used as a hammer as long as it is close by.

2. Almost anything you tried to fix with Rule #1 can be fixed with duct tape.

These rules have helped me fix and double the efficiency of our dishwasher, which now not only washes the dishes but the floor as well! Thankfully, what I lack in power tool giftedness I make up for in wisdom, which is really just the astuteness to let my father in-law fix things around my house. He has the tools, he has the knowledge and he likes to fix things. I like to have things fixed so it really works well for both of us, especially if I don’t hang around to watch him fix those things.

All this tool talk got me thinking about fruit…yes fruit! Without a doubt the best “tools” in my life have been of the fruit variety. In Galatians there are some great tools listed that help me walk out some much needed spiritual “home repair”.

Galatians 5

(22) “But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, (23) gentleness, and self-control. Here there is no conflict with the law.” (Living Bible)

Love is the toolbox, it holds all the rest—tools that the Holy Spirit uses to shape my life and through me, the life of my children. These are fluid tools, alive with His purpose for us, flowing with the hydraulics of love. I believe they are the workings of a Divine love infusion, the manifestations of love in operation, and a visible meter that we have been worked on by the Holy Spirit. An octagon shaped fruit that clearly identifies His children (Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Matt 7:20). As a father I need this retooling, as a daily impartation and a continuous “home” renovation project. I need to be rewired with the Father‘s love, the unconditional, overwhelming and deliberate kind of love. Distinctly His, bestowed on me, enabling me to shower my kids with it.

Hmmm…isn’t fruit also an end result of using a tool, the whole fruit of our labor deal? (In my case, that means my father in-law’s labor.) Yes, and yet there is so much more to add to this thought. Fruits are nourishment for our bodies, instruments (tools) of growth and health. They are, of course, the natural result of proper growth. When the Holy Spirit is in control of our lives He has that kind of home repair effect on us. We are remodeled from the inside out, retooled to be like Him.

Webster defines retooled this way:

To fit out (a factory, for example) with a new set of machinery and tools for making a different product.
To revise and reorganize, especially for the purpose of updating or improving

You know, I like this definition. The Father uses the Holy Spirit to work continuously in my life. Retooling me with a new assembly line with the expressed purpose of making a new product…a new me, refitted with an updated and improved character.

Now, the Holy Spirit defines retooled by the fruit love produces:

· Joy The ability to rejoice and see beyond circumstances.

· Peace A calm that passes all understanding.

· Patience Enabling us to walk through difficulties.

· Kindness Helping us to treat others with thoughtfulness.

· Goodness Generating a Godly way of life.

· Faithfulness Being true to my words, promises and deeds.

· Gentleness Allowing us to demonstrate the gift of mercy.

· Self-control The power to be a person of discipline.

All add up to some genuine fruit bearing, making us more like Him.

Jesus said, “Herein is my Father glorified that ye bear much fruit; and so shall ye be my disciples” (John 15:8)

Sounds like some serious home improvement to me! How does the rest of this fruit affect my fathering? More next time.

“Love is a fruit in season at all times, and within reach of every hand.”

Mother Teresa

Blessings,

Jay

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When the Father Calls Your Name Newsletter Copyrighted 2003