Firm Foundation with Bryan Hudson

Psalms 13:13, As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.Compassion is “love in action”

Proverbs 17:6, Children's children are the crown of old men, and the glory of children is their father.
Proverbs 1:8, My son, hear the instruction of your father, and do not forsake the law of your mother;

FATHERS IN 3D
1 - A Father’s Destiny (Purpose)
2 - A Father’s Design
3 - A Father’s Duty

Our responsibility to our fathers is to:
Listen to him
Learn from him
Lean on him
Love him

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Psalm 103:13, As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.

Father's Day was Sunday, June 16. I was blessed to celebrate another Father's Day with my 85 year old dad, Horace Bryan Hudson. He is the greatest man I've ever known, and a man of great compassion. He was my model in being a father to our four wonderful children, and now, three grandchildren.

Our youngest son experienced his first Father's Day when he became a father as his wife gave birth to a beautiful little girl in February. My son, along with another first time father, shared reflections on their early experience of being a father. We also heard from two experienced fathers who were also grandfathers.

In our culture and community, we value those whom we call "father-like-ones," such as relatives, coaches, educators, and men in the church community. One of our men who spoke, a former high school principal and teacher, reflected on having served as a father-like-one to more than 3000 students in the course of his career.

As a pastor and community leader, I've also had the experience of exercising compassion in serving young men and women, especially through 39 years as a pastor to our congregation and for 20 years of conducting summer media camps for youth.

I share all of this to highlight something about fathers that we often overlook: When we look at compassion as only an emotional response, we have difficulty seeing fathers in that light.

However, when we understand compassion in its more proper definition, we can see fathers in their true light. The best understanding of compassion is "love in action." When we think about the actions that men and father's take for their children and others, we can clearly see the compassion filled role of the father.

David compared the compassion of fathers to the compassion of God. In this we find one of the most significant purposes of fathers: To properly and lovingly represent God before children and others. God is a God of compassion. He is a God of action, which He proved by sending Jesus Christ to be are Savior and Lord.

When we consider the lofty and seeming overwhelming requirements of fathers, I like to always remind men of this very important truth: Whatever God requires, He provides.

So brothers, embrace your assignment of compassion because it is not only about emotion––which we have. It is more about love in action...and you know how to do that!

God Bless and Be Encouraged!
~ Pastor Bryan Hudson, D.Min.

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Psalms 16:2-4, O my soul, you have said to the Lord, “You are my Lord, My goodness is nothing apart from You.” As for the saints who are on the earth, “They are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight.”

Last Sunday, my wife and I recognized some young scholars as part of our church service called, Scholar's Sunday. Patricia had the idea to encourage students and graduates with a special recognition. Once again, we witnessed the power of encouragement. Included among the group of students advancing to higher grades where a high school graduate and a college graduate.

I shared a special sermon in their honor, we presented each scholar with certificates of recognition, and enjoyed refreshments afterwards. My wife noted that many students had missed out on in-person recognitions the past two years because of COVID, so this spring was a return to celebrations and commencements.

Their response to the recognitions confirmed in importance of empowering, recognizing, and giving words of wisdom to young people. In Psalms 16 God called His people, "Excellent Ones" and said that He delights in them. Excellent comes from the word, "Excel" which means "Go Beyond."

Some of the keys I shared to going beyond in commencing and advancing in education included.

1. Stand in your space. Earn and demand respect.

2. Commit Yourself to God: Proverbs 16:3 “Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.”

3. Trust the Lord more than your own understanding: Proverbs 3:5-10 “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight."

4. Work for God, not only for people: Colossians 3:23 “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.”

5. You were built for purpose: Ephesians 2:10 “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Here is a link the entire message on podcast and video on YouTube.

Let's make it a point to encourage young people as life long learners and scholars. It goes a long way towards motivating them to Go Beyond.

God Bless and Be Encouraged!
~ Pastor Bryan Hudson, D.Min.

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Psalms 16:2-4, O my soul, you have said to the Lord, “You are my Lord, My goodness is nothing apart from You.” As for the saints who are on the earth, “They are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight.”

Jeremiah 29:11-13, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

How to Commence and Advance

1. Stand in your space. Earn and demand respect
1 Timothy 4:12 “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.”

2. Commit Yourself to God
Proverbs 16:3 “Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.”

3. Trust the Lord more than your own understanding. Honor the Lord
Proverbs 3:5-10 “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.”

4. Work for God, not only for people
Colossians 3:23 “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.”

5. You were built for purpose
Ephesians 2:10 “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

2022 Graduates & Scholars
Congratulations!

Your college degree, high school diploma, or passing to a higher grade is evidence of learning.

Your college degree, high school diploma is neither a shortcut in life nor an emblem of privilege. You still have to become skillful in your field and earn the professional respect of people who know and do more than you.

Don’t settle. #GoForward

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(“Firm Foundation Inspiration Minute” is a weekly encouragement. Subscribe to this blog to stay connected.)

This Saturday, June 11, I am one of the speakers at a leadership conference online. The link to the event is in this post, join us if you can. The theme is “Change and Transition.” (Conference info here)

There are many ways to think about change and transition, but I want to offer an example from David's life. In Psalms 42:3, David spoke of change in the negative. He said: My tears have been my food day and night, While they continually say to me, “Where is your God?” The pain of what he was going through felt like having tears for food day and night. He also said that others mocking him in saying, “Where is your God?”

I remember these words from a webinar that I was a part of a couple of years ago. Paul Scanlon said:

• Change is in inevitable. Transition is intentional.
• Change is an event. Transition is a process that we enter into.
• Change is unchosen. Change happens to us. Transition is how we respond to change.

David did not choose the negative change that happened to him, but his positive response became part of his transition out of the difficulty.

He said in Psalms 42:4, When I remember these things, I pour out my soul within me. For I used to go with the multitude; I went with them to the house of God, With the voice of joy and praise, With a multitude that kept a holy feast.

David spoke of pouring out his soul within himself, which is a reference to casting his care on the Lord and putting his trust in God. Then he spoke of going into the house of God with others. He understood that transition always involves God, and it also involves others––but not just anybody. David said he would go into the house of God with those who had “The voice of joy and praise."

Notice when the negative change happened to David, 1) he transitioned to a place of focusing on the Lord, 2) connected with encouraging people, and 3) found his voice of joy and praise.

Following is a link to my message from Sunday on this topic: How Joy Comes -- Finding Your Voice of Joy & Praise

Your change might be unchosen, but you transition through it by what you decide to do.

God Bless and Be Encouraged!
~ Pastor Bryan Hudson, D.Min.

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