Long before Austin surrendered his life to Christ, his mother had faithfully prayed and contended for God's will to be birthed in her son's life. Through difficult seasons, uncertainty, and waiting, she remained steadfast in faith. She trusted that God would pursue her son and draw him back to Himself. The moment on the mountaintop became a powerful testimony not only of God's faithfulness but also of the enduring power of a praying mother who refused to give up hope.

Vivimos en una época en la que innumerables distracciones compiten por nuestro tiempo y atención. Sin embargo, la Escritura nos exhorta a “aprovechar bien el tiempo, porque los días son malos” (Efesios 5:15-16). En Juan 4 encontramos a una mujer samaritana que, en una cita divina con Jesucristo “como a la hora sexta”, descubrió que la experiencia humana va mucho más allá de esta vida terrenal. Su encuentro con el Señor nos desafía a considerar nuestro tiempo a la luz de la eternidad y de los propósitos de Dios para nuestras vidas.

Boaz, in the Book of Ruth, gives four qualities that help us understand what a good father looks like (ironically, before he ever becomes one). These qualities are not limited to fathers. They belong wherever people are entrusted to one another: in friendships, marriage, pastoral care, teaching, work, and management (life presents us with a long list of possibilities!).

Written by Herb Rubi

The patriarch Jacob prayed over his grandsons, (Gen 48) “May the God before whom my grandfather Abraham and my father, Isaac, walked—the God who has been my shepherd all my life…may He bless theses boys. May they preserve my name and the names of Abraham and Isaac. And may their descendants multiply greatly throughout the earth.”

The Lord’s ultimate blessing in life is preserving your name through offspring; which of course includes spiritual offspring. But the pursuit of patriarchy is more than just a noble option: It is the only option! Everywhere patriarchy is scarce or absent is absolute chaos.