Ohana means family

عائِلَة – gezin – rodina – семья

How you decide to pronounce, or say it, family, despite our differences in thought, style, ideology etc, family is generally something that is foisted upon us, we do not choose them.

I have recently been in touch with a family member that I have not spoken to for over 20 years. It is not that we had a disagreement, or a family feud or anything like that, it just happened.

But we met up towards the end of last year through another family member at a party, since then we have chatted through social media, and recently we have visited them and gotten to know them a little, along with their family, so now our wider family has grown by five members.

My immediate family has also grown in the last year, with the addition of a granddaughter, and because of how families work these days, we have also gained an additional four grandchildren, the half-siblings of our granddaughter.

Families can be really complicated at times, they can test the powers of your patience and will, they can try your love for them against the want to run away from everything, but ultimately, they are what they are, family. The=y may not be our blood relatives with how modern families work, but they are still related in some way to us.

As children grow older and meet people, the family grows, and if they are blessed enough to want and have children then it grows again.

Love them or hate them, there is no getting away from them.

For most of us, and I include myself here, I am very happy with my ever growing and expanding family, but that does not always go the same for everyone.

Family does not actually have to have any blood bond in it to work. When you look at foreign gangs such as the Mafia, the Yakuza, or the Bratva (Russian Mafia) are a family based upon their organised criminal intent, not necessarily related by blood, but by oaths of obedience and silence, and they protect each other when needed.

So, what has my family got to do with the Bratva, or the Mafia, and in that case any of you reading this, except that it may seem nice that we have recently met new members?

Well, we can learn a lot from families.

If we look at the first family mentioned in the Bible, we learn that they had an amazing life living with God, until they decided that they knew better and ate the apple that they were told not to eat, the result, banishment along with pain and suffering.

We were never meant to suffer and struggle like we do, we were designed to live in harmony with our loving God, but humans tend to think they know better.

When things are tough, do you immediately turn to God and ask, nay plead for his intervention an help, falling to your knees with hands clasped and looking up towards the heavens?

I know that I tent to say, “right this is going completely wrong, I need to do this or that and then of that does not work I need to try another thing and maybe ask so-and-so for some help”.

Jesus taught his disciples to not worry about the mundane things in life, and to seek the kingdom of God above all else.

‘But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.’ (Matthew 6:33 NIV).

‘And whatever you ask for in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith’ (Matthew 21:22 ESV).

So if life is giving you lemons, then ask God how to make lemonade. There is no need to struggle on you own, ask in faith for the help of he who threw the starts into space.

When you are in a dark place, ask for help from he who spoke the light into being (Genesis 1:3).

But you may ask, how do I belong to the family of the one who created all things? How in reality, is Jesus my family?

Generally, your parents would never let you come to any harm, they would protect you, and if they needed to go somewhere, they would ensure that someone would take over their responsibility for that period; whether another family member or a trusted ‘sitter’, there would be someone responsible for you and your welfare.

God said to Moses, about him, and the nation of Israel.

‘My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest’ (Exodus 31:44 ESV).

Moses also reminded the nation of Israel that God would always be with them, just prior to their crossing the river Jordan and entering the promised land.

‘for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you , nor forsake you’ (Deuteronomy 31:6 NIV).

Moses also said the exact same thing to Joshua shortly after his statement to the nation of Israel (Deuteronomy 31:68NIV).

So, if we were not part of the family, why would Jesus always be with us?

How many people do you know that are actually in your family that are always with you, even if you are married, most people are not always with you.

Towards the end of his letter, Paul also reminds the Hebrew Christians about the statement that God made to the nation of Israel. He says that they should try to live good lives that are God-centered and that they should be content with what they have, and.

‘be content with what you have, because God has said, ”Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you”’ (Hebrews 13:5 NIV).

So, we know that we are part of Jesus’ family because he loves us so much that he has promised to never leave us, and always be there when we call.

‘Jesus asked, “who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” Then he pointed at his disciples and said, “Look, these are my mother and brothers. Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother”’. (Matthew12:48-50 NLT).

Be content with what you have.

Family is important, even when they make us want to scream.

In the words of Stitch.

“Ohana means family’ (Lilo and Stitch – 2002 – Walt Disney Pictures)

And the Hawaiian, family is not only blood related, it is the extended family, and the intentional or chosen family that we surround ourselves with.

We cannot choose our blood family, but as we grow and mature and join groups in our lives, some of these will become like family, we will look to them, trust them and love them just like we do (or should do) our blood family.

Look to Jesus and extend your family.

I just wanna speak the name of Jesus
Over every heart and every mind
‘Cause I know there is peace within Your presence
I speak Jesus

I just wanna speak the name of Jesus
‘Til every dark addiction starts to break
Declaring there is hope and there is freedom
I speak Jesus

‘Cause Your name is power
Your name is healing
Your name is life
Break every stronghold
Shine through the shadows
Burn like a fire

I just wanna speak the name of Jesus
Over fear and all anxiety
To every soul held captive by depression
I speak Jesus

Shout Jesus from the mountains
Jesus in the streets
Jesus in the darkness over every enemy
Jesus for my family
I speak the holy name
Jesus,

I Speak Jesus

Jesse Reeves / Dustin Smith / Abby Benton / Carlene Prince / Raina Pratt

https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=SKTcWOQLM9Y

Lord, let me see everyone that I know as part of my extended family, help me to love them and protect them and lead them into your wonderful presence.

Amen