Psalm 119:105 says
"Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path" NKJV
Being a man of God, we should share the Word of the Lord with somebody on a daily basis. We should long for and look for opportunities to do so. Whether it is on social media, a text message to a friend you have not spoken to in a while, or a phone call to a church member that has missed a few Sundays. Anything and everything helps.
If you have not done so, your children are a great place to start. Especially when you learn or re-learn that we, as fathers, are responsible for their spiritual welfare. Speaking to them and providing spiritual milk is not only what they need, but it helps you gain more confidence in sharing the gospel. As we begin to answer their simple questions, we are more comfortable and confident talking with older people.
Even the signature line in your personal email, or the message to your voicemail can have a huge impact on someone. On my wife's' voicemail she prays that if they do not know Jesus that they will come to know Him. She has had multiple people leaving her a message say that they appreciated what she said.
Lighting lamps is not only a good thing to do, it is also a commandment. Matthew 28:19 says, "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations..." We cannot make disciples if we do not open our mouths and speak the words that He gives us to speak. The more that we do, the easier it get. And God will give the increase.
Strike a match and light a lamp.
Wednesday, March 27, 2019
Tuesday, March 19, 2019
Love in the waiting
So up to this point, we have talked about a lot of things men need to do to become closer to God. And as men we tend to think that waiting is passive and we can only become better if we are actively doing work. However, this is not true. Not only are things happening in the waiting, but God shows us His love and mercy while we are waiting.
Waiting is difficult. Sometimes it is stressful. Waiting for the adoption to be finalized, test results, for lab work to come back, for the loved one to return from deployment. To hear back on a job application is one of the ones that I have the most experience with and the most difficulties with. At the time of writing this, in the past year I have sent out 52 job applications. It is not always easy to point fingers at whys and hows and whos for not getting one of these positions. But God is still with me and blessing my family while we are waiting.
The unexpected bonus check that my wife received, the pizza that one of my co-workers bought for my family "just because", the unexpected and impromptu date night that the in-laws provide. God is in and behind each and every one of these. You can almost see Him saying, "Yes, it is hard, but I am still here and loving you".
Please remember that while we are waiting, we are in good company. Nobody likes to be reminded of how long they are waiting for something, but look at this: Abraham was 100 years old and Sarah was 90 before they had Issac, Issac and Rebekah waited 24 years to hold their twin boys, David waited around 17 years after he was anointed by Samuel to become king of Israel. Jesus waited 33 years to start His ministry. On and on.
You can find verse after verse of waiting in the bible. Probably the most quoted verse about waiting, Isaiah 40:31 "But those who wait on the Lord will renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint". NKJV God loves us in the waiting, even when we are frustrated with it. Being a man of God means that we can wait patiently for God to give us His best.
Because His best is better than we can imagine.
Waiting is difficult. Sometimes it is stressful. Waiting for the adoption to be finalized, test results, for lab work to come back, for the loved one to return from deployment. To hear back on a job application is one of the ones that I have the most experience with and the most difficulties with. At the time of writing this, in the past year I have sent out 52 job applications. It is not always easy to point fingers at whys and hows and whos for not getting one of these positions. But God is still with me and blessing my family while we are waiting.
The unexpected bonus check that my wife received, the pizza that one of my co-workers bought for my family "just because", the unexpected and impromptu date night that the in-laws provide. God is in and behind each and every one of these. You can almost see Him saying, "Yes, it is hard, but I am still here and loving you".
Please remember that while we are waiting, we are in good company. Nobody likes to be reminded of how long they are waiting for something, but look at this: Abraham was 100 years old and Sarah was 90 before they had Issac, Issac and Rebekah waited 24 years to hold their twin boys, David waited around 17 years after he was anointed by Samuel to become king of Israel. Jesus waited 33 years to start His ministry. On and on.
You can find verse after verse of waiting in the bible. Probably the most quoted verse about waiting, Isaiah 40:31 "But those who wait on the Lord will renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint". NKJV God loves us in the waiting, even when we are frustrated with it. Being a man of God means that we can wait patiently for God to give us His best.
Because His best is better than we can imagine.
Saturday, March 16, 2019
Kings and Queens
Listen to this song, then read on. Kings and Queens by Audio Adrenaline
"Every child has a dream to belong and be loved".
James 1:27 says, "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."
Ready for a staggering fact? "On any given day in the U.S. there are about 438,000 children in the foster care system." Childrensrights.org. Over four hundred thousand. And if that doesn't break you heart enough, "In 2016, 20,000 aged out of foster care without permanent families and most will face unemployment, homelessness and incarceration." Childrensrights.org.
They will not make it on their own. Sure, maybe a few will become successful at something, but by and large they won't. We have to help them. We have been commanded to help them. Adoption, healthy fostering, mentoring programs, Big Brother and Big Sisters. Chances are that someone in your churches children's Sunday school has been affected. I am very passionate about this and everyone has the skills to make a child's life a little better.
God has called my wife and I to adopt. And trying to go back and rewire these kids in a positive and healthy way is hard. If God has not called you to adopt or foster, please do not. Maybe mentoring is a better option. There are multiple organizations that mentor kids in foster care. There are others that give you training for helping these children of God.
Two of the organizations that are doing a great job with these kids are The Mayfly Project and King's Ranch. I know this because I have been a part of both of them. I mentor with Mayfly and my wife and I are in training now through King's Ranch. (I do not get paid by either of them.)
The Mayfly Project mentors kids in foster care through fly fishing. Not only that, but the events and attention that this organization get, put these kids together with their forever families. Being on the water has a calming effect on people and I have seen first hand how well this organization helps these kids. TMP is in over 20 states and has multiple groups per state. If you would like to help, visit: The Mayfly Project
Kings Ranch is a wonderful organization that give parents and families training for handling kids from hard places. They offer "therapeutic parenting strategies for real families helping rescued children heal." Like I said, my wife and I are working through a class with them now. It has been hard trying to start these kids back at square one and redevelop them to where they need to be, but it will be worth it. I truly believe this. You can visit King's Ranch
for more information.
There are so many children in need. So many in each state and town, there is something for everyone to do.
"And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brother, you did it to me'." ESV
"Every child has a dream to belong and be loved".
James 1:27 says, "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."
Ready for a staggering fact? "On any given day in the U.S. there are about 438,000 children in the foster care system." Childrensrights.org. Over four hundred thousand. And if that doesn't break you heart enough, "In 2016, 20,000 aged out of foster care without permanent families and most will face unemployment, homelessness and incarceration." Childrensrights.org.
They will not make it on their own. Sure, maybe a few will become successful at something, but by and large they won't. We have to help them. We have been commanded to help them. Adoption, healthy fostering, mentoring programs, Big Brother and Big Sisters. Chances are that someone in your churches children's Sunday school has been affected. I am very passionate about this and everyone has the skills to make a child's life a little better.
God has called my wife and I to adopt. And trying to go back and rewire these kids in a positive and healthy way is hard. If God has not called you to adopt or foster, please do not. Maybe mentoring is a better option. There are multiple organizations that mentor kids in foster care. There are others that give you training for helping these children of God.
Two of the organizations that are doing a great job with these kids are The Mayfly Project and King's Ranch. I know this because I have been a part of both of them. I mentor with Mayfly and my wife and I are in training now through King's Ranch. (I do not get paid by either of them.)
The Mayfly Project mentors kids in foster care through fly fishing. Not only that, but the events and attention that this organization get, put these kids together with their forever families. Being on the water has a calming effect on people and I have seen first hand how well this organization helps these kids. TMP is in over 20 states and has multiple groups per state. If you would like to help, visit: The Mayfly Project
Kings Ranch is a wonderful organization that give parents and families training for handling kids from hard places. They offer "therapeutic parenting strategies for real families helping rescued children heal." Like I said, my wife and I are working through a class with them now. It has been hard trying to start these kids back at square one and redevelop them to where they need to be, but it will be worth it. I truly believe this. You can visit King's Ranch
for more information.
There are so many children in need. So many in each state and town, there is something for everyone to do.
"And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brother, you did it to me'." ESV
Tuesday, March 12, 2019
Rocking the boat
Can you think of God's love like an ocean? Steadily and calmly rocking the boat of your life. Gently back and forth. A perfect day with mild temperatures and a cool breeze. Just basking in the love.
But the clouds are getting thicker and the perfect blue sky starts to get dark. The wind starts to blow a little harder and the calm serene waves start to get a little bit bigger. And then bigger. The wind whips off your hat, your stomach begins to be unsettled and you regret that Po'boy that you ate. Rain starts falling, you see lightning flash, you hear the thunder.
Remember in the New Testament when Jesus and His disciples are on the boat. Jesus is asleep and there came a storm that scared the disciples. Most of them were hardened fisherman who knew the weather on the water. But this one was bad and they thought that they were going to drown. (I think that God was testing them to see how bad it needed to get before they reacted.) And they woke Jesus up.
When He was awake, what did he do?
"Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace, be still!" And the wind ceased and there was great calm" Mark 4:39 NKJV
He can do that for our lives as well... If we let Him. That would be wonderful in my life. The hectic, chaotic world that is topsy turvy can again be still and calm. The up and down and around roller coaster of the waves can be peaceful again. He can turn it back into that perfect day.
We are already in the boat. God is already in the boat with us. All the disciples had to do was to wake Him up. We can and need to do the same. We need to wake our minds and souls to God's love and presence. We need to ask Him to calm our spirits and our lives. Doing so will allow us to become better men, husbands and fathers.
As the storms of this life push the waves over our boat, we are being washed in His love.
But the clouds are getting thicker and the perfect blue sky starts to get dark. The wind starts to blow a little harder and the calm serene waves start to get a little bit bigger. And then bigger. The wind whips off your hat, your stomach begins to be unsettled and you regret that Po'boy that you ate. Rain starts falling, you see lightning flash, you hear the thunder.
Remember in the New Testament when Jesus and His disciples are on the boat. Jesus is asleep and there came a storm that scared the disciples. Most of them were hardened fisherman who knew the weather on the water. But this one was bad and they thought that they were going to drown. (I think that God was testing them to see how bad it needed to get before they reacted.) And they woke Jesus up.
When He was awake, what did he do?
"Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace, be still!" And the wind ceased and there was great calm" Mark 4:39 NKJV
He can do that for our lives as well... If we let Him. That would be wonderful in my life. The hectic, chaotic world that is topsy turvy can again be still and calm. The up and down and around roller coaster of the waves can be peaceful again. He can turn it back into that perfect day.
We are already in the boat. God is already in the boat with us. All the disciples had to do was to wake Him up. We can and need to do the same. We need to wake our minds and souls to God's love and presence. We need to ask Him to calm our spirits and our lives. Doing so will allow us to become better men, husbands and fathers.
As the storms of this life push the waves over our boat, we are being washed in His love.
Friday, March 8, 2019
Overcomers
Christ did not die for us to be defeated by this life. He wants us to rise up and be overcomers. But why can we do this? In John 16:33 Jesus states, "I have overcome the world". He has overcome the world and that is reason enough to fix our eyes on Him and not look away.
When we have Christ as the center of our lives, this world cannot defeat us because in 1 John 4:4 it says, "You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world". Mandisa even has a song about being an overcomer. click here
Some of the advantages to being an overcomer of this world include but are not limited to:
"Being granted to eat from the tree of life which is in paradise and overcome the second death." Rev 2:7-11
"Will be given hidden manna and a white stone with a new name written thereon". Rev 2:17
Christ will give us "authority over the nations". Rev 2:26
"He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. He who overcomes, I will make a pillar in the temple of My God and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write on him the Name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from my God, and My new Name." Rev 3:5-12
These are really great things. The only way that we are able to obtain these is if we are overcomers of this world with Christ. Trusting in Him to do what He says He will do. This world will cause us to have problems. It will knock us down and steal our lunch money, but only if we let it. We will get knocked down, but staying down is a choice. I for one want to be get back up.
When we have Christ as the center of our lives, this world cannot defeat us because in 1 John 4:4 it says, "You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world". Mandisa even has a song about being an overcomer. click here
Some of the advantages to being an overcomer of this world include but are not limited to:
"Being granted to eat from the tree of life which is in paradise and overcome the second death." Rev 2:7-11
"Will be given hidden manna and a white stone with a new name written thereon". Rev 2:17
Christ will give us "authority over the nations". Rev 2:26
"He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. He who overcomes, I will make a pillar in the temple of My God and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write on him the Name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from my God, and My new Name." Rev 3:5-12
These are really great things. The only way that we are able to obtain these is if we are overcomers of this world with Christ. Trusting in Him to do what He says He will do. This world will cause us to have problems. It will knock us down and steal our lunch money, but only if we let it. We will get knocked down, but staying down is a choice. I for one want to be get back up.
Tuesday, March 5, 2019
Shepherd of my soul
What did a biblical shepherd do? A shepherd in biblical times is someone who spent all day with sheep. Tending to them, keeping them safe, seeking them when they are lost. They are not the high paid celebrity of a town official or tax collector. They were dirty, had to sleep outside, smelled like wet wool when it rained and they were a step up from poverty. They were laughed at and made fun of.
But when Christ was born, an angel appeared to shepherds in the fields, watching their sheep. Not only did they see an angel, they saw "a great company of the heavenly hosts" (Luke 2:13). The angel didn't go to the inn where, because it was full of people, there was no room. The angel did not appear to the king with a declaration saying "Christ is born". The humble shepherd is who they sought out.
Since the sheep were the shepherds livelihood, they would be there during the lambs birth, they would direct the flock in the direction that they needed to go, and protect them from predators. David was a shepherd before and after he was anointed king by the prophet Samuel. Look at all he did for his flock. He killed lions and bears, he played his harp for and sang songs to them. Shepherds loved their flock. They knew their flock and in turn, the sheep knew the voice of their shepherd.
In John 10: 14-15, Jesus says, "I am the good shepherd, and I know my own and my own know me, even as the father knows me and I know the father, I lay down my life for the sheep." (NASB)
The only difference between a shepherd leading a flock, and Christ leading us, is the way we are lead. To be directed by the Lord, we need to read His Word and meditate on His teachings. We need to understand that the impressions that we have are His directions and we need to act on them. The more that we do, the easier it will be for us to. We need to meet with fellow believers and allow them to be an impact in our lives and be one in theirs. To lovingly hold each other accountable.
This journey we are on is not an easy road, but as we lean into the Lord and seek His wisdom, it is going to get easier.
But when Christ was born, an angel appeared to shepherds in the fields, watching their sheep. Not only did they see an angel, they saw "a great company of the heavenly hosts" (Luke 2:13). The angel didn't go to the inn where, because it was full of people, there was no room. The angel did not appear to the king with a declaration saying "Christ is born". The humble shepherd is who they sought out.
Since the sheep were the shepherds livelihood, they would be there during the lambs birth, they would direct the flock in the direction that they needed to go, and protect them from predators. David was a shepherd before and after he was anointed king by the prophet Samuel. Look at all he did for his flock. He killed lions and bears, he played his harp for and sang songs to them. Shepherds loved their flock. They knew their flock and in turn, the sheep knew the voice of their shepherd.
In John 10: 14-15, Jesus says, "I am the good shepherd, and I know my own and my own know me, even as the father knows me and I know the father, I lay down my life for the sheep." (NASB)
The only difference between a shepherd leading a flock, and Christ leading us, is the way we are lead. To be directed by the Lord, we need to read His Word and meditate on His teachings. We need to understand that the impressions that we have are His directions and we need to act on them. The more that we do, the easier it will be for us to. We need to meet with fellow believers and allow them to be an impact in our lives and be one in theirs. To lovingly hold each other accountable.
This journey we are on is not an easy road, but as we lean into the Lord and seek His wisdom, it is going to get easier.
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