Good afternoon everyone!
I have had such a refreshing 24 hours! I have been so burdened to be praying and contending for the people of the world and for my church. So please know, if you attend my church, that you are being covered in prayer.
I love prayer, getting close to the Father and really seeing His heart. Along with this, being burdened to humble myself and depend on God. I have found myself wanting nothing more than to get on my knees and spend periods of time. Today, I have just been reinvigorated to have a heart of prayer. Thank you Lord for turning me around! PTL! (For those that do not know acronyms, PTL means Praise the Lord!)
But aside from this, I do want to address something that has bothered me a little bit and its just going to come out. In my meeting this afternoon, we prayed for a single mother and her child. We also prayed for her father, but also mentioned how he is nowhere to be found. As I read this, my heart grieved.
Earlier today, I read from Colossians (I've picked the book up again) and 2 verses stuck out very blatantly to me. They both are commands to men and their roles. The first is Colossians 3:19, which in the NIV reads, "Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them." The second verse is Colossians 3:21, "Fathers, do not embitter your children or they will become discouraged."
As I reflect on these two verses, I just see a high importance on the role a man plays in the life of the people around him. First, God commands us to love our wives. The wife is a person who has committed to a life-long walk with this man. This is a person who was designed to be unashamed with her spouse and viewed as of utmost importance. When we love them, we are not harsh with them, for we will treat them dignity and respect. But loving a woman is not an easy task. That might be why God commands it of us - because it is worth it!
Secondly, fathers are not to embitter their children. First, a father has to be around his children in order to play a role like this on their child's life. Children needs their dads - so much research shows this, and fathers do have a responsibility to their children to love them in the best way they can.
But our society is showing something else. As I mentioned earlier, we prayed for a mom and her daughter where the father is absent, and it just grieves my heart. This is not how God meant it to be and it is not how it should be! This is becoming WAY to common in our area and it is so sad.
Fathers, do you not realize what a significant role in your child's lives? You have to turn from thinking about yourself to thinking about your children. They need you. I am not a father, but I know it is not easy. But that should never be a reason to give up! If that was the way it was with God and He gave up on us, what would we do?
Men, let's change what we're doing to this society and this next generation. Your presence means so much more than you can even imagine in the lives of your children. Be there for them, pay attention to them, and love your wife. I plead with you to change the way we've let our society become.
"Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God." 1 John 4:7
Heavenly Father, we need you. God, I plead and petition you now to do a work in your children in this world. Lord, we live in a broken and hurting world, and gradually and more gradually we see a generation growing up with a male father figure. Lord, you can change this. Lord, I know that the way children are fathered is how they view you - and I want nothing less for the generation to see you as a loving, nurturing, caring, strong Father. Lord, do not let them be dismayed, but encouraged to know the deep love you have for them. Lord, I pray for all the single mothers and ask that you would give them wisdom, love, and immense strength in the task they have in raising their children. Guide these women Lord to depend on you and love you more. God, I pray for the dads and ask you to fill these men with joy and love for their wives and their children. Lord, would these men be filled with encourage to pour that on their children and love them. God would you give them immense love for their wives. Thank you so much Lord for the gift of fathers in our lives, only to reflect the true nature of You, our Heavenly Father. Lead us men Lord, to take a stance that glorifies you as well Jesus in all our ways. Help us to set our priorities, with you first, our spouses second, and our children third. Guide us after your heart Lord and fill us with your Holy Spirit. I ask all this in the glorious name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Monday, September 13, 2010
Christ in you, the hope of glory
Good afternoon all!
I hope this post finds you well and celebrating newness in your walk of faith. I have exciting things to share as well!
I'm going to begin this post with a prayer.
"God, we need your grace. Our hearts are broken. We are cisterns that cannot hold water. Our own efforts do nothing and we must repent for trying to think they would. Bring us to our knees and whisper truth to us now. Jesus you are the only hope we can proclaim. We are aimless without your guidance. Stand firm to strengthen and transform your children after your beautiful heart. Thank you Jesus for your love and faithfulness. We turn to you now."
I have been listening to a young woman by the name of Sarah Reeves for a little over a year now, and she has one powerful song that is so beautiful. It's called "Come Save" and just about every time I hear it, I am pushed to worship.
The song talks about how much we need God and we need to depend on His saving work. This afternoon I heard the song and I was so moved to turn and repent. I was turned back to God for the ugliness I see in myself. I beat myself up so many times because of how I fail to obey God. I hate that I don't love Him as much as I should. I hate that I lack in self - control of my body in many ways, and I know how depraved I am in myself.
As I heard this song, I was reminded to turn to God. So, this post begins with a confession, one that I must say over and over - I'm not perfect. This heart of mine is broken and is contrite. But I am reminded from Psalm 51 that this is what God desires, not sacrifice. He is full of grace and can accomplish all that I cannot. He is so good.
I jumped into my Bible at this time, and a few weeks ago, I started to read Colossians. I decided to come back to this book and I looked at one verse I had underlined. It's Colossians 1:27. It says, "To them God has chosen to make known...the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." This verse powerfully speaks of what matters most and what God has placed in us by His own choosing - our hope. It is Christ alone. He is living inside us. He is the one who gives me any righteous standing before God at all.
Do you realize that when God looks at us He sees His Son Jesus inside of us, and He alone makes us righteous to stand before the God of all the Universe? It is Jesus alone that allows us to approach the Father and have a relationship with Him. And not only God, we have access to the Holy Spirit and to Jesus. We are called into communion with all three and we are so blessed.
I believe many of us have forgotten this, or continually forget it. We are saved to a glorious redemption, never dependent on ourselves. It is our duty to depend and trust in the Father. Our sin should never overwhelm us to the point of death, because that's how much bigger and mightier God is. He is cleansing us and purifying us for a glorious heaven.
And if I am to judge, there is a lot of refining He has left to do on me. But I have hope that He is working. And I will continue to press in and assure myself in His heart. I am a child of the mighty King of Heaven, and He calls me to a new life, one that I continue to envelop myself in.
Lord Jesus, I am amazed at your redemption of my heart and the hearts of your people. I bow before you for your excellencies and worthiness. You are the King. And you have opened my heart to see you. Yes, Lord, I ignore looking at and to you sometimes. I apologize for my acts and I ask that you would once again cleanse away all that separates us. I know much of the road blocks have been self - induced, and some from the enemy. Lord, it doesn't matter. Lord, you are righteous. Lord, I want to love you more. Draw me near, and all your children, to you and your heart. I pray in the powerful name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
I hope this post finds you well and celebrating newness in your walk of faith. I have exciting things to share as well!
I'm going to begin this post with a prayer.
"God, we need your grace. Our hearts are broken. We are cisterns that cannot hold water. Our own efforts do nothing and we must repent for trying to think they would. Bring us to our knees and whisper truth to us now. Jesus you are the only hope we can proclaim. We are aimless without your guidance. Stand firm to strengthen and transform your children after your beautiful heart. Thank you Jesus for your love and faithfulness. We turn to you now."
I have been listening to a young woman by the name of Sarah Reeves for a little over a year now, and she has one powerful song that is so beautiful. It's called "Come Save" and just about every time I hear it, I am pushed to worship.
The song talks about how much we need God and we need to depend on His saving work. This afternoon I heard the song and I was so moved to turn and repent. I was turned back to God for the ugliness I see in myself. I beat myself up so many times because of how I fail to obey God. I hate that I don't love Him as much as I should. I hate that I lack in self - control of my body in many ways, and I know how depraved I am in myself.
As I heard this song, I was reminded to turn to God. So, this post begins with a confession, one that I must say over and over - I'm not perfect. This heart of mine is broken and is contrite. But I am reminded from Psalm 51 that this is what God desires, not sacrifice. He is full of grace and can accomplish all that I cannot. He is so good.
I jumped into my Bible at this time, and a few weeks ago, I started to read Colossians. I decided to come back to this book and I looked at one verse I had underlined. It's Colossians 1:27. It says, "To them God has chosen to make known...the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." This verse powerfully speaks of what matters most and what God has placed in us by His own choosing - our hope. It is Christ alone. He is living inside us. He is the one who gives me any righteous standing before God at all.
Do you realize that when God looks at us He sees His Son Jesus inside of us, and He alone makes us righteous to stand before the God of all the Universe? It is Jesus alone that allows us to approach the Father and have a relationship with Him. And not only God, we have access to the Holy Spirit and to Jesus. We are called into communion with all three and we are so blessed.
I believe many of us have forgotten this, or continually forget it. We are saved to a glorious redemption, never dependent on ourselves. It is our duty to depend and trust in the Father. Our sin should never overwhelm us to the point of death, because that's how much bigger and mightier God is. He is cleansing us and purifying us for a glorious heaven.
And if I am to judge, there is a lot of refining He has left to do on me. But I have hope that He is working. And I will continue to press in and assure myself in His heart. I am a child of the mighty King of Heaven, and He calls me to a new life, one that I continue to envelop myself in.
Lord Jesus, I am amazed at your redemption of my heart and the hearts of your people. I bow before you for your excellencies and worthiness. You are the King. And you have opened my heart to see you. Yes, Lord, I ignore looking at and to you sometimes. I apologize for my acts and I ask that you would once again cleanse away all that separates us. I know much of the road blocks have been self - induced, and some from the enemy. Lord, it doesn't matter. Lord, you are righteous. Lord, I want to love you more. Draw me near, and all your children, to you and your heart. I pray in the powerful name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
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