Love you all, praying for you,
I just love God’s Word, it gives promises you can count on – like the sun comes up in the morning. Proverbs 10:3 – The LORD does not let the righteous go hungry, but he thwarts the craving of the wicked. You are either hungry, or craving. The righteous are hungry, the wicked crave. God fills the hungry, He thwarts the craving. God didn’t say the righteous never get hungry, He just said He will not leave them hungry. He will fill them - Spiritually and Physically. Spiritually – He will give you your daily bread. Wisdom, Strength, Joy, Encouragement, Faith, Hope, Testimony, Assurance, The Holy Spirit, blessing, abundance, peace, an instructed tongue, opportunity to share. And Physically He will give you your daily bread, bread for the eater and seed for the sower. He will give you what you need (Food, Clothing, Shelter, Safety) And He will give you enough to share with others. Praying that you will hunger and thirst after righteousness. God said we should hunger and thirst – after Him and His things, not the world and it’s things. If you hunger and thirst after righteousness - God said you will be filled. What is righteousness? Right standing and right doing. Receive Jesus Christ as your Savior, and God will welcome you into heaven, Be filled with His Spirit – that He promised, and you will know and walk in His truth. Then just do what He told you to do today – in this hour. He will tell you, and give you grace to do it. If you’re busy obeying, you won’t be craving. The things of this world, you will pass right by them, you’ll be focused on other things, better things. The things He has planned for you. Praying that you will know His Will, and know His Word – so today can be an awesome day that leads to the destiny he has chosen for you. His Word is an acquired taste, the more you eat the more you want, it’s how your hunger grows. If you hunger and thirst after righteousness (God’s best, no compromise), then God will fill you! He promised! But if you look at the things of the world, you will crave, but never get. He promised! Praying that you will hunger and thirst after righteousness, that your hunger will grow. So God can fill you! Love you all, dad
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Love you all, praying for you,
I just love God’s Word. It lets you know, you’re not the only one, God has done this before. And there’s more where that came from! Have you ever found yourself slipping of the mouth? If your mouth starts to slip, your faith starts to slip. Because your faith is what your mouth says. Have you ever been convicted by your current position, your doubt, that temptation for unbelief? Have you ever suddenly noticed that you are not truly standing in faith in this thing you are facing - and you actually decide to turn? You choose to take a stand, to be strong in the LORD, and in the power of His Might. You choose like David to encourage yourself in the LORD, to obey what He says to speak the faith that God wants you to speak so you walk in what God wants you to walk in… And then things get worse? It doesn’t even take a minute and something else bad happens, and things look even worse than before? You just decided to fully put your trust in Him, or turn from something that He said not to do. Or you chose to go do what He told you to do. Or you chose to stop letting your words drag you down, but instead – speak your belief until you believe what you speak, and then something bad happens, even worse than before? What just happened? God just tested you. Are you surprised? Do you think that’s unusual? Shouldn’t that be expected? The testing of your faith is what makes it stronger. I was listening to a worship set during my PRISM time with the LORD, and in the intro to the next song, the worship leader was sharing the story of this song she wrote some time earlier, that started with her singing it in her car. God, I look to you, because I am overwhelmed. She’s just being real, She said, I was singing it, because that’s what I was - overwhelmed. And God stopped her, “As long as you say that, you’ll stay there.” He changed her words… God I look to you, I won’t be overwhelmed, give me vision to see things like you do. God I look to you, you’re where my help comes from. Give me wisdom to know just what to do. That’s what He does! God told her, prophesy over yourself. It doesn’t matter if things get worse – they well could. But what does that have to do with your faith, or God’s Word, or His promise, or His victory. He wins, the enemy loses. God has victory in store for the upright. Part of being upright is speaking right. It’s looking up, not down, it’s speaking life, not death, it’s declaring victory, not decreeing your own defeat. It doesn’t matter what else goes wrong. God isn’t done yet, your story isn’t written yet, the best part hasn’t even come yet! God is doing this, the worse it gets, the greater the turnaround, the stronger the villain, the greater the victory, the greater the obstacle, the more you overcome, the deeper the crater – the bigger the comeback. God is a 4th Quarter kind of God. He’s always clutch in the final drive. Praying that you will catch yourself if you ever slip into looking at the waves around you, or the giants against you. What are you looking at them for? So things get worse – so what. This isn’t about the giants or the waves, this is about the Giant Killer and Wave Stiller. This isn’t about what you face, this is about the One who gives you victory in all things. He even gives you victory before the enemy is defeated, and he will be - every time - forever. Praying that you won’t be overwhelmed, that you will never say that, that you will overcome through the Word of Faith that God gives you. Praying that you will watch your words, and use them well, so your faith grows! So your victory comes! Love you all, dad Love you all, praying for you,
What kind of counsel do you give? Do you give counsel that encourages people toward humility, and obedience, to surrender to God’s will for their life, or God’s best for them? Or does your counsel encourage them in taking offense, self-trust, or the excuse of things that are not God’s best? There are a lot of options out there for people – to think or believe or do. Do you promote strife or unity, do you promote pride or humility, do you promote surrender or stupidity. There are plenty of friends who will commiserate with you – and let you wallow in your attitude… "How could they say that? Are you going take that? Who do they think they are!" This helps no one, least of all the one who needs Godly counsel. God said, the pleasantness of ones friend springs from their earnest counsel. (Proverbs 27:9) Sometimes the best counsel is painful. Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but an enemy multiplies kisses. (Proverbs 27:6) Better open rebuke than hidden love. (Proverbs 27:5) The value of friendship comes from the counsel they give you. What counsel do you give? Is it Godly counsel? God is a God of humility. He is a God of righteousness, and holiness. Every friend gives counsel. You can tell your friends by their counsel. You can tell someone by the counsel they give, and the counsel they heed. Proverbs 15:31 – He who listens to life-giving rebuke will dwell among the wise. Proverbs 12:1 – Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid. That why it is so important to choose friends who are humble obeyers, not ‘do their own thing'-ers. Praying that you will seek and heed Godly counsel, that God will give you discernment between the two. The more you heed counsel, the better your counsel will be. Praying that you will soak in God’s Word constantly. It’s wisdom, and those who speak truth, speak His Word. Those who give Godly counsel, are the ones who know His Word, and are faithful in the decisions they make. Who seek Him with their whole heart, turn from anything that isn’t His best, and humble themselves before the LORD and others. These are the friends to have, that give earnest counsel – that will protect you and encourage you in the best that God has for you. Praying that you will give good counsel, because you have made it a habit to heed. Love you all, dad Love you all, praying for you,
I just love God’s Word. It is perfect timing. It’s truth, and at the right time (almost just as important). God spoke something to me. Have you ever felt a need to get back to basics? If you’ve ever felt like you were a little off… in schedule, in timing, in time with God and His Word, in doing what He told you. If you’ve ever felt just a little off – or way off. The Holy Spirit is prompting you – to get back to the basics. When is the best time – to get back to basics? “The night before, not the morning of.” The ‘grace note’ of life – is always just before the year, month, week, or day begins. That’s why the most important habit in your life – is PiVAT Before Dinner. How else will you know His plans for you? Grace Note – it’s a musical term – which indicates the note before the downbeat of a measure. The “Uhh” of Uhh-Mazing Grace – how sweet the sound… So why is the grace note so important in life? You cannot afford to spend time asking God, about what you should be doing already. Timing is everything. That’s why PiVAT for the Year is so important. God didn’t promise to tell you everything that will happen this year - right now. But He did say if you ask for wisdom, He will give it to you – without holding your faults against you. (James 1:5) He’ll tell you all you need to know for right now – guaranteed. He promised. He won’t tell you after the year is already over. Just like PiVAT for this week, or month, or when you do PiVAT before dinner to get His plans for you for tomorrow. He won’t wait until next week – if you’re asking Him P: What do I need most from You today? (for tomorrow) V: What do You want me to do today? A: When do You want me to do it? The specific time. And when you ask Him to help you remember T: What He did today (this day, so far before dinner) when you just obeyed, and What He revealed so far today, through your PRISM time in His Word, In His Presence, and Prayer. If you’re asking Him before dinner, for PiVAT for tomorrow… His plans for you – He won’t tell you next week! That would be like a father who when his son asks for a piece of bread, would give him a stone. God said if you, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in Heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask? That means – the Holy Spirit who leads you in all truth, who reveals the heart of your Heavenly Father to you, His plans for you and the details of the plan – will tell you what you need to know so far – about tomorrow. So you hit the ground running, and you don't miss out on even one good thing that He has planned for you. If you ask, He will never give you a stone. He promised your Daily Bread. That means physical food to eat, and spiritual food to eat: His Plans, His Timing, His Testimony, and His Word. Praying that you will get back to the basics at the best time to do it… during the grace note… of this coming year, this coming month, this coming week, and the coming day. So God’s Grace can fill you, so you’ll know His song, and His plans – so you can sing it with joy, and walk in them completely. Love you all, dad Love you all, praying for you,
I just love God’s Word – it gives principles that are the exact opposite of what everyone does around you. It will set you apart. Like the wise, above the fool. I turned the television on last night, and was painfully flipping through channels. Every time I came to a show I had to click past it. I was surprised to see how many ‘Reality Shows’ were on TV. Housewives of somewhere, or the perpetual dating shows, that recycle the selfish and the needy. Ironically scripted, or at least orchestrated, I guess for many people, they are reality. It’s how they live their life, it’s what their relationships look like – one continuous drama. Men and Women – old enough to know better, all dressed up, but ugly on the inside. Embarrassingly immature, completely selfish, and overweening with pride. They call it drama. Many people’s lives are consumed with drama. It’s like a grass fire, once it you can’t put it out – it just continues wherever you go. It’s almost laughable, but so uncomfortable that you soon realize, there is nothing of value in watching this. Better to watch a ball game, or an old movie. Have you ever wondered why some people cannot escape the drama in their life? It just hangs on like a bad odor. Is that you? Why are some people always trapped in drama? They are unaware of the wisdom of God. That’s what I love about God’s Word – it gives you stuff that works. Drama comes from lack of humility, lack of honoring, lack of preferring, and deferring. God’s Word gives basic principles to follow when interacting with people. Let another praise you, and not your own mouth, someone else, and not your own lips. Trash talk is just that – trash. You don’t need to. Why? Those who are the best, don’t need to say anything. It’s obvious. Those who talk about themselves, and what they think or do or accomplish – are completely lacking in decorum, and awareness. Talking about yourself – doesn’t increase your accomplishment, it just diminishes your reputation in the eyes of others. Say Nothing Harmful. This is not a habit of many people. God says do not slander. Say nothing that would steal someone's reputation, or lessen them in the eyes of others. There is no need to speak of the failures, or mistakes, or shortcomings of others. No, you don’t know what they’re thinking, you’re just assuming – but you don’t know. You’re not God, and you cannot see in their mind. The devil is the accuser of the brethren. And if your words are pointing out the poor decisions of others – you are merely doing the devil’s work. Sometimes people try to bait you. Do you engage with them? Philippians 2:14 – Do everything without grumbling or arguing (murmuring, complaining or disputing). God is saying don’t get into arguments with people. It’s foolish, and needless. If they have an opinion, let it be. It’s not your job to fix them, nor is your job to correct them. Verse 15 – so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and perverse generation. Then you will shine like stars in the sky.” That is so true. What if a person like that would be on one of those shows? (they wouldn’t be) but they would, they would surely stand out. Someone who declines to participate in foolish disputes, arguments over words - they stand out like a light on a hill. Wisdom sets you above the fray. That means when someone comes at you. Choose not to respond in kind. You’ll find an interesting thing. Just like God says let another praise you and not your own mouth. They will. And equally, if you decline to get baited into needless argument, there will often be another who rises up to defend you. And if not, it doesn’t matter. So what should you do that will demonstrate the wisdom of God – to insure a Drama-Free life? #1 Don’t Talk about yourself – Listen to others. Be more about understanding their viewpoint, than promoting and defending your own. Better to ask questions and seek clarification so you learn the heart of others, it’s how you demonstrate God’s love for them. Everyone longs to be heard. Sometimes silence after their foolishness – jolts them into the realization that they might be missing something. If they are a little off, or misled, now isn’t always the time to correct them. If you hear them, they will feel loved. And you are much more likely to be turned to truth, by someone who loves you – not someone who beats you over the head with it. #2) Don’t accuse, slander, or berate anyone. Say Nothing Harmful. Don’t you be the start of any argument. Only speak life. If you can’t, be silent. But there is always something you can say that is positive or encouraging, or that will diffuse, or redirect the conversation to something more beneficial. Loving people, doesn’t mean loving everything they say or do. Just don’t you be the one – who accuses, slanders, or says any negative thing. There is no need for it. Words always lead to either unity or division. #3) Don’t take the bait. When attacked, you don’t need to fight back. Most people diss others. It’s the culture. They can’t help but say something negative about you – “Well I’m not going let them talk crap about me.” Why? Where is that in the Bible? Why do you have to defend yourself against someone who doesn’t know you, and isn’t telling the truth? God said, “An undeserved curse doesn’t come to rest.” It doesn’t say if you defend yourself successfully against it… It just says – it won’t stick… so don’t worry about it. Don’t waste your energy defending yourself, maybe you need to be more selective about those you spend your time with. #4) Know When To Be Silent. It should be your default. And when you speak. Always speak life. Praying that you will review the PRISM Topics – Speak Life, Listen, and Shut Up. There’s just something about getting God’s Word into the warehouse of your mind. The Holy Spirit – can easily retrieve it in the moment that you need it. If you know the Word of God – it will set standards for your action, and communication – that will become habits, and first reactions which are the opposite of common foolishness. Wisdom will reside in you, and with wisdom comes wealth, honor, and life. Praying that you will never get caught up in drama. That you will never start it, nor be drawn into it. It’s not what the wise do, leave that to others… Love you all, dad Love you all, praying for you,
I just love God’s Word – it separates. It distinguishes, it makes very clear what is right and what is not, no matter what people say. Have you ever noticed the power of peer pressure. Most people live their lives like those around them. If the character of the culture recognizes the moral truth and authority of God’s Word (like the early days of America), then people will conform, even if they don’t fully believe. But if the culture abandons God’s Word of truth, they go right along with it, afraid to stand for what is right, preferring the praise of men, over the praise of God. It’s amazing to me how ignorant people, can ridicule or criticize those who put their faith in Jesus Christ, and in God’s Word – the very thing which has remained unchanged since the Creation of the universe and the human race. They laugh at those who believe what God says is true, little knowing, the joke’s on them. God laughs at them, He holds them in derision. He knows their days are numbered. He loves them and offers freedom, but if they refuse, they will reap the judgment that their deeds and their words deserve. Can you imagine if you didn’t know God’s Word? If you didn’t know the love of God? If you didn’t know His commands that bring you success, if you didn’t know that He loves you and has a plan for you? Can you imagine if you didn’t have His wisdom, that brings wealth, honor, and life, if you didn’t know the peace that He gives, that goes far beyond mental understanding, if you didn’t have the joy that His Word, His Presence, and Obedience to His Word and His plan – brings you? Can you imagine if you didn’t have faith that sees things as they really are, not just what they look like right now? If you didn’t have hope, the hope of what He has promised? You’d be hopeless, joyless, faithless, wisdom-less, lifeless. You would just get what you could do in your own strength, you’d be helpless against powers stronger than you, nothing you do would last, it would all burn up in the fire at the end. Some people’s problem, is not that they have never known, but they have forgotten. They got swayed… They leave what works, they ignore what could save them, they neglect what could strengthen them and bring them success. What sways you? Inputs. What you look at, listen to, and hang out with. Be careful. Praying that you will remember what works, and turn from what doesn’t. Praying that you will seek God’s Word – like your life and strength, and joy, and peace, and future depend on it. That you will know His plans, and obey them completely, that you will soak in His presence, and walk in His strength, that your faith will increase, that your joy will overflow, that your hope will grow, and your peace will remain. Praying that you won’t worry, fear, or fret. Praying that you won’t let the mockers, the foolish, who have perished for generations, sway you, or keep you from fully pursuing, fully doing, and fully believing, everything He is, everything He said, and everything He tells you to do - if you’ll ask Him. Praying that you will love Him - His Word, His Presence, and His Promise. That you will love others (even those who don’t yet know Him) – with the love that He has for them. Praying that you will never be swayed by those who don’t believe, that you will never forget what God said, or neglect what got you this far… But that you would grow in His grace – the power to live the life that He has chosen for you – that will bring His reward – for all of eternity. His truth and His life is so much better down here, just like it’s so much better up there. Praying that you will never let yourself be swayed, but that you will be steadfast, immovable, always growing in His grace. Love you all, dad Love you all, praying for you,
I just love God’s Word – It is the ultimate reminder. It refreshes our memory of what He said, and what will happen if we do it. Proverbs 6:21 Bind them on your heart forever fasten them around your neck. When you walk they will guide you; when you sleep, they will watch over you; when you awake they will speak to you. For these commands are a lamp, this teaching is a light, and the corrections of discipline are the way to life. God says there are some things you should tie to yourself, that you should never leave home without, that you should keep so close that the become part of you. Your success depends on your attachment to His Word. It’s really what has it done for you lately. The past can affect your future but it doesn’t restrict it. You can turn today, you can be established today. Just because you did well in the past, doesn’t guarantee you’ll continue. It is of huge advantage, but not a guarantee. And just because you failed in the past, doesn’t condemn your future. What you do now – determines what you will eat next. Planting and Harvest, the words of your mouth, become the actions of your hands, and the life that becomes yours. His Word should be on your tongue all day long, so it stays firmly in your heart. So you go to bed soaking in it, and wake up with it as the first thing on your mind. So you go through your day guided by it, and in doing so, protected from mental, and truth-less distractions that dilute and destroy your effectiveness, and delay or delete your destiny. God gives us reminders. Bind His Word on your heart forever. Wear it around your neck. Walk with it on your lips, go to bed with it, so you wake up with it. Let His Word define you and guide you and establish you. Praying that you will keep doing PRISM Every Day – keep coming back to it in your down times or transition times, those five things you can do in God’s Word. It’s an acquired taste, you’ll grow to love it, and those who love it will eat its fruit. Let your words, be God’s Word. Next ask God what PRISM Topic – He wants you to take with you, and soak in, and chew on today. The power of God’s Word on a single subject. It will give you wisdom, it will change your mindset, it is built in Godly counsel. So that as you transform your mind, by His Word, you will have something worthwhile to say. Not foolishness, but wisdom will come out of your mouth, that will establish you, and bring success to others. Have you ever had a friend, who was just solid, that gave good counsel, whose life was a demonstration of the power and blessing of God? That’s who God wants you to be. It’s not just for you, it’s for others who are watching you. So God gets the glory, so people around you are drawn to Him and the good that He has for them, and so you walk in every good thing that He has ordained and reserved and stored up for you! Someone told a story of a man who went to heaven, and saw shelves and shelves of beautifully wrapped gifts. What are these? He asked. “What God had for you, that you never got to.” That story is not in the Bible, but it is an invitation to leave nothing on the table, to not leave anything God has for you unopened. Praying that His Word which is the key to the warehouse of His blessing, will be what you always have in your hand and in your mouth. So you will walk in what He has for you - every last thing. It’s good! Have you ever spent time PRISM time with God in His Word – and what He revealed was so timely, so powerful, and so practical. And the thought crossed your mind… “Wow, if I had been too busy today – if I didn’t make the choice to spend this time in His Word today - I would have never have gotten this!” What does God want to show you today that you need for today? Praying that you’ll never miss it! Love you all, dad Love you all, praying for you,
I just love God’s Word. Truth and wisdom are always a little surprising, not what you would expect, not what you would normally think. God’s Word always has two-sided benefit... advantage for this life, and advancement for eternity. God always says interesting things. I Tim 4:7 – Have nothing to do with worthless, silly myths and fables; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. First, why did God say the first sentence? Because the previous verses warned of the last days – where people would abandon the faith (which means they once knew and followed Christ, but turned away) to follow deceptive teachings taught by demons, perpetuated by hypocrites with a seared conscience. They forbid certain things, and tell people to abstain from them, even though God created them to be received with thanksgiving by those who know the truth. This creates a false virtue, virtue signaling, not sincere godliness or holiness which is consecrated by His Word and prayer. That’s why God said to have nothing to do with worldly teachings that have a form of godliness but deny the power thereof. Instead, train yourselves in godliness. Train yourselves to be Godly. Be in training. How do you do that? How do you train yourself in Godliness? Training is simply forming habits that build skills so they become natural reactions, and the way you do things. Training changes your DNA – it prepares you for the task at hand, the goal ahead, and the unexpected that will challenge you. You’re not doing this just for eternity, Godliness benefits you in this life. What is Godliness? – God-like-ness. Jesus was the example of Godliness. How? He did only what His Heavenly Father wanted him to do, and he did it with all his heart. Train yourself to be Godly. How do you do that? 1) Know what God instructs – to be Godly – what He has instructed His people to do. PRISM will really help you. 2) Self-Assess. God, are my actions, and my fruit, the actions you instruct, and the fruit you produce? Am I Godly or am I falling short? 3) Set Your Training Course - Get God’s Plan (Action and Schedule), and pursue it with diligence and perseverance. What should your training course contain? #1 A Baseline – Steward what you have been given. Does what you have honor him? Do your physical possessions look like He owns them? Do you even know what you have financially, do you have a tool, to give an account? Once your baseline is set, your training course should also contain - #2) A Daily Workout – the Daily Habits God has for you (Get His Plans, Read His Word, Obey with His Money, and Exhort One Other Daily). The third thing your training course should contain – #3 Life Pursuits - Next Life Steps (Work, Preparation for the future, and Relationship Investments). Train yourself to be Godly: Get to the baseline, Get His plans and habits, and do what He told you to do next to honor Him today and prepare for the future. You’ll walk in wisdom, you’ll walk in His purpose for you, and you’ll walk in His blessing. Know what He wants you to do, and do it. So God will say of you, like He said of David, I have found you! (Your Name Goes Here) a man after my own heart, a woman after my own heart, he will do everything I want him to do, she will do everything I want her to do. God said an interesting thing.. Physical training has value. Not as much as Godliness, but it has value – likely for the disciplines and habits, and consistent effort it requires. It’s stewardship of your physical body, even though it is aging and wearing out. Stewarding your physical body still has benefit. It keeps you in training mode. So training is familiar. And if you are faithful physically, you can also be faithful in godliness. People in training have a mindset of progress over pleasure. It applies across the board. Praying that you will ask God what training program you should be on - Spiritually (your relationship with Him) Responsibility (that your job requires to honor him, and prepare for the future) Physically – starting with stewarding the possessions, and money He has entrusted to you, and your physical body – so your health enables you to do what He is calling you to do, and Relationally – investing in the most important life relationships, spouse, children, family, true Godly friends, and reaching out to others. So God can bring your entire life to become an offering of worship, a testament of His greatness, and a legacy that will remain long after you are gone. Love you all, dad Love you all, praying for you,
I just love Gods Word, it is a goldmine of best practice. Psalms: 104:13 – He waters the mountains from his upper chambers; the earth is satisfied by the fruit of his work. God works, He works to sustain, fulfill, and complete. His action is work - His work is creating, watering, and making things grow. The fruit of His work is benefit for others, and as a result of that benefit – people are blessed and satisfied. That’s what work should do. It should build, it should benefit, and it should satisfy. So what work does God have for you today? Your job is a part of it. (If you are a student, school is your job). Once you are in your career - your best second job is always being better at your first job. Operations and Research & Development – two parts of your job. Daily Action that brings a profit, and daily action that prepares for the future, that increases your expertise and capability to deliver greater value in changing times. A second kind of work that God has for you – Stewardship - of the resources and possessions you have been entrusted with. (Steady Plodding, so excellence is the standard, so your fields are weed-free, and your walls are in excellent repair, not broken down) - that happens daily. Building a house, is all out, but maintaining it is daily – little by little. You build a house once, you maintain it from then on. Stewardship is also knowing the condition of your flock To know where God’s money is, so you can do what He tells you to do with it. Give, Save and Spend – at His direction – so He gets the glory – and your supply never runs out. What other work are you called to today? Prayer – Prayer is labor in the Spirit so the power of heaven impacts earth. Prayer, the labor that glorifies God in adoration, that gets His will and His plans for you, and that partners with God by petition on behalf of others. Paul gave Epaphras as an example. Colossians 4:12 – Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, always laboring fervently for you in prayer, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God. Prayer is a labor that brings result and reward. What other kind of work does God have for you? Train – Train up your children in the way they should go, and when they are old they will not depart from it. If you have children, your job is to train them. To instruct, demonstrate, and be with them while they do it, until they become skilled and capable. Your workday includes the work of training. Even if you have no children, you can train others – in the skills God has given you, or at least encourage them in excellence. Another kind of work – Study. God said, Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth. Study His Word – it takes work – but it will give you discernment, it will guarantee your success, it will help you be effective in every area of your life. Study His Word, you’ll know His ways, and the way He has chosen for you – it’s work that God approves, that improves you. Another part of work – is to Serve. To labor for the benefit of others, for their good, not your own compensation. It’s what Jesus did, it’s what God calls us to - Serve. God works, God’s work is watering and building. Wisdom is what He works by. We are created to work, to water and build. So there is fruit to our labor, to benefit others, to bring satisfaction and enjoyment. (All of God’s created things have a purpose, they know their job and do it. The moon sets the seasons, the sun knows when to go down (the earth knows to turn on its access and never ceases to do so.) Darkness comes every twenty-four hours on schedule, night life begins, only to cease when men get up in the morning, to start their labor. So do you work? Do you work hard? What kind of work do you do? Are you doing the work that God has for you? Or the work you want to do? Some people work hard, but don’t steward well, Some people spent time working on all kinds of other things, but aren’t really focused on their job. Some people work their tails off, but don’t have time for prayer – so they miss out on God’s direction, and don’t have time to study – so they’re just working for nothing, slaving away with a dull axe. Some people are so busy working to provide for their kids, that they neglect taking time to train them – the thing they need the most. Not toys, training – so they will succeed in the plans God has for them! And many people work hard, but work for themselves… Serving is just not a priority – they don’t have any time to work, if it doesn’t give them a paycheck. Praying that work will be a joy for you. God created work for you to take joy in, for your benefit, for your satisfaction, and the benefit of others. Praying that your work will be at His direction and will reflect the God you serve. That you will take joy in what He told you to do today. That your job, your possessions, your prayer, training your children and others, your study of His Word, and your willingness to Serve – would produce the benefit and satisfaction that God intends. So He gets the glory and you get the blessing down here, and eternal reward up there! Love you all, dad Love you all, praying for you,
I just love God’s Word – it clarifies what is often misunderstood. Some people think meekness is weakness. Some people thought Jesus lost on the cross, when actually it was the devil that was utterly and forever defeated. It’s what destroyed his evil desires forever. Weakness is powerlessness, it’s insufficient power to win, or survive, or avoid oppression. But meekness – is superior power under control. Like a Hemi in idle. You’ve got the power, you just choose not to use it. When you’ve got it, you don’t always have to use it. Meekness is choosing not to – when you could, it’s choosing not to do, what you have the power to do. It is humility by choice not by force. Jesus was meek not weak. He could have called one angel to destroy the entire regiment of the Roman army in all of Judea. He could have called down hail, or fire, or turned the entire Sanhedrin into lepers – but He didn’t. He willingly obeyed the wishes of His Father in heaven, to die a brutal death, so your sins are covered, fully paid for. He willingly was beaten for the offenses you committed, He willingly was bruised for your iniquities, he voluntarily took the punishment for your peace, he was whipped for your healing, His stripes made your healing possible. You no longer are required to suffer the death your sins deserve, He did it for you, in your place. Some people think meek is weak. They don’t want to choose meekness, because they think it is weakness. They are more concerned with what men think of them, than what God thinks of them. They’re more concerned about what they look like, than what they really are. When was the last time you chose meek, when you didn’t have to? Are you more concerned with what people think, than what God thinks? How concerned are you with how you look? with being right, or winning this argument? What makes you strong? The joy of the LORD. What gives you joy? His Presence, His Word, and your obedience! It enters you into His joy. Humility is the start of obedience, He opposes the proud, but gives more power (grace) to the humble. I remember a Kobe Commercial years ago with some little kids choosing teams on the playground. “He’s tall… Do you think he can play? Have you ever played basketball?” “A little.” Meekness doesn’t need to flaunt itself. It doesn’t need to put others down, to be built up. When you’re the best player on the field, or in the gym, you don’t need to tell people. They’ll figure it out. Meekness doesn’t need to win all the time, or win every argument. Meekness doesn’t take, it gives. Praying that you will know the power of Christ in meekness. That you will know the power of Christ in you – that can help you choose meekness that gives God glory, not the weakness that seeks glory for yourself. Praying that you will love God, with all of your affection and all of your obedience… that you will know His plans for you, and do His will completely, because you trust Him with the result. That you will love others with the love He gives you, and see them as He sees them. That you will be powerful in meekness, not powerless in weakness. Praying that you will trust God fully, that you will know what is weak and what is strong. That you will have the meekness of Christ – that brings glory to your Heavenly Father, and fully demonstrates the hope that is within you. You won’t be disappointed. God’s Word never disappoints – it overcomes. Love you all, dad |
AuthorKelly Kamentz - Jesus follower, husband, father, and friend, helping others surrender time, thoughts, money, and testimony, to fulfill their purpose! Archives
April 2024
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