"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day - and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing." (2 Timothy 4:7) Josh McDowell tells about an executive 'headhunter' who recruits corporate executives for large firms. This headhunter once told McDowell that when he interviews an executive, he likes to disarm him. 'I offer him a soft drink,' said the headhunter, 'take off my coat, undo my tie, throw up my feet and talk about baseball, football, family, whatever, until he's all relaxed. Then, when I think I've got him relaxed, I lean over, look him square in the eye and say, "What's your purpose in life?" It's amazing how top executives fall apart at that question. Then he told about interviewing one fellow recently. He had him all disarmed, had his feet up on his desk, talking about football. Then the headhunter leaned over and said, "Bob, what is your purpose in life?' And the executive said, without blinking an eye, "To go to heaven and take as many people with me as I can." "For the first time in my career," said the headhunter, "I was speechless." What is your purpose in Life? Have you placed your faith in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior? (John 3:16) Are you daily denying your self, taking up the cross and following Him? (Luke 9:23) Do you love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength and all your mind? (Luke 10:27) When you trust in Jesus, you're one of God's children (John 1:12-13). Live today full of purpose - seeking to do His will, following Him and serving Him. When we first have a child, we’re primarily concerned with making sure he or she has every physical need met that we possibly can provide. It’s a huge responsibility to have and then help God grow our child so he or she grows up into a happy, responsible adult. The responsibility grows when more children come along! But helping our children grow up into happy, responsible adults, goes beyond just meeting their physical needs, there are spiritual and emotional needs that we need to focus as well. And that’s where the title of this marriage message comes in. As parents, we are more than caretakers, we are also role models who teach our children how to approach life. Even if they don’t copy our role modeling exactly as we hope, we need to at least do the best we can to teach them by what we do for them, what we say and how we live. “Marriage is the soil of parenting. Basically, the more warmth and love between you and your spouse, the happier and healthier your child is. The more alienated your relationship, the more your child can be affected. It is much like growing plants. If the soil you use is rich, fertile, and full of good ingredients, the plant will most likely flourish. However, if the soil is depleted, empty, neglected, or has toxins in it, the plant will show that also” (Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend, from Lifeway.com article Reconnect with Your Spouse). Of course, modeling marriage for our children is more serious than growing plants, but the issues brought up in the above statement is a serious one. As we love each other as spouses, we are also showing love and so much more to our children. “Our marital union, our loving one another, is a statement to the next generation of what love looks like and what two people who keep their promise to one another looks like. “We have a generation of young people today who desperately need to look into the eyes of their mom and dad and see them loving one another, committed to one another, and honoring God in their relationship. And you do that one step at a time, one day at a time over a lifetime. That’s what covenant-keeping love looks like in a marriage relationship.” (Dennis Rainey from the July 28, 2005 Family Life Today radio program) This is the picture God wants every Christian couple to model for their children. And, while we all start out with the “best of intentions” to have our marriages reflect that picture of a God-centered relationship to our children, things can, and will “happen” that can distort or ruin that picture. Author and Marriage Counselor, Dr. Gary Chapman, talks about a very common problem in marriage that all of us who are parents (especially of very young children) need to be aware of because if you follow his advice and counsel it could save your marriage: “For over 30 years, I have been sitting in the counseling office listening to couples pour out their pain. For me, nothing has been sadder than thosecouples who have focused on parenting their children while neglecting their marriages. They were deluded into thinking that the best thing they could do was to seek to meet the children’s needs. Yet, they failed to recognize that when they didn’t meet each other’s needs, they were setting the worst of examples for their children. “My wife and I learned early on that we had to focus on each other if we were to become good parents. We had serious struggles in the early years of our marriage, before the children came. When they arrived, we knew that we couldn’t let them come between us. We love the children devotedly, but more than anything, we wanted to have the kind of marriage that would serve as an example for them. I remember how hard we worked to get the children to bed early so we could have time together. “I am convinced that one of the best things any of us can do for our children is to provide them with a strong marital model. Children need to know that their parents love not only them, but each other. The child’s sense of security grows as he/she sees parents loving each other. To put your marriage on hold for 18 or more years while you raise the children is not only detrimental to the marriage, it is devastating to the children. “We must learn to ‘childproof’ our marriages during those parenting years, or we will soon learn that the marriage withers and dies. When the parental team breaks down and begins to disintegrate, the children become the biggest losers. They lose their family unit, which is where they build their sense of security. When children don’t feel secure, their whole world seems to unravel. No amount of baseball, piano lessons, or toys can make up for that kind of loss. “As a matter of fact, recent research has shown that when the family unit falls apart, so do the children. Children from broken homes show a higher rate of: Academic problems, dropping out of school, promiscuity, teen pregnancy, alcohol and drug use/abuse, running away, emotional and behavioral problems, violence, delinquency, suicide, poverty as an adult. “And that’s just to name a few. So, if you are thinking that you’re doing the best for your child when you put your spouse behind them in priority and your children as number one, you’re sorely mistaken. Although children obviously require our time and attention (and money, too), they do not require ALL our time or attention (or money). “If we hope to influence the next generation, we must experience a change of focus. Of course we are interested in protecting our children from all those things I just listed, and the best way to do that is to help marriages stay together.” When you show love to each other, you are loving your children as well. “I want to emphasize that your children first see how to love by watching you and your spouse relate to one another — that’s a part of your legacy.” (Dennis Rainey) That’s something to think about and pray about. Are you modeling a good marriage for your children to observe and emulate? MY PRAYER FOR YOU TODAY.... "I PRAY FOR FATHER'S SUPERNATURAL PRESENCE, POWER AND PROVISION TO FLOOD YOUR LIFE, IN JESUS' NAME..... REMOVING ALL LACK, BARRENNESS, SICKNESS and DEFEAT FROM YOUR LIFE and REPLACE IT WITH HIS ABUNDANT FAVOUR AND GLORY ...." KNOW THAT "ONE GOD MOMENT" WILL ACCELERATE YOUR LIFE FROM BARELY MAKING IT TO ABUNDANT BLESSINGS AND OVERFLOW....... HALLELUJAH!!! THANK YOU JESUS!!!!THIS IS MY KING!!! Have A SUPERNATURAL DAY IN FATHERS' LOVE and OVERFLOW.....
Then Moses said, “I will now turn aside and see this great sight.” Exodus 3:3
In the midst of the busyness and stresses of our days, there are patches of beauty all around us, glimpses of God’s goodness that we catch here and there along the way. These are the places in the walls of the universe where heaven is breaking through—if only we will take the time to stop and to reflect upon God’s love for us. What if Moses had taken only a fleeting glance at the bush that was burning but “was not consumed”? (Ex. 3:2). What if he had ignored it and hurried on to other things? (He had those sheep to take care of, you know, and important work to do.) He would have missed an epic, life-changing encounter with the living God (vv.4-12). Sometimes in life we must hurry. But overall, life should be less hurrying and more noticing. Life is the present. Life is being aware; it is seeing God’s love breaking through. It is turning aside to the miracle of something like a sunrise. Something transitory, yet symbolic of the eternity that awaits us. "Now when Jesus heard that John was cast into prison, He departed into Galilee....and from that time Jesus began to preach, saying, 'Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand.'" Matthew 4:12, and 17
By all accounts John the Baptizer was extraordinary. Filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mother's womb, chosen by God to be the forerunner of Jesus Christ; clothed in camel's skin, eating locusts and honey in the wilderness, not intimidated by anybody — not even wicked Herod, who had John imprisoned. And why? Was John a murderer, a robber, a rapist? No, a thousand times! He was a prophet. And the corrupted king was confronted by the truth of John's message; he had to shut him up somehow. But John's message was a far greater threat to yet another prince — the Prince of Darkness. And though Herod sat upon Israel's throne, Satan held the scepter which governed the king's darkened heart. It was he, not Herod, who put John in prison, because the message of the Kingdom must be bound! Now here's my point. When Jesus heard that John was cast into prison, He then sprang into action. Leaving the familiar confines of Nazareth, He moved into The Galilee, and dwelt in Capernaum. This fulfilled Isaiah's prophecy, "The people who sat in darkness saw great light, and to them who sat under the shadow of death, light is sprung up." And from that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!" Wait a minute — Isn't that what John said? Exactly. And now Jesus is on the scene to back him up — just when John needed Him the most. Jesus will do the same for you today anytime you are opposed for faithfully doing what God has called you to do. He is, and forever will be, the Ultimate Backup. No matter what the opposition which even Hell itself may muster against us, we shall prevail in every manner. "Remember that Jesus Christ was raised from the dead according to my gospel," Paul wrote in his final letter, adding, "wherein I suffer as an evildoer, even unto bonds. But the Word of God is not bound!" (2 Timothy 2:8) The Kingdom cannot be bound, for the King is on His throne — backing us up each and every day. All people will know that you are my followers if you love each other. Joh 13:35 Watch a small boy follow his dad through the snow. He stretches to step where his dad stepped. Not an easy task. His small legs extend as far as they can so his feet can fall in his father's prints. The father, seeing what the son is doing, smiles and begins taking shorter steps, so the son can follow. It's a picture of discipleship. In our faith we follow in someone's steps. A parent, a teacher, a hero—none of us are the first to walk the trail. All of us have someone we follow. In our faith we leave footprints to guide others. A child, a friend, a recent convert. None should be left to walk the trail alone. It's the principle of discipleship. The Inspirational Study Bible (Max Lucado) Keys To Compassion
1 - Forgiveness 2 - Courage 3 - Humility 4 - Willingness to face Risk 5 - Courtesy 6 - Extreme Kindness 7 - Generosity 8 - Honesty 9 - Perseverance 10 - Trust in Gods Soverenity 1 John 3:16-24 (KJV) 16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because He laid down His life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17 But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? 18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. 19 And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him. 20 For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and He knoweth all things. 21 Beloved, if our heart condemns us not, then have we confidence 22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep His commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. 23 And this is His commandment, That we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as He gave us commandment. 24 And he that keepeth His commandments dwelleth in Him, and He in him. And hereby we know that He abideth in us, by the Spirit which He hath given us. Lamentations 3:22The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end!
- God's love for you knows no end. - Time after time, His love reaches out to you and me. - There is also no end to the mercies of God. - Every day His mercies towards you are new. PRAYER: Lord, thank You for Your steadfast love and Your never-ending mercies in my life. Amen. |
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