The Sword of the Spirit -

http://youtu.be/trUI1wtIIFk - Word of God Speak  - Mercy Me


Help me understand the meaning of your commandments,
and I will meditate on your wonderful deeds.  - Psalm 119:27 NLT

How many times have you heard someone say that the Bible is just too hard to understand?  Unfortunately, too many people give up on reading God's Word for that reason - or excuse.

A preacher asked this question:

"If you were given a treasure map and were told that if you followed the map, the treasure you would find would be a chest full of golden coins equal to millions of dollars.  Now imagine that this map is complicated, not easy to read or understand.  Wouldn't you study that map and do whatever you needed to do to get to that treasure chest? 

Well, the Word of God is a Treasure map.  It's holds the answers to all of life's questions and concerns.  There's so much wealth of knowledge and wisdom written in the pages of the Bible. It shows us God's great love and compassion for us - His chosen people. 

God has given us His very Word filled with instructions on how to live our lives to the fullest.  Yet
we say, 'it's too complicated, too hard to understand.'  It's the best "self help book" ever written. What a shame that God's very special gift to us - His written Word - isn't worth at least the same effort we'd give to understand a treasure map."

Today I want to thank God for His written Word which is powerful and active. and when/if I listen, He speaks specifically to me through His Word - bringing each passage into my heart and showing me how I personally can apply His great wisdom and insight.  His Word is light unto my path.

It takes effort, and it takes practice.  But the Word of God is the powerful weapon we have against the Enemy.  When we write God's Word on our hearts through reading and meditating on it, the Holy Spirit will help us yield this powerful sword against anything that would keep us from accomplishing God purpose for us on earth.   Today, I want to be a mighty warrior for Christ.  I can do that because He's given me the Sword of the Spirit, His precious written Word.

Hebrews 4:12 nlt
¹² For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.

Psalm 119:105 nasb
Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.


Psalm 45:3-7 nlt
3 Put on your sword, O mighty warrior!
You are so glorious, so majestic!
4 In your majesty, ride out to victory,
defending truth, humility, and justice.
Go forth to perform awe-inspiring deeds!
5 Your arrows are sharp, piercing your enemies’ hearts.
The nations fall beneath your feet.
6 Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever.
You rule with a scepter of justice.
7 You love justice and hate evil.
Therefore God, your God, has anointed you,
pouring out the oil of joy on you more than on anyone else.
                                                                     ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The following is from "A Treasury of Praise - Enjoying God Anew" by Ruth Myers with Warren Myers. 
Thank You, Lord, for how You continue in our day to speak with power through Your Word, the sword of the Spirit.  You've promised that Your Word will not return to You useless.  You send forth Your command over the earth, and Your Word runs swiftly, controlling the forces of nature, defeating the power and schemes of the adversary.  Delivery me from letting my experience of Your written-down truth get stale through neglect.  Thank You that Your Word is the Bread of Life, which nourishes my soul as I feed on it richly and hide it in my heart -- as I let it grip me in a powerful way, just as You intend.  May Your Word day by day be the joy and rejoicing of my heart!
 
I love Your Word especially because it so vividly displays the wonders of who You are:  Your heart of love, Your thoughts and values, Your character with its deep concern for me and all people, Your delight in each of Your children, and Your infinite, boundless power to bless Your loved ones and to defeat the purposes of Satan.  How grateful I am for this written revelation of who You are and of how I can be a joy to You, fulfilling Your purposes for my life.  Your Word reveals what You want for me and from me.  It shows how infinitely greater Your power is than our adversary's, as well as how infinitely better Your purposes are than his.  How I praise You for this wonderful Book!
 
I thank You again that Your Word is a sword that cuts through Satan's power and purposes, enabling me to experience You in all I am and in all I do.  Use Your Word in my life day by day. Strengthen me through it and tune me in to Your wisdom.  Enhance my delight in it and deepen my knowledge of You...increase my trust in You...and enrich my experience of You as I face the needs and demands of daily life.  More and more may Your Word be "the joy and rejoicing of my heart; for I am called by Your name, O LORD God of hosts."
 
Isaiah 55:11 nlt
It is the same with my word.
I send it out, and it always produces fruit.
It will accomplish all I want it to,
and it will prosper everywhere I send it.

Psalm 147:15 nasb
15 He sends forth His command to the earth;
His word runs very swiftly.

Psalm 119:11 nasb
Your word I have treasured in my heart,
That I may not sin against You.

Luke 4:4 nlt
⁴ But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone.’”

Jeremiah 15:16 nkjv
Your words were found, and I ate them,
And Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart;
For I am called by Your name,
O Lord God of hosts.

Acts 26:18 nlt
Yes, I am sending you to the Gentiles 18 to open their eyes, so they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God. Then they will receive forgiveness for their sins and be given a place among God’s people, who are set apart by faith in me.’

James 2:19 nlt
You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror.

Ephesians 6:17 nlt
Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.




Psalm 1:1-2 nlt
Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked,
or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers.
But they delight in the law of the LORD,
meditating on it day and night.


 



BeliefChangers photo

 For me...


 http://youtu.be/XrO5KGCNGHM   - God with Us - Mercy Me

John 3:16 NASB
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.




I hope you're enjoying the daily devotionals from  "A Treasury of Praise - Enjoying God Anew" .  This book is truly a "treasure".   I found my copy at Mardel's, but I'm  sure that this little book of  Praises can be purchased online at www.Amazon.com.  . 



Day Two
from "A Treasury of Praise - Enjoying God Anew" by Ruth Myers with Warren Myers


Thank You, Father, that You so loved the world that You gave Your one and only Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, that when the time had fully come, He wrapped Himself in human form, being born as a helpless baby into a poor family.  Thank You that He walked here on earth, radiating the brightness of Your glory and flawlessly expressing Your nature.  And so, through Him, people saw You in action, involved with them, available to meet their needs.  Thank You that He focused Your almighty power into the lives of common people with deep needs, just like me...that He preached the gospel to the poor, proclaimed freedom to prisoners of sin and recovery of sight to the blind, and set free the oppressed victims of sin and Satan -- the downtrodden, the lost, the hurting, the broken.  Thank You for the way He rebuked the arrogant and looked with favor on the humble-minded, opening wide the door of His kingdom to those who were destitute and helpless in spirit.  I delight in Your tender mercies, O my God, by which the Sunrise from on high has come to us!

Thank You that through the Gospels I can watch this beloved One walk among ordinary people.   I can hear the gracious words that came from His lips.  I can see His compassion and tenderness toward needy people, His anger at hypocrisy, His faithfulness, His intense love for His followers.

Fairest Lord Jesus?  You alone are my heart's desire...my chief delight...my soul's glory, joy and crown.  Every advantage life can offer is like rubbish, compared with the overwhelming gain of knowing You.  You are worthy, Lord --- worthy to be thanked and praised and worshiped and adored.
All passages are from the New American Standard Bible unless noted otherwise. The Words spoken by Jesus are in red.

Galatians 4:4
But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law,

Hebrews 1:3
And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

Luke 4:18-19
“THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME,
BECAUSE HE ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR.
HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM RELEASE TO THE CAPTIVES,
AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND,
TO SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED, 19 TO PROCLAIM THE FAVORABLE YEAR OF THE LORD.” 
 

Matthew 5:3
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.


Luke 1:78  NLT
Because of God’s tender mercy,
the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us
 

Luke 4:22
And all were speaking well of Him, and wondering at the gracious words which were falling from His lips; and they were saying, “Is this not Joseph’s son?” 
 

Matthew 15:32
And Jesus called His disciples to Him, and said, “I feel compassion for the people, because they have remained with Me now three days and have nothing to eat; and I do not want to send them away hungry, for they might faint on the way.”


Matthew 23:13-33, 37
“But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you shut off the kingdom of heaven from people; for you do not enter in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in. 14 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense you make long prayers; therefore you will receive greater condemnation.


John 13:1
15 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you travel around on sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.

16 Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘Whoever swears by the temple, that is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple is obligated.’ 17 You fools and blind men! Which is more important, the gold or the temple that sanctified the gold? 18 And, ‘Whoever swears by the altar, that is nothing, but whoever swears by the offering on it, he is obligated.’ 19 You blind men, which is more important, the offering, or the altar that sanctifies the offering? 20 Therefore, whoever swears by the altar, swears both by the altar and by everything on it. 21 And whoever swears by the temple, swears both by the temple and by Him who dwells within it. 22 And whoever swears by heaven, swears both by the throne of God and by Him who sits upon it.

23 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others. 24 You blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!

25 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are full [u]of robbery and self-indulgence. 26 You blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and of the dish, so that the outside of it may become clean also.

27  Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. 28 So you, too, outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

29 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the monuments of the righteous, 30 and say, ‘If we had been living in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partners with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ 31 So you testify against yourselves, that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. 32 Fill up, then, the measure of the guilt of your fathers. 33 You serpents, you brood of vipers, how will you escape the sentence of hell?"

vs 37
 “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling."


John 13:1
Now before the Feast of the Passover, Jesus knowing that His hour had come that He would depart out of this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them  to the end.

Psalm 45:2
You are fairer than the sons of men;
Grace is poured upon Your lips;
Therefore God has blessed You forever.

Song of Solomon 5:16
“His mouth is full of sweetness.
And he is wholly desirable.
This is my beloved and this is my friend,
O daughters of Jerusalem.”

Philippians 3:7-11  Phillips
Yet every advantage that I had gained I considered lost for Christ’s sake. Yes, and I look upon everything as loss compared with the overwhelming gain of knowing Jesus Christ my Lord. For his sake I did in actual fact suffer the loss of everything, but I considered it useless rubbish compared with being able to win Christ. For now my place is in him, and I am not dependent upon any of the self-achieved righteousness of the Law. God has given me that genuine righteousness which comes from faith in Christ. How changed are my ambitions! Now I long to know Christ and the power shown by his resurrection: now I long to share his sufferings, even to die as he died, so that I may perhaps attain as he did, the resurrection from the dead.


Matthew 9:36
Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd.

For all You are, Thank YOU!

http://youtu.be/EbOJcfJAiy0 - My Savior My God - Aaron Shust

Day Two
prayer from "A Treasury of Praise - Enjoying God Anew" by Ruth Myers with Warren Myers

I praise You for Your love and Your wisdom.  You are too wise to ever make a mistake, too loving to ever do anything unkind. You act on my behalf, accomplishing what concerns me, fulfilling Your purpose for me as I call on You.  Thank You that You love me deeply and tenderly.  You are compassionate and gracious, full of lovingkindness, ready to forgive, patiently considerate, and generous beyond imagining.  You desire my love and rejoice to do good things for me. You delight to give me the desires of my heart as I delight myself in You.  How precious is Your love to me, O God!  I sing for joy as I take refuge in the shadow of Your wings!

The following passages are taken  from the New American Standard Bible

Psalm 57:2
I will cry to God Most High, Psalm 138:8
To God who accomplishes all things for me.





The LORD will accomplish what concerns me;
Your lovingkindness, O LORD, is everlasting;
Do not forsake the works of Your hands.



Psalm 103:8
The LORD is compassionate and gracious,
Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness.


Psalm 86:5
For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive,
And abundant in lovingkindness to all who call upon You.


Matthew 22:37
And He said to him, “ ‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART,                                           AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’



Jeremiah 32:41
I will rejoice over them to do them good and will faithfully plant them in this land
with all My heart and with all My soul.

Psalm 37:4
Delight yourself in the LORD;
And He will give you the desires of your heart.


Psalm 63:7
For You have been my help,
And in the shadow of Your wings I sing for joy.



Psalm 36:7
How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God!
And the children of men take refuge in the shadow of Your wings.

I found this great little book at Mardel's.  It was on the discount table - but what a "treasure"!  The book
is by Ruth Myers with Warren Myers and it's called "A Treasury of Praise - Enjoying God Anew".

I want to share the first day of devotionals with you.  I pray that God will let these words become my worship
today.  My schedule is full - to overflowing!  But I have to remember each day, "It's not about me.  It's all about Jesus
and how I can best honor Him in all things." 

Have a blessed Monday and remember who you belong to.  You are God's special treasure, bought with the greatest price ever, the blood of our Savior.  Praise His holy Name.

--------------------------------

Offering Myself -
Your Most Basic Act of Worship

Lord, I'm Yours.  Whatever the cost may be, may Your will be done in my life.
I realize I'm not here on earth to do my own thing or to seek my own fulfillment, or for my own glory.  I'm not here to indulge in my desires, to increase my possessions, to impress people, to be popular, or to prove I'm somebody important; and I'm not here to promote myself in any way. I'm not here even to be relevant or successful by human standards.

I'm here to please You.

I offer myself to You, for You are worthy.  All that I am or hope to be, I owe to You.  I'm Yours by creation and every day I receive from You life and breath and all things. And I'm Yours because You bought me.  And the price You paid was the precious blood of Christ.  You alone, the Triune God, are worthy to be my Lord and Master.  I yield to You, my gracious and glorious heavenly Father; to the Lord Jesus who loved me and gave Himself for me; to the Holy Spirit and His gracious influence and empowering. 

I give to You, Lord, all that I am and all that I have.

I give You any rebellion in me, which resists doing Your will.

I give You my pride and self-dependence, those attitudes which try to convince me that I can do Your will in my own power -  if I just try hard enough.

I give You my fears, which try to convince me that I'll never be able to do Your will in some area of my life.

I consent to let You energize me...to create within me, moment by moment, both the desire and the power to do You will.

I give You my body and each of its members...my entire inner being, my mind, my emotional life, my will...my loved ones...my marriage or my hopes for marriage...my abilities and gifts...my strengths and weaknesses...my health...my status - whether that's high or low...my possessions...my past, my present, my future...I give to You "when and how" I'll go home to be with You.

I'm here to love You, to obey You, to glorify You.  O my Beloved, may I be a joy to You this day!

http://youtu.be/M0AyxEMFRbI - With All I Am - Hillsong

There is a reason to sing.

http://youtu.be/kkdniYsUrM8 - All of Creation - Mercy Me

Revelation 5  NIV
Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” 3 But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. 4 I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. 5 Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”



6 Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits[a] of God sent out into all the earth. 7 He went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. 8 And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people. 9 And they sang a new song, saying:


“You are worthy to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
because you were slain,
and with your blood you purchased for God
persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.

10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God,
and they will reign on the earth.”


11 Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. 12 In a loud voice they were saying:


“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength
and honor and glory and praise!”

13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying:

“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be praise and honor and glory and power,
for ever and ever!”


14 The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.

There's a reason to sing.

There is a reason for us to sing praises to our glorious and awesome God.  But did you know that He sings over you?

http://youtu.be/yz7W85di7Qw  - More  sung by children's choir
Take a look at the mountains
Stretching a mile high
Take a look at the ocean
Far as your eye can see
And think of Me

Take a look at the desert
Do you feel like a grain of sand?
I am with you wherever
Where you go is where I am

And I'm always thinking of you
Take a look around you
I'm spelling it out one by one

(Chorus)

I love you more than the sun
And the stars that I taught how to shine
You are mine, and you shine for me too
I love you yesterday and today
And tomorrow, I'll say it again and again
I love you more

Just a face in the city
Just a tear on a crowded street
But you are one in a million
And you belong to Me
And I want you to know
That I'm not letting go
Even when you come undone

(Chorus)

I love you more than the sun
And the stars that I taught how to shine
You are mine, and you shine for me too
I love you yesterday and today
And tomorrow, I'll say it again and again
I love you more
I love you more

Shine for Me
Shine for Me
Shine on, shine on
Shine for Me

Did you know that God sings over you? 

God, the Creator of the Universe, sings over you with joy! 

Zephaniah 3:17 NIV 1984
The LORD your God is with you,
He is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you,
He will quiet you with His love,
He will rejoice over you with singing."

Our awesome God rejoices over us!  Think for just a minute how much He loves us.  And out of  His deep love, He has designed an incredible life of purpose and meaning for each of us. When we do things that work towards His purpose, I can just imagine the joy He feels.  His joy must fill the heavens.  And when God rejoicing, it must be so contagious that it spreads throughout the heavens!  Can't you just hear the angels joining in the celebration, singing for joy?

Heaven will be full of singing and praising and celebrating.  God paints us this beautiful picture throughout His Word.

Our ladies' class is doing Beth Moore's "Stepping Up" bible study on Wednesday nights.  It's a study of the Psalms of Ascent - Psalm 120-134.  It's a great study and our goal is to experience a closer relationship with our amazing God.  Last night as we listened to Beth's video, we learned how important song is to God.  I think most people are like me and  have a tendency to think of God being a stern judge sitting on a throne almost unapproachable.  But as we read His Word, we see that God rejoices over us.  He celebrates, and His mighty host of angels celebrate with Him.  

There is glorious singing going on in heavenly places.  Even Jesus breaks into song and praises the Father.

Hebrews 2:10-12 NIV
In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what He suffered.  Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are the same family.  So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters.  He says,

"I will declare Your name to my brothers and sisters;
in the assembly I will sing Your praises."

Last night's bible study made me look at God in a different way.  He who created song, rejoices over me! 
What a beautiful thought!  Music was not man's idea.  It was God's creation!

One other thing Beth Moore discussed was how song can lift our spirits and touch our hearts in a way that words can't.
She's right.  I can read the words to a song and be relatively unaffected by them.  But put those same words to music, and my heart overflows with emotion.  My attitude can be changed just by singing a song.  I have to credit my friends from the Christian Band - Mercy Me for showing me how to praise God with music and song.  The first time I heard "I can only Imagine", those words had such a powerful affect on my heart.  I felt like falling on knees at the thought of being in His presence - so unworthy in and of myself, yet so thankful to be covered by His precious blood.  That song gave me a way to express my worship and adoration to my God better than any thing I'd tried in the past.  That song of praise has meaning to me and I sing it from my heart. The funny thing is that  I can speak the words of the song and not be moved.  The moment I hear them set to music, those same words become my worship.  Music and song - right from God!

When I was younger I had just broken up with my boyfriend.  I had been monogamous, but he had been seeing another girl at the same time he was dating me.  I decided that was not going to work so I ended it.  Every morning I woke up feeling down.  My heart was broken.  I felt so sad.  But then as I got ready for work, I'd put on a cassette (remember before CD's?) and play a song:   "I will survive" by Gloria Gaynor.

http://youtu.be/DuRgQlfpD0U - I will survive!

Within the first couple beats I was dancing around the bathroom, singing into my hairbrush, revived and ready to face the day!  I felt unbeatable!  All because of a song. 

If Gloria Gaynor's song could lift my spirits and change the attitude of my heart, why don't I use song now to lift my spirits when I'm discouraged and down? 

While God was creating the Universe, the morning
stars sang together and all the angels shouted
for joy.  Job 38:7

Beth Moore reminded me of the importance of song in my life.  But she also helped me see God in a different light. 

Heaven is full of song and music and rejoicing.  And not just the heavens, even the rocks and hills cry out singing His praise!  Just read the Revelation of John and see how many times music and song are referenced.  From the very beginning, God tells us the morning stars sang together and the angels shouted for joy!  Job 38:7 .  God even dedicated a whole book in His Word to songs - the Psalms.  Music is important to God. 

Praise God in the morning and all throughout the day.  Praise Him with song when you're happy or when you're sad.  I promise you will feel better when you lift up a song of praise to the One who loves you more than anyone on earth has or will ever love you.

Psalm 150 NIV


1 Praise the LORD.
Praise God in his sanctuary;
praise him in his mighty heavens.


2 Praise him for his acts of power;
praise him for his surpassing greatness.


3 Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,
praise him with the harp and lyre,


4 praise him with timbrel and dancing,
praise him with the strings and pipe,


5 praise him with the clash of cymbals,
praise him with resounding cymbals.


6 Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.
Praise the LORD.

http://youtu.be/KJd2oeePfh8 - Everything that has breath praise the Lord - Philips Craig and Dean

Am I Courageous?

http://youtu.be/cTYSirKUiVw - Courageous - Casting Crowns

Larry and I watched the movie "Courageous" last night.  What a powerful message full of God's truths!

The story line is about the importance of fathers in their children's lives.  Oh, I wished every  dad would watch

and take every word from that movie to heart!  One especially poignant moment is a scene between a father and

his 15 year old daughter.  She's at that age when the boys are noticing her, coming around wanting a little more than

friendship.  But her parents want her to wait until she's older to date.  She thinks her parents are to strict, after all,

she just wants to be "friends" with boys.  But dad knows some things that she doesn't know.  Listen to this truth:

•Girls, Trust Your Over-Protective Fathers – The character, Ken,  played by Nathan Hayes, handled his teenage daughter and dating. Here's the message: Girls, you need to know that all fathers were once teenage boys. We know how they think, what they feel, and what their motives are. You need to trust us on this one. And when the time is right, we will hand you over to the perfect person who will then protect you for the remainder of your life.

The movie is ripe with insight into the importance of a strong father being involved in the lives of their children.  Another
moment  in the movie, one of the young men who has pursued the character, Ken's daughter gets mixed up with the wrong crowd.  The young man is only 17 and he longs for acceptance but his father is no where around.  To feel like he belongs in this world of men, he turns to a gang:

Listen to his words:

•“Man, I ain’t got nobody.” – He's just been arrested and the police officer who just happens to be the father of the girl he's been pursuing, asks why he was hanging out with those types of guys. When dad's not involved physically, emotionally and spiritually, children will settle for anyone who offers acceptance.  Who will your child turn to if you don't step up and be his/her spiritual leader and role model? 

Being a godly father is not an easy task.  It requires dedication and commitment, unselfishness.  We have such a short time with our children to influence them for God, for good.   Fathers need more strength, more wisdom, more patience, more commitment than they are able to muster on their own.  Fathers need a Savior who will come along side and provide
everything  they need to be the leader of the family.  Through the power of the Holy Spirit living in us, we can do all things that God gives us to do.

•Fathers Need A Savior – The movie reminds us of how much we are in over our heads as husbands, fathers, wives and mothers. We can’t do it alone. We need friends. We need accountability. And we desperately need Jesus guiding us through this journey.
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Whatsoever we beg of God, let us also work for it. -- Jeremy Taylor


Being a good enough father or mother is not enough.  We need to be the best parents we can be.  Our children's future will be greatly affected by what we do as parents.  Our children are watching us.  If we treat our spouses with love and kindness, our children will expect their future spouse to treat them with love and kindness. If we encourage our spouses, our children will learn to encourage their spouses.  Do you want your daughter to think it's acceptable to be treated the way you treat her mother? Do you want your son to treat his future wife the way you treat your wife?  Do you want your daughters and sons to be the same kind of spouse you are to there father or mother?  If not, you better make some changes because your children are watching.  A picture is worth a thousand words, right?  What they see you do, they will most likely do themselves. If  we parents ridicule, insult, disrespect our spouses, our children will come to disrespect him/her, too.  We can singlehandedly undermine our spouse's authority in our children's lives with our words.  We take away part of our children's security when we teach them by our actions and words that their other parent isn't reliable or worthy of their trust.

The good news is we can also strengthen the relationship our children have with their father/mother by role modeling respect towards our spouse.  We don't have to agree with everything he/she does, but we owe it to our spouses to bring those disagreements to him/her in private - not in front of our children or friends.  Each of us  needs to be our spouse's number one cheerleader and encourager.  I'm ashamed to say that I don't always do that.  Some days it's really hard to be kind when my spouse isn't being very kind to me, but Christ tells me to be kind any way, and He will give me the strength to do it.  When I respond with kindness, my children are learning God's way.   His way is not always logical to me - especially in the heat of the moment - but His way is best.  We have to trust Him enough to obey His direction. 

1 Corinthians 13 tells us clearly God's way:
Be patient and kind
Don't allow jealousy or pride to control your thinking
Don't demand your own way
Don't be irritable
Keep no record of wrongs
Don't give up
Have faith
Hope
Endure in every circumstance

A gentle answer turns away wrath.  Proverbs 15:1

A wise woman builds her house; a foolish woman tears hers down with her own hands. - Proverbs 14:1

Be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other's faults - Ephesians 4:2

Cloth yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. You must make allowances for each other's faults and forgive the person who offends you - Colossians 3:12-17


Don't become weary of doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Take advantage of every opportunity to do good to all people (including spouses) especially to those who belong to the family of believers. - Galatians 6:9-10

God gives us clear directions on how to live a life that honors Him. He knows what the future holds.  Who better to give us advice and direction on how to live our best lives?  Who loves you more than God?  Who has your best interest at heart - always?  Who created the universe and sustains it with a Word?  Can't we trust our Father who loved us enough to send His very own Son to die in our place?  Why?  So we could spend Eternity in heaven with Him.  Can't we trust Him when
He tells us how to be good fathers and mothers, and husbands and wives?   Or do we really think our situation is something new to Him? That His Words of wisdom don't apply in our circumstance?

I hope everyone will see the movie "Courageous".  I hope we all take it to heart and resolve to be not just "good enough" parents, but to be the best parents we can be.

Father, You are the perfect role model for us.  You are patient and kind.  You keep no record of wrongs.  You want what's best for us always and no matter how many times we choose our own way and fail, You're always there when we return Home.  Your love is unconditional.  You do not treat us as we deserve, for if You did, no one could be saved.  Father, forgive me for not being the best spouse and parent I can be.  Forgive me for not making that my priority.  Show me how to encourage my family.  Teach me Your ways, oh Lord, and write them on my heart so that anytime I face a conflict with my spouse or child, I will remember Your instructions.  Thank You for loving me and allowing me to call You my Father.  I want to be just like Jesus with everyone I meet, but most especially, I want to be just like Jesus to my children and my spouse.
Help Lord, I can't do this on my own.  I need Your strength, wisdom and guidance every day.  I ask these things in the Name of Jesus, my perfect Savior.  Amen.

http://youtu.be/4Z8bXcBRIU0 - I want to be just like You - Philips Craig and Dean


Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude.


It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged.


It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out.


Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. 1 Corinthians 13

http://youtu.be/ys4YgiZ392Y - "God with Us by Mercy Me

What is coram Deo?

from the website, www.unitedinChristJesus.org :


This phrase literally refers to something that takes place in the presence of, or before the face of, God. To live coram Deo is to live one’s entire life in the presence of God, under the authority of God, to the glory of God.

To live in the presence of God is to understand that whatever we are doing and wherever we are doing it, we are acting under the gaze of God. God is omnipresent. There is no place so remote that we can escape His penetrating gaze.

To be aware of the presence of God is also to be acutely aware of His sovereignty. The uniform experience of the saints is to recognize that if God is God, then He is indeed sovereign. When Saul was confronted by the refulgent* glory of the risen Christ on the road to Damascus, his immediate question was, “Who is it, Lord?” He wasn’t sure who was speaking to him, but he knew that whomever it was, was certainly sovereign over him.

Living under divine sovereignty involves more than a reluctant submission to sheer sovereignty that is motivated out of a fear of punishment. It involves recognizing that there is no higher goal than offering honor to God. Our lives are to be living sacrifices, oblations** offered in a spirit of adoration and gratitude.

To live all of life coram Deo is to live a life of integrity. It is a life of wholeness that finds its unity and coherency in the majesty of God. A fragmented life is a life of disintegration. It is marked by inconsistency, disharmony, confusion, conflict, contradiction, and chaos.

The Christian who compartmentalizes his or her life into two sections of the religious and the nonreligious has failed to grasp the big idea. The big idea is that all of life is religious or none of life is religious. To divide life between the religious and the nonreligious is itself a sacrilege.

This means that if a person fulfills his or her vocation as a steelmaker, attorney, or homemaker coram Deo, then that person is acting every bit as religiously as a soul-winning evangelist who fulfills his vocation. It means that David was as religious when he obeyed God’s call to be a shepherd as he was when he was anointed with the special grace of kingship. It means that Jesus was every bit as religious when He worked in His father’s carpenter shop as He was in the Garden of Gethsemane.

Integrity is found where men and women live their lives in a pattern of consistency. It is a pattern that functions the same basic way in church and out of church. It is a life that is open before God. It is a life in which all that is done is done as to the Lord. It is a life lived by principle, not expediency; by humility before God, not defiance. It is a life lived under the tutelage of conscience that is held captive by the Word of God.

Coram Deo . . . before the face of God. That’s the big idea. Next to this idea our other goals and ambitions become mere trifles.
 
http://coramdeochorus.org/song.html - Coram Deo Chorus

Holy Father, if only I could live each second remembering that You see every move I make and You hear every word I say.  Father, You even know the thoughts of my heart.  Lord, I want to make You proud.  I want to honor You with my life.  Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.   Be glorified in my life. You alone are worthy of all my praise and devotion. In the blessed Name of Jesus I pray. Amen.