resolution

Powerful words from a great movie!

THE RESOLUTION

 

I DO solemnly resolve before God to take full responsibility for myself, my wife, and my children.

 

I WILL love them, protect them, serve them, and teach them the Word of God as the spiritual leader of my home.

 

I WILL be faithful to my wife, to love and honor her, and be willing to lay down my life for her as Jesus Christ did for me.

 

I WILL bless my children and teach them to love God with all of their hearts, all of their minds, and all of their strength.

 

I WILL train them to honor authority and live responsibly.

 

I WILL confront evil, pursue justice, and love mercy.

 

I WILL pray for others and treat them with kindness, respect, and compassion.

 

I WILL work diligently to provide for the needs of my family.

 

I WILL forgive those who have wronged me and reconcile with those I have wronged.

 

I WILL learn from my mistakes, repent of my sins, and walk with integrity as a man answerable to God.

 

I WILL seek to honor God, be faithful to His church, obey His Word, and do His will.

 

I WILL courageously work with the strength God provides to fulfill this resolution for the rest of my life and for His glory.

 

As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. ---Joshua 24:15

 

 

 I will!!

It is my responsibility as a father to do all the above.  all too often these days fathers abandon their duties.  it is our responsibility and privledge as fathers to help guide and lead our children.  Lord i pray that you help me and all fathers guide our children in your ways.

if jesus name, amen

all

11 Put on all of God's armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies and tricks of the Devil.12 For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against those mighty powers of darkness who rule this world, and against wicked spirits in the heavenly realms.13 Use every piece of God's armor to resist the enemy in the time of evil, so that after the battle you will still be standing firm.14 Stand your ground, putting on the sturdy belt of truth and the body armor of God's righteousness.15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News, so that you will be fully prepared.16 In every battle you will need faith as your shield to stop the fiery arrows aimed at you by Satan.17 Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.18 Pray at all times and on every occasion in the power of the Holy Spirit. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all Christians everywhere.

It makes me sad that we have digressed so far as a society, that almost all television is about foul language, lude acts and violence.  We as beleivers must put on all of gods armor to shield us from the temptations of the evil one. 

father god, i pray that you will help me to never take off your holy armor.  that you would shield me from all the tricks of the evil one.  Let all my brothers and sisters in christ wear the same armor.  let us be a beacon of light to the lost in our community that they would come to know you.  let us start with the valley and change the whole world...one person at a time!

in jesus name, amen

yahweh

take all of me!

i am second

live in peace with each other.  14  we ask you, brothers and sisters, to warn those who do not work.  encourage the people who are afraid.  help those who are weak.  be patient with everyone.  15 be sure thatno one pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to do what is good for each other and for all people.  16  always be joyful  17  pray continually,  18  and give thanks what ever happens.  that is what god wants for you in Christ Jesus. 

1 thessalonians 5:13-18


too often in this fast paced life we never take time to slow down.  we are too impatient and in a hurry to stop and listen to what god would have us do.  There might be someone struggling that god wants us to be the hands and feet of jesus to...but we are never in tune enough to hear.

Oh father please awaken us as beleivers to hear your will.  i pray that you would speak to me and all my fellow brothers and sisters that we might hear your will, that we might take the time to slow down and pray!  often driving down the road in my vehicle i will break out into prayer.  wether it be to ask for your help, or to thank you.  i pray that you have your way with me!

in jesus name amen!

hillsong - shout unto god
i am second
from korn to jesus

inside out

father, i pray for you to remove whatever offensive way there be within me.  fill me with your holy spirit.  I give you full control of all that is in me.  let your will be done, not mine.  lord help me to worship you from the inside out. I love you father with all my heart!



It touches my soul hearing the crowd sing louder than the singers in the second video.  God will be worshiped in every language, he understands us no matter what language we speak.

we love him because he first loved us. 
1 john 4:19 nkjv

hillsong - from the inside out
hillsong - from the inside out (spanish version )

Rain and Fire

lyrics from one of my favorite songs:

Bring rivers in this wasteland, Clouds into this sky
Bring springs of life into the wells that have been run dry
Rise up in this city, Gather in this light
Fall down on your people, Your glory and your life

Rain
Lord we thirst for water
Rain
We are desert Land
Rain
On your sons and daughters
Rain
Bring your rain again



Lord rain down your mercy on me.  Fill me with your love and mercy.  I am yours, may your will be done!



Hillsong united - fire fall down

victorious!

Often in life we worry about different things for one reason or another.  We in our minds imagine scenarios and possible outcomes.  We are a nation of worriers, all too often we leave out the one definite solution to any problem we face.

  Deuteronomy 31:8 SAYS THE LORD HIMSELF GOES BEFORE YOU AND WILL BE WITH YOU; HE WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU NOR FORSAKE YOU.  DO NOT BE AFRAID; DO NOT BE DISCOURAGED.  then why are we so often discouraged, or afraid?

We lead ourselves down a slippery slope of worry and fear which is giving the evil one exactly what he wants.  Instead of we give it to god, we will have the victory to boldly go and be fearless!

THE LORD IS MY LIGHT AND MY SALVATION; WHOM SHALL I FEAR?
THE LORD IS THE STRENGTH OF MY LIFE; OF WHOM SHALL I BE AFRAID?

PSALM 27:1

FEARLESS!  Billy

Fear

Most of us are scared or fearful of something, it's in our nature as humans.  We are born into bondage of fear.  Still some people are in bondage to other things, alcohol, drugs...the list could go on and on.  However our savior was sent to this world to live and ultimately die on calvalry to break us free of this bondage.  Most might  think that jesus dying on the cross was only to forgive sins, this is true however; he also died to break us free of our bondage.  We each have bondage of some kind.

If we each have bondage, then how do we break free?  It is simple, pray!  our abba father is just waiting on his children to ask him for his help.  Our heavenly father is infinitely strong bring your fears, and bondage to him.  In his arms there is infinite love, and the fuller you are of his love...the less room there is for fear. 

lord i pray that we all would give our fears to you, for your shoulders are broad enough to handle it.




there is no fear in love.  but perfect love drives our fear, because fear had to do with punishment.

1 john 4:18

Now the lord is the spirit, and where the spirit of the lord is, there is freedom.

2 corinthians 3:17

Lifeline

Do you ever have a feeling like you are drowning and need a lifeline?  it may not be literal drowning, it could be many other things that feel like it.  Jesus is always there just waiting for us to ask him to throw us a lifeline.  Some people may think that they have done way too many bad things for our lord to even consider helping us...this can't be further from the truth.

while we were yet sinners he hung on calvalry's tree for us.  like john 3:17 says  " god sent his son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him."  we are never too far from gods love!  Isaiah 41:13 says"  for i hold you by your right hand-i, the lord your god.  and i say to you, don't be afraid.  i am here to help you."

I am so thankful that no matter what i have done in the past chair, that god loves me anyway! 

IHP, billy

Presence

The evil one often tries to distract us and disturb us in any way be can.  He will push our buttons, and try to aggrievate us.  In our time of need if we put Jesus first, and realize he would never abandon us...then the evil one has no power over us.

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to seperate us from the love of god that is in Christ Jesus our lord.  

Romans 8:38-39

Lord I love you!  Help me to never take my eyes off of you!

Good in everything

We often misinterpret adversity in that god is displeased with us.  On the contrary...the closer we grow to god, the more of a Target we become for the evil one.  The devil and his underlings delight in tormenting those who live close to the lord. 

We need to remember that living close to god, he would never desert us.  He is always by our side.   as is says in lamentations 22-24. 22 the faithful love of the lord never ends!  His mercies never cease.  23 great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afreash each morning .  24 I say to myself " the lord is my inheritance; therefore I hope in him"

The devil has tried to get my peace this busy week...but he has failed, for my god is with me always!

Faith

Taken from my devotional today, on faith.

Though you may not be much of a risk taker, be willing to go out on a limb with me.  If that is where I am leading you, it is the safest place to be.  I want you to follow wherever I lead - even if it's out of your comfort zone.  I will help you learn to follow me confidently rather than fearfully. 

Sometimes we as beleivers we need to get out of our comfort zone, and trust in god to lead us where he would have us go.   Lord I pray that you would help me get out of my comfort zone.  Help me to go on the limb with you, where it is safer.

Psalm 37:23-24
psalm 31:20
Hebrews 12:2

Humbly, billy

To know him

1. "Come let us return to the lord.  He has torn us to pieces; now he will heal us.  He has injured us;  now he will bandage our wounds.  2. In just a short time he will restore us, so that we may live in his presence.  3. Oh, that we might know the lord!  Let us press on to know him.  He will respond to us as surely as the arrival of dawn or the coming of rains in early spring.".

Hoses 6: 1-3

Hevenly father, I pray that we all would seek you, to know you, and your will for our lives. I pray that the way I live shows a godly example that my children will want to follow. I pray that I am the godly husband my wife deserves. In your holy name I pray, amen.   i

Trials

Often in life we experience trials for one reason or another.  The evil one would often try to get us to give up, or to choose escapism as a solution. 

Instead we must invite Jesus into our struggles.  He understands them better than anybody, or anything we may want to try to use as an escape.  He wants to help...all we must do is ask.   I pray that we would escape to him...and let him carry the burden,  We were never ment to.

Friends, when life gets really difficult, don't jump to the conclusion that god isn't on the job.  Instead, be glad that you are in the thick of what Christ experienced.  This is a spiritual refining process, with glory just around the corner.

1 peter 4:12-13 msg

Distraction

There are so many distractions in modern life.  Many things that draw our attention, as Christians and as parents.  We often as parents and Christians worry about demands of this world.  Being on the obx this week I found myself not worried about a thing.  I felt several times being relaxed in the lords presence.  as Matthew said, come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 

I am so thankful to serve a god that will take all my burdens and worries away.  Glad I serve a lord that never sleeps or is distracted.  I truely hope we all can spend time in his presence!

In prayer, billy

Paths

We all make paths in our journey through life.  Our paths may not lead to our crusifiction, but we each must face our own calvalry.  As a parent this is especially true.  My decisions not only effect me, but my wife, and daughters.  I don't always make the correct decisions, all I can do is pray for guidance and trust Jesus to direct my path to give him the greatest glory.

Proverbs 3: 5 and 6
Hebrews 13: 5 and 6
Deuteronomy 31: 6 and 8
Psalm 118:6

In prayer, billy

Prayer

I truely enjoy going to the lord in prayer.  I always feel as if I am talking to a friend.  I hope is that this blog will help someone in their walk. 

4 Always be full of joy in the lord.  I say it again-rejoice!  5 let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do.  Remember, the lord is coming soon.  6 don't worry about anything; instead pray about everything.  Tell god what you need, and thank him for all he has done.  7 then you will experience god's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand.  His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ jesus.

In prayer, billy

In your presence

Rode down to ocracoke island today with my wife and one of two daughters.  We had a great time walking / driving around the island.  Had lunch at jason's.  It was a relaxing time.

On the way back to collington, we stopped and took a walk on the beach.  While walking looking for shells.  I truly felt the lords presence as I was walking.  The Jeremy camp song "in your presence" came to my mind.  I love how the lord works :)

Greatful, and resting!
Billy

Exercise

Exercise daily

Walk

Saw a sign today I liked.  It read "exercise daily.  Walk with Jesus"

I like it!

Rest

En-route back to the obx with my family.  I am very much looking forward to some rest and relaxation.  Just like Jesus said. Come to me all you who are weary, and I will give you rest. 

Resting,  billy

ephesians 6:18-20

18 pray in the spirit at all times with all kinds of prayers, asking for everything you need.  to do this you must always be ready and never give up.  always pray for all god's people.  19  also pray for me that when i speak, god will give me words so that i can tell the secret of the good news without fear.  20  i have been sent to preach this good news, and i am doing that now, here in prison.  pray that when i preach the good news i will speak without fear, as i should.


This is probably one of my favorite passages in the bible.  I am not a preacher myself so it seems almost  weird for me to share a passage about preaching the good news when i am not a pastor, but being a follower of the lord i preach to others with my speech and my actions. 

The local church I attend always makes an annual pilgrimage to ocracoke  island, nc.  This year was my first year to attend.  I was scared of what to expect at first, but quickly heard the lord saying to me fear not, i have it all under control.  Over the several days we were there, he gave me two songs that have helped me greatly in my walk, following are the links to them.

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7qi2KlUffs
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAQ61KH7qRc


in prayer, billy