A fathers prayer

O god, help me to be true to the great privilege and the great responsibility you have given me. Help me to be an example and a friend to my children, and a real partner to my wife. Don't let me get so busy with work and with outside things, that I am almost a stranger in my own home, and that I take no interest in household things. Don't let me take all that is done for me for granted, and help me to keep love alive within the home. Keep me from habits which make the work of the home harder, and from ways which irritate and annoy, or which get on the nerves of those who live with me. Give me health and strength and work to do, to earn a living for those who depend on me and whom I love so much; but help me remember that love is always more important than money. This I ask for your love's sake. Amen. 

The above prayer was given to by my mother. I am so glad for godly influences in my life

Man up?

What does it mean to man up?  Does it mean to put on a brave face even in the face of danger, in the face of temptation, in the face of sin?  We as men tend to think we can fix anything.  We rely on ourselves to know the fix for any situation. When the truth is we have no answers...only temporary patches for the situation.  The only true answer is found in the person, and personality of Jesus!  

There he told them, “Pray that you will not give in to temptation.” (Luke 22:40 NLT)

When it comes to temptation and sin we, as men, tend to blame the media for what's on tv, or we blame women for how they dress...when the truth is it's our sin clouded view that is distorted.  The only solution is Jesus!  

Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important. Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else. For we are each responsible for our own conduct. (Galatians 6:1-5 NLT)

I don't normally listen to hip hop, but this song caught me.  It's worth a listen.

http://youtu.be/foG1nTfs33A

How muddy is your path

Open yourself to the leadership of the spirit and your steps will be directed by him. There may be moments of questioning and wondering but there will be no dead end streets. The psalmist says that if we love The Lord, none of our steps shall slide and our future will be peace.

From yesterday's devotional by Dennis kinlaw 

Working construction I never know from one job to the next what conditions will be like  on site.  I went to one the other day that was muddy to say the least. I sensed the Holy Spirit speaking to be saying g no matter how muddy the path might seem no matter how dangerous the path I am here with you.  

No matter how impossible the path might seem he is with us, and would never leave us

Dust

francis chan - Rope Illustration


Then he took him by the hand and led him into a very large parlor that was full of dust, because never swept; the which, after he had reviewed a little while, the interpreter called for a man to sweep.  now when he began to sweep, the dust began so abundantly to fly about, that christian had almost therewith been choked.

then said the interpreter to damsel that stood by, "bring hither the water, and sprinkle the room"; the which, when she had done, it was swept and cleansed with pleasure.

CHRISTIAN: "What means this?"
INTERPRETER:"this parlor is the heart of a man that was never sanctified by the sweet grace of the gospel.  the dust is his original sin, and inward corruptions that have defiled the whole man.  He that began to sweep at first is the law; but she that brought the water, and did sprinkle it, is the gospel.  Now, whereas thou sawest, that so soon as the first began to sweep, the dust did so fly about that the room by him could not be cleansed, but that thou wast almost choked therewith. This is to show thee that the law, instead of cleansing the heart (by its working) form sin, doth revive, put strength into, and increase it in the soul, even as it doth discover and forbit it, but doth not give power to subdue.  (46)

Again, as thou sawest, the damsel sprinkle the room with water, upon which it was cleansed with pleasure.  This is to show thee that when the gospel comes in the  sweet and precious influences thereof to the heart, then i say, even as thou sawest the damsel lay the dust by sprinkling the floor with water, so is sin vanquished and subdued, and the soul made clean, through the faith of it, and consequently fit for the king of glory to inhabit."  (47)


(46)


romans 7:6But now we have been released from the law, for we died to it and are no longer captive to its power. Now we can serve God, not in the old way of obeying the letter of the law, but in the new way of living in the Spirit.

1 corinthians 15:56For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. 

romans 5:20God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant. 

(47)

john 15:3You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. 

ephesians 5:26to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word. 

acts 15:9He made no distinction between us and them, for he cleansed their hearts through faith

(The above was taken from The pilgram's progress by john bunyan)

after reading the above passage this morning in my devotion time it got me to thinking, how many christians are walking around hearts so full of dust that the least breeze will stir it up into a cloud? bringing with it all kinds of past regrets and sins?  I pray that we would submit to the holy spirit and let him come water us so that the dust of the past might be washed clean.  Oh spirit have your way in us, have your way in me wash me till i'm spotless!

your grace finds me - matt redman

His grace is all sufficient and is there with us even when we aren't worthy of it. he calls us all to submit to him to let him live through us.  Most don't want to believe we aren't in control.  As much as we don't want to admit it, surrender is totally worth it.  let him wash us white as snow!

Worth it all - rita springer

Which path will you take?

Visiting my parents this weekend after dinner my girls and me went for a walk over what in the past had been a golf course.  It has since closed, all the carts are gone, manicured fairways and greens are now over grown.  There was one spot we were walking on the cart path, or what used to be a cart path.  The words narrow is the path that leads to heaven.  Each side of the path is overgrown with bushes and briars.  If you stray too far off of the path and you'll get tangled up.  This world throws things along our path that can distract us, that can try to lead us to places that will only tangle us up.  Only in the love of Christ our savior can we stay on the narrow path.  Trust in the one called wonderful, counselor, mighty god he will direct our steps!

“You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it. (Matthew 7:13, 14 NLT)

Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. (Proverbs 3:5, 6 NLT)

No anxiety

He Had No Anxiety by Aletha Hinthorn Hudson Taylor knew the joy of simply trusting. "I have not known what anxiety is since the Lord taught me that the work is His," was Mr. Taylor's testimony wherever he went. "My great business in life is to please God. Walking with Him in the light, I never feel a burden." Our trust in God is the highest honor we can give Him. He delights in us when we trust in His promises despite delay, silence, or apparent refusal.  Often our doubts stem from looking at the immediate situation. Things aren't working out as we anticipated, and we begin to question if God truly heard and will answer our prayer. Sometimes to strengthen my faith, I envision ways God might answer my prayer. Then I ask myself, "What if none of those things happen? What if God's answer does not look the way I've anticipated, because He has something higher in mind? Will my faith remain?"  Only when I know I will continually believe no matter the apparent outcome, is my faith in God. Before that, my faith depends upon circumstances. This is sort of a "test run" for my faith. While in the Lord's presence, I allow Him to refine my faith. Am I looking only to Him? Am I trusting Him to bring about His highest plan in the way He chooses even if His higher ways don't match my expectations? I sometimes think of ways God can answer my prayer and then know I can probably check those answers off the possibilities. He seldom uses my ideas. God will ensure that we receive the desire of our hearts when our most sincere desire is for His will.  Thank You, Jesus, for the joy of simply trusting You to fulfill Your purposes. "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you" (1 Peter 5:7). Memory Verse for March   "And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work" (2 Cor. 9:8). (The above text is taken from a daily email I receive.  I thought it was worth sharing)