Who's your daddy; knowing God as Abba Father

Saturday, August 24, 2013

Who's your daddy; knowing God as Abba Father: The polishing power of prayer

Who's your daddy; knowing God as Abba Father: The polishing power of prayer: “ In times of trouble, may the Lord answer your cry. May the name of the God of Jacob keep you safe from all harm. May he send you...

The polishing power of prayer

“In times of trouble, may the Lord answer your cry. May the name of the God of Jacob keep you safe from all harm. May he send you help from his sanctuary and strengthen you from Jerusalem. May he remember all your gifts and look favorably on your burnt offerings. May he grant your heart’s desires and make all your plans succeed. May we shout for joy when we hear of your victory and raise a victory banner in the name of our God. May the Lord answer all your prayers. Now I know that the Lord rescues his anointed king. He will answer him from his holy heaven and rescue him by his great power. Some nations boast of their chariots and horses, but we boast in the name of the Lord our God. Those nations will fall down and collapse, but we will rise up and stand firm. Give victory to our king, O Lord! Answer our cry for help.” (Psalm 20:1-9/NIV)

King David knew the power of prayer and he never failed to ask for it. Prayer was so vital to David that he instructed his people to pray specifically for him as noted in Psalms 20:1-9. Known as one of the greatest, yet most controversial leaders of his time, David understood the rescuing power that awaited him when he asked for prayer. His passion for God’s anointing on his life was only secondary to his love for God. We would think that such an esteemed and well known biblical figure would have a pristine, cleaned-up life; but David’s life was far from either one of those assumptions. David was a passionate man after God’s own heart with a messy, imperfect life whose sins often sought him out publically.

Perhaps, David’s imperfections, failures and roughened life were likely what endeared him the most to God. It is hard for us to imagine that God wants us just as we are when the world does not. In today's 'who's who' driven society, it is difficult at best to think the CEO of the universe is not looking for polished people, but people who need polishing. Most would envision God standing ready to condemn our lives, when David saw God standing ready to rescue them through the empowerment of prayer.

Thoughts to live by: God rescues, polishes and empowers lives through the faithful prayers of His people.

Friday, July 27, 2012

Who's your daddy; knowing God as Abba Father: Middle of the Road

Who's your daddy; knowing God as Abba Father: Middle of the Road: There is a point in life when we stand in the middle of the road we’re on and wonder how all the time we’ve spent so far, has gone by so...

Middle of the Road

There is a point in life when we stand in the middle of the road we’re on and wonder how all the time we’ve spent so far, has gone by so fast. If memory serves us right, we see details, clips and moments in life’s timeline we hope we never forget and some we wish we could stop remembering. Some are vivid. Some are sad. Some bring us sporadic moments of unspeakable joy. Most are priceless.

At the midpoint of my life, (which I assume is right about now) I’m recalling, rewinding and remembering the moments that have shaped me into who I’ve become. The earliest ones laid a foundation I still stand upon to this day. The latter are part of life’s ongoing “gifts” that continuously shape, mold and pour back into being who I’m meant to be, taking me down this path I’m compelled to follow. Those treasures, I pray, are the ones that stay ever present in my life each day……

If it were not for my praying mother’s two knees, I would not have these two “feet” that ground and compel me to stand strong in a shaky world

My father scooping me into his arms when I cried in my crib for someone to know I needed comfort taught me to be those “arms” for someone else when my turn came

A small scar from my first scraped knee daily reminds that not getting back up hurts worse than falling down

The first time, at four years old, that I felt the presence of God and simply knew He existed

Labor pains that taught me motherhood is a lifelong lesson about the “birthing” process of another human being and the “joy” of being a mom overrules the “painful” moments that come with both

The spoken words “I love you” from my loved ones trumps any card, present or reward this world could offer

Freedom is not a birth right but a human condition no one can steal from us unless we let them

If you love God, you live to please Him

A loving, faithful and Christ-centered husband is a gift from God

More lessons surely lie ahead but these will be the one’s I treasure most as I continue my journey to learning more…….

Every day is a “birthday” when we live our life to the fullest……

Happy Birthday!

Friday, July 6, 2012

Who's your daddy; knowing God as Abba Father: The "Eleventh hour" God; do you know Him?

Who's your daddy; knowing God as Abba Father: The "Eleventh hour" God; do you know Him?: Who has not known the sound of a ticking clock counting down the seconds to the moment of their desperate need, only to wonder...

The "Eleventh hour" God; do you know Him?

Who has not known the sound of a ticking clock counting down the seconds to the moment of their desperate need, only to wonder if God could (really) hear them as they sat helplessly wondering when their next shoe would drop? When we least expect we can rely upon three things. God never sleeps. He knows no limit when it comes to His children. He always meets their needs (not their wants, but their needs).

Think of the recent events in your life that have taught this lesson over and over again. Sometimes, it is as simple as an unexpected letter telling you a debt’s “paid in full” when you thought a greater balance was due. A doctor's report telling you the cancer has mysteriously disappeared or the operation isn't necessary, that your body has healed itself. A lost son's phone call home, telling of the miraculous way in which God has began working in his life through what had seemed more like a desperate situation. All the sudden, your eleventh hour has become another twenty four hours of new life being breathed into your soul, once again.

Christ's death on the cross was for two primary reasons: Payment for our sin and the promise of our new life. One required the other and both were necessary for everyone (the "ungodly" is all inclusive).

Whether our "eleventh hour" moment is birthed from a desperate need for healing, restoration, direction, or some other life changing moment, the same Christ died so that you would have the answer through a relationship with Him. To ignore the price He paid is to let the hands of time tick past the midnight hour in your life sending you into the unknown. It is never too late, but it might be sooner than you realize. Turn to Christ today for the salvation you need has already drawn closer than you realize.

Thought to live by: The moment I need God can be found in every moment, of every day.

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Fork in the road

The greatest challenge anyone faces in this life is being able to know which way to go when they come to their “fork in the road”. Not many of us realize it, but our “fork” probably pops up at least once a day. “How is that?” you might ask. Think about every decision you make, every word you speak, every thought you think, and you’ll start to see plenty of “forks” coming your way. The challenge isn’t just a 50/50 chance of making a right or wrong decision; it’s what you will do with where the decision leads you to. We can make plenty of great choices and still end up at a dead end, least we fail to use what God has given us to its greatest potential. Think about anyone you’ve ever known (even at a distance) who has risen and fallen along their path to fame, fortune and opportunity. Weren’t they on the right road at some point in time? Wasn’t everything “lining-up” in their lives making their destiny seem (almost) assured? Yes and yes.

“People may be right in their own eyes, but the LORD examines their heart.” (Proverbs 21:2)

What we do with what God gives us is just as important as the direction He leads us to follow. Choosing the right side of the fork to follow is always a 50/50 chance. Choosing to follow Christ regardless of the path you’re on is always certain to lead you to Him.

Thought to live by: I will choose today to follow Christ as I walk by faith.

Thursday, February 2, 2012

Only One God

Wouldn’t it be convenient if we could make God into what we needed Him to be for us? Thus enters in the garden variety of religions. Each one wants to proclaim they’ve found their God, however, God made it very clear to us from the beginning of time exactly who He was, is, and will always be.

“I am the Alpha and the Omega”

(Revelations 1:8 NIV)

God made no bones about it: There has and will be only One True God. He underscored who He was by showing His great love and compassion for a lost and dying world when He reached down from heaven with the best example of Himself through Christ. God had a plan from the beginning of time to be everything we needed. When anyone tries to conform God into what they need Him to be they lose touch with who He is.

Thought to live by: There is only one true God. Anything less than that is counterfeit.

Sunday, January 29, 2012

The key to prosperity

The Boys Scouts were founded in the early 1900’s and remain one of the few organizations that still embrace an ageless “oath” that embodies the core values they still believe in and live by to this day:

“On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law; to help other people at all times; to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.”

In a day and age when boys are finding more ways to find more trouble, the Scouts offer their followers a way to stay focused on what they embrace as right. The benefit of being a “Scout” is to know that you are not alone in what you believe and that you can find common ground with other “a-like” believers through the core values and standards set forth by the organization as a whole. God’s word provides the same benefits for those who desire to keep it, as well.

^“Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.” (Joshua 1:8/NIV)

Uncomplicated and very straight forward, God’s word gives us a way that leads us to prosperity and success, protection and provision, honor and respect. Following it places us not only in good company but protects us from uncertainty.

Thought to live by: Obedience to follow God’s word is the key to prosperity.

Monday, January 23, 2012

Double portion: Heeding the call upon your life

When the prophet Elijah began to make his journey to his final destination on earth, Elisha (his “prophet” in training and closest friend) relentlessly followed him to the very end. Even though Elijah “released” Elisha from his responsibilities, Elisha dared not leave his friend and God’s prophet. After having seen the incredible anointing God had placed upon Elijah, Elisha knew that one of two things would happen once Elijah was taken up into heaven: The end or the beginning of his own ministry would occur. Wanting so badly to “have” what Elijah had, Elisha asked for a “double portion” of God’s anointing. However, it wasn’t Elijah’s to give – regardless of how much he wanted his friend to continue on in his shoes. The only way Elisha would receive the anointing was through God – not man.

⁹ When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?”“Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit,” Elisha replied.¹⁰ “You have asked a difficult thing,” Elijah said, “yet if you see me when I am taken from you, it will be yours—otherwise, it will not.”

¹¹ As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind. ¹² Elisha saw this and cried out, “My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!” And Elisha saw him no more. Then he took hold of his garment and tore it in two.¹³ Elisha then picked up Elijah’s cloak that had fallen from him and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. ¹⁴ He took the cloak that had fallen from Elijah and struck the water with it. “Where now is the LORD, the God of Elijah?” he asked. When he struck the water, it divided to the right and to the left, and he crossed over.

The empowerment of God’s anointing never comes through man but only through our faith in Him. Elisha spent the greater part of his life relentlessly pursuing God through serving Elijah in his ministry. So often, when we see the anointing on someone’s life we instantly want “what they’ve got”, don’t we? Unless God ordains His will in our lives will not receive God’s will for our lives. Notice how God (not Elijah) controlled whether or not Elisha would receive the anointing? In the spiritual realm, only God could open Elisha’s eyes to see Elijah’s spirit ascending to heaven. Even more amazing is how God allowed Elijah’s “garment” to fall away from him as he ascended, to be used once again in the ministry of God’s newly appointed prophet Elisha.

The beauty of this scripture comes through how we see God always remaining in control of our destiny and how He honors our hearts desire(s) when we seek Him. The anointing we seek only comes through God, our daily discipline for seeking His will in our lives and our obedience to follow Christ. To be “anointed” by God is to be made ready to serve God fully in the anointing. Elisha faithfully “served” Elijah and was made ready through his obedience to God.

If you’ve been seeking God’s anointing, asking Him for a “double portion” remember the obedience of Elisha and how he relentlessly followed, obeyed and served God’s anointed leader, Elijah, before God entrusted him with the anointing.

Thought to live by: Our obedience is a vessel for God’s anointing.

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Altar Moments

The popular catch phrase “Can you hear me now?” from a well known cell phone commercial grew quickly in popularity for one obvious reason: If you’ve ever owned a cell phone you’ve experienced a dropped call. We’ve all experienced that “moment” when the conversation we were a part of seem to drop in mid-air. It’s not until we start waiting for the recipient on the other end of our conversation to respond to us when we realize they’ve not been “on the line” for quite some time. Although we never fully know exactly when they stopped hearing us, we feel certain it was probably a longer time ago than we realize.

“Then come, let us go up to Bethel, where I will build an altar to God, who answered me in the day of my distress and who has been with me wherever I have gone.” (Genesis 35:3 NIV)

God’s people have been building altars since the beginning of time. Some were meant to sacrifice a burnt offering (something of value from us to God). Others were built to demonstrate our willingness to submit ourselves to God (a “smoke” signal communicating our message to God expressing our desperate need to hear from Him). Each holds a common thread; our humble act of obedience and willingness to submit our lives to God. And each holds a promise; God’s willingness to listen and answer.

The beauty of an “altar moment” is simply this: It can happen anywhere, at any time. Our “call” will never be “dropped” and the listener (God) will always be available to receive the call.

Thought to live by: An “altar moment” with God is a life changing encounter.

Saturday, December 31, 2011

Your story......

Ben Breedlove became the face of “life” for millions of people around the world when his poignant You Tube video was broadcast posthumously, following his death at 18 years of age on December 25, 2011. Ben shared his simple yet profound message, entitled “This is my story” with all of us presenting a mixture of unforgettable resolve and dignity that will not soon be forgotten. Although a heart disease claimed his life physically, it never touched his passion for him to live his life fully with dignity and grace. The legacy Ben left behind should be a reminder to each of us that we’re not just cheating death but living life to whatever level we willing choose, every single day.

Three times Ben cheated death of its power to stop him, all the while never allowing his physical condition to dampen his spiritual resolve: To live his life to the fullest. Think about that for a moment; what if you knew that your physical health condition stood the chance to take your life in an instant would you live your life any differently? Ben did. Even at the tender age of 18 years old, Ben understood the precious priceless value of his life and dared not to let it be taken without sharing his message with the world one day. Ben’s story didn’t focus on the tragic future he faced, but on his joy of embracing his life in this world for whatever time he had here. Ben’s Christian faith reassured him there was something more beyond the illness that would one day claim his life. Between embracing and believing, Ben learned one valuable lesson we should each take a hold of: We all have a “story” to write. Ben wrote and shared his so that we would each write ours.

I would venture to guess that if Ben could he would ask each of us just one question, “What’s your story?”

Thought to live by: What you do with your life today will speak volumes about you tomorrow.

Thank you God for sharing Ben with all of us…..we appreciate the lesson.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&NR=1&v=35O3E3T3GKQ

Friday, December 23, 2011

Like-mindedness

Can you only imagine getting the news from your fiancé that they’re pregnant and know that you are not the father? “So as not to disgrace her” was how Joseph (initially) decided to handle his break-up with Mary; quietly and without consequences that would have cost Mary (at the very least) to be disgraced. Back in the day, Mary’s out of wedlock pregnancy made her a prime candidate for stoning, much less gossip followed by a lifetime of shame. But Joseph was more than just her fiancé; He was her husband-to-be, chosen by God. His actions were more than just “chivalrous”; they were divine.

^“18 This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. ¹⁹ Joseph, her fiancé, was a good man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement^[a] quietly.²⁰ As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. ²¹ And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus,^[b] for he will save his people from their sins.” ²² All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet:

²³“Look! The virgin will conceive a child!
She will give birth to a son,
and they will call him Immanuel,^[c]
which means ‘God is with us.’”

²⁴ When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife. ²⁵ But he did not have sexual relations with her until her son was born. And Joseph named him Jesus.

God had to take a man’s human frailties and vulnerabilities and use them to fulfill His purpose: Bring forgiveness and salvation into a lost and dying world. But in order to do that, He used a “divine moment” during Joseph’s sleep to communicate His will; to “save his people from their sins”. Had Joseph not been like minded with God, then the news of Mary’s pregnancy would not have been anything less than a nightmarish moment.

Thought to live by: God requires us to be like-minded with Him (not the world, our circumstances or our own human will….but with Him), so that when our time comes to do what He has called us to do, we will do so, without fear or doubt.

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Pay-backs.....the beauty of giving

With the holidays getting ready to swing into full gear, are you thinking about what you can/will do for those in your “inner circle” of family and friends? What types of parties you’ll attend or host? Is the menu starting to swell in your mind as you take mental notes about all the details that await your special day of celebration? If you’re like most of us, you’ll spend the next several weeks planning, preparing and spending on what will amount to a few hours of pure pleasure as you soak in the moments spent with those you love. But what about those who have no one to love, spend or even share a meal with this Thanksgiving and Christmas? What about them……

“Then he turned to his host. “When you put on a luncheon or a dinner,” he said, “don’t invite your friends, brothers, relatives and rich neighbors. For they will repay you by inviting you back. Instead invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. Then at the resurrection of the godly, God will reward you for inviting those who could not repay you.” (Luke 14: 12-14)

The world around us has not been hurting as much as it is right now. Wouldn’t we make a greater impact on the lives of those whom we could touch, reach and love with the greatest example of Christ-like living by doing what Christ told us to do: Pay it forward.

Thought to live by: Nothing pays-us-back more than following Christ’s example: Selfless love.

Sunday, November 6, 2011

A healthy heartache

It's hard to imagine that "heartache" could actually be good for our heart. Nothing seems quite so unimaginable. If you've ever suffered from disappointment, disarming news, brokenness, or any form of loss the physical, emotional and spiritual pain you feel can do one of two things: Make you better or keep you bitter. It's not just a personal choice but a personal decision as to which one you will allow it to do.

The "Forgiveness Project" tells story after story of how devastation in a person's life can turn from bitterness to betterment simply through their decision about what they do with what they've experienced. Almost every single story has the same experience at the center of it: Heartache. Regardless of race, ethnicity or religion, no one is free from the experience of heartache. For most of us, heartache can be a very physical pain that seemingly never ends. A scent, a sound, or a place can call up our "heartache" without notice, sending our emotional wheel spinning out of control. For those who "live with the pain" of heartache, the danger becomes even more physically real as they attempt to navigate through each day.

"Health may fail, my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; He is mine forever." (Psalm 73: 26)

Finding the strength to move past heartache is nothing short of a miracle for many. Allowing the remnant of your past to take root in your spirit does nothing less than wreak havoc upon your future. Finding the "strength" to move forward doesn't require super human strength but trust in the One who gives us strength through His Spirit in us. Many of the victims of the Forgiveness Project turned their years of sorrow and heartache into their greatest strength by not just forgiving another person's trespasses against them but by allowing God to be what filled their heart in the place of their heartache.

Thought to live by: A healthy heart is filled with God.

To learn more about The Forgiveness Project, visit their website at http://theforgivenessproject.com/