Prayer for Fathers

We thank You that you are a faithful Father who we can always count on to meet us right where we are. You engage in our world. You concern Yourself with the things that matter to us and are always looking out for our best interest in those things. We can trust You.

Many of us, Lord, haven't had that example in an earthly father. We ask that You send down Your healing to the brokeness that we are living out day after day because of that missing void in our lives. We all need to be fathered and when that ingredient is missing, life just isn't what You ordained it to be. But in Your goodness - You chose to be a Father to us. May Your pure love fill all the cracks within us that need to be filled.

We pray for fathers to be awakened to the great call that they have. When a child sees their father - the way he lives, the way he acts, the way he treats others, the way he treats them - they should see a man who is mirroring his life after You. We pray that fathers would have a passion for their children's spiritual health by demonstrating Your perfect love and fervently teaching them Your ways and how to hear Your voice.

Father, we ask for Your blessing on the men who have willfully taken the role of father seriously whether it be with their  biological children, those they have "adopted" as their own, or those who have access to be a positive influence and role model in a child's life. Grant them strength and wisdom to finish the race strong. We pray they would be reassured how worthy their call is and that what they have committed to will not be in vain. You have placed a generation within their hands, and we know that You are smiling down on them. Amen. :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7SH9eP7Q_o

What Does Father Mean to You?

 

What does “father” mean to you? For many it is one who has caused you great pain in life or one you never even knew. If this is you, I hurt for you and understand that void... I understand the warped sense of "father" you have carried, and you know what? God understands too. The very fact that He has a Scripture just for you: "He is a Father to the fatherless." (Psalm 68:5), clearly shows He wants everyone to understand the TRUE meaning of a father and experience the beauty of it in their lives.

A true father will get down to the level of his children; engaging in “their” world with a heart full of love for them not for what they do, but because they are his; a gift entrusted to him. He exercises patience in times of rebellion and yet spurs his children on to become who they are called to be; what they are capable of becoming in this life.

Isn’t it amazing that God, the Creator of everything, wants us to call Him “Father?” Having Him as Father makes Him a living, personal being who is concerned with our day to day challenges, joys, fears… And just like any good father loves to hear his children call him by name, our Heavenly Father is longing for the same...

When you call on Him, with open arms, He meets you right where you are... You don't have to fear being turned away or put off for another time... Climbing into the safety of "Daddy's" arms is the best place to be...

You can’t hug someone who is resisting you. You can’t share your love and the secrets of your heart with one who is continually speaking… It’s time we let down our wall and quiet ourselves for a love encounter with Him. He is waiting on us because He counts it a great joy to love on His children...

Fatherless

 

 

 

Alone and abandoned; the smiles you fake

He brought you into this world, but you feel you’re a mistake

Can’t recall when he last held you or was ever truly there

Emotionally he’s absent; he seems to never care

You strive for his approval; long for his concern

He lets you down as always; you wonder when you’ll learn

Nails of sadness pierce your heart---day after day

You feel forsaken…you hope it will change

 

I can see the emptiness---with you I have cried

I understand the loneliness of being denied

I share in the pain of being forsaken

I relate with the nails and the abuse you have taken

 

I want to carry every burden that is weighing you down

I want to give you hope and a smile for your frown

I want to assure you, you are here for a reason

These sorrowful times are only for a season

 

You felt you were fatherless, but your real daddy is Me

For I’m the one who formed you before you ever came to be

I have great plans for you…I’ll mend your broken heart

If you give your life to Me, I will never depart

 

Sweet child, I love you---more than you can understand

Despite your brokenness, please trust Me and take My hand

I’ll lead you down the path of Truth that will surely make you free

No matter what comes down that road, you can always count on Me

 

Though trials come into your life, and it seems there is no way

There is a peace I have for you---to get you through each day

Please don’t listen to the lies you hear---that your life is not worth while

For I don’t regret creating you…I’m proud that you’re My child

Memorial Day Prayer

Father, we thank You for Jesus - the One who willingly laid His life down for our eternal freedom.

 We also thank You for the men and women who have served and are currently serving our country. Like Jesus, they have committed themselves and their time for the sake of freedom. They have unselfishly laid down their lives for us and even a future generation yet unborn.

We thank You for the Holy Spirit who is our Comforter. Comfort the families who have lost their loved ones while battling for our country's freedom. We are so thankful for the price they've paid. Comfort the families whose loved ones are away. Give them strength and courage to face each day.

We lift up those who are on the battle lines now and those who could be called at any time. We pray for their protection and safe return. We pray that their purpose in fighting for our peace not be in vain.

 We pray for the servicemen and women who do not know You. Send laborers into their path. May the blinders be removed and their eyes be opened to the Gospel message. We pray Jesus would become their hope and comfort, and that they would then unashamedly share their experience with Him to others. We pray for a domino effect to happen - that the saving message of Jesus would spread like wild fire!

 

We pray that the United States would come back to You. We pray that revival would be sparked in the hearts of all - that a great awakening would strike the land and Jesus would be glorified in America. Bless our country, Father. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wK0T4pVHP28&feature=related

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Pride

What is one thing that we rarely see in ourselves, but it is clearly seen by others?

Pride.

It takes a really hard look and a sincere asking of God to shine a light on it (just like He had to do with Paul on the Road to Damascus). It's a painful experience falling off of a "high horse" and being blinded by the very light that frees us, but the outcome far outweighs the temporal pain because...

 …pride destroys.

Pride is a repellant for a healthy relationship. Its very presence shuts those around us down. It sprays out unspoken venom that says "You're inadequate and will never measure up to my perfection. Your opinion does not matter. You will always be a little lower than me. Don’t oppose my thoughts or I will reject or withhold from you.”

Prideful people won't admit it, but they don't want to hear about someone else's success. It repulses them. They choke on seeing anyone else succeed or possibly stand out brighter than themselves. They can frequently talk about themselves and their accomplishments but if someone else does "they are too into themselves." When sharing about yourself or another person, a prideful person will overtake the conversation by either "upping" the other person or somehow turning the whole conversation back to themselves where the initial subject matter somehow vanishes.

Prideful people belittle, argue, always have an opposing argument (not allowing others the right to their own opinions without snide remarks or looks of disgust), cause dissensions, make light of other's pain, lack compassion, struggle with sincere apologies, always an excuse for their wrongdoing, and silence is a rare act. (1Timothy 6:4, Proverbs 11:12)

Let's see what the Bible says:

 1. It is an abomination to God; will not go unpunished (Proverbs 16:5)

2. It is deceiving (Galatians 6:3)

3. More hope for a fool (Proverbs 26:12)

4. Brings destruction (Proverbs 16:18, Proverbs 18:12, Proverbs 29:23, Psalm 31:23)

5. God Himself opposes us (James 4:6)

6. Lack understanding, unteachable (2 Corinthians 10:12, Proverbs 15:12)

7. Not approved of God (2 Corinthians 10:18)

8. Lacks love (1 Corinthians 13:4)

9. Clean in their own eyes, but not God's (Proverbs 30:12)

10. Become fools (Romans 1:22)

For the sake of your reading time, I will stop there, but the Scriptures are seemingly endless on the subject. Fact of the matter is, if we don't pay close attention and deal with the pride in our lives, God will. Rather than having the very One we need on our side, we place ourselves on His opposing team. Remember Lucifer? He was cast out of God's presence because of what? His pride. God resists the proud. I don't know about you, but I do not want Him pushing me but rather pulling me to Himself.

This unapproachable, unteachable bubble we are encompassed in will ultimately kill everything around us. The very one we exulted above others and their feelings will be all we are left with (Proverbs 12:9). It's scriptural and it's no joking matter. Better to humble ourselves than to be humbled by God. (Luke 14:11)

Father, our pride keeps us from hearing You. It keeps us from learning. It keeps us from healthy relationships. It shuts others out. It causes us to ignore the needs of others and become calloused to their pains.  It blinds us from seeing others as You do. It makes us zero in on their wrongdoings and have a “they deserve it” mentality. We fail to realize that we too deserve nothing in and of ourselves, but because of Your mercy, you have blessed us anyway.

We choose today to humble ourselves, to compare ourselves to Your perfection rather than to the accomplishments or lack thereof of others.  We want a true change in our hearts, Lord… not a false humility where we get in the “ditch” and go the other direction with a “Woe is me. I’m a worthless sinner.” We know that is not Your will either. We can be confident in You and what You do through us as long as it is never at the expense of hurting others or making light of what You are doing in them as well. We need Your help, Lord. We submit to Your ways and ask You to reveal to us when pride rears its ugly head. We want it completely eradicated from our lives in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

"One with true humility willfully washes the feet of those who chose the muddy path – remembering that they too have been washed." ~etb

Repentance

Oftentimes we are so driven to a life of perfection that our "repentance" becomes a method. It becomes about us; OUR feeling "a clean slate," OUR feeling "right," OUR success driven thinking to personally have victory over sin. In doing so, we miss the real point of repentance ~ opportunity to connect with the very One's heart we grieved. A moment of embrace. A beautiful occasion to hear, “You and I are okay.”

Worth It

As I walked this afternoon I was meditating on:

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

 “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

God loved us smack dab in the middle of our sin. He demonstrated His love while we rejected Him.  He poured His life out as an offering with the chance we may never love Him back.  Why would He lay Himself down for us in the midst of our wickedness? Why would He provide a way of escape for us when we lived a life that mocked His ways?  Why?   

“Not because you were worthy of it, but because you were WORTH IT.”     

Immediately I was reminded:

“This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” John 15:12

It is not a suggestion, but a commandment to love as He loved. We are called to love those who do not deserve it.  Just saying we love people isn’t what He meant.  Love is a verb.  It is demonstrated in our actions, in our attitudes, in our words towards EVERYONE… yes, even the unlovely. Yes, even the one who disrespects you, the one who speaks evil of you, the one who has smeared your name, the one who has broken your heart, corrupt leaders, misguided politicians, the harsh boss that takes you for granted…

We have become so accustomed to the thought that we need to only respect and love those who are deserving of it and those who have earned it.  But God’s ways are much higher than our human logic:

“You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy; But I tell you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you to show that you are the children of your Father Who is in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the wicked and on the good, and makes the rain fall upon the upright and the wrongdoers alike. For if you love those who love you, what reward can you have? Do not even the tax collectors do that?  And if you greet only your brethren, what more than others are you doing? Do not even the heathen do that?  You, therefore, must be perfect [growing into complete maturity of godliness in mind and character, having reached the proper height of virtue and integrity], as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Matthew 5:42-48

Each one of us was once lost in our sin and living a life separated from God… and yet - Jesus found us WORTH IT.  When we are tempted to pull our judgmental swords and withhold “the love of God that has been shed abroad in our hearts” let’s remember where we came from and love those who have not yet found The Way. 

"And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?"  Romans 2:3-4

The goodness of God. The goodness of God in what Jesus already did, the goodness of God in our everyday lives, and could it also be the goodness of God THROUGH US to others that will lead them to true repentance?  

May our love walk demonstrate the God who loved “while we were yet sinners.” May God's love in action - in us - be the very tool that gains us access to speak the Truth into those people’s lives who Jesus found WORTH IT! J