One promise that can never be broken!

"My child, don't ignore it when the Lord disciplines you, and don't be discouraged when He corrects you. For the Lord corrects those He loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom He delights. "
 -Proverbs 3:11-12  


To many children grow up without a father in the home. Either the parents never married to begin with, or the parents divorced? Maybe dad passed away? Far to often many children don't ever meet their dad because he has been labeled as "a dead beat dad." According to the Washington Times, 15 million American children or 1 in every 3 children live without a father. I am willing to bet that just about everyone who reads this post either knows a child who is growing up fatherless or did so themselves.


Some of you can identify with these children. Maybe you can understand the pain and disappointments. Maybe you feel unwanted or abandoned. Maybe you have no idea what a father is suppose to be like.  Because of the loss that people experience when growing up fatherless, most children grow up having a very hard time seeing God as their Father.


Many verses in the Bible claim that God is our Father. Isaiah 64:8 says "And yet, O Lord, You are our Father. We are the clay and you are the potter. We all are formed by your hand." Yet many people often are angry at God because they don't understand God as a father when their own father abandon them, disappointed them, or broke promises made to them. They don't see God as a father because their father was a bad example of what a father is suppose to be.


The job of an earthly father is to be the example of our Heavenly Father, yet most fail.
The role of a father is suppose to mirror our Heavenly Father by providing, correcting, teaching, guiding, loving unconditionally, and most importantly never leaving or forsaking. These are all the same rolls that our Heavenly Father plays in each of our lives. Like Proverbs 3:11-12 says "My child, don't ignore it when the Lord disciplines you, and don't be discouraged when He corrects you. For the Lord corrects those He loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom He delights."


I can understand how hard it might be to make the connection between God and father when someone never knew their own father. Try to remember that God is not man. His ways are not our ways. ("For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord." -Isaiah 55:8)
God is incapable of sin. ("When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone;" -James 1:13) Therefore He is incapable of ever leaving you. Hebrews 13:5 says that He will never leave you or forsake you. That's one promise that can never be broken!


For more verses about God as our Father, read the following Bible verses:
*Matthew 6:9-13
*1Corinthians 8:6
* Hebrews 12:5-11
* 1 John 3:1, 9-10


Embrace the corrections that our Heavenly Father bestows on us. He corrects us because He is our Father and He loves us.


Father, Thank you so much for being our perfect Heavenly Father. Thank you for not being like the earthly fathers who sin and abandon their children. Thank you for loving us unconditionally. Father, I ask that you will touch those who need to relate to you as their Father. Show them exactly how much you love them. Show them what a real father is suppose to look like. Lord heal their wounds, ease their pain, and give them a heart to forgive their earthly father.
In Jesus name I pray,
Amen

"I am a Christian"

"In the same way, heaven will be happier over one lost sinner who returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven't strayed away!" -Luke 15:7


 Our world today hears the word Christian and assumes that means that the Christian must think that he/she is better than others or that they must have the "holier than thou" attitude. Why does our world see Christians in this way? In my option there are two main reasons.


1. Because the world doesn't understand why a person would choose to behave in a different way than it tells us to. Christians are called to go against the grain of where the world is heading, and so we are labeled as being a "goodie goodie" or "holier than thou" or even as "being better" than everyone else when we choose not to follow our sinful nature and instead choose to follow Christ.
Romans 12:2 says "Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect His will really is".


2. Most of the time Christians can be our own worst enemy. When we as Christians don't follow Christ completely. When we haven't built a strong relationship with Jesus we can loose sight of the true meaning of being a Christian. To live a life that mirrors Jesus Christ completely. The purpose of being a Christian is to live as Christ lived. When we refuse to live as He lived, then we loose sight and temptation creeps in. We end up living as though we are better than the "sinner" standing next to us. We loose sight of our own sins. We refuse to keep ourselves in check and we start to live the way the world wants us to, only we think that we aren't because Satan has "pulled the wool" over our own eyes. If we aren't careful Satan can turn what God intended to use to advance His kingdom to destroy us.
Due to the sinful nature of all people (Yes including Christians) We all struggle with our daily desires and wants. Christians are not immune to the temptations that everyone faces. Jesus calls us to be humble and full of compassion for non-Christian because the only difference between Christians and Non-believers is that Christians are forgiven by God. Titus 2:14 says "He gave His life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us His very own people, totally committed to doing what is right."  In fact Luke 15:7 (top of page) tells us that heaven will be happier over one sinner who returns to God than over a Christian who has never strayed.


The following I found on a social media site. I thought I would share it as it is a good example of the attitude All Christians should have and hopefully how the world will start to see us... 


"I am a Christian
When I say that "I am a Christian," I am not shouting that "I am clean living." I'm whispering "I was lost, but now I'm found and forgiven."
When I say "I am a Christian," I don't speak of this with pride. I'm confessing that I stumble and need Christ to be my guide.
When I say "I am a Christian." I'm not trying to be strong. I'm professing that I'm weak and need His strength to carry on.
When I say "I am a Christian," I'm not bragging of success. I'm admitting I have failed and need God to clean my mess.
When I say "I am a Christian," I'm not claiming to be perfect. My flaws are far too visible, but God believes I am worth it.
When I say "I am a Christian," I still feel the sting of pain. I have my share of heartaches, so I call upon His name.
When I say "I am a Christian," I'm not holier than thou. I'm just a simple sinner who received God's good grace, Somehow!
(-Unknown)


Father, thank you so very much for offering your grace to everyone. Thank you for sending your one and only son to take the punishment that all humans deserve for sinning against you. Father I pray that you will change the lives of anyone and everyone who reads this. Use this to lead those who don't know you to you and change the hearts of those who do know you to mirror your life on earth. To have compassion for non-believers. To be able to say that I am a Christian because of your mercy and grace, and with out pride or boasting. Humble our hearts Father and help us to remember our place in you. Open our eyes to our own sins so that we can repent and follow you.
In Jesus name I pray,
Amen

WHAT'S THEIR SECRET?

"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." -Zephaniah 3:17


The three chapter book of Zephaniah starts with Zephaniah warning the people of Judah of the coming destruction that God will place on the people. Despite the many warnings that God had given the people, they refuse to stop worshiping the many false gods and idols that they created. They refused to follow the One true God.


I can't help but compare our world today to the world of Zephaniah's day. Really not much has changed. God has warned us through His word of His return and the of the destruction that is to come, and yet our world refuses to stop worshiping the many gods that we have created and the idols that control our lives.


As we watch the news we see that our world is full of daily destruction. Every day somewhere something horrible is taking place. Everyday we all face our own struggles. Through it all like the people of Judah, we are all looking for the same thing. Happiness.


Happiness is the one thing in this world that we all are so desperately trying to find. We fill our lives with things that we think will make us happy. Then we need to buy something else because the last one didn't work. We run from relationship to relationship searching for happiness. A new boyfriend or girlfriend should do the trick. We say things like "I'll be happy if or when I can..."  Or "I've never known someone who makes me so happy" Yet in a short time that person or thing no longer makes us happy and we move on to the next. True happiness is the one thing that we all want and yet so few find. WHAT'S THEIR SECRET?


The Bible warns us of the unhappiness and destruction that is to come when Christ returns, and at the same time Zephaniah 3:17 tells us the secret to avoid being unhappy in both our time and the time when Christ returns. True happiness comes to us when we grow close to God. When we follow Him with all of our hearts we build a close relationship with Him. Then He will quiet us with His love and we will experience happiness like nothing this world will ever be able to provide. True happiness come from God alone!


Father, thank you for Your word. Thank you for giving it to us so that we can take the warnings to heart and be prepared for what is to come. Lord, help us to open our hearts to You and help us to learn to follow You with all of our heart so that we can be quieted by Your love and know true happiness.
 In Jesus name, Amen.

It's Me, I Need To Change!

I cry aloud to the Lord; I lift up my voice to the Lord for mercy. I pour out my complaint before Him; before Him I tell my trouble. When my spirit grows faint within me, it is You who know my way.
Psalm 142:1-3


As Christians we are not perfect, we still have troubles. We still sin. For me, one of my biggest struggles is prayer. I rarely pray for myself unless it is something I am deeply troubled over. I hardly ever think to pray and consult God before I run to someone else for advise. Sadly but very true, my prayer life is almost non-existent.


Another area that I struggle with is making good wholesome friendships. My best friend is my husband of 15 years, as I believe it should be. But as a woman I still long for a really good, strong friendship with another woman. Someone who puts her time into me just as I do her. Someone who loves me for me and doesn't make me feel insignificant. Someone who needs me to be her friend just as much as I need her. Friendships like this are so very rare. You are very blessed if you have one.


So, I read these three verses and I ask myself and yes; God, WHY?
Why don't I pray to God the first thing every morning? Why don't I pray to Him when times are fun and not just tough? Why can't I pray for myself and not just for everyone else? Why don't I ask His advise before I ask anyone else? Why do I struggle so hard with prayer?


I think it's because...
I don't take the time to be in His word daily.
I don't spend time with Him regularly except on Sunday's in church.
I don't make Him a priority in my life.


In a nut shell, it's exactly like the strong relationship with a friend  that I long for. Only this time it's me who doesn't give my heart to the relationship. It's me who doesn't have the time or is unwilling to make the time. It's me who expects but never gives. It's me who refuses to see that the road runs both ways. Jesus is giving me His all. He gave His life for mine. He loves me despite of my selfishness. And yet I refuse to echo the friendship and love that He so freely has given me. I treat Jesus like so many "friends" have treated me. I am exactly the friend that I try to avoid when looking for a strong friendship.


While praying and asking God to provide me with a strong Christian woman that I can build a life lasting friendship with, God reminds me that until I make Him the priority and focus on building that same kind of relationship with Him, I will not have that kind of relationship with a friend.


So the answer to all my whys is...


It's Me, I need to change!


Father,
Thank you so very much for opening our eyes to the importance of relationships. You created us to need friendships and love. Open our hearts to see that foremost we need to build a strong, life lasting, friendship with You. You have given us far more than we will ever deserve and yet as long as there is sin in this world, we will always struggle daily to make You our priority in life. I ask Lord, that You will give us the strength to pick up our crosses daily and follow You.
In Jesus name I pray,
Amen