Be Strong in His might

 "Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might"  Ephesians 6:10.  

  The familiar words, be strong.  It echo's loud in times of disaster.  As Christians more often we might remember be strong in this phrase;  be strong and courageous;  Found in Joshua 1.  Do like adding courageous, we as men need to be men of courage...

  Back to "be strong"; when we read this we tend to think of us 'ramping up' , 'putting our best foot forward', 'giving it 110%'...  Using our own strength and abilities;  then adding the name of Jesus; Oh in prayer. The Christian life is more than knowledge of God and Jesus Christ.  It also revolves around the heart;   that assurance that comes through faith and hope...  The peace that passes all understanding.  The surety of the Gospel...  It is not just an emotion, a warm feeling... even though that maybe part of it.  It is the assurance of Hope that is give to the believer.  The seal of the Holy Spirit.  More than brain knowledge.

  When we are to be strong it involves us to be strengthened.  That we become strong;  that becoming strong has a source;  we become strong in the Lord Jesus Christ.  It is that we take a position of placing ourselves under Christ.  Maybe this will help that we hide ourselves behind Christ.  We can spend page after page on 'in Christ', 'under Christ'...  The thing is Christ is the strength, the power...  As the next phrase says "might" or "mighty power".

  "His might" (who's might? His, God's, Christ Jesus) Might, strength, power... not just physical but mental, moral and so much more.  God is all powerful, He has the ability.  Mental power, thinking reasoning... God can not be deceived, fooled, tricked, or out smarted...by Satan, powers... nor by man.

  One last thought, the word rest.  If you find that you are doing all or most of the work... with very little prayer... Who's power are you relying on?  Are you the one who says "I got this!"  no need for God?  Rest and prayer, prayer and rest.  

A battle is raging finally

    Some times we do not notice things.  My wife would re arrange the furniture in the living room; I would come home from work( an excuse I worked long hours- not really an excuse) I would sit on the moved sofa  and not even notice the difference in the room...  How can that be?  I wish that was my list of not noticing at home.  We all miss things that are seen, heard, smelt, tasted and felt that are right there.  Did you see that?  What!  Did you hear that?Can you smell that?  Thank goodness no!  Can you taste the hint of clove? Did you feel that? ( Not feelings of emotion).  We use our senses; but sometimes a sense of somethings wrong, amiss... from deep inside also helps us notice.

  There is a battle raging around us!  Christians this battle is at your door step if you will.  It is there if you notice it or not; if you believe it or not.  This battle is not just a corporate fight; it is a one on one battle.  A battle were you/I need to fight individually.  You can not fight my battle and I can not fight yours;  we can encourage each other... 

  In Ephesians 6 it tells us about this battle and how to fight it.  In verse 10 it starts off with "finally".  So many times we just do not consider what is being said.  We think finally- one last thing/point.  Which takes our mind off of what was just said, Ephesians 1-6:10.  The Apostle Paul writes 5 plus chapters for us of the Christian walk/life...  Chapter 1 Key words and phrases: Who has  In Christ  In him  His will  He made known  In Christ   In Him  Holy Spirit  God's power in Christ

  Chapter 2  you were dead  without hope   But God   rich in mercy  great love   alive with Christ  (read verses 6-9)

Chapter 3 God's grace    Co heirs  Paul's prayer of strength  christ dwell in your hearts through faith            depth of God's love

Chapter 4 Live worthy of the calling  no longer tossed      put on put off  one Lord  one hope  one faith

Chapter 5 Be imitaters of God do not be decieved testing what is pleasing to God  Pay carefull attention  The wives and Husband thing

Chapter 6 Children obey  slaves obey  do God's will from your heart  no favortism  then "finally"

  Paul tells A lot about this Christian life foundational principles of who we are in Christ to how to live in Christ... then comes the "finally" .  Because there is a battle going on,  the enemy(s) is real.  You are in the mist of this battle like it or not; and if you are not prepared damage is being done!  This is not a computer game where you just pich up health and everthing is good as new... Damage,  hurt, pain,  hardship and...  Here is what the enemy wants to do, 1Peter 5:8-9 "Be of sober spirit, be on the alert.  Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour."  John 10:10 "The thief comes only to kill, steal and destroy"    

  Recognize there is a battle. 

What do we do now?

   So what do we do now?  This week the United States has new President...  Amist of all unrest... and division whay do we do?  

1Timothy2:1-4  "First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people,  for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.  This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior,  who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.'  

  We need to pray;  4 ways if you will.  For who-  people, kings and all who are in high places.  What- may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.  

Why-.  This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior,  who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.'   

  Titus 3:1-5 "Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work,  to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.  For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.  But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared,  he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,     

  Keep on praying.

America in trouble

   This past year was a challenge; covid-19 restrictions...  But maybe more than the restrictions was the fear;  the fear of covid-19.  The sad thing is that fear of coved-19 turned into fear of people.  Parents(older) afraid of son's and daughter's;  their grand children...  and son's and daughter's afraid of parents.  Brothers and sisters (with their own family) afraid of each other... We love you but.   

  At the same time it's ok to go to work...  It's ok to go grocery shopping.  It's ok to go to walmart, target,  restaurants,  camp grounds, and ect.  But to go over and say hi to family...  fear.  I am not talking about family members being in harms way...  Who would have thought this could happen.

  Also this past year the political unrest.  Fueled by hatred.  Fueled by the news media.  Fueled by social media.  It is so bad who knows what is true or not.  Fake news.  Staged news.  Miss quoted news... 

  This paragraph--  Riots  

  Think about it it is something you read in history books.  Not good.

    What is happening to the United States of America?  

                    Finding the problem              

  Last time we talked about  2Tim.3:16-17 "All scripture is..."  We used these verses as a foundation if you will in teaching... our children.  With a main point that God's law, rules... are needed to be followed...  It is easy to go to the rule broken and deal with the problem.  You stole so blank.

  But training is more than black and white.  Yes in some ways it is.  As parents (mature) we need to be asking the questions; Why did this wrong behavior manifest?  or How did this wrong behavior manifest?  Which brings us to 1 John 2:16 "For everything in the world-  the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride in ones possessions- is not from the Father, but is from the world."

  Here we have 3 worldly traits if you will.  

  1.  lust of the flesh: pertain to our flesh or senses... over indulgences and/or partaking in a wrong manner... or partaking in wrongful actions...

  2. lust of the eyes:  seeing and wanting or coveting,  not content with...

  3. Pride: puffing oneself up,  look at me... look what I have...  I'm better...

  When we start acting worldly,  we are moving away from acting Godly.  So as we train our children and our selves we need to be mindful of these 3 area's .  So to teach and correct our children and our selves.  So we can look at an action, situation... and put it into on of the 3 traits. Saying "Oh my the lust of the eyes is at play"  for example.  So many times as parents we just act.  How much more if we recognize the why... and help them with the struggle...It's a battle!

                      A principle in child training               

  Have you ever heard the saying; "I wish someone told me that years ago."  Or something similar?  Sometimes it is a matter of us not listening... or not filtering.  Sometimes it is forgetting... or just not putting it into practice...

  So today we are going to look at a familiar Scripture.  

  All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,  that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.  2 Timothy 16-17

    What I would like us to do is apply this to working with our children.  But I would like to address us as adults first.  We must believe that all scripture is from God!  The word of God... and to that it is profitable!  

    -For TEACHING  We need to be teaching God's word to our children.  The 10 commandments... Godly principles... Bible stories of Faith, trust...

   -For REPROOF  That is blame for doing something wrong.    

     2 Points                                                                                                                                                                                               1 .  remember that it is God's law that is broken                   (which is more important that our personal home rules)   2. Disappointment verses anger...  

 -FOR CORRECTION  Communication not just punishment...

    Remember love mercy forgiveness patience kindness

  -COMPLETE    no matter what you believe you need the Word of God;  which leads you to Jesus Christ.  That is how you become complete and equiped for every good work.

  As parents we need to be teaching principles of God's word... living these principles...  ya reproof but correcting in a loving way. Showing good works.  Guiding to do works works.  Praising good works...   

A call battle of covid 19

                                        A call to all believers

                                       A battle has been raging

  Here we are another day!  A day in which many things are happening just in my small area of life.  A day in which many things are happening in everyones small area of life.  

  People going to work, people working from home.  People going to School, people do school remotely... People driving cars, people walking... People out and about, people at home.  Many things being done through out the day!

  But today there is still a cloud.  A cloud that is touching everyone.  Some with A violent storm, some with rain, some with a sun less sky and some with fog.  We have names for this cloud.  We call it a pandemic, we call it covid... it is real.  It is in all our small area of life! It doesn't matter who you are, it is affecting you.  

  As believes in our Lord Jesus Christ this cloud is still real.  It is affecting the people of God!  It is an attack if you will.  An attack that yes we may recognize (some of us) but an attack that is still going on.  We need to fight this attack personally but more importantly together.  As the Church.  The Church of Jesus Christ.

 We need to be united in this battle!  A battle that needs unity of it's soldiers.  A battle plan that the army of Jesus Christ is following.  We need to unite.  We need to unite as The Church of Jesus Christ in prayer.  We need to unite as local Churches of Jesus Christ in prayer.  Corparate prayer!  (yes, it is given that some Churches are doing) But what if this Sunday and next every local Church takes a time in prayer for this one attack;  the pandemic, covid...  That even maybe we would bend our knee.  That even maybe we would fast;  A Day, A morning.  If only we would humble  our selves and pray... 2Chron.7:14

One bad act

A terrible act!  Hard to believe! Still harder that it could have been stopped!  This one terrible act has put the Country in turmoil.  It is hard to believe what is happening.
  This one act has triggered more acts of violence... It has triggered more than that; a lack of trust, respect, love and... From one victim to many!
 Justice is the cry!  Yes, justice needs to be enforced! No one wants justice to be selective.  At the same time should justice be enforced for the ones looting(stealing), for the ones setting fires(arson), for the ones causing harm, for the ones trying to kill.  Justice is the cry! 
  This is America!  It is 2020 and we need to unite not only for justice but for the respect... of every man, women, child and yes babies. Everyone matters!  When you start leaving someone out terrible things happen.  We need to love one another
  Just one more note.  Your house is being rob!  Someone is stealing your car!  Someone is breaking in your house!  Your home is on fire!  The list goes on... Who are you going to call?  The Ghost Busters?  No the police!  Yes their are a lot of good police officer's!  Risking their lives to serve the public.  Some have given their lives!  Think about that.

Who's watching

   As we go through this corona thing, we need to remember our walk.  The walk of a Christian.  The walk as a believer in our Lord Jesus Christ.  The walk before God the Father.  This walk is on earth.  Not only is it before God it is infront of men, women and children.  Not only men women and children but principalities and powers...
  Our walk is vital today! It is vital tomorrow...  Yes people are watching... But sadly we act as if it doesn't not matter.  We say things, we voice our oppinions, we accuse, we blame, we demand...
  Our children are watching, listening... Yes times are hard...  But as Christians we have a God who cares...  Who is alive and well.  He is active in our lives!  We have a Savior the Lord Jesus!  Who is alive and well; seated at the right hand of God.  We have the Holy Spirit; the helper of the believer.  Wow!
  But there is all this rebelious talk...  Some just defiant of the goverment...  Some just so selfish that their "freedom" is more important than the health of others and even the life of others.  Wow! 
  Romans 13:1-2 "Every person is to be in subjection to the Governing authorities.  For there is no authority execpt from God, and those which exist are established by God.  Therefore whoever resist authority has opposed the odinance of God; and they who have opposed will recieve condemnation upon themself."
 There is the word of God! For the believer and the unbeliever.  Who is watching you? Me?  First of all, our children.  Are we teaching them rebelious action... Oh some will argue, but my rights... How shallow an arguement... My lively hood... How shallow!  My freedom... How shallow! 
  How about friends?  Are you a good example... Helping encouraging... or are you a stubbling block?  The out side world is watching...  Are they saying look at those Christians, not obeying authority... Now I hear all the back lass and arguements...  This social distance thing is hoefully only for 6-8 weeks.  There is a reason!  Just look at New York City this could easily be every large city or town!  As believer's in Christ Jesus we need to  be an example of following authority...  Praying for our leaders... Praying against this virus... Praying against evil... and ...
Who is watching you?  God

In times like this Corvid-19

Corvid-19 a term that will be remembered for a long time.  Something that has affected the World and the people in it. These last few weeks of quarantine have been different.  My little part of the world, children are not going to school, people are working from home and some are not working. Stores closed... But most people are staying home... doing their part. 
  I try not to watch too much news; it's just sad how they do their job.  It is also sad to see the protest... and to hear people complaining about their rights... Oh it's just another flu... Well it is a type of flu but more deadly. What is the death rate?  3-4% or more. How easily we forget how the flu would affect schools.  Think about it.  Think about it employers how many call in sick with the flu. Think about how contagious it is!  Can you picture what it would be like if we did not do what is required!  Schools with 2,3 or more deaths.  That is Kinder garden, elementary, junior high, high school, trade schools and colleges... Or even some families with more than one death.
  Is it that important, your rights! Or is it more important life?  I choose life.  The life of my wife and children. I choose life of the couple across the street. I choose life of the couple next door with the new baby. I choose life of the families up the street with children. I choose life!
  Far be it for me to be that person not doing my part or advocating against... that the virus would spread by me and one person would die. What would a familiy think of that person who knowingly put people in harms way and the worst happened. 
  I choose life!  I choose to love my neighbors.
  I choose life!  I choose to love!

A storm

  It has been awhile since I have posted.  As I look out my window the last few days; I have seen beautiful sunrises, blue skies...  Today the sky is filled with clouds, a storm is coming.  But even through the clouds the light breaks through.
  Our God's light always breaks through!  That light is His Son our Lord Jesus.  
  These last few weeks a storm has come.  A big storm.  A storm that has encompassed nations. A storm that has invoked fear...  Filling our minds with all types of questions.  I hear the news casters it seems bleak... blame game... politician? financial gain...
  But even with all that I see people standing firm doing the recommendations of our leaders. Not really hard things but inconvenient things. Some putting them self in harms way to help other. 
  As believer's in Jesus Christ we need to be at the for front as making a different.  Prayer, even the more! 
Men you/we need to be leading our families more. Start praying, then start praying with you wife; your children...  
  Men start reading the word of God!  Then start reading the word with  your wife, with your children.
  Men start humbling yourself before our God. 2 Chronicles 6:12-42
Confess our/your sin before God.  He is faithful and just. 1 John 1:8-9
  Love is an action word.  Men we need to step up our game!  We need to do more for our God. Loving Him more... Then showing the love of God in our home, starting with our wife, then our children, then to others. 
  You see even in this storm The light of Jesus Christ will shine. In this storm the light of Jesus Christ in us needs to shine!  Remember; where 2 or 3 are gathered in my name I am in the mist of them.Matt.18:20
  A little side encouragement/challenge start reading the bible with your family daily.  Be it only one verse. Maybe missing Sunday because you went to Church together.
  

Feb. 10, 2017 It has been a while. Life takes turns and twist… but most of those are not an excuse for doing the things of our God and Lord Jesus Christ. As I ‘look’ around our country through the news I have a hard time. Our country needs prayer. Our President needs prayer, our leaders need prayer, their advisers need prayer. Do you believe that to be true? So let us all start praying for this great need. When now, hopefully this would become a weekly thing moving toward a daily. Lord Jesus our President, Trump needs your wisdom to govern our nation. Just as Solomon asked God for wisdom (1Kings 3) may you also give wisdom to our President. Also, the same wisdom to our leaders under him. Help us as people to pray for our leaders. Help us as people to obey the laws of our country. Help us to obey the laws of our God. Help us to honor our country. Help us to honor those who serve our country. For our country is not just land and water. It is the people that make a country. I will end with these famous words; God bless America. Yes simple prayer is where it starts but continues prayer is the goal. Whether you pray weekly or daily, short or long our leaders need prayer. The thing is that we pray.

Daily time with God

Importance of daily time with God The older I become the more I realize that spending time with God is critical. I use critical because we tend to water down the importance of time spent with God. We use terms like devotions, quiet time, prayer time and bible reading (read through the bible in a year...). Now doing these things is not bad, in fact it is a good thing. What is a miss is when and how. For years I have struggled with morning 'devotions' . The struggle was the result of leader's in the church saying that you don't need to do 'devotions' in the morning... but to do them when it fits your schedule. I have come to the conclusion that this is not a healthy statement; that one needs to taking the time through out the day to be with God. be it devotions, prayer, praise, reading the bible, memorizing, being quiet before Him... It seems that we want God to conform to our schedules... That if life is busy it is alright to put God aside for later. We forget that God is first! Not us. we need to wake up with God and go to bed with God. God should also be filling the rest of the day with Him. Psalm 5:3 "In the morning O Lord you will hear my voice; In the morning I will order my prayers to you and eagerly watch. Psalm 92:2" To declare your lovingkindness in the morning And your faithfulness by night." Here are 2 examples of how important morning and night 'devotions' are important. Now for times in between we will bring to attention 1Thess.5:17"pray without ceasing". that through out the day we are aware that God is present, that even while working we can have our thoughts stayed upon Him. So start our day with God; be mindful that God is with us during the day and end our day with God.

What marks a christian?

What marks a christian? As I look upon my life I started to think in what ways do I show that I am a Christian ( a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ). Is it that I go to church most Sundays? Is it that my speech does not contain those so called bad words? That I give money to charities? That I try to act 'good' ; following most laws.. Or that As we know that doing all those things are good... but they are only a small part of what marks a Christian. For even people that are not believers can do these things 'good' things and some even better than us believers; with the exception (maybe) of going to Church. This a big topic. We can talk about knowing them by their fruits and how much what type... their walk... their trust... their prayer life... their occupation... For us we look at the external thing we can see and do. That seems to be our focus the things that are seen by men and the things that are heard by men. What is this one aspect of being a Christian that I am leading to? One that is over looked, put aside and even think is being done... that is forgiveness. forgiving people (person) who have hurt you, done things to you, said things about you, dislike you, despises you... if you have acted badly. More over when you have not acted badly. Or even worst when you are doing the work of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. One more more over, that it is another Christian. When we are hurt by someone... it hurts it is not comfortable... words hurt. No matter what you think words hurt and can hurt deep long... Here's the deal not many are ready to ask for forgiveness when they do things. Verbal deeds are even easier to discard... We all sin, even as Christians we all sin. We all need to ask for forgiveness. Now here is the big thing that marks a Christian. that we forgive! Christians are to forgive just as God forgives us. "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourself, it is the gift of God." Eph.2:8-9. Grace, unmerited favor. You forgive not because one deserves it. You do it to show grace as God showed grace to you. Forgiveness also involves mercy. Mercy involves the stay of judgement, taking away of the penalty. taking away of the guilt; setting one free if you will. Just like it never happened. Restored! Now that needs to be something that is part of our thinking; the forefront of our thinking. Ready to forgive. Ready to forgive our spouse, our children, our parents, brothers sisters, other Christians, friends, co-workers... What marks believers? their ability to forgive over and over. What makes our God so great... Is that He is a forgiving God and that He paid the price for our sins... through Christ. You see forgiveness requires that you pay the price. That you give up you right... forgiveness is not easy, but it is freeing for the two; one receiving and the one giving. Matt. 6:12 "And forgive us our debt, as we also have forgiven others debt." Mark 11:25 "Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone; so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you your transgressions."

Love requires hard work

So many times we hear people say that they love you. We even say to family, friends, workers and fellow Church members that we love them. Or on the other hand we do not say those important words. Husbands don't tell their wife that they love them. Fathers don't tell their sons that they love them, nor their daughters. We verbalize love sometimes and sometimes we do not. Some find it easier to say 'Love you' to people but to say those words to the ones dear and close, those words are so hard to say. It seems that we are all mixed up when we try to verbalize love. One thing for sure is that your wife needs to hear those words, " I love you". Your children need to hear those words, "I love you". There seems to be power in those words. The feeling of being loved, is a great thing. Now to verbalize love is a need; that we all need to hear; and a need we need to express. Love is so much more than those 3 words of "I love you". For those words need to be back up with actions. Love is so much more than words! Love needs to be told, but actions need to behind those words. In our study on love we learned that love requires action. For 'I love you' without the proper action of love is just an empty phrase. A phrase of no meaning for the substance, the 'work' behind it is missing or done a miss. Love requires work, hard work. This work, the work of love seems to never end. Yes the work of love never ends, for every day love needs to be given. Every day we need to demonstrate love verbally and in deeds. Especially when the one receiving love does not deserve, appreicate the actions of love. Love requires hard work!