Isaac called Jacob, and blessed him.
Genesis 28:1
In Bible times fathers placed their hands on their children's heads and spoke certain promises over them, passing on the blessing from generation to generation. It's why "Isaac called Jacob and blessed him,"and why Jacob refused to die before blessing his grandchildren (see Genesis 48:14).
Now, times may have changed but one thing remains constant: children without caring, involved fathers usually spend their lives searching for a sense of identity and self-worth. And increasingly they're finding it in the company of drug dealers, rebellious peer groups and street gangs. Instead of fulfilling their God-given destiny they become defined and labelled by a lifestyle - "runaway," "convict,""trouble maker," "addict."
Before Tupac Shakur, the rap artist known for his violent song lyrics,was gunned down in 1996 he said:
"I never knew my real father. I know for a fact if I'd had a father I'd have some discipline [and] more confidence. Your mother can't calm you down, reassure you, and show you where your manhood is. You need a man to teach you how to be a man.
"When an unidentified man was brought to Jesus for healing, before He forgave his sins or restored his health, He called him, "Son" ( Mark2:5).
Note, He didn't say, "You've got to clean up your act." Or,
"First, you must do things My way."
No, He established a relationship with the man by showing him love and acceptance. As a father you need to do the same!
Loving and accepting your children as they are right now, without conditions and condemnation, is one of the greatest gifts you can give them!
Tuesday, September 06, 2005
A Christ-like Response
Live generously and graciously toward others.
Matthew 5:48
Here's how Jesus says we should respond to those who mistreat us:
"Here's another old saying that deserves a second look: 'Eye for eye,tooth for tooth.' Is that going to get us anywhere?
Here's what I propose: 'Don't hit back at all.'
If someone strikes you, stand there and take it. If someone drags you into court and sues for the shirt off your back, gift-wrap your best coat and make a present of it. And if someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the servant life. No more tit-for-tat stuff. Live generously.
You're familiar with the old written law, 'Love your friend,' and its unwritten companion, 'Hate your enemy.' I'm challenging that. I'm telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst.
When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves.
This is what God does. He gives His best - the sun to warm and the rain to nourish - to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty.
If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus?
Anybody can do that. If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal?
Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that. In a word, what I'm saying is, Grow up. You're Kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you" ( Matthew 5:38-48 )
Matthew 5:48
Here's how Jesus says we should respond to those who mistreat us:
"Here's another old saying that deserves a second look: 'Eye for eye,tooth for tooth.' Is that going to get us anywhere?
Here's what I propose: 'Don't hit back at all.'
If someone strikes you, stand there and take it. If someone drags you into court and sues for the shirt off your back, gift-wrap your best coat and make a present of it. And if someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the servant life. No more tit-for-tat stuff. Live generously.
You're familiar with the old written law, 'Love your friend,' and its unwritten companion, 'Hate your enemy.' I'm challenging that. I'm telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst.
When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves.
This is what God does. He gives His best - the sun to warm and the rain to nourish - to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty.
If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus?
Anybody can do that. If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal?
Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that. In a word, what I'm saying is, Grow up. You're Kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you" ( Matthew 5:38-48 )
Overcoming Temptation
Lest Satan should take advantage of us.
2 Corinthians 2:11
Here are 3 effective strategies to help you overcome temptation:
(1) Expect it. Unless you expect temptation you won't prepare for it.Temptation begins in your mind. Any defeat that shows up in your actions was first a battle lost in your will. So Paul writes: "We don't want to unwittingly give Satan an opening" ( 2 Corinthians 2:11 ).
(2) Detect it. Ask God to help you detect Satan's advances and brace yourself for the impact. An ink-stained wall in Wartburg Castle in Germany illustrates the point. Martin Luther, in the midst of prayer,suddenly detected the enemy's presence. The story goes that he picked up an ink pot and hurled it against the wall as he aimed it at the devil.Luther sensed the adversary's sinister advance and responded the best way he knew how. Sound extreme? Maybe, but do you have that kind of spiritual sensitivity?
(3) Reject it. Attempt to play games with the devil and he'll take you down. Listen: "Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you" ( James 4:7 ). Satan would have you do the reverse; resist God and submit to him - that's a trap!
Don't be clever; reject it. If you're battling temptation today, listen: "Our high priest is able to understand our weaknesses ...He was tempted in every way that weare, but He did not sin. Let us, then, feel very sure that we can come before God's throne where there is grace. There we can receive mercy and grace to help us when we need it" ( Hebrews 4:15-16 ).
2 Corinthians 2:11
Here are 3 effective strategies to help you overcome temptation:
(1) Expect it. Unless you expect temptation you won't prepare for it.Temptation begins in your mind. Any defeat that shows up in your actions was first a battle lost in your will. So Paul writes: "We don't want to unwittingly give Satan an opening" ( 2 Corinthians 2:11 ).
(2) Detect it. Ask God to help you detect Satan's advances and brace yourself for the impact. An ink-stained wall in Wartburg Castle in Germany illustrates the point. Martin Luther, in the midst of prayer,suddenly detected the enemy's presence. The story goes that he picked up an ink pot and hurled it against the wall as he aimed it at the devil.Luther sensed the adversary's sinister advance and responded the best way he knew how. Sound extreme? Maybe, but do you have that kind of spiritual sensitivity?
(3) Reject it. Attempt to play games with the devil and he'll take you down. Listen: "Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you" ( James 4:7 ). Satan would have you do the reverse; resist God and submit to him - that's a trap!
Don't be clever; reject it. If you're battling temptation today, listen: "Our high priest is able to understand our weaknesses ...He was tempted in every way that weare, but He did not sin. Let us, then, feel very sure that we can come before God's throne where there is grace. There we can receive mercy and grace to help us when we need it" ( Hebrews 4:15-16 ).
Dear Lord
I thank You for this day.
I thank You for my being able to see and to hear this morning.
I'm blessed because You are a forgiving God and an understanding God.
You have done so much for me and You keep on blessing me.
Forgive me this day for everything I have done, said or thought that was not pleasing to you.
I ask now for Your forgiveness.Please keep me safe from all danger and harm.
Help me to start this day with a new attitude and plenty of gratitude.
Let me make the best of each and every day to clear my mind so that I can hear from You.
Please broaden my mind that I can accept all things.
Let me not whine and whimper over things I have no control over.
And it's the best response when I'm pushed beyond my limits.
I know that when I can't pray, You listen to my heart.
Continue to use me to do Your will.
Continue to bless me that I may be a blessing to others.
Keep me strong that I may help the weak...
Keep me uplifted that I may have words of encouragement for others.
I pray for those that are lost and can't find their way.
I pray for those that are misjudged and misunderstood.
I pray for those who don't know You intimately.
I pray for those that will delete this without sharing it with others.
I pray for those that don't believe.
I thank you that I believe.I believe that God changes people and God changes things.
I pray for all my sisters and brothers.
For each and every family member in their households.
I pray for peace, love and joy in their homes that they are out of debt and all their needs are met.
I pray that every eye that reads this knows there is no problem, circumstance, or situation greater than God.
Every battle is in Your hands for You to fight.
I pray that these words be received into the hearts of every eye that sees it.
I thank You for my being able to see and to hear this morning.
I'm blessed because You are a forgiving God and an understanding God.
You have done so much for me and You keep on blessing me.
Forgive me this day for everything I have done, said or thought that was not pleasing to you.
I ask now for Your forgiveness.Please keep me safe from all danger and harm.
Help me to start this day with a new attitude and plenty of gratitude.
Let me make the best of each and every day to clear my mind so that I can hear from You.
Please broaden my mind that I can accept all things.
Let me not whine and whimper over things I have no control over.
And it's the best response when I'm pushed beyond my limits.
I know that when I can't pray, You listen to my heart.
Continue to use me to do Your will.
Continue to bless me that I may be a blessing to others.
Keep me strong that I may help the weak...
Keep me uplifted that I may have words of encouragement for others.
I pray for those that are lost and can't find their way.
I pray for those that are misjudged and misunderstood.
I pray for those who don't know You intimately.
I pray for those that will delete this without sharing it with others.
I pray for those that don't believe.
I thank you that I believe.I believe that God changes people and God changes things.
I pray for all my sisters and brothers.
For each and every family member in their households.
I pray for peace, love and joy in their homes that they are out of debt and all their needs are met.
I pray that every eye that reads this knows there is no problem, circumstance, or situation greater than God.
Every battle is in Your hands for You to fight.
I pray that these words be received into the hearts of every eye that sees it.
Free From The Opinions Of People
It matters very little to me what you think of me.
1 Corinthians 4:3
While we should respect the opinions of others, we should never be ruled by them.
If you let it, criticism will steal your individuality, rob you of your creativity, and stop you from fulfilling your destiny. That's too much power to give anybody.
Insecure people will always criticise you, especially if your choices differ from theirs. That's because they're uncomfortable with things that don't conform to their way of thinking.
Secure people can handle being the only one doing something.They can allow others the liberty to be different and to make their own choices.
That's because they themselves are secure in who God has called them to be.
Listen: "[He] made himself of no reputation" ( Philippians 2:7).
Jesus obviously wasn't too concerned about what others thought of Him.
He had a goal - to do the Father's will - no more and no less.
And He knew that to do it He had to be free from the opinions of others. So do you!
The greatest tragedy that could happen to you would be to grow old and realise that somewhere along the way you lost yourself and never succeeded at being the person God called you to be. And that's a distinct possibility if you allow the opinions of others to rule your life. Paul says, "It matters very little to me what you think of me,even less where I rank in popular opinion.
I don't even rank myself...The Master makes that judgment"
( 1 Corinthians 4:3-5 ).
Today, ask God to set you free from the opinions of others.
1 Corinthians 4:3
While we should respect the opinions of others, we should never be ruled by them.
If you let it, criticism will steal your individuality, rob you of your creativity, and stop you from fulfilling your destiny. That's too much power to give anybody.
Insecure people will always criticise you, especially if your choices differ from theirs. That's because they're uncomfortable with things that don't conform to their way of thinking.
Secure people can handle being the only one doing something.They can allow others the liberty to be different and to make their own choices.
That's because they themselves are secure in who God has called them to be.
Listen: "[He] made himself of no reputation" ( Philippians 2:7).
Jesus obviously wasn't too concerned about what others thought of Him.
He had a goal - to do the Father's will - no more and no less.
And He knew that to do it He had to be free from the opinions of others. So do you!
The greatest tragedy that could happen to you would be to grow old and realise that somewhere along the way you lost yourself and never succeeded at being the person God called you to be. And that's a distinct possibility if you allow the opinions of others to rule your life. Paul says, "It matters very little to me what you think of me,even less where I rank in popular opinion.
I don't even rank myself...The Master makes that judgment"
( 1 Corinthians 4:3-5 ).
Today, ask God to set you free from the opinions of others.
Toughen Up!
Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.
1 Corinthians 16:13
Where did we get the idea that everybody has to like us? Certainly not from God's Word. Jesus said His blessings were reserved for the"persecuted and reviled" (See Matthew 5:10-11). If you're thin-skinned you'll have a rough time because you'll be an easy target for the enemy.Endurance is the secret, not popularity.
Paul endured desertion by his friends, ugly letters from the Corinthians, disappointment with the Galatians, mistreatment in Philippi, mocking in Athens, plus imprisonment and beheading in Rome. So what are you complaining about? In the Book of Corinthians he writes 4 things you need to pay careful attention to:
(1) Be on the alert! The enemy is out to get you. What's he after? The deposit of God that is inside you. You are a seed capable of producing a harvest for God on this earth, so protect yourself!
(2) Stand firm in the faith! You can't stand on your circumstances or the opinions of others because those things constantly change. No, you can stand only on the Word of God. Are you?
(3) Act like men! Being childish won't cut it when the battle rages. It's time to grow up. If you're still making the same mistakes 25 years later, you're not learning enough.
(4) Be strong! Weakness is an invitation to your enemy. It always precedes surrender,and quitting is not an option for you! God told His people that the Promised Land was theirs, but they had to fight for it.
And He's saying the same to you today!
1 Corinthians 16:13
Where did we get the idea that everybody has to like us? Certainly not from God's Word. Jesus said His blessings were reserved for the"persecuted and reviled" (See Matthew 5:10-11). If you're thin-skinned you'll have a rough time because you'll be an easy target for the enemy.Endurance is the secret, not popularity.
Paul endured desertion by his friends, ugly letters from the Corinthians, disappointment with the Galatians, mistreatment in Philippi, mocking in Athens, plus imprisonment and beheading in Rome. So what are you complaining about? In the Book of Corinthians he writes 4 things you need to pay careful attention to:
(1) Be on the alert! The enemy is out to get you. What's he after? The deposit of God that is inside you. You are a seed capable of producing a harvest for God on this earth, so protect yourself!
(2) Stand firm in the faith! You can't stand on your circumstances or the opinions of others because those things constantly change. No, you can stand only on the Word of God. Are you?
(3) Act like men! Being childish won't cut it when the battle rages. It's time to grow up. If you're still making the same mistakes 25 years later, you're not learning enough.
(4) Be strong! Weakness is an invitation to your enemy. It always precedes surrender,and quitting is not an option for you! God told His people that the Promised Land was theirs, but they had to fight for it.
And He's saying the same to you today!
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