People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” (Mark 10:13-15 NIV)
Receiving the kingdom of God like a child means accepting it in a simple, humble, trustful and wholehearted manner so as to turn from sin and receive Christ as your Lord and Savior, and God as your heavenly father. Christ is deeply concerned about the salvation and the spiritual upbringing of children. Christian parents should use every means of grace available to bring their children to Christ, for he longs to receive them, love them and bless them. (Full Life Study Bible Study Notes)
What an awesome vision to take our children to Jesus for Him to touch them! That's exactly what we do when we pray for our children. We would do ourselves and our children good if we would heed what Jesus said, "do not hinder them". Sometimes we hinder our children because even though we pray for them; even though we take them to the King...we don't leave them there!!! We have not released them and therefore, we are hindering them from receiving the touch from Jesus. Truth be told, we do the same thing with a lot of stuff we pray about...we take it to the altar in prayer, but before we leave the altar we reach back down and pick that thing up again basically saying, "SIKE, that's alright Jesus I think I can handle this one".
Father, there is great peace and tremendous rest in your presence. Help us to appreciate that place of solace and embrace it. Help us to release our children in that place knowing that there is no better place for them to dwell. We will not hinder healing by holding on; we will not hinder deliverance by doubting; we will not hinder maturity by monitoring results; we will not hinder faith by failing to completely trust the process. In Jesus name, Amen!
Friday, June 28, 2013
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
June 26
Pray now that any lying spirit will be uprooted--not only in your children, but in yourself as well. We need to reject the way of lying and follow the truth. We need to be an example to our children. (Power of a Praying Parent, Stormie Omartian)
It gave me great joy when some believers came and testified about your faithfulness to the truth, telling how you continue to walk in it. 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. 3 John 1:3-4 NIV
In light of recent government actions and society trying to twist the truth; I say to all my brothers and sisters...maintain your faithfulness to the truth! I believe our salvation is deeply rooted in truth, especially since Jesus is the way, the truth and the life!
Father we submit and embrace truth. Amen!
It gave me great joy when some believers came and testified about your faithfulness to the truth, telling how you continue to walk in it. 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. 3 John 1:3-4 NIV
In light of recent government actions and society trying to twist the truth; I say to all my brothers and sisters...maintain your faithfulness to the truth! I believe our salvation is deeply rooted in truth, especially since Jesus is the way, the truth and the life!
Father we submit and embrace truth. Amen!
Sunday, June 23, 2013
June 23
Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 1:10-11 NIV)
Our faith and salvation must not be taken for granted. We will continue faithful to the end only if we make every effort by God's grace to add to our faith the spiritual qualities in 2 Peter 1:5-9. These spiritual qualities are goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness and love. The phrase "make every effort" demonstrates that believers must be actively involved in their Christian growth. Those who become Christians must immediately strive to add to their faith these seven qualities. Note that godly characteristics do not automatically grow without our diligent effort to cultivate them. (Full Life Study Bible, Study Notes). Verse 8 says, "For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." Knowledge is power...knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ is purposed power.
When your calling is confirmed, you don't answer to any and everything! When your calling is confirmed, your ear is hearkened to voice of the shepherd. When your calling is confirmed, you should not only be a hearer of the word, but also a doer of the word. Lord, help us to handle our calling with care so that we will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom. In Jesus name, Amen!
Our faith and salvation must not be taken for granted. We will continue faithful to the end only if we make every effort by God's grace to add to our faith the spiritual qualities in 2 Peter 1:5-9. These spiritual qualities are goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness and love. The phrase "make every effort" demonstrates that believers must be actively involved in their Christian growth. Those who become Christians must immediately strive to add to their faith these seven qualities. Note that godly characteristics do not automatically grow without our diligent effort to cultivate them. (Full Life Study Bible, Study Notes). Verse 8 says, "For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." Knowledge is power...knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ is purposed power.
When your calling is confirmed, you don't answer to any and everything! When your calling is confirmed, your ear is hearkened to voice of the shepherd. When your calling is confirmed, you should not only be a hearer of the word, but also a doer of the word. Lord, help us to handle our calling with care so that we will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom. In Jesus name, Amen!
Thursday, June 20, 2013
June 20 - Be healed!
One of the main things Jesus wants to be to us is the forgiver of our sins and the healer of our bodies. Let's lay hold of the health and healing He has for our children by praying for it even before the need arises. (Power of a Praying Parent, Stormie Omartian)
Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. James 5:16
"Let's lay hold of the health and healing He has for our children..."; what a powerful statement!!! As a parent, the thing I hate most is for my child to be sick or hurting. The instinct is to want to take the pain away. It's especially disheartening when you have a child, who because of his/her age OR special needs, can't communicate what's wrong. The feelings of helplessness and frustration can easily become one's focus but the truth of the matter is, all we have to do is focus on the Balm in Gilead. HALLELUJAH!!! Before I move on, let me be clear; I believe in supernatural healing AND I also believe in medicinal healing. Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. (Proverbs 4:7)
Lord help us to realize that we have so many tools, promises and weapons to use in this walk! Let us see that all we need to do is renew our minds with Your Word and we can "lay hold" of some things. We speak health and healing in our lives and our children's lives. We declare that we are healthy and healed in every area of our lives. Heal emotional scars, renew and restore spiritually, touch each and every physical ailment, heal financial wounds...everywhere there is a hurt; we pray that You make it better. #No_owies
In Jesus name, Amen!
Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. James 5:16
"Let's lay hold of the health and healing He has for our children..."; what a powerful statement!!! As a parent, the thing I hate most is for my child to be sick or hurting. The instinct is to want to take the pain away. It's especially disheartening when you have a child, who because of his/her age OR special needs, can't communicate what's wrong. The feelings of helplessness and frustration can easily become one's focus but the truth of the matter is, all we have to do is focus on the Balm in Gilead. HALLELUJAH!!! Before I move on, let me be clear; I believe in supernatural healing AND I also believe in medicinal healing. Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. (Proverbs 4:7)
Lord help us to realize that we have so many tools, promises and weapons to use in this walk! Let us see that all we need to do is renew our minds with Your Word and we can "lay hold" of some things. We speak health and healing in our lives and our children's lives. We declare that we are healthy and healed in every area of our lives. Heal emotional scars, renew and restore spiritually, touch each and every physical ailment, heal financial wounds...everywhere there is a hurt; we pray that You make it better. #No_owies
In Jesus name, Amen!
Monday, June 17, 2013
June 17 - Tell the truth...shame the devil
Children will lie at one time or another. The question is not if they will, but whether or not lying will become something they believe they can get away with. If we don't teach our children what God says about lying, they won't know why it's wrong. If we don't pray about this issue now, there will be bigger issues to deal with later. (Power of a Praying Parent, Stormie Omartian)
I have a cd by a Gospel rap group called R.O.A.R and in one of their songs there's a line that says something like, "in order for a person to lie, they had to have first known the truth". As I tend to be a very analytical person; that statement has stuck with me for years...even helping me with forgiveness where a lie is concerned. A lie is "a false statement made with deliberate intent to deceive; an intentional untruth; a falsehood. Synonyms: prevarication, falsification. Antonyms: truth." Deceit is "the act or practice of deceiving; concealment or distortion of the truth for the purpose of misleading; duplicity; fraud; cheating". It's crucial and critical for us to know the truth, live the truth and teach our children the importance of truth. I've always told my children to tell me the truth, regardless of whether they think the truth will hurt me and no matter what they think the consequences are because telling the truth will help them in the long run; they've even avoided punishment simply by telling the truth (that may be the subject of another post). The point being that when we tell the truth; we don't have to remember or rehearse it! The truth was the truth yesterday; is the truth today and will be the truth tomorrow.
Telling lies and even worse, believing lies, can definitely lead to bigger issues. The bible is clear about both the truth and lies. Proverbs 12:19 says, "The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment"; "Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who deal truthfully are His delight" and John 14:6 "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me" (John 14:6). As for lies...John 8:44 says, "You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies."
The real danger in letting lies go unchecked is that we risk God's delight in us and our life in Him, while consequently becoming entangled in the devil's web. No matter how it looks; the truth (topped with love), is always best!
Lord, help us to always embrace and exhibit the truth in our lives and for our children. Show us how to teach our children that the truth will set them free and even if they initially get away with a lie; it will come eventually come back...and probably when they least expect it. We commit to knowing what Your word says about the truth and lies, so we will not be caught up and so that we can tell our children why lying is wrong. We declare right now that any lie seeking to take root in our lives or the lives of our children is dug up, cut up and cast away in the name of Jesus! We hold Your truth as self evident, Amen!
I have a cd by a Gospel rap group called R.O.A.R and in one of their songs there's a line that says something like, "in order for a person to lie, they had to have first known the truth". As I tend to be a very analytical person; that statement has stuck with me for years...even helping me with forgiveness where a lie is concerned. A lie is "a false statement made with deliberate intent to deceive; an intentional untruth; a falsehood. Synonyms: prevarication, falsification. Antonyms: truth." Deceit is "the act or practice of deceiving; concealment or distortion of the truth for the purpose of misleading; duplicity; fraud; cheating". It's crucial and critical for us to know the truth, live the truth and teach our children the importance of truth. I've always told my children to tell me the truth, regardless of whether they think the truth will hurt me and no matter what they think the consequences are because telling the truth will help them in the long run; they've even avoided punishment simply by telling the truth (that may be the subject of another post). The point being that when we tell the truth; we don't have to remember or rehearse it! The truth was the truth yesterday; is the truth today and will be the truth tomorrow.
Telling lies and even worse, believing lies, can definitely lead to bigger issues. The bible is clear about both the truth and lies. Proverbs 12:19 says, "The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment"; "Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who deal truthfully are His delight" and John 14:6 "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me" (John 14:6). As for lies...John 8:44 says, "You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies."
The real danger in letting lies go unchecked is that we risk God's delight in us and our life in Him, while consequently becoming entangled in the devil's web. No matter how it looks; the truth (topped with love), is always best!
Lord, help us to always embrace and exhibit the truth in our lives and for our children. Show us how to teach our children that the truth will set them free and even if they initially get away with a lie; it will come eventually come back...and probably when they least expect it. We commit to knowing what Your word says about the truth and lies, so we will not be caught up and so that we can tell our children why lying is wrong. We declare right now that any lie seeking to take root in our lives or the lives of our children is dug up, cut up and cast away in the name of Jesus! We hold Your truth as self evident, Amen!
Thursday, June 13, 2013
June 13 - Nothing like family...gotta love them!
It's been said that the only relative you get to pick is your spouse. Everyone else is either born to you, you're born to or they're part of the family because of someone else...you didn't get a say-so in the matter. It's probably for the best because if you're like me, you would probably not be related to some of your kinfolk.
The people closest to us are always the ones that hurt us most and it's because we give them so much of our love, time and space. We trust them, we sow into them, we help them, but is it out of love or obligation? If it's out of love; it should be unconditional, without strings or record. If it's out of obligation, we're only setting ourselves up for drama and pain. The best thing to do is to pray that God give you the capacity to love as He loves. Think about the fact that God knew how the world would treat His son and yet He still sent His son to die for us while we were yet sinners.
Heavenly Father, forgive us for not loving one another as true brothers and sisters. Help us to realize that our children learn how to treat one another by what they see us doing. Thank you for reminding us that we are to serve You and strive to do your will, especially to the family You've given us. Your words says that we will be "betrayed even by parents, brothers and sisters, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. Everyone will hate you because of me. But not a hair of your head will perish. Stand firm, and you will win life (Luke 21:16-19). We declare that we will do better and our children will not witness or be sucked into dysfunction. In Jesus name, Amen!
The people closest to us are always the ones that hurt us most and it's because we give them so much of our love, time and space. We trust them, we sow into them, we help them, but is it out of love or obligation? If it's out of love; it should be unconditional, without strings or record. If it's out of obligation, we're only setting ourselves up for drama and pain. The best thing to do is to pray that God give you the capacity to love as He loves. Think about the fact that God knew how the world would treat His son and yet He still sent His son to die for us while we were yet sinners.
Heavenly Father, forgive us for not loving one another as true brothers and sisters. Help us to realize that our children learn how to treat one another by what they see us doing. Thank you for reminding us that we are to serve You and strive to do your will, especially to the family You've given us. Your words says that we will be "betrayed even by parents, brothers and sisters, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. Everyone will hate you because of me. But not a hair of your head will perish. Stand firm, and you will win life (Luke 21:16-19). We declare that we will do better and our children will not witness or be sucked into dysfunction. In Jesus name, Amen!
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
June 11 - For my good!!!
And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. (Romans 8:28, New Living Translation)
I had an appointment at 6pm today and had planned my route to the minute, however; I ended up being late...which may have saved my life. I couldn't leave until my husband got home and he had stopped at the grocery store. Somewhat rushed, I hurried out of the house and proceeded on my way to my appointment. I was coming around 70West approaching the Livingston Avenue exit when the traffic started slowing abruptly. Looking ahead, I could see that the traffic was at a standstill past the exit so I changed lanes to exit at Livingston. With a little detour, I was able to reenter the highway at the Miller on ramp and that's when I saw the accident. There were three cars involved, one fairly damaged, another smashed up pretty good and spun around facing east from the impact, and then the final car which was so badly crumpled it looked like a crushed soda can.
I thought about the fact that had I left when I planned to leave; I could have very well been right in the midst of this accident...and then I felt grateful. I was slightly irritated with my husband for going to the grocery store and tacking on a few extra minutes to my commute...but if he had been on time and I had left on time...and then I felt grateful.
Thank you Father for keeping me from danger seen and unseen! Thank you for orchestrating my path today and moving me at just the right pace. The lesson in this was not just for me, but to me because You showed me that even when I can't see or know what's in my path...You do and the same is true for my children! You are all-seeing and all-knowing and even when I forget to pray or when I'm not specific with my prayer for my son/daughter; You still hold the world in Your hands. I know that all things work together for my good and for my children's good. We love You and we embrace Your purpose for our lives. #GRATEFUL In Jesus name, Amen!
I had an appointment at 6pm today and had planned my route to the minute, however; I ended up being late...which may have saved my life. I couldn't leave until my husband got home and he had stopped at the grocery store. Somewhat rushed, I hurried out of the house and proceeded on my way to my appointment. I was coming around 70West approaching the Livingston Avenue exit when the traffic started slowing abruptly. Looking ahead, I could see that the traffic was at a standstill past the exit so I changed lanes to exit at Livingston. With a little detour, I was able to reenter the highway at the Miller on ramp and that's when I saw the accident. There were three cars involved, one fairly damaged, another smashed up pretty good and spun around facing east from the impact, and then the final car which was so badly crumpled it looked like a crushed soda can.
I thought about the fact that had I left when I planned to leave; I could have very well been right in the midst of this accident...and then I felt grateful. I was slightly irritated with my husband for going to the grocery store and tacking on a few extra minutes to my commute...but if he had been on time and I had left on time...and then I felt grateful.
Thank you Father for keeping me from danger seen and unseen! Thank you for orchestrating my path today and moving me at just the right pace. The lesson in this was not just for me, but to me because You showed me that even when I can't see or know what's in my path...You do and the same is true for my children! You are all-seeing and all-knowing and even when I forget to pray or when I'm not specific with my prayer for my son/daughter; You still hold the world in Your hands. I know that all things work together for my good and for my children's good. We love You and we embrace Your purpose for our lives. #GRATEFUL In Jesus name, Amen!
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