Parents Responsibility..... Dr. Charles Stanley

 Parents Responsibility

Dr. Charles Stanley

Luke 3:22

As we saw yesterday, words are but a small part of parental communication. Now let's look at two types of messages we should purposefully model for our kids.

First, boys and girls need affirmation that they are loved, accepted, and competent. In today's passage, God the Father spoke those very things to His Son. It is essential that our children gain a sense of security and belonging at home so they won't seek acceptance elsewhere. And the way we care and provide for them will help them grasp the heavenly Father's love.

Second, parents are responsible for presenting the principles needed for living a godly life. One way to do so is by reading Scripture aloud and sharing stories of the Lord's involvement in our lives. But actions must match what we say. For example, we cannot expect children to truly understand the golden rule if we act with selfishness, arrogance, or insensitivity.

Modeling a godly life is oftentimes an intentional pursuit, like reading Scripture or serving as a family on a mission trip. It can also be as simple and unplanned as picking up a piece of trash on a neighbor's lawn. But keep in mind that actions and words aren't always perceived correctly. Check that your children's understanding matches the message you hope to communicate.

Your words and actions are teaching lessons. Do your children know, beyond any doubt, that they're treasured and capable? Are you giving them the tools they need to follow Christ? Remember, God doesn't expect perfection. He will guide the willing heart—and cover missteps with His grace.

Heaven on Earth..... Craig Denison

 Heaven on Earth

Craig Denison

Weekly Overview:

As children of God, we have been given a new home and a new hope. May your heart be set aflame by the joy and purpose of living out God’s command to live for heaven this week: “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” >Colossians 3:1-4

Scripture:“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” - Matthew 6:9-10

Devotional:

In Matthew 6:9-13 Jesus taught us to pray:

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

To seek God’s kingdom coming to earth is to declare our great need for God’s presence, provision, love, and redemption. We have been given a mandate of the highest importance from our King of kings. We are to carry the kingdom of God with us everywhere we go and release this kingdom through everything we do. We are called by Jesus to bring heaven to earth.

In Matthew 16:19 Jesus tells his disciples, “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” What would it look like for the people of God to release the kingdom of heaven everywhere they go? What would it look like for even just a few of us to truly say yes to the calling of God on our lives to live for more than just worldly pleasure and comfort, to step outside of ourselves and live with an eternal perspective?

You are made to make an eternal impact far greater than you can imagine. God has placed within you keys to the doors of heaven, and he longs to use you to release his love, grace, peace, mercy, and redemption to others in desperate need of him. He longs to call you out from the daily grind of life into a higher pursuit of seeing the earth transformed by his goodness.

Seeing heaven come to earth all starts with declaring your need of God. It all starts with drawing a circle around yourself and allowing God to transform you from the inside out. You are not called to minister to others in your own strength. You are not called to figure out how to best love people. You aren’t even called to muster up a desire to bring God’s kingdom to earth. All the weight of eternal impact rests on the shoulders of your heavenly Father. All that is required of you is to take time to let God love you, fill you with the desires of his heart, and follow his leadership into the fulfillment of those desires.

God wants to take your five loaves of bread and two fish and multiply it to feed the souls of thousands. Say yes to partnering with the Holy Spirit, and allow God to use you to change the world by bringing his kingdom to earth through simple acts of love and obedience. Take time in guided prayer to allow God’s word and his Spirit to teach you, empower you, and release you into the calling of bringing heaven to earth today.

Guided Prayer:

1. Meditate on the calling to bring God’s kingdom to earth. Allow Scripture to lay a foundation for powerful works of God’s Spirit to pour out through your life.

“I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” - Matthew 16:19

“In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” - Matthew 5:16

2. What keys has God given you to release his kingdom? What spiritual gifts has he given you? What ways do you best love people? How has he used you in the past to reveal his love?

3. Ask the Holy Spirit to teach you how to bring heaven to earth today. Ask him to fill you up that you might pour out. Ask him to tear down any walls that would keep you from loving him and others well.

Being used by God to bring heaven to earth is meant to be a part of the normal, daily Christian life. We are called to more than simply working a job, going to school, hanging out with friends, and trying to enjoy life. No matter what job you work, God wants to bring the kingdom to earth through you. No matter who your friends are or where you find yourself, God wants to bring the kingdom to earth everywhere around you. If you will say yes every day to the adventure of being used by God, your life will begin to take on a whole new purpose so much more fulfilling than anything you’ve previously experienced. May you live to see God’s kingdom come to earth through your life today.

Extended Reading: Luke 9

Surviving the Storms..... CORRIE GERBATZ

 Surviving the Storms

CORRIE GERBATZ

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV)

Ten years ago, the first waves of struggle hit my family.

The economy crashed and along with it so did our lives. My husband was laid off from his job; our bank accounts circled the drain and we were forced to make difficult financial decisions. Ultimately, we lost our home — and along with it our sense of security — and had to move to a house that held none of our memories but much hardship.

We prayed for patience to weather the storm. We did our best to “make do” in the waiting. And we kept our eyes on the horizon for calmer waters. But the calm never came. Instead, the waves continued to build, and one storm seemed to lead to another. From ongoing financial hardships to relationship trials, ongoing health issues and beyond, our lives felt completely shipwrecked.

For years I prayed God would change something, anything, in our circumstances.

I begged, “Lord, please give us a break.”

I bartered, “If You do this … I promise I’ll do that …”

And I grumbled — a lot: “Lord, it’s too much. This just isn’t fair!”

Have you ever felt as though you were stuck in life? Or worse … sinking? You’ve tried your best to keep moving forward, to keep your head above water, but the waves of struggle are relentless. Gone is the energy to put on a “good face” and pretend everything is OK — because everything is definitely not OK. Surviving the day while dreading the next is the endless cycle of your reality.

I know that kind of living.

Yet still the waves came, and I couldn’t help but feel as though my prayers had been filed under “forgotten.” So I stopped praying about it for a long time … until recently.

While reading in the book of Philippians, I was reminded of the Apostle Paul. Now Paul was a man who knew a thing or two about difficult circumstances and setbacks. In his travels to advance the gospel, he navigated a number of hardships — poverty, beatings, literal shipwrecks and hunger. In fact, at the time he wrote Philippians, he was a prisoner of Rome. Paul had every reason to barter, beg and grumble about his circumstances. But he didn’t — not a word. Instead, his letter to the church at Philippi was one written in hope, full of thanks and overflowing with joy.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7)

This verse in particular struck a chord of conviction deep within my soul. Paul was reminding his fellow believers to pray “with thanksgiving” in “every situation” (v. 6, emphasis added). I had long forgotten the “thankful” piece.

Paul was assuring his fellow believers the peace of God would triumph over any circumstance. But I had only desired God to change my circumstance.

Paul radiated joy while in chains, but I marinated in my misery.

My heart had been so focused on the storm that I had lost sight of God’s faithful presence in the midst. I knew I needed to admit where I’d turned from God and resume praying. So I did. But this time around, my prayers are sounding a little different. This time, I’m asking God to cultivate within me a heart of thanks for His daily provisions. I’m seeking His peace to guard against anxious thoughts. And I’m learning to choose joy when clouds of despair loom and my trust falters.

Friends, if you find yourself sinking amid a trying season, and your trust is wavering — take heart! Not only is the Lord sovereign over every circumstance, but He’s with us in every circumstance. Our prayers have not been forgotten. Our loving Father has heard every word. He knows our struggles; He desires to lift us up and He is waiting to calm the storms within our hearts. We need only turn to Him and ask. I pray we all would be encouraged to do just that today.

Heavenly Father, I am humbled. Hallelujah — You are my assurance, and my circumstances are not! Open my eyes to Your gracious provisions. Embolden my trust in You that I might more clearly radiate Your peace and Your joy in my life today. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Speak Up for Those Who Cannot..... By: Amanda Idleman

 Speak Up for Those Who Cannot 

By: Amanda Idleman

“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.” - Proverbs 31:8-9

In a world filled with injustice, what is the role of Christ-followers to help those who are in need? Is it our job to speak up and to stand up for those who cannot speak for themselves? Is our inability to speak on these issues really a sin or just a harmless choice to side-step something that feels hard?

Thankfully, the Bible has a lot to say about justice, mercy, service, love, and our role in being a help to our fellow man. The Word of God can be our guide as we live through a time when our world is pushing conflicting messages at us that can feel impossible to navigate. The Bible is our rock and our solid ground; while a storm of uncertainty rages around us. God’s Word can be a lamp to our feet as we live through dark times.

Proverbs 31:8-9 is a clear mandate to be people who stand up for the defenseless and demand justice. This verse answers with a resounding “yes” to the question, should believers speak up when we see injustice being carried out around them. The wisdom of God’s word pushes us to move past our affiliations, comfort zones, and tells us each to be an advocate for those we come across in our lives that need help being heard.

Inaction is not something the Bible makes room for. What an uncomfortable truth, for me and for all of us who would rather live life blinded to the needs of others in our communities.

How then do we speak for those who are lacking a voice?

First, We start by listening.

Proverbs 1:5 says, “Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance.” If we want to be the voice for the voiceless we first have to be willing to hear what they are saying so we can speak up with wise words.

Next, we get on our knees and pray.

Begin by prayerfully examining your hearts and ask God to reveal ways that you have let apathy, comfort, or ignorance stop you from speaking up for those that need your voice. Take time to seek God to discover His heart for the “least of these” in our world. Ask God how He can use you as an agent of God’s healing power in our broken world.

Pray for God to show you how and when to speak. God wants to uniquely use each of us and the gifts he has given us as his vessels of love, justice, mercy, and grace. Isn’t this the picture of the body of Christ painted in the New Testament? Every believer uses their gifts so the whole body is able to work together in unity. When we all embrace this idea then our neighbor in need is taken care of.

Lastly, we take God-inspired action.

Micah 6:8 in the Message version says, “But he’s already made it plain how to live, what to do, what God is looking for in men and women. It’s quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor, be compassionate and loyal in your love, And don’t take yourself too seriously— take God seriously.” Let’s take God seriously and begin to do what he tells us to do in the Bible. Live with compassion, love, and seek justice for those in need.

3 Things I've Learned about Work..... by Debbie Holloway

 3 Things I've Learned about Work

by Debbie Holloway

“Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval” (John 6:27).

Since I've been old enough to babysit, I've always been working at something, whether a project for school, a part-time restaurant gig, or my current office job. And over the years I’ve come to learn many lessons about work. For example, work can become a joy and a passion if it’s something you truly love and you’re surrounded by like-minded partners. Or, on the other hand, even a job you like can become a drudge if you can’t see eye-to-eye with your co-workers.

As I prepare to celebrate a day off work this upcoming Labor Day, I've been pondering three things that God has been teaching me about work in the past year or so.

1. A Christian never clocks out

It's easy and refreshing to hop in the elevator at 5 p.m. and not worry about work until the next day. But as a follower of Christ, I recognize that I’m called to carry his banner 24/7. When I’m grumpy? Yep. When I’ve been out all day and come home to a messy house? Absolutely. When I'm on Facebook and somehow everything in my feed is making me frustrated and irritable? Even then. Perhaps that's why we call ourselves "soliders" in God's army. Everything's a battle… one we must remember to fight with love and peace!

2. God is the boss, not me

As easy as it is to judge another person's work (or seeming lack-thereof) I've had to be reminded a lot lately that it's simply not my job to critique other people's lives. Just as my supervisor has given me tasks to complete, and that's between the two of us – so God has a personal relationship with every single one of us, and he hasn't asked us to poke our noses into each other’s to-do lists. And boy, don’t we all have plenty of thoughts on the matter?

Why do they go to THAT church? Why is that woman constantly panhandling on that same streetcorner? Why doesn't he just get a spine and break off that harmful relationship?

If only I ruled the world. But I don't – and thank God I don't. Someday we’ll all stand before The Boss and our choices will be evaluated. But for now, it’s my job to do MY job, to love people where they’re at, and to remember that life sometimes looks really different inside someone else's shoes.

3. Your work does make a difference

It’s common for me to feel small and powerless. Maybe you feel that way too. But when small people like us put our minds to something, amazing things truly do happen. Even something as small as a smile or a word of encouragement can make all the difference in someone’s day… maybe even in someone’s life. So whether you teach, write, or clean up trash; whether you sit in a cube crunching numbers or you bag groceries – God wants to use your work to not only bless others, but grow you closer to him.

Intersecting Faith and Life: This Labor Day, try reading a few passages about work in the Bible (I've linked to some below). What kind of worker does God want you to be?

Further Reading
Why Your Work Matters... and Why it Doesn't
1 Thessalonians 4:11
Luke 10
Deuteronomy 15:1-18
1 Corinthians 15:58
Matthew 25:14-30

A Prayer of God’s Blessing Over Those You Love..... By Debbie McDaniel

 A Prayer of God’s Blessing Over Those You Love

By Debbie McDaniel

“The Lord bless you and keep you, the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you, the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” Numbers 6:24-26

As believers, we can know in our hearts that God is sovereign and strong. We can believe that His plans for us, for our loved ones, are for good and that He has blessing in store as we follow after Him.

Yet often, when life presses and things feel stressed, when problems overwhelm, and hardships come our way, our focus gets blurred. We somehow start to believe that it all depends on "us." Like maybe we blew it, messed up and got ourselves off the course from "the road to "success." We spin our wheels trying to find a fast way out of difficulty. We feel like it's up to us to make things happen. Stirring up action. Trying hard to get one foot into an open door, or wondering why a closed one shut. We start thinking that if we're not "able enough," "talented enough," "brave enough," that maybe God can't quite use us.

We forget, that the very God who created this entire universe, who holds the stars in place, and knows the exact number of hairs on our head, also knows our way. That His favor rests on us as we seek after Him first, and He holds the power to cause things to happen in just a moment, that would otherwise take us years to do. He can line up our pathways to cross with others He wants us to meet. He can open doors that leave us surprised at how they open. He can close doors that He knows are not the best for us. He has a plan, in the good, and in every hard thing we face.

And often the greatest blessings come after the greatest times of testing. Over and over through Scripture, we see story after story of when God turned around for good the difficult pathways of those He loved. And He still works the same today, for He never changes.

We are children of the King. He is Sovereign and He reigns Supreme, giving favor, guidance, and blessings to all those who seek after Him.  And our prayers are powerful on behalf of our families and friends. May His hand of mercy and grace, His presence of peace, be over every one of these who we love so much. We may not be able to be with them every hour of every day. But He is. We can’t see every struggle, every worry, every burden that may weigh them down. But He does. And He is always there, carrying them, and us, straight through. He is a safe place and He is Mighty.

Resting there today, hope you are too.

Dear God,

Thank you for your great love and blessing over our lives. Thank you that your favor has no end, but it lasts for our entire lifetime. Forgive us for sometimes forgetting that you are intimately acquainted with all of our ways, that you know what concerns us, and you cover us, as with a shield. We ask for your guidance so that we might walk fully in your blessing and goodness today. We ask that your face would shine on us. That you would open the right doors for our lives and for our loved ones, that you would close the wrong doors and protect us from those we need to walk away from. Establish the work of our hands and bring to fulfillment all that you have given us to do in these days. We pray that you would make our way purposeful and our footsteps firm out of your goodness and love. Give us a heart of wisdom to hear your voice, and make us strong by your huge favor and grace.