Yes at times things may feel tough but in those moments we need to believe in God! Yes at times might feel free and in those moments we need to believe in God! When we see it come to be it’s easier to believe and yet we are called to believe even when we don’t see it!
‘Jesus said, “So, you believe because you’ve seen with your own eyes. Even better blessings are in store for those who believe without seeing.” ‘
John 20:29
This past week I was blessed to get to do a week of prayer and fasting which is where the topics for the past 5 days came from:
- Starting with our focus on having a relationship with Jesus! » Be The Dads – Your kids, Your wife, and this world needs.
- Community starts at home and then extends into the world. » Be The Dads – Your kids, Your wife, and this world needs.
- Purpose – find it. Purposefully is how you will live! » Be The Dads – Your kids, Your wife, and this world needs.
- Let’s be the dads who choose to be world changers » Be The Dads – Your kids, Your wife, and this world needs.
- On Mission! Committed! Willing! Fulfilling God’s mission for you! » Be The Dads – Your kids, Your wife, and this world needs.
In this week of prayer and fasting, the message kept coming to me to believe it!
Believe it because:
‘ God claims Earth and everything in it, God claims World and all who live on it. He built it on Ocean foundations, laid it out on River girders. God claims Earth and everything in it, God claims World and all who live on it. He built it on Ocean foundations, laid it out on River girders. ‘ Psalms 24:1-2
‘With that as a base to work from, common sense can take you the rest of the way. Eat anything sold at the butcher shop, for instance; you don’t have to run an “idolatry test” on every item. “The earth,” after all, “is God’s, and everything in it.” That “everything” certainly includes the leg of lamb in the butcher shop. If a nonbeliever invites you to dinner and you feel like going, go ahead and enjoy yourself; eat everything placed before you. It would be both bad manners and bad spirituality to cross-examine your host on the ethical purity of each course as it is served. On the other hand, if he goes out of his way to tell you that this or that was sacrificed to god or goddess so-and-so, you should pass. Even though you may be indifferent as to where it came from, he isn’t, and you don’t want to send mixed messages to him about who you are worshiping. With that as a base to work from, common sense can take you the rest of the way. Eat anything sold at the butcher shop, for instance; you don’t have to run an “idolatry test” on every item. “The earth,” after all, “is God’s, and everything in it.” That “everything” certainly includes the leg of lamb in the butcher shop. If a nonbeliever invites you to dinner and you feel like going, go ahead and enjoy yourself; eat everything placed before you. It would be both bad manners and bad spirituality to cross-examine your host on the ethical purity of each course as it is served. On the other hand, if he goes out of his way to tell you that this or that was sacrificed to god or goddess so-and-so, you should pass. Even though you may be indifferent as to where it came from, he isn’t, and you don’t want to send mixed messages to him about who you are worshiping. With that as a base to work from, common sense can take you the rest of the way. Eat anything sold at the butcher shop, for instance; you don’t have to run an “idolatry test” on every item. “The earth,” after all, “is God’s, and everything in it.” That “everything” certainly includes the leg of lamb in the butcher shop. If a nonbeliever invites you to dinner and you feel like going, go ahead and enjoy yourself; eat everything placed before you. It would be both bad manners and bad spirituality to cross-examine your host on the ethical purity of each course as it is served. On the other hand, if he goes out of his way to tell you that this or that was sacrificed to god or goddess so-and-so, you should pass. Even though you may be indifferent as to where it came from, he isn’t, and you don’t want to send mixed messages to him about who you are worshiping. With that as a base to work from, common sense can take you the rest of the way. Eat anything sold at the butcher shop, for instance; you don’t have to run an “idolatry test” on every item. “The earth,” after all, “is God’s, and everything in it.” That “everything” certainly includes the leg of lamb in the butcher shop. If a nonbeliever invites you to dinner and you feel like going, go ahead and enjoy yourself; eat everything placed before you. It would be both bad manners and bad spirituality to cross-examine your host on the ethical purity of each course as it is served. On the other hand, if he goes out of his way to tell you that this or that was sacrificed to god or goddess so-and-so, you should pass. Even though you may be indifferent as to where it came from, he isn’t, and you don’t want to send mixed messages to him about who you are worshiping. ‘ 1 Corinthians 10:25-28
Believe it so that you can be the husband your wife needs you to be!
‘Husbands, go all out in your love for your wives, exactly as Christ did for the church—a love marked by giving, not getting. Christ’s love makes the church whole. His words evoke her beauty. Everything he does and says is designed to bring the best out of her, dressing her in dazzling white silk, radiant with holiness. And that is how husbands ought to love their wives. They’re really doing themselves a favor—since they’re already “one” in marriage. Husbands, go all out in your love for your wives, exactly as Christ did for the church—a love marked by giving, not getting. Christ’s love makes the church whole. His words evoke her beauty. Everything he does and says is designed to bring the best out of her, dressing her in dazzling white silk, radiant with holiness. And that is how husbands ought to love their wives. They’re really doing themselves a favor—since they’re already “one” in marriage. Husbands, go all out in your love for your wives, exactly as Christ did for the church—a love marked by giving, not getting. Christ’s love makes the church whole. His words evoke her beauty. Everything he does and says is designed to bring the best out of her, dressing her in dazzling white silk, radiant with holiness. And that is how husbands ought to love their wives. They’re really doing themselves a favor—since they’re already “one” in marriage. Husbands, go all out in your love for your wives, exactly as Christ did for the church—a love marked by giving, not getting. Christ’s love makes the church whole. His words evoke her beauty. Everything he does and says is designed to bring the best out of her, dressing her in dazzling white silk, radiant with holiness. And that is how husbands ought to love their wives. They’re really doing themselves a favor—since they’re already “one” in marriage. ‘ Ephesians 5:25-28
Believe it so that I can be the dad my adult daughter (Pastor and Sailor) needs me to be even when she is far away! Believe it so that I can be the dad my collegiate daughter (Business and Soccer) needs me to be so she can focus on her studies without worry and fear, especially while she is at school. Believe it so that I can be the dad my son who is weeks away from starting to drive on his own needs me to be by helping him find his purpose! Believe it so that I can be the dad who models a relationship with God, my wife, my daughters, my son, and others so that they may see it and glorify God because of the works!
‘“Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven. “Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven. “Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven. ‘ Matthew 5:14-16
Believe it as I listened to:
- Big Daddy Weave – Redeemed (Official Music Video + Mike Weaver’s Story Behind the Song)
- Jon Reddick – I Believe It (The Life Of Jesus) [Official Lyric Video]
- MercyMe – Say I Won’t (Official Music Video)
Believe it and be the dad who is relational and so get those lunches or coffee on your calendar! (Paul, Owen, John, Warren, James, Mohan, Lotfi, Randall, Bob, Jason. P. Billy and P. Dan about BeTheDads) Believe it and be the dad who is relational and so sets up weekly date nights with my wife! Believe it and be the dad who sets up weekly check-ins with my daughters! Believe it and be the dad who is relational with my son and gets back into the gym routine! Believe it and be the dad who is relational with my core leaders and volunteers for camp! Believe it and start reaching out to local dad organizations and groups! Believe it and strengthen ministry connections! Believe it and take hold of the reality as we learn through Job’s story that the trials and tribulations are but for a season and so in and through those times we must resist the devil and he will flee, put on the full armor of God and stand firm, be bold and courageous, and cling to the reality that Jesus has already won the victory!
Believe it and start doing what God created you to do in this world! Believe it and start following and trusting God’s direction! Believe it and tell the truth for the truth sets us free from the bondage of the devil and his condemnation for there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus!
So let’s be the dads who believe it and pray fervently! Let’s consider the sermon by Charles Spurgeon and the dads who hold on tight to the rope so that the bell never stops ringing because we believe it and God told us to pray without ceasing!
“Prayer pulls the rope down below and the great bell rings above in the ears of God. Some scarcely stir the bell, for they pray so languidly; others give only an occasional jerk at the rope. But he who communicates with heaven is the man who grasps the rope boldly and pulls continuously with all his might.”
C.H. Spurgeon
Let’s be the dads who pray without ceasing! Let’s be the dads who pray believing! Let’s be the dads who pray fervently, hanging on the rope and believing!
Let’s remember God is too good to not believe! Too Good To Not Believe – Cody Carnes (Lyrics)
