Blog Categories
Respite For the Weary
Dear Children,From my last letter, you learned Satan is powerful, and he is the “ruler of this world.” However, may your heart also listen to this truth as well: God is the Author of power, and He has overcome the world! May you never be without hope.Now, I have the awesome privilege of trying to explain the power of God. To do this, I want you to close your eyes and take yourself back in time as I remind you of a few Old Testament Bible stories. I have chosen these particular ones simply because I would have loved to have seen, for myself, God’s majestic power displayed in these particular ways:1. Creation. Can you imagine watching God forming the waves of the sea, or giving the moon and stars their light in the vast universe? Or can you imagine the Creator of life knitting together the intricate details of the first human body; and then, God Himself breathing the first breath of life into him?
2. Noah’s Ark. Don’t you think Noah wondered a time or two how he and his family would shut that huge door to the Ark? It had to be heavy and stable enough to hold two of every animal on the earth! Well, God Himself shut the door for them. I would have loved to see the massive ramp go up . . . gently, smoothly, tightly, securely.
3. Parting the Red Sea. Think children, what if you were there? What an amazing display of the power of God . . . and to walk between walls of water!
4. David and Goliath. God’s power was in that faithful young boy, and God’s power sailed with that stone?
Now, children, I want to turn our focus to the power of Jesus, the Son of God, who is One with God. Keep your eyes closed and imagine you’re with Him. These are some New Testament stories that, again, I would have loved to eye-witness:1. Feeding the five thousand. An awesome event! How could the five loaves and two fish multiply without the power of Jesus? No way at all; but with Him, nothing is impossible! (Matt. 19:26) They went away full, and satisfied---with twelve baskets left over!
2. Calming the Sea. If I were in the disciples’ boat during that storm-infested night, I would have been absolutely terrified, out-yelling these panic-stricken men (and “losing my lunch” in between screams)! But, Jesus calmed the violent storm with just three words, “Peace, be still.” And immediately, the wind and the waves obeyed Him; they became perfectly calm. Would you not fall at his feet and worship Him after witnessing such amazing power?
3. One Healing Miracle. There were so many great miracles, but I possibly would have chosen to see the healing of the blind man----the one where Jesus spit on the ground, made clay, and put it over the man’s eyes. Jesus then told him to go wash his eyes in the Pool of Siloam. The blind man obeyed His voice and received his sight, seeing life for the very first time.
4. Easter Morning. What if you were walking with Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary and you heard with your own ears the greatest truth ever spoken to mankind: He is not here, He is risen! Would your heart have leapt for joy? It can now.
I want to end by focusing on the power of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit’s power pertains directly to us, the believing Christians, living right now. When Jesus left this earth, He did not leave us as orphans, but He sent The Helper in His place. And His Spirit is one of the Trinity, so He has all the incredible power of the Holy Father, and Christ the Son. He asks us not to quench His Spirit, but to use it. What do you plan to do today with the power He has given you? Here are some things I always hope for in my life:1. To have the power of His unconditional love. I want to love you, my children, and your daddy, and my parents, and my friends, and my “enemies” the way Jesus Christ loves me.2. To have the power of self control in all I say and do. So much of the time, I push Him aside and rely on myself. (That, by the way, is quenching the Spirit.)3. To have the power to speak boldly for Christ. I want my lips to be a fountain of praise, bringing honor and glory to His Name as long as I live.4. To have the power to endure all things. I want to run the race with endurance, and to fight the good fight of faith, never losing my hope, no matter what comes my way.Can I do these things? Can you? Yes, we can! But only if we allow the Holy Spirit to reign in our hearts. Remember, His power is perfected in weakness (II Cor. 12:9), so don’t think you have to have it all together first. That’s a lie from the father of lies, himself. Let God’s awesome power, dear ones,form youprotect youremove sin from youcarry youfeed and satisfy youquiet youmake you “see”and give LIFE to you forever.I challenge you to compare the list above with the list of what Satan wants to do to you with his power (from my previous letter); and then, my dear ones, choose your Commander.
I love you
Dear Heavenly Father,May You forever be exalted and praised because of Your awesome power! You are truly so much greater than our Enemy. You have promised to overcome the world with Your presence, Your peace, and Your plan. Thank You, O Holy King of kings.I pray my children would become completely confident in this mighty power of Yours, dear God. Remind them of the incredible displays of Your authority existing all throughout Your Word:You can make water pour from rock,You can cause the sun to stand still:You can shut the mouths of lions;You can crush Satan under Your feet.May this give my children the assurance that when they have you completely reigning over their hearts and minds they too can fight Satan and be victorious. For You, Ruler of Life, are all they need in order to defeat the devil, ruler of this age. You are their Holy One, their Creator, their Redeemer, their Master, and their Friend. May they be assured, You will never leave them nor forsake them as they confront the evil one! May Your truth and Your power make them strong and courageous.Also, dear Father, I pray my children would become even more confident when they realize Satan is just the opposite of who You are. You are truth, but he has nothing to stand on but lies. And these lies can, and will, come crashing down beneath him if he is attacked by the power of Your Word. May they use this mighty weapon to behead the great serpent of old, I pray. You are the Savior of this world, dear Lord Jesus. May my children claim Your power and be forever victorious in You.
Amen
Matt. 28:18; John 16:33; John 20:21-22; Luke 10:19-20; Ps. 62: 5-8; John 11:25-27; John 14: 15-18; I Thess. 5:19; I John 4:4
Ps. 89:11-18; Gen. 18:14a; Rom. 16:19-20; James 4:7; I Chron. 28:20; Heb. 4:12-13; I John 4:14-15; John 8:31- 32, compared to John 8:43-47
Dear Children,I want you to be keenly aware of who Satan is. Some of the terms he has been referred to as in the Bible are:serpent---Genesis 3: 1-7thief---John 10:10enemy---Psalms 61:3deceiver---Revelation 12:9-11father of lies---John 8:44roaring lion---I Peter 5:8accuser---Revelation 12:9-11ruler of darkness---Ephesians 6:12destroyer---John 10:10Now, listen to his main objectives as he roams the earth, seeking out hearts, minds, and souls. He will make every effort:to trick youto steal from youto attack youto fool youto lie to youto devour youto pass wrong judgment on youto keep you in his darknessand to completely defeat you.Children, Satan is very much alive, and he is very powerful. If you do not have Christ in your heart and mind, then he does have the power to do to you all the things he plots out and schemes. Remember, his goal is to keep you locked up in a prison cell where you are completely unable to serve the God whom you proclaim to love. He is desperately trying to keep you bound to your “old self.” Recognize some of these strongholds (which I have mentioned before) which Satan will wrap like thick cords around your mind: shame, guilt, fear, bitterness, worry, confusion, discontentment, and doubt. Also take note, there are many other heavy chains your enemy will use to dominate your behavior. Know, dear ones, he is behind every single snare you fall into. He is oh-so-crafty, and will always attack you in your weakest moment, targeting your weakest spot. So, I want you to take Jesus’ advice: Keep watching and praying, that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak (Mat 26:41). Call on Him in time of need; His Spirit will surely come to your rescue. Your Savior Jesus, is the only One who can sever those cords and break those chains. I know this to be true, first hand, children. Satan had the “cords” of shame and discontentment wrapped so tightly around my neck, they were choking the way, the truth and the life out of me, and I was not even aware of his schemes! Like I said, he is oh-so-crafty. However, my Jesus did come, and he did save. And now, my cup overflows!I love you
Dear Heavenly Father,I pray my children would be given abundant wisdom concerning who Satan is and what his objectives are in each of their lives. With this wisdom, may they be able to stand firm against their enemy.First, I pray, they will know that Satan is a ruler. Help them to realize he is much more than a “passive being” down in the depths of the earth. Instead, may they see him as active as You have described him in Your Word: he is like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour (I Peter 5:8). Help them to understand, You have “given permission” to Satan for the whole world to lie in his power (I John 5:19). He is the ruler of darkness; and we, as believers, will wrestle against his forces of the world until the day we go Home. Make my children ready for battle, dear Lord. May they bring Your light into this dark place.Secondly, I pray, my children will know that Satan is a liar. Make them aware this master deceiver is always scheming out ways in which he can keep God’s children from being these “lights” for the cause of Christ! May they know that Satan wants their light off! Make my children aware, dear Lord, of their own weaknesses and strongholds; and may they expect to be attacked by Satan in these areas. Keep them, I pray, from being lured into his evil bondage. Always guard their minds from his deceiving use of guilt, or shame, or fear, or bitterness, or any other cord he chooses to tie them up or “snuff them out” with! May they say, with confidence, as Jesus did: Get behind me Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me: for you are not setting your mind on God’s interest, but man’s (Mat. 16:23).And finally, dear Lord, I pray, my children will know that Satan is a thief. He comes only to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10). May they realize his goals are to rob us of our contentment, to put to death our productive time, and to utterly ruin our joy. May he not have this death grip on the hearts and lives of my children, I pray. Instead, may they realize why You have come, sweet Lord Jesus: that they might have life, and have it abundantly (John 10:10). May they choose life over death, light over darkness, and victory over defeat.
Amen
Job 1:6-22; Rom. 8:5-11; Col. 3:1-10; Col. 2:8-10; Ps. 18:3-19; Luke 4:18
Eph. 2:1-5; Eph. 6:12; II Cor. 11:13-14; II Cor. 11:3; I John 5:12; John 8:12; Ps. 27:1-3; I John 5:4-5
Dear Children,It’s story time! Listen to this make-believe tale about a certain forgetful knight:Once upon a time there was a young man named Englebert, who on this special day, happened to be living out his dream of becoming a real knight. He had always wanted to be a real knight in the real King’s army when “he grew up.” And it seemed like only yesterday, he was playing “good knights” and “bad knights” with his little friends. They would use buckets for helmets, cooking lids for shields, and long sticks for swords. What “great battles” they would have!But now, he was “grown up,” and this was the real thing! Englebert had become a majestic knight in service to the King; and this was his first time to sleep in the palace quarters. What a jumble of nerves he was! And, poor Englebert, when his nerves got jumbled, so did his mind! He just kept repeating to himself as he drifted off into an uneasy, restless sleep: “If there’s a battle, I must find my horse and go fight, find my horse and go fight, find my horse and go fight. . . . “ Well, guess what? Very soon Englebert would have his first chance to go into battle. . . .In the wee morning hours, a mighty trumpet blew a resounding alarm to all the King’s horsemen and all the King’s men! An enemy had been sighted, and all were to prepare immediately for battle. Englebert flung the covers off himself in a panic and darted about the room to and fro in fretful hysteria, thinking about everything and nothing at the same time. He then remembered what he had told himself the night before: “O yes, yes, my horse. I must find my horse and go fight!” And so, off he went running frantically out the door searching wildly for his horse, wearing only his polka-dotted underwear. This crazy behavior would have continued, except that Englebert stepped on a huge thorn that stuck in his foot. “Ouch!” he yelled as he bent over to see the problem. Suddenly, he realized, “Oh, my goodness! I forgot my armored boots! I must go back and get my armored boots!” That, he did quickly. He found them at once, put them on, and again attempted to scurry off to the battle. But before he could even get out the door, he butted his head with tremendous force against its frame, which he sometimes forgot was low. “Ouch! And double ouch!” he cried, as he felt the swelling knot on his forehead. “Oh, my lands! My helmet! I forgot my helmet!” So he found his helmet, put it on, and declared himself ready for battle---in his armored boots, his helmet, and his polka- dotted underwear.This time his hunt for his horse was successful. Sleepy-headed Gertrude was standing quietly underneath a large tree. Englebert sped up his already quick pace and gave a mighty leap into the air, landing with a heavy smack on old Gerdy. However, old Gerdy was not ready for young Englebert. She did not appreciate this sudden surprise. Stubbornly, she bucked him off with a gigantic buck, which sent him sailing through the air. Poor Englebert landed on his bottom, with a BIG thud quite a distance away. “Ouch! And triple ouch!” he yelled. “That was a terribly painful landing!” And when he looked down, he realized why. “Oh my heavens! I have forgotten to put on my armored pants! I must go back at once!” But as he got up, a branch from the tree he was under scratched his bare chest, making a long red mark across it. “Ouch! And quadruple ouch!” he declared. “And yes, I must get my breastplate as well!” And so, Englebert ran in his helmet, his armored boots, and his underwear, back to his quarters to get his armored pants and his protective breastplate.. . . “Ah! Now, I am ready to fight!” he said to himself as he, this time, slowly mounted Gertrude. “Let’s be off, my dear faithful horse.” So Englebert and Gertrude followed the noise of the battle and came very close to the action. As a matter of fact, one arrow whizzed through the air above his head and another hit his breastplate, bouncing off to the ground beneath him. Soon, however, several arrows were flying ALL around him. Then, somehow, one managed to stick him in the crevice below his shoulder. “Ouch! And quintuple ouch! That hurt!” he said as he pulled the (not-so-deep) arrow out of his shoulder. It was at this time he realized he had forgotten his shield. “Oh my stars! I forgot my shield! I must go back and get my shield. I cannot truly be protected without it!” And so Englebert dashed to his quarters, one more time.“Ah! Now, I’m ready! I have all that I need to fight---I cannot be better prepared.” Sure enough, this time, the arrows of battle could not touch Englebert. He took courage in the sound of the “chink” as they hit his shield and bounced away. However, he did begin to wonder to himself what he would do if the enemy came closer, which, in fact, they were! “Hmm, “he wondered, “I cannot fight like this forever. As a matter of fact, I’m not fighting at all! I’m just defending!” He turned and looked around at his fellow knight. He was holding his mighty sword that glistened in the early morning sun. With this weapon, he was able to fight off the enemy with great valor.“Aha! That’s it!” declared Englebert. “My sword! I forgot my sword! And if I don’t go get it, I will have infinite ouches!” So, one last time, Englebert raced to his quarters, grabbed his own sword, and returned to the edge of the battle. There, with Gertrude beneath him, he stood tall, almost heroically. His armor was fully applied: his boots, his helmet, his pants, his breastplate, his shield, and now his sword. Although it took him a while, he had finally become a real knight in service to a real King. Englebert, then, feeling strong and courageous, stepped into battle and fought with all his might, in order to bring glory and honor to his King’s name. The end.Okay, children, here’s the meaning behind Englebert’s absent-minded behavior. . . .Just as he forgot to put on his armor to fight a physical battle, we too can forget to put on our “armor” when we fight our daily spiritual battles. Children, you (and I) need to “get dressed” spiritually every day in order to be equipped and ready to fight off the fiery darts of the evil one. Satan will send those arrows; and you better believe, he will attack when he sees you without your armor on. Remember, put on the armor of God, and keep it on, my dear ones.Here are just a few hints on how to get dressed for this battle. In the morning, when you are ready for the day---washing your face, brushing your teeth, putting on your clothes---you can also be “praying on” your armor:
Do you get the picture? There are so many ways to “pray on” your protective armor; don’t limit it to these. But please, dear children, don’t always live and fight defensively! You have the ability to defeat the enemy with the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. This weapon, dear children, when used with the shield of faith, will cause Satan not only to back off, but he will also turn and flee! I challenge you, children, to hide His Word in your heart so that you may use it decisively when you are being attacked. Realize this takes time, energy, and effort, but knowing His Word and using it wisely is worth it all.Believe God is real, and He will really win. Have faith in His power, not your own. And remember, His power is in every piece of armor that you choose to put on or carry. Please don’t go out into the daily battle of life just in your “spiritual underwear.” Because your experience, my dear ones, may not be as humorous as Englebert’s.
I love you
Dear Heavenly Father,I praise You and thank You for all of Your power and all of Your protection You freely give to us as Christians. For You have promised to come and live inside of all those who believe. I pray, dear God, that my children would never doubt Your promises. Help them to believe they have the power through You to resist Satan when he is attacking them in a vulnerable spot.I pray they will stand firm on You, dear Lord, the Rock of Ages. For, You promise not to allow those feet to slip who are walking in faith. Keep them on Your solid foundation, which is changeless and eternal. There, may they daily be in a habit of taking up and putting on each piece of precious armor that comes from You.First of all, I pray each child would always buckle the belt of truth around their waist. Help them, dear Father, to pursue a life of complete honesty---one that will keep their conscience clean, their integrity blameless, and their hearts pure. And may Your truth forever set them free from the lies and deception of Satan, their enemy.Secondly, I pray my children would realize the awesome privilege of being able to wear Your righteousness as a breastplate. As they humbly apply this piece of armor, impress on them, this can be worn only because of the blood their Savior shed for them on the cross. May they wear it for You, dear Jesus, with honor and dignity.Then, as my children shod their feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace, I pray they would realize this is Your mighty calling---going out, as You have commanded, to set trapped prisoners free. May they never be satisfied with being stationary in You; but fill them with the desire to be the bearer of this Good News, which is able to save lost souls.And as they go, may they remember to take up Your invincible shield of faith, so they may be able to resist all the flaming missiles of the evil one. Give them the confidence they need to accomplish all the wonderful plans You have waiting for them in your will.In addition to all of this armor, may they daily put on Your helmet of salvation, which will, once again, protect them from the lies and schemes of Satan. May they meditate on You as their God and Savior, and lover of their soul. Give them the mind of Christ, and fill them with Your beauty, Your wisdom, and Your love.And finally, dear Lord, may my children never forget to carry with them Your mighty weapon, the sword of the Spirit, which is Your Word. For it is living and active, able to pierce as far as the division of the soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart (Heb. 4:12). May they hide Your Word inside them, meditating on it even in the night watches (Ps.63:6), I pray, so they may be able to use it in any time of need.You are our Mighty Warrior, dear God, and our Commander in Chief. Thank You for providing Your armor to all those who seek and serve You as their King. May my children, by Your Spirit, choose to be a part of Your army, fighting the good fight of faith---now and forevermore.
Amen
Eph. 6:10-17; Col. 4:2; Ps. 119:11; I John 3:8b; Ex. 14:14; Gal. 1:3-5
Rom. 13:12; Eph. 1:18-19; I Cor. 16:13-14; Ps. 121:1-8; Ps. 15:1-5; Is. 59:16-21; Ps. 144:1-2; Ps. 24:7-10; II Sam. 22: 29-47
Dear Children,I have mentioned to you several times the different “idols” that have the potential to take Christ off the throne of your heart. I thought I would list them one more time, so that you can always be on the lookout when Satan tries to persuade you with these things:money---I Timothy 6:9-11power---John 15:5pride---James 4:3-6sexual immorality---Col. 3:5-6complacency---Isaiah 32:9-17family or friends---Luke 9:57-62physical body---I Timothy 4:8fame---Romans 12:3materialism---James 5:1-6alcohol, drugs---Ephesians 5:18-21food---Phil. 3:18-19sleep---Proverbs 6:6-11legalism---Galatians 5:1-6, 18Notice some of these things seem quite innocent (family, friends, food). But realize, sweet ones, idol”worship comes as a result of putting any of these things I just mentioned as first in your heart and mind, expecting them to meet the need that only Christ can. Remember, where your treasure is, there will your heart be also (Matt. 6:21). Keep your treasure in Jesus alone, and everything else will be added unto you. He promises to reward those who seek Him.Also, if you look at the list again, notice all these things are centered around self---the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the boastful pride of life (I John 2:16). In a sense, you have made yourself “God”. Don’t go there, children; that is the world speaking to you. Continue to humbly ask God to help you focus on Him alone, so you may persevere in His will, not yours. Ask yourself often when you feel caught, “Is this thought, action or desire for Him, or is it for me?” And I will tell you this, if you are His child, He cannot help but answer this question for you, in love. . . .One way God shows love is by discipline. So, if you have put yourself up on His “high horse,” trying to meet all your own personal desires, He will give you the opportunity to get off in one of two ways; with a gentle rebuke or with a mighty buck. Which would you prefer? (Try not to even get on the horse!) Let God be God, children. And you be who you are called to be, His humble servant. If you focus on loving Him, and nothing else, your lives will be blessed, sweet ones, more than you can ever imagine. What a promise!
I love you
Dear Heavenly Father,I thank You for who You are: a holy and righteous God, full of marvelous light. Because of Your nature, You cannot tempt anyone with darkness and evil. I ask, however, that You will, with Your loving hand, lead my children’s hearts away from all these temptations that exist in the world today. Hide them, dear Father, in the shelter of the Most High and protect them in the shadow of Your wings. There, guard them from Satan’s cunning traps and snares. May they recognize the idols he will try to use in order to replace You as their one true God. Keep them, dear Lord, from any kind of love, lust, attitude, or addiction that will take You off the throne of their heart. Help them to know and believe there is nothing on this earth that can satisfy their soul, no matter how good it looks or feels or tastes or smells at the present fleeting moment. Instead, may they taste and see that the Lord is good . . .(Ps. 34:8). May You alone, O God, be their portion.Thank You, dear Father, for the promise of always providing a way of escape when temptations come. Rescue them by speaking loudly to their conscience, I pray. And then, in turn, may they call on You in time of need. Please fill their weak flesh with Your strong Spirit. Cause them to grab Your hand, because You are the only one who can pull them out of the miry clay! Please set their feet on the solid rock and establish their steps. May they realize, on this Rock, Jesus Christ, they will never be shaken. And I pray, dear Father, this is where they will choose to stand.
Amen
I John 5:19-21; Matt. 6:25-34; I John 2:15-17; Heb. 12:5-11; Is. 66: 1-2
James 1:13-16; Ps. 91:1-4; I Peter 2:11-17; Lam. 3:21-25; I Cor. 10:13; II Peter 2:9; Ps. 116:1-7; Matt. 26:41; Ps. 40:1-3
Dear Children,What is faith? The Bible says: Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, conviction of things not seen (Heb. 11:1). This simply means, even though you don’t see something with your eyes, you still believe it to be true with your heart. For example, if I were to tell one of you not to touch the stovetop because it is very hot, you would not touch it (I hope). You know me, and you know of my love for you; so therefore, you have put your faith in my words. So, you see, your trust in me has kept you from burning your hand.Well, children, this is the kind of faith God wants you to have in Him. Simply believe His Word. You will find the older you get, the more questions you will have. Do seek answers, but don’t lose your childlike faith in the process. Don’t try to figure out what, how, why, or when to the point of doubt--- rather dig deep in His Word and believe all of its great mysteries from beginning to end!There are three specific areas in which I am praying for your faith to be incredibly strong. First, I pray you will believe in God’s awesome power. Believe He is the great “I AM” (Ex. 3:13-14).He can move mountains, part seas, make the sun stand still,and walk on water.He can heal the sick, make the lame man walk, and the blind man see.He can change a human heart of stone, into a tender heart that overflows with His great love.And, He can defeat the sting of death for the sake of you and me!When you pray, children, pray to this God, asking that His “will” would be done, so that He will be glorified! So much is left unaccomplished simply because of the lack of faith in a human heart. Don’t make Jesus have to ask you, like He had to ask His own disciples, Why do you doubt?Where is your faith? (Luke 8:25). Believe in Him, sweet ones. Believe in His awesome power!Secondly, I want you to always have faith in His love for you. Never doubt He cares. You are his sheep; He is the Great Shepherd who goes to the extreme of laying down His own life for yours! If you do begin to doubt, remember to ask Him to show you His great love in a fresh way, so your faith will be renewed and strengthened. The more you seek His love, the more you will find it.Thirdly, I want you to have faith in His wonderful forgiveness. This is found in confessing your sins to your Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (I John 1:9)! Don’t go to His throne of grace and come away with a heart still full of sin because you are holding on to the guilt and shame of sin you just confessed! If you are repentant, then you are forgiven—completely. In His eyes, you are as white as snow! Believe this truth.Keep the faith, sweet ones. Stand firm in it, live by it, walk in it, and fight the good fight with it.Remember:Our God is who He says He is,He always love, and always forgives.
I love you
1. Tell your children to stand up, put their arms by their side, and then close their eyes.2. Move a small walking distance away from them. Now, ask them to come to you, walking with their eyes closed. Tell them to listen to the sound of your voice -- you will direct their footsteps. Tell them to trust you.3. Once they have made it safely to you, hug them, love them, and explain: this is how we should follow, by faith alone, God’s voice. If we trust in His Word, and abide by it, He will direct our paths!
Dear Heavenly Father,I thank You for the “childlike” faith each of my children possess in their heart right now, believing every word of the Bible to be true, simply because of Your grace. Thank you for allowing them to trust us, as their parents, and to believe completely in the great Bible stories we tell them. Also, I praise you for their (and our) freedom in this land to hear about You. May we always proclaim You as a:God—Full of mercy, power, and loveWho can shut the mouths of roaring lions,And part rivers and seas in a moment’s time.God—Who can make great walls crumble like sand,And still a raging storm with only a whisper.God—Who can make it rain for forty daysCovering the earth, and saving the faithful.God—Who can send bread from heaven for forty years,Feeding the hungry, and saving the faithless.But most of all, may they hear and know and believeIn an awesome GodWho can defeat the sting of death,And rise victorious!Great is the Lord, and highly to be praised! (Ps. 145:3).O God, help us, as their parents, to continue to fill them up with Your words and Your ways at this young age, so they can always stand strong on Your firm foundation. Give them mighty faith as Noah, Abraham, and Moses, so you can perform mightily through them. May they realize, without You, they can do nothing; yet, with You, nothing is impossible!And as they grow, I pray their faith will not shake or waver when Satan tries to defeat them with all the worries of this world. Keep them strong, dear Lord, reminding them they need not fear. For You, their Deliverer, have overcome the world!O Father, I also pray You will remind them, without faith, they cannot please You. I pray they will never doubt Your power in them, or Your love for them, or Your forgiveness granted to them. Please cause these fundamental truths to reign in their hearts and minds.May they dare to touch the fringe of Your coat, lord Jesus. For You are the cornerstone of our faith. With this kind of faith, they can live life abundantly, as You desire them to! I pray they will always hide themselves in the shadow of Your wings, believing You are their strong tower in any storm, and an indestructible refuge in any time of trouble. And as they are in this holy place, dear Lord, give them the faith of a mustard seed, allowing them to move mountains through Your power and for Your glory.
Amen
Matt. 18:3-4; John 20:24-29; Luke 1:37; Matt. 8:5-13; John 10:14-15; I Cor. 16:13; Gal. 3:11,4; II Tim. 4:7-8.
Deut. 11:18-20; Phil. 4:13; Eph. 6:16; I John 5:4-5; Heb. 11:16; Pr. 18:10; Ps. 9:9-10; Matt. 17:20
RELATED VERSE: AND FORGIVE US OUR DEBTS AS WE FORGIVE OUR DEBTORS
Dear Children,I want you to be prepared for two unavoidable circumstances you will face all throughout your lifetime: One, be prepared to be “wronged,” and two, be prepared to forgive.Concerning being wronged: Children, because you live among sinners, you will be sinned against--- sometimes in small ways, sometimes in big ways; sometimes intentionally, sometimes accidentally. Just be prepared, not surprised.Now, how are you to deal with a “slap in the face,” a “stab in the back,” a “push that takes the breath out of you?” Let me direct you to Jesus. One thing He always did when He walked on this earth was to point out the sin to the sinner. He was very effective and clear in calling black “black,” and white “white.” Remember he turned the money changers’ tables over in the temple because of their abuse of His Father’s house of prayer? And countless times He called the scribes and Pharisees of that day exactly what they were-- -blind men, hypocrites, and a brood of vipers. He gave them these names because they were rejecting the very God that they proclaimed to love and serve! Do you see what I’m saying, children? Jesus went to the sinners, pointed out their sin, and then gave them the opportunity to repent of it, or continue in it. And then, He walked away in peace. That’s what you need to do, sweet ones. If (or I should say “when”) somebody has hurt you, go to him and confront him with the issue. (I would recommend praying about what to call him or her, or them: a “brood of vipers” is pretty strong! Remember, Jesus says, your gentleness will make you great. So, I am sure everything Jesus did and said to each sinner was done in a wonderful way, which resulted in an invitation. His goal was to “lure” them into repentance.) You, children, are to do the same. Let the one who has wronged you know how this particular sin has affected you. They may not even be aware they have hurt you. This will then put the “ball in their court,” and that’s where you need to leave it. You, too, walk away in peace as Jesus did. Now, they may humbly ask you for forgiveness; but, then again, they may not. So, what do you do if they don’t say they are sorry? Be prepared to forgive them anyway.Concerning forgiveness: Let me, again, point you to Your Savior. Realize the topic of forgiveness is the first thing Jesus discusses after He teaches His disciples how to pray. It is extremely important to Him. Let me just give you a few of His basic principles concerning this matter:1. Jesus said, “If you don’t forgive, your Father won’t forgive you” (from Matt 6:15). Remember I asked if you wanted to be clean and white? Well, if you do, then Jesus asks you to offer this same freedom to the one who has done you wrong. Don’t expect to experience God’s forgiveness if you can’t give it. Do expect a hard and bitter heart, an angry mind, and a discontented soul. All of this is tied up in un-forgiveness. And then, you can also expect this infectious attitude to fester into all other relationships! Is holding on to this un-forgiveness really worth it, dear ones? The answer is NO! However, Satan would beg to differ. Choose to forgive, children, choose to forgive---seventy times seven. Choose to forgive.2. Jesus went even one step further in forgiveness. He said: “Love your enemies” (Matt. 5:44). Wow, what a difficult command! But, children, you are not to worry about “pay-back time.” God, Himself, will deal with the one who has wronged you. (However, again realize this---He will always do it in a way that is best for the sinner to be exposed to the invitation of the cross). He will extend mercy to all who cry “mercy” from a truly repentant heart. If you don’t let go of the vengeance, you are not allowing God to operate in His mighty way. You, then, are still captive to a bitter unforgiving heart, while your wrongdoer runs free, possible continuing to sin against you and others. Think about this: Would you choose to have your wrong-doer be under the judgment of the one true God, Creator of the universe, or under the judgment of a human being who is likened to “the dust of the earth?” Move out of the judgment seat, and let God be who He says He is! Obey Him, and love your enemy. (Let me stress to you here, sweet ones, sometimes your “enemy” happens to be your Christian brother or sister, and even your future spouse. Be ready for this. Also, realize these “enemies” are sometimes the hardest to forgive.) Jesus says to feed them, give them your shirt, turn the other cheek, and walk that second mile. Let the one who has done you wrong question your forgiveness, not revel in your unforgiveness. May you and God be on the same side, having the same goal: To bring your enemies to their knees, in order to worship Him, right alongside of you.3. Jesus also tells you to “pray for your enemies.” Children, I want you to turn all your thoughts of anger, frustration, and even hatred towards your enemy into loving prayer for that person. Pray for reconciliation, pray for peace, but most importantly, pray for their salvation. Remember, saving their soul is the big picture! May you pray for them so much, you begin to truly want them to know the Savior of their sin-covered heart. And if the person who has wronged you, is already a Christian, pray this situation will enlighten them, humble them, and cause them to grow in Christ. You may very well be the particular vessel that God has chosen to use in working out your “enemy’s” salvation or spiritual growth. Don’t turn their wrong-doing into a frivolous ant-war while the hand of the King of kings is at work behind the whole thing. Let go of unforgiveness, children; the battle was never yours to fight standing up, only kneeling down. Pray God will work mightily through the forgiveness you, by His grace, are offering your “enemy.”Do know this, sweet ones: God does have the ability to heap burning coals on the head of your enemy, if that’s what you think might help you through this situation. But, read His word and see how it’s done: by choosing to forgive them, by choosing to love them, by choosing to pray for them, and by choosing to entrust the situation to God alone. If you let go of your grip (which you might have around their neck), He promises to give you the freedom of His peace in your heart. Then, your wrong-doer will enter into none other than the hands of almighty God, the righteous Judge and merciful Father.Jesus said, Do not be overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good (Romans 12:21). God is good, dear ones. Overcome your wrong-doer with Him. He is your only hope, your only answer.
Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God's grace, which was given me by the working of his power. Ephesians 3:7
Dear Lord,
You have graced us with yourself. May our lives be a "thank you" back to you by the way we live. Make us ministers of the Good News to all "our people." In Jesus' Name, Amen.