Jesus wants to be there for you, not from a distance, but right next to you! He desires to be with you every waking moment of every day, and in every circumstance!
Tag: Prayer
FAITH
Hebrews 11:1 says, “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not yet seen!” This week during our staff prayer time, God brought this verse to my mind and I just began to pray the prayer of faith for my family (both wife and kids, as well as our church family)! As I prayed this passage of scripture, I believe the Lord gave me a couple points of insight that I would like to share with you this morning!
1st – Faith is the catalyst in our life to have us watch the hand of God move on our behalf. Faith is the reassurance that God is at work in the situation that seems unmovable. Faith is the “nudge” in which we begin to act on the belief that “the One who started a work in us, will be faithful to complete that work!”
2nd – “The substance of things hoped for…” Substance is the matter of which something is made. Think about this with me…what are you made of…better yet, Who were you fashioned after? “Let us make man in Our image!” You are fashioned after God who created the universe! How amazing is that! Someone said to me this week that they felt like a disaster every time they went to the Word. I quickly reminded them that “God is closest to the broken and contrite heart”––that is right where God wants you. You feel like a disaster? AWESOME! God is getting ready to make a mighty move of faith!
3rd – “…the evidence of things not yet seen!” What do you see in our church? What do you see in your family? What do you see in your your circumstance? Do you see God anywhere? Do you see any evidence that He is working in the scenes? Remember, faith is evidence. Sometimes you have to look for evidence––the little signs––the little points that God is at work! Even in the midst of the “stay at home” advisory and the spread of the virus. Your Faith can increase, and be apart of the increase of God’s presence all over the world during this time!
This week, why don’t we all pray for God to increase our faith! In essence, we are asking Him to increase our matter––our substance! Then you are asking Him to increase the evidence of His moving in and around us! Guess what? He wants too!
Praying for you & with you! Let’s keep increasing our faith in Him, and decreasing the you and me! Have a faith-filled week!
Special Forces…
I grew up in a military family. I was surrounded by men and women who have served and protected our country. For the better part of the my first 25 years of life, I learned words like honor, code, respect, and valor.
In being around those men and women, one thing I saw everyday was the ability to follow orders that radically changed life’s trajectory. I said goodbye to friends, watches families leave safety and security and learned to deal with good-byes (which aren’t very fun today). I had to learn to trust in the silence of not always knowing or hearing the answer or understanding it.
Then I read this 3 verse passage and realize that all of those lessons learned aren’t just a military family’s mindset, but a set of values learned by ones that truly set out to accomplish the will of God! The desire to set a person helped, a family saved, and city radically impacted through the Gospel of Christ!
“It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going. And even when he reached the land God promised him, he lived there by faith—for he was like a foreigner, living in tents. And so did Isaac and Jacob, who inherited the same promise. Abraham was confidently looking forward to a city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God.”
Hebrews 11:8-10 NLT
Abraham desired a city that was set upon the foundations of God! Wow! Abraham was a form of God’s Special Forces…going to a foreign place, setting up a value that was unknown before he arrived, then putting into motion a new way of living.
I desire that! I live in a place that was established as a town in 1764. Before modern conveniences, before modern military practices, before the realization that our world was going to have to go through several revolutions before God would send His Son Jesus back for a His people. So my calling, my passion, and my life’s work is to establish that eternal city right here in Winchendon, Ma.
That means I have to train, study, build trust, pray, serve, obey – I get to live my life in a way that tells everyone I have been placed here for a purpose that far surpasses our ability to understand the natural causes of order and man’s cumbersome path to God. I get to set the peace and love and grace and forgiveness of Christ right in my own town. I get to be a standard bearer for righteousness and for salvation in my little town. Values that go hand and hand with values I learned in the military family of honor, code, respect, and valor.
Would you join me to saluting the Savior of the World Jesus, by longing for the city of eternal foundations, by living your life worthy of the call of our – King of Kings and Lord of Lords – Jesus!
I’m all in, are you?
P.S. To the men and women of our US Armed Services – Thank You for putting your life on the line for our freedom! You truly are the best! I pray for you, I remember you, I Honor you, and I am GRATEFUL for you and your families!
F.A.V.O.R.
What a painful 4 verses of scripture here.
Gen. 6:5-8, 5 The Lord observed the extent of human wickedness on the earth, and he saw that everything they thought or imagined was consistently and totally evil. 6 So the Lord was sorry he had ever made them and put them on the earth. It broke his heart. 7 And the Lord said, “I will wipe this human race I have created from the face of the earth. Yes, and I will destroy every living thing—all the people, the large animals, the small animals that scurry along the ground, and even the birds of the sky. I am sorry I ever made them.” 8 But Noah found favor with the Lord.
As the Lord looked at what He created, He found very little that He was pleased with.
I read this today and I say, “Lord, I know there is wickedness in me, please forgive me for acting on it and wipe it from my heart and soul!”
Then Vs. 8 gives me hope! Oh that I would find favor with the Lord!
Oh that He would see me and show me His Favor. In all of my hang ups. The times I am not a good husband, father, pastor, or leader – Father find favor with me. Look into my heart and see that I truly long to love you and to worship you in all that I am and all that I do!
Lord, let your FAVOR reign over my life!
F – Forgiveness
A – Authority
V – Victory
O – Opulence
R – Righteousness
As you continue to read the account of Noah, the FAVOR of the Lord was on him for one very simple reason… Noah did exactly what the Lord told him! He didn’t rationalize or beg God to chose another way, he was simply obedient in the most simplistic of ways. He trusted God and heard His voice! He listened!
Let our prayer today be, “Lord teach me to hear Your Voice and to listen the same! I want to hear You and know You! Lord I can’t live without You and Your FAVOR! I Love You Jesus! Thank you for loving me!”
A Lesson From a Four Wheeler
From the heart of my INCREDIBLE WIFE…
Confession time, I am a control freak! I know it, my husband knows it, my three kids know it and most people who hang out with me long enough know it. There, I said it, that’s the first step in any situation, admitting you have a problem, right?
For instance, I prefer to drive. I love it when my husband drives, but otherwise, I want to be the one in control. There is something about knowing where we are going and that if I’m in control I know we will get there safe. I know, if your reading this, your laughing about now. I’m sure God is smiling at me too!
This last weekend, my family was able to hang out with my Aunt and Uncle! They have just purchased a brand new 4 wheeler. I feel like I need to let you know that I have a 14 year old son, 9 year old daughter and 4 year old son. Do you think I was ready to let any of them ride on this thing??? Ummm – NOOOOO!!!! Why? Because I knew I couldn’t control the outcome! My Aunt said, “I will take the two little ones first.” WHAT??!!! I played it cool y’all, but inside I was praying in the Spirit! Oh sweet Jesus please don’t let my kids die! See it’s never just keep them safe, it’s “DON’T LET THEM DIE!” I know, I know…just smile at me!
So my aunt takes the kids for a ride and all is good, they did not die, matter of fact they had the best time EVER! There was such joy on their little faces! Ian kept saying, “I want to ride again!” Oh the freedom kids live in!
It was now my 14 year old, Isaiah’s turn. I volunteered to take him for a ride, when my husband and aunt both said, “Let him go by himself!” Of course I was terrified. He could flip this thing, he doesn’t know what he is doing, he could die! I know, I know, I know… But I succumbed to my family’s peer pressure… off he went.
Guess what… He had a blast and is still alive! Thank you Jesus!!
Now it’s my turn. But wait, Dan my loving, amazing, super hero husband, decides he’s gonna to take me for a ride. This is where I just laugh! “Are you crazy?” “No way!” I want to go by myself, I’m scared to not be in control, I’m scared the thing will flip, I’m scared, yes, that I will die!!! I have real true genuine FEAR!
We, (well at least me) are like this with God at times. We want to be in control. We want to be in control of our present and our future. Sure, we pray and ask him for help and to lead us and guide us. Yes, we want his protection and plan for our lives, as long as we can control the process! “Let me do my thing Lord. You just protect me and make sure it all works out.” I think God says to us, the same thing my husband, Dan said to me yesterday, “Get on, it will be fine and you can trust me!”
As I was thinking about this exchange and my issue of control this morning, the Lord spoke to my heart and said “Let go! Let me drive, you sit back and enjoy the ride!”
Can I tell you? I had the best time on the back of that 4 wheeler! Dan later asked me, “What was the best part of 4 wheeling?” Immediately I responded, “Being on the back and you driving while I held on.” Why? I felt protected sitting behind my husband, I felt free, and I felt safe. These are the same feelings I have when I let God lead me and protect me! I have peace!
Philippians 4:6-7, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”
God’s peace is the best kind of peace, really the only kind of peace! I’m sure I will always struggle with wanting to control situations, but I will continue to put my trust and hope in Jesus! I will let him drive the 4 wheeler of my life, while I put my arms around his waist and enjoy the ride. I know that I am safe and there is no need for me to have control!
Is Jesus on the back of your 4 wheeler today? You may need to take a moment, like myself, and switch seats today. Trust me, its way more fun letting Him drive!
Love You Much Much More!
The coolest thing happened to me today! I was headed on a couple of errands with my 2 youngest kids. They were in the back seat, we were jamming to some David Crowder – “Run Devil Run“, and I heard my 3 year old pray.
“Dear Jesus, help daddy love you much much more!”
Well my heart melted right there on Hudson Road! The fact that my 3 year old is tapped into my desire to love Jesus much much more! I just love it! He is interceding for his daddy and he is only 3!
From that point forward the thought that has been racing through my heart is not just how much more I want to love Jesus, but how much He already loves me and you.
In Isaiah 43, 1 “…D0 not be afraid, for I have ransomed you I have called you by name; you are mine. 2 When you go through deep waters I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you you walk through the fire of oppression you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. 3 For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior… 4 …You are precious to me. You are honored, and I LOVE YOU!
Did you catch that, God, the creator of the universe says to you and me – “I Love You!”
I just can’t get over the fact that He loves me! Thank you to my 3 year old for the great reminder today, of how much I am loved not just by him, but our Heavenly Father!
And don’t forget #3 – Ian Daniel Lewiston – I LOVE YOU MUCH MUCH MORE – TOO!