Prior to my encounter with Christ some 20 years ago in a grocery store, my life was to say the least, pretty chaotic. Part of that lifestyle left me with a trail of broken relationships. Even skipping some of the wrongful parts of my life, I always seemed like I was moving on to a new relationship. Even coming into Christianity I was still unraveling many of the characteristics that caused me to “lose” relationships.
But I soon learned the value of retaining relationships. In part because Christ was “doing a work” in my life and godly men and women were participating in my growth. I am thankful for the participation of these folks. Continue reading Beware Of How You Treat Others→
The Lord is taking me into a new season for whatever the reason. Over the weekend He began to speak to me about various things that He was calling traps of the enemy. This morning I wrote about one of the greatest traps being the deception that leads one away from rest.
The Lord has given me a study to consider out of the book of Nehemiah that I will be breaking out soon, but along the way He has had me revisit various things from my childhood. One of those things is the fables of Aesop and Hans Christian Anderson. Continue reading Pride Raises Your Head High→
Ghost Battleship – U.S.S. Texas (You may want to read up on this…)
The enemy is working overtime to get you to step out of the rest Jesus provided for you. He is out to provide you with the best set of rules known to man but set aside by God Himself. No longer to drag you into the works mentality that Jesus provided a way out from.
VISION
Yesterday during service two objects appeared to me. The first was a hand grenade. For two days I had been hearing the word encampment. I saw barricades and blockades and then as I saw the grenade dropped it was nuclear in it’s force. Continue reading The Enemy Has Come To Steal Rest→
A crow, having found a piece of cheese, flew to the top of a tree where she hoped to enjoy her meal. A fox caught sight of her and thought “If I plan this right, I shall have cheese for supper.” “Good day, Mistress Crow,” he said in his most politest tone. “How well you are looking today! How glossy your feathers are and how bright your eyes. Your voice must surpass that of other birds, just as your beauty does. Let me hear but one song from you.” The crow, being flattered by these words, lifted up her head and began to caw her best. The moment she opened her mouth the cheese fell to the ground only to be snapped up by the fox. As the fox walked away with the cheese, he offered this piece of advice to the crow. “The next time someone praises your beauty, be sure to hold your tongue.”
This morning while in the shower praying for various people, the Lord reminded me of the Aesop fable I heard as a child. I was then reminded of the wisdom found in this simple fable. Continue reading Beware The Trap Set Before You→
A little thought I had.
Jimmy turns 16 and Dad gives him a gift.
“Here are the keys to the car Jimmy.”
“Thanks Dad! WOW! I really appreciate it.”
“Jimmy you can go anywhere I go and do anything with the car I would.”
“Thanks Dad! You do not know how much this means to me!”
Hours later Dad checks in on Jimmy and he is still sitting there with the keys in his hands.
“Jimmy? I thought you would be using the car. I gave you the car and the keys to use it.”
“Dad! Thanks so much for the car! Thanks for the keys!…Aren’t you going to do this?”
Jesus gave you and I the keys to the kingdom, the authority to use them… So, like what are we thinking here? Stop looking at the news and asking God to “drive” when He asked you to “drive”!!!!
This morning as I looked out my window the sun was shining, illuminating the foliage, bringing fire to the trees and their leaves.
I thought, “Lord, what do you have for me?”
I saw a few things.
I saw tanks pulling in across the horizon. The Lord showed me there was an all out attack on grace and it’s ability to change people…and to leave it alone. That He had it. Personally, I pretty much gave up being a grace policeman in the kingdom a while ago. People attack me and friends of mine. I saw the tanks go after people and men hunting the “perpetrators” of the message. Continue reading Are You Salt & Light? Or Are You Dull and Dark…→
Today I took my friend Mark (A leader on our church team.) to the airport. He is a younger dad (37 years old) who has 5 children. His oldest from a previous relationship is 15 and his four others from 2-10 years of age. During the week this man takes care of his family, whether he is doing dishes, cleaning the house, helping his children with home school or taking them to soccer and dance. He is an awesome dad and I value his friendship.
Recently (The last month or so it seems.) I have had a burden for men and the lives they live. Whether walking through being a son, a husband or a dad. I was not the greatest son to my parents nor was I always the greatest husband at times. God knows my kids might have something to say about my parenting skills or lack of them. My grandchildren by far are getting the best of my life so far. I am super blessed that I get to spend so much time with my children and grandchildren. Continue reading A Father’s Role In His Children’s Lives→
The last month or so many of us have been concerned about destiny, purpose and who is supposed to do what.
I have said previously, that it is God’s purpose and destiny that I make myself aware of. In the process I get what I need for my personal “destiny.” I do not focus on what I am going to do, but simply being a vessel that is yielded to Him that He might express His life through me. Waiting on Him is important. James 1:4 So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way. Continue reading God’s Purpose and You→
It is more than just a place to go. It may be how you get there.
I guess you could say I am on a mission. A mission to see dads restored and the family made whole. I would not have said that was a part of my mission but often people tell me my thoughts on it are “obvious.” I hurt my own children in my divorces. I see others hurt. It really matters little the age. Continue reading The Impact of Divorce on a Child→
Over the last few weeks I have had this “thing” on my mind about being a dad. What is the value of a dad? How can one help? What do we do with this currently “dadless” generation? So many young people are running around without dads or dads that left mom hanging to struggle in the realms of finance and support.
In full disclosure at one point I was that dad. After the loss of my first marriage, I moved on, having two more children. A second divorce came not long after. I now had child support to pay to two ex-wives and three children. But the Lord entered my life and I saw the need to become more responsible not just financially but to provide support emotionally, spiritually and with physical things like warm housing, food and peace. Paying child support, undergirding two step children and maintaining life was not easy but I made it. At the end of “child support” season I had letters from my ex-wives thanking me for being the man I was.
Last night some of this topic was coming up in our prayer time but the Lord has been speaking to me about it for a long time. Over the years of ministry I faced many challenges with a variety of folks in our church fellowships. They included:
Sons with no dads
Daughters with no dads
One parent households of both sides
Broken parents left behind
Children with lopsided understanding of family
Anger, frustration, hurt, pain and more.
I could and have gone off on wayward parents of children who have left them empty handed, broken and busted. Today is not that day. Today is a new day and I see new focus on men and in particular, dads. Grace tells me God believes in reconciliation and restoration of all things. He also tells me one of our “jobs” is to redeem the time. And so I am moving towards that.
What I see happening….
Years ago, in a small Baptist church I prophesied that when the men dance the church would change. Only days later the Toronto outpouring began and men danced. The last few weeks (September of 2013) I have felt the church’s unprecedented growth will be shaped by men understanding who God has called them to be.
I see that the following are readying to change.
Men will act more like God than ever before towards their wives, children, parents, church family, friends and places of business.
Men will step up to the plate in leading the next move of grace across the land.
Husbands will learn the ways of the Lord towards their wives with grace and love.
Fathers will be fathers as the Father is, to their children. Providing for their children’s emotional, physical and financial needs from a Dad.
Godly men will help children of broken homes in healthy, godly ways.
Young men without fathers will turn to “fathers in the faith” to learn.
Young women will seek out “mothers in the faith” to learn.
Single parents will see God as their supply, not racing for more brokenness.
We are about to see some amazing things amongst men in this land. Men stepping into place. Balanced in all things of God.
I suspect that young men are going to need help here. Young women and young men will have questions. Older men will question how they plug in.
Passing the baton
Malachi 4:6 “He will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers
Luke 1:17 “It is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, TO TURN THE HEARTS OF THE FATHERS BACK TO THE CHILDREN, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, so as to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
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