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If you are saying right about now “I don’t have a problem with Judging Others“, maybe ask yourself this; do I ever get angry or disagree with my parents, spouse, boss, government, banker, barber, children, best friend, God, yourself or any one else? Then you may well benefit from this 3 Part video series “Judging Others” How to Overcome.
Every Blessing ~ James 1:17
Bob
Men, we're stuck!
Historically and traditionally we men have not taken full responsibility in pointing our children to a loving God and His ways.
So if we men have not been doing it… who has?
Who leads Sunday School classes, prays with our children before bedtime, and fills the majority of seats in our churches?
Almost always… the women.
Where are the fathers? What has happened to our priorities?
“Men, We’re Stuck!”
Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians in chapter 4:15,16 says “For although you may have ten thousand others to teach you about Christ, remember that you have only me as your father. For I was the one who brought you to Christ when I preached the Gospel to you. 16 So I beg you to follow my example and do as I do.” (TLB)
Fatherless-ness is a problem our society has been facing both in the world and in the church for decades. Paul said “follow my example and do as I do.” as a spiritual father. Children need to see their father as a spiritual person setting an example that godliness continue through to the generations.
My declaration …”Men, We’re Stuck!” is an acknowledgment, and a prayer for men to rise up and take our responsibility in our families both at home and spiritually. Ed Piorek quotes in his book Father Loves You that “this very night, 40% of American children will sleep in a home where their biological fathers do not live!” I wept when I read this because I myself have contributed to this statistic as a father. How about you? Or do you know someone that has?
The leadership problem in the first century church was a problem of spiritual maturation and is still a problem today.
“Men, we’re stuck!”
As fathers and spiritual leaders of today, let’s take ownership. We have a mandate to “lead” our families through the tough times, not “run” from responsibility, abandoning our families.
This is a wake-up call!
Men, if we deny our responsibility as priest of the home, it is certain to hinder our spiritual maturation as stated in I Corinthians 15:46. Only “we” can change the statistics and be a more accurate representation of our Heavenly Father to our families and the generations of children that follow.
Consider the changes God may be asking you to make. How can you make a difference in your wife & children’s lives as a father both in the natural and spiritual?
Men, we don’t have to remain stuck!
You have a destiny and God will see you through if you submit your ways to Him.
My question to you today; Will you seek to be a true son to your Heavenly Father and be trained by Him to become a spiritual example to your family first and then to others?
Here are a few steps that will help you get started…
1. Begin by praying… “Help me, change me, Father me”.
2. Love your family back to life. Be deliberate in this.
3. Model humility – admit your weakness as well as strengths.
4. Prefer others above self.
5. Live a lifestyle of repentance. (actively initiate self-change)
In doing so, you will be modeling godliness to those around you, challenging yourself to a better way of life, and fulfilling a huge part of God’s will for your life!
For personal “Prophetic Prayer Ministry” or “Spiritual Life Coaching” sessions in our home office, Skype, or over the telephone please contact us at Freedom Quest International.
Freedom Quest Introductory Video
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"Is that so?"
Presumption is just another wicked tool of the devil to trick us into pride.
One definition for presumption is “to take beforehand”.
This can be applied to physical items, situations, but more often than not, it is a mental/emotional posture that we take before getting the facts.
Let’s look into this a bit deeper.
Physical/Material Presumption in Luke 15:11
In the parable of the “prodigal son”, he was presumptuous about the timing of receiving his inheritance. He got what he wanted, but it was not a blessing as is the purpose of an inheritance. Often, when we are presumptuous, God gives us just what we asked for and it becomes a lesson to be learned.
Situational Presumption in Samuel 8
When Israel demanded an earthly King to lead them into battle, Samuel (the Seer) warned them about the folly of having a king. God said “give them what they want, they have not rejected you, Samuel, they have rejected me from reigning over them.” In comparing themselves with other nations, they presumed having an earthly King to protect them was God’s will.
The consequence of their presumption that “this is God’s will” cost them time, resources, and heartache. If we would only learn to stop and ask ourselves “What is God doing/saying?” perhaps we would eliminate unnecessary consequences, and spend more time inside His will.
Mental/Emotional Presumption
We are presumptuous with people probably more often than we are with God. Most of our “stinkin thinkin” is presumptuous.
Examples…
- “Oh great, they forgot about me and they’re not coming at all.” (As their car pulls in the driveway).
- “Where are my mints? I’ll bet she put them in her purse and I’ll never see them again.” (you find them on your table, right where you put them)
- “Why is my boss meeting with everyone but me? They must be talking bad about me.” (a surprise party in your honor was being planned )
Love hopes all things (I Corinthians 13:7) – presumption doubts! Lets learn to stop drawing conclusions without facts.
Because of past rejection & abandonment in our lives, we often take a posture of presuming negative scenarios.
5 Tactics to stop presumption?
- Daily awareness that we are presumptuous.
- Endeavor to get the facts before concluding.
- Ask a friend or mentor to consistently hold you accountable.
- Deliberately focus on “hope” instead of doubt.
- Meditate on Philippians 4:8, Romans 5:5, I Corinthians 13, and I John 4:18.
Presumption is fear based but perfect love casts out every type of fear.
Presumption is an “ancient enemy tactic” to rob us of our “Faith, Hope, and Love”. Let’s route the devil and obey the Word, and watch the enemy flee.
“God does not suffer presumption in anyone but Himself.” Herodotus (484-424 BC)
For personal “Prophetic Prayer Ministry” or “Spiritual Life Coaching” sessions in our home office, Skype, or over the telephone please contact us at Freedom Quest International.
Freedom Quest Introductory Video
We encourage you to share this post with your network on Facebook, Twitter, or other social networks, click the “Bookmark” button. Thanks for spreading words and connections that heal! Every Blessing to you!
Passionate Son
PASSION!
- What is it in your life that makes you “pound the table” with great intensity?
- Or is there anything?
Passionate or Passionless?
Jesus passionately took action to preach, teach, heal, raise the dead, and even suffer emotionally and physically unto death. He was passionate to fulfill the purpose of God the Father for His life! I am not saying He had a smile on His face as the soldiers whipped, beat and humiliated Him, but inside His heart, He was passionate to complete the destiny His Father had spoken into Him – His life for ours.
Jesus heard His Fathers voice because of the intimate relationship He shared with His Father.
John 5:19 (NKJV) Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.”
Our fathers are to speak destiny into us. So, did yours?
Generally, we all experience highs and lows emotionally throughout our lives. This is partially due to the fact that our lives are made up of a series of transitions; Like Jesus, some exciting, adventurous, and fun, while others are painful, unpleasant, and draining. Without purpose, it’s all but impossible to be passionate in the midst of an unpleasant transition. Again, Jesus was not without purpose! How about you?
Passionate or Passionless?
Passion always precedes action that accomplishes great things! The lack of passion produces mediocrity, with an anemic contentment for life. You are called to great things, that is… your destiny. When you begin to hear your destiny spoken from a father- figure, you will become passionate and that will activate your destiny call to greatness.
If you are “unmoved by feeling” or passionless, perhaps your earthly father couldn’t or didn’t speak destiny into you, or maybe like me, you closed your heart to hear anything from him. Regardless of the why, are you ready to tear down the walls, and open your heart to fathering? Maybe you have closed yourself off to other authority figures that saw your potential, but sensed your resistance.
What better time than Fathers Day week to sow freedom into your relationship with the father-figure/s in your life! If you are ready to become that passionate son/daughter… read this prayer out loud with me.
“Heavenly Father, I acknowledge my emotional wounding that has hindered my ability to feel passion. I am choosing right now to forgive ___________ (say their name/s) for not speaking destiny into me. I ask your forgiveness for closing my heart to dad and/or other authority figures in my life. By faith, I believe I am forgiven, and I ask Father that you would open my spiritual ears to hear you everyday concerning the plans (Jeremiah 29:11) that you have for me.
In Jesus name I pray… Amen!”
You are destined to greatness by Almighty God!
For personal “Spiritual Life Coaching” sessions in our home office, or over the telephone please contact us at Freedom Quest International.
We encourage you to share this post with your network on Facebook, Twitter, or other social networks, click the “Bookmark” button. Thanks for spreading words that heal! Every Blessing to you!
Bob Parr ~ Age 17
For some twenty years, rebellion was all I knew. I fashioned my life after it. Drugs, sex, and rock’n roll were my only passions. At age 16, I was married and a father. By age 28, I was twice divorced and because of my wounded heart, had positioned my three children in unacceptable circumstances. I managed to gain custody of my two oldest children. I lived rent free and jobless with my sister in grandpa’s basement, freeloading off both of them.
I lived selfishly, knowing there had to be more to life than what I was experiencing.
Then on Sunday morning, March 10, 1985 I awoke from a cocaine and whiskey hangover. The television was on with the volume muted. I saw Jimmy Swaggart preaching in a soccer stadium in Africa, and his words traveled across the bottom of the screen saying; “if you need a new life, here are the three things that will give you “New Life!”
First you need to confess that you are sinful and commit sins, second you need to ask Jesus to forgive you for your sins, and thirdly, invite Him into your heart to be both your Lord and your Savior.
As I wrote these three things down I also prayed them. I had destroyed so many brain cells in previous years that my memory was embarrassingly limited. I didn’t want to miss this chance at “New Life!” That day, Jesus heard my heart cry and set me free!
I was instantly free from nicotine, alcohol, and drug addiction. He convicted me gently of my foul language. Because of the love I felt from Him, I didn’t want to do anything to displease or disappoint Him. I figured that I had destroyed the first half of my life and I wanted to surrender the second part wholly to Him.
He is not only the God of a second chance, He is the God of another chance!
I soon met my current wife and we have been married for over 22 years now. Together, we’ve preached the Gospel in over 20 countries.
- Perhaps you’re rebelling?
- Maybe you’re feeling stuck in life?
- Have you wondered if there’s a better way to live?
If you desire a “New Life”, pray this prayer right now! Don’t wait another day!
“Heavenly Father, I’ve lived a life contrary to Your plan for me. I am a sinful person. I am asking You, Jesus, to forgive me of my sins, and come live in my heart. I choose to make You both my Lord and my Savior.”
3 Suggested steps for maturing as a Christian
- Bible ~ begin by reading “The Gospel of John”
- Regularly attend a Bible Church near you
- Get actively involved with other Christians.
For personal “Spiritual Life Coaching” sessions in our home office, or over the telephone please contact us at Freedom Quest International.
This post is taken directly from a “hard-copy” Gospel Tract that I have published. If you are interested in obtaining quantities of this tract, email us at; info@freedomquestinternational.org or visit our website contact page.
We encourage you to share this post with your network on Facebook, Twitter, or other social networks, click the “Bookmark” button. Thanks for spreading words that heal! Every Blessing to you!
Crying Girl by David Lewis Baker
Remember the famous physical workout saying “No Pain/No Gain”? Here we will address the processing of pain so our “gain” is more freedom.
MANAGING PAIN
Every single negative emotion we ever feel (sufferings), Jesus has experienced the same! The Bible says that “We do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have One who has been tempted in every way, just as we are; yet without sin. (Hebrews 4:15) Let’s see, Jesus’ pain? Firstly, perhaps village shame due to secular perception of His conception. In their eyes He was illegitimate! Secondly, Joseph, His dad died probably during His teen years giving Him a sense of abandonment. Thirdly, His adult rejection is clearly documented in the passion story of His arrest, trial, scourging, and crucifixion. Isaiah 53:3,4 uses words describing Jesus as “despised”, “rejected”, “sorrows”, “grief”, “smitten”, and “afflicted”. Do you ever feel any of those?
Let’s take a practical exercise to help you identify and release your pain to become His pain!
- Choose a day, why not today?
- Start your day with a blank sheet of paper.
- Every time you feel a negative emotion, log it in.
- At the end of that day, observe how many negative emotions you carried that day.
That was the identification process, now let’s look into the release process.
I Peter 5:7 says “casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.”
You were not created to carry that load of burden and worry! You were created for intimacy with God. You cannot have intimacy with God while carrying on your back all the weight of your list.
Watch for part 2 of “Your Pain/His Pain” available to you in a few days. It will cover the practical application of release! Tried and True!
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Rembrandts Prodigal Son
Jesus tells a story about an ornery “young son” who asked his father for an early collection of his inheritance. We all know this famous story in Luke 15, that when the son had wasted everything, he came to his senses, and came home humbly asking for a place as a slave. What was his fathers response? In return for his “ornery” ways his father highly honored him with a robe, new sandals, and a ring. Jack Frost of (Shiloh Place Ministries) used to say “Completely failed, utterly restored”, re-instated to son-ship! Selah. Jesus also honored his chief betrayer Judas Iscariot by washing his feet along with the other 11 disciples. Are we to honor those whom we perceive as ornery? The real question is, will we choose to honor them? This requires change! Honor is one of the things God is teaching me about in this season of my life! After having grown up in an alcoholic home, there really wasn’t a good model of that for me. Now my father and I have worked through most of our issues, and we are on better terms now than we ever were. We actually honor each other now, more than ever. Could we conclude that when people choose to get real with each other and break the unspoken rules most dysfunctional families practice, “Don’t Trust, Don’t Speak, Don’t Feel”, an environment is put in place for “honoring” to increase!
I often write about the negative side of “issues” probably due to my “exhorter” gifting. I will briefly mention one opposite of “Honor” which is “ornery”. Are you “ornery” or Honoring? Below is what I found on-line about this word. Ask yourself, would those you call friends or family members, or even you yourself, describe “you” in any of these terms?
Main Entry: ornery
Synonyms:
cantankerous, contemptible, crabby, cranky, crusty, difficult, disagreeable, grouchy, grumpy*, hard-nosed, ignoble, ill-tempered, irritable, nasty, obstinate, quarrelsome, rotten, sour, surly, testy, unfriendly, vicious
How can we transition our soul-ish behavior to a more spiritually rich demeanor? We would do well to imprint the word “HONOR” in the forefront of our minds, and very deliberately pray about, meditate on, and even converse with others about what “HONOR” looks like and ways we can begin to walk this out. The benefits are numerous and divers.
Taking “honor” a step further, I am convinced that if we learn to honor all people, even those who don’t necessarily deserve honor, that the biblical principal or “law” of sowing and reaping will kick in and we will begin to experience being honorable!
I want to give you a definition for honor to help you build a foundation in this journey;
Main Entry honor
Synonyms:
acclaim, admire, adore, aggrandize, appreciate, be faithful, be true, celebrate, commemorate, commend, compliment, decorate, dignify, distinguish, ennoble, erect, esteem, exalt, give glad hand, give key to city, glorify, hallow, keep, laud, lionize, live up to, look up to, magnify, observe, praise, prize, revere, roll out red carpet, sanctify, sublime, uprear, value, venerate, worship
Here are three ways we can initiate this godly and “lives changing” transition.
1. Be very deliberate to honor ALL people.
2. Spend less energy being “ornery”.
3. Ask God to show you the people and ways you can practice “honoring”.
Enjoy the transition!
Definitions credited to; http://thesaurus.reference.com/
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