FATHER - 11.3.2015

Have you thanked Him?
Have you praised Him?
Have you made it your priority to agree and cooperate with Him today?
Have you taken that deep breath and listened for what He has for you today?
1 Timothy 2:1 (The Message)
1-3The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know.

“You obey not to get God’s attention, but because you have been the object of his attention since before the world began.”
― Paul David Tripp

God stands before you with His arms open wide. He always accepts you. He always confirms your value… You are His prized possession. No matter what you go through in life, no matter how many disappointments you suffer, your value in God’s eyes always remains the same. You will always be the apple of His eye.” ― Joel Osteen

Yesterday I was with a team of folks from Newark, Ohio. 
They desired to join arms as CHAMPIONS. 
I am so blessed they are now part of the team!

But like most of my chats there was another truth to be shared, another confirmation to explore.

That truth was that GOD is a loving FATHER, a Father who gave His best for us. A Father who values us to a level we could never comprehend or imagine. A Father who has made us, yes silly disobedient us, the object of His affections, the apples of His eye, His prized possessions. 
A GOOD Father.

Psalm 68:5 (AMP)
A father of the fatherless…Is God in His holy habitation.

No the discussion was not revelatory, but comforting.

When we are working with people who are deeply afflicted with the disease and pain of addiction, often at the root is condemnation. Folks often turn to dangerous and addictive substances due to a lack of belonging or from a deep sense of being unlovable or disposable; from feeling “fatherless” if you will.

That is why as we MINISTER to the broken we MUST be reminded of amazing love of OUR Father so that we can richly and freely share it.

I have loved you with an everlasting love…(Jeremiah 31:3 ESV)

Are you feeling a little unloved today?
Maybe you have been trying to “be obedient” to get your FATHER’S attention or you are working at upping your performance so He will take closer notice of you and embrace you more.

Be reminded…the FATHER’S love for you is immeasurable.

The love of God is greater far
Than tongue or pen can ever tell;
It goes beyond the highest star,
And reaches to the lowest hell…

Yet more importantly it is tangible.
It hung on a cross at Calvary. It rose on the third day.
It changes everything.
It reverses the course of addiction.
It opens the pathway of son-ship and daughter-ship for each of us.
It is freely given.

Will you walk in it today? 
Accept it today? 
Allow it to energize and affirm you today?

“Imagine that Jesus is calling you today. He extends a second invitation to accept His Father's love. And maybe you answer, "Oh, I know that. It's old hat."

And God answers, 'No, that's what you don't know. You don't know how much I love you. The moment you think you understand is the moment you do not understand. I am God, not man….Did you know that every time you tell Me you love Me, I say thank you” - Manning

Wow!
Ephesians 1:3 (ESV)
Blessed be the God and Father…

Have a LOVED day!
I love you ALL!
FREEDOM CHURCH (CHAMPIONS NETWORK)

DAWNS POSSIBILITIES

Have you thanked Him?

Have you praised Him?

Have you made it your priority to agree and cooperate with Him today?

Have you taken that deep breath and listened for what He has for you today?

1 Timothy 2:1 (The Message)

1-3The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know.

...glorify the LORD in the dawning light. (ISAIAH 24:15)

Cindy Trimm, Author of "Commanding Your Morning Daily Devotional: Unleash God's Power in Your Life--Every Day of the Year" gives this encouragement...

Every new day with God brings the dawn of new and better possibilities. Today could turn out to be the best day of your life—but how it ends largely depends on how you begin it.

You are in charge of taking control of your day from its very beginning—as you command your morning—and as you do, know that whatever begins with God has to end right. No matter how good or bad your life is, every circumstance can change for the best if you learn how to command your morning before your day begins.

Prayer:

Father, I stand and declare that today is a new day. Every element of my day shall cooperate with Your purpose and destiny for me, in Jesus...AMEN

This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. 

(Psalm 118:24 HCSB).

God gives us this day.

He fills it to the brim with possibilities, and He challenges us to use it for His purposes. The day is presented to us fresh and clean at midnight, free of charge, but we must beware: Today is a non-renewable resource—once it’s gone, it’s gone forever.

Therefore our responsibility, of course, is to use this day in the service of God’s will and according to His commandments; to treasure the time that God has given.

Don’t waste the resource!

Honor Him first.

Give Him the glory and the praise and the thanksgiving that He deserves.

Then search for the hidden possibilities that God has placed along your path.

Ask yourself:

What is on my radar today?

Am I seeing the possibilities or dreading the intersections?

Am I enthusiastic about what GOD has in store or fearing what the enemy, life, and circumstances have cooked up?

Am I thankful for what “could” be today or fearful instead?

It is up to you.

It is…

Why not make the most of today?

Can you:

Forgive?

Love?

Serve?

Dare?

Try?

Express?

Honor?

Respect?

 

“Jesus said, ‘No procrastination. No backward looks. You can’t put God's kingdom off till tomorrow. Seize the day.’” (Luke 9:62 MSG)

Question is…

Will you?

Have a BLESSED and POSSIBILITIES-filled day!

Love you all…

FREEDOM CHURCH (CHAMPIONS NETWORK)

TIME TO PRAY

Have you thanked Him?

Have you praised Him?

Have you made it your priority to agree and cooperate with Him today?

Have you taken that deep breath and listened for what He has for you today?

1 Timothy 2:1 (The Message)

1-3The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know.

“Prayer is the open admission that without Christ we can do nothing. And prayer is the turning away from ourselves to God in the confidence that He will provide the help we need. Prayer humbles us as needy and exalts God as wealthy” ― John Piper

If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15:5 NIV)

Are you praying this morning?

I know it is the second time I have asked you that but Piper makes a powerful point.  Whatever is on today’s agenda is hindered when we fail to pray.

Jesus also reminds us that if we will turn away from ourselves as Piper also suggests and rest in the confidence of GOD, our day will bear fruit; we will find success, peace, provision and opportunity. Yet if we venture out without Him our efforts are in vain.

We can “do” nothing.

I want today to be a good one don’t you?

Therefore why would I trust in…

My provision?

My wisdom?

My energy?

My resources?

I need to pray!  Then I can have confidence those “things” are covered!

“A prayerless Christian is like a bus driver trying alone to push his bus out of a rut because he doesn't know Clark Kent is on board.” – Piper (again)

That paints a picture doesn’t it?

Our pride, our arrogance or often our lack of faith in our exceedingly powerful and provisioned GOD will have us trying to sift through our days alone and uncovered straining to push our buses out of ruts.

Why do we do that when GOD reminds us…

…the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective (James 5:16 NIV)

Clearly the message is super simple today.

Pray in the day.

Don’t proceed any further.

Pause.

Invite GOD into the day.

Connect.

Pursue.

Pray…

Take Him with you on the journey today.

Trust His wealth and provision to steady and sustain you.

Take any notions of being “self-sufficient” or that you have this “day covered” off the table and out of your head.

Humble yourself.

GOD will listen for you and to you.

He will.

…the Lord hears the good man (woman) when he calls to him (Psalm 34:7 LB)

“Father, I arise in faith today knowing that You hear and answer prayer. Because I bring my needs to You, I will walk in the peace of God that surpasses understanding, and it will guard my heart and mind. In stillness and quietness I will wait for You, and You will lead me in the way I should go. I trust you completely and wholeheartedly with today. In Jesus, Amen”

I love you ALL!

FREEDOM CHURCH (CHAMPIONS NETWORK)