My Daddy's Resemblance...

          You can pick out a Herald easily from inside a crowd of people. I don’t know if it’s because we’re sometimes loud and laughing a lot or if it is because of our facial features and height. I’ll bet on all of those descriptions! But anyway, Herald men, especially, have defined chins and hairlines…most of which are receding. I know you are probably laughing right now but it’s something I’ve had to come to accept. (Haha.) All in all, Herald’s look a lot a like. My brothers and I look a lot like our dad, Ed Herald; we resemble him. Believe me, my brothers and I take pride in that because we honor and love our dad.
       
          Continuing on…so, last night, before going to bed, I spent some time in prayer over my household, my wife and children. I just prayed aloud declaring the goodness of God and sang that beautiful worship song ‘I worship Almighty God, there is none like You. I worship You O Prince of Peace, that is what I long to do. I give You praise for You are my righteousness. I worship You Almighty God, there is none like You!’ It was, and always is, so peaceful in God’s presence, isn’t it?! I love Him!
         
        As I prayed I began to turn my praise into confession and petition, asking the Lord to continue to do a changing work, a sanctifying work, in my life, for the benefit of my wife and children and those around me. During this ‘praise to petition transition’ I felt my words turning more toward God as my Father. I began praying something like, ‘Lord, let my life reflect You, that when people see me they see my Daddy’s resemblance.’ I literally stopped praying and pondered on what came out of my spirit, O that Groaning, that came out in that prayer.

       Isn’t that the ultimate goal in redemption?! To be returned back to God our Father in intimate relationship, communion, fellowship and be in His likeness. Oh I long for that!!! The Psalmist puts it beautifully this way in Psalm 17:15, "As for me, I will see Your face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness."

       Resemble means “to be similar to somebody or something in appearance or behavior.” Oh Lord, show us mercy and compassion all the days of our lives. We need His grace in order to become like Him. I want my behaviors, mannerisms, words, actions, thoughts, attitudes, reactions, pro-actions, everything I am, to resemble, to reflect my Daddy, Abba Father, Almighty God.

       May that too be your prayer today: ‘Lord, let my life reflect You; that when people see me they see my Daddy’s resemblance.’

Bringing Up…Martyrs

Last week at a Homeschool Convention in Naperville, IL Elizabeth and I heard Eric Ludy preach a bold and passionate message about raising and training his kids to be heroes. The message was called Hero Training. What he said next was extreme but true. He believes that he and his wife must bring up their children to be martyrs for Christ!

This sounds extreme and radical but so true! We should all be in that kind of training no matter what age. I heard a pastor recently pray this kind of prayer, “We have mixed the American dream with the Kingdom of God. Lord forgive us.” That pastor was right on!

This mixing of the American dream and the Kingdom has caused us to loose sight of the fact that we MUST be willing to lay down our life for King Jesus. Sadly, the American dream has changed into looking out for #1. There is no selflessness in that.

I’m also not talking about what other religions might demand of their followers to kill ‘infidels’ (incident people) in order to be a ‘martyrs’ for their ‘god’. I’m talking about following in the steps of King Jesus. Let’s take a look at the scripture to bring truth to this challenge to bring up our children as martyrs…

John 15:13

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” 

We will not purposefully place our kids in harms way but they will be ready nonetheless to lay down their lives just like their mommy and daddy are. More importantly, they will be willing to lay down their lives for the sake of others because that is what their Savior Jesus Christ did for them.

Let us raise our kids to follow hard after Christ, even if it costs them their lives. If we do not raise them with this possible end we could risk their faith being more shallow and superficial than we’d want to admit. Raising children in the fear of the Lord (obedience and reverence before a Holy God) and preparing them to lay down their lives is the ultimate goal. Again, we MUST bring up our children in the footsteps of King Jesus. Jesus gave His life, why shouldn't we teach our kids to be prepared to do the same?

We’re bringing up martyrs. Ready. Willing. Surrendered. Set apart.

The Romans 12 Challenge

What a powerful passage of scripture we read in Romans chapter 12. Wow! 21 verses challenging us to live holy, resist worldly conformity, be connected as One Body, use our gifts, love others and hate evil and much more! Let me share with you a challenge I believe the Holy Spirit has placed in my spirit: memorize Romans 12 in its entirety! I'm up for the challenge and I'd like to pass it on to you as well!

I heard a story one time of a man who decided to read the Bible from cover to cover in 1 year, so he did. This same man decided to read the entire Bible in one month, so he did. He kept reading the Bible over and over and over until he read the Bible around 140 times through and through! Then one day this man died. Those loved ones he left behind commented on his life and said that he was one of the most angry, hateful and unfriendly men they knew! WHAT?!?!? Here is the lesson we should learn:  the problem this man had was that he got into the Word of God but didn't let the Word of God get into him!

Is that you? Is it me? Are we just reading the scripture to read it or to know it, apply it?

Romans chapter 12 verse 2 has been running through me the past few days and coming out of my mouth in delcaring God's Word.

Romans 12:2, "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - His good, pleasing and perfect will."

John W. Ritenbaugh says, "If we fail to sacrifice ourselves, the world will have free sway and squeeze us into its mold. The world has an influence on the mind (called "the heart" in the Bible), on our emotions, and on our attitudes, and this influence ultimately shows in our conduct. Conduct begins with our attitudes, with our points of view, with our values, standards, and ideals. If those values, standards, and ideals contradict the way of God, we cannot resist the world's constant pressure to squeeze us into its mold."

Read more: http://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Bible.show/sVerseID/28248/eVerseID/28248#ixzz1O21yfQNy

Amen! This challenge for anti-conformity to the world is one we must all heed and apply. If we don't keep ourselves in check we will create vulnerability for sin! Do not conform my friends! This is a command I take to heart today. There is so much more to say on this but for now let's move on.

The second part of this passage is so encouraging. It says that we are to 'be transformed by the renewing of our mind.' We can be transformed by the changing and controlling of our thought life, attitudes, habits! 2 Corinthians 10:4-6 says, "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled."

Thank You Lord for Your confirming Word! There is transformation that happens in the patterns and habits of our thoughts. Isn't that so true?! The transformation could be good or it could even be bad...depending on what thoughts you are enteraining. I'm not trying to write a "self-motivation, think yourself happy" message today. I simply want GOD'S WORD TO GET INTO ME as I get into God's Word! I don't want to miss this and so many times I feel as though I do. I share this challenge with you as well to let God's Word get into your deepest thought patterns and allow it to come out of your heart...make it your new default! Whenever bad situations or temptations come up allow the Holy Spirit, the Living Word of God to swell up within you and come out. Let's receive this challenge today!

One more thing. I recently heard it said that negative, dark thoughts that we've held on to or been tormented by for years or decades could actually be replaced, renewed or covered with a new thought within 4-6 days! There is research to support this; forgive me I don't have the link or researchers info. But trust me on this. God's Word already says it! "Be transformed by the renewing of your mind!" When evil thoughts come your way, capture them and cast them down; renew your mind! When old memories of hurt, failure or fear arise, renew your mind and replace them with the Word of God!

Let us be filled with courage today to know that when we apply God's Word and allow it to produce fruit within us...we shall be renewed, we shall be transformed. Take on the Romans 12 Challenge today, memorize it, quote it and allow it to change you forever!

And remember, when the transformation occurs you will be able to "test and approve what God's will is." In other words, you will be able to examine, assess, try, investigate, check, endorse, support, agree, and back-up the will of God; becoming partners with God in His will! What a great reward! Let us know His will!

Go out victorious!