Trust you are ready for a brand new week. Here is the third installment in Donna Jones powerful article. I trust this is helpful:

5. Everything is a battle.

At its core, all conflict is a power struggle. Every parent will have conflict with his or her child. Power struggles are to be expected. However, if your child makes everything a battle, your child has an attitude issue you must address.

Sometimes well-meaning parents accidentally reinforce a child’s bad attitude. In my book, Taming Your Family Zoo, I discuss nine common ways good parents accidentally contribute to bad attitudes. Here are a few of the most common: Arguing with their child (thus avoiding the real issue), giving in to their child (kids quickly learn just how much it takes to wear us down), ignoring their child (negative behavior can be a cry for positive attention), or failing to make expectations clear and realistic.

Instead, be concise and concrete in your instructions. Establish clear boundaries with clear consequences. Be quick to reinforce positive behavior and prompt in dealing with negative behavior. Does all this take effort? You bet. But consistency trumps complacency every time. The sooner you become consistent, the sooner you’ll see a change in behavior, and just as important—a change in attitude.

6. Your child has an “I don’t care” attitude toward life.

This one is a biggie. Mainly because an “I don’t care” attitude means your child has likely experienced some hardship, heartache, or upheaval that’s robbed him of hope. If you’re the parent of a child or teen with an “I don’t care” attitude, you must get to the root. Is it possible your child has had too much criticism and too little encouragement? Could it be your child has had too much failure and not enough success? Or is another culprit the cause? A demotivated friend group, perhaps?

Kids with an “I don’t care” attitude often flounder and suffer from low self-esteem, which is why it’s vital to help your child see the possibilities beyond himself. Is there a new hobby he could explore? A new sport to try? A musical instrument he’d love to play?

A kid with an “I don’t care” attitude won’t likely be self-motivated. He’ll probably need your parental kick-start to get him going. That’s okay. We all need a push in the right direction every now and then.

7. Your child blames others.

“But it isn’t my fault!” What parent hasn’t heard these words? True, sometimes it isn’t. But if your child never takes responsibility for his actions, he has an attitude issue. What can you do to help your child turn this type of bad attitude around? First, make sure you aren’t inadvertently reinforcing it.

While at the gym recently, I overheard two teachers discussing a student with attitude issues. “I’ve tried to talk to the parents about their son, but they just won’t listen. They think the problem is his teachers, coaches and peers—anyone but him. I kind of feel sorry for the kid. If his attitude keeps up, he won’t stand a chance in life.” Though none of us want to believe our child would say or do something wrong, the fact is, they do. Remember: Attitude improvements can’t happen without attitude ownership.

I am glad you are joining me on this parenting/grand-parenting journey.

Rejoice! Pray! Give thanks!

Bill Welte D.D.
President/CEO of America’s Keswick

Written by Dr. Bill Welte, President/CEO of America’s Keswick: Bill has been married to his child sweetheart for 40+ years, and has three married kids, one that is engaged, and 11 amazing grand kids. He loves music and is an avid reader.

The Daily Bible Reading: Numbers 9-12| You can download our 2017 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here

Think About This: Every day you need it. You and I simply can’t live without it. What is it? The indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. – Dr. Paul David Tripp

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:

“Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” James 5:16-7

 

 

 

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, Which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” — Ecclesiastes 7:14

A wise man once told me “it’s a lonely man that demands his circumstances be changed to his liking, but true character is built when we face adversity.” It seems that people are choosing to protest all the wrong doings that they see to be unfair. It reminds me of that kid in the neighborhood who would take his ball and go home because he felt he was being treated wrong. I would often wonder why it seemed better to him to sit home all alone while we would just find something else to do and have fun.

The world is unfair, either rise to the challenge or wallow in your pity. I have come to realize that adversity is a hindrance that God can use as a building block or stepping stone to make us into the men He has called us to be. Think of all the verses that encourage us to face trials, “count it ALL for joy, knowing that ALL things work together for good.”

Picture with me if you will, two groups of people, both ordered oranges but because there were no oranges they were given lemons instead. One group demanded a protest until they got what they wanted while the other group made lemonade. This is not to diminish the fact that there are things that are unfair and I would be ignorant to say that there isn’t a problem with racism. I just don’t understand some peoples answer to the problem. I have personally been falsely judged by others and although there are things I would have done differently the best advice I received was “Prove them wrong.”

I’ve wasted too much time trying to vindicate myself, after spinning my wheels in protest I found comfort in the fact that we have a God who vindicates us, Psalm 35:1, 24 Contend, O LORD, with those who contend with me, fight against those who fight against me! Vindicate me, O LORD, my God, according to your righteousness, and let them not rejoice over me!

So if you’re facing adversity today, know that God wants to use it for good, walk in it with the confidence that He has your back. Amen!

Written by Rob Russomano: Rob Russomano is married to Terri, he is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and a full time staff member. He is also available as a speaker of the grace of God with a message of Hope for church events. You can contact him at rrussomano@americaskeswick.org.

The Daily Bible Reading: Proverbs 17-18| You can download our 2017 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here

Daily Quote: “Conflict is inevitable, but combat is optional.” – Max Lucado

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 4:6-7

 

 

‘I will never leave you or forsake you’

God is at work at all times, in all places, and in every circumstance. But the key to benefiting from His work is to ‘wait on Him.’ This involves trust in whom He is, faith in what He is able to do, and patience in that He knows the perfect time. Isaiah tells us that, “For since the world began, no ear has heard and no eye has seen a God like you, who works for those who wait for him” (64:4) and “…those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31). For these reasons, we who place our faith in the redeeming work of God through Jesus Christ and His Spirit, can ‘come to Him when we are weary and burdened, and He will give us rest for our souls’ (Matt 11:28-30), and you can ‘cast all our anxiety on Him, because He cares for you’ (1Peter 5:6-8). If we ‘who wait on the Lord’ stumble, we can be assured that we will not fall, ‘for the Lord upholds us by His Hand’ (Ps 37:24; 145:14), and that no matter the ‘crucible’, ‘we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us’ (Phil 4:13), ‘… knowing that in all things God works for the good of  (And here is the Key again) those who love him, who (this is those who have entered into His salvation by faith) have been called according to his purpose’ (Romans 8:28).

God is at work… infinitely! You can profit from His work, bound up within an extraordinary relationship, if you would just ‘cast all your cares on Him’ (1 Peter 5:8) and put off your own wants and desires’ (Gal 2:20), and “Take His yoke upon you. Letting Jesus teach you, because He is humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For His yoke (which is to glorify the Name of God) is easy to bear, and the burden He gives you is light” (Matt 11:29-30). Hope is within reach… you just have to grasp hold of His Hand which is stretched out to you. He loves you with all His heart… that heart which was wounded on the cross for you. Reach out today and find rest in His grasp…

Choose wisely…

Praying 4 U

Written by David Brown: David Brown is a husband, father, and grandfather with a Masters of Religious Studies and a Professor of Philosophy and Comparative Religions. Dave is a member of Pemberton’s First Baptist Church.

The Daily Bible Reading: 1 Chronicles 10-14| You can download our 2017 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here

Daily Quote: “Are you weak? Weary? Confused? Troubled? Pressured? How is your relationship with God? Is it held in its place of priority? I believe the greater the pressure, the greater your need for time alone with Him.” – Kay Arthur

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 4:6-7

 

“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” – Romans 8:18

One of the biggest obstacles to living a victorious life with Jesus is the aspect of trusting. I hear it all the time, “I don’t trust anyone.” Our inability to put ourselves out there and be vulnerable is detrimental to our walk. When I filter the call of God through my inability to trust, I become an ineffective part of the body of Christ. I’m not saying we should be a doormat for others to trample over, but we should not allow past disappointments to affect the way we are willing to trust others. If I build a wall towards someone based on past performances of others, I may have limited what God wants to do for someone else and myself.

When I’m wrestling with the idea of putting myself out there for possible disappointment, I must first be willing to expect the worst. The good news is if my true faith and trust is in Jesus, and when I am walking in His truths, what Paul says in Romans 8:18 applies, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” Disappointment is so far down on a scale of blessings I receive from God that a withdrawal of a poor choice by someone else is easily covered.

I have been on the receiving end of that “second chance.” Someone was willing to put themselves out there for me and am grateful for the opportunity. We don’t want to extend ourselves in a foolish way by running up debt or taking out a loan that would be against God’s precepts. I’m talking more about an emotional expenditure, one that may cause heartache or grief. Maybe the offense caused to you will be used by God and His conviction on their life will cause them to repent, especially when we simply turn the “other cheek”.

“But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back. And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise” Luke 6:27-31.

If we find ourselves having a hard time trusting others, then maybe the real problem is we don’t trust God, maybe our issue is with the Father. If this is the case, then a real truth has been exposed and with the help of the Holy Spirit that wound could be healed. There is plenty of evidence and scripture to remind us of how much God loves us. Find someone who can work with you and uncover those trust issues, when we do we enter into ministry that will be a huge blessing to us and others, don’t miss out. Amen!

Written by Rob Russomano: Rob Russomano is married to Terri, he is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and a full time staff member. He is also available as a speaker of the grace of God with a message of Hope for church events. You can contact him at rrussomano@americaskeswick.org.

The Daily Bible Reading: Daniel 1-6| You can download our 2017 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here

Daily Quote: “When a man becomes a Christian, he becomes industrious, trustworthy and prosperous. Now, if that man when he gets all he can and saves all he can does not give all he can, I have more hope for Judas Iscariot than for that man!” – John Wesley

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:

“Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.” – Romans 8:26

 

 

 

 

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)

If you are parent, grandparent, or deal with children often, you understand the concept of ‘no sleep.’ With a four year old and a newborn at home, sleep is a precious commodity. With that, in one of those sleepless nights trying to comfort the little one – rocking, patting the back, singing and the like… In addition to knowing and thinking about work in few hours, a gentle voice proclaimed, ‘I am your rest.’

In that very moment, I realized true rest is in the person of Christ – not in a place, nor in how much sleep I get, nor was it about me at all. Furthermore, He reminded me, not only is my rest impinged on him, that perfect peace, all my abilities, all my capabilities, my family, as a matter of fact my whole existence is in reliance on him.

“For I satisfy the weary ones and refresh everyone who languishes.” (Jeremiah 31:25)

Have you been operating by your own strength or are weary from life trails? Jesus is calling; Jesus is willing with open arms to usher you into a new rest. He is the only one that can provide this level of rest.

Written by Juan Mendez: Juan is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and full-time staff member at America’s Keswick.

The Daily Bible Reading: Psalm 93-95| You can download our 2017 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here

Daily Quote: “God, you have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless till they find their rest in you.” – Augustine

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:

“Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.” – Romans 8:26

 

“In the beginning God” is how the story God tells begins. It is a statement of His existence. But what do we know about it? Well, to start, we know that we are here in want is called existence; and we know other stuff exists that we are not the origin of; and we know that us and the other stuff are dependent on things like an extremely specific oxygen level and the Sun and it being at an exact distance from us. And we know that human beings have an extraordinary capacity to reason that separates us from all else that exist. So, if all that is known to exist is this complex, and the possibility of the design of the very proteins that are the building blocks for the formulation of the human genome, that make possible DNA, is 1 in 10 to the 400th power… basically saying existence itself is extraordinary and intricately designed… the question is who designed us? And it has to be a ‘who’, because ‘creating’ is a choice, and since mankind has an extraordinary capacity to reason, who created mankind and the existence he resides in, must be of greater capacities… for a lesser thing cannot produce a greater being.

At this point we have established the basis for two separate and distinctive categories… the Creator (God) and the created (what exists separate from God).

What do we know from this? From Einstein’s theory of ‘General Relativity’ we know that space, matter, and time came into existence at one singular point. Therefore what ’caused’ (Creator) the existence of space, matter, and time (created) must be ‘spaceless’ (without form or limitation), ‘matterless’ (or spirit), and ‘timeless’ (or eternal). Therefore, God exists.

Is that enough? Maybe not, but it is a powerful and irrefutable start.

Choose wisely…

“For us there is but one God, the Father, who is the source of all things, and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things [that have been created], and we [believers exist and have life and have been redeemed] through Him…

Worthy are You, our Lord and God, to receive the glory and the honor and the power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they exist, and were created and brought into being.”

   (1 CORINTHIANS 8:6;  REVELATION 4:11)

Praying 4 U

Written by David Brown: David Brown is a husband, father, and grandfather with a Masters of Religious Studies and a Professor of Philosophy and Comparative Religions. Dave is a member of Pemberton’s First Baptist Church.

The Daily Bible Reading: Psalm 93-95| You can download our 2017 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here

Daily Quote: “God writes the gospel not in the Bible alone, but on trees and flowers and clouds and stars.” – Martin Luther

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:

“Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.” – Romans 8:26

“I tell you, her sins—and they are many—have been forgiven, so she has shown Me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love.”      – Luke 7:47 (NLT)

Maybe you already know the story that is found in Luke’s Gospel about the woman who was forgiven much and the Pharisee who was really awful when it came to showing Jesus any Middle Eastern hospitality. If you haven’t, then I suggest that you open the Bible, go to Luke 7:36-50, read it, and then come back to today’s Freedom Fighter. If you already have, then you can stay right where you are. With that outta the way, let’s get to the stench of hatred (bet ya didn’t see that coming.)

So, Dr. Charles Zimmerman was at Keswick recently and he gave a pretty good take on what it must have smelled like during the dinner party that was being thrown by Simon the Pharisee. The food smelled good while it was being cooked, and for all intents and purposes it had better been, because – after all – this guy is a religious leader in his community and serving anything that resembles McDonalds was just out of the question. But the one thing that was inescapable was the smell of body odor from all the people that came to this event…especially the odor of unwashed feet. You can read John 13 on the more important reason that we receive a foot washing from time to time. Anyway…

Now, the idea of this get together was to catch Jesus teaching blasphemies, and if that were to be found out, then fire-roasted food would be exchanged for some good ole fashioned sun baked rocks. But it doesn’t work out that way, does it? Au Contraire!! The smell of perfume, being poured on the feet of Jesus, from a woman who knows that everyone at that dinner party hates her, and hates her even being there among them, permeates the entire scene. Aahh…. the sweet smell of being loved and forgiven destroying the stench of hatred. Her sins—that were many—forgiven by The Savior!!

And it’s all because of The 7:47 Principle (as Max Lucado puts it.) This is “just like the jumbo jet, the 7:47 Principle has wide wings. Just like the aircraft, this truth can lift you to another level.” When you go back and reread the last part of today’s verse “But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love” could basically be said in this way, a person can’t give what they never received.

I gotta feel bad for that guy we read about in Matthew 18:23-35, simply because he didn’t feel as if he was truly forgiven of his debt. Even though he pleaded for forgiveness in the physical sense (like not being sold into slavery) his heart wasn’t right to receive it, hence we could say, “The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?” (Jeremiah 17:9)

Ya see, all that guy wanted was to not be punished, and since this certain king wasn’t Jesus he couldn’t see his servant’s heart, but the woman with the perfume understood something deeper. If the Savior could see His way clear to exonerate her of her moral corruption, she could drop everything that was once hers (like that expensive bottle of perfume for example) and walk worthy as a child of The Most-High God.

Sometimes when we have wronged others, all we see is the punishment that we rightly deserve coming our way. It’s the ‘not getting it’ that vexes us and if we are unwilling to receive the forgiveness that comes from it we’ll become that wicked servant who saw himself in the man that owed a few dollars or like all those people that stunk up a dinner party thinking they were okay with God.

It’s my hope today that I smell like a forgiven person. Now, that may not always be the case. After all, I can also be “human, all too human” at times and fall short of the glory of God, but that doesn’t mean I can’t receive a foot washing. Once again, Au Contraire!! “God showed how much He loved us by sending His one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through Him. This is real love—not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins” (1 John 4:9-10). If I have any reverence for The Most-High God like I say I do, and I allow this simple truth to permeate my life, then I too may change the scent of the rooms I inhabit…and so can you. Amen?

Written by Chris Hughes: Chris, a graduate of The Colony of Mercy (11-2003) is married (Kathy) with two adult children (Kevin and Karen) and has been a Freedom Fighter contributor since 2008.

The Daily Bible Reading: Proverbs 14-15| You can download our 2017 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here

Daily Quote: “We preachers have been guilty of skipping the first step. “Love each other!” we tell our churches. “Be patient, kind, forgiving,” we urge. But instructing people to love without telling them they are loved is like telling them to write a check without our making a deposit in their accounts. No wonder so many relationships are overdrawn. Hearts have insufficient love.” — Max Lucado

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:

“And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. Mark 11:25

 

 

 

 

Prayer is the key… even if the only word we use is ‘help!’

In our daily lives, and even more so, when we are in ‘the crucible’ of pain, we are often at a loss for words that express our struggle. That’s not a problem when praying. Paul writes in his letter to the Romans that it’s not the words that matter as much as it’s the desire of our heart to strive with God that is important; and He handles the rest. Paul writes, “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words” (Romans 8:26). Paul goes on to point out how important this is to the one whose faith is in God, because what we don’t know how to verbalize, the Spirit who ‘is harmony with God’ intercedes for us. He writes, “And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will” (8:27).

Don’t let not knowing what to say hold you back; reach for Christ’s outstretched hand and let His Spirit do the rest!

Choose wisely…

“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future. He will bring me glory by telling you whatever he receives from me. All that belongs to the Father is mine; this is why I said, ‘The Spirit will tell you whatever he receives from me.’”

(John 16:13-15)

Praying 4 U

Written by David Brown: David Brown is a husband, father, and grandfather with a Masters of Religious Studies and a Professor of Philosophy and Comparative Religions. Dave is a member of Pemberton’s First Baptist Church.

The Daily Bible Reading: Psalm 90-92| You can download our 2017 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here

Daily Quote: “Beloved, I say, let your fears go, lest they make you fainthearted. Stop inspiring fear in those around you and now take your stand in faith. God has been good and He will continue to manifest His goodness. Let us approach these days expecting to see the goodness of the Lord manifest. Let us be strong and of good courage, for the Lord will fight for us if we stand in faith.” – Francis Frangipane

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:

“Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” – James 5:16

“May the God of peace make you holy through and through. May you be kept in soul and mind and body in spotless integrity until the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is utterly faithful and he will finish what he has set out to do.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24

I am sure you have been there. I know I have. God loves to call us to do things that are out of our comfort zones so that we find out quickly that apart from Him, we couldn’t do the assignment.

But here’s the good news – God will never call you to do something that He will not equip you to do.

Dr. Paul David Tripp in his daily devotional, New Morning Mercies, gives us some great illustrations:

• Noah didn’t have the power to get all those animals into that ark, but the Lord provided what was necessary for it to happen.
• Joseph didn’t have the ability to preserve his life and put himself in a position of power in Egypt, but the Lord made it happen.
• Moses didn’t have what it takes to free the Israelites from their slavery in Egypt, but the Lord empowered him to lead them to the Promised Land.
• The Israelites didn’t have the means to get across the Red Sea, but the Lord parted the waters for them.
• The pilgrims in the wilderness had no means of feeding and sustaining themselves, but the Lord provided everything they needed.
• The children of Israel had no means of defeating the walled city of Jericho, but the Lord gave them victory.
• David had no personal power to overcome Goliath, but the Lord gave him courage and strength in the Valley of Elah.
• Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego had no ability to keep themselves from burning up in that fiery furnace, but the Lord preserved their lives.
• The disciples had no means of feeding the hungry crowd that had gathered to hear Jesus, but he fed them well from a little boy’s lunch.
• Paul had no ability to preserve himself and those who were with him from shipwreck, but the Lord exercised his power so that none were lost.
• The apostles had no ability to take the gospel of Jesus Christ to the known world, but the Lord gifted them and provided for them so that they could do so.

And my guess is that you could think of dozen more illustrations from Scripture.

I can think of numerous times in my life, including assuming my position at America’s Keswick 20 years ago, where I laughed at myself when called upon to do something that where I knew that I would be in over my head.

When the Board interviewed me for the position, I really didn’t think I even had a chance to make in the finals – but when it happened and I realized what I had signed on for – well, I remember thinking “You’ve got to be kidding, Welte – who are you fooling – you can’t do this.”

It was at that time I read the verse from 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 – “Faithful is He who call you, who will also do it.”

I realized that moment – I can’t, but if HE called me to this GOD-SIZED assignment, He would do it in and through me.

D.L. Moody, George Mueller, Oswald Chambers, Dr. Bob Pierce (World Vision), Billy Graham, William Raws – were all men who received God-sized assignments and learned that the God who called is the One who equipped them for the task.

Paul Tripp reminds us: “You and I have no natural abilities to rise up and do what God calls us to do, but He refuses to leave us to our own resources. He is not so unwise, unkind, or unfaithful as to ever call us to a task without enabling us to do it.”

Has He called you to do a God-sized task? Fear not, my brother – If He called you – He will also do it so that ONLY HE will get the credit for HIS glory.

Rejoice! Pray! Give thanks!

Bill Welte D.D.
President/CEO of America’s Keswick

Written by Dr. Bill Welte, President/CEO of America’s Keswick: Bill has been married to his child sweetheart for 40+ years, and has three married kids, one that is engaged, and 11 amazing grand kids. He loves music and is an avid reader.

The Daily Bible Reading: Leviticus 25-27| You can download our 2017 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here

Think About This: “God will call you to do what YOU cannot do, but will provide EVERYTHING you need to do it.” — Paul David Tripp

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:

“And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. Mark 11:25

 

 

 

In Chris Tomlin’s children’s book “Good Good Father,” the little bear, Tucker, runs to many animals asking their perception on the good king.

The raccoon said the good king is a good warrior, protector.

The owl mentioned he is a good teacher.

The foxes declares that The King is a good doctor who makes us well.

The squirrel describes him as a good farmer.

The turtle proclaims he is good musician, filling us with laughter and music.

As I read this narrative, I was reminded that how we see, moreover what we believe, about God is essential to true worship and honor. And it impacts how we live. A lot of times we limit our ideas to thoughts of God that fit our predispositions or current circumstances. Free yourself from your own biases; God’s Word has a plethora of insight to lead you to a right, well-rounded understanding of our good Father.

In the end, Tucker the bear realized that the king possessed all the great qualities the each animal shared and that he was indeed, a Good Good King, a loving King, a perfect King.

“And we have come to know and believe the love that God has for us. God is love; whoever abides in love abides in God, and God in him.” (1 John 4:16)

A good, good Father.

Written by Juan Mendez: Juan is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and full-time staff member at America’s Keswick.

The Daily Bible Reading: Psalms 87-89| You can download our 2017 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here

Daily Quote: “Man has two great spiritual needs. One is for forgiveness. The other is for goodness.” – Billy Graham

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:

And I prayed to the Lord my God, and made confession, and said, “O Lord, great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and mercy with those who love Him, and with those who keep His commandments, Daniel 9:4