The Heart of the Matter

The Heart of the Matter

Proverbs 4:23  Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.

Why is it that the heart is so important in our walk?  Why do so many people talk about the heart of the matter?  What are you really getting at?  What does it all mean?  Why did Jesus say that we should love the Lord our God will all of our heart, with all of our soul, and with all of our mind? 

Tonight in Church, which we call our Fusion Night, our Leaders talked about the word Servitude.  While the Latin definition took this to a negative tone, we took it and redefined it as our own.  We took it on two definitions:  1) Service + attitude =  Servitude and 2) Service + Altitude = Servitude.  The Scriptures also say a profound thing in that Matthew 6:21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.  Another way to reflect on this word is to say what we put in is what we get out.

Why is it so import to guard our heart?  There are many questions that can be answered through the Holy Spirit when we yield our lives in obedience with the true word of God:  The Bible.  When we find ourselves guarding our heart and leaning on God’s word and coming to him in daily prayers we can slowly move away from the old self (our sin nature) and put on the new self, which in God’s wonderful grace, is a place of peace and comfort and joy. 

When we move away from (when we flee) from those things that used to own us and move toward a relationship with God, then He will come closer to us.  When we ask for his guidance and deliverance in our daily struggles by yielding to his Word and to his commands we can find our hearts loving the Lord with all of our heart, all of our soul and all of our strength.

Did you ever hear the expression that our eyes are the windows to our souls?  If we are putting unclean images in those eyes then what goes into the heart?  If we are drinking impure spirits that change our attitude then where is our heart?  If we curse our brother and hate our sisters then what happens to our hearts?

Frank Outlaw has this poem that I love to quote:

Watch your thoughts: They become your words.

Watch your words: They become your actions.

Watch your actions: They become your habits.

Watch your habits: They become your character.

Watch your character: It becomes your destiny.

As Christians, as sons and daughters who are heirs to the King of Grace, we should strive to live a life worthy of God.  For me, I cannot think of a better way to start then to approach my wife and children in the way that God has approached me.  There are days that He meets me in my brokenness and completely delivers me from trials and tribulations and then there are days that just seem to completely take on a different direction and I do not know where God wants me to go.  I want to crawl back in bed and just hope to start the day over, but that is not what God wants.  We read in “James 1:2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.”

Guard your hearts and live a life full of Servitude!

Blessings,

Dante

Leaving a Legacy...

A Father’s Role

Psalm 127:3-5(The Message) Don't you see that children are God's best gift? the fruit of the womb his generous legacy?  Like a warrior's fistful of arrows are the children of a vigorous youth.  Oh, how blessed are you parents, with your quivers full of children! Your enemies don't stand a chance against you; you'll sweep them right off your doorstep.

1 Thessalonians 2:10-12 (New International Version)  10You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed. 11For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, 12encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.

Sometimes I can find myself lost in translation with where my walk is compared to what my role is.  I would like, first of all, to thank a fellow reader who was kind enough to rebuke me and to state what legacy dads are looking for.  I also want to thank Lance in redirecting me with words of wisdom and encouragement on the direction of Legacy.  That being said, the above two verses are from two different translations, but are very poignant are the direction that we should be headed when rearing our children.

I would like to apologize to the readers if I have turned you away and or discouraged you along your walk.  As fathers, coaches, mentors and the like, it is our responsibility to act accordingly to God’s will:  To love one another.  As a 1 Thessalonians states, a father should encourage, comfort and urge you to live a life worthy of God.  Forgive me if I have been preachy and or condescending toward any of you.

I want to say that if you are reading your Bible, praying daily and repentant of heart to God, then that is a beautiful thing.  To refer back to the original verses posted above, I would like to encourage all of you who read this to keep up the good work in walking out your faith.  I want to comfort you in that we all screw up (especially me) all the time.  I want to urge you to continue to lean on God and build your relationship on Him.

There is a country song where a dad and son are driving down the road and the son spills his coke and fries over the dashboard and blurts out a four-letter word.  The father realizes that his son has been watching him and he changes course and becomes pleasantly surprised when he sees his son reading the Bible and praying just like his daddy.

It is times like this (thanks to Peter & Lance) that I am able to reflect and meditate on words from the heart.  The older I get the more that I realize that God gives us the ability to have kids in order to show us how much he loves us, because no matter how much I (or my kids) screw up, God still loves us.  He loves us so much that he gave his only Son for us – WOW!

If I can be so humble I would like to leave this parting thought:  Live a life that encourages (not tears down) those around us (especially our children and family and friends), comfort those who are need and in despair, and urge those who need a word or action to bring them to the next level in their walk that will lead them to a life worthy of God.

Thank you for giving me the time and patience in walking out my faith.

Dante

Duties of a Husband, Part 1

Duties of a Husband, Part I:

1 Peter 3:7 (New International Version)”Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.”

Simple Defintions:

con·sid·er·ate –adjective

1. showing kindly awareness or regard for another's feelings, circumstances, etc.: a very considerate critic. 2.carefully considered; deliberate. 3.marked by consideration or reflection; deliberate; prudent.

treat –verb (used with object)

1.to act or behave toward (a person) in some specified way: to treat someone with respect. 2. to consider or regard in a specified way, and deal with accordingly: to treat a matter as unimportant.

re·spect –noun

1.a particular, detail, or point (usually prec. by in ): to differ in some respect. 2.relation or reference: inquiries with respect to a route. 3. esteem for or a sense of the worth or excellence of a person, a personal quality or ability, or something considered as a manifestation of a personal quality or ability: I have great respect for her judgment. 4. deference to a right, privilege, privileged position, or someone or something considered to have certain rights or privileges; proper acceptance or courtesy; acknowledgment: respect for a suspect's right to counsel; to show respect for the flag; respect for the elderly. 5. the condition of being esteemed or honored: to be held in respect.

So what is Paul trying to say here?  What does he mean by saying that if we don’t treat our wives with respect and we are not considerate of them, that are prayers will be hindered?  Some of you may be saying here, “Now wait one cotton pickin minute.”  “You mean to tell me that if my wife isn’t the easiest person to live with that I still have to do this or my prayers will be hindered?”  One simple answer:  YES

To put this in simpler terms, we are talking about Chivalry, consideration and companionship.  I asked my wife what are some of the most important things to her in a relationship, and her answered really surprised me.  She said, “feeling safe and having you as my best friend are some of the most important things to her.”  I would have thought of a few other responses that I could have preferred, but when you look at the big picture and realize that the rest of the puzzle all fits perfectly into God’s plan, “Love one another!”

When  you tear your wife down, when you disrespect her in front of her children and in public what kind of legacy are we leaving for our children’s children?  I love the old adage, “Happy wife, Happy Life.”  Does that statement mean that you have to turn in your man shoes and be a Eunuch in making your wife happy?  By no means, if anything, just the opposite, I would say that when you center Christ in your life, then you center Christ in your marriage and then there will be Godly submission to you as a leader of your family and your role as spiritual leader of the house.  Husbands (Fathers) have three principle roles in a Godly marriage:  1) Prophet 2) Priest 3) King of his household (book by Derek Prince, Husbands and Fathers).  To put it another way, Husbands (Fathers) need to learn how to be the Head of the House, How to love his wife and how to take care of his family.  If you love your kids, then love their mother!

Did you know the English word, Husband, comes from an old word which we might spell house-band, which means a strip of metal or rope used to join or hold things together.  Note:  The entire household depends on the man. (Article, Duties of a Husband).  The Bible says that he who finds a wife finds a good thing (Proverbs).  Our roles of a husband/father should be as what Christ did for the Church (Ephesians 5).  We should love our wives just as we love our own bodies (we eat, we drink, we play, we work – we take care of our bodies).

Now before you go to much farther patting yourself on the back, if you consider yourself a good Husband/Father, let’s read Malachi 2:15 (NIV), “So guard yourself in your spirit, and do not break faith with the wife of your youth.”  Did you catch that, do you see what I see?  Let me put it this way, P O R N O G R A P H Y.  Does that word say anything to you?  Do you have images that are flashed before your very eyes just reading that word? Maybe you have another window open that has ungodly images on the desktop computer screen?  If so, SHAME ON US! For God is not mocked!  Our bodies are a holy temple of God, which houses the Holy Spirit in each and every one of us.  Job 31:1 puts it this way:  “I have made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at another woman.”  Let me ask you this question, How can you expect your wives to submit to your authority when you will not submit to God’s?  HMMMM? Think about that for a few minutes and then do us all a favor, REPENT, for God is a Holy God.

When we yield to pornography (which by the way, is one of the biggest epidemics in the Christian world) you sin against God and your corrupt your heart and flame the sinful nature that is in all of us.  “Sin, of course, causes a man to exploit a woman, to become a predator, to prey upon her, to abuse her, to take advantage of her, to turn this Word of God into tyranny. Sin perverts, and God will judge those who pervert His Word.” Are you leading, protecting, nurturing, cherishing her, even as the Lord cares for His bride, the Church? (Rev. Carl Haak, The Reformed Witness Hour).

So let me ask you this question:  When are you going to get serious about being a Legacy Dad?  When are you going to get serious about the junk that is in your proverbial closet of sin?  When are you going to treat and respect your wife like the woman that she is – A child and daughter of the King of Kings?

God loves you and me!  God is a God of second chances!  God has given us his son who has paid for all of our sins – once and for all.  All we have to do is confess this to him and ask him to be Lord over us.

Come on men, the enemy is flanking us, our walls are breached, our morals are sinking and evil lurks around the corner.  Where are the righteous men who do not flee from danger?  If God is for us, then who can be against us?

Fruit Salad...Are you living a life worthy of the Lamb...

2 Timothy 3 (New International Version)

Godlessness in the Last Days

1But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.

6They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over weak-willed women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, 7always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth. 8Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these men oppose the truth—men of depraved minds, who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected. 9But they will not get very far because, as in the case of those men, their folly will be clear to everyone.

Paul's Charge to Timothy

10You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, 11persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. 12In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13while evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Galatians 5:16-25 (New International Version)

Life by the Spirit  

16So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. 17For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. 18But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law. 

19The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 

It's been awhile

Wow, what a summer.  Hard working dad, kids playing, summer cookouts, running, jumping and playing - where does all the time go.  We are looking forward to Lance returning for some much needed family time (praying for you brother!) and for legacy dad's around the world.  As you know, the three of us have been very busy.  Gary is in the process of unveiling Generational Fathering (if you Google that - you can find him very simply).  I have been going through some tenuous trials and tribulations in my life and have been patient, for the most part going through these.

The one thing that would really help the three of us, if is you readers would give us comments, feedback and or questions and concerns about being a legacy dad.  I have stated three very important pillars of legacy that we have to yield to in order to be successful (in other words, to be a better disciple):  They are 1) Biblical Purity 2) Biblical Stewardship & 3) Discipleship.  Purity, I think, is the best way that we can align ourself with obedience and move from a "pew sitter" to a heavy hitter in the Kingdom of God.  Through Purity, we can allow the Holy Spirit free reign in our lives and to direct and lead us to the men that God wants us to be.  

Stewardship is the next phase in which we, legacy dads, can be obedient with our fruit and honor God with our giving.  But this is not just about tithing, rather, this is about are very act of Worship.  Through Stewardship, we are able to test God (the only time in Scripture that it says we can ever test God, the Italian book - The Book of Malachi 3:10).  Through Stewardship comes biblical contentment and true humility.  Through Stewardship, we learn through the Holy Scriptures, how to impact others in the Kingdom through giving of our tithes and offerings to the Lord.

Discipleship is a life long process.  To put it simply, we have to move to the school of "Less of Me & More of God."  If we can move to obedience and true repentance, then we can learn God's will for our lives through prayer, reading of Scripture, preaching, praise and teaching.  We can grow into the men that God wants us to be.  It ain't easy, but it sure is worth a lot more than what the things of this world can give you.  As the Book of Ecclesiastes tells us, "everything under the sun is pure vanity without God."

It's time we hear from you!

Dante

Prayer Legacy

 
Today, I spent "nap time" at this prayer tower.  Instead of napping with my wife and three kids I opted for the small incline walk to the prayer tower on top of the Dunes in Michigan.  I decided to read through the book of Ecclesiastes.  I like what the "Preacher" (aka Solomon) had to see about everything under the Sun as mere vanity.  We are but a vapor, and what we do here on earth should be to the best of our gifts and abilities to eat, drink have joy and honor God (not in that particular order).  Some excerpts from Ecclesiastes:  1:12, "And I applied my heart to seek and to search out wisdom all that is done under heaven."  1:18, "For in much wisdom is much vexation, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow."  2:11, "Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind."  2:24, "There is nothing better for a person that he should eat and drink and to find enjoyment."  Chapter 3, there is always a time for everything (in God's time).  3:12-13, "I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live; also that everyone shoudl eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil--this is God's gift to man."  3:16, "Moreover, I saw under the sun hat in the place of justice, even there was wickedness, and in the place of rightenousness, even there was wickedness, I said in my heart, God will judge the righteous and the wicked, for there is a time for every matter and for every work."  3:22, "So I saw that there is nothing better than that a man should rejoice in his work for that is his lot."  4:9, "Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil...(vs12b)...a threefold cord is not quickly broken."  5:1, "Guard your steps when you go to the house of God.  To draw near to listen is better than to offer the sacrifice of fools...(vs2b) let your words be few...(vs 4b) Pay what you vow."  6:9, "Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the appetite; this also is vanity and a striving after wind (in other words, Lust)."  7:3, "Sorrow is better than laughter, for by sadness of face the heart is made glad."  7:9-12, "Be not quick in your spirit to become angry, for anger lodges in the bosom of fools....Wisdom is good with an inheritance, an advantage to those who see the sun.  For the protection of wisdom is like the protection of money..."  7:21, "Do not take to heart alll the things that people say..."  8:3b, "Do not take your stand in an evil cause...(vs 5) Whoever kees a command will know no evil thing."  8:11b, "the heart of the children of man is fully set to do evil."  8:12b, "I know that it will be well with those who fear God, because they fear before him."  9:9, "Enjoy life with the wife whom you love, all the days of your vain life that he has given you under the sun,"  11:5, "As you do not know the way the spirit comes to the bones in the womb of a woman with child, so you do no know the work of God who makes everything."  11:9b, "Walk in the ways of your heart and the sight of your eyes.  But know that for all these things God will bring you into judgement."  12:13, "The end of the matter; all has been heard, Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.  For God will bring every deed into judgment with every secret tihng, whether good or evil." 

As I ended my time finishing my Bible reading and in prayer, I walked back down the dune and found this plaque (pictured above) and was struck with the amount of prayer that occured at this retreat center.  I was amazed at all of God's answered prayers to his believers and the missions and non-for-profits that blossomed through answered prayers.  The list is amazing.  I am still surprised that, we as Christians, forget the power of prayer.  When we pray, in God's will (not ours), he hears our prayers and he will make our paths straight and will prosper his Kingdom.

The quote on the bottom the plaque above, needs to be re-written for our readers (and for some of our readers, that is, our legacy dads) here you go.  "Our legacy for our legacy dads is the foundation of www.legacydad.com is our future.  This bequest challenges succeeding generations to stand firm on God's Word, and proclaim it without compromise to the world." 

Do you ever catch a lion backing down?

I am not sure about the rest of you, but my six year old son is intrigued with octopusses and also lions.  He absolutely loves God's creatures and has hundreds of questions ranging from T-Rexes to dolphins.  Lucklily, I am able to hold my own with him so I am not too intimidated by the childs inquiries.  This past week I have been on vacation with my family and have been enjoying the solititude with my wife and kids and other family members along the way. 

This morning, the teaching Pastor that is visiting from Bethel University asked a poignant question, a question that really struck a chord with me and I am wrestling through this one thoroughly.  It lead me to title this entry, "Do you ever catch a lion backing down?"  God created this wonderful animal.  Some call the lion the King of the Jungle.  C.S. Lewis referenced on of his main characters, a lion, called Aslan who has a striking identity to the Lord Jesus Christ (nice symbolism C.S Lewis).  The answer, simply put, is never.  Never do you see a lion backing down.  The other important point is that we never saw Jesus backing down from any situation that he was put in here on earth.  When he was tempted, he quoted scripture.  When he was fatigued and struggling with the stress and magnitude of life, he went to prayer.  When his disciples (and friends) were in need of direction and comfort, Jesus was there to comfort, encourage and urge these men to do better in life. 

When Jesus was faced with the ultimate struggle, that is, to lay one's life down for his friends, he did just that.  Yes, he struggled with it and yes he asked his father (in prayer) to take this burden (this cup) from him, but he never backed down from his responsibility.  He prayed, to his Father, "Not my will be done, but your will..." This is what we call unbelievable grace and a guarantee that those who call Jesus Lord and Savior can be assured that no one, no thing or no power in hell can ever take us away from him. 

So back to the Pastor's question, "What is the condition of your heart?"  That really is a loaded question, because that can reflect negative feelings on so many different levels.  For instance, do you struggle with image problems (if only I could lose 20 pounds, or lift weights more), or do you struggle with pornography (read Galatians 5 on this one), or do you struggle with bitterness, that is, has someone or some event in your life wronged you?  Are you alllowing any of these things or other things affect the condition of your heart?  If you are, you are letting God down!

Whoa, did I just say that?  Yes I did.  We are the clay and he is the potter.  We are his instruments and he is the master.  We are hear because he made that so.  He has made each and everyone of us special and unique and we are fearfully and wonderfully made.  Why do we allow the ways and things of this world detract from us and rob us of communion and fellowship with God?  Why do we refuse to move closer to God (Read James) and move further to the pleasures of this world? 

So what is the condition of your heart?  Is their bitterness and grumbling for circumstances that you or someone else has put you in?  Is there an event or a circumstance that has robbed you of this complete Joy with God?  If the answer is yes, then there is a way back to this wonderful fellowship with God (I am working my way back there this week).  First, pray and read God's word daily.  Second, talk to God about whatever it is that is keeping the condition of your heart in a bad place and ask him to make you anew and to change you from the inside out.  Thirdly, wait on Him.  The Bible says, "Strength will rise to those who wait on the Lord."  Finally, when you seek Him, pray to him, not my will, but your will be done. 

Blessings,

Dante