The Face of God

1 Corinthians 13:13 (ESV) 13 So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

John 13:34 (ESV) 34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.

jesuspaiditallThis morning in men's group we read Romans Chapter 5.  In this text we realized three key themes in this chapter that are really hard to grasp, at least for me:  1) We, who are saved, are called friends of God, 2) Because of what God did for us - his son died for us - we are now at peace with God and 3) We are not ashamed.  Jesus paid it all.

This season of Christmas, I find myself awestruck by this chapter and by the realization that Jesus paid it all, that is, my sins of the past, present and future sins to come.  He pours his grace over me.  The text doesn't say "dabs" or "drips" but pours his love over us.  I am not sure about you, but for me, I cannot wrap my head around just how much he loves me.heavenly

I am no longer an enemy of God, I am no longer at war with God.  I am a piece with him and later (in Galatians and in Romans) we read that he has adopted us as sons.  That is just so profound to me.  To think, Jesus took on flesh by being born of a virgin and then in his short 33 years of life, fulfilled all the prophecy about him.  Jesus healed the sick and lame, walked on water, controlled the wind and raised the dead.  Above all, he died for you and me and was raised from the dead and now sits at the right hand of God the Father.

jesus-in-the-mangerJesus, in all His glory, is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.  He reigns and all shall bow and confess to him that he is the Lord.  He chooses to be our friend and to testify on our behalf to God the Father.  Because of this, we are justified through Faith and we are now sons of God.

This Christmas, given the aftermath of tragedy, has become even more special to me because there is nothing and no one that can separate us from His love.

I hope that all of us take the time to reflect on the reason for the season - Jesus!

May God bless you and keep you and make his face shine upon you and give you peace.

Merry Christmas,

Dante, Lance & Gary.

 

In the midst of tragedy....Jesus still saves

As I drive to work each day and leave my family in hopes to see later in the day, an excitement builds in my heart and mind of the anticipation of those little feet racing to the garage door to greet me with a kiss and a hug and the proverbial, "D A D D Y" while they are running to see me.   prayervigilAs I write this, I cannot help but think of those parents in Connecticut that will not hear those words, here on earth, again.  My heart is saddened as we have a kindergartner in our home.  This tragic event resonates with me, because I see the brokenhearted and the lost and wonder how much pain these individuals must face and in not knowing Jesus how much they are missing.

I wish that I had words and the right actions to help these people, but on this side of heaven I really don't.  So what can I do, how can I help, what would make the difference in my life - to love my children!  To serve my family and church and community and to share the love of Jesus Christ.

In the midst of pain and suffering, there is only one person that I truly know that can say that he has experienced it all - God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.  There is only one who can fill whatever void this earth throws into our path.

Turn to scripture and find some comfort food:

Psalm 34:18 "The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit"

2 Corinthians 1:4-6 "Who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer."

Romans 8:18 "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us."

Romans 10:9 "Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."

Psalm 1:1-6 "Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; ..."

Here at Legacydad, our hearts and prayers go out to those families that are suffering.  My the Lord of Heaven and Earth bless you and keep you and make His face shine upon you and give you peace.

In Christ,

Dante, Lance and Gary!!!

Are You a Man of Prayer?

 

Men in Prayer

Fast Facts: Although 90 percent of Americans say they pray (60 percent say they pray every day), the ways they pray vary significantly, according to pollster George Barna. Two out of three unchurched Americans (63 percent) pray regularly, but only one out of three (34 percent) is sure that praying makes any difference. In contrast, nearly 70 percent of the “born-again” respondents think God personally responds to their prayers.

Among those who pray, according to the National and International Religion Report:

  • 95 percent express gratitude to God
  • 76 percent ask God to forgive particular sins
  • 61 percent make specific requests of God
  • 12 percent pray in tongues

How is your prayer life? If you are like most of us, it has seasons, and sometimes lacks consistency. I cannot think of anything more important than intimacy with our Heavenly Father. “It is good to be near God.” (Psalm 73:28)

Nearly 1,400 verses in the Bible talk about prayer. A rich and fulfilling prayer life is essential to our spiritual growth.

This is not a “how to” on prayer. These are simply some ideas that have benefitted me in my time with God. I encourage you to give them a try to see which ones work for you.

1. Find Your Ideal Time. Are you a morning person or a night person? When are you most alert? ““Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray.” (1 Peter 4:7) Identify your “optimal prayer time.” How many times have you fallen asleep while praying?

For me, morning works out best. It is a great way to start the day. I get up earlier now than I ever imagined, and I am not even a morning person! Make it a regular part of your schedule—and stick with it!“Be faithful in prayer.” (Romans 12:12) Pencil it in your planner if you must. Why is it when we get busy our time with God is often the first thing to go? Make it a priority! Even a few minutes each day is better than none at all. It will hardly affect your schedule, and it's easy. I started with just a few minutes, and I now have a powerful extended prayer time every day. If you are not a consistent pray-er, here is an experiment: For thirty days, set aside a few minutes each day for a regular time with God. Give it a try and see what happens. It will make a difference!

2. Isolate Yourself Somewhere Private, Quiet and without Distractions. “But when you pray go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father.” (Matthew 6:6) This will be your “refuge,” your place of retreat. Stay out of the bed! This is not nap time. I have a desk set up specifically for this purpose, so I am always ready. I turn off the furnace or air conditioner, and close the door to get it really quiet. How else will you hear that “still, small voice?” Naturally, you can pray anywhere, such as in the car, at work or around the house. However, true “quiet time” is the key to a powerful, effective prayer life.

3. Be Quiet and Listen. “Be still and know that I am God.”“(Psalm 46:10) Contemplate His presence. Take a moment to realize that Almighty God, the Creator of the universe, is waiting to hear from you!“God has surely listened and heard my voice in prayer.” (Psalm 66:19) Anyone who knows me will tell you I like to talk, especially about God. So you can imagine what it is like when I talk to God. He patiently listens to my prayers, and waits for His chance to speak. Finally, as I wind down my prayer time, He gets ready to share some wisdom or guidance with me (which I just requested). Then I say “Amen,” and I am done. “Jim,” He says to Himself, “I have so much to share with you, if you would only listen.” Let God speak to you. While you are praying, pause, be quiet and allow Him to respond. Many times you will not get an answer, but sometimes you will. You must learn to discern His voice. It may be a thought or a feeling, but you will sense His leading. “Listen carefully to the voice of the Lord your God.” (Exodus 15:26)

4. Talk with Your Best Friend. Be yourself. Remember you are relating to a real Person. Do not be formal or ritualistic. A friend once explained how she talks with God in a casual, friendly way, and encouraged me to try it. I had always prayed something like “Thanks Lord, forgive me Lord, I want this and I want that.” It was quick, and always the same, except my wish list at the end. Having a casual conversation with God was foreign to me. It was awkward at first, but it quickly became natural and rewarding. I just realize Jesus is there with me and talk to Him. This has had a tremendous impact on my spiritual growth. It has given me an incredible intimacy with God, and I am much more aware of His presence. He is your best friend. You can share anything with Him!Are you angry? Tell Him. If you do not feel close to Him, say so. Laugh, cry or scream if you need to; He is there for you.

5. Talk with the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. When you pray, to whom are you praying? Speak to all three members of the Trinity. Tell God you want to be His man. Tell Jesus you want to be more like Him. Ask the Holy Spirit to fill you with God's power. Ask Him to open your spiritual eyes to see and your spiritual ears to hear what God is saying.

6. Pray with A.C.T.S. –A.C.T.S. is an easy way to remember key elements of prayer. My prayer time has improved dramatically since I started using it. It's simply prayer in four parts:

 

  • Adoration: “Praise be to God!” (Psalm 68:35) Tell God how much you appreciate Him. Express your love for Him. Praise His power and majesty. This is a great way to begin your prayer time. Sometimes I watch the sun rise, and praise God for the beauty of His creation. You should never run out of praise. “How awesome are your deeds!” (Psalm 66:3)
  • Confession: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just, and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9) Tell Him where you have fallen short. Be specific. I thank Him for the forgiveness I have in Christ, and ask for help and strength to turn away from future temptations.
  • Thanksgiving: Always “glorify him with thanksgiving” (Psalm 69:30) You have plenty of reasons to be thankful. Thank God for His love, His faithfulness, His patience and a million other things. Express gratitude for what He's doing in your life. Thank Jesus for dying on the cross for you. Thank the Holy Spirit for indwelling you, and never leaving. Thank Him for being your conscience, your counselor and that “still small voice.”
  • Supplication: “Make your requests known to God.” (Philippians 4:7) Tell God what you want, no matter how small it seems to you. Do you really think any of your requests are big to God the Creator? You should have lots of intercessory prayer here. Remember: As a Promise Keeper, you are committed to pray for your pastor and your church every day.

Ideas for a More Fulfilling Prayer Life

1.      Have a “Mini Worship Time.” Listen to praise music before you begin your quiet time. I love to do this while I drink my coffee. Sometimes, I sing along. (Fortunately no one can hear me.) Nearly every praise song we sing in church is available on CD or cassette at the Christian bookstores. My favorites include:

  • Promise Keepers worship music
  • Songs From the Loft
  • The Great Songs of Praise series
  • The Vineyard Collection
  • The Hosanna Series

Try singing without music. I do this sometimes before or after praying, and it is very uplifting. “Sing to God, sing praise to His name.” (Psalm 68:4)

2. Begin with a Bible Reading or Devotional. Even a short reading can help get your mind focused on God. I love to read the Psalms and the Gospels. (The Message, by Eugene H. Peterson is great for this.) I start with a devotional, and then spend time in God's Word. He often uses this time to speak to me. Many devotionals are available at Christian bookstores, such as My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers.

3. Use a Prayer Journal. A prayer journal is simply a list of people and things to pray for. It keeps you focused and consistent in your time with God. How many times have you forgotten to pray for someone? Once it is in the journal, you will not forget. (Tip: To get it into the journal, jot it down on a piece of paper or in your planner right away.) I use one from Chuck Swindoll’s Insight for Living. It is organized by weeks, so you have a daily/weekly list and an everyday list. It also has space for answered prayers, which is great because it shows what God is doing in your life. It helps you be a Promise Keeper and a man of prayer. “The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” (James 5:16)

4. Get Out of the Rut. “And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition.” (Matthew 6:7 NASB) Occasionally, your prayer time may get stale. Change it! If you usually sit in a chair, get on your knees, or stand up. Ask God to restore you. Read something. Listen to some music. Sing something. Go to a different place. One morning, as I got ready to pray, I felt distant from God. I said “Lord, I do not feel very close to you today. I'm sorry.” I decided to listen to some music instead. While listening to a song about “the Redeemer,” God wrapped His arms around me, and I was on my knees in tears, overwhelmed by His presence. He said “Jim, I was here the whole time. My love for you does not change. You’re the one who changes.” I ended up having an awesome prayer time that morning! Step out in faith and be a Man of Prayer!

For the original article, visit menofintergrity.org.

 

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Moral Fiber....

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The standard dictionary definition of moral fiber is "strength of character, firmness of purpose, resolution or toughness of spirit."I think what surprises me most in how people, even Christians compromise themselves on a daily basis.  Now before you turn off this post and think, "oh no, here goes another hypocrite" - wait!  I want to explain something to you:  Lance, Gary and myself sin every day.  None of us can sit here and tell you the success of our lives and that would be it, because for us to do that, then we would have to times that by a multiplicity of some factor for all the wrongs we do on a daily basis (ask our wives).

Before I sit there and pontificate on delicate matters let's agree to disagree here  and still be friends.  I mean we can agree that we have different values and ethics and belief structures, but if we are real about our faith and trust in God then we can say no "one person" on earth can encapsulate God's moral fiber.  That would require to keep God's moral law (the 10 commandments) that were before Jesus's sacrifice on the cross for all of our sins.  Before this hope, we had to abide and live by God's moral law.  In James 2:10 we read that if we break just one of God's commandments, then we are guilty of them all.

So let's put this in perspective, let's again agree on the fact that God the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ) and the Holy Spirit (all three in one are the Triune God).  That being said, then he gave us his Holy Word (the Bible).  Presupposing that we can use that for reference to God's precepts and values, then let's take a look at some things that may make us guilty:

  • Anger
  • Sexual Immorality (pornography, lust, tv shows that compromise, cable, internet, and fill in your "blank"
  • Impurity
  • Sensuality
  • Idolatry, Sorcery
  • Enmity, Strife, Jealousy and Fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy
  • drunkenness, orgies and the like
What are you filling your heart, mind, soul and body with that would lead you to a path of immoral fiber and away from God's moral fiber.  Call it what you will, but the world's definition of moral law versus God's definition are nowhere close.  God is a holy God.  God is not mocked.  In the end, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord.  If you do not know him, then you are at odds with God, that is = you reject Jesus then God rejects you - simple as that.
The point that I am trying to make here is at what point in our life do we want to let go and let God - have it all.  Does he control our mind, body, soul and strength?  Do we seek his counsel and his lead in all that we do?

Some Scripture on Moral Fiber:Matthew 15:18–20 (ESV) But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. 20 These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does ...

Job 2:3 (ESV) And the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil? He still holds fast his integrity, although you incited me against him to destroy him without reason.” ..Proverbs 17:3 (ESV) The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and the Lord tests hearts.

Romans 5:3–4 (ESV) Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,

1 Chronicles 29:17 (ESV) I know, my God, that you test the heart and have pleasure in uprightness. In the uprightness of my heart I have freely offered all these things, and now I have seen your people, who are present here, offering freely and joyously to you

2 Peter 1:5–6 (ESV) For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godlinessTitus 2:7–8 (ESV) 7 Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity,8 and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.

 

So what can we do about it?

Get serious, don't compromise and read his word daily and pray continually - see what you here?  Here what you read and listen!

Blessings,

Dante

My bucket list for Christmas 2012

As my wife and I move closer into the very dear and near season of Christmas we find ourselves talking about parenting and things that we have done so far to date with our kids.  Their ages range in the adolescent stages of life, yet we realize how important this stage is.  We have done very well, in my opinion so far, is their understanding of just how much God loves us (as I believe that they know unconditionally how much we love them) as God loves us.  My wife and I have been consistent in our parenting and the kids know that mom and dad mean what they say.  Please note that there is a lot more here to fill in, but I just want to talk about some of the details.

Places where we find ourselves both needing improvement is teaching them more responsibility and independence.  What I am saying here, is that we are not "helicopter parents" where we hover over them, but rather, we find ourselves doing for them just because that's what we do.

Two weeks before Thanksgiving my wife and I unplugged from television.  We turned it off.  The job I am in makes it almost impossible for me to completely "unplug" as my career and news flow is dependent on world events and weather, however, we did unplug from television.  There were a few reasons:  1) Our middle daughter was a little bit sassier and her wardrobe was changing.  2) The older and younger were too dependent on this and 3) one of their teachers challenged my son's class  just after we unplugged (the timing couldn't have been better).

This season of Christmas I decided to make a bucket list for myself and our family to do (feel free to let me know yours or if you have any better ideas).  Here it goes - 25 days of Christmas Bucket List (in no particular order):

1)  Do something nice for someone (serve them without expectation of receiving anything in return

2) Adopt a family for Christmas and share the blessing of giving moreso then receiving

3) Help someone in need (financially)

4) Help someone in need (spiritually)

5) Help someone in need (physcially)

6) Visit a charity/hospital and serve the people/patients

7) Invite family and friends to church (to hear the Gospel of CHRISTmas

8) Play board games with kids

9) Read "doors" book to our children (25 days of Christmas)

10) Visit our neighbors and serve them

11 thur 25 - what do you recommend?

Blessings,

Dante

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