If....

If I could change my past....If I didn't do that....

If I could only avoid.....

If I could crucify Jesus just one more time then my sin.....

Sometimes, we as Christians, rely too much on the ways of this world, on our old self (sin nature) and on the influences of darkness that tries to keep us away from the path of righteousness.  Scripture has much to say about this:

• Romans 8 (ESV) Life in the Spirit:  1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.[a] 2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you[b] free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. 3 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin,[c] he condemned sin in the flesh
• John 10:25 Jesus answered, "I did tell you" but you do not believe.  The miracles I do in my Father's name speak for me, but you do not believe because you are not my sheep.  My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.  I give them eternal life, and they shall never parish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.  My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand.  I and the Father are one.
• Philippians 2: 12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed  not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence - continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is GOd who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.
• Colossians 3:16 Let the world of Christ dwell in your richly as your teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms ,hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hears to God.  And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving  to GOd the Father through him.
• 1 Thessalonians 5:16 Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.  Do not put out the Spirit's fire; do no treat prophesies with contempt.  Test everything.  Hold on to good.  Avoid every kind of evil.

You and I (those of us who profess and are transformed by the blood of Jesus Christ) have put on a new self in Christ Jesus and are called to put our old self (our old sin nature) to death daily.  The flesh wars with the Spirit as the world wars with our souls - Idolatry our choice to avoid or to surrender to God's will instead of ours.

As Christians, it should no longer be If, then, else.  Rather it should be - IT IS FINISHED.  We do not need another crucifixion or Savior or any condition to be put before us.  We need to surrender to God's will in all of our lives and do His will instead of us.

Let go and let God.  Draw nearer to God and He will draw nearer to you.

When you hear that "if" in your life, or that doubt or that guilt or the enemy's attacks and guilt factor, simply say, "guilty" and then say out loud again, "covered in full by the  blood of Jesus Christ!!!"  Your debt, as a born again Christian, has been paid in full.  That means that your sins of the past, the present and the future have been covered.

Repent, work out your salvation with fear and trembling and turn toward God.  Surrender your will and listen to His will.

Blessings,

Dante

Watch yourself

There are two poems that mean a lot to me and my walk.  I like them both because they impact my life in the way that I walk and the way I want to share my life with others.  This past weekend I lead our men's group and we talked about discipleship.  I asked three of my leaders to come up to the front with me and to share what discipleship means to them.  Along with that, I asked them so questions like why do they do what they do?  Why do they stand in the gap?  In God's math, do they feel like they get more than they give?

One of the poems that I really like (and quote often) is the 5 watches:

“Watch your thoughts, they become words;watch your words, they become actions;watch your actions, they become habits;watch your habits, they become character;watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.”  - Frank Outlaw

W - watch your words - Matthew 12:37  (NIV) 37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”  Psalm 141:3 (NIV) 3 Set a guard over my mouth, Lord;  keep watch over the door of my lips.  Scripture says what needs to be said here.

A - watch your actions -  1 Peter 2:12 (NIV) 12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

T - watch your thoughts - 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.  Why are we, as disciples, called to renew our minds?  Simply put, we were once lost but now are found.  For those of us that bear the Fruit of the Spirit, we know that there is a war that goes on from our old selves to our new selves (in Christ) and we have to put that old self (and its thoughts) to death daily.

C -  watch your character - 1 Timothy 4:16 (NIV) 16 Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.

H - watch your habits - Psalm 119:56 (NIV) 56 This has been my practice: I obey your precepts (a general rule intended to regulate behavior or thought).

We are called to go and make disciples.  We are called to renew our minds.  We are called to love our brothers.

As striving to be the disciples that Jesus wants us to be, then we have to understand that nothing we can do can ever erase the debt or earn our way into heaven - Jesus paid it all.  Jesus is the answer.  Therefore, as disciples, what are we called to do:

• to be pure (God is Holy)
• to stewardship (of our time, of our talent and of our treasure) - It's all God's.  What we do with it will either give him all the honor and glory or it will give it to the world.  Whom will you serve?
• to discipleship - how we live, even without words, should imitate Jesus and our lives should point others to Jesus.

I will even challenge you on this.  If we look at our walks in 3 steps:  Biblical purity, biblical stewardship and then discipleship, then I want to challenge you on this question:  How can we be an effective disciple (being more Christ-like) if we do not hone in on purity and stewardship (of a time, talent and treasure) before we can become a serious disciple.  Acts 11:26b (NIV)  says this:"So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch."  Did you catch that?  When they first became born-again (profess and confess and transformed) their lives a new in Jesus Christ they were known as Christians.  As they walked with Barnabas and Saul (Paul) for a whole year they were then known as disciples.  A Sensei literally means one who has gone before.  Both Barnabas and Paul were sinners, saved by grace, and went before the others as Apostles.  They met men and women where they were and did life with them together in relationship.  They taught them, shared with them and prayed with them.  They were in Scripture together and talking about real life issues and providing for one another.  They were first called Christians and then, after a year, they were known as disciples of Jesus Christ.

If the world is watching us (and they are), is our life pointing them to our old self (our old sin nature) or our new self in Jesus Christ.  Is our life pointing them to the Savior?  If they look at our purity (are we striving toward holiness as we are commanded?)  If they look at our stewardship (investment, giving, serving, and so on) does that point them to Jesus?  If we have purity and stewardship (this does not mean that we have it altogether and we live perfect sinless lives - of course we cannot), but it does mean that the Spirit and His Fruit is present in our lives.  We show humility and love in all circumstances.  Do you think that would be an effective disciple?  I most certainly do!  Challenge - look at Scripture and tell me whether or not you agree with me?

Watch your thoughts, they do become words.

Watch your words, they do become actions.

Watch your actions, they do become habits.

Watch your habits, they do become your character.

Watch your character, it does become your destiny.

Blessings,

Dante

Don't forget the little things

Rule 101.1 is:  Don't forget the little things!As dads (grandpas, mentors, coaches = legacy dads) we have a great responsibility which is our mission field, that is, our family.  If God has given us this treasured gift (called our family) then we have been given the mantle to raise them in the Faith, to make our faith real and to love no matter the cost.  We are to train them up and like arrows, make them effective in their faith.  If we miss this great responsibility then everything else in our life is for nothing.   This is not to say that other stuff that we do for the Kingdom doesn't have eternal consequences, but it is to say that God gave us this responsibility and that is of the utmost importance (so don't miss it).

Lance and Gary (home with the Lord now) and I flew out to California to meet and to dream and to plan on where we were going in life and what ministry (ministries) might lie ahead for us in the future.  We talked about a lot and shared life and our stories together.  It was a great weekend and I am eternally grateful for that time.  The one takeaway (of many) that I noted from that weekend was not to miss the little things.  Seriously, as men (and women reading this) we are going to blow it (many times).  We are going to get angry, tired, frustrated and overall exhausted as parents and as legacy parents to boot.  The point of the takeaway was not to miss the little things that will matter most (and be remembered most).  Don't miss the teachable moments!

All this to say, is one afternoon this past month, I had noticed that my middle child (one of my daughters) had made a note holder on her door for family and friends to write her notes on these 3x5" index cards.  Being curious, I took a note card from her door and wrote her a note that was true and sincere to my heart and love for her.  I wasn't looking for anything in return, but I wanted to let her know what was on my heart and my mind.

I am not sure whether she wrote back the next day or what, but here is what she wrote back to me (picture to the right).  This was important to her, she

affirmed that in the note.  She really connected to my note and that made her heart flow toward her dad and my heart.  This allowed a conversation (actually) many conversations about her life and mine and our faith.   This was a very little thing in the magnitude of my day and it didn't take all but 2 minutes for me to write and reflect.

The little things in life mean so much.  I love when I hear people talk about loved ones (especially the ones that are no longer on this earth), for the most part they don't talk about the shortcomings or the mistakes, rather, they talk about the silliest and most heartfelt moments that they can remember and mattered most to them - the little things.

In all that you do, live in such a way with your kids, grandchildren and mentees that your faith is real.  Your faith is humble and your walk is real.  Live in a way that trusts in the Lord and not on yourself.

In all that you do, seek God first, and lean on his direction and not yours.

And remember don't forget the little things and the teaching moments in life!

Blessings,

Dante

Selfishness

"Selfishness is being concerned, sometimes excessively or exclusively, for oneself or one's own advantage, pleasure, or welfare, regardless of others. Selfishness is the opposite of altruism or selflessness; and has also been contrasted (as by C. S. Lewis) with self-centeredness." - GoogleWhether you turn on the television, radio, computer or drive around your city and look at the ads around your area on thing is for certain, this world is hell bent on all of us pleasing ourselves and telling us how we deserve to get what we want.  In most secular of situations we see the demand and popularity spillover on the pleasure of self and how we need to take care of ourselves over the so many other people and things in our life.  Here is a list (to name just a few):

• You deserve a break today - McDonald's
• I will what I want - Under Armour (actually this was a good commercial about overcoming negative people)
• Mastercard “There are some things money can’t buy. For everything else, there’s MasterCard” 1997
• L’oreal “Because you’re worth it”
• Burger King "Have it your way."
• "What happens here, stays here."  - ad for Las Vegas

Selfishness is something that we are not immune to.  It begins at a very early age with our kids:  "that's mine", "you can't have it", "give it to me, I don't want to share" and so it goes throughout our lives.  These are raw emotions that none of us can escape because it is inherent in all of us.  Look at the divorce rate in America (in the world).  How does this process begin?  How about in business?  How about in life?

We live in a world that is opposite of God's will for our lives.  That is not to say that there is no good anywhere in the world, because there is.  What I am saying is what the Bible says to us, Ephesians 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."  As a Christian, we have to understand that the moment we take a stand for God's truth and his justice and his mercy, then the enemy will take a stand against us.  The very essence of the family is what Satan and his army want to destroy because that is counter to God's desire for us to be fruitful and to multiply.  

When we have Kingdom eyes and Kingdom wisdom and discernment then our approach to our daily lives should start with the following:

• God is in control
• What is God's will for my life today?
• God loves me so much (He sent His Son to die for me)
• How can I serve God today?
• Where do I go to make disciples?
• Not my will, but His will be done
• Love my neighbor as myself

Altruistic means  unselfishly concerned for or devoted to the welfare of others.  God's love overcomes everything.  When you encounter this love it transform you.  God's love, put into practice looks like this:

1 Corinthians 13:1 If I speak in the tongues^[a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging symbol. ² If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. ³ If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,^[b] but do not have love, I gain nothing. ⁴ Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. ⁸ Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.⁹ For we know in part and we prophesy in part, ¹⁰ but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. ¹¹ When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. ¹² For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror;then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. ¹³ And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Instructions for Christian Households

Ephesians 5:²¹ Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. ²² Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. ²³ For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. ²⁴ Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. ²⁵ Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her ²⁶ to make her holy, cleansing^[a] her by the washing with water through the word, ²⁷ and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. ²⁸ In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. ²⁹ After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church— ³⁰ for we are members of his body. ³¹ “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.”^{[b] 32} This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. ³³ However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

Let's take this conversation a different way.  If you are reading this blog and you ask yourself, "Self, do I know Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior" knowing that if you do, then you know that you have been forgiven much and have been forgiven such a debt that no matter what we try to do in life, we could never earn back for ourselves nor could we ever repay.  Knowing this, then, we have been called by God to forgive others (and in some cases to forgive ourselves of past, present and future sins).  This does not give us a free pass to continue to live in unrepentant lives, because also commands us to work out our salvation with fear and trembling.  We are called to a life of submission and obedience and to love as God loves us.  To forgive as God has forgiven us!

Therefore, knowing this, who in our lives do we need to start forgiving:

• Ourselves?
• Our Spouse?
• Our children?
• Our boss(es) or work situations?
• Someone who has hurt me in the past?
• Someone who has hurt my loved one in the past?
• ___________ (fill in your blank)

When we hold back forgiveness, we put ourselves in a prison.  We put ourselves in a box of bitterness and we withhold God's best for our lives.  How about instead of trying it our way (being selfish - be honest, when we are living and doing our lives in a way that is anti-biblical, then we are being completely selfish) we try God's way.  Let go and Let God.  Let go of what is holding you back, let go of what is keeping you selfish, let go of what is holding God's best for you and let God move in your life.

Do not jump in front of his working (don't be selfish again once you let go).  Put true accountability in your life and join a men's group (or if you are a woman reading this join a women's group) and/or find a mentor who will walk with you and share God's truth with you and who will be relational with you. Someone who will tell you the truth instead of what you want to hear.  But the someone who will love you through thick and thin!

You may be saying, "I can't", "this will be too hard", "there is no way that God can take this dead thing in my life and make it alive and vibrant"?  Really?  Do we serve a God who is dead?  Of course not!!!  Do we serve a God who takes dead things and makes them live?  Of course we do!!!  God the Father loves us so much that He gave us His only Son to die for us.  The Son (Jesus Christ) loves us so much that He gave His Spirit for each one of us that knows Jesus as Savior and the Spirit loves us so much that He cries out for us to God and Jesus even when we don't know what do say, He says Abba (Father).

If you are being selfish in your life, your marriage or your circumstance - stop!  Confess!  Repent!  And turn toward God to lead you - let go and let God!  If you are being stubborn and unforgiving then stop!  Forgive! Repent of this and turn toward God's plans for you - not to harm you!  Let go and let God!

Blessings,

Dante

My Prayers may be hindered? Say wha???

1 Peter 3:7New International Version (NIV)

⁷ 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.

----

Some reflections that should make you (a legacy dad) reflect

• "you mean, if I disrespect my wife, God won't answer my prayers?"
• "you mean, if I am not considerate with my wife, God won't answer my prayers?"
• "you mean, some actions that I take that do not honor God's will for my life, my hinder my prayers?"

If there is something in your life right now (if you are a legacy dad, or for that matter a legacy mom, who is reading this entry) then change that behavior right now!  Ask God to forgive you for doing it your way and not His way and submit to His will for your life.

If there is a root of bitterness in your life or your spouses life, confess that to God (don't condemn the spouse and say that you are righteous and you are holy and tell them how to live) Change the way that you react, you disrespect and you life and follow God's ways:  Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness and self-control - these are the fruit of the Spirit and let God and let go of self promotion.

If you are, however, doing these things that God calls us to do, then bless you my brother (and my sister).  For God so loves you!

Happy Friday!

Blessings,

Dante

Healthy ways to a healthy marriage

Genesis 2:  NIV 22 Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. 23 The man said, "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called 'woman, ' for she was taken out of man." 24 For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.Ephesians 5:22-33 22 Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. 25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church-- 30 for we are members of his body. 31 "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh." 32 This is a profound mystery--but I am talking about Christ and the church. 33 However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

Mark 10:6-9 NIV  6 "But at the beginning of creation God 'made them male and female.' 7 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, 8 and the two will become one flesh.' So they are no longer two, but one. 9 Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate."

Have you ever mentored an engaged couple and/or a single person who tells you what they want in a spouse and what they are looking for and how things are going to be?  The expectations are the funnest things to watch because there is excitement and there are dreams and some are even good enough to have shared values and goals to help each other along the way.  My favorite part in marriage mentoring is when we get to go over his expectations and her expectations.  There are times when these expectations are not equally yoked - Controversy?  What to do?  How to solve it? How to walk through with them from our own experiences to what God has planned for them.

One thing that my pastors like to say (and I truly believe) are that when a man and a woman come together into Holy matrimony, you have to realize that there are two sinners with their own baggage that they are bringing to "until death do us part".  That being said, we have to align ourselves with God's purpose for our lives and what he desires for us in marriage between one man and one woman.

My wife and I have been married for over 14 years now and it is my belief that we are and have grown stronger.  Do we always get it right?  Of course not!  Do we exemplify the perfect marriage? No way!  So how do I say what I am saying and tell you that I have a great marriage:

Ways to build a healthy and vibrant marriage:

• Be humble
• (if you are single, purse holiness and avoid sexual immorality)
• Die to self and serve the other
• Treat your spouse with the utmost respect
• Do not talk down to your spouse or talk bad about them to others
• Protect your spouse and your marriage
• Stay connected in community (both intimately, physically and emotionally with your spouse)
• Stay connected to church community (to hold you both accountable)
• Set healthy boundaries (flee temptation and loose individuals that are not God-centered)
• Stay rooted in the word of God (read the Bible daily)
• Pray often (and more often)
• Pursue your spouse (date them, study them, love them, accept them for who God made them to be)
• Treat them and life as a gift (not as a burden)
• In all that you do, pursue God to have a Christ-centered, Holy Spirit filled marriage!!!

If you are in a place where you are just getting married, please study this.  If you are newly weds, then stay focused on this.  If you are like my wife and I, please re-visit this and commit it to your daily lives.  If you marriage is not any of this, then start with prayer, repentance (if you are the man, own it!  You are the spiritual leader and your wife is supposed to follow you - don't blame her - take some responsibility and plead for God's guidance in your marriage).

If you marriage is dead, then pray that God will bring it back to life. Lean on God and not on your own knowledge (where has that knowledge gotten you this far in your marriage?) and ask for the Holy Spirit to change in you a new heart to love your wife and to see her as God sees her - a treasure.

In all that you do, draw nearer to God and He will draw nearer to you.

---

In case you are wondering on ways to destroy your marriage and the intimacy that God has planned for both you and your wife, then this would be the list that can easily achieve that:

• Be abusive to your spouse (both mentally, verbally and physically)
• Withhold love
• Treat your spouse often and openly with contempt and disrespect
• Often compare them to others and put them down constantly
• Serve yourself and not your spouse
• Have no boundaries (with the internet, social media, television, movies, or other individuals)
• Do not read the Bible
• Do not pray often
• Do not read Proverbs (or even Proverbs 6) because if you do these things on this list and read God's word, then you realize the person that does these things instead of ways to build your marriage is considered a fool!

If you have any to add to either lists, then please email me at dante@legacydad.comBlessings,

Dante

Ashley Madison, Porn and no limits

If you Google "400 church leaders to resign after Ashley Madison hack" you will find a lot of websites this headline.  It is from an interview with Ed Stetzer in Christianity today.  I think what surprises me most is the idea and reactions of the world when Christians are caught.  Even within the church there is this gasp of the fear of being caught.  These notions are foolish because if we are truly focused on the One who is over all can see, hear and do, then we should be trembling in our boots and beds and on our computer screens knowing that this One is the same that can create and destroy.  The One who can save or reject on whether He calls us to know His Son.There is this false sense of security in the privacy of one's own space.  Albeit a computer, a laptop, a smart device or television, we think we are immune from the world finding out.  When instead, we should be in complete fear and dismay in knowing that the God of this Universe and the Creator can see, hear, will and do whatever He pleases.  He breathes us into life and knows when He has appointed our time of death.

The mere fact that God is over all (including those that do not know Him or claim that He is not real) is scaringly sober.  How is it that we fear public opinion but we do not fear God when it comes to our sin.  Woe be it to a Christian who sins an does not repent of that sin.  Even more so, woe be it to the lost who sin and does not know God's son to save them.  Now if you are a professing, transformed and born-again Christian, I do not want you to take away that you can lose your salvation, rather, I do not want you to die with unrepentant sin in your life and meet our Creator.  I would much rather desire that both you and I repent when we sin (and we do sin) and share these sins with our brothers (who we should let have a voice and power of accountability in our life) so that we can turn from this sin and put it to death.

God calls us to be pure and holy.  He calls us righteous (those that confess His Son Jesus Christ).  We are adopted and called sons of the most Holy God.  Therefore, as disciples of Christ, we have a burden of discipleship.  This is not a burden that is beyond our ability, because God knows how wretched we can be, so he sent a Helper (The Holy Spirit) who dwells within the saved.

Job 7:17-21New International Version (NIV)

17 “What is mankind that you make so much of them,  that you give them so much attention, 18 that you examine them every morning and test them every moment? 19 Will you never look away from me,  or let me alone even for an instant? 20 If I have sinned, what have I done to you, you who see everything we do? Why have you made me your target? Have I become a burden to you?[a] 21 Why do you not pardon my offenses and forgive my sins? For I will soon lie down in the dust; you will search for me, but I will be no more.”

Read Psalms 38

Galatians 6New International Version (NIV)

Doing Good to All

6 Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. 2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3 If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. 4 Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, 5 for each one should carry their own load. 6 Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor.

7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8 Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

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When we approach the throne room of God in repentance (when we sin and if you are like me that is A LOT!) be humble.  Be low in spirit.  Be honest and open and transparent.  Be fearful (you are approaching the Holy of Holy.  Be a friend (spend more time in prayer and word with Him).  Be honest.  Be emotional.  Do not be proud or arrogant and in all that you do, "15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him - Colossians 3:15-18.

To the One who sees and knows and does it all - be fearful and be humble.

Confess your sins to Him and study Him and His will for your life and you will find God's best for you in whatever He desires for you.

Blessings,Dante