Truth
"Lovingkindness and truth have met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other. Truth springs from the earth, And righteousness looks down from heaven (Psalm 85:10-11 NASB)."
Definition: the true or actural state of a matter; the state or character of being true; acturality or actual existence, conformity with fact or reality (Dictionary.com).
Truth seekers and speakers want to know the story so they can be better, do better and help others by sharing the truth. Fact seekers do not necessarily care about the big picture or others, however, and run a high risk of getting lost in the details. Any devotion to information alone is "wearying to the body"; wisdom should be used to wisely encourage and prod from deceit and every true word should attempt to hit the target and put pieces together, "like a well-driven nail", not to bring confusion or allegiance to the speaker - only one Shepherd gives the Word and is the Word, Jesus, we merely pass it along and represent Him (Ecclesiastes 12:9-13). The main purpose in life is fearing God by connecting our reality to His righteousness in Jesus Christ and keeping His commandments by being led by the Spirit in faithful trust.
Prayers: We pray our child surpasses mere fact seeking and moves into truth for a proper view on self, the world, creation and You.
We pray that any interest our child has in knowledge and facts will be balanced and viewed as a tool, not a destination.
We pray, as a family, we will be real and truthful connecting to Your righteousness in Christ. We receive Your strength to accomplish our lives as ambassadors for You and Your kingdom advancement.
Thank You for Your help and blessings.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Monday, January 30, 2012
Faithfulness
Faithfulness
“It is a trustworthy statement: For if we died with Him, we will also live with Him; If we endure, we will also reign with Him; If we deny Him, He also will deny us; If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself (1 Timothy 2:11-13 NASB).
Definition: Strict or thorough in the performance of duty; true to one's word, promises, vows, etc.; steady in allegiance or affection; loyal; constant; reliable, trusted.
Definition: Strict or thorough in the performance of duty; true to one's word, promises, vows, etc.; steady in allegiance or affection; loyal; constant; reliable, trusted.
Staying committed, trustable and reliable are at the heart of faithfulness. Closely connected to what makes one faithful is why to be faithful. God is constant and all existence depends on His unchanging reliability; we do our best when we allow His nature to access and infiltrate to become the greatest showing of our character and representation of Him. Whether we succeed in faithfulness or not He will always remain faithful, because it is Who He IS.
We will do our best to reveal and mirror Your great unwavering faithfulness, but we pray our child will connect to You regardless of our solidity in faith.
We pray the connection our child has with You infiltrates deep and shows out, so every part of the mind that originates behavior and perceives activity and truth will reflect Your thoughts and Your ways.
We pray the connection our child has with You infiltrates deep and shows out, so every part of the mind that originates behavior and perceives activity and truth will reflect Your thoughts and Your ways.
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Teachable
Teachable
"The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man is he who listens to counsel (Proverbs 12:15)."
He whose ear listens to the life-giving reproof will dwell among the wise (Proverbs 15:31)."
Definition: Teachable - Capable of being instructed, as a person; docile; capable of being taught.
Teach - to impart knowledge of or skill in; give instruction in; or ...skill to; give instruction to.
Those who are teachable learn the truth from the past, from problems and from situations; from God's word and from others when given counsel, encouragement or reproof no matter how offensive, obvious or humiliating the content. After all David thought, "faithful are the wounds of a friend, but deceitful are the kisses of an enemy" (Proverbs 27:6 NASB). Those of us who remain teachable and responsive to the truth will one day know it all, just as we are fully known (1 Corinthians 13:12); while those of us who are know-it-alls and dismiss teaching may one day be left in the dark. Let us pay closer attention to what we oppose and not be automatically contrary. The information should be more important to us than the delivery - after all we don't dismiss the delivery of a treasured gift just because the box has a few dents, marks or rough edges. Sure, maybe we do open the box to make sure everything is okay (or true) when it comes in such a package, but we care for the gift (information/truth) and we happily receive it. It is far too easy to become deceived, ensnared, illusioned or in denial about shortcomings, bad aims or blind spots in our lives. May we all stay teachable to the end.
Prayers: We pray our child always stays teachable to the truth. Please help us to model being teachable and how to uncover truth even when it is wrapped in damaged packaging.
We know being teachable isn't treating truth like it is up in the air all the time and it isn't having a constantly swayable or open mind to potential deception or error, but being teachable is constantly submitting to Your authoritative curriculum and voice in life by studying, listening and apprehending.
We submit to Your voice Lord. We lay low and choose to disregard any fears or doubts we have pertaining to Your static embodiment of objective Truth and Life. We don't know everything, but You do: For now we know in part, but one day we will fully know, just as we now are fully known by You. Thank You Lord for Your processes and for all of Your help and blessings with raising our child.
"The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man is he who listens to counsel (Proverbs 12:15)."
He whose ear listens to the life-giving reproof will dwell among the wise (Proverbs 15:31)."
Definition: Teachable - Capable of being instructed, as a person; docile; capable of being taught.
Teach - to impart knowledge of or skill in; give instruction in; or ...skill to; give instruction to.
Those who are teachable learn the truth from the past, from problems and from situations; from God's word and from others when given counsel, encouragement or reproof no matter how offensive, obvious or humiliating the content. After all David thought, "faithful are the wounds of a friend, but deceitful are the kisses of an enemy" (Proverbs 27:6 NASB). Those of us who remain teachable and responsive to the truth will one day know it all, just as we are fully known (1 Corinthians 13:12); while those of us who are know-it-alls and dismiss teaching may one day be left in the dark. Let us pay closer attention to what we oppose and not be automatically contrary. The information should be more important to us than the delivery - after all we don't dismiss the delivery of a treasured gift just because the box has a few dents, marks or rough edges. Sure, maybe we do open the box to make sure everything is okay (or true) when it comes in such a package, but we care for the gift (information/truth) and we happily receive it. It is far too easy to become deceived, ensnared, illusioned or in denial about shortcomings, bad aims or blind spots in our lives. May we all stay teachable to the end.
Prayers: We pray our child always stays teachable to the truth. Please help us to model being teachable and how to uncover truth even when it is wrapped in damaged packaging.
We know being teachable isn't treating truth like it is up in the air all the time and it isn't having a constantly swayable or open mind to potential deception or error, but being teachable is constantly submitting to Your authoritative curriculum and voice in life by studying, listening and apprehending.
We submit to Your voice Lord. We lay low and choose to disregard any fears or doubts we have pertaining to Your static embodiment of objective Truth and Life. We don't know everything, but You do: For now we know in part, but one day we will fully know, just as we now are fully known by You. Thank You Lord for Your processes and for all of Your help and blessings with raising our child.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Self-Esteem
Self-Esteem
Definition: a realistic respect for or favorable impression of oneself; self-respect (Dictionary.com).
“Such confidence we have through Christ toward God. Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God (2 Corinthians 3:4-5 NASB),..”
Definition: a realistic respect for or favorable impression of oneself; self-respect (Dictionary.com).
Self-esteem is the way we see ourselves, feel about ourselves and the strength of inner fortitude that helps us believe we can be, when we want to be. Our value comes from God. Nothing in the world can add to it or take away from it. When we belong to God this worth is realized and completed. If we agree with the world or do not agree with heaven, we are lost and unreceiving of our God given worth. This leads us to interpret our value and esteem through other things like: our success or failure, our strength or weakness, our capability or limitation and the positive or negative opinion of others.
Prayers: We pray our baby knows personal identity and capability through connecting to You; and that Your given value would never be questioned or petitioned elsewhere. We pray instead that our child will be secure in knowing You and being fully known by You.
We surrender our child to You and Your will Lord; only You hold the words of life necessary to convince and convict our child an appropriate self-esteem. Have Your Way in our family! Thank You for Your help and blessings.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Honor
Honor
"A man's pride will bring him low, but a humble spirit will obtain honor (Proverbs 29:23 NASB)."
Definition: Honest, fairness, or integrity in one's beliefs and actions; high respect, as for worth, merit, or rank; high public esteem; fame; glory (Dictionary.com)
Whether by gift, duty or command, whenever we honor, we respect others with humility. We give a notable weight to who they are, where they are and what they say. Honoring does not always mean agreeing with, and should not require giving in to manipulation, but is merely a focused deference without a reciprocal need. When we honor in the fear of the Lord, we recognize others in His image and plan despite the common inconsistencies and imperfections most of us have. When we humbly honor God's design in others we also honor Him.
Prayers: We pray our child will discover You in all of Your creation and be fearless and fervent in honoring You greatly. Please help our child also become an expert at discovering, mining out and encouraging, the divine treasure in others through honor humility and love.
We pray that honor and respect will remain the language our child speaks and if our child is ever to speak a word in judgement, may it only be from truth and not opinion and may it also only be through love with great discretion and humility.
The sinful nature is what we are "born into", but not what we are "created for" or born again into. When our child is born again as a new creation in Jesus Christ we pray the "created for" overtakes the "born into" and true covenant with You is established so every occasion of honoring given or received will eventually mean something eternal in our child's life. We give You this care and receive Your help in wisely navigating a journey that may include us, but is not our own. Thank You Lord for Your help and blessings.
"A man's pride will bring him low, but a humble spirit will obtain honor (Proverbs 29:23 NASB)."
Definition: Honest, fairness, or integrity in one's beliefs and actions; high respect, as for worth, merit, or rank; high public esteem; fame; glory (Dictionary.com)
Whether by gift, duty or command, whenever we honor, we respect others with humility. We give a notable weight to who they are, where they are and what they say. Honoring does not always mean agreeing with, and should not require giving in to manipulation, but is merely a focused deference without a reciprocal need. When we honor in the fear of the Lord, we recognize others in His image and plan despite the common inconsistencies and imperfections most of us have. When we humbly honor God's design in others we also honor Him.
Prayers: We pray our child will discover You in all of Your creation and be fearless and fervent in honoring You greatly. Please help our child also become an expert at discovering, mining out and encouraging, the divine treasure in others through honor humility and love.
We pray that honor and respect will remain the language our child speaks and if our child is ever to speak a word in judgement, may it only be from truth and not opinion and may it also only be through love with great discretion and humility.
The sinful nature is what we are "born into", but not what we are "created for" or born again into. When our child is born again as a new creation in Jesus Christ we pray the "created for" overtakes the "born into" and true covenant with You is established so every occasion of honoring given or received will eventually mean something eternal in our child's life. We give You this care and receive Your help in wisely navigating a journey that may include us, but is not our own. Thank You Lord for Your help and blessings.
Monday, January 23, 2012
Boldness
Boldness
“…and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel,.. (Ephesians 6:19 NASB).”
Definition: Boldness - Not hesitating or fearful in the face of actual or possible danger or rebuff; courageous and daring; not hesitating to break the rules of propriety; forward; beyond the usual limits of conventional thought or action.
Effrontery - Shameless or impudent boldness; barefaced audacity (Dictionary.com).
Being bold is to be one with rational caution or polite consideration and is not easily intimidated; being one who bends, but rarely breaks the rules. We should walk in boldness with faith not presumption and effrontery. Bold faith stands for something that is not easily seen or proven and stands firm against challenging beliefs, even at the risk of shame, rejection or general labeling. Presumptuous effrontery tends to assumes a belief and challenges anyone to prove the opposite of what is being assumed usually offering little to no solid proof or intellect beyond stubborn belief. We should not be stubborn or blindly support something in adherence to popularity or tradition, or in escape of something we fear or dislike. Effrontery usually offers quick criticism and ad hominem* attacks to anyone lacking in the same ideals, beliefs, traditions or trends. When we are bold with our beliefs or opinions let it be so only when we can defend our stance with patience, conviction, truth, reason or proof.
Prayers: We pray our child will find the needed path to boldness and let go of fear. May the boldness show with humility and patience so many can benefit and our child can stay teachable.
We greatly desire our child to embrace common sense and move into greater intelligence and understanding of You and Your ways in Heaven and on Earth. May no effrontery rise up, but if it does please help us discipline it specifically so our child will be refined in boldness and never shut down.
Thank You for Your help and many blessings, we surrender our child to You and Your perfect will.
“…and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel,.. (Ephesians 6:19 NASB).”
Definition: Boldness - Not hesitating or fearful in the face of actual or possible danger or rebuff; courageous and daring; not hesitating to break the rules of propriety; forward; beyond the usual limits of conventional thought or action.
Effrontery - Shameless or impudent boldness; barefaced audacity (Dictionary.com).
Being bold is to be one with rational caution or polite consideration and is not easily intimidated; being one who bends, but rarely breaks the rules. We should walk in boldness with faith not presumption and effrontery. Bold faith stands for something that is not easily seen or proven and stands firm against challenging beliefs, even at the risk of shame, rejection or general labeling. Presumptuous effrontery tends to assumes a belief and challenges anyone to prove the opposite of what is being assumed usually offering little to no solid proof or intellect beyond stubborn belief. We should not be stubborn or blindly support something in adherence to popularity or tradition, or in escape of something we fear or dislike. Effrontery usually offers quick criticism and ad hominem* attacks to anyone lacking in the same ideals, beliefs, traditions or trends. When we are bold with our beliefs or opinions let it be so only when we can defend our stance with patience, conviction, truth, reason or proof.
Prayers: We pray our child will find the needed path to boldness and let go of fear. May the boldness show with humility and patience so many can benefit and our child can stay teachable.
We greatly desire our child to embrace common sense and move into greater intelligence and understanding of You and Your ways in Heaven and on Earth. May no effrontery rise up, but if it does please help us discipline it specifically so our child will be refined in boldness and never shut down.
Thank You for Your help and many blessings, we surrender our child to You and Your perfect will.
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Courage
Courage
"Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the LORD your God is the one who goes with you He will not fail you or forsake you (Deuteronomy 31:16 NASB)."
Definition: The quality of mind or spirit that enables a person to face difficulty, danger, pain, etc., without fear; bravery (Dictionary.com).
Keeping courageous is tough. And, not everyone who is tough is courageous. It takes courage to do the needed thing or the right thing in the midst of opposition or a struggle. The quality of mind and spirit necessary to prevail comes from believing in the promise of unyielding support, victory and companionship of God. God's grace is not defined in what He is able to do, but in what He is able to help us do. We must always remember where our help comes from and that we are the ones doing the work - God's work, done through man.
"Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the LORD your God is the one who goes with you He will not fail you or forsake you (Deuteronomy 31:16 NASB)."
Definition: The quality of mind or spirit that enables a person to face difficulty, danger, pain, etc., without fear; bravery (Dictionary.com).
Keeping courageous is tough. And, not everyone who is tough is courageous. It takes courage to do the needed thing or the right thing in the midst of opposition or a struggle. The quality of mind and spirit necessary to prevail comes from believing in the promise of unyielding support, victory and companionship of God. God's grace is not defined in what He is able to do, but in what He is able to help us do. We must always remember where our help comes from and that we are the ones doing the work - God's work, done through man.
Prayer: We pray our child steps up in Your divinely granted identity: the created for self, not the born into self. We know You are able to help us and we can do all things through You with Your strength, so please strengthen our child to move with You and remain in You. Thank You for Your help and blessings.
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