God Bless You all. Get ready for this coming Sunday June 24th at Faith Assembly of God. I will be selling Homemade Cheesecakes. My latest cheesecake is Salted Carmel Flan Cheesecake.
Check out my Web Site:
themissionsbakery
https://jesuslovesyou32.wixsite.com/themissionsbakery
Help my Babe Aleksa Diaz raise funds for her Mission Trip to Barcelona, Spain. You can also donate at (https://fcsmnstry.io/7k/YgFZ2x). Help spread the word of God.
Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. Ephesians 6:4
Men, it is not enough to just live a right life in front of your child, you must explain to them why it’s right. They need to know the why and the how behind what you do. Your words work wonders in their tender and teachable hearts. Your instruction means you care to coach and train them in truth. It’s Dad’s tutoring of his tribe that empowers his little ones for life. They may not act as if they’re listening, but they are. Teaching truth transforms.
Truth leaves your lips and lodges in their hearts. When you take the time to transfer truth to your child you are setting them up for success. Truth is transformational and freeing. It gives confidence, direction, and discernment. As they move into maturity you won’t always be there, but truth will see them through.
“Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ” (Ephesians 4:15).
Instruct them how to balance a check book, change a flat tire, mow the lawn, shoot a gun, dress appropriately, carry on a conversation, swim, fly a kite, book a plane ticket online, memorize poetry, journal, pray, study the Bible, grill burgers, and make homemade ice cream. Children crave being with their dad and learning his lessons from life. Tell them when you messed up, what you learned, and what you did right. Explain that their best motivations are love of God, and love for people. Teach lovingly and patiently.
Above all, teach them to know, understand, love, and fear Jesus. He is the truth. “I am the way and the truth and the life…” (John 14:6a). The more they go to Jesus, the more they will be educated in what matters most. He will reveal to them wisdom and understanding. Instruct your child in intimacy with the Almighty, and they will be inspired with a heart of humility, and they will aspire to know the mind of Christ. Lead them to sit at the feet of their Savior and learn from Him.
“Take my yoke upon you and learn from me…” (Matthew 11:29a).
Prayer: Heavenly Father, I am desperate for your wisdom and grace to father well, in Jesus’ name, amen.
Application: How can I best instruct my child? What is their unique learning style?
Related Readings: Joshua 4:6-7; Proverbs 13:1; 1 Corinthians 2:13; 2 Timothy 3:15
Faithful Fathers
The living, the living—they praise you, as I am doing today; fathers tell their children about your faithfulness. Isaiah 38:19
Where are the faithful fathers? Where can they be found? They can be found in church, on the little league ballfields, building sandcastles at the beach, and on their knees in prayer for their child’s future spouse. They camp in the woods, buy ice cream, go shopping, teach the Bible to middle school youth, and coach high school athletes. They can be found in stable societies and in cultures that love Christ. Faithful fathers matter.
Faithful fathers are not a fantasy, but a reality rooted in the fear of the Lord and care for their own children. They are compelled by their heavenly Father to provide a home that nurtures, disciplines, accepts, and loves. Determined dads research and discover creative ways to win over their child’s heart for Christ.
“Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4).
Faithful fathers are friends with Jesus. They see Him as a model of unselfish service, generous giving, radical responsibility, and the ability to put the needs of others before His own needs. “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves” (Romans 12:10).
Dedicated dads find strength to carry on from Christ’s affirmation and accolades. They father for the audience of their heavenly Father.
Lastly, faithful fathers lead their children to know, love, and obey their heavenly Father. This is your most vital role as a dad. Children learn from your life how to live, but they need to hear from your lips how to believe. Tell them the scriptural stories of salvation, sin, forgiveness, and faith. Joseph’s perseverance, Esther’s courage, Moses’ leadership, David’s repentance, and Ruth’s encouragement, are character qualities for them to emulate. Ask God for wisdom and grace to be a faithful father.
“Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17).
Prayer: How does my heavenly Father love me? How does He want me to love my children?
Application: Ask your child how you can best serve her or him in this season of life.
Related Readings: Psalm 44:1–2; Malachi 4:6; Luke 1:7; 1 Corinthians 4:15
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves. Philippians 2:3
When I was in my twenties, I had a plan to meet and marry an amazing Christian man and birth two or three babies. I thought the road to love would open wide for me and marriage would “just happen,” kind of like graduating from kindergarten or getting junior high acne. But it didn’t “just happen.” In fact, when I entered my early forties and I still hadn’t tied the knot, I doubted I would ever marry and that hurt—a lot.
Then I met Clark.
He loved God, was kind, had loads of integrity, made me laugh every day, and was my good, good friend.
But there was a problem. He had five grown children and part of my life’s plan included to never marry a man with kids. I was certain that would spell nothing but T-R-O-U-B-L-E and I didn’t want to have anything to do with that.
After meeting Clark and then discussing marriage with him, my heart started to change, but I was conflicted.
I called a counselor and told her I was struggling. “I know what it is,” I said. “It’s grief.” As I sat in her office, I shared my sadness of not marrying young and having my own children.
As I pulled out of the counselor’s office parking lot, I cried out to God, “I feel cheated! I wanted my own family!” In a split second, a message was pressed into my heart. “The only reason you feel cheated is because you do not understand my plan.”
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.” (Isaiah 55:8-9)
Hope rose in my heart, tears flowed, and I remembered redemption. Redemption isn’t just the story of the cross. It’s the story of God’s plan for all of humanity—including broken families.
In the days to come, I became convinced that marrying Clark would be an honor. Not just because he is a wonderful person, but because I would fill a redemptive role in my new family rooted in the command to love.
Before marrying and because I was fearful, I called a friend to ask her about her own journey as a bonus mom. During our conversation she made a powerful statement: “No one can have too many people loving them.” Yes! My heart cried. I choose to love, and there’s no nobler task. Courage rose in me and I began to sense again that I was being called to a divine assignment.
I made the choice to love my bonus kids before Clark and I said, “I do,” even before I knew them. So, instead of seeing myself as the “extra appendage” no one wants in a family, I perceived I had purpose.
Even though I knew this role would have its challenges, I wanted to be a blessing—and I still do. Loving hasn’t always been easy. There are moments when I have gotten my feelings hurt and I have wanted to retreat and stop putting myself out there. There have been times when I have felt like I don’t fit. But in those moments, I often come back to the truth that God gives all of his children purpose.
Now, after four years of being happily married, loving my bonus kids isn’t just a choice. I can honestly say I dearly love them—and it’s a love God has given me for them. When they are going through hard times, I am concerned. When they experience victories, I celebrate with them in my heart. I love them. I really do.
“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.” (John 13:34)
Prayer: Lord, thank you that your redemptive plans include love. Help me to play well my part in your redemptive story. Amen.
Application: Is there someone you need to choose to love today? Take action and love them through prayer, an action to bless them.
Related Readings: 1 John 4:7-21; Matthew 5:43-48; 1 Corinthians 13:13
Check Yourself week 3
II Corinthians 13:5 NKJV
5 Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified.
1. Born again Christians walking in righteousness
2. Born again Christians who are practicing sin
II Corinthians 12:21 NKJV
21 lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and I shall mourn for many who have sinned before and have not repented of the uncleanness, fornication, and lewdness which they have practiced.
II Corinthians 13:1 NKJV
1 This will be the third time I am coming to you. “By the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established.”
3. Those who are not in the faith
II Peter 2:7-8 NKJV
7 and delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked 8 (for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds)—
II Peter 2:9 NKJV
9 then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment,
Are my moral values changing?
Is the wickedness of this age seeping
into my life?
Am I being affected by the barrage of sensuality I see all around me?
Am I developing an appetite for worldly things?
Am I changing and not for the better without even realizing it?
Revelation 2:4-5 NKJV
4 Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. 5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.
Isaiah 1:4 NKJV
4 Alas, sinful nation, A people laden with iniquity, A brood of evildoers, Children who are corrupters! They have forsaken the Lord , They have provoked to anger The Holy One of Israel, They have turned away backward.
II Peter 2:14-15 NKJV
14 having eyes full of adultery and that cannot cease from sin, enticing unstable souls. They have a heart trained in covetous practices, and are accursed children. 15 They have forsaken the right way and gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;
If faith comes by hearing God‘s word, and the word is neglected and put aside, no wonder the faith of so many has diminished.
Philippians 2:15 NKJV
15 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,
Revelation 3:15 NKJV
15 “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot.
America has become the Laodicean church.
Revelation 3:19-20 NKJV
19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.
Jesus is standing outside of His own church.
Check Yourself Week 2
2 Corinthians 13:5 NIV
5 Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?
2 Corinthians 13:5 NLT
5 Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves. Surely you know that Jesus Christ is among you ; if not, you have failed the test of genuine faith.
Acts 3:1-10 NIV
1 One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. 2 Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. 4 Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” 5 So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them. 6 Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” 7 Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. 8 He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. 9 When all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
I. Grade the consistency of your prayer life
Verse 1
One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer
—at three in the afternoon.
Ephesians 6:18 NIV
18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.
Colossians 4:2-6 NIV
2 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. 3 And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. 4 Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. 5 Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. 6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
II. Grade the clarity of your prayer life
Verse 4-5
4 Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!”5 So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.
Galatians 5:25 NIV
25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
The true benefit of prayer is not that He hears us but that we hear Him.
III. Grade the consumption of your prayer life
Verse 6
“6 Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.”
YOU CAN’T GIVE WHAT YOU DON’T HAVE!
Matthew 18:18-19 NIV
18 “Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. 19 “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.
GOD HAS DETERMINED THAT CERTAIN EXPRESSIONS OF HIS POWER WILL ONLY BE EXERCISED THROUGH PRAYER.
IV. Grade the accomplishment of your prayer life.
7 Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. 8 He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God.
Mark 11:23-24 NIV
23 “Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
When you doubt what you believe, you will eventually believe what you doubt.
WHEN WE TRULY KNOW AND BELIEVE THE POWER OF PRAYER, WE WILL EXERCISE IT.
2 Chronicles 7:14 NIV
14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
My Beginning. My Forever. 