Sound Mind Set

On our final day we will focus on a very well-known but always powerful chapter in Scripture - this is from Psalm 139. Listen carefully to the words of verses 1 thru 6 … O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I'm far away. You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do. You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord. You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand!If God really does examine your heart and knows everything about you, then don't you think it's okay for you to get real with Him about how you feel and what you are feeling about your life and anyone in it? Isn't it safe to say He can handle whatever you need to get honest about? Have you ever considered venting your emotions with God? I think the Psalms shows us that's exactly what we are supposed to do.Here's the next six verses of Psalm 139 … I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there. If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me. I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night—but even in darkness I cannot hide from you. To you the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are the same to you.So, once again, if you can't go anywhere to get away from God, even in the dark, and He promises to guide and support you, then let this week be a game changer in your relationship with Him. Talk to Him like a best friend. Need to vent? Get loud? Let out some anger and some steam? Go for it. Tell Him what you think and how you feel. Take care of yourself, your hurts and your healing by opening up completely before God. That really is what prayer is about.Let's pray together: “Heavenly Father, it's time I got honest with You, like really honest. Actually, it's kind of funny for us to think You can't handle how I feel or what I might say. Like verse 4 said, You know what I'm going to say before I say it, so just help me to get honest and tell You my heart. As above, so below.”

When the Pharisees asked Jesus which was the greatest commandment, He basically answered by boiling them all down to what appears to be two, but is actually three.Listen to Matthew 22:37-39 …Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.'So who are we to love? God. Yes. Then our neighbor, which actually just means our fellow human beings. But we so often miss the last part He said. You have to love people “as yourself.”Sometimes we tend to love ourselves as in we will fight to get what we want or practice self-preservation at all costs. Jesus said if that's how you love yourself, love others just like that, with that same fervor. But here's another side to that coin … Another way we can interpret this statement is “You cannot love others any more than you are able to love yourself.” Are you really bad at loving yourself? Guess what? That's going to be your level of loving others too.Do you see it? I hope so, because this is a game changer.Now that you've heard these new thoughts, listen once again … Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.'Have you been hurt so much that you are focused on taking care of you over anyone else? Well, what if you were to love people like that? Then you'd be super-loyal, giving, and protective of everyone.Or do you struggle to love yourself and you know that makes your level of loving others really low, so it's time for something to give?The great news is the key to change for either side of this issue is found in the first part of the verse: ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.'Let's pray together: “Heavenly Father, Teach me to love You, then teach me how to love me, then let all that start to create love for everyone around me. As above, so below.”

One of the most powerful chapters in the New Testament is Colossians 3. Paul reminded us to try and remember Heaven when all Hell is breaking loose in our lives and to not allow the stuff of earth to rule our emotions, thoughts, and actions. We have to have a ground zero for our own hearts and minds, to take care of what we need to do and not do in our own lives.Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God's right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory. So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don't be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming. You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world. But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. Don't lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him.What phrase or words stood out to you?In which of these areas can you say you're doing really well right now?What did you hear that you know you're struggling in that area?Now listen again to select parts of this passage … Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, … not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. … So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. … You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world. But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. … for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him.Are there any “old nature things” that you know it's time to let go of?I want to encourage you again with Paul's words … put on your new nature, be renewed, and become like Jesus.Let's pray together: “Heavenly Father, help me to live out the values of Heaven here on earth as You keep renewing and revealing Your nature in me. As above, so below.”

One of the greatest disruptors in this day in which we live in our relational stability and our personal peace is anger. Especially on-going and unresolved anger.Listen to Ephesians 4:26-27 …And “don't sin by letting anger control you.” Don't let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil. (NLT) 99% of anger in our lives is at a person that we are in a relationship with. Yes, we get angry at strangers and even ourselves but mostly at people we know well. Yet anger is a valid emotion. There are plenty of places in Scripture where God got angry. Jesus got angry. But the motive for anger is crucial as well as what we do with our anger. That makes the difference. Paul offered great advice by saying that holding onto anger can poison us. To not take anger into a second day or the devil can use it against us.Listen to these verses in The Message Bible … Go ahead and be angry. You do well to be angry—but don't use your anger as fuel for revenge. And don't stay angry. Don't go to bed angry. Don't give the Devil that kind of foothold in your life.Is anger robbing your relational stability in any way these days?Is it actually harming you more than the person or people you are upset with?Consider how you can get rid of your anger by the end of each day.Let's pray together: “Heavenly Father, I hand my anger over to You. I don't want it to rob me, or hurt me, or become bitterness in my life. Remind me when it comes back up that You know what to do with it as I give it to You. As above, so below.”

One of the aspects of Jesus' life we can easily miss because we know how often he was in large crowds was how He went away to be alone and to pray. He not only got away from people in general, but also even His small circle of friends and disciples.Listen to Mark 1:35 …Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray.This is one of those verses where you don't need to study the original language to be able to interpret the real meaning. Because it's literal. … He got up early before everyone else. He went away from everyone else. To pray. He sought solitude, sanctuary, and solace.Let's look at another verse that gets even more interesting … After saying these things, Jesus went away and was hidden from them.I know of a mom who would need a moment to re-group herself when her kids were little. She would say, Mommy is going in the closet and shutting the door. I need you to be really quiet and I'll be right back in just a few minutes. Every time, after about three minutes of quiet and prayer, she would open the door and there will be every child, sitting right outside the door, waiting quietly for her.Whether Jesus was literally hidden as in invisible or He just had to take a moment like that mom, the principle is the same. Jesus had to get away and be alone so we do too. Self-care in silence and solitude in moment of sanctuary is critical to our well-being.When was the last time you actually sought after solitude - not with your phone or book… but in complete solitude? Just you and silence. What might we be missing if we don't follow Christ's example in this?Let's pray together: “Heavenly Father, help me to make a practice of finding that alone time, just like You did. Help me to find silence, solace, and sanctuary in You. As above, so below.”

While Revelation can certainly be a challenging book for us to understand, there are some very powerful passages of what we are promised as Christ-followers.Listen to Revelation 21:3-5 …I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God's home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them.  He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!”The next time you feel like you are never going to have enough and you may never get to the place you want to be, I want to encourage you to look past this life and remind yourself of your home in Heaven. One day, this life will be a blip on the radar of eternity.Listen to today's passage in the Message Bible …I heard a voice thunder from the Throne: “Look! Look! God has moved into the neighborhood, making his home with men and women! They're his people, he's their God. He'll wipe every tear from their eyes. Death is gone for good—tears gone, crying gone, pain gone—all the first order of things gone.” The Enthroned continued, “Look! I'm making everything new.I want to close this week by allowing a few moments to reflect on Heaven. The peace, the provision, the protection. Close your eyes and envision the place that today's passage described to you. …. The next time life is crashing down, close your eyes and recall this moment. And remember—no matter how things look now, God is making everything new.Let's pray together: “Heavenly Father, I look forward to the day when I get to experience no tears and no pain and everything being made new. Thank You for providing me with that hope, now and for eternity. As above, so below.”

Jesus taught some fascinating principles about the persistence we should have in prayer in Luke 11 …Then, teaching them more about prayer, he used this story: “Suppose you went to a friend's house at midnight, wanting to borrow three loaves of bread. You say to him, ‘A friend of mine has just arrived for a visit, and I have nothing for him to eat.' And suppose he calls out from his bedroom, ‘Don't bother me. The door is locked for the night, and my family and I are all in bed. I can't help you.' But I tell you this—though he won't do it for friendship's sake, if you keep knocking long enough, he will get up and give you whatever you need because of your shameless persistence. “And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. “You fathers—if your children ask for a fish, do you give them a snake instead? Or if they ask for an egg, do you give them a scorpion? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.”There is so much in this passage. But what did you hear? How do these words challenge you to pray? And how should you change your prayers to match these principles? More persistence? More honesty? More expectation? A healthier perspective that God wants to bless you?Listen to this passage again in The Message Bible …Then he said, “Imagine what would happen if you went to a friend in the middle of the night and said, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread. An old friend traveling through just showed up, and I don't have a thing on hand.' “The friend answers from his bed, ‘Don't bother me. The door's locked; my children are all down for the night; I can't get up to give you anything.' “But let me tell you, even if he won't get up because he's a friend, if you stand your ground, knocking and waking all the neighbors, he'll finally get up and get you whatever you need. “Here's what I'm saying: Ask and you'll get; Seek and you'll find; Knock and the door will open. “Don't bargain with God. Be direct. Ask for what you need. This is not a cat-and-mouse, hide-and-seek game we're in. If your little boy asks for a serving of fish, do you scare him with a live snake on his plate? If your little girl asks for an egg, do you trick her with a spider? As bad as you are, you wouldn't think of such a thing—you're at least decent to your own children. And don't you think the Father who conceived you in love will give the Holy Spirit when you ask him?”So, how much do you ask? Seek? Knock? Do you pray one or two times and then assume you have already prayed for it? Or do you pray for fish but in your heart expect snakes? Jesus made a lot of promises to us here. Maybe we should start to take Him up on them?As you ruminate on this, let's take some slow deep breaths once again.Breathe deep then slowly exhale and let go of your strife and stress. Move into the balance God offers you in this new day by trusting Him.Let's pray together: “Heavenly Father, forgive me when I expect but don't ask. Forgive me when I ask for fish but think you're going to hand me a snake. Help me change my mind so You can change my heart. Let my prayers be like a child expecting good gifts from a Father. As above, so below.”

I want to encourage you that no matter how many times you have read or heard this passage, try to hear this today with new ears and a fresh heart.Listen to Matthew 15 …Then Jesus called his disciples and told them, “I feel sorry for these people. They have been here with me for three days, and they have nothing left to eat. I don't want to send them away hungry, or they will faint along the way.” The disciples replied, “Where would we get enough food here in the wilderness for such a huge crowd?”  Jesus asked, “How much bread do you have?” They replied, “Seven loaves, and a few small fish.” So Jesus told all the people to sit down on the ground. Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, thanked God for them, and broke them into pieces. He gave them to the disciples, who distributed the food to the crowd. They all ate as much as they wanted. Afterward, the disciples picked up seven large baskets of leftover food. There were 4,000 men who were fed that day, in addition to all the women and children. Then Jesus sent the people home. (32-39 NLT)Today, in this moment, where are you lacking? Where is there not enough? The difference made in this story was Jesus being given what the people had. He will always be a Gentleman, so He will never take what is not handed over to Him. Wherever you are lacking, hand that over to Jesus right now in this moment.Listen to today's passage in the Message Bible …But Jesus wasn't finished with them. He called his disciples and said, “I hurt for these people. For three days now they've been with me, and now they have nothing to eat. I can't send them away without a meal—they'd probably collapse on the road.” His disciples said, “But where in this deserted place are you going to dig up enough food for a meal?” Jesus asked, “How much bread do you have?” “Seven loaves,” they said, “plus a few fish.” At that, Jesus directed the people to sit down. He took the seven loaves and the fish. After giving thanks, he divided it up and gave it to the people. Everyone ate. They had all they wanted. It took seven large baskets to collect the leftovers. Over four thousand people ate their fill at that meal.Even though we live in this world, God also has His Kingdom here. He has His own economy. He has His own people. He has His own way of working. Ask Him to let you see your own version of this miracle and then believe Him for the rest.Let's pray together: “Heavenly Father, this is such a crazy story, yet I know You can do anything You want. Please take the things in my life that I feel are subtracted and divided and add to them and multiply them in Your will. As above, so below.”

One of the greatest prayers in the New Testament was actually a cry for help to Jesus. An honest, vulnerable plea from a dad about his son's hopeless dilemma. Listen to the story in Mark 9…One of the men in the crowd spoke up and said, “Teacher, I brought my son so you could heal him. He is possessed by an evil spirit that won't let him talk. And whenever this spirit seizes him, it throws him violently to the ground. Then he foams at the mouth and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast out the evil spirit, but they couldn't do it.” Jesus said to them, “You faithless people! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.” So they brought the boy. But when the evil spirit saw Jesus, it threw the child into a violent convulsion, and he fell to the ground, writhing and foaming at the mouth. “How long has this been happening?” Jesus asked the boy's father. He replied, “Since he was a little boy. The spirit often throws him into the fire or into water, trying to kill him. Have mercy on us and help us, if you can.” “What do you mean, ‘If I can'?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.” The father instantly cried out, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief! (NLT)Of course, Jesus healed the boy and he was fully restored in front of the crowd.But think about this dad's prayer. How many times have we all known that we believe God for something yet we also know we have doubts and struggles too? So our belief is in the same heart with our unbelief, somehow all mixed together.What if the very reason this story and this father's plea was included in the Bible is to show us that God knows we battle faith and doubt so we should just be honest about our sense of what we lack.Listen again to the interaction between the dad and Jesus…Have mercy on us and help us, if you can.” “What do you mean, ‘If I can'?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.” The father instantly cried out, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!Today, let's go ahead and join this dad in our confession. Let's get real about our belief and our unbelief. Be honest with God and ask for His help where we are struggling to believe Him. Because Jesus did heal the boy after the man's full confession. And what do you think that did to the dad's faith?Let's pray together: “Heavenly Father, I believe You in so many ways, but then, being honest, there are so many places where I struggle. Help me overcome my unbelief today. As above, so below.”

The idea of “having enough” is really about perspective, right? Saying we don't have enough in the U.S. is a very different concept than not having enough in a third world country. Or maybe at some point in life, we have had a lot, and now there's not nearly as much. Everything compares to when there were better days. I heard ex-pro ball player and sports analyst Charles Barkley talking about his childhood recently where he said, “I was raised by a single mom and we were very happy, so as a kid, I really didn't realize we were poor.” … Perspective. So this week let's do what we do here at Sound Mind Set and look for some biblical perspective from God's Word on a tough topic.In 1 Kings 20, Syria was planning to attack Israel again. The Syrian leaders made this decision: Last time, Israel defeated us in the hills, so that's the reason we lost. If we can fight them on flat land, in the valley between the mountains, we can win.Listen to verses 26-28 …“The following spring he called up the Aramean army and marched out against Israel, this time at Aphek. Israel then mustered its army, set up supply lines, and marched out for battle. But the Israelite army looked like two little flocks of goats in comparison to the vast Aramean forces that filled the countryside! Then the man of God went to the king of Israel and said, “This is what the Lord says: The Arameans have said, ‘The Lord is a god of the hills and not of the plains.' So I will defeat this vast army for you. Then you will know that I am the Lord.” (1 Kings 20:26-28 NLT).In verses 29 and 30, we read that the Israelites were victorious and what was left of the Aramean army fled. We see God prove He is Lord, not only of the hills, but the valleys as well.Today, we can read a passage like this and think, “How ridiculous! Why would they excuse their defeat by thinking God is limited to certain areas? Why would they blame location?”Listen once again to the key part of this passage …Then the man of God went to the king of Israel and said, “This is what the Lord says: The Arameans have said, ‘The Lord is a god of the hills and not of the plains.' So I will defeat this vast army for you. Then you will know that I am the Lord.”Here's how we often create this same scenario in our own lives…I believe He is God over my family, but I can't trust Him with my finances.I believe He is God over my church, but not my career.I believe He will watch over my kids, but not my future.I believe He is God over forgiveness of sin, but He can't heal my heart.I believe He blesses everyone I know—but not me.Do you see the God-of-the-hills-but-not-the-valleys syndrome that we can so easily create? The limitations we place on a limitless God? The way we apply faith in one area and not another?Where are you most struggling with believing God? I want to encourage you to take a few minutes and talk to Him. Be honest with Him about how you feel and why you are struggling.Let's pray together: “Heavenly Father, please help me to remember that You are God everywhere in my life—my mountains and my valleys. Show me Your power in my weakest places. As above, so below.”

Today, we close out our week, focusing on hope.Romans15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.Hope is something that often eludes us. Day-to-day, we can get so lost in the stress and anxiety of our culture that our sense of hope feels diminished. That's why this passage cuts through. It starts by saying that we are sons and daughters of the ‘God of hope'. What is an area in your life right now that feels hopeless?It says we will be filled with hope, joy and peace as we trust in Him. Right now, can you reaffirm your trust in our God of hope?It also says the power of the Holy Spirit will cause us to overflow with hope.Can you invite the Holy Spirit to release the power of Hope in your life so that it ‘overflows to those around us?Pray with me: “God of hope, please fill me with joy and peace, and help me trust you in all areas of my life. I ask that your Holy Spirit would fill me with the hope that overflows into those around me. As above, so below. ”

Psalm 77:11-15I will remember the deeds of the Lord;    yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.I will consider all your works    and meditate on all your mighty deeds.”Your ways, God, are holy.    What god is as great as our God?You are the God who performs miracles;    you display your power among the peoples.With your mighty arm you redeemed your people,    the descendants of Jacob and Joseph.There is a Hebrew word that shows up often in the Bible; the word is  ZAKAR, meaning remember. Often when God had provided a way through or a victory, people who witnessed it would stop what they were doing, and build an altar to celebrate the faithfulness of God. Jesus, on his last night with his disciples before his crucifixion, told us all to do this very thing. To take the bread and the cup in remembrance of him. There's more to this practice than just calling back to mind something that has happened. It is ruminating on the faithfulness of God that anchors us. Can you think of a situation where you didn't see a way through, where you had come to the end of yourself, but God came through? Take a moment and put yourself back in that situation of desperation, feel the doubt, feel the fear, and now remember what it felt like when you realized things were going to be OK... when you saw God come through. Ruminate on what it felt like for God to deliver, and know that that same power is available to you right now, whatever you are facingLet's pray together: “Father, help me to commit myself to the act of remembrance. To remember Your faithful power that I have seen at work in my life. Help me to hold on to that awareness when I come into situations where I don't know what to do. As above, so below”

Psalm 107:1-9Oh, thank God—he's so good!    His love never runs out. All of you set free by God, tell the world!    Tell how he freed you from oppression, Then rounded you up from all over the place,    from the four winds, from the seven seas.Some of you wandered for years in the desert,    looking but not finding a good place to live, Half-starved and parched with thirst,    staggering and stumbling, on the brink of exhaustion. Then, in your desperate condition, you called out to God.    He got you out in the nick of time; He put your feet on a wonderful road    that took you straight to a good place to live. So thank God for his marvelous love,    for his miracle mercy to the children he loves. He poured great drafts of water down parched throats;    the starved and hungry got plenty to eat.This is a beautiful Psalm about the goodness of God. So many times in life, we can feel knocked around by circumstances. Feeling overwhelmed by the demands, the responsibilities and the challenges that we all face, can sometimes take our focus off the goodness of God . This Psalm has 34 more verses just like the ones we've read. Over and over, describing God coming to our aid in difficult circumstances and challenges. The common thread of all these verses explains the only thing that we are responsible for is calling out to him… and he comes through. Take a moment to realize the goodness of God in your life is just a request away. Crying out to him doesn't always result in us getting our way, but it does lead us to an abundant life, even amid the circumstances that we find ourselves in. That abundant life is God's goodness, and we can be expectant that he delivers His abundance, peace, and reassurance if we just cry out for him. Be aware that his goodness and presence are all around you regardless of your circumstance.PRAYFather thank you for your goodness which always comes through. Please help me to be patient. Help me to be aware and expectant that amid whatever challenge I find myself in, your abundance… your goodness is always available. As above, so below.

Today our scripture reading is from Colossians 3:15-17 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 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. 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. Having a spirit of gratitude is one of the most powerful tools that God has given us. The act of giving thanks, of feeling gratitude can actually change our brain chemistry. No matter what situation you find yourself in, there's always something around you worth giving thanks for. It may be a small thing, it may be a significant thing. Every day we wake up with a choice. That choice is what we focus on. We can focus on a sense of lack, or what we're missing, or we can choose to find and focus on those things we are grateful for. And allow the peace of Christ to rule our hearts. Can you think of one thing that you are grateful for ?Maybe its a person, something that has happened, or something that is a blessing - like health, or provision.Focus on that one thing and everything about that one thing that you are grateful for. Feel it in your body, feel the gratitude and worship Your father in the spirit of gratitude.Pray with me: “Father I have so much to be grateful for. Help me to work into the discipline of choosing to be grateful, of choosing to find things to give thanks for. Let your peace rule in my heart. As above So Below. ”

2 Corinthians 12:5-10….I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses. Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say, or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.When we look at our lives, they are full of victories and full of setbacks. In these verses, Paul clarifies the true source of strength. God's strength. He also speaks of ‘a thorn in the flesh', placed there to keep him from being conceited. It's interesting to reframe the challenges in our life, failures in our life, and seeing even those play a divine purpose in our lives. What area of your life feels weak right now? What is the difficulty in your life right now?"When I am weak, then I am strong."This message is countercultural to our society which preaches self-reliance. Can you admit your weakness to God right now?Ask for him to give you not only the strength to make it through but also the awareness that in your weakness, He is strong, Turning all things for your good and His gloryLet's pray: “Holy Father, thank you for your power that shines in my weakness. I confess my failings, I confess my weakness, and I acknowledge those areas of struggle and hardship in the very areas where are you are shining brightest through me.”

Today, I want us to take a close and honest look at where we are spiritually. Guiding our kids spiritually starts with us, in our life.Here's a question … was there a time in your life when you were closer to Christ? When was that? Why were you closer then? What happened?Regardless of your answer, what will it take for you to grow and mature to the next place God has for you?Listen to Hebrews 6:1-3 …So let us stop going over the basic teachings about Christ again and again. Let us go on instead and become mature in our understanding. Surely we don't need to start again with the fundamental importance of repenting from evil deeds and placing our faith in God. You don't need further instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And so, God willing, we will move forward to further understanding.Now, granted, baptism, laying on of hands, resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgement are some heady topics, but we don't need to miss the real point of the passage: Don't keep re-learning what you already know. Don't go backwards spiritually. Move forward and grow.Listen to today's passage in the Message Bible … So come on, let's leave the preschool fingerpainting exercises on Christ and get on with the grand work of art. Grow up in Christ. The basic foundational truths are in place: turning your back on “salvation by self-help” and turning in trust toward God; baptismal instructions; laying on of hands; resurrection of the dead; eternal judgment. God helping us, we'll stay true to all that. But there's so much more. Let's get on with it!What has to happen for you to grow in Jesus?Can we ask Him to reveal what He wants to lead you in growth, what might a next step, a new area of focus be?What needs to happen for you to help your kids grow with you?That, my friend, is your next step.Let's pray together: “Heavenly Father, help me to be solid in what I know to be true about You and then start (or keep) growing and maturing in You. Help me to be constantly moving forward to a new place in You and taking my kids with me. As above, so below.”

Today, I want to focus on a very simple yet profound statement that I hope you will memorize and repeat as needed.What I allow God to transform in me, I will be able to transfer to my children.Let's repeat that … What I allow God to transform in me, I will be able to transfer to my children Listen to Paul in Romans 12:1-2 … Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.Notice how God transforms us into a new person … by changing the way we think. And the way God thinks is opposite of the world.Listen to this passage again in The Message Bible … So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.If changing your thinking can transform you, what needs to change about your thinking?How does God want to transform you by changing the way you think?And how will that transformation positively transform your children?Let's pray together: “Heavenly Father, change my mind. Change my heart. Help me to be shaped by You and not the world. And please help me to stay motivated to grow in You for the sake of my kids. As above, so below.”

A huge part of training our children in the ways of God is, first, not being afraid to do it in a culture that is going in the opposite direction. And two, is to be confident that, regardless of your past and whatever has happened in your family, God wants you to teach your kids. Let go of your fears. Let go of the “who am I to teach anyone about God?” lies. Please know that in Christ you have all you need to take your children wherever God wants you all to go.Listen to Psalm 34:1-4 …Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him! Fear the Lord, you his godly people, for those who fear him will have all they need. Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those who trust in the Lord will lack no good thing. Come, my children, and listen to me, and I will teach you to fear the Lord. Does anyone want to live a life that is long and prosperous? Then keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies!  Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it.Is it time for you to believe that you will have all that you need?Can you say it aloud - I have all that I need today Is it time for you to believe that you lack no good thing?Can you say it - Thank you Father, I lack no good thing Listen to part of today's passage in the Message … Open your mouth and taste, open your eyes and see— how good God is. Blessed are you who run to him. Worship God if you want the best; worship opens doors to all his goodness. Young lions on the prowl get hungry, but God-seekers are full of God. Come, children, listen closely; I'll give you a lesson in God worship. Who out there has a lust for life? Can't wait each day to come upon beauty?As we are halfway through this week, what are you sensing from God in our time together? As you hear His Word? What is He saying to you? What is saying to you about your kids?Whatever you sense God is saying, follow that. And point your kids in the same direction.And always remember—it's a relationship, not a religion.Let's pray together: “Heavenly Father, please deepen me in my relationship with You. For me, but for my kids. As above, so below.”

The old saying goes: “We can't take anyone any farther than we are.” I can't teach you things that I don't know. I can tell you, but I can't teach you. So, that is a challenge for us that if we want our kids to grow deep in Christ, we will have to go deep first.Listen to Psalm 25:4-10 …Show me the right path, O Lord; point out the road for me to follow. Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you. Remember, O Lord, your compassion and unfailing love, which you have shown from long ages past. Do not remember the rebellious sins of my youth. Remember me in the light of your unfailing love, for you are merciful, O Lord. The Lord is good and does what is right; he shows the proper path to those who go astray. He leads the humble in doing right, teaching them his way. The Lord leads with unfailing love and faithfulness all who keep his covenant and obey his demands. (NLT) So much of the Psalms we can pray as our own prayers. Imagine praying these words. Doing what these verses say. Imagine our kids seeing us do these things and choosing to follow.Listen to The Message in these same verses … Show me how you work, God; School me in your ways. Take me by the hand; Lead me down the path of truth. You are my Savior, aren't you? Mark the milestones of your mercy and love, God; Rebuild the ancient landmarks! Forget that I sowed wild oats; Mark me with your sign of love. Plan only the best for me, God! God is fair and just; He corrects the misdirected, Sends them in the right direction. He gives the rejects his hand, And leads them step-by-step. From now on every road you travel Will take you to God. Follow the Covenant signs; Read the charted directions.The scripture says - Show me how you work, God; School me in your ways. Take me by the hand; Lead me down the path of truth.Let me ask you, How teachable are you right now? So often we get stuck in the way we have always done something that we fail to see new possibilities.Can you ask God right now to show you areas that you may need to be schooled in His ways? And ask him to take you by your hand and lead you down the path of truth, open your eyes to His way of seeing things?Let's pray together: “Heavenly Father, show me how you work. School me in your ways. Take me by the hand. Lead me down the path of truth. You are my Savior. As above, so below.”

Discipling our kids comes in two forms—taught and caught. We need to teach them about our faith, how to have a relationship with Christ, and the value of God's Word. But what is so crucial is to allow them to catch us living out our faith in front of them. Honestly, the “taught” part is often easier than the “caught”. Because it's more of a “don't do as I do, do as I say” thing. But God wants to use our kids in our lives to make us more like Jesus just as much as He wants to use us in their lives.Proverbs 22:6 is an often-quoted verse that offers us a clear command but also makes a promise. A promise … not a guarantee.Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it. (NLT) Let's take the verse apart … Direct your children … to direct, you have to be engaged, either beside them or leading them.Onto the right path … in light of being in the Bible, the right path is the one that leads toward God.And when they are older …. Kids are easier to influence when they are young. Leading in the right direction toward God at a young age builds a foundation for later.They will not leave it … again, this can't be a guarantee because people walk away from their faith, or refuse it. But let's think of it this way: our job is to pour God into our kids, so later, He can use our influence in their hearts.Listen once again, this time in The Message … Point your kids in the right direction—when they're old they won't be lost.So a great place to start on discipling your kids in spiritual training is simply to keep asking: Where am I pointing my kids? And then to ask: Is my “caught” pointing the same place as my “taught”?What is way I can point my kids in the right direction this week?What is something that should shift in my day to day walk that would provide an opportunity for my kids to catch me walking in faith?Need to make some adjustments? That's okay, God's grace and mercy is there to make all the adjustments you need to make, for you and your kids.Let's pray together: “Heavenly Father, I need You to teach me what you need my kids to know about You. Lead me when I pray. Guide me in Your Word. Help me to catch all I can from you in any way I possibly can. As above, so below.”

Today, as we close out our focus on the illusion of control and the reality of God being in control, especially in the area of our parenting and connected relationships, a fair question for us to ask is this: “Okay, God, if You are in control, when will you take total control? Like take away all our false ideas and futile attempts to be in control for ourselves?”Listen once again to Paul, this time in Philippians 3:20-21 … But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control. (NLT) So we live in a time when God offers His control of our lives as a choice. One option among thousands. But when we choose Him, two things become a reality. First, we live on the earth, but our citizenship changes to Heaven. And second, we live for the day when the choices end and He takes everything over. Whether we die first or He comes back, we will witness Him “bringing everything under His control.” Meanwhile, today, right now, no matter how tough life gets, no matter how unfair life may seem, we can choose Him, choose His power, choose Heaven.Listen to today's passage in the Message Bible … But there's far more to life for us. We're citizens of high heaven! We're waiting the arrival of the Savior, the Master, Jesus Christ, who will transform our earthy bodies into glorious bodies like his own. He'll make us beautiful and whole with the same powerful skill by which he is putting everything as it should be, under and around him.This week, how did your view of personal control change?How did your view of God being in control change?And, as always, the biggest question for any of us, what do you need to give up and give God for your best and your kids best?Let's pray together: “Heavenly Father, thank You for the hope and the promise, whether here or in Heaven, that the best is always yet to come. Please help me to remember that truth when everything seems to go wrong and I want to give up. Just help me to give it to You. As above, so below.”

When we feel like life or parenting, or schedule, or money, or all of it is out of control, we really mean out of our control, don't we?It's very important in those moments to evaluate what is in control. Living in a fallen world, so often we see sin controlling things. Selfishness, self-serving, self-gratification. The crucial thing to do is take an honest look at our own lives and ask, Is sin controlling anything in my life that I need to give to God?Listen to Paul in Romans 6:11-14 …So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus. Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires. Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God. Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God's grace. (NLT) As you heard this passage, did anything come to mind? Did any part stand out to you? Did God speak to you, even if it was just a quick flash in your mind?If sin is a master, and masters want to control, then what great news to hear we have the option to live in freedom. To be free of control or the need to control … anything … anyone.Listen to this passage again in The Message Bible … When Jesus died, he took sin down with him, but alive he brings God down to us. From now on, think of it this way: Sin speaks a dead language that means nothing to you; God speaks your mother tongue, and you hang on every word. You are dead to sin and alive to God. That's what Jesus did. That means you must not give sin a vote in the way you conduct your lives. Don't give it the time of day. Don't even run little errands that are connected with that old way of life. Throw yourselves wholeheartedly and full-time—remember, you've been raised from the dead!—into God's way of doing things. Sin can't tell you how to live. After all, you're not living under that old tyranny any longer. You're living in the freedom of God.If this passage is true, then let me ask you … what are you not free from today? If something, someone, or any situation quickly comes to mind, how can you apply today's truth to open your hand, release your grip, and hand it over to God?Let's pray together: “Heavenly Father, thank You for Jesus, Thank You for Your love. Thank You that You have defeated sin. My sin. Thank You for my freedom. Help me to walk in it—today. As above, so below.”

If there is any story in the Bible that shows the lengths a human will go to stay in control, do his own will, and avoid God, it's the story of Jonah. It's funny how over the years we have made this entire book to be all about the apparent bad thing of getting swallowed by a whale, when in reality the whale was sent by God to save the man from self-destruction. That metaphor can be used a lot in all of our lives.Listen to Jonah 1:1-4 …One day long ago, God's Word came to Jonah: “Up on your feet and on your way to the big city of Nineveh! Preach to them. They're in a bad way and I can't ignore it any longer.” But Jonah got up and went the other direction to Tarshish, running away from God. He went down to the port of Joppa and found a ship headed for Tarshish. He paid the fare and went on board, joining those going to Tarshish—as far away from God as he could get. But God sent a huge storm … (MSG) Okay, yes, God sent a huge storm, but didn't Jonah actually bring the storm on himself?Let that sink in for a moment.Of course, there are bad things that happen to us that are no fault at all of our own. But then, if we are going to be honest, how many storms do we need to admit we started or had a hand in starting?Back to the story, I guess sitting in the digestive juices of a whale causes you to re-think your choices, huh?Listen to just one chapter later …I was as far down as a body can go, and the gates were slamming shut behind me forever—Yet you pulled me up from that grave alive, O God, my God! When my life was slipping away, I remembered God, And my prayer got through to you, made it all the way to your Holy Temple. Those who worship hollow gods, god-frauds, walk away from their only true love. But I'm worshiping you, God, calling out in thanksgiving! And I'll do what I promised I'd do! Salvation belongs to God!” Then God spoke to the fish, and it vomited up Jonah on the seashore. (Jonah 2:6-10 MSG) Is this story a reminder of any situation in your own life? Maybe one from years ago or one you are in right now? So, are you on the ship … in the whale … or standing on the beach, wiping the vomit off?When we find ourselves out of control, and can even point fingers at other's poor choices, all we can do is what we can do about ourselves. We have to ask, what part of this do I need to own? And then, we have to learn to recognize that even when a situation may stink, God brought it to us for a reason to get us where He wants us to go. Because He loves us, wants to save us, and He is the One in control.Let's pray together: “Heavenly Father, help me to not run from You, no matter what life brings, to accept that You are in control of me and You love me—always.” As above, so below.”

In the Book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon in all his wisdom worked hard to figure out why life is completely out of his control, even as a powerful king. In his writings, he was frustrated and angry and cynical and flippant and sarcastic. Does that sound familiar at all? Thank God that He gave us such a wide variety of people and circumstances in His Word to show us the collision between the divine and the human.Listen to Ecclesiastes 8:7-9 in The Message … Yes, there's a right time and way for everything, even though, unfortunately, we miss it for the most part. It's true that no one knows what's going to happen, or when. Who's around to tell us? No one can control the wind or lock it in a box. No one has any say-so regarding the day of death. No one can stop a battle in its tracks. No one who does evil can be saved by evil. All this I observed as I tried my best to understand all that's going on in this world. As long as men and women have the power to hurt each other, this is the way it is.Can you relate to any of Solomon's words?When we can't actually control anything about life but we want to, we usually end up hurting one another, trying to control each other. And we have to be so careful that we don't end up trying too hard to control our kids. Control is never the point of parenting.Let's fast-forward to the end of Ecclesiastes where Solomon finally resolves his search for truth.The words of the wise prod us to live well. They're like nails hammered home, holding life together. They are given by God, the one Shepherd. But regarding anything beyond this, dear friend, go easy. There's no end to the publishing of books, and constant study wears you out so you're no good for anything else. The last and final word is this: Fear God. Do what he tells you. And that's it. (Ecclesiastes 12:11-14 MSG) So, evidently it's okay to run through all of our crazy, mixed-up emotions and express our cynical and sarcastic opinions of how life treats us. Because what matters most after the process is where we end up. Better, not bitter. Realizing we will never be God and He always will be. And that will always be a great place to land.Let's pray together: “Heavenly Father, please help me to realize I can vent with You as my Father. I can tell you exactly what I think. You already know what I'm thinking so I may as well just voice it. But remind me in those moments that all I am saying is that You have to be in control—and to thank You that I'm not. As above, so below.”

One of the toughest things we have to deal with in life is when something we care about is taken completely out of our control. Then anytime it involves our kids, that adds a heightened level of emotions. And if you add issues like hurt, distrust, betrayal, and being unfair, all of life can quickly seem unbearable and confusing.Fortunately, the Bible has a lot to say about these very human dynamics because we all deal with them, more than we ever want to. For that reason alone, we have to learn where to go for help.In chapter 30 in the Book of Proverbs, King Solomon gets very real about life while talking to God … I am weary, O God; I am weary and worn out, O God. I am too stupid to be human, and I lack common sense. I have not mastered human wisdom, nor do I know the Holy One. Who but God goes up to heaven and comes back down? Who holds the wind in his fists? Who wraps up the oceans in his cloak? Who has created the whole wide world? What is his name—and his son's name? Tell me if you know! Every word of God proves true. He is a shield to all who come to him for protection. (1-5 NLT) Bottom line here … When life wears you out, just admit you are fragile, you don't know everything, don't know what to do, don't know what God is up to, but also … if He has created everything and is control of all you see, then He knows what to do with your life and will protect you … even, yes even, when it does not feel like it.This passage is not to be taken as someone speaking from a poor self-image, but how we feel when life gets out of our control. All to remind ourselves who we are not and who God is.Listen once again:I am weary, O God; I am weary and worn out, O God. I am too stupid to be human, and I lack common sense. I have not mastered human wisdom, nor do I know the Holy One. Who but God goes up to heaven and comes back down? Who holds the wind in his fists? Who wraps up the oceans in his cloak? Who has created the whole wide world? What is his name—and his son's name? Tell me if you know! Every word of God proves true. He is a shield to all who come to him for protection. (30:1-5 NLT) What feels totally out of control in your life right now?Here's the odd, yet good news … if you can admit it's out of your control, then maybe it's totally in God's control? Why don't you take a minute and invite Him to take over anything you are struggling with? Right now.Let's pray together: “Heavenly Father, I guess feeling like I'm in control of anything is just an illusion, huh? Would you take over everything right now—the things I think I'm controlling and the things I know are completely out of my control? … As above, so below.”

The toughest thing about trying to live as a Christ-follower is being beat down by the world, all the while knowing Heaven is a reality waiting for us one day. But it's hard to see Heaven when we feel like Hell is constantly on our doorstep, isn't it?We know that God, who raised the Lord Jesus, will also raise us with Jesus and present us to himself together with you. All of this is for your benefit. … That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won't last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don't look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever. (NLT) When things are tough, especially inside your own family and dealing with your kids, try and remember this life is temporary … in several ways … one, your children are growing up and there will be a day when they will leave home, and two, there will be a day that Heaven will move from a someday thing to a reality. So hold onto it all loosely and maybe a little less intensly.Listen to today's passage in the Message Bible … And what we believe is that the One who raised up the Master Jesus will just as certainly raise us up with you, alive. Every detail works to your advantage and to God's glory … So we're not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There's far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can't see now will last forever.What problem are you holding onto just a bit too tightly right now?What issue should you take a little less seriously right now?What do you need to change your perspective on to see it as temporary? Because it is.Let's pray together: “Heavenly Father, please help me to stand up when I feel like giving up. Help me to release my grip when I feel like taking control. Help me to hand over to You everything I hold on to. As above, so below.”

From a teenage boy in the fields alone with the sheep to a king in the palace, David's life knew trouble … trouble he made for himself, trouble from others, and a lot of trouble with his kids.Despite his issues, David constantly showed us how to turn to the Lord with anything and everything.Listen to Psalm 18:1-6 …I love you, Lord; you are my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety.  I called on the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and he saved me from my enemies. The ropes of death entangled me; floods of destruction swept over me. The grave wrapped its ropes around me; death laid a trap in my path. But in my distress I cried out to the Lord; yes, I prayed to my God for help. He heard me from his sanctuary; my cry to him reached his ears. (NLT) If you were to composed a psalm of your own, what would you say to God? What would you say about God?You know what enemies, threats, floods, and distress feel like, don't you? Do you know the other side David speaks about? To allow God to rescue you? To cry out to Him for help?Listen to part of this passage again in The New Life Bible … I love You, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, and my safe place, and the One Who takes me out of trouble. My God is my rock, in Whom I am safe. He is my safe-covering, my saving strength, and my strong tower. I call to the Lord, Who has the right to be praised. And I am saved from those who hate me. The ropes of death were all around me. The floods of death make me afraid. The ropes of the grave were all around me. The traps of death were set for me. I called to the Lord in my trouble. I cried to God for help. He heard my voice from His holy house. My cry for help came into His ears.Let's take a few moments to list some of the major troubles you have experienced … maybe something you are walking through right now?Now list what God has done or what You want to see Him do?Listing, even writing out your prayers is a great exercise … one you might try doing with your kids too.Let's pray together: “Heavenly Father, You are my strength, my Rock, my Safe Place, my Covering, my Strong Tower. Thank You for hearing me when I cry out to You. Thank You for answering, not always on my time, but on Yours. As above, so below.”

When we face tough times, when we don't know what to do as a parent, when disappointment and heartache comes, we have to remember Jesus came and experienced all these same hurts and emotions and so He understands how we feel. Listen to Hebrews 4:14-16 … So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. (NLT) How often have you been in a dark moment and thought, “I just wish someone could understand what I'm going through right now. How I feel.”? How amazing is it that God tells us when we are weak and failing the test, that actually is the best time to come boldly before Him … to receive mercy and find grace. … Help when we need it most.Listen to this passage again in The Message Bible … Now that we know what we have—Jesus, this great High Priest with ready access to God—let's not let it slip through our fingers. We don't have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He's been through weakness and testing, experienced it all—all but the sin. So let's walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help.What part of this passage stood out to you? Spoke to you?How great is it that we are told to … walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help?Knowing that God has experienced what you are feeling and is ready, waiting to give you the mercy and strength you need. Can I do that now? Imagine in your mind your Father is with you now, He knows the struggle already, can you boldly walk to him and ask for what He promises He is ready to give? Ask for mercy and then ask for help.What if you wrote that message across your bathroom mirror? To see it first thing every morning and the last thing at night? Take the mercy, accept the help. … amen.Let's pray together: “Heavenly Father, when I'm weak, when I'm being tested by my kids, when I have no idea what to do, remind me to “take the mercy and accept the help.” As above, so below.”

Parenting is a long-haul job. A job we don't get days off from and we cannot quit. We all need constant emotional, mental, and spiritual fuel to keep on keeping on in raising our kids.Listen to Romans 5:2-5 …Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God's glory. We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. (NLT) Confidence. Joy. Help for problems and trials. Endurance. Character. Strength. Hope that does not disappoint. Our hearts filled with love. Who else could possibly offer that kind of guarantee but God?Listen to verses 3-5 in The Message …There's more to come: We continue to shout our praise even when we're hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. In alert expectancy such as this, we're never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary—we can't round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit!Do you believe your current troubles can develop passionate patience in you? Something we all desperately need as parents in today's culture, right?The next time you feel hemmed in by trouble, know that you aren't being short-changed, but God will provide a way out and, then on the other side, you can experience the “tempered steel of virtue.”Let's pray together: “Heavenly Father, when trouble comes, especially with my kids, help me to look for You in the midst of the mess. Teach me to anticipate what You are going to do on the other side. As above, so below.”

Galatians 5:22 and 23 offers us a list of qualities and characteristics that God will give us. Then, as parents, can become a blessing to our children.But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (NLT) Picture a fruit tree … whatever fruit is your favorite … when that tree begins to show the fruit it grows on its branches, does it then use that for its own food? Of course not. The fruit of the tree is not for the tree, but for those who can take part in its maturity and enjoy its blessing. Does picking the fruit to eat hurt the tree? No. Two reasons why … that's the purpose of the tree and it can grow more.The same concept is what God's fruit produces and provides in us—our maturity and growth that blesses others, but most especially our own kids.Listen to The Message Bible's take on this same passage:But what happens when we live God's way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.So, are you strong in kindness but struggle in self-control? Good at expressing love but battle being at peace within your heart? Take a few minutes to do a fruit inspection with God. Let Him show you anywhere you need to submit to Him. Keep in mind, none of us can produce this fruit on our own.Let's pray together: “Heavenly Father, help me to love, to find joy, to allow peace, to be patient, be kind, show goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and please help me to have self-control by giving control of everything to You. As above, so below.”

“I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love.  When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father's commandments and remain in his love. I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends. … Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. You didn't choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. This is my command: Love each other. (John 15:9-13, 15-17 NLT) Did you notice how many times Jesus used the word “love”? And did you also notice He called us “friends”? There is such an incredible intimacy in this passage. Jesus literally commanded us to love with our very lives. A love that impacts eternity, our families, and what our families do and take part in as believers.Today's passage in the Message Bible …“I've loved you the way my Father has loved me. Make yourselves at home in my love. If you keep my commands, you'll remain intimately at home in my love. That's what I've done—kept my Father's commands and made myself at home in his love. “I've told you these things for a purpose: that my joy might be your joy, and your joy wholly mature. This is my command: Love one another the way I loved you. This is the very best way to love. Put your life on the line for your friends. You are my friends when you do the things I command you. … I've named you friends because I've let you in on everything I've heard from the Father. “You didn't choose me, remember; I chose you, and put you in the world to bear fruit, fruit that won't spoil. As fruit bearers, whatever you ask the Father in relation to me, he gives you. “But remember the root command: Love one another.How can you grow in your love for your kids … the kind of love Jesus talked about here?How can you love one another better inside your own home?How can you lead your kids to love people … not just certain people or people that look like them but everyone?The answers to these questions are what your faith is all about.Let's pray together: “Heavenly Father, I need to grow in love… my love for You, myself, my kids, and others. Help me to teach my kids how to love … love like You. As above, so below.”

One of the most telling and incredible passages in the New Testament is where Jesus talks about the difference in those who follow Him and those who don't, and how you can tell them apart here on earth. What is also fascinating here is the things He cares about the most in what we do with our lives.“But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left. “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.' “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?' “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!' (Matthew 25:31-40 NLT) So what does it appear God cares a lot about? Did you catch it? Feeding the hungry. Providing for those who have no water or no clean water. The homeless. The naked. The poor. The sick. Those in prison.Why do you think the righteous responded by asking Jesus…..”when did we see you among those we ministered to”? … Notice they knew they did those things, they were just asking Jesus where He was?What if once a week, you found some way for you and your kids to do just one of these things? It doesn't have to take a lot of money … it can just take a little time and energy. Maybe sponsor a child with one of the many aid and education organizations and let your kids write a letter to the child? Let them choose the country and the child. Or you could take a few canned goods to a local food pantry and ask for a tour of what they do? Write a letter to an inmate in prison through one of the many great prison ministry organizations?And remember and remind your kids—when you do it for someone like this, you are actually doing it for Jesus. He said so.Let's pray together: “Heavenly Father, I confess I get overwhelmed with the problems of the world and end up doing nothing. Help me to take this passage and focus on just one simple act to get started on what your sheep do.  I certainly know what it looks like to be over looked and ignored, so let's help those who live that way every day.  As above so below.”

Billy Graham once said, “The true test of who we really are is found inside our own families.” And let's be honest, we see the very best of one another and then the very worst. Watching video from our homes, someone might accuse any of us of being Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, right? But God knows that … it's called flesh and spirit.The apostle Paul was a brilliant and articulate man. But a man with a horrible past. Before he met Christ, he went after Christians to imprison or execute them. He oversaw the stoning of Stephen, approving of a brutal death. So he understood so well how evil we can be, even while thinking we are doing something right in our own eyes. Listen to his words in Romans 7 … listen close, because this is quite a passage to take in … And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can't.  I want to do what is good, but I don't. I don't want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. But if I do what I don't want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it. I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong.  I love God's law with all my heart. But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord.  (Romans 7:18-25 NLT) How would really understanding these verses allow you to change your understanding of your own behavior? Your kids' behavior? How might this change your parenting … not meaning you cut slack as much as you better understand your kids' hearts?We get Paul's frustration, don't we? This makes a lot of sense. We watch it in our kids literally every day.How can you take in these words and allow the truth here to impact your parenting, your response to your own behavior, that of your kids, and the dynamics inside your home? Remember this: The answer, thank God, is that Jesus Christ … acted to set things right in this life of contradictions … Let's pray together: “Heavenly Father, I get it. The very thing I don't want to do, I do. And the very thing I want to do, I don't do. Thank You that You understand this daily battle within me, within my family. Help me to apply Your truth and Your answers in my heart and in my home. As above, so below.”

“Don't let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father's home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?  When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. And you know the way to where I am going.” “No, we don't know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. … From now on, you do know him and have seen him!” (John 14:1-7 NLT) It's so encouraging that Jesus began with stating the reality of this world—we live so much of the time with troubled hearts. So that is why Jesus tells us to trust God and Him. He goes on to talk about Heaven, about how there is a place for us if we choose it, and then assuring us that He is the Way. Not a way or one of the many ways, but the Way.Let me ask you … when you hear this, do you really believe it? Do you believe there is actually a place in Heaven for you?Have you ever been to Paris? Or Rome? Or London? Or Tokyo? How do you know for certain this are real places that exist? Well, you believe the map, you believe the pictures you see, the articles you read, TV shows, movies, and anyone who has been there to tell you about those cities.But who just told you He had a real place in eternity prepared for you? Jesus. Well, if we can believe maps, and articles, and people about physical places here, isn't it safe to believe God about what He tells us, since He made it all, earth and Heaven?And I leave you with this question: How can you help your kids see Heaven as a real place?Let's pray together: “Heavenly Father, hearing that You have a place for me in Heaven is surreal, but yet I know it's real. Please grow my faith to believe that heavenly city exists just as much as where I live right now. I want to get excited about eternity as it becomes more and more real to me. As above, so below.”

Timothy 3:14-17 …But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you. You have been taught the holy Scriptures …, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work. (NLT) Wisdom. Inspiration. Teaching. Truth. Correction. What is right and what is wrong. Preparing us and equipping us for good work. We all need all these dynamics, all the time in our lives.Let's go back to the first sentence in the passage that states … “if we remain faithful to the things we already have been taught.” So much of our issue is not really reading the Word of God, but applying and obeying it, right? Reading words is easy but doing them is another matter entirely.I want to encourage you to find a Scripture that fits your family, that speaks to your family. If your single with no kids, one that speaks to your life and your goals. Pray and ask God to help you craft a statement using that verse that you can use to help you make decisions and live a life that will be pleasing to Him.Let's pray together: “Heavenly Father, give me a hunger and a thirst for Your Word. Help me to allow Your Spirit to show me truth, expose my places of rebellion, correct my mistakes, and train me and my family to live life Your way. As above, so below.”

Today we close out our theme of love for this month, as well as this week as we have been talking about intimacy. We've looked at a level of closeness that God can provide that should affect every relationship we have in life—from our families to the groups of people we associate with. God allowing us to be His temple changes everything as to how we approach all of life and every relationship.In John 17, as Jesus was in the garden knowing the cross was only hours away and all the brutality of sin was about to be placed on Him, He didn't pray for Himself, but for intimacy and unity among the people who would believe in Him—those who were with Him on that day, those throughout the centuries, all the way to us today.Imagine Jesus in the Garden alone in the dark, knowing the soldiers were on their own to take Him to the cross. Hear Him crying out to God through the filter of that reality and listen for how He prays for you …“I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me. “I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me. Father, I want these whom you have given me to be with me where I am. Then they can see all the glory you gave me because you loved me even before the world began! “O righteous Father, the world doesn't know you, but I do; and these disciples know you sent me. I have revealed you to them, and I will continue to do so. Then your love for me will be in them, and I will be in them.” (John 17:20-26 NLT)Did you catch the same language as Paul later used as to where God will be?Did you hear His prayer for you?Did you hear His cry for intimacy between you and the Father?Listen once more … this time I'll abbreviate and focus on Jesus' prayer for you and I today …“I am praying … for all who will ever believe in me through their message. I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me. “I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me. … “O righteous Father, the world doesn't know you, but I do; and these disciples know you sent me. I have revealed you to them, and I will continue to do so. Then your love for me will be in them, and I will be in them.” (John 17:20-23, 25 NLT)How should you respond to the Bible passages we have read this week? What did you hear that encouraged you? Challenged you? Convicted you? Intimacy is such an important concept to understand, grasp, an grow in, especially as Christ-followers, because we have no barriers to be able to love as He loves.Let's pray together: “Heavenly Father, help me in all my relationships to be a reflection of intimacy with You. I am Your temple and I want the world to see Your life and Your heart through my life and heart. As above, so below.”

Inside our theme of love this month, this week we have been talking about intimacy and how important it is to experience this dynamic with God, in relationships, and inside a community. Today, we will look at a different type of intimacy, in fact, the deepest intimacy possible.In Paul's teaching to the church at Corinth, he tied an Old Testament reality to the new reality Jesus provided. The temple was once a physical structure where only designated priests could enter. Jesus' sacrifice on the cross, along with the presence of the Holy Spirit, allows His to be brought into our own hearts through faith in Christ.Listen to 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 …Don't you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body. (1 Corinthians 6:18-20 NLT)Do you see it? As followers of Christ, we literally become His temple. This brings an incredible new type of intimacy and closeness … God with us and God in us. We, of course, do not become God, but He now lives inside our lives.Let's read this passage again in The Message Bible.Or didn't you realize that your body is a sacred place, the place of the Holy Spirit? Don't you see that you can't live however you please, squandering what God paid such a high price for? The physical part of you is not some piece of property belonging to the spiritual part of you. God owns the whole works. So let people see God in and through your body.As I have asked you a number of times on other days in Sound Mind Set, was there any line or phrase that stood you to you? What was it? … Why do you think it stood out to you? What might God be saying by highlighting that for you?For the believer, the crucial focus here is that our bodies no longer belong to us. The temple of God is no longer a building or a place only priests can visit. Christ's death and resurrection, along with the introduction of the Holy Spirit, makes us His temple. Shouldn't that bring an entirely new focus and meaning to our lives? What we choose to do and not do with His temple? Let's pray together: “Heavenly Father, seeing myself as Your temple is a tough concept to grasp. But I didn't say that about me, You did. So help me to believe it, accept it as truth, and live it out. I need to simply believe what You tell me, about me. As above, so below.”

Inside our theme of love this month, this week we are talking about the importance of intimacy. The past two days we have defined intimacy as when people get really close, and also when we choose to be close to God. We also defined intimacy as in-to-me-see—allowing someone to see your heart and grow in love.Another type of intimacy the Bible talks about is among a group of people, a community. Just like intimacy has its own meaning inside the word, so does community … common unity … community. A group of people can get very close to one another. Oftentimes, this may revolve around some issue, something positive or negative, that the group has in common. Yet, most of the time, as the closeness grows, the focus of the relationships no longer are about the original thing that drew them together. Now, the community is simply unified in their hearts.Listen to Acts 2:42-47 …All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord's Supper, and to prayer. A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord's Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity—all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved. (NLT)What was this group's common thread? A relationship with Christ.What did this create among them? They all acted like Jesus, individually and as a community.What happened as a result of the community's unity? More people wanted to be a part.Listen once again to The Message Bible's version …Everyone around was in awe—all those wonders and signs done through the apostles! And all the believers lived in a wonderful harmony, holding everything in common. They sold whatever they owned and pooled their resources so that each person's need was met. They followed a daily discipline of worship in the Temple followed by meals at home, every meal a celebration, exuberant and joyful, as they praised God. People in general liked what they saw. Every day their number grew as God added those who were saved.Have you experienced this kind of unity among a community?Maybe you are experiencing this right now?Or maybe you desperately need this in your life?If you have it, thank God and pray for your friends in the community. If you don't, ask God to help you find your community … people in love with Jesus who understand intimacy with Him and others.In our prayer time today, as I just stated, if you have a community, take a moment to lift them up. If you don't, ask God now to show you where and how to find yours. … As above, so below.”

Inside our theme of love this month, this week we are talking about the importance of intimacy. Intimacy is the word to describe when people get really close, and also when we choose to get close to God. Yesterday, we read that He has made the first move through Jesus and wants to be as close to us as we will allow.Let me remind you of how we defined intimacy yesterday: In-to-me-see. That means allowing someone to see your heart and who you truly are.For most of us, one of the big things that brings us to our knees and helps us choose to reach out to God is when our hearts are broken. When life is going incredible and we're on top of the world, we can fail to see our need for God. But when everything falls apart and goes wrong, we realize we need help, that we cannot do life alone. Especially when people fail us and hurt us, we tend to look up, not out.Listen to today's passage …The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed. The righteous person faces many troubles, but the Lord comes to the rescue each time. (Psalm 34:17-19 NLT)How does God hear us? When we call for help.When is He close to us? When we are brokenhearted.Will He keep us from having troubles? No, but He promises to be there when we do.Listen to this same passage in The Message Bible …Is anyone crying for help? God is listening, ready to rescue you. If your heart is broken, you'll find God right there; if you're kicked in the gut, he'll help you catch your breath. Disciples so often get into trouble; still, God is there every time.Have you already discovered this to be true in your relationship with God? Or do you need to test it out for the first time?There aren't a lot of guarantees in this life, but I can say this: God will never let you down. There will be trouble and your heart will be broken, but He will be there when you reach out.Let's pray together: “Heavenly Father, thank You that You know what to do with my broken heart. Thank You that You will provide help to me when I need it most. When trouble comes, help me to come to You right away and never wait to try and solve my problems on my own. As above, so below.”

Inside our theme of love this month, this week we are going to talk about the importance of intimacy. Intimacy is the word to describe when people get really close, like a dad to a daughter, a mother to her son, a husband to a wife, or God to us.The best way to remember what intimacy means is to just say the word by its syllables. In-to-me-see. Intimacy is allowing someone to see your heart, who you truly are. No hiding. Being honest.Love, especially God's love, allows us to get close to people and then grow in that closeness. We often call this a “two-way street” as in this kind of closeness takes each one to work on the relationship and get closer. When this happens in a healthy manner, love grows, closeness comes, and intimacy deepens. Let's look at one short, simple verse that talks about intimacy with God and makes a powerful promise.Come close to God, and God will come close to you. (James 4:8 NLT)When we first read this verse, we can misunderstand the meaning, as if God is saying, “You make the first move and then I'll respond to you.” But we have to remember this verse was written after Jesus had died on the cross and was resurrected. God has already made the first move toward us through Christ. Now, He is saying when you reach out to me, because of Jesus, we can immediately be close, just like Jesus was close with the Father.With that thought in mind, let's read this verse one more time.Come close to God, and God will come close to you. (James 4:8 NLT)Let's paraphrase the verse this way, “Whenever you choose to be close to God, He is already there, waiting, ready to receive you.” That is real intimacy, when someone is always there for you, no matter what.Here's a question to think about …How do you think you can know God is close to you?Let's pray together: “Heavenly Father, thank You that You promise You will be close to me, that You will say, “in-to-me-see”. Help me to trust You and always respond with, ‘God, in-to-me-see.' As above, so below.”

Today we close out this week on teaching our kids what love is. I know some of the teachings we have looked at from Jesus this week are some of the toughest ones, but isn't it fascinating that the overall theme of those is still love? Why? Because loving like God loves, in this world, is never going to be easy. That's why we made a conscious choice to look at the truth about love from the Christian worldview, not the religious worldview or the world's. So, in light of this, today, we're going to close out the week on a lighter note from a story about Jesus and how He feels about kids…One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so he could lay his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples scolded the parents for bothering him. But Jesus said, “Let the children come to me. Don't stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.” And he placed his hands on their heads and blessed them before he left. (Matthew 19:13-14 NLT)Can you picture this scene? Well-meaning parents wanting this Teacher and Healer to pray for their kids. Imagine them running up to Jesus, ready to jump in His lap. But the disciples suddenly decide to become a security team and block them from bothering Him. But the kids don't get rebuked, the disciples do. Then what He says surprises everyone: “Don't stop them. In fact, you need to act like this with Me.” And the prayer and the blessing happened, just as the parents had hoped.Here's the passage in the New Life Bible …Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray for them. The followers spoke sharp words to them. But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me. Do not stop them. The holy nation of heaven is made up of ones like these.” He put His hands on them and went away. (Matthew 19:13-14 NLV)The holy nation of heaven is made up of people who are childlike in their love. Wow.Do you love your kids? Of course you do. So take them to Jesus. Do you want them to understand love, real love? Of course you do. So take them to Jesus. Do you want them to be able to know authentic, sincere, vulnerable, unconditional love, to be able to receive and to give? Take them to Jesus. Pray for them. Talk to them about Him. Read His words to them. Make Him a part of their lives and He will show them His love. Let's pray together: “Heavenly Father, sometimes I forget that You made my kids. You gave me my kids. So no one loves them more than You. Teach me to teach them Your love and help me to love them like You do. As above, so below.”

Inside our theme of love this month, this week we are focusing on teaching our kids what love is. Let's be honest … when people talk about God's love, too often it's kind of a unicorns and rainbows thing. It sounds religious or like a fantasy and so we really don't attempt to accept it for ourselves or apply it to others. Well, this week, we are trying to look at what God's love really means, for the sake of our kids. If anyone is going to help them understand the reality and the balance of His love, it needs to be us.I know yesterday's passage from Jesus' teaching was a tough one. Today is going to be no different. In fact, today's focus can sound downright questionable. Curious? Okay, listen really closely and then we'll dig in a little deeper.“Don't imagine that I came to bring peace to the earth! I came not to bring peace, but a sword. ‘I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. Your enemies will be right in your own household!' “If you love your father or mother more than you love me, you are not worthy of being mine; or if you love your son or daughter more than me, you are not worthy of being mine. If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine. If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it.What do we do with these words? How do these concepts connect to God's love?Passages like this one are where our English translation from the Greek can easily get confusing. Here's the bottom line: People preach coming together across the aisles and meeting in the middle but how often do we actually see that happen? Jesus tells us that He is the ultimate dividing line for humans. Not politics or race or gender or the things we draw lines against all the time. The real line is do we believe in Him or not? Are we committed to Him or not? Do we love Him more than anyone or anything else in life?Think of it this way … What if your love for God was so strong that compared to all the other loves in your life, no one would question your commitment to Him? That's what He means.If your love for God keeps growing every day, will that cause you to love your kids less? Of course not. But the hard stuff like loving your enemies will get easier. If you love God like Jesus was talking about here, His love will mark your life, His love will mark your relationships, and His love will forever mark your kids' lives.What dividing lines do you lay down as gospel in your life? Who do you put on one side while you stand on the other? Who do you teach your kids are different than them? Whenever you hear passages like this, just remember—But if you forget about yourself and look to me, you'll find both yourself and me. … And so will your kids.Let's pray together: “Heavenly Father, I want people who stand against You, even well-meaning people, to know You. I want them to see You in my life. Help me to love You so it is clear to everyone that You are the love of my life. As above, so below.”

Inside our theme of love this month, this week we are focusing on teaching our kids what love is. One of the things we love about God's love is hearing how much He loves us, will forgive us, and show us incredible mercy and grace, no matter what we do. But then the very tough thing about God's love is, as sinners, we struggle when He tells us to love others that we do not want to love. Teaching our kids that kind of unconditional love will be one of the hardest things we ever do—to encourage them to follow God in loving someone with His love and grace that we do not want to love and don't think we even can love.Much of Jesus' teaching was counter-cultural then, and it certainly is today. The religious leaders of His day wanted to separate people into two categories: acceptable and unacceptable. And those men would make that determination without God. In fact, Jesus' teaching against their standards ended up getting Him on their unacceptable list. Listen closely to this passage as I read. No matter how many times you may have heard it, try and listen with fresh ears about how God wants us to love …“But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, offer the other cheek also. If someone demands your coat, offer your shirt also. Give to anyone who asks; and when things are taken away from you, don't try to get them back. Do to others as you would like them to do to you.“If you love only those who love you, why should you get credit for that? Even sinners love those who love them! And if you do good only to those who do good to you, why should you get credit? Even sinners do that much! And if you lend money only to those who can repay you, why should you get credit? Even sinners will lend to other sinners for a full return.“Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked. You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate. (Luke 6:27-36 NLT)Love your enemies? … That's a cute catchphrase until you actually feel like someone is your enemy and is working to make your life miserable. Loving that person feels impossible. Do good to those who hate you? Bless those who curse you? Really, Jesus? But what is so great about Jesus' teaching here is He told us why He wants us to do that.In short, Jesus said… “if people who have no God, who don't believe in God, who care nothing about Me, can be kind to those who are kind to them and love those who love them, then you don't need Me to do that, do you? But now, loving your enemies? Doing good to those who hate you? You are most definitely going to need Me to help you do that. Why? Because by yourself, you can't!”Now, to be clear, turning the other cheek does not have anything to do with abuse or letting someone run all over you. Remember—Jesus was the guy who got angry and cleared people out of the temple with a whip. But to love like God and to teach your kids to love like He does, that's going to take Jesus giving you the power and ability every time.Let's say it this way, if we're going to call ourselves His kids, we need to act like He's our Dad.Let's pray together: “Heavenly Father, this loving my enemies thing is so hard. Doing good to someone I deem as bad, blessing people I can't stand, that feels impossible. But you are the God that makes the impossible possible. Help me, Jesus, to love like You and to teach my kids these really hard things about how to love like You. Because me and my kids are Your children. As above, so below.”

Inside our theme of love this month, this week we are focusing on teaching our kids what love is. God has assigned us the role of teaching them about love, to lead and be their example, to help them see by words and actions that authenticity is the only way to understand love, especially His love. Real love and intimacy require vulnerability and sincerity. And God's Word is the original love letter from His heart to ours.Today, we're going to look at the first event in Jesus' life that launched His ministry and started His road to the cross: His baptism. Now, you might ask … what does Jesus's baptism have to do with love? Well, it's really about what happened at Jesus's baptism … listen as I read . …The moment Jesus came up out of the baptismal waters, the skies opened up and he saw God's Spirit—it looked like a dove—descending and landing on him. And along with the Spirit, a voice: “This is my Son, chosen and marked by my love, delight of my life.” (Matthew 3:16-17 MSG)Did you hear the words of love and affirmation God spoken over Jesus? Imagine for a moment what John witnessed? The Trinity—God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit—all present at this historic event. Now, listen once again, and afterwards, I'll tell you how you and I are connected to this moment.Whenever we choose to enter into a relationship with Jesus, the reconnection of our spirits to His is completed. Please know then, that He will, for the rest of your life, look at you and say, “This is my son, this is my daughter, chosen and marked by my love, the delight of my life.”I'm betting that is exactly the way you look at your child. But you need to know this is how God sees you. And if you can accept and receive that is the way your Heavenly Father sees you, you will then be able to pass that truth on to your kids. If you believe it, they will more likely come to believe it as well.Repeat this truth out loud right now … I am chosen … I am marked … by my Father's love ... and I am the delight of His life. … Say it to Him … You have chosen me … You have marked me … by Your love … and I am the delight of Your life.Let's pray together: “Heavenly Father, thank You that You chose me, thank You that my life is marked by Your love. Thank You that I am the delight of Your life. Help me to show my kids that You and I, together, feel that way about them. As above, so below.”

Inside our theme of love this month, this week we are focusing on teaching our kids what love is. We have to lead and be their example, to help them see by words and actions that authenticity is the only way to understand love, especially the brand of love God gives us, not what the world throws at us every day. Real love and intimacy require vulnerability and sincerity. For all these reasons, God's Word is the original love letter from His heart to ours. So with that in mind, let's get started:Regardless of your church or spiritual background you likely know some or all of John 3:16. But sometimes when a verse becomes almost cliché, we can miss its meaning. We no longer consider the deep truth behind the words. For that very reason, I want to read verse 16 and 17 today from The Message Bible. But before I read, I want to challenge you to do something that might be tough, especially if you have any sort of issue with God, and what you feel He has allowed to happen in your life … I want you to hear this passage as if it was the first and only thing you have ever heard about God and His love. … Listen closely to every word …“This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn't go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; (John 3:16-17 MSG)Hearing this truth with fresh and unbiased ears, what did you hear? Love? Sacrifice? A whole life? No accusations but setting the world right again? And the closing word? … Trust in Him equals acquittal. … Wow.There is no question that the enemy of God, along with the events that occur in a broken and fallen world muddy up and mess up us seeing God as love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness.Whatever negative and harmful concepts life has planted in your heart toward God, I want to encourage you to try and erase those lies and replace it with the truth of God's Word.Whatever your concept of God is, that is what you will show your kids. Your attitude and actions will far outweigh anything you say. To teach them the correct view of their heavenly Father, who Jesus called Abba or Daddy, you will have to first view Him as the God we hear about in today's passage. So what needs to happen for you to correct your view of biblical love, not what the world has shown you, but what God wants to give you … and your kids?Let's pray together: “Heavenly Father, Abba, Daddy, help me to get rid of any wrong ideas or concepts I have that are not right about You. I never want anyone to misunderstand or misrepresent me, so help me to learn how to get You right … in my attitude, actions, and words … and to teach my kids who you really are. As above, so below.”

Today's passage from Romans 12 Don't just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection and take delight in honoring each other. Never be lazy but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble and keep on praying. When God's people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you. Don't curse them; pray that God will bless them. Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with each other. Don't be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don't think you know it all! Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone. (Romans 12;9-18 NLT)In a divided world - where and how are we called to love?Think about a situation in your life or one that you have observed lately that impacts you in even a small way.Listen to this passage from the Message BibleLove from the center of who you are; don't fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle.Don't burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant. Don't quit in hard times; pray all the harder. Help needy Christians; be inventive in hospitality.Bless your enemies; no cursing under your breath. Laugh with your happy friends when they're happy; share tears when they're down. Get along with each other; don't be stuck-up. Make friends with nobodies; don't be the great somebody.Don't hit back; discover beauty in everyone. If you've got it in you, get along with everybody. Don't insist on getting even; that's not for you to do. “I'll do the judging,” says God. “I'll take care of it.”What person or situation do you need to apply this part of the passage to?Don't hit back; discover beauty in everyone. If you've got it in you, get along with everybody. Don't insist on getting even; that's not for you to do. “I'll do the judging,” says God. “I'll take care of it.”  Let's pray together: “Heavenly Father, please help me to keep re-defining love as the way You love, not as the world tells me. Help me to be free from barriers and pain and express You to everyone in all my circles. As above, so below.”

The words of Paul from Ephesians 4 …Therefore I … beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other's faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all, in all, and living through all.A life surrendered and submitted to God will lead to humility, gentleness, patience, making allowance, making every effort, binding together as one. Addition, multiplication, increase not subtraction or devision.With this in mind listen again to the passage in The Message BibleIn light of all this, here's what I want you to … get out there and walk—better yet, run!—on the road God called you to travel. I don't want any of you sitting around on your hands. I don't want anyone strolling off, down some path that goes nowhere. And mark that you do this with humility and discipline—not in fits and starts, but steadily, pouring yourselves out for each other in acts of love, alert at noticing differences and quick at mending fences.You were all called to travel on the same road and in the same direction, so stay together, both outwardly and inwardly. You have one Master, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who rules over all, works through all, and is present in all. Everything you are and think and do is permeated with Oneness.Wouldn't it be amazing for our kids to see us live lives marked by “humility and discipline—not in fits and starts, but steadily, pouring ourselves out for each other in acts of love, alert at noticing differences and quick at mending fences? Living lives that are permeated with Oneness.Let's pray together: “Heavenly Father, I want to be someone who adds to people, who multiplies what You give me, that increases in love, grace, and the fruit of Your Spirit. I pray my life be permeated with Oneness. As above, so below.”

Ephesians 2:14-18 NLTFor Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us. He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations. He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from the two groups. Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death. He brought this Good News of peace to you Gentiles who were far away from him, and peace to the Jews who were near. Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us. When you hear the phrase “hostility towards each other” who comes to mind for you? I doubt it's a race of people, but a person. Maybe two? We need to see the Bible's teaching as principles of the heart that apply to all our relationships. In the quietness of this moment, you know that any hostility that has been built in your heart is not good for you. It's not good for your kids. Where do you need God to “break down the wall of hostility that separates you”? Where do you need Him to “end the system of law with its commandments and regulations”? Where do you need Him to bring you peace and put hostility in your heart to a final death? For your sake.Let's pray together: “Heavenly Father, take any hostility I have, that which I realize and that which I don't, or won't, or can't. I need to let go of barriers in my heart and receive what You have provided for me in love, grace, and protection. As above, so below.”

Matthew 9:9-13 NLTAs Jesus was walking along, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at his tax collector's booth. “Follow me and be my disciple,” Jesus said to him. So Matthew got up and followed him. Later, Matthew invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. But when the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with such scum?” When Jesus heard this, he said, “Healthy people don't need a doctor—sick people do.” Then he added, “Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.' For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.” The Pharisees called the people Jesus was hanging out with “scum.” Jesus removed the barrier the pharisees had and dismantled the prejudice and in doing that actually established a new boundary. The new boundary was towards prejudice, judgment and even privilege.What drove Jesus' actions and words? Freedom, righteousness, justice, mercy, and love. When we follow Him, we have the best opportunity to do the same. Tear down barriers made by man and install boundaries built by God.Is there anywhere in your life that you have created an unhealthy barrier or outlook between the those you consider righteous and those you consider sinners?Let's pray together: “Heavenly Father, I have to admit that sometimes I act like You, but sometimes I act like a Pharisee. And all the time, I am a sinner. Teach me, help me, to take down barriers to love in my life and build only the boundaries You are okay with. As above, so below.”

(Psalm 16:1-3, 5-8 NIV)Keep me safe, my God, for in you I take refuge. I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.” I say of the holy people who are in the land, “They are the noble ones in whom is all my delight.” … Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup; you make my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance. I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken. (Psalm 16:1-3, 5-8 NIV)“The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places.”King David is counting his blessings and includes the fact that he likes where God has placed the boundaries in his life. Boundaries that both bless and protect him. Part of his spiritual inheritance from God includes proper boundaries.So, that tells us where our boundaries must also come from … not from pain or revenge or walls around our heart … but from God who knows us and has our best interest in mind at all times.Choosing to try and protect ourselves on our own terms usually ends up with an emotional wall that just creates more hurt. But when we allow God to lead us, He can provide a way to create a healthy boundary that blesses and protects, just like David referred to.So, to love in the biblical sense, do you need to tear down a wall and trade it for a boundary? Or maybe there's been nothing in place for you, and you realize a boundary needs to be installed for your health.Let's pray together: “Heavenly Father, I know that walls of protection too often become homemade prison cells. Teach me to create boundaries. Show me how to love the way You love. For myself. For my kids. For those who have hurt me and those who help me. As above, so below.”

You'd be hard-pressed to go to a Christian wedding and not hear some part of 1 Corinthians chapter 13 read, also known as The Love Chapter. But today, let's look at how Paul defined biblical love in verses 4-7 as we think about being proactive in love to battle hate.1 Corinthians 13Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud, or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.I tend to read or hear this passage and think about how I fall short in loving, based on the definition we are given here. Do you feel that way? Why might we hear these words through a negative filter? Because even with those closest to us, and when we work really hard to be good at love, we still have a selfish sin nature.Can you think of a situation that you are aware of your conditional, maybe self-serving love towards another person?So, how can we possibly love anyone like this passage talks about? Listen again to this same passage, but I'm going to change out one word throughout. That will give us the only possible way to love as we are taught here. Listen with your heart …Jesus is patient and kind. Jesus is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. Jesus does not demand his own way. He is not irritable, and He keeps no record of being wronged. Jesus does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Jesus never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.Isn't that incredible? Jesus can be interchanged with the word “love” because He is love and the embodiment of God's love. So, the closer we get to Jesus, the closer we get to love. The more we follow Jesus, the more we walk in the ways of love.