In this manner, therefore, pray:
Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.
And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies,
bless those who curse you,
do good to those who hate you,
and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,
that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.
“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.
“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
Blessed are the poor in spirit,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
For they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
For they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
For they shall be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
For they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
For they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
For they shall be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. Colossians 2: 13-15
Things we struggle with tend to rear their ugly heads repeatedly. It’s doesn’t even have to be several things. It can be just the same one thing over and over. What’s a problem for me may not be a problem for you. The devil attacks you and me in different ways.
I’m learning though, we don’t have to live our lives as repeat offenders. Jesus nailed addiction to the cross. He also nailed offense, anger, guilt, gossip, & hurt. He nailed any sin that we struggle with in our lives to the cross. He also stripped the devil of his armor which took away any power and possible authority he thought he had.
There’s no condemnation in Christ and the devil is under our feet. Today receive the authority and triumph of the cross.
Today break the cycle of being a repeat offender. Jesus already nailed it to the cross.
When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. Colossians 2: 13-15
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
When I was 4 years old, my dad accepted his first pastoral call to a church in Lexington, Ohio. One of my first memories as a pastor’s kid, was a Monday morning. We were invited on Halloween night, which happened to be a Sunday, to a friend’s house after church to play UNO and a time of fellowship. It was a night full of laughter and fun.
Very early the next morning, we received a call from the family we had such fun with the night before, with news their son had just died in a car accident. Dad & mom got dressed and immediately went over to console the family who just lost their son. I went with them, as my good friend, who was only 7, had just lost her big brother. Maybe I would know what to say? Being only 5, I had no idea what to say to my good friend. It was a tragedy I will never forget.
Growing up as a pastor’s kid meant attending an abnormal number of weddings and funerals. Sometimes it even meant participating in them through singing or reading a poem or scripture. For the longest time, the smell of flowers reminded me of funerals. Being a pastor’s kid meant helping mom in junior church. It meant singing in the choir as well or singing “specials”. It meant going to church every time the doors were open. It meant helping where help was needed.
Youth camp, youth group, revivals, district assembly, and camp meeting were all part of my life as a pastor’s kid. Roller skating and ping pong were popular past times of a pastor’s kid.
Sometimes being a pastor’s kid meant hearing things I probably didn’t need to hear…. like when people were mad about any variety of things or if they said something negative about my dad or us as a family. Though I’m sure my dad didn’t need it, sometimes I felt the need to stick up for him.
Being a pastor’s kid was a privilege. I am thankful to have been put in a position to learn about God from the vantage point of being a member of the parsonage family. I’m thankful for parents who lived their lives serving God and others. They are an amazing example for which I will be forever grateful.
Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.
Trust, lean not, acknowledge
Randy & I are blessed to celebrate 19 years of marriage. We made the decision to love each other in good & bad times as well as in sickness and health. My love isn’t based on how I feel when I get up each morning or whether he puts the toilet paper on the ring the right way. He doesn’t love me only when I make him his favorite dinner and when everything goes right that day. Sometimes love doesn’t mean like. Sometimes love doesn’t mean agree. Sometimes marriage isn’t 50/50. Sometimes its 90/10…for days, weeks, or months.
Randy & I are blessed to celebrate 19 years of marriage. We’ve grieved together…and separately. We’ve sat in hospital waiting rooms together. We’ve watched each other struggle with things life brought our way.
Randy & I are blessed to celebrate 19 years of marriage. We’ve raised kids together. We’ve been on countless amazing trips together. We’ve worshiped and ministered together, and we’ve worked together. We were given the amazing gift and opportunity to find each other and commit to each other. We plan on making it to the very end… together.
I’m looking forward to number 20.
Praise the Lord!
Praise God in His sanctuary;
Praise Him in His mighty firmament!
Praise Him for His mighty acts;
Praise Him according to His excellent greatness!
Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet;
Praise Him with the lute and harp!
Praise Him with the timbrel and dance;
Praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes!
Praise Him with loud cymbals;
Praise Him with clashing cymbals!
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord!
O Lord, our Lord,
How excellent is Your name in all the earth,
Who have set Your glory above the heavens!
Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants
You have ordained strength,
Because of Your enemies,
That You may silence the enemy and the avenger.
When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers,
The moon and the stars, which You have ordained,
What is man that You are mindful of him,
And the son of man that You visit him?
For You have made him a little lower than the angels,
And You have crowned him with glory and honor.
You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands;
You have put all things under his feet,
All sheep and oxen—
Even the beasts of the field,
The birds of the air,
And the fish of the sea
That pass through the paths of the seas.
O Lord, our Lord,
How excellent is Your name in all the earth!