Driving Notes

Today Todd and I begin a new devotional series based on the book “Time With God for Fathers,” from Jack Countryman.  This devotional is meant to encourage fathers (and really all parents) with scripture that can guide them as they raise their children.

Today we focused on some building block verses from the NKJV:

The Essence of Worship – Psalm 95: 3-7
³ For the Lord is the great God,
And the great King above all gods.
⁴ [a]In His hand are the deep places of the earth;
The heights of the hills are His also.
⁵ The sea is His, for He made it;
And His hands formed the dry land.
⁶ Oh come, let us worship and bow down;
Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.
⁷ For He is our God,
And we are the people of His pasture,
And the sheep [b]of His hand.

We grow in our relationship with God when we worship Him…

¹² For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Obedience is expected by fathers of their children, but we also understand that our Heavenly father expects the same of us…

A Father’s Prayer – Philippians 4:6-7
⁶ Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; ⁷ and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Guide me with my words and actions toward my children…

Listen to the Holy Spirit – John 14:14-18
¹⁴ If you ^[a]ask anything in My name, I will do it.
¹⁵ “If you love Me, ^[b]keep My commandments. ¹⁶ And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another ^[c]Helper, that He may abide with you forever— ¹⁷ the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. ¹⁸ I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.

Meditate on God’s Word and the spirit will abide with you…

Thanks for listening!
– Joe

New Year’s resolutions… we talked about these last week…people making ‘changes’ for the new year.  But what does it really mean?  To RESOLVE to do something different in 2019.

Today we’re discussing some ideas for us to consider if we call ourselves Christians; people “of and for Christ.”  What are some things we could resolve to do differently in 2019 as believers?  Author and producer Phil Cooke offered some suggestions in an article this week where he challenged readers to do things that show we actually believe the Bible.  Last week we shared:

READ THE BIBLE
TAKE PRAYER SERIOUSLY
BE THE CHURCH INSTEAD OF JUST GOING TO CHURCH
BE MORE MINDFUL OF SOCIAL MEDIA

This week, here are four more:

SERVING OTHER PEOPLE: many people want to complain or gripe about how Christ is not “known” in the culture anymore.  Here’s a quote from Pastor John Piper, “Christ will be known in the culture when we begin treating people better than they deserve.” Knox County alone has so many great ways for you to get connected to serving others.  Your church probably does, too.  Think about practical ways to serve with nothing more than your hands and feet.

TAKING BOLD CHANCES: Phil Cooke shares that it’s rare that we hear of a standout leader in science, politics, business, or even entertainment who is a believer.  Maybe our influence is disappearing because we’re not raising up remarkable people in those fields.  What are we doing in the Christian community to find, mentor and raise up those types of leaders?

UNDERSTANDING THE IMPACT OF LIVING A MORAL LIFE: Rather than criticizing immorality in the outside culture, we lead by starting on the inside, becoming examples ourselves of what a moral life could accomplish.  The fall of Christian leaders does damage to our witness.  Losing our moral authority diminishes our chance to influence others…and the culture at large.

INVESTING OUR LIVES IN JESUS: we talked about living a moral life earlier, but that starts with investing in Jesus first.  In other words, not being so concerned about our status, title or position, but being concerned about investing in Christ first, and then letting him take care of the rest.

Thanks for listening!
– Joe and Todd