It's personal to Him.
GUIDANCE
So I believe He feels the pain of it.
PERSPECTIVE
Jesus said of His Father that “He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he trims clean so that it will be even more fruitful” (John 15:2).
STRENGTH FOR THE JOURNEY
Part of the Vine (Jesus) is being trimmed. Yes, we branches do feel the loss and pain of losing friends and losing limbs. But so does He.
-Tony
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Spinning out of control?
GUIDANCE
Living in a pressure cooker?
PERSPECTIVE
“There is a way of ordering our mental life on more than one level at once.
On one level we may be
thinking,
discussing,
seeing,
calculating,
meeting all the demands of external affairs.
But deep within, behind the scenes,
at a profounder level,
we may also be in
prayer and adoration,
song and worship
and a gentle receptiveness to divine breathings”
Thomas Kelly, A Testament of Devotion, p. 35.
STRENGTH FOR THE JOURNEY
Receptiveness is our lifeline.
Saying “yes” to His presence,
staying open to His influence,
and abiding in His love.
The calm in the eye of the hurricane.
Intentionally allowing His direction to keep us centered.
Not always easy. But well worth the effort to surrender!
-Tony
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Grave clothes. Out he came and there he stood. Tightly wrapped in them.
GUIDANCE
He could barely move. Freedom strangled and reeking of death.
PERSPECTIVE
Death had won. His family wept. And later, Jesus wept. Right before He called out in a loud voice: “Lazarus, come out!” (John 11:43 NIV).
But he was still bound. Now alive, but not completely free. Saved, but still suffering death’s results. Seeing him still struggling, Jesus gave the command to those nearby: “Take off the grave clothes and let him go” (John 11:44b NIV). The time for cleaning away the effects and stench of death was at hand.
STRENGTH FOR THE JOURNEY
Nasty work. Taking care of His children and the effects of sin often is. But when undertaken at His calling, it can be a joyful labor of love.
-Tony
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The Father built His kingdom, power, and authority through infinite years of creativity, ingenuity, integrity, good leadership, and management. He owned everything that exists because He put it all together.
GUIDANCE
Then, following His death and resurrection, Jesus proclaimed, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” (Matthew 28:18 NIV).
But… Why would God give everything away?
PERSPECTIVE
Satan points an accusing finger at God, saying that now he deserves to be the prince of this world because we stewards prefer his leadership to that of God the Father. So God no longer has the right to keep it.
To demonstrate the honor of our family name, God does the unthinkable. He gives everything away to Jesus. Jesus certainly is righteous. No sin can be found in Him. Even Satan cannot deny that!
STRENGTH FOR THE JOURNEY
And someday soon there will be a wedding feast in which the Son gives everything back into the hands of the Father, making our family complete in every way.
So what better way could there be to conclude our prayer?
“…for yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.”
-Tony
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The lion's enraged and danger is near.
GUIDANCE
And we are so frail with much yet to fear.
PERSPECTIVE
Prayer pillar through valley and up to His Mount.
STRENGTH FOR THE JOURNEY
He guides and delivers within and without.
-Tony
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One of His dying statements has always especially captivated me.
GUIDANCE
And why would He do this when they would only continue hating Him? I can almost hear them say: “We know EXACTLY what we are doing and despise you even more!!!”
PERSPECTIVE
He taught us to pray, “Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors” Matthew 6:12 (NIV). And then, on the cross He actually prayed for God to forgive those who crucified Him.
STRENGTH FOR THE JOURNEY
I still don’t know what all is behind His final act of goodness and love. But I do know this. I would give everything to be in the family He leads.
-Tony
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“Give us today our daily bread.” Matthew 6:11 (NIV)
GUIDANCE
Each hungry person anywhere on the planet touches the heart of our Heavenly Father.
PERSPECTIVE
Like any good father, He is pleased when his children intercede and provide for one another.
STRENGTH FOR THE JOURNEY
And, as this prayer becomes more ours, the basic needs of His children will touch our hearts more and more.
That’s just the kind of family we are.
-Tony
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“Your Kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” Matthew 6:10 NIV.
GUIDANCE
Is our heart’s cry that He would transform and restore everything to His rule? Beginning WITH US??? He gave us dominion over His creation. So unless we are “all in,” He can’t work through us.
PERSPECTIVE
His Spirit is the only power that can stop modern day slavery, abortion, pornography, hunger, substance abuse, or any other evil. Only His Spirit can infuse our souls (our deepest connections to Him) to become powerful forces for His Kingdom.
STRENGTH FOR THE JOURNEY
When a critical mass of us passionately cry out for His Kingdom to come and His will to be done in our church, country, and culture just as in heaven, change can break out. His Spirit can breathe new life into our service. But for this to happen, His will and not ours must be the deepest desire of our hearts.
For the sake of His children, PLEASE, allow His prayer to become yours!!!
-Tony
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When scattered, afraid, worried, beaten down, or just tired, how do we pray?
GUIDANCE
In times like these, we need guidance. And Jesus gave us the perfect template to guide us home!
PERSPECTIVE
Like children on a stormy night, we are drawn into Their room. Immersed into the safest place in the universe. And in heartful harmony with all His family we pray. “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name” (Matthew 6:9 NIV). A plural prayer.
STRENGTH FOR THE JOURNEY
From all eternity to all eternity our family name is honorable. To bring us home, while preserving our family honor, our Father has labored long and hard since before time began. It is fitting and just that His concern for our family honor should be shared by all His children.
May this become as much our heartbeat as His. To bring honor to our Father’s name. And with grateful reverence, because our Father’s name brings honor to us.
-Tony
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When scattered, afraid, worried, beaten down, or just tired, how do we pray?
GUIDANCE
In times like these, we need guidance. A pattern or template to support and lead us.
PERSPECTIVE
Jesus gave us exactly that!
Like children trying on dad’s coat or mom’s sweater, we keep at it until it begins to “fit” us. Until it becomes not only the Lord’s Prayer, but also ours.
STRENGTH FOR THE JOURNEY
We begin by conforming our prayer time to the pattern He gave us. Surely the One who creates, saves, sustains, and indwells us knows exactly how we should pray.
He can re-set our templates and guide us as we try to conform our deepest desires and longings to His.
So we begin to work through His prayer. Then, His prayer begins to work through us!
But more about that next time.
-Tony
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