Grief & Despair...

Recently a couple that are really good friends of ours officially got divorced. The wife is left being both mom and dad and spiritual leader while the other turns to the "darkside" and is doing his "duty" by sharing custody of the kids and helping to pay some necessary bills but forgot the most important part of parenting - love the mother!  Some other friends of mine are having a really hard time with work (lack thereof) and yet others are trying with all their might to hold onto their marriages, while the other spouse wants to just give up and quit.  My friends are trying everything that they can to hang on, to hold on and yet to be a servant leader in their marriages. I am not sure of the one's walk, but the other one's walk I feel confident that his heart and mind and soul are in the right place spiritually, yet, how could his wife just turn and quit?The Book of James talks about trials and tribulations and for us to consider it pure joy when we face these in our lives as we build our faith and our walks.  It's one thing if we say that the trials and tribulations are stress at work, or personal attacks from outsiders or insiders at church.  However, it is another thing when we see these trials and tribulations involving our marriages and our loved ones' health.

When Job was going through his testing (of his faith), the devil accused God's servant Job that he would not finish his walk of faith as long as things were great with him.  He dared God by saying if God would take away all that matters to Job (his family, wealth, property, animals, 401K and the entire lot) that his faith would wane and he would stray away from God.  As we read on we see three friends coming to Job and instead of comforting, encouraging and urging Job to continue to live a life worthy of God, they accuse him that his life most have some hidden sin and/or wrongdoing in his life.  They tell him to repent and give him all sorts of expert advice instead of just being there for Job and carrying his burdens with him.  To add insult to injury Job loses his kids, his body goes through painful sores and more bad news continues even to that point that Job's wife says to him, "why don't you just curse God and die..."  As we read on, we realize that Job's faith stays firm and he does have a lot of questions and his heart is grieved and he is in despair, yet he knows that his Redeemer lives and is in heaven as his advocate!  The end of the Book of Job surprises the reader a bit, but when you realize the holiness and awe of God, what other choice do we mortals have?

In 2 Corinthians 13:5, the Apostle Paul tells us to examine ourselves and to test whether we are still in the faith.  This can sometimes be hard but also be very rewarding to our walk and our faith especially if the God is trying to mature and sharpen us.  Maybe you find yourself in the right place, but your situation and/or spouse does not want to hear the truth; instead they choose to walk in the darkness and to surround themselves with foolish company, then what?

Be the light...what did Jesus do....how can you model Jesus in that situation you are in?  Most importantly pray!  Pray continually and lean not on your own understanding but lean on God's truth and wisdom and pray for his wisdom and discernment.

To God be the Glory,

Dante

What inspires me most...

This week I have been catching up with a lot of my "to do" lists that have overwhelmed me for quite some time.  As I finished taking care of over twenty things of my to do lists in two days, I feel refreshed and encouraged that I can definitely do more.  I was keeping a promise this afternoon to my niece and was burning some Christian music cd's for her (she likes my music) and I came across this video from a great friend of my wife and me.

When my wife was really sick and we almost lost her (about 2 years ago). As a husband and a father, you get to reflect on things that matter most.  God is love.  He gave his only son for us.  Jesus paid it all.  Our sins are forgiven if we confess the name Lord Jesus and believe in our heart what he has done for us.

I think as life continues to spiral forward we forget the things that matter most:  God, faith, family and friends.  As this Summer wanes, don't forget the most important things.

I am not sure about you, but love (pure and genuine kindness and selfless acts) inspires me to do better, to love better and to live a better life - a kingdom impacting life.

Dante

It is well with an inspiring soul

It is well with my Soul, the story and the songHoratio Spafford (1828-1888) was a wealthy Chicago lawyer with a thriving legal practice, a beautiful home, a wife, four daughters and a son. He was also a devout Christian and faithful student of the Scriptures. His circle of friends included Dwight L. Moody, Ira Sankey and various other well-known Christians of the day.

At the very height of his financial and professional success, Horatio and his wife

Anna suffered the tragic loss of their young son. Shortly thereafter on October 8, 1871, the Great Chicago Fire destroyed almost every real estate investment that Spafford had.

In 1873, Spafford scheduled a boat trip to Europe in order to give his wife and daughters a much needed vacation and time to recover from the tragedy. He also went to join Moody and Sankey on an evangelistic campaign in England. Spafford sent his wife and daughters ahead of him while he remained in Chicago to take care of some unexpected last minute business. Several days later he received notice that his family's ship had encountered a collision. All four of his daughters drowned; only his wife had survived.

With a heavy heart, Spafford boarded a boat that would take him to his grieving Anna in England. It was on this trip that he penned those now famous words, When sorrow like sea billows roll; it is well, it is well with my soul..

Philip Bliss (1838-1876), composer of many songs including Hold the Fort, Let the Lower Lights be Burning, and Jesus Loves Even Me, was so impressed with Spafford's life and the words of his hymn that he composed a beautiful piece of music to accompany the lyrics. The song was published by Bliss and Sankey, in 1876.

For more than a century, the tragic story of one man has given hope to countless thousands who have lifted their voices to sing, It Is Well With My Soul.

It is well with my soul, by Hillsong

The Secret to Life

We live in a world that tells us everyday things that should be contrary to our central core beliefs as Christians.  Whether you are watching TV or viewing your Apple instrument or driving down the expressway reading billboard signs, there is a constant bombardment of advertisements telling us that it is all about us and how much we need to have in order to get by in this world.  Really?  Let’s see if that measures up with what Scripture has to say…

I remember way back when, there used to be this TV show that was called the “Great American Hero” where this odinary man is given this suit and has extraordinary powers.  The only problem is that he and his government partner do not have the instruction manual.  They have to go through life and do things by trial and error.  The difference between that show and our daily christian lives is that we do have an instruction manual that is sharper than any two edge sword and able to cut bone from marrow.  This manual (God’s word) is able to help navigate our lives through our daily walks.

The bible is clear on greed and idolatry – avoid it at all costs!  As we mature as christians the goal and desire should be to mature and to go and make disciples being content in what God has given each and every one of us.  This contentment (biblical contentment) is what I like to refer to as the “Secret to life” in Scripture.

When we change our focus on things we want versus things that we only need, then we can boldy look forward to the ways of this world growing slowly dim and look into the light of our Savior.  To God be the glory forever and ever, Amen!

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If you are looking for a group to connect and sharpen each other, then I would encourage each and everyone of you to join a mini-church or a women or men’s group to confess and share and to free ourselves from the chains of sin and addiction. 

PURITY…STEWARDSHIP…DISCIPLESHIP

Men, what do you think would happen if we took the Bible seriously? What do you think our lives would look like both in the home and outside? Do you think we would see others around us respond differently? Would people see Christ or would they see self-centeredness?

Jesus walked with his disciples for three years. He was intentional in their lives and made an effort to show them true faith and what servant leadership (discipleship) looks like. Often he spoke in parables when in public and would later explain to true followers (his disciples) what these meant. The more that I read the Scriptures the more that I realize how there are so many of us in and throughout the Bible. That is, to say, that our lives are broken just like characters in the Bible. Some stories involve tremendous faith (Job, the Centurion, Paul and Joseph) while others just moved slightly in obedience and God used them and worked miraculously in their lives. Three things that keep reoccurring to me in my daily reading are Purity, Stewardship (both financial and spiritual) and Discipleship. Personally, I believe that we have to move toward biblical purity and stewardship before we can truly disciple others around us. After all, when we move in obedience to the Word, (through prayer and the Holy Spirit) then God moves through us.The thing about Purity can be summed up in a litmus test that we find in Galatians 5, which are the fruit of the sinful nature and the fruit of the Spirit. Draw a line down a piece of notebook paper and write in the sinful nature attributes on one side and the fruit of the Spirit on the other. Check the sides that your life best lines up with. After you examine yourself then see how you line up according to what fruit your life is bearing. If your life is bearing the fruit of the Spirit then you are likely feeding your obedience to the Word daily and in prayer daily for God’s will in your life. If, on the other hand, your life is not quite lining up to where God wants you – pure, then repent and give up the things of this world that are keeping you impure. Where to begin? Read these two simple chapters: Romans 12 & Colossians 3.The second is just as important: Stewardship. This is not just about financial stewardship, but it is about spiritual stewardship as well. Are you using the gifts that God has given you to honor Him (in every aspect of your life). Stewardship is defined as, “a person who manages another’s property or financial affairs; one who administers anything as the agent of another or others.” We are entrusted with what God has given each and every one of us. What we do with it, how we share it and how we attend to our Lord’s business will all be judged.Finally Discipleship, when we clean our tent (our bodies) and prepare them to be holy and blameless (through the blood of Christ) then we can talk more about discipleship…