What Makes a Good Father?

Honor your father and your mother. This is the first of the ten commandments that ends with a promise. This is the promise: If you honor your father and mother, you will live a long life, full of blessing. And now a word to you fathers. Don’t make your children angry by the way you treat them. Rather bring them up with the discipline and instruction approved by the Lord. Ephesians 6:2-4

Father's Day is right around the corner & I believe that you will enjoy this reprint from last year's Father's Day edition of Heart to Heart!

The perfect Father is perceived to be the most powerful, most knowledgeable influence in our lives. For daughters the perfect Father is the first man they fall in love with. For sons the perfect Father is a source of strength and someone they want to be like when they grow up.

The perfect Father is a source for honest and straightforward wisdom and truth. The perfect Father takes care of a child’s needs and fosters their interests. The perfect Father corrects their children when they are headed in the wrong direction and mete out appropriate discipline when needed. The perfect Father is the one who works 1, 2, or even 3 jobs to support the basic family needs and he never complains or suggests how hard he works to eke out a living.

No matter how insignificant or monstrous our problems are; no matter what time of day or night, no matter how busy he is with everything else, the perfect Father is always there for us and we know he always will be. The perfect Father saves us from ourselves when we start to make bad decisions for our lives and he picks us up and dusts us off when we ignore his advice and go through with our bad decisions anyway.

The perfect Father demonstrates the Godly way of living, models faith, and exhibits tenderness in the midst of strength. He speaks truth in all situations, and walks in wisdom concerning life’s hardships and decisions. The perfect Father demonstrates by living, the Lordship of Jesus Christ and instructs us in His Word and ways. The perfect Father saves me, rescues me, advises me, strengthens me, and counsels me.

Fathers have been given the honor of being called by the same name that Jesus said we could now call the Great and Magnificent Jehovah God…our Heavenly Father. Matthew 23:9 “…you have only one Father, and he’s in heaven.”

With that title comes a huge amount of responsibility. A young child when raised with a proper role model will see their first glimpse of the Character and Nature of God… in the life of a DAD!

We’ve spoken here of the perfect Father…However if you’re reading this, it’s a fact that your not perfect and that somewhere along the road, you’ve messed up on one or two (If not all) of the above tasks. If you made mistakes, trust in God and walk closely with Him, for Jesus is Lord “yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” Hebrews 13:8 This means He can go back an re-establish His Lordship in your children’s lives and wipe away the effects of our wrongdoing in their formative years. Trust in Him!

If you dishonored your father or mother make it right! Go before the Lord and get His Divine Strategy for renewing the relationship. Stop playing games; life is too short! Even before you can come into the presence of the Lord you must make it right with that strained relationship. Jesus said “ if you are standing before the altar in the Temple, offering a sacrifice to God, and you suddenly remember that someone (Father or Mother…anyone) has something against (Between) you, leave your sacrifice there beside the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God.” Matthew 5:23-24

The good news is that since God has called you to be a Father, He also has given you the ability to pull it off. “He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it” 1 Thessalonians 5:24

Begin afresh today! Celebrate Fatherhood.

I also thought you’d enjoy some of the universal language of Father’s…

"Were you raised in a barn? Close the door!"

"Don't worry ... it's only blood."

"A little dirt never hurt anyone ... just wipe it off."

"Who ever said life was supposed to be fair?"

"You call that a haircut?"

"Hey" is for horses."

"Turn off those lights! Do think I'm made out of money?"

"As long as you live under my roof ... you'll live by my rules."

"I'll tell you why ... Because I said so! That's why!"

"What's so funny? Wipe that smile off your face!"

"You have it so easy ... when I was your age... I had to walk to school in 10 feet of snow up hill both ways."

"What part of "NO" don't you understand?"

"I hope I'm alive when your kids turn sixteen."

"If you break your leg, don't come running to me."

"This will hurt me a lot more than it will hurt you."

“You don’t have to like it you just have to eat it!”

CHECK ME OUT LORD!

Psalm 139:23-24 “Search me O God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.”

One of my Spiritual mentors taught me from the beginning, a very simple secret to walking closely with God. He taught me always to be honest with God and also to always let God be honest with me. I never had a problem with being honest with God because I knew that He already knew all about me. Job 21:27 “Behold, I know your thoughts…” Psalm 94:11 “The LORD knows the thoughts of man…” It was easy for me to be honest with Him because He was the one that I could not fool. Knowing that, it was easy for me to bare my soul, openly share my feelings with Him, and expose my weaknesses, inabilities and insufficiencies.

This was a safe place to be, because I knew He cared for me even when I was a miserable sinner, desperately seeking satisfaction everywhere else but the source. Romans 5:8 “But God commends his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.” If you have never realized this fact, it’s time to have a heart to heart conversation with the One Who formed you and called you into existence. He desires for you to unload your burdens, trials and tribulations on Him! His heart calls out to yours, “Come unto me, all you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me… and you shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

His heart speaks that if we simply come to Him, He will give us rest. In addition, if we hitch (yoke) ourselves to Him and His Promises, we will find rest for our souls as well. (Our minds, emotions, imaginations, intellect, etc.) Today spend time with him and see His love and peace flowing into your being.

That part of the deal is pretty easy; but now it’s time to get on with the difficult part. For me, it was not easy to allow God to be honest with me, because then the enemy of my soul would always trick me into thinking that God was harping on all of my imperfections. I would thank Him, Praise Him, and Worship into His Presence and every time I would stop to hear His response and allow Him to speak into my life, He would tell me of His great love, care and desire to provide for me. I could listen to that all day long, but then He wanted to get even more honest and would focus my attention on an area of my life that needed cleaning up.

Precisely, at that point in the conversation, I would begin to shout Him down with praise or something like it. When he started to get real with me about me, I did not want to hear it! When I was young, I was taught that God was simply a matter of “You can’t do this. You can’t do that. You won’t do this and you won’t do that. You don’t do this and you don’t do that.” No more commandments from anyone, even God! Then I experienced a breakthrough! I discovered that His Commandments were not a burden; BUT A BREAKTHROUGH! 1John 5:3 “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.”

I discovered that in these quiet times when I allowed Him to speak to me, my faith came alive. (Romans 10:17) In these times of quiet, He would reveal Himself and His ways to me.(Psalm 46:10) His still small voice would speak to me and inject His Life into the darkest of my circumstances. His Word sprung forth in healing for my body and soul in these precious moments when I listened. (Proverbs 4:20-22) The directives, corrections and orchestrations He gave me in those quiet times literally revolutionized my life. (Proverbs 3:6, Matthew 4:4)

Go ahead Lord, Have your way! “Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.” Psalm 139:24 When He points out that which offends Him, He is seeking only your good. His desire is that you would respond in loving obedience and be led along the “path of everlasting life.”

It is no coincidence that you have two ears and only one mouth. You should listen to the Voice of God twice as much as you speak to Him! How about right now! Listen to Him and allow Him to be honest with you! It’s for your own good! Thanks Pastor Anthony Spero for one of the many times you’ve been used by the Holy Spirit to change my life!

FEEL LIKE EATING SOME WORMS?

1 Peter 5:7 “…for He cares for you.”

There’s an old camp song that goes like this… “Nobody loves me. Everybody hates me. Guess I’ll go eat worms…Big fat juicy ones…itty bitty squishy ones… see how they wiggle and squirm…” and so forth. Have you ever felt so lost…so all alone…so empty that it seemed like no one cared for you? I know that’s not true, but the feeling is oh so real.

There are so many people who surround you, in your own personal sphere of influence, who need to know the truth as proclaimed in the Scripture above. “God cares about you!” They really do need to know that He cares. In Romans 8:19, the Holy Spirit tells us that all of creation is “eagerly waiting for the manifestation of the sons of God.” Everybody needs somebody to stand up boldly and proclaim, as a son or daughter of God, that God loves them and cares for them! Not only do they want to hear the Good News BUT they need to hear proof!

I believe that the majority of Christians agree with this line of thinking, but don’t know where to begin to share with these lonely, empty and hurting people. What can I say that would speak to their situation? TELL THEM YOUR STORY! Tell them what He’s done for you that evidenced His great care for you!

2 years ago I lost 2 people very close to me! My faith was shaken to the core and my heart seemed to be irreparably damaged. A huge piece of my heart was torn out as I watched my son and his wife suffer through the loss of our first grandchild, Elliana, at the age of four months. She is sooooo precious. There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t ask the Lord to let her know of my love for her and to just say “Hey!” for me. A few months after that, they suffered a miscarriage in the very early stages. Personally, I was hurting and felt as if I’d been abandoned. My heart seemed to turn cold. I needed a touch from God in the way that only HE is able to provide. He came through!

While I was sleeping late night, the Lord allowed me to dream. I don’t dream that often, but this one will stay with me forever. I was taken to Heaven and as I was ushered in, a beautiful young lady with big brown eyes..approximately 20-22 years old…dressed in a beautiful white spring like, lacey dress…the kind of beauty that goes right to your heart…inner and outer beauty…she walked right up to me and after looking with love deep into my eyes…she hugged me. I could feel her peace and love, and the Glory of God, pulsing through her embrace. As soon as I saw her I knew she was my granddaughter, Eliana.

As she broke the embrace, and looked again into my eyes, I saw another beautiful young lady about a year younger than Eliana, walk up behind her. For the first time, Eliana spoke to me and simply said “This is my sister, Elizabeth.” I knew that this was the young fetus, who had been lost in the early stage of pregnancy…but now I knew her personally! I hugged Elizabeth too!With overwhelming joy, I was taken back to my room and as I awoke, I was crying tears of joy and peace consumed my entire being. You see…God loved me so much…he knew what it would take to bring closure and healing into my life…and He did it for me… at the right time…simply because He cares for me! Since that moment, when He displayed His care for me…my faith is fired up, my walk is holy, and my heart is filled with compassion for my fellow man. I will not slow down!

A couple days later..as I was sharing this story with my son…I discovered something I hadn’t known (Another confirmation from God) that Mike & Kris had planned to name all of their children with names beginning with the letter “E.” By the way our newest granddaughter Eva, is awesome. And I dare not forget to mention Mason…our Grandson.

God demonstrated His love and care for me by opening the doors of my heart with the key that only HE knew was needed. God also cares for you. He has NO FAVORITES! WE’RE ALL HIS FAVORITES!Let me close with this…God will never love you any more than He does right now. He will never love you any less than He does right now!

GOD CARES FOR YOU and He expects you to be a reflection of that CARE…TODAY! Who is it that He has placed in your circle of influence? Who will you embrace today with the CARE OF GOD?

There is Peace in His Decrees!

Ken Bombard

NEW CREATION REALITIES

James 1:25 “…if you keep looking steadily into God’s perfect law—the law that sets you free—and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.”

John John was very comfortable in his father’s presence, even in the most powerful Office in the world. While his father conducted the affairs of the Nation, he was free to come, go and receive of his father’s attention and love. How about you and your Heavenly father?

Many of us read the Bible frequently, some almost every day, and we repeatedly say that we “believe” that the Bible is true, but when it comes to some of the basic truths of the Word of God, we simply don’t believe them. At the very least, we don’t act like we believe them. We seem to consider them as mere philosophical utterances instead of living our lives as though these truths contained within the Bible were actual fact.

As an example, the last entry, “Underestimating Jesus,” mentioned three basic truths which can be combined in the following statements: I am a new creation and everything from my past has been wiped out. Everything within me has been newly created by the hand and heart of Almighty God and I am walking with a Divine Nature within me in the state of Eternal Life! You don’t really believe that you have a Divine nature within you! (Look up the references in the article)

If you did, you would be living your life differently; no more sin, no more failure, no more defeat, no more depression, no more wasted time, and no more fear! Romans 10:10 tells us that “…with the heart man believes…and with the mouth confession is made…” When a person truly believes, the words out of their mouths and corresponding actions, will indicate what they truly believe. We are also told in James 2:20 that “faith without works (corresponding actions) is dead.”

If you truly believe that you are a “New Creation” living “Eternal Life” and are filled with a “Divine Nature,” then start confessing the same, and living a life that corresponds with those beliefs and confessions!

Here are the next three basic truths I want you to receive as New Creation Realities.

1) There isn’t anything I can’t do through power of Christ as I remain connected with Him! Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

2) I am able to come into the Presence of God as though sin has never touched my life! 2 Corinthians 5:21 “For he has made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” I am the Righteousness of God!

3) I know whatever I ask the Father, according to His will, and in Jesus’ Name, He will give it to me! John 16:23 “in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Truly, Truly, I say unto you, Whatsoever you ask the Father in my name, he will give it to you.” 1 John 5:14-15 “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he hears us And if we know that he hears us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.”

My confession today is: I am a new creation and everything from my past has been wiped out. Everything within me has been newly created by the hand and heart of Almighty God and I am walking with a Divine Nature within me in the state of Eternal Life! There isn’t anything I can’t do as I walk in the Presence of God, because according to His Viewpoint, sin has never touched my life. Whatever I ask Him in Jesus’ Name and according to His will, I receive!

Make this Profession every day, multiple times, until it becomes alive within you. Begin to live like all these truths are factual, because they are!

Rise up and become who Christ has made you to be!

DO YOU SEE CLEARLY?

Ephesians 1:16-18 “I pray for you constantly, asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you wisdom to see clearly and really understand who Christ is and all that he has done for you. I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can see something of the future he has called you to share.”

Paul gave us many guidelines as to the real needs we should address in prayer. We usually address God with the basic essentials, “God bless Mommy & Daddy, these are my needs for today, please take care of them and also please make Grandmommy better too.” Maybe your prayers aren’t quite that simple, but the ideas and concepts behind them usually are.

We need to begin to pray for “wisdom to see clearly and really understand who Christ is and all that he has done for you.” 2 Peter 1:2 states the same principle. “Grace (The Divine Ability) and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord…”
Here’s the way it boils down…

The more you know God the more you will love Him!
The more you love God the more you’ll trust Him!
The more you trust God the more you’ll obey Him!
The more you obey Him, the more He can be Who He is in our lives!

This all begins with knowing who God is; What makes His Heart release His Love; What angers or hurts Him; What stirs up His power and releases it; What does it take to access Eternal life, etc.. It’s the same as any relationship. It’s impossible to fall in love with someone until you get to know them. Knowing them takes dedication, time and effort. It’s a process of gradual revelation of the true nature of the person you are getting to know.

“How can I know God?” you may ask. You can listen to what someone else has to say about Him. You can read books, or formulate your own thoughts about what you think He is like. You can investigate various religions and attend different spiritual forums. Or, you can go directly to the Manufacturer’s Handbook and read His Autobiography, inspired by His own Holy Spirit, filled with infallible truths that are proven and time tested Spiritual Laws.

When I first came into a personal relationship with Jesus, I decided to blow the dust off the family Bible and check it out. My wife and I decided to put pressure on the Principles, Truths and Promises contained within, and if they did not stand up, we were not going to waste any more time playing Church. Here we are some thirty plus years later, and the Principles, Truths and Promises still have never faded or faltered.
Given a chance, the Bible will prove itself to be the Living Word of God!

Read the Gospels looking at the Life of Jesus. He said “if you’ve seen Me, you’ve seen the Father…” John 14:9 Colossians 1:15 states that Jesus “…is the visible image of the invisible God.” Pray and read the New Testament looking for the Promises, Principles and truths about the Nature and Character of God. Now feast on this nugget…

Paul continues his prayer in Ephesians 1:18-23 “that you can see exactly what it is he is calling you to do, grasp the immensity of this glorious way of life he has for Christians, 19oh, the utter extravagance of his work in us who trust him—endless energy, boundless strength! All this energy issues from Christ: God raised him from death and set him on a throne in deep heaven, in charge of running the universe, everything from galaxies to governments, no name and no power exempt from his rule. And not just for the time being, but forever. He is in charge of it all, has the final word on everything. At the center of all this, Christ rules the church. The church, you see, is not peripheral to the world; the world is peripheral to the church. The church is Christ’s body, in which he speaks and acts, by which he fills everything with his presence.”

The Good news is....YOU BELONG TO HIM!

You need to read this over and over until He makes it real to you!

THE WAY WHERE. PART 2

John 14:6 “Jesus said unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes unto the Father, but by me.”

God began to reveal Himself to the Jewish Nation by manifestations into the sense realm which had taken control over man’s life. Spiritual fellowship was impossible because man was spiritually dead due to Adam’s transgression. When Jesus came, He revealed something brand new to the men and women of the fleshly sense realm who surrounded Him. He talked and fellowshipped with Almighty God, the God of the Jews, with a sense of intimacy that they couldn’t even begin to fathom. Ultimately He called their Jehovah God, His Father!

I encourage you to go back to “The Way Where, Part 1” and read it again until you get this truth cemented deep within you. When Paul and others referred to Christians in the Book of Acts, they weren’t known as Christians, or Pentecostals, or followers of the Messiah. They were recognized as members of a movement called “the way.” Check out the 5 Scriptures referenced in Part 1.

This movement was called “The Way” because their Master, Jesus, called Himself “the Way” and everyone knew exactly what He meant! Hebrews 10:8 begins to clear up the matter as Paul writes “…the Holy Spirit indicating this, that the way into the Holiest of All was not yet made manifest while the first tabernacle was still standing.” God’s Presence had been separated from man. Not only had the Relationship between God and man been terminated, but because of man’s sin nature, God could no longer fellowship with His precious creation in the manner in which He longed for.

If we piece together the Gospel accounts of the last moments of Jesus on the Cross, we can narrow the events to these…

Mark 15: 37-38 “And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost. And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom.”

1) He said “It is finished!”
2) He bowed His head and gave up the ghost
3) The Temple veil was torn in two from the top to the bottom.

I believe that God does not waste His Words. The phrase “It is finished!” followed by His death, and the veil being torn in two are all tied together. Jesus’ loving actions immediately followed His Words. When He spoke those words, and gave up His life, the power behind those Words moved the Holy Spirit into action and He tore, or caused the veil to tear, thereby removing that which hindered God and man from fellowshipping together.

The Holy of Holies was now open to anyone and everyone whom the Blood of Jesus would cleanse. What does this mean for us today? Way back in time, Adam lost the way. Jesus came to point out that He was the reinstatement of the Way! Hebrews 10: 19 “Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he has consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh.”

God is no longer alone separated from you! He can be approached and He desires for you to approach Him. You can meet with God; speak to God; listen to Him speak to you; receive His wisdom; receive His ability, His power and His authority!

Jesus said in John 14:23 “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word (Walk in obedience); and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.”

He is no longer in the Holy of Holies; the sin problem has been settled; the separation has been healed by Jesus, “The Way!” Now God says, “I want to come and make My Home with you!”

The very sad news is this: The great majority of the people who will be reading this teaching have spent little or no time alone with Him. This is what “The Way” has secured for us; Eternal Access into the Presence of The Father, and it has already begun. I’m not talking about you shouting out your requests and making your troubles and problems known to Him.

I’m talking about entering into His gates with Thanksgiving

I'm talking about shutting down our senses and fastening our minds on Him with Praise as we enter His Courts.

I’m talking about entering into His Presence, by virtue of “The Way” and speaking not a single word while awaiting His fresh Breath (Acts 3:19), His faith generating Word (Romans 10:17), and the impartation of His Ability, Energy and Strength.

Isaiah 40:31 “But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”

When is the last time you entered His Presence and lay prostate before Him, with your mouth shut, and your spirit hungry to hear from Him? God is waiting for you to enter into His Presence and commune with Him through the mercies of the Shed Blood of Jesus! Wont’ you spend sometime with Him today and everyday? He is waiting for you!

PLEASE TELL OTHERS ABOUT THIS WEBSITE. IT'S ABSOLUTLEY NECESSARY TO SPREAD THE TRUTH OF GOD'S GOODNESS AND MERCY BY AS MANY MEANS AS POSSIBLE! TELL THEM TO GO TO THIS ADDRESS AND SIGN UP FOR AUTO DELIVERY: http://heart2heartblog.blogspot.com/