I have discovered that I’m not nearly smart enough, resourceful enough, or organized enough to have more than one blog going at a time. So, I have decided to shut this one down. I hope you will check out my primary blog, Shepherding Souls, to keep up with Scripture, prayers, devotionals, etc.

Thanks for being a part of this blog’s very short and sporadic run. I contend that this blog was and is a good idea. It’s just more than I can handle. Hopefully the resources you find at my other blog will bless you.

Thanks,
Dale

Fires of Rebellion or Fires of Revival?

A devotion from Adrian Rogers (from CrossWalk.com)

“Wilt Thou not revive us again: that Thy people may rejoice in Thee? Show us Thy mercy, O Lord, and grant us Thy salvation.” Psalm 85:6-7

When I was a Boy Scout, a buddy and I took a seven-mile hike to earn a merit badge and decided to camp out. We pitched our tent, built a fire, cooked our dinner, and then went to sleep. The next morning we woke up, kindled another fire, fixed our breakfast, and then went out to explore the woods.

When we came back, the woods were on fire! A wind was blowing and I thought we’d never put out that fire.

Have you ever thought about the fire that came on the day of Pentecost? The Bible says there was a sound of a rushing mighty wind that spread His flame (see Acts 2:2). Let me ask you a question: Is America going to burn by the fires of rebellion or by the fires of revival?

How I pray that God will cause a mighty Pentecostal wind to sweep across America. Whether it does or not lies in the hands, hearts, minds, wills, prayers, ambitions, and aspirations of people like you and me. 

 

• Pray for America – for those who make and adjudicate the law of the land.  
• Pray for preachers and teachers of God’s Word.  
• Pray for those who call themselves Christians.  
• Pray for the lost.  
• Pray 2 Chronicles 7:14.  
• Ask God to save.  
• Ask God to humble His people where we need humbling so that His glory may be known.

Taken from The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers & Devotions, edited by Arthur Bennett

God the Spirit

O Lord God,

I  pray not so much for graces as for the Spirit himself,  because I feel his absence,  and act by my own spirit in everything.

Give me not weak desires but the power of  his presence,  for this is the surest way to have all his graces,  and when I have the seal I have the impression  also;

He can heal, help, quicken, humble suddenly  and easily,  can work grace and life effectually,  and being eternal he can give grace eternally.

Save me from great hindrances,  from being content with a little measure  of the Spirit,  from thinking thou wilt not give me more.

When I feel my lack of him, light up life and faith,   for when I lose thee I am either in the dark  and cannot see thee,  or Satan and my natural abilities content me with a little light,  so that I seek no further for the Spirit of life. Teach me then what to do.

Should I merely humble myself and not stir up  my heart? Should I meditate and use all means to bring him near,  not being contented by one means,  but trust him to give me a blessing by the use of all,  depending only upon, and waiting always for,  thy light, by use of means?

Is it a duty or an error to pray and look for the fullness of the Spirit in me?

Am I mistaken in feeling I am empty of the Spirit  because I do not sense his presence within, when all the time I am most empty and could be more full by faith in Christ?

Was the fullness of the Spirit in the apostles  chiefly a power,  giving the subsistence outside themselves  in Christ,  in whom was their life and joy?

Teach me to find and know fullness of the Spirit  only in Jesus.

Philippians 1:12-30
    Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. [13] As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. [14] Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly.
    [15] It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. [16] The latter do so in love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. [17] The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. [18] But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.
    Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, [19] for I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. [20] I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. [21] For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. [22] If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! [23] I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; [24] but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. [25] Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, [26] so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me.
    [27] Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel [28] without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved–and that by God. [29] For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him, [30] since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.

Brothers,

Since we’re about to dive into Philippians, I thought I might start posting selections from it in an effort to start getting us ready.

Philippians 1:1-11
    Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus,

    To all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons:
 
    [2] Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
 
    [3] I thank my God every time I remember you. [4] In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy [5] because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, [6] being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
    [7] It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. [8] God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.
    [9] And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, [10] so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, [11] filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ–to the glory and praise of God.

Taken from The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers & Devotions, edited by Arthur Bennett

Great God, in public and private, in sanctuary and home, may my life be steeped in prayer, filled with the spirit of grace and supplication, each prayer perfumed with the incense of atoning blood. Help me, defend me, until from praying ground I pass to the realm of unceasing praise. Urged by my need, invited by Thy promises, called by Thy Spirit, I enter Thy presence, worshipping Thee with godly fear, awed by Thy majesty, greatness, glory, but encouraged by Thy love.

I am all poverty as well as all guilt, having nothing of my own with which to repay Thee, but I bring Jesus to Thee in the arms of faith, pleading His righteousness to offset my iniquities, rejoicing that He will weigh down the scales for me, and satisfy thy justice. I bless Thee that great sin draws out great grace, that, although the lest sin deserves infinite punishment because done against an infinite God, yet there is mercy for me, for where guilt is most terrible, there Thy mercy in Christ is most free and deep. Bless me by revealing to me more of His saving merits, by causing Thy goodness to pass before me, by speaking peace to my contrite heart; strengthen me to give Thee no rest untiI Christ shall reign supreme within me in every thought, word, and deed, in a faith that purifies the heart, overcomes the world, works by love, fastens me to Thee, and ever clings to the cross.

Very sobering reflections by Mohler as he shares his thoughts on an even more sobering article. In an age of men’s ministries that seem to be overly concerned about being wild at heart, perhaps we should concentrate more on growing up, taking responsibility, and pursuing biblical holiness. This post by Mohler is a must-read.

SDG,
Dale

************

Is our postmodern, postindustrial society simply better suited to women than to men? Hanna Rosin makes the case for this claim in the current issue of The Atlantic, and her article demands close attention. Men, she argues, are simply falling behind women in almost every sector of cultural influence and economic power. This shift, she understands, is nothing less than unprecedented in the span of human history.

Rosin begins her article with the fact that sex-selection technologies in the West are now more often used to select a preference for girls than for boys, reversing the historical trend. Why? She explains: “Man has been the dominant sex since, well, the dawn of mankind. But for the first time in human history, that is changing—and with shocking speed. Cultural and economic changes always reinforce each other. And the global economy is evolving in a way that is eroding the historical preference for male children, worldwide.”

Click here to read the whole article.

I got the following email newsletter today from Gary Collins. He shared the very powerful story (see below) about Bruce Feiler. I visited the link that he provided at the bottom of his newsletter and discovered the video which you’ll find at the bottom of this post. What a great idea to form a “Council of Dads” or of Moms or of followers of Jesus Christ.

Happy Father’s Day Weekend,
Dale

Bruce Feiler is a journalist and best selling author who was diagnosed with cancer when his twin daughters were only three. The doctors predicted a difficult year of treatment with a strong possibility that he would not recover. The young father wondered what this would mean to his daughters if they grew up without his support, without knowing their dad or hearing his voice.

“Would they yearn for my approval, my love, my voice?” Feiler wrote. Then he thought of a way to give them his voice. He would reach out to six men, each of whom represented a different part of his life including his interests in adventure, travel, business and communicating. Apart from his family, these were the men who knew him best, shared his values, and could be his voice if he was gone. These men could give his daughters advice and experiences, tell them what he would be thinking, let them know how proud he would be. He called them “The Council of Dads.”

Like a captivating novelist, Feiler tells his story in The Council of Dads: My Daughters, My Illness, and the Men Who Could be Me. I was stimulated and so moved by the book that I sent copies as Fathers Day gifts to some of the young dads and emerging leaders I know who walk with me, let me coach them and teach me from their experiences. My kids are grown. They don’t need a council of dads and neither do I.

But do I need a council of advisors, people who know my voice and can guide me in how I live and make decisions? And what about you, your closest friends, your clients or your children? Could they benefit from surrounding themselves with a council of dads, moms or other key people who know them well and can be their guides and informal coaches? Who would be chosen to be on these councils? What would they be asked to do? To get started read Feiler’s book or check out www.councilofdads.com.