Legacy Dad

Wordless Wednesday

Accountability....what are we exactly talking about

I hope that you all are finding this entry well.  It has been a while since either Lance or I have blogged.  I apoligize and want to say that it is not because I do not think about this website, on the contrary.  I have been wrestling with some themes in my life and have been trying to walk with some brothers in accountability.  Needless to say, I have a wife and three kids and a full time job along with all the other responsibilities that come along with being husband, dad, deacon and ministry leader. 

That being said, I was at our Wednesday night service last night and one of are pastor's preached on the Beattitudes.  Three of the themes were Mercy, Peacemakers and the pure in heart.  His challenge was for us to pray for one of those attitudes in our life if it were lacking.  Again, as I said previously, I have been trying to walk with two brothers in accountability and at times catch myself (with my discernment) actually judging the situtation instead of being merciful and realizing that they are broken and in their sin.  That it will take more than them just confessing their sin and abstaining from it and to work toward repentance and sanctifcation. 

Here is the thing, we can hold absolutely no one in accountability if they so choose to lie and/or avoid us.  This is when it hit me.  The whole thing that the World keeps forgetting and we as Christians choose to avoid.  When there is judgement every knee will bow and every tongue will confess.  Whether you are an agnostic, athiest, "cold" Christian, "luke-warm" Christian or on fire for Jesus type of Christian.  If you name is written in the book of life then your actions will be judged and tried by fire.  WOW!  If that isn't enough to make you get down on your knees then I don't know what is. 

Romans Chapter 2 puts it this way:  " ¹You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. ²Now we know that God's judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. ³So when you, a mere man, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God's judgment? ⁴Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentance?  ⁵But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God's wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. ⁶God "will give to each person according to what he has done."^{[a] 7}To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. ⁸But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. ⁹There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; ¹⁰but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. ¹¹For God does not show favoritism.  ¹²All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law. ¹³For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God's sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous. ¹⁴(Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law, ¹⁵since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them.) ¹⁶This will take place on the day when God will judge men's secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares.

So there it is, God will judge the secrets of men through his Son Jesus Christ. 

The hardest part  for me tonight to pray for is Mercy.  I want to exude all eight attributes of the beattitudes.  There are times when my life models some, but I really want to be merciful all of the time.  After all, it isn't up to me to judge, but to serve.  To come closer to God, so that He will come closer to me.

By the way, the eight Beattitudes:

"Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are they who mourn,
for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are the meek,
for they shall inherit the earth.

Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they shall be satisfied.

Blessed are the merciful,
for they shall obtain mercy.

Blessed are the pure of heart,
for they shall see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they shall be called children of God.

Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

The Power of the Holy Spirit

Steps in the Redemption Process

 

 

C. H. Spurgeon 

(1834-1892)

© Copyright 2002 by Tony Capoccia. This updated file may be freely copied, printed out, and distributed as 
long as copyright and source statements remain intact, and that it is not sold. All rights reserved.

Verses quoted, unless otherwise noted, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION 
©1978 by the New York Bible Society, used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers.

 

“The power of the Holy Spirit.”--Romans 15:13

Power is the special and distinctive prerogative of God, and God alone. Power belongs to God. God is God: and power belongs to him. If he delegates a portion of it to his creatures, yet it still is his power. The sun in the heavens, although it is “…like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion, like a champion rejoicing to run his course” [Psalm 19:5], yet it has no power to move through the universe except as God directs it. The stars, although they travel in their orbits and no one can stop them, yet they have neither power nor force except that which God daily infuses into them. The tall archangel, near God’s throne, who outshines a comet in its brilliance, and who excels in strength and listens to the voice of the commands of God, still has no strength except that which his Creator gives to him. As for Leviathan, who causes the sea to boil like a pot that one would think the ocean was white: as for Hippopotamus, who could almost drink up the Jordan in one swallow, and boasts that he can inhale rivers; as for those majestic creatures that are found on earth, they owe their strength to him who formed their bones of steel and made their muscle of brass. And when we think of man if he has might or power, it is so small and insignificant, that we can scarcely call it such; yes, when it is at its greatest-when he waves his scepter, when he commands vast armies, when he rules nations-still the power belongs to God.

This exclusive prerogative of God is to be found in each of the three persons of the glorious Trinity. The Father has power: for at his word the heavens were made, and by his strength all things continue, and through him they fulfill their destiny. The Son has power: for like his Father, he is the Creator of all things; “Without him nothing was made that has been made” [John 1:3], and “in him all things hold together” [Colossians 1:17]. And the Holy Spirit has power.

It is concerning the power of the Holy Spirit that I will speak this morning; and may you gain a practical example of that attribute in your own hearts, when you sense that the influence of the Holy Spirit is being poured out on me, so that I am speaking the words of the living God to your souls, and the power bestowed on you when you feel the effects of it in your own souls

Disciple in training

In all your ways, acknowledge Him.

In the morning when you wake up.

"So that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please [Him]
in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the
knowledge of God." Colossians 1:10 

Come closer to God and He will come closer to you. 

Pick up your cross and follow him.

Time is short.  Life is but a mist.  What are you doing with the gifts that God has given you?  What would you regret not doing for the King who gave us everything including life eternal.  At the Judgement Seat of Christ will you say, I should/could have done more?  Why wait?

Go and make disciples of men to follow Jesus.

We are called, as men (as Father's for some) to be Prophets, Priests and Kings of our household.  Are we being good stewards of what God has given us.  Turn from sin, repent of the heart and mature in Christ.

It all goes back in the box...

It all goes back in the box, you cannot take anything with you.  No matter how hard you try, you simply cannot leave this world with anything. Luke 16:13 (NIV) "No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money."

Mat 6:19-21 (TEB) "Do not save riches for yourselves here on earth, where moths and rust destroy, and robbers break in and steal. Instead, save riches for yourselves in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and robbers cannot break in and steal. For your heart will always be where your riches are."  Heb 13:5 (RSV) "Keep your life free from the love of money, and be content with what you have."

Ps 37:7,16 (NAS) Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way... Better is the little of the righteous than the abundance of many wicked.  

Prov 23:4-5 (NIV) Do not wear yourself out to get rich; have the wisdom to show restraint. Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle. Prov 30:8-9 (NIV) ...Give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, "Who is the Lord?" Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God. Phil 4:11-13 (Phi) ...For I have learned to be content, whatever the circumstances may be. I know now how to live when things are difficult and I know how to live when things are prosperous. In general and in particular I have learned the secret of eating well or going hungry--of facing either plenty or poverty. I am ready for anything through the strength of the One who lives within me.

Phil 4:12 (NAS) I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.

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No matter what you think you are accomplishing in life, take a self test and see where you priorities lie.  As for this blog:  Core values start with the following:

A Legacy Dad is:

 

A man who is bold but humble

A man who honors his wife and treats her as his united partner and confidant

A man who is not afraid to speak about his beliefs and values

A man who has or is ready to become the spiritual leader of his family

A man who sets the example for others to follow

A man who friends and colleagues look up to and ask advice of

A man who is willing to lay it all on the line to protect his family

 

But most importantly Legacy Dad is

 

A man who realizes that his children are God’s greatest gift to him and his legacy will not be his job, will not be his money, and will not be his personal accomplishments; but it will be the teachings, guidance, and values that he passes on to his children. His children will take these principles on to their children and their children’s children thus creating a family Legacy.

We the people

Philippians 4: ¹²I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. ¹³I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

Video below may offend some, but, we the people have to start leading again.  What do you think...