Christian Mantras

Not by might, nor by power, but by your spirit
Open the eyes of my heart
Help me see your chariots of fire
Help me see what You want me to see
To know His love that surpasses knoweldge
Be still and know that I am God
Plans to prosper you
Plans to give you hope and a future
Father, how did you make the sun?
If you have faith as small as a mustard seed
To Him who is able to do immeasurably more than we could ever ask or imagine.
Power, love and self discipline.
Man cannot live on bread alone.
Out of His glorious riches
Perseverence leads to character and character-hope
Consider it pure joy when you endure trials of many kinds
Lean not on your own understanding
My ways are not your ways
You will destroy the wisdom of the wise
Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.
Your hand controls power and might
Everything in the heavens and earth is yours oh Lord and this is your kingdom
It is at your discretion that men are made great and are given strength
Trust in the Lord with all your heart
He would strengthen you with power.
How wide, how long, how wide is the love of Christ.
They will soar on wings like eagles.
Run and not be weary
Walk and not be faint
Whatever is true
Whatever is right
Whatever is pure
Whatever is lovely
If anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about these things
Be transformed by the renewing of your mind
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand
He may life you up in do time.
More of you and less of me
More of your thoughts, less of my thoughts
More of your power, less of my power
I can't, but You can
Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free
Peace that transcends all understanding will guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus
If you made an axe head float then you...
Perhaps the Lord will act on our behalf
We need to be uncomfortable with our comfortableness

Stewards of our children's dreams, skills and gifts

As I read Grace Based Parenting, I am reminded that just as I am a steward of the dreams, skills and gifts God has given me, I am also a steward of the dreams, skills and gifts of my children.  My kids are so special.  They are unique.  They are passionate and they love to laugh.  I know God has big plans for all of them.

Past spiritual journal around 2010: Spiritual Training

I like to write what I believe I need to focus on more of in my spiritual growth.  The following are some of those truths:

• The Lord is with us.

• It's not our will but His will that matters.

• I should speak no more words of doubt or fear.

• There is no point in talking about "the yucky stuff."

• The tongue is like a rudder to a ship.

• Who cares if you can anticipate all of the good and bad things that could happen in any circumstance.  God will destroy the wisdom of the wise.  Man plans his way but the Lord directs his path.

• The spirit does live in us and is guiding us.

• Plan on the best happening.

• Cultivate my mind on scripture.  Watch out for idol pointless web surfing.  Don't let it become a habit.

• Relax through it all.  Only use the muscles you absolutely have to use.

• Be strong and courageous...like a lion.

• Don't be greedy.

• How would I act if I was 100% confident God was with me?

• Since I am 100% confident God is with me, am I acting that way?

• Trust the Lord with your heart, but don't trust your heart. 

• Suffering produces perseverance, perseverance produces character and character produces hope.

• Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.

• Pray like it depends on God, work like it depends on you.

• Chase the lion.

Romans 5:1-5

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.  Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. 

1 Corinthians 9:24

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize?  Run in such a way as to get the prize.  

Romans 12:2

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is.  His good pleasing and perfect will.

Phillipians 4:8

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about these things.

2 Kings 6:16 NIV

"Don't be afraid," the prophet answered. "Those who are with us are more than those who are with them." 

2 Kings 6:17 NKJV

Elisha’s servant arose early one morning–and there was an army, surrounding the city with horses and chariots. Elisha prayed, and said, "LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see." and the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. 

1 Chronicles 29-11-12

Everything in the heavens and earth is yours oh Lord and this is your kingdom.  We adore you as being in control of everything.  Riches and honor come from you alone and you are the ruler of all mankind.  Your hand controls power and might and it is at your discretion that men are made great and are given strength.  

1Peter 5: 6-7

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 

Romans 12:9-12

Love must be sincere.  Hate what is evil and cling to what is good.  Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.  Honor one another above yourselves.  Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor serving the Lord.  Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction and faithful in prayer.

1 Corinthians 14

1Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy. 2For anyone who speaks in a tongue[a] does not speak to men but to God. Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries with his spirit.[b] 3But everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort. 

1 Corinthians 16:13-14

Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong.  Do everything in love.

Prayer:

• Open my eyes.  Open the eyes of my heart. 

• Help me see your chariots of fire.

• Help me see things the way you want me to see them.

• Keep me from having tunnel vision.

• Help me sense your presence and where you want me to go, what you want me to do and how you want me to speak.

• Help me have the discipline to grow.  

• What is true: you created the heavens and earth; you are all knowing, everywhere and were in the beginning and are at the end.  In you we live, move and breathe.  

• What is noble: When people sacrifice for others.  Noble is fighting addiction and forming new behavioral habits to help families grow.  

The three basic driving inner needs of a

child are:

1. a need for security
2. a need for significance 
3. a need for strength

The above information obtained from Grace Based Parenting by Dr. Tim Kimmel

Dr. Kimmel also provided a definition of love as: "...the commitment of my will to your needs and best interests, regardless of the cost."

Be Still and Know

For some of us, it is difficult to be still.  I think there are those of us who have a tendency to be active, to be moving, to be thinking, to be correcting, to be improving, to be building, to be growing, to be creating...but, to be still?  I really believe that there is a genetic predisposition for some of us to NOT be still.  Some may consider this tendency to be controlled by an anxious type personality or a type A type personality.

For those of us who have a difficult time being still, I think we have to understand we have to learn to be still.  Sometimes, it can be easy to be still.  It may be easier to be still on vacation looking at a beautiful blue ocean with no pending responsibility.  It may be more difficult to be still when faced with a grim diagnosis, a problem financially, or a problem in our relationships.  With all the information we have available, it would seem that if we just work hard enough, search hard enough or think hard enough, that we could fix any problem.

Well, I think there are times when God just wants us to be still...because when we allow ourselves to be still, we can know that He is God.

Learning To Be...

In Philipians 4:12, Paul states he has learned the secret of being content .  It is helpful for me to remember that mental states of being take time to master.  In other words, we need to "learn" to be content.  In addition, it seems that we need to "learn" to be at peace.  We need to "learn" to be calm and controlled.  We need to "learn" to be self disciplined.  As life goes on and we are faced with new opportunities, experiences, trials and challenges, this "learning" continues.

In fact, it is through new trials and challenges that we are able to apply the things we have learned in the past, but we must press on to learn new methods and approaches when our worlds are rocked.

Philipians 4:12  I 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.

http://www.northpoint.org/messages/free

What are your true limits?

I recently was fortunate to spend some time with my friend who is 100 years old...almost 101.  He insisted I take his book home entitled, Inside Seal Team Six by Don Mann.  Since my friend was a Frogman in WWII, I wasn't going to argue with him more than I already had.    I figure I will call him and share with him some of the things I am learning from this book.

One of my favorite quotes so far by Don Mann is, "Because I figure if you never push beyond what you think your true limits are, you will never know your true abilities."  He insists that most people have no idea what their true limits are.