December 2024 | TFRC | The Faith Resource Community

12/04/24 Unconscious Advance

Often we forget that God is continually at work on our behalf and for the good of those we love. He has called us to the position of husband and father. He will equip us for the task if we seek Him for His power. He promises to never leave us or forsake us. He will continually advance His plan for our lives and the lives of those we love. There are no “off days” with respect to His hand on us accomplishing what He desires.

When the obligations of my offices overwhelm me, and my failures seem to far outnumber any semblance of success, I remember a comment made by a dear pastor who is now enjoying the Lord's company face-to-face. He used to say, "There has never been an emergency meeting of the Trinity." If we could only remember that every moment, maybe we could stop setting those meetings up down here because we see no evidence of change in us or our circumstances.

Is God trustworthy and all-powerful or not? Of course He is! I guess that puts the ball back in our court. "Lord, give us eyes to see, ears to hear, and a heart that has the ability to trust You completely!"

Let’s talk more!

Jim Corbett

12/03/24 Far Removed

“Foolish hearts and lying tongues cannot be part of your association or interaction one to another. Both must be far removed if you desire My presence. You must consider the horrible impact of these acts. A foolish heart minimizes the importance of those things that are important to Me. It denies biblical truths and sways others to live for themselves, not for the glory of Jesus. A lying tongue kills the truth. It murders the wealth of My Holy Spirit, separates My children, and destroys the trust, one to another, that is needed if you are to move with Me.

“Get rid of these elements in your fellowship. Get rid of them in your heart. Get rid of them in your association with Me, so that I may use you to touch others. I require you to walk in integrity with a steadfast heart. Come to Me in repentance as you see any sign of these attitudes in your life. I will gladly remove them from you. They must be out of your life before we go on.”

Joshua 7:13 AMP

Up, sanctify (set apart for a holy purpose) the people, and say, Sanctify yourselves for tomorrow; for thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: There are accursed things in the midst of you, O Israel. You can not stand before your enemies until you take away from among you the things devoted [to destruction].

Jeremiah 15:19 AMP

Therefore thus says the Lord [to Jeremiah]: If you return [and give up this mistaken tone of distrust and despair], then I will give you again a settled place of quiet and safety, and you will be My minister; and if you separate the precious from the vile [cleansing your own heart from unworthy and unwarranted suspicions concerning God’s faithfulness], you shall be My mouthpiece…

Col. 3:9-10 AMP

9) Do not lie to one another, for you have stripped off the old (unregenerate) self with its evil practices.

10) And have clothed yourselves with the new [spiritual self], which is [ever in the process of being] renewed and remolded into [fuller and more perfect knowledge upon] knowledge after the image (the likeness) of Him Who created it.

A fool says in his heart that there is no God. Any degree of foolishness that is within us decreases our ability to see our Father for who He really is. The more foolishness there is, the less we appreciate the magnificence of God.

A lie is as deadly as murder to any life in Christ. Satan is the father of lies.

So, let’s see…we lie to one another and harbor foolishness in our hearts by looking to the world for truth and comfort. Not a real good testimony.

Teach me truth, Lord,

Jim Corbett

12/03/24 Our Privilege

Have you ever thought about the privileges we have as husbands and fathers? Though there are many, one of the most wonderful is the ability to hold those we love before the Father for His blessing upon them. Not only do we observe their days; we also have the honor of laboring in prayer for them as we see their needs.

Think of it. God has chosen us to be a valued asset in the lives of those we love, to lend a hand for their best interests, to undergird them in their times of need or challenge by presenting them before our mighty God for His faithful intervention. That’s some pretty powerful stuff!

The apostle Paul talked about being in pain as if in childbirth until Christ was formed in his circle of influence. He considered it his task to hold them before the One Who can do something about their real need. We can do the same for those we love. It’s our job, our moment-by-moment assignment! It’s our calling and privilege!

Let’s talk more!

Jim Corbett

12/02/24 Furthering God’s Kingdom

“Delight yourself in Me. Make Me part of those things that mean much to you. Cherish the values of Jesus. Pattern your life after His life. If you do these things, your heart will cherish the things of His heart. It will hold them dear. With the same heart motives as His, your requests to Me will be in line with My Word and My heart. You can then rest assured that your every request will be fulfilled, for I know it will further My kingdom.”

Psalm 37:4 NIV

Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.

I John 5:14-15 AMP

14) And this is the confidence (the assurance, the privilege of boldness) which we have in Him: [we are sure] that if we ask anything (make any request) according to His will (in agreement with His own plan), He listens to and hears us.

15) And if (since) we [positively] know that He listens to us in whatever we ask, we also know [with settled and absolute knowledge] that we have [granted us as our present possessions] the requests made of Him.

Few of us remember that everything we do is supposed to be about God’s desires, His plans, and His will. Many times we attempt to make this Christian walk all about us and our desires and plans. God becomes this bottomless well from which we can draw. He is a gift giver, protector of our freedoms, and maker of our prosperity. Foolish teachers even make dead end doctrines - which are heralded by the selfish and accepted by the immature - out of our need to have our lusts fulfilled.

Once we understand and accept the Lord’s way, we become free. Our prayers come in line with God’s ideas. Our needs become focused on how they can further the Lord’s work. The desires of our hearts change. Our motives become pure. We ask for ways to become more like Jesus. We crave tools to help others. The things of the world fall away, pale in comparison with the things of God. All of our hearts’ desires are fulfilled, sometimes without even asking. God fulfills them because they are in line with His heart. He is a Father who gives good gifts.

I want Your heart desires, Lord,

Jim Corbett

12/02/24 Seize the Moment

Being a man who’s lost one of his children, I’m often reminded of the many wasted moments, wrong decisions, and times when other things appeared more important than devoting time to her. I look back and wish I had seized every opportunity to enjoy her, instead of placing other supposedly more important things ahead of her.

As husbands and fathers, we are truly blessed. We each have the honor of witnessing the lives of those God has given us. As we observe their days, it’s our privilege to share in the delights they experience and grieve with them when they’re in need of a shoulder to cry on. All investments in them add to the wonder of participating in the life God has given them.

At certain points in the din of everyday life, most of us lose the importance of time spent with those standing close to us. Instead of grasping every instant to appreciate those precious moments, challenges, decisions, needs, and schedules cloud the wonder of family life, sometimes to the point of being too late. How I wish I had redeemed the time! How I wish I had seized every opportunity I had to participate in my first daughter’s life! Today I determine in my heart to not make the same mistake with those who remain.

Let’s talk more!

Jim Corbett

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