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8/09/23 Your Obedience Helps Others

As a father and husband, if you are where you’re supposed to be with God, then those in your circle of influence have a much better chance of being where they’re supposed to be. It stands to reason that if you are setting an example of obedience to God and make it comfortable for your family to walk in obedience to God, they will be able to search His heart for their lives.

Conversely, if you are going about your days moving in your own thoughts and abilities, never really understanding the importance of finding His heart and His will, they will do the same simply because it’s a family pattern you’ve established.  Is it any wonder that so many families are fractured and directionless as far as God is concerned? Is it any wonder that most families will not be prepared to face the challenges on the horizon and will seek direction from other sources than the Lord?

Your job, dads, is to provide an atmosphere of dependence on the Lord in every area of your life and each situation you face. In doing so, you will be allowing those around you to do the same. That dependence is the only place of faultless direction and powerful wisdom available to any of them to face every challenge, even when you’re not around. Cultivating the habit of seeking God for direction and following that direction in absolute obedience is the best gift you can give to those around you. It’s the only place of real safety for all of you.

Jesus loved doing only His Father’s will. If you and your wife love walking in obedience to Him, your children will have the freedom to follow His will, too. That’s a very good thing! Will you walk in obedience to help your family do likewise?

Let’s talk more!

Jim Corbett

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8/08/23 God’s Word

“You can rely on My Word. It is always true. He is always Truth. I am always Faithful.”

Psalm 111:2 NIV

Great are the works of the Lord; they are pondered by all who delight in them.

Ephesians 3:14-19 NLT 

14) When I think of the wisdom and scope of God’s plan, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father,

15) the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth.

16) I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will give you mighty inner strength through his Holy Spirit.

17) And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in him.  May your roots go down deep into the soil of God’s marvelous love.

18) And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love really is.

19) May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it. Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

 

Few of us realize the wealth that we have because of the integrity of God. As the world reels in deception upon deception, attempting to form some semblance of order in which they can live, we have the Word of God - absolute, reliable Truth.

Thank You, Lord,

Jim Corbett

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8/08/23 Encounters with God

Men, as leaders of those under your stewardship, are you preparing yourself for an encounter with God? Does your heart long for such intimacy that only His personal invitation into His throne room - where He anoints you in preparation for the times and seasons ahead - will satisfy you? If not, why not?

You have been born spiritually because of the work of Jesus. You have been invited into an intimate relationship with your Father in heaven. You have been called and selected to walk with Him throughout your days in continual communion. He has become your Father in the truest sense of the word.

He is also your Almighty God. Meeting with Him on a regular basis will change you. Any encounter you are privileged to have will destroy all those things that hinder you from walking in His truths. It will change how you think, how you act, and you will know why you have been given breath. You will have answers for yourself and for those around you.

As a watchman looking past what we have been told to believe and observing what is really on the horizon, I am convinced that nothing but the keeping power of God will suffice in the near future. Nothing but clear directions and God-ordained paths will be safe places to travel. Those paths only come from having moment by moment encounters with a loving, direction-giving Father. He is waiting to meet with you long and often. Maybe it’s time to make such encounters the priority of your life - for your sake and for those around you.

Let’s talk more!

Jim Corbett

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8/07/23 The Best You Can Do

“When I look upon your life, there is nothing but mercy and compassion in My heart. I realize how far you have to go to understand and walk in what I have provided for you. I also realize how far We have come together. I see that you are doing the best that you can do and will continue to do so from now on. Even when you fall in deep sin, throw away your friends, judge others, gossip, hate, and little resemble Jesus to the world, it is sin, yes; but it is the best that you can do. As you grow up, you will be able to do better. Because that is fully understood, My heart is always for you and never against you. Keep doing your best. Give others the freedom to do the same, and We will walk together as you mature in Me. I love you. You love others. It is My way.”

Luke 23:34 NIV 

Jesus said, “Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.”

Heb. 13:20-21 AMP

20) Now may the God of peace [Who is the Author and the Giver of peace], Who brought again from among the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, by the blood [that sealed, ratified] the everlasting agreement (covenant, testament),

21) Strengthen (complete, perfect) and make you what you ought to be and equip you with everything good that you may carry out His will; [while He Himself] works in you and accomplishes that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ (the Messiah); to Whom be the glory forever and ever (to the ages of the ages). Amen (so be it).

 

Those words from Luke 23 were said as Jesus looked down from the cross at those who had just crucified Him. They were said to the soldier who probably still had the hammer in his hands, the once filthy leper who Jesus had touched, the young man who was possibly still being fed by the loaves and fishes incident several months ago; and many other jeering, spitting, and cursing people.

I am convinced that He was saying, “Father, I know that every one of them is doing the best that he or she knows how to do. I am glad to do this for them. I know that You are, also. Let’s forgive them over and over until they can see things better. One day, when Our love overcomes their ignorance and hate, they will need what We have. I gladly forgive them and I know that you do, too.”

Once, after Merry and I had just been “sucker punched” almost to the point of giving up, the Lord whispered to us: “They did the best that they could.” He was saying, “They had jealousy, so they had to try to destroy you so they could survive. They were so broken, that you were a threat to them. They were full of pride, so you seemingly stole some of their parade. You need to forgive them and understand that in their immaturity, they did the best that they could.”

The concept of everyone doing the very best that they know how to do, even the worst of sinners, allows us to understand the mercy that Jesus had on the cross a little bit better.

While I’m doing my best, please heal those whom I might hurt,

Jim Corbett

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8/07/23 Fruitless Imaginations

As a father and husband, who directs your plans? 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 tells us that every thought that does not conform to the work that Jesus did is to be cast aside. Jesus also did nothing of Himself, but only what He and His Father agreed upon to do. How then do any of us believe that our own thoughts or ideas, based on need or circumstances and derived from our own imaginations, are good enough to direct our wives and families to safe, prosperous paths in life?

As a steward of those around you, there will come a time when you stand before Almighty God and give account of those He has entrusted to your care. You will be asked if you provided a safe and clear path for your wife and family to follow, a place where they had every opportunity to become all they could be in Christ. How’s that working for you?

Have you done or are you doing everything that you can for their best interests? Have you determined in your heart that their stewardship is more important than your job or the things that keep you comfortable? If you haven’t, now might be a good time to reassess whether or not the plans you follow are yours or the Lord’s.

Following His plans and ideas in all things leads to a prosperous life in His eyes. He sees that following your plans is nothing more than flowing in fruitless imaginations. We are told to cast them down as useless, because they have no basis for truth and deny God’s way for you. Whose plans do you choose?

Let’s talk more!

Jim Corbett

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