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8/26/21 Safe at Home

I remember playing “kick the can” as a child. One person would be designated to guard the can – also called “home”, while the others ran away and hid. As everyone sought their hiding place, the guard counted to a certain number with his eyes closed. When the guard opened his eyes, we each found an opportunity to run toward “home” to kick the can. If we accomplished our mission, we were safe. If the guard caught one of us before we could get to the can, that person would have to be the new guard.

Often I remember being the guard because I was smaller and much slower than the others. The frustration I felt was immense, as one by one the others would make it home safe. It seemed that I could never protect the can as I wanted to. I just didn’t have the skills to do so.

Those frustrations come back often as I begin to understand my responsibility before God as a husband and father. I’m acutely aware of the times I’m incapable of loving, guiding, and nurturing as I should. Often I find myself with no answers.

That’s when I’m reminded that my weakness is the strongest qualification I have for my job. I was never called to have answers for the task I’ve been given. I’ve only been called to need God. In my need, He is my answer. He is my strength. He is my wisdom and power to function as I’m called to function. Instead of me trying to stop others from being safe at “home” as in the game, I welcome them to a place of safety created by My loving Father.

Let’s talk more!

Jim Corbett

8/25/21 Where’s Your Heart?

“Wait. Wait on Me. Wait for My plans for you to develop. I set them in motion because I care for you. You, however, go about your business, often giving little concern to what I have in mind for you. When will you wake up? When will you understand that the way to My kind of life is through an understanding of My heart? As you go about your own business in your own strength, without concern for My approval, you are moving out from under the Lordship of Jesus and His ways. That is not a good thing. It is not good for you, and it hurts My heart. You need to change your ways. You need to consider your life and find out how much of it is out of order, because you have cared little if I am where you have gone. You need to repent to Me, and then change your ways.”

Exodus 33:13-16 NIV

13) “If I have found favor in your eyes, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people.”

14) The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

15) Then Moses said to him, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here.

16) How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?”

Psalm 37:4 NIV

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

Jeremiah 2:13 NIV

“My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.”

Haggai 1:7-10 AMP

7) Thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways (your previous and present conduct) and how you have fared.

8) Go up to the hill country and bring lumber and rebuild [My] house, and I will take pleasure in it and I will be glorified, says the Lord [by accepting it as done for My glory and by displaying My glory in it].

9) You looked for much [harvest], and behold, it came to little; and even when you brought that home, I blew it away. Why? says the Lord of hosts. Because of My house, which lies waste while you yourselves run each man to his own house [eager to build and adorn it].

10) Therefore the heavens above you [for your sake] withhold the dew, and the earth withholds its produce.

We forget how harmful it is for us to go back to our old ways after we have come to the Lord. It is rebellion plain and simple. God is after the heart that desires to serve Him and Him alone, not the one that wants its own way.

Forgive me, Lord,

Jim Corbett

8/25/21 A Great Honor

In the movie, Dances with Wolves, there is an instance when Captain Dunbar is asked to stay behind and take care of his friend’s family, instead of going to war against another tribe. He fought the idea until he was told that taking care of the family was a great honor. It was far more important than warring on behalf of the tribe.

Most of us have lost the idea that taking care of another’s property is an honor. It means that we can be trusted. As a husband and father, Father God has said to you, in essence: “I trust you to take care of your wife. She is one of my precious children. I also trust you to take of the children I’ve lent you. Teach them about Me and how much I love them.”

Men, your offices of husband and father are offices of trust and pivotal roles in the economy of God. You’re important to Him. You play a vital part in the plans of God as you fulfill His desires in guiding His children to the place where they can best serve Him. Wouldn’t it be a good idea to seek Him for His guidance in fulfilling that role? Do I hear an “Amen?”

Let’s talk more!

Jim Corbett

8/24/21 A Full-time Relationship

“Do you know that I desire to be with you every moment of every day? I choose to walk with you, attending to your every decision, challenge, and success. I desire to be intimately involved with the minutest incidents of your life so that you will prosper. When you fully understand that Our relationship is not part-time for Me, you will begin to understand the intimacy that I desire with you. You will also understand your heritage. What could possibly harm you, confuse you, or bring fear to you if you have accepted the fact that I choose to be with you in your every encounter throughout your life? You have a choice to make.

"Allow My Word to show you that My presence is with you as long as you are moving in My will and My direction. Allow My Word to also show you the alternative existence if you choose to go your own way, even for a short time, very much like you have been doing most of the time. It’s time to make wise choices.”

Psalm 106:12-15 AMP

12) Then [Israel] believed His words [trusting in, relying on them]; they sang His praise.

13) But they hastily forgot His works; they did not [earnestly] wait for His plans [to develop] regarding them.

14) But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness and tempted and tried to restrain God [with their insistent desires] in the desert.

15) And He gave them their request, but sent leanness into their souls…

Psalm 127:1 AMP

Except the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; except the Lord keeps the city, the watchman wakes but in vain.

Heb.13:6 AMP

So we take comfort and are encouraged and confidently and boldly say, The Lord is my Helper; I will not be seized with alarm [I will not fear or dread or be terrified]. What can man do to me?

When I ponder Psalm 106 above, I get a picture of most of us following after God. It talks about a people who praise God, believe His words, and rely on Him; but they do not wait for His plans regarding them to develop. Basically, they go about their own plans and pray that God will honor what they do.

The verse that really strikes caution in my heart is verse 15: “And He gave them their request, but sent leanness into their souls…” I wonder how many of us have leanness in our souls because of our insistence in getting our own requests fulfilled instead of desiring God’s prosperity. (I don’t mean money.)

The impression I get when I think of someone who always wants his own way, continually seeking God selfishly, is a person who is unaware of anything but his own needs - clueless about what is really important and void of anything that resembles the life and character of Jesus. What an incredible price to pay for not honoring God but going our own way - shaking off His desire for intimacy with us and settling for some pottage!

Help me, Lord,

Jim Corbett

8/24/21 Redeem the Time

Let’s talk reality! Our world is spinning out of control. As a watchman, I see things changing so radically that it’s time to reassess our priorities and possibly make some drastic changes before it’s too late. I don’t necessarily mean becoming a “prepper,” although some physical preparation before any crisis situation hits is always a good idea. I am, however, talking about spiritual preparation.

How is your family prepared to face the prospects of terrorism at your door or in your neighborhood? What about a financial meltdown? How will your family handle riots and looting, or the loss of everything you hold dear?

I’m convinced that the only way you can, as a husband and father, properly prepare your family for what is on the near horizon is to become all that you can be in Christ, and call your family to do the same. If they won’t come now, pray them in so they’re ready when the time comes. As the world reels in darkness, you and I are supposed to be the light. We are to love those who can only hate, just as Jesus did. We are to bring His life to a dead and dying world.

Now is the time to find God’s answers for your life and the lives of your family, while things are relatively calm. Now is the time to look at what you have in your hand each day, and see if it has been brought to your attention by the Lord. If it hasn’t, you need to find out how to live in the throne room with your Father, and learn to pick up only what He gives you, so that you and your family can prosper when others are reeling in fear. It’s time to redeem the time! Agreed?

Let’s talk more!

Jim Corbett

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