Faith | TFRC | The Faith Resource Community

5/20/21 Have You Ever?

“Compare your petitions to Me with those who have gone before you! Include those who were passionate to bring glory to Jesus on their way to the arena that was filled with waiting lions and jeering crowds. Examine your heart and your needs to see if your requests have value in the light of eternity. How much of what you request from Me is for the well-being of others? How much is for your comfort, rather than for your desire to go deeper with Me no matter what the cost?

"Is there ever a time that you come to Me wanting nothing for yourself? Have you ever had only My plans in mind and seek Me to implement them in My power? Have you ever sought Me for the power to defend My reputation and the reputation of Jesus? Have you ever wept for how most of the church offends Me with their weak religion and carnal presentation of My cherished Word? Have you ever waited in My presence until you knew for sure what the desires of My heart were? Do you think that maybe it’s time for you to grow up? I do!”

Exodus 33:13a NIV

“If I have found favor in your eyes, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you.”

Isaiah 55:8-9 NIV

8) “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.

9) “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

In our pride and selfishness, we miss so much of what the Lord really has for us. We whine and squirm throughout most of the trials that have been sent our way to purify us, missing the point for them. Our attentions are so self-focused that the Lord can rarely use us to implement what is on His heart for those in our little world.

I am convinced that if ever the Lord would show us the comparison of our lives to the passionate life that He intends for us, we would be amazed and ashamed as to how far off course we are most of the time as we move in concert with our own needs, rather than in His desires for us.

Forgive me, Lord! Change my heart,

Jim Corbett

5/20/21 Investing in Your Children

Whether it looks like it or not at this time, your children need you to be a godly father to them. No matter how far they may be into the world or how far they seem to be OK without your loving input in their lives, they need you.

If you’ve taken on the role of disciplinarian and minimized the role of nurturing father, the relationship with your child has more than likely gone south. Any form of real, loving communication is more than likely a thing of the past. If that is the case, your input into their lives is less than minimal and in some cases non-existent.

I had a friend who counseled a man and his daughter. Their only form of communication was loud, aggressive, and wounding at every turn. It was clear that both parties had long ago abandoned any hope of meaningful interaction. The possibility of joy in their relationship was hopelessly off the radar.

Here’s the counsel my friend gave the father in front of the daughter. For the next two weeks, he was to allow her to express anything - even her deepest hurts, angers, and wounds that he had created - without fear of any return comment, defense, or grudge on his part. He promised to keep his mouth shut and allow her to express anything she wanted.

For the first four days, a torrent of his violations toward her - real or perceived - poured from her heart. Wounds from long ago - most of them long forgotten by the father - spewed forth every time she opened her mouth. On about the fifth day, something pretty incredible happened. It started with her asking questions about his violations. He began to apologize and accept the blame for everything without transferring it to her in any way. She responded to that with tears and deeper communication of her wounds. He simply started to hold her close, physically and in his heart.

After about a week, meaningful dialog became part of their lives. They decided to hold each other in high esteem. The relationship took on the glow of love rather than the fire of anger. Beginning steps were made to a long, proper father-daughter relationship. This may not be something for you, but ask the Lord for His direction in your situation. You are the daddy. You begin the healing by humbling yourself in any way that the Lord directs. Will you do it for His sake and theirs?

Let’s talk more!

Jim Corbett

5/19/21 Unspoken Burdens

“I notice that at times you have a heavy heart. I also notice that because you are My minister, people consider your countenance to be a lack of faith. It is expected by some that you must always remain joyful and happy or there is something wrong with your walk. You must not allow their immaturity concerning My Word to bring you to a point of questioning what I am doing in you during these times. You, My ministers, are those whom I can trust.

"I often place My burden for others and for this world on you to hold them before Me. It is My work being accomplished. It is My birthing process. During these times, you will feel some of the burden that I feel. If you do not understand what is happening, you will have a tendency to compare yourself with those who are always happy and think that there is something wrong with you. That is not the case, so be encouraged. Sometimes the burden will come unexpectedly and surprise you. Do not be alarmed, and do not be confused. You are at work for My kingdom. Bring these unspoken burdens before Me, even if you have little idea of what they are. I know. I have given them to you. When My desire has been accomplished, the burden will be lifted.

"During the time that you are carrying it for Me, the weight of it might be very heavy. It is not your lack of faith in Me; it is My great faith in you. You are trustworthy. Release everything to Me and I will support you while you are at work. I am with you. I am proud of you. Be encouraged; I love to trust you.”

II Cor. 1:11 AMP

While you also cooperate by your prayers for us [helping and laboring together with us]. Thus [the lips of] many persons [turned toward God will eventually] give thanks on our behalf for the grace (the blessing of deliverance) granted us at the request of the many who have prayed.

Gal. 6:2-3 AMP

2) Bear (endure, carry) one another’s burdens and troublesome moral faults, and in this way fulfill and observe perfectly the law of Christ (the Messiah) and complete what is lacking [in your obedience to it].

3) For if any person thinks himself to be somebody [too important to condescend to shoulder another’s load] when he is nobody [of superiority except in his own estimation], he deceives and deludes and cheats himself.

Gal. 4:19 NIV

My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you...

This message isn’t for everyone in the church. It is for those of you who have felt the burden of God and had no idea what came over you. Until you understand that some of what you feel is God working with you for the sake of others, you will believe that there is something wrong with you. There will also be a myriad of others in the church who will be delighted to give their opinion confirming that. Don’t listen to them. They cannot see and they do not understand spiritual warfare.

Other than in the movies, have you ever seen someone at war of any kind giggling while they fought? Of course not! They were intense until the battle was over. There is a vast difference between walking in fear and walking in an acute awareness of the danger; but standing to overcome in the Lord’s strength.

If you constantly have no joy in the Lord, that is one thing. You need to get in the Word and understand who you are in Christ and what you have been promised because of what He has done for you. If, however, you understand your heritage, but find yourself weighty at times, you may be an intercessor in the service of the Lord at that very moment. That sudden feeling in your stomach might be the Lord wanting you to lift something up on His behalf. No one will understand. Do not try to explain it. Just go to work with a spirit of gratefulness and peace in your heart.

If you are a watchman, an intercessor, a prayer warrior, or in other services for the Lord, you are not to walk around prune-faced and morose as the Sadducees did to prove to others how spiritual they were. Walk in joy. In the same way, however, when in battle, don’t pretend that everything is perfect. Fight the fight. The world is getting darker. Those of you who see may be called upon often. It would be wise to avoid those who will not understand your situation during those times.

Can’t listen to others when working for my Daddy,

Jim Corbett

5/19/21 Violation of a Trust

A violation of a trust is hazardous to any relationship, especially a marriage covenant relationship. Recently, we talked about sealing your marriage. If you don’t do so, it opens the door to violations of your wife’s trust on countless occasions, leaving a shell of a true marriage relationship as God sees it. These violations can continue to grow until the communication gap between spouses is so wide that there is little or no meaningful dialog except for addressing practical daily needs. When there is a lack of trust and communication breaks down, the true, intimate feelings, fears, and needs of either spouse can easily become fodder for the other spouse with his or her friends or a counselor of some sort. When this happens, it is more than likely that both of them will retreat even more to protect themselves from further wounds.

Men, your office demands that you guide your wife and family to true intimacy with the Lord, so that they can be prepared to glorify His name and do His work. That ability only comes from intimacy with Him yourself. If you find intimacy difficult to attain, there is a good possibility that the violations of trust in your past have been carried into your marriage and will not allow you to trust anyone, even God. If that is the case, only the Lord can show you how deep the scars are. Only He can heal you so that you have the ability to really trust again and be trustworthy yourself.

While you’re dealing with the Lord about your own brokenness, a good place to start is to stop violating your wife’s trust at this very moment. Stop every negative thought about her. Stop jesting to others about even her smallest quirk. Stop communicating her failures with your buddies. Never again minimize her with your mouth or in your mind. Don’t criticize her so you can feel better about yourself. Determine that every communication that comes out of your mouth about her will be positive and uplifting. Learn to speak of her value to others as the Lord shows you how He sees her. Make it your project in life to be trustworthy of her slightest wound or deepest fear, so she can learn to whole-heartedly trust you. Although it’s only a beginning of the kind of covenant God has established for the two of you, it’s a start. Watch the life that springs from the change in your perspective by the grace of God. Are you encouraged to try?

Let’s talk more!

Jim Corbett

5/18/21 Don’t Move Prematurely

“Wait! Wait! Don’t move before I tell you to move. There are many obstacles and foundational items that need to be moved, modified, and created before all is in order. If you move in your own strength and wisdom, you will never receive all that I have for you. I am not in a hurry. Even when I have given you a time frame, you can rest assured that I will never be late with My provision. My timing is always perfect. If you are in My perfect will, I will most likely be asking you to take a step of faith before you see all the provisions that I have made for you.

"Remember this one thing. I delight in being your Provider far more than you delight in having a God who is aware of your every need and has promised to always be there for you. I rejoice as I see you reminded of My faithfulness when I fulfill those needs. I plan to do that for eternity. Why would I not do it now? Rest! Trust in Me. I will never fail you. In fact, wait until you see what I have planned for you.”

Ps. 27:14 AMP

Wait and hope for and expect the Lord; be brave and of good courage and let your heart be stout and enduring. Yes, wait for and hope for and expect the Lord.

Ps. 31:15 NIV

My times are in your hands; deliver me from my enemies and from those who pursue me.

Ps. 37:3-5 AMP

3) Trust (lean on, rely on, and be confident) in the Lord and do good; so shall you dwell in the land and feed surely on His faithfulness, and truly you shall be fed.

4) Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires and secret petitions of your heart.

5) Commit your way to the Lord [roll and repose each care of your load on Him]; trust (lean on, rely on, and be confident) also in Him and He will bring it to pass.

Ps. 42:11 AMP

Why are you cast down, O my inner self? And why should you moan over me and be disquieted within me? Hope in God and wait expectantly for Him, for I shall yet praise Him, Who is the help of my countenance, and my God.

Ps.62:5 AMP

My soul, wait only upon God and silently submit to Him; for my hope and expectation are from Him.

I used to think that messages about how faithful our God is were unnecessary. We are supposed to know that if we’ve walked with Him for any length of time. Since then, however, the Lord has impressed upon My heart how important it is to talk about His faithfulness one to another. It builds up our confidence in the faithfulness of God. That awareness of His faithfulness is the backbone for everything we do as Christians.

Before any of us can begin to do exploits, witness, or see signs and wonders, we must first have an immovable truth in our hearts. First, we must believe that He is God; and then, that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Without faith in all that transpired at Calvary, none of us could or would be able to share the wonders provided for us. Without faith that our Father will fulfill what He has promised those who embrace Jesus as Lord, none of us could have the wondrous assurance that we do of eternal life.

Rejoice out loud about a loving, faithful God. Proclaim the wonders of His love to each other and to every corner of your world. Never cease to remember His fulfilled promises, and expect Him to be there for future needs. He will be there. He promised.

Learning to remember and to sing praises out loud,

Jim Corbett

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