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Praying The Scriptures For Your Children: Discover How To Pray God's Purpose For Their Lives

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I don't think it's that I'm incompetent when it comes to technical things. I think I was just born a hundred years too late. I probably would have fared better when they hadn't invented so many machines and appliances, and computers. I would have done fine in those simpler days. I mean sometimes it is just so embarrassing. I can't, you know, get a lamp to work, or I can't get some appliance to work, and no matter what I do it doesn't go on. The ending is too often the same. My youngest son for example would come in and say, "Dad, is it plugged in?" "No." Oh, I didn't check that! I hate that! So many times we tinker with everything and miss the one simple factor that needs to change.

I'm Ron Hutchcraft, and I want to have A Word With You today about "God's Blessing and Broken Things."

Our word for today from the Word of God offers a possible diagnosis for why some important things in your life just aren't working right now. Maybe you're like me trying to get things working at the house. You've tinkered with all the different parts of the problem. Well, have you considered the possibility that it isn't working because God is withholding His blessing? And it won't work until God gives His blessing to that part of your life. You say, "Well, why?" Well, because something He really values may be missing.

Our word for today from the Word of God, Psalm 133:1 and 3 - "How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity. For there, the Lord bestows His blessing." Did you catch what the Lord is saying here? "I put my blessing where My people are together and unified." The implication might be this. Where they are not unified, I do not put My blessing.

Well, let's look at your personal frustration right now - that door that is not opening, the money that just doesn't come, maybe the child who won't respond, the results that just aren't coming no matter how hard you work. Could it be that you're not plugged in to God's blessing because there are fractured relationships, strained relationships right now?

1 Peter 3:7 tells husbands to "treat their wives properly so that their prayers will not be hindered." In other words, when that relationship with your wife isn't right, God will not answer your prayers. Maybe your children will not come around until mom and dad deal with the walls that are between them. Your church won't grow until those factions come together in a common cause. Like rescuing the dying people all around you. The money or the answer won't come until you fix that broken relationship.

See, that broken relationship, and you know which one it is, is breaking God's heart. Do everything in your power to take down the walls that might be costing you the blessing of almighty God. Keep checking until you understand what is there that's broken that God says needs fixing. Quit tinkering with the problems that really aren't the problem.

You have to go check and make sure you're plugged in at the right place. Check the power source. And the power source is a current called the blessing of God. There is nothing worth sacrificing His blessing for. And no sacrifice too great to have His blessing. He's told us where He puts that. He's told us where He gives that blessing.

It's when He sees His people hand in hand.

Read: Psalm 34:13-14; Hebrews 12:14-15

“I know, but that’s what Bianca said.” Kaylee switched the phone to her other ear. “She told me she was sick of hearing you whine all the time. I can’t help it if she says mean things about you.”

When the call ended, Kaylee went into the living room. “Who was that?” asked Dad. “Sounded like you were trying to stop World War III!”

Kaylee sighed. “It was Emmylou. She and Bianca are my best friends, but they hate each other! And I seem to always get caught in the middle of their arguments.”

“Why don’t they like each other?” asked Dad.

“I don’t know,” said Kaylee. “But they’re always saying mean things about each other.”

“Hmm,” said Dad. “Well, I don’t know what their problem is, but when you hear one of them say something unkind about the other, have you tried keeping it to yourself? Didn’t you just tell Emmylou that Bianca told you she was sick of her whining?”

Kaylee blushed. “Uh, yeah, I guess. But that’s what Bianca said.”

“Yes, but you’re contributing to the problem, Kaylee,” Dad told her. “Jesus tells us to be peacemakers. He brought us peace by making us right with God, and He wants us to help make peace between others. To do that, we need to act in a kind, loving way when others aren’t being kind to each other.”

“But I was just telling the truth!” said Kaylee. “Isn’t that what Jesus wants me to do?”

“While Jesus wants us to tell the truth, the way you’re doing it isn’t very kind or loving to either of your friends. When you tell one of the girls the mean things the other said about her, you’re making her feel bad about herself and angry at the other person. Instead, see if you can pick up on anything nice they say about each other and repeat those things.”

Kaylee thought it over. “I guess it’s worth a try.”

“At the very least, you can stop spreading the bad feelings around,” said Dad. “And as they see God’s love in you and your care in what you choose to tell them the other person has said—and in what you say yourself—they might start saying kind things more often!”

–Barbara J. Westberg

How about you? Do you repeat unkind things and stir up trouble? Today’s Bible reading says to seek and pursue peace. One way to do that is to keep any unkind words you hear someone say about another person to yourself. Instead, listen for kind things said about others and repeat those—and add some of your own! Let the peace and love you have in Jesus spread into your relationships through the words you choose to say.

Today's Key Verse: Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Matthew 5:9 (NIV)

Today's Key Thought: Be a peacemaker

Listen for God's voice, guiding and directing you into His perfect will for your life.

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This week's theme: Ordinary People, Extraordinary Lives 3 - Philip

The gospel crosses every barrier of race, culture, and tribe - and so should we. Ask God today to show you any boundaries in your heart that need to come down.

Acts 8:4 – “Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.”

Quote: There's a world of difference between one who destroys, and one who is simply different.

Trina received a free ticket to a sold-out event and tucked it into her Bible. Later, her son saw her frantically searching through the pantry. When she explained that she’d lost her Bible, he asked why she was looking in the food cupboard. “Because I’ve looked everywhere else, and the event starts in thirty minutes,” she said. “I don’t want to miss one moment.” Her son chuckled. “Breathe, Mom,” he said. “I think you’re suffering from FOMO, the fear of missing out.” She laughed. As her son joined the search, Trina’s husband entered. “You left this in the car,” he said, holding up the Bible.

While it’s not wrong to enjoy unexpected blessings, big breaks, or once-in-a-lifetime opportunities, a desire for enjoyment can easily turn into a fear of missing out. We can even be tempted to think God holds out on us or loses sight of us. However, the “Maker of heaven and earth” (Psalm 121:2) is our ever-watchful and never-sleeping provider and protector (vv. 3-7). So, we don’t have to fret over detours, delays, or even missed opportunities. God will watch over our “coming and going both now and forevermore” (v. 8).

During times of affliction, seasons of abundance, and in every mundane moment God plans for us in-between, we’re always in His line of sight. We won’t miss out on anything God has planned for us to experience.

We’re told to plan for the future—but what happens when the future doesn’t follow the plan? We are reminded in Scripture that even our best plans are not the final word. On the next Faith & Finance Live, Rob West explores a tension many of us experience but rarely talk about—the Paradox of Planning. Then, it’s on to your calls. That’s Faith and Finance Live . . . biblical wisdom for your financial decisions. That’s weekdays at 4pm Eastern/3pm Central on Moody Radio.

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Segment 1

• Political violence is ramping up… and the cause is more than strictly political.

• The problem isn’t necessarily ideology – it’s exactly what scripture tells us it is.

• Could evangelism—not political outrage—actually reduce crime, chaos, and cultural decay?

Segment 2

• Are Christians focusing on the wrong battlefield when culture spirals out of control?

• We like to think that if we changed the highest levels of government, our society would change, but it starts smaller.

• How did Christianity historically dismantle evil systems without rebellion or violence?

Segment 3

• Can someone claim Christ and justify violence at the same time?

• What happens when individuals decide for themselves what justice looks like?

• Theo Von took a call from a audience member who is desperately seeking something.

Segment 4

• So many people feel stuck, empty, and disconnected, despite all their efforts and self-esteem and self-help.

• There are some people who are genuinely seeking, and we’ve got to be ready to point them towards the only solution.

• People that are lost need to be connected to the ultimate reality.

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Extraordinary faith often begins with ordinary, unglamorous service. Ask God today where He is calling you to serve - and do it willingly, like Philip.

Acts 6:5 – “This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism.