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Cravings may be a sign that your are deficient in certain nutrients… The debate lingers on, but there is some evidence to seem very very possible. You may be low in iron and crave read meat or spinach… I don’t know that I would ever be so low on iron that I would crave cooked spinach… raw, all day, cooked… Id’ rather eat vomit. 

But hunger pains and cravings tell us something… about us. what is the most hungry you have ever been or the most thirsty? I remember one time walking from my friends house to a 7-11 store in  102 degree heat… yea, not a good idea… I was so thirsty that I broke into a pole barn… no water, nothing but a small can of sprite with only about 2 swallows worth of sprite in it… I didn’t care it was warm, old, someone eless spit in it on it… I was soooo thirsty I did not care… what did that say about my level of thirst?

You know we are hungry and thirsty for spiritual things… but we may not fill it with the right things…

Let me read you a quote out of John G Lakes writings…

 

Matthew 5:6. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled” (Mt. 5:6). Blessed is another word for happy.

 

Hunger and thirst is a good thing… if its for righteousness. Cravings are good if they are for good healthy foods. You are blessed if you are hungry for more of God. Hunger can push you farther than any other desire except air… that trumps food and water… but not by much.

Have you ever been so hungry for God that you break into a pole barn and read a bible that does not belong to you…ok, bad example. but how hungry for God are you? 

I think sometimes we bypass Gods best by praying for his best without the hunger for it. What do i mean? We pray for more power, more financial blessing, more wisdom  a better marriage etc… none of this is wrong but it doesn’t come out of a hunger for righteousness but rather a hunger for an easier life. But if you hunger for more of God, those things may or may not come… but it won’t matter, all that matter is that you have more of God. 

Right now you are going through pains, troubles, problems, relationship issues… and you are not seeing these as hunger pains. God thank you for the problems…. Look no food is a problem… but the hunger pains drive you to get a job, make money buy food… Pain and problems are bad, but they drive you to seek God for of him… than it’s good.

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As Waren Weirsbe said “Satan is deceptive, he likes to use Gods vocabulary but not Gods dictionary”. 

 

The book of Colossians is written to a new church/body of believers.

They are facing all kinds of consuming messages from their community and political and religious world… They really want to know Gods will in all matters…

In Col. 1:9-15 Paul is saying “GOD WANTS YOU TO KNOW HIS WILL, UNDERSTAND IT AND KNOW HOW TO EXECUTE IT = Thru the spiritual realm.

 

How to know Gods will?

Paul tells them to seek out conferences, visions, dreams, the next hot evangelist and the opinions of influencers on Social media, go to a lot of different churches - NOT! 

 

There is Gods general will - seen clearly in scripture. We see what he desires for all of us. To serve, to make him known, to glorify him, to sacrifice for him… 

But then there is His specific will for each of us - BTW his specific will never goes against his general will. 

So how exactly does God want us to serve, sacrifice, glorify, love… in what job, in what gifting, in what area of church or relationship… and how do I do it, when, where… these are all the specifics of his personal will for us… but here is why many times we don’t see it… Paul shares a secret in Colossians 1:11 through endurance and patience. 

 

*Pushing in and not giving up…

Rich Buhler (insert joke there) in his book new Choices new boundaries realized that everything that caused him to grow in his life was due to problems along with perseverance and pushing in. Every Good thing, everytime you find yourself right in the middle of Gods will… you will realize it did not happen by accident - it happened because you faced some unknown, some problems and you persevered and pushed into them and through that God brought you into the center of his will.

The life of Joseph right? Problem after problem after problem… and he was not even the cause of them… but he pushed in, persevered and knew that What others meant for harm God meant for placing him in the center of his perfect will. 

Today, push in, persevere and thank God you are entering into is perfect will.

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https://www.watermark.org/blog/5-characteristics-godly-dad

 

My grandson just came back from his first ever kids bible camp… When arriving home on the bus with a smile on his face he announced to his dad, I heard God speak to me…

he hears my prayers and he is proud of me. 

 

Five things a father does for his kids…

 

#1 A Godly Father protects…

#2 A godly father whoops his kids… 

#3 A Godly father provides…

#4 A Godly Father loves

#5 A Godly Father prays

 

What is one thing you catch yourself doing that you now look back on and do… and think, wow I am just like me dad…

Didn’t really care what he was wearing when mowing the lawn, working out, wore the cheap K mart sneakers… 

 

A Godly father doesn’t just pray, but he reads his bible, he quotes his bible, he prays with his family with his wife. He prays with his kids individually.

 

Now I am going to say something that some people disagree with… some would say don’t just pray and read your bible so you kids can see you… Now I get the sentiment… but I also think you should read and pray so your kids do see you.

Look, if its just for show and it does not influence your behavior… your kids will know you are a phony… but if you truly do read, pray and obey - then be all means do it in such a way that your kids will catch you doing it. 

I grew up hearing my dad praying and speaking in tongues in the basement… it was such a feeling of security to know my Dad prayed, he worshiped and he lived it. I am glad I have those memories now of him living it out. And I do he same. I have my first quiet time in the mornings at 4:30 am… many mornings my grandkids will come down close to the end of my time… they will catch me reading, praying, listening to worship music… they will also catch me setting up my table at night for my quiet time. I usually put out my journal, my bible, my book, my speaker and my coffee cup so that I can just wake up walk into the kitchen and roll. 

It is just so they can see me doing it OR is it really a time of connection for me with Jesus… the answer is yes.

 

So you might ask if i pray and if read my bible what would be the best version… or translation. 

Well my Dad put out his own translation… it was awesome. it was called the Warren Heckman Translation of the Bible… it came with legs, arms, a mouth, eyes…. yep it was my Dad. His example of his walk with God was the best translation ever. So I stress again let your kids see you reading praying and obeying… but mostly let them see it transform your life. 

To be fair there were many times I would come home and see my mom on the front porch steps reading her bible. And because of that when she would say I don’t think this is right or that is right… and later on I would see that she was spot on…. many times saving my life and even saving me heartache and money… I knew by that example I wanted to learn how to read and pray and obey and hear Gods voice. 

So what should a father do? Let me state it this way… he should do whatever it takes to raise Godly kids starting with his own quiet time, his own example.

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https://www.watermark.org/blog/5-characteristics-godly-dad

 

Five things a father does for his kids…

 

#1 A Godly Father protects…

#2 A godly father whoops his kids… 

#3 A Godly father provides…

#4 A Godly Father loves

If you don’t actively love your children—or don’t make it clear that you love them—then they won’t want to listen when you try to teach them. “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.” (1 Corinthians 13:1) 

 

I believe 99% of most fathers are trying to some degree… they want to be a good Dad, they want to provide for their kids, they want to be kind, gentle, patient…They want to appear smart in front of their kids… and all of this you have little to no control over…. but what you do have??? What you do have trumps all of that…

Imagine your kids 15-20 years from now talking about you as a father to their friends or co-workers… and it goes like this… Yea, my Dad was a simple man, we didn’t grow up with a lot… he didn’t have a very good job and it was about all he could get  with his limited education. He wasn’t known for anything exceptional… he was average. But one thing he did do for me… He made sure I knew how much he loved me. Hugs, verbal affection, sacrifice… there was never a night he was home that he didn’t tell me he loved me and gave me a hug before bed.

I call that a winner. I call that a great and Godly Dad. 

Did you know that a father who is not there is creating a vacuum for his daughter, and a Hole for his son. If you don’t love your kids how will they know how to love their kids… seems pretty simple yet many of us miss it. 

I was walking out of a church on a Sunday… a little boy heard the pastor told the men of the church to tell their families they loved them….

Yea and so does a pimp… but we both know he doesn’t love them. Your kids only know if you tell them.

Three ways you must love your kids

Time - Time is the foundation for great communication, for connection and trust.

I always tell parents that great communication is like catching a shooting star in the sky flying by. You don’t just schedule 20 minutes tonight between 11:20 and 11:40 NO NO NO if you want to catch a shooting star racing across the sky with it’s tail on fire.. you gotta just plan on sitting out there every night for hours… you never know when it will happen, but it takes time! It takes time to build great and loving communication with your kids - and your wife BTW. But time screams at the top of its lungs… I LOVE YOU.

2ndly you must tell them Verbally and in written form. I still have cards from my father and mother from being in high school with the words they wrote to me about their love for me. I have heard stories of men who still have that one card where there dad said I love you… it gives a physical manifestation of what boys hearts want to hear.

Physical love and affection… I could go on and on about how important this is to a child… for instance a father who lives in the same house as his daughter and gives physical affection delays her puberty up to 18 months… that is 1 and a half years extra to help her grow mentally, emotionally and spiritually before her body is expected to act like a woman… along with the expectations of the world.

If you physically touch your kids and tell them you love them you create bursts of new brain cells, dendrites, synapses…. 

it builds their immune system, it creates an impenetrable self esteem and confidence…

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https://www.watermark.org/blog/5-characteristics-godly-dad

 

Five things a father does for his kids…

 

#1 A Godly Father protects…

#2 A godly father whoops his kids… 

#3 A Godly father provides… he pays the bills - its all about the benjamins and the roberts and the Lauras and the shelleys, madisons, in my house the Reeses and the Ryans and the grandkids…

 

1 Tim. 5:8

But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

 

Provide… not just pay the bills and work hard, but think ahead of what is coming, to prepare and be ready. 

 

Now let me state the following up front. Our kids today are spoiled rotten. pihones, iPads, ipods, i wants and i needs… sports equipment, travel, clothes, hobbies, movies, cable, internet, apps agendas and so much more… and lets not forget food, eating out, uber, School supplies… it is never ending, but our kids live in abundance… I do not care who you are - if they are living in the ghetto they still have more than most kids around the world. 

So when it says you must provide I am talking about working in such a way that you are paying their basics… food, clothes, healthcare needs and maybe just a few extras… if you can do more than that - great… and maybe not great. 

Because you also need to provide for them the opportunity for them to work if they want something. Provide for them an allowance to fill full tasks around the house and get paid for it. Provide for them responsibilities that give them ownership.

So yes, provide for their basic staples, provide for some basic wants… BUT ALSO provide for them ways to start to learn how to work.

NEXT provide for them examples of you working and sacrificing and trying to better yourself. 

Do you provide an example of reading, bettering yourself, working a second job, 

Do you provide an example of a husband that takes care of his wife.

Do you provide an example of how to save and how to spend. 

A few years ago my wife texted me and said we are out of money, She reminded me we don’t get paid for a few more days and my son needed some money in an emergency. We were texting… I said go upstairs to my room, get this bible off the shelf and look inside and take what you need. She texted back a few minutes later… where did you get all this money?? I thought we were broke? I said we are broke… but that is my emergency money for times like this. She texted me back about an hour later… thank you for being so wise to save money for times like this, I won’t ever take any without asking and your son was amazed we had it to give… you are a good dad and a good provider.

NOW THE FACT IS AT THAT TIME I WAS WORKING 3 JOBS… THIS WAS JUST 4 YEARS AGO… I DID NOT FEEL LIKE A GOOD DAD OR A GOOD PROVIDER…

Why? only because I was looking at the worlds example of what a wealthy father could afford his kids… and not what God calls us to do. 

Yes there are many lazy deadbeat, lousy Dads out there… but there are also many that are beating themselves up because they don’t have an extra $1200 for their son to sign up for hockey… I get it.

That is why you are called to provide more than just money… provide care, love, opportunities and more as God directs you.

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Five things a father does for his kids…

 

Today is Number 2… A good father whoops his kids… well ok, he disciplines his kids.

Discipline comes in many forms… today we will highlight my favorite… physical discipline… such as spanking.

 

“Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him” (Proverbs 13:24).

“For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it” (Hebrews 12:11).

Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you strike him with a rod, he will not die. If you strike him with the rod, you will save his soul from Sheol. (Proverbs 23:13-14)

 

 - 1 Have expectations and discipline in place before your kids break those rules.

*You didn’t make your bed… spanking… no, have realistic and well known expectations. 

Would I spank my child for not making the bed… no, but if they did not make their bed out of rebellion I might just in fact spank my child.

 

 - 2 Explain why you discipline

Always follow up with physical affection and verbal affection and love. 

 

 - 3 Do not discipline in anger

Ephesians 4:26 “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold. 28 Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.

29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

 

 - 4 Finish with a vision of who your son will be… in doing so you are letting them know you are disappointed in what they did, but you are not disappointed in them - AND you still believe in them and their future

Eph. 6:4 Fathers do not exasperate your kids… 

Par-or-gizo GK anger, yes… but it also means give up, you wore them out…

I have met kids that are now adults and they basically said I was disciplined in such a way that I began to believe I would never live up to my Dads standards or Gods… so I just gave up trying. 

Why try… Im will never make Dad or God happy, so give up and just make myself happy… and in doing so they give up on Gods vision for their life.

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Five things a father does for his kids…

 

Protects

His ears, his eyes, his mind, his heart, his body

 

His ears - What does he hear coming out of your mouth when you talk about his mother? When you talk about your boss, when you talk about problems… does he hear words of faith, destruction, apathy… or worse yet - nothing. 

We know the tongue has the power of life and death… are you killing your kids or are you giving them life. 

 

His eyes - What does he see you do? What does he see you watch? What does he see you get fired up over? How does he see you interact with your spouse/his mother? 

The eye gate is the soul gate. What ever a person looks at and sees can get down into their soul and captivate and even capture them and control them. Are you living in such a way that your kids see you walking in freedom, walking fearless, walking faithful. You are the father are the head of the home, the gatekeeper and what you do and allow them to see is a green light in the spiritual world to possess your kids. 

 

 

His mind - what do you allow your child to watch, listen to or think about. I told my boys growing up that any music they put on their iPhones I got to put on my iPhones… I would not allow anything on their iPhones that I would not want… and the only way was to listen to their music. I would go through their rooms ALL THE TIME and search… books, magazines, games, drugs… etc…. 

 

His heart - You protect his heart through your own prayer life, church attendance and what you show him to be as a priority. When my boys were in sports and games were on Sundays or Wednesdays they did not miss church… sometimes coaches made them sit and not start or even play… thats fine - the coach is not my sons father - I am. he can sit, he can be mad, he can even hate me for a while… but one thing he will know beyond a shadow of a doubt is that God, church and family is #1 - and not any other activity. 

 

His body - Have you taught your kids how to be on alert for danger. Do you monitor where your kids go, who’s house they are at, what party they are at, what is going on at that party. Are you in shape enough to protect your kids or wife? Do you know any self defense, do you have any weapons at home or on your persons. Do you have any spiritual warfare bible verses memorized and prayed over daily? Do your kids have any safety words… Do you realize how many kids go missing a day in the united states? 2,300 on average a day are abducted, and or go missing?

An old joke line was the good news bad news…it went like this

I’ve got bad news…The bar in town burned down… 

Good news they built a new one

Bad news they don’t sell beer

Good news the beer is free

Bad news, they don’t have any glasses

Good news they have buckets

Bad news the buckets have holes in them

Good news, the holes are at the top of the bucket

 

The bible speaks of calamity and hard times and even the end times as a way of God getting our attention. Not only the Christian but the non Christian. In fact scripture says that it will be the end times and the tribulation that will reawaken the jews to the gospel of Jesus Christ…

 

All in all the simplicity of this stands to conclude that the hard times that the bad times, that the worst times, that the things that don’t kill us, do in fact make us stronger if we keep our faith in Christ.

Look its as simple as understanding that the unforeseen problem leads you to new mindsets and break throughs.

the Person who breaks your rule and steals your idea is the reason you came up with something better and even more unique.

The extra weight on the bar makes it hard which is what makes you strong. 

 

I love what Physicist John Archibald Wheeler says

-and I quote - Behind it all is surely an idea so simple ,so beautiful, so compelling

that when-in a decade, a century, or a millennium-we grasp it, we 

will all say to each other, how could it have been otherwise?

-Physicist John Archibald Wheeler

so with this mindset is it any wonder God tells us to rejoice in times of suffering, in times of trouble, in times of distress… we are to rejoice in all things especially the hard things… because it is what brings out the best in us if we continue to trust God…

What a bummer of a story if it is told that King Darius demanded the boys Shad Shack and Benny to bow or burn and he heated up the fire and they decide to bow… it wouldn’t have the same life altering impact on the listener… and even if they had burned up to a pile of ashes.. still it would resound of faith over fire.

What is the best God has for you? Well its just on the other side of what is bad for you. Embrace it and thank him… you will understand in the end.

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Do you know who I am… Im sorry sir hold just a minute. 

Picks up the phone and says hello can you connect me with the psychology department… we have a man down here who does not know who he is

 

 

At a ver prestigious university it was the final day of exams… the class was a huge class of about 500 plus students… the professor handed out the tests and pencils and said you must finish in exactly 2 hours… 

When the time was up everyone brought their tests up… except one young man who continued to write down answers… the professor began to get irritated, threatening and finally said you can take your time, but I am going to fail you regardless… the kid kept writing and finally brought his test up to the professors desk. The professor who was a very arrogant and snide man began to chew out this young man… Do you know who I am? I have received the highest honors this university bestows. DO you know who I am, I have studied abroad at Cambridge university… you apparently truly have no idea who I am, I have 3 doctorates from Yale, Harvard and Princeton… to which the student shrugged and said, “do you know who I am?”. The professor winced and with a confusing grin said NO I DONT KNOW WHO YOU ARE…

And with that the student picked up the huge pile of tests from the center  quickly put his test in the middle and put the hundreds of tests on top of it… and said “good luck”. and walked out. 

 

We often ask do you know who you are in Christ… but actually its not if you know who you are in Christ, its if you know who’s  you are in Christ. 

What do i mean? Well i can quote all the scriptures of who I am in Christ… and I will quote a few in a second, but unless I know Christ, and know Who’s I am, who I am has very little affect on me. It would be like finding out you are related to the great prince of Zinaqua… who is the richest man in the world… you can brag about that, but it means nothing until you go and see and experience his life style, his riches, the esteem and awe he is treated with, the power he has… all that and more.. now when you realize you are related to him and yes you are related to him as in he is your father… now you know who’s who you are. 

 

I am complete in Him Who is the head over all rule and authority—of every angelic and earthly power (Colossians 2:10).

I am alive with Christ (Ephesians 2:5).

I am free from the law of sin and death (Romans 8:2).

I am far from oppression, and will not live in fear (Isaiah 54:14).

I am born of God, and the evil one does not touch me (1 John 5:18).

I am holy and without blame before Him in love (Ephesians 1:4; 1 Peter 1:16).

I have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16; Philippians 2:5).

I have the peace of God that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7).

The Spirit of God, who is greater than the enemy in the world, lives in me (1 John 4:4).

I have received abundant grace and the gift of righteousness and reign in life through Jesus Christ (Romans 5:17).

I have received the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Jesus, the eyes of my heart enlightened, so that I know the hope of having life in Christ (Ephesians 1:17-18).

I have received the power of the Holy Spirit and He can do miraculous things through me.I have authority and power over the enemy in this world (Mark 16:17-18; Luke 10:17-19).

I am renewed in the knowledge of God and no longer want to live in my old ways or nature before I accepted Christ (Colossians 3:9-10).

I am merciful, I do not judge others, and I forgive quickly. As I do this by God’s grace, He blesses my life (Luke 6:36-38).

God supplies all of my needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19).

In all circumstances I live by faith in God and extinguish all the flaming darts (attacks) of the enemy (Ephesians 6:16).

I can do whatever I need to do in life through Christ Jesus who gives me strength (Philipp

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The three hats of leadership

 

Servant hat

You are there to serve your team

 

Teacher hat

You are there to teach and even model the behavior desired

 

Leader hat

You are giving orders, you are the general

 

The kicker is this: Most people think the point here is maturity in knowing what hat you should wear… thats not the point. The actual lesson is knowing what hat the other person is wearing. 

I tell my staff… its not about you knowing how to wear these hats, its do those under you know what hat you are wearing.

Look I may have someone come in and I might come across subservient to my staff… but the mature ones know I am serving this person.

I might come across as a know it all… unless they know I am a teacher at that moment

I might come across as an arrogant tyrant know it all who demands his way, unless you know I am wearying my general hat/leader hat.

A rule early on in our house that I taught my boys is this… I am not asking you, I am telling you. I am wearing my teacher hat…. my servant hat asks, my teacher hat tells, and We do not yell in our house unless I am wearing my general/leader hat. Your life is in danger when I yell, so don’t waste time asking questions, just do what i say. 

My staff understands the same thing… 

Last year we had a gentlemen come to our church who was very unstable… when he walked in during the start of service I told one of my leaders, go sit behind him and watch him. The leader had to get up from sitting with his family and slide in between another couple up hear the front in order to sit behind this man… My leader never blinked an eye, nor did his wife or kids… they knew the pastor had his leader hat on and there was a reason for the order. 

In the story of the woman caught in adultery we see Jesus seamlessly wear all three hats…

John 8

The Pharisees caught a woman in adultery… he writes in the sand he is teaching….

and then says he who is without sin cast the first stone… he was being a general or leader

They all walk away and he looks at the woman and says where are your accusers?

He is teaching again…

he then looks at her and says did any condemn you? NO??? and neither do I, go and sin no more…

he is serving her