It's been that long since my last post. There really hasn't been a singular reason why...just life I guess. In a half hour it will be 2017...a new year and a new start. This coming year promises to usher in a lot of change and I promise I'll relate those changes as they come to pass, but for now, I pray that God guides you and blesses each of you in this coming year. And I promise I'll actually write!
-Vince
"Redeemed" (Big Daddy Weave)
Seems like all I could see was the struggle
Haunted by ghosts that lived in my past
Bound up in shackles of all my failures
Wondering how long is this gonna last
Then You look at this prisoner and say to me "son
Stop fighting a fight it's already been won"
I am redeemed, You set me free
So I'll shake off these heavy chains
Wipe away every stain, now I'm not who I used to be
I am redeemed, I'm redeemed
All my life I have been called unworthy
Named by the voice of my shame and regret
But when I hear You whisper, "Child lift up your head"
I remember, oh God, You're not done with me yet
I am redeemed, You set me free
So I'll shake off these heavy chains
Wipe away every stain, now I'm not who I used to be
Because I don't have to be the old man inside of me
'Cause his day is long dead and gone
Because I've got a new name, a new life, I'm not the same
And a hope that will carry me home
I am redeemed, You set me free
So I'll shake off these heavy chains
Wipe away every stain, 'cause I'm not who I used to be
I am redeemed, You set me free
So I'll shake off these heavy chains
Wipe away every stain, yeah, I'm not who I used to be
Oh, God, I'm not who I used to be
Jesus, I'm not who I used to be
'Cause I am redeemed
Thank God, redeemed
Seems like all I could see was the struggle
Haunted by ghosts that lived in my past
Bound up in shackles of all my failures
Wondering how long is this gonna last
Then You look at this prisoner and say to me "son
Stop fighting a fight it's already been won"
I am redeemed, You set me free
So I'll shake off these heavy chains
Wipe away every stain, now I'm not who I used to be
I am redeemed, I'm redeemed
All my life I have been called unworthy
Named by the voice of my shame and regret
But when I hear You whisper, "Child lift up your head"
I remember, oh God, You're not done with me yet
I am redeemed, You set me free
So I'll shake off these heavy chains
Wipe away every stain, now I'm not who I used to be
Because I don't have to be the old man inside of me
'Cause his day is long dead and gone
Because I've got a new name, a new life, I'm not the same
And a hope that will carry me home
I am redeemed, You set me free
So I'll shake off these heavy chains
Wipe away every stain, 'cause I'm not who I used to be
I am redeemed, You set me free
So I'll shake off these heavy chains
Wipe away every stain, yeah, I'm not who I used to be
Oh, God, I'm not who I used to be
Jesus, I'm not who I used to be
'Cause I am redeemed
Thank God, redeemed
The Walk
The sounds of my shoes hitting the pavement echoed back at me as I walked the street in the dark. It had rained earlier and the road glistened with the reflection of the few street lights that actually worked and their reflections ran in long fingers lighting my way. The street was quiet, though I heard the sound of life in the distance...a car accelerating...a horn...someone laughing. With no particular place to go, I just continued to walk the street until I came across a split in the buildings...an alley. I paused and tried to look down it, but there were no lights; the dark was thick and absolute...no varying shades of charcoal or grey, just...black. I heard a sound from the alley, but it was brief...a can maybe knocked over by a stray cat? I took a step towards the alley and glanced back to the reflected light which seemed to almost plead with me to follow. As I stood there, a warm...almost hot breeze emanated from the alley carrying with it an almost sweet...cloying scent that captured my attention. Glancing first left...then right, I strode into the darkness...
Sin. Its something all of us face EVERY day of our lives. It`s utter foolishness to think just because you`re a Christian that you`re immune Romans 3 tells us:
For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin, as it is written:
And whether you`re a Christian or not, sin still carries a penalty...one look at our over-crowded prisons stands in testimony to that or the state of marriage or child abuse or neglect or any of a thousand things that plague our God dismissed society. And sin? It`s a choice...we live in a society that is teaching us...teaching our children that they don't need to take responsibility for the things they do. This is a flat out LIE. Something may overtake you like an addiction, but you took that first step...YOU made that initial choice. But God's grace and 'light' are still where we left them...waiting for you...for ME to come back and seek him,,,
John 3:19-20 - This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. "For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.
1 John 1:5-6 - This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.
Psalms 82:5 - They do not know nor do they understand; They walk about in darkness; All the foundations of the earth are shaken.
John 12:35 - So Jesus said to them, "For a little while longer the Light is among you. Walk while you have the Light, so that darkness will not overtake you; he who walks in the darkness does not know where he goes.
2 Samuel 22:29 - For You are my lamp, O LORD; And the LORD illumines my darkness.
...Stumbling out from the alley I fell to the ground beaten, bloody...my breathing fast and shaken. The dark pulled at me as if with demanding hands...wanting me back. Panic rising in my throat, I reached out and touched the ground where one of the reflected fingers of light stretched out. And in the instant the darkness retreated...
~ Vince
Sin. Its something all of us face EVERY day of our lives. It`s utter foolishness to think just because you`re a Christian that you`re immune Romans 3 tells us:
For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin, as it is written:
None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God.
All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good,
not even one. Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive.
The venom of asps is under their lips. Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.
Their feet are swift to shed blood; in their paths are ruin and misery,
and the way of peace they have not known. There is no fear of God before their eyes.
The venom of asps is under their lips. Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.
Their feet are swift to shed blood; in their paths are ruin and misery,
and the way of peace they have not known. There is no fear of God before their eyes.
And whether you`re a Christian or not, sin still carries a penalty...one look at our over-crowded prisons stands in testimony to that or the state of marriage or child abuse or neglect or any of a thousand things that plague our God dismissed society. And sin? It`s a choice...we live in a society that is teaching us...teaching our children that they don't need to take responsibility for the things they do. This is a flat out LIE. Something may overtake you like an addiction, but you took that first step...YOU made that initial choice. But God's grace and 'light' are still where we left them...waiting for you...for ME to come back and seek him,,,
John 3:19-20 - This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. "For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.
1 John 1:5-6 - This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.
Psalms 82:5 - They do not know nor do they understand; They walk about in darkness; All the foundations of the earth are shaken.
John 12:35 - So Jesus said to them, "For a little while longer the Light is among you. Walk while you have the Light, so that darkness will not overtake you; he who walks in the darkness does not know where he goes.
2 Samuel 22:29 - For You are my lamp, O LORD; And the LORD illumines my darkness.
...Stumbling out from the alley I fell to the ground beaten, bloody...my breathing fast and shaken. The dark pulled at me as if with demanding hands...wanting me back. Panic rising in my throat, I reached out and touched the ground where one of the reflected fingers of light stretched out. And in the instant the darkness retreated...
~ Vince
Two Years and One Month
So many thoughts and so much time has past, I honestly don't know where to start so I'll just start right here...in this moment...
I opened my Bible today to Psalms 25 and when I got to versus 15 through 18 it stopped me in my tracks and it hit me hard in the chest:
My eyes are ever on the Lord, for only he will release my feet from the snare.
I opened my Bible today to Psalms 25 and when I got to versus 15 through 18 it stopped me in my tracks and it hit me hard in the chest:
My eyes are ever on the Lord, for only he will release my feet from the snare.
Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted.
Relieve the troubles of my heart and free me from my anguish.
Look on my affliction and my distress and take away all my sins.
Relieve the troubles of my heart and free me from my anguish.
Look on my affliction and my distress and take away all my sins.
Dear Heavenly Father, I pray these verses and ask that you release me from the snare of sin and destruction I have allowed myself to be caught in. My soul is crushed and my bones groan from the realization of my sin. Help me dear Lord and lift from me the troubles of my heart.
~Vince
Wake up Call...
When Jack woke up to people screaming, he was jolted back into reality and it took him only a split second to realize this wasn't a dream. His wife, Sarah, had reached over to try steering their minivan back onto the road, but she had overcompensated, swerving past their lane and into oncoming traffic. A guy in a pickup truck laid on his horn and quickly maneuvered off the road, missing them be mere inches.
"Watch out!" Jack yelled as he once again grabbed the wheel. But Sarah's hands, white knuckled, still gripped it as she swung back across the lane to the right, again overcorrecting and veering them off the road on the other side. The rapid thumping of the road deflectors under the tires was immediately replaced by the sound of the guardrails scraping along the side of their van. Jack flinched as a road sign ripped off the right, sideview mirror. All three of their children in the back seat began crying hysterically as the car sped towards a sharp turn in the road, where a single railing was the only thing keeping them from plummeting over a dirt embankment.
"Let go, Sarah! I got it!" Everything went into slow motion. Jack, in shock, turned to his wife, who was pale white with a look of intense fear in her eyes, hands fused to the wheel as she and her husband both fought - almost against each other - to control the cars path. His eyes darted up to the rearview mirror to see the panic-stricken faces of the children he loved more than anything in the world. Reality began settling into Jack's mind: he had fallen asleep at the wheel. He knew he was the reason why his entire family was about to die. But he also knew that the cause of their current crisis was the key to their potential rescue...himself.
With a knee-jerk reaction, Jack hit the brakes, sending the van sliding on the pavement, throwing everyone's body forward, locking their seatbelts around them like a vise. Burning out the tires, the van screeched to a halt within inches of the guardrail overlooking the long drop-off. As everyone rocked backward and into their seats, Jack starred over the hood in shock at the catastrophe his family had been mere seconds from experiencing.
His wife and kids were speechless. Jack sat silently, repressing an emotional rush of guilt mixed with relief. Sarah unlocked her seatbelt, wrapped her arms around him and buried her head into his chest, sobbing in relief. His children also continued to cry as Jack whispered, "I'm sorry; I'm so sorry" - over and over again.
Fear. Gratitude. Trauma. Prayer. Sarah cycled through every emotional response in her system. She was still a mess, very slowly pulling herself back together. Then finally, with her heart-rate returning to normal and the color returning to her face, she looked up at Jack through tear-filled eyes and whispered words he would never forget: "Please don't ever do that again." - (taken from: The Resolution for Men)
This story illustrates where I believe countless men are today...and where I have been; Disengaged, asleep at the wheel and drifting. We have been given the position of leadership over our families and have been placed in the driver's seat. However over time, we have been lulled into a dream by our own passivity and the lies of a culture that constantly tells us that foundational male leadership in the home isn't necessary and that in general, males are lazy, stupid and irresponsible (if you doubt that statement, just watch any comedy that centers around a family).
I'm not sure why, but men are often carelessly negligent in their roles as husbands and fathers and fail to see the moral and spiritual danger they have placed their families in; Threatening their marriages, the moral and spiritual molding of their children and their very own faith. We need to Wake Up! and realize we can't have it both ways. As a result, the mothers of our children become the ones who (by default and necessity) are carrying the weight of the family on their shoulders just to simply survive. We're missing it men! These women...OUR women, are stressed out and longing for the man in their lives to wake up, rescue them and grab the wheel of the family again.
God's Word commands husbands and fathers to lovingly lead their homes. As men, we are to walk in honor and integrity and to fully embrace our responsibilities as the leaders...the shepards...of our families and because of this, we are to model a loving, Christlike example for our wives and children.
Many of you reading this, may say to yourselves 'Well, he's a good Dad...' That, I believe is the root of the problem. 1 Corinthians 16:13 tells men to 'Be alert!; stand firm in the faith; act like men; be strong!' You see, I don't want to be a father who is just 'Good Enough'. I want to be courageous enough to be the man...the husband...the Daddy that God has called me...has called ALL of us to be! And yes, it takes courage...a great deal of courage to battle not only against what our culture is telling us what a man is, but against our vary own nature to set the cruise-control of life.
I want to challenge you...ask yourself the following questions:
Secondly, of your friends, find one or a few, to hold each other accountable. 'Proverbs 27:17 tells us As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.' Standing alone, it is MUCH easier to lose heart, become discouraged and give up, but if you surround yourself with friends who all have a united goal and (this is key to men) allow yourself to accept their help and RELY on them, there is NOTHING you can't withstand!
Last, resolve to change. Refuse to let your past dictate your future. The failures of your past DO NOT have to be the failures of your future...Through courage, support of your brothers in arms and GOD, boldly and purposefully, retake the wheel. I guarantee you will feel better about yourself, your wife will love and respect you on a level you never knew possible and your children will as well!
Awake sleeper! and arise from the dead and Christ will shine on you. Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men, but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. - Ephesians 5:14-16
~ V
"Watch out!" Jack yelled as he once again grabbed the wheel. But Sarah's hands, white knuckled, still gripped it as she swung back across the lane to the right, again overcorrecting and veering them off the road on the other side. The rapid thumping of the road deflectors under the tires was immediately replaced by the sound of the guardrails scraping along the side of their van. Jack flinched as a road sign ripped off the right, sideview mirror. All three of their children in the back seat began crying hysterically as the car sped towards a sharp turn in the road, where a single railing was the only thing keeping them from plummeting over a dirt embankment.
"Let go, Sarah! I got it!" Everything went into slow motion. Jack, in shock, turned to his wife, who was pale white with a look of intense fear in her eyes, hands fused to the wheel as she and her husband both fought - almost against each other - to control the cars path. His eyes darted up to the rearview mirror to see the panic-stricken faces of the children he loved more than anything in the world. Reality began settling into Jack's mind: he had fallen asleep at the wheel. He knew he was the reason why his entire family was about to die. But he also knew that the cause of their current crisis was the key to their potential rescue...himself.
With a knee-jerk reaction, Jack hit the brakes, sending the van sliding on the pavement, throwing everyone's body forward, locking their seatbelts around them like a vise. Burning out the tires, the van screeched to a halt within inches of the guardrail overlooking the long drop-off. As everyone rocked backward and into their seats, Jack starred over the hood in shock at the catastrophe his family had been mere seconds from experiencing.
His wife and kids were speechless. Jack sat silently, repressing an emotional rush of guilt mixed with relief. Sarah unlocked her seatbelt, wrapped her arms around him and buried her head into his chest, sobbing in relief. His children also continued to cry as Jack whispered, "I'm sorry; I'm so sorry" - over and over again.
Fear. Gratitude. Trauma. Prayer. Sarah cycled through every emotional response in her system. She was still a mess, very slowly pulling herself back together. Then finally, with her heart-rate returning to normal and the color returning to her face, she looked up at Jack through tear-filled eyes and whispered words he would never forget: "Please don't ever do that again." - (taken from: The Resolution for Men)
This story illustrates where I believe countless men are today...and where I have been; Disengaged, asleep at the wheel and drifting. We have been given the position of leadership over our families and have been placed in the driver's seat. However over time, we have been lulled into a dream by our own passivity and the lies of a culture that constantly tells us that foundational male leadership in the home isn't necessary and that in general, males are lazy, stupid and irresponsible (if you doubt that statement, just watch any comedy that centers around a family).
I'm not sure why, but men are often carelessly negligent in their roles as husbands and fathers and fail to see the moral and spiritual danger they have placed their families in; Threatening their marriages, the moral and spiritual molding of their children and their very own faith. We need to Wake Up! and realize we can't have it both ways. As a result, the mothers of our children become the ones who (by default and necessity) are carrying the weight of the family on their shoulders just to simply survive. We're missing it men! These women...OUR women, are stressed out and longing for the man in their lives to wake up, rescue them and grab the wheel of the family again.
God's Word commands husbands and fathers to lovingly lead their homes. As men, we are to walk in honor and integrity and to fully embrace our responsibilities as the leaders...the shepards...of our families and because of this, we are to model a loving, Christlike example for our wives and children.
Many of you reading this, may say to yourselves 'Well, he's a good Dad...' That, I believe is the root of the problem. 1 Corinthians 16:13 tells men to 'Be alert!; stand firm in the faith; act like men; be strong!' You see, I don't want to be a father who is just 'Good Enough'. I want to be courageous enough to be the man...the husband...the Daddy that God has called me...has called ALL of us to be! And yes, it takes courage...a great deal of courage to battle not only against what our culture is telling us what a man is, but against our vary own nature to set the cruise-control of life.
I want to challenge you...ask yourself the following questions:
- Is your wife weary, worn out and always feeling like she is carrying too much on her shoulders? If you don't know, then you're already disconnected...
- Does your marriage lack clear direction, romance and true intimacy?
- Are your children, whether young or grown, emotionally distant from you and spiritually apathetic towards God?
Secondly, of your friends, find one or a few, to hold each other accountable. 'Proverbs 27:17 tells us As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.' Standing alone, it is MUCH easier to lose heart, become discouraged and give up, but if you surround yourself with friends who all have a united goal and (this is key to men) allow yourself to accept their help and RELY on them, there is NOTHING you can't withstand!
Last, resolve to change. Refuse to let your past dictate your future. The failures of your past DO NOT have to be the failures of your future...Through courage, support of your brothers in arms and GOD, boldly and purposefully, retake the wheel. I guarantee you will feel better about yourself, your wife will love and respect you on a level you never knew possible and your children will as well!
Awake sleeper! and arise from the dead and Christ will shine on you. Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men, but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. - Ephesians 5:14-16
~ V
My Ballerina
From an early age, Hope had wanted to take dance. We are a very musical family and on any given day, if you happened to be walking past our house, you may hear someone playing the piano or music coming from the speakers of our stereo. And during these times, you could almost bet that you would find Hope spinning and twirling to a made up dance. There were a myriad of reasons why we didn't put her in dance in the past, but the main reason I remember was from when we still lived in Baraboo...it was very expensive.
After Lisa and I were married, Hope again brought up her desire to go into dance and it was then, after much thought and discussion (the boys were involved in several sports and dance would give Hope a similar outlet), we agreed to look into it. I was pleasantly surprised at how affordable it was here, but also knew it would require a commitment on both Hope and our parts...Every Tuesday, week after week (since last September), we would have to leave work early to pick Hope up from home and bring her to dance practice. I have to admit that at first, I viewed this as a hassle...an interruption to MY schedule. This quickly changed as I saw how much she enjoyed it and it gave us time...just father and daughter. I remember the first two or three weeks, she would come out of class almost in tears, wanting to quit. She wasn't used to the physical demands or the harsh commands an instructor, at times, can have. This too passed and it all became routine.
This all culminated this past weekend as Hope had her very first dance recital! Lisa raised two boys and was COMPLETELY caught by surprise with the 'Toddlers and Tiara's' atmosphere that surrounded the dressing room on the first night (the recital was Saturday night and Sunday afternoon). Mother's armed with curling irons and palates of makeup, hair spray and glitter, hovered over their daughters like humming birds near a feeder! Determined NOT to be taken un-awares again, Lisa embraced her inner 'Bling-Bling mommy' side and took Hope out after Saturday's show to 'stock-up'...all I can say is Hope looked beautiful! And not over the top! Thank you honey!
The auditorium was packed (we literally got the last two tickets and God must have been looking out for us because they were in the very first row, practically at stage level with the dancers) and I was a bit worried that seeing such a throng of people might unnerve her and cause her to lose her concentration.
I needn't have worried...she held herself with a poise and confidence that belied her experience...and for the next 3 minutes, time around her stood still. Her movements were fluid and graceful. Flawless?...of course not, but to my eyes she was perfect... enchanting...this was MY daughter. Her face was absolutely radiant! If the power in the building had failed, her smile alone would have lit the place.
And at that moment it struck me, my daughter is growing up...my youngest...my baby girl, is becoming a young lady. When did this happen? I've been watching her and seeing her every single day, and yet...why haven't I noticed this? It's thrilling! and at the same time, heart wrenching...time is slipping through my hands, it's like trying to hold water when you have your hands cupped together...no matter how hard you try, eventually the water runs out.
So here I am wondering if I've made the right choices for her...have I guided her, taught her and given her the best of me...and have kept and hidden the worst of me? I pray that God gives me the wisdom and grace, the strength and the courage to finish this dance we call parenting...Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
Cinderella ~ Steven Curtis Chapman
She spins and she sways
To whatever song plays
Without a care in the world
And I'm sitting here wearing
The weight of the world on my shoulders
It's been a long day
And there's still work to do
She's pulling at me
Saying "Dad, I need you
There's a ball at the castle
And I've been invited
And I need to practice my dancing
Oh, please, Daddy, please?"
So I will dance with Cinderella
While she is here in my arms
'Cause I know something the prince never knew
Oh, I will dance with Cinderella
I don't want to miss even one song
'Cause all too soon the clock will strike midnight
And she'll be gone...
She says he's a nice guy and I'd be impressed
She wants to know if I approve of the dress
She says, "Dad, the prom is just one week away
And I need to practice my dancing
Oh, please, Daddy, please?"
So I will dance with Cinderella
While she is here in my arms
'Cause I know something the prince never knew
Oh, I will dance with Cinderella
I don't want to miss even one song
'Cause all too soon the clock will strike midnight
And she'll be gone
She will be gone
Well, she came home today with a ring on her hand
Just glowing and telling us all they had planned
She says, "Dad, the wedding's still six months away
But I need to practice my dancing
Oh, please, Daddy, please?"
So I will dance with Cinderella
While she is here in my arms
'Cause I know something the prince never knew
Oh, I will dance with Cinderella
I don't want to miss even one song
'Cause all too soon the clock will strike midnight
And she'll be gone.
To whatever song plays
Without a care in the world
And I'm sitting here wearing
The weight of the world on my shoulders
It's been a long day
And there's still work to do
She's pulling at me
Saying "Dad, I need you
There's a ball at the castle
And I've been invited
And I need to practice my dancing
Oh, please, Daddy, please?"
So I will dance with Cinderella
While she is here in my arms
'Cause I know something the prince never knew
Oh, I will dance with Cinderella
I don't want to miss even one song
'Cause all too soon the clock will strike midnight
And she'll be gone...
She says he's a nice guy and I'd be impressed
She wants to know if I approve of the dress
She says, "Dad, the prom is just one week away
And I need to practice my dancing
Oh, please, Daddy, please?"
So I will dance with Cinderella
While she is here in my arms
'Cause I know something the prince never knew
Oh, I will dance with Cinderella
I don't want to miss even one song
'Cause all too soon the clock will strike midnight
And she'll be gone
She will be gone
Well, she came home today with a ring on her hand
Just glowing and telling us all they had planned
She says, "Dad, the wedding's still six months away
But I need to practice my dancing
Oh, please, Daddy, please?"
So I will dance with Cinderella
While she is here in my arms
'Cause I know something the prince never knew
Oh, I will dance with Cinderella
I don't want to miss even one song
'Cause all too soon the clock will strike midnight
And she'll be gone.
~ V
On the National Day of Prayer
Daring times challenge us to pray boldly…as bold as those prayed by the pilgrims when they entered the new land or Abraham Lincoln as he called upon God amidst the dangers of a Civil War. As the threat of terrorism looms and the economy is uncertain we pause on the National Day of Prayer to not only ask God to intervene in world affairs but to move upon our hearts and start in us a change that may change the world.
The following are ten reasons why we should pray:
1. Prayer reminds us that we are not the solution to the challenges that grip our world but we have access to the one who transcends those challenges.
2. A prayerless nation has no hope beyond the headlines.
3. Prayer aligns us with God’s heart, purposes and blessings.
4. Prayer is an act of humility that precedes honor.
5. Prayer enlarges the heart beyond selfish motive.
6. Prayer provokes the heart to consider not only what is but what can be with God’s help.
7. Prayer is best prioritized when one asks God to change one’s own heart first.
8. No matters of eternal value will be accomplished outside of prayer.
9. Prayer is properly prioritized vigilance in a spiritually passive world.
10. Prayer at its best is an offering of one’s self to be used by God as a part of the answer.
The Bible reminds us in 2 Chronicles 7:14 “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
Join me wont you in praying for our country, our families and our churches?
- Our God is a MIGHTY God!
~ Vince
The following are ten reasons why we should pray:
1. Prayer reminds us that we are not the solution to the challenges that grip our world but we have access to the one who transcends those challenges.
2. A prayerless nation has no hope beyond the headlines.
3. Prayer aligns us with God’s heart, purposes and blessings.
4. Prayer is an act of humility that precedes honor.
5. Prayer enlarges the heart beyond selfish motive.
6. Prayer provokes the heart to consider not only what is but what can be with God’s help.
7. Prayer is best prioritized when one asks God to change one’s own heart first.
8. No matters of eternal value will be accomplished outside of prayer.
9. Prayer is properly prioritized vigilance in a spiritually passive world.
10. Prayer at its best is an offering of one’s self to be used by God as a part of the answer.
The Bible reminds us in 2 Chronicles 7:14 “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
Join me wont you in praying for our country, our families and our churches?
- Our God is a MIGHTY God!
~ Vince
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From an early age, Hope had wanted to take dance. We are a very musical family and on any given day, if you happened to be walking past our... -
“There is but one good; that is God. Everything else is good when it looks to Him and bad when it turns from Him.” “There are only two k...
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.....My mind and heart are squeezed of their juices and their strength and essence have drained out of me. Vacillating between thought and f...