Quiet Times Search

• Romans 1: 21 - being ungrateful can be at the root to many sins in your life
• Luke 7: 36-50 - those who are more grateful show a greater capacity to love.
• Luke 17: 11-19 - the thankful are commended before God.
• Psalms 50: 5-23 - note that the sacrifice that means the most to God is one of 'Thanks!'

Do you realize that as the leader of your home?
You are driving, the husband is more responsible.
Very, very rarely will a wife want out of a marriage if her husband is leading
Men simply give up when a marriage turns south or they disengage and sit around waiting for their wives

We must take courage and always be willing to make the first move, God has put something into men that longs to be courageous.
When a man uses that courage to lead his wife well, she tends to bloom.
When a wife lives with a leadership void, both of them will feel resentment toward each other and less secure together.

The idea of 50/50 leadership is a farce that creates two heads and two directions.
Our wives should have the freedom to influence without having to bear the weight of responsibility and accountability

History is littered with self-centered men who have dominated, belittled, ignored, and abused their wives in the name of male leadership.
God’s biblical design of leadership, the strong die for the weak.
The more powerful or influential you are, the more humble, servant-hearted, and sacrificial you are to become

Jesus, God’s Son was the most powerful leader of all time
He served and shepherded them instead of throwing His weight around
Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant - Mark 10:42-45
For there is no “greater love”  - John 15:13
Free her up from carrying the marriage and family. Rescue her.
She is called your helper, just as God is a “helper” to us - Psalms 54:4
Women are perfectly designed to partner with us so that our strengths complement one another’s weaknesses

Lead your wife by serving her well.

Fathers, start spending more “heart to heart” time

ATTENTION

Get their attention, ask important questions like:

• Tell me how you are doing.
• What have you been up to lately?
• What are you most excited about right now?

Make a little one-on-one time with Dad

AFFIRMATION

Kids, as well as adults, want the approval and praise from their dads

They want their father’s "blessing” in their lives.
To bless means "to speak well of"

God: “You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased” - Mark 1:11

It is important that you communicate to them, “You are my son (daughter) and I dearly love you. I am very pleased with you.”

Anytime you greet them or talk to them, your countenance, the look in your eyes, and your tone of voice either says, “You are a delight to me” or “You are an irritation to me.”

You should praise them privately, one-on-one, and publicly in front of others. “That is awesome! You are really good at that,” needs to come from your lips as their biggest cheerleader. Regardless of your past, step up to do this now!

AFFECTION

Father pours out His unconditional love on us (Romans 5:5), and so should we to our sons and daughters.

Interact with them in ways that make them fully see, hear, and feel your love.

not only the discipline of a father but also his warm affection and tender love.

Boys who feel loved by their dads are bolder, stronger, kinder to others, and more secure

Girls who feel valued by their dads are more radiant, less desperate for a boyfriend, and more careful whom they marry.

So invest in them, take them places, flood them with tender affection, leaving no question in their minds about your genuine love for them.

Epaphroditus is a true brother, coworker, and fellow solier and he was your messenger - Philippians 2:25-26

Fans of sports don't pay enough attention to know the names of the players who do the little things to make their team successful

The same things is true of believers who do the little things necessary to make the church function

Ask anyone who is Epaphroditus is and most believers can not identify him

Although Epaphroditus remains relative obscure due to his brief mention in the Bible, Paul considered him an important part of the ministry

Many believers play key behind-the-scenes roles, we may not know their name but their impact is eternal

Manasseh sought the Lord his God and sincerely humbled himself before the God of his ancestors - 3 Chronicles 33:12-13

Times of stress can motivate a man to do little self-examination

Manasseh made sinning into personal art form:

• Peresecting those who worshiped the true God
• Practiced:
  • Soothsaying
  • Sorcery
  • Idolatry his father abolished

God warned Manasseh that he would pay for his sins but he refused to listen

Assyrian forces invaded Judah and took him away to Babylon for 12 years of suffering

The once proud Manasseh humbled himself saying "The Lord alone is God!"

Don't be afraid! Go ahead and do what you've said - 1 Kings 17:13

When you speak and demonstrate your faith openly, it is bound to infect others

It seemed Elijah was the only man with faith in Israel but he didn't let that stop him speaking God's Word who desparately needed to hear it

Drought had led to famine, God sent a woman with little money to feed

Elijah didn't allow the lack of wealth affect his faith and persuaded the woman to share what little she had

She never again lacked food for herself or her son

Faith isn't real unless you put it to work, don't worry about running out - God will give you what you need

But you know how Timothy has proved himself - Philippians 2:22

Paul instructed the Philippians to selflessly lookout for each others' needs - Philippians 2:3-4

Paul a face to selflessness he discribed - Timothy, who was known for selflessness:

• He didn't just possess God's love, he poured it out on others
• He served with little concern for himself

Timothy didn't set himself apart by bragging but by serving others from a sincere and compassionate heart

They disobeyed the Lord by buring before him the wrong kind of fire, so the fire burned them up - Leviticus 10:1-2

Aaron's sons were called to priests and were given significant and solemn reponsibility 

There was little wiggle room in the regulations governing the Tabernacle and the sacrifices

Nadab and Abihu wiggled too much

The treated God's commands casually and carelessly and cost them everything

Their action cost them the blessings that God wants to generouly give to everyone who will listen to him

How do you regard the Word of God?

• A code of conduct?
• A book of restrictive rules?
• Road map to blessing, honor and joy?

I will not let you go unless you bless me - Genesis 32:26

When did you last wrestle with God?

For most men, the idea of wrestling with God seems a little out there

God could have ended the struggle with a single word

He dislocated Jacob's hip with a single touch

God allowed the wrestling match to go on for one reason: He wanted something from Jacob and for Jacob

When you wrestle with God over the important issues of your life, he has you right where he wants you

Wrestling is when you are most ready to receive a blessing

Are you willing to struggle persistently for answers and blessing from God?

Jonah went in the opposite direction to get away from the Lord - Jonah 1:3

God gave specific instructiions to go to Nineveh and warn them about god's judgement

Jonah simply did not like the assignment and wanted them dead

Jonah wondered why he should warn them, go ahead and judge them

When Jonah ran, his life went nowehere but down:

• Down to the seaport
• Down to the hold of the ship
• Down to the depths of the sea
• Down to the belly of the fish

When Jonah came to his senses, he obeyed God's instructions

What marching orders had God given you that seem to make little sense?

"You you love me moew than these?" "Yes, Lord," Peter replied - John 21:!5

Peter promised Jesus he would never leave him nor deny him

In his moment of cowardince, he denied even knowing Jesus three times

After Jesus had risen from the grave, Peter knew that this little incident had to be resolved

Jesus wasn't about to let Peter's temporary failure get in the way of his incrediable future

Jesus fully restored Peter's relationship him with a lesson and Peter would no longer make primise he had no way of keeping

Your failures don't have to be final - God will use that failure to move you closer to enjoying everything he has planned for you

Give him all of it, I am content just to have you safely back again - 2 Samuel 19:30

Mephibosheth and David had a great relationship until Ziba, Mephibosheth's servant, lied about Mephibosheth helping Absalom to take this throne

Mephibosheth found out about Ziba's deception and traveled to Jeresalum to reconcile with his old friend

When David heard Mephibosheth's account, he offered half of what he offered Ziba

Mephibosheth cared little about the offering and was satisfied with know David had returned to his rightful place

Has a relationship you onced enjoyed soured? Take a risk by taking the first step

Jesus tested Philip - Where can we buy bread to feed all these people? - John 6:5

Jesus had a little test for the apostle Philip

With thousands of hungry gathered and nothing to feed them

Would Philip look through the lens of faith or his own lack of resources?

Jesus fully intented to perform a miracle that day but Philip failed the test

He focsued on the lack of visible provision instead of on the Provider who stod before him

God specializes in doing what you could not do on your own - a test God wants you to pass

We try to give to many causes and the result is we have little joy in our giving
It is not man's duty to contribute to every good cause that passes his way
Only when we draw a circle around our beneficence that we become what God likes - a cheerful giver

Not only was Jesus joyful but he was mighty

He stayed in Palestine and kept his heart close to a few chosen hearts - became increasingly influential

He made himself mighty by limiting himself

The difference between a mighty river and a swap is the river has banks (boundries)

What is success? It is to do the thing we were created to do
"I have finished the work you gave me to do" - Jesus to the Father

He was only 33 years old - yet he did the greatest piece of work ever accoumplished on the earth

The "fine" in fine arts is the because of the limitations which they impose
There is no leeway in music, a little sharp or flat and the song is not right

Jesus saturated a little circle of chosen followers with his spirit

He made a path so luminous that every eye can see

With being faithful in a few things; he won the place of Lordship over many cities

Jesus was narrow because his breadth was immeasurable

Many political, scienific, social ideas pass away in the passage of time
One century has no interest in the teachings of the century before it

The ideas of Jesus cover the whole world and the all ages