Are you stubborn? Did you know that God commands you to change it?

Deuteronomy 10:16 (NLT)
Therefore, change your hearts and stop being stubborn.

stub·born
1. unreasonably obstinate; obstinately unmoving: a stubborn child.
2. fixed or set in purpose or opinion; resolute: a stubborn opponent of foreign aid.
3. obstinately maintained, as a course of action: a stubborn resistance.
4. difficult to manage or suppress: a stubborn horse; a stubborn pain.
5. hard, tough, or stiff, as stone or wood; difficult to shape or

For those of you that know me, you know I am very stubborn! I was reading this morning this Scripture and felt a tug to study it. God really doesn't like us to be stubborn. He wants to be able to teach us His ways and then He wants us to DO IT! Easier said then done, right? I have always been an opinionated and outspoken person. I can be very set in my ways and very hard to deal with at times. I believe God is with me and leading me to this. So sit back and enjoy the ride as we see how serious God is about this subject.

Deuteronomy 9:6You must recognize that the Lord your God is not giving you this good land because you are good, for you are not—you are a stubborn people.

Deuteronomy 9:13-14
“The Lord also said to me, ‘I have seen how stubborn and rebellious these people are.¹⁴ Leave me alone so I may destroy them and erase their name from under heaven. Then I will make a mighty nation of your descendants, a nation larger and more powerful than they are.’

He wanted to destroy them? That's what I am reading...God help us not to be stubborn!

1.) God was mad because the children of Israel made an idol and worshipped it.

You might not think you have idols....human nature is to worship something and if you haven't completely surrendered to God then you probably have one. It can creep up on you if you aren't careful. It is a daily surrender, not a one time deal.

money
cars
friends
husband
keeping house clean
losing weight
exercise
career
education
family
video games
food
parties
drinking
weed
kids
getting a husband
having a baby

Anything that consumes your thoughts or anything you put first....is an idol. It could be something good for you, like exercise...however, if it consumes you and that's all you think about or if you put it first in your life...guess what? Its your idol. If  God has commanded you to do something or to stop doing something, and you don't....its your idol.
I am sure their are some of you out there ... I didn't list your idol but check this Scripture out:

1 Samuel 15:23 (NLT)
Rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft,
and stubbornness as bad as worshiping idols.

Stubbornness is as bad as idolatry!

Is 48:4-5 For I know how stubborn and obstinate you are.
      Your necks are as unbending as iron.
      Your heads are as hard as bronze.
 ⁵ That is why I told you what would happen;
      I told you beforehand what I was going to do.   Then you could never say, ‘My idols did it.
      My wooden image and metal god commanded it to happen!’

Jeremiah 11:8 (New Living Translation) but your ancestors did not listen or even pay attention. Instead, they stubbornly followed their own evil desires. And because they refused to obey, I brought upon them all the curses described in this covenant.’”

CURSED? BECAUSE OF STUBBORNNESS? That's correct!

People say things like, its hard, I don't think I can do it....but God has never commanded us to do something that is impossible. We refuse to obey....that is the bottom line.
We need obey God and when we step out to obey, His grace will sustain us. His strength will enable us to be able to do the impossible. We must take the first step!
God has warned us on so many occasions...we need to slow down and think about what He is asking from us. Our stubbornness can make us go through SUFFERINGS! We could have been refined differently but because we wont let things go; He refines us with suffering. It isn't the devils fault! Its our fault.....because of stubbornness!
Is 48:10 I have refined you, but not as silver is refined.
      Rather, I have refined you in the furnace of suffering.

We must return our hearts back to God....not just our words but our actions.

Jeremiah 4 (the message)
 ^1-2 "If you want to come back, O Israel, you must really come back to me.
You must get rid of your stinking sin paraphernalia
   and not wander away from me anymore.
Then you can say words like, 'As God lives...'
   and have them mean something true and just and right.
And the godless nations will get caught up in the blessing
   and find something in Israel to write home about."

3-4 Here's another Message from God
to the people of Judah and Jerusalem:
"Plow your unplowed fields,
but then don't plant weeds in the soil!
Yes, circumcise your lives for God's sake.
Plow your unplowed hearts,
all you people of Judah and Jerusalem.
Prevent fire—the fire of my anger—
for once it starts it can't be put out.
Your wicked ways are fuel for the fire.

Zechariah 7:11-12 (New Living Translation)
11 “Your ancestors refused to listen to this message. They stubbornly turned away and put their fingers in their ears to keep from hearing. 12 They made their hearts as hard as stone, so they could not hear the instructions or the messages that the Lord of Heaven’s Armies had sent them by his Spirit through the earlier prophets. That is why the Lord of Heaven’s Armies was so angry with them.

If People Can't See What God Is Doing, they run the risk of being destroyed.

Proverbs 29:1 (The Message)
For people who hate discipline and only get more stubborn,
There'll come a day when life tumbles in and they break,
but by then it'll be too late to help them.

Psalm 32:9 (Amplified Bible)
Be not like the horse or the mule, which lack understanding, which must have their mouths held firm with bit and bridle, or else they will not come with you.
No one can force us to stop being stubborn...we need to submit to the Spirit. We can bring much destruction and suffering to our lives if we don't. We can curse ourselves and our kids.
How many people do you know that are stubborn and as a result their kids are stubborn?

Stubbornness.....is it really worth it?



Once we lose our strength, it is easy to take our vision.

Dieing spiritually is a process. Nothing can die unless it was once alive.


 James 1:15 Then the evil desire, when it has conceived, gives birth to sin, and sin, when it is fully matured, brings forth death.

Sin in its infancy doesn't bring death but mature sin brings forth death. This gives hope where there seems to be no hope.

To prevent dieing spiritually we must deal with our sin when it starts and not let it grow bigger. We must deal radically with it, whether it is personal sin in our body or whether it is sin in the body of Christ (the church). Both have to be dealt with radically!

Matthew 5:29-30 (New King James Version)
If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.
If we don't deal with sin radically the original text warns us; that when sin is full grown, it WILL bring forth death. What is funny is that people don't realize when they have died spiritually. They still carry a reputation of being alive.

Revelation 3:1
[ To the Church in Sardis ] “To the angel of the church in Sardis write: These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead.

Judges 16:20-21 (Amplified Bible)
She said, The Philistines are upon you, Samson! And he awoke out of his sleep and said, I will go out as I have time after time and shake myself free. For Samson did not know that the Lord had departed from him.
21But the Philistines laid hold of him, bored out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza and bound him with [two] bronze fetters; and he ground at the mill in the prison.

Notice that after the Lord had departed from Samson, Samson didn't even realize it....notice the first thing that was taken was his strength. Second, was his vision and third he was bound up.

Once we lose our strength it is easy to take our vision.... Vision can be your dream and it also is seeing spiritually. Once we cant see...we are easily ensnared by our sin again. Shackled by it. Slave to it.

God has given the dead church a warning:

Revelation 3:2-6 (New King James Version)
Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God. 3 Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you. 4 You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. 5 He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.

6 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”’

Pretty sobering if you ask me.

1. WATCH

1 Peter 5:8
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

2. STRENGTHEN

1 Corinthians 14:3
But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort.
3. HOLD FAST

2 Thessalonians 2:15
So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter

4. REPENT
Matthew (The Message)
7-10When John realized that a lot of Pharisees and Sadducees were showing up for a baptismal experience because it was becoming the popular thing to do, he exploded: "Brood of snakes! What do you think you're doing slithering down here to the river? Do you think a little water on your snakeskins is going to make any difference? It's your life that must change, not your skin! And don't think you can pull rank by claiming Abraham as father. Being a descendant of Abraham is neither here nor there. Descendants of Abraham are a dime a dozen. What counts is your life. Is it green and blossoming? Because if it's deadwood, it goes on the fire.

I am just Renee....

 

 

Mark 6

Just a Carpenter

   ^{1 -2} He left there and returned to his hometown. His disciples came along. On the Sabbath, he gave a lecture in the meeting place. He made a real hit, impressing everyone. "We had no idea he was this good!" they said. "How did he get so wise all of a sudden, get such ability?"
   ³But in the next breath they were cutting him down: "He's just a carpenter—Mary's boy. We've known him since he was a kid. We know his brothers, James, Justus, Jude, and Simon, and his sisters. Who does he think he is?" They tripped over what little they knew about him and fell, sprawling. And they never got any further.
   ^{4 -6}Jesus told them, "A prophet has little honor in his hometown, among his relatives, on the streets he played in as a child." Jesus wasn't able to do much of anything there—he laid hands on a few sick people and healed them, that's all. He couldn't get over their stubbornness. He left and made a circuit of the other villages, teaching.

The Twelve

   
   ^{7 -8}Jesus called the Twelve to him, and sent them out in pairs. He gave them authority and power to deal with the evil opposition. He sent them off with these instructions:
   ^{8 -9}"Don't think you need a lot of extra equipment for this. You are the equipment. No special appeals for funds. Keep it simple.
   ¹⁰"And no luxury inns. Get a modest place and be content there until you leave.
   ¹¹"If you're not welcomed, not listened to, quietly withdraw. Don't make a scene. Shrug your shoulders and be on your way."
   ^{12 -13}Then they were on the road. They preached with joyful urgency that life can be radically different; right and left they sent the demons packing; they brought wellness to the sick, anointing their bodies, healing their spirits.

I do not think its a coincidence that the story of Jesus just being a carpenter and then how to deal with people that don't listen to you are next to each other. If it happened to Him, it will happen to us! The bible promises this.

I was reading and I realized that I have experienced this same thing. People that have come to know me well, like family(even in the church): at first are really shocked about what I have to say and get really excited with me. Then in the very same breath they become offended at my words. At first they are teachable and then end up saying things like "who does she think she is".... I may not be a prophetess, but I do believe  I hear from God and I believe God leads me to say things. It has taken me awhile to realize, no matter how careful I am; people get offended; unless their heart is right with God. It doesn't matter how careful I am. I have even seen the most gentle people offend them.

In verse 11, it says,  "If you're not welcomed, not listened to, quietly withdraw. Don't make a scene. Shrug your shoulders and be on your way."!

This is a sad thing to me. I love my peeps and never want to just quietly withdraw; I want to fight for their soul with everything in me! God help me to learn how to do this. I truly want to do all God has commanded me, just not the stuff I agree with.

I have seen so many people love God and be about His business and then all of a sudden they are done and want nothing to do with God or Gods people.

These 2 stories have really helped me today. Jesus couldn't get over how stubborn they were. He was God in the flesh and dealt with the same stuff.

The Foolish Woman -vs- The Wise Woman

Job 2:8-10 (New Living Translation)
8 Job scraped his skin with a piece of broken pottery as he sat among the ashes. 9 His wife said to him, “Are you still trying to maintain your integrity? Curse God and die.” 10 But Job replied, “You talk like a foolish woman. Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?” So in all this, Job said nothing wrong.

When things are falling apart around you; its easy to throw in the towel. People may look into your situation... but have no idea what its like to be in your shoes. Jobs wife, alot of times gets the bad rap. She says "curse God and die"....but if you look at her with a self righteous attitude, be careful, that might be you next month! I truly believe that this woman loved God but that she was being pressed like never before! Its always easy to judge when your on the outside of the boxing ring, but if you are in the fight, you get tired.

Notice: Job replied."you talk like a foolish woman", this is why I did this study. I have been where Jobs wife is. Tired of the trial, tired that my husband is being so strong... while I am pathetically crawling to survive. The trial Job went through, effected his whole family! His wife, kids, even his animals! I don't want to "talk or act like a foolish woman" when I am in these situations....and I don't want to act all righteous when I see others in thier trial either.

Proverbs 14:1 A wise woman builds her home,
but a foolish woman tears it down with her own hands.

How many times have we gotten so mad, we act like we don't care, we say forget it! no more! I am done! I quit! While things are hard we need to be very careful, and remember that our trials and decisions can effect our spouse and children. If we are foolish we will tear our house down.....the bible says that this is not wise. The question is: will our spouse and children be able to recover from it if we act foolish? Even in the face of adversity we must develop a home that we can build our families up! A peaceful invironment for our family. A sanctuary we can run to, feel safe from the world. It shouldn't be a place where our family dreads coming to, because of fighting and turmoil. Or because they never know what to expect from us.

Notice in the next scripture that wisdom is referred to as a woman!

Proverbs 9:1 (NLT)
Wisdom has built her house;
she has carved its seven columns.
The seven pillars: the number 7 represents completeness and pillars represent stability. She has carved them...she has labored and worked hard for the completeness and stability in her home. It doesn't come natural....it isn't easy, it was hard.

Proverbs 9:2 (NLT)
She has prepared a great banquet,
mixed the wines, and set the table.

The wise woman prepared a feast! The banquet included MEAT, WINE  and A LOVELY TABLE.
Meat was the mark of a feast in biblical times. Feasts are not thrown together, they are well thought out! A homemaker would add spices to the wine to make it smell good. She pays attention to the details. Similar to when we put a bouquet of flowers on the table for decoration, or season the food to make the flavor better. It would also bring a smell that would improve the taste to the meal. She is a good hostess! Wisdom was busy while the foolish woman sat at the entrance of her house with very little to do.

Proverbs 9:13-14 (New King James Version) A foolish woman is clamorous; She is simple, and knows nothing. For she sits at the door of her house, On a seat by the highest places of the city

This verse contrast the previous verse....a foolish woman is loud brash and lacks understanding. She doesn't prepare a banquet nor does she pay attention to details. She SITS with nothing to do, bored!

Its interesting if you continue to read the two different scriptures about the foolish and wise; both women call out to the people but the foolish woman calls out with a bit of a twist.

The Wise Woman:
Proverbs 9:4-6 (NKJV)
4 “ Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” As for him who lacks understanding, she says to him,
5 “ Come, eat of my bread And drink of the wine I have mixed.
6 Forsake foolishness and live, And go in the way of understanding.
The Foolish Woman:
Proverbs 9:15-17 (NKJV)
15 To call to those who pass by, Who go straight on their way:
16 “ Whoever is simple, let him turn in here”; And as for him who lacks understanding, she says to him,
17 “ Stolen water is sweet, And bread eaten in secret is pleasant.”

Its amazing to me that both are reaching out! We will outreach for God or for hell, whether we think so or not. We are either foolish or wise.

I believe all of us have a desire to be good wives and mothers, but we need to be very aware of what we are doing. This will testify whether we are being foolish or wise. Even the godliest woman can fall. (Jobs wife) If we have strayed off that straight and narrow path, God is faithful to restore us. We need to repent, ask for forgiveness and press for the mark! Just like the seven pillars...we need to strive for completeness and stability! Our emotions (women) can be very unstable at times...I have been praying that God would stabilize my emotions and that He would make me complete! We can't do this in our own power....It has to be God! Trust in Him and do not lean on your own understanding!

Pray like it all depends on God, and act like it all depends on you. Be busy about your fathers business. It will keep you. I have noticed when I stop doing my Fathers business; church and stuff becomes boring....but when I am about His business it comes to life, fun, fullfilling, exciting and most of all it brings joy to my household!
The Joy of the Lord is our strength! The Joy comes from works!

Galatians 6:4 (AMP) But let every person carefully scrutinize and examine and test his own conduct and his own work. He can then have the personal satisfaction and joy of doing something commendable [^[in itself alone] without [resorting to] boastful comparison with his neighbor.

Matthew 25:3-4 (NKJV) Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, 4 but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

Matthew 7:24-27 (NKJV)
“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.
26 “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 27 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”

PS: please leave a comment.

New bowl of salt.

2 Kings 2:20-22 (Amplified Bible)
He said, Bring me a new bowl and put salt [the symbol of God's purifying power] in it. And they brought it to him. Then Elisha went to the spring of the waters and cast the salt in it and said, Thus says the Lord: I [not the salt] have healed these waters; there shall not be any more death, miscarriage or barrenness [and bereavement] BECAUSE OF IT. So the waters were healed to this day, as Elisha had said.

The salt taken from the new bowl and cast into the water symbolized the cleansing of the water for new use; it was a purification ceremony.

Lev 2:13 NLT
Season all your grain offerings with salt to remind you of God’s eternal covenant. Never forget to add salt to your grain offerings.
Salt seasons, preserves and brings healing, it purifies!

Mark 9:50
“Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with each other.”

Notice: having peace amongst us comes from having salt....no peace then there is probably no salt! (see Gal 6:11...we are circumcised instead of new)
Add salt to your grain offering....this leads me to ask, what is a grain offering?

Ex 29:38 “This is what you are to offer on the altar regularly each day: two lambs a year old. 39 Offer one in the morning and the other at twilight. 40 With the first lamb offer a tenth of an ephah of the finest flour mixed with a quarter of a hin of oil from pressed olives, and a quarter of a hin of wine as a drink offering. 41 Sacrifice the other lamb at twilight with the same grain offering and its drink offering as in the morning—a pleasing aroma, a food offering presented to the LORD. 42 “For the generations to come this burnt offering is to be made regularly at the entrance to the tent of meeting, before the LORD. There I will meet you and speak to you; 43 there also I will meet with the Israelites, and the place will be consecrated by my glory.
Every morning and evening the grain offering was offered. It was to be made at the tent of meeting (the church).  This is where God will meet with us and speak to us....and consecration occurs.

Consecrate means to make or declare sacred; set apart or dedicate to the service of a deity

So I draw the conclusion that we need to pray in the morning and evening (preferably at the church) to be set apart by God for service. (Grain offering)
2 Corinthians 5:17
The second thing I wanted to study was the "new bowl". It was the vessel that carried the salt. A new bowl, is very important.

2 Co 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

A new creation...are you a new person, have you experienced a changed life? This is what God promises! I always thought I was a christian...but I hadn't experienced anything new....I continued i my old ways. Now i have experienced change but I want to take it a step further...am I still experiencing change? God doesn't just bring change once and that's it. It is supposed to be continual. Ask yourself if you are going forward...changing that is. Have you experienced change lately? You wont unless you pursue God. We are to be constantly changing....like the grain offering, we need to be offering our prayers day and night otherwise we wont be new vessels.

Galatians 6:11
[ Not Circumcision but the New Creation ] See what large letters I use as I write to you with my own hand!

Circumcision would be a one time event....new creation is always taking place. Circumcision is physical and new creation is spiritual. Going through the motions of Christianity, having a form of godliness....this would be circumcision.....being renewed daily, actually experiencing God daily will make us new.....Being new, will eventually like a garment or a car, eventually it will become old. We need to be renewed daily. New everyday. IT IS NOT a one time thing.

2 Corinthians 4:16
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.
It is a scary thing to see so many people come to know Christ and then fall away. It shakes me up. I was lead to study this because of the continual backsliding I see. I want you to notice that the water was the cause of the death, miscarriage or barrenness. I don't want to be the cause of death, miscarriage or bareness! I want to be healing the waters, I want life not death. I will be doing a study on salt because that is what was thrown in the water, We are the salt of the earth!
We can experience death miscarriage and barrenness in many areas of our lives. Our church, our families, finances, school, grades, friends, work ect...We need to analyze our lives and check ourselves for these things. If they are occurring we need to be sure we are not the cause. If we are we need to ask for forgiveness and repent. We need to start seeking God...not lip service but with our whole hearts. We so often just talk the talk and we don't walk the walk.

Do we really love God? Do our lives testify of it?

Pearls...

Matthew 13:45-46

[ The Parable of the Pearl of Great Price ] “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.

It is mentioned 9 times in the new teatiment. It is a picture of Jesus coming and purchasing our salvation on the cross. Many people beleive this is a picture of what we do as christians; however, we cant buy our salvation.

The pearl is the only jewel that is a product of an injury, it grows out of irratation and hurt. The pearl is produced when a clam or an oyster gets a peice of sand or foreign object in its muscle. It produces a substance that covers the sand or irrattion and as time passes becomes a priceless pearl. The longer the time the bigger the pearl. We are the pearl and Jesus was the merchant. He took the lashes, crown of thorns, beating, and He paid the price for our sin.

Now, I do want to say that it will cost us to follow Jesus, it will cost us to serve in the kingdom of God. It will cost us everything sometimes.


Matthew 10:37
“Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

Matthew 20:23
Jesus said to them, “You will indeed drink from my cup

Philippians 1:21
For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.

How we should live....

Recently I posted this to my facebook........I was just thinking about how spontaneous we make decisions.....sometimes without thinking, let alone without asking God what He wants or our husbands how they feel. Our decisions effect everyone....good or bad, and sometimes God isn't pleased with our decision.

 I have found alot of times... things I have done....if my husband would have done them, it would offend me, I don't hold myself to the same standards. I have to ask myself, if he did this very thing I am going to do, how would I feel? It all goes back to the golden rule....

I believe there were some misunderstandings on what I meant....I hope this helps.

Matthew 7:12
So then, whatever you desire that others would do to and for you, even so do also to and for them, for this is (sums up) the Law and the Prophets.
Our decisions will effect our husbands, kids, families, church and even our friends! Our future can be altered in seconds...we need to be careful not to be selfish and to be sure we are doing what God wants us to. SOMETIMES WE WILL MAKE DECISIONS THAT NO ONE WILL AGREE WITH, BUT GOD HAS TOLD US THIS IS THE WAY... AND TO WALK IN IT.

Galatians 5:16 (Amplified Bible)
But I say, walk and live [habitually] in the [Holy] Spirit [responsive to and controlled and guided by the Spirit]; then you will certainly not gratify the cravings and desires of the flesh (of human nature without God).
We don't live on an island....alone, everything thing we do effects everything else.

Romans 14:7 (New Living Translation)
For we don’t live for ourselves or die for ourselves.

We are wise to plan and make plans but we need to keep our hearts soft and ears open to the lord. He will change the path once in awhile and redirect us...if we let Him. When we allow Him to change our plans and direct our path, we are more Christ like.

Proverbs 16
We can make our own plans, but the Lord gives the right answer.
If we don't ask God what to do in even the smallest decisions or what He thinks... we can put ourselves in danger of many things that can be prevented (read the story in Josh 9). Sometimes we will regret not inquiring of the Lord. Don't make a decision and then later regret it. Asking God will bring regrets to a halt!

Joshua 9:14 (Amplified Bible)
So the [Israelite] men partook of their food and did not consult the Lord.

We love our kids so much....every decision we make will effect what they do later on in their own lives....every decision will bless us or curse us.....life or death.....choose life!

Deuteronomy 30:15-16 (Amplified Bible)
See, I have set before you this day life and good, and death and evil. [If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God which] I command you today, to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His ordinances, then you shall live and multiply, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land into which you go to possess.

The Ostrich...

Job 39:13-18 (The Message)

 "The ostrich flaps her wings futilely—all those beautiful feathers, but useless!

She lays her eggs on the hard ground, leaves them there in the dirt, exposed to the weather,

Not caring that they might get stepped on and cracked or trampled by some wild animal.

She's negligent with her young, as if they weren't even hers. She cares nothing about anything.

She wasn't created very smart, that's for sure, wasn't given her share of good sense.

But when she runs, oh, how she runs, laughing, leaving horse and rider in the dust.

Lamentations 4:3 (The Message)
3Even wild jackals nurture their babies, give them their breasts to suckle. But my people have turned cruel to their babies, like an ostrich in the wilderness.

A couple of months ago, I was experiencing trials that brought pain to my soul. I prayed that God would help me not to care so much about the things happening around me. I prayed that I would be able to not care, I felt like I cared to much. I felt like, if I could learn not to care so much I would be better off, less pain and hurt. People or citations wouldn't be able to take my joy and happiness.

When I heard this scripture....I felt shame for even praying for such a thing. My heart even though it hurt, it was still soft as flesh.

The scripture implies that we are useless if we don't care; that we are cruel when we don't care. So my new prayer is that I am able to still have my joy and happiness even through the trials. That I would have wisdom and understanding to be victorious.

Job 39:17 (New King James Version) Because God deprived her of wisdom,
And did not endow her with understanding.

We need to understand that just because we have problems.....doesn't mean we shouldn't bury our head in the dirt and act like its not there like an ostrich! 

 Don't run from it.....like an ostrich runs, faster and swifter than a horse!

We are the head not the tail, above not beneath! If you stay on the attack.... you wont be under attack! Like David ran to Goliath in the battle...we need to run to the battle, face it! The bible never says we wont be in the battle but how does the battle take place? Do you pursue the enemy or does the enemy pursue you?

The enemy will come...to kill, steal and destroy....are you prepared to fight to keep the dominion?

The ostrich doesn't fight, he hides and runs! The Scripture says in Lamentations 4:3 But my people have turned cruel to their babies, like an ostrich in the wilderness. The don't think about their kids. She doesn't care; She lays her eggs on the hard ground, leaves them there in the dirt, exposed to the weather, Not caring that they might get stepped on and cracked or trampled by some wild animal. She's negligent with her young, as if they weren't even hers. This is what we are when we don't run to the battle. If the enemy pursues us it also pursues our children. When we go to war with other countries, we don't want the war to be here....we want to keep the war in the other country. So our kids and families stay safe! If you aren't fighting and pursuing the enemy, then you r kids are in danger, its just like war. The scripture says even wild jackals nurture their young!

Whats crazy is the ostrich is the biggest bird! BUT she can not fly! How often we want these positions and titles....we want to be the biggest bird! If you are the biggest bird, will you fly? God has called us to be like eagles not ostriches!

There will always be storms, the eagle fly above the storm and sees the storm coming from afar.

The eagle lives prepared for the storm.

Will you?

A dream is just a dream. A goal is a dream with a plan and a deadline. -Harvey Mackay

Well...I am making my goals for the New Year. I don't do New Year Resolutions but I  figured there is no better time to establish new goals. I really have a deep desire to know God in a more intimate way. Be closer than I have ever been. Teach His word and evangelize the city. Win souls and inspire friends and family.

My family faces new challenges this year and I want to put my full trust in God and Him alone to provide for us, lead us and take care of us....like His beloved children.

I want to link with the brethren in church to do all God has called us to. I want to teach my beautiful daughters more and lead them to still waters. I want to submit to my husband, respect him and honor him like never before! I want him to feel like a KING! I would like to establish deeper relationships and be someone people can count on. I want to make things right with the people I have wronged. I want to love like Jesus.

Yes of coarse...the normal stuff to as always, lose weight, get out of debt etc...but mostly I just want to be used by my awesome Father in heaven like never before!

Philippians 3:12-16 (The Message)
Focused on the Goal 12-14I'm not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don't get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I've got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I'm off and running, and I'm not turning back.

15-16So let's keep focused on that goal, those of us who want everything God has for us. If any of you have something else in mind, something less than total commitment, God will clear your blurred vision—you'll see it yet! Now that we're on the right track, let's stay on it.

Trusting your heart and feelings.

Genesis 27:21-24 (Amplified Bible) 21But Isaac said to Jacob, Come close to me, I beg of you, that I may feel you, my son, and know whether you really are my son Esau or not. 22 So Jacob went near to Isaac, and his father felt him and said, The voice is Jacob's voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau. 23  He could not identify him, because his hands were hairy like his brother Esau's hands; so he blessed him. 24 But he said, Are you really my son Esau? He answered, I am.

If you make decisions based on feelings you will not be able to identify lies.

It is funny that Isaac's intellect (what he knew to be Jacobs voice) was contradicting what he felt. He was blind but he still could hear. How many times have we been blind, confused and not knowing what to do but base our decisions on what we feel instead of what we hear or what we have learned to be the truth? Everything you have been taught and everything you feel sometimes will contradict each other.....in that case go with what you have heard or rather what you have learned to be the truth, don't trust your feelings. If anything contradicts the word of God then its a lie. Your feelings are fickle and if you trust them you will not be able to identify the lies of hell.

I have heard so many people say they are confused but they are going to trust their heart....or they say I trust what my heart to lead me. NO! NO! NO! Please do not trust what your heart.....unless it is biblical.

Jeremiah 17:9
“ The heart is deceitful above all things,And desperately wicked; Who can know it?

Christians with bad habits....addictions?

1 Corinthians 15:33 (New King James Version)

Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.”

The first thing you need to do when you have found yourself to be addicted or practicing bad habits, look at the people you are hanging out with. THE GOOD OLD SAYING "a bird of a feather- flock together" IS MORE BIBLICAL THAN YOU THINK.

The first step in changing bad habits or breaking addictions is to be around the people you want to be like. Our friends and people we are around the most is who we will be like. When our kids are acting up the first question should be, who are you associating with...

Proverbs 12:26
The righteous should choose his friends carefully, For the way of the wicked leads them astray.



There are many who say they are christian....but be careful, you need to see how they are living their lives...If the say they are christian and practice these things you should not be hanging out with them.

1 Corinthians 5:11 ESV

But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one.

Some of these words I looked up, they are not used alot and I wanted to be sure to address all of them.

Sexual Immorality is sex out of marriage.

Greed is excessive desire for wealth or possessions.

Idolater is the worship of anything that isn't the one true God.

Reviler is someone that  uses abusive or scornful language against someone or something.

Drunkard a person that gets drunk.

Swindler is to cheat (someone) of money, etc; defraud.

The second thing you need to know; is that your sin maybe be the very thing that keeps you from heaven. You must understand that you need to repent of it. Which means to go the other direction, have a change in heart and  mind, turn from it. The first thing Jesus preached here on earth was to repent for the kingdom of Heaven is at hand.....(Matt 4:17).

Isaiah 5:11 ESV Woe to those who rise early in the morning, that they may run after strong drink, who tarry late into the evening as wine inflames them!

Proverbs 20:1 Wine is a mocker, Strong drink is a brawler, And whoever is led astray by it is not wise.

I have hit on drunkenness alot but all partying is included!

Romans 13:13 (New Living Translation)
Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don’t participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy.
Romans 13:14 ESV
But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

1 John 2:16 (New King James Version) For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.


Do not try and blame God for your sin....do not make excuses for your sin. I hear alot of people that say things like, God understands or God wouldn't let this happen if He didn't want me to do it.
James 1:12-15 (ESV) Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

God gives us many warnings and we need to live cautiously.....making sure we don't walk into traps!

1 Peter 5:8 (New King James Version) Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

Third thing I want to encourage you with is EVERYTHING that presents itself to you....you already have the strength to conquer it. God will not allow ANYTHING to come to you that you can not handle!

1 Corinthians 10:13 (New King James Version) No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

High expectation will set you up to fall.

Psalm 62:5
My soul, wait silently for God alone,For my expectation is from Him.

Having high expectations of people can be dangerous, we set ourselves up to fall. Even when people promise something or say they are going to do something, its still a risk to put your trust in them. People are fickle and they don't understand the damage that is caused when they don't come through.

We have different expectations of different people. People on the street....well, we don't have any expectations from them. When they do something that is more than we expected they become a blessing for us.

People in our family....well that's another story! If we would keep our expectations lower and not set the bar so high; just like people on the street, our families would be a blessing to us.

People in the church.....the bar is set even higher! We think cause they are christian, we can expect more from them. In some cases this is very true! However, they are still just as human as the people on the streets. If we are not careful we can get very offended by them cause they have not our expectations. Offence is a stumbling block, it can make you fall. Alot of times we expect more out of Christians then anyone else around us. Our expectations of them.

I have learned to lower my expectations and not be surprised when people fall short.

I don't know how many times this has disappointed me and in fact shaken me up pretty bad. I came into the church in awe of the life styles we as Christians live. I never expected to have issues with the people around me doing things and saying things that they shouldn't. Even though my expectations were not to much to ask, I was trusting in man. I remember the first time my expectations where broken. I couldn't believe what was happening, the person I looked up to, the person that helped me through so many issues in my walk. I was devastated! It shook me up to know, people in the church, could or would do and say such awful things. We need to remember that our family in the church is no different then the people in the streets. They feel pain, they go through hard times, they aren't perfect and they are going to fail sometimes. Failure is a part of our walk and growing in Christ. If we do not allow room for failure in peoples lives; we not only push them away but we hurt ourselves. We will end up getting deeply offended and this is a trap! Once we are offended, we walk around hurt just like the person that hurt us! Then we start to do the very thing that stubble us!

This is when we learn to love the way God loves!
Psalm 118:8

It is better to trust and take refuge in the Lord than to put confidence in man.

Isaiah 2:22
Cease to trust in [weak, frail, and dying] man, whose breath is in his nostrils [for so short a time]; in what sense can he be counted as having intrinsic worth?

Jeremiah 17:5
Thus says the Lord: Cursed [with great evil] is the strong man who trusts in and relies on frail man, making weak [human] flesh his arm, and whose mind and heart turn aside from the Lord.

Romans 10:11

The Scripture says, No man who believes in Him [who adheres to, relies on, and trusts in Him] will [ever] be put to shame or be disappointed.

If we keep our expectations lower....people will be a blessing to us when they pass our expectations. We will be blessed by them. Not to mention we will be a blessing to them.....the weight of our expectations wont be on their shoulders any longer! 

Anger can turn to murder... in your heart!

 

 

Genesis 4:2-15 (The Message)

 ² Then she had another baby, Abel. Abel was a herdsman and Cain a farmer. ^3-5 Time passed. Cain brought an offering to God from the produce of his farm. Abel also brought an offering, but from the firstborn animals of his herd, choice cuts of meat. God liked Abel and his offering, but Cain and his offering didn't get his approval. Cain lost his temper and went into a sulk.
 ^6-7 God spoke to Cain: "Why this tantrum? Why the sulking? If you do well, won't you be accepted? And if you don't do well, sin is lying in wait for you, ready to pounce; it's out to get you, you've got to master it."
 ⁸ Cain had words with his brother. They were out in the field; Cain came at Abel his brother and killed him.
 ⁹ God said to Cain, "Where is Abel your brother?"
   He said, "How should I know? Am I his babysitter?"
 ^10-12 God said, "What have you done! The voice of your brother's blood is calling to me from the ground. From now on you'll get nothing but curses from this ground; you'll be driven from this ground that has opened its arms to receive the blood of your murdered brother. You'll farm this ground, but it will no longer give you its best. You'll be a homeless wanderer on Earth."
 ^13-14 Cain said to God, "My punishment is too much. I can't take it! You've thrown me off the land and I can never again face you. I'm a homeless wanderer on Earth and whoever finds me will kill me."
 ¹⁵ God told him, "No. Anyone who kills Cain will pay for it seven times over." God put a mark on Cain to protect him so that no one who met him would kill him.

When we do things for God or people; we do them with a “sincere heart” but God has already told us what He expects from us. Just like our parents lay down the rules for us....what to do and what not to do. Chores, homework, ect. A lot of people say “well God understands me and he knows whats in my heart” but they have not done what God has expected them to do. They make all the excuses for not doing what God has told them to do. Just like they do with their parents.
The attitude of Cain was very bad... he become very angry. This is where the danger is! God asked Cain, why he was angry in verse 6. Then, God warns Cain in verse 7. He says that sin is waiting for him and we need to master it! We need to rule over it, control it and resist it. When we get mad, we need to be very careful not to sin.

 Ps4:4  Be angry, and do not sin. Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still.  Selah  

Eph 4:26-27“Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil.

Matthew 5:21-22 (The Message)"You're familiar with the command to the ancients, 'Do not murder.' I'm telling you that anyone who is so much as angry with a brother or sister is guilty of murder. Carelessly call a brother 'idiot!' and you just might find yourself hauled into court. Thoughtlessly yell 'stupid!' at a sister and you are on the brink of hellfire. The simple moral fact is that words kill.

We get so angry sometimes and we direct our anger at people instead of just recognizing we are the problem and we need to repent and be humble and ask God for forgiveness. Cain got mad at Abel and it had nothing to do with Abel, the problem was within Cain and he dirrected his anger at Abel. We tend to get hurt when others do well and we dont. We start to examine the other person doing well; and find fault in them. Forgetting that yes, they are human and are not perfect and that we are saved by grace. A lot of times we start to compare what we have done and what others have done, forgetting that we are also human and not perfect. Well, I did this and this... and that and no one has even noticed!…..what have they done? Bad, bad, attitude! God doesn’t like this. He wants us to simply say God I know I DIDN’T DO WELL THIS TIME AND I WILL DO BETTER NEXT TIME, forgive me (then press forward). It is our human nature to constantly compare ourselves to other people instead of comparing ourselves to Jesus. If we would compare ourselves to Jesus we would not be focused on what others are doing and whether or not they did well in our eyes. We wouldn’t be competing with our brothers and sister instead we would be cheering them on, getting excited for them and congradulating them on a job well done!

If we would remember in those times we feel someone is being accepted or doing better then us and we have been rejected. Instead of feeling angry about the rejection we need to lean on the truth…..we will be accepted if we do well. We are the head not the tale, we are more than conquers and no weapon formed against us will prosper. It is a decision to rule over this SIN and if we don’t it will end up over taking us; in hatred, bitterness and self pitty.

Murder….may not be in the physical sense but in our hearts and words! This is very dangerous!

In verse 11 of the original text you will see that it cursed Cain. We can curse ourselves if we arent with this very thing, it starts with a difference in personality which is God given! Sometimes personalities clash! It then moves to competition! Very bad to compete with your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. We are supposed to be on the same team! If you see this happening then you need to rule over it and humble yourself. Don’t let pride rise and start comparing yourself with the other person. Be happy for their victory. Don’t try to out do them, encourage them, stay humble and do not exalt yourself, instead exalt them!

V.15 God still protected Cain from people’s vengeance! All I have to say is wow! God expects us to rely on Him to do the judgments and punishments. How many times have you seen something you don’t like and you start to talk about it and you yourself start to be angry and you start finding anger and hatred creeping in your heart? Well, God doesn’t want you to do that. Our words are either blessing or cursing. Our words are very powerful be careful what you say.


If we keep the right attitude and keep our perspective right, we can do this. Our heart needs to stay soft and plyable, sensitive so we can see when this is starting to happen and correct it quikly....quikly is very important!

Don't be a hypocrite....Jesus warns us!

Luke 12
 ¹ In the meantime, when an innumerable multitude of people had gathered together, so that they trampled one another, He began to say to His disciples first of all, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. ² For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known. ³ Therefore whatever you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear in inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops.

WOW! Warning about being religious again....crazy! Hypocrisy, we all have heard it! People calling us hypocrites and using it as an excuse not to go to church.....well this warning was to the Christians. It contrast hypocrisy with what we are speaking in the dark! Its pretty clear! If we aren't watching what we are saying than we are likened to hypocrites or as we call it; religious people!

Last time I looked at religious people we talked about the good Samaritan. The religious person ignored the person dying on the street and the good Samaritan did all he could do to help the person. He took the time to mend the wounds of someone he didn't even know.

Now, we can judge ourselves and see if we are religious not only by how we are reaching to the dieing on the streets but also by the words we are speaking in the secret places.

These aren't my teaching.....this is from the word of God. Don't hate....but appre

Women! We will serve our family sin or we will rally them up and get them excited!

First I want to give you some of my deepest frustrations, I am a woman, as you know, that is very passionate! I have the spirit of Deborah...I want to lead and fight and make things right! In the past, I have gotten discouraged because I was a woman, I wanted to do what the men were doing! I have recently been encouraged though, I want to share my frustrations and encouragement... in hopes that it will help you.

Eve ate the forbidden fruit in a perfect environment! We understand that Eve served her husband sin, she ate FIRST and then served him.

But....we need to remember:

Genesis 2:18 The LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”

We were and still are the answer to the problem! That is, IF we choose to be!

Eve was without sin and lived in a PERFECT ENVIRONMENT.  We need to understand that no matter where we are and no matter what is happening; things aren't going to be perfect! We as women, want so much and get so upset when things don't go as planned. We are ruled by our emotions even when things are good around us we get upset, even when we are in the will of God. We make decisions based on deception through our feelings! We think we need a better environment, more money, bigger home, more friends, better family ect... (put your environment you desire in the blank!). Bottom line is, Eve had the perfect environment and she still influenced her family to sin. We have to live under curses because of it.

The women led the old testament into sin as well as the new testament into salvation and the great commision.

Mary Magdalene and Mary,  two awesome women of God, rallied the men!
While the men where discouraged and where bumming around, the WOMEN went to the tomb! They were actively pursuing Jesus even while they thought He was dead! They are to be our example.

Matthew 28
1 Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. 2 And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. 3 His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. 4 And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men.The guards (men) where scared to death and fainted!! The women didn't! This should encourage us!

^{Matt 28:5} But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. ⁶ He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. ⁷ And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you.” ⁸ So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word.

They were told NOT TO BE AFRAID! JESUS HAS RISEN FROM THE DEAD! We do not need to be fearful, Jesus is still alive! He allowed the woman to find out the good news first and bring the good news to the men! Jesus allowed women to rally the men and encourage the men with the good news! They went and gathered the disciples and organized the meeting; while the men were walking around, with their heads to the floor, discouraged and broken.

Even Peter, went backwards! He went back to fishing......I guess we can see that when things don't go our way, we easily go back to what we are comfortable in... our OLD WAYS! Peter actually separated from the others! Mark 16:7 (New King James Version) But go, tell His disciples—and Peter—that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you.” Notice: Peter wasn't with the other disciples.

^{Matt 28:9} And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, “Rejoice!” So they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him. ¹⁰ Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me.”

Jesus met with the women after the angel told them to go tell the men. They had an encounter with the risen Jesus on the way. In their obedience and in the mist of rallying the men is when they had an encounter with the risen savior! We need to be obedient in order to experience Him. Jesus came to them! He then told them to Rejoice! Rejoice is a verb (a verb is performance of an action not a feeling) to be glad; take delight. He didn't say to try and be glad, He said to do it. Then they worshipped Him. This is a critical part; we will not be able to truly be glad unless we worship Jesus!

Worship (verb...action) reverent love and devotion, profound dedication; consecration. Devotion is more than words. It is profound and devote.

During worship, Jesus instructed them! During worship wneed to be and do. Without TRUE WORSHIP, we will lack instruction from God. He told the women not to be afraid. Afraid is an emotion. We need to stop feeling and start worshipping. This will help us to be the women the men need us to be and woman that God has called us to be. No matter what we do as women, we will have a tendency to be led by our feelings! True worship will help us not to fall to this trap. Feeling are good......when they are used correctly!

^{Matt 28:11} Now while they were going, behold, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests all the things that had happened. ¹² When they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, ¹³ saying, “Tell them, ‘His disciples came at night and stole Him away while we slept.’ ¹⁴ And if this comes to the governor’s ears, we will appease him and make you secure.” ¹⁵ So they took the money and did as they were instructed; and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.

While you are doing the will of God opposition will always come! Count on it! They lied about the Disciples, this is interesting to me. Even though the women where with the guards and saw what happen the people didn't give the women any second thought. They believed the soldiers not the women. They slandered the men and discredited the women. This same thing plays out all the time to this day. The women aren't given any credit and the men are slandered! Not to mention the religious people, the ones that everyone "trusts", appeased the people. How many times have you heard; she is just a woman or he is a man.....men lie?

^{Matt 28:16} Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. ¹⁷ When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted. ¹⁸ And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. ¹⁹ Go therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

The great commission can not be executed unless the woman start rallying the men! The women will either rise to the occasion or decide, like Eve, to be ruled by her emotions and then feed her family sin. As women, we have the ability to influence our men ...not just our husbands! Just like Eve did in the garden or Mary Magdalene and Mary did with the good news. We choose! We aren't supposed to sit down and just wait tell the men rise up! We are to rise, we are to rally and encourage the men to rise!

I truly believe that you can have the most powerful man of God ever and his wife can influence him to be less than what God wants. She can serve him sin.

Have you ever noticed that a woman can see things a lot of times that men don't pick up on? Do we think that is a coincidence? We have "gut feelings and "intuition". Do we go home and shed light on our husbands and get them rallied up and excited to make things better and do the will of God or do we go home and tell our husbands everything we see and how bad things are and make them discouraged? We, as women, need to see the roles God has given us and how important it is for the kingdom of God to advance. It can not happen if we choose to be negative full of deception and being ruled by our feelings. We need to get on our faces in worship...true worship and be obedient to the call on our lives. Let nothing stop you! People think its better to be a man, but I say the men cant be the men they need to be, unless, the women rise up! You say you love God and you want to do the will of God, however, we will see by your actions, regardless of how you feel. Lets bring good news to our men, lets rally them, lets be about our Fathers business.