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Real Dudes,
Maybe the lyrics in these two songs, and the words in Isaiah 41:13 are the messages you need to hear before you begin your day today. Enjoy, Nate In the Garden by Alan Jackson https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhIGIfsLxVk I Can’t Even Walk Without You Holding My Hand by Cody Johnson https://www.google.com/search?q=cody+johnson+can%27t+even+walk&oq=cody+johnson+can%27t+even+walk&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqCggAEAAY4wIYgAQyCggAEAAY4wIYgAQyBwgBEC4YgAQyCAgCEAAYFhgeMgoIAxAAGAoYFhgeMggIBBAAGBYYHtIBCDgxNTBqMGo3qAIAsAIA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:b5701042,vid:j4NhuFZn8eA,st:0 Isaiah 41:13 (NLT) For I hold you by your right hand— I, the LORD your God. And I say to you, ‘Don’t be afraid. I am here to help you.
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Real Dudes,
These last few weeks I’ve really felt Satan attempting to plant the seed of discouragement in our home. Attacking my wife through her battle with cancer and the installation of a port. Overwhelming my daughters with College decisions. ETC. As an encourager it has been challenging to bring their spirits up. Knowing I can’t tell them how to think or feel makes it hard to observe. I pray that God will give me the words to say, and that I’ll only speak at the right moments. Being present for them and giving them hugs is sometimes all they need. What I never want them to question is…does their husband, father even care. My actions relay the message of sincere love and care for what they are experiencing. Let me ask you this…who in your life seems discouraged today? Who needs you to be present for them? Don’t assume they’ll make it through it on their own and that they’ll make it through unscathed. Are you willing to come alongside them and go through it with them? Are you willing to be interruptible enough to show you genuinely care about what they’re going through? I’d like to leave you with an article I read a few years ago. The author / pastor stated that “Sometime ago during a workshop on deliverance the teacher shared this story. Satan was conducting a sale of tools he used to influence and infiltrate the lives of people. The objects were spread out on tables available for the taking. They included arrows of jealousy, the hammer of anger, the dagger of worry and the slingshot of doubt. But one tool stood out above them all. Displayed prominently on a pedestal high above the rest of his tools was the wedge of discouragement. It was dented and worn from a lot of use and was the most expensive tool in his arsenal of deceit. There was a large number of evil spirits showing interest in that particular item. Satan stood very close to it as if to protect it. Many of the demons asked to purchase the wedge but were told it wasn’t available. It was the sole property of Satan. After a while one large aggressive demon angrily asked , ‘why not?’ He was told you’re welcomed to anything here but not this item. This wedge of discouragement is invaluable. It is the one item in my possession that is indispensable. Nothing can take its place because it never fails to do the job. He said, it was easy to use and takes hardly any effort. All I need do is to get the very tip of the wedge into my victim and the rest is easy. Once the wedge is in I just keep applying pressure as it slides in deeper and deeper. Often I don’t have to do anything, my victims drive the wedge deeper all by themselves. That’s why this wedge is my prized tool. In my personal life, as well as mentoring and pastoring others, there is no doubt in my mind this short story is true. I have never forgotten it. Over the years I have seen discouragement play a huge role in the destruction of man. Discouragement, destroys, demoralizes, disappoints, causes depression and despondency . It inhibits, distracts and sidetracks. There is no greater emotional hindrance that causes such great destruction and heartache as discouragement. Discouragement is the opposite of the freedom that is the inheritance of those who follow Jesus. The moral of this story is quite clear. The smallest bit of discouragement can derail your life and dreams… if you let it.” Take some time to pray for those who are discouraged. Pray for their release from discouragement. If it’s you, then please reach out to me…would love to be praying for you as well. Here for each of you!!! Song: What is the first line to His Eye is on the Sparrow by MercyMe? What’s the answer? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvNZmBnH360 Practicing His Presence, Pastor Nate Real Dudes,
Happy Grandchildren’s Day. My prayer is that those of us who are grandparents will set the tone and example in our family’s of what it looks like to obey and fear the Lord. Not just live it out, but also that we would teach generations to come what obeying the Lord and fearing Him looks like. Take the time to express your love to your grandchildren each and every opportunity the Lord provides you with. Pray for them, and speak into them as the Lord leads. Grandchildren...just want to celebrate this day with each of you. Keep in mind, the best gift we could ever receive is a godly heritage. If it's been a while since you've had a godly conversation with your grandparents, then let me encourage you to spend some time with them and ask them questions about their relationship with the Lord. Soak it all in and allow the Lord to challenge your heart because of what you just heard. Cheering all y'all on!!! Practicing His Presence, Nate Deuteronomy 6:1-9 (NLT) A Call for Wholehearted Commitment “These are the commands, decrees, and regulations that the Lord your God commanded me to teach you. You must obey them in the land you are about to enter and occupy, 2 and you and your children and grandchildren must fear the Lord your God as long as you live. If you obey all his decrees and commands, you will enjoy a long life. 3 Listen closely, Israel, and be careful to obey. Then all will go well with you, and you will have many children in the land flowing with milk and honey, just as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, promised you. 4 “Listen, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. 5 And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. 6 And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. 7 Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. 8 Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. 9 Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. Real Dudes,
If I were to ask you to go outside and chase the wind, and report back once you’ve caught it…how would you respond? If you chose to take on this challenge of attempting to chase the wind, then would you be able to come back and report that you were able to catch it, or that the task was meaningless? If meaningless, then why? King Solomon was the wisest man in scripture and he spoke much on this idea of chasing the wind. Allow me to show a few scriptures in order for us to gain a better understanding of where King Solomon is coming from… King Solomon, in all his wisdom states, in Ecclesiastes 1:14 (NLT) that, “I observed everything going on under the sun, and really, it is all meaningless--like chasing the wind.” Ecclesiastes 2:11 But as I looked at everything I had worked so hard to accomplish, it was all so meaningless--like chasing the wind. There was nothing really worthwhile anywhere. Ecclesiastes 2:17 (NLT) So I came to hate life because everything done here under the sun is so troubling. Everything is meaningless--like chasing the wind. Ecclesiastes 2:26 (NLT) God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy to those who please him. But if a sinner becomes wealthy, God takes the wealth away and gives it to those who please him. This, too, is meaningless--like chasing the wind. Ecclesiastes 4:4 (NLT) Then I observed that most people are motivated to success because they envy their neighbors. But this, too, is meaningless--like chasing the wind. Ecclesiastes 6:9 (NLT) Enjoy what you have rather than desiring what you don’t have. Just dreaming about nice things is meaningless--like chasing the wind. Other passages in scripture also speak to this idea of chasing…
These passages and Solomon’s point can be summed up in what the Apostle Paul teaches us in… Philippians 3:8 (NLT) Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ What are some common things we often find ourselves chasing after?
If you were to chase any of those things and actually get them, then how would that make you feel? King Solomon had everything any human being would ever want, and yet in all his wisdom he relays to us that it was all meaningless – like chasing the wind? Have you ever wanted something so bad that you just had to have it? And once you got it – it just didn’t feel right, it didn’t provide the joy you were anticipating it would provide...something was missing. And then all you're left with is buyer’s remorse? What or Who should we be chasing after? The common things we typically find ourselves chasing after aren’t necessarily sinful – it’s all about the heart motive behind it all. Why do you want _________ so bad? Do you want it more than you want a greater knowledge of and better relationship with Christ? If Christ comes in last place in your life, then all is meaningless – like chasing the wind. Practicing His Presence, Nate Real Dudes,
I heard this quote the other day, “Sports don't build character, they reveal it.” According to the passages below, what has the ability to reveal our true character as Christians? What are you learning about your true character? What, if anything, is the Lord encouraging you to change? Enjoy your time of self-evaluation. Practicing His Presence, Nate 1 Peter 1:6-7 (NLT) 6 So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. 7 These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world. Job 23:10 (NLT) “But he knows where I am going. And when he tests me, I will come out as pure as gold. James 1:2-4 (NLT) 2 Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. Romans 5:3-5 (NLT) 3 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. 4 And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. 5 And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. 2 Peter 1:3-9 (NLT) 3 By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. 4 And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires. 5 In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone. 8 The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But those who fail to develop in this way are shortsighted or blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their old sins. |
AuthorNate Smith is a husband, a father of 6 girls, grandpa to 3 granddaughters and one grandson, a police and fire chaplain, a pastor, and has a passion to see men grow in Christ. 
#girldad including granddaughter
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