‘Father’

Whose we are. A prayer

(NLT) Romans 8:15-17
So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” [16] For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. [17] And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.

When the enemies’ weapons are all manned
On Christ the solid rock I stand
When their weapons are depleted and they themselves defeated
In Papa’s lap I climb and curl up
I say, “Thank you, Lord. Please fill my cup.”
He wraps His loving arms around me
And there within His sweet caressing
I find my self completely resting
In Papa’s lap.
                                        -Steve Sherwood Sr. (1980)

Dear Heavenly Father, may we be found faithful this day. When in battle clearly show us the path to victory for Your Name’s sake and for Your glory. Do not let us run from the battle or the suffering that is ours to share in. Remind us to stand on You, our solid rock.
During and after each battle remind us Whose we are. Papa, Abba, Father take us in Your arms and hold us. Remind us where our strength comes from and that we are Your children. There grant us Your rest.

In Christ our Lord, AMEN

Steve Sherwood Sr.

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Withdrawing for prayer.

(NLT) Luke 5:15-16
But despite Jesus’ instructions, the report of his power spread even faster, and vast crowds came to hear him preach and to be healed of their diseases. [16] But Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer.

If Jesus saw fit to pull away from the hustle and bustle of life and pray, how much more should we?
This passage seems to indicate that He didn’t stick around for every group that headed His way. The urgent, important and dramatic was not as appealing nor necessary as time with His Father.

Today, when things get hectic,don’t be afraid to withdraw to a place of quiet worship, prayer or holy contemplation.

Love in Christ,
Steve Sherwood Sr.

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Faith verse a lot of other choices

(NLT) Luke 18:1-8
One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up. [2] “There was a judge in a certain city,” he said, “who neither feared God nor cared about people. [3] A widow of that city came to him repeatedly, saying, ‘Give me justice in this dispute with my enemy.’ [4] The judge ignored her for a while, but finally he said to himself, ‘I don’t fear God or care about people, [5] but this woman is driving me crazy. I’m going to see that she gets justice, because she is wearing me out with her constant requests!’” [6] Then the Lord said, “Learn a lesson from this unjust judge. [7] Even he rendered a just decision in the end. So don’t you think God will surely give justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? [8] I tell you, he will grant justice to them quickly! But when the Son of Man returns, how many will he find on the earth who have faith?”

Here are some choices for dealing with a difficult situation:

1. Give up on God and His word and try to fix it yourself.

2. Complain to others how God just doesn’t meet your needs like He does for others. (Perhaps, this one comes with these motives; maybe those I complain to will fix my problem, or misery love company.)

3. Just give up and accept that this is your lot in life. It will never get better.

4. Keep on praying, keep on believing, keep on proclaiming the goodness of God our Creator, Friend and Father, and keep on looking for His answer to arrive.

Jesus promised an answer for those who cry out to Him day and night. The term quickly here is misunderstood to mean something will happen soon. That goes against the fact that we are to continue asking night and day, which implies the asking goes on for quite awhile. So, the “quickly” is that when it happens it will be quick justice.

The point is, keep praying for the answer until it comes. Keep looking to God to do what only He can do. With that in mind, if you have been given wise council follow it. Do your part.

Today pray, act wisely and righteously and wait on the Lord.

Love in Christ,
Steve Sherwood Sr

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Everlasting Good Father

Isaiah 9:6 For a child is born to us,  a son is given to us.The government will rest on his shoulders.  And he will be called:Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,  Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Everlasting Father: For those who did not have a good dad those words could bring terror to mind. “I’m going to spend eternity with someone like my earthly father?”

Malachi 4:5 “Look, I am sending you the prophet Elijah before the great and dreadful day of the Lord arrives. 6 His preaching will turn the hearts of fathers to their children, and the hearts of children to their fathers. Otherwise I will come and strike the land with a curse.”

I am blessed to have a wonderful father and mother. I assure you that our Heavenly Father is indeed wonderful as well. Think about it; He left His throne in Glory and died a horrible death to pay the penalty for our sin. We are safe in His care.

Everlasting (Good) Father.

Love in Christ,
Steve Sherwood Sr

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