Strength, joy, and compassion

Lord, just singing about you makes me strong! So I'll keep shouting for joy to Jacob's God, my champion.
Psalms 81:1 TPT

Last week I called my dad to ask him to pray for me because I was feeling overwhelmed and stressed out with work.  He prayed for me, and then he encouraged me to sing praise songs throughout the day.  I want to be intentional this week.

Yesterday in our church gathering, I felt the Lord convict me of being too busy and the consequences of students feeling like I am too busy for them.  I want that every time I open my office door, the person who knocked will see the compassion of their Heavenly Father shining in my face.

Father, thank you for your strength and love.  Jesus, thank you for the strength that you demonstrated as an overflow of your solitude with the Father. Holy Spirit, thank you for your joy and overflow through me this week.  I love you.

Psalm of light

You own the day and the night. Sunlight and starlight call you Creator.

Psalms 74:16 TPT

Light itself glorifies God.  The entire spectrum of electromagnetic radiation bows in honor of God. The photonic wave-particle dual-nature of light testifies to the creativity of God.  The constant warmth of sunlight sings of the faithful love of God.  The red-shift of starlight shouts praise at the universe-expanding power of God.  

Father, you are amazing! You are so creative and beautiful.  You are faithful, merciful, gracious, and kind.  May I radiate your character because you have made me your son.  I love you, and I ask in the name of Jesus.

Importance of a father's blessing

I've been reading the book of Judge's, and Jephthah was an absolute knucklehead.  First of all, there is no indication in the Torah that God wants people to make quid-pro-quo agreements with God, which shows that Jephthah's father didn't teach him how to love God.  Second, Jephthah was fighting people's who practiced child sacrifice, so he should have know that when his daughter came running out to meet him that sacrificing his daughter was worse than breaking his promise to God. This story is so depressing, especially now that I have a daughter.

In contrast, I read Psalm 72 this morning, and King David blesses the king, and many of the blessings are partially fulfilled during Solomon's reign.  Some are prophetic of Jesus's reign, and we will see those fulfilled one day.

Father, thank you for blessing me with an earthly father who taught me to love you.  May I bless my children and teach them to love you and walk in your favor. We long for the full revelation of the reign of Christ. I love you.

second derivative

Deut. 32:46 he said to them, "Take to heart all the words I have solemnly declared to you this day, so that you may command your children to obey carefully all the words of this law.

It is critically important for us to teach our children to love the Lord and obey Him.  But I think it is also very important for grandparents to teach their grandchildren to love the Lord and obey Him.

Deut. 4:9 Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them.

The first derivative characterizes the slope (rate of increase), and the second derivative represents curvature (rate of change of the rate of increase).  I think grandparents have the opportunity to accelerate the spiritual growth of their grandchildren, and I am so thankful that both sets of grandparents of my children are followers of Jesus.

Heavenly Father, may I be faithful to lead my children to you.  And please give more opportunities for my parents and in-laws to pour spiritual truth into my children.  I want my children to far surpass me in spiritual growth and demonstration of your love and power.  I love you, and I ask in the name of Jesus