Fathering A Special Needs Child

“¹As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. ²His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” ³“Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.” John 9:1-3 (NIV)

On April 26, 2018, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released new data on the prevalence of autism in the United States. This surveillance study identified 1 in 59 children (1 in 37 boys and 1 in 151 girls) as having autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and autism are both general terms for a group of complex disorders of brain development. These disorders are characterized, in varying degrees, by difficulties in social interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication and repetitive behaviors.

My second child, Kyle, was born May 24, 2002. He was a big, healthy baby and was, and will always be, a tremendous blessing to me. We noticed at an early age that he was not reaching the “typical” milestones for babies and toddlers in terms of walking, talking, etc. We eventually had him tested for hearing loss, brain function, blood tests, etc. All of the tests came back normal, but his development was not normal. In particular, he showed little interest in talking and had a very limited vocabulary.

We finally had him diagnosed by a doctor and received the diagnosis of PDD-NOS. I remember looking at that and thinking ok well now we know what we have so let’s make a plan to fix it. However, I later realized that autism is a spectrum disorder with no known cure, and each person that has it falls onto the spectrum of somewhere between high functioning to severe. You may recall the movie Temple Grandin which was about an animal science professor that had high functioning autism. PDD-NOS stands for pervasive development disorder – not otherwise specified, which to me simply means – we don’t really know what your child has so we created a category and called it PDD-NOS instead of WDK (we don’t know).

As a family with a special needs child, the family has special needs. The family needs schools, churches, restaurants, dentists, etc that are accommodating to special needs children. We were blessed to find an excellent PreK program at Southdowns Elementary in Baton Rouge. However, he aged out of the program and we were left looking at our education options which ranged from lousy to expensive. We declined lousy and hired a private teacher to work with our son. Also, our church was accommodating and invited us to attend several meetings to discuss setting up a special needs Sunday School room.

I have heard some parents say that when they received the diagnosis of autism for their child they felt as if part of their child had died. They have told me that their dreams and hopes for their child have been shattered and they were forced to realize that their child will not live a “typical” life. I never felt that way. I believe in continuous improvement. So, Kyle goes to school year around. This is expensive, but it is best for his development. I realize that there are many things he will never do such as get married, drive a car, or play high school sports and that is fine with me. I focus on the things that he can do. He can go for walks with me and hold my hand. He can go to the movies with me and share a tub of popcorn and a soda while we enjoy an animated movie. He enjoys playing fetch with our dog. And he can give the best hugs that can cure a head ache much better than any aspirin.

A child with special needs certainly does put a strain on any marriage. A 2010 study conducted by the University of Wisconsin at Madison found that parents with ASD children were nearly twice as likely to get divorced than couples without disabled children. The study revealed something interesting: the divorce rates in parents with disabled children did not increase until the children became teens or adults. My own marriage ended after 20 years when Kyle was 12 years old.

Kyle has a bright future. I want him to become as independent as possible. Like other children, he yearns for his father’s approval and I try to always acknowledge every good thing that he does. So, there is no need to change or “cure” Kyle. He is perfect just as he is. He is a child of God, and a tremendous blessing to me. I do want him to live a happy life and be as independent as possible.

We hold hands and pray before each meal. I offer the blessing and then gently squeeze his hand at the end and he clearly and proudly says “Amen!” Kyle is a blessing to me and has taught me so much about what is really important in life.

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for the blessing to be a father. We recognize that all of us are your children and heirs to your Kingdom. Help us to raise our children to reach their full potential. We know that you want all of the children to come to you and that gives us peace. Thank you for your son and the forgiveness of sins and life everlasting. We love you and need you. Amen.

Meet the Author

Todd Shupe is a Men’s Ministry Specialist through the General Commission of United Methodist Men and is in training to be a Certified Lay Minister through the Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church. He currently serves as the President of the Baton Rouge District of United Methodist Men and is a Board Member for Gulf South Men and serves on the Action Team for The Kingdom Group. He is a volunteer for the Walk to Emmaus, Grace Camp, and Iron Sharpens Iron. Todd resides in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

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What Does God Want From You?

“For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings” (Hosea 6:6 NIV).

Through our prayers and petitions we make it very clear what we want from God, but have you ever stopped to think what does God want from me? I had a friend once tell me that for years he viewed God as a “mystical vending machine.” Many Christians believe that if we give our tithes and offerings to our local church, then we have “done our part.” Moreover, we sometimes confuse God with Santa Claus and think that if we are outwardly religious such as attending church every Sunday and volunteering for church activities then we will get an extra helping of God’s favor.

So, once we do our part, it is time for God to do his part, right? This is the basis behind the mystical vending machine theory – I put money in and then I get to select what I want to come out. Tithing is a good thing and a ten percent tithe is not only encouraged in Scripture but comes with a great promise of provision. Malachi 3:10 reads, “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.” God is pleased when we return to Him our first fruits. The key to giving is to give with a pure heart. Give with a desire that others will be blessed. Give to God because you trust in Him. Jesus rebuked the religious leaders of His day by, saying, “But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and every herb, and neglect justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others” (Luke 11:42).

Please note that I used the term “outwardly religious” in the first paragraph. Now, please consider the words of Matthew 23:26-28. “²⁶You blind proud religious law-keepers! Clean the inside of the cup and plate, then the outside will be clean also.²⁷“It is bad for you, teachers of the Law and proud religious law-keepers, you who pretend to be someone you are not! You are like graves that have been made white and look beautiful on the outside. But inside you are full of the bones of dead men and of every sinful thing. ²⁸As men look at you, you seem to be good and right but inside you are full of sin. You pretend to be someone you are not.”

God doesn’t want a phony. He does not need our offerings but is pleased when our offerings are given as a sincere manifestation of our faith. What He does desire is a relationship. In Hosea 6:6, God says, “I don’t want your sacrifices—I want your love; I don’t want your offerings—I want you to know Me” (Hosea 6:6). That’s the first purpose of life. The most important thing you can know is that God created you so that He can love you. And the most important thing you can do in life is to know and love Him.

Prayer: Dear God prune us from everything that separates us from you. Send forth your Holy Spirit to draw us closer to You. Grant us a peace that transcends all understanding as we grow closer to You. Give us a pure heart that seeks Your face and sincerely desires to honor You in all that we think, say, and do. We love, seek you, and need you this day and every day. Amen.

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A Man’s Role in the Family and in the Church

A MAN’S ROLE IN THE FAMILY AND IN THE CHURCH

A man must model genuine godly masculine behavior to his children so that they will grow up as godly people and seek godly partners for marriage. That was part of the message from Retired U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Jerry Boykin at the September Man Up men’s ministry meeting at Greenwell Springs Baptist Church. More than 175 men attended.

Interim Senior Pastor Tony Perkins says the men’s ministry program had become less active in recent years. His father, Richard Perkins, had to vacate his position as director of men’s ministries in 2015 due to health problems, and the 2016 flood affected 90% of the church’s members.

Richard was sitting alone at the church last Easter and A Man’s Role in the Family and in the Church by Todd Shupe heard a voice from God asking, “Where are all the men?” He looked around and saw very few men present, and felt a desire to try to reactivate the men’s ministry. He asked Tony to arrange for Lt. Gen. Boykin to deliver the message.

Lt. Gen. Boykin serves as the Family Research Council’s Executive Vice President. He was one of the original members of the U.S. Army’s Delta Force, and was privileged to ultimately command these elite warriors in combat operations. He also commanded the Army’s Green Berets as well as the Special Warfare Center and School. In all, Lt. Gen. Boykin spent 36 years in the Army, serving his last four years as the Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence. He is an ordained minister with a passion for spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ and encouraging Christians to become warriors in God’s Kingdom.

The General’s message was to focus on what he calls the 4 P’s:

A man is a provider, giving identity to his family. It is his responsibility to let children know that they belong. He gives direction and serves as the spiritual head of the family.

A man should also be a protector. He physically protects the family from harm and also sets boundaries to safeguard the family from evil.

The man is the professor of the family. He professes his faith and teaches life skills to children on how to endure hardship and build up confidence. A real man will teach his son how to respect and love women.

Finally, a man is the priest of his house. He is called to be the spiritual leader in the family. The grandfather should always be the priest at a family fathering. This means leading the family in prayer and scripture, and blessing his children and grandchildren.

Richard is a strong proponent of men’s ministry and believes the pastor must be on board to have an effective program. Follow-up meetings in small groups allow men get to know each other and feel safe opening up. The older men can nurture the younger men and this will build the church and healthy families.

Man Up events at Greenwell Springs Baptist Church are open to all men of the community. For more information, please call the church office at (225) 261-2246.

Importance of Men’s Ministry

When a child is first to attend church, 3½% of the families follow.
When a wife/mom is the first to attend church, 17% of the families follow.
When a dad/husband is first to attend a church, 93% of the families follow.

Source: The Promise Keeper at Work, 1996-1999, Promise Keepers Authors Dave Sunde, Ron Ralston, Bob Horner

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You Can Not Please Everyone

“Our purpose is to please God, not people. He alone examines the motives of our hearts”

(1 Thessalonians 2:4 NLT).

I think many of us are searching for our purpose in life. We want to follow God but are not sure what He wants us to do. What is my ministry? How can I build up the Body of Christ? These are profound questions. For many of us, we find our purpose with work and family. We work to provide food and shelter for those that we love the most – our family. Clearly, God wants us to be responsible parents and to cherish our children and to raise them to seek His face. “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6).

Our lives are busy and complicated. There are so many demands on our time. We don’t want to hurt somebody’s feelings so we often agree to most everything that is asked of us at home, work, church, and other associations and clubs that we belong. I am a people pleaser. I want to avoid conflict and make those around me happy. I think God loves it when we help those in need because it shows that our faith is not dead (see James 2:14-26).

A few questions to consider when asked to provide your service.

How Does The Request Make Me Feel?

Do I feel pressure to agree? If so, the request is not Godly. God does not use pressure. He wants us to come to Him because we seek a relationship with Him. He wants us to seek Him with all our heart and promises that if we do so we will find Him (see Jeremiah 29:13).

What Are My Reasons to Agree?

If we agree to a request to serve because we feel that it will elevate our status or create a debt that we can later “cash in”, then we should not agree to do it. We should serve others out of love with an outward focus, not inward. Our actions should feed the Spirit and not the flesh. You can fool others with your actions but not God. “The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7).

What Fruit Will This Produce?

I feel that the enemy loves to keep good people doing things that have a little to no impact on The Kingdom. Consider the fruit that may come from your efforts (see Matthew 7:17). Recognize that any fruit that does come is because of His hand. “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows” (James 1:17).

Take the Request Captive

We can’t be all things to all people. However, we can be all that God wants us to be and do all that He wants us to do to build His kingdom on earth. Our actions always begin with a thought. So, when we are asked to take on a new responsibility, take the request captive and closely examine it. “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Cor. 10:5). I think it is appropriate to substitute “request” in place of “thought” in this scripture.

Prayer: Heavenly Father we come before you as busy people with so very many responsibilities. We want to provide for our families, please our bosses and customers, and live in harmony with all. Please help us to always put you first in all that is asked of us. We seek your peace that transcends all understanding and we ask for your wisdom to make decisions that bring honor and glory to you. Amen.

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Civil Discourse

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:34-35).

Have you noticed a breakdown in our ability as a society to engage in civil discourse? I have. It seems we prefer to argue with each other rather than engage in a constructive exchange of ideas. The goal for many is to “win” the argument with a snarky comment. This is particularly true on social media.

Jesus certainly did not agree with the views of the Pharisees, but instead of engaging in devise arguments he often told asked questions or made statements to encourage them to search their heart. For example, in John 8 we learn that a woman had been caught in the act of

adultery. The Pharisees brought the women in front of crowd and then confronted Jesus. “Teacher,” they said to Jesus, “this woman was caught in the act of adultery. The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?” They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger. They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!”

In Mark 3 Jesus heals on the Sabbath at the displeasure of the Pharisees because the Mosaic law prohibited work on the Sabbath. “Another time Jesus went into the synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath. Jesus said to the man with the shriveled hand, “Stand up in front of everyone.” Then Jesus asked them, “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they remained silent. He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored.”

One strategy that we can use when confronted by an offensive person is to say “What I heard you say was (fill in the blank). Is that what you intended to say?” This will allow a break in the conversation for both parties to “cool off” and reflect on what they are saying and hearing. Many years ago, I took a speech communications class. One thing I remember most vividly is the art of communication. This means that it is the responsibility of the sender of the message to ensure that the message delivered is the same message that is received. We should be mindful that much of our message is non-verbal and the verbal component is influenced by our tone.

We can disagree with each other without being disagreeable. Isn’t it better to win a friend than win an argument?

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Service is Ministry

“Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” (Galatians 6:10 NIV)

We live in a self-serving secular world in which people act to serve their own self interests. I had a dear friend that has gone on to Glory but on earth he worked as an economist. He claimed that the entire system of economic theory is so purely deductive that everything in it can be deduced from one essential axiom. The rationality axiom states that “a rational person maximizes his/her utility.” Some economists will substitute “utility” with “self-interest,” or “well-being.” This statement has often been interpreted to mean that the pursuit of self-interest is the only thing that is done by rational economic people and that anything else is irrational. This theory has been criticized by some economists, but it still raises an interesting point. If we serve others are we acting in an irrational manner or are we displaying true leadership, as modeled by Jesus, by being a servant leader?

In my opinion, service to others is the heart of Christianity and the visible sign of a disciple. We can give our service to God and the Bible refers to this as “storing up treasure in Heaven.” When we give our talents and resources to others are we not engaging in Christian ministry? Each of us was made for ministry. Each of us has been given unique talents to build up the Body of Christ. “We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us…” (Romans 12:6). Not all of us are called to ministry or capable of physical labor. However, these are just a few of the numerous possible ministries. I once heard of a woman that had a unique ministry of prayer. Each day she opened up her local newspaper and prayed for the newborn babies and for the newly married couples. When asked why she did not pray for those listed in the obituaries she responded. I rejoice for them for they have entered into eternal glory for our loving God. Ministry can also be listening to others that are having a tough day, making it known that your house is always open to talk with those hurting. God has gifted us all with the ability to smile. A ministry of smiling can have a tremendous positive impact on others.

Let’s return back to the economic discussion. We all know the basic economic principle of supply and demand. For most goods or services, there is a finite supply. However, it is important to realize that our “demands” (e.g., prayers and petitions) on God can never exceed His infinite supply of grace. In short, nothing can separate us from the love of God (Romans 8:35-39). So we are justified in Christ Jesus and have the confidence that He goes with us as we go to do ministry that he has prepared for us. “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10).

So, why should we do ministry? The Bible says, “This service you do not only helps the needs of God’s people, it also brings many more thanks to God. It is a proof of your faith. Many people will praise God because you obey the Good News of Christ—the gospel you say you believe—and because you freely share with them and with all others” (2 Corinthians 9:12-13). Ministry is fulfilling The Great Commission. How you engage in ministry is a process of constant discernment.

Prayer: Dear God, We seek to share your love with others. We desire to have a meaningful ministry that will glorify your name. We need your help each day to identify opportunities for ministry. Equip us with Your love and wisdom and we walk with the peace that surely you will be with us until the end of the age.

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Special Needs Children & Special Needs Families

“Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it” (Proverbs 22:6 NIV).

My second child, Kyle, was born May 24, 2002. He was a big, healthy baby and was, and will always be, a tremendous blessing to me. We noticed at an early age that he was not reaching the typical milestones for babies and toddlers in terms of walking, talking, etc. We had him tested for hearing loss, brain function, blood tests and more. All of the tests came back normal, but his development was not normal. In particular, he showed little interest in talking and had a very limited vocabulary.

Eventually, we received a diagnosis of PDD-NOS (pervasive development disorder – not otherwise specified). I remember looking at that and thinking, “Okay, now we know what we have, so let’s make a plan to fix it.” However, I later realized that his autism is a spectrum disorder with no known cure, and the spectrum covers patients identified as high functioning to severe. To me, the diagnosis sounded more like — We don’t really know what your child has so we created a category and called it PDD-NOS instead of WDK (we don’t know).

Families with a special needs child have special needs of their own — schools, churches, restaurants, dentists, etc. that are accommodating to special needs children. We were blessed to find an excellent Pre-K program at Southdowns Elementary in Baton Rouge. However, Kyle aged out of the program and we were left looking at options that ranged from lousy to expensive. We declined lousy and hired a private teacher to work with our son. Also, our church was accommodating and invited us to attend several meetings to discuss setting up a special needs Sunday School room.

I have heard some parents say that when they received the diagnosis of autism, they felt as if part of their child had died, that their dreams and hopes for their child had been shattered and that their child would not live a “typical” life. I never felt that way. I believe in continuous improvement. So Kyle goes to school all year long. This is expensive, but it is best for his development.

I realize that there are many things he will never do, such as get married, drive a car, or play high school sports — and that is fine with me. I focus on the things that he can do. He can go for walks with me and hold my hand. He can go to the movies with me and share a tub of popcorn and a soda while we enjoy an animated movie. He enjoys playing fetch with our dog. And he can give the best hugs that will cure a headache much better than any aspirin.

A child with special needs certainly puts a strain on any marriage. A 2010 study conducted by the University of Wisconsin at Madison found that parents with ASD children were nearly twice as likely to get divorced than couples without disabled children. The study revealed something else interesting: the divorce rates in parents with disabled children did not increase until the children became teens or adults. My own marriage ended after 20 years when Kyle was 12 years old.

Kyle has a bright future, and I want him to become as independent as possible. Like other children, he yearns for his father’s approval and I try to always acknowledge every good thing that he does. So there is no need to change or “cure” Kyle. He is perfect just as he is. He is a child of God and a tremendous blessing to me. I want him to live a happy life.

We hold hands and pray before each meal. I offer the blessing and then gently squeeze his hand at the end and he clearly and proudly says, “Amen!” Kyle is a blessing to me and has taught me so much about what is really important in life.

Prayer: Dear God, Thank you for the blessing of children. Be with us as we raise them to reach their full potential as Your children. Amen.

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Man Up: Use Lent to Prepare Your Hearts for Easter

I love Easter egg hunts and chocolate rabbits, but there is so much more to Easter. One critical part of Easter is Lent. Lent is the period of 40 weekdays before Easter. It begins on Ash Wednesday, and Sundays are not counted. Lent is often observed with an element of self-denial. I encourage men to lead your family by intentionally observing Lent which will be rewarding experience. Below are some steps to consider on your Lenten journey.

Reflect with your Family

If I don’t use Lent as a time of personal reflection, I run the risk of Easter becoming an excuse to take my suit to the dry cleaners and overdose on chocolate. By observing Lent at home, we can help ourselves and our families grow spiritually. Remember, our primary church is our home. I want myself and my family to

understand that we need to prepare our hearts to experience the joy of the resurrection. This begins by examining our hearts for sin and gently explaining the hard reality that our sin is what separates us from Jesus. We are all sinners, and the only one to have walked the earth without sin was falsely accused of a crime (blasphemy). Lent is a time to ask the Holy Spirit to search us and help us clean sin out of our hearts and replace the void with His love and grace.

The observance of Lent can take many forms. There are several devotionals available to help families make Lent a meaningful time of growth and reflection. Speak to your pastor about appropriate devotionals for you and your family.

If your family is not in the habit of daily prayer and Scripture reading, Lent is a great time to start. Lent is also a great time to begin the habit of Christian service and reach out to others with our gifts of presence, prayers, and witness.

Understand True Sacrifice

Lent often involves sacrifice. Historically, the season of Lent commemorates Christ’s 40 days of fasting in the wilderness which succeeded his baptism by John the Baptist and proceeded the enemy’s efforts to tempt our Lord to serve him.

Many people choose to abstain from a favorite item or activity during Lent. The purpose of this is, in a very symbolic and in a very microscopic manner, allow us to identify with what Jesus sacrificed for us. When our children are deciding what to fast from, it is important to remind them that a true sacrifice must “cost” us something. This may be giving up video games or candy.

Read Scripture Together

Lent is a great time for the family to carve out time each evening to read Scripture. The Gospels are a great place to learn about the life of Jesus. The resurrection of Jesus gives us hope and life on this earth and beyond. John 14:2-3 captures this hope, “My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”

Christ separated Himself from previous prophets by His victory over death. The glory of the empty tomb is beautifully captured in Luke 24:5-6 by the words of the angels to the women when they went to His tomb the next day after the crucifixion. “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He isn’t here, but has been raised.” Christ’s death is not the source of our hope. His victory over death is the source of all hope. It is the source of life-everlasting and the forgiveness of sins. Use Lent wisely to prepare your hearts for the blessings of Easter.

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The Importance of Christian Study

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16 NIV).

For many of us the thought of studying brings back memories of cramming for exams in high school or college. Many men would rather engage in Christian action rather than Christian study. Through action we can see the fruits of our labor and be the Body of Christ in our neighborhood and beyond.

Our goal as Christians should be to develop an intimate relationship with God. There are many paths in which God can reveal Himself to us: prayer, worship, sacred moments, and fellowship with fellow Christians. For us to have a relationship with God, we must actively seek him. “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart” Jer. 29:13. The Bible is perhaps God’s most direct means of revealing Himself to us.

Have you ever heard the expression “Stay in the Word?” I always thought that this was encouragement to read the Bible. However, after reading the Bible we begin to learn that the Word is more than just a book. The Word is God himself! “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1). The Word can also refer to Jesus. “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth”. (John 1:14). As we read scripture the Holy Spirit will help us to understand the message that God has for us. Therefore, we should not be surprised when different people read the same scripture and come away with different interpretations. They all have the right interpretation – for them. The Word is also alive. So, you can read the same scripture for years and then one day something clicks and you have an epiphany and now you see a different meaning, application, or interpretation of the same scripture. This is truly the work of the Spirit delivering the right message to you at the right time.

Knowledge and application of scripture opens your heart to Christ. As we mature as Christians we try to grow closer to Christ. We want to seek His face and become more Christ-like in our thoughts, words, and actions. Paul addresses this notion in 2 Cor 5:17 ^“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” Some may debate is the Bible the word of God or is it a book about God that was written by men? For me, the answer to this question can be found in 2 Tim. 3:16 “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.”

Looking at the Greek word for “God breathed” or as some translations say, “breathed out” is “theopneustos” and means “inspired by God” or literally the very “breath of God.” I believe that the Word of God is God’s breathing out His literal Word. The breath of God is all powerful and can even raise dry bones to life. “Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to it, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Come, breath, from the four winds and breathe into these slain, that they may live.’” So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet—a vast army” (Ezekiel 37:9-10).

Scripture is inspired by God. We know that “prophecy was never produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:21). It’s important to note that the word “prophecy” does not mean, in this context, predicting the future. The Greek word “prophēteia” means “a discourse emanating from divine inspiration.” Therefore, we can say that all Scripture is God’s breathed words and emanates from a divine (God’s) inspiration. In other words, the Word of God is not of human origin but originates from God Himself and to study scripture is to study God himself.

We should study scripture because it is totally reliable and without error. We should read and study the Bible because God does not change; it is as relevant for us as it was when it was written. “The grass withers and the flowers fade, but the word of our God stands forever” (Isaiah 40:8).

While technology and culture changes, mankind’s nature and sinful desires do not change. We find, as we read scripture, “there is nothing new under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:9). Mankind as a whole continues to seek answers and comfort in the wrong places. The Bible, is so important that Jesus said of it, “Man does not live on bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). In other words, if we want to live life to the fullest, as God intended, we must listen to and heed God’s written Word. The Word is the only offensive weapon in the armor of God (Ephesians 6:17).

The Bible gives us a pathway to salvation and how one truly gets to heaven. God’s Word shows us just how much God loves us (Romans 5:6-8; John 3:16). We are drawn to love Him in return (1 John 4:19). God extends grace upon grace to us.

You cannot lead if you are not equipped. The Bible equips us to serve God (2 Timothy 3:17; Ephesians 6:17; Hebrews 4:12). Scripture helps us understand how to be saved from our sin and its road to death (2 Timothy 3:15). Meditating on God’s Word and obedience will bring success in life (Joshua 1:8; James 1:25). God’s Word helps us to identify sin in our lives and remove it (Psalm 119:9, 11). It gives us guidance in life and makes our paths straight (Psalm 32:8, 119:99; Proverbs 3:5-6). Life is full of dangerous snares but the Word will show you the way. “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105).

It cannot be emphasized strongly enough just how important the Bible is to our lives. Studying the Bible can be compared to most anything else in life. The more you put into it, the more you will get out of it. I have heard it said before that it is important to know the Bible because you may be the only Bible that somebody else may ever see.

Prayer: Dear God, Send Your Holy Spirit to teach us as we read Scripture so that we are reading Words of Life. Amen.

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The Power of Prayer

“The priests and the Levites stood to bless the people, and God heard them, for their prayer reached heaven, His holy dwelling place.” (2 Chronicles 30:27 NIV)

It is important to understand that the power of prayer does not come from us. Prayer is not special words we say or the special way we say them or even how often we say them. The length of our prayer is also not important. Powerful prayer is not made by standing on the street corner with dirt on your face or any other means to show others your piety. The power of prayer is not based on a certain direction we face or clothes. Moreover, a powerful prayer does not require candles or beads.

The power of prayer comes from God alone who hears our prayers and answers them. Prayer is a “hotline” that places us in contact with Almighty God, and we should expect almighty results,

whether or not He chooses to grant our petitions or deny our requests. Our prayers never receive a “busy signal.” Whatever the answer to our prayers, the God to whom we pray is the source of the power of prayer, and He can and will answer us, according to His perfect will and timing. We pray with joy, thanksgiving, and anticipation because we know that our loving Father hears us and wants good for us. We wait with child-like wonder to see how and when God is going to move.

Prayer is the first step of the Christian in any situation. God wants His people to pray to Him for petitions and thanksgiving. Prayer to God should be made persistently (Luke 18:1), with joy (Philippians 4:6), in faith (James 1:5), within the will of God (Matthew 6:10), for the glory of God (John 14:13-14), and from a heart right with God (James 5:16). “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (James 5:16). There is absolutely nothing that cannot be accomplished through prayer if it is consistent with His will. And prayer is never futile. True prayer is always true power. You may not always get what you ask, but you shall always have your real needs supplied.

I think the ultimate power of prayer comes when we pray for those that have hurt us the most. Matthew 5:44 teaches us, “But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” Once we truly understand this and do it with sincerity, a supernatural peace will come upon us and the hurt will be a distant memory compared to the ever-present love of God.

Prayer: Thank you for the power of prayer and the peace that comes from knowing you hear all of our prayers. Help up to pray with joy and confidence and then wait patiently for your mighty hand. Dear God, please help us to sincerely pray blessings for those who persecute us, and as we do so with the knowledge that you will be glorified.

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