Household Prayer: Courage

“Nothing is more terrifying than a man who, with the look of a lion in his eyes, refuses to surrender, who charges when everyone else around him is in full retreat. And best of all? Courage is contagious.”
Slaying the Feminist Leviathan by Eric Conn, Fight Laugh Feast issue 2.3 Fall 2021
https://flfnetwork.com/product/fight-laugh-feast-magazine/

Brothers, our households, churches, and communities need us. I pray we understand and walk in the masculine mandate God has given us “to cultivate, build, and grow (both things and people), but also to stand guard so that people and things are kept safe – so that the fruit of past cultivating and nurturing is preserved… In our families… At church… In society.” I’m praying God would give us courage and move us to action, even small daily disciplines, for His glory.

“The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭28:1‬ ‭ESV‬‬ https://bible.com/bible/59/pro.28.1.ESV

“I can add my hearty “Amen!” to the idea that Christian men should reject a feminized idea of manhood…

the point of Genesis 2:8 is that God has put the man into the garden, into the world of covenantal relationships and duties, in order to gain and act out his God-given identity there… Adam was put in the garden to be its lord and servant. Adam was to bring glory to God by devoting himself to bearing God’s fruit, starting in the garden and extending outward to all of creation. For this reason, Adam was God’s assistant lord, exercising authority over creation: “Subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth” (Gen. 1:28)… he was to be lord and keeper of God’s created realm, bringing glory to the Creator as he sought to bear the image of God in servant faithfulness…

In “Genesis 2:15, we learn how man is to fulfill his calling: ‘The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.’ … Work. To work is to labor to make things grow… Keep. To keep is to protect and to sustain progress already achieved…

“God calls us to bear His image in the real world, in this garden that has become corrupted by sin but is being redeemed by the power of God’s grace in Christ. He calls us to do this by being leaders and servants in the ultimate cause of displaying God’s glory and bearing the fruit of God’s love in real relationships… Our calling in life really is this simple (although not therefore easy): We are to devote ourselves to working/building and keeping/protecting everything placed into our charge…

WORK: TO CULTIVATE AS A GARDENER

“avad, the Hebrew term translated in Genesis 2:15 as “work” … Adam was called by God to till and cultivate the garden so it would grow and bear an abundance of fruit. Thus, the command to “work” links up with the earlier mandate to “be fruitful … and fill the earth” (Gen. 1:28)… we are called to “work” whatever “field” God has given us. Men are to be planters, builders, and growers. A man’s working life is to be spent accomplishing things, usually as part of a company or other grouping of people. We are to invest our time, our energies, our ideas, and our passions in bringing good things into being. A faithful man, then, is one who has devoted himself to cultivating, building, and growing…

KEEP: TO PROTECT AS A SWORD-BEARER

“shamar, which is translated by such English terms as “watch,” “guard,” “protect,” “take under custody,” or “exercise care” … His calling to Christian men is similar: we are to watch over and keep safe all that the Lord has put under our care… our basic mandate as Christian men is to cultivate, build, and grow (both things and people), but also to stand guard so that people and things are kept safe – so that the fruit of past cultivating and nurturing is preserved… In our families, our presence is to make our wives and children feel secure and at ease. At church, we are to stand for truth and godliness against the encroachment of worldliness and error. In society, we are to take our places as men who stand up against evil and who defend the nation from threat of danger.”

The Masculine Mandate: God’s Calling to Men by Richard D. Phillips
https://a.co/hPkBUjb

Q: “How do you defeat today’s [far left] revolutionary movement?” Church, build Christian households and communities! Learn more: https://ministry.family.blog/2021/12/07/q-how-do-you-defeat-todays-far-left-revolutionary-movement/

The Dangers of Socialism, Marxism, Communism https://ministry.family.blog/america/socialism-marxism-communism/

Household Prayer: Filled with the Holy Spirit

Brothers, I’m praying we would be filled with the Holy Spirit and trusting in Him as we prepare our children, as we lead our households, and as we witness to the Kingdom of Heaven in this world. Praying for good health through cold, flu, and covid season.

“Prepare your children to stand up in the battlefield. Prepare your children to stand upon the Word of God. Prepare your children to have confidence in the Word of God. The greatest legacy we leave our children and grandchildren is not a great education, good and important as that may be… the greatest legacy, the best legacy, the most enduring legacy, is to teach them to appreciate, revere, and obey the Word of God.” A message from Dr. @MichaelAYoussef to Christian parents https://twitter.com/leadingtheway/status/1476346087296413698?s=21 


“God loves to work through small bands of hard men… a local gang of hard men who can train together – theologically, physically, spiritually – and start to multiply through discipleship and household building. A psalm-singing, worship gang of holy troublemakers… a few good men dedicated to worship-centered culture building and defending the perimeter… The nuclear center of God’s plan for establishing order in the cosmos starts with one man and one woman coming together to produce offspring and live out God’s creational, sexual, hierarchical order (Ephesians 5)” Slaying the Feminist Leviathan by Eric Conn, Fight Laugh Feast issue 2.3 Fall 2021

Household Prayer: rhythm and consistency

“You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.” Deuteronomy 6:7 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/deu.6.7.ESV

Brothers, I pray you had a blessed Christmas, and as we come to celebrating the start of a new year, I pray that you will find rhythm and consistency in family worship, devotions, and instruction. I listened to two young fathers give their testimony on growing up in Christian homes and what they experienced from their new fathers perspective. Rhythm and consistency were two keys mentioned.

Delano Squires | Why Black Men Must Lead the Battle in Saving the Nuclear Family https://founders.org/interviews/tstt-delano-squires-why-black-men-must-lead-the-battle-in-saving-the-nuclear-family/

“They discuss the impact of growing up in a christian home and the importance of the nuclear family. They discuss the war that is being waged by Black Lives Matter, Radical Feminists and others on the nuclear family in the black community. How do we fight back with Gospel truth? How do we have these conversations as Christians?”

https://the-sword-and-the-trowel.castos.com/player/878637

Schools Intentionally Dumbing Down Children for Control as Education Becomes Politicized: Alex Newman https://link.theepochtimes.com/mkt_app/schools-intentionally-dumbing-down-children-for-control-as-education-becomes-politicized-alex-newman_4180130.html

“If you love your children… remove them from the public school system.”

“Education has come front and center in the United States, where parents are allegedly being targeted through counterterrorism technologies through a request from the school boards. At the same time, the Chinese regime is promoting critical race theory through its state-run media, right here in the United States—raising big questions on why this is happening. To learn more about how parents have gradually gotten less say in what their children are being taught, and how education can be weaponized as a political tool, we’ve invited investigative journalist and Epoch Times contributor Alex Newman to speak with us.”

Of What Use is the Law? Three Purposes https://founders.org/2014/11/24/of-what-use-is-the-law-three-purposes/?fbclid=IwAR1nzqZ4ojjesdXGn_yS1245LpSnfPBSqqn3n0c_DR7ySj_yH4Bw2ksks3k

“Recently, after our family had completed its daily devotional time together, my oldest son asked me a very insightful question: How do the Ten Commandments apply to us today if they were given so long ago in the Old Testament? … In his venerable systematic theology, the Institutes of the Christian Religion, Calvin set forth three “uses” for the moral law of God. The Lord of history has given His law, Calvin wrote, to serve as…”

A mirror. Calvin argued that the law functions to expose our sin and unrighteousness. When a sinner looks into the mirror of God’s law, he sees himself as he really is: depraved, sinful, wretched, undone, lost and in need of cleansing, in need of a savior…”

A restrainer of evil. The law of God functions to keep evildoers from being as bad as they otherwise might be. Thus, to some degree it serves to protect God’s people from the sinful machinations of the ungodly, Calvin argued…”

A revelation of the will of God. Believers, who have been transformed by the gospel, Calvin wrote, need the law as well, certainly not as a means of salvation, but as a guide to sanctification. The law reveals God’s perfect righteousness and reveals that which is pleasing to him. A believer can come to delight in God’s commands, however, only after his heart has been regenerated by God’s grace through the gospel. Wrote Calvin…”

Full article: https://founders.org/2014/11/24/of-what-use-is-the-law-three-purposes/?fbclid=IwAR1nzqZ4ojjesdXGn_yS1245LpSnfPBSqqn3n0c_DR7ySj_yH4Bw2ksks3k

Household Prayer: Understanding the times and equipping our children

“The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.” 1 John 3:8 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/1jn.3.8.ESV

Brothers, Are we sons of Issachar, understanding the times we are in and knowing what to do about them? And are we preparing and equipping our children as citizens and ambassadors of the Kingdom of God in these times? Brothers I’m praying we make our best effort. I’m praying God the Holy Spirit would dwell in our children keeping them firm in the faith and courageous to stand in the truth.

Just a note on the role of Ambassador. We are sent to a nation to represent our King and His Kingdom, but if we don’t understand the culture and other dynamics in the nations we are sent to we may not be effective.

“Of Issachar, men who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, 200 chiefs, and all their kinsmen under their command.” 1 Chronicles 12:32 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/1ch.12.32.ESV

“Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.” Psalm 127:3-5 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/psa.127.3-5.ESV

“Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” Ephesians 6:4 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/eph.6.4.ESV

Why? What is going on? Our local and American culture is not what it was. It is post-Christian. We should consider this as we disciple our children.

Listen to this important news brief: CrossPolitic daily news brief. Important message. https://crosspolitic.com/podcast/daily-news-brief-for-wednesday-december-15-2021/

Household Prayer: Advent Joy

Hey brothers, hope thanksgiving was a joy. I love the advent season and the teaching and discipleship opportunities it brings. Praying for sweet times reflecting on Immanuel, God with us, this month for every household in our community. Pray for continued good health and healing through the covid/flu season.

John Newton: Exhibit “A” For Why We Should Catechize Our Children “Catechesis was one factor in helping John Newton (1725–1807) finish well… Newton was converted amid a providentially ordained storm at sea. But the foundation for his encounter with grace was laid those first seven years at home… Parents, catechize your children, and watch God work. It may please him to open their blind eyes now, or perhaps later. Indeed, memorized truth could eventually become a light in a dark place, as it was for the great blasphemer who became a Jesus lover.” https://founders.org/2017/08/17/john-newton-exhibit-a-for-why-we-should-catechize-our-children/

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me;
I once was lost, but now I’m found,
Was blind, but now I see.

Household Prayer: Thanksgiving

“Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!”

Psalm 100:4 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/psa.100.4.ESV

Brothers, I’m giving thanks to God! I am thankful for our homeschool community. Thankful for all of you, and often pray for each of you. Thankful for engaged fathers and the kingdom impact it will have. I am thankful, Lord.

“Only strong families can weather the cultural storms of Babylon. “Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease” (Jer. 29:6)… How can you raise children in a pagan environment? In Judaism, there were strong fathers who took responsibility for the home. The father led his family in the Passover rituals; fathers were charged with teaching children the Word of God. And God knew that with strong fathers, grounded in the Word of God, these families could survive paganism. With strong families, God would have future seed, and the message of His gospel (as understood in Old Testament times) would flourish. God needed children so that a future generation would be able to return to the land and continue His work. So God said, “Have families in the midst of this pagan culture.” Thankfully, their children probably did not have to attend Babylonian schools.”

The Church in Babylon: Heeding the Call to Be a Light in the Darkness by Erwin W. Lutzer https://a.co/2p286Dr

Household Prayer: Community, city on a hill

Brothers, today I’m praying for the community in light of current events and the play to use administrative regulation to coerce private companies to enforce unlawful mandates. We may have those that lose jobs in our churches and community or otherwise have to wrestle with this decision. And if the state forces vaccines for children in government schools we may see many families needing help and encouragement to homeschool. I’m praying that we love and serve one another well in our CC and church communities through these times. Finally, I pray that our love for one another in our community would bear witness to the love of God in the larger community. “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.” Matthew 5:14

“Arise, O Lord! Let not man prevail; let the nations be judged before you!”

Psalm 9:19 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/psa.9.19.ESV

““You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden… In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

Matthew 5:14, 16 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/mat.5.14-16.ESV

“The City on a Hill strategy shows that a small segment can have broad effects. One town—Magdeburg, Germany—probably saved the Reformation.”

The Confessional County: Realizing the Kingdom through Local Christendom by Raymond Simmons https://a.co/cP0eRdc

Household Prayer: Knowing God

To know God

“For what higher, more exalted, and more compelling goal can there be than to know God?”

J. I. Packer, Knowing God

Brothers, I am praying today that we would know God more, and that we would find joy in making Him known to our children. I pray that by making family worship and Bible study a priority in our homes their hearts would rejoice in knowing Him.

“And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.”

John 17:3 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/jhn.17.3.ESV

““You shall therefore lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall teach them to your children, talking of them when you are sitting in your house, and when you are walking by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.”

Deuteronomy 11:18-19 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/deu.11.18-19.ESV

“Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.””

Jeremiah 9:23-24 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/jer.9.23-24.ESV

Household Prayer: community, love one another

“Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”

1 John‬ ‭4:11‬ ‭ESV‬‬ https://bible.com/bible/59/1jn.4.11.ESV

Brothers, today I’m praying for the community. Praying that we love and serve one another in the grace and mercy of God because He first loved us. Every family in our CC community will have joys and challenges and I pray we love and serve one another and rejoice and morn with one another. Finally, I pray that our love for one another in our community would bear witness to the love of God in the larger community.

“In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us…
We love because he first loved us…
And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.”

‭1 John‬ ‭4:9-12, 19, 21‬ ‭ESV‬‬ https://bible.com/bible/59/1jn.4.9-21.ESV

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”

Hebrews‬ ‭10:23-25‬ ‭ESV‬‬ https://bible.com/bible/59/heb.10.23-24.ESV

Household Prayer: faith to upend the world

“And when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city authorities, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also,”

Acts 17:6 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/act.17.6.ESV

Praying that we embrace “[our] responsibility to raise up the next generation to know Christ and His world… steeping them in the truth, goodness, and beauty of Christ and His ways… training them to believe and obey the King of the world.” (1)

I pray that we and our children would “follow Jesus at all times and in all places… in marriage, vocation, education, military service, recreation, financial exchanges, and political decisions.” (1)

And I pray that our faith would be so strong that like Paul and the other Apostles people would say “These men.. have turned the world upside down” (Acts 17:6 ) and that our witness would “shutdown the very industry of idol making (Acts 19:27).” (1)

““Now this is the commandment—the statutes and the rules—that the Lord your God commanded me to teach you, that you may do them in the land to which you are going over, to possess it … You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.”

Deuteronomy 6:1, 7 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/deu.6.1-7.ESV

“The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein,”

Psalm 24:1 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/psa.24.1.ESV

“And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.”

Matthew 28:18 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/mat.28.18.ESV

“Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”

Matthew 6:10 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/mat.6.10.ESV

1. “Strong and Courageous: following Jesus amid the rise of America’s new religion” https://press.founders.org/shop/strong-and-courageous/