Building Faith Families with Steve Demme

Deuteronomy is the last sermon, or podcast, of the man who spoke with God face to face. This book is the distilled wisdom of Moses. These words were inspired by the Holy Spirit and given to us, for … our …. good. May God help us to hear His heart of love embed in the words of Deuteronomy.

We begin this episode by exploring how God’s message of grace, mercy, and forgiveness covers our sin and shame that began in the garden of Eden. We complete our discussion by examining how the best thing we can do for ourself and our family is let God love you.God knows us completely and God loves us perfectly.

Co-Host Scott Moore begins by asking Steve a question about his family and how to make wise decisions about how to spend their time and which activities to pursue and which to let go of. This leads to a whole episode where we discuss making a family mission statement.As parents, we want to make thoughtful decisions based on what we are for and what we value. Join us in this practical discussion.

I couldn’t end this series on special children without noting that there is a big difference between enduring by looking for a silver lining and celebrating. A silver lining implies a cloud. Cerebrating implies and includes God.John is not someone I endure with patience, He is created in the image of God and exemplifies characteristics of God’s nature that are to be emulated and admired. In so many ways he is gifted and therefore not handicapped, but exceptional.In the conclusion of this series, we try to see each of God’s children from His perspective. For in accepting and appreciating “special” children we may even learn to accept and appreciate ourselves!

In this episode, Steve will reflect on the new friends he and his family have made in the world of disability. They have learned that every human being is created in God’s image and bears God’s divine imprint. And each believer has something unique to supply to the body of Christ. We all reflect some aspect of our Creator.As a result of the fall, we are all disabled in some capacity, either emotionally, mentally, physically, or spiritually. Some are disabled on the outside, and others on the inside, but we all are needy. We each reflect God’s image liked cracked mirrors.We hope you will enjoy meeting Reuben, Mike, David, Jane, and Chris and how they reflect God’s glory.

God is good and God is our Redeemer. He works all things together for good, even our “light afflictions” as Paul calls them in 2 Corinthians 4:17. For our light affliction, which is for the moment, works for us.In 1987, I was praying for God to fix Johnny, but God had other designs, and through John, He was fixing me. Or as Laura Story, in her song “Blessings” says:'Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops What if Your healing comes through tears What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguiseAnd what if trials of this life The rain, the storms, the hardest nights Are your mercies in disguiseSteve relates how God has used John to put like in perspective and teach them eternal truths about love and life.

The best part of being in a valley is that God loves there. He is comfortable in the valley. Jesus is described as a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. The Psalmist says the LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.But sometimes God needs us to invite Him to be with us as we try to endure hard times. Steve talks about how God was “there all the time” as He promised, but was also more real when he asked God to share in the bearing of the burden.

I used to skip through the Beatitudes to more comforting verses in Matthew, but scripture teaches that valleys, or difficult experiences, are not abnormal for God’s people. They are the norm.Matthew 5:3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are thy that mourn, for they shall be comforted.God is faithful and He promises to never leave us or forsake us. He is a very present help in trouble.And sometimes what appears hard and difficult is actually a blessing in disguise. I know you will be encouraged by the story of a modern day Daniel in an African lion’s den.

Life can be hard. Personal struggles and difficulties often come with a significant grief component. This painful experience changed my view of the Christian life. I had become a Christian for the perks, heaven, forgiveness of sin, joy, peace, but I didn’t understand suffering. Suffering is accompanied by grief and I didn’t know how to process the pain nor fix the situation, which led to burnout.

Steve shares their family's journey of having a special needs child. Every child will change the chemistry of the home. When you have a child with a disability, life becomes harder. Not only to the family unit, but each member of the family as well. This is our journey and I hope it will encourage you in the difficult experiences you are facing.

The final episode in this series is a compilation of testimonies from parents who have been having times of regular family worship. I hope that as you listen you will be edified and encouraged.

In the podcast 35 we examined the first five possible obstacles in beginning having regular times of family worship in our homes. We will conclude with the final five today.• I am not qualified to lead my family.• I won’t be able to be successful.• What is my husband will not participate?• Like Moses, I am not a gifted speaker and wish someone else could do it.• It’s too late to get started as the children are older.These are all questions each of us struggles with to some degree. Facing them and talking through them, robs them of their power to cripple and discourage us. I hope this broadcast will be a help to eliminating these common hurdles.

In the previous 5 episodes we examined ingredients for a successful family worship experience. In this podcast we tackle potential obstacles that I had to face and that may resonate with other families.• For example, the first one is that we may not have grown up in a home where your parents conducted conducted family devotions so we never saw it modeled.• Or perhaps we have been told that we are not qualified to teach the bible since we have not been to bible school or sunday school teacher’s academy.• Maybe we think the job of discipling our children is the job of the church.• “We are too busy” may sound familiar to all of us.These and other objections will be examined in more detail this week. I hope you will be encouraged to press on as you listen to our discussion.

The next four ingredients for a successful family devotions experience are: talk about what you read, keep a record of how God has worked for your family, close in prayer, and just do it.Scripture says that each member of the body of Christ, including all members of your family, have something to contribute to other believers. After we have read the scripture, we now give each member n opportunity to communicate any insights they received that day.I hope parents are in the facilitating mode at this juncture, so each person has an opportunity to speak. Then if we have time, we like to think back at the end of the week, to how God has helped us. We not only focus on being thankful, but on recording our gratefulness in notebooks.Then before we head in our separate directions, we pray and commit what we have learned that day.The final ingredient is to JUST DO IT. And if you are discouraged because you missed several days, do it anyway. I am so encouraged and inspired by Proverbs 24:16 which reads: “A righteous man falls seven times and rises up again”May God help us to doers of the word and not hearers only. Amen.

The word remember, or some form of this word, occurs over 200 times in scripture. The Psalmist encourages us to praise the works of God from one generation to another. Psalm 145:4Have you told your children how you came to Christ, or how you met your spouse, or other answers to prayer that you have experienced? Not only are the older folks to recount the mighty acts of God in their own life, it is equally important to record God’s work in the hearts of the children as well.Teach as you would like to be taught. This is the golden rule applied to having worship times in the home. This does not have to be a dry time, but ask God to give you ideas to make the study of God’s word enjoyable. I have a couple ideas I will be sharing in the podcast.If we had time, we liked to sing as part of the worship experience. Worship and the word complement each other. Perhaps your family may consider memorizing some worship songs or hymns. We committed 9 to memory years ago and I still recall many of the verses.“Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand” Psalm 149:6“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” Colossians 3:16Don’t ever forget that the work you are doing is of great value in the sight of God.“The greatest gift a church can receive is to have a group of families who take their responsibilities with such Christian seriousness that they are willing to completely alter their lifestyle to raise up disciples for Jesus Christ.” —Abraham Kuyper

While we seek to diligently teach our children the word of God, ultimately it is God’s responsibility to reach their hearts.“For a shepherd enters through the gate. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they recognize his voice.” John 10:2-4As we teach and read God’s Word, we also want to make sure that we are presenting the good news of the gospel to your families. We all need grace along with truth. Jesus was the perfect balance of grace and truth.“For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” John 1:17“Loving kindness and truth have met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.” Psalm 85:10This is a critical time to explain the forgiveness that only Jesus can extend since He died to take away our sins on the cross. He had no sins of His own and so He could take ours upon Himself.“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9“As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.” Psalm 103:12Conviction and condemnation. These are big words, but they are the difference between death and life.“For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.” 2 Corinthians 7:10

One of the questions I am frequently asked is “At what ages do we begin having worship times as a family?” Based on these scriptures with Jesus’ instructions to Peter and Paul’s advice to Timothy, I think the sooner the better.“Feed my lambs” John 21:15“For I am mindful of the sincere faith within you, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois, and your mother Eunice, and I am sure that it is in you as well” 2 Timothy 1:5“And that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” 2 Timothy 3:15When you begin having regular worship times, the best advice I have is to assemble the family and then turn over the meeting to Jesus. In all of my years reading scripture myself, I am always amazed at how good the Spirit of Jesus is at teaching and applying scripture to each person in the room regardless of age or ability.For where two or three have gathered together in My name, there I am in their midst” Matthew 18:20Then after we pray, my conviction is that while reading other books is edifying and encouraging, family worship is a wonderful opportunity to focus on the living word of God. As a family we would endeavor to read one chapter per day, aloud, with each person reading a few verses at a time.“Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching” 1 Timothy 4:13“Blessed is he who reads aloud the words of the prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written therein; for the time is near” Revelation 1:3This is what we did, but as always I have more ideas to prime the pump and encourage you to find what works for your crew.

God’s divine blueprint for family worship begins with the husband and wife each loving God with everything in them, and then having God’s inspired word foremost in their heart, before they commence teaching their children. We find this plan revealed in Deuteronomy 6:5-7.

In this final episode on the Family That Stays Together, some specific ideas for learning to understand one another and express love for each other.When families are together 24/7, sometimes these skills are not for building family, but for surviving as a family. We will be discussing, personality types, love languages, and a final exhortation to be content with the family that God designed you to be without comparing yourselves to other families.We make a wonderful us, but a lousy anybody else. Comparison is the enemy of vision. Develop your own flavor and chemistry.As Mother Theresa received a Nobel Peace Prize, she was asked, “What can we do to promote world peace?” She replied, “Go home and love your family.”

Shared experiences, such as reading books together, watching movies as a family, learning together, and playing together are instrumental in developing your own family chemistry.When you do things together, you understand each other’s comic references, and provide commonality, which is the basis for relationship. Equally important is safe, open, honest communication in the home.Listen as we share more ideas and stories of how the Demme’s developed their family identity, and an interesting application of the movies Mary Poppins and Saving Mr. Banks.

After discussing strategies for husband and wives, here is what the Demme’s did to love and affirm their children. From birthday celebrations, eating meals together, to working, and worshiping together, I hope this broadcast will stimulate your thinking for ways to love and appreciate children.Psalms 127:3 Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.

As a husband and father, I have more to say about what I have learned in 35 years of marriage and 34 years of being a dad. In this broadcast, I have some tips for ladies. I hope you will find them encouraging, biblically sound, and helpful.

God created and designed men to be husbands and fathers. But the only way we are able to fulfill our calling is bey falling in love afresh with God, laying down our lives for our families, serving them, and using the authority He has granted us to build them up. The best thing men can do for their family is love God and His word. Our individual relationship with God determines how well we build relationships with our family. When each member of the family is each rooted and grounded in Christ, then each are free to be in a healthy relationship with one another. I used to believe the ideal family was: Where each lives for the other and all love for Christ. I now am convinced that it is: Where each is loved by Christ, then we are enabled to love for the other.

God created each member of the family.And God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. Genesis 1:27He sovereignly imbues each of us with value.We are each a unique part of the body of Christ on earth, with gifts to supply to His body, here on earth.Each member of the family is a temple of the Holy Spirit,We are all different. God has shaped, crafted, and fashioned each of us with unique abilities and disabilities.God designed the concept of marriage and family. He created this sacred institution. It is not only a good idea, it is a God idea.Before Abraham was born, before a government had been formed, before Israel was called into being, and before the church was born from above, God created family.Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. Genesis 2:24

This episode is a sampling of the person and work of the Holy Spirit as recorded in the book of Acts, with minimal commentary.Acts 2:4 They were all filled with the Holy SpiritActs 4:8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit,Acts 4:31 When they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy SpiritActs 6:5 They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit,Acts 7:55 But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,Acts 9:17 “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”Acts 11:24 He was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.Acts 13:52 And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.Acts 15:28 It seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things:

We have met the enemy and he is Us!Romans 8:5 For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace,Galatians 5:17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.Galatians 5:16 Walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.John 6:63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.Galatians 6: 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

Every teacher is not a parent, but every parent is a teacher.Thank God that He has sent the Spirit of Truth to help us teach. God the Father taught on Mt Sinai, Jesus taught the multitudes and His disciples, the Spirit of truth is still teaching us today. He is bearing witness about Jesus and guiding us into all truth.John 15:26 When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me.John 14:26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.John 16:13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth,Ephesians 1:17 The God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him.

Today’s episode is a discussion between Steve and Todd Wilson of Family Man Ministries. I hope you will enjoy the discussion between these two kindred spirits who both speak and write about God’s plan and design for the family.

This episode is part 3 of the series on the Holy Spirit. Jesus told His disciples that when He ascended to heaven, He would ask the Father to send another Helper to be with them forever. This divine Helper, is called the Paraclete in Greek, which means someone who is called or summoned to come near or come along side. The Paraclete is also an advocate, a comforter, an encourager, and a helper.During His earthly ministry, Jesus had guided, guarded, and taught His disciples; but now He was going to leave them. The Spirit of God would come to the disciples and dwell in them, taking the place of their Master's presence.He even said that it was a very good thing that He was leaving them and that the Holy Spirit would come upon them.“Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you.” John 16:7His last words to them were to tarry in Jerusalem and wait for the promise of the Father.“I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.” Luke 24:49“And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father,” Acts 1:4

Jesus had a vital connection and relationship with the Holy Spirit beginning with His birth and throughout His earthly ministry. In this episode we will be studying the presence of the Holy Spirit at the births of John and Jesus. Then we will continue with the baptism of Jesus when the Spirit, as a dove alighted on the shoulder of Jesus, to the wilderness, and on through His public ministry, and finally to the cross.John’s birth is foretold to his father Zechariah.Luke 1:13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. ... 15 for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.Matthew 1:18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.Luke 4:1 And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, was led by the Spirit in the wilderness.Luke 4:14 And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee,

My journey the last two years is summed up nicely in the last verse in 2 Corinthians.The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.So far we have talked about the grace of Jesus, and the love of God, but we have only touched on the communion or fellowship of the Holy Spirit.I believe the Holy Spirit is the most misunderstood member of the Godhead. As I was growing up I only knew Him as mentioned in the Apostle’s Creed, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. To a child that conjures up some interesting images. But I am beginning to know and develop a relationship with the Spirit of God.In courses at Bible Schools or Seminaries, that study the trinity, often the title will say something like the Person and Work of the Holy Spirit. Before we talk about the work of the Spirit, I would like to focus on the Person of the third person of the Trinity.In chapters 14 and 16 of John, there are 16 instances when the Spirit is referred to as He (12) and Him(4).John 14:16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.John 14:26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.He, the Spirit, is also described with attributes that reinforce His distinct personhood, such as His mind, He prays, and He helps.Helps-Intercedes-MindRomans 8:26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.I hope as you listen you will see more scriptures that affirm the unique personhood of the third member of the Trinity.

James 1:19, "Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak."From maintaining eye contact, to asking questions in a spirit of openness, to being fully engaged, we will study how we can hear what is on the heart of the speaker and encourage them to talk freely.Proverbs 2:2 Make your ear attentive to wisdom, Incline your heart to understanding.Proverbs 20:5 Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; But a man of understanding will draw it out.Proverbs 1:5 A wise man will hear and increase in learning, And a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel,

As Christians, we know that communication originates in the heart. The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. Luke 6:45Before we can have edifying communication, our hearts have to be in a good place, settled, and at peace in Christ. There are principles and skills that we can learn which will help us be better speakers and listeners, but the heart is where conversation begins.Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. Proverbs 4:23In this episode, we will begin by discussing the heart. Then we will teach skills of how to speak in a way that is honest, honors God, and builds relationships.Speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, Ephesians 4:15Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer. Psalms 19:14

"Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks" Matthew 12:34. The values that we hold most dear, that are in our heart, are reflected in our speech. In this podcast, we discuss how to prepare your heart, be at peace, have a healthy sense of your own integrity before you have meaningful communication, particularly with those who are close to you.Godly communication is not about convincing someone of your position, but speaking the truth in love. It is not trying to win a debate, or convince the other to change their beliefs, but to hear and understand one another. The battle is not with anything or anyone outside of myself, but within my own heart."What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you?" James 4:1"Whoever restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding." Proverbs 17:27"The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things." Proverbs 15:28"Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city." Proverbs 16:32

Proverbs 4:23, "Keep thy heart with all diligence; For out of it are the issues of life." Since our heart is hard to discern, God gives us a window into what we value, and that is our treasure. "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also," Matthew 6:21.Our treasure is more than our money or possessions, it is where we invest our time, energy, and resources. When we are able to identify what motivates us and inspires us, our treasure, then we get a glimpse of who we are. The word of God also helps us understand our heart."For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." The reason we are spending studying what God says about our heart, is that it is the most important factor in God honoring communication."For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks," Matthew 12:34. When our heart is right, our tongues will follow. Time spent quieting our heart and asking God to work in our heart, is time well spent.

"The heart of the human problem is the problem of the human heart." (J. John) The word heart, as used in scripture, does not represent the organ responsible for distributing blood throughout the body. Neither is it to be interpreted as a passion or emotion. Rather, it is the very essence of who you are. It is the inner man. A changed heart is the mark of a Christian. Unless God transforms us in the innermost man, we are still the same egg. All of our external behaviors are just window dressing if we have not been remade on the inside. It is for this reason that we must believe in our heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, and ask Jesus to live in our hearts by faith.Proverbs 4:23, " Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life." David, one of the central figures in the Old Testament is described as a man after God’s own heart. 1 Samuel 13:14. " The LORD has sought out a man after his own heart." Prayers of David:Psalms 139:23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: Try me, and know my thoughts; 24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.Psalms 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; And renew a right spirit within me.God is in the business of transforming our hearts.Ezekiel 36:26 " A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you; and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep mine ordinances, and do them."

How does Jesus love us? In the same way that He loves us, we are to love one another. This is the new commandment. John 13:34, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, or by changing the order of the phrases; Just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. ." It is my hope that this episode will encourage us to look at Jesus and observe how he has loved us. Jesus is love in the flesh. He is the ideal example for each of to discover how to love each other.He denied himself and laid his life down for us.He served and washed His disciples feet.He built them up and taught them.Jesus is gentle and humble of heart.The Son of God is kind and forgiving.He prayed for His followers.Jesus promised to never leave or forsake His children.He came to save us and not condemn us.Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever.He bears our burdens and weeps when we weepMay our gracious God help us to fulfill the new commandment and love one another as He has loved us.

We each want to parent our children well. Today we will look at how Jesus the Son of God, was parented by His heavenly Father.As the father has loved me, John 15:9Jesus had the blessed assurance and complete conviction that He was thoroughly loved and totally accepted by His Heavenly Dad. How did He learn this essential truth that every son needs to know? How was His Dad able to successfully convey His love to His Son?When John was baptizing Jesus, and when God drew near on the Mount of Transfiguration, a voice from heaven affirmed Him audibly and publicly saying,“This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:17, 17:5God the Father always heard His Son’s prayers.“Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, John 11:41The Father trusted His Son and showed Him all that He was doing.The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. John 3:35For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. John 5:20Jesus was taught and empowered by His Dad.I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me. John 8:28The Father and the Son are a team.I and the Father are one. John 10:30The Best part, the Good News, is that this same love shared between Jesus and His Dad, is now in us as well.That the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them. John 17:26

It seems that is much easier to see other people as God sees them, that it is to see ourselves as God sees us. We know that God loves and values others, but it is difficult to believe that He loves and values us.We need faith to believe the Good News. We also need faith to believe that the Good News applies to you and me. The writer of Hebrews was inspired to give us an excellent definition of faith as “the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen”.The first building block in a healthy relationship between two people, is for each of these unique creations, to be fully assured and completely convinced that that they have been created in God’s image, are valued, and liked by God Himself.When we have embraced, by faith, these truths we are becoming healthy, and are on the right path to becoming what God designed us to be. This life changing transformation comes about through ongoing exposure to the truth.

In 2006 I attended my first Joni and Friends Family Retreat. This was the first time I was face to face with disabilities 24/7. I confess that for the first two days I was very aware of the disabilities all around me. But as the week progressed, I began to get to know people individually by sharing meals and hearing their story. By day 3 I was learning to see the real person on the inside.These unique and special folks were created in the image of God and adopted members of the family of God. They each had value and gifts that contributed to the body of Christ.I was learning to see these brothers and sisters in Christ, as God saw them.

We are all human. And we all have our own stuff. We have each sinned, and were brought up in dysfunctional families. Who we are is a combination of our past and our present. We each have a story. The good news is that we are not alone. We all have strengths and weaknesses. We all share a common woundedness. Today’s episode is my story over the past year and a half, the good, the bad, and the ugly. Fortunately God is a wonderful Redeemer, or as I heard recently, the Great Composter.To live by grace means to acknowledge my whole life story, the light side and the dark. In admitting my shadow side I learn who I am and what God's grace means. -Brennan Manning

Building families of faith begins with each of us having a personal vital relationship with Jesus. Then we begin to build a foundation for our home on the word of God with Jesus as the cornerstone.Jesus loves us and like us. He lights up every time we come to Him. He knows us intimately, He designed and created us. But believing and assimilating this truth takes time, in the truth. Jesus says, As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Then he adds, “Abide in my love.’Abiding in His love, does not come naturally. It requires intentionality and purpose. Paul exhorts us to remain rooted and grounded in God’s love and care. To rest in His care and stay in this good place, requires transformation of the way we think about God and His love for us. This renewing of the mind occurs as we meditate on the truth of God’s word.We each have to work out our own salvation and find out how we can best be renewed in our minds. I have found benefit in putting together lists of scriptures, prayers, and Psalms to help me. My feelings and emotions are as changeable as the wind, but God’s word is a rock.The best thing I can do for my family is love God with everything in me, and be fully assured that He loves me. As I receive grace, then I am equipped to give grace. As I experience the love of God in Jesus, I am able to then love others as He has loved me.

The best gift we can give our children, is to love them unconditionally. When they are loved like this, it prepares them to receive grace, or God’s unconditional love. But we can’t give what we have not received. So how do we experience this divine love and not leave our first love as did the Ephesian Church? Many of us have heard of God’s love so much that this expression has lost it’s power. So I am going to share how God made me know that He likes us. That He knows us intimately and still likes us.There are two components that are important to understanding this important dynamic, His nature and His work. God is. He doesn’t change. He can’t change. He is the same, always. He is also love, and He is light.Malachi 3:6 I am the LORD, and I do not change.Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.1 John 1:5 God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.1 John 4:8 God is love.This is His divine nature. We can bank on God being God forever. We are His workmanship. He is the one who gives value to our being.He designed and created us in His image.He adopted us and made us His children.We have value as a part of the body of ChristWe are a temple of the Holy Spirit.He knows us intimately.His love and affection, His eternal “like” never changes because He never changes and His work endures forever. He reveals this love in His word and then tells us to Abide in my love. John 15:9.May God help us to live, abide, and dwell with the knowledge that we are liked and loved with an everlasting love! Amen.

The love of God is revealed to me in the words of Jesus in John 15:9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you.” The best activity I can engage in to make me a loving husband and father, is to believe that God loves me, just as I am.As I soak in the love of God, I am a new man, more like my savior and prepared to love others as He has loved me. My vision for the family has changed from: “Where each lives for the other and all live for Christ”, to: what I now I see as a more biblical statement: “Where each lives for Christ and all love for the other”.To begin to grasp the love of God, we need to being with the good news, or the gospel of Jesus. I have chosen 2 Corinthians 5:21 to represent the truths of the gospel. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.There is nothing I can do or anything I can add to make God love you more. In Christ we are accepted totally and completely. Our salvation and sanctification are both gracious gifts from God.I mistakenly believed that salvation was by His grace, but sanctification, was by my efforts. The more I did for God, the better the husband and father, the more God would love me and like me. Any semblance of works, nullifies grace. If I am working for something it is no longer a gift.Ephesians 2:1 "And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, ... 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works..."The only appropriate response to grace is, “Thanks”.Closing Prayer: John 17:26 "I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”

Building a home begins and ends with a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. In this episode I begin by sharing how I heard the good news for the first time and met Jesus, the Son of God.When I was a teen, I was invited to a Young Life Ranch in Colorado. The question that was posed to me, “Have you met Jesus?” A song that had just recently been written, and encapsulates my testimony was, “He’s Everything to Me”.In the stars His handiwork I see, On the wind He speaks with majestyThough He ruleth over land and sea, What is that to me?I will celebrate nativity, For it has a place in historySure He came to set His people free, What is that to me 'Til by faith I met Him face to face, And I felt the wonder of His graceThen I knew that He was more, Than just a God who didn't careThat lived away out there, And now He walks beside me day by dayEver watching o'er me lest I stray, Helping me to find that narrow wayHe's everything to me.2012 was a period of personal reconstruction. Sometimes we need to reexamine our relationship with Jesus Christ. Over a period of many years, I had begun to believe that God didn’t love me the same way as He did in Colorado. I mistakenly supposed that I had not lived up to His expectations. A distance crept into my connection with my Savior.One of the ways God showed me how much he cared for me unconditionally was through my son John, who has Downs Syndrome. Johnny loves me for who I am and not for what I do. And I love John for who he is, and not for what he can or cannot do. This kind of love is only a glimmer and a taste of the love God has for each of His children. He loves us for who we are, period.As I asked God to help me love Him, He surprised me by revealing His love for me. I protested and was pointing out that I wanted to love God with all my heart, but He was showing me how much He cared for me. But this is biblical since 1 John 4:19 says, We love, because He first loved us.The main verse that the Holy Spirit quickened to my heart and mind was, John 15:9, As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. I have no doubt of the Father’s love for the son, and here Jesus tells us that He loves us the very same way. Hard to assimilate, but true nonetheless.Loving God precedes parenting, and being Loved by God, precedes Loving God. Perhaps the best thing we can do for our marriage, is for each of us to let Jesus loves us, so we will fall in love with Jesus and comprehend God’s love for us in a fresh way. For when we are loved unconditionally we can love unconditionally.

What does God have to say in His word of God about building families? We will be studying verses along this line in successive broadcasts, but before examining scripture, let’s consider the heart of God. I have an affinity for the book of Deuteronomy, which is the essence of the Pentateuch and the ministry of Moses.Even though the Ten Commandments as dictated by God Himself are found in the fifth chapter of this book, I believe the 29th verse captures the Heart of God and why he has given us these commands.Deuteronomy 5:29 Oh that they had such a heart as this always, to fear me and to keep all my commandments, that it might go well with them and with their descendants forever!God loves us and desires only good for us, and our families, forever. In this episode, I will read several passages of scripture to reinforce God’s goodness and care for His people.His love is unconditional, unchanging, given without reservation, and never ceases. His love is not dependent on our behavior, for He loved us while we were sinners. There is nothing we can do to make God love us more. He can’t love us more than He already does, and He won’t love us any less.He is our God and we are His people, period.May the Good Holy Spirit help us to comprehend and experience afresh this eternal truth, for: God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. Romans 5:5

How do you build a Christian family? We know that God designed the family, but what does a godly home look like? Many of us have grown up in homes that were not faith based and are seeking to understand how to build a Christ honoring family of faith.We live in a culture where Christian families are being challenged at every level. This is not the only time in history when foundations have been attacked. The Psalmist cries: "If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?” Psalms 11:3I believe we should rebuild them! We can not continue to merely defend our biblical foundations, we must intentionally rebuild them, for the best defense is a good offense.I have been a conference speaker for a generation and have been speaking on topics related to the family. I’m now working to develop and provide follow through materials in the form of blogs, podcasts, books, and articles. The Christian Home and Family Worship was the first book I wrote for families to encourage them to establish the habit of regular Bible reading in our homes.In this podcast I share a little of my journey of how God turned my heart towards the Christian home. From growing up in a typical suburban home, to home educating four sons, there were several significant milestones that have influenced my desire to encourage and strengthen families of faith.There are no perfect families in scripture or in the world today. But there are families who are willing to change and grow and learn. I believe there is hope for this divine institution. I am convinced God is restoring marriages and families, beginning with turning the hearts of the fathers to the children and vice versa.When I am tempted to be discouraged as a husband and as a father, one of my favorite scriptures is Proverbs 24:16 The righteous man falls seven times and rises up again. May God help us all to keep on keeping on and turn our hearts towards God and our families. Amen.