Daily Inspiration

The Blessing of Godly (and Creative) Parents

Barbara Schoeneberger is a dear friend, a gifted writer, and a director of Amazing Grays Ministry. She is also a blogger and editor. I enjoyed the article Barb posted yesterday so much that I wanted to be sure you had a chance to read it yourself. It’s a great piece about faithful parents and a head of lettuce…

Barb and Roger

If you grew up in the 50′s or 60′s like I did you know how different the world is today. The transition from personal responsibility to  the idolization of the individual has had a negative affect on most parent-child relationships. Barb’s story is a trip down memory lane.

Personal Accountability and Memory Lane

Of course, the root cause is the present lack of accountability to God.

Visit Barb’s post to enjoy this great story and lesson about the gift faithful (and creative) parents teach their daughter and son when she pitches the head of lettuce at his head with unexpected consequences.

Growing up Accountable

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There’s no need for fear in this modern day of Christian persecution

The body of Christ is being hunted by the soldiers of Satan. It’s that simple. Any child of the King who looks upward and ahead to joining Jesus in the air at Rapture is the prey.

Atheists don't realize they work for Satan.

The Bible records a number of general messages of hope for Christians. One of my favorites is John 16:33 -

“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

There is little doubt that we are moving ahead with increasing speed toward the day of Rapture. What one might wonder is just how much of the depravity, lies, and evil the church of Christ will have to endure before being called home.

Matthew 10:23 addresses that very issue:

“When they persecute you in this city, flee to another. For assuredly, I say to you, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes.”

Stay focused. Stay steady. Fear not. Before we are run into a corner with no avenue of escape left… we will be gone.

Have a blessed day.

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The Door is Open – So why won’t you come on it?

Sometimes the most frustrating encounters we have with our kids, dogs, or horses offer valuable lessons for us as children of God. Have you ever stood at an open door or gate and invited your horse, dog, or kid to come in and they just looked at you like they didn’t know what a door or gate is?

Knocking at the wrong door.

Calling the “Flock” to come in.

Recently we went out to the horse side of our barn (we live on the other side) and called the six horses in for the day. Every day is the same, they come in through the gate inside the barn and walk to their rooms. The open layout of our barn makes it possible to see every spot in the barn no matter where you’re standing. There are no full stall walls or separations that might confuse my poor horses.

At the south end of the barn breezeway is a gate that opens to the pasture. Our horses can look inside and be close to us anytime they want, but they do not come in to the barn through that gate.

There is an order of appearance each morning; first Asti, then Bo, then Swizzle, then Shiner, Cooper and Ace. Sometimes Bo makes it in before Asti, but this is the usual routine.

One little lost ‘lamb”

On this particular day Ace didn’t come to the barn gate. Instead, he hung his head over the breezeway gate and gave us the “Please let me in, don’t forget about me!” look. I told Ace to come around. He just tried to stretch his head and neck further over the gate at the end of the breezeway. When he made no move to come around I closed the breezeway door on him so he couldn’t see  me and I couldn’t see him.

The horse's rooms in our barn.

Had Ace lost his mind? He “desperately” wanted to come in and have breakfast. Yet he didn’t go to the gate. I didn’t want to go back into our side of the barn with Ace still outside so I went to the inside gate and called Ace. I walked another 20 feet and called again. Ace finally came around and went in.

You can’t fool God

Guess what happened the next morning? You got it. Ace didn’t come in again; choosing instead to look over the breezeway gate begging for me to open it. I told him to come around and closed the overhead door. The battle for power was on. Ace got a lick in on me the day before when I gave in to his little ploy. I wasn’t going to make that mistake again.

Ace was knocking on the door begging to come in – but it was the wrong door.

Jesus tells us that if we knock the door will open. Did you ever consider whether or not you were knocking on the right door?

There is only One Door – Jesus Christ

Ace thought it far more convenient to come in through the door nearest to where he was; the most convenient door. He knew I could open the breezeway gate if I wanted to and he was making a pathetic little power-play to see if I would give in.

But, in my barn the horses come in through the smaller inside gate. That is the only gate I will open and they know it. Horses are better people trainers than humans are horse trainers. God, however, will never be “schooled” by one of us.

God told us which gate He would open. He told us it would be very narrow. He told us it is the only gate that will allow us to enter.

The lost lamb comes home

Once Ace realized that there would only be one open gate, what did he do? He used his own horse power to walk around and in through the open gate. He knew where it was, he just wanted to come in the easy way.

No matter how pathetic your plea, or how much God loves you, there is only one open door. He told you where it is. Will you come in?

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Fighting the Good Fight and Finishing the Race – REPLAY?

After all the blood, sweat, and tears you spent fighting the good fight; now that the end of the race is in sight do you really want to rerun the game film and do it all again?

Why replay a victory?

In my study this morning I read Paul’s second letter to Timothy. When I started my regular work there was an email asking writers to submit articles about how to turn back the aging clock. I wrote a post on Simple truth – Simple faith about the fight against wrinkles and gravity. It melded perfectly with Paul’s message to Timothy.

“I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith.”  -  2 Timothy 4:7

Our body bears visible evidence of the battles fought and won over the years. It is the soul that binds body and spirit together and the scars of your rigorous race are just as eternally etched on what is not visible.

The end is in sight. The King is coming. The race is nearly over. Victory is but a heartbeat away.

God doesn’t expect us to cross the finish line looking as fresh as we did at the beginning. Paul told Timothy he was poured out wine and that the time of his departure was at hand.

Parents, grandparents, teachers, and ministers are also to be poured out wine for their children, grandchildren, students, and fellows.

Poured Out and Used Up

God expects us to arrive at the finish line in a threadbare suit of clothes, not dressed in a perfectly fitted and ironed designer outfit without any wrinkles, stains, or signs of use.

Do you hanker after a more youthful appearance? Would you replay your life if the opportunity existed? Don’t worry about wrinkles and gravity.

The finish line is closer than you think. How can you help someone else cross it with you?

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Click the +1 at the top or share with friends if you enjoyed this message.

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Linked to this article:

LynnBaber.net:  Pursuing youth – Would you really turn back the aging clock if you could?

AmazingGraysMinistry.com: Walking with Jesus – A suit of clothes

God’s Uses Simple Creatures to Instruct the “Wise”

In my study this morning I came across this familiar message from Paul. May I share it with you?

Learn wisdom from the simple.

^” For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty;  and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are”

1 Corinthians 1:26-28

God is simple. Nature is simple. Little children are simple. Horses and dogs are simple. Paul’s message reminds us to observe and learn from such simple ones that we too may learn the truth of His creation and His Word.

Go out and thank a horse today!

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Why Should Anyone Fear a Loving God? Horses know the answer.

“The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom”, yet “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son to die” for us. How can such opposite messages both be true?

Round Pen Experience

Nothing in this life or eternity is truly important except relationship. Allow me to use the human-horse relationship to explain why both concepts are true.

“Please Don’t Bring a Horse that is either Hopeless or Fearless”

The most unique program we offer is the round pen experience with a troubled horse. The set up is simple, a 30-foot pen, an audience, and a horse with an issue.

Don’t expect to see any miracles, dust, anxiety, anger, or aggression. I don’t do miracles, I hate dust, and if the horse exhibits any negative emotion I screwed up.

The point of the program is to demonstrate simple worthy leadership. My interaction with the horse in the pen helps those watching understand what causes problems in their own relationships and where they may fall short in any position of authority as well as in their walk with the Lord.

Relationship isn’t the biggest thing, it is the only thing.

The first requirement in establishing any relationship is awareness and focus. When we book a round pen program I caution against bringing a horse who is truly hopeless or one who is completely fearless. I can work with either, but it takes longer than most people want to sit and watch.

As long as a horse is either hopeless or fearless it cannot enter into a relationship with me. Hopeless horses have given up entirely. Fearless horses are usually so spoiled they don’t believe anyone will ever hurt them no matter what horrible thing they do.

When One is Hopeless

Whether horse or human, there is no possibility of relationship until the concept of hope has been introduced. The man or woman who has given up cannot enter into relationship with God until He introduces hope to their spirit. When there is no hope, God enters as  a loving, worthy leader.

A horse who is completely withdrawn by the absence of hope cannot enter into relationship with a human until the possibility of “salvation” returns to their equine spirit. Without hope there can be no relationship.

The Source of Hope

God’s commitment to offer hope and salvation was so complete that He gave His only Son to die for us.

When One is Fearless

Whether horse or human, there is no possibility of relationship until the concept of fear has been introduced. A man or woman without fear cannot enter into relationship with God until He introduces fear into their spirit. False prophets teach that God will never hurt you because He loves you. The one fact left out is the most important one – God saves His own, and that requires a right relationship.

Most fearless horses are spoiled. They may have been slapped, swatted, or yelled at for kicking, biting, rearing, bucking, or refusing to cooperate, but no matter the degree of their bad behavior there was never a penalty that got their attention or respect.

God is faithful to introduce fear into the life of a spoiled human.  God knows how to get attention and respect. Feel blessed when the “horse” in the round pen is you. That is proof positive that you are one of His own.

The fear of God is the beginning of both wisdom and relationship.

Round Pen Relationship

The round pen experience for a horse who is afraid or lacks respect will be very similar. No miracles and no dust. The same may not be true for a horse without fear.

To introduce hope I must prove I am worthy of the horse’s faith in my leadership. Establishing a beginning is usually a slow and quiet process.

The Leader owns the feet.

Introducing fear requires me to convince the horse that I hold the power of life and death over him. Usually this is accomplished by “owning” his feet. If I control the feet of the horse he cannot access his primary means of escape. The faith I ask for demands respect. While there are no miracles, sometimes the fearless horse will kick up a little dust before making the decision to pay attention.

Correction, Education and Motivation

Once a relationship has been established between horse and human or God and man, progress is made through the application of correction, education,  or motivation at the proper time and in the precise degree necessary.

Horses understand both hope and fear. Horses respond to correction, education, and motivation. The same is true for Christians in a right relationship with God.
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Please contact me at lynn@amazinggraysministry.com to inquire about hosting a round pen program.

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3 Emotions That Prove a Lack of Faith

Overcoming fear through faith in Jesus Christ is the main message of Amazing Grays Ministry.  There are three emotions that generate observable evidence of fear:

Shared Faith

1. Anger

2. Aggression

3. Anxiety

The proof of perfect faith in a leader is the absence of fear and a completely balanced personality.

Cesar Milan, the Dog Whisperer, says a balanced dog is one who is calm-submissive. Any sign of anger, aggression, or anxiety signals the onset of imbalance. Unless the leader takes steps to correct the problem it will escalate.

As one of the many horse whisperers* today, I know that allowing a horse I work with to feel any degree of anger, aggression, or anxiety signals failure on my part.

Evidence of Faith

When a leader allows a follower (congregant, student, child, horse, or dog) to indulge in any of these three emotions, fear begins to grow because the leader has proved themselves to be unable or unwilling to fix the problem. Faith in the leader has obviously been misplaced.

Simply stated, the leader lied about their ability or desire to be a worthy shepherd.

Worthiness of God

If anger, anxiety, or aggression are signs of fear, what does it mean when a Christian indulges in any of these three emotions?  It means that faith in God’s ability and willingness as a leader to handle all of life’s issues is imperfect.

Responsibility for the state of relationship between human and animal belongs to the human. Any error is the fault of a human one way or another.

Responsibility for the state of relationship between  a man or woman and God also belongs to the human. The error is never God’s.

There is no instance where God is UNABLE or UNWILLING to solve our problems. Being a new creation in Christ is a daily journey that never ends on this earth. Confidence that one is completely renewed, a finished work,  is really a refusal to grow further; it is UNWILLINGNESS.

This article is a broad overview of the relationship between faith and fear. Please ask about hosting a talk, workshop, or round pen clinic to hear more. We come with or without horses. Or, visit the ministry store and check out the books that contain our message.

*Horse whisperer – Anyone who works using a relational leadership style. I explain in more detail in this article, “What is a Horse Whisperer?” and in this post, The Very First Horse Whisperer

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12 Scriptures for Reducing Anxiety and Anger in the End Time

Do you yell at the television out of frustration, anger, or incredulity at what you hear?  Do you question the sanity of the people around you? When the events of the world and the testimony of your fellow man makes you mad or drives you nuts, remember -

God told us this would happen.

Don’t fall into error by railing over the fact that goats are goats and not sheep. (My apologies to goats.)

God's plan is working perfectly.

The division between those who are called to Christ and those who are not will widen each passing day.

The Bible is prophecy, promise, and commentary. Every prophecy will come true, every promise will be kept, and the commentary on the past, present, and future of mankind is perfect.

Rejoice in your clear vision rather than lament the blindness of the worldly.

12 Scriptures For Reducing Anxiety in the End Time

Romans 11:8

as it is written:    “God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that could not see and ears that could not hear, to this very day.”

Romans 16:17-18

Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. ¹⁸ For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple.

1 Corinthians 2:14

But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

1 Corinthians 5:9-10

I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. ¹⁰ Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world.

2 Corinthians 4:3-4

But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, ⁴ whose minds the god of this age has blinded,

Ephesians 5:15-16

See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise… because the days are evil.

2 Thessalonians 2:1-3

Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, ² not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled …for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first

2 Thessalonians 2:11-12

God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, ¹² that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

2 Timothy 3:1

But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come:

1 Peter 5:8-9

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. ⁹ Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.

1 John 3:13

Do not marvel, my brethren, if the world hates you.

Revelation 2:10

Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

Everything is working just the way God said it would. Don’t despair, don’t be angry – rejoice always. Your mansion waits. He promised. *

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True story of hope and redemption.

* John 14:2 is the heartbeat of He Came Looking for Me. Follow this link or click on the blue shopping cart to visit the ministry store for more information about this message of hope and redemption for all God’s children.

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A Kingdom Divided

When reading the Gospel of Mark this morning a new thought (for me) attached itself to these two verses:

The Firm Foundation

^“If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.”  – Mark 3:24-25

As with all truth, it applies equally to big concepts like nations and smaller ones like the individual.

If we carry internal division by trying to marry worldliness to the Spirit of Christ within us we cannot stand comfortably in that place for long. Pressures mount until our circumstance, personality, or life itself fails.

That means our position on country, community, family, and self must all rest on the same foundation.

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Quotes about the Bible

The most recent Barna Research Group study concluded that only 7% of Americans believe the Bible to be the inerrant, inspired Word of God. Include me in that company!

Truth about Truth

Martin Luther once said to a religious Bible critic, “The problem with you is you sit above the Bible and judge it. I sit under the Bible and let it judge me.”

“The Bible is a harp with a thousand strings. Play on one to the exclusion of its relationship to the others, and you will develop discord. Play on all of them, keeping them in their places in the divine scale, and you will hear heavenly music all the time.”  –William P. White

Then there is this ponderable from Richard Wurmbrand:

The Bible is a wonderful book. It is the truth about the Truth. It is not the Truth. A sermon taken from the Bible can be a wonderful thing to hear. It is the truth about the truth about the truth. But it is not the truth. There have been many books written about the things contained in the Bible. I have written some myself. They can be quite wonderful to read. They are the truth about the truth about truth about the Truth. But they are NOT the Truth. Only Jesus Christ is the Truth. Sometimes the Truth can be drowned in a multitude of words.

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William P. White – I don’t know anything about Mr. White except I like his quote.

Richard Wurmbrand (1909-2001) – Christian pastor of Jewish descent, imprisoned and tortured for his beliefs.

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