.::ironmen.org.nz::.

David Crowder* Band “O Praise Him”

Sometimes, unless we let our guard down, (which is one of the hardest things to do as men) we can never really move on in the Christian life.  Our Christian experience seems dry, praise and worship doesn’t break-though as we fight to take control.  Through my own experiences I have found the most amount of blessing came at a time that I had nothing left, physically and emotionally I cried out, it had felt like things were snapping and breaking inside of me.  I no longer had it in me to even put up a guard – I was completely defenceless and open, and maybe that is where we as men need to be, we need to be in a state of brokenness.  The truth is that when we let our guard down and expose our hearts we begin to realise what kind of men we really are – it is only at that precise point that we able to allow Him to take full control. Once fully committed you tend to wonder – what was I waiting for, why did I hold back? What was I thinking…?  

I have found that over the last 10 or so years, the more I die to myself, the more I live.  It’s a paradox but the more I put Him first, the more I live and experience life in a new, wonderful and blessed way.   However, this doesn’t mean the elimination of my troubles and tribulations, or the cessation of storms and trying times.  He never said it would be easy!  The vital difference is that through it all, Jesus is my peace in the storm, my glimmer of hope in the darkness, my all in all. 

Men like to be in control, and when we have that control taken away from us, it is like a piece of us is being pulled out from the core of our being and we become completely unravelled, hurt and misunderstood.  This can happen when marriages break up, partners are unfaithful , job loss, children rebelling, addictions etc… the list is long.  Have a look at how a man after Gods own heart comes to this exact same point:

For I was born a sinner– yes, from the moment my mother conceived me.  But you desire honesty from the heart, so you can teach me to be wise in my inmost being.  Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.  Oh, give me back my joy again; you have broken me– now let me rejoice.  Don’t keep looking at my sins. Remove the stain of my guilt. Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me. Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me.  Psalm 51:5 – 10 (NLT)

What joy there is when Christ is at the centre on our lives, that through it all He is the one that doesn’t change!  He is the light unto our path, He is the one that loves us and cares for us no matter what circumstances we get caught up in.  He loves us so much that he has numbered the hairs on our heads.  He is interested in the tiny details and yet He sees the overall picture.  For He is and always will be, the perfect Father.  I don’t know what your father was like maybe he was wonderful or awful… mine, well, let’s just say by the time I was 5 years old I began putting an emotional guard up when he was around – and now that I have two children of my own, I have learnt from his mistakes.  He was nothing like Jesus, who accepts me for who I am, who wants me to constantly be reflecting His love into my children’s, my wife’s and my neighbours lives… and I can’t do it with my guard up.  I can’t begin my mission in His mission field without giving Him total control.  Sure I will be able to protect myself better when my heart is guarded but look at what I would miss out on:-

God gave me everything I hoped for

I asked God for strength that I might achieve.
I was made weak that I might learn humbly to obey.

I asked God for health that I might do greater things.
I was given infirmity that I might do better things.

I asked for riches that I might be happy.
I was given poverty that I might be wise.

I asked for power that I might have the praise for men.
I was given weakness that I might feel the need of God.

I asked for all things that I might enjoy life.
I was given life that I might enjoy all things.

I got nothing that I asked for
but everything that I hoped for. . .

Almost, despite myself,
My unspoken prayers were answered.

I am among all men most richly blessed.

Written by an unknown Confederate soldier

You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book. On the very day I call to you for help, my enemies will retreat. This I know: God is on my side. O God, I praise your word. Yes, LORD, I praise your word. I trust in God, so why should I be afraid? What can mere mortals do to me? I will fulfill my vows to you, O God, and offer a sacrifice of thanks for your help. For you have rescued me from death; you have kept my feet from slipping. So now I can walk in your presence, O God, in your life-giving light. Psalm 56: 8 – 13 (NLT)

What do you think?

TobyMac – Lose my Soul

When I consider some of the less than intelligent things that I have done in my life, I am often reminded of the example that as men, we set for our family.  What kind of message are we sending our children?   We don’t want serious character flaws in our kid’s lives, yet we get upset with them when they are only portraying some of the flaws that we have.  Sometimes we as fathers are put to the test, some of us think we are great Dads and try hard for our kids, but it is always the little things in our everyday life that let us down.  For example, it is how we react under pressure and stress, how we react behind peoples backs, how we react when your youngest child wants to play a game with you.
 
An example of reacting under stress from scripture is the story of Esau and Jacob.  Esau lived for today and didn’t think too much about the future.  Jacob was cunning and wanted what Esau had.  We pick up the story when Esau comes home from the fields, he asks his twin brother for some of the stew that he was cooking, in response to Esau, Jacob replied, “All right, but trade me your birthright for it.” “Look, I’m dying of starvation!” said Esau. “What good is my birthright to me now?” So Jacob insisted, “Well then, swear to me right now that it is mine.” So Esau swore an oath, thereby selling all his rights as the firstborn to his younger brother. Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and lentil stew. Esau ate and drank and went on about his business, indifferent to the fact that he had given up his birthright.

Esau reacted to the stress of tiredness and hunger by selling his birthright, wanting something right now and not considering the future.  Many men know the precise moment that they made a decision to react a certain way, to do something or watch something, while under pressure and like Esau, that decision has enslaved them.
 
It is a timely reminder that we as men have to be careful, that we don’t sell our souls for the things of this world, there are many, many things at work – pornography, sex, gambling, substance abuse, violence to name a but a few.  It is when we think only about ourselves, and only for today that we start to walk down a path that was not intended for us.  You might say – “ I’m a good person, I don’t do any of that stuff and I would never be like Esau and sell my soul for a bowl of food!”.  However, I put this challenge to you, if you were to look at your life honestly, are you fully following the Lord?  Is He the  centre of your life all the time, or do you occasionally get caught up with the things of this world, like money, lust, power, ambition, greed etc.

Above all else, guard your heart, for it affects everything you do.  Avoid all perverse talk; stay far from corrupt speech.  Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you.  Mark out a straight path for your feet; then stick to the path and stay safe.  Don’t get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil. Proverbs 4:23 – 27 (NLT)

Usually it’s not the most obvious things that let us down, more than likely it’s the small things. It’s the couple of grains of sand that grind away in the inside of your shoe that won’t cause you to stop but will rub the skin raw – pebbles in your shoes are more obvious and much easier to remove!  So where does that leave us as men?   We need to be more aware of the subtlety of sin and how easy it is to assimilate destructive habits that will be reflected in our family’s lives. 
Here are a few potential “grains of sand” for consideration:

• How do you treat your wife and how do you show her your love and respect?

• How do you treat others when you are with them and what do you say behind their backs?

• How do you spend time with your children and how do you show them your love and support?

• How much you are in debt, how much does materialism motivate you?

• How you treat your father and father in law / parents?

• How much time you spend alone with God?

So how do you ensure you don’t get bogged down and trapped by the lies of the world?  The only way I know is to stay close to the Lord every day and ask Him for His help, reading His Word, prayer, praise, accountability and fellowship.  As for me, I have fallen into a few well laid traps and realise that I am far from perfect.  Now I am more aware of them, I am able to be more discerning and avoid those areas of weakness.  Although in saying that, there are still some things that I struggle with, however the gentle redeeming spirit of the Lord reminds me that I cannot do it by myself, it is only through Christ I am able to be victorious.  As the Lord said to Paul, “My gracious favor is all you need. My power works best in your weakness” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may work through me. 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NLT).  The key is – to be aware of your weaknesses, your shortcomings and to allow God to have total control over your life.  For your own sake and for your family’s sake, don’t let the small things slide.  God purchased you at a high price.  Don’t be enslaved by the world.

(Esau selling his soul 1620 - Hendrick ter Brugghen 1588-1629)

For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And the ransom he paid was not mere gold or silver.  He paid for you with the precious lifeblood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God. 1 Peter 1:18 – 19

What do you think?