7:14 Movement

"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, 

and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land."

-2 Chronicles 7:14

January 6-12 is a week of prayer. The 7:14 movement is an national movement to make prayer more intentional and more widespread. The verse in Chronicles is very direct in it's words and should be a challenge to everyone. Our Church is pushing this movement, and I pray that you do as well with your Church and family. The idea of 7:14 is simple. We all have busy schedules and on average have a hard time making "time" for God. At 7:14 AM, we stop and say a small prayer. At 7:14 PM, we stop what we are doing and say another small prayer. There are set prayers available if needed, and you can download the file HERE. Or if you choose, pick a topic that you can focus and pray on for a few moments. This is nothing earth shattering or difficult. If you think it's cliche, I suggest you read the verse above again. I plan to do this on my own and with my family and hope you do the same. Check out some links below to assist in the process and to make the impact go farther in your life. Please share this with others and have a great week of Prayer!

Download the free iPhone app HERE or go on your iPhone iTunes app and download.

Purchase the "28 Day Journal" HERE. Available as an eBook or Regular Book.

A Man of Perseverance

"No great work is ever done in a hurry. To develop a great scientific discovery, to paint a great picture, to write an immortal poem, to become a minister, or a famous general; to do anything great requires time, patience and perseverance. These things are done by degrees, "Little by Little." Milton did not write "Paradise Lost" at a sitting, nor did Shakespeare compose "Hamlet" in a day. The greatest writers must begin with the alphabet, the most famous musicians once picked out their notes laboriously; a child must learn how to draw a straight line before he can develop into a Titian or a Michael Angelo."

-W. J. Wilmont Buxton

"The testing of your faith develops perseverance." -James 1:3

Perseverance in its basic form means to steadily persist in a course of action, or purpose; especially in the midst of difficulty. The top quote laid out some older, yet great examples to for us to think about. To think that some of the works mentioned above have lasted for centuries is absolutely amazing. But these works or paintings took years to accomplish and get right. We have to remember that when we are starting something new or taking on a new adventure in life. We must persevere!

The book of James has some great material when it comes to perseverance. In the first few verses, he says we are to find joy in the trials in our life, for they will yield in us perseverance. I don't think that would make a lot of sense to people these days, the NOW generation. He says that if we allow ourselves to persevere through whatever the circumstances are; we will be more mature and complete. We have been faithful to God and have come away better for it. Check out the book of James for insight on a lot of other topics.

Ever since I really, truly made Christ first and foremost in my life; I have prayed for consistency. I have prayed for God to show me how to be consistent. What it looks like? What it means? How can I do it? Well, it starts by praying daily, for consistency in Him. This prayer has helped me persevere through some great obstacles. You need to be steady in your walk with him, in your marriage, in your family and in your friendships. Don't give up at the first sign of trouble; stand taller, trust God and persevere.

How has God taught you perseverance?

Share an example and help out your fellow brother!

TOP TEN Posts of 2012

Before going too far, I want to just say "Thank You"! This was the first full year for the Manturity Blog and God blessed it with great success. I want to thank all of the faithful followers, the new followers, the comments, the contributions and the occasional criticism. All of those things make the blog better and stronger. I have some great ideas for 2013, and always look forward to what God has planned. Until then, here is the rundown of the TOP TEN POSTS of 2012. This is based on overall views. Check one out if you missed it! Thank you!

1) A Husband's Role

This was the first post of five posts in the "A HUSBAND" series. 

A deeper version of this post is planned for 2013.

2) Why the Train Tracks?

This is post about how my personal walk with Christ really began. 

It's all about putting yourself on the tracks...

3) The Spiritual Leader!

This post is about the role of a husband in the marriage.

It was written about my experience and should be a challenge to every man.

4) MM: The Type of Man

This was the first post in the Maintenance Man Series earlier this year.

A man must be Willing, Open and learn Dependency...

5) A Husband's Struggle

This post is about how the enemy is always on the attack.

A husband must be aware of this and fight back!

6) A Husband's Responsibility

You are not a child, so don't think like one anymore. Be a man!

You are to Love, Protect and Serve.

7) A Man of Grace

This was a guest post by my good friend Ryan E.

Through a tough line of events, God shows him true Grace. Check out the Series!

8) An Honest Struggle

This was, again, a guest post by Ryan E.

This post asked hard questions and more about this years Presidential election. 

9) MAN UP! Book Review

I had the pleasure of meeting author Jody Burkeen this year from Man Up God's Way.

Check out my review of his great book!

10) A Man of Hope

This was a guest post by a good friend Matt C.

Through many struggles, God shows him that real hope can only come from the Father.

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What was your favorite post of 2012?

What would you like to see more of in 2013?

It's Your Move

What if you were sitting on the edge of a chair and you had to make the hardest decision of your life? Maybe your head is in your lap. Maybe your eyes are closed and your chin is resting on the palm of your hand. Maybe you're against the back of your chair and you are relaxed in some odd way. If you were sitting on this chair, what would your position be? What would you be thinking about? It's your move...

-I can see an old man sitting in a weathered recliner who is coming close to the end of his days. He reviews his years of life and wonders if they were all worth it or not. He wonders if what they say about the after life is real or not.

-I see the young man sitting at the last seat of a bar, the night before his wedding. As his buddies throw back the drinks and have a blast; he considers what his life will be like tomorrow. He won't be at the bar with his buddies, he'll be with his life long partner that he vows to love forever. He wonders if marriage will be what he expects or not.

-I see myself sitting at the end of a hospital chair; awaiting the arrival of my first son. I can imagine my nerves being on edge, but having to stay calm and protected. I can see the feet of the people at the busy hospital moving past me, unaware of my thoughts. I wonder if I'll be able to be the father I hope to be or not.

And finally, I see opportunities. A new year almost always brings forth a new sense of excitement, but it might also be heavy with a lot of fear. I have many memories of the past six years or so and can think of all the new years. There are a few options to consider when starting a new year. Either you need to make some big changes to fix what you have done wrong or you need to stay consistent in the ways that have gone right. It's your move. Even if new changes come up, if things are going good overall then apply the similar ideas that are working. If there is anything we can take from the examples above it's this; stop worrying about your years past and move forward, enjoy the remaining years of your life. Of course life will change if you get married, but it will change for the good and make you a better person for it. And finally, have faith that the Father of all will teach you how to be a father to a little one. Overall keep a strong sense of FAITH in this new year. He is faithful and just, and will never give us more then we can handle.

"Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong."  
-I Corinthians 16:13

What's your move this year?
Pray. Think. Act. And have a great New Year!

Help My Unbelief

 "Immediately the boy's father cried out and said, "I do believe; help my unbelief."

Mark 9:24 (NASB95)

My struggles over the past few days have been that of my unbelief. Not in God, not in my Lord, Jesus Christ, but in myself. It’s an unbelief that questions, “why does God really care or want to help me?”

Right now, to be honest, my only problems in life are money problems. I have no health problems, my family has no health problems, we have food to eat, a roof over our heads and yet I still have unbelief. Why would God care about my money problems, when so many people in the world have problems money cannot fix?

I am thankful that my only problems are money related, but this is where questions lie within me. Why, if I am doing the things God is asking me to do, would He allow me to struggle in this area more than any other? Why of all the things of the world to worry about, do I focus on money?

God wrote about money more than any other topic in the bible, besides love. 

He said in 1 Timothy 6:10 (NASB95) ^{10 "}For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many grief’s". 

Maybe this is where I am. I am grieved over something that doesn't really matter in the spiritual world. Maybe I have placed money in front of God and that’s why He has me deal with the issues I face, just to see which I choose, Him or money. Yesterday, I chose money. I worried to the point of making myself sick. Today, I replace my money with God and I will focus on the one true God. The God of my life and I hand it over to Him. And I pray “God, I do believe, but help me with my unbelief”.

Is their unbelief in your life? Take the focus on that problem or issue, give it to God and place Him in your focus once again. And ask him to help you with your unbelief. Build your relationship with Him and all other problems will seem to fade away.

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This has been a guest post by author JodyBurkeen. 

Founder of Man Up Gods Way

www.manupgodsway.org 

Lost in Love

       
 It was 1979 and Air Supply was at the height of their game. Their song “Lost in Love,” was an instant hit, and it seemed everyone was hooked. At the time, I could not comprehend what being “Lost in Love” was all about. Sure, it was a great song and for many still is, but the fact that I would have to let every guard down in my system scared me. Perhaps, it was the macho in me which did not allow me to expose my heart and feelings in such a way. As men, most of us are not reared to feel this way and to allow experiences like these to penetrate us. I thought I needed to slay dragons and rescue damsels in distress, not lose myself in love.

In a similar way, as Christian men, some of us have difficulty relating to Jesus, our Savior, and allowing ourselves to be “lost in love” with Him. How can we, Knights of the Round Table, allow this to happen? Sure, we love to worship, pray, go on missions, preach, and anything in between; but surrendering? It is subversively foreign to us. Fairy tale books tell us that we live happily ever after, not loving and surrendering ever after. It is at this point that we have to submit to the Holy Spirit to efficiently do His job in us, in teaching us to be softened. It is like having an open-heart surgery experience with Christ. Salvation is just the beginning of the adventure. We need to allow its course to continue changing us from our old self to the new creation He desires us to be.

Jeremy Riddle, in his song, Sweetly Broken, captures this “lost in love” experience, not with a woman, but with Christ, Himself.

“At the Cross,

You beckon me

You draw me gently to my knees,

and I am Lost for words,

so Lost in love,

I’m sweetly broken,

wholly surrendered”

So many of us men are so afraid to be sweetly broken, to be lost in love and surrendered to a Jesus who wants to capture who He is in us. Perhaps, we think this is going to chip off our armor and take away part of that knighthood that we so dearly protect.  But in doing so, we allow a pure and untainted love to overwhelm and cleanse us; and define who and what we are destined to be. I know it's not easy to get to this point when time is the last thing you may have. Monday Night Football, your friends, your work, Twitter, Facebook, of course your wife or girlfriend, and finally the kids, if any, demand your time. So, time to fall in love with Christ, although it may be our desire, is the least to get your precious time. Know this; everything or anyone is going to vie for your time. If you do the Christ thing first, you may end up having more time than you know.  

Are you ready to prioritize your time and 

fall in love with your King?

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This was a guest post by Rick Cubas! 

Rick is the director of the SkyWay Leadership Group in Texas.

Three Men at the Wall

Nineteen boys had found a town

But none could enter in.

Perhaps too young, the boys were told

To "come back as grown men."

Twelve feet high, cemented sky

No soul could overlook

These solid walls were built so tall

By Words from that great Book.

"Let's go back home, let's sleep a while

Until we're old and tall.

And maybe when we come back then,

They'll let us past that wall."

So sixteen left along their way

With a lie inside their minds:

That manhood simply happens

By the passing of the time.

But try they did, the three who stayed,

These boys did try again.

Their child-like faith kept telling them

That they should not give in.

Their yearn for knowledge yet unknown

Beyond these sturdy walls,

No matter all the times they failed,

The boys kept standing tall.

Three years now passed

But unaware those days had slipped so fast,

One bright and fine and hopeful day

These boys – they finally passed

The roadblock that had tested them

And inflicted so much pain.

But on the other side, the boys now realized

They had changed.

Mature and strong, wise and bold,

Men they had become

From persistently pursuing

The very challenge they begun.

Now sixteen came, impatient boys

No different from the past

Older, taller, lazier

But nothing more than that.

"You cannot pass, you cannot pass,"

The gateman spat again,

"Please, little boys, why don't you come back

When you are grown men."

Confused and angry all these boys,

But what else could they do?

But sadly turn back home to where

"To wait" was all they knew.

Beyond these walls, I'm not allowed

To share what's hidden there.

For that is only known to men

Who’ve actually traveled there.

But one thing I assure you,

Those three were satisfied

For they had not believed in lazy, childish, boy-made lies.

This town it still exists.

I cannot tell you where.

But if you truly seek it first,

I'll probably see you there.

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This was a guest post by Peter Choi! Peter and his friends founded "The Weekend Press" 

to inspire individuals to follow their dreams and encourage creativity. Check it out!