A Prayer For Dads - A Prayer for Leading, Teaching and Showing The Way - Deuteronomy 6:6-9 and Proverbs 22:6 - Wednesday, June 22, 2016

To honor Dads during the Month of June, I'm posting prayers especially for Dads! I pray it ministers to you in a special way! Thank you for all you do!

Read and Pray through: Deuteronomy 6:6-9 and Proverbs 22:6 

Heavenly Father,

I praise You and thank as You're my Father, my greatest example.

It's an amazing privilege to be a dad and I'm reminded that You've called me to lead the children that You've blessed me with. 

I need to actively lead and I confess that sometimes I'm not sure how best to do this!

The 3 Things Every Child Needs To Hear

Words of affirmation are essential to building a positive foundation for your children.

In a world that seeks to tear them down...we can be ones to seek to build them up speaking words of life to and over them!

As parents we sometimes focus only on they areas of shall we say..."Opportunity" or "Improvement" and little time is spent on all the great and amazing things you see in them and believe about them. They need to see and believe the same and more about themselves. 

Also, if you don't tell them...who will?! 

This might be a foreign concept to you because like many, you may not have received this as a child from your parents but regardless of this, you can turn the tide and forge a better way and path for your own children!

This is just one small list and a great beginning and I'm sure you can add to this list but start here...

3 Things Every Child Needs To Hear:

   1. I Love You!
   2. I'm Proud of You!
   3. You are Good at this_______!

This is a list is derived from an incredible men's video series I journeyed through quite a few years ago titled "The Quest for Authentic Manhood" by Robert Lewis and it's stuck with me since then and I've tried to regularly communicate this to my children over the years. 

Dads...you especially need to be the one who leads the charge to show and tell them how capable, talented, proud and loved they are because your words speak volumes to the heart, soul and mind of your children! Never underestimate the power of your words! 

Keep Living life on Purpose and make these affirmations and more a regular habit!

In Christ,

rlk

Share this with someone today: There are 3 Things every child needs to hear. Visit ashepherdsheart.org to find out more! #ashepherdsheart

A Prayer For Dads - A Prayer for Being an Example of How to Live a Good Life - 2 Corinthians 3:2-3 - Wednesday, June 15, 2016

To honor Dads during the Month of June, I'm posting prayers especially for Dads! I pray it ministers to you in a special way! Thank you for all you do! 

Read and Pray Through:2 Corinthians 3:2-3

Dear Heavenly Father,

I thank You and praise You again for being the perfect Father and example of how to be a Father. Thank You also for the real gift and honor it is to be a dad to the children You've given me to help guide down the right path.

Each day I realize more an more that my children are a reflection of me...like it or not. 

A Prayer For Dads - A Prayer for being Strong and Courageous - Joshua 1:9 - Wednesday, June 8, 2016

To honor Dads during the Month of June, I'm posting prayers especially for Dads! I pray it ministers to you in a special way! Thank you for all you do! 

Read and Pray Through: Joshua 1:9

Dear Father in Heaven,

I thank You and Praise You for being my Father!

I thank You for the gift of fatherhood that You've given me...as being a dad is a privilege!

I pray that You lead me each day to be a better dad for my children. 

I confess that it's very tough to be a dad sometimes and it's not like I was given a manual on how to be a "perfect dad"...but... I try and want to own this great responsibility. 

A Prayer For Moms - A Prayer for Remembering Who My Help Is - Psalm 121:1-2 - Monday, May 30, 2016

To honor moms during the Month of May, I'm posting prayers especially for moms and this post is the final post in this series! I pray it ministers to you in a special way! Thank you for all you do! Here's the final prayer for this month through Psalm 121:1-2.

Psalm 121:1-2

Heavenly Father, I thank You for Your truth, for building me up and daily transforming me as a mom and as Your Daughter as I read Your truth and pray through it. I thank You and praise You for Who You are,  for loving me unconditionally and for being my true source of help! Thank You Father! 

                                                                                                               

I lift up my eyes to the hills.

Heavenly Father, You're Word is true. Your Word gives me hope and a deeper connection and direction with You day-to-day as Your daughter and servant and as a mom. 

Parenting / being a mom sometimes is a challenge as I work to help my children grow each day and navigate life but I know You equip me and strengthen me for each unique circumstance. 

When troubled times come - no matter what it is or what shape or size it's packaged in, help me to lift my eyes up to You.  

Help me to fix my eyes on You and not my circumstances.

Help me to teach my children to do the same as I am a living example for them.

Help me to rely on Your strength at all times. 

From where does my help come?

Father, when my vision gets blurry and I need Your help...please remind me to turn to You.

If I ever question, help me to seek answers from You!

Help me seek answers in Your Word. 

My help comes from the Lord,

who made heaven and earth.

Father, I'm overwhelmed by Your love! I'm in awe of You as You're The Creator of Heaven and Earth yet... you still have time for me!

Please help me to remember where my help comes from as sometimes I lose sight of You...I lose sight of the truth.

When the bills are due...Help me cling to Your help.

When my child is getting sick in the middle of the night...Help me to cling to Your help. 

When I'm dealing with parenting issues...Help me cling to Your help.

When I have no energy left in me...Help me to cling to Your help.

No matter what I face...please help me / us to cling to Your help!

Please help my children do the same...again as You help me model this day-to-day!

Help me to continue to marvel at Your amazing handiwork. 

I praise You and thank You and I ask all these things in Jesus Name, Amen.

Dear Moms:

I pray this Month's prayers through a different Psalm has been an encouragement and blessing for you. 

It's been a privilege to pray along with you and try to encourage you along the way. 

Keep striving to continue to be the awesome servant of the Lord and mom that you are!

Thank you for all you do as you're family wouldn't be where they are without your tireless efforts!

In Christ Alone,

rlk

Share this encouragement with someone today: Jesus is my true source of help! Lord help me lift up my head & fix my eyes on You! Read Psalm 121:1-2 ashepherdsheart.org

It's The Here We GROW Again Times!

Life as we know it comes with no shortage of trials, tests and hard times doesn't it?!

I don't know about you but it's as real struggle sometimes to have a clear perspective when we're going through the thick of things!

We can choose to see them as times of opportunity instead of agony...

We can choose to see them as times of hope instead of hopelessness...

We can choose to see them negatively or positively...

A Prayer For Moms - A Prayer for seeking my Hiding Place - Psalm 32:7 - Wednesday, May 25, 2016

To honor moms during the Month of May, I'm posting prayers especially for moms! The plan is to pray through a different Psalm each week. I pray it ministers to you in a special way! Thank you for all you do! This week here's a prayer for you through Psalm 32:7.

Psalm 32:7

Heavenly Father, I thank You for Your truth, for building me up and daily transforming me as a mom and as Your Daughter as I read Your truth and pray through it. I thank You and praise You for Who You are,  for loving me unconditionally and for being my hiding place and deliverer! Thank You Father! 

You are a hiding place for me;

Stress abounds sometimes as I work hard as a mom...as I work hard for the family You've blessed me with. It's very chaotic sometimes too! 

I can make a list of things that keep me awake at night but You already know them well. 

Some days when it's tough I literally want to run and hide sometimes. 

I confess that I get overwhelmed at times and I know I need to reach out for help from You as well as others You've placed in my life. Help me to do just that!

Help me Father remember that I don't need to run and hide from anything anymore, but, I do need to run to You only. 

Before You drew me to Yourself and saved me, to run and hide could have been a natural reaction, however, now I don't have to run and hide anymore...thanks, praise and glory be unto You!

Help me to remember that I have nothing to fear but only everything to gain as I'm Your daughter and cling to You as my refuge - my one true hiding place!  Give me the courage to run to you! 

Help me to remember that I can share anything with You my hiding place! 

you preserve me from trouble;

Father, I'm reminded that You never promise that our lives will be free from trouble. In fact the opposite is promised...we will experience trouble.

Well, trouble comes in waves as I deal with parenting issues. 

When I deal will discipline and behavior issues...

When I deal with homework issues...

When I deal with health issues...

When I deal with relationship issues...

When I deal with issues...a multitude of issues!

Through each circumstance - please help guide me with wisdom and preserve/protect me from trouble.

Please preserve my family and I from trouble. 

Please preserve my children from trouble. 

Please Preserve me while going through trouble. 

you surround me with shouts of deliverance. 

Father, When I face hard times and when You bring me through the other side to victory, I often forget to praise You. 

Sometimes I may even forget to give You credit for all You've done to deliver me from what I went through!

I know I need to praise You through every season no matter what I face. Help me to praise You and give You Glory!

Help me to give You credit always

I pray that even when I'm in the midst of the chaos and trouble that You surround me with the truth of Your Word and help me shout a shout of deliverance knowing that You will deliver me according to Your will. 

Help me proclaim Your goodness and deliverance.

Help me proclaim Your power and might.

I thank You and Praise You for Your continued deliverance in my life! 

I praise You and thank You and I ask all these things in Jesus Name, Amen.

In Christ Alone,

rlk

Share this truth with someone today: God is my true hiding place and deliverer. Read Psalm 32:7 #ashepherdsheart ashepherdsheart.org 

Our Words Matter

Whether young or old and no matter what culture you are a part of, God established a better way for us to communicate. 

Simply put, our words matter...

They can build up or tear down...

They can bring life or death to the hearer... 

With social media, texting, chat programs and the like, there are ample opportunities to speak... and what we say in person or via the before mentioned is communicated rapidly and sometimes we cannot recall what we just sent! The damage is done. 

We need to be those who build up and bring life with our words. 

A Prayer For Moms - A Prayer For Strength and Help - Psalm 28:7 - Wednesday, May 18, 2016

To honor moms during the Month of May, I'm posting prayers especially for moms! The plan is to pray through a different Psalm each week. I pray it ministers to you in a special way! Thank you for all you do! This week here's a prayer for you through Psalm 28:7.

Psalm 28:7 

Heavenly Father, I thank You for Your truth, for building me up and daily transforming me as a mom and as Your Daughter as I read Your truth and pray through it. I thank You and praise You for Who You are,  for loving me unconditionally and for being my strength through the good and the bad days. Thank You Father! 

The Lord is my strength and my shield;

Father, I'm overwhelmed sometimes with the weight of responsibilities. 

Sometimes I feel vulnerable and weak...and a bit battle worn on those especially tough parenting days!

Thank You for being my true source of strength.

As I work to dodge arrows that are shot at me from the evil one...

The arrows of negativity and self doubt...

The arrows of negative self image and worth...

The arrows that are full of lies...

and many more...

Thank You for being my shield...my protector and deflecting the numerous attacks. 

I praise You because You are my strength and shield and cannot make it through the tough times or good times without You!

in him my heart trusts, and I am helped;

I confess that sometimes I put my trust in myself, other people, my circumstance and more.

I forget Who You are and all You've done and continue to do in my life and the lives of others.

I sometimes let the hurts I've experienced in my past or present cloud the truth that You are good and trustworthy. 

I confess that sometimes I over-identify with the wrong actions of my children as if it's my fault they choose to do the opposite of how I've  taught them...Help my heart trust in Your truth and know the wrong actions truly don't define me as I work hard as a mom...they are just growth moments in time. 

Help me to continue to love my children even through tough circumstances but separate my identity from their actions as I trust in You because I find my identity in and through Christ alone. 

I thank You that I can put my trust in You fully and I ask for Your help through Your Holy Spirit to trust in You at all times as a first response and not as a last resort. 

All You are and all You continue to do in my life cannot be cataloged as it's too numerous but please help me like the times of old recall Your Goodness, Your Help in the good and hard times. In my heart and mind may You build an "altar" of remembrance so when I go through the circumstances of life...I'll always remember where my help comes from.

Shape my heart oh Lord to trust in You always and remember that it's in You that I find my help. 

my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.

Father,  I praise You. My heart is overwhelmed and overjoyed by Your love and grace for me! 

Help me experience Your joy and help me to lift up a song to You in praise and worship through the day-to-day as I walk with You. 

I give You thanks for Who You are. 

I give You thanks for Your provision each day.

I give You thanks for Your Word that I may be instructed on how to live successfully for Your Kingdom and Glory as Your servant.

I give thanks to You for Your helper, Your Holy Spirit's guidance and residency in my life. 

I give You thanks for the life You've blessed me with. 

I thank You for my children.

I thank You for my family.

I thank You for the sometimes daunting but blessed privilege it is to be a mom.

I thank You again for the privilege of being a mom especially as I think of dear friends who haven't yet had the privilege or cannot. Help me to never take it for granted. 

I thank You for the glory I can bring You through being a mom. 

I thank You for the strength You give me when I have none - especially during the time when I'm at the end of my rope with parenting issues. 

I thank You for the numerous blessings You've heaped upon me. 

Most of all I thank You for Your Love and Salvation. 

I praise You and thank You and I ask all these things in His Name, Amen.

In Christ Alone,

rlk

Share this truth with someone today: God is my true source of strength and help. Read Psalm 28:7 #ashepherdsheart ashepherdsheart.org 

PS. If this post was of encouragement to you...consider sharing it with others whom you believe will be encouraged by it! Thanks! 

A Shepherd's Heart: What's In a name? (AKA How the name came about.)

Throughout scripture and History as we know it, names are significant. Whether a force for good or evil, you and I recall names. 

For years I've wanted to share the story of how the name and ministry of A Shepherd's Heart came about and this post is a brief retelling of just that. 

For as long as I can remember, even through hard times of depression and insecurity, I've always been what they call a "people person".  I've been wired to seek out and help meet the needs of others. 

Many years ago the calling on my life became clear and that calling had much to do with shepherding others as a pastor, lay person...shepherding in and out of the church meeting place. Shepherding people helping meet the spiritual and physical needs of others. 

As I read the Bible and started walking more seriously with Christ I learned that God wants shepherds to, as silly as it may sound as it should be a given, shepherd His flock and take it seriously.  It's not always a given today because many have missed or ignored what a call to shepherding is.

Another thing I recognized is that many staff pastors have a very tough job, put in long hours and often need pastoral care themselves however for various reasons, they weren't receiving it. I also recognized that many non-staff people were also hurting and need someone to reach out and care for them as Jesus modeled for us. 

A Prayer For Moms - A Prayer for Trust When in Fear - Psalm 56:3 - Wednesday, May 11, 2016

To honor moms during the Month of May, I'm posting a prayer especially for moms! The plan will be to pray through a different Psalm each week. I pray it ministers to you in a special way! Thank you for all you do! This week here's a prayer for you from Psalm 56:3.

Psalm 56:3

Heavenly Father, I ask that you instill your truth in my heart as a mom and as Your Daughter as I read Your truth and pray through it. I thank You and praise You for Who you are,  for loving me unconditionally and for being my strength through the good and the bad days. I need You Father! 

When I am afraid,

I put my trust in you.

Heavenly Father, I know You're my strength and sufficiency but sometimes life gets overwhelming and I slip into fear. 

Too many times I "hit my emotional and physical limit." 

...Help me to turn these times of  fear into faith. 

...Help me to turn from merely my own limited strength and instead rely on Your limitless strength. 

...When I fear for the well-being of my family - help me to trust in You.

...When I fear that I'm just not enough for my children - help me remember whose I am and who I am.

...Help me to remember that I am enough as I'm not alone because You're with me always.

...Help me to remember that I am enough because You are my sufficiency.

...When satan slings lies at me from every angle- help me to trust fully in You and the truth of Your Word. 

...Help me by Your Holy Spirit trust cast out the lies in Jesus name. 

...Please help me trust completely in You in the day-to-day.

...Help me to trust in Your provision, wisdom and direction.

...Help me to lay all my insecurities down at Your feet. 

...Help me to remember that fear is the opposite of faith and trust. 

I praise You and thank You and I ask all these things in His Name, Amen.

In Christ Alone,

rlk

A Prayer For Moms - A Prayer While Waiting - Psalm 27:14 - Wednesday, May 4, 2016

To honor moms during the Month of May, I'm posting a prayer especially for moms! The plan will be to pray through a different Psalm each week. I pray it ministers to you in a special way! Thank you for all you do! This week here's a prayer for you through Psalm 27:14.

Psalm 27:14

Heavenly Father, I ask that you instill your truth in my heart as a mom and as Your Daughter as I read Your truth and pray through it. I thank You and praise You for Who you are,  for loving me unconditionally and for being my strength through the good and the bad days. I need You Father! 

Wait for the Lord; 

You call me wait on You and trust in You. Please help me to do this through your strength. Help me to wait on You and Lean Upon You when:

...when I'm stressed out

...when my vision is unclear

...when my kids misbehave

...when there are dishes to be done and homework to check

...when there are bills to pay

...when I haven't grown how I want to grow or have too high of expectations on myself

...when I'm up at 3 am with a sick child, again... and I'm very tired

...I face many more circumstances (insert here)

In all circumstances help me to wait on You and trust in You. 

Help me to always look for and expect Your greater reward as You are my / our provider!

be strong, and let your heart take courage; 

I confess that there are times when I fear for my child's/children's future.

I confess that there are times when there seems like too much month at the end of the money and I'm not sure what to do.

I confess that I'm angry toward my kids and sometimes it's because I'm totally spent.

I confess that sometimes I feel like I don't have purpose, that I'm unworthy, that I'm not valuable and much more. Help me to read Your Word especially during these times as Your truth dispels the fear and the truth...Your truth causes the lies I believe about myself to disappear.

I know You understand all these things and nothing is a surprise to You...

So I ask that You would be my strength. 

I ask that You would help me to be strong.

I ask that You would help me to have courage especially to do what is right.

I ask that You help me to give my child's/children's future over to You as you know it already.

I ask that You continue to guide me through sound financial planning and that You'd continue to provide for my family. 

I ask that You help me daily to be good example (Not perfect) for my child/children. 

I ask that You help me be patient with myself and my child/children.

I ask that You would help me understand who I am in Christ.

I ask that You help me learn more and more about the great purpose You have for my life and that I'd walk in it including the gift of being a mom.

I ask that You help me understand and remember that I am worthy because of Christ.

I ask that You help me understand that I am of great worth as Your daughter.

I ask that You help me remember that I don't have to have it all together because You are my strength and sufficiency. 

Help me to carve out daily time with You where I can seek You and hear from You through Your Word and Prayer. 

wait for the Lord!

In all things, again, please help me to wait on You as I cannot do this alone.
I thank You and praise You and I ask all these things in Jesus Name, Amen.

In Christ Alone,

rlk

What Does Society Really Want When They Cry Out For Tolerance?

There used to be a time when tolerance essentially meant that we'd all appreciate each others differences and treat one another with respect despite our differences. It seems that those days are long gone. 

Some might argue that this isn't the case or that this is a simplified definitions but you can look no further than social media, TV to see that there isn't much in the way of appreciation rather, you see the opposite of it. 

So, what does society really want when they cry out for tolerance? 

A Prayer for Grace & Truth and the Wisdom to Know How to Apply Them Both - Monday, April 25, 2016

Read: Romans 10:17, John 4:1-26, John 1:14, James 1:5 and Matthew 28:16-20)

Dear Heavenly Father,

In a day and age where sin, confusion and lack of grace and truth abounds - I pray for Your Holy Spirit's help in these matters as we need Your help all the more. 

Some want to throw out truth all together in order to accommodate in "grace and love" even when it's in opposition of the truth of Your Word. Help us to understand that Your truth is part of Your love and faith comes by hearing. (Romans 10:17)

On the other hand some want to throw out grace all together and sometimes hit people over the head with the "truth" when they forget the scriptures teaching about grace and love which is not devoid of truth. (John 4:1-26)

Yet, You oh Lord call us to both in love. 

A Prayer for the Employed and Underemployed - Monday, April 18, 2016

Read:Philippians 4:19, Colossians 3:23-24 & Ephesians 6:7

Dear Heavenly Father, 

I praise You as our provider! Without You...we would have nothing!

No Life...No Job...  No Income... No Food on the table...  and much more that we would not have. Help us to keep this in mind if we're prone to complain specifically about our jobs.

I thank You and praise You for providing work for us to do so we can earn a living and give back from the first fruits of our labor to build Your Kingdom. 

I thank You even for the jobs that You've provided but things aren't going great for us and we may even be stressed out at times or less than excited about what we're doing for work or going through at work. You are there with us and will bring us through. 

I pray that You'd provide meaningful work for us to do and give us the desires of our hearts to be able to make a good living doing what we enjoy and while we sometimes have to wait for that...that You'd continue to provide us with a good income no matter what it is You've given us to do. 

Not that we are worthy or deserving, please help receive and have favor always with our employers and if at all possible that they'd treat us well as our superiors. May they value the contributions we make and may that see the hard work we put it. May they seek to help us have a true life/work balance. 

Help us Father to be content but at the same time not become complacent in what we're doing rather, help us to listen for Your Holy Spirit's leading if it's time to move elsewhere to a place you've also prepared for us. 

Even when we don't receive recognition, even when we aren't valued or are undervalued, may we remember who we ultimately do our work for! (Colossians 3:23-24 & Ephesians 6:7) 

Help us to not get too discouraged and please help us to continue to press on as we seek to be the best employees for Your glory as well as our good. 

No matter what - I ask that You provide and bless us with continuous employment...however, if there are times where there are gaps in our employment, may You continue to supply for all of our needs. Help us to trust You all the more knowing you have a plan for us!

I especially pray for those unemployed right now that You'd help them have extra faith, hope and trust. 

I pray that You minister to them and bless them in a special way. 

I pray that You give them the desires of their heart by providing good employment where they are able to do something they enjoy and are passionate about and are compensated well! Please cast out all discouragement in their lives Father. 

Father, whether we're employed or underemployed, help us to cling to You at all times knowing that You're always at work and always have been to provide for Your children. 

Where there's discouragement may You insert Your Hope and Encouragement. 

Please also provide us with Your wisdom and direction always. 

May it be clear to all the employed, underemployed and those who are witnesses that You're mighty hand is in and over all things! 

In Jesus Name I praise You and Thank you, Amen.

Blessings in Christ,

rlk