"The Weapon of Honor!" - Bill Yount

"The Weapon of Honor!"

Bill Yount, Hagerstown, MD

The Elijah List

My mouth shall be filled with Thy praise, and with Thy honor all the day. Psalm 71:8

I saw what appeared to be high-ranking angels descending upon the earth decreeing: "Honor! Honor! Honor! Release the power of honor upon the earth!" "Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king!" (1 Peter 2:17).

The word honor means to set a price on, value, esteem, regard or respect. From Heaven's perspective, whole nations, cities, and people are dying from the lack of honor. But through one simple word of respect, I saw the hand of God coming upon the earth to move upon whomever we honored.

A Scepter and Scroll of Honor

I saw a scepter of honor rising over the earth. Crowns, medals, and ribbons were now being handed out to weary, worn saints! I saw strong angels swooping down to pin medals and ribbons of overdue honor upon many of God's saints in this hour. Medals for "wounded" hearts were being given out. Your heart was wounded, but you went on! 

Those who have been hidden, receiving no recognition (while others were taking the credit for your labor), were now receiving medals of honor! There were medals and ribbons being pinned upon many for not quitting. You have gone through Hell without stopping! Even after you had fallen down, you got back up and kept going! (Photo by Donna Smallenberg"A New Name" via elijahshopper.com)

Great honor was coming upon you now! Gold medals were being given to those who took the blame, making peace with others even when you knew you were right. Crowns were now being placed upon heads while wearing your gold medal too. 

There were also medals being given for "unanswered" prayers. You cried out earnestly for God to answer your prayer, but there was seemingly no answer (or at least not the answer you had been looking for), but yet having not seen, you still believed.

Through great brokenness and humility, honor was now coming upon many. Proverbs 15:33 says, "...humility comes before honor." With this honor was coming great authority. And with this great authority came responsibility for us to honor others.

I also saw an "honor" scroll being opened as a great cloud of witnesses in glory stood to their feet! This honor scroll was opened and unfurled across the earth. High-ranking military angels began stepping down out of Heaven, and appeared to be disengaging in Heavenly warfare to release overdue honor upon the earth that would ultimately change many hearts and minds of mankind, bringing Heaven down to earth.

Honor the Unborn

A strong cry was heard throughout the earth to honor the unborn! Psalm 127:3 says, "Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward." (Photo by Jennifer Page "LIFE" via elijahshopper.com)

Great honor in Heaven was being given to unborn babies whose destinies would have turned the world upside down by now. 

Love and hugs from earth would have squeezed out many cures of infirmities and diseases on the earth had they been loved and honored when they were sent. God was alerting us with one more opportunity to respect the womb and the treasure inside of it, which He wants to bring forth to bless us.

Honor Thy Father and Mother

Honoring thy father and mother all the days of thy life was releasing long awaited healings and miracles! Exodus 20:12 says, "Honor thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee."

A doctor attending our church felt led to take time off work and visit his father and mother who lived in Florida. He took a month off to bless them and love on them. Upon returning home, this doctor had a physical check-up and was diagnosed with colon cancer. He said that when his physician said the word "cancer" to him, he had a strange peace come over him and the Lord spoke, "Since you have honored your father and mother, I am going to heal you and give you a long life!" That doctor has no cancer now!

I sense that even as our fathers and mothers age, the first commandment promising long life becomes vital in fulfilling our long range purposes on the earth.

Honor the Children

Honoring children will bring forth their gifts and callings like nothing else. Psalm 127:4-5 says, "As arrows are in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one's youth. Happy, blessed, and fortunate is the man whose quiver is filled with them! They will not be put to shame when they speak with their adversaries [in gatherings] at the [city's] gate." (Photo by Linda Harris-Iorio "Quiver Flaming Arrows" via elijahshopper.com)

I once heard a story about a little boy who came to school one day carrying his little plastic guitar. Because that was so unusual, the teacher asked him what he was doing with it. He told his teacher, "I am going to be a great country singer when I grow up." The teacher took the little boy by the hand and walked him down to the principal's office. She said to the principal, "I want to introduce you to a great country singer legend. Would you allow him to sing over the PA system this morning?" The little boy sang his heart out. Years later, that little boy became a country singer. While doing a documentary of his success, he mentioned his teacher in elementary school who believed in him and respected his dream.

Honor All Men

As a result of not honoring others, we have not been honored. 1 Timothy 2:1-4, "I exhort therefore, first of all, that supplications, prayers, intercessions, thanksgivings, be made for all men; for kings and all that are in high place; that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and gravity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who would have all men to be saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth."

A seemingly forgotten command was now coming forth from the Throne Room to the Body of Christ to decree honor to all men, including kings and leaders of nations. By not honoring them with our prayers, as well as not praying for the salvation of their souls, we were actually tying the hands of God from moving upon their lives! Because we didn't like the person God had put in power, we therefore despised their position. But to God, position and the person is everything! (Photo via Freeimages)

Romans 13:1 ...for there is no power but of God; and the powers that be are ordained of God.

Many will be called at this time to stand before nations, kings, cities, tribes, orphans, widows, babies, and even the unborn to honor them. 

When we honor someone, something powerful happens in us, because in honoring others we are honoring God as well, since "all men" were created in His image. Don't wait to find a good reason to honor someone. You may be waiting forever. Let's honor them because God said so.

LET THE "HONOR" ROLL!

Bill Yount
Blowing the Shofar Ministry

Email: theshofarhasblown@juno.com
Website: billyount.com

Bill Yount has been a member of Bridge of Life in Hagerstown, Maryland, for the past 36 years where he is now an elder and a home missionary. He is currently an advisor at large for Aglow International. Bill faithfully served in prison ministry at Mount Hope for 23 years and now travels full-time, both in the U.S. and internationally, ministering in churches and Aglow circles. "Humility and humor" characterize his ministry as he brings forth a fresh word that is "in season," proclaiming the Word of the Lord! 

The shofar (or ram's horn) is often used in his meetings, breaking the powers of darkness over regions, churches, and households. The shofar represents God's breath blowing into the nostrils of His people, reviving them and awakening the lost. Many of God's messages, which Bill ministers prophetically, come out of his everyday life with his family and friends.

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With Fathers Missing, Is There Any Hope for Black Families?

 6/16/2015 BRANDEN STEPHON POLK/BOUND4LIFE  charisma magazine

Let each one of us pray for an opportunity to partner with the Lord in redeeming and returning what has been lost—the black men of America. (Flickr/Creative Commons)

More than one and a half million black men in America are missing. Where are they? Where did they go? Incarcerated. Dead. Just—missing.

According to the New York Times analysis on its blog "The Upshot," more than one of every six African American men who would be between the ages of 25 and 54 are simply not present in society.

These men are not present to contribute to their communities, not present in the workforce, and not present as husbands or fathers. 

"The State of the Black Family," an in-depth report released by Family Research Council in February, reveals that only 17 percent of black 17 year-olds currently reside in a home with their biological mother and father; the overwhelming majority (83 percent) have experienced the effects of divorce, premarital sex, and other forms of rejecting the nuclear family.

For me, this information elicits great concern and worry for the future of black children in this country. Regardless of race, men were created by God to contribute leadership, support, and protection to the family unit. Men are generally called to be fathers and providers for their wives and children.

Can you imagine living in a world where all the men are gone? This is the reality for most black communities. Children growing up without fathers; women and girls who choose to raise black children on their own or choose to abort their babies in order to avoid the stress of doing it all alone.

What is to become then of an entire ethnic group that has suffered, even generationally, from the absence of its men?

We know that in many communities more black babies are being aborted than are being born. As a people, African Americans are decreasing at an alarming rate. It has been said to me in the past that if black people were likened to bald eagles, or any other animal on the verge of extinction, the entire race would be placed on the endangered species list.

The future looks bleak for black people in this country, if you look at the numbers alone. But I have an eternal hope in God's promise over the black community—for the restoration of its men to their rightful place as heads of the nuclear family, and more importantly to right relationship with Jesus Christ.

In promoting the National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse, President Barack Obama has said: "We need fathers to realize that responsibility does not end at conception. We need them to realize that what makes you a man is not the ability to have a child—it's the courage to raise one."

I find it interesting that even in what has become the most pro-choice administration in American history, our President recognizes that men must choose to be fathers—albeit a profoundly difficult, selfless, and courageous decision. This is especially true for black men who have disproportionately experienced poverty, racism, and other forms of stigmatization in American society for hundreds of years.

However noble the intention, President Obama's fatherhood initiative fails to specifically address the plight of black men and fatherlessness in the black community. The initiative lacks communication of a plan outlining what it will take to turn this around.

There's a good reason for this: there is no remedy outside of prayer for revival in the black community and the church of God responding in faith-based urgency with appropriate understanding.

Here's the truth—the black community is and has been in crisis. Our children are dying. This crisis is no different from the Old Testament days, when a whole society watched as its babies were thrown into fires as acts of demonic worship. Where were the fathers? Why weren't their hearts turned towards the children?

Without prayer, the hearts of black fathers will not turn to their children. Without the church stepping to the front with a willingness to disciple young black mothers and black children, this cycle will continue to repeat. My fear is that we can only repeat so many times before we are no more.

I am full of hope today. God has called the black community to shine with restorative hope in this country. When it happens, it will be a sign of God's faithfulness—a sign that He can do anything. However, it is imperative that as a nation, and especially as people of God, that we see the black community as a mission field of high priority and strive to diligently preach and live the gospel among them.

On this upcoming Father's Day, let us pray that the hearts of the fathers are truly turned towards their children. Let us pray that the heart of the church understands and responds with urgency to the crisis going on in the black community today.

Let each one of us pray for an opportunity to partner with the Lord in redeeming and returning what has been lost—the black men of America.

An intercessor, musician and ordained minister, Branden Stephon Polk leads the worship teams at Justice House of Prayer DC and works as a leadership consultant in the DC region. Reprinted with permission from Bound4LIFE International 

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9 Things Men Seek at Church

8/28/2014 STEVE SONDERMAN  CHARISMA MAGAZINE

Men, what are you looking for in your local church? (Lightstock file photo)

There is no easy answer, but in this article I would like to provide some basic principles that will help you develop a male-friendly church. The overriding principle is simply this:

The environment you develop is more important than the events or programs you put on. A man is looking for an environment that is consistent with who he is as a man and a place where he feels comfortable belonging and becoming the man God wants him to be.

1. Relevance. Most men in our society today do not see the value of going to church because it is not speaking their language, and it is not addressing the issues they face. For example, a recent survey showed that 92 percent of church-going men have never heard a sermon on the subject of work. The unspoken message is: What you do for 60 to 70 hours a week does not relate to what you do on Sunday mornings. The most important issues for men are their work, family, marriage, sexuality and finances—and rarely are these addressed from the pulpit today? Some of the key questions men are asking are:

• What is true masculinity?
• What is success?
• How do I deal with guilt feelings?
• What is male sexuality?
• Is purity possible today?
• What does a healthy marriage look like?
• How can I raise my children to be successful?
• How can I be a man of integrity in the workplace?
• How can I be a leader in the home, church, workplace and world?
• What is my purpose in life?

2. To be involved in a cause greater than themselves. Men want to be involved in something driven by a compelling vision. Men want to know what hill the church is climbing, where we are going, what we are about. The church has the greatest and most far-reaching mission on Earth, and we should not be bashful about challenging the men of our congregation with it.

3. A shot at greatness. I have never met a man who wanted to be a failure or a loser. Men want to win. They want to be heroes. They want to come in first. Unfortunately, it seems the church today wants nice men, not great men.

4. To be challenged. Men tend to view the world around them as something to be overcome or conquered. It's high time we told them they do not have to check their competitive drive at the door of the church. If they are seeking risk, adventure, change, competition and expansion—tell them how to find it within the mission of Jesus.

5. Action. Men today are looking for something to do; they do not like sitting around and theorizing about the 27 views of the second coming of Christ! Men measure themselves by productivity and gain a portion of self-image based on what they do. Their desire for adventure is often expressed in the desire to be on the solution side of things. Many churches today are in maintenance mode, rather than being missional.

6. Men are looking for leaders, and they want to be leaders. This principle is simple: Men do not follow programs, they follow men. They want to follow a bold, courageous, visionary leader. Establish an environment where strong leadership is attractive. Not only are men looking for a leader to follow, they want to become leaders themselves. They want to lead in their family, workplace, church, community and world. One of the things you can do is equip them to lead.

7. Fun. If men walk into a church and see a bunch of serious, stoic-looking people, shouldn't they wonder if Christianity really is a killjoy? The world is a serious place; men are looking to laugh and have fun to balance that reality. They love a good joke, funny story or movie. I encourage you to develop a ministry environment in which men have fun together.

8. Brothers. Most men have many acquaintances, but very few men have a good friend. According to statistics, the average man over 35 years old does not have one close friend. Men need teaching on how to develop and strengthen friendships and an environment where they can find genuine male friends.

9. Healing. Many are using socially unacceptable means to deal with their pain—making their work or their hobbies their life, misusing sex, drugs or alcohol. Unless these wounds and hurts are dealt with in a healthy way, they will never become the man that God wants them to be. They will never be able to have healthy relationships or move on from childish behavior.

I hope some of these insights from my own ministry to men will serve you well as you seek to minister more effectively to the men of your church and community.

Steve Sonderman is the associate pastor for men's ministry at Elmbrook Church in Brookfield, Wis., and the author of How to Build a Life-Changing Men's Ministry.

For the original article, visit men.ag.org.

You Are Invited To Walk In the Double Portion of Your Fathers In the Spirit - Jeff Jensen

Jeff Jansen:

You Are Invited To Walk 

In the Double Portion of 

Your Fathers In the Spirit

The Elijah List

Great Fathers

We lost a great father on February 14, 2014, when Bob Jones was called home. Bob was a spiritual father to many. He was a spiritual father to Jan and me.

In 1975, Bob went to Heaven and God sent him back with a mandate to "learn to love" and to prepare the Church to see one billion souls come into the Kingdom. He has left many sons and many daughters behind. His words to us were that his ceiling would be our floor.

Bob died on Valentine's Day, 2-14 in 2014. Bob's life is a parable. It is Habakkuk 2:14 which says, "But [the time is coming] (and now is) that the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord..."

It is also 2 Kings 2:14, which is the account of Elijah and Elisha. This is where I believe we, the Church, are at this time.

Many fathers are going home, but it's 2 Kings 2:14 for 2014. Those that were a part of revival in America in the '50s – Schambach, Oral Roberts, T. L. Osborn – they have all gone home. Paul Cain is the last of the '50's revivalists.

He told me recently that he knew the Lord was taking him home this year. Our fathers have left a great legacy of power and love.

Elisha Tested

In 2 Kings 2, Elisha leaves all and goes with Elijah the prophet. In verse 2, Elijah tries to get Elisha to stay in that place, but Elisha refuses to leave him. Elisha would not allow himself to get distracted, because he was after something and was determined not to miss it. Verse 4 and verse 6 says Elijah again tries twice more to get him to stay behind, but Elisha was firm in his pursuit.

The Word says in 2 Kings 2:8-10 that the two of them, Elijah and Elisha, stood by the Jordan. Elijah took his mantle, rolled it up, and struck the waters. The waters divided and they walked across on dry ground. After they crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha:

"'Ask what I shall do for you before I be taken away from you.' And Elisha said, 'I pray you, let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.' And he said, 'You have asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so unto you...'"

Elijah had tested Elisha, tried to shake him, but Elisha kept his focus and would not be put off. Elisha wanted a double portion of what was on Elijah's life.

In verse 11, they went on talking and a chariot of fire parted the two of them and Elijah went up into Heaven in a whirlwind. Elisha watched Elijah go up into the heavens. He was in anguish because his father whom he loved was gone. He wasn't after the mantle. Elisha loved his father, Elijah. You cannot just take someone's mantle; it comes through relationship.

It says in verses 13-14, that Elisha took up the mantle of Elijah which had fallen to the ground and went to the bank of the Jordan. He took the mantle of his father, Elijah, and struck the water saying, "Where is the Lord God of Elijah?" The water parted and he walked over on dry ground.

He could have just stood there holding that mantle saying, "Where is the God of my father?" and nothing would have happened. It wasn't until he did exactly what he saw his father do and struck the Jordan. As soon as he did, the double took place and the Jordan rolled up on either side. Elisha did exactly double the amount of miracles Elijah had done.

He received the double portion.

The Double Portion is Being Released

We are living in 2 Kings 2:14. We have had fathers. Many are now going home. As they are going home, there is an opportunity for the double. 

The double portion is being released. This is the year of the double doors, the year of the double portion. We must use what we have been entrusted with and we will see double the miracles.

The knowledge of the glory of God is coming in ways that take what the previous generations have done, and we will build on top of that. Their ceiling is our floor. What our fathers have done in the Spirit, we have the opportunity to take it to another level. It is the double portion. We all have the invitation to walk in the double portion of what the previous fathers have done in the Spirit.

Souls need to be won and transformed. Nations also need to be transformed. I want a double portion so I can do something with it. America needs to get saved. American needs reformation.

Paul Cain saw the stadiums being full in America, where the dead were being raised. He saw CNN broadcasting, "There is no news today but good news. There has been a resurrection in the stadium." He saw thousands coming to Christ in America.

I want to pray the double portion for you:

Lord, I pray the Father's blessing over everyone reading this. I pray for double portion, Lord. It is our turn now. Many fathers are going home and those mantles are falling upon another generation. God, we want to be the Elisha generation. It is going from Moses to Joshua, from Elijah to Elisha. Lord, we want to be Joshua that takes them into fulfill the promises, take them into the Promised Land. It is our turn now. Lord, I pray for the double portion.

Reach out and take the mantles that are falling and do something with them. Lay hands on the sick, give hope to the hopeless, love others well. God is looking for ways to change lives, and it will come through us. These are the days of the double portion.

Blessings,

Jeff Jansen

Senior Leader, Global Fire Church, Murfreesboro, TN
Founder, Global Fire Ministries International
Global Connect / Kingdom Life Institute

Email: info@globalfireministries.com
Website: globalfireministries.com

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March 20, 2014

Jeff Jansen:

You Are Invited To Walk In the Double Portion of Your Fathers In the Spirit

From the desk of Steve Shultz:

I lost my own spiritual father, Wade Taylor, just two years before a second "father in the spirit," Bob Jones, also went home to be with the Lord.
It's hard to say that the loss of these great men...for me and for others...is gain. Nevertheless, what this often means in God's economy is that when one father goes home, the spiritual sons inherit a double portion.

Read this awesome article about this very subject by Jeff Jansen
Enjoy!

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The Elijah List & Breaking Christian News 
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The Tide Is Turning - Now Think On This by Steve Martin

The Tide Is Turning

March 20, 2014

Now Think On This

by Steve Martin

“In the west, people will respect the name of the Lord; in the east, they will glorify Him. For He will come like a raging flood tide driven by the breath of the Lord.” Isaiah 59:19, New Living Translation

“‘Hear the shouts, hear the triumph songs in the camp of the saved?" The hand of God has turned the tide!  The hand of God is raised in victory! The hand of God has turned the tide!"  Psalm 118:15-16 THE MESSAGE

I can sense it in my spirit. The tide is turning. The Lord God of Israel has said, “Enough is enough”, and He is turning the tide in the heavenly realm, and thus in the earth.

For decades the wicked have risen up, proclaiming their agenda, pushing their immoral acts, pressing down on the godly standards of the Judeo/Christian foundation. They have removed the stones of the righteous, replacing them with heretical lies and godless ways.

In my spirit I can hear the Lord say, “Now it is MY time. It is MY time to raise up the standard and show Myself strong. It is MY time to let the earth know that the King of kings and the Lord of lords is in full control. It is not the heathen. It is not the oppressor. It is not the tormentors who think they rule. MY Kingdom will be established, even as I have spoken in My Word, and recorded by My prophets, centuries ago.

It will be My Word that will set the course of the nations. Even as man and the rulers of the nations think that they are moving mountains, they are but hills in My sight, and they themselves will be moved.

I am raising up a generation of young people who will look to their fathers and mothers for godly direction, for wisdom in how to advance, for righteous counsel in what they are being called to do. It is I, the Living God of Israel, Who will establish My purposes, My plans.

Those who have laughed at My people and at My words will not stand. They will see the right hand of God move, and remove, and build up the righteous foundations again.

The tide is turning. Because I am the Creator of the oceans and the mountains, and because they serve Me, I will use them in the natural as a forerunner of what I am doing in the spiritual."

Steve Martin

Founder

Love For His People. Inc.

Love For His People, Inc. is a charitable, not-for-profit USA humanitarian organization started in 2010 to share the love of the Father in the nations.

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Now Think On This #132  “The Tide Is Turning” by Steve Martin 

Date: In the year of our Lord 2014 (03.20.14) Thursday at 5:30 am in Charlotte, NC.

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J. Lee Grady - 6 Mentors Who Can Help You Grow Spiritually

J. Lee Grady - 6 Mentors Who Can 

Help You Grow Spiritually

CHARISMA MAGAZINE March 2014

God doesn’t want us to live in isolation. I realized many years ago that I desperately need people in my life in order to fulfill my purpose. My parents invested in me, and so did teachers, coaches, employers, pastors, role models and good friends. I am not self-made, and neither are you. Any success we have achieved is the result of someone taking time to instruct, encourage or correct us. That’s humbling!

Mentorship is a basic biblical principle. The book of Proverbs opens with an exhortation to listen not only to parents but also to the “words of the wise” (Prov. 1:6, NASB). Moses mentored Joshua, Naomi mentored Ruth, and Elijah mentored Elisha. Jesus spent most of His time teaching a small group of disciples. One of those, Peter, discipled his spiritual son, Mark (1 Pet. 5:13), who in turn wrote the Gospel of Mark based on Peter’s testimony.

The message of Christ is best transmitted through the process of mentoring. But this art has been lost in today’s church—partly because of family breakdown and partly because our celebrity-obsessed culture values self-effort and instant results. Mentoring is too slow for most of us because we prefer the overnight sensation. God’s kingdom is built through a tedious process we don’t have the patience for.

Yet I believe we can reclaim biblical discipleship. In fact, I’m convinced the church is shifting radically back to God’s original plan as we reject the program-driven, impersonal, televangelistic one-man show of the past season. Everywhere I go I find people who are hungry for authentic relationships that can help them become team players and mature mentors.

I’ve found six types of mentors who have helped me in my spiritual journey:

1. Distant mentors. British author Charles Spurgeon died in 1892, but I consider him a mentor because I read his books often. The same is true of other dead authors such as Andrew Murray and A.W. Tozer. You don’t have to know a person to receive instruction from them. I’ve never met author Henry Blackaby, but his books, especially Experiencing God, have profoundly influenced me.

2. Occasional mentors. Brother Andrew, the founder of the Open Doors ministry, became a hero to me after I read his book God’s Smuggler in the 1970s. Then in 2004, I had the privilege of interviewing him in his home in Holland. Some of the things he said to me that day still ring in my ears. I may never visit him again, but he made an eternal investment in my life.

3. Supportive friends. A mentor does not have to be 20 years older than you. I have a close group of peers who sometimes gather from four states just to pray for each other. We call this group “the band of brothers.” I am constantly on the phone with a few of them. We share prayer requests and offer advice—and we aren’t afraid to step on each others’ toes if necessary. You need friends like that to survive life’s challenges.

4. Negative mentors. Not everyone you meet is a good example. I have sometimes encountered people in positions of leadership who had serious flaws. Some had prideful attitudes; others had poor people skills; a few had selfish agendas. Rather than allowing myself to become bitter or judgmental, I studied their behavior and determined to avoid doing the same things. I said to myself, “Let this be a lesson. That is not how to lead.”

5. Reverse mentors. You can also learn from younger people. I invest in a lot of Timothys, and they love to ask me for counsel. But I sometimes flip roles and pick their brains. One of the guys I’m mentoring, Alex, is a tech geek—so I know he will have the answer when I have a question about my computer, my smartphone or the latest app. I also get regular feedback from the guys I’m mentoring because I want to know if I’m communicating in a way that is relevant to their generation. Sometimes the best way to mentor is to ask questions!

6. Spiritual fathers and mothers. God has used many different mentors in my life, but there are some who invested in me in a very personal way for a long span of time. One of them, Barry St. Clair, invited me to a discipleship group when I was only 15. He taught me the basics of the Christian life during those Bible studies in his basement, and we have stayed connected for 40 years. This month the two of us are doing a conference together in Atlanta! Barry has been a role model, counselor and spiritual father most of my life, and his investment in me has now been passed on to dozens of others.

If you don’t have mentors, I urge you to find them. If you are fortunate to have been mentored, then pay forward what you have received—and invest in someone else.

J. Lee Grady is the former editor of Charisma. You can follow him on Twitter at@leegrady. He is the author of 10 Lies Men Believe and other books.

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"Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord...Psalm 127:3 (Israel365)

Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord,  the fruit of the womb a reward.  PSALM (127:3) הִנֵּה נַחֲלַת יְ-הוָה בָּנִים שָׂכָר פְּרִי הַבָּטֶן תְּהִלִּים קכז:ג he-NAY na-kha-LAT ah-doe-NIE ba-NEEM sa-KHAR pe-REE ha-ba-TEN

Shabbat Inspiration Today's verse bestows acknowledgement upon God who blesses  His children with children and the privilege and responsibility to  raise and nurture them, all who are created in His image. The premier  pro-life organization in Israel, Save a Jewish Baby/EFRAT, has  found a simple solution to lower the number of abortions in the  Holy Land due to economic concerns of the parents. For up to t wo years, "Save a Jewish Baby" provides - to proven financially  needy families - everything from cribs to baby formula to food  and clothing. Take Part in Saving an Unborn Child in Israel » U.S. Congressman Praises EFRAT Watch the inspiring speech of U.S. Congressman Trent Franks,  a true Christian friend of Israel, speaking highly of Israel's  premiere pro-life organization, EFRAT. Watch it here » Pro-Life Group: Abolish Abortion Committees in Israel Recently the Knesset held a conference sponsored by the  Committee on the Status of Women and Gender Equality.  One of the main topics of discussion was the abolition of  governmental abortion panels in Israeli hospitals. Read More » Sterling Silver "Chai" Pendant and Chain Chai is the Hebrew word for "Life" and it is a traditional  symbol to show our strong value for life and future. Made  of sterling silver with a matching chain, this classic "Chai"  makes a beautiful necklace and statement. Get this Great Deal and Free Shipping » Today's Israel Photo Today's photo by Noam Chen captured an exuberant  moment in the life of children running towards their father,  in the Jewish quarter of the Old City, Jerusalem. More Noam Chen Photos » Thank You Today's Scenes and Inspiration is sponsored by  Josel Petrycer of Sweden in honor of his mother and father.  Sponsor a Day » "What a Precious Gift of Life"It’s great to hear from  so many of you - stay in touch and let us know where  in the world you are enjoying Israel365! Stay in Touch » Thank you Rabbi Tuly, I am so grateful that Israel is  saving her babies- what a precious gift of life! Also,  I so appreciate the Hebrew Scriptures every day:  you're helping me to keep my Hebrew fresh and  alive. Shalom and many blessings to you for your  ministry to us.  Connie from Canada I really appreciate Israel365. It is refreshing to see  the Shabbat Inspiration ...Toda raba, so enjoy  your emails!  -SJC Shabbat Shalom, Rabbi Tuly Weisz RabbiTuly@Israel365.com

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