Quotes from Stephen Kendrick

In 1 Thessalonians 5:17, we are encouraged to "pray without ceasing." This means never being far from the attitude or action of talking and listening to God. Prayer should be a natural part of our thinking. Not just in our worship but in our work. Not just in our quiet moments but also in our chaos. We pray because He's there. We pray because He's God. We pray because He cares.

If patience is how love reacts in order to minimize a negative circumstance, kidness is how love acts to maximize a positive circumstance. Patience avoids a problem; kidness creates a blessing.

When we pray in adoration, we stop focusing on ourselves and our storms, and start fixing our eyes on the only One who is fully able to handle any situation or request (2 Cor. 3:18).

Research shows that Christians are theologically losing the next generation. More than 90 percent of born-again kids today are rejecting the absolute truth their parents embrace. Respected apologist Josh McDowell explains it this way: "You can be the greatest explainer of truth. But if the very heart of your son or daughter does not believe 'my daddy loves me,' they will walk away from your truth."9

It always does what is best for others and can empower us to face the greatest of problems." (love)

Surprise your children today by doing some unexpected act of kindness. As they take note of your gesture, ask them to do something kind for someone else that is also unexpected.

Lordship is when "What does the Lord want?" trumps, "What do I want?

Praying with an unrepentant heart. The psalmist realized, "If I had cherished sin in my heart, the LORD would not have listened; but God has surely listened and heard my voice in prayer" (Psalm 66:18—19 NIV). Clinging to sin and stiff-arming God makes God stiff-arm us. If you hold on to sin and refuse to confess it, you cannot take full hold on God.

Can you imagine churches actually working together within a city to win the lost? Can you picture pastors unselfishly praying with other pastors, sharing resources among themselves without worrying about who gets the credit? Can you see your city becoming a place where outsiders

Praying with a lustful heart. "You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures" (James 4:3). God isn't fooled by prayers that are more about how we can fulfill our sinful desires than how we can honor Him and fulfill His purposes.

If God is your Father, you can count on the Holy Spirit to open your eyes and illumine His truth. He will burn it into your heart as you read the Bible, ingrain it into your thinking, live it out in obedience, and let Him continually keep you aligned with ultimate reality.

Sadly the majority of kids today are forsaking their church and faith after they graduate from high school. This is primarily the result of poor fathering. When dads lead spiritually, studies suggest that kids are up to twenty times more likely to stay in church long-term than when moms are the spiritual leaders at home.7