Steve Sikes Blog  

Isaiah 7:10-11 “Then the LORD spoke again to Ahaz, saying, ˜Ask a sign for yourself from the LORD your God; make it deep as Sheol or high as heaven.”
. In the last week I’ve listened to three children pray asking God to heal their daddy from cancer, and I’ve listened to prayers asking God to give a three year-old daughter a new heart.  Two different families; two HUGE prayer requests!
. Sometimes my prayers are pretty weak and shallow, even though I serve a Father in heaven who says that He is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think (Ephesians 3:20-21). 
. Just imagine a HUGE God who answers HUGE Prayers! 
.     On the other hand, NOT praying HUGE prayers tries the patience of God (Isaiah 7:12-13)! 
.     By the way, the parents’ HUGE prayer request for their daughter’s new heart was answered early Tuesday morning.  We now expectantly await God’s answer to the HUGE prayer request of three children for their daddy.
. PRAY HUGE!  GIGATTAATTGIG! 
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Last Sunday morning, Dr. Carl Brecheen shared with us that the Hebrew word, Shema, means “hear” or “listen.”  Listen to the beginning of the Shema in Deuteronomy 6:4-9:
. • You shall love Adonai your God
• With all your heart, with all your soul,
• And with all your might.
• And these words
• Which I command you today
• Shall be in your heart.
• You shall teach them diligently to your children
• And you shall speak of them
• When you are sitting at home
• And when you go on a journey
• When you lie down
• And when you rise up.
• You shall bind them as a sign on your hand
• And they shall be jewels between your eyes
• You shall inscribe them on the doorposts
• Of your house and on your gates.
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The SHEMA (pronounced shuh MAH) is the Jewish confession of faith which begins, “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one!” (Deut 6:4). The complete Shema is found in three passages from the Old Testament: Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Deuteronomy 11:13-21; and Numbers 15:37-41.
. According to Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary, “The first of these passages stresses the unity of God and the importance of loving Him and valuing His commands. The second passage promises blessing or punishment according to a person’s obedience of God’s will. The third passage commands that a fringe be worn on the edge of one’s garments as a continual reminder of God’s laws. This collection of verses makes up one of the most ancient features of worship among the Jewish people.”
In Deuteronomy 6, an inspired Moses gives at least SEVEN very good reasons why the Jews were to daily follow the Shema.  Observing and obeying the Shema for the Jew was literally the difference between life and death!
. Why observe?  HEAR THOU:
1. So you won’t forget the Lord who delivered you! (6:12)
2. So you will fear only the Lord your God and worship and revere Him! (6:13)
3. So you will NOT follow after any other gods! (6:14)
4. So you won’t be wiped off the face of the earth! (6:15)
5. So you won’t test God! (6:16)
6. So it may go well with you! (6:17-18)
7. So you can share your faith story of deliverance with your children! (6:20-25)
. What does any of this have to do with us today?  LISTEN to Jesus in Matthew 22:37-40; “‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’  This is the great and foremost commandment.  The second is like it, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.”
. He who has ears to hear, let him ‘SHEMA’!  God is good all the time!  Steve

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We both grew up in Southwest Oklahoma; my parents and his parents were spiritual leaders in the same church family.  Twenty years later, I was married to Patti and he was married to Smitty.  I knew him by reputation as being part of one of the best marriage enrichment (Brecheen-Faulkner) tandems ever put together.  Patti & I were blessed to attend several of their seminars.  In 1990, Carl was a professor at ACU and I was a graduate student and full-time preacher.  After my graduation, Carl asked if he could mentor me in presenting marriage enrichment seminars.  We worked together between the years 1992-1996.  God is good all the time!
. It is not often you are blessed to work side-by-side with one of your heroes of faith; I have been blessed!  Here are FIVE wisdom nuggets I received from Carl over the years.  They’ve made a positive difference in my marriage/parenting. 
. 1. Read a chapter of Proverbs to your family every day.  (Whatever day of the month it is, read that particular chapter. Today is July 12, so read Prov. 12 & discuss).
    .
2. Remember the four most important minutes of the day!
    .
3. Pray.  Pray.  Pray.  (Ask me about the four minutes!)
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4. Enrich your marriage by going to a marriage seminar, encounter, or get-away with your spouse every year.
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5. Lead!  (Carl gave me my 1st copy of Point Man in 1992.)
. Thank You, God, for Carl & Smitty!  “Give Me Five!”  Steve