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redpiperfox · 6 months ago

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If I listened out everything I've walked through, objectively, this past semester, I think it might seem like the hardest several months you've ever heard from me.

It might sound overwhelming and horrible and that I'm barely treading water, and at the time of writing this, I will admit that it feels like I'm failing in most areas of life and the areas I'm not are so sorely misunderstood, misrepresented, and misconstrued that they feel like added burdens to my troubles.

But I had known some of this burden coming into the semester. I had realized, and accordingly, run to where my strength comes from, and carefully kept connections only to where I knew God's wisdom and grace would come from. God decided that I wouldn't be able to attend church much this semester. He decided to push my confidence in my own skills to the edge. He broke down my pride and slowly builds it into something more solid, firm in humility. And He also put my support systems through some of the hardest, most stressful stretches of life. He overwhelmed and tested people around me, in times where I did not even feel adequate to turn around and support them.

He gave me a warning bell of the final lap my grandpa has on this side of eternity. Label it "dying" if you will, but my grandpa's been "dying" for 15 years and altho he's only just lost his license to drive, can still out talk everyone around him. [Edit before this posts: Grandpa died a month later. We were in his hospital rooms, his final breath literally on my mom's face. We were singing and praying for two hours around his body after. It was sacred and holy in ways I cannot describe. I took an exam and did a final presentation the day after and with my sister and cousin, the three grandchildren gave eulogies that weekend. And then I went into finals week. A series of details that doesn't seem like I should attach the word "precious" to them, but I do.]

My God sounds like He's robbing me, doesn't He? If I list the facts, it sounds like a horrid trial. I don't think that idea had ever crossed my mind until I realized I didn't have the words to explain my last little lifetime without someone looking at me in horror.

So here is my attempt:

I had been talking to my sister, about the importance of giving children solid "affirmations" to hold onto, not just for them in that moment, because they will not understand it fully then, but more for the person they will grow into, small and scared and in a big chaotic world. Let me give an example of a good one:

"My God is so big. So strong and so mighty, there's nothing my God cannot do."

Nothing? How often do we think about that I wonder, and what it implies? Nothing? So then the things that I wanted Him to do that did not come to pass.... not because He cannot... and if He will not, and I know He works all things together for His children's good and His glory, and my chief end is to glorify Him... hmm... not something a preschooler thinks, but when we do?

Or how about:

"Jesus loves me, this I know. For the Bible tells me so. Little ones to Him belong. They are weak but He is strong!"

That second one covers the sufficiency of scripture, the power and grace of God, and our inadequacy in our own will. Human depravity, God's sufficiency, Christ's work in justification, sanctification, and glorification, that's a whole theological lecture in there! A rhyme and affirmation the preschooler might declare and believe simply and wholeheartedly, but might make the early adult stumble a little. Faith like a child looks a little harder than it sounds now.

Now for this song I picked and my little life update to finally make sense.

Those truths? Those affirmations and beliefs and intellect? Your brain is a muscle you strengthen or lose, and the intellect of faith is no different. Fighting the good fight and the race well run is a path of God renewing His child, in His child's deepening desire to look to Him and know Him more. Because knowing Him more is going from "My God is so Big" between two little hands, to "My God is so Big" in seeing His handiwork in each and every little detail.

The practice of seeing God weaving Christ from Genesis to Revalation, is to suddenly see it from your birth to death. The study of David and all his sin and God using him to lead a nation He set apart from the rest for His purposes, is to see God working through a sinful preacher's words and a stumbling Church's hands, and building a community of His purposes of reaching to save.

So I entered this semester like that. Knowing I would be stripped and exhausted and stretched thin and lost for words. Knowing that even this moment where I'm struck with the clarity of a thousand words would be rare and far between. Knowing my flesh and weakness would roar an uglier shade than I care to admit, and I would hear myself saying self-pitying loops when I could barely keep my eyes open, or keep my fingers from complaining.

So I did what anyone with forsight does, and I storm-weathered.

I hate complaining. It has no business in a Christian's life. To complain is to question a perfect God's perfect plan and call it imperfect and inadequate, because from who else does all detail flow? It is to claim wisdom over the wisdom-giver. But it is easy, and it is easy in the company of other sore hearts. And where the tongue writes it goads the heart, so that the heart gives black, bloody ink to the tongue, and a vicious cycle of digging yourself to a hole where God is suddenly nowhere in sight is done rather easily. And I personally decided I needed to learn to guard the pattern of my tongue, and till I did, I needed to guard where my tongue had power. Which is why, when I am full of praise, like a child validating good behavior, I make extra effort to pour out my words fully and true-- not because I have mastered any art or claim any pride in it, but because it is a good practice for me to guard my heart "desperately deceitful above all else, who can know it?" And then I fed my heart from a fresh well that promises to never run dry, and my lens of the world grew brighter.

So yes. These past months have been hard, truthfully objective. It has been trying and draining and there are days I have felt like drowning.

But thanks be to the God of wonderous mercies. Who promises to answer when we call, and urges me to call upon Him more. Who carries me when I don't look upon Him. Who weaves a tapestry more magnificent than I can imagine, to be revealed on the other side of eternity.

Job never learned why He was robbed so severely. He never needed to. God showed him something better. He showed Himself. And to see God in everything? What more do I need to see than heaven's light leaving fingerprints and blooming flowers for me to pick?

So I say, having walked these months with my eyes searching and never failing to find My God, that these have been the dearest, most precious months, and lift up a song of thanksgiving, over how He has blessed me, time and time again, in my shortcoming and in my weakness, in my heart and in my testimony of witness, may it be that He was lifted high.

#red's personal sitcom #red's week in music #red qu(eu)te #red's thoughts #and i will say that i cried bitter tears the day i write this. i even talked to resolve and was given an apology but not to completeness.#But God #i brought my bitter to the throne of grace and laid them down in confession where forgiveness is given with mercy and i lay my head in peac #it is not in the absence of my emotion but in the fullness of my recognition of where they must submit to. and to there i will submit them #and am given a peace that surpasses all understanding and as promised guards both soul and mind #i def dropped scripture the whole essay and didnt quote lol may go back and fix may not XD #Spotify

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gatekeeper-watchman · 8 months ago

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Daily Devotionals for March 8, 2024

Proverbs: God's Wisdom for Daily Living

Devotional Scripture:

Proverbs 11:1-3(KJV): 1 A false balance is an abomination to the LORD: but a just weight is his delight. 2 When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom. 3 The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them.

Thought for the Day

Verse 1 - In Biblical times, much of the trade was done by weighing items on a pair of scales. While the item to be purchased was placed on one of the trays, the other tray held a corresponding weight and when the scales were balanced the amount could be determined. Since the item was sold by quantity, and the price was determined by weight, a fair and equitable price was established. However, just as we have crooks today, some traders tampered with the weights causing the customer to pay for more than they were getting. The weights were unjust, which resulted in a false balance or standard. The Lord says that a false balance is an abomination to Him because it is cheating. Our God is a just God, so He loves justice and equity. He wants all of His children to be fair and just too, and never cheat each other in any way.

Cheating is a major problem in America. Students cheat on tests and fail to gain the knowledge that their diplomas say they have. Citizens cheat when filing income taxes, leaving others with their share of the tax burden. Businessmen cheat by overcharging for an item, making its market price unstable. Many cheats by making contracts in their favor rather than contracts equitable for both parties. Adults cheat on their spouses by having affairs. Children cheat to win games. No one likes to be cheated, but just about everyone has cheated at some time or other and been cheated in some way. The only remedy is asking the Lord to forgive us and cleanse us of dishonesty. "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:8-9). After we receive His forgiveness, we must ask anyone whom we have cheated or defrauded to forgive us and restore what we took wrongfully.

We must forgive those who have taken advantage of us. "For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: but if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses" (Matthew 6:14). We are told to pray for them (Matthew 5:44-45) and to overcome evil with good (Romans 12:19-21). By harboring unforgiveness in our hearts, we become bitter. This attitude will destroy us. We must learn to give our hurts to Jesus and ask Him to forgive those who wrong us. He is their judge, as He is ours, and He judges all people with equity. He alone can see what really happens in every situation and see the motives of our hearts. He is the final Judge of men's affairs. "...Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?" (Genesis 18:25).

Verses 2-3 - If we take a humble position, we will gain wisdom. But if we remain proud and arrogant, it is to our shame. Integrity will guide us if we walk in it, but perversity (going one's way) destroys us. Integrity lifts a person up.

Prayer Devotional for the Day

Daily Devotionals for March 8, 2024

Proverbs: God's Wisdom for Daily Living

Devotional Scripture:

Thought for the Day

Prayer Devotional for the Day

Dear Father, thank you for the love and forgiveness that You show us daily. Lord, help us to overcome any sin that the enemy tempts us to engage in. Lord, forgive us for the times we fail You. We also forgive those who have hurt us and sinned against us. May they come to repentance so that they might know Your forgiving love too. We all need Your love and mercy. Lord Jesus, be merciful to our family and our friends. Watch over our children and our grandchildren and keep them from harm. Guide us daily in the right path so that we do not stray from the straight and narrow. I ask this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. From: Steven P. Miller @ParkermillerQ, gatekeeperwatchman.org Founder of Gatekeeper-Watchman International Groups, Thursday, March 7, 2024, Jacksonville, Florida., USA. X ... @ParkermillerQ #GWIG, #GWIN, #GWINGO, #Ephraim1, #IAM, #Sparkermiller, #Eldermiller1981 Founder on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Sparkermiller.JAX.FL.USA

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perpetual-help · 2 years ago

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Hello, I am someone who has not considered themselves a Christian for quite some time, but as an adult I decided to do an actual deep dive (study scripture, read theory) to see what I think and whether I feel anything. I agree with almost all of Jesus' teachings, in fact I think Jesus is an incredible person and I have no problems with him at all. It's God I take issue with.

As a practicing Christian, how do you feel about all the objectively terrible things God has done? Like killing all the first born sons of the Egyptians. Like even if everyone adult in Egypt were terrible people, what did the children and babies do that could justify God just killing them? Especially since they wouldn't go to heaven since they weren't believers. Like I get that a lot of what God thinks and does would be totally beyond our comprehension, like ants trying to understand the human mind. I just can't in good conscience worship a god that is supposed to be perfect but is clearly not. This is in good faith and I genuinely want to know how you feel about this.

Before I answer the Exodus question specifically, I’d just like to clarify that even if God did kill any of us for any reason, it would not be considered evil. It IS evil for any one of us to murder another, but this is because, when we as humans engage in killing, we rob a person of their God-given life. God-given is the keyword here. All life is created by and consequently belongs entirely to God. As such, it is His right to deem when and how any of us might perish. On that note, it would be well within God’s capabilities and right to say “none of you are worth it” and eradicate all of us, but He doesn’t. That simple fact, in and of itself, stands witness to the long-suffering Love Our Creator extends to us every single day we sin against Him. Not only that, but He loved us to the point of suffering and death on a cross.

God’s Nature is such that no evil can exist within it. This has always been the case. He did not suddenly change from one God into another. He has always been and always will be a Loving, Merciful, and Just God. Everything that happens to us in this world is according to His hidden Justice. This is true and evident in the Old Testament (where He promised us a Savior despite our disobedience towards Him) and the New Testament (where He has given us His only begotten Son.)

As for how I feel about what took place in the Old Testament, the answer is confident in the Goodness and Justice of God. I’ve learned that the Old Testament is a compilation of historical literature written so that the people of the time would understand. There are many parts that weren’t meant to be taken literally. If we look at passages that talk about God “hardening the heart” of the pharaoh, etc, given what has been revealed to us since this was written, it makes more sense that God actually withdrew His graces from pharaoh and the Egyptian people so that they would feel the consequences of their disobedience and sin. I feel this is a startling, but much-needed reminder that every sin we commit is felt by the whole; and there is no action we commit, be it virtuous or sinful, that does not ultimately effect the entire body.

I’m glad to know you’re reading scripture and I hope you continue to do so! You may find it helpful to use a Bible study guide, especially with the passages in the Old Testament. I’m sorry for the lateness of my response, but I hope this satisfied the question. God bless you. I’ll be praying for you on your journey. ❤️

#asks

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lucreziasredwyne · 2 years ago

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THE OLD WAY AND THE OLD FAITH ; A branch of the Andal Faith of the Seven, except those belonging to ‘the Old Way’ are Rhoynish in ancient origin. They speak the Old Tongue, which is essentially dialects of modern day Turkish and Arabic.

ooc: below the read more are the notes that can be found on discord.

life is seen as a test; hardship is expected. this world is temporary. there is one shot at life, and you will be judged at the end of it. on each of your shoulders are angels who write down your good deeds and your bad deeds, and these determine whether you go to the heavens or hells at the end of your life. to die before you become an adult means one is automatically within the gardens of heaven.

the only place where statues are allowed are in the septs. it is forbidden to have statues of the gods outside of septs, as it is not the statues you are praying to, but their presence. to avoid idolatry and the statues themselves being seen as gods, statues are allowed only in septs.

there is a strong preference to read the scripture of the seven in the old tongue, i.e turkish and arabic. it is believed one is closer to the gods that way, however there is no issue with hearing the high septon speak in the common tongue. there is always a member of the most devote that is of the old way.

furthermore, the greeting "salaam" meaning "peace," or more formally, "as salamu alaykum" which literally translates to "peace be upon you." instead of saying "hello," you wish peace upon the other, hope they are in a peaceful state. both are equally fine. - there is high stress on cleanliness being linked to virtue and dignity; it is considered godly to be clean. modesty is also stressed when in prayer; it is common for a woman to wear a veil over her hair when she is in prayer, and men are expected to ensure their sleeves are long.

the gods have 99 names in the old way faith. it is not the 99 different gods; they are just 99 names for the same seven gods.

no pork. no pig is eaten. absolutely not.

in the month before the harvest festival, there is a holy month, called layat-al-ikhlas. people fast from sunrise to sunset. it is generally expected, however one does not face the shunning of society for this. it is during this time one is supposed to focus on grounding themselves, becoming more godly and grateful, further develop self-discipline and giving alms to the poor. drinking is also prohibited at this time. the old, the sick, young children and pregnant women are not expected to fast. it is a family event, and meant to be very communal. giving to charity and the homeless is very important. especially during layat-al-ikhlas - your fast does not count if you are not giving to charity and feeding the poor. during the holy month of layat-al-ikhlas, women do not fast when they are on their period. they are expected to make these days up any other month, before next year.

prayers are very important. one is expected to pray three times a day, in the morning, in the afternoon, and at night. one prays on prayer mats.

there is the belief that the gods created people in pairs, and to marry, is to ultimately complete half of your dedication to the gods.

to marry a woman, a man must give her the mahr. this is a dowry for the woman. she can ask for whatever she pleases.

in the moment of birth, as soon as it is seen as suitable to do so, it is expected someone whispers a prayer of protection within the right ear of the baby; it is usually the father, however if not present, anyone is able to do it. it is seen as important to do.

one is encouraged to try and say "to the gods we belong and to the gods we return" before they die. if not, those present for the funeral rites will be the ones to say it. funeral rites are prayed together, before the men go to bury the deceased. women do not go to bury the dead. it is believed the angel of death is what takes departed souls. pregnant women are not to attend any funeral or death rites. big no no. doesn't matter if it is your own mother/father/husband/brother that has died, if you are with child. you do not attend - it is believed to be bad for the child's soul/wellbeing to be around death.

the concept of mercy is mentioned at least 348 times in scripture.

men have no right to a woman's money. however a woman has a right to a man's money.

#the old way.#finally got it out here!!! feel free to reblog

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troybeecham · 1 year ago

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Today, the Church remembers the the visit of the Blessed Virgin Mary the mother of Jesus to her cousin Elizabeth the mother of John the Baptist as recorded in the Gospel of Luke 1:39–56.

Traditionallly, Mary, a young Jewish girl who was little more than an adolescent by today's standards, (probably around the age of 13, the traditional age of transition from child to adult and the age for getting married) when she left Nazareth after the Annunciation of the angel Gabriel that she, though a virgin, would bear the Son of God, and her pregnancy had become visible.

Her pregnancy was complicated for many reasons, mostly because she was unmarried, though betrothed, and Luke records that she went "into the hill country...into a city of Judah" to attend to her cousin Elizabeth. Elizabeth was in the sixth month of her pregnancy before Mary came. Mary stayed three months, and most scholars hold she stayed for the birth of John. Given the prevailing cultural traditions and needs for security, etc., it is probable that Joseph accompanied Mary to Judah then returned to Nazareth, and came again after three months to take Mary back to their home. The visitation of the angel Gabriel to Joseph, mentioned in Matthew 1:19–25, may have taken place when she was with Elizabeth to end the tormenting doubts of Joseph regarding Mary's maternity.

It is traditionally held that the purpose of this visit was to bring divine grace to both Elizabeth and her unborn child. Even though he was still in his mother's womb, John became aware of the presence of the Son of God, Jesus, and leapt for joy, being filled with Holy Spirit. In this one line of Scripture, we can see the clear teaching of Scripture that unborn children, no matter the stage of development, are fully human and capable of knowing and responding to the presence of God. The ongoing clinical murder of unborn children is an unspeakable evil, and we must pray for God to have mercy on us and give us his Spirit to transform our minds to recognize this truth, that at conception we are fully human, made in the image of God, and must be protected and nurtured in love.

Elizabeth also responded similarly and recognized the presence of Jesus, at which she [Elizabeth] spoke out with a loud voice, and said, "Hail, Mary, full of grace! Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord."

In response to Elizabeth, Mary proclaims the Magnificat:

"My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior.

For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name. And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.

He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.

He hath helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy; As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever."

Blessed indeed is she who believed the promise of the Lord, and blessed is he, Joseph, who also believed the promise of the Lord.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary, Bearer of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Father in heaven, by your grace the virgin mother of your incarnate Son was blessed in bearing him, but still more blessed in keeping your word: Grant us who honor the exaltation of her lowliness to follow the example of her devotion to your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.

Amen.

#father troy beecham #christianity #jesus #saints #god #salvation #peace #faith #early church #new testament #blessesd virgin mary

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yhwhrulz · 3 months ago

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Wayside Chapel Daily Devotional 25th August 2024

8/25 Proverbs 22:6

6 Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.

Making disciples of all the world begins at home. It is our responsibility to demonstrate the love and justice of our heavenly Father to our children. Many adults have a great difficulty thinking of God as a father because of the horrible example set by their earthly father. A loving, involved, and caring earthly father goes a long way in drawing the child toward their heavenly Father.

When Apostle Paul lists the qualifications for elders in the New Testament, he says they must keep their children in submission (1 Timothy 3:4). Real love will discipline, but will do so with a broken heart. Lack of discipline or heartless discipline will drive the child from a relationship with the Lord.

Times of prayer and devotional thoughts from Scripture should be a part of your family's routine. The children should see you in your own personal times of prayer and devotion, not because you do it for them to see, but because it is your godly habit. If spiritual disciplines are not a part of your life, how can you teach your children to practice them?

Regular church and Bible study attendance is on the wane in America and along with it is a cultural decline. I often find the parents saying that they don't want to force their children to go, or taking them to a different church where they simply play games. Listening to Biblical preaching or a Scripture centered Sunday school and talking about it after the service and throughout the week will give your older children a hunger for God's word. They will resist, but it is part of their spiritual training.

Consider: It is a parent's greatest joy to lead their children to pray for salvation and a relationship with Jesus. That is just the beginning. Then we must help them see what that means by our daily lives.

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stopdrunkdriving · 1 year ago

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7 Tips for Teaching the Bible to Children

New Post has been published on https://drunkdriving.co.za/7-tips-for-teaching-the-bible-to-children/

7 Tips for Teaching the Bible to Children

June 12, 2023

by:

Douglas Sean O’Donnell

This article is part of the 7 Tips series.

Helping Kids Understand the Bible

“Why do we have to read the Bible, Daddy? It’s such a big book and hard to understand.”

As a father of five and a pastor for over two decades, I have heard a lot of good, honest questions from bright, inquisitive children. How would you answer this question or others like it? In this short article, I’ll answer that question in a roundabout way. More directly, I’ll answer the question, “Based on your experience, what tips would you offer on teaching the Bible to children?”

1. Start with prayer, and pray without ceasing.

First and foremost, pray. Pray that the Spirit will help you understand as you study the passage you are teaching on. Pray that the Spirit would give you the words to say. Pray over your lesson plan. Pray for the children by name. And pray when you gather as a family, church family, or class. Model to the children dependence on God’s guidance and wisdom in the study of his Word.

2. Practice what you preach.

Speaking of modeling, practice what you preach. That is, if you want your children, or the children you teach, to want to learn what the Bible has to say, you must let them see you reading and delighting in the Word. I’ve always been an early riser; my daughter Evelyn too! When she was a toddler, she would wake up a few minutes after I did, come down the stairs and find me in my chair with a coffee in one hand and a Bible in the other. I would get up and make her hot chocolate. She would sit quietly next to me (she is one of those who still is a quiet one!) and drink her sweet brew as I read. I don’t know for certain what she felt or thought each morning, but I know that when she heard me preach on Sundays about how important the Bible is she knew that I meant it because she saw my morning routine day after day for years. To effectively teach children, model the habits that you want to instill in them.

3. Focus on the text.

Don’t stray from the text. As teachers of little ones who live in a world with a barrage of constant entertainment, it is tempting to spend little time on the text of Scripture. But without hearing from God through God’s Word, there is no hope of them hearing the transforming news of the gospel, which is what they need most.

4. Make your Bible teaching interactive and interesting.

Brainstorm ways to include interactive and interesting components into your Bible teaching! Because children are young (their brains are still developing) and have shorter attention spans (perhaps not much shorter than most adults today!), they will struggle to understand complex concepts—like how every human being throughout all history is guilty because of Adam’s first sin. So, use simple language, avoid overwhelming them with too much information, break up stories or sections of the Bible into manageable units, and allow them to interact with you as you interact with them. Share what you found interesting or challenging. If it interests you, it will likely interest them. Ask them questions. Play games. Create crafts. Use props or other visual aids. Sing songs. Act out Bible stories. Engage their emotions and bodies through the five senses. When kids are actively involved in the learning process, they are more likely to remember what they have learned.

To effectively teach children, model the habits that you want to instill in them.

5. Apply it.

Connect the Bible to everyday life. Help children understand how the lessons you cover apply directly to the issues they face. This could include how they relate to people in authority—like their parents, teachers, pastors, or police. It could also include practical steps on how to be kind to someone who is difficult to play with, or how to ask for forgiveness when they have done something wrong. When children see how the Bible is relevant to their lives, they are more likely to engage with it and listen to its words of wisdom.

6. Be consistent.

Consistency is key when it comes to teaching children. When it is time for the lesson, it is important that teachers establish a regular routine and stick with it. It could be that you start with a fun activity, move to storytime, then the lesson, followed by a craft. When children know what to expect, they are more likely to be receptive.

7. Keep it fun!

The devil hates when God’s people are happy. So, be happy! Have some fun! Teaching the Bible to children (or everyone, but especially children!) should be both enjoyable for you and them. Other than the sure-to-be fun crafts, songs, and games that are tied directly to the text and lesson, feel free to start or end, or stop midway, and just have fun for fun’s sake.

A Deep and Lasting Relationship with God

Teaching the Bible to children can be a great challenge, but, if done well, it will be deeply rewarding. By modeling your dedication for God’s Word; creating a consistent routine; teaching the Bible text; connecting the lesson to real life (their real lives!); making it interactive, interesting, and fun; and praying together, you can help children grow in their knowledge of and love for God’s Word, as you also equip them with the tools they need to grow in their faith and make a positive impact within their home and in their community. Moreover, and more importantly, you can help them develop a deep and lasting relationship with God.

Douglas Sean O’Donnell is a contributor to The Biggest Story Curriculum.

Douglas Sean O’Donnell (PhD, University of Aberdeen) is the senior vice president of Bible editorial at Crossway. He is the author and editor of over a dozen books, including The Beginning and End of Wisdom; The Pastor’s Book; The Song of Solomon and Matthew in the Preaching the Word commentary series; and Psalms in the Knowing the Bible series. He also contributed the Song of Solomon and Job to the ESV Expository Commentary.

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josenoelrobles · 6 months ago

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Divine Timing: Trusting God's Plan Over Ours

Introduction What if the answers to your prayers are delayed because you're not ready for them? It's a provocative thought that can shake the foundations of your faith and patience. The idea that God still answers prayers but in His own time, not ours, is both comforting and frustrating. But what does it really mean to wait on divine timing, and how can we align ourselves with this profound yet challenging concept? Personal Experience I don't know about you but I am the type of person that I want what I want now. I don't like to wait for anything or anyone. And that mentally has cost me a lot of pain, frustrations, and disappointments. One of my biggest prayers to God is to allow me to restore my relationship with my older kids. You see, I have screwed up in life many times, with many things and with many people. And one of those people affected by my decisions and behavior is my kids. I have 3 young adult children that unfortunately I don't have any relationship with. And it is all my fault. I have tried to reconnect with them on multiple occasions but at the moment I have not been successful. The wounds that I created in them perhaps are too big and they still need more time to heal. But I have faith that one day we will be all eating at the same table and spending time as a family creating new and better memories. To me, the idea that I would spend some time with any of my older kids was far away. I thought that perhaps when they were older and had their own kids and family and realized that being a parent is not easy; then they would give me an opportunity and forgive me and try to restore our relationship. Despite that, I prayed constantly to God for the chance to see them and spend time with them. To my surprise that prayer was answered a lot sooner than expected. Out of nowhere, my daughter texted my wife and communicated to her that she wanted to come and visit. When my wife told me this my heart wanted to come out of my chest. My wife asked from what time to what time? And it so happens that she wants to spend 2 weeks with us. I went and bought the plane tickets immediately. The crazy and beautiful thing is that during those weeks that she will be here, I will be celebrating my 40th birthday. What a beautiful gift from God and from my daughter. I couldn't ask for any better. You see, to me this was something that if it happened, it was going to happen years from now when they were older and with their own families. To God was now; a gift for my 40th birthday. God still answers prayers and performs miracles. He just does it on His time. He knows us and knows the future. He knows what we need and when we need it. As the song says; I don't know what are you doing but I know what you have done. We have to believe that God has our back. If we have not received what we want and our prayers have not been answered yet, don't stop praying. Instead, press in and ask God what is it that He is trying to teach you while you wait. The Data: Facts and Figures The intersection of faith and timing is a subject of interest not just in spiritual circles but also in psychological studies. A Pew Research Center survey found that 55% of Americans pray daily, seeking comfort and answers. However, the concept of delayed gratification, as explored in the famous Stanford Marshmallow Experiment, shows that the ability to wait and trust in future rewards is linked to greater success and emotional stability. From a theological perspective, numerous scriptures highlight the importance of patience and trust in God's timing. For example, Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, "To everything, there is a season and a time for every matter under heaven." This reinforces the belief that there is a divine schedule beyond our understanding. The Problem: Struggling with Divine Timing Problem 1: Impatience and Frustration In a fast-paced world where instant gratification is the norm, waiting for answers can be incredibly frustrating. This impatience can lead to feelings of despair and doubt. Problem 2: Misinterpretation of Delays Delays in answers to prayers are often misinterpreted as rejections or signs of unworthiness, leading to a crisis of faith. Problem 3: Lack of Control Humans have an inherent desire to control their destiny. Trusting in divine timing requires relinquishing control, which can be a significant psychological hurdle. The Solution: Embracing Divine Timing Step 1: Cultivate Patience and Trust Patience is a virtue that can be developed through mindfulness practices, meditation, and reflective prayer. By focusing on the present and trusting in a higher power, you can alleviate the anxiety of waiting. Step 2: Reflect on Past Experiences Look back on times when delays worked in your favor. Personal testimonies and biblical stories, like that of Abraham and Sarah waiting for Isaac, can provide reassurance and perspective. Step 3: Seek Spiritual Guidance Engage with spiritual mentors, pastors, or support groups. These individuals can offer wisdom and help you navigate periods of waiting with faith and optimism. Step 4: Focus on Personal Growth Use the waiting period as an opportunity for self-improvement. Engage in activities that enhance your skills, knowledge, and spiritual maturity. This proactive approach can make the waiting period more productive and less burdensome. Step 5: Surrender Control Practice surrendering control through prayer and meditation. Acknowledge that some aspects of life are beyond your control and trust that a higher power has a plan for you. Conclusion Trusting in God's timing is a profound act of faith that requires patience, reflection, and a willingness to surrender control. By cultivating these virtues and focusing on personal growth, you can navigate the periods of waiting with grace and confidence. Remember, God’s answers may not come when you want them, but they will always arrive at the perfect time. Read the full article

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yokefellows · 6 months ago

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Teaching Children

Today’s Saying

Pray that God will show you how to teach your children that life is meant to be lived for God.

Today’s Scripture

For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

1 Corinthians 6:20

Today’s Sermonette

How many times between the ages of three and ten do children have to answer the only two questions adults can think of to ask them: How old are you? and What are you going to be when you grow up?

The second question may seem innocuous, but is it?

In the first place, many children may be distressed at being required to make a choice which is far beyond them.

In the second place, it implies that the choice is theirs. This can lead to great confusion later on.

The child will grow up physically, but spiritually he will not have begun until he learns that Jesus died not only to save him from sin but in order that he should live not for himself but for Him who died (see 2 Corinthians 5:15 and l John 3:16).

If a young person has been taught from childhood that he ought to "be something" without at the same time being shown that nothing is better than being God's servant, he may be preoccupied with ambitions and ideals he has gotten solely from the world.

If his conception of "where it's at" has nothing to do with the Kingdom of God, he is in for trouble when it comes time to discern the Will of God.

He will be setting limits to his obedience, defining

the terms of his service. "For My sake" is a concept children can grasp much earlier than we generally suppose.

Pray that God will show you how to teach your children that life is meant to be lived for God.

"You are not the owner of your own body. You have been bought, and at what a price! Therefore bring glory to God in your body" (1 Corinthians 6:20, PHILLIPS).

Help your child to understand that the Lord is his Shepherd, and he is a little lamb. The Shepherd will gladly show him the right pathway if he is willing to follow.

Today’s Supplication

Father, show us how to teach our children that life is meant to be lived for You. Because we are not the owners of our own bodies, we have been bought with the unblemished blood of Jesus and therefore to bring glory to You in our bodies. Amen!

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domesticfashionista · 6 months ago

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Faith in Children

Their research showed four critical outcomes:

A person’s moral foundations are generally in place by the time they reach age 9.

Determinations regarding the personal significance of Christ’s death and resurrection are most likely to be made by age 12.

In most cases people’s spiritual beliefs are irrevocably formed when they are pre-teens.

Today’s adult church leaders usually have serious involvement in church life when they are young.

Families and church working together: The Barna study also concluded: “In situations where children become mature Christians, we usually find a symbiotic partnership between their parents and their church.” Neither the parents nor the church could have done it alone. If you only attend church 2x per month, that leads to 30 hours per year at church, and you will likely have 5,000 hours per year at home.

So, what does that mean for us as parents?

How to create intentionality at home: ● Leading by example - You are your child’s biggest role model. They will emulate you even when you think they aren’t paying attention. ● Start speaking biblical truths over them now. ● Pray scripture over them, let them hear you pray for them and their future. ● Make your family's spiritual health a priority through spiritual disciplines such as joining a connect group, personal Bible study and regular church attendance. Just as you talk with your spouse about how family discipline should happen, you should also discuss, as a couple, your spiritual disciplines. ● Be transparent about your faith. Just going to church and praying before bedtime will likely not be enough of an example to your child. Share your own struggles, trials, and tests of faith ● Expose them to the joy of knowing God personally by sharing what He’s doing in your life.

How to create intentionality in your surroundings: ● Plan on getting to know all the people in your child’s life early on! Even the children in their Sunday school class will move up through life with them. Your kids will grow with these kids. Meet the parents, arrange playdates, etc. ● Get to know church and school staff. The more involved you are in your child’s day to day life and the people they interact with, the more influence you will have on what they get to see. This gives you insight on how to parent through some of the culture they experience. ● The culture is changing at a rapid pace. It is ok to not fall into everything culture does. Trust your instincts! Setting boundaries now while your child is young creates security for them. They need to know they are safe and what the rules are. ● Get plugged in at church, through Connect Groups, serving, and setting the example of generosity. Expose them to the presence and power of God in His church. Set the example by making church a habit.

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ultrajustjo · 9 months ago

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Of Loving Grace

Word of the day: Covenant

I am deviating from my exploration of visual and aural art to share this sermon mini-series -- a dive into the art of preaching. What follows is a youth sermon, the readings, and a sermon and prayer for the first Sunday of Lent.

Youth

[Before beginning, I distributed shakers and bells to the youth. Unfortunately, that day only adults attended, so I walked among them and asked for volunteer children. I found many! Adults without shakers or bells were invited to use jazz hands or to use ASL for “excited!” or “yay!” when I said the word “Alleluiah.”]

Welcome friends. Brr, it’s cold out today. Can you tell me what season we are in? Winter! Winter will end next month, but we are definitely in the middle of winter right now. We know all four season? Fall, spring, summer, winter. Do you have a favorite, or do you like them all?

Most Christians around the world also follow a church calendar which has different seasons. The church seasons are Advent before Christmas, then Christmas season, after that we have ordinary time, Lent, Easter season, and then ordinary time, again, in the summer. This last Wednesday, we entered the season of Lent. It’s kind of a sad and quiet season because we are preparing our hearts to think about how Jesus died before he came back from the dead. When someone dies, it is sad and we do miss them. But, we have hope that the sad time does not last forever and that we will live with God. The reason we have that hope is because of Easter! On Easter, we celebrate Jesus rising from the dead! Not only did he die then come back, Jesus kept teaching us about God, and now he still lives at the right hand of God. Easter is a happy time for the church! We say Alleluiah! (shake bells)

Here is a quick fact: Sundays are not part of the quiet season of Lent. On Sundays, we all come together to celebrate that Jesus, God’s son, was alive after he died and sits at the right hand of God. That makes each Sunday a little Easter. Today, like every Sunday, is a celebration! Even though the rest of the week is in the church season of Lent, today is the day we come together to thank God for loving us, and for sending Jesus to teach us about that love. And we all say, “Alleluia!” (shake bells)

Let’s pray together: Dear God (Dear God), thank you for loving us. Thank you for loving us when we’re sad. Thank you for sending Jesus to teach us. Amen.

Scripture for Feb. 18, 2024

First Reading Genesis 9:8-17

8Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him, 9“As for me, I am establishing my covenant with you and your descendants after you, 10and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the domestic animals, and every animal of the earth with you, as many as came out of the ark. 11I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of a flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.”

12God said, “This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: 13I have set my bow in the clouds, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. 14When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, 15I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. 16When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.” 17God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant that I have established between me and all flesh that is on the earth.”

License: CC0 Public Domain

Anna Langova has released this “Rainbow” image under Public Domain license. It means that you can use and modify it for your personal and commercial projects.

Second Reading 1 Peter 3:18-22

18 For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, in order to bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit, in which also he went and made a proclamation to the spirits in prison, who in former times did not obey, when God waited patiently in the days of Noah, during the building of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight people, were saved through water.

21And baptism, which this prefigured, now saves you — not as a removal of dirt from the body, but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers made subject to him.

Baptism of Christ, Ethiopian Biblical Manuscript (20th Century) - Public Domain Orthodox Painting - Shalone Cason

Shalone Cason, January 7, 2023

Gospel of Mark 1:9-15

9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. 11And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”

12 And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. 13 He was in the wilderness for forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him.

14Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.”

©tonktiti at stock.adobe.com

Sermon

This week’s readings contain a lot of symbolism, don’t they? We have rainbows, water that washes away sinners in the flood, water that washes away our sins in baptism being demonstrated by the baptism of Jesus who was sinless, and we have wild beasts in the wilderness. We also see convenental language, and by that I mean words and phrases for each symbol that signal to us a contractual relationship. These symbols really drive home an understanding of God’s connection with us, and God’s promises for us.

These readings are right up my alley. Thanks for asking me to be here today! This is a great week for me, and I hope, for you! (Woo!)

Does that sound odd, in the beginning of Lent, to be celebrating? We did talk earlier about how Sundays are Little Easters within the Lenten season. I would say that the solemn season of Lent moves us toward the celebration of resurrection and God’s ultimate covenant, and for that we can be excited!

Last Sunday, many of us read about the transfiguration on the mountain, where the radiance of Jesus nearly blinds James and Peter while they are surrounded by the cloud from which they hear the voice of God the Father.

This week, we read about the arch of light -- the rainbow-- that is set by God within the clouds in the vast sky, a symbol so large that Noah’s vision is filled with a sign he and God can see.

Friends, God’s magnificence radiates to us and we can’t miss it. God’s majesty reaches us in the clouds, in the light, on the mountains, in all of creation, in times when we are terrified of what we witness, and in times of storms that seem unending. God entered into relationship with creation and chose to limit God’s divine and majestic power to be in relationship with us. We see God choosing to limit divine power in 2 of our readings; in the covenant promise of the rainbow and in the presence of Jesus Christ who comes to us in a limited human body - a body that now walks through Lent toward the cross.

Let’s look at this symbolism a bit more. I want to share with you a Sunday School story for today that I’ve borrowed from Feasting on the Word curriculum in 2017. The story is called, “Rainbow People.”

“One day, a young mother was taking a walk with her small son and they saw a rainbow. The four-year-old boy looked up in wonder and said, ‘Mommy, can we take that home and put it in our house?’ His awestruck question prompted the mother to write a poem she titled, ‘A Rainbow in My House.’ She took her son’s question literally, imagining what it would be like to have a rainbow in their house, on their walls, emanating from the windows and doors, coming out the chimney. The house was transformed, and it could not contain the glory of the rainbow and its colors.”

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We can’t miss it, we can’t avoid it. God’s covenant with Noah and with us radiates into every part of creation, including into us, into our very being.

What does that mean for you and me? Take that question home and wrestle with it if you need to, but don’t dismiss it. What does it mean for you, for your life and your mental health and for your inner soul, that God’s promises and God’s being radiates through creation and includes you?

Maybe you don't want to meditate on that -- some of us need to have it laid out for us. Just give it to me straight - level with me, Doc. You know what I mean? For those of you who want a straightforward answer, here it is: You are wonderful.

Yep. Even if you yelled at your kids or your dog this morning, and even if you had a bad shift at work, or if you flipped someone the bird on the road this week, or if you are watching on zoom from a prison cell. You, my friends, are part of creation. God has made a covenant with you and placed his open bow facing away from you and all parts of the earth so that you will be protected.

Scholar Dianne Bergant, in Exegetical Perspective, writes that the flood narrative is a story of deliverance and of relationship with God. The covenant is made with all of creation. Bergant’s word, “deliverance,” signals for us protective language.

The symbol of the rainbow in this story signifies the first covenant between God and God’s people. Our call to worship today was taken from Psalm 25 which refers to another covenant between God and God’s people, when the people left Egypt to follow the path God set them on. God’s promises continue and are everlasting, from generation to generation.

I will continue this look at why you are wonderful, and how God is faithful to God’s covenants, but first, let’s move quickly to Mark. Our gospel shows that, in Jesus’s baptism, Jesus willingly enters the “renewal movement” (Oxford Bible, p. 1793) begun by John to prepare God’s people for Jesus’s presence. At the end of our reading today in verse 15, Jesus proclaims the Good News of God and asks the people to turn to God and believe. In our reading, the word used is “repent,” but that’s what repent means, to turn. It doesn’t mean to embroil yourself in agony and guilt, and to then beg for mercy. That seems to be a common, modern understanding of the word. Actually, repent means to re-align yourself, to turn to God whose mercies are new every morning (does that sound familar? It’s a verse from the Old Testament in Lamentations).

Jesus, as the good news himself, has come to remind us of God’s covenants. We are to remember that God made a promise to us in a covenental way -- like a contract with two parties - God and creation, including us. Jesus says that the time is fulfilled and that the kingdom of God is near.

We see more protective language in our gospel reading, but we have to look a little harder. In Mark, we see that Jesus is pushed to the wilderness, i.e. away from God our protector, and is tested with struggles and dangers like Satan and wild beasts. The language of Mark here refers us back to Psalm 7 and Psalm 91, prayers of the people seeking God’s protection from evils represented by wild animals. Jesus, according to Mark, personally acts out the Psalms by leaving God’s refuge, wrestling with temptations, and being cared for by angels from God. God’s covenant is great. God does not leave us to struggle alone.

That is why I declare to you, friends, that you are wonderful, because you are created by God, in covenant with God, and protected by God. You are invited to keep turning to God through this season of Lent and your season of life, preparing your heart not just for the wonder of divine love, but for the celebration of our eternal salvation through Christ.

Friends, Dr. Maya Angelou once recalled the people who had shown her kindness. She said, “I've had so many rainbows in my clouds." That, my friends, is a sign of God’s radiance. Kindness is one way that we can share the hope of the cross. Let us go forth today, trusting in the rainbows, and being rainbows to others, knowing that Jesus Christ is there before us, having led the way and having wrestled with - and beaten - all temptations, We go forth trusting that we are God’s covenant people. We remember that verse from Lamentations 3:22-23, “The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; God’s mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

Our Prayer for blessing:

Almighty God,

Grant that the words we have heard this day may, through your grace, both honor and praise you; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

#shalone #shalonecason #ethiopia #biblical art #baptism #rainbow #duke divinity #duke #art #reformed #church #notre dame fighting irish #christian faith #alleluia #youth #youth services #sermon #scripture #youtube

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intimacywith-god · 10 months ago

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Do you honour your parents?

God commands us to honour our parents.

(Exodus 20:12 NIV Honor yourfather and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord ur God is giving you. ).

What does it mean to honour someone?

Oxford English dictionary says that to honour someone means to” regard with Great

respect, esteem, or reverence received”

It also means "glory, renown, fame; reputation, good name.”

Cambridge dictionary says “to make someone proud and happy by doing or being

something”

So then God calls us to regard our father and mother with great respect, to make

them happy, proud and to celebrate them.

Matthew 19:17 says that “If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.” And as honouring our parents is one of the commandments we must keep this commandment and follow it.

What will happen If we do not honour our parents?

The Importance of honouring parents

Matthew 15:4 NIV

For God said, ‘Honor your father and mother’[a] and ‘Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death

1 Timothy 5:8 ESV

8 But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

These two scriptures underline the how important it is for God that we honour our parents. If we do not provide for our relatives ( this can refer to providing financially, by spending time with them, giving them love, helping with different matters like moral support, giving them a shoulder to cry on, helping them grow spiritually) we are worse than an unbeliever. Wow! This is very convicting. So no matter what you do in your life, you can follow all the commandments, but if we do not honour our parents we are nor equal to non believers, bur WORSE. In John 14:15 Jesus said “If you love me, keep my commandments” He did not tell us to follow some commandments that we find easier to follow or more comfortable or the ones that suit our life, but all of them. So as this being one of them we must do what Jesus commanded, otherwise we are WORSE than unbelievers.

We, as disciples are a model for the people around us. We lead by example. Others might be observing the way we honour our parents and that reflects in the way we also honour God.

Siblings and friends will learn from our example. And someday, when we become parents, our children will learn how to treat us by watching how we treat their grandparents. So If we do not honour our parents we can lead astray the people around us as well.

By following this commandment we show our love and respect for God. Also, following this commandment teaches us respect for authority. Ok, maybe now you are an adult and you know what to do, but growing up, our parents have been the authority figures in our lives and the way we obeyed them can reflect in how we obey God. And if we don’t obey our parents, how can we obey God fully?

Disobedience towards parents will lead in disobedience to God. So no matter how old you are id say that practicing obedience to your parents will help you on the journey with God as well. It can also be a great way to honour your parent, by obeying them.

Matthew 15:4 even mentioned that cursing out parents brings death for us. So every time we feel like saying angry and offensive words to our parents we must repent and pray, we must find a way to say things like Jesus would, otherwise that will bring an argument, will shake th unity of the family, will Bring bitterness and will bring the death of our salvation and soul.

There is NO EXCUSE for anyone in the Bible for having such a behaviour towards their parents. In the Bible we do not see anything like “I’m treating my parents like this because they mistreated me growing up, because they traumatised me, because they didn’t give me love and so and so” There is nothing like that in the Bible. The Bible calls us to FORGIVE EVERYTHING. And that gets me to my next point.

FORGIVE YOUR PARENTS

Matthew 18:21-22

The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant

21 Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.

Ephesians 4:32 ESV

32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

JESUS encourage us in Matthew 18:21-22 to forgive everyone around us not just once, not just twice, not just 10 times, but an infinite times. If Jesus calls us to forgive someone 77 times and we can forgive someone for 77 times, then It means that we can forgive them an infinite times. The love that took us to forgive 77 times can carry on.

If we are called by Jesus to forgive and if we are called by Jesus to also honour our parents regardless, then it means that whatever happened in our childhood, whatever we believe our parents done wrong, we MUST FORGIVE THEM for every single mistake that we believe they done. It’s what Jesus calls us to do and If we do not keep His commandments, then we don’t truly love Him. And If we don’t love Him, are we truly disciples? Or are we just some hypocrites cowards just fooling ourselves? Because we can’t fool God, He knows , hears and sees everything.

If we grow in age it doesn’t mean we stop honouring our parents. Our relationship with our parents will change as we grow, so we need to learn new ways of honouring them as we grow. Of course you won’t honour your mother with a drawing of you two on a rainbow in your 30’s like you did when you were 5. Or…who knows, it might be cute.

PRACTICAL

Honour my mother on a weekly basis!!!

Make a list of ways of how to honour my mom.

How to honour my mom:

-ask her what her love language is

-quality time with her

-tell her about my life ( conversation)

-buy her something ( flowers, chocolate, something she

might find cute to show her love)

-shower her with love ->hugs

-express my appreciation for what she does.

#love #mother #honour #my #dather #father #parents #loveparents #bible #bibblestudy #exodus #timothy #bible quote #christian #jesus #God #howtolove #loveyourfamily

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gatekeeper-watchman · 8 months ago

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Daily Devotionals for March 7, 2024

Proverbs: God's Wisdom for Daily Living

Devotional Scripture:

Proverbs 10:31-32(KJV): 31 The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom: but the froward tongue shall be cut out. 32 The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked speaketh frowardness. Proverbs 10:31-32(Amplified): 31 The mouth of the righteous (those harmonious with God) brings forth skillful and godly Wisdom, but the perverse tongue shall be cut down (as a barren and rotten tree). 32 The lips of the (uncompromisingly) righteous know (and therefore utter) what is acceptable, but the mouth of the wicked knows (and therefore speaks only) what is obstinately willful and contrary.

Thought for the Day

Verses 31-32 - When I was young, children would often quote the saying: "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me." After studying the Bible, I realize that this OLD AGE adage is not true. Derogatory names and harsh words are harmful, both to the person addressed and the speaker. Words are powerful. Lawyers use powerful words to build cases. Our nation's laws consist of volumes of words. National treaties are formed by words. Words announce the daily news and enable us to communicate with each other. God used words to create the universe, speaking everything into existence (Genesis 1). The Bible is the Word of God. Jesus Himself is referred to as the living Word (John 1:1). Words are powerful!

God's Word has much to say about how we should speak. Biblically, praying for God's blessing or speaking good and uplifting words to someone is referred to as blessing. Speaking evil against someone or wishing ill toward them is referred to as cursing. "Curse words" or "cussing" originated from speaking evil words. Profanity is using God's Name in vain or speaking irreverently of Him. It ranges from mild expletives to horrible blasphemies. Society accepts foul language as normal. Popular films and television programs depict it as a way to vent anger or verbally assault others. Such use demonstrates that cursing is wrong because it demeans others. Jesus said that cursing points to evil in the heart. It is common today for both men and women to curse and never consider it as an indication of evil in their hearts. They view it as inconsequential, as something everyone does. Scripture teaches that this "little" matter of cursing and using God's Name in vain defiles the whole person.

Have you ever wondered why people do not use the names of gods of other religions when they curse? The names that the devil hates are "God," "Christ," "Jesus Christ," and "Jesus." Terms about hell and heaven are also used in derogatory ways. The very misuse of these words proves the existence of God and the reality of a heaven and hell. Neither adults nor children should use bad language, if we are to be like our Lord. We do not have to use curse words to emphasize our intentions (Colossians 3:8; Matthew 5:37).

Proverbs states that God accepts the words of the righteous, but the words of the wicked will one day be cut off, along with those who speak them. "Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer" (Psalm 19:14).

Prayer Devotional for the Day

Dear Father, thank you for all that You have done for me. Lord, I ask You to forgive me for failing You. Lord, I want my words to be like Your Words. Lord, You never speak any unkind thing. You are gentle and loving. Your Words are always the truth. We can depend on You and trust that what You said is the truth. You never lie. Lord, may I be good for my word? Help me not to give it lightly, and when I do tell someone, I will do something, remind me if I fail to keep my word so I can make it right. In our society, it seems that so many, especially in the business world, are very careless about their words. Help me to be a witness for You as one that keeps their word even as You do. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

From: Steven P. Miller @ParkermillerQ, gatekeeperwatchman.org Founder of Gatekeeper-Watchman International Groups, Thursday, March 7, 2024, Jacksonville, Florida., USA. X ... @ParkermillerQ #GWIG, #GWIN, #GWINGO, #Ephraim1, #IAM, #Sparkermiller, #Eldermiller1981 Founder on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Sparkermiller.JAX.FL.USA

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mrshcloset · 1 year ago

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Shining Stars

You will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life. Philippians 2:15–16

READ Philippians 2:12–16

LISTEN ONLINE

The first thing I noticed about the city was its gambling outlets. Next, its cannabis shops, ‘adult’ stores and giant billboards for opportunistic lawyers making money off others’ mishaps. While I had visited many shady cities before, this one seemed to reach a new low.

My mood brightened, however, when I spoke to a taxi driver the next morning. “I ask God every day to send me the people He wants me to help,” he said. “Gambling addicts, prostitutes, people from broken homes—they all tell me their problems in tears. I stop the car. I listen. I pray for them. This is my ministry.”

After describing Jesus’ descent into our fallen world (Philippians 2:5–8), the apostle Paul gives believers in Christ a calling. As we pursue God’s will (v. 13) and hold to the “word of life”—the gospel (v. 16)—we’ll be “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation” who “shine . . . like stars in the sky” (v. 15 ). Like that taxi driver, we’re to bring Jesus’ light into the darkness.

A believer in Christ has only to live faithfully in order to change the world, historian Christopher Dawson said, because in that very act of living “there is contained all the mystery of divine life”. Let’s ask God’s Spirit to empower us to live faithfully as Jesus’ people, shining His light in the world’s darkest places.

By Sheridan Voysey

REFLECT & PRAY

How can you focus on Christ today, rather than the world’s evil? How can you shine His light today in your neighbourhood?

Jesus, thank You for being the Light of the World who brings me out of the darkness.

SCRIPTURE INSIGHT

As believers in Jesus, we’re to “shine among [nonbelievers] like stars in the sky” (Philippians 2:15) as we obey the Great Commission: “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19–20). Christ said, “While I am in the world, I am the light of the world” (John 9:5). He brought light into the world, yet many people still loved the darkness (evil) ( 3:19). Knowing He’d be with His followers on earth for only a short time, He called them (and all of us) to spread the good news of the gospel—to be “the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14). As “people of the light” (Luke 16:8), we have the Holy Spirit to help us “not run or labour in vain” (Philippians 2:16).

Alyson Kieda

#thoughts #me moi en mezelf #november 2023 #bible readings #daily devotion #odb

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itsyourchoicedevotionals · 1 year ago

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Don’t Be Deceived

“You shall not eat anything with the blood; neither shall you use magic, omens, or witchcraft [or predict events by horoscope or signs and lucky days].” Leviticus 19:26AMPC.

They call it Halloween, shortened from Hallowed Eve, supposedly a celebration of a saint. Just telling you, it’s anything but ‘hallowed.’ When young people down to newborns are sacrificed to satan on this one night each, it’s evil, not hallowed.

From the look of decorations the celebration has gotten into an even deeper level of evil. A friend was describing to me the ‘manger’ display near their home. Mimicking the manger of baby Jesus was a baby’s skeleton, surrounded with life size adult skeletons, cat and dog skeletons— obviously depicting an anti-manger scene. Back in 1960 these sordid decorations would’ve been removed. Someone from city hall would’ve called it too evil for public viewing. Has anyone noticed the dark world doesn’t even try a little bit to hide. There’s a demonic courage not known before in time. Satan thinks he’s in charge, but he’s not.

Satan’s boldness and brashness means nothing. Allow me to remind everyone — Jesus disarmed principalities and powers— Our foe was not only defeated by Jesus Christ. He displayed them as the defeated foe once for all of heaven to see— “Having cancelled and blotted out and wiped away the handwriting of the note (bond) with its legal decrees and demands which was in force and stood against us (hostile to us). This [note with its regulations, decrees, and demands] He set aside and cleared completely out of our way by nailing it to [His] cross. [God] disarmed the principalities and powers that were ranged against us and made a bold display and public example of them, in triumphing over them in Him and in it [the cross].”Colossians 2:14-15. They couldn’t hurt the apostles then or us now.

Remember, Jesus foretold we were getting the power from tying up the realm of darkness— Luke 10:19AMPC “Behold! I have given you authority and power to trample upon serpents and scorpions, and [physical and mental strength and ability] over all the power that the enemy [possesses]; and nothing shall in any way harm you.”

We’re not to be involved in dark events, (halloween), end times, and plans of the demonic realm, (one world order), nor are we powerless against them. Apostle John patiently taught “Little children, you are of God [you belong to Him] and have [already] defeated and overcome them [the agents of the antichrist], because He Who lives in you is greater (mightier) than he who is in the world.” 1John 4:4AMPC. My friends are currently praying for the person who displayed the gruesome manger scene. They’re asking for this household to find the freedom of Christ. Exercising 2Corinthians 10:3-5.

“Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature.” 1Corinthians 14:20ESV. Don’t be deceived because satan’s such a good liar that he convinces some Believers, saying, ’we’re less than what we truly are. Touch nothing even remotely appearing evil.

All the works of the enemy are dangerous to the unlearned Believer. Kids and new Believers have been deceived into dabbling in ‘blood brothers— mingling blood,’ eight ball, horoscope, wiccan, and ouija boards plus what the text scripture denotes. If you’re messing with any of these things, burn it, renounce it, repent by turning 180 degrees away from these. Then ask the Lord to free from the demons which have settled on you. Or suffer the consequences. It’s your choice. You choose.

LET’S PRAY: LORD God forgive where we’ve been dabbling in evil things unknowingly. Help us to see the power You have against all the works of satan and operate under the anointing, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray.

#Jesus Christ #lord of lords #word of god #holy spirit #god #it's your choice #devotional #deceived #Believerss #darkness #demonic #powerless #power #gruesome #evil #love #hope #faith

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