Sep. 28, 2008 - Sunday Morning

Sep. 21, 2008 - Sunday Morning

   I am surrounded by fierce lions
      who greedily devour human prey—
   whose teeth pierce like spears and arrows,
      and whose tongues cut like swords.

   Be exalted, O God, above the highest heavens!
      May your glory shine over all the earth.

   My enemies have set a trap for me.
      I am weary from distress.
   They have dug a deep pit in my path,
      but they themselves have fallen into it.
                         Interlude

   My heart is confident in you, O God;
      my heart is confident.
      No wonder I can sing your praises!
   Wake up, my heart!
      Wake up, O lyre and harp!
      I will wake the dawn with my song.
   I will thank you, Lord, among all the people.
      I will sing your praises among the nations.
    For your unfailing love is as high as the heavens.
      Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.

    Be exalted, O God, above the highest heavens.
      May your glory shine over all the earth.

Mar. 22, 2008 - Deuteronomy 6:4-9

And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:

And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

 And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.

And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.

The Hebrews knew in their hearts that their religion was life-oriented not information-oriented.  It was who they were - it defined them as a people.  They used everyday experiences and just life in general to communicate spiritual truths.  I think there is no better picture of the principle of discipleship.  This is how the Lord wants to teach us too - when we sit, when we walk, when we lie down.  We are told in this scripture to teach these commands to our children diligently.  The Hebrew word for teach diligently as used in this scripture is Shanan, which means to whet or sharpen.  When you whet a knife, you turn it over to sharpen both sides.  The picture I have of this in my mind is to sharpen all aspects of our children.  This is how he wants to sharpen us as well.  When we give him our whole hearts and minds and souls, he will be able to teach us diligently.