Jotham's Journey, Prudence and the Millers, 1 Peter, The King's Daughter
Our Curriculum:
Horizons Math Grade 4 and K,The Reading Lesson, Sequential Spelling, Lifepac Language Arts 4, Apologia Astronomy, Veritas Press New Testament/Greeks/Romans
Prima Latina, Contenders for the Faith and various Winters Promise books, Live Mocha Spanish, Plants Grown Up
And he will turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God. It is he who will go as a forerunner before the Messiah in the spirit and power of Elijah,TO TURN THE HEARTS OF THE FATHERS BACK TO THE CHILDREN, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, so as to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
For He has visited us and accomplished redemption for His people,
Salvation from those who hate us
To show mercy toward our fathers,
And to remember His holy covenant,
To grant us that we,
Might serve Him without fear,
In holiness and righteousness before Him all our days.
And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;
For you will go on BEFORE THE LORD TO PREPARE HIS WAYS;
To give to His people the knowledge of salvation
Because of the tender mercy of our God,the Sunrise from on high will visit us,
TO SHINE UPON THOSE WHO SIT IN DARKNESS AND THE SHADOW OF DEATH,To guide our feet into the way of peace.
May you be spending this Advent season preparing for the second coming of the Lord, which I believe will be very soon! As excited by that thought as I am, I feel like Paul in Philippians 1
For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. is more needful for you.
Wanting to be the the Lord, but wanting to see my loved ones saved first.
1 Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, 2 as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, 3if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious. 4 Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, 5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture,
“ Behold, I lay in Zion A chief cornerstone, elect, precious, And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame." 7 Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, “ The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone,”
8 and “ A stone of stumbling And a rock of offense.”
for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this doom they were also appointed. 9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, A PEOPLE FOR God's OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.
11 Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, 12 having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the second coming of Jesus. 13 Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, 14 or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. 15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men—16 as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God. 17 Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.
18 Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh. 19 For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully. 20 For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. 21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: 22“ Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth”;
23 who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; 24 who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed. 25[i] of your souls.
For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer
Go to God in prayer daily. Read God's word daily. Obey God moment by moment. Witness for Christ by your life and words. Trust God for every detail of your life. Holy Spirit - allow Him to control and empower your daily life
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep" John 10:11
I just finished reading Tanglewood's Secret to my children, and once again I am left thankful for the writing of Patricia St John! Not only are her books wholesome reading that point children to Christ they have meat in them that leaves me chewing for days after!
In this story particularly, she talks about a painting of a lamb, who has run it's own way (look up Isaiah 53:6) and has gotten farther and farther away from it's shepherd. It eventually gets stuck on a precipice, too far down to climb up, and it is a fatal drop below. The shepherd searches all night to find the lamb, but all the lamb needs to do is call for the shepherd, and He will come running to save his beloved lamb and lead him safely home.
It is quite common to hear Jesus referred to as our Shepherd, but the imagery of this scene has really stuck with me. (In the story a Shepherd uses the story to lead a girl to salvation).
It really is just that simple. We are all like that lamb, going our own way, and some of us seem to get farther out on the cliff than others, but regardless NONE of us can find our way back on our own. Yet our Shepherd, Jesus, has made it so easy. He has done the hard part. The searching, the suffering..The ONLY thing we must do is call for Him. Just ask Him to save us and He comes running to carry us safely home. What amazing love that is!
It has also made me view others differently as well. When you view your fellow men as lost lambs, your heart breaks for them in a new way. My heart has been reignited to pray fervently for these unsaved sheep, lost in their own way. How much easier for us to love these lambs when we see them they way our Shepherd does instead of through our own eyes.
I pray for revival. I pray that lost lambs all over the world God has created would realize all they need to do is call for the Shepherd, His way is so much better than our own!
"Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost." (Luke 19:9-10)
“What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it And when he comes home, he calls together on his shoulders, rejoicing. his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance. Luke 15
But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. John 10:2
I delight to do Your will, O my God
Your Law is within my heart I have proclaimed glad tidings of your righteousness to everyone
Behold, I will NOT restrain my lips
I have not hidden Your righteousness within my heart
I have spoken of your faithfulness and Your salvation
I have not concealed your lovingkindness....
Let those who love Your salvation CONTINUALLY say:
The Lord be magnified!
Psalm 40
This is what is on my heart tonight. Along these lines I am also pondering the words of KP Yohannan. I encourage you to click the link, these compelling words take only 5 minutes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=esdhq7n2Zbg
I've been studying the Psalms, and one common theme has been sticking out to and convicting me over and over this time around.
JOY
David had so much tribulation yet he was so FULL OF JOY and PRAISE for the Lord. My life is so much easier than his, even during times of tribulation. Yet can I honestly claim that
my joy is bubbling up and overflowing at all times, in all circumstances?
Am I giving the Lord ALL the praise He deserves?
I feel I am falling short so very badly! Praise the Lord for His infinite mercy, and that He is so good to shine His light in our lives and show us where we are lacking!
Let all who take refuge in You be glad, Let them ever sing for joy Psalm 5:11
I will give thanks to the Lord with ALL MY HEART Psalm 9:1
That I may tell of all Your praises... and I may rejoice in Your salvation Psalm 9:14
I have trusted in your lovingkindness. My heart shall rejoice in Your Salvation. I will sing to the Lord, He has dealt bountifully with me. Psalm 13: 5-6
I have set the Lord continually before me, because He is at my right hand I shall not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will dwell securely Psalm 16:8-9
In Your presence in fullness of joy Psalm 16:11
I call upon the Lord who is worthy to be praised Psalm 18:3
We will boast in the name of the Lord our God..we have risen and stood upright Psalm 20:8
And in Your salvation how greatly [we] will rejoice! Psalm 21:1
You make [me] joyful with gladness in Your presence. Psalm 21:6
I will tell your name to my brethren, In the midst of the assembly I will praise You Psalm 22:22
Our words and actions must be based on the truth of God's Word, which sinful man and this fallen world are often opposed to. Therefore, it takes courage and boldness on our part to stand up and live the truth of His Word and follow Him. Sometimes we may have to stand alone and sometimes it may be costly, but it is worth it if it pleases God. (KP Yohannan in Against the Wind)
Are you willing to stand apart from the rest of the world? To be called "judgmental" or worse? Are you teaching your children to see the difference between what society considers acceptable and what God says is acceptable? Are you able to see it yourself? The world creeps into our minds and hearts so easily if we are not actively filling them with God's standards on a daily basis. Even Christians unknowingly give unbiblical council more often than they should.
I know I preach this regularly, but it is true, WE MUST KNOW GODS WORD! We simply must. We must read it so we can see the lies that Satan has whispered into our society in such a sneaky way that even many Christians do not realize it. Christian, be willing to take a stand, to point out these lies, and be ready to back it up with God's truth!
I have been blessed with really good reading material lately, including my beloved Against the Wind our monthly Voice of Martyrs magazine, and sample magazine I got in the mail. They keep bringing me to the same thought.
I am not doing enough to point people to the gospel.
I have always used the excuse that my gift is encouragement, so I use my blog and similar avenues to point people to Christ. But I recently heard someone say "God isn't calling me to witness to others, He will use my life by my silent example" (paraphrased). I had to stop and think. That is MY excuse, and hearing someone else say it out loud made me realize what a hollow excuse it is. The truth.. I hate confrontation, and I know that sometimes the gospel causes confrontation. Who wants to be told they are a sinner destined for hell? Fear has been what has held me back, not a "different calling".
There are Christians in other countries at THIS VERY MOMENT, who are being killed and persecuted in horrific ways for trying to save souls. And I am afraid that someone may yell at me, or tell me to shut up! What a spoiled selfish life I have been living.
Lord, please forgive me for my selfishness, for not following your command to go into all the world and preach the gospel to EVERYONE (Mark 16:15). Help me overcome my fear, give me the wisdom to know how and when to step out, and what words to say. Lord, hold me accountable for what you desire for me to do.
Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations Matthew 28:19
"Do not say in your heart when the LORD your God has driven them out before you, 'Because of my righteousness the LORD has brought me in to possess this land,' but it is because of the wickedness of these nations that the LORD is dispossessing them before you. Know, then, it is not because of your righteousness that the LORD your God is giving you this good land to possess, for you are a stubborn people." Deuteronomy 9
Do you need this reminder as much as I do? We as Christians are still not righteous of ourselves. It is only Christ's righteousness that covers us. We are no different than the Israelites, still stiff-necked, still rebellious, still stubborn.
I long so badly to be completely devoted to my Lord. But I get so distracted and side tracked by every day life. Instead of seeing every task as an act of worship to Him, I get wearied and my thoughts wander. I am so stubborn, as much as I WANT to lay down my desires and my "rights" when push comes to shove I do not do it. I make excuses...But eventually I come back to His Word, and I am thankful for His mercy and grace that I am so undeserving of.
"Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. Be of sober spirit, be on the alert Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world. After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you. To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen." 1 Peter 5:6-11
They will see the glory of the LORD,The majesty of our God. Encourage the exhausted, and strengthen the feeble. Say to those with anxious heart,“Take courage, fear not.Behold, your God will come ... He will save you. ISAIAH 35
Life has been crazy lately. I have had some amazing, wonderful days spiritually, but they are ALWAYS followed by a day of waking up feeling sick, tired and all together horrible. The enemy is feeling threatened and waging war against me. This deployment is at the point where it is wearing on me as well. Today I was near my breaking point. I just needed to get out of the house. I headed to the Exchange on base to pick up a few things. When I was finished shopping I just did NOT want to go home.
Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand,And marked off the heavens by the span,
And calculated the dust of the earth by the measure,And weighed the mountains in a balanceAnd the hills in a pair of scales? ISAIAH 40
I decided we'd head to the beach. I had been meaning to just spend a day at the beach playing and enjoying God's creation, and this was the perfect opportunity. My rumbling tummy reminded me I had not planned for lunch though, so we stopped at the gas station on base and picked up a loaf of bread, bottle of squeeze mayo, a pack of turkey bologna, a bag of Doritos and some Gatorade (and some honey green tea for me!) and made our way to the beach.
Heal me, O LORD, and I will be healed;Save me and I will be saved,For You are my praise.Jeremiah 17
The beach is right on base, and I drive by it at least once a week, but we had ever stopped there. It is a LOVELY beach. A wall of driftwood all around keeps it contained, and another mom there informed me the water is only ankle deep for a long, long ways out. Which was perfect for me, because it meant I could get by with only keeping half an eye on the boys (Abigail didn't wander far from my blanket) and I could spent some time in the Bible I had thrown in the car on my way out the door.
And Your words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart;For I have been called by Your name,O LORD God of hosts. Jeremiah 15
The Lord was once again so good to refresh my soul, and offer me words of comfort. I just randomly opened it to Isaiah 40, then after that, every time I looked up to watch the children, the breeze would flip a few pages and end up at the PERFECT spot, telling me exactly what I needed to hear today.
Thus says the LORD,“Stand by the ways and see and ask for the ancient paths,Where the good way is, and walk in it;And you will find rest for your souls. JEREMIAH 6
We spent a few hours at the beach, and came home a refreshed, contented bunch!
And I was daily His delight,Rejoicing always before Him, Rejoicing in the world, His earth, PROVERBS 8
Jun. 7, 2009 - Times of refreshing come from the Lord
and from good friends who LOVE the Lord too!
Today was one of those wonderful times.
I was blessed to be able to meet a friend who, until today, I had only talked to online. She truly loves the Lord and it just pours out of her! It was such a time of refreshing and encouragement and inspiration for me! I felt so blessed to be able to share a little of this beautiful place I call home with her! I also got to try Thai food for the first time and it was delicious!
This last week I had been feeling run down. Weary, stressed, this deployment had just really been wearing on me. And the Lord was so good to answer my prayers beyond what I asked and bless me with this wonderful visit! I am overflowing with thankfulness!
Repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord Acts 3:19
Today was a rough day, about dinner time I was running on empty and my patience had worn thin. I decided I needed to "get away" for awhile and went to take a shower. As I turned the water on I realized my thinking was all wrong. It wasn't a break I needed, it was repentance. It was my attitude that was wrong. Just because I have a cranky, whiny child to train does not mean I have an excuse to become cranky myself. I can CHOOSE to be cranky, or I can CHOOSE to be joyful. I can CHOOSE to see this day as an oportunity to practice patience and LONG suffering. Getting away would not solve anything, except to allow me to wallow in my own self pity.
I also remembered what I had read just this morning. In Against the Wind, the chapter was about courage. Extreme Devotion discussed the same things. I had thought to myself how I would never have to deal with these obstacles that require such great faith (being tortured, killed, imprisoned for sharing the Gospel). Instead here I am floundering over every day life, soup on the floor, children with poor attitudes; things so mild in comparison. Where was my great faith in the little things?
I repented to the Lord, and then after my shower apologized and repented to my children.
I realized that I couldn't give them what I did not have and I asked Him to fill me with His grace and mercy once again. And as always, He is so good to bless us above and beyond what we ask. I finished the day well, cleaned up the messes, and after the children were tucked into bed, I sat down to yet another amazing blog. Just what He knew I needed to hear.
Then I moved to the couch, opened my Bible to the book mark and was just over filled with goodness.
With great compassion I will gather you...with everlasting lovingkindness I will have compassion on you,”Says the LORD your Redeemer (Isaiah 54:7-8)
Seek the LORD while He may be found;
Call upon Him while He is near.
Let the wicked forsake his way
And the unrighteous man his thoughts;
And let him return to the LORD,
And He will have compassion on him,
And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.
(Isaiah 55:6-7)
For you will go out with joy
And be led forth with peace (Isaiah 55:12)
May. 3, 2009 - Come away, by yourself, to a secluded place and rest a while
Now when Jesus heard about John, He withdrew from there in a boat to a secluded place by Himself; and when the people heard of this, they followed Him on foot from the cities. When He went ashore, He saw a large crowd, and felt compassion for them and healed their sick.
Matthew 14:13-14
The apostles gathered together with Jesus; and they reported to Him all that they had done and taught. And He said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest a while.” (For there were many people coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.) They went away in the boat to a secluded place by themselves. The people saw them going, and many recognized them and ran there together on foot from all the cities, and got there ahead of them. When Jesus went ashore, He saw a large crowd, and He felt compassion for them because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and He began to teach them many things.
Mark 6:30-35
The Lord has been drilling these verses into me the last couple weeks. It has been discussed in blogs I read, in a message at church, in my own reading time and in other books I have been reading! I have mentioned it a million times, but I must really be hard headed. It seems like the Lord is always beating me over the head with something before I stop and realize it! But I am so thankful for his faithfulness and reassurance!
So a week ago I thought to myself "OK Lord, I get it, I need to put more effort iinto time with You". I repented of my lack of effort and determined to be on fire for His word again. Yet the same verses seemed to still keep coming up. Then I realized He wanted me to look at these verses even deeper.
Not only was it important for me to make time, to come away to a secluded place and rest in Him awhile, He wanted me to consider how I reacted when I was interupted as well.
Jesus was constantly interupted when He was seeking time to reconnect with the Father. But time after time the Bible says that Jesus had COMPASSION on those who interupted.
Yes, time to reconnect is SO important, but the fact of the matter is I will constantly be interupted when I try to take that time. I have 3 small children who need me. Children who are too hungry to wait 10 more minutes for breakfast. Children who need help cleaning up the dog food they just spilled. Even at night it seems like as soon as I sit down to open my Bible is when a child wakes up with an urgent question about the meaning of life,or someone gets sick, or.....
I need to NOT be inwardly annoyed that I did not get to just finish the chapter I hoped to complete. I need to have compassion on these little ones who need me and appreciate the opportunity to cultivate the fruit of service and compassion in my life.
Thank you Lord for Your Wisdom once again!
Lately I've been convicted that not only is gossip and bad talk displeasing to God, but useless chatter as well. I want my words to be meaningful and pleasing to Him! Don't you?
Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the needs of the moment so it will give grace to those who hear (Ephesians 4:29)
Avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness (1 Timothy 2:16)
Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person. Colossians 4:6
For some men have turned aside from these things (love from a pure heart, good conscious and sincere faith) and turned to FRUITLESS discussion -1 Timothy 1:5-6
Women must...not be gossips...[and] have nothing to do with worldly fables...discipline yourself with the purpose of godliness (1 timothy 3 and 4)
In SPEECH show yourself an example to those who believe (1 Timothy 5:11)
Women incur condemnation when they are ...idle, going around from house to house being gossips and busybodies, talking about things not proper to mention 1 Timothy 5:13
Use wholesome speech that cannot be condemned. Then any opponent will be ashamed because he cannot say anything bad about us. Titus 2:8
Refuse foolish and ignorant speculations, knowing the produce quarrels 2 Timothy 2:23
If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is worthless. James 1;26
For the person who wants to love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit. 1 Peter 3:10 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer. Psalm 19:14
As I was typing this up I though how fitting it is that I have no voice today (or since Saturday) due to this horrible sore throat? Hmm... coincidence? Or providence?
The Lord has been so gracious to me. He has used music to speak to my heart in a big way this week. Yesterday I woke up with a song on my heart so I listened to the 3 versions of it I have on my I-Pod (blush) and then during the Good Friday Service, what song do I hear during worship? Yep. I love when God does things like that for me, He knows exactly what I need to hear and he ministers to my heart. At the same service there was a new song which I have not gotten out of my head since. Such powerful words that I relate to so very well. I wanted to share both with you
There's The Cross (the new song, I googled but cant find anything about it)
When I cant walk the road I've traveled, when I cant take another step
When I am tired and I have no strength that is left
When I have broken every promise, when I have missed every mark
When I have found myself so far from where You are
Then there's the Cross, the bridge from all my sin
The door that lets me in
The way back home when I am lost
There's the cross
When I have tried to show I'm worthy,when I have tried to show I'm strong
When I have done it on my own so very long
When I have hurried past throne room, when my token prayers are few
When I have tried to find my own way back to You
Then there's the Cross, the bridge from all my sin
The door that lets me in
The way back home when I am lost
There's the cross
On that ugly piece of Wood, you accomplished what I never could
To call me back
You call me back
This is Our God
A refuge for the poor, a shelter from the storm
This is our God
He will wipe away your tears and return your
wasted years
This is our God
Oh... this is our God
A father to the orphan, a healer to the broken
This is our God
And he brings peace to our madness and comfort
in our sadness
This is our God
Oh... this is our God
this is the one we have waited for
Oh... this is our God
A fountain for the thirsty, a lover for the lonely
Lately as I have been reading in various parts of the Scriptures, I have been stuck by a recurring theme.
When Jesus came to Earth, the Jews were not prepared. They had Scripture to tell them WHEN He was coming (Daniel) they had Scripture to tell HOW He was coming, they had Scripture that laid out what would happen when He came (Isaiah 53). (Have you ever read through just Matthew even, and noted the footnotes, all the Scriptures that were fulfilled by His birth, life and death? It never ceases to amaze me.) But the Jews still did NOT recognize their Messiah. They had not studied the Scriptures and were not ready.
And as I was talking to my children about tonight, I reminded them, Jesus is coming back. I believe He is coming back very soon. And are we ready? Do we know His Word?
The Bible says MANY will be fooled by the Anti-Christ. He will convince people he is Jesus. Do YOU know God's Word well enough to prove otherwise? Will you recognize the Savior of the World when He comes again? Will you be ready to be taken to heaven by Him?
That is my top prayer for my children and loved ones. I hope it is yours too.
Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. 1 Timothy 1:15
Do you sometimes feel like Paul too? I know when I think of my life before Christ I am horrified and disgusted. I cant help but wonder WHY God would reach into the mess of MY life and pull me out, into His salvation. The answer is simple, His AMAZING grace!
But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life 1 Timothy 1:16
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16
God, has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace. 2 Timothy 1:9
I am thankful for the reminder that He has called me to this position of wife and mother. Sometimes when it seems too hard I have the promise that He will equip me. He alone will sustain me. I do not need to do it myself, in fact He wants me to depend on Him. He who has called me is faithful (1 Corinthians 1:9) He will provide EVERYTHING I need to fulfill my calling if I just trust in Him.
She will be saved in childbearing if they continue in faith, love, and holiness, with self-control. 1 Timothy 2:15
"I'm falling on my knees, offering all of me. Jesus you're all this heart is living for"
~Kathryn Scott
If His followers spent more time alone with Him we would have spiritual giants again ~Streams in the Desert
Earnestly desire to get alone with God. If we neglect to do so, we not only rob ourselves of a blessing but rob others as well, since we will not have a blessing to pass on to them. It may mean that we do less outward, visible work, but teh work we do will have more depth and power. Another wonderful result is that people will see no one but Jesus (Matt. 17:8) in our lives.
The impact of being alone with God in prayer can not be overemphasized.
God is so good. Last night I was wrestling with myself. Should I put off my devotion and prayer time until the morning, I could just get x y and z done tonight and then when I wake up focus on prayer....But what if the children wake up first? Then it wont happen...But I am so tired right now....
In the end I decided to pick up Streams in the Dessert and sure enough the Lord had something to say to me to address my very struggle! What a blessing for choosing Him first! What a conviction that it took me such a struggle to do it!
Matthew 6:6 When you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father
He continued to speak to me as I read and prayed on... "The morning is a critically important time of day. You must never face the morning until you have faced God, nor look into the face of others until you have looked into His.You can not expect to be victorious, if you begin your day in your own strength alone. Begin the work of every day after having been influenced by a few reflective, quiet moments between your heart and God. Do not meet with others, even members of your own family, until you have first met with the greatest Guest and honored companion of your life-Jesus. Meet with Him alone and regularly, having His Book of counsel open before you. Then face the ordinary and unique responsibilities before you each day with renewed influence and the control of His character over all your actions."
I pray that God's people would make prayer and quiet time before Him a priority! The tasks of this earth are so unimportant in eternity if we have not filled ourselves afresh with Him.
9For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously 12giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light.
Colossians 1
For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it. For if the word spoken through angels proved unalterable, and every transgression and disobedience received a just penalty,how will we escape if we neglect so great asalvation?
~Hebrews 2
I admit I have been neglectful. Since Peter got home life has been a whirlwind with no hope of slowing down anytime soon, and I had not picked up my Bible in a week! I wanted to but kept getting distracted with cooking, cleaning, teething babies, preparing to have my wisdom teeth out (tomorrow) and the million other things that must be done in the few short weeks my husband is home! I knew that if I'd only make time for my Lord, He'd make sure everything that was needed would get done, but its true the longer you put it off the harder to pick it up again. I finally picked it up a few days ago, and the Lord is so good, this was what I opened up to. Is it not so fitting? I love the way only He can speak to my soul!
Bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ -2 Corinthians 10:5 Virtually every sin will fall into 1 of 3 categories THOUGHTS-WORDS-DEEDS
Wrong thoughts give way to wrong words, which often give way to wrong actions. We must learn to allow God to halt sin in it's place where it begins-in our thought life! We are wise to aggressively confess the sins of our thoughts! The sin of our thought life is often so abundant that their familiarity makes them less noticeable. How often do you have thoughts of criticism, jealosy, discontentment, lust.... the list goes on. We must be sure to regard them as sin and take them to our Father to be repented of. A heightened awareness or wrong thoughts will help us to stop sin in the first stages! If we allow God to halt sin before it takes one step out of our mind into the realm of word or deed, we will spare someone else being hurt, and the repercussions escalate.
Unchecked thoughts will usually progress. We must aim for purity of thought!
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. Phillipians 4:8 Regarding THOUGHTS: Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting. Psalm 139:23-24
Regarding WORDS Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer. Psalm 19:14
Regarding DEEDS LORD, who may abide in Your tabernacle? Who may dwell in Your holy hill? He who walks uprightly, And works righteousness, And speaks the truth in his heart; He who does not backbite with his tongue, Nor does evil to his neighbor, Nor does he take up a reproach against his friend; Psalm 15:1-4
1 Peter 3:1 Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile
God's Word is so good. I am thankful for the wisdom I glean from it that I can apply to my every day life. I am thankful for the comfort and hope it brings me. I am thankful for instructions on how to be a wife, a mother, and a person in general. I am thankful to have true wisdom to rely on when I answer someone's questions, instead of having to come up with my own! God's word is so important to me, and I hope it is to you as well!
But I want to ask, are you also transferring that love and knowledge to your children?
How could I teach God's Word if I did not know God's word? I have not really put much effort into memorizing, but I have put effort into reading and applying and because of that daily reading and pondering, relevant scriptures have etched themselves into my memory. I have put reminder verses up throughout my home, and those have sunk into my brain as well. Having God's Word ready in my mind instead of needing to look it up is an amazing tool for daily life. When I am discipling my children I can tell them " We are doing this because the BIble says __insert verse here__".
Are you spending time in His Word daily? My personal time has been moved to late at night after everyone else is asleep at this point in my life. And I admit at times I am tired, and tempted to skip it, but when I just open up that Bible anyways I am so blessed, and I can go to sleep refreshed in His love! And the wisdom from the night before helps me get through the next day!
At our house, bedtime stories come from the Bible. Andrew gets a story from one of his Children's Bibles. Then he gets tucked in and snuggled and I move over to Peter's bed and he gets to listen as Peter and I go verse by verse through the Bible a chapter a night. We do skip around, some old testament, some new but we always finish a book before moving on. While I normally use the $5 no frills NKJV for bedtime we do use the Children's Ministry Bible. It was a gift to me from church and it has been so helpful having the extra notes when I explain a story. We take time and talk about the chapter, making sure the boys understand exactly what is going on, and how that applies to us. It has been a rich time of learning for all of us! Abigail has a board book of the Lord's Prayer and Psalm 23 that we are reading before bed to get in the habit already!
Then the boys like to go to sleep with a CD of the Bible being read to them, and it is amazing how much they have soaked up as they lay there waiting to fall asleep! I'm amazed in the mornings sometimes with what they tell me at breakfast that they remember from the night before!
I pray that my children will have a love and thirst for God's word the way I do. That they woudl be thankful that our Creator loves us enough to give us instructions and wisdom and all we have to do is be willing to read it!
1 Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, 2 when they observe your chaste conductaccompanied by fear. 3 Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel— 4 rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beautyof a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. .....
8 Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, bebe courteous; 9 not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing. tenderhearted...
15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; 16 having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. 17 For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.
These words have been speaking to me over and over recently, seems I keep coming back to them the last few weeks. I pray that I can become a woman with a gentle and quiet spirit. I hope they speak to you as well!
Heal me, O L
And Your words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart;For I have been called by Your name,O L
Thus says the L
and from good friends who LOVE the Lord too!
1 Peter 3:
