"Why does God allow His children to sometimes fall into grievous sin? The answer that the Westminster Confession gives us is God uses this to humble them. Here it is below:

What a great find!  You can listen to samples of these biblical songs (verses and questions/answers) online here: http://www.songsforsaplings.com

Our children memorize the Bible so quickly with catchy music and tunes.  The nieces and nephews will be getting these cds for Christmas!

What did the Calvinist say after he fell down the stairs?

"I'm glad that's over!"

;o),

Moms4psalms

My five and six year old are learning the Ten Commandments in Sunday School.  They are currently memorizing:  "What is the seventh commandment?  The seventh commandment is, 'You shall not commit adultery.'  Exodus 20:14.  What does the seventh commandment teach us?  To be pure in heart, language and conduct."

Modesty in dress is one part of being pure in heart, language, and conduct.  Dr. Henry Krabbendam taught in some of his classes that "men lust and women lust to be lusted after."  How many women have ever realized that tendency in themselves? 

We have several years before this will be an issue, but we aim to teach our teenage daughters to examine their hearts and motives and be very careful in their clothing choices.  (Are they wanting to dress in a way that will very likely cause them to be lusted after?)  We want to teach them to be pure and to consider how their clothing could affect their Christian brothers who may be struggling to stay pure in heart, language and conduct.

My memories of my grandmother always have a song playing in the background.  A hymn, in fact.  She was always singing verses of praise to her Savior as she cleaned and worked around her home.  I cannot think of her without remembering her love for the Lord. 

I don't want my children to have memories of a tired, frazzled, or weepy mommy!  My grandmother knew how to live a life of praise to God.  And those memories inspire me to want to sing praise--even if it is just a couple of verses at a time--while I work around my home.

This week I have next to my kitchen sink Psalm 117.  It is so simple and short that even the youngest children can memorize it.  To the tune of "All Creatures of Our God and King" from the Trinity Psalter:

PSALM 117

From all that dwell below the skies,

O let Jehovah's praise arise!

Alleluia!  Alleluia!

And let His glorious name be sung

In ev'ry land, by ev'ry tongue!

Alleluia!  Alleluia!  Alleluia!  Alleluia!  Alleluia!

Great are the mercies of the Lord,

And truth eternal is His word;

Alleluia!  Alleluia!

Ye nations, sound from shore to shore

Jehovah's praise forever more!

Alleluia!  Alleluia!  Alleluia!  Alleluia!  Alleluia!

My two year old is now toddling about saying "AH-LAY-LU-LAH" over and over again.    

ALLELUIA!

The Word of God is God's revealed will.  Where the Bible is clear, we know what God wills for us to be, do, think, etc.  But answering questions such as "Who should I marry?  Where should I live?  What college should I attend?  What job should I take?" or any other question where the answer is not black and white can be confusing and distressing!  How can we take the worry away in such matters?

My college Bible professor, Dr. Henry Krabbendam, taught me a wonderful way to discover God's will in my life . . .

FIRST:   Delight yourself in the Lord!  Be in the Word and in prayer.  As you seek Him with all of your heart, His desires begin to become your heart's desires.

NEXT:  Put off making difficult decisions as long as is comfortably possible.  Often as you wait, events transpire that make you see things much more clearly.

FINALLY:  When you can no longer comfortably wait . . . GO FORWARD with your decision as hard and fast as possible.  You will then have doors opened or closed on your decision.  And you can rest as you see His plan unfolded.

I have found my desires change as I spend time searching Scripture and praying.  As I wait, I have watched events transpire that provide additional information to help me decide which path to take.  And when I could no longer comfortably wait, I have pursued a particular path and had doors either open or close (or SLAM!) in my face until the outcome was made clear.  I then rest, knowing the Lord has ordained everything that comes to pass.  

Thank you so much for sharing this with me, Dr. K.!  

A Contemporary Case for Exclusive Psalmody:  The Songs of Zion by Michael Bushell is fascinating!  At the very least one will come away from reading it with a renewed appreciation for singing the psalms.  In our family worship times we sing from the Trinity Psalter.  It is such a blessing to be driving down the road and hear my children singing the psalms they have memorized.  Click on my Psalms Cds link to find psalm singing materials.