SHARE THE WORD

We had a wonderful Mother's Day today, grilling hamburgers and also celebrating a couple of birthdays - my daughter's and her eighteen year old son.  Our oldest grandson, and he makes us proud!  I thought I would post excerpts from some of the cards I got today.

From Ron:

You, our love, our family...

the memories we've made together,

this life we share -

these are the most beautiful things

I've ever known.

I love you

Happy Mother's Day

 

From Daughter Melanie,

All my life, I've been able

to count on you --

to listen, to understand,

and to support me

through everything,

As far as I'm concerned

your're the best there is.

Happy Mother's Day

 

From Son & Daughter in law:

We may not tell you often enough,

but you have been and always will be

the heart and soul

of a very special family--

a family that admires you.

Life brings many changes,

but nothing will ever change

how much you mean to us.

Happy Mother's Day

Thanks for keeping our family

close and blessed.

love Michael and Kendra

 

From Son David

This year my mom has become an online, emailing, blogging person :)

 Now a whole new audience can enjoy the wisdom and insight

that we had from our mother and teacher growing up.

I hope you keep it going, online Nana is pretty cool!!  :)

Love, David and Elizabeth

Read Numbers 20:1–12; Deuteronomy 32:48–52; 34:1–8; Matthew 17:1–8

Then the LORD said to him, "This is the land I promised… I have let you see it with your eyes, but you will not cross over into it.” Deuteronomy 34:4 NIV

 * * *

 Moses was a leader and prophet like no other, but in his anger at the people he made a fatal mistake: God had instructed Moses, "Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water." But instead of speaking to the rock, Moses struck the rock twice with his staff and said to them, "Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?" (Numbers 20:8, 10) God was the miracle worker and Moses failed to give Him the glory – an offence which shortened his life.

* * *

The good news is that this is not the end of Moses' story. We see him again in the New Testament on the Mount of Transfiguration speaking with Elijah and Jesus. Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, If you wish, I will put up three shelters–one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah." While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them and a Voice said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!" When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus. (Matthew 17:4–5, 8)

 * * *

 Thank You Lord that Your plan for us goes far beyond this life–and that Jesus paid the price for all the times we have failed to honor You. One day we will stand with Moses and Elijah and all of those who have trusted in You. In that day, with sins forgiven, we will give all the glory to You.

 * * *

They lay their crowns before the throne and say: "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power…” Revelation 4:10b–11a NIV

Read Deuteronomy 8; Luke 4:1–13; John 6:26-66

"He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna…to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD." Deuteronomy 8:3 NIV

* * *

 
Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert, where he fasted and prayed for forty days. At the end of that time, when he was hungry, Satan said to him, "If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread." (Luke 4:3) Jesus answered by quoting Moses, "It is written: Man does not live on bread alone.”

Jesus referred to the story of Moses again when speaking to the Jews, “Your forefathers ate the manna in the desert, yet they died…I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever.” After he had said this, many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. (John 6:49, 51, 66) They refused to eat the true Bread of Life coming from the mouth of the Lord.

 
* * *

Dear Jesus, help me remember that You said, "Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life." (John 6:27 NKJV) Lord, You are the One who provides our daily bread. Help us trust in Your daily provision, even as we trust You for everlasting life.

* * *

"You may say to yourself, 'My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.' But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth." Deuteronomy 8:17 18 NIV

SHARE THE WORD takes a fresh look at Old Testament characters and the choices they made. There is much to be learned from their relationships with God and other people - it is in these Scriptures that the foundation is laid for understanding God's gracious gift to us in Jesus Christ.

TEACH THE CHILDREN

Read Deuteronomy 4:1–10

 
"Keep his decrees and commands, which I am giving you today, so that it may go well with you and your children after you and that you may live long in the land the LORD your God gives you for all time.” Deuteronomy 4:40 NIV

 
* * *

 Moses anticipated that the children and grandchildren of those who were born in the desert would need to be reminded of what had happened there. He warned, "Be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them… Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up." (4:9; 6:7b)

God’s laws were not meant to burden His people, but to lead them to prosperity and blessing. The law functioned as a tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.
(Galatians 3:24–25 NKJV)

 * * *

Dear Father, thank You that the law no longer condemns us, but in fact, brings us to the only One who could satisfy its demands. Remind us to tell our children and grandchildren the stories of how You introduced us to the Savior, so they too, will place their trust in You.

 
* * *

From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. John 1:15–17 NIV

Read Deuteronomy 1:1–40

"See, the LORD your God has given you the land. Go up and take possession of it as the LORD, the God of your fathers, told you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." Deuteronomy 1:21 NIV

 * * *

 The Israelites were miraculously delivered as God divided the Red Sea and let them walk across on dry ground– which should have been enough to convince them that God was on their side. In spite of this, when it was time to enter the promised land, they did not trust in the Lord their God. They said, "The LORD hates us; so he brought us out of Egypt to deliver us into the hands of the Amorites to destroy us. Where can we go? Our brothers have made us lose heart…" (27b-28a)

 Ten spies were sent into the land, but only two believed that God would give them victory. God, through Moses, said to the people, "Not a man of this evil generation shall see the good land I swore to give your forefathers, except Caleb and Joshua… your children who do not yet know good from bad…they will enter the land. I will give it to them and they will take possession of it." (1:35-39)

* * *

Lord, grant us the faith to do Your will, no matter how challenging it may be. Help us to wait upon you for the emotional and physical strength only You can give. I pray that we will be faithful to lead our children into Your promises, and not fall behind so that they must enter alone. “May All Who Come Behind Us Find Us Faithful!” (Jon Mohr)

* * *
"If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all–how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?" Romans 8:31 32 NIV

This morning I sat out on our patio, comfortably settled into a wicker chair, studying for my women's Bible study. We are doing Kay Arthur's study in James. The words were so timely for me as she referenced a verse in Psalm 139:16,

* * *

I truly hope that it is the Lord's will for me to see my grandchildren grown and to be a godly influence on them in person. But I realize that what I invest in them today will be used by the Holy Spirit in their lives and the lives of their children.

Be thou my wisdom, and Thou my true Word, I ever with thee and thou with me Lord. Thou my great Father, I thy true son, Thou in me dwelling and I with Thee one.

Read Exodus 32:1-33:17

During the 40 days that Moses was on Mt Sinai receiving God's commandments, the people talked Aaron into making them a golden calf. Then they said, "These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt." (32:4b) The next day the people sacrificed burnt offerings to the idol and began to dance and engage in revelry. The LORD said to Moses, “I have seen these people… Now leave me alone so that my anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them.” (32:9-10a) Moses pleaded for the people saying that if God would not forgive Israel's sin, Moses was ready to be blotted out with them. Then the LORD relented and did not bring on his people the disaster he had threatened. (32:14) "If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us?" (Exodus 33:15 16)

JETHRO AND MOSES Read Exodus 18:1–27

When Jethro, the priest of Midian and father-in-law of Moses, heard of everything God had done for Moses and how the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt, he sent word to him: "I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons." (18:6) As Jethro settled in, he quickly noted that Moses was trying to do everything himself. If this man was going to keep going, Jethro observed, he would need help. His advice was to seek out capable, godly men to judge the simple matters, who would then bring the difficult cases to Moses. He said, " If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied." (18:23 NIV) Just like Moses, we often think we have to do everything ourselves. It is important, not only for our own benefit, but also our children's, to give them age appropriate responsibilities.