9 posts tagged “children”

INSTRUCT A WISE MAN

Nov 24, 2008
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A WISE CHILD

[84]

Read Proverbs 9–10

Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning. Proverbs 9:9 NIV

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In these selected proverbs, Solomon is teaching his son the importance of diligence and obedience. He says “A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son grief to his mother.” (10:1) Solomon contrasts diligence with laziness in the example of the farmer's son; "He who gathers crops in summer is a wise son, but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son." (10:5) He teaches his son that listening is an important part of learning. As Solomon aptly puts it, "The wise in heart accept commands, but a chattering fool comes to ruin."(10:8) He warns, “When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.” (10:19)

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Lord, help us to follow your guidelines in training and disciplining our children. Give us the proper balance of love and discipline, as we teach our children to be respectful and willing to learn. Help us also to encourage their efforts by not being overly critical. Grant us patience as they grow in knowledge–as You have been patient with us.

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"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy one is understanding. For through me your days will be many, and years will be added to your life. Proverbs 9:10–11NIV

THE REWARD OF CHILDREN

Oct 28, 2008
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BLESSING AND PROSPERITY

Read Psalms 127–128

Blessed are all who fear the LORD, who walk in his ways. Blessings and prosperity will be yours; Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house… children are a reward from him. Psalm 128:1-2b, 3a; Psalm 127:3b

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The Psalms portray children as a sign of blessing and prosperity. The Psalmist declares, “Sons are a heritage from the LORD, children a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one's youth.” (127:3-4) Along with this blessing, however, comes a warning: Unless the LORD builds the house its builders labor in vain. (127:1)

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God promises that if we put Him first in our lives we will eat the fruit of our labors–a blessed home. But when we focus on what the world expects of us, working long hours and doing too much, our lives become unbalanced. When this happens, the Psalmist says, "In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat–for he grants sleep to those he loves." (127:2)

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Dear Father, I pray for the peace and rest that comes from focusing on You, even when I am busy. Help me to order my priorities according to Your perfect will. Thank You for the blessings of children.

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May the LORD bless you from Zion all the days of your life… and may you live to see your children's children. Psalm 128:5–6 NIV

TRUST IN THE LORD

Oct 10, 2008
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PROTECTED FOREVER

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Read Psalm 37

For the LORD loves the just and will not forsake his faithful ones. They will be protected forever, Psalm 37:28a NIV

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As David grew old, he looked around and saw wicked men growing stronger and more violent–lying "in wait for the righteous, seeking their very lives." (37:32) Yet David writes confidently, “If the LORD delights in a man's way, he makes his steps firm; though he stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand.” (37:23–24)

David looks to the past and says, "I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken.”(37:25) He looks to the future and reminds us that "The days of the blameless are known to the LORD, and their inheritance will endure forever…their children will be blessed."(37:18, 26b)

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Dear Heavenly Father, I lean on Your faithful, everlasting love for us. You have promised that those who love You can look forward to a blessed future, saying, “Commit your way to the LORD, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass.” (Psalm 37:5 NKJV) I claim this promise for my family and for all of us who have received Your righteousness through the cross.

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Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:3-4 NIV

IN THE MORNING

Sep 10, 2008
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PRAYER FOR PROTECTION

Read Psalm 5:1–12; 143:8

In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation. Psalm 5:3

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The Psalmist David found his strength each morning as he prayed and lifted up his requests to God. He believed that God heard him and he waited in expectation. On one occasion, he prayed, “Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning, For in You do I trust; Cause me to know the way in which I should walk, For I lift up my soul to You. ( Psalms 143:8 NKJV)

Each day should find us praying for the children God has given to us. Whether they are small and still at home or going off each morning to school, sports or work–they need the cover of our prayers. We can pray like David, “Spread your protection over them that those who love your name may rejoice in you. For surely, O LORD, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield. (Psalm 5:11-12)

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Dear Heavenly Father, watch over our children today wherever they are. I rejoice in You this morning because I know that You hear my voice. I lift up to You my specific requests and wait in expectation for Your answer.

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How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Your wings. Psalm 36:7 NKJV

My Story - Part 4

Aug 11, 2008
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I have been journaling about the ways in which God has worked in my life to bring me closer to Him. I will digress a little to the story of how I was saved. Most of us who are believers can look back to milestones that led to our salvation, even before we knew we needed Him. Certainly we can see the influences that brought us to Him, both positive and negative.

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The realization that we are sinners is the first real shocker that we have to deal with. Then we find that sinners are exactly who Jesus came to earth to save. He actually gave His life for us - but He didn't stay dead! Someone has told us these truths either in a Sunday School class, Good News Club or just in conversations about God.

* * *

I first responded to the message of the gospel in a revival meeting when I was nine years old. I was old enough to know that I had a decision to make - and I wanted to receive Jesus as my personal Savior. I already loved all that I had heard about Him. I was like one of those little children in the picture book who came to Jesus and then experienced having Him put His arms around them, saying, "Let the little children come unto me and forbid them not - because of such is the Kingdom of Heaven."

Have you received Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour? What is your story?

JOSHUA'S FINAL WORDS

May 26, 2008
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[30]

We Will Serve The Lord

Read Joshua 24; Judges 2:1-10

"Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve…. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD." Joshua 24:15 NIV

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Just before he died, Joshua assembled all the tribes of Israel together and they presented themselves before God. In the exact words of the Lord, Joshua reviewed all God had done since He brought them out of Egypt. Then Joshua said, "Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness…But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve…But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD." (Joshua 24:14–15)

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God had kept all of His promises, but Joshua knew the people would persist in turning to their false gods. After Joshua’s generation passed away, another generation grew up, who knew neither the LORD nor what he had done for Israel. (Judges 2:10) The older generation served the Lord, but failed to tell their children the stories of what God had done.

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Lord, help us to remember to talk of your love and faithfulness to our children and to remind them often of the responsibility they will have in telling their children. Don’t let it be said of anyone in our family that they “neither knew the Lord nor what He had done for their parents.”

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Israel served the LORD throughout the lifetime of Joshua and of the elders who outlived him and who had experienced everything the LORD had done for Israel. Joshua 24:31 NIV

A New Tool

Mar 13, 2008
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Not long after we began to home school our children, we installed a new computer - at my insistence - hidden in a roll top desk. I was actively resisting this evidence of modern technology cluttering my early colonial decor. But with all my resistance, it was I who spent the most hours typing away on the Word Processor. You see, God was not going to limit my ministry to teaching my own children - instead He expanded it to include children I will not meet until I get to Heaven.

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In the mid eighties, home schooling was a new and novel idea to most people. A gentleman in our church who heard I was teaching my Kindergarten through ninth grade children, assumed that I must know something about those age groups. This was significant to him because he was the editor of a Christian Education publishing house that provided curriculum for children and teens. He asked for a sample of my writing and before I knew it,I was working right along side of my kids - developing materials for a children's program and later Junior High youth groups.

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Today, as I am just learning about blogging, I am once again aware that God always answers prayers for ministry. If we desire to serve Him - He will open the way, and make in fit perfectly with the ways in which He has gifted us. I would have never guessed that God would use my enjoyment of writing along with my commitment to my family.

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If you are reading this, you are probably already more savey about computers and the internet than I am. Have you considered how God could use this tool in your hands to minister to other people and bring glory to our Lord? I would love to hear your comments.

My Testimony

Feb 29, 2008
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To introduce my new blog, I have been journaling about the ways in which God has worked in my life to bring me closer to Him. Most of us who are believers can look back to milestones that led to our salvation, even before we knew we needed Him. Certainly we can see the influences that brought us to Him, both positive and negative.

***

The realization that we are sinners is the first real shocker that we have to deal with. Then we find that sinners are exactly who Jesus came to earth to save. He actually gave His life for us - but He didn't stay dead! Someone has told us these truths either in a Sunday School class, Good News Club or just in conversations about God. I first responded to the message of the gospel in a revival meeting when I was nine years old. I was old enough to know that I had a decision to make - and I wanted to receive Jesus as my personal Savior.

I think I already loved all that I had heard about Him. I was like one of those little children in the picture book who came to Jesus and then experienced having Him put His arms around them, saying, "Let the little children come unto me and forbid them not - because of such is the Kingdom of Heaven."

***

Have you received Jesus as your personal Savior? If so, how old were you and where did it take place?

Church Attendance

Feb 27, 2008
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Before I begin to post my devotional articles, I would like to spend some time journaling about God's working in my life. I had the privilege of being raised in a Christian home - but that came about by difficult circumstances. My mother divorced and remarried before I was five years old. She was a Christian,but had not been attending church when she met my step-father. When they married, she said she wanted the kind of family that sat together in church every Sunday. That simple decision they made to attend church had a profound impact on my life, and eventually on the lives of my children and grandchildren. It was at church that I accepted Jesus as my personal Saviour. It was at junior camp where I decided to rededicate my life to Him, praying, "Lord, I want to be what you want me to be." I will write more on this later.

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How has church attendance or the lack of it impacted your life?