"The wise woman builds her house, but the foolish pulls is down with her hands." Proverb 14:1
It's not easy to find much entertainment on television these days. My husband and I don't watch much on t.v. We do enjoy reruns of certain shows from time to time. We've enjoyed the shows Home Improvement and Everybody Loves Raymond in the past. They're pretty funny shows. The characters on the show Everybody Loves Raymond really play off each other well. Raymond's mom is such a trip. She knows how to deliver a line and leave a "deer in the headlights look" with every male in the room. Often, the brothers and the dad are trying to avoid her and figure out who's going to deal with her next. It's always "the elephant in the room." It's so funny to watch.
While we laugh pretty hard at some of those sitcoms, it's really a little sad the way the men are often portrayed in them. The men are usually seen as weak, inattentive, senseless, oafs who are completely at the mercy of their wives. We laugh at them onscreen because, let's face it, it's funny. However, it's not so funny when it's a real life matter. Unfortunately, it's all too common in many homes.
My husband and I joke with each other pretty hard. We have fun at each other's expense but keep things strictly within a joking manner without tearing one another down. In fact, I found myself asking my husband recently if I ever say things that make him feel disrespected in his home or in public because I don't want to come to a point where I take my sarcastic humor to far to where he feels I'm demeaning him. Thankfully, he told me "no". He assured me that he loves the way we joke with one another. Yet, I felt the need to ask because of something we'd both seen with another couple not so long ago. We squirmed as we watched the wife completely belittle her husband. She told everyone in their presence some very demeaning things about her husband and spoke to him like he was a child. It was very sad to watch. What was worse was that he just looked as though he had no self worth left. She had robbed him of his dignity completely. She even made a few jokes at his expense, but the jokes were very embarassing and unlike the sitcoms, we weren't laughing. In fact, we didn't say anything.
Many studies have asked men what is the most important thing their wives can give to them. The number one answer is respect. In order for a man to be the spiritual leader of the home, the wife must give him due respect. It doesn't make her less of a person or make him a tyrant. It doesn't put him in a position to bark orders at her and it doesn't make her his slave. She can still voice her opinions and they can discuss matters together. It places everything in its rightful order. She can love and respect him and he can adore her. If done according to God's design, it makes for a beautiful marriage relationship.
Let's face it, we're all human and we're going to mess this up at times. There will be times where we'll overstep our bounds or say things we wish we hadn't. However, one of the best ways we can maintain the dignity of our husbands is by keeping marital discussions within the confines of the marriage. As a rule of thumb, if it would embarass you for your husband to say it about you then it's wise to not say such things publicly about him. Any disagreements are best discussed in private. Honestly, if it's done publicly, it makes everyone else very uncomfortable anyway.
I felt the urgency of this matter when reading the book of Proverbs yesterday. We were traveling and as I was riding, I decided to read the entire book. What i noticed (as I had noticed before) is how many of the Proverbs repeat themselves. I think that is for emphasis. A point is being driven home there. As I went through the chapters, I put in brackets all verses pertaining to a contentious wife. There were a lot!!! I was shocked at just how many there were. So after thinking back to the incident with the wife and her husband and reading all those verses, it occurred to me that this must be a pretty prevalent thing.
Our husbands aren't always going to get the respect they desire in the world. They may be disrespected in business or in other relationships. Yet we have the power to restore their dignity the minute they come home. We have the power to build up what others may tear down. We can keep the home a safe haven for our husband's and children.
Father, help us in our role as women. We often fail and we confess that to you. We don't always use restraint with our words and we don't always keep silent when we should. Help us to hear Your voice clearly that we may know how to honor You as wives and mothers and, most importatnly, Your servants. We thank You for our husbands. We thank You for their leadership and we ask that You lead them that they may lead our households. May our homes bring glory and honor to You. In Your Son's Name, Amen.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Drawn by Truth
"And many of the Samaritans of that city believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified, “He told me all that I ever did.” So when the Samaritans had come to Him, they urged Him to stay with them; and He stayed there two days. And many more believed because of His own word." John 4:39-41
Okay, something really awesome happened today in terms of revelation of God's word. God made Himself crystal clear on something and it was marvelous to see and really put my mind at ease as well.
Let me start by telling a short story. About two or three weeks ago, I was talking with a friend about her new church. She told me it was great and is really seeing the Holy Spirit moving. She then went on to share a story about how she had experienced the moving of the Holy Spirit firsthand. She said that she and some other members from the church had been outside a mall handing out surveys to anyone interested asking what they would look for in a church. While they were there, a man who had recently moved to the area told them how neat it was to find them there because he had just moved and was looking for a church home. It was almost like they'd found him, he said! Well, the pastor of the chuch wondered if the man was saved. The following Sunday the man came to church. The pastor soon found that his suspicion had been completely right and the man talked with the pastor and then received Jesus as Savior and has been attending the church faithfully since! Praise the LORD!
So, this morning I was just digging through the bible, searching the scriptures for all the truths surrounding the birth of Christ. After a little study, I found myself wandering over to the book of John. I'm not exactly sure why as there is not really much account of the birth in that gospel aside from the 14th verse of the first chapter. However, I was finding myself drawn to the life of Jesus. I looked at the headings in my bible in the third and fourth chapters of John. I saw the headings: "Christ Witnesses to Nicodemus", "Christ Witnesses to the Woman at the Well", "Christ Witnesses to the Disciples", "Christ Witnesses to the Samaritans." I really wanted to glean from these witness opportunities. I thought, "Who better to learn the right way to do this from than Christ Himself?" One thing that really stood out to me in every single scenario is the people came to Him. He didn't have to do anything to draw attention to Himself. The people were drawn to Him. He just made Himself available! The second thing I noticed was His keen observation. He wasn't distracted in any of the situations. He was prepared, He was available, and He was listening. In the situation with Nicodemus, he came at night full of questions. Jesus was prepared and available to talk with him. The woman at the well was coming to draw water when Jesus just asked her for a drink. He was engaging in conversation with her. She could've silently given Him the water and been on her way but felt compelled to ask him a question. Her question opened the door for a witness opportunity. Again, the same scenario as with Nicodemus! In the following scenarios, it was a similar pattern of people coming to Jesus, asking Him questions and Him using it as an opportunity to witness. It really made me think.
Here's where it got really, really interesting. About an hour after my quiet time this morning, my friend from my hometown called. She was sad for a neighbor who'd had a bunch of Christmas lawn decorations vandalized. Someone had popped her blow-up inflatables and bent the metal on her reindeer. For a brief history, my friend has been praying for her neighbors as none of them attend church. She'd been despondent in trying to find ways to witness. Well, she went over to her neighbor's house when she saw her out in the yard. She told her how sorry she was that that had happened. Interestingly, her neighbor asked her where she went to church. She said her kids had gone to a little Christian preschool but she thought that maybe she should take them to church too because it would probably be good for them. So my friend began talking with her and the lady agreed to come to church. My friend was so excited that it happened that way!
This was such an encouragement to me. There are so many times where I want to be used. We ARE called "to go and make disciples" after all... I definitely think I still need to be about the business of inviting people to church, having people over for dinner and the like. But sometimes, I try to do it on my own terms. I think others out there may be able to relate. We try to do it according to how we think it should be done. Sometimes it's by trying to tell someone too much too soon whether they ask or not. Sometimes it's by trying to make ourselves appealing to the lost. Sometimes it's by trying to discuss things that are of the world in order to seem like we relate. Maybe we're just trying too hard. Maybe we're not going forth bathed in prayer trusting the Lord to draw lost souls on His terms. I know, personally, I've found myself frustrated in the past where my contrived efforts failed. I guess I've come to the realization that God doesn't care about our gimmicks. He cares about our faith. Our simple faith. The kind of faith that draws the lost to us based solely on the power of the Holy Spirit and the evidence of that faith exuding from us. The kind of faith that leads a neighbor to ask about church out of the blue. The kind of faith that leads a lost soul to a church and to salvation in Christ. The kind of faith that I hope and pray will be evident in me in the year 2011...
Father, I must confess my restlessness at times. I want things to hurry up and happen on my terms. But Lord, if it happens on my terms then am I really in the business of giving YOU the glory? Lord, I lift up the lost on my prayer list. You know who they are. I can't force them to believe. I can't force them into salvation. I can't make myself appealing to them. You've taught me that it just doesn't work that way. I must trust. I must be willing to go and tell but, prayerfully so, seeking Your words and Your timing. And Father, I must be prepared to be a listener. Sometimes I fear, I miss what people may be trying to say. Perhaps they're reaching out for Your truths because I'm not prepared in prayer and I don't really listen. May I remember how Jesus listened. How he spoke in truth. How He made Himself available. How he didn't conform to the ways of the world or make any effort to make Himself like the world. Use me, but please use me for YOUR glory. I pray that in the upcoming year I can be used for the advancement of Your kingdom and that all glory would go to You, Father. In the name of Your most precious gift this Christmas season and every day! Amen
Merry Christmas, everyone!!!!
Okay, something really awesome happened today in terms of revelation of God's word. God made Himself crystal clear on something and it was marvelous to see and really put my mind at ease as well.
Let me start by telling a short story. About two or three weeks ago, I was talking with a friend about her new church. She told me it was great and is really seeing the Holy Spirit moving. She then went on to share a story about how she had experienced the moving of the Holy Spirit firsthand. She said that she and some other members from the church had been outside a mall handing out surveys to anyone interested asking what they would look for in a church. While they were there, a man who had recently moved to the area told them how neat it was to find them there because he had just moved and was looking for a church home. It was almost like they'd found him, he said! Well, the pastor of the chuch wondered if the man was saved. The following Sunday the man came to church. The pastor soon found that his suspicion had been completely right and the man talked with the pastor and then received Jesus as Savior and has been attending the church faithfully since! Praise the LORD!
So, this morning I was just digging through the bible, searching the scriptures for all the truths surrounding the birth of Christ. After a little study, I found myself wandering over to the book of John. I'm not exactly sure why as there is not really much account of the birth in that gospel aside from the 14th verse of the first chapter. However, I was finding myself drawn to the life of Jesus. I looked at the headings in my bible in the third and fourth chapters of John. I saw the headings: "Christ Witnesses to Nicodemus", "Christ Witnesses to the Woman at the Well", "Christ Witnesses to the Disciples", "Christ Witnesses to the Samaritans." I really wanted to glean from these witness opportunities. I thought, "Who better to learn the right way to do this from than Christ Himself?" One thing that really stood out to me in every single scenario is the people came to Him. He didn't have to do anything to draw attention to Himself. The people were drawn to Him. He just made Himself available! The second thing I noticed was His keen observation. He wasn't distracted in any of the situations. He was prepared, He was available, and He was listening. In the situation with Nicodemus, he came at night full of questions. Jesus was prepared and available to talk with him. The woman at the well was coming to draw water when Jesus just asked her for a drink. He was engaging in conversation with her. She could've silently given Him the water and been on her way but felt compelled to ask him a question. Her question opened the door for a witness opportunity. Again, the same scenario as with Nicodemus! In the following scenarios, it was a similar pattern of people coming to Jesus, asking Him questions and Him using it as an opportunity to witness. It really made me think.
Here's where it got really, really interesting. About an hour after my quiet time this morning, my friend from my hometown called. She was sad for a neighbor who'd had a bunch of Christmas lawn decorations vandalized. Someone had popped her blow-up inflatables and bent the metal on her reindeer. For a brief history, my friend has been praying for her neighbors as none of them attend church. She'd been despondent in trying to find ways to witness. Well, she went over to her neighbor's house when she saw her out in the yard. She told her how sorry she was that that had happened. Interestingly, her neighbor asked her where she went to church. She said her kids had gone to a little Christian preschool but she thought that maybe she should take them to church too because it would probably be good for them. So my friend began talking with her and the lady agreed to come to church. My friend was so excited that it happened that way!
This was such an encouragement to me. There are so many times where I want to be used. We ARE called "to go and make disciples" after all... I definitely think I still need to be about the business of inviting people to church, having people over for dinner and the like. But sometimes, I try to do it on my own terms. I think others out there may be able to relate. We try to do it according to how we think it should be done. Sometimes it's by trying to tell someone too much too soon whether they ask or not. Sometimes it's by trying to make ourselves appealing to the lost. Sometimes it's by trying to discuss things that are of the world in order to seem like we relate. Maybe we're just trying too hard. Maybe we're not going forth bathed in prayer trusting the Lord to draw lost souls on His terms. I know, personally, I've found myself frustrated in the past where my contrived efforts failed. I guess I've come to the realization that God doesn't care about our gimmicks. He cares about our faith. Our simple faith. The kind of faith that draws the lost to us based solely on the power of the Holy Spirit and the evidence of that faith exuding from us. The kind of faith that leads a neighbor to ask about church out of the blue. The kind of faith that leads a lost soul to a church and to salvation in Christ. The kind of faith that I hope and pray will be evident in me in the year 2011...
Father, I must confess my restlessness at times. I want things to hurry up and happen on my terms. But Lord, if it happens on my terms then am I really in the business of giving YOU the glory? Lord, I lift up the lost on my prayer list. You know who they are. I can't force them to believe. I can't force them into salvation. I can't make myself appealing to them. You've taught me that it just doesn't work that way. I must trust. I must be willing to go and tell but, prayerfully so, seeking Your words and Your timing. And Father, I must be prepared to be a listener. Sometimes I fear, I miss what people may be trying to say. Perhaps they're reaching out for Your truths because I'm not prepared in prayer and I don't really listen. May I remember how Jesus listened. How he spoke in truth. How He made Himself available. How he didn't conform to the ways of the world or make any effort to make Himself like the world. Use me, but please use me for YOUR glory. I pray that in the upcoming year I can be used for the advancement of Your kingdom and that all glory would go to You, Father. In the name of Your most precious gift this Christmas season and every day! Amen
Merry Christmas, everyone!!!!
Saturday, December 11, 2010
"How Can This Be?"
""Then Mary said to the angel, "How can this be since I do not know a man?" Then Mary said, "Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word."" Luke 1:34,38
I love Christmas! I love the excitement of celebrating the birth of our risen Savior. It's the one time of year where people seem to find charity within themselves, enjoy giving and focus on love and others. I love walking into stores and seeing people drop money into the Salvation Army bins and wishing each other "Merry Christmas". It's truly a time for celebrating the greatest gift ever given. It's the biggest birthday bash ever!
I love reading the Christmas story. When I read, I imagine the entire scene. I can visualize in my mind's eye what it must've been like for young Mary as she was visited by God's angel Gabriel. The entire scene is astounding. Here she was, a young lady tending to routine of daily life and then she learned in a quick moment she had been chosen to give birth to the King of Kings! Since we're only given her words in scripture, I find myself wondering what went through her mind when Gabriel visited her. Fear, panic, a rush of thoughts as to what wrong she may have done? Worry that she was the wrong one for the job? Obviously, scripture doesn't say but given the fact that Gabriel tells her not to be afraid, (v 30) I'm guessing so. I can't even begin to imagine what that moment must've been like for her. Yet I'm so moved by her reaction to the visit. She pushed the fear and questioning to the side and said, "Let it be to me according to your word." What faith and resolution in God's sovereignty!
As an aside, allow me to share exciting uncertainty from my own life on a much smaller scale. This past summer, my family visited an amusement park. It's something we all enjoy immensely. I have a love for thrill rides. There's something about the adrenaline rush of going on a rollercoaster that other bystanders dane not try. Well, this summer, I determined I'd try every crazy thrill ride at the amusement park. My first stop was a 270 foot high free fall ride. My husband and children watched as I got on it and strapped myself in. As the ride very slowly inched its way up 270 feet into the air, I began thinking, "Why on earth did I get on here? When is this thing going to get to the top and when will it drop?" It seemed to take forever to get to the top. Then, the ride hovered there for what seemed like ten minutes before it dropped at lightning speed straight down! When I got to the bottom, I was shaking so much from the adrenaline that I could hardly unbuckle the harness. Bystanders were laughing at my reaction and I was laughing as well at the thrill of it all. I then went onto other rides and repeated the same process with the intial fear minimizing with each new ride. I was getting to be an old pro at facing those crazy rides!
Back to thinking about Mary and her reaction, I ponder my own response to God and His word (which is sometimes like my response to the thrill rides). For those who don't know me well, I'm probably one of the most inquisitive people you'll meet. I drive my own self crazy with questions at times. I get a laugh sometimes at how I'm reaping that as well in the life of my son. He asks questions all the time-- many to which I have no answer. I'm especially curious when it comes to the word of God and admittedly, a little impatient at times in wanting revelation in certain areas of His word. I study it and am always left wanting to know more. God reveals to me only what I need to know and am ready to know at the time. Sometimes I'm left with nothing more than trust and faith in certain areas as I don't fully grasp Him in all areas. The depth of Him is so far beyond my limited understanding.
In mamy ways, I glean so much from Mary's response to Gabriel. She responds with simple faith. Yet her mind is probably full of questions. I don't think there's anything wrong with that. God formed us with unique personalities as well. However,it's best to react the way Mary does--in faith. And sometimes, I think our thinking is so limited so that we can pour out a full measure of faith in God. We do have to admit that we don't understand and that our knowledge is limited but that we trust Him. My limitations are what keep me grounded firmly in Him. If I ever come to a point where I think I've got it figured out or any understaning of Him comes from human knowledge, I may as well say to Him, "I don't need you, Lord." And nothing could be further from the truth! I desperately need Him!
It's so important to study God's word and grow in Him. But it's also important to maintain the understanding that He is God. He's omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent. We're children with limited understanding. We trust and obey and whatever He chooses to give us along the way is an incredible blessing! And when approached with new tasks for His glory, we must be ready to say something similar to Mary's response like, "May it be to me as You have declared." We must trust and obey.
Just like the thrill rides, the more we trust and obey, the more we rest in knowing the outcome will be okay. For no matter what the outcome in God's sovereignty, we know it will be according to His will and for our own good. The more faith we show, the more our faith grows.
"Father, may I be willing to react to your word the way Mary did-- in complete trust and obedience. I long to be faithful and to bring you glory. Guide my path and use me for the advancement of Your kingdom. I pray You receive all the glory this Christmas season in everything we do and say. I pray that nothing else would take precedence over praise and thanks for the ultimate gift we've been given in the birth of Your Son-- the Son of the most High God! Immanuel, Prince of Peace, God with us, King of KIngs, Lord of Lords, Holy One... Jesus. And it's in the power and precious name of Jesus I pray. Amen."
I love Christmas! I love the excitement of celebrating the birth of our risen Savior. It's the one time of year where people seem to find charity within themselves, enjoy giving and focus on love and others. I love walking into stores and seeing people drop money into the Salvation Army bins and wishing each other "Merry Christmas". It's truly a time for celebrating the greatest gift ever given. It's the biggest birthday bash ever!
I love reading the Christmas story. When I read, I imagine the entire scene. I can visualize in my mind's eye what it must've been like for young Mary as she was visited by God's angel Gabriel. The entire scene is astounding. Here she was, a young lady tending to routine of daily life and then she learned in a quick moment she had been chosen to give birth to the King of Kings! Since we're only given her words in scripture, I find myself wondering what went through her mind when Gabriel visited her. Fear, panic, a rush of thoughts as to what wrong she may have done? Worry that she was the wrong one for the job? Obviously, scripture doesn't say but given the fact that Gabriel tells her not to be afraid, (v 30) I'm guessing so. I can't even begin to imagine what that moment must've been like for her. Yet I'm so moved by her reaction to the visit. She pushed the fear and questioning to the side and said, "Let it be to me according to your word." What faith and resolution in God's sovereignty!
As an aside, allow me to share exciting uncertainty from my own life on a much smaller scale. This past summer, my family visited an amusement park. It's something we all enjoy immensely. I have a love for thrill rides. There's something about the adrenaline rush of going on a rollercoaster that other bystanders dane not try. Well, this summer, I determined I'd try every crazy thrill ride at the amusement park. My first stop was a 270 foot high free fall ride. My husband and children watched as I got on it and strapped myself in. As the ride very slowly inched its way up 270 feet into the air, I began thinking, "Why on earth did I get on here? When is this thing going to get to the top and when will it drop?" It seemed to take forever to get to the top. Then, the ride hovered there for what seemed like ten minutes before it dropped at lightning speed straight down! When I got to the bottom, I was shaking so much from the adrenaline that I could hardly unbuckle the harness. Bystanders were laughing at my reaction and I was laughing as well at the thrill of it all. I then went onto other rides and repeated the same process with the intial fear minimizing with each new ride. I was getting to be an old pro at facing those crazy rides!
Back to thinking about Mary and her reaction, I ponder my own response to God and His word (which is sometimes like my response to the thrill rides). For those who don't know me well, I'm probably one of the most inquisitive people you'll meet. I drive my own self crazy with questions at times. I get a laugh sometimes at how I'm reaping that as well in the life of my son. He asks questions all the time-- many to which I have no answer. I'm especially curious when it comes to the word of God and admittedly, a little impatient at times in wanting revelation in certain areas of His word. I study it and am always left wanting to know more. God reveals to me only what I need to know and am ready to know at the time. Sometimes I'm left with nothing more than trust and faith in certain areas as I don't fully grasp Him in all areas. The depth of Him is so far beyond my limited understanding.
In mamy ways, I glean so much from Mary's response to Gabriel. She responds with simple faith. Yet her mind is probably full of questions. I don't think there's anything wrong with that. God formed us with unique personalities as well. However,it's best to react the way Mary does--in faith. And sometimes, I think our thinking is so limited so that we can pour out a full measure of faith in God. We do have to admit that we don't understand and that our knowledge is limited but that we trust Him. My limitations are what keep me grounded firmly in Him. If I ever come to a point where I think I've got it figured out or any understaning of Him comes from human knowledge, I may as well say to Him, "I don't need you, Lord." And nothing could be further from the truth! I desperately need Him!
It's so important to study God's word and grow in Him. But it's also important to maintain the understanding that He is God. He's omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent. We're children with limited understanding. We trust and obey and whatever He chooses to give us along the way is an incredible blessing! And when approached with new tasks for His glory, we must be ready to say something similar to Mary's response like, "May it be to me as You have declared." We must trust and obey.
Just like the thrill rides, the more we trust and obey, the more we rest in knowing the outcome will be okay. For no matter what the outcome in God's sovereignty, we know it will be according to His will and for our own good. The more faith we show, the more our faith grows.
"Father, may I be willing to react to your word the way Mary did-- in complete trust and obedience. I long to be faithful and to bring you glory. Guide my path and use me for the advancement of Your kingdom. I pray You receive all the glory this Christmas season in everything we do and say. I pray that nothing else would take precedence over praise and thanks for the ultimate gift we've been given in the birth of Your Son-- the Son of the most High God! Immanuel, Prince of Peace, God with us, King of KIngs, Lord of Lords, Holy One... Jesus. And it's in the power and precious name of Jesus I pray. Amen."
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Making it Through the Impossibilities
"For I am with you to deliver you, says the Lord" Jeremiah 1:8b
The holiday season is upon us! I cannot believe today is the first day of December! Where did the year 2010 go? We're in a busy and exciting time of year. We enjoy traditions, good food, giving and receiving presents, and especially, and of the most importance, celebrating the Savior's birth. How could anyone not be overflowing with the excitement the season brings? However, for some, the holidays bring with them painful reminders. It can be a time of year where some are left feeling lonely and in despair.
I've been listening to an incredible series on the impossibilities in life. Impossibilities are defined by Swindoll as those things which we have no control over; that which, try as we might, we cannot fix and it consumes us to a degree. For some, it's a financial situation due to a difficult economy. For others, it's an illness. Still others may have a strained relationship with another who refuses to change or yield, or there may be a child in rebellion. Whatever the case, the holidays can sometimes make the difficult situation feel magnified. I know, personally, after my brother died, the holidays were so tough. He died just a few days before Thanksgiving and just a few weeks before his birthday and Christmas. So that time of year just brought with it all of the painful reminders, and to a degree, it still does.
I find it so interesting how the Lord can repeat a topic in my life in different ways. As I said, I've been listening to that series on impossibilities (as I have an impossibility of my own-- I think we all do at some point in our lives) and then I decided to begin studying the book of Jeremiah this morning. I'll tell you this, I have a great God. He brought forth that same message through His written word of having faith in difficulty and how NOTHING is impossible with Him. Allow me to share...
We're told in verse 5 that God chose and sanctified Jeremiah to be a prophet to the nations before He was even born! God had already decided it and knew the outcome. As He later approached Jeremiah with this, Jeremiah reacted in fear (v 6) by saying he was too young for such a high calling. God reassured him that he would give him the words and deliver him. Then in v 9, (I think the NEATEST part!) he touched Jeremiah's mouth with his hand and breathed HIS own words into Jeremiah!!!
As I continued to study, one more thing struck me. In v 14, the Lord told Jeremiah that there would be calamity. There it is! God promised Jeremiah His word, He promised him deliverance, but He also promised Him calamity. HMMM.... So what do I glean from this? Personally, this is how this spoke to me: 1)I know the entire bible came from God so that it all needs to be viewed in equal value and not just the words of Jesus. So, the entire Bible is God's breath, God's voice to us! 2) It's all in there! In other words, I don't need to question God or what will happen in my life or what is happening. I can look to His words and His promises and know that I have a resource and guide through everything. 3) If I'm facing a task appointed by the Lord or a difficult situation, the Lord WILL empower me to endure the storm. I can know He will be magnified in the process.
So, I say the following to you and myself as encouragement: We may not know the reasons behind difficulty and we may not know what lies ahead, but we can rest assured God will guide us if we trust in Him. He may call us to some tough situations but we can rest knowing that all things are possible with Him because His word assures us of that!
If you're dealing with a difficult situation right now, take heart. Furthermore, if you know someone who has suffered a loss, going through a trial, a strained relationship, financial hardship, or whatever the case, call or write them soon. Give them encouragement. If they're facing this Christmas season all alone, invite them to be a part of your family's celebration. And if you're the one facing the trial, don't be afraid to lean on your brothers and sisters in Christ when they offer you help.
No matter the situation, let us focus on the joy we have in Christ. It's the kind of joy that endures no matter what we face.
Father, we just want to take the time to praise You for sending Your Son for us. Lord, as I read a church sign yesterday that said "Your greatest gift wasn't under a tree it was on it" I was so moved. I realized how quickly we can overlook the meaning of Christmas and the sacrifice You gave. Thank You for Your mercies made new each day. Thank You for Your deliverance and strength when we endure trials of many kinds. Thank You for Your perfect peace that surpasses all understanding. That perfect peace gives us joy. Forgive us for our lack of faith. Grow us and strengthen our faith. Guide us and continue to reveal Yourself to us. Thank You, Father. In our Savior's name we pray, Amen!
The holiday season is upon us! I cannot believe today is the first day of December! Where did the year 2010 go? We're in a busy and exciting time of year. We enjoy traditions, good food, giving and receiving presents, and especially, and of the most importance, celebrating the Savior's birth. How could anyone not be overflowing with the excitement the season brings? However, for some, the holidays bring with them painful reminders. It can be a time of year where some are left feeling lonely and in despair.
I've been listening to an incredible series on the impossibilities in life. Impossibilities are defined by Swindoll as those things which we have no control over; that which, try as we might, we cannot fix and it consumes us to a degree. For some, it's a financial situation due to a difficult economy. For others, it's an illness. Still others may have a strained relationship with another who refuses to change or yield, or there may be a child in rebellion. Whatever the case, the holidays can sometimes make the difficult situation feel magnified. I know, personally, after my brother died, the holidays were so tough. He died just a few days before Thanksgiving and just a few weeks before his birthday and Christmas. So that time of year just brought with it all of the painful reminders, and to a degree, it still does.
I find it so interesting how the Lord can repeat a topic in my life in different ways. As I said, I've been listening to that series on impossibilities (as I have an impossibility of my own-- I think we all do at some point in our lives) and then I decided to begin studying the book of Jeremiah this morning. I'll tell you this, I have a great God. He brought forth that same message through His written word of having faith in difficulty and how NOTHING is impossible with Him. Allow me to share...
We're told in verse 5 that God chose and sanctified Jeremiah to be a prophet to the nations before He was even born! God had already decided it and knew the outcome. As He later approached Jeremiah with this, Jeremiah reacted in fear (v 6) by saying he was too young for such a high calling. God reassured him that he would give him the words and deliver him. Then in v 9, (I think the NEATEST part!) he touched Jeremiah's mouth with his hand and breathed HIS own words into Jeremiah!!!
As I continued to study, one more thing struck me. In v 14, the Lord told Jeremiah that there would be calamity. There it is! God promised Jeremiah His word, He promised him deliverance, but He also promised Him calamity. HMMM.... So what do I glean from this? Personally, this is how this spoke to me: 1)I know the entire bible came from God so that it all needs to be viewed in equal value and not just the words of Jesus. So, the entire Bible is God's breath, God's voice to us! 2) It's all in there! In other words, I don't need to question God or what will happen in my life or what is happening. I can look to His words and His promises and know that I have a resource and guide through everything. 3) If I'm facing a task appointed by the Lord or a difficult situation, the Lord WILL empower me to endure the storm. I can know He will be magnified in the process.
So, I say the following to you and myself as encouragement: We may not know the reasons behind difficulty and we may not know what lies ahead, but we can rest assured God will guide us if we trust in Him. He may call us to some tough situations but we can rest knowing that all things are possible with Him because His word assures us of that!
If you're dealing with a difficult situation right now, take heart. Furthermore, if you know someone who has suffered a loss, going through a trial, a strained relationship, financial hardship, or whatever the case, call or write them soon. Give them encouragement. If they're facing this Christmas season all alone, invite them to be a part of your family's celebration. And if you're the one facing the trial, don't be afraid to lean on your brothers and sisters in Christ when they offer you help.
No matter the situation, let us focus on the joy we have in Christ. It's the kind of joy that endures no matter what we face.
Father, we just want to take the time to praise You for sending Your Son for us. Lord, as I read a church sign yesterday that said "Your greatest gift wasn't under a tree it was on it" I was so moved. I realized how quickly we can overlook the meaning of Christmas and the sacrifice You gave. Thank You for Your mercies made new each day. Thank You for Your deliverance and strength when we endure trials of many kinds. Thank You for Your perfect peace that surpasses all understanding. That perfect peace gives us joy. Forgive us for our lack of faith. Grow us and strengthen our faith. Guide us and continue to reveal Yourself to us. Thank You, Father. In our Savior's name we pray, Amen!
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Being Thankful
Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, [and] into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, [and] bless his name. Psalm 100:4
Well, Thanksgiving's only a couple of days away! I can almost smell the turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, dressing, and blueberry pie! MMMMM... Good stuff! -- So much for my healthy eating plan this week! :)
Thanksgiving's a busy time of year for many. I know for us, personally, we'll be traveling to my parents' house, my husband's parents' house and his grandparents' house-- all in three days! We're even going to manage some serious black Friday shopping the day after Thanksgiving. It's going to be a whirlwind for sure! There will be so many relatives to see, children running around everywhere, busy cooks in the kitchen, men in front of the television watching football, and lots and lots of dishes to wash!
You know, in the midst of all the chaos, it could be easy to forget what the day truly represents. Oh, we sit back and often say we're thankful for this or that, but do we truly meditate on that in prayer with our Lord? How much time do we truly spend thanking Him for His mercy, His lovingkindness, forgiveness, salvation, provision, protection, etc....?
I read a story with my Sunday School students this past Sunday about the first Thanksgiving. I had forgotten about the treacherous conditions aboard the Mayflower. So many died from disease and malnourishment. When they arrived, God provided their Native American friends to help them learn how to cultivate crops in order to have a bountiful harvest. They had so much gratitude to God for His mercy and His provision and the freedom they would find to worship Him publicly!
I pray that each one of us will find a moment to retreat this Thanksgiving and really praise and thank our Lord. May we train and teach our children to do the same. May we also carry the thanksgiving proclamations into the entire year ahead. For there should be more than just one day of thanks. Every single day should be a day of praise and Thanksgiving to God. So start making your thankful list. Hopefully you'll run out of paper before you run out of things to be thankful for!
I'll leave you with a song that is now running through my head:
I will enter his gates with thanksgiving in my heart.
I will enter his courts with praise.
I will say this is the day that the Lord hath made.
I will rejoice for He hath made me glad.
He hath made me glad!
He hath made me glad!
I will rejoice for He hath made me gl-a-ad!
He hath made me glad! He hath made me glad!
I will rejoice for He hath made me glad!
Father, let us come to You in praise, worship and thanksgiving! Thank You, Father for Your Son, Jesus! Thanks You for our daily bread, our forgivness, for deliverance. Lord, forgive us for often taking these things for granted. Thank You so much for loving us! May we show our love to You by making You a priority in our lives, by surrendering, by magnifying You! Be glorified in our lives! For it's in the sweet name of Jesus we pray, Amen!
Well, Thanksgiving's only a couple of days away! I can almost smell the turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, dressing, and blueberry pie! MMMMM... Good stuff! -- So much for my healthy eating plan this week! :)
Thanksgiving's a busy time of year for many. I know for us, personally, we'll be traveling to my parents' house, my husband's parents' house and his grandparents' house-- all in three days! We're even going to manage some serious black Friday shopping the day after Thanksgiving. It's going to be a whirlwind for sure! There will be so many relatives to see, children running around everywhere, busy cooks in the kitchen, men in front of the television watching football, and lots and lots of dishes to wash!
You know, in the midst of all the chaos, it could be easy to forget what the day truly represents. Oh, we sit back and often say we're thankful for this or that, but do we truly meditate on that in prayer with our Lord? How much time do we truly spend thanking Him for His mercy, His lovingkindness, forgiveness, salvation, provision, protection, etc....?
I read a story with my Sunday School students this past Sunday about the first Thanksgiving. I had forgotten about the treacherous conditions aboard the Mayflower. So many died from disease and malnourishment. When they arrived, God provided their Native American friends to help them learn how to cultivate crops in order to have a bountiful harvest. They had so much gratitude to God for His mercy and His provision and the freedom they would find to worship Him publicly!
I pray that each one of us will find a moment to retreat this Thanksgiving and really praise and thank our Lord. May we train and teach our children to do the same. May we also carry the thanksgiving proclamations into the entire year ahead. For there should be more than just one day of thanks. Every single day should be a day of praise and Thanksgiving to God. So start making your thankful list. Hopefully you'll run out of paper before you run out of things to be thankful for!
I'll leave you with a song that is now running through my head:
I will enter his gates with thanksgiving in my heart.
I will enter his courts with praise.
I will say this is the day that the Lord hath made.
I will rejoice for He hath made me glad.
He hath made me glad!
He hath made me glad!
I will rejoice for He hath made me gl-a-ad!
He hath made me glad! He hath made me glad!
I will rejoice for He hath made me glad!
Father, let us come to You in praise, worship and thanksgiving! Thank You, Father for Your Son, Jesus! Thanks You for our daily bread, our forgivness, for deliverance. Lord, forgive us for often taking these things for granted. Thank You so much for loving us! May we show our love to You by making You a priority in our lives, by surrendering, by magnifying You! Be glorified in our lives! For it's in the sweet name of Jesus we pray, Amen!
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
"Why is God silent?"
"You have turned for me my mourning into dancing. You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness. To the end that my glory may sing praise to You and not be silent." Psalm 30:11-12a
Why is God silent? Have you ever found yourself asking that question? I know I have. There have been times in my life where I've asked for God's intervention in an area of concern or His help where it seemed like the end result would bring glory to Him. So, why the silence?
I thought about that very thing this morning when reading Psalm 30. In fact, that seems to be a common theme in the Psalms where David longingly waited for the Father to hear him and intervene. David cried out to God over his enemies many, many times. Many of his prayers seemed desperate. Yet in this Psalm, he's rejoicing because the Lord has heard his cries.
There have been times in my life where I've prayed hard over situations and things just seemed stagnant. It didn't make sense until I got on the other side of things. This has happened in both big and small ways. And an example of one of the smaller ways this happened was evident this morning. You see, I've prayed for a long time over my children (and I'll never stop praying for them). I've prayed for them to have a heart for God outside of our instruction. Because unfortunately, I think many of us have the tendency to want to take control of every facet of our children's lives and while they desperately need our guidance and protection, there are times when we must pray over them to make right decisions, using careful discernment that those times won't be times when making a wrong decision could bring harm to them. I long for my children to want to do what's right not because of the fear of getting into trouble but because of conviction in God's word. I want them to have discernment in feeling the conviciton of the Holy Spirit. In other words, I don't want to have to nag them over everything!
Well, this morning, I got a glimpse of the Holy Spirit working in them. It may not sound like a big deal, but believe me, it meant the world to me. To provide a little background, we've had some sickness in our household in the last two weeks. My daughter and I have both had illness off and on. My husband had to travel out of town and I found myself just exhausted in trying to rest but taking care of my daughter in the midst of a terrible stomach virus. Well, thankfully, she's feeling much better today as am I. Yet, I'm still pretty weak. So, after breakfast, I had the kids clearing the dishes from the table and asked them to go brush their teeth while I went to brush mine. When I came back out of the bathroom I found that they had not only brushed their teeth but had worked together to take out the kitchen trash. My heart melted because that's something I ususally have to ask them to do. When I asked why they said, "Well, we just want to help you out, Mom. We know you don't feel well and it's not just your job to take out the trash." What a blessing. My heart was full.
I've spent a lot of time asking God to mold them. I want them to long to please Him as their heart's desire. There have been many times in parenting them where I wondered if things were sinking in. I wondered what I was doing wrong. Don't get me wrong, they've always been good kids, but there's a selfishness in all of us that can be easily seen in parenting. Countless times I've cleaned the house to find toys or food on the floor within minutes and when I asked someone to clean it up it seemed to take forever to get the job done well. I guess the perseverance does pay off, even though I know I can't expect perfection.
In thinking over silence from God, I think we often miss the boat. I could've easily come to the conclusion that God wasn't listening to me because of the mess in my daughter's room or the breakfast dishes left on the table. But then, God showed me how He works. I have to be a keen observer at times to have a full appreciation so that I don't miss His work in my life. That example in itself makes me think of Elijah. Eljah's life was being threatened by Jezebel and he just didn't understand what was going on. He reached out to the Lord in desperate prayer. The Lord's reply was " "Go forth and stand upon the mount before the Lord." And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice." 1 Kings 19:11-12 There the Lord was in that still, small voice.
So persevere in prayer. For the Lord can appear in that still, small voice. Ask Him to reveal it to you. It's something you surely won't want to miss. I know I was blessed by it this morning!
Lord, help us not to miss that still, small voice. Father, I pray that we might feel Your presence. Speak to us and prepare our hearts to listen. Prepare in us hearts of contrition and ready and willing for Your commands. Furthermore, thank you so much for Your presence in our lives. Thank You for the Counselor you've left with us in the form of the Holy Spirit that we might know Your voice. Guide us and mold us to grow and mature. Let us put off all that hinders and seek to be made less that You might become more in our lives. We magnify Your sweet name. In the name of my Savior Jesus, Amen.
Why is God silent? Have you ever found yourself asking that question? I know I have. There have been times in my life where I've asked for God's intervention in an area of concern or His help where it seemed like the end result would bring glory to Him. So, why the silence?
I thought about that very thing this morning when reading Psalm 30. In fact, that seems to be a common theme in the Psalms where David longingly waited for the Father to hear him and intervene. David cried out to God over his enemies many, many times. Many of his prayers seemed desperate. Yet in this Psalm, he's rejoicing because the Lord has heard his cries.
There have been times in my life where I've prayed hard over situations and things just seemed stagnant. It didn't make sense until I got on the other side of things. This has happened in both big and small ways. And an example of one of the smaller ways this happened was evident this morning. You see, I've prayed for a long time over my children (and I'll never stop praying for them). I've prayed for them to have a heart for God outside of our instruction. Because unfortunately, I think many of us have the tendency to want to take control of every facet of our children's lives and while they desperately need our guidance and protection, there are times when we must pray over them to make right decisions, using careful discernment that those times won't be times when making a wrong decision could bring harm to them. I long for my children to want to do what's right not because of the fear of getting into trouble but because of conviction in God's word. I want them to have discernment in feeling the conviciton of the Holy Spirit. In other words, I don't want to have to nag them over everything!
Well, this morning, I got a glimpse of the Holy Spirit working in them. It may not sound like a big deal, but believe me, it meant the world to me. To provide a little background, we've had some sickness in our household in the last two weeks. My daughter and I have both had illness off and on. My husband had to travel out of town and I found myself just exhausted in trying to rest but taking care of my daughter in the midst of a terrible stomach virus. Well, thankfully, she's feeling much better today as am I. Yet, I'm still pretty weak. So, after breakfast, I had the kids clearing the dishes from the table and asked them to go brush their teeth while I went to brush mine. When I came back out of the bathroom I found that they had not only brushed their teeth but had worked together to take out the kitchen trash. My heart melted because that's something I ususally have to ask them to do. When I asked why they said, "Well, we just want to help you out, Mom. We know you don't feel well and it's not just your job to take out the trash." What a blessing. My heart was full.
I've spent a lot of time asking God to mold them. I want them to long to please Him as their heart's desire. There have been many times in parenting them where I wondered if things were sinking in. I wondered what I was doing wrong. Don't get me wrong, they've always been good kids, but there's a selfishness in all of us that can be easily seen in parenting. Countless times I've cleaned the house to find toys or food on the floor within minutes and when I asked someone to clean it up it seemed to take forever to get the job done well. I guess the perseverance does pay off, even though I know I can't expect perfection.
In thinking over silence from God, I think we often miss the boat. I could've easily come to the conclusion that God wasn't listening to me because of the mess in my daughter's room or the breakfast dishes left on the table. But then, God showed me how He works. I have to be a keen observer at times to have a full appreciation so that I don't miss His work in my life. That example in itself makes me think of Elijah. Eljah's life was being threatened by Jezebel and he just didn't understand what was going on. He reached out to the Lord in desperate prayer. The Lord's reply was " "Go forth and stand upon the mount before the Lord." And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice." 1 Kings 19:11-12 There the Lord was in that still, small voice.
So persevere in prayer. For the Lord can appear in that still, small voice. Ask Him to reveal it to you. It's something you surely won't want to miss. I know I was blessed by it this morning!
Lord, help us not to miss that still, small voice. Father, I pray that we might feel Your presence. Speak to us and prepare our hearts to listen. Prepare in us hearts of contrition and ready and willing for Your commands. Furthermore, thank you so much for Your presence in our lives. Thank You for the Counselor you've left with us in the form of the Holy Spirit that we might know Your voice. Guide us and mold us to grow and mature. Let us put off all that hinders and seek to be made less that You might become more in our lives. We magnify Your sweet name. In the name of my Savior Jesus, Amen.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Gleanings from Granny
"Age should speak; advanced years should teach wisdom" Job 32:7
I heard something kinda sad last week. Probably my favorite preacher of our time was talking about the future of his church. He wanted to help the current body in some long-range planning for the future of the church as he knows his time will come to an end not so long from now. That preacher is Chuck Swindoll and I understand his plans because he is 76 years old. I just hate to see the day when he steps down. I love to hear him. He speaks with such wisdom and is unapologetic in what he has to say. He preaches with the boldness and assurance that comes from wisdom in a long life lived with Christ.
You see, I think there's something to be said for wisdom with age. Don't get me wrong, there are some solid, and I mean solid young people in our churches. There are even many whose spiritual growth exceeds that of the older generation. However, I think there's something to be said for the experience that comes with a long life lived here on earth. Think of all the lessons learned, good and bad, that those in their later years have learned and can share with the younger people.
It's a little sad to me that often younger people view the elders as set in their ways. They may be, but in keeping that mindset, I'd say those young people have some preconceived notions of their own. Often, the younger generation doesn't want to take the time to hear what the older generation has to say. It's unfortunate because so much is missed. The stories are often precious.
I'm so glad my children got to meet their granny and really get to know her before she died. She was my husband's grandmother. She died about three years ago at the age of 96. She was known by her whole community as Granny. In fact, when she became ill and was hospitalized, a family friend came to visit and asked to see her. When the receptionist asked for the name of the patient, the visitor's reply was, "You know, I don't even know her name! Everyone I know, me included, just calls her "Granny."
Let me paint a mental portrait of Granny for you. She was a petite little thing, but soft as grannies should be! She had long silver hair that she always wore in a bun and refused to cut despite others telling her to do so. She wore thick-rimmed glasses and was always cold even in the summer. Every time I saw her she had a smile on the face even though she'd lived a life full of pain and loss. She looked just like the face from a bottle of pancake syrup. She was EXACTLY what you'd picture when you think of a granny.
Granny taught me some life lessons just by watching her that will stay with me forever. She taught me about sacrificial love. I remember telling her we wouldn't be able to make it to a certain family event because we had another obligation. She told me, "Well, we'll miss you but you just come when you can. It's okay. Don't you worry about it. We love you." She didn't make me feel bad or feel bad for herself, she just demonstrated love. Another thing I learned was servanthood. Granny deserved to be served but would never let anyone serve her. She served everyone and often waited through an entire meal before serving herself in case she needed to get something for someone. Others' needs were more important than her own. I also learned the importance of listening from her. Despite years of experience, she often sat quietly and let others do the talking as she listened intently. Hers was a life of self-denial and love for others. She was a quiet servant who left behind a host of loving admirers.
I guess my point is that it's easy for young people to discount the wisdom of the elderly. Time can be of the essence and it may seem that taking the time to listen to stories of experience may take too long. However, sometimes those tidbits of wisdom trump anything and everything on that day's to-do list. So, I think it's important to take the time to listen to experience and wisdom and to definitely respect the older generation. So much can and should be learned from our elders.
Father, thank you for providing us with godly mentors. Lord, it takes us a lifetime to learn some important lessons and much experience on how to best handle certain situations. We desperately need mentoring from those whom you've called to yourself, guided through your Holy Spirit, and matured in faith. We thank You for Your word and for giving us insight and wisdom. Lord, Your word says that the elders are to mentor. I pray that You would grow them in wisdom and give them the words to share with the younger generation. I also pray that the younger generation would be receptive to that wisdom. We praise You for Your perfect order in Your will and we ask that You would guide us in Your perfect wisdom in best keeping with that order. Thank you, Father, for loving us. We love You. In the precious name of Your Son, Amen.
I heard something kinda sad last week. Probably my favorite preacher of our time was talking about the future of his church. He wanted to help the current body in some long-range planning for the future of the church as he knows his time will come to an end not so long from now. That preacher is Chuck Swindoll and I understand his plans because he is 76 years old. I just hate to see the day when he steps down. I love to hear him. He speaks with such wisdom and is unapologetic in what he has to say. He preaches with the boldness and assurance that comes from wisdom in a long life lived with Christ.
You see, I think there's something to be said for wisdom with age. Don't get me wrong, there are some solid, and I mean solid young people in our churches. There are even many whose spiritual growth exceeds that of the older generation. However, I think there's something to be said for the experience that comes with a long life lived here on earth. Think of all the lessons learned, good and bad, that those in their later years have learned and can share with the younger people.
It's a little sad to me that often younger people view the elders as set in their ways. They may be, but in keeping that mindset, I'd say those young people have some preconceived notions of their own. Often, the younger generation doesn't want to take the time to hear what the older generation has to say. It's unfortunate because so much is missed. The stories are often precious.
I'm so glad my children got to meet their granny and really get to know her before she died. She was my husband's grandmother. She died about three years ago at the age of 96. She was known by her whole community as Granny. In fact, when she became ill and was hospitalized, a family friend came to visit and asked to see her. When the receptionist asked for the name of the patient, the visitor's reply was, "You know, I don't even know her name! Everyone I know, me included, just calls her "Granny."
Let me paint a mental portrait of Granny for you. She was a petite little thing, but soft as grannies should be! She had long silver hair that she always wore in a bun and refused to cut despite others telling her to do so. She wore thick-rimmed glasses and was always cold even in the summer. Every time I saw her she had a smile on the face even though she'd lived a life full of pain and loss. She looked just like the face from a bottle of pancake syrup. She was EXACTLY what you'd picture when you think of a granny.
Granny taught me some life lessons just by watching her that will stay with me forever. She taught me about sacrificial love. I remember telling her we wouldn't be able to make it to a certain family event because we had another obligation. She told me, "Well, we'll miss you but you just come when you can. It's okay. Don't you worry about it. We love you." She didn't make me feel bad or feel bad for herself, she just demonstrated love. Another thing I learned was servanthood. Granny deserved to be served but would never let anyone serve her. She served everyone and often waited through an entire meal before serving herself in case she needed to get something for someone. Others' needs were more important than her own. I also learned the importance of listening from her. Despite years of experience, she often sat quietly and let others do the talking as she listened intently. Hers was a life of self-denial and love for others. She was a quiet servant who left behind a host of loving admirers.
I guess my point is that it's easy for young people to discount the wisdom of the elderly. Time can be of the essence and it may seem that taking the time to listen to stories of experience may take too long. However, sometimes those tidbits of wisdom trump anything and everything on that day's to-do list. So, I think it's important to take the time to listen to experience and wisdom and to definitely respect the older generation. So much can and should be learned from our elders.
Father, thank you for providing us with godly mentors. Lord, it takes us a lifetime to learn some important lessons and much experience on how to best handle certain situations. We desperately need mentoring from those whom you've called to yourself, guided through your Holy Spirit, and matured in faith. We thank You for Your word and for giving us insight and wisdom. Lord, Your word says that the elders are to mentor. I pray that You would grow them in wisdom and give them the words to share with the younger generation. I also pray that the younger generation would be receptive to that wisdom. We praise You for Your perfect order in Your will and we ask that You would guide us in Your perfect wisdom in best keeping with that order. Thank you, Father, for loving us. We love You. In the precious name of Your Son, Amen.
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