For the Good

Jeremiah 32:39

…and I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear Me always, for their own good and for the good of their children after them.

Have you ever thought about how the decisions you make, in speech and action, affect your kids and your kids’ kids?

In other words, when you speak anger against a neighbor and your kids’ ears hear it, they pick up on it and internalize it as their own. 

When we give to the poor without complaining and do it joyfully, our kids will take note that giving is a good thing and they will want to give, as well.

It’s the most important job we will ever have – that of walking with God in front of our kids so that they see Him for who he is and experience him as a loving Father who provides for all of their needs.

If we want our kids to experience the goodness of God, then we need to experience it in front of them, and share it with them – on a daily basis.

Stupid Children

Jeremiah 4:22 says “For My people are foolish, they know Me not; They are stupid children

And have no understanding. They are shrewd to do evil, But to do good they do not know.”

Children, left to themselves, without instruction and discipline, will live like animals – taking what they need from others and living a life full of self-satisfaction.  Children don’t have to be taught to lie, steal, or throw tantrums.  They just do, because they’re “shrewd to do evil.”

However, “to do good” they must be taught.  They must learn to say please and thank you, to give to others, to love everyone, and to serve God. 

Who’s going to teach them?

We must.

Otherwise, they will never have understanding and stupidity will rule them.

We don’t have to watch the news very long to hear of stupid things that stupid kids do – like speeding through traffic without a seatbelt – or jumping from a high building high on drugs just for the thrill of it.

Children desire instruction and we must give it to them – in love.

Otherwise, evil reigns.

The Inheritance

Proverbs 13:22 A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children,

And the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous.

Wow.

I’m in the time of life now where my children have children.  I went from being a mom to a being a grandmother of three in a few short years.  And I’d like to think I’m sowing seeds into them that will be an inheritance of the love of God that will hold them secure as they grow and mature.

But look at the second part of this verse!

There’s another inheritance that is ours – the ones who know Him – and that is the “wealth of the sinner!”

In another place in the bible it says He takes the weapons in the enemy’s hands and feeds them to his lambs!

In other words, every weapon formed against us in this world, if we are following after Him, will be turned around and used for our good – our inheritance.

What are you leaving for your kids and their kids?    It’s something to think about.

And besides that, you can expect all sorts of good things – even from the bad things – when you know the Giver of all things good.

The Barren

Psalm 113 He makes the barren woman abide in the house as a joyful mother of children.

I didn’t want to have children, at all.  I was perfectly content to be without children, to live my life alone with me and my husband.  Then God gave me a child…and then another…and I’m eternally grateful, for sure.

However, there are many women who want children and remain childless their entire lives.  They feel alone and hopeless and perhaps rejected by God.

God’s intent is for us to never be alone, to always have hope, and to be assured that we are accepted and loved.

Even those without children, without spouses, without things, without health, etc. can find a place in his house and experience the joy of a mother with children.

Having children produces joy like no others.  And the truth is that that joy isn’t reserved for moms with children.

That joy is available to all – the barren and the fruitful.

Desiring children?  Or some other longing aching in your heart?  God can bring you joy as you abide in his house. 

Just ask Him.

He is Mindful

Psalm103 states,

As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us. Just as a father has compassion on his children, So the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him. For He Himself knows our frame; He is mindful that we are but dust.

The truth about our God is that he is full of compassion.  In fact, he has compassion that we don’t have at all times.  A good father has compassion on his children when they do wrong, and he forgives them, instructs them, and sets them in his arms securely, so that they know they still belong.

This verse is amazing.  Not only does our Father have compassion on us, he removes our sins from us so that they are no more – as far as the east is from the west – which is infinitely far! 

When we are reminded of our sins that we have confessed and received forgiveness for, that’s not God reminding us.  His reminders are of his love, his mercy, and his grace that will move us forward out of guilt and shame, into an abundant life full of His love.

He made us, remember?  

He knows we are weak and we will fail.  

And he’s oh so ready to forgive and forget, when we simply ask him to do so and fall into his arms of mercy.

Unborn

Psalm 78 cont’d: That they should teach them to their children, That the generation to come might know, even the children yet to be born, That they may arise and tell them to their children, That they should put their confidence in God And not forget the works of God, But keep His commandments,

Wow, even our unborn children can hear and feel and sense what we’re teaching them, before their bodies ever enter the world.  What our kids’ ears hear is part of our responsibility as parents.  It’s great to limit TV watching, ban certain types of lyrics in music, and screen where and whom our kids spend time with…

However, we must tell our kids of the work God does in our own lives.  

It’s better to share with them how he healed your headache, than to just tell them that God heals.  It’s a stronger testimony to reveal to your kids the love of God by offering the homeless man a meal, than it is to preach to them about giving.

Telling our kids involves doing and being and living a life of thanksgiving to God, both in action and in word.

Let them see. 

Then they too will put their confidence in Him.

Tell it All

Psalm says 

We will not conceal them from their children,

But tell to the generation to come the praises of the Lord,

And His strength and His wondrous works that He has done.

There are a lot of things we should conceal from our children, like war photos, disaster films, filthy movies and horrid language, etc.  Their little ears and hearts cannot process the harshness of our world because they are unable to distinguish what they see from what is real.

There are a lot of things we are NOT to conceal from our children, like the goodness of God, his faithfulness, his word, the hope that he give, and the salvation he brings.

But how will they hear it or see it if we hide it and keep it as our own, or worse yet, if we don’t recognize It in our own lives?

Perhaps…if we tell them more of the goodness of God in our lives, there will be more goodness to share in the days to come.

Our kids need to hear so that they can believe and see God at work in their own lives.

12 Stones

Joshua 4 cont’d from yesterday:

Those twelve stones which they had taken from the Jordan, Joshua set up at Gilgal.  He said to the sons of ^Israel, “When your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, ‘What are these stones?’  then you shall inform your children, saying, ‘Israel crossed this Jordan on dry ground.’  For the Lord your God dried up the waters of the Jordan before you until you had crossed, just as the Lord your God had done to the Red Sea, which He dried up before us until we had crossed;  that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the Lord is mighty, so that you may fear the Lord your God forever.”

The people obeyed.  They took the stones and they listened to what they were told to do with them.

They were reminded again to tell their children why the stones were set – that the Lord dried up the river so they could cross over on dry ground.

In fact, it was just like what God did before when he dried up the Red Sea, so the people could cross.

And why did God do this?

So that they would know that he is mighty.

Your kids need to know the mighty things God has done for you.  Tell them. Set them in stone.

And fear (reverence) the Lord your God forever.

Markers

Joshua 4 Let this be a sign among you, so that when your children ask later, saying, ‘What do these stones mean to you?’  then you shall say to them, ‘Because the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord; when it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off.’ So these stones shall become a memorial to the sons of Israel forever.”

I love this picture.

The people crossed over the Jordan, a mighty victory occurred. God told them to gather stones as markers.  He knew their children would wonder why…because children wonder and ask questions.  He told them to tell their children about their passage and how God brought them over.

We need to do this with our children.  Often.

When God answers prayers, meets our needs, takes us through difficult circumstances, why not gather stones, notebooks, pictures, symbols, or something…and set them in a prominent place and tell our children?

The Lord has been faithful and has brought us out and across, and we give thanks to Him.

Your kids will remember the stones and the markers when they grow up and face their own Jordan River.

Assemble

Deut 4:10 ‘Assemble the people to Me, that I may let them hear My words so they may learn to fear Me all the days they live on the earth, and that they may teach their children.’

How will our children hear the truth if we don’t assemble together? 

We can’t hibernate from the world, because we were called to be in the world and love the people in the world.

We can’t worship alone, because we were made for community, fellowship and sharpening.

We can’t learn by ourselves, in a corner, by a single lamp, because we were called to shine.

Assemble with your children at a place of worship, with other believers, and listen together to His Words and discuss them, live them, and eat them fully.

This is healthy and wise.

Jealous

Exodus 20:5 says You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me,

What a stern warning! 

When we worship anything OTHER than the Lord God we are wreaking havoc on the generations following us.

It’s funny how character traits and personal looks mimic our parents.  I have my dad’s teeth, and I have my mom’s high cheek structure. I also carry in me creativity of thought from my dad and a strong work ethic from my mom.

However, there are also those things I deal with from them that are not so pleasant.  We all have them.  And we all pass them on to our children if we don’t give them up  - like a hot temper, a sharp tongue, and impatient heart.

Whatever we worship gains momentum in our blood line and shows up stronger as it flows.

As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

Give Me

Genesis 30:1 Now when Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, she became jealous of her sister; and she said to Jacob, “Give me children, or else I die.”

I wonder if this is the first instance of jealousy among women?  It’s certainly not the last.  It’s rampant in our country.

We lack in some area, maybe it’s our height, our weight, our house or yes…in our children.  We see what SHE has and we want it, we think we deserve it, and we’re going to die making sure we get it.

I’m convinced that’s why there are moms in mani and pedi chairs, hitting the gym and the trails, and shopping til they drop.  No, none of those are bad things.  But when our motivation is to be better than her as a result, then they can be.

It all starts with seeing what she has, becoming jealous, and demanding to get it.

When it should start with seeing what we have, becoming content, and demanding nothing more.

These Words

And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.”

Everything we see on the news is about how the earth is decaying, how we are losing important plants and animals, how the ice is melting, forests are burning, plagues are rising and diseases are killing.  It’s all doom and gloom.

And yet…

There’s this king who sits on his throne and declares an amazing hopeful statement that he’s going to make all things new.

He says that his words are faithful and true.

That means that decaying flesh from cancer will be made new, legs that have never walked will run, eyes that have never seen will see clearly and exclaim,

YOU are faithful and true!

Life here seems long, laborious and lackluster at times because of the heat, the rain and the pests.

However, eternity awaits where all is new, nothing is harmful, nothing is decaying, and everything is bright and beautiful.

I can’t imagine, but I can hope, because He is faithful who said it will be so.

Be Encouraged

Revelation 17:14 offers this encouragement:

These will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful.

Lord of Lords

King of Kings

Faithful and True

The Lamb

The Lion

These are names of our victorious warrior who has already won all of the battles we face.  He is the overcomer of all evil, of all of those who attack, of all of those who create fear, and of all of those who instill shame.

And we belong to him, we are his chosen and his called, because he chose us and called us sons and daughters. 

Therefore, we are overcomers with him…no matter what war rages…no matter who fights against us.

Acting Faithfully

III John 5

Beloved, you are acting faithfully in whatever you accomplish for the brethren, and especially when they are strangers;

Do you ever wonder if you’re fulfilling your purpose here on earth, what it is that you need to be doing to leave a legacy, to please HIM?

This verse says that we are acting faithfully when we do for each other, and when we do for those we don’t yet know.

So if you’re praying for a friend, you’re acting faithfully.

So if you’re taking a meal to a neighbor, you’re acting faithfully.

So if you’re visiting with a store clerk, you’re acting faithfully.

God is a relational God, and as he is in relationship with us, he calls us into relationship with others.  It’s that simple.

Love your neighbor as yourself.

That’s the most faithful you can be.

The Sentence

I John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

When a guilty person stands before a judge and confesses his crime he gets a sentence, from possibly a few years to life in prison, and a hefty amount of bail is set.

When a guilty person stands before God and confesses, he gets forgiveness, and his guilt is removed, and he is set free to walk without shame or fear.

God is a righteous God, but when we fall before him in humility and ask forgiveness for wrong attitudes or actions, he is faithful to forgive.  Even if we stumble and fall again…and again.

He’s wipes our slate clean.  Guilt is erased.  It’s as if we never sinned.

Pretty amazing…this faithful God we serve.

Considerations

Hebrews 11:11 

By faith even Sarah herself received ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him faithful who had promised.

Can you imagine giving birth to a child when you’re an old woman?  Can you imagine being told you would do so, and then having to wait decades for it to happen? 

I can’t.

However, when God says something he is faithful to do what he promises.

It’s funny, God doesn’t send answers flying across the sky to tell us he’s going to provide on a certain date, heal in a certain month, or provide at this moment.

What he does say loud and clear is that he’s faithful, he is LOVE, and he cares for us like no other.  He’s dependable, we can count on his Word to strengthen and sustain us while we wait, and we can know that even if it looks impossible to us – nothing is impossible with Him.

Still waiting? 

Consider Him faithful.

Hold On

Hebrews 10:23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful;

Just what does it mean to “hold fast the confession of our hope?”

I see it like a game of “tug o’ war.” We’re on one end of the rope holding on to our values, our beliefs, our faith, our homes, our marriages, etc.  On the other end is time, the social ladder, self, others, etc. that pull us to that side, to eventually make  us fall in a heap, letting go of the rope and losing the game.

However, what if in that game someone really strong came alongside and said, “Here, let me hold the rope, you just hold on to me?”

That’s what He does.

He holds the rope, we hold on to him, and we don’t waver.

It’s that simple.

In All Things

I Timothy 3 defines what women should be:

Women must likewise be dignified, not malicious gossips, but temperate, faithful in all things. 

Dignified means worthy of respect, to gossip is to talk about someone in a bad manner behind their backs, temperate means to show self-restraint, and faithful means to be trustworthy.

The only way to have all of that is to have Christ in our hearts and to reflect his goodness and mercy toward others.

If we want good relationships with our friends, our spouses, and those we have yet to meet, we need to allow Him to work in us to be the women who shine in these areas.

Instead of trying to achieve beauty, fame, and wealth – which are fleeting and decrease with age – why not go for dignity, praise of others, self-control and faithfulness?

Those things will make us beautiful inside…and out.

He Will

II Thessalonians

But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.

There’s evil in this world, there are evil people, and there is the evil “one,” – satan himself.

BUT

The Lord is faithful.

He knows there is evil lurking in this world, but he promises to strengthen and protect us from being destroyed. In fact, he ensured that with his work on the cross.  Death does not rule over those who belong to Him.

I recently had a friend paint a picture of a table full of delicious food sitting in the middle of a dark forest with lurking evil eyes all around.  There was a light shining out of heaven, through the dark trees, that lit the table and made it so inviting.

God sets that table for us, and we can come and eat with him without fear of the enemy robbing the good stuff that’s there for us.

Satan can lurk and threaten, but he cannot destroy.

In fact, one day he himself will be destroyed forever.

Because the Lord is faithful.

Final Word.

Oh Yes He Is

I Corinthians 10:13 

No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.

Did you know Jesus was tempted, just like we are?  And this verse says temptation is common.  Therefore, God knows that while we live on this earth we are going to be tempted to lie, to cheat, to wander, to stray, to believe lies, to curse others, to hate, etc. 

But look at the middle of the verse, the fulcrum of the scales – GOD IS FAITHFUL.

This means that although temptation lurks around us, he provides a way to escape succumbing to those temptations and to even endure lengthy times of temptation.

When we are sick, we are tempted to lose heart.

When we experience a loss, we are tempted to give up.

When we are full of questions, we are tempted to go elsewhere for answers.

When we are tired, we are tempted to quit.

God knows that we are human and that our human flesh is weak.

That’s when he comes in – and shows himself strong.

Feeling weak? 

God is faithful.

He Chose YOU

I Corinthians 1:9 God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

A simple yet strong verse. 

God is faithful.

It doesn’t matter whether you are faithful, if you are perfect, if you fail miserably, or if you question constantly…He remains faithful.

Think about how he called you into fellowship with his Son – Jesus. He called YOU.  He wanted YOU.  He died for YOU.  He desired to know YOU.  He lives in YOU.

On some days, we need this reminder that God is faithful and it is He could called us to Him.

So why would we ever wonder if he’s going to leave?  We didn’t choose Him.  He chose us.

And he bought us with a price.

He’s never letting go…

A Few Things

                      

Matthew 25

His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’

This is a story, a parable, Jesus told his followers.

I’ve heard it taught like this:

When God entrusts jobs, children, ideas, etc. to us, he expect us to be faithful to serve, to love, and to give – no matter how small or how big the task.  He expects and demands obedience.

Out of that heart of obedience, out of that willingness to serve and to love, he will then increase our borders.

And…joy will be ours.

Too many times we all want the increase, the big things, the accolades, and the praise from all, before we serve, we love, and we give in secret with no one noticing at all…but Him.

True joy is experienced when we obey because we love Him, not because we want from Him.