Web sites for the Family
I am a firm believer in the idea of the family as the main influencer of children’s movement toward the Lord. To this end, I would like to offer some websites or stories in the next few days which I have found very supportive of this mindset.
Article on Celebrating Spiritual Milestones
http://www.lifeway.com/lwc/article_main_page/0%2C1703%2CA%25253D166281%252526M%25253D200824%2C00.html?emid=95
Here is a portion of this article.
Scriptural Spiritual Milestones - Throughout Israel’s history, numerous events held such great importance that the Lord designated them as celebrations, festivals, and days of faith practice to commemorate spiritual milestones. In doing so, He established a time when parents could highlight spiritual milestones for their family, both personal and extended. From the Passover (which celebrated the time Israel survived the plagues) to the Jewish celebration of a child’s Bar or Bat Mitzvah (the recognition of a child’s progression into adulthood), events held spiritual significance. Each one involved the family in the celebration of their significance as persons of God. The example that God gave us is one that is worthy of repetition, even in today’s busy family.
Personal Spiritual Milestones
What are some of the significant spiritual experiences or milestones in your life? You may have been involved in some of these.
- Attending church for the first time
- Celebrating Jesus’ birth (Christmas) and resurrection (Easter) with church friends
- Learning various Bible elements (names of the books, disciple’s names, Paul’s
missionary journeys)
- Becoming aware of and discussing your spiritual condition
- Making a personal, individual decision to commit your life to Jesus Christ as your
Savior and Lord
- Obeying Jesus’ instruction by following Him in baptism
Others are listed in the article which also has suggestions of how to celebrate them.
Monday, October 29, 2007
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
A Prayer in Jude
A prayer from Jude to the brothers and sisters in Christ and to the Lord.
Jude 1:20 -25 (The Message)
20 But you, dear friends, carefully build yourselves up in this most holy faith by praying in the Holy Spirit,
21 staying right at the center of God's love, keeping your arms open and outstretched, ready for the mercy of our Master, Jesus Christ. This is the unending life, the real life!
22 Go easy on those who hesitate in the faith.
23 Go after those who take the wrong way. Be tender with sinners, but not soft on sin. The sin itself stinks to high heaven.
24 And now to him who can keep you on your feet, standing tall in his bright presence, fresh and celebrating -
25 to our one God, our only Savior, through Jesus Christ, our Master, be glory, majesty, strength, and rule before all time, and now, and to the end of all time. Yes.
Jude 1:20 -25 (The Message)
20 But you, dear friends, carefully build yourselves up in this most holy faith by praying in the Holy Spirit,
21 staying right at the center of God's love, keeping your arms open and outstretched, ready for the mercy of our Master, Jesus Christ. This is the unending life, the real life!
22 Go easy on those who hesitate in the faith.
23 Go after those who take the wrong way. Be tender with sinners, but not soft on sin. The sin itself stinks to high heaven.
24 And now to him who can keep you on your feet, standing tall in his bright presence, fresh and celebrating -
25 to our one God, our only Savior, through Jesus Christ, our Master, be glory, majesty, strength, and rule before all time, and now, and to the end of all time. Yes.
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Christian Work and Worship?
What is Christian Work?
I had the privilege of painting the outside of my house this weekend and before I started it, I thought to myself it would be a time of mindless work which would allow me to pray, praise the Lord and think on some ideas I have been contemplating. After a while of painting I realized, I was not doing this, but was spending all my time thinking about the preparation of the wood and siding, concentrating on making sure the paint covered well and ensuring I was safe as I painted off of the ladders.
At first I was disappointed and felt I was missing an opportunity to be faithful to the Lord by praying and meditating on Him. However, I came to realize, the job I was doing was important (for the look of my house and the protection of its siding and windows) enough to call for my undivided attention. It became an act of worship for me to do a good job and use all my talents to make it so.
Questions came to my mind as I was contemplating this today.
1) How many times do we take this type of view in our jobs in the secular world?
2) Whether it is raising children, building airplanes, selling houses or taking care of ourselves in health matters, do we look at the ‘job’ as a act of worship by giving it all of ourselves?
3) Is this Christian work because I am a Christian doing it, or because I am doing it with acts and words which are Christian oriented?
I have my own thoughts, but want the Spirit to lead each of us to the answers.
I had the privilege of painting the outside of my house this weekend and before I started it, I thought to myself it would be a time of mindless work which would allow me to pray, praise the Lord and think on some ideas I have been contemplating. After a while of painting I realized, I was not doing this, but was spending all my time thinking about the preparation of the wood and siding, concentrating on making sure the paint covered well and ensuring I was safe as I painted off of the ladders.
At first I was disappointed and felt I was missing an opportunity to be faithful to the Lord by praying and meditating on Him. However, I came to realize, the job I was doing was important (for the look of my house and the protection of its siding and windows) enough to call for my undivided attention. It became an act of worship for me to do a good job and use all my talents to make it so.
Questions came to my mind as I was contemplating this today.
1) How many times do we take this type of view in our jobs in the secular world?
2) Whether it is raising children, building airplanes, selling houses or taking care of ourselves in health matters, do we look at the ‘job’ as a act of worship by giving it all of ourselves?
3) Is this Christian work because I am a Christian doing it, or because I am doing it with acts and words which are Christian oriented?
I have my own thoughts, but want the Spirit to lead each of us to the answers.
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Prayer
Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening Devotional – Oct. 8, Evening
Jude 20: Praying in the Holy Ghost.
Mark the grand characteristic of true prayer-"In the Holy Ghost." The seed of acceptable devotion must come from heaven's storehouse. Only the prayer which comes from God can go to God. We must shoot the Lord's arrows back to Him. That desire which He writes upon our heart will move His heart and bring down a blessing, but the desires of the flesh have no power with Him.
. . . praying in fervency.
It means praying humbly, . . . .
. . . we pray to God De profundis: out of the depths must we cry, . . .
It is loving prayer. Prayer should be perfumed with love, saturated with love-love to our fellow saints, and love to Christ.
Moreover, it must be a prayer full of faith. A man prevails only as he believes. The Holy Spirit is the author of faith, and strengthens it, so that we pray believing God's promise.
My prayer is for all to prayer in Spirit with fervency, humbly, out of the depths, lovingly and full of faith. Amen.
Jude 20: Praying in the Holy Ghost.
Mark the grand characteristic of true prayer-"In the Holy Ghost." The seed of acceptable devotion must come from heaven's storehouse. Only the prayer which comes from God can go to God. We must shoot the Lord's arrows back to Him. That desire which He writes upon our heart will move His heart and bring down a blessing, but the desires of the flesh have no power with Him.
. . . praying in fervency.
It means praying humbly, . . . .
. . . we pray to God De profundis: out of the depths must we cry, . . .
It is loving prayer. Prayer should be perfumed with love, saturated with love-love to our fellow saints, and love to Christ.
Moreover, it must be a prayer full of faith. A man prevails only as he believes. The Holy Spirit is the author of faith, and strengthens it, so that we pray believing God's promise.
My prayer is for all to prayer in Spirit with fervency, humbly, out of the depths, lovingly and full of faith. Amen.
Sunday, October 7, 2007
Joy of the Lord
Tozer Devotional
Collective Writings from the Books of A.W. Tozer
Sunday, October 07, 2007
The Next Chapter after the Last Chapter # Fifteen
The Christian's Obligation to Be Joyful
The Joy of the Lord
The Christian owes it to the world to be supernaturally joyful. In this day of universal apprehension when men's hearts are failing them for fear of those things that are coming upon the earth, we Christians are strategically placed to display a happiness that is not of this world and to exhibit a tranquillity that will be a little bit of heaven here below. All this takes for granted that sin has been dealt with by sincere repentance and thorough amendment of life. It assumes that we are walking in the light of truth, for true joy cannot be artificially induced. The "keep smiling" school of applied psychology is not even remotely related to the true faith of Christ. The chief fun of the comedian and the good humor of the wit who is the life of the party are like flowers growing on old graves, briefly interesting, but evanescent and always touched with sadness. But the fountain of Christian joy flows out from the throne of God, pure, refreshing and sweet everlastingly.
Prayer
O Lord, the reality of being Yours opens my heart to the flow of Your joy. Thank You!
Scripture
I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.
— John 15:11
Thought
It was Tertullian who said that the Christian saint is hilarious. The closer one comes to God, the more joy is experienced. Joy based not on circumstances or passing emotion but the joy of the Lord that comes from knowing Him.
Located at
http://www.cmalliance.org/devotions/tozer/tozer.jsp
Collective Writings from the Books of A.W. Tozer
Sunday, October 07, 2007
The Next Chapter after the Last Chapter # Fifteen
The Christian's Obligation to Be Joyful
The Joy of the Lord
The Christian owes it to the world to be supernaturally joyful. In this day of universal apprehension when men's hearts are failing them for fear of those things that are coming upon the earth, we Christians are strategically placed to display a happiness that is not of this world and to exhibit a tranquillity that will be a little bit of heaven here below. All this takes for granted that sin has been dealt with by sincere repentance and thorough amendment of life. It assumes that we are walking in the light of truth, for true joy cannot be artificially induced. The "keep smiling" school of applied psychology is not even remotely related to the true faith of Christ. The chief fun of the comedian and the good humor of the wit who is the life of the party are like flowers growing on old graves, briefly interesting, but evanescent and always touched with sadness. But the fountain of Christian joy flows out from the throne of God, pure, refreshing and sweet everlastingly.
Prayer
O Lord, the reality of being Yours opens my heart to the flow of Your joy. Thank You!
Scripture
I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.
— John 15:11
Thought
It was Tertullian who said that the Christian saint is hilarious. The closer one comes to God, the more joy is experienced. Joy based not on circumstances or passing emotion but the joy of the Lord that comes from knowing Him.
Located at
http://www.cmalliance.org/devotions/tozer/tozer.jsp
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Commune with God
This quote from Andrew Murray is one I read last week and it touched my heart.
The first and chief need of our Christian life is fellowship with God. The Divine life within us comes from God, and is entirely dependent upon Him. As I need every moment afresh the air to breathe, as the sun every moment afresh sends down its light, so it is only in direct living communication with God that my soul can be strong. The manna of one day was corrupt when the next day came. I must every day have fresh grace from heaven, and I obtain it only in direct waiting upon God Himself. Begin each day by tarrying before God, and letting Him touch you. Take time to meet God.
Andrew Murray
The Deeper Christian Life (an aid to its attainment)
The first and chief need of our Christian life is fellowship with God. The Divine life within us comes from God, and is entirely dependent upon Him. As I need every moment afresh the air to breathe, as the sun every moment afresh sends down its light, so it is only in direct living communication with God that my soul can be strong. The manna of one day was corrupt when the next day came. I must every day have fresh grace from heaven, and I obtain it only in direct waiting upon God Himself. Begin each day by tarrying before God, and letting Him touch you. Take time to meet God.
Andrew Murray
The Deeper Christian Life (an aid to its attainment)
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