A Summer Read July 8, 2009

As I’ve said before, I love the rhythm of slowing down for the summer months. It is so hot here from July to October that you’d better slow down! I’d like to introduce you to a good summer read and also to the publisher, Banner of Truth.

Walter Chantry has written a short book explaining three Psalms that point to Christ. The book is easy to read. His exposition is simple, direct, and applicable for both devotion and everyday life.

The three Psalms are Psalm 2, 110, and 45. They are all about the return of Jesus Christ as the conquering King. All nations will bow before Him. His judgment against all unbelievers will be sure and final.
(We hear Isaiah’s descriptions, and remember the historical events that pictured the fall of the nations.) Jesus comes, not only as King, but as the loving Bridegroom, to sweep the Bride off her feet and take her to live with Him forever. It is the ultimate summer romance! We, the Bride, are to be watching and waiting for our lover to come for us.

I hope you will enjoy this book and return to these three Psalms many times when there is winter in your soul.

Order Praises For the King of Kings at www.cvbbs.com or www.banneroftruth.org

Teaching Tips July 8, 2009

During an unexpected teaching moment when little eyes and ears are ready to hear, remember this:

Noah’s ark was like Jesus, our Savior. All of the people in the ark were saved from the flood which was a judgment from God upon sin. The animals were saved too.

David, the King, was like Jesus. He fought for God’s people; he conquered the enemies of God. Jesus will defend His people. He will win.

If even Solomon (with all his wealth, wisdom, and world acclaim) could let his desires become idols that caused him to sin, it could happen to us. Let’s practice giving in to others and giving up what we want.

Peter left his fishing business to be with Jesus. He saw Jesus alive after He had been crucified. He then became a great preacher. When Dorcas died, Peter raised her from the dead! Many people came to believe in Jesus as their Savior after that. (Acts 9) Peter wrote two books in the New Testament.

“Blessed be the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,…” (I Peter 1:3).

A Wise Principle for Teens July 1, 2009

“Hatred stirs up strife,
But, love covers all sins.”(Proverbs 10:12)

“Whoever hides hatred has lying lips,
And whoever spreads slander is a fool.” (Proverbs 10:18)

The principle in both of these proverbs is that when we lie, it shows what we are really like inside. We should tell the truth. “Do not bear false witness” is one of the Ten Commandments. That applies to everyday life, not just during a trial. Lies originate in our heart where hatred lurks. They show us the condition of our own heart. The reason for this is the biblical teaching on original sin. Adam and Eve, remember?

Slander is a lie about someone. It changes how they are seen by others. It can ruin someone’s reputation. Passing slander along is gossip. How easy to do when we’re chatting or texting or on Facebook.

Slander and lies can ruin family relationships. You twist the truth just a tad to make yourself look better in the eyes of your parents. Or you slant things just a little to put down your sister. Face it. Hate is at the bottom of it all. It is certainly not love!

How wonderful it is that Jesus’s love for us cover these kind of sins! He loved us enough to suffer and die as our Savior. He never told one little lie. He never pitted his brother, Jude, against James. Or made himself look good at their expense. Now that sinless life covers over all of your lies. When you get a glimpse at your real heart, then run to Jesus. He will forgive you. He will dress you up like you were going to a fancy wedding–covered by His perfect life.

Your faith in these promises will be counted as if you were living a perfect life. Love will cover you up and make you presentable for a King. Then stop telling lies because of your thankfulness that you are forgiven and so dressed up in His righteousness.

“…Abraham did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. And therefore it was accounted to him for righteousness.” Romans 4:20-22

Teen Tip June 24, 2009

I want to open a new category for teens and their parents. The idea is still THINKING THRU THE BIBLE from a Reformed perspective. And, of course, it is about women of all ages embracing faith in Jesus as their Savior.

Today I heard and watched a guy on a jet ski racing around the river. He was using the jet ski to pull another boy on a board. What made me notice them was the rage and anger directed by the driver toward the other person who fell off the board. He was SO…OOO mad at him for falling!

It reminded me of how telling an incident like that can be. It is like a WARNING sign. If you were out with a guy (with a group or alone) who acted in such an outburst of anger, remember this:

“An angry man stirs up strife,
And a furious man abounds in transgression.” (Proverbs 29:22)

“A fool vents all his feelings,
But a wise man holds them back. (29:11)

Beware of getting into a serious relationship with someone like that. Don’t date them! It could mean trouble down the road!

TEACHING TIP #1 June 23, 2009

We all have increased opportunities for influencing children during these summer months. Make sure you connect with them by using words as they do. This is particularly important for grandmothers, like me, who might be a “little” out of touch.

Here is an example of a failure to connect:
Sunday I was telling the story of Jacob and Esau to ages pre-K through 3rd grade. My application was that telling a lie and deceiving our parents destroyed families and relationships. But, when we do lie, we need to remember that Jesus is our Savior, tell the truth, ask His forgiveness, and trust in His righteousness in place of our sin. So in explaining this, I said, “If you ever lie like Jacob did, then flee to Jesus.”

“Flea?” responded a smart bilingual boy. “Flea?”

In the midst of other questions more focused on Esau’s reaction to Jacob’s lie, I’m not sure I made clear my point of running to Jesus in repentance and faith!

ALWAYS USE THEIR LANGUAGE AS THEY USE IT

SUMMER “SCHOOL” June 16, 2009

I’m a great believer in summers off –for kids especially.  Changing the rhythm, laying back, talking, swimming, playing, imagining….  I used to love climbing a tree and then sitting in the top with a good book.  If I were parenting now, I’d try to limit the technology in order to change that life rhythm to make room for these other things.

What does this have to do with thinking thru the Bible or embracing faith?

Time to “chew” on a biblical theme or to read a good biography of someone like John Wesley or John Newton or Suzanne Spurgeon helps make biblical themes real to us.  My family used to “Drop Everything And Read” for 20-30 minutes every day.  Everyone, including me, would read alone anything they liked.  We varied the time of day.  I would ring a little hand bell while I was in the middle of something and I’d make a show of dropping it to do what was important—-read!  Try www.cvbvs.com for biographies. Reading a Christian’s life story can broaden one’s own experience and hold up character traits to model.

An example of mediating on a biblical theme is to think about the meaning of such things as creation, election, Jesus’ resurrection, hope of eternal life, God’s love, God’s plan of salvation etc. Try to get your middle school age children to practice this. Of course, they ultimately control what they are thinking, but you can suggest it and do it yourself. You might compile a list of verses on one subject for them to read and think about. Mediating like this requires a quieter lifestyle than we “run” the rest of the year. It gives time for the Holy Spirit to convict, comfort, strengthen, renew.

Verses to Think Upon
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:1

“Let the earth bring forth grass,…whose seed is in itself, on the earth; and it was so.” Genesis 1: 11

“Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field… So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes…she also gave to her husband with her , and he ate.” Genesis 3:1,6

“He (Jesus) was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.” John 1:2-3

“For by Him (Jesus) all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible…” Colossians 1:16

“Behold, I (Jesus) am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End…who is and who was and who is to come, the ALMIGHTY.” Revelation 1:8

Comparing Scriptures For Principles May 21, 2009

One of the lessons we learned in studying Isaiah is that looking for spiritual principles and visualizing images used by the authors help us apply the Bible to our hearts and everyday actions.  The whole Bible deals with the same principles and points us always to Jesus, our Savior.

As you read these two passages, remember that David wrote around 1000 BC, Isaiah in the early 700’s BC,  while Jeremiah wrote in the years leading up to 586 BC.   Years apart, but their main idea is the same. Paul wrote to the Galatians (in Turkey) about 49AD.  That’s more than 1000 years after Psalm 146!

What is the spiritual principle in these passages?  What is the image to help you remember it?  How can you apply it to your life today?

“Cursed is the man who trusts in man

And makes flesh his strength,

Whose heart departs from the LORD.

For he shall be like a shrub in the desert,…”         Jeremiah17:5-6

“Praise the LORD, O my soul! While I live I will praise the LORD:

I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.

Do not put your trust in princes,

Nor in a human being, in whom there is no salvation.

His spirit departs, he returns to his earth;

In that very day his plans perish.

Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help,

Whose hope is in the LORD his God,

Who made heaven and earth,

The sea, and all that is in them;….”  Psalm 146:1-6

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD,

And whose hope is the LORD.

For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters,

Which spreads out its roots by the river,

And will not be anxious in the year of drought,

Nor will cease from yielding fruit.”    Jeremiah 17:7-8

“I say then, Walk in the Spirit,…But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.”   Galatians 5:16 and 22

“And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.”  Romans 5:11

Are we dry shrubs blown by the wind?   Or flourishing trees –continuing to be kind, patient, loving, joyful.  Our hope should only be in the LORD, the same Creator who guided Paul, Jeremiah, Isaiah, and David.

Walk in the Spirit by looking to the Holy Spirit  to guide and direct you through His Word. Do not trust in the ideas, fads, celebs, doctors, or governments of the world!  Is your heart stirred to love God more…this One who created the cosmos and remains the same today–with us–as He was with these now-famous people of  centuries ago?

Grandsons Are Fun May 21, 2009

Here is a good teaching tip from a reformed perspective:

As you are cleaning a kid up a million times a day, say:

“Clean face,

Clean hands,

New heart!”

You can add “Clean feet” when you need to!

Why do this? You are laying a foundation in the child’s mind to accept the biblical principle of the Holy Spirit’s sovereign work in salvation.  And you are reminding yourself of this doctrine of  our salvation and our need of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit.

“For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.”  (Romans 5:6)

“”As it is written, “There is noe righteous, no, not one.  They are all gone out of the way,they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.’ “  (Romans: 3:10

“And you hath he quickened, wo were dead in trepasses and sins.  Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ;  (by grace you are saved.)”   ( Ephesians 2:1, 5)

“…I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.”  (Jeremiah 31:33)

You need this doctrine too!  How else are you going to raise this kid unless strengthen, encouraged, revived to do it?  Stop now,  thanking God for His work in your own heart and praise Him for His whole plan of salvation.  Or ask Him for a new heart for  yourself or plead with Him for the salvation of your children.

And don’t forget that children are fun.  We are to delight in them and their childishness.  Keep your balance.  They are little sinners but aren’t they cute.  My grandsons sure are.

AT THE BEACH May 21, 2009

I’m busy with three grandsons and my fifth collie.  My Bible class has just finished our nine months in Isaiah 1-41!  Now it’s time for a study break.  Look for teaching tips and family applications and some devotional thoughts.  I’m going to read some fiction and light history too.  Praise God for summer!

Bluntly Put April 30, 2009

Suffering Christian–remember that this
is all the hell you shall have. Some have
two hells. They suffer now in their body
and conscience, which is one hell; and they
will suffer eternally in another hell to come,
in unquenchable fire!

– Thomas Watson ( An English Puritan)