Category: children

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10.4.24. Do not fall for Satan’s Tricks!

2 Cor 4 Discouraged? NO! 

A magician has his bag of tricks, Satan his bag of the deadly d’s. One his tools in his bag is seeking to undermine the work of Christ by discouragement.  Maybe your discouragement has come because of fear or of lack of progress in your spiritual walk. Whatever it is,know the true source of discouragement is from the enemy. Perhaps it might be good to stop and just read those few words Paul penned where he noted the reason he was not discouraged was because God had shown him mercy beyond all that he could think of. He had been a persecutor of the early church and as he thought back he could recall the scenes of going house to house, dragging believers to the places of punishment. But, God in His way, and in His time, chose to reveal Himself to Paul on the Damascus road and turn him 180 degrees around to become not a persecutor but a proclaimer. 

Now Paul stops to reflect on his work of presenting the gospel. Just as he was gifted with mercy that was undeserved, so he saw the unsaved in need of such a gift. He was well aware of the work of the enemy, Satan. “among whom the god of this age has blinded the minds of those who do not believe so they would not see the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God.” [2 Cor 4:4] Thus he knew that they, like he, may be discouraged but needed to hear the truth and return that tool back to Satan’s bag of tricks. 

Precious reader, do not become discouraged. Reflect on the gift of mercy you have received and go forth to present the gospel message. 

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Remember…

1 Cor 6 Do you not know?

Child rearing is not a once time but it is an over and over recalling past conversations. As a parent we instruct our children with what is right so when they sin, we ask them did you not know what the consequences would be? As a former teacher, that was the same conversation I had with the children under my care. Both our own children and the children under our care often are brought to shame. Yes, they did recall the conversation but in the heat of the moment, they forgot. How true it is for even adult believers as Paul points out and so he asks this question six times: Do you not know? You can almost listen in on that conversation and see the shame of the listener. As the wise teacher of this Corinthian flock, Paul uses that question to bring back the memory of their first conversation and his teaching. So he reminds them of the consequences that lay before them because they “forgot” what he had taught them. 

This is a wise chapter for us to read and reread as we need that reminder and that question. In the heat of the moment, where are our thoughts, on self or Christ? Did you not know what you have been taught? Have you forgotten so quickly what we talked about? Review this verse over and over so you remember this counsel: “For you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God with your body.” [1 Cor 6:20] 

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Not my fault!

Proverbs 20 Responsibility

Like many today, the people of the time this was written, wanted not to take responsibility for their own sins. Dr. Constable explains it like this: “They were claiming to be the innocent victims of the actions of others, blaming others for their condition. In this they sounded just like many in our own day who refuse to take personal responsibility for their actions.” Today we call this blame-shifting. I am not at fault, it is someone else’s sin and I should not be held responsible. Kids do this today and it is almost like a switch was turned on: it’s not my fault. He made me do it. She made me do it. 

Beware of this sin for it permeates society and your own group, whether it be family or the church. Paul wrote to the Romans: there is none righteous, no not one.” [Rom 3:10] The Proverbs author says it like this: Who can say, “I have kept my heart clean; I am pure from my sin”?“ [Proverbs 20:9]

Great question offered by Paul and to us. 

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Sharing the Gospel Message

study the scriptures that speak of Jesus

Ps 78 Instructions

Always as we read this psalm we are reminded of our responsibility to share the love of God with those who are in need of a Savior. The Psalmist writes : “We will tell the next generation about the Lord’s praiseworthy acts,about his strength and the amazing things he has done.” [Ps 78:4] Have you taken time to share with the ones you love most yet have not yet accepted Christ…even if you are repulsed. This verse reminds me that as a teacher of little ones I was reminded of this truth. What do we share but the love of God and all of his attributes. Romans reminds us that “For since the creation of the world his invisible attributes—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen because they are understood through what has been made. So people are without excuse.”[Rom 1:20] Clearly the psalmist and Paul as he wrote to the Romans that God has revealed His power, His majesty and His eternal qualities so that we might know Him. 

Today, stop and consider what you may want to share with your unsaved family, your unsaved neighbors and others. 

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Which son are you?

Are you a Jacob?

Matt 21 Little Ones Testify 

Jesus cares for the little ones and they care for Him. As Matthew is listening, he is noting the contrast to how the little ones honor Christ and the religious leaders scorn Him. So he tells them the parable of the two sons to get their attention. There were two sons and both were given a chore to accomplish. One said, I will do it and the other said I will not. The point being that God gave these religious leaders a job to teach the people about God but instead they did not. They only elevated themselves and not God. They missed the point of honoring and teaching them about God. They were like the one son who said I will go but he did not because he was a hypocrite. The other son said I will not but then changed his mind and went.He is the picture of the disciples and if truth be known, he is a picture of us. We say we will go and make disciples but we don’t. We are busy about many things but not the things of the kingdom.

 Today, consider which son you are. Do you honor God and serve Him and go and spread the good news or are you like the religious leaders who said they would but did not. 

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Teachers Listen Up!

The Psalms

Matthew 5 When I began teaching I never understood the commands of God but now as I look back,I can see how His hand has been upon me since then. In my study time I came across two verses that are critical for every teacher to memorize and rehearse and have been in my “arsenal” since then: 

So anyone who breaks one of the least of these commands and teaches others to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever obeys them and teaches others to do so will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. [Matt 5:19] and If anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a huge millstone tied around his neck and to be thrown into the sea.[Mark 9:42] 

These words are not just for teachers of little ones, they are also for those who teach any age group. If you are a teacher, take heed and memorize these words as a way of protecting yourself and the ones you teach. When I was young, the very first verse I learned was Psalm 119:105 and that truth is still relevant today and more so for teachers.

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J-O-Y!

Phil 2 Real Life Joy

Children learn an acronym and recite it: J-O-Y which translates to Jesus first, others second, yourself last. We all need to use that in our witness and our everyday life. Paul wanted his precious Philippians believers to “recite” this in real life scenarios. He wrote to the church: “each of you should, in humility, be moved to treat one another as more important than yourself.” [Phil 2:3b] Further, he used the example of Christ who although he had the rights to be King of Kings, he chose instead to be a servant,which he demonstrated by washing the feet of his disciples. As he finished this task he said: “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you too ought to wash one another’s feet.” [Jn 13:14]

Paul continued:“You should have the same attitude toward one another that Christ Jesus had,” [Phil 2:5] He lived by the J-O-Y principle and we are to do the same.

Where do you need to lift another up today through your humble “washing” of another’s feet? It might be fixing a meal for someone, sending a note of encouragement, calling a friend who needs encouraging. Look at your calendar and see what you could do for another.

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A Teacher’s Goal

Colossians 1 “We proclaim him by instructing and teaching all people with all wisdom so that we may present every person mature in Christ.” [Col 1:9] Each week several of us meet to discuss the book we are studying. This should be our goal, and it falls upon me more than they. Jesus said if any of you would cause one of these little ones to stumble, it would be better to have a millstone hung around his neck and thrown into the sea. That has been before me all the years I have taught as a warning sign. My goal has been and will be as long as I teach; to present everyone who sits under me mature. As i look at the roster of those who have gone before me, I see them standing before Christ mature and whole. 

What is your goal as you speak and live before others? 

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Freedom or Slavery?

In Debt or Free?

Gal 4 In several cultures there is a rite of passage by having ceremonies and lavish parties. I can remember our granddaughter had her quinceañera when she turned 15. It is both a religious and a social event and much went into the planning of this. For the Jewish boys it is the Bar Mitzvah and for girls the same is called Bat Mitzvah. How about you? Was it your baptism or joining the church?  Paul wants the Galatians to recall that they once were classified as merely slaves with no rights or privileges, but one day they would receive their inheritance when they reached the proper age.

Paul is recalling these events to remind the Galatians that they too were slaves of sin, but now they are free and have the rights of inheritance set aside for those who have chosen Christ and believed in Him. He thus asked them if would like to return to their former state or live now in the freedom given to sons and daughters?  That is a good question to us. Stay a minute in this chapter and review what God has given to you as His blessing and live as free men and women. 

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Multi-generational relationships

1 Timothy 5 As in the time of Timothy, so today we have multi generational groups which require wisdom and patience. Paul’s wisdom to Timothy is to be wise in word and deed to those who are older, yet sometimes can be challenging to the young. Proverbs reminds us that gray heads, as my granddaughter calls them, have wisdom from their many years that they have walked through trials and blessings. Listen to them, glean words of wisdom and truth. Be grateful for their years of toil and trouble for their words come from a pure heart and a steadfast love. 

Paul reminds Timothy how he is to respond in wisdom. Do not rebuke an older gentleman but appeal to him that both of you may learn to be wise. My mother was a widow for many years, and we gave up our home to go and take care of her and now my son and daughter in law are caring for her mother. It is sweet to see that love relationship and patience which they now do as an example for their daughter. 

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