A New Year

The Lord’s “mercies are new every morning,” Jeremiah tells us (Lamentations 3:23).   As we turn the calendar at midnight tonight to 2018, we receive a gift of 365 mornings of new mercies to explore and enjoy in the coming year.  Like many of you, I have some goals for the new year. Despite all my past failures, a new year on the calendar always inspires me to try again!  

I am learning at this time in my life that when my list is full of myself and my own efforts, I turn my life into a performance.  

But the Christian life is not a performance.  

There is no stage here on earth for you and me.  We are not here to show anyone how good, talented, popular, busy, generous, and virtuous we can be.  Our lives are GOD’S stage, where we hand the microphone over to Jesus and let Him use our circumstances, talents, and opportunities to demonstrate how great HE is.  And that only happens through Christ-dependence.  

Twelve years ago (2005) was the year the selfie-stick was invented.  Maybe 2018 can be the year we put away the selfie-stick and aim our cameras to the only One Who truly deserves praise!  John the Baptist said, “He (Jesus) must increase, but I must decrease.”  As I look over my list of goals for 2018, I want the first resolution of all to be this:  Christ dependence.  May I accomplish my goals and meet my challenges this year through Christ--in His power, with His blessing, and to His glory!  

 

Shaping the Future

When I was about twelve years old, I was assigned the job of dusting the living room. As I removed each item from end tables and shelves, I came across my mom’s Bible, sitting where she read it in the living room each morning. I paused in my dusting to thumb through it—the pages worn and marked. Outlines and reminders spilled over each page; definitions and highlights and remarks from helpful sermons crowded the small margins. The cover of the Bible had a crease from being opened so often. My mom didn’t even know that day that her Bible was preaching a sermon to me. Over the years, my mom taught junior high English, worked at a restaurant, and even recorded short readings at a local Christian radio station. But I tend to think the mark she left from a worn Bible on an end table was her most noble achievement. It changed my life.

Ever since Creation, we women have sought to be heard. History records the stories of noble heroines who protested (Rosa Parks), engaged in war efforts (“Rosie the Riveter”), and even lay down their lives (Joan of Arc). As courageous and admirable as each of these heroines were, we as women have often shortchanged ourselves when it came to our most important voice. We have the power to change the world—not just from marches on Washington and posters on our lawns, but first and foremost from our homes, simply by proving to those who watch us what we love most.

I wonder what my kids would say if they were asked what I love most. Would they run to show you my laptop? Would they have to fish around the sofa cushions for the TV remote? Would they tell you about the jar of peanut butter and contraband chocolate chips I keep stashed in the kitchen cupboard?

Moms, the future is ours—in the form of a sticky-faced little creature who peeks around the corner each morning as we pray and read our Bibles. We shape the future by what we love today.   

The Gospel

What is the Gospel?

I Corinthians 15:3 - 4 uses the word "gospel" this way:

"For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; and that he was buried, and rose again the third day according to the Scriptures."

The true gospel (literally "good news") is that Jesus died and rose again on our behalf.  This is only good news if you are familiar with the bad news:  We are all sinners, born with a death sentence upon us because of the original sin of Adam passed on to each of us.

Sinful people cannot rescue themselves through righteous acts because even "our righteousnesses are as filthy rags"  (Isaiah 64:6).  We taint even our most noble efforts with pride, selfishness, false motives, comparison, and entitlement.  We cannot contribute even an iota to our salvation because our contributions, embedded with sin, would only add to the debt, not the remedy.  In other words, we can only make it worse.  We don't need assistance getting to heaven.  We need an all-out rescue!

The gospel--the story of heaven's rescue of hell-worthy sinners--is woven throughout all sixty-six books of the Bible.  One way of understanding the gospel is through a helpful compilation of verses from the book of Romans.  This list is not exhaustive, nor is it exclusive.  There are many other ways to explain the gospel from the Scriptures.  But many have been helped by this list.  

1. Romans 3:10, “As it is written, there is none righteous, no not one.”

2. Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”

3. Romans 6:23a, “For the wages of sin is death.”

4. Romans 5:19, “For as by one man’s disobedience, many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.”

5. Romans 5:8, “But God commendeth (showed) his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

6. Romans 6:23b, “But the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

7. Romans 10:9, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”

8. Romans 10:13, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”


How do we "call upon the name of the Lord" to be saved?

Jesus taught a parable in Luke 18, describing the prayers of two men in the temple. The Pharisee, overflowing with good works in his impressive resume of public righteousness, prayed, "God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers . . ." On and on he droned, reciting his good works to God in heaven.  Jesus editorializes his prayer in verse 11:  "The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself."  His prayer never made it past the ceiling.

Meanwhile, across the room from the Pharisee, crouched a publican.  Bowed down with guilt, he "would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me a sinner.'"

And Jesus narrates the story:  "I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other."

Book Recommendation: Bible Doctrines for Today by Michael Bere

~book recommendation~

One of the smallest books of the Bible contains one of its strongest commands: “ . . . earnestly contend for the faith.” (Jude, verse 3)

How do we contend for our faith? How do we effectively defend our Christian doctrines with Scripture and not man’s opinion?

An excellent resource for every Christian home is a book called Bible Doctrines for Today by Michael Bere (Pensacola, FL). This book is published by A Beka Book, and our own children use it as a textbook in their 10^th grade Bible class in homeschool. It is moderately easy to read (high school level), full of Scripture, and rich with well-stated explanations for each of the nine basic doctrines of our faith.

Some topics that are especially helpful in Bible Doctrines for Today include the following:

●How do we know that our Bible is truly inspired?

●Is there any evidence that Jesus truly rose from the dead?

●How can we argue effectively against the false teaching of evolution?

●Why do we believe in the Rapture of the church?

●What is “blasphemy against the Holy Spirit”?

●Do babies go to heaven if they die?

●What is our attitude to be toward hostile human government?

●Does the Bible really state that Jesus Christ is God?

These, and many other important topics, are covered thoroughly in this 343-page book. It is not meant to be read in a day, but it is a valuable time investment for anyone who wants to defend his faith with more than just opinion. Our greatest resource as Christians is the confidence with which we can rest in “Thus saith the Lord”!

The book can be ordered online from A Beka Book. It is also easily available second-hand through ebay, Amazon, and Christianbook.com. 

The value of a mid-week prayer service

So, were your ears itching this week?

Earlier this year, the Lord laid it on Pastor Valentin’s heart to begin putting every single person from our church onto our weekly prayer sheet. The prayer sheet is divided up into five lists, and when we gather into small groups to pray on Wednesday evenings, we take turns praying for the different lists. By the time our prayer service has finished, every single person who attends our church, as well as each of our missionaries and government officials, has been prayed for! Sometimes we don’t know what to pray for specifically, but as we mention your names for prayer, God is able to answer the specific needs in your life. If your ears were itching this week, it’s because you were being talked about—to God!

Although we are a small group that meets, I take great comfort in Jesus’ promise, “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” (Matthew 18:20) The power of our prayer meeting is not in ourselves, but rather is found in the smallest word of that verse: “I.” God is so faithful to answer our prayers, and it is His power that we seek when we bring each of your names to Him.

If you have never been a part of a weekly prayer meeting, would you consider praying that God would make a way for you to come join us? A mid-week service can be difficult to schedule around work, school activities, sports, and just the fatigue that hits all of us on Wednesday. Maybe the first prayer that God wants to answer is just the prayer that you could come pray with us.   

Encouragement for Students

It was my first day of second grade, and I was happily playing on the school playground during recess when one of my former teachers, Mrs. Miller, frantically came to me at the monkey bars with a jolting question:

“Kristie, where is your brother?”

Of course, I had no idea! Our school was located up the hill from a dangerous highway and directly across the parking lot from a busy shopping mall. The horrible possibilities for a brand new kindergartener seemed endless!

It turns out that Brian had just decided he’d had enough of playing outside on a noisy playground with strangers. Without being noticed, he had slipped back inside to sit alone in the quiet darkness of an empty classroom. I’m sure his refreshing moments of solitude came to an abrupt halt when a very panicked Mrs. Miller finally tracked him down!

The first days of school can be very overwhelming—and not just for homesick kindergartners! New classes, new teachers, new friend groups, a new schedule, and just the daily challenge to do right can produce anxiety and stress.

We can’t do much about your schedule or your hard classes, but we will be praying for each of you by name as you face this new beginning. Find encouragement in Deuteronomy 31:6,

“Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.”

School is a place where many students fear that word fail. But this verse says that God will not fail you. God never gets an F. He is always loving and powerful, “100% A+.” You can trust Him this school year!

Soundtrack of Home

If I had to journal my summer memories from childhood, my page would spill over with short snippets of delightful remembrances: the cool shock of lake water on dry skin; the gentle toss of bedroom curtains from a morning summer breeze; the first candied bite of fresh corn on the cob; the soft crunch of sand between my toes; the sticky joy of peach juice running down to my elbow; and the “noisy calm” of crickets at night, lulling me to sleep.

It may sound funny, but just as vivid as my memories of the lake or the picnic pavilion are my memories of our kitchen radio. For years, it sat faithfully on the counter, tuned to a local Christian radio station from morning to night. It was the sound-track of my childhood, always coloring each memory with Christian songs, children’s stories, Bible verses, and even recorded sermons, broadcast after some of the speakers themselves had gone to heaven. Making chocolate chip cookies at the counter or helping freeze corn at the kitchen table, I became familiar with hymns and Scripture passages through the constant influence of that radio.

The years have flown by, and it’s my kitchen now where kids read the directions on the back of the chocolate chips bag, or color pictures at the kitchen table. And that causes me to ponder: If my kids had to describe the sound-track of their childhood, would my playlists be a place where they learned to love Christ—or a place where their hearts were desensitized to sin? This summer, I have been convicted to be more intentional about what is playing in the background of my children’s growing up years. There is a great opportunity to impact my kids for Christ, and I hope that someday they too can look back and realize that they learned more about Jesus from listening to godly music and teaching—while making cookies, washing dishes, or freezing corn! 

Leading a Child to Christ

Leading a child to Christ

Does the thought of leading a child to the Lord intimidate you? Do you worry that your presentation of the Gospel may be too complicated or confusing? One method that many teachers have used is the “wordless” presentation of the Gospel. The “wordless book” is actually just a small booklet made up of five pieces of colored paper—and no words.

The first page of the book is black, representing the darkness of our sin. Romans 3:23 says, “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” Every person who has ever lived—from moms and dads to boys and girls—is born with sin on their heart.

The second page of the book is red, representing the blood of Jesus. I John 1:7 says, “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.” Only the precious blood of Jesus is able to wash away our sin—not works, not church, not baptism.

The third page of the book is white, representing a clean heart that is now free from sin. Psalm 51:7 says, “Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.” When we ask Jesus to wash our sins away, He washes away our past sins as well as our future sins!

The fourth page of the book is gold, representing heaven. Revelation 21:21 says, “And the street of the city (heaven) was pure gold.”

The fifth page of the book is green, representing the importance of growing in Jesus once you ask Him to save you. I Peter 3:18 says, “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.”  

Thoughts on covetousness

Proverbs 21:25 – 26, “The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour. He coveteth greedily all the day long: but the righteous giveth and spareth not.”

The tenth commandment seems mundane, compared to the first nine. Situated behind murder, adultery, stealing, and lying, the command not to covet almost seems like an afterthought. Yet Proverbs warns us that the desires of the covetous person actually have a very destructive effect. Coveting is a root sin that results in several ugly fruits, including slothfulness, stubbornness, and selfishness.

Coveting is the sin of strongly desiring anything that God has not permitted us to have. This is different from having goals, such as “I would like to own a car someday.” Coveting runs counter to God’s will for my life, since God’s will varies from person to person. What God allows one person to own may not necessarily be God’s will for another person.

I Timothy 6 covers the issue of covetousness. Verse 8 gives us a great outline for what we should expect in this life: “And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.” That’s a fairly short list! Food and clothes. Survival and decency.

Covetousness likes to add to the list of things I need in order to be happy. None of these things are necessarily sinful in themselves, and they may even be God’s will for some people. But if God takes them away, it is wrong for me to complain or to expect others to supply them. My job is to pay for the food and raiment and then let God supply the rest if He desires—either through a job or through unexpected gifts. Sometimes it is tempting to make sure the covetous items are paid for, and then let others pay for the food and raiment. But that would be a sin.

Before we call an agency or church asking them to help us cover our necessities, are there any things on this list that we could cut from our monthly budget?

home internet and/or high speed internet

Netflix

cable/other paid TV

processed foods

dessert

soda

meat every day (Have you explored other healthy forms of protein, such as eggs and meat?)

phones for non-working family members

data and long-distance for phones

subscriptions and memberships

pets

restaurants and/or fast-food

entertainment

concerts

new clothes and shoes (Second-hand stores sell gently used items for less than 5% retail cost.)

brand name items

expensive vehicles

college (Explore ways for students to pay their own way and work as they go.)

vacations, time shares

amusement parks

air conditioning (Exception: Oxygen users might require regulated air in their homes to breathe.)

sports/gym memberships/hunting

Commanding Children

It is often said that "babies don't come with an instruction manual!" But . . . we actually do have one. It isn't handed out in the delivery room, but we have many specific instructions about parenting found in Scripture.

Because our culture is quite divorced from the truth of Scripture, many parents feel quite helpless about how to command their children. I recently had a young parent texting me in frustration and weariness because she needed prayer about her defiant middle-schooler. Parents who have not grown up under the umbrella of loving rules and godly reinforcements find themselves begging for cooperation (and usually just retreating) instead of making definitive commands that produce real reformation.

Here are just eleven Scripture verses that may help us to find success in parenting. There is an Instruction Manual!

Positive examples from Scripture

Gen. 18:19, "For I (God) know him (Abraham), that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment . . ."

I Sam. 3:8, "And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me . . ."

II Tim. 3:15, "And that from a child thou hast known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus."

Negative examples from Scripture

I Sam. 2:29, "Why kick ye (Eli) at my (God's) sacrifice and at mine offering, which I have commanded in my habitation; and honorest thy sons above me . . ."

I Kings 1:6, "And his (Absalam's) father (David) had not displeased him at any time in saying, 'Why hast thou done so? . . ."

Commands from Scriptures

Prov. 22:6, "Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old, he will not depart from it."

Proverbs 23:13-14, "Withhold not correction from the child; for if thou beatest (spanking) him with the rod, he shall not die. Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell."

Proverbs 13:24, "He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes ('early in life')."

Proverbs 19:18, "Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying."

Eph. 6:1 - 2, "Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise."

James 1:5, "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth ('rebuke or shame') not; and it shall be given him."