Proverbs 2:1 "My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee;"
...good things will happen.
But today lets talk about "hide my commandments with thee." I do not know what has happened to the church, but I do not see to much emphasis on scripture memory today.
"Thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee." Where is that? Do you know? That, and John 3:16 were bedrock verses that we all had to know as a kid.
We had the Bible Memory Association, AWANA, Traning Union, Vacation Bible School, Sunday School, Wednesday night.. something... but I remember that any time we went to church there was always something to memorize. Along with the memorization there were award trinkets or ice cream suppers. It was very exciting.
I still remember so many of those verses that I learned as a child. They comfort me and (sometimes) keep me out of trouble.
What a shame it would be if my adult children were void of such comfort and wisdom hidden within their hearts.
We have them on a systematic plan for memorizing scripture, but I wonder if it is enough.
I want them to experience every blessing that God has for them.
One of those blessings comes from a richness of scripture buried within their hearts.
To obtain this blessing requires discipline and hard work.
Maybe that's why its not so prevalent in our church culture today.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Proverbs 1
Proverbs 1:32 "...the prosperity of fools shall destroy them."
I believe that it was one of my favorite radio preachers, David Jeremiah, that said that a lot of people in his ministry had survived the test of poverty. They went through a season of need and their faith was strengthened. On the other hand, he knew of only a handful of people who had survived the test of prosperity. Many had fallen away from the faith as a result of their blessings.
What is it about being blessed by God that makes us forget about God?
It happened to the Israelites. Read the Old Testament. Its a common theme. They cry out to God in their desperation, he delvers them, and then he abundantly blesses them. You hardly get to the next generation before God is a long forgotten afterthought. The cycle starts over. Desperation, deliverance, abandonment.
Our family has been through a season of not having much. We depended on God to provide when the budget did not work out on paper. He always provided our needs - often times in amazingly miraculous ways. I think that it is the pleasure of God to answer our very specific prayers. At that time we knew exactly what to pray for. We needed food, clothes, automobiles, or baby things. We prayed and God provided to us through his children.
Now we are in a season in which our budget is just a little bit bigger than our basic needs. I guess that is one definition of prosperity. Now its not quite as clear what exactly it is that we need to pray for.
I can see how it may be easy to forget to pray every once in a while when the belly is full, the barn is full of wheat (we got a doomsday supply when the prices started going up), and everyone is healthy. Somehow that ole wicked heart of ours tries to convince us that our blessings are a result of our own hands. We finally have it together (we think). "I can take it from here God" says the fool...right before he is destroyed.
But my God is wise. He keeps giving me things to pray about. He gave me a very uncertain job with no prospects for the future unless my performance was stellar. I prayed for stellar performance.
My performance was less than stellar - back on our knees - a cry for mercy (who wants justice at a time like this?). We get a contract extension - mercy granted. God gets the credit, not me.
I got an email today. More uncertainty about the future. Due to budget cuts we might need to find a place to land in 9 months (am I one of the "non-essential?" I don't know). Back on my knees. Pray for "essentialness."
I think I know how this is going to end. I will be found to be non-essential, but then God will either allow this job to continue or provide another opportunity. He never lets me steal His glory - or think for a minute that any good thing comes from my own efforts.
He has not let me forget how desperately I need Him. He has not let me forget how fragile and fleeting are the things of this world. He has not let me forget that it is He who provides our needs - not me.
I have prayed that having a little surplus at the end of the month would not cause me to "act the fool" and bring on God's destruction. God seems to be answering that prayer. You have to be careful what you pray for.
I believe that it was one of my favorite radio preachers, David Jeremiah, that said that a lot of people in his ministry had survived the test of poverty. They went through a season of need and their faith was strengthened. On the other hand, he knew of only a handful of people who had survived the test of prosperity. Many had fallen away from the faith as a result of their blessings.
What is it about being blessed by God that makes us forget about God?
It happened to the Israelites. Read the Old Testament. Its a common theme. They cry out to God in their desperation, he delvers them, and then he abundantly blesses them. You hardly get to the next generation before God is a long forgotten afterthought. The cycle starts over. Desperation, deliverance, abandonment.
Our family has been through a season of not having much. We depended on God to provide when the budget did not work out on paper. He always provided our needs - often times in amazingly miraculous ways. I think that it is the pleasure of God to answer our very specific prayers. At that time we knew exactly what to pray for. We needed food, clothes, automobiles, or baby things. We prayed and God provided to us through his children.
Now we are in a season in which our budget is just a little bit bigger than our basic needs. I guess that is one definition of prosperity. Now its not quite as clear what exactly it is that we need to pray for.
I can see how it may be easy to forget to pray every once in a while when the belly is full, the barn is full of wheat (we got a doomsday supply when the prices started going up), and everyone is healthy. Somehow that ole wicked heart of ours tries to convince us that our blessings are a result of our own hands. We finally have it together (we think). "I can take it from here God" says the fool...right before he is destroyed.
But my God is wise. He keeps giving me things to pray about. He gave me a very uncertain job with no prospects for the future unless my performance was stellar. I prayed for stellar performance.
My performance was less than stellar - back on our knees - a cry for mercy (who wants justice at a time like this?). We get a contract extension - mercy granted. God gets the credit, not me.
I got an email today. More uncertainty about the future. Due to budget cuts we might need to find a place to land in 9 months (am I one of the "non-essential?" I don't know). Back on my knees. Pray for "essentialness."
I think I know how this is going to end. I will be found to be non-essential, but then God will either allow this job to continue or provide another opportunity. He never lets me steal His glory - or think for a minute that any good thing comes from my own efforts.
He has not let me forget how desperately I need Him. He has not let me forget how fragile and fleeting are the things of this world. He has not let me forget that it is He who provides our needs - not me.
I have prayed that having a little surplus at the end of the month would not cause me to "act the fool" and bring on God's destruction. God seems to be answering that prayer. You have to be careful what you pray for.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Proverbs 1
Verse 7: "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of all wisdom."
I remember a comedian on TV in an interview just after he had his first child. The interviewer asked about his new role as a father. The response was meant to be funny, "I want my children to fear me," said the comedian. He went on to say that children do not need a friend, they need a daddy - and they need to have a healthy fear of their daddy.
I agree with this parenting philosophy to some degree, but what is "fear?"
I was always taught in Sunday School that "fear" meant a healthy respect for God or a reverence for God. That is exactly what I want from my children - a healthy respect. I want them to revere me as their father. Fearing God does not really mean that we are to be afraid of him - is what I was taught.
However, the more that I read the Old Testament, the more that I have come to believe that "fear" means "fear." As in, I am terrified of the consequences of disobeying God. To come face to face with God is a terrifying ordeal. What is the first word out of the mouths of mere angels? "Fear not." "Don't be afraid."
Why is the fear of the Lord the beginning of all wisdom?
I believe that we only obtain wisdom through obedience to God. Sometimes God's ways seem odd or even a little goofy. If I have no fear of God, I will obey what is convenient and disregard the rest. If I am terrified that the God of the universe has consequences for disobedience, I will obey - even the goofy things. When I obey what I do not understand, I get wisdom.
That seems to be God's way. We obey first and understand later. Do you fear God enough to obey Him? If so, wisdom will come your way.
I remember a comedian on TV in an interview just after he had his first child. The interviewer asked about his new role as a father. The response was meant to be funny, "I want my children to fear me," said the comedian. He went on to say that children do not need a friend, they need a daddy - and they need to have a healthy fear of their daddy.
I agree with this parenting philosophy to some degree, but what is "fear?"
I was always taught in Sunday School that "fear" meant a healthy respect for God or a reverence for God. That is exactly what I want from my children - a healthy respect. I want them to revere me as their father. Fearing God does not really mean that we are to be afraid of him - is what I was taught.
However, the more that I read the Old Testament, the more that I have come to believe that "fear" means "fear." As in, I am terrified of the consequences of disobeying God. To come face to face with God is a terrifying ordeal. What is the first word out of the mouths of mere angels? "Fear not." "Don't be afraid."
Why is the fear of the Lord the beginning of all wisdom?
I believe that we only obtain wisdom through obedience to God. Sometimes God's ways seem odd or even a little goofy. If I have no fear of God, I will obey what is convenient and disregard the rest. If I am terrified that the God of the universe has consequences for disobedience, I will obey - even the goofy things. When I obey what I do not understand, I get wisdom.
That seems to be God's way. We obey first and understand later. Do you fear God enough to obey Him? If so, wisdom will come your way.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Jesus Loves Me
Billy Graham was asked by Larry King, (paraphrase) "what is the most profound thing that you have ever heard?"
Billy Graham: "Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so."
There have been times in my life that I have clung to the words of that song - like hanging on a jagged rock for dear life in the midst of a roiling sea. "...they are weak, but He is strong. Yes, Jesus loves me."
Do you ever feel weak? Out of control? Unable to handle a storm? Are you ever scared?
Jesus loves you. He is strong. You don't have to be strong.
Jesus loves me when I'm good,
when I do the things I should.
Jesus loves me when I'm bad,
but it makes Him very sad.
Do you ever make Jesus sad?
Sometimes I make Jesus sad. Maybe he cries. I cry too.
He still loves me.
The Bible says so.
The Bible is true.
Billy Graham: "Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so."
There have been times in my life that I have clung to the words of that song - like hanging on a jagged rock for dear life in the midst of a roiling sea. "...they are weak, but He is strong. Yes, Jesus loves me."
Do you ever feel weak? Out of control? Unable to handle a storm? Are you ever scared?
Jesus loves you. He is strong. You don't have to be strong.
Jesus loves me when I'm good,
when I do the things I should.
Jesus loves me when I'm bad,
but it makes Him very sad.
Do you ever make Jesus sad?
Sometimes I make Jesus sad. Maybe he cries. I cry too.
He still loves me.
The Bible says so.
The Bible is true.
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