From our Pastor’s Heart

On January 19, 2021January 19, 2021 By francesrogersIn GOD'S GRACE5 Comments

We always receive encouragement to start our week after the Lord’s Day worship. The following is the blessing of this week’s email.
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How lovely is God’s dwelling place, those upon whom he has placed his name, made his temple by sovereign, quickening grace, and beautified with salvation, his precious church! I count worshipping with you the highlight of life and pray that you were encouraged by being with the Lord and his people. Much of what we obtain from the Lord in worship is determined by what we seek in the days leading up to worship — the world or Christ? To see his beauty and splendor must be our aim. Then and only then can we be wise and courageous in fighting against the devil, suffer patiently, and have the heart to seek strength from our Savior constantly in prayer, for we have no strength or wisdom but what he gives to us. May our blessed Savior be more and more our life and joy, our peace, our wonder, and the Advocate upon whom we constantly attend in worship and fellowship, joyful service, and in the hour of need.

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Let us in His Word and prayer prepare this week for worship next Lord’s Day.
Fran

Memorize Your Children

On July 30, 2020July 30, 2020 By francesrogersIn GOD'S GLORY, GOD'S WORD, TRUTH4 Comments

The world would call this “brainwashing.” And they would be right.

“Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her
with the washing of water by the word,”
Ephesians 5:25-26

If we don’t minister to the minds and spirits of our children, the world will. They are drawn to, caught up, and carried away by the spirit of the world ~ the spirit of oppression. They will learn how to satisfy their lusts and cravings. They will die to you in their pursuit of a world that caters to the flesh and its selfishness.

And they will not come back to you if you do not give them a foundation for life. Except God does a miraculous work to bring them to Himself, you will not see them outside themselves and their depravity.

All this may seem harsh and unreal ~ and it is.

If you, as a parent, have ever had a chaotic moment, you can relate to how children grow up if they do not have a firm footing in a faith-based education.

We understand the need for children to learn how to work and acquire what they need physically. The world’s educational system provides these instructions. But, because we are creatures of a living God, and created in His image living by His Spirit, we need more than physical food and instruction. We do not live by bread alone (Matthew 4:4).

If you are a Christian parent, believing in the things of God, you are obligated to teach your children who He is and why they are here. Each parent is accountable and will be answerable to Him for how we have instructed them while in our care.

We do not let children go hungry; we know their needs and provide their physical food.

The spirit of man needs to be fed with “manna from above.” Spiritual food is found in God’s Word. “Every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” is available for us and our children.

From the time they are born, they are privy to hearing. From the time they begin to speak, they are capable of repeating what you tell them. They need to hear from your heart and spirit what you believe is the foundation for true life. They need you to put the words into their mouths and their hearts. No one else is going to do this. It is your work as a parent.

How many Bible verses do you know? How many have you taught your children?

It may be that you have to learn together. You have to take the initiative to pray, seeking the Lord’s guidance, and finding the means to begin the process whereby you daily have a verse to memorize. Without this, nothing else they learn will have any true meaning.

We all need a foundation, a basis for living. God’s Word is the only source for this.
His manual for life has been preserved through the centuries and never fails to work the truths in the minds, hearts, and spirits of those who memorize and meditate on what He gives.

Wisdom and knowledge bring us and our children through the worst times in this world of oppression. It has been proven as a help as relating to other subjects that are taught. It is also our means of ministering to others.

One of the easiest means of teaching our children is with a catechism (Protestant questions and answers of the Christian faith with Bible references.)

Means for memorization can be found in the following links. The first is a parent’s seminar from Intoxicated on Life that is very informative and valuable. Hip Homeschool Moms and Faith Gateway are sites among others you will find online.

Dear Father in heaven, forgive us for failing to feed our minds and spirits with your provisions. Show us your ways, teach us your paths, lead us in your truth, and teach us and our children how to fulfill our purpose and to glorify and enjoy you now and forever. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Suggested Reading: Child Keeping ~ God’s Blessing to Parents

Image: Google

A University President’s Message

On March 19, 2020March 19, 2020 By francesrogersIn GOD'S GLORY, GOD'S WORD, Uncategorized6 Comments

Jerry received his degree in Industrial Engineering on December 15, 1961, from Auburn University. The following excerpts are from the President’s message, one you would not hear from a secular institution, today. We see how far we have come from the foundation of our nation and its institutions of higher education.We pray the Lord would bring us back to our humble beginnings.

“”””””””””””””””””

“My dear Friends,

You have completed your work for the degree in a time of the tremendous expansion of knowledge and in the midst of a world ferment of exploration of all the areas of thought.

I have the distinct feeling that the impact of new knowledge, which is producing so much of change is also reflected in changing outlooks among governments. I believe that you will live to see the effects of these forces also in the individual attitudes and beliefs of men.

We of the Western World have been conditioned in our thought and our morality largely through the beneficent influence of the Christian ethic. Although as individuals and as a nation, we have departed often from this ideal in individual acts, over the years and in the long view, we have been generally governed thereby. I would hope that the growth of knowledge, with the attendant dislocations which harass the world today, may serve to strengthen the influence of the Christian ethic and, eventually, ring wisdom and understanding among men and nations.

The prospects of that hope do seem dim at present, but I hope that you will cherish the ideal because I believe mankind must respond to the spirit of good and recoil from the spirit of evil. If this can’t be believed by men, there is little hope that civilization can survive.

I think that, perhaps, the best wish I could make for you on this occasion would be that each of you may be guided by the philosophy of the love of your fellowmen; goodwill; sensitivity to just and honorable relationships; and willingness to stand on the side of good against evil.

I wish for you, also, the joy of hard labor for worthwhile ends, and an awareness of the struggle in which you will be engaged throughout your lives. I wish for each of you good health, happiness, and success in that struggle, and I hope your lives may be blessed by the hope, the wisdom, and the influence of the Christian ethic.”

Ralph B. Draughon

The Auburn Creed includes seven points, the last of which is:

“I believe in my Country, because it is a land of freedom and because it is my own home, and that I can best serve that country by “doing justly, loving mercy, and walking humbly with my God.” (quote from Micah 6:8)

Ask, Seek, Knock

On October 15, 2019October 15, 2019 By francesrogersIn GOD'S GLORY, GOD'S WORD, PRAYER7 Comments

Ask, and it shall be given you;
Seek, and ye shall find;
Knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
Matthew 7:7

As I have been interceding for Bill and Terry these two weeks, the importance of prayer has again become for me a major interest and calling for another search in God’s Word.

I was led to Jesus’ words instructing us to ask, seek, and knock. His words are not just thrown out to us for a random catch. Every word He spoke ~ every word recorded ~ has infinite meaning. If we want to know the depths of His words, we need to go beneath the surface. If we are to understand the full meaning of His words, we must dig deeper into the whole counsel of the written Word for the heavenly substance contained in them. We must search for the legacy that is ours as His disciples.

Thinking this would be a simple 1-2-3-presentation, I started to search and as usual, discovered more, much more than I anticipated. Again overwhelmed with the treasure of God’s Word, we must break this into three parts: Ask, Seek, and Knock.

As you can tell from the title, His message is to teach us what it means to ASK with the understanding that asking, seeking, and knocking are three forms of the same desire to apprehend and claim what is promised from the Giver of all things.

ASK in the Old Testament

In Hebrew ask ~ shâʼal, shaw-al’ meaning to inquire; by implication, to request; by extension, to demand.

God commands us to ask and He tells us in His Word what we are claim from Him as the Giver. He would not tell us to ask except that He waits to be gracious to us and grant our request. The first references are from the Old Testament.

In Isaiah 45:11 the Lord says “concerning the work of my hands command ye me.”

“Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of their God: they ask of me the ordinances of justice; they take delight in approaching to God.”
Isaiah 58:2

In Jeremiah we remember the Lord’s counsel.
“Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.” Jeremiah 6:16

“They shall ask the way to Zion with their faces thitherward, saying, Come, and let us join ourselves to the Lord in a perpetual covenant that shall not be forgotten.” Jeremiah 50:5

ASK in the New Testament

In Greek ask ~aitéō, ahee-teh’-o means to ask, beg, call for, crave, desire, require

There are two specific things we are to ask for:
The Holy Spirit and Wisdom

The Holy Spirit

“If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?” Luke 11:13

Jesus promised the Holy Spirit to His disciples as perhaps the first and most important thing to ask, for it is the Holy Spirit that gave men the words from God and interprets them for us. He is the Spirit of truth and guides us into all truth (John 16:13). He reveals what we are to ask.

“Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”
Romans 8:26

Wisdom

“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” James 1:5

The following references reveal the wisdom we need.
1 Corinthians 1:24; 1 Corinthians 1:30; Colossians 2:3; James 3:17

We ask in faith.

“But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.” James 1:6

We ask and receive because we keep His commandments.

“And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.”
1 John 3:22

We ask according to His will.

“And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:” 1 John 5:14

We know what to ask because we abide in Him and His words abide in us. Here, again, the Holy Spirit works through His Word in us.

“If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” John 15:7

We ask in Jesus’ name.

“And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” John 14:13

The power of the Holy Spirit works in us through our asking and receiving.

“Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly
above all that we ask or think,
according to the power that worketh in us,”
Ephesians 3:20

Dear heavenly Father, I ask that you speak through your Holy Spirit to those of your children who have not yet learned what to ask or how to ask. Bring us closer to you in faith and knowledge of your gracious bounty that is ours in Christ. Keep us abiding in your Word, filled with the power of your Spirit to live in obedience to your will for your glory and our joy. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
Fran
Related Articles: Jesus’ Words are Not Suggestions
How the Holy Spirit Works

The Law of the Lord is Perfect

On June 2, 2019June 1, 2019 By francesrogersIn GOD'S GLORY, GOD'S WORD, MUSIC, THE LORD'S DAY (SABBATH)3 Comments

The Law of the Lord is Perfect is the text of Psalm 19:7-11, which speaks of the work of God’s Word in the life of the believer.

The Law of the Lord Is Perfect

The law of the Lord is perfect,
Converting the soul;
The testimony of the Lord is sure,
Making wise the simple.

(refrain)
More to be desired are they than gold.
Yea, than much fine gold,
Sweeter also than honey
And the honeycomb.

The statutes of the Lord are right,
Rejoicing the heart:
The commandment of the Lord is pure,
Enlightening the eyes.
(refrain)

The fear of the Lord is clean,
Enduring forever;
The judgments of the Lord are true
And righteous altogether.
(refrain)
Music by Joanne Roberts Graham

Dear Father in heaven. Lead us to meditate on your law day and night. On this special day, enable your ministers to proclaim your Word in power as you open our hearts to hear and respond. Use your Word today for conversion, wisdom, rejoicing, and enlightenment for your glory. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
Fran

Image: Google

A Panoramic View

On December 21, 2018December 20, 2018 By francesrogersIn GOD'S GLORY, GOD'S GRACE, GOD'S WORD, TRUTH, Uncategorized15 Comments

How blessed we would be if we could see in God’s Word a panoramic view of Him working from beginning to end —the Alpha and Omega— through it all to bring the first and the last scene together.

How blessed we are to be in the middle as God’s people—the body of Christ—to take it all in; turning from page to page to behold His glory, His kingdom, at work in His people; His strong arm upholding His sovereign will and authority over life and death, His hand holding and molding each heart and life taken out of the degradation of sin.

How blessed we are to be turned by the power of His own Holy Spirit to see Him greater than all the circumstances of the human will and the power of the enemy combined; triumph shared with His people for eternity.

This is a view that comes through a lifetime here on this earth. The view is so breathtaking that we cannot bear it except slowly and as God, the Father, in the wisdom He gives through the righteousness and atoning work of Jesus, His Son, prepares our hearts by His Holy Spirit to conceive of Divine reality—“enlightening our eyes” to see what He allows our ears to hear.

^“But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9

The tour through His Word is conducted one-on-one so that we do not miss anything that He has for each of us. It is the preparation for that which will come in eternity ~ from glory to glory ~ so that we will share in His glory forever.

The glory of God is hidden in Christ and it will take an eternity for us to behold.

^“But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 3:19

Dear Father in heaven, we praise you for all that you have prepared for us, what our physical eyes cannot now see; what our ears cannot yet hear; the glorious life for which we are being prepared. Continue to work by your Holy Spirit, in light of the truth of your Word, in our minds and hearts to look beyond this present world to the glory that awaits us. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
Fran

Image:Pixabay

Sharing our Meds ~ Words of Life

On July 1, 2018August 26, 2018 By francesrogersIn GOD'S GLORY, GOD'S GRACE, GOD'S WORD, THE LORD'S DAY (SABBATH), TRUTH21 Comments

Since turning 82 in April, Jerry has met new doctors and added more meds. He and I have lived much longer than we expected. (His mother died at the age of 59, and his dad, at the age of 71.) Since the wound on his foot has finally healed after eighteen months treatment, he is in physical therapy for strength and conditioning. After not being able to put pressure on his foot, our goal is for him to walk again with a diabetic shoe, an adjusted prosthetic, and a walker. In the meantime, he is being referred to a rheumatologist for further counseling after testing positive for lupus; and to a hematologist for abnormal protein in his blood.

Where does it end? Eventually, we all, excepting for a few, will contract something from this world that will cause our demise.

Jerry is now on twelve different medications that seem to alleviate his symptoms, but it would not be lawful for him to share any of these. He is not sure, at this point, if he will accept any more prescriptions.

In this last age and stage, we want to share different meds, those that are lawful to give others, and eternal; those that do not require a doctor’s prescription.

Medications and Meditations
These words are spelled the same except for one letter; they both are effective, but only one is prescribed by our Great Physician. They are both held in the hand; one to be given to children, continued until death. Both are taken with water; one physically, the other with the Holy Spirit. One is taken by mouth; the other through the spirit, mind and heart.

With every development in Jerry’s physical health, the Lord is here to add meaning to everything, guiding and strengthening with wisdom and grace for every new trial. Beginning this new month of July, and the last half of 2018, we will begin something else new. We will be sharing meditations with medications; a meditation each day as he takes his medications. We cannot and would not want to give anyone the meds Jerry is taking by mouth, but we will share meditations from a source we have in our files.

Words of Life
Several years ago, we began a project titled Words of Life ~ A to Z, The Ordinary Vocabulary of a Christian. Taking from Strong’s Concordance a list of words from the Bible that are common to the Christian faith, we had hoped to publish a simple guidebook (or devotional), unlike the Concordance that includes every word from the Bible. From abhor to Zion, this would be a highlight of what our heavenly Father would want us to focus on; to meditate and base our lives on. Meditation on His Word is His means of addressing and prescribing His grace and truth to our basic and profound needs; for spiritual strength and conditioning. This would not negate the usual reading and studying the whole Bible, but these are extra blessings for those who meditate on the references that apply to each word.

The first one we share with you today is abhor, with the concept at the start, to use this as a meditation for a week. From this first word to the last, Zion, we find a striking difference in the things of God’s word and His kingdom, and the vocabulary and kingdom of this world. We welcome your comments.

Abhor
In the Old Testament, Concordance H1602 defines the word abhor (ga ‘al) as to detest; by implication to reject. The word is used in the KJV Bible for abhor, fail, lothe, vilely cast away. We find this word in the Old Testament relating both to God and man.

God describes His plan for His relationship with the people of Israel in Leviticus 26:11, “And I set my tabernacle among you: and my soul shall not abhor you.”

In Deuteronomy 7:26, they are instructed to detest and abhor the “cursed things.”

“Neither shalt thou bring an abomination into thine house, lest thou be a cursed thing like it: but thou shalt utterly detest it, and thou shalt utterly abhor it; for it is a cursed thing.

Though the references from the Old Testament speak of the history of God’s relationship with the nation of Israel they are an example for His people today.

David in Psalm 119:163 said:   “I hate and abhor lying: but thy law do I love.”
Here he speaks of the opposite of the word abhor, which is love.
This is echoed in the New Testament in Romans 12:9,

Abhor in the New Testament (Strong’s Greek 655, from 575 and the base of G4767) is apostygeo, meaning to detest utterly. Apostasy is turning away from the gospel, the truth of God’s word, the act of despising, rejecting and abhorring it.

Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.
Romans 12:9

As children of the heavenly Father we are to abhor (despise and reject) what He despises.
We are to love what He loves. To know the difference in the two ~ what He loves and what He hates ~ we must search His word; we must receive, read and love His law.

Dear Father, as we begin to share these meditations, make us to know their full meaning, so that we know how to live in accordance with your word and your will. Work in us to receive your written word ~ your law for our lives ~ even as we receive Christ, the living word, by your Spirit, to live within us and teach us your law of liberty in Him. For your glory, write your law on our hearts and in our minds so that we will love your law even as you teach us to love you. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

The Reason and Season for Contentment

On February 10, 2017February 10, 2017 By francesrogersIn CONTENTMENT, GOD'S GLORY, GOD'S GRACE, GOD'S WORD, Uncategorized6 Comments

Jesus is the reason and the season for contentment. We cannot say this strongly enough.
We looked at the role of God, the Father, last week. We will look at the role of the Holy Spirit next week.

Why are we centering on Jesus, the second person of the Trinity? There are many reasons.
(I have to, at this point say as I remind myself, everything I write is something the Lord is teaching me. At this point in our writing about contentment, I am excited about what we are learning.)

Our last post on Jesus could not be enough. Remember John’s last statement of his gospel, “the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.” So, if you want to be richer and content with what God has prepared for us as His children, don’t skim this article, but stay with me to hear what He wants us to know.

With a Christian worldview, we see through the eyes of the church, the body of Christ. He is the head and we are growing up into Him as we continue in His Word. We are set free from the bondage of ignorance, the power of death and sin, of fear and the world’s influence.

How is this possible without Jesus Christ? We would still be in our sin, and in the chaotic upheaval of the world. I doubt that the world would still be here. At the precise time that was planned, He was born into this world to fulfill the promises that had been made. (Galatians 4:4-7)

Why are Jesus’ followers not rioting, and complaining? Jesus makes the difference.

How the Trinue God Works His Plan and Power on Earth

Let’s look at how His plan is established in Jesus His Son. God, the Father sent His Son to make the difference ~ between the world and His kingdom ~ a kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy.

Jesus lived a perfect life of righteousness under the law, fulfilling every jot and tittle.:) His life is the center point of God’s plan.
He is the Son, whose life we are given through his death and resurrection (1 Peter 1:3). Since His ascension and ruling at the right hand of the Father on our behalf, He is calling those who are His to live in union with Him. This life is a new life, a supernatural life, in a new relationship with Him and the Father, through the power of the Holy Spirit working all things according to His will and covenant with His people.

Let’s look more closely: God, the Father + God, the Son + God, the Spirit = The Trinity.

Take away God, the Son ~ We would not know God the Father, nor would the Holy Spirit have been sent to us.

From all the Biblical references we see how the Father focuses all things on His Son. We understand that the whole of God’s Word, from beginning to end, is about Jesus Christ, the promised, living, dying, living, ruling and reigning Messiah. He is the First and the Last, the Alpha and Omega.

We do not have room or time to include all references to Christ, but only a few that relate to His role, His relationship to the Father, the Holy Spirit and to us. I would ask that you reply with the references that you know.

The first promise of the Messiah, Conqueror, and Savior ~ Genesis 3:15
Promise of a Son ~ Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23

He is the image of the invisible God ~ “for by Him were all things created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities–all things were created through him and for him. And He is before all things and in him all things hold together.” Colossians 1:15-20

“Making known to us the mystery of his will,
according to his purpose,
which he set forth in Christ
as a plan for the fullness of time,
to unite all things in him,
things in heaven and things on earth.
Ephesians 1:9-10

John, the Baptist’s witness of the Son ~ Matthew 3:11
The Father’s witness of His Son ~ Matthew 3:17; 11:27; 17:5; 1 John 5:6-12; John 17:1-7, 24;
The Holy Spirit’s witness of the Son ~ John 14:26; John 15;26; John 16:7, 12-15

“He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine
and declare it to you.
All that the Father has is mine;
therefore I said that he will take what is mine
and declare it to you.
John 16:14-15

We have only begun to scratch the surface. There is layer and layer, precept upon precept of “the way, the truth, and the life” that is ours in Jesus Christ, our Lord. All that we need for life, godliness and contentment is all rolled up in this one “ball of wax” and beyond us, to discover what is ours in Him. He is the center and root of all things blessed and beautiful, filling and overflowing with the goodness and grace for all that we need. All that is precious, amazing, and fathomless is promised in Him, revealed and fulfilled in those who are His children.

The Season for Contentment

Because Jesus Christ holds the secret, the means and the power for all things for contentment, we must continue to keep our eyes, ears and all our senses on Him. He is the reason for our contentment. Therefore, the season for our contentment in Him is year-round, never ending, now and forever.

Gracious Father, We thank you for your plan for true life, in and through Jesus Christ, who is to us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption, who upholds all things by the word of His power, who sits at your right ruling and reigning until you have put all things under His feet. We praise you that your greatness and power in Him is unsearchable. Thank you for this unspeakable gift of grace and life in Him, now and for eternity. Open our eyes to see and live in the wonder of who and what He is to us as your people. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

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Reminders for the New School Year ~ (Part 2) ~ Asking

On August 18, 2015August 19, 2015 By francesrogersIn CONTENTMENT, GOD'S GLORY, GOD'S GRACE, GOD'S WORD, HUMILITY, PRAYERLeave a comment

Jesus was not here on earth to bring us suggestions that might help us succeed in this life. He came on a mission ~ The Mission For Success ~ in this life and the next. He came to bring the knowledge that we need to strive, survive and thrive. Man’s wisdom and knowledge fail to bring God’s creatures to attain the excellence and the stature that He has planned for us.

Jesus instructed us to ask the Father, to pray to the Father, and to expect from our heavenly Father what we need. He is exceedingly abundantly able to do more than we can ask or think according to the power at work in us. (Ephesians 3:20)

Listen to how He has instructed us to think and ask, “according to the power at work in us.”

“If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?” Luke 11:13

The power at work is the Spirit of God in us. We have no means on our own of learning from Him, understanding or living as He desires us to. The Holy Spirit is the constant teacher, through God’s Word, dwelling in us, teaching and writing on our hearts and in our memory what we learn and live by. Without His Spirit our children and we are simply puppets living by our own desires as our culture dictates.

We can learn and earn as many diplomas and degrees as we want in this world and still remain ignorant and fail in the pursuit of true life. A formal education may give us the means to achieve the standards that men set for us, and totally miss the mark that our heavenly Father and Creator has set for us and calls us to.

“His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.” 2 Peter 1:3-4

The Spirit of God is His divine power in and through His Word, His text book, The Holy Bible, where we are taught of Him. He is the writer of the knowledge of God and the teacher given to all who ask of Him. He comes by the will of the Father to testify of Christ, His Son.

When we take our children to school, or we go to school, we are asking the teachers by their wisdom and knowledge to prepare our children, or us, for life here on earth. When we come to God and His Word in the power if His Holy Spirit we are asking Him to prepare us and His children for His glory and eternal life with Him. Are we asking in the right places and for the right things in this life? As His children we have the access to wisdom and knowledge that the world does not have. Are we flourishing and teaching our children what it means to strive for the excellence that is ours in Christ? Consider how many hours and years they learn from the spirit of the world how to live the life of the world. How many hours and years will be spent to accumulate in their minds and hearts how to live for eternity? Only this preparation will bring true success here and eternally.

Why should we listen to what Jesus says? Why should we depend on God’s Word for living a successful life? Paul prayed for the church at Colossae for them “to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ ……………..

Wisdom Given Generously

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” James 1:5

In humility we ask, admitting that we lack wisdom. If we ask for wisdom what can we expect from God? It will be the divine power of His Holy Spirit bringing Christ to live and reign in our spirit, soul, and body, in our hearts, our minds, our wills, our impressions, our affections, our emotions, and our expressions. He is the way, the truth, and the life that God has planned for His children. Anything less than following in His footsteps will only produce a deception ~ at best, an imitation.

Dear Father, the wisdom of the world, comes from the world to achieve its own purposes. You teach us the difference when you teach us of Christ. So fill us with your Spirit that your continual presence be the test of what is genuine in this life. Separate what is of you and what is of the world. Thank you for your divine power to destroy the strongholds, imaginations and false teachings of our culture. Enable us to teach our children about you, to bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Sincerely Wrong

On August 29, 2014 By francesrogersIn GOD'S GLORY, GOD'S GRACE, GOD'S WORD, HUMILITY, PRAYERLeave a comment

On this date in 1992 God did a work in my heart that has been growing and changing my perspective of all of life. On that day I knew that I had a new heart and a new spirit. I was a babe in Christ, delivered from the power of darkness into His kingdom (Colossians 1:13). He has fed me and led me, brought me and taught me. He has reformed my thinking and continues to transform me by the renewing of my mind (Romans 12:2). Sounds like a miracle, right? And it is.

To this day I am still amazed at who He is; of the Son that our heavenly Father has given to His children, to which He has drawn me; and the power of the Holy Spirit that is at work in the world today bringing His kingdom into hearts and lives, and His will being done. I did not say, just to me; although at times I, like Elijah, in special times think that I am His only child.

He has so blessed that I have been able to teach my grandchildren things that I did not teach my own children. I did not know these things. I had not grown up in the deep things of God. What I knew of God I had learned in the kiddies’ pool. Never learning to swim I always stayed in the shallow end. But I could speak as loud as all the others of what I knew and stood firmly on it.

As He has taken me by my right hand and is guiding me with His counsel, preparing me for His glory (Psalm 73) I am still learning. As my Shepherd, He is still teaching me of His protection, His direction, and His correction. This role for His people, His sheep, comes with the promise of all three. We usually want the first two, but not the last.

From our prideful nature we never think we can be wrong. We hate to be wrong about anything. And as the followers of Christ we think we have everything down pat; so we tend as sheep to stand on our back legs and argue our points. The most powerful means of our growth as lambs is to be corrected; either by the reading or preaching of His word, or by another Christian.

The rod and staff are His means of keeping us on the right path; even if it means humiliation. This is the example set by our Lord. “He learned obedience by the things He suffered” (Hebrews 5:8).

If we are to grow in grace and the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18) we must be humble and open to what other people are saying; but with a discerning mind and heart. We pray daily that He speak to us through His word, through our circumstances and through others. I have discovered myself to be sincerely wrong at times; and grateful that the Lord did not leave me in my ignorance.

The Center and the Periphery
How do we have an open mind and yet guard our hearts with a sure foundation of faith? The center of all things is the most important. If that is sure then everything that revolves around it will be brought into the right perspective. When we are in Christ, and Christ is in us, His Spirit is our counselor enabling us to see everything from His point of view. He is our peace and wisdom in all things. The things closest to Him and His heart are revealed to us. The things on the periphery may not be so sure, but we are not entangled nor our faith disrupted by these things. We can calmly listen; agree; or disagree when it is done in love and humility.

From Christ, His wisdom and perception we are free to open our minds to those who are in Christ. We can discern where they are coming from. It is those who are humble and who share their faith in Christ that we want to listen to. Even if they are sincerely wrong we can, from our center in Christ, reason through as we pray for His guidance. There is no sense in trying to convince others of any point if Christ is not the center. We can get through only when there is an open door. He must open the door of other hearts.

Staying focused through His word and prayer is the key to love and humility. This is the secret to our training, our growing, and the light that draws others from the periphery to the center of all of life, Jesus Christ.

“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts:
and be ready always to give an answer to every man
that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you
with meekness and fear:”
1 Peter 3:15

“Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you?
let him shew out of a good conversation his works
with meekness of wisdom.”
James 3:13

Dear Father, sanctify our minds, hearts and tongues today. Fill them with Christ, the truth, your will and your way. In Jesus’ name I pray.

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