2 Timothy

No More What If’s - {2 Timothy 1:7}

11:00 AM

 



Here we are finally! A new year overflowing with new possibilities! And that’s why we here at WitW, are so excited to be doing these monthly challenges. Each of us need encouragement, teaching, fellowship, and growth. And what better way to grow in our relationship with God and others, than to do it alongside fellow believers. So roll up your sleeves, get ready for change, and don’t forget to head over to https://www.facebook.com/groups/womenintheword2 to join in on the discussion! 


No More What if's! (2 Timothy 1:7)


God’s gift of emotions can be a double edged sword. For with one side we experience love, joy, and gratitude. Yet with the other, pain, fear, and doubt. And make no mistake. Satan wields the bitter side of that blade ferociously and without mercy. But get this. He can only attack if we let him. You heard me. The Enemy can only strike when we allow him a foothold into our hearts and minds. 


Paul makes it very clear in his letter to Timothy, that God fills our spirits with His strength, power and love. The very same power flowing through Jesus as He healed the sick, fed the hungry, and walked on water, resides in us! And that power of God waits with an extended hand for us to grab hold. Because overcoming fear is a two person operation. God gives us the power, but we have to use our sound minds to practice self control. Meaning we are to actively, and intentionally take ahold of our thoughts. And filter those thoughts through the sieve of God’s truth instead of Satan’s lies. 


We are in a battle of a lifetime, for my sisters I truly believe we are living in the last days. So how am I going to spend the time remaining? One thing I know for sure, is that I’m done wasting it being afraid. I’m tired of running scared. I’m tired of letting Satan control my thoughts. And I’m tired of going down the rabbit hole of “what ifs.” I’m ready to go to war, with God as my Captain. And in honor of this challenge, I’ve printed off the quote, “If you think anybody is going to scare me, you don’t know me or my God!” I’ve put it on my refrigerator as a daily reminder to dress in the armor of God, (Ephesians 6:10-18) laying down fear and picking up the Lord's peace.


So the next time I find myself afraid, stuck, and unable to move, I’m  going yell out the word FEAR as a call to my Father, Emmanuel, Adonai, and Redeemer. Ruler and Creator of all things, “the LORD your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory” (Deuteronomy 20:4)



And so I hope you will join me today as I step out in faith. Challenge yourself to take a step in courage with God leading the way. Maybe it’s trying something new. Or sharing your faith with a stranger. Whatever that step is, small or large, every one taken in overcoming fear is a great victory and testament of faith!


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I would like to encourage you to keep a journal as you go through these challenges. Each day write down the verse included with the post, along with your feelings, struggles, and victories. Look for “God winks”, the act of looking for God in your day and noticing or recognizing His work. And at the end, you can go back and see if you're not amazed at the work God has done in your life! 





Abiding In Christ

To Abide Is To Surrender {John 15}

3:55 PM





Monday, John 15

As disciples of Christ, don’t we all want to glorify God with our words and actions? To do as the Lord commands and bare fruit? And not just a little fruit, but much fruit? Jesus tells us that without Him this is impossible saying, “for apart from Me you can do nothing.” (vs. 5) For Jesus is the vine and we His followers the branches. And unless we abide in Him, our branch will be fruitless. 

“Bearing fruit in the Christian life is not about doing works or attempting righteousness in our own strength. Rather, it is about intentionally growing in our walk with Christ, inviting the Holy Spirit's work of transformation in us, and actively obeying God in all He calls us to do. As we seek Him and lay down our own fleshly desires for His better ways, we will bear lasting fruit and serve as salt and light to a world in need of Jesus.”...CompellingTruth.org

“Abide in Me and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me.” (vs. 4) Just as the vine provides the life source for the branches, Christ is the life source for each of us. To abide in Him means living in Jesus and Jesus living in and through us. Any hope we have of producing fruitful lives that glorify God can come only through abiding in the Lord. And abiding happens through surrendering.

Surrender Control-“I know, O LORD, that a man's way is not in himself, nor is it in a man who walks to direct his steps.” (Jer. 10:23) Abiding in God means coming before the Lord with a humble heart, dependent upon Him for all things at all times. It is acknowledging that as Ruler and Creator of everything, God knows best, and it is for Him alone to establish our path.

Surrender Time-“He shall write for himself a copy of this law, it shall be with him and he shall read it all the days of his life.” (Deut. 17:17,18) Abiding in God means setting aside time each day to read His Word. Intentionally studying the Bible opens our hearts to the Lord, and keeps us firmly planted in His truth;  giving us the discernment needed to fight off attacks from the Enemy.

Surrender Disobedience-“The one who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. We know by this that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.” (1 John 3:24) Abiding in God means obeying all He commands. Obedience not only  brings us closer to Him, it's proof of our devotion and faithfulness. It deepens and strengthens our relationship with the Lord through love, trust, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. 

Surrender Striving-“Be still and know I am God.” (Ps. 46:10) Abiding in God means to stop fighting. When trouble comes and the storm rages, the best action we can take is to stand still. By remembering who God is and trusting Him to do what He says He will, His calming presence and peace will  fill and ease our distressed hearts.

Some people think that surrender is a form of weakness, but nothing could be further from the truth. Stepping out in faith and laying everything at the feet of Jesus takes great personal strength. But when we do, we’ll find the more we give up of ourselves, the fuller we become of God. So abide in the love of Jesus. Surrender all to the One who gave all for you. Let His love and peace reign in your heart and fill it to overflowing with joy!




Deuteronomy

Where Are You God? {Deuteronomy 4:24-31}

3:30 PM




Monday Oct. 14, Deuteronomy 4:24-31

After 40 years of wandering, the Israelites were finally about to enter into the promised land. Moses, unable to cross because of his sin against the Lord (Num. 20:12), sent the people off with a series of goodbye messages; urging Israel to be loyal and obedient to God. He gave them a preview of the future when because of their idolatry, God would punish them by allowing the Babylonians to banish and scatter Israel throughout the land. “You will be left few in number among the nations where the Lord drives you. There you will serve gods, the work of man’s hands, wood and stone, which neither see nor hear nor eat nor smell.” (vs. 27-28) Moses went on to say that even so, not all would be lost. For while in exile the people would remember God once more and call upon Him. And they would find Him if they followed his instructions and, “search for Him will all your heart and all your soul.” (vs. 29)

For seventy long years Israel was in exile. And even though their punishment was a result of their own actions, I’m sure they felt forsaken and abandoned. They must have cried out, “Where are You God?” Have you ever felt like that; forgotten and ignored by the One you need the most? I know I have. But when I finally understood what it means to truly seek Him, I found that God wasn’t forgetting me, I was forgetting God. 

It used to be that I only searched for God when it was convenient for me; and funnily enough it was usually when I needed something. When times were good, my interests settled on things other than my relationship with the Lord. But to seek God literally means to seek His face, or His presence. And to truly seek Him means having a passion and a hunger burning so deep in your heart and soul that you want to feel His presence not only during times of trouble, but in every minute of every day of your life. A passion that leads to being committed to not merely seeking Him, but in finding Him! And how do we find God? By remembering God.

In all of his instructions to Israel, the one Moses wanted the people to heed the most was this, “Remember the Lord your God”. Remembering God keeps us from straying off His perfect path, keeps us walking in obedience to His will, keeps us open to hearing His voice and feeling His presence, and keeps us safe from attacks from the Enemy who would like nothing better than for us to forget. Seeking God means remembering to make His thoughts our thoughts. “Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things.” (Phil. 4:8) Seeking God means remembering to spend time in His Word. “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Tim. 3:16-17) Seeking God means remembering to give Him thanks for all things both good and bad. “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” (Rom. 8:28) And seeking God means remembering the sacrifice Jesus made to save us. “For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

“The Lord is with you when you are with Him. And if you seek Him you will find Him; He will let you find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you.” (2 Chron. 15:2). God never abandoned Israel, nor He will ever abandon us. “For the Lord your God is a compassionate God; He will not fail you, nor destroy you.” (vs. 31). God has always and will always be there. Patiently and lovingly He waits for us to remember and return to Him once more. So today and everyday remember God, call upon Him and, “Set your heart and your soul to seek the Lord your God”! (1 Chron. 22:19)



Deuteronomy

Priorities, What Are Yours? {Hebrews 11}

12:30 AM



Monday May 20

Hebrews 11

We all have priorities. Those things that are most important to us, our primary concerns. For some it may be family, career, or money. But as for Moses, his priority was to please God. The adopted son of an Egyptian princess, he had it all; fame, fortune, and power. But Moses refused to indulge in the trappings of his status instead, “choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God then to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward.” (vs. 25-26)

I look at all Moses willingly and obediently let go of to follow God, and I can’t help but look at myself. On my list of priorities, where is God? Is He first? Is He at least in the top ten? If I’m honest, there are days when He doesn’t even make the cut. In Deuteronomy 6:5 Moses gives us the command, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” I want to love God that way. And that means making it a priority to not just fit Him in, but making Him first and foremost in my life. How do I do that? By being purposeful and intentional in nurturing my relationship with the Lord.


If I’m not intentional, as soon as my eyes pop open my thoughts run away to all I have to do. I get stressed about not being able to fit 36 hours of work into 24, and so I hop out of bed anxious to get the day started. By the time evening rolls around I’m tired, ready to sleep, and have let the day slip away without a second thought to God. But when I purposefully start and end each day in prayer, set time aside, (even if only for a few minutes), to be alone with Him, and spend time reading and meditating on God’s Word, my relationship with the Lord is nurtured, and my feet, thoughts, and heart stay focused and planted on the path He has laid before me.

Ezra Taft Benson said, “When we put God first, all other things fall into their proper place or drop out of our lives. Our love of the Lord will govern the claims for our affection, the demands on our time, the interests we pursue, and the order of our priorities.”  Moses had it right. He made his obedience to God his first priority. He knew no earthly riches, nor anything this world offers could compare to the reward waiting for those who put their faith in the Lord. "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Luke 12:34) God has blessed, and continues to bless me in many ways. And although I count among my treasures my family and friends, my greatest treasure of all is my relationship with the Lord. Never has He failed to make me a priority, and in thankfulness I will make it my priority to love and please Him. Will you? 


Deuteronomy

The Faithful God {Deuteronomy 7}

12:44 AM





Monday March. 11,     Deuteronomy 7

Recently while driving to an appointment, I took a wrong turn and ended up in an unfamiliar part of the city. Caught in traffic, and headed the wrong way, as soon as I was able I pulled over to get my bearings and call my husband to share my predicament. After hearing my plight he asked, “Why didn’t you just follow the route the GPS gave you?” I meekly replied, “Because I thought my way was better.” As it turned out, that “better way” left me lost, stressed out, late for my appointment, and turned a thirty minute trip into one that took twice as long. That’s how it was with the Israelites. They had the ultimate, perfect GPS....God. Yet because they rebelled against His directions, an eleven day trip through the desert turned into a forty year journey through the wilderness. Now here in Deuteronomy, with God’s people finally entering the promised land, Moses stresses to Israel that they reached their destination not because of themselves, for they were faithless, but because of God, who remains faithful...always! 

“Know therefore that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God, who keeps His covenant and His lovingkindness to a thousandth generation with those who love Him and keep His commandments.” (vs. 7:9) Why does Moses call God “the faithful God”? To be faithful is to to be steadfast, enduring, dependable, loyal, and trustworthy. Attributes God demonstrates perfectly. Despite their rebellion and unbelief, God stayed faithful to Israel. Remembering His promises to their forefathers, the Lord kept His covenant with His people, and remained steadfast in His love for them. Such is the wonderful nature of God. What He says, He does. “God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?” (Num. 23:19). Never do we need doubt God, for His Word is true. And in a world where hurt and disappointment is plentiful, how comforting it is knowing that for a thousand generations, the Lord remains faithful to those who love and obey Him.

Everywhere I look I see the faithfulness of God. I see it in the needs He so generously meets. In the family and friends He blesses my life with. In the mercy and grace He patiently shows each day, and most of all in His never ending love. Such abundant devotion that He gives not because I love Him, but because He loves me. Moses reminded the Israelites that they were a precious people, handpicked by God to be His own. Chosen not for their greatness, but because of the Lord’s faithfulness and love. (vs. 7:6-8) And as a child of God and an heiress to His promises, I too can receive that same unmerited faithfulness. A faithfulness that turns my brokenness into healing, my condemnation into redemption, my bitterness into love, my bondage into freedom, my sin into righteousness, and my death into eternal life. 

When troubles seem that all is lost
And no way can I see
I look to Jesus on the Cross
And know He died for me

In a world of disappointments
His love will never end
Great is Thy faithfulness
On Jesus I can depend
     ....Cena Gilman


                  

brave

Overcoming Fear- A Visitor Not A Resident {Deuteronomy 31-1:13}

11:04 PM





Monday's Reading- Deuteronomy 31:1-13

“The presence of fear does not mean you have no faith. Fear visits everyone. But make your fear a visitor and not a resident.”...Max Lucado 

I love the writings of J.R.R. Tolkien. One of my favorite quotes comes from his book “The Lord of the Rings” in which the hobbit Bilbo Baggins tells his young cousin, “It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to.” That’s how it is living in a fallen world. Scary things can be found all around us. And if we aren’t careful, we can find ourselves getting swept away into living lives focused on all there is to be afraid of, overwhelmed by things out of our control, and unable to enjoy God’s very best.  But by putting our faith and trust in the Lord and keeping our feet firmly planted on the path He provides, when fear comes to call we can make sure it stays a visitor and doesn’t become a resident.

Throughout the Bible we read of people who despite feeling afraid accomplished great things for God. Joshua is one such person. After following Moses for forty years and witnessing the awesome miracles he performed, it became Joshua’s turn to lead. Imagine the fear and panic that ran through his head knowing that now it was him in charge of over two million people. And not just any people, God’s people. Moses, who I’m sure could relate to what Joshua was feeling, gave him some sage advice. “Be strong and courageous.” “The Lord is the one who goes ahead of you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” (Deut. 31:6,8) By applying these words to our own lives, we can break the grip of fear and its hold over our minds and hearts.

Be Strong-“I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” (Phil. 4:13) Instead of standing alone when we stand in the spiritual strength that can only be found in the Lord, we experience the power we need to face down even the deepest and darkest fear. 

Be Courageous- “Be on the alert. Stand firm in the faith. Be men of courage. Be strong.” (1 Cor. 16:13) Although God promises to provide the strength to face our fears, we must muster up the courage. In a poem titled “Equipment”, Edgar Guest writes, “Courage must come from the soul within, the man must furnish the will to win.”

The Lord Goes Ahead-“You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head.” (Ps. 139:5) No matter what we face great or small, God is there. We have nothing to fear knowing He's always one step ahead lighting and leading us down the path that He Himself has carefully and lovingly laid out for us. 

God Is Faithful-“But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.” (2 Thes. 3:3) When others can’t understand what it is we’re feeling or the fears running through our minds they may judge us, turn away or let us down. Not God. He will never forsake, fail, or forget us. His love never changes and we can always depend on Him. 

Do Not Fear-“When I am afraid, I put my trust in you." (Ps. 56:3) Notice David doesn’t say, “if I am afraid”, he says, “when I am afraid.” Fear is an emotion that none of us can escape. God knows our thoughts and feelings, and tells us to bring them all to Him and trust that He is bigger than any fear you may face.

Fear is a part of life and not all fear is bad. There is the healthy fear that helps keep us from harm, and the fear of the Lord which is the “beginning of knowledge” (Prov. 1:7) But far too often the fear that fills us is the kind that keeps us stuck and under the thumb of the Enemy. If you are struggling, give it all to God. Open your heart to His love and your ears to His words as He says to you His precious child, “Fear not, for I am with you.” (Is. 41:10)



Death

The Final Deeds of Moses {Deuteronomy 31:1-34:12}

12:00 AM


The life of Moses can be broken down into three forty year periods. The first forty he spent as a prince of Egypt. The next forty he spent as a fugitive, living as a shepherd in the desert. And in his final forty years he served God, leading the Lord’s chosen people from bondage and into the promised land.

Knowing that his death was soon approaching, Moses spoke to the people of Israel saying, “I am a hundred and twenty years old today; I am no longer able to come and go, and the Lord has said to me, ‘You shall not cross this Jordan’.” (v. 31:2) Even though, “his eye was not dim, nor his vigor abated”,(v. 34:7), Moses was no longer physically able to lead the people in battle. And because of his sin against the Lord in striking the rock (Num. 20:12), God punished Moses by not allowing him to cross the river. So as he prepares to leave them, he gives his final counsel to the Jewish people and puts the role of leadership in the hands of Joshua, the son of Nun from the tribe of Ephraim. 

Moses begins by telling the Israelites to be strong and courageous. “The Lord is the One who goes ahead of you; He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” (v. 31:8) The nations who possessed the promised land were powerful, but none more powerful than God. When we love and follow the Lord in obedience, we never need worry about the battles we face. No matter the challenge, God has already gone ahead of us and secured our victory. Fear is a powerful tool of the enemy. He uses it to keep us weak and stuck. Many times he used it successfully against the people of Israel. And so Moses charged them to not be afraid. A message he also gave to Joshua; who heard the same message repeatedly spoken by God Himself. A message so important Moses wrote it down, gave it to the Levitical priests who kept it the ark of the covenant, and commanded it be read to all of the people every seven years at the feast of booths.

After commissioning Joshua in sight of all the people as the next leader of Israel by saying, “Be strong and courageous, for you shall go with this people into the land which the Lord  has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall give it to them as their inheritance.” (v. 31:7), God commands Moses to compose a song. Sadly, the Lord knew that after the death of Moses, the people of Israel would again fall back into their wicked ways and forsake their covenant with Him. This sermon in song form wasn’t a hymn of encouragement, but rather written as a testimony against Israel for their rebellion against God. During our times of trouble, the first place we should turn to for lifting us out of sorrow is God’s Word. But when we reject and rebel against God that same Word can be used to lay a conviction upon our hearts. One of my favorite verses from the song of Moses is verse 32:11. “Like an eagle that stirs up its nest, that hovers over its young, He spread His wings and caught them, He carried them on His pinions.” “God brought Israel through many dangers to teach the people how to soar as His special treasure.” (Dr. Charles Stanley) What a beautiful picture of our Father who keeps us under His protective care. He is always there flying beside us ready to take us up and bear us on His wings when we grow too weary to fly.


Finally, like Jacob did before his death, Moses blesses each of the tribes of Israel. After, he climbs to the top of Mount Nebo. There God allows him to see the land promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. I can only imagine the feelings that must have flooded the heart of Moses. There he stood finally seeing the land flowing with milk and honey. A land that took forty long years to reach, yet at the same time not being able to step foot in it. All because of his own sin and disobedience to God. So close yet so very far away. And there in the land of Moab, Moses died and was buried by the Lord. “Since that time, no prophet has risen Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face, for all the signs and wonders which the Lord sent him to perform.” (vs. 34:10-11) As great as Moses was, He was still only a man. A man who followed the Lord through thick and thin. A man who because he trusted and obeyed, God did wonderful and miraculous things through. We should all strive to be like Moses. We should follow God with all of our hearts so that He can do amazing things through us as well!

Deuteronomy

SoulSearching Sunday~Worship, Devotion, and Friendship

12:00 AM

Sunday, February 18, 2018

SoulSearching Sunday!


Week Seven

Welcome!  We pray that you have all had a precious time worshipping the Lord this morning!  Below you will find some thought provoking questions that will provide you a starting point to your journal writing to complete this week.  We hope that you will find this time soul satisfying!

Our reading this week was Deuteronomy 1:1 - 30:20.

1. God assured His people that He was near and personal. In what ways has God proven to be your closest friend? How does that make you feel? How would people know that you are His friend? (Deuteronomy 4:7)

2. Recall an especially moving time of sincere worship. What was the root of that encounter? Ask God to increase your passion for Him, that you would love Him with all your heart, soul, and strength. (Deuteronomy 6:4,5)

3. What example of worship and devotion (or sin and indifference) do you display for those who are watching? Pray for the strength when your will is weak to come into His presence as a testimony to the next generation of His wondrous grace. (Deuteronomy 12:5,12)

4. Which of God's "commands" and "ways" do you need to be reminded to follow? To what degree do you feel His blessing upon your life? Ask God to bless you for His glory and to give you the desire to follow Him.  (Deuteronomy 28:6,9)



Angie Benjamin

When your heart loses hope- Lionlike faith {Deut. 16:1-20:20}

2:03 AM



"I can't do this. This is just too hard."... Don't we have moments in our lives where we feel like giving up?

Perhaps we're struggling to keep our heads above the water in our finances, we're still struggling with a troubled relationship, or even to find another job. Whether at school, at work, or even at home, we can feel outnumbered and helpless...

But I believe if we're going to be faithful believers in the Kingdom of God, we cannot quit when things get tough. We often want God to be with us through "thick and thin", but I believe like in any relationship, things come "both ways".

 Deut 20:1-4

  When you go to war against your enemies and see horses and chariots and an army greater than yours, do not be afraid of them, because the Lord your God, who brought you up out of Egypt, will be with you. 2 When you are about to go into battle, the priest shall come forward and address the army. 3 He shall say: “Hear, Israel: Today you are going into battle against your enemies. Do not be fainthearted or afraid; do not panic or be terrified by them. 4 For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.”

 When we feel fainthearted, we need to dig our heels in and exclaim in lionlike faith, "I won't let my heart lose hope! God will help me! I am not going to give up or quit, no matter how hard it gets or how long it takes!" for victory is ours through Christ.

"Our fears today, our worries tomorrow, and even the powers of hell can't keep God's love away" (Romans 8:31, Romans 8:37-38)- iWorship Bible


We are called to be lionhearted Lambs

A beautiful thing about God's word is that we get to discover who God is. We get to see the three parts of His personality (God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit) .

As we read Deut. 20:1-4, we're encouraged to  to be as bold as a lion, just like God...the Lion of Judah!, on the other hand we see Jesus who is humble, gentle, meek, and lowly- not harsh, hard, sharp or pressing.

We are called to resist Satan and all his evil works as aggressively and boldly as a lion, but when we have to deal with people, we should try to be very gentle unless the situation calls us to apply a little tough love.

The Holy Spirit is also very gentle and sensitive. When we are harsh on people we can definitely offend the Holy Spirit.

No matter what temperament, we all face times when we are called to be a lion and times we're called to be a lamb. Ask God for the wisdom and direction in every situation on how to react.

What battles are you fighting today? God is fighting for you, you only have to be STILL! (Exodus 14:14) Praise Him for the victory is Yours!, because it will certainly come!

Have a blessed weekend,

Angie

Deuteronomy

What Does The Lord Ask of You? {Deuteronomy 7-10}

9:00 PM


 

God’s people are getting set to cross over into the promised land, and The Lord feels the need to remind them of a few things from their past and what is required of them moving forward:

“And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you but [reverently] to fear the Lord your God, [that is] to walk in all His ways, and to love Him, and to serve the Lord your God with all your [mind and] heart and with your entire being, To keep the commandments of the Lord and His statutes which I command you today for your good?” - Deuteronomy 10:12–13 (AMP)
Through Moses, God gives them 5 commands/requirements that God expected of them as His people and still expects of us as well. They were:
 ___To [reverently] fear the Lord your God. Reverence is a healthy fear and sometimes it can be the only thing that motivates people to fulfill their obligations. A reverential fear is one that honors the Lord by submitting to and having the highest respect for Him.
___To walk in all God’s ways, To walk with someone is to be close to them; which begs the question, how close are you with the Lord? Are you seeking each day to walk blameless, giving Him your whole heart each day and seeking to know Him more deeply and intimately as you journey together?  To walk in all God’s ways simply means we’re to conduct our lives according to His ways not ours. (Pr. 3:5-8)
___To love God. Jesus stated in Matthew 22:37-38, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment.” And also explained that love is an action in John 14:15, “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” Our love for Him enables us to trust Him. Therefore we need to ask ourselves, do we truly love Him? Do our actions convey this? For we can be sure: If Jesus is not the object of our affections, something or someone else is! We need to remember, “We love him, because he first loved us.” (1 John 4:19)\
___To serve the Lord your God with all your [mind and] heart and with your entire being. The Lord is to be the central focal point of our lives, which would be the natural outcome of loving Him. Because we love Jesus we are anxious to serve Him.  It would be wrong for our love to do nothing. True love always longs to show itself in action, by doing the work He has assigned to us in particular. Are you actively involved in serving Him and others just now?
___To keep the commandments of the Lord and His statutes which I command you today. This in essence means, to obey Him and all He has required of us. There is a saying that goes, “Partial obedience = disobedience” Are you obeying Him wholeheartedly and right away?
And then the Lord gave them a simple but profound reason why He is giving them these requirements: “for your good.”

It may seem strange to some that God’s commandments are actually for our own good. We often view any limits to our “freedoms” as something that would hinder our chances of enjoying life to the fullest, but in fact the opposite is true. We see that rather than limiting us and making life “less free,” it turns out that following the LORD brings blessings, and often in abundance! (John 10:10), “The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).

These same requirements given to Israel before they entered the promised land are still required of us? How are you measuring up?

On this day, which happens to be Valentine's Day and Ash Wednesday, why not take some time and sit quietly before Him and allow Him to reveal any areas the two of you may need to work on together? How can you love and cherish Him more? How can the two of you together love others?

I hope you'll join me today on WitW Facebook page where I'll be sharing more on The Lord loving others through us! AVD the difference between loving and cherishing! Did you know there was a huge difference?! I'm just discovering this for myself! Come join me!


children

Extraordinary Mission {Deuteronomy 4:32 - 6:25}

12:30 AM


We live ordinary lives, but we are on an extraordinary mission.  As a parent, we have a lot on our shoulders and children should never be thought of as a nice addition to our lives.  They are a blessing from God and they are only in our lives for a moment.

To my children:  I want to apologize for not teaching you to value God.  Please forgive me.  I cannot change your life, but I plead with you to fear God and put Him first in your life.

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I have not been a perfect, God-fearing parent.  I haven’t always placed God first in my life.  I have struggled with who I am and whose I am and didn’t find the truth for a long time.  I have struggled with guilt and shame for the majority of my life for not following the “right” way, but praise the Lord, His grace and mercy are great and He leads me on the path of righteousness.

Deuteronomy 6 is the best parenting handbook we can find and you can now toss out all the other parenting books you received when your children were born and settle down here and take notes.

We are to teach our children the truth about God.  “Hear O Israel.  The LORD is our God, the Lord alone.” (6:4). There is only one God and He has revealed Himself to us.  We cannot make Him up to be whatever we want Him to be.  It seems every generation wants to redefine God in a way they think is appropriate for them.  There’s always something about Him they want to change.  And so I ask you, does that offend you?  Do His commandments seem to narrow for you?

We are to teach our children to love God.  “And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength.”  (6:5).  We are to teach our children to delight in nothing more than God.  Not money, fame , us – nothing.

We are to teach our children to trust God.  “Then you must tell them, ‘We were Pharaoh’s slaves in Egypt, but the LORD brought us out of Egypt with amazing power.  Before our eyes the LORD did miraculous signs and wonders, dealing terrifying blows against Egypt and Pharaoh and all his people.  He brought us out of Egypt so He could give us this land He had solemnly promised to give our ancestors.”  (6:21-23).  We need to teach our children that God is trustworthy and that He keeps His promises.

We are to teach our children to fear God.  “And the LORD our God commanded us to obey all these laws and to fear Him for our own prosperity and well-being, as is now the case.”  (6:24).  This is not a fear like a scary monster, but it’s how we recognize how essential God is for our own good (…for our own prosperity and well-being…).  We need to teach our children to recognize the value of God in our lives and to take precaution to not do anything to break or damage it.

We are to teach our children the gospel.  “In the future your children will ask you, ‘What is the meaning of these stipulations, laws, and regulations that the LORD our God has given us?” (6:20-21)  We are to teach our children that we obey God because He has given Himself to us.  This is how we learn to love and trust and value Him.  When we see His part in our lives is for our good, we learn to fear Him in the right way.  Our children’s relationship with God is our primary responsibility.  Their relationship with us is secondary.

How do we teach these things?  One way is through deliberate saturation.  “Repeat them again and again to your children.  Talk about them when you are at home and when you are away on a journey, when you are lying down and when you are getting up again.  Tie them to your hands as a reminder, and wear them on your forehead.  Write them on the door posts of your house and on your gate.”  (6:7-9)  I want to share some points I discovered while I researched this; the average child spends 25 minutes per week with their dad; 25 hours in front of the TV; and 50 hours at school, and many times that is in a public school where the educators may or may not fear God.  In other words, take responsibility for what your kids are learning.  We need to mark our homes as God’s territory.  You can do that by listening to Christian music and messages while your children are home with you or when you are riding in the car.  Pay attention to the TV and movies, and video games they are playing.  Use opportunities wisely.  Did you know that less than 10% of the population reads the bible with their kids or participate in bible study? 

Another way is to prioritize God’s community.  I know many parents want their kids to be involved in extracurricular activities because they believe it will help them get into college.  But don’t you care more about where your kid will spend eternity than where they go to college?  Remember, they will look like their community.  So you, as their parent, must arrange their priorities and make God the center of their lives.

The second way we can teach our children is through first-hand testimony.  ““In the future your children will ask you, ‘What is the meaning of these stipulations, laws, and regulations that the LORD our God has given us? Then you must tell them, ‘We were Pharaoh’s slaves in Egypt, but the LORD brought us out of Egypt with amazing power.  Before our eyes the LORD did miraculous signs and wonders, dealing terrifying blows against Egypt and Pharaoh and all his people.  He brought us out of Egypt so He could give us this land He had solemnly promised to give our ancestors.”  (6:20-23).  When your children ask you, you need to tell them of your experiences – there is no substitute for first-hand testimony.  What matters to you, will matter to your children.  What you love – they will learn to love.  If you delight in God, then they will.  If you make God your most valuable possession, they will learn that. 

Your children will see how excited you get when you get a new car, than what we do about ministry.  They will see how excited you get for a vacation than for people coming to Christ.  They will see how easily you skip church and God’s community.  They see how little we do in ministry.  They see what we love.  If we don’t delight in God, they won’t delight in Him either. 

Do you kids know that you delight in God?  That you see Him as more desirable than any other thing?  Do they see you seek Him on a day-by-day basis?  Do they hear you talk about Him?  Do you demonstrate a first-hand fear of God?  A respect and awe of God that’s shown in how you obey?  Do you present yourself consistently as under His authority?  Do you confess your sins to your children?  Showing them that you are not God.  And that you are just like them – we are both under the authority of God.  Can you tell stories about how you trust God?  The ways that He has provided for you?  Your kids can see that.  They will become what you are.

I began this post with an apology to my children because I was not the example I wish I could have been.  I knew I wanted my children to grow up in a Christian environment and I chose to send them to a Christian school.  My public school upbringing simply left me with too many questions and led me into a lot of trouble.  Their education challenged me over and over because I was not equipped with biblical answers.  I felt like I learned right alongside of them.  And it was tough.  The pull of the world was always tugging at me, yet I wanted to see God through child-like eyes.  Over and over I prayed and the scales slowly fell from my eyes. 

Our children are fighting for their lives and despite our lack of godly knowledge, we can begin today to teach and encourage them to be godly children and swim upstream and go against the flow of society and follow Jesus.

We have to remember that we are all on this journey, and we are at different phases/places of this journey.  Please don’t get discouraged with why your child(ren) aren’t understanding God’s ways.  He’s working in them just as He’s working in you.  Be the Christ-like example of love and mercy, and He will give you grace.