May 9, 2013

"She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness." Proverbs 31:27

 

When I think of all the safety devices and equipment available for our infants and children nowadays it amazes me. Cars are much safer than in my day or even in the time my children were small. And in addition to the airbags, shoulder harnesses, and electronic warnings built into cars there are infant seats to add increased protection for our little ones. We do everything we can think of to make our kids safe. That is a good thing every parent understands well.

 

Keeping our children safe has always been a top priority of every culture in every age. I am sure it will be that way as long as people have children.You spend as much as you can afford to assure the safety of your children and so would I. So no wonder the writer of the Proverbs lauds a woman who "builds hedges of thorns" around her children to protect them.

 

What ARE some of those hedges a mother can build to protect their loved ones? I want to share three of those in this post.

 

The Prayer Hedge

 

When you have children your prayer life immediately ratchets up! When those children become teens you get a crash course on intercessory prayer.

 

Forget the lame disclaimer, "All I could do is pray." Prayer is the BEST thing you can do! Through prayer you activate and marshal all the extensive and powerful resources of Heaven! Angels rush to guard them. The Holy Spirit hovers over them. God's blessing and favor comes to rest on them!

 

I remember when my oldest son went off for basic training in the Army. He had been struggling through several difficult years prior to his enlistment, so I had already been praying hard for him. But after he left for Fort Jackson, I began to pray for three specific things; that he would be safe, that he would be successful and that God would surround him with good people.

 

Three months later, when I went to his graduation from basic training, it was obvious he had not only safely survived the training, he had excelled in it. After the ceremony when we met up with me and began to introduce me to his buddies, I remarked to Barbara how impressed I was with each of those young men. Later, as we were driving back to Illinois and discussing the experience it dawned on me that God had answered all three parts of my prayers for him!

 

Pray a hedge around your children!

 

The Personal Relationship Hedge

 

By all means, make sure your children find a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Sing to them about Jesus and show them pictures of Jesus and tell them Bible stories from the moment they are born. Let them never remember a time they weren't aware of Jesus. And as soon as they are old enough to understand the difference between good and evil, point them to a personal relationship with Jesus.

 

I was seven years old when I accepted Jesus and I knew what I was doing. I am very thankful for a watchful mother who made sure I knew about a personal relationship.

 

The Principles Hedge

 

Make sure your children receive a foundation of truth by teaching them the foundational principles of the Word of God. They need to know about all the great Bible characters and their stories. They need to know about the Ten Commandments and the Parables and the Sermon on the Mount, for example.

 

When God brought His people out of Egypt under the leadership of Moses to form them into a great nation, what was one of the first things He did? He gave them the Ten Commandments - the principles He wanted them to build upon.

 

If it was important for God's people, shouldn't it matter to yours?

Of course a mother knows she can't protect her loved ones from everything, but through faith she can put up a strong hedge. And if she can build a hedge of safety, why wouldn't she?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

May 8, 2013

"She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness." Proverbs 31:27

 

The whole nation has been shocked by the unfolding story of the three young ladies held captive in a home in Cleveland. Much is yet to be revealed about how they were kidnapped and the horrible existence they have endured for over a decade.

 

If you didn't want to hold your children tight before, I'm sure you will now!

 

Proverb 31 is one of the Bible's greatest tributes to the extraordinary value of a godly woman. Such a woman is compared to precious jewels.

 

I want to focus on verse 27 which highlights an important and timely role a godly woman is to play. She is to stand watch over the safety and welfare of her family.

 

Usually you think of the man, the husband, the father as the protector of the home and the family. According to the Bible it is his role to provide financially and protect physically for his wife and their children. In a sense, he is to build a wall of security around his family.

 

Keeping with that word picture, the man builds the wall and the woman is to stand watch at the gate. She is to protect her children by standing guard over them spiritually and emotionally. She is to cover them like a mother hen gathers her chicks under her wings.

 

One commentator I studied suggested the word construction here paints a picture of building a hedge of thorns around the heart, mind and soul of her children. The way she stands watch would make it that difficult to do them harm.

 

Over the next three days I will be sharing ten ways a woman can build a hedge of thorns around the heart and soul and mind of her children.

 

But tonight, I want to pay tribute to my mother who did a really good job of building a spiritual hedge around my heart. It protected me well through the formative years of my life.

 

And I would like to honor the mothers in the FredWes congregation who are also doing an exceptional job of building a hedge around our children!

 

Standing watch is hard work! You must be constantly attentive as you prayerfully guard the gate to your children! Building a hedge of protection around the hearts and minds of your children is a fulltime effort! Know the Word so you know what to watch for! You must know the Word so you know what to stand guard against!

 

Such a woman is worthy of praise!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

May 7, 2013

"In bitterness of soul Hannah wept much and prayed to the LORD. And she made a vow, saying, "O LORD Almighty, if you will only look upon your servant's misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the LORD for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head." As she kept on praying to the LORD, Eli observed her mouth. Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard. Eli thought she was drunk and said to her, "How long will you keep on getting drunk? Get rid of your wine." "Not so, my lord," Hannah replied, "I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the LORD. Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief." Eli answered, "Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him." I Samuel 1:10-17
 

The second godly woman we will honor is Hannah, the mother of the prophet Samuel. Her name means "favored by God".
 

Initially that was not the case, however. She was the favored wife of Elkanah despite the fact she was barren. There was no greater shame for a married woman in that culture than being unable to bear children. It was a burden that nearly crushed her and certainly tested her faith.

 

One day during an annual feast she went to the tabernacle and was crying out to God with such earnestness that she was thought to be drunk by Eli, the priest. He began to chastise her for her totally inappropriate behavior. When she explained herself and her woeful situation, Eli blessed her and assured he that her prayer would be answered.

 

Indeed it was! She became pregnant and had a son she named "Samuel" - which meant "heard by God". Samuel went on to serve Eli and later became one of the great priests and prophets of Israel. He would be the one God used to choose David and later anoint him as king.

 

I want to focus on three things that are admirable about Hannah that modern women can emulate:

 

1) She called upon God in her time of trouble. She turned to prayer rather than despair.

 

2) She promised God to consecrate the son to God if God would honor her with a child. If God would deliver her from her shame she would dedicate the child to Him.

 

3) When God answered her prayer and gave her the long-desired child she kept her word. God delivered on His promise and so did she.

 

Modern mothers would benefit from being women of prayer like Hannah. Peter reminds you to "cast your cares upon Him because He cares for you." Turn to prayer and don't despair.

 

Recognize that your child (children) as gift(s) from God. Like Hannah, you are a mother by virtue of a sacred contract with God. He gives life and you are to nurture and shape it.

 

Dedicate your child(ren) to the Lord. Give back to Him what He has trusted to you.

 

Hannah is a model for modern motherhood. Read the story. Learn the lessons. Live it out!

May 6, 2013

"But for Adam no suitable helper was found. So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man's ribs and closed up the place with flesh. Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. The man said, "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called 'woman,' for she was taken out of man." For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh." Genesis 2:20-24

 

This week leading up to Mother's Day I want to focus on the great mothers of the Bible. It's kind of hard to do that without beginning with Eve. None of us would be here without her.

 

God made Eve from Adam and for Adam to be a "helpmate". Life is challenging and even more so when you tackle it alone. I find it a great tribute to women that even though Adam was intricately connected with God, He saw the need to create another "helper" or "soul-mate" for Adam. It almost looks as though God created woman to be a helper for man BUT ALSO as a helper for God!
 

I told my son the other day, "Next to God, a good woman is the best thing that can happen to a man." It has been true in my life. I think God would agree with that.

 

As happy and satisfied as Adam was with God it was God Himself Who recognized Adam needed something else - woman. She was handmade by Him to complete a perfect creation!

 

Eve, the first wife and the first mother was a marvelous gift from God! She was hand-picked and hand-made for Adam by God. She was God's gift to Adam and God's tool to help shape his life, grace his journey and lighten his burden.

 

Of course, we know how it ended. We know that the very same one who completed paradise eventually brought it down by her disobedience. So, she was the first and final perfect woman.

 

Still, women are one of God's great ideas! I am thankful that He created them. Not only have the played a HUGE part in the history of mankind, they have been key contributors in the development of the Christian faith and particulary in the local church.

 

Thank God for women! Thank God for the women in my life - my mother, my wonderful wife, my daughter, my daughter-in-law, my sisters, my grand daughters and the strong women in my church. I honor you. I bless you!

 

This is your week leading up to your day! May you know how much you matter!

May 5, 2013

 Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this:" Psalm 37:3-5

Temptation happens at the point of your desire. That is abundantly clear in the temptation of Adam and Eve as it is in the temptation of Jesus. Adam and Eve were controlled by their desire and sinned against God. Jesus controlled His desire and remained sinless. So, it seems that you are confronted with an option, "either you control your desires or your desires will control you". Therein lies the battle of temptation. Will you be controlled by your emotions or will you exercise your will to control your emotions?

 

There are some who believe you cannot control your desires and that you are a slave to them. No thanks to Adam and Eve, it is difficult to gain control over your desires. Once they exercised their will against God it perverted their desires. That is the nature we inherit from them.

 

So, how do you get control of your desires? How do we keep your desires from controlling you? The Psalmist, who is very open about his struggles to gain control over his desires, shares some insight into how he does it.

 

"Trust in the Lord". The word for "trust" means to "lean on" or to "rely on" or to "put confidence in" God. The word picture portrayed is the idea of putting your total trust into God. It is like when you sit in a chair. You put your total weight into that chair and completely trust it. When you put the key in your car you totally trust it to start. When you lie down on your bed you totally trust it to support you. You must "trust, rely, lean on" God to help you control your desires. By the power of your will you choose to aim your emotions at God.

 

"do good". When you place your trust completely on the Lord He will guide you and strengthen you to "do good". Notice it does not say that you should desire to do good, it simply says to "do good". People who are controlled by their emotions and desires will only "do good" when they feel like it. But people who control their desires do good whether they feel like it or not!

 

Jesus probably didn't feel like dying on the cross. But he "did the good" that His Father desired of Him. Jesus probably felt like turning thos stones into bread - partly because He was very hungry and partly because he wanted to show the devil that He really could after the devil challenged His "godhood". How do you feel when someone challenges your manhood? You want to show them, don't you? Imagine being God and having some inferior being challenge your "godhood".

 

So, here it is. Another day, another battle with temptation. Temptation will be there to meet you at your point of desire and you will either control your desire or be controled by it. You can trust your own strength to take charge over your emotions or you can rely on God and trust Him to help you do good.

 

The first "good" thing you can do today is to put Him in charge of your emotions AND your will!

 

 

 

 

May 4, 2013

 "Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council.  He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.” John 3:1-2

 

Many people, especially in our day, overlook the importance and effectiveness of small things done consistently over time.

 

This year I am challenging my people to each one commit to reaching one person for Christ during this year. I am asking them to accomplish this by doing things they already do within their normal daily schedule. But they will do them intentionally and focused on a particular person who needs to know Jesus.

 

The first simple thing is prayer. Praying is something done every day but prayer will now include intercessions for salvation. Here's how praying for their salvation works:

 

Pray II Peter 3:9 - "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."

 

According to this verse it is God's will for your unsaved friend to be saved and not perish.

 

Pray I John 5:14-15 - "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him."

 

These verses remind you that when you pray according to God's will you know that He hears that prayer and will answer.

 

Praying Scripture is always a powerful way to prayer. When you are interceding for a lost friend you want to pray as powerfully as you can.

 

If you have been praying for the salvation of a friend or family member, incorporate this way of praying and see how God works.

 

This is how our people will be committing to pray during this next year as we launch Each One Reach One!

 

Is there someone you should reach?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

May 3, 2013

"Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.” John 3:1-2

 

Of the many amazing aspects of Jesus' earthly ministry was the fact that ministry came to Him. As He lived with authenticity and as He made Himself available people found Him approachable and ministry opportunities flowed to Him.

 

I believe it is a model we can and should adopt. If we daily demonstrate authentic faith and if we make ourselves available to people in need and if we are approachable, ministry opportunities will come to us on a regular basis.

 

That being true, as I believe it is, we had better know how to handle it when people DO come seeking ministry.

 

Let me suggest the strategy I am about to recommend to my people this Sunday. I believe it is what Jesus did and what the Holy Spirit honors.

 

1) PRAYER

 

John Wesley said, "Nothing happens but by prayer."

 

I believe it and Jesus proved it. Prayer was always the first thing Jesus did. Prayer invites God into your day and into ministry opportunities that flow your way that day Prayer activates the power of the Holy Spirit to flow through you.

 

If Jesus felt the need to begin each with prayer, how much more must we?

 

2) CARE

 

Prayer alone is not enough. Prayer must be expressed in acts of caring and compassion. Though Jesus began by praying, that was not the extent of His ministry. He lovingly brought the power of God to bear against the needs that came to Him. He functioned as God's connecting point with people who came seeking divine help.

 

Care that isn't backed by prayer has a limited impact. Prayer that doesn't lead to caring actions has little effect.

 

3) SHARE

 

The third component of effective ministry is sharing Biblical truth.

 

Sometimes sharing means telling a sinner how to repent and find the grace and forgiveness of God.

 

Sometimes sharing means reading an uplifting and encouraging portion of Scripture to one who is discouraged.

 

Sometimes sharing may involve telling a testimony of God's goodness or provision in your life.

 

This encounter Jesus had with Nicodemus is a great example of this three-fold approach to ministry. Jesus had prayed for God's guidance that day.

 

Nicodemus had seen the powerful effect of prayer in Jesus' life and ministry. And he had watched how Jesus cared for those in need. He saw people healed and delivered from evil spirits.

 

Because of the obvious power of His prayer and the passion of His caring, Nicodemus wanted to see Jesus.

 

There is a Nicodemus in your life that you can reach for Christ. Perhaps you are the only one who can reach him, or at least you are the best one to reach him. Why not learn from Jesus about how He reached Nicodemus?

 

Will you commit to His daily strategy of:

 

Prayer

Care

Share

 

Will you begin today?