May 10, 2018

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

Several years ago I was given the opportunity to have prayer with a man who was getting ready to pull his wife of more than 40 years off life-support. They don't teach you how to do that in school. Only through the Holy Spirit and great empathy can you have a clue how to pray.

In those milliseconds while I was trying to gather my thoughts my mind went to the precious women in my life and how much they mean to me. Trying to imagine how hard it would be to lose one of them is all I needed to inspire the prayer.

Proverbs 31 lauds the virtues of a godly woman. Verse 27 praises her for the way she guards the spiritual and emotional welfare of her family. She builds a hedge around them and I have been highlighting some of those hedges.

There was the prayer hedge and the personal relationship hedge and the principles hedge. In this post I want to share several more hedges a godly mother can build.

The Pattern Hedge

A godly mother not only teaches good principles but she lives them out daily to demonstrate a pattern for living. Teaching is instructing but it is also illustrating.

The Partnership Hedge

A woman of virtue understands the importance of partnering with God in shaping the hearts and minds of her children. She also teams with her spouse in building the hedge of safety around their kids.

The Penalty Hedge

In an era when most are trying to escape responsibility and avoid the consequences of their actions, godly mothers enforce penalties for wrong behavior. People who are loving punish those they love when they do wrong.

The Privileges Hedge

Equally important as punishing bad behavior is the practice of rewarding good behavior by extending privileges. Reinforce what is right by catching them being good.

What hedges are you building around your family?

Hedges A Mother Can Build

"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, 2018

"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 7, 2018

"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 particularly 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-laws, 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 6, 2018

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

I have a whole new level of excitement about this great promise from God penned by His choice Prophet Jeremiah. This higher level of excitement is due to taking the time to study the entire context of this verse.

Back in Homiletics Class they taught me that, "A text without a context is a pretext." That is more true than I realized back then! It is certainly true for Jeremiah 29!

Just to realize this promise was given to people who had been taken into captivity as judgment from God, that alone is exciting as you realize His promises apply to people with less than perfect lives. He remains faithful even when we aren't.

So far our study of this Chapter has revealed:

1) Our lives can get messy when we miss the mark on God's will

2) God wants to help you make the best of the mess in your life

3) Prayer can help you manage your mess

4) You need to make sure you don't make a greater mess by believing bad information

And, today we learn that God wants you to meet Jesus in the middle of your mess!

"Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.” Jeremiah 29:12-14

Here is what I have discovered in my life of ministry, the messes of life either drive people closer to God or further away from Him. Jeremiah makes it clear that God hopes and desires that the hardships of His judgment will nudge you in His direction. Or, as in the case of this Chapter, push them back to God!

Another thing I have discovered is that it is in the midst of a messy life that people finally turn to God! God is fine with that! Jesus is always ready to meet you in the midst of your mess!

Missing God's mark and making your life messy may complicate your life and cause pain, but it cannot separate you from His presence, His promises or His plan!

If you have messed up and missed His mark don't give up in your mess up. 'Fess up and repent and meet up with Jesus in the midst of your mess! When you do you will discover He was there all the time!

May 5, 2018

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

I have been unpacking this Twenty-Ninth Chapter of Jeremiah in order to put the wonderful promise of verse 11 in its proper context.

When Jeremiah shared God's promise with the people of God they were in a bad way. God had allowed the mighty Babylonian Empire to sweep into Jerusalem, conquer the city and take all the powerful people captive. So, they found themselves under the judgment of God because of their disobedience and their idolatry.

The Prophet also told them they were going to be in captivity for quite awhile so they should make the best of it and not expect any immediate relief.

Thirdly, Jeremiah told them to pray for the peace and prosperity of their captors rather than pray for an end to their captivity.

Today we will see still another word of godly counsel from the Prophet to the captives. He cautioned them to be careful who they listened to. There would be false prophets promising things that were not true. Jeremiah warns them not to make a bad situation even worse by listening to lies. There are always those who are ready and anxious to tell you what they think you want to hear and give you false hopes. And there is always a part of you that wants to believe them.

Jeremiah warns them not to listen to the false prophets but to believe His prophecies from God. And the prophecy from God was the captivity would last seventy years. There would be no rescue or deliverance from the Lord until their time of judgment was fulfilled.

Here's the Word of the Lord from Jeremiah concerning their captivity:

"Yes, this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: “Do not let the prophets and diviners among you deceive you. Do not listen to the dreams you encourage them to have. They are prophesying lies to you in my name. I have not sent them,” declares the Lord. This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place." Jeremiah 29:8-10

You need a person in your life who regularly hears from God and who has enough integrity and courage to tell you what you need to hear rather than what you want to hear!

A person like that, if you find one, is a gift from God!

Do you have a person like that?

Are you a person like that?

Are you willing to listen to a person like that?

Are you able to hear the hard things you need to hear rather than always listening for what you want to hear?

Pray Differently

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

When you live a life that is far from what you hoped for or imagined and when your dream life borders on a nightmare, you need to know how to pray.

Over the past several days I have been setting some context around this amazing promise from God delivered by the prophet Jeremiah. I have established that this promise was given during a time when God's chosen people found themselves under judgment for their idolatry and disobedience. God had allowed them to fall under captivity to the powerful Babylonian Empire. 

In our last post Jeremiah told the people this was going to be a long captivity and they had better make the best of it. When you can't do the things you want to do then do the things you need to do! Verse seven adds additional counsel for people who are struggling with life. One of the best things you can always do is pray!

"Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” Jeremiah 29:7

I don't know about you but when I am in a painful situation I tend to pray that God will get me out of it pronto! So this comes as helpful advice. I don't especially like it but I need it! Jeremiah says, "You are in these circumstances for a long time so don't pray for God to bail you out pray for the peace and the prosperity of this city."

Pragmatism is not always a Christian virtue but in this case Jeremiah reasons that what is good for their captors will result in good for them. Human nature would lead us to pray judgment down on our captors but in this case the captors ARE the judgment so pray differently!

If this sounds a lot like Jesus' admonition to pray for your enemies and those who make life miserable for you, that's because this IS the same God at work here! But this gives some background and insight to that command! When you pray for peace and prosperity for your enemies it blesses them but also blesses you! 

Remember, they are trying to make the best of a bad situation! There is no way to do that without prayer and those prayers MUST be the right sort of prayers!

Since this is where many of us live much of the time, listen and learn! This is God's word to you today from His ancient Prophet!