Multi-generational Discipleship is a wonderful way of handing down Godly wisdom…from generation to generation. When old and young are paired together in cross-generational activities, wisdom and sage advice are shared…enthusiasm and energy are appreciated. The personal knowledge gleaned from a long-lived Christian life teaches far beyond what any class could do.
Tag: theology
I Chronicles 15:29 ” As the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord was entering the City of David, Michal, daughter of Saul, watched from a window. And when she saw King David dancing and celebrating, she despised him in her heart.”
She could have been down in the street with the rest of the people singing and praising God…for the Ark of the Covenant was finally coming back to Jerusalem. But instead, the bitter Michal watched from afar. And when she saw her husband, King David, acting quite unbecoming for royalty , she publicly mocked him. Her contempt continued to fester, blinding her from the true jubilation of the people and their sincere thankfulness to God. King David attempted to explain this gratitude and joy to her in II Samuel 6: 16-23, when he told her, “I will celebrate before the Lord. I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes.” When the masks come off…when the pretentiousness is dropped…when we get real before the Lord and worship with all our might… Heaven moves – hearts are changed- the Lord is pleased.
Isaiah 1:18 ” ‘Come now, let us reason together’, says the Lord, ‘though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.’ “
The Children of Israel had veered far off course…they had rebelled against God and were “off doing their own thing.” Now God was calling them back…repent or face judgment…turn back to Me and be forgiven.
Isaiah 58:7 ” Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter – when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?”
In this entire chapter, Isaiah is contrasting how the Children of Israel fasted, to what true fasting was meant to be. Fasting can become very self-centered…I’m denying myself, I’m going without, I’m abstaining from…I, I, I….you get the picture. But Isaiah wanted them to know that true fasting wasn’t about them and what they were doing at all, but rather, of reaching out to others around them. And interestingly enough, another meaning for fast – firm and secure – is exactly what the message of the Good News is. And what better people to help the poor than Christians who can fill the need both physically and spiritually?
Psalm 73: 27-28 ” Those who are far from You will perish; You destroy all who are unfaithful to You. But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all Your deeds.”
God will not stand for apostasy…spiritual adultery with pagan gods…whatever that god or idol may look like in your world. For anything that comes between you and God…that causes you to wander away from God’s instruction…that makes you think you know more than God…that’s an idol.
Psalm 73: 25-26 ” Whom have I in heaven but You? And earth has nothing I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”
Elsewhere in Psalms it says, “You are my Lord; apart from You I have no good thing.” For to lose all things is to gain Christ. Our well-being …both mentally, physically, and spiritually is in the Lord and Him alone. And even when our bodies grow old and weak, He’s our strength.
Psalm 73: 23-24 ” Yet I am always with You; You hold me by my right hand. You guide me with Your counsel, and afterward You will take me into glory.”
The Lord is always with me…during the good times as well as the bad. Even when I forget about Him…He’s still there. He’s as close as my next breath or my next heart beat. God’s right there to advise and show me His plan and purpose for my life. And when the waves of life come crashing down on me…I grasp onto His strong right hand…and hold on.
Psalm 119: 130 ” The unfolding of Your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.”
After speaking at a Ladies Breakfast yesterday, I reflected on what I had gleaned from the experience. Yes, I learn something every time I speak…for within all the preparation and presentation, the Lord speaks to me also. Insight into God’s word makes the simple wise, and I’m grasping after His truths daily. Insight into His heart is like a rose slowly unfolding its petals…becoming more beautiful and precious every day.
Matthew 5: 38-39 ” You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth. But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.”
Jesus was quoting Leviticus 24:20 where the law stated that as a man had injured someone, so he was to be injured. But then, Jesus turned that law completely upside down by advocating loving your enemy and not repaying evil with evil…of doing good to those who hate you, and turning the cheek.
Psalm 26: 7 ” I go about your alter, O Lord, proclaiming aloud Your praise and telling of all Your wonderful deeds.”
It’s testimony Sunday, and I want to share a miracle that happen this week…especially for those who think miracles don’t happen anymore. My Daughter-In-Law was driving home with two kids, two dogs, and a newly acquired horse…a journey covering three states…when the clutch in the truck started making noise…and then the wet heavy snow began falling, making driving very difficult. After 16 1/2 hours on the road, she safety pulled into their driveway. The next morning, she got into the truck to take it to the Dealership to find the clutch was completely out…the truck wouldn’t move, and had to be towed. How many miles do you think the angels propelled that truck through the blinding snowstorm and held that clutch together so they could get home safely?
Safetypinlove 