Tag: faith

Falling, Feeling, Short on Strength and Sufficiency; “The LORD is my strength, He is my defense; he has become my salvation.” Exodus 15

Exodus 15:1-18 Lexham English Bible

Song of Victory at the Sea

15 Then Moses and the Israelites[a] sang this song to Yahweh, and they said,[b]

“Let me sing to Yahweh because he is highly exalted;
    the horse and its rider he hurled into the sea.
2 Yah[c] is my strength and song, and he has become my salvation;[d]
    this is my God, and I will praise him—the God of my father—and I will exalt him.
3 Yahweh is a man of war; Yahweh is his name.
4 The chariots of Pharaoh and his army he cast into the sea,
    and his choice adjutants were sunk in the Red Sea.[e]
5 The deep waters covered them;
    they went down into the depths like a stone.
6 Yahweh, your right hand is glorious in power;
    Yahweh, your right hand destroyed the enemy.
7 And in the greatness of your majesty you overthrew those standing up to you;
    you released your fierce anger, and it consumed them like stubble.
8 And by the breath of your nostrils waters were piled up;
    waves stood like a heap;
    deep waters in the middle of the sea congealed.
9 The enemy said, ‘I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide plunder,
    my desire will be full of them, I will draw my sword, my hand will destroy them.’
10 You blew with your breath; the sea covered them;
    they dropped like lead in the mighty waters.
11 Who is like you among the gods, Yahweh?
    Who is like you—glorious in holiness, awesome in praiseworthy actions, doing wonders?[f]
12 You stretched out your right hand;
    the earth swallowed them.
13 In your loyal love you led the people whom you redeemed;
    in your strength you guided them to the abode of your holiness.[g]
14 Peoples heard; they trembled;
    anguish seized the inhabitants of Philistia.
15 Then the chiefs of Edom were horrified; great distress seized the leaders of Moab;
    all of the inhabitants of Canaan melted away.
16 Terror and dread fell on them;
    at the greatness of your arm they became silent like the stone,
    until your people passed by, Yahweh,
    until the people whom you bought passed by.
17 You brought them and planted them on the mountain of your inheritance,
    a place you made for yourself to inhabit, Yahweh,
    a sanctuary, Lord, that your hands established.
18 Yahweh will reign as king forever and ever.”

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

Exodus 15 records for us a glorious song in which the Israelites praise God for their deliverance from Pharaoh’s army. This is a song about God’s ­miraculous deeds! A dozen times in the first 12 ­verses alone God’s authority is mentioned!

God, the Creator and Redeemer of this world, will always accomplish his goal to redeem his people and restore the world he has made for his glory. The song closes with these words: “The Lord reigns for ever and ever.”

Just as all the Israelites were slaves in Egypt, the Bible teaches us that we are all slaves to sin. “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

Yet today we have uncountable reason to sing! Savior Jesus Christ has delivered us from sin by his death on the cross and his resurrection from the dead.

We too should praise God for his deliverance.

We too would praise God for his deliverance if we were not so weary of all the hustle and bustle of just trying to barely survive our days without going crazy.

In times of uncertainty and struggle, it is often our faith that anchors us.

The ancient timeless words from Exodus 15:2, “The Lord is my strength and my song, And He has become my salvation; This is my God, and I will praise Him; My father’s God, and I will exalt Him,” resonate loudly and profoundly with those who find Shalom, solace healing and restorative power in their spiritual beliefs.

This verse is not merely a proclamation of faith but also a personal testament to God’s transformative presence in our lives.

The Lord as Our Strength

Life’s challenges can sometimes feel insurmountable.

During these moments, the idea of the Lord being our strength offers a truly powerful reminder of the spiritual resilience available to us.

For many believers, recognizing God as the only sure 100% reliable source of strength provides the courage needed to persevere, face hardships and the pray for the wisdom of God, patiently set sail in turbulence, navigate through them.

This humble acknowledgment of God’s support is not just about the absence of weakness but about the acknowledging the authority and the presence of, an everlasting God that 100% guides and sustains us through life’s various battles.

God, Our Song

Amid adversity, the notion of God as our “song” suggests a form of joyful expression, even in less than joyful circumstances.

This metaphor highlights how faith can infuse our lives with a sense of quiet harmony and optimism, echoing through our daily actions and interactions.

It’s about carrying a melody of hope that tunes out the thundering noise of fear and despair, helping us to focus on the steady rhythms of blessings and grace that surrounds us.

Salvation Comes

When the verse speaks of God becoming our salvation, it touches on the truly transformative journey from being lost to being saved, which every believer can appreciate.

Salvation here is both a rescue and a celebration, a fundamental change in how we perceive our existence and purpose.

It reaffirms our faith journey, marking not just a moment of rescue but an ongoing process of being continually saved from despair, doubt, and darkness.

A Personal and Ancestral Faith

Declaring “This is my God, and I will praise Him; My father’s God, and I will exalt Him,” strengthens the personal connection to faith, binding it with familial and ancestral ties.

This line does more than recount personal conviction; it recognizes a legacy of time honored beliefs passed down through generations.

It emphasizes the shared spiritual heritage and the collective memory of faith that shapes our own.

Exalting God

The act of exalting God encompasses both our private devotion and public declaration. It is an expression of utmost respect and reverence, recognizing God’s supreme role in our lives.

Through praise and exaltation, believers not only communicate their faith but also encourage others to reflect on the divine interventions that have shaped their own lives.

Exodus 15:2 encapsulates the essence of a profound spiritual declaration, one that has guided and uplifted countless souls across millennia.

It is a verse that serves as a reminder of God’s enduring presence in our lives, offering strength, joy, and salvation.

For believers, these words are a source of immense comfort and motivation, a call to embrace the divine support that weaves through the fabric of their daily existence.

As we reflect on this ancient passage, let it come to inspire us to carry forward with strength, song, and salvation, exalting our God through all seasons of life.

If we exalt, confess, Jesus Christ as our Savior, one day we will sing, along with all who have been redeemed, “the song of God’s servant Moses and the Lamb.” (Revelation 15:3).

What a day that will be when my Jesus I shall see …

In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,

Praying ….

Psalm 107 Lexham English Bible

Thanksgiving to Yahweh for His of Deliverance

107 Give thanks to Yahweh, for he is good,
for his loyal love is forever.
2 Let the redeemed of Yahweh declare[a] it,
those whom he has redeemed from the hand of the enemy
3 and gathered from the lands,
from east and from west, from north and from south.[b]
4 They wandered in the wilderness, in a desert.
They could find no way[c] to a city to inhabit.
5 Hungry and thirsty,
their soul grew faint within them.
6 Then they cried out to Yahweh in their trouble.
He delivered them from their distresses
7 and led them by a straight way
to get to a city to inhabit.
8 Let them give thanks to Yahweh for his loyal love,
and his wonderful deeds for the children of humankind,
9 for he satisfies the longing soul,[d]
and the hungry soul he fills with good.
10 Those who sat in darkness and gloom,
prisoners of misery and iron—
11 because they rebelled against the words of God
and spurned the counsel of the Most High,
12 he therefore humbled their heart with trouble.
They stumbled and there was no helper.
13 Then they called to Yahweh for help in their trouble;
he saved them from their distresses.
14 He brought them out of darkness and gloom,
and tore off their bonds.
15 Let them give thanks to Yahweh for his loyal love
and his wonderful deeds for the children of humankind,
16 for he shatters the doors of bronze,
and cuts through the bars of iron.
17 Fools, because of their rebellious way
and their iniquities, were afflicted.
18 Their soul abhorred all food,
and they approached the gates of death.
19 Then they called to Yahweh for help in their trouble.
He saved them from their distresses.
20 He sent his word and healed them,
and he delivered them from their pits.[e]
21 Let them give thanks to Yahweh for his loyal love,
and his wonderful deeds for the children of humankind,
22 and let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving,
and tell of his works with rejoicing.
23 Those who went down to the sea into ships,
doing business on the high seas,[f]
24 they saw the works of Yahweh,
and his wonderful deeds in the deep.
25 For he spoke and raised up a stormy wind,
and it whipped up its waves.
26 They rose to the heavens; they plunged to the depths.
Their soul melted in their calamity.
27 They reeled and staggered like a drunkard,
and they were at their wits’ end.[g]
28 Then they cried out to Yahweh in their trouble,
and he brought them out of their distresses.
29 He made the storm be still
and their waves became calm.
30 Then they were glad because they grew silent,
so he guided them to their desired harbor.
31 Let them give thanks to Yahweh for his loyal love
and his wonderful deeds for the children of humankind,
32 and let them exalt him in the congregation of the people,
and praise him in the assembly of the elders.
33 He turns rivers into a wilderness
and springs of water into thirsty ground,
34 a fruitful land into a salty place,
because of the evil of its inhabitants.
35 He turns a wilderness into a pool of water
and a dry land into springs of water.
36 And he settles the hungry there,
so that they may establish a city to inhabit,
37 and sow fields and plant vineyards,
that they may yield fruit at harvest.[h]
38 And he blesses them and they multiply greatly,
and he does not let their cattle become few.
39 When they become few and they are bent down
from the oppression of calamity and grief,
40 he pours contempt on princes
and causes them to wander in a trackless waste.
41 But he protects[i] the needy from misery,
and he makes their families like a flock.
42 The upright see it and are glad,
and all wickedness shuts its mouth.
43 Whoever is wise, then let him observe these things,
and let them consider Yahweh’s acts of loyal love.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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Reacquainting ourselves with God! “Give in to God, come to terms with him and everything will turn out just fine. Let God alone tell you what to do; take His words into your heart. Job 22:21-25

Job 22:21-25 New American Standard Bible

21 “Be reconciled with Him, and be at peace;
Thereby good will come to you.
22 Please receive [a]instruction from His mouth,
And put His words in your heart.
23 If you return to [b]the Almighty, you will be [c]restored;
If you remove injustice far from your tent,
24 And put your [d]gold in the dust,
And the gold of Ophir among the stones of the brooks,
25 Then [e]the Almighty will be your [f]gold
And abundant silver to you.

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

These are the words of counsel from Eliphaz to his friend, Job during the worst possible time of his life. Job’s children were gone. His wealth gone. Everything God had blessed him with in his lifetime taken from him within a single day.

Even his own physical health compromised, I am quite certain that he was not looking for a long drawn out sermon but a bit of sympathy from his friends.

The story of Job is one, though hard to read and difficult to comprehend, is absolutely necessary to understand true submission to God.

“Submit to God and be at peace with Him.”

This may imply that Eliphaz had decided that Job must have sinned against God to invite such a magnitude of tragedy into his life.

From a human aspect – it would be the natural assumption.

However, his words I believe are led by the Holy Spirit and not his own intellect.

Submission to the Lord in all things will give us peace.

The Holy Spirit produces peace in our life as a fruit.

As our soul prospers so does our life, but I do not believe that God will allow us to prosper in this life if it compromises eternal life. “

“In this way prosperity will come to you.”

Everyone has a natural desire to prosper.

To see increase and live in abundance.

It is a common thread of commerce.

However, peace does not come from financial security but confident faith that there is more to life than this.

A place of eternal rest offered through Jesus Christ.

The Lord has given us His Spirit to produce the kinds of fruit that satisfies our soul and causes our heart and mind to prosper in God’s Word which is His Plan for us.

“Accept instruction from his mouth and lay up his words in your heart.”

I have studied the Word of God nearly every day for the last four years.

Each morning getting up early to read, study and meditate on it.

I want to extract every single truth, promise and blessing hidden within the pages of text.

I do not say this to boast but rather to share even though I have spent countless hours poring over the Word of God, I find new things every single day. It is life to my heart, mind, thoughts and soul. It is never old but always fresh and new.

Romans 10:2-4 (NIV) For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. Since they did not know the righteousness of God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. Christ is the culmination of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.

Our zealousness and enthusiasm serving God must be based on His Word.

Faith comes by hearing and found in God’s Word.

We desire righteousness but do not fully understand what it entails.

Pride wants to earn it.

Somehow find a way to deserve the Grace of God.

It is impossible.

Yet still religiosity can interrupt our relationship when pride tells us – “I can do it.” The only way of reconciliation with God is through His Son, Jesus. Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one can make it to God except through Him.

The Word made flesh to live among us is none other than Jesus.

I must submit to God’s Righteousness fully accepting His Grace in my many weaknesses. His Power is complete in my life when I do.

The story of Job depicts man’s struggle with pride.

Doing everything right cannot erase our sin or promote a relationship with God.

It is our thriving relationship with Jesus that gives us total access to God the Father and His Power in this life.

Divine discipline as recorded in Hebrews 12 is not in the form of punishment.

It is God’s Love at work in us to remove barriers of pride, fear, and insecurity that keep us from reconciling our life to God through His Son,

Jesus. It is always born of love, mercy and grace.

God cannot punish those who believe as it would be contrary to His Word.

God doesn’t take back His Promises but daily pursues us in order to bless us.

It is His Desire to give us the desires of our heart.

Misalignment spiritually creates conflict in our life. (James 4:1-6)

Our friendship with God makes us enemies of the world.

I want more of God’s Grace.

To have it means moving my life from this world to Kingdom living by constantly pursuing a relationship with God by way of accepting His Grace more and more which means I must decrease and He must increase in me.

Pride is crucified in this place and submission fully embraced as a way of life.

2 Corinthians 5:17-20 (NIV) Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.

To be reconciled with God is to live at peace with Him.

Submission to God comes in the form of acceptance of His Grace as enough for my life. His Power is manifested in my weakness and my inability to accomplish anything of worth outside of my deep abiding relationship with Jesus Christ.

I must become a new creation.

Pride must be executed so the fulfillment of His Purpose can be accomplished in me. I must learn to submit. Humbling myself before the Lord and other people.

God has a plan containing a future and hope that oversteps death into eternity.

By faith, I can achieve it.

I must understand my place as a participant in this process.

I must humble myself before the Lord which means also extending it to other people.

“Submit to God and be at peace with Him” is not any kind of threat or form of punishment.

It is an invitation. Like a wedding invitation all in white tied with a scarlet bow, bidding us to come and participate in the single greatest love story ever written.

To be His Bride.

To await His Coming with real enthusiasm not overrated zeal.

His Word gives us the opportunity to know Him.

His Spirit is the intimate consummation of His Betrothal.

We have a promise, not only of a fantastic future, but blessings for the land of the living.

Pride will never exalt us to the level of confirmation that humility born of absolute trust in the Living God allows. It is the destruction of the platform of pride that spiritual elevation takes to the new levels and life intended by God.

I must live in Christ to find them. He must increase and I must decrease. I must live at peace with God in Christ Jesus to reach my full potential. Sometimes it is the moment when all we have is the Lord, that we find He is all we ever need.

Colossians 1:19-20 (NIV)  For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,

Praying …

Psalm 23
A Psalm of David.

1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3 He restoreth my soul:
he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil: for thou art with me;
thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:
thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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Youth Ministry; Fact or Fiction? God is, or God is not done with any of our old and gray hair yet? Psalm 71:17-24

Psalm 71:17-24 Lexham English Bible

17 O God, you have taught me from my youth,
and up to now I have proclaimed your wonderful deeds.
18 And even when I am old and gray,
O God, do not abandon me
until I proclaim your strength[a] to this generation,
your power to every one that comes after.
19 And your righteousness, O God, is to the height of heaven.
You who have done great things,
O God, who is like you?
20 You who have caused me[b] to see many troubles and evils,
you will again revive me.[c]
And from the depths of the earth
you will again bring me up.
21 You will increase my greatness,
and you will comfort me all around.[d]
22 On my part, I will praise you with a stringed instrument,
and your faithfulness, O my God.
I will sing praises to you with a lyre,
O Holy One of Israel.
23 My lips will sing for joy when I sing praises to you,
and my soul, which you have redeemed.
24 My tongue also
will speak of your righteousness all the day,
because they have been put to shame, because they have been humiliated
who seek my harm.

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

As you grow older, you may get tired more often than you used to.

Maybe your schedule is less busy than before because you’ve retired and your children are grown. It can be easy to feel like your best days are behind you.

But the truth is, every day of life that God gives you is valuable and full of potential.

Psalm 71:17-18 New Living Translation

17 O God, you have taught me from my earliest childhood,
    and I constantly tell others about the wonderful things you do.
18 Now that I am old and gray,
    do not abandon me, O God.
Let me proclaim your power to this new generation,
    your mighty miracles to all who come after me.

WANTED: MATURE PEOPLE FOR YOUTH MINISTRY!

That’s the message contained in these verses.

The Psalmist exclaims God needs him for youth ministry even though he is an old and gray haired man.

The Psalmist reasons that a person of maturity who has known and benefited, blessed from God’s grace and mercy for a long time is the person best prepared to declare God’s power to the next generation.

It almost seems like the Psalmist is saying that youth ministry is the responsibility of the more mature.

But maybe you think you and your gray hairs are too old for youth ministry.

Now I don’t mean that you have to hold a position as a youth minister in a church.

What I mean is that God needs the older people to testify to the younger people about how God has worked in their lives.

However you choose to do it, God has assigned all us older people to tell the younger people about Jesus.

The younger people need the older people to pass on the message of how Jesus has changed their lives and older people need to be around the younger people to stay young at heart.

Proverbs 22:6 Amplified Bible

6 
Train up a child in the way he should go [teaching him to seek God’s wisdom and will for his abilities and talents],
Even when he is old he will not depart from it.

Maybe your youth ministry is telling your own children, your grandchildren, even your great grandchildren about Jesus. Or maybe your youth ministry is working in the nursery or children’s church or with the youth group at your local church or even teaching a Sunday School class for children or youth.

Whatever your youth ministry is and however the Holy Spirit leads guides and directs your steps, you absolutely should be proclaiming the wonderful works of God in your life to the incoming younger generations, to all those youth who are coming after you, because you are never too old to tell people about Jesus!

No matter how old you are, you can still make a positive, eternal impact through your choices.

God is not limited by age, nor are you when you walk with him!

Here are seven reminders that you’re never too old to make an eternal impact.

1. God is Not Finished with You Yet

It’s painful to feel forgotten or overlooked because you’re aging. But God will never forget or overlook you. God sees you, knows you, and is still working through you. 

Isaiah 46:4, God says: “Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you, and I will carry you.” 

God’s purposes for you don’t expire with age.

He doesn’t stop loving or working with any of his children when they grow older.

Some of God’s most significant work can happen in the later chapters of your life.

There are still new lessons to learn, people to love, and ways to serve.

Each day you wake up is a gift and a calling from God.

So be encouraged you are still God’s beloved child, with important work to do. 

Ask God daily to help you live into your purpose well, so you can keep shining your light as brightly as possible into the darkness of our fallen world.

Pray specifically about all the ways God wants you to keep loving and serving people, and keep moving forward as God leads you daily.

God is not finished with you yet.

Let every day be a brand new opportunity to walk with God in fresh ways and participate in God’s work, bringing hope to our world.

2. God Still Has Work for You To Do

You may easily assume that getting older means stepping aside from the most critical job in God’s kingdom, but the Bible tells a much different story. God often used older men and women to accomplish something significant. Moses was 80 + years old when God called him to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. 

Exodus 7:7 reports: “Moses was eighty years old and Aaron eighty-three when they spoke to Pharaoh.” 

Age didn’t disqualify them.

Participating in that vital meeting was part of God’s plan for them.

You may not be leading a nation, but you can lead others in powerful ways through prayer, Scriptural studies wisdom, and Godly encouragement.

Colossians 3:1-4 Amplified Bible

Put On the New Self

3 Therefore if you have been raised with Christ [to a new life, sharing in His resurrection from the dead], keep seeking the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind and keep focused habitually on the things above [the heavenly things], not on things that are on the earth [which have only temporal value]. 3 For you died [to this world], and your [new, real] life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, [a]appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.

You have decades and decades of invaluable life experience that younger people can learn from.

You know how to seek God in both good and bad times.

That kind of faith is valuable in a world that often moves too fast and tends to forget what truly matters. So, set your mind on what has eternal value and let that empower, and inspire you to do whatever work God is leading you to do. 

Don’t underestimate the power of any small service projects you take on, or of any times you encourage younger believers as they work in God’s kingdom in their ways. 

Philippians 1:6 points out that you can be confident: “… that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” 

Even if your physical strength has changed, your spiritual strength can grow stronger. You can still listen, support, study, teach, and pray. God still has work for you, and the world still needs the contributions that only you can make.

3. Your Wisdom Is a Gift to the Next Generation

One of the most powerful contributions you can make as an older Christian is sharing God’s wisdom and showing those younger people how to be lifelong learners. You have walked with God through all seasons, and that strong faith is invaluable to teach others how to trust God through different seasons in their own lives. 

Titus 2:2-3 urges: “Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance. Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live … to teach what is good.” 

Your example can help younger believers live wisely by discovering and fulfilling God’s purposes for them day by day.

You know what it means to endure and trust God through years of change. Sharing stories of how God has worked in your life through the years may be the encouragement someone else needs.

Mentoring, teaching a Bible study, or simply listening and advising during conversations are other important ways to share your wisdom with others who can benefit from it. 

Don’t worry that you have little to offer; you have plenty of wisdom gained through years of walking with Jesus. You can tell others lovingly about God in ways less experienced people can’t. You can also help younger believers learn how to pray and faithfully wait for God’s answers in all circumstances. 

Psalm 92:14 says about righteous people: “They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green.” 

Your life will still be fruitful when you share what God has done in your life.

Don’t keep that treasure to yourself!

Your experience holds lessons that younger generations need to hear.

4. Prayer Is a Powerful Ministry

You may not be able to do the same ministry work you did as a younger person, but you can always do something vitally important: pray. Prayer is one of the most powerful and far-reaching ways to serve God. 

James 5:16 declares, “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” 

Through fervent meditation and prayer, you can make an eternal impact on people worldwide, and even across time. You can pray for your children, grandchildren, church, community, and others anywhere and anytime!

So, make prayer a high priority in your schedule every day. 

Plan to pray regularly at certain times (such as when you start your day in the morning or end your day in the evening at bedtime), but also ponder praying spontaneously whenever a person or a topic crosses your mind. God wants you to pray about everything that concerns you. 

Give it all to God and trust God to work in every situation you ask him to help.

Many older people in the Bible served God through prayer.

For example, Anna was an elderly widow who spent her days in the temple worshipping and praying. 

Luke 2:37 says: “She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.” 

God honored her devotion and allowed her to meet the infant Jesus.

Your prayer life is compelling.

You can pray for countless important topics and those who need your prayer support.

You may never see all the results, but God will always answer your prayers.

Even when you feel unseen, God sees your heart and hears your prayers. You make a positive, eternal impact every time you speak with God through prayer.

5. Your Life Testifies to God’s Faithfulness

Living a long life with God is a powerful testimony.

Every wrinkle and gray hair you have speaks to your life experiences as a person in a long relationship with Jesus. 

Psalm 71:18 “Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, my God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your mighty acts to all who are to come.” 

You may not always feel strong, but your life proves God keeps his promises.

When you tell others how God carried you through loss or change and met all your needs, you remind them of God’s character. People need to hear stories of lives lived with real authentic trust in God. You have those stories to share. 

They‘re more powerful than any sermon because you live them out daily.

When you share your stories of how God has been faithful to you, you inspire people to keep trusting God in all the circumstances they’re going through in their own lives.

You become a living example of how our loving Heavenly Father helps his children with whatever we need.

Your faithful life shows others walking with God through the years is possible and worthwhile.

6. Encouragement Is a Lasting Gift

Encouraging someone in a conversation or through a note or phone call may seem simple, but it can significantly change someone’s life. 

Hebrews 3:13 advises: “But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called ‘Today,’ so that sin’s deceitfulness may harden none of you.” 

As someone who has seen life’s ups and downs, you deeply understand how much a kind word or action can encourage people.

When you encourage people, you remind them they are seen and loved.

You help them keep going.

You can encourage people in various ways, as God leads you. 

You can share a Bible verse, listen without judgment, let people know you’re praying for them, help them with a practical need when they’re going through a crisis.

You can also encourage people by showing up and showing more interest in their lives. 

People need to know they’re not alone.

Encouragement builds community and strengthens relationships between God’s beloved children.

You can be a part of that excellent work every day, no matter how old you are!

7. Your Legacy Can Point People to Jesus

Leaving a legacy involves passing on love, faith, and values to others after completing your earthly life. 

Your Legacy Can Point People to Jesus.

Leaving a legacy involves passing on love, faith, and values to others after completing your earthly life.

Proverbs 13:22 “A good person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children.”

That inheritance is spiritual.

So, no matter how much money or material things you can give to others when you go to heaven, what matters most is what you leave for people spiritually.

Every act of kindness you do, every lesson you teach, and every prayer you pray adds to the legacy you leave.

You are building something that will outlast your earthly years.

So, do your best daily to live a good life, set a good example after you pass away.

Make choices to help future generations know Jesus better as they remember your life. It’s never too late to build a legacy.

If your life leads even one soul that much closer to Jesus, it will make an eternal impact!

Your age doesn’t have to limit you.

It can be a valuable platform to make an eternal impact in God’s kingdom.

You carry valuable life experience from walking with Jesus for many years, and younger people can benefit from what you share with them. So even when you feel tired or discouraged, trust that God is still working through you.

Keep doing all you can as you can to let your life inspire people and make an eternal difference for the better!

Proverbs 13:22 “A good person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children.” 

In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,

Praying …

Psalm 71 International Children’s Bible

An Old Person’s Prayer

71 In you, Lord, is my protection.
    Never let me be ashamed.
2 Because you do what is right, save and rescue me.
    Listen to me and save me.
3 Be my place of safety
    where I can always come.
Give the command to save me.
    You are my rock and my strong, walled city.
4 My God, save me from the power of the wicked.
    Save me from the hold of evil and cruel people.
5 Lord God, you are my hope.
    I have trusted you since I was young.
6 I have depended on you since I was born.
    You have been my help from the day I was born.
    I will always praise you.

7 I am an example to many people.
    You are my strong protection.
8 I am always praising you.
    All day long I honor you.
9 Do not reject me when I am old.
    Do not leave me when my strength is gone.
10 My enemies have made plans against me.
    They meet together to kill me.
11 They say, “God has left him.
    Go after him and take him.
    No one will save him.”

12 God, don’t be far off.
    My God, hurry to help me.
13 Let them be ashamed.
    Destroy those who accuse me.
They are trying to hurt me.
    Cover them with shame and disgrace.
14 But I will always have hope.
    And I will praise you more and more.
15 I will tell about how you do what is right.
    I will tell about your salvation all day long,
    even though it is more than I can tell.
16 I will come and tell about your powerful works, Lord God.
    I will tell only about you and how you do what is right.

17 God, you have taught me since I was young.
    Even until today I tell about the miracles you do.
18 Even though I am old and gray,
    do not leave me, God.
I will tell the children about your power.
    I will tell those who will live after me about your might.

19 God, your justice reaches to the skies.
    You have done great things.
    God, there is no one like you.
20 You have given me many troubles and bad times.
    But you will give me life again.
When I am almost dead,
    you will keep me alive.
21 You will make me greater than ever.
    And you will comfort me again.

22 I will praise you with the harp.
    I trust you, my God.
I will sing to you with the lyre.
    You are the Holy One of Israel.
23 I will shout for joy when I sing praises to you.
    You have saved me.
24 I will tell about your justice all day long.
    And those who want to hurt me
    will be ashamed and disgraced.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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When your Heart Is blocked by doubt and your hands and feet are as much help as a millstone around our neck. Matthew 14:28-32

Matthew 14:28-32 Lexham English Bible

28 And Peter answered him and[a] said, “Lord, if it is you,[b] command me to come to you on the water!” 29 So he said, “Come!” And getting out of the boat, Peter walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he[c] saw the strong wind, he was afraid. And beginning to sink, he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” 31 And immediately Jesus extended his[d] hand and[e] caught him and said to him, “You of little faith! Why did you doubt?” 32 And when[f] they got into the boat, the wind abated.

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

What is the craziest thing you have ever done, were dared to do?

I could mention a few things from my younger days, but let’s just leave that to the imagination.

How about in your life of faith?

What is the craziest thing God has ever challenged you to do?

Were you up for the challenge, or did you hear excuses in your head about why you couldn’t possibly try?

Did you jump in with both feet and find, to your surprise, that maybe it wasn’t so impossible after all?

I wonder how big the smile was on Jesus’ face when Peter said, “Lord, if it’s you . . . tell me to come to you on the water.”

I love it that Peter was ready to jump in, test his faith even when things looked impossible. He stepped out of the boat looking at Jesus. And as long as he kept his eyes on Jesus, his steps went in the right direction.

Even with little faith, his walk on water was possible.

But when Peter looked around him and saw the wind and deep water, he became afraid, doubted his judgment, and started to sink.

When Jesus asks for our trust, he knows there is always going to be a bigger story to be written.

There are days when circumstances muddy the waters and the trust factor diminishes and we cannot figure out what those ‘first’ next steps should be.

Many people get discouraged by the devastation evident in the world.

Today, we can easily turn on the news and learn about wars, natural disasters, murders, and injustices.

When we see these examples of evil and suffering, doubts can form in our minds.

Why would God allow such terrible things to happen?

What is He doing about these problems?

What is He doing to do about these problems?

Widespread suffering is not the only cause for doubt.

We can also struggle with questions of “why” when disaster, loss, and illness strike close to home.

If we get diagnosed with a long-term illness or a loved one dies, we can feel angry with God.

In our pain and doubt, we start to question the Lord’s loving character.

Nonbelievers and believers alike can struggle with seasons of doubt.

As much as these times can make people feel like everything they know has been tossed like a salad made for serving thousands, leaving them confused and questioning, seasons of doubting are also opportunities for growth, to shed the assumptions and false views we once held.

These are God opportunities to seek the truth, to learn more about God and experience His love.

Doubt is, without question uncomfortable, but God can transform it, like anything else, for our good (Romans 8:28).

If your heart is blocked by doubt, there are ways to move forward.

Consider implementing these five steps to address doubts.

1. Talk to God about Your Struggle with Doubt

Praying is often not on the top of the list for those who are wrestling with doubts. They may feel resentment or bitterness toward God. Some could also feel ashamed of their doubt, assume the Lord does not want to hear from them.

But talking to God is what we should be doing when we are struggling with different feelings and questions about faith. He is not afraid of our doubts or tough questions. Instead of giving the Lord the silent treatment, we need to “gird our loins” and take time to pray when our heart is blocked by doubt.

Scripture shows us many examples of this, especially in the Psalms. David and other psalmists cried out to the Lord, sometimes in sorrow, pain, or anger.

Consider Psalm 10, in which the psalmist asks God, “Why, Lord, do you stand far off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?” (Psalm 10:1).

Or consider the prayer of Heman the Ezrahite, “Why, Lord, do you reject me and hide your face from me?” (Psalm 88:14).

These individuals took their questions, emotions, and struggles to the Lord in pleas and prayers. He inspired these prayers and preserved them in His Word.

We also have the example of the man with the demon-possessed son in the Gospels. He wanted his son to be freed from the oppression of the evil spirit.

Yet, his faith was not overly strong. He told the Lord Jesus, “But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us” (Mark 9:22, my emphasis added).

Christ affirmed that anything is possible for the one who believes (Mark 9:23).

At this, the man cried out, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24).

Like this man, and the psalmists, we can cry out to God, asking Him to help us with our unbelief and doubts.

None of us are immune to questions, not even believers.

Therefore, praying is not reserved only for when we feel joyful and filled with strong faith.

It also for when we are tired, weak, and doubting.

2. Reflect on What the Bible Says about the Lord’s Character

Although we can have questions about many things in life, the main doubts that people experience are centered on the Lord.

Individuals look at all the evil in the world, and the suffering in their lives, and they want to know why God would allow these things to happen.

If God is all-powerful, then why does He not stop the evil?

And if He is good, then why do people suffer?

The character of God is brought into question.

This is why we should use this opportunity to examine what we believe about God and what the Bible teaches.

Lots of people have faulty assumptions and beliefs, some of which could even have been passed onto them by a church or pastor.

Such views should be questioned and brought into scrutiny – to compare the view with God’s Word.

Asking these questions about evil, suffering, and the goodness of God, then, gives us a chance to delve deeper into the truth of the Bible.

For example, some Christian circles commonly teach that the Lord gives a good life to those who serve Him but punishes those who do wrong with suffering.

The ideology is: “If you do what is right, you will experience a good life. But whenever you sin, God will punish you.”

Of course, in this sense, “good” is usually defined by worldly standards as having wealth and a comfortable life.

The Lord, thus, is presented as a doting grandfather figure who has a vengeful streak.

Another way that people often depict God is some sort of monster – delighting in inflicting pain.

Some churches emphasize rule-keeping and fear of God so much that they distort His biblical character.

People see a God of wrath who does not care about a person’s suffering and has probably sent it because he or she is not checking off religious lists well enough.

Questioning views like this is actually something we should do. 

Scripture presents a much different view of God than these two examples.

He is not a God who sends suffering or delights in evil.

He is the Lord who made all things good in the beginning – it was humankind who sinned and brought sin and death into the world.

In the Lord’s compassion and mercy, He made a promise to provide a solution and heal our brokenness (Genesis 3:15).

This He did by sending His Son into the world (John 3:16; Romans 5:8).

As fully God and fully man, Jesus came to save us from sin and death by dying for our sins. 

The cross and empty tomb are the answer to the problem of evil and suffering.

God is not a doting, vengeful grandfather or a monster.

He is the loving, merciful, just, holy, death-defeating Savior who loved us and gave Himself for us.

We might still have questions about what we see in the world.

However, the reminder that God is good, loving, and has taken action to save us is comforting and encouraging in a season of doubt.

Perhaps today is a day to refocus where you are looking.

How can you more adeptly keep your eyes on Jesus?

3. Study Areas of God’s Word That Address Questions and Doubts

When individuals are facing difficulties with their faith, it is common for them to avoid reading the Bible, just as they often stop praying.

But like talking to God, we need to listen to Him by reading His Word. For there are many areas in Scripture that address questions and doubts.

One such area, which has already been mentioned, is the Psalms.

During a season of asking “why,” the Psalms give us relatable prayers that can comfort us.

We may even find ourselves praying a psalm regularly, or gleaning strength from specific passages. 

Psalm 77 can offer us a place to start, in which we read about Asaph crying out to God in distress. He was honest about his pain, but also directed his thoughts back to God to remember all that the Lord had done in the past.

After asking multiple questions, he said, “I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago” (Psalm 77:11).

Choosing to dwell on what God did in the past strengthened Asaph’s faith, and it can strengthen ours.

Another area of the Bible to study when doubt overwhelms us is the book of Job.

Evident in Job’s story is the theme of evil and suffering as we read about Satan causing the loss of Job’s servants and livestock (Job 1:13-17), the death of his children (Job 1:18-19), and his struggle with painful sores (Job 2:7).

Throughout the book, we read various explanations about his suffering that are presented by his friends – the main one being that Job had sinned which is why he encountered trouble in life (Job 4:7-9).

Yet, the book emphasizes that Job had not sinned against the Lord (Job 1:8, 22; 2:10). As we read this biblical account, we are shown that sometimes in life, we will not fully understand why things happen to us. But one thing we can know – The Lord is a powerful, awesome, and good God (Job 38-41).

These books of the Bible, and many others, can help us when our faith feels small, or we have questions for God.

4. Don’t Be Afraid to Ask Questions and Seek the Truth

During the times we doubt God’s goodness or have questions of “why” swirling in our heads, we can allow these feelings to push us to seek truth.

So many of us can fear asking questions about faith or examining our beliefs.

We are afraid that doing so is wrong.

But if we ignore these areas and trudge on, not building our faith on a solid base, then when another cat. 5 storm in life comes, we will likely find greater destruction in its wake.

Instead of shoving questions and doubts aside, we need to acknowledge them and commit ourselves to finding the truth. Jesus encouraged us that those who seek will find (Matthew 7:7-8).

Experiencing doubts is an opportunity for us to cut away unbiblical ideas and reframe our thinking according to the truth of God’s Word.

Thankfully, there are tools we can use as we take the brave step to ask questions and seek answers.

Numerous apologetic materials exist that cover a variety of topics. Whether we have questions about creation/evolution, the problem of evil and suffering, the reliability of Scripture, or the historicity of Jesus’ ministry, among others, we can find sources that help us study these issues from a biblical viewpoint.

Of course, we should not limit ourselves to only scholarly materials, like textbooks. Many people find creative works, such as fiction and poetry, to be just as faith-building as academically intense books or lectures.

C. S. Lewis credited imagination and works of literature, especially Phantastes by George MacDonald, as part of his faith journey toward placing faith in Christ.

Similarly, author Sarah Clarkson has noted how The Lord of the Rings saved her faith when she faced a diagnosis of OCD, struggled with disillusionment with the church and God.

As she stated in this same interview for Word on Fire, “Such novels teach us to look beyond the evil and anger, the grief and despair of the broken world.”

Whether scholarly-based, creative, or a combination of both, God can use many different sources to bolster our faith in Him.

5. Stay Connected to Other Believers

Finally, when we find ourselves flailing with unbelief, we need connection to other believers.

Multiple passages in Scripture encourage the church to strengthen the spiritually weak (James 5:14-16; 1 Thessalonians 5:14).

We should not take this term (spiritually weak) negatively, as if we have a fault.

Rather, we can be grateful that provision has been provided.

The Lord included these instructions in Scripture because He knows there are times when we will struggle with faith.

In His grace, He provides the company of other believers to strengthen and encourage us.

Specifically, we can benefit from sharing our questions and concerns with a trustworthy, mature follower of Christ.

He or she has walked through similar times of doubts and can share insights and suggestions – or perhaps just a listening ear and loving presence.

Although friends and family members may be available to talk with, the perspective of a mature Christian can inspire and challenge us in healthy ways.

He or she will listen to our doubts, but also ask thought-provoking questions, confront faulty assumptions.

Such a relationship is truly an iron-sharpening one (Proverbs 27:17).

Having a Christian mentor come alongside us when our heart is blocked by doubt can remind us there is hope.

We do not have to be alone as we ask difficult, yet important questions or as we seek biblical truth.

In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit …

Praying …

Psalm 13 Lexham English Bible

Trust in the Salvation of Yahweh
For the music director. A psalm of David.[a]

13 How long, O Yahweh? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
2 How long must I take counsel[b] in my soul,
and sorrow in my heart all the day?
How long will my enemy be exalted over me?
3 Consider[c] and answer me, O Yahweh my God.
Give light to my eyes
lest I sleep the sleep of death,
4 and lest my enemy should say, “I have overcome him,”
lest my enemies rejoice because I am shaken.
5 But as for me, I have trusted in your steadfast love.[d]
My heart will rejoice in your deliverance.
6 [e] I will sing to Yahweh
because he has dealt bountifully with me.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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The Lord always Has His Eye on You! For His eye is on the sparrow, And I know He watches me. Psalm 102:19

Psalm 102:18-22 The Message

18-22 Write this down for the next generation
    so people not yet born will praise God:
“God looked out from his high holy place;
    from heaven he surveyed the earth.
He listened to the groans of the doomed,
    he opened the doors of their death cells.”
Write it so the story can be told in Zion,
    so God’s praise will be sung in Jerusalem’s streets
And wherever people gather together
    along with their rulers to worship him.

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

This offers a glimpse into the transcendent and compassionate nature of God.

In these verses, the psalmist reflects on how God’s attention extends not only to the exalted heavens but also to the needs and cries of those on earth.

This passage captures the essence of divine care and involvement in the lives of humanity. 

The opening line, “For he has looked down from the height of his sanctuary,” draws our attention to the divine perspective. It conveys the idea that God’s sanctuary, a place of truest holiness and divine presence, is located high above.

This imagery emphasizes the exalted nature of God and the heavens.

The phrase “From heaven, Yahweh saw the earth” reinforces the notion that God’s gaze transcends the earthly realm. It signifies God’s omniscience and omnipresence—the ability to see and understand all that happens on earth.

This imagery conveys a sense of divine awareness that extends beyond human comprehension.

The subsequent words, “to hear the groans of the prisoner,” highlight God’s compassionate response to the suffering of those in distress.

The word “groans” conveys deep and heartfelt expressions of pain or anguish.

God’s willingness to hear these groans illustrates his attentiveness to the cries of the afflicted marginalized.

The mention of prisoners emphasizes the marginalized and those held captive.

It alludes to those who are oppressed, bound, disabled, shunned or restricted—both physically and metaphorically. The emphasis on prisoners speaks to the psalmist’s understanding of God as a supreme deliverer who extends his care to quite literally everyone, without exception, even to those in dire situations.

The verse continues, “to free those who are condemned to death.”

This phrase underscores God’s role as a redeemer and savior.

It signifies his power to intervene in situations where death seems imminent.

Whether this refers to physical life or the spiritual deliverance from the hard condemnation of sin, it echoes into the ages, the theme of rescue and salvation.

Together, these verses depict a God who is not aloof or detached or distant or double minded, but a God whose intimately involved in the lives of individuals.

The psalmist’s portrayal of God’s actions—looking down, seeing, hearing, and freeing—vividly captures the true essence of a caring and compassionate deity.

It reflects the psalmist’s complete confidence in God’s responsiveness to all human suffering, without bias, and his ability to bring about transformation.

For believers, Psalm 102:19-20 carries timeless significance.

It reminds us that our prayers and cries for help do not fall on deaf ears. God’s holy sanctuary, His divine dwelling place, is not distant or inaccessible; rather, it is already on earth and he actively engages with the world and its inhabitants.

This passage reinforces the biblical truth that God cares for the brokenhearted, the oppressed, and those in need.

As we reflect on these verses, we’re reminded of God’s constant presence and willingness to intervene in our lives.

It encourages us to approach God with our struggles, knowing that He hears our cry’s and groans, has the power to deliver us from various forms of captivity.

This passage invites us to trust in God’s compassionate nature and to draw comfort from the fact that he is the ultimate source of hope and salvation.

In conclusion,

Psalm 102:19-20 portrays God’s divine perspective and compassionate involvement in the affairs of humanity.

It speaks to His awareness of our struggles, His willingness to listen to our cries, and His unmatched ability to bring deliverance and salvation.

This passage invites believers to approach God with confidence, knowing that He is intimately engaged with our lives and cares deeply for our well-being.

“Let not your heart be troubled.”
His tender word I hear,
And resting on His goodness,
I lose my doubt and fear.
Though by the path He leadeth,
But one step I may see:
His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me.

I sing because I’m happy—
I sing because I’m free—
For His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me.

His Eye Is on the Sparrow

https://hymnary.org/text/why_should_i_feel_discouraged_why_should#Author

In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,

Praying …

Psalm 139 The Message

139 1-6 God, investigate my life;
    get all the facts firsthand.
I’m an open book to you;
    even from a distance, you know what I’m thinking.
You know when I leave and when I get back;
    I’m never out of your sight.
You know everything I’m going to say
    before I start the first sentence.
I look behind me and you’re there,
    then up ahead and you’re there, too—
    your reassuring presence, coming and going.
This is too much, too wonderful—
    I can’t take it all in!

7-12 Is there anyplace I can go to avoid your Spirit?
    to be out of your sight?
If I climb to the sky, you’re there!
    If I go underground, you’re there!
If I flew on morning’s wings
    to the far western horizon,
You’d find me in a minute—
    you’re already there waiting!
Then I said to myself, “Oh, he even sees me in the dark!
    At night I’m immersed in the light!”
It’s a fact: darkness isn’t dark to you;
    night and day, darkness and light, they’re all the same to you.

13-16 Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out;
    you formed me in my mother’s womb.
I thank you, High God—you’re breathtaking!
    Body and soul, I am marvelously made!
    I worship in adoration—what a creation!
You know me inside and out,
    you know every bone in my body;
You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit,
    how I was sculpted from nothing into something.
Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth;
    all the stages of my life were spread out before you,
The days of my life all prepared
    before I’d even lived one day.

17-22 Your thoughts—how rare, how beautiful!
    God, I’ll never comprehend them!
I couldn’t even begin to count them—
    any more than I could count the sand of the sea.
Oh, let me rise in the morning and live always with you!
    And please, God, do away with wickedness for good!
And you murderers—out of here!—
    all the men and women who belittle you, God,
    infatuated with cheap god-imitations.
See how I hate those who hate you, God,
    see how I loathe all this godless arrogance;
I hate it with pure, unadulterated hatred.
    Your enemies are my enemies!

23-24 Investigate my life, O God,
    find out everything about me;
Cross-examine and test me,
    get a clear picture of what I’m about;
See for yourself whether I’ve done anything wrong—
    then guide me on the road to eternal life.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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Invest in Eternity; ‘Their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.’ 2 Corinthians 8:1–4

2 Corinthians 8:1-4 The Message

The Offering

8 1-4 Now, friends, I want to report on the surprising and generous ways in which God is working in the churches in Macedonia province. Fierce troubles came down on the people of those churches, pushing them to the very limit. The trial exposed their true colors: They were incredibly happy, though desperately poor. The pressure triggered something totally unexpected: an outpouring of pure and generous gifts. I was there and saw it for myself. They gave offerings of whatever they could—far more than they could afford!—pleading for the privilege of helping out in the relief of poor Christians.

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

Are you a person who plans and saves and strategizes for your retirement years?

It seems most people will take the time to invest in their long term future on earth yet give little thought or consideration to investing in their eternal home.

Our retirement years are few, but our eternity is a much, much longer time. 

It would be prudent of us to have an eternal perspective and invest into your life beyond this short term temporal existence.

The most important investment we can make into heaven is to bring people with us. There is nothing we take to heaven when we die except other people.

Jesus said, “There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repents” (Luke 15:10).

Do we live our lives with the understanding that every soul is precious to God?

Jesus stated that if a man has one hundred sheep, and one goes astray, He will go after the one and rejoice much when the one is found.

Jesus went on to say in Matthew 18:14, “Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.”

He was showing the importance of even one person being saved.

It takes effort to share the gospel with others but Proverbs 11:30 says, “He that wins souls is wise.”

The Bible actually says we are wise when we win people to Christ!

God wants us to have His perspective and His heart for others, try to influence as many people as possible for the kingdom. One of the ways we can naturally be a good witness for Jesus is to be aware of how we represent Him on our jobs.

Jesus said, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matt. 5:16).

If you want to be a witness to your employer, employees, put in extra effort every day. Show up on time, refrain from negative talk and grumbling, and do your job with excellence. When the opportunity arises to share your faith, your witness in front of other will win you their respect and their attention.

It’s unfortunate that it often takes a tragedy, a severe illness or a catastrophic event to have a conversation with someone about God and the afterlife. How wonderful it would be to see far more people live their lives with the hope and joy of Jesus in their lifetime, and not just when their life is near its end.

Do you believe that having a discussion about God will be uncomfortable and possibly produce some difficult questions?

If you said yes, you are right.

However, in your procrastination, you may miss the only opportunity to have a conversation with someone before it is too late. Would the potential discomfort be worth it if that person found their way to heaven? Of course, it would.

When a person does not know Jesus, there is usually an overwhelming fear that comes as their days draw near to the end.

I have personally observed this so many times in visiting people in the hospital.

They are suddenly ready to listen and be open to the truth.

That can be the only time someone is willing to talk about heaven. 

If you are ever faced with this situation, with someone you care about, do not miss the opportunity to share the Gospel with them.

You can help someone find peace with God. You can lead someone to full  assurance of salvation and confidence of an eternal home in heaven.

The question is, Are we spiritually astute enough to see this time as a time of eternal opportunity? The stakes are high. The eternal destinies of multitudes at stake.

Every player is needed. We are in the army of God! We do not want to miss the opportunities to be low-profile, high-impact players on the King’s Team. We are hard playing for imperishable crowns to bring glory to the King of Kings.

How indescribably beautiful and so immeasurably valuable it is to wonder how beautiful God is, make investments in eternity by changing the life of another!

In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,

Praying …

Psalm 19 The Message

19 1-2 God’s glory is on tour in the skies,
    God-craft on exhibit across the horizon.
Madame Day holds classes every morning,
    Professor Night lectures each evening.

3-4 Their words aren’t heard,
    their voices aren’t recorded,
But their silence fills the earth:
    unspoken truth is spoken everywhere.

4-5 God makes a huge dome
    for the sun—a superdome!
The morning sun’s a new husband
    leaping from his honeymoon bed,
The daybreaking sun an athlete
    racing to the tape.

6 That’s how God’s Word vaults across the skies
    from sunrise to sunset,
Melting ice, scorching deserts,
    warming hearts to faith.

7-9 The revelation of God is whole
    and pulls our lives together.
The signposts of God are clear
    and point out the right road.
The life-maps of God are right,
    showing the way to joy.
The directions of God are plain
    and easy on the eyes.
God’s reputation is twenty-four-carat gold,
    with a lifetime guarantee.
The decisions of God are accurate
    down to the nth degree.

10 God’s Word is better than a diamond,
    better than a diamond set between emeralds.
You’ll like it better than strawberries in spring,
    better than red, ripe strawberries.

11-14 There’s more: God’s Word warns us of danger
    and directs us to hidden treasure.
Otherwise how will we find our way?
    Or know when we play the fool?
Clean the slate, God, so we can start the day fresh!
    Keep me from stupid sins,
    from thinking I can take over your work;
Then I can start this day sun-washed,
    scrubbed clean of the grime of sin.
These are the words in my mouth;
    these are what I chew on and pray.
Accept them when I place them
    on the morning altar,
O God, my Altar-Rock,
    God, Priest-of-My-Altar.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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Lies Sin whispers into our ears. Lies Sin hammers deep into our very Soul. Lies Sin uses to crush our Spirit with. 1 John 1:6-10

1 John 1:6-10 New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

6 If we say that we have fellowship with him while we are walking in darkness, we lie and do not do what is true; 7 but if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

Part of growing into mature Christian is the constant confession of sin, with both God and with others.

But in the individualistic society in which we live, people don’t always confess their sin.

In fact, if they fall away from having their daily quiet time with God, it can be months or even years since they’ve confessed sin and been forgiven by God.

When this happens, the habitual sins which they find they’re constantly repeating become even bigger (or less) than they originally thought because they deceive themselves into thinking lies about the sin.

If you find yourself stuck in habitual sin that you can’t get out of, is it possible you’re believing lies about it that is causing a foothold to stay in your life? We believe the enemy’s lies, which can allow sin to remain, creating a hindrance between ourselves and our community with God. Here are five lies sin tells you:

1. It’s No Big Deal

When we first commit a sin, such as lying, our conscience informs us we’ve made the wrong decision. We feel guilt and shame, among other emotions.

That is, until we lie again.

If we continue to commit the act, we deceive ourselves by telling ourselves it’s no big deal.

We may even minimize those lies into what are called white lies, which society sees as less than otherwise.

But the reality is lying is just as bad as any other sin.

It causes us to distort the truth about a situation, ourselves, or others.

It also causes people not to trust us if we get caught.

Soon there’s always a big deal, and every growing Christian needs to have a mature accountability partner with whom they can talk to and confess their sin regularly to.

This person can help them with the work of confession and repentance, to move past this particular sin.

2. No One Will Find Out

Secrets are not always a bad thing. 

Matthew 6:4 says,

“But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” 

In the garden, God told Adam all about the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, before he made Eve.

But in a later chapter, we quickly realized Adam told Eve all about it too.

Does that mean God kept a secret from Eve?

Secrets are bad only if the nature of them is rooted in sin.

Keeping a sinful secret, however, can be detrimental to a healthy spiritual life.

In chapter three of Genesis, God gives Adam and Eve the opportunity to confess their sin before him.

Although they didn’t take responsibility for their sin and instead blamed each other, God still wants us to openly speak to him about our sin.

As we confess our sin to God or to others, it offers us the opportunity to be forgiven and to take responsibility for our actions.

It is necessary for every person to have someone they can talk to about their sin.

By confessing it outwardly, the bondage with which Satan holds us and the shame that comes with it can be broken when we confess our sins openly.

3. God Can’t Forgive This

Some sins in our mind are so severe, we think God can’t possibly forgive us.

For example, if the sin is habitual, like some form of lust (pornography, for example) we realize that sin not only deals with lust but also with adultery, especially if the person looking at it is married. 

Matthew 5:28 says, “anyone who even looks lustfully in another woman has committed adultery in his heart.”

But there is no sin God can’t forgive.

By Jesus’ death on the cross, he covered over every sin we have committed or will commit in the future.

We can be assured God forgives us when we confess our sin and repent of our behavior. But sometimes the person we can’t forgive is ourselves. We struggle with the process of forgiving ourselves for the difficult sins we have committed.

Don’t believe the lie that you can’t stop doing what you’re doing.

With God’s help anything is possible.

4. It’s Not as Big as Other People’s Sin

In Galatians 6:4-5, Paul encourages the church to restore someone gently, especially if they are in sin.

He then continues, “Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, for each one should carry their own load.”

It’s easy to get into the trap of comparison and allow pride to enter your heart.

One of the sneakiest sins we commit is pride because it’s so easy to go on and on unchecked.

We then compare our sin to the person who needs to be restored, and believe we are better people because our sin is not as bad as theirs.

But again, we deceive ourselves into thinking certain sins are worse than others.

All sin separates us from the love of God.

All sin needs to be confessed and forgiven.

All behaviors must be repented before freedom can be achieved.

The next time you hear someone else’s sin, don’t be quick to allow pride to enter your heart.

Show gentleness and humility, helping that person and praying for them so that they can achieve the same freedom you’ve come to know.

5. I Can’t Stop

When we are entangled in sin, and repeat the same behavior again, it becomes more difficult to break free.

This is especially true of sins which are still considered shameful in front of society. We can easily lie to ourselves and say we don’t have the willpower to be able to stop this. But our finite willpower isn’t the key to freedom; only Jesus is.

When we lie to ourselves and tell ourselves we cannot stop, we put God in a box.

We underestimate his power and presence in our lives.

If Jesus can raise people from the dead, then he can certainly stop a sin from dominating our lives.

A good place to start is confess your sin to someone.

Tell them you need help to stop. Through a renewed reading of the word, prayer and constant accountability, freedom is possible. It may be hard at first and you may stumble, but don’t give up. All freedom is possible to those who believe.

We live in a divisive society where people don’t want to be judged for their sin.

Therefore, it gets much easier for us to conceal our sin and allow it to become a stronghold in our lives.

But through open confession, prayer, reading the Word of God and renewing our minds, max reliance on Jesus is key. When we rely on Jesus and trust him to remove the sin, we can experience freedom, Shalom, as we never have before. 

In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,

Praying …

Psalm 15 Lexham English Bible

A Description of Those Who May Dwell with Yahweh

A psalm of David.[a]

15 O Yahweh, who may reside in your tent?
Who may dwell on your holy mountain?
2 He who walks blamelessly and does what is right.
He who speaks honestly in his heart.
3 He does not slander with his tongue.
He does not harm his friend,
nor bring up[b] a disgrace against his neighbor.
4 In his eyes a rejected one is contemptible,
but he honors those who respect Yahweh.
He takes an oath to his own injury and does not retract it.
5 He does not lend his money at interest,
and does not take a bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things
will never be shaken.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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Herds of Panting Deer? Our Parched, Thirsty Souls? God’s Living Waters? Psalm 42

Psalm 42 Authorized (King James) Version

Psalm 42
To the chief Musician, Maschil, for the sons of Korah.

1 As the hart panteth after the water brooks,
so panteth my soul after thee, O God.
2 My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God:
when shall I come and appear before God?
3 My tears have been my meat day and night,
while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?
4 When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me:
for I had gone with the multitude,
I went with them to the house of God,
with the voice of joy and praise,
with a multitude that kept holyday.

5 Why art thou cast down, O my soul?
and why art thou disquieted in me?
hope thou in God:
for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.

6 O my God, my soul is cast down within me:
therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan,
and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar.
7 Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts:
all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me.
8 Yet the Lord will command his lovingkindness in the daytime,
and in the night his song shall be with me,
and my prayer unto the God of my life.
9 I will say unto God my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me?
why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?
10 As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me;
while they say daily unto me, Where is thy God?

11 Why art thou cast down, O my soul?
and why art thou disquieted within me?
hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him,
who is the health of my countenance, and my God.

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

When I visualize a deer, I rather quickly picture the white-tail deer which is commonplace in most of North America.

That default picture in my head could be misleading because in the Bible the word “deer” could mean any one of number of creatures such as an ibex, a gazelle, a mountain goat, and other species in the deer family.

Israel was allowed to eat deer (Deut. 15:22), and, even though it is considered a “clean” (edible) animal, it is nowhere stated to be a sacrificial animal.

They are pictured as beautiful and graceful (Prov. 5:19) and creatures known for their speed, agility, and slender legs.

In Psalm 42, the Psalmist begins with a vivid image:

“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?” (Ps. 42:1–2).

This comparison between a deer’s thirst for water and the soul’s thirst for God beautifully captures the essence of our spiritual hunger.

The deer more likely here is in search of water during a season of prolonged drought than one who is frantically trying to escape when it is being hunted.

On a hot day, nothing cools and revives us like water. Whether we drink it, splash our faces with it, or plunge into it—those streams of water refreshes.

Our eyes can thirst for the sight of it and our ears long for the sound of it.

A spectacular waterfall can take our breath away.

There is nothing else in creation like water; it is essential to life.

Our psalmist shares our appreciation.

Stranded far away from God’s temple, which symbolized God’s presence among his people, the psalmist desperately ached to be nearer to God, yearned to be with God in the traditional, non-traditional places of worship. Yet the writer of this Psalm reminded himself that God could always be found close at hand too.

The Psalmist’s expression of deep spiritual longing for God reflects a profound personal awareness of his significant need for divine presence and intimacy.

Deprived of the fresh stream of water that is God, sometimes we try to refill our souls with our tears, but they can’t satisfy our thirst.

Reminding ourselves of what God has done for us in the past can be a refreshing drink; remembering God’s promises can soak us in waves of hope.

When others share stories with us of how God alone has quenched their thirst, they push us into the pool of God’s grace.

These psalms assure us there is plenty of living water to satisfy all our thirst.

Even more, Jesus stands ready at his well of living water, offering us the life-giving Spirit of God as a spring that wells up within us to eternal life (John 4:14).

The Psalmists use of “my soul” in verse 1 instead of just “I” extends the metaphor of thirsting not only for physical water but also for spiritual needs.

Just as water is essential for a deer’s survival, so too is God’s presence essential for our spiritual well-being. The Psalmist’s soul mightily thirsts for the living God, emphasizing that nothing else can ever satisfy this inner spiritual craving.

Have you been refreshed by the water of life?

Go Deeper

Have you ever experienced spiritual dryness and periods of longing?

Do you feel that way today?

Our soul’s thirst for God is a reminder of our dependence on Him and our need to seek His presence continually.

What can you do today to satisfy that need?

In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,

Pray with Us …

Psalm 63

A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah.

1 O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee:
my soul thirsteth for thee,
my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;
2 to see thy power and thy glory,
so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary.
3 Because thy lovingkindness is better than life,
my lips shall praise thee.
4 Thus will I bless thee while I live:
I will lift up my hands in thy name.
5 My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness;
and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips:
6 when I remember thee upon my bed,
and meditate on thee in the night watches.
7 Because thou hast been my help,
therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice.
8 My soul followeth hard after thee:
thy right hand upholdeth me.
9 But those that seek my soul, to destroy it, shall go into the lower parts of the earth.
10 They shall fall by the sword:
they shall be a portion for foxes.
11 But the king shall rejoice in God;
every one that sweareth by him shall glory:
but the mouth of them that speak lies shall be stopped.

Lord, we recognize our deep dependence on You. With the Psalmist, we cry out to You: “My soul thirsts for God, for the living God” (Ps. 42:2). Satisfy our spiritual hunger and thirst, we pray, with the living water of Your Word!

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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When do we survey the indescribable shame, total ugliness of the Cross? Hebrews 12:1-3

Hebrews 12:1-3 Lexham English Bible

The Example of Jesus’ Suffering

12 Therefore, since[a] we also have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us, putting aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us[b], let us run with patient endurance the race that has been set before us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the originator and perfecter of faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider the one who endured such hostility by sinners against himself,[c] so that you will not grow weary in your souls and give up.

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

How many crosses do you own?

Where are they, and in what style? Writing and recording this today, I could see several crosses around me. There is the cross I wear around my neck and the wooded one around my neck; I also have a wonderfully hand-crafted cross of nails hanging on my wall. These crosses are all simple, artistic and beautiful.

Such majestic representations of the cross pair well with the regal language we use to describe it.

We may speak about the victory we received or how the simple cross testifies to  salvation, love, and forgiveness.

We might sing about the Old Rugged Cross and cherish it deeply.

A favorite hymn of my church growing up described the cross as erected on “some green hill far away outside the city wall.”

It all seems quite regal, quaint, and nostalgic, doesn’t it?

Don’t get me wrong—there is truth in all of this. The cross is a moment of victory, and love and forgiveness coming our way because of it. But there is a deeper too often overlooked truth we must remember: Jesus’s cross was ugly.

Jesus did not die upon some majestic religious symbol.

In the ancient world, the cross was a brutal execution tool, reserved for those deemed unworthy of respect or dignity.

Written in Roman law was the decree that no Roman citizen could be killed on the cross.

The cross was reserved for the worst of the worst, declaring them less than nothing.

The reason why Jesus died on the “green hill far away outside the city wall” wasn’t because this was a place of scenic beauty; no, it was a place wherein the crucified could be mocked. It was the place of the skull, signifying how cut off the crucified was from all life, love, and relationships, and provision for life.

When Jesus hung upon the cross, those standing by Jesus didn’t muse about the love of God; they mocked him.

They derided him.  

They insulted him. “You who could save others, save yourself!” they jeer.  

“Come down from the cross, if you can,” they cry. And that grand sign above Jesus, “This is the King of the Jews,” was not written as some statement of faith. This was Pilate declaring defeat over any would-be Israelite King. 

No. Jesus didn’t take on that which was beautiful or majestic, as if it were something easy and dignified. He endured the cross, taking on its shame.

On the cross, Jesus took upon himself everything that makes us squirm, recoil, and feel uncomfortable.

But it was this that testifies to who Jesus is.

Intersecting Faith and Life

Jesus shows his true nature; reveals his fullness as the Messiah, the Savior, the Lord of all, not because he escapes the cross, nor transforms it into some easy, much desirable symbol.

No, He proves who he is, the salvation he brings by hanging there and taking upon himself not an easy or beautiful cross but of derision, mockery, shame.

Jesus scorns all that the cross represents; he shows that he is the pioneer and perfecter of our faith precisely because he understands this is the will of His Father God, obediently endures the cross, takes it on, and does not forsake it.

The cross, therefore, is the symbol of faith precisely because it is ugly, extreme, and a symbol of shame, abandonment, and derision.

The cross represents everything not beautiful, majestic, nor surrounded by pleasantry and Ease.

It symbolizes faith because it is into that place that Jesus entered.

it is into that place we all must enter and utterly embrace and own the moment.

So, as you think about the cross, dare to take a moment and be uncomfortable today.  Dare to be affected. Dare to recognize the very scorn and derision that Jesus felt as he hung brutally beaten and bloodied, dying on the cross for you.

And allow that fact to teach you Jesus doesn’t, will not ever wait for you to feel comfortable and victorious. Jesus doesn’t stand on the sidelines of life trying to avoid the mess. He comes to you in the very place where you should feel the very harshest derision, the utmost profound guilt, and the worst ever shame.

The ugliness of the cross means that Jesus embraces you in all the places where you feel ugly. 

So, look to Jesus. Embrace the cross and uncover how Jesus’s love meets us.

In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,

Praying …

Suffering and Waiting for Deliverance

For the music director; according to The Doe of the Dawn. A psalm of David.[a]

22 My God, my God why have you forsaken me?
Why are you far from helping me, far from the words of my groaning?
2 O my God, I call by day and you do not answer,
and by night but I have no rest.[b]
3 Yet you are holy,
enthroned on the praises of Israel.
4 Our ancestors[c] trusted you;
they trusted and you delivered them.
5 They cried to you and were saved;
they trusted you and were not ashamed.
6 But I am a worm and not a man,
scorned by humankind and despised by people.
7 All who see me mock me.
They open wide their lips;
they shake the head, saying:
8 “He trusts Yahweh.[d] Let him rescue him.
Let him deliver him because he delights in him.”
9 Yet you took me from the belly;
you made me trust while on my mother’s breasts.
10 On you I was cast from the womb.
From my mother’s belly you have been my God.
11 Do not be far from me
because trouble is near;
because there is no helper.
12 Many bulls have encircled me;
mighty bulls of Bashan have surrounded me.
13 They open their mouth against me
like a lion tearing and roaring.
14 I am poured out like water,
and all my bones are out of joint.
My heart is like wax;
it is melted within me.[e]
15 My strength is dry like a potsherd,
and my tongue is sticking to my jaws;
and you have placed me in the dust of death.
16 Because dogs have surrounded me;
a gang of evildoers has encircled me.
Like the lion[f] they are at my hands and my feet.
17 I can count all my bones;
they gaze, they look at me.
18 They divide my garments among them,
and for my clothing they cast lots.[g]
19 But you, O Yahweh, do not remain distant.
O my help, hasten to help me.
20 Rescue my life from the sword,
my only life from the power of the dogs.[h]
21 Save me from the mouth of the lion,
and from the horns of the wild oxen answer me.
22 I will tell your name to my brothers;
inside the assembly I will praise you.
23 You who revere Yahweh, praise him!
Glorify him, all you seed of Jacob,
and be in awe of him, all you seed of Israel,
24 because he has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted,
and has not hid his face from him;
but he listened to him when he cried for help.
25 From you is my praise.
In the great assembly,
I will pay my vows before those who revere him.
26 The afflicted will eat and will be satisfied.
Those who seek him will praise Yahweh.
May your[i] heart live forever.
27 All the ends of the earth
will remember and turn to Yahweh.
All the families of the nations
will worship before you.
28 Because the kingship belongs to Yahweh,
and he rules over the nations.
29 All the healthy ones[j] of the earth will eat and worship.
Before him all of those descending into the dust will kneel,
even he who cannot keep his soul alive.
30 Descendants[k] will serve him.
Regarding the Lord, it will be told to the next generation.
31 They will come and tell his saving[l] deeds
to a people yet to be born, that he has done it.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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Helping Your Children’s Faith Grow this Summer; “I have treasured Your Word in my heart, So that I may not sin against You.” Psalm 119:9-16

Psalm 119:9-16 The Message

9-16 How can a young person live a clean life?
    By carefully reading the map of your Word.
I’m single-minded in pursuit of you;
    don’t let me miss the road signs you’ve posted.
I’ve banked your promises in the vault of my heart
    so I won’t sin myself bankrupt.
Be blessed, God;
    train me in your ways of wise living.
I’ll transfer to my lips
    all the counsel that comes from your mouth;
I delight far more in what you tell me about living
    than in gathering a pile of riches.
I ponder every morsel of wisdom from you,
    I attentively watch how you’ve done it.
I relish everything you’ve told me of life,
    I won’t forget a word of it.

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

As parents, hopefully, we are all concerned for our children’s spiritual growth.

I’m assuming you’ve read this far into this article because you want tangible ways to nurture this growth. The great news is that caring is half the battle. 

You’ve cared enough to lay the foundation in their formidable years, but now, as your children enter their adolescence it’s time to pivot. Our children are now critical thinkers and questioning their worldviews.

They will have serious questions about faith, the world, culture, themselves.

It’s time to create a culture within our homes for conversation and even doubt.

In her book Saving Leonardo, Professor Nancy Pearcey references a Fuller Youth Institute study that backs the idea that when adolescents are given their space to wrestle with their doubts, it actually deepens and strengthens their faith.

https://www.google.com/search?q=Saving+Leonardo%2C&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

Becoming a safe space to wrestle with doubts might sound scary to us as parents, but it turns out that our children really, desperately, need this.

So, how do we brave the waters of becoming a safe place for doubt without accidentally wading into deconstructionism?

What is the main idea of deconstructionism?

Deconstruction denotes the pursuing of the meaning of a text to the point of exposing the supposed contradictions and internal oppositions upon which it is founded, grounded—supposedly showing that those foundations are 100% irreducibly complex, unstable, or impossible.

What is the core concept of deconstruction?

It challenges the traditional notions of language, meaning, and truth by exposing the contradictions and inconsistencies within texts and ideas.

At its core, deconstruction argues that all texts and ideas are composed of a series of oppositions or binary pairs, such as good/evil, presence/absence, or male/female.

What do deconstructionists believe?

Essentially, deconstructionists think they can interpret the real meaning of Scripture using their finite, fleshly understanding. They deny the existence of absolute truth because they are filled with confusion, conflict, and doubt.

Deconstructionism argues that logical structures based on binaries, or binary pairs, are the bones of society and language.

What is an example of deconstructionism?

A binary consists of two concepts that are presented as being at odds with each other. Examples include life/death, mind/body, and masculine/feminine.

3 Ways to Help Your Children’s Faith Grow This Summer

Step One: Open Up Your Heart

 If you are a parent, which I assume you are because you’re still reading this article, you have an opportunity to meet your child on their terms. 

We’ve already discussed all the factors that adolescents are currently facing, but the reality is that we just don’t know what we don’t know. 

We don’t know what young people today are internalizing.

We likely don’t know what it’s like to be challenged with worldviews antithetical to a Christian worldview.

We don’t know what it’s like to have LGBTQ+ literature in our middle school libraries (if your child is in public school), we don’t know what it’s like to have gender-neutral bathrooms in our school or to have to compete against trans-athletes or forfeit, and we don’t know what it’s like to our gender challenged by our own peers at such a critical time of physical and cognitive development.

Sure, we had our own challenges in our upbringing, but the challenges our children face are almost incomprehensible to us. Given these factors and more, our hearts must be incredibly tender towards our children and their friends.

Keeping a tender heart opens us up in empathy to pray over the intricate aspects of our children’s lives. It helps us orient ourselves towards prayer, not just for our children but for their friends, the other children in their schools—and by extension—families in our communities. 

Step Two: Open Up Your Home

I’ll be completely transparent when I tell you that this part is hard for me. Opening up my home means that I’m inviting loud, messy, stinky and sometimes crude teenage boys into my home.

And when I say stinky, I really mean it. I love a clean house. I love order.

I really love quiet.

Becoming “the house” means that my house is going to get messy, disorderly, and very loud, but becoming “the house” also means that I get to walk out my Christian faith right in front of my children.

Through meals and conversation the gospel is shared.

My children observe that a life dedicated to Christ is a life lived in action. 

We do not close ourselves off from the rest of the world, instead we dig in, get messy and become as inclusive as possible.

This summer, consider starting a prayer journal in which you record your prayers over your children and all of their friends. 

Next, model this for your children.

Engage your children in prayer, praying with them, over them, and for their friends.

Modeling an active prayer life for your children may have a massive ripple effect.

Step Three: Open Up Your Head

Okay, so you’ve become “the house,” now what? 

Now, you listen, serve, and attend to the needs of your children and their friends. You feed them, stay engaged, invite them (youth group or Bible study), and create an environment where your children and their friends can ask the hard questions.

This part may feel somewhat tedious, but creating a safe environment in which young people can ask questions about faith will be fundamental in their spiritual development. 

Now, this part might make you feel nervous.

“What if I don’t have all the answers?”

“What if my own child stumps me?”

My 11-year-old grandson stumps me all the time, but I’m willing to engage in a conversation with him. 

Sometimes the best response is, “I don’t know the answer, but I’d love to research and pursue that with you.” 

The reality is that we don’t have to know it all, but Christian responsibility means being open to learning and wrestling. 

Don’t be in a rush to answer questions; instead be humble and willing to grow alongside your children.

Who knows, their questions might actually drive you to a deeper faith.

Bonus Step: Open Up Your Wallet

In opening up my heart, home, and head, I quickly learned that a fourth step was necessary.

I had to open my wallet, because snacks and tacos are expensive.

Gas money for driving all the kids everywhere they want to go is expensive.

Engaging our children and facilitating spiritual growth will always come at a cost, and, more often than not, that cost is monetary. 

Additionally, the cost can be our time, or our preferences when we make choices that benefit our children and their friends more than ourselves. 

Scripture reminds us time and time again, walking in faith is costly, but  hopefully, when it comes to our children’s spiritual growth, we count that cost as gain.

In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit

Praying …

Psalm 19 New American Standard Bible
The Works and the Word of God.

For the music director. A Psalm of David.

19 The heavens tell of the glory of God;
And their expanse declares the work of His hands.
2 Day to day pours forth speech,
And night to night reveals knowledge.
3 There is no speech, nor are there words;
Their voice is not heard.
4 Their [a]line has gone out into all the earth,
And their words to the end of the world.
In them He has placed a tent for the sun,
5 Which is like a groom coming out of his chamber;
It rejoices like a strong person to run his course.
6 Its rising is from [b]one end of the heavens,
And its circuit to the [c]other end of them;
And there is nothing hidden from its heat.

7 The Law of the Lord is [d]perfect, restoring the soul;
The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.
8 The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart;
The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.
9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever;
The judgments of the Lord are true; they are righteous altogether.
10 They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much pure gold;
Sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.
11 Moreover, Your servant is warned by them;
In keeping them there is great reward.
12 Who can discern his errors? Acquit me of hidden faults.
13 Also keep Your servant back from presumptuous sins;
Let them not rule over me;
Then I will be innocent,
And I will be blameless of great wrongdoing.
14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Your sight,
Lord, my rock and my Redeemer.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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