Investing

Monday Reading
      Exodus 31:2; Matthew 25:14-30 God called Bezaleel by name. He knew him and paired him with others to do a special work, craftsmanship. He wasn't a priest, a pastor, a Sunday School teacher. Bezaleel was a man who worked with his hands. A man to whom God had given talents and Bezaleel used them and honed them to do the best work he could.

God knows us and calls us and gives us special talents. He pairs us with others for help and encouragement. Our job is to practice those talents and sharpen them so we can be used by God for the furtherance of His kingdom. There is no talent too small or too insignificant that God can't use it because. . . He gave the talent.

Father, help me use the talents You have given to glorify Your name. In Jesus name. Amen.

Tuesday Readings
      Exodus 32:31,32; Deuteronomy 6:3-15 Moses was gone up on the mountains a long time and the people thought he wouldn't return. They were returning to the ways of Egypt. They gave Aaron their gold to make a molten calf. How could they? Moses had to pray for God's forgiveness. Moses was willing to give up his place in God's book if God would not forgive.

Before we judge the Israelites, let us examine our own selves. Have we worshipped the "gold" - materialism and sacrificed the families God has given us saying it is so our children have more? What do they need more of? Is it not parents who are commanded to train up their children and teach them?

Father, forgive us. Help us, Your people, to repent and return and bring up our sons and our daughters in our homes, telling them when we walk and when we sit, that we might ever keep You and Your word before their innocent eyes. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Wednesday Readings
      Exodus 33:17 Moses asked God's favor to go with them and care for them. God's response was that He would go with them and give rest. He declares that He knows Moses by name.

Does God know you by name? Only those who have repented of their sins and asked God's forgiveness and salvation are known in the same intimate way that is referred to in this passage. Yes God knows everyone but not everyone has a relationship that God wants. Every saved person who is attempting to live for God is known and cared for. God's presence is with them.

Thank you Lord, for going with me, for hearing me, for giving me rest in a world of strife. Thank you that I am known of You. In Jesus name. Amen.

Thursday Readings
      Exodus 34:6,7 God is merciful and gracious. His desire is to forgive and save, but those who are not willing to turn from sin not only harm themselves but also their own children to the third and fourth generation.

How often have we heard statistics of alcoholics and abusers whose own parents acted in the same way? How many times have we witnessed to those in false religions to see them turn back to the lies of Satan and continue on their path to destruction?

Father, We are a rebellious and stiff-necked people. Thank You for your mercy and grace. Forgive us and save our children we pray. In Jesus name. Amen.

Friday Readings
      Exodus 35:29-31 We've come full circle from rebellion to forgiveness to willingness to give for the building of the tabernacle. Every man and woman had something invested in the work.

When we invest time and "money" into something we have a vested interest in the work. We are more concerned to see it prosper than if we simply stood by and watched. Let us be participants in God's work!!

Lord Jesus, help me always invest myself and my goods in Your work that the talents You have given are not wasted and that I might have concern to see Your work prosper. In Your name I pray. Amen.

As an encouragement, won't you share how God is using the talents He has given you to invest in His work?

Blessings,

Gail

Conforming ? To Whom?

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God. Romans 12:2

 

 

Children try so hard to be like their parents. Most of the time we enjoy watching them mimic us. But there are times we had rather not see the picture they are reflecting of us.

 

Scripture commands, yes, commands, it doesn't say try not to.... It says, Do Not be conformed to this world. Like I was saying, scripture commands us not to be like the world but rather to be transformed. The Lord doesn't want us to be like the rest of the world but to consciously think about how the Father would have us mimic His Son. It is the Son who has proven the good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

 

Seen any sweet "mimic-ers" lately? Won't you share your joys with us? I'm sure Christ looks down and says to the Father, "Look..." and smiles as He shares His joys with His Father. 

Standing Stones

Standing Stones in the river at Hebron Falls, Julian Price Picnic Area, NC

That this may be a sign among you, that when your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean ye by these stones? Then ye shall answer them, Joshua 4:6-7a.

Hebron Falls 1.4 miles to the right. That’s what the trail sign read. “Take us about an hour, my guess,” I said.

“Quarter to 5 now. Let’s go,” my husband answered.

The trail was easy through a meadow, then we went into the woods. Roots began to cover the trail; mud, streams, rocky ledges. I know why we are suppose to hike with a buddy. I needed Rick’s hand to pull me over rocks! I hoped this fall was going to be worth it.

Finally we could hear the fall tumbling below. A sign: Hebron Falls with the arrow pointing downward. Here we went again. At the bottom we looked up on a tumble of rocks with a stream running willy nilly through it. “Seen better,” Rick said. So had I. I took a few pictures with my cell phone and was about to leave when I spotted it.

“Look at that!” I exclaimed. There at the base of the falls in the middle of the rock pile was a man-made stack of small stones. “I bet there are 12 stones there.” I pointed, counting from a distance out loud. Sure enough 12 stones.

I don’t know who or why those 12 stones from the river were stacked at the base, but I do think they were put there for a reason. Maybe to commemorate something special on the hike. Maybe just to say I’m a Christian and I want others to think about God while they are here in His creation. Maybe none of these things, but to me it said, “Tell the story of what Jesus has done for you.” God commanded Joshua to have a leader from each tribe take a stone from the middle of the Jordan River and make a pile of standing stones so their children and generations to come would ask, “What mean ye by these stones?” God wanted the Israelites to pass on what great things God had done so their children would learn to have faith.

What great thing or things has God done for you that you would like to share so others might know how great a God we serve. Won’t you please leave a comment?

Filling a Hope Chest

      

For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little: Isaiah 28:10

Let’s see what’s in here; a potholder I made when I was 8; a pillowcase I made when I was 12; a crochet doily from Grandma. When I finish this piece I’ll add it to the others.

I may go buy that set of dishes.

That’s pretty much the way it goes for a young girl preparing years in advance for her wedding and future home. Add a little here and a little there with no one special in mind, just a hope that one day she will marry and start a home. But, how are we preparing spiritually for our homes? As wives and mothers it is our job to nurture the children God will give us. II Timothy tells us Timothy’s mother and grandmother provided him with a spiritual upbringing as will as a physical home. Are we preparing spiritually for our future family? Our children are the only real hope for the future. They are the only thing we can take with us into eternity. But how do we prepare?

Line upon line and precept upon precept. We fill our lives with the things of God so that we may bring those things our of our hearts and give them to our children. Are we making time to read God’s Word every day? Do we have a prayer time? Do we have a Christian friend to help me grow and hold me accountable? Are we memorizing scripture? Are we attending a church that will help me grow? If we already have children are we doing those things with and for them?

Encourage one another. Won’t you share your ideas for your spiritual Hope Chest?

Courageous



Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: I Peter 5:8

Have you ever been to a reenactment? The first weekend in October at Walnut Grove Plantation there is a reenactment of a battle in which Bloody Bill Cunningham was killed. He had massacred many patriots just weeks before. No one seemed to know he was near Walnut Grove. The children were playing in the yard when the alarm sounded that the British were coming. People ran to get the children to safety. British stormed the house where a patriot was being treated. Militia filled the yard along with British soldiers and a battle ensued.

What if no one warned the children? What would the enemy have done to them? The enemy walks about even now seeking whom he may devour. Our enemy is not the British, but Satan himself. He will devour our children, our homes and our country if we are not vigilant in watching and training children to watch as well. They innocently play while Satan uses every means available to reach into their hearts and minds to destroy. Do we have trouble finding something to watch? Is shopping for clothes easy? Do we have to be mindful of the radio stations?

The patriots didn’t just rush in and shoo the children to safety. They stood their ground and fought against the invaders. They didn’t just rush in untrained. There were sessions to drill the men in resisting the enemy. The children and wives were at the training drills as well. It was almost a social day. Everyone watched. Little ones played at militia games. Have we trained ourselves in God’s Word to stand against the Devil? Are we training our little ones? Do we rush our little ones to safety and stand our ground in defense of our families and our country? As one of the men in the film “Courageous” says, “Where are we men of courage?” And might I add, “Where are we women of courage?”  

How can we be more effective in standing our ground in defense of our families? Leave us a message with your ideas.   

Blessings!!