TODAYS WORD FOR FRIDAY NOVEMBER 27.
SUBMISSION
Defined by Webster:
The act or effect of submitting; yielding; obedient.
GODS WORD
“Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted among men.” I Peter 2:13.
“Wives, submit to your husbands as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh to them.” Colossians 3:18-19
“You younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another.” I Peter 5:5.
“One who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence.” I Timothy 3:4.
WORDS FROM KEN AND DOTTIE
We all have a mind of our own and a desire to do things our way and in our own timing. Our natural tendency is not to want to be submissive. This is nothing new. It goes back to the Garden of Eden. First Eve, then Adam, rebelled against submitting to God’s command not to eat the forbidden fruit. That was when trouble began.
As new parents we were amazed at how soon our sweet little bundle of joy developed a mind of his own and had no desire to submit to our will. You just went to sleep and your child is wide awake demanding attention and just wants to play. You know whose will wins out. That is only the beginning. They only get more demanding as they grow up so it is soon quite evident they have a lot to learn about submission.
Submission to others is necessary to prevent discord and chaos. The Bible teaches that we are to be submissive, first of all to God, and obey His commandments. The tragic actions of Adam and Eve are evidence of the importance of being submissive to God. Jesus set the example for us by submitting to the will of the Father and was “obedient to death, even death on the cross.” (Philippians 2:9). How can we do any less then to submit ourselves to God, the Father our Lord and creator.
The Bible teaches that we are to be submissive in our marriage. Colossians 3:18 instructs us that wives should submit to their husbands as to the Lord. In this day of “women’s lib” this is not a popular concept. Nevertheless it is what God says. It is not popular because it has been misinterpreted and misused as giving the husband unlimited authority. They forget that the Lord commands husbands how to love and treat their wives.
The Bible’s teaching on marriage relationships requires the man to be the spiritual leader of the family and the wife is to acknowledge his leadership role. A loving and caring husband will not take advantage of his leadership role and be a demanding tyrant. Likewise, a wife who loves and cares for her husband will not undermine her husband’s leadership. There must be a mutual submission between husband and wife, with each striving to be a true help-mate. Submission is what brings harmony and unity in a marriage. There has to be a lot of give and take in a marriage.
The Bible also tells us that we must be submissive to those in authority over us. Peter tells us to submit to those who have a legitimate authority over us for the Lord’s sake. It honors the Lord when we are law abiding and obedient to those in authority over us. The only exception is that if obedience to an authority would cause us to be disobedient to God.
As parents, we must teach our children to be submissive not only to us as parents, but to their teachers and others who have authority over them.
This week’s memory verse is found in Psalm 119:11. Remember:
our goal is to memorize one verse a week and this is FRIDAY!
“Your Word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against You.”
TODAYS FAMILY PRAYER
Help me to control my desire to have things my way and give me a willingness to be submissive. Help me to be submissive, first of all, to You and secondly to my spouse. Guide us as we teach our children to be submissive. May others see Christ in us as they see our submission to our Lord.
November 29, 2009
Thankgiving: November 26, 2009
TODAYS WORD FOR THURSDAY NOVEMBER 26.
THANKSGIVING
Defined by Webster:
The act or occasion of giving thanks to God.
GODS WORD
“Let us come before His presence with Thanksgiving.” Psalm 95:2.
“Enter into His gates with Thanksgiving and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him and bless His name.” Psalm 100:4
WORDS FROM KEN AND DOTTIE
Today is a day across America that has been set aside by a proclamation by our President for us to show our thanks to God. Each of us needs to take time today to thank God for all His blessings to us. Take time today to thank God privately and with your family this Thanksgiving. Here are just a few suggestions for you to consider to give thanks for today.
• Thank God for His blessings on your life.
• Thank God for sending His Son to this earth to pay the penalty for your sins.
• Thank God for sending His Holy Spirit to be your comforter.
• Thank God for giving us His Word, the Bible.
• Thank God for your family.
• Thank God for your spouse.
• Thank God for your children.
• Thank God for your parents.
• Thank God for your grandchildren.
• Thank God for your friends and neighbors.
• Thank God for your church and pastor.
• Thank God for your job.
• Thank God for your house and the home it provides for you.
• Thank God for the talents He has blest you with.
• Thank God for the time He has blest you with to serve Him.
• Thank God for your finances.
• Thank God for your health.
• Thank God for your freedom.
• Thank God for your heritage.
• Thank God for the transportation He has given you.
• Thank God for food and water.
• Thank God for our leaders.
• Thank God for the world you live in.
• Make sure you take time today at your dinner table with your family and friends to thank God for all He has given you. This will make this day a special one for you.
AND THANK GOD FOR THE ABILITY HE HAS GIVEN YOU TO MEMORIZE HIS WORD. DO NOT FORGET TO MEMORIZE OUR VERSE FOR THIS WEEK!
“Your Word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against You.”
Psalm 119:11
TODAYS FAMILY PRAYER
Take time today to pray to your God and your Lord for all His blessings to you.
THANKSGIVING
Defined by Webster:
The act or occasion of giving thanks to God.
GODS WORD
“Let us come before His presence with Thanksgiving.” Psalm 95:2.
“Enter into His gates with Thanksgiving and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him and bless His name.” Psalm 100:4
WORDS FROM KEN AND DOTTIE
Today is a day across America that has been set aside by a proclamation by our President for us to show our thanks to God. Each of us needs to take time today to thank God for all His blessings to us. Take time today to thank God privately and with your family this Thanksgiving. Here are just a few suggestions for you to consider to give thanks for today.
• Thank God for His blessings on your life.
• Thank God for sending His Son to this earth to pay the penalty for your sins.
• Thank God for sending His Holy Spirit to be your comforter.
• Thank God for giving us His Word, the Bible.
• Thank God for your family.
• Thank God for your spouse.
• Thank God for your children.
• Thank God for your parents.
• Thank God for your grandchildren.
• Thank God for your friends and neighbors.
• Thank God for your church and pastor.
• Thank God for your job.
• Thank God for your house and the home it provides for you.
• Thank God for the talents He has blest you with.
• Thank God for the time He has blest you with to serve Him.
• Thank God for your finances.
• Thank God for your health.
• Thank God for your freedom.
• Thank God for your heritage.
• Thank God for the transportation He has given you.
• Thank God for food and water.
• Thank God for our leaders.
• Thank God for the world you live in.
• Make sure you take time today at your dinner table with your family and friends to thank God for all He has given you. This will make this day a special one for you.
AND THANK GOD FOR THE ABILITY HE HAS GIVEN YOU TO MEMORIZE HIS WORD. DO NOT FORGET TO MEMORIZE OUR VERSE FOR THIS WEEK!
“Your Word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against You.”
Psalm 119:11
TODAYS FAMILY PRAYER
Take time today to pray to your God and your Lord for all His blessings to you.
Tongue: November 25, 2009
TODAYS WORD FOR WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 25
TONGUE
Defined by Webster:
A moveable organ in the mouth; the principle organ of taste; speech or talk; a language or dialect.
GODS WORD
“No man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil full of deadly poison. With it we bless our God and Father and with it we curse men.” James 3:8-9.
“A wholesome tongue is a tree of life.” Proverbs 15:4.
“Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit.” Psalm 34:13.
WORDS FROM KEN AND DOTTIE
The tongue is a very small part of our body, but a most important one, as without it we could neither be able to taste or be able to speak. While the tongue is small it is mighty. James tells us that no man can tame the tongue and that it is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
The tongue has the power to do great damage. Once words come out of the mouth they cannot be taken back. In James 3:6 we are told that the damage the tongue can do is compared to a raging fire. Like a fire you cannot control the damage words can do nor can you reverse the damage. In a matter of minutes a few words spoken in anger can destroy the strongest of relationships.
In order to control our tongue we must think before we speak and consider whether our words have merit and are pleasing to God or whether the words we use are hurtful and destructive.
Our society has changed so much even over the last few years that the words we hear today in the work place, on the street, in the movies, on the television and even among the mouths of teenagers and children are appalling. Words that we hear today were never used in public even ten years ago.
We ask the question: “Why do we see this happening?” Think about the changes we have seen here in our society in such things as the forbidding of prayers being said in our schools, not allowing the posting of the Ten Commandments in our schools and in our public buildings and the proliferation of pornography under the guise of free speech. We have taken God out of our society. The media also has shown no restraints in the language used in movies and television.
James tells us what comes out of our mouth shows what motivates us and our words reveal what and who we are. Without God’s help it is impossible to control the tongue. If we claim to be Christians and have faith in Jesus we must submit our tongue to His control.
When we were children we remember our parents telling us they would wash our mouth out with soap if we said a “bad” word. Those “bad” words we used years ago are considered normal everyday words today.
Standards may have changed but God’s standards have not changed. What the Bible teaches about the tongue is still applicable today. James tells us that no man can contain the tongue and that it is an unruly evil and full of deadly poison. We cannot control our tongue with our own strength. We must seek God’s help and through His Holy Spirit working in us, we will be able to keep our tongue from evil and our lips from speaking deceit.
OUR WEEKLY MEMORIZATION VERSE
Our verse to memorize as a family this week is found in Psalm 119:11. Take the time today to memorize this verse. Our goal is that one year from today we all will have memorized 52 verses from the Bible.
“Your Word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against You.”
TODAYS FAMILY PRAYER
Help me today to control my tongue. May my words today honor You in all that I do.
TONGUE
Defined by Webster:
A moveable organ in the mouth; the principle organ of taste; speech or talk; a language or dialect.
GODS WORD
“No man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil full of deadly poison. With it we bless our God and Father and with it we curse men.” James 3:8-9.
“A wholesome tongue is a tree of life.” Proverbs 15:4.
“Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit.” Psalm 34:13.
WORDS FROM KEN AND DOTTIE
The tongue is a very small part of our body, but a most important one, as without it we could neither be able to taste or be able to speak. While the tongue is small it is mighty. James tells us that no man can tame the tongue and that it is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
The tongue has the power to do great damage. Once words come out of the mouth they cannot be taken back. In James 3:6 we are told that the damage the tongue can do is compared to a raging fire. Like a fire you cannot control the damage words can do nor can you reverse the damage. In a matter of minutes a few words spoken in anger can destroy the strongest of relationships.
In order to control our tongue we must think before we speak and consider whether our words have merit and are pleasing to God or whether the words we use are hurtful and destructive.
Our society has changed so much even over the last few years that the words we hear today in the work place, on the street, in the movies, on the television and even among the mouths of teenagers and children are appalling. Words that we hear today were never used in public even ten years ago.
We ask the question: “Why do we see this happening?” Think about the changes we have seen here in our society in such things as the forbidding of prayers being said in our schools, not allowing the posting of the Ten Commandments in our schools and in our public buildings and the proliferation of pornography under the guise of free speech. We have taken God out of our society. The media also has shown no restraints in the language used in movies and television.
James tells us what comes out of our mouth shows what motivates us and our words reveal what and who we are. Without God’s help it is impossible to control the tongue. If we claim to be Christians and have faith in Jesus we must submit our tongue to His control.
When we were children we remember our parents telling us they would wash our mouth out with soap if we said a “bad” word. Those “bad” words we used years ago are considered normal everyday words today.
Standards may have changed but God’s standards have not changed. What the Bible teaches about the tongue is still applicable today. James tells us that no man can contain the tongue and that it is an unruly evil and full of deadly poison. We cannot control our tongue with our own strength. We must seek God’s help and through His Holy Spirit working in us, we will be able to keep our tongue from evil and our lips from speaking deceit.
OUR WEEKLY MEMORIZATION VERSE
Our verse to memorize as a family this week is found in Psalm 119:11. Take the time today to memorize this verse. Our goal is that one year from today we all will have memorized 52 verses from the Bible.
“Your Word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against You.”
TODAYS FAMILY PRAYER
Help me today to control my tongue. May my words today honor You in all that I do.
Works: November 24, 2009
TODAYS WORD FOR TUESDAY NOVEMBER 24
WORKS
Defined by Webster:
Effort put forth; labor; toil. Be employed; perform labor.
GODS WORD
“What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, ‘Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way faith by itself, if not accompanied by action, is dead.” James 2:14
“For by grace you have been saved through faith and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9.
“As the body without the Spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.” James 2:26.
WORDS FROM KEN AND DOTTIE
Many people we talk to really believe that their “GOOD WORKS” will get them into heaven to spend an eternity with God. Most of these people are good people and live a clean life. They are the kind of “neighbors” you would love to have living next door to you. We remember several conversations we had with a friend who was very generous with his time and talent with our ministry. When we talked to him about his relationship with Jesus he always talked about his good works and told us not to be concerned about him because he would see us in heaven.
Some people find the two verses that we have listed above from Ephesians and James confusing. They ask: Is salvation simply by grace through faith alone or do we have to work for it? Paul wants us to understand that there is nothing we can do to merit or earn our salvation. Keeping all the laws in the Bible will not earn us salvation, it is only by the grace of God through faith that we can be saved. Paul in Ephesians talks about salvation through faith and James in James says faith without deeds (WORKS) is dead. They do not contradict each other, actually they supplement one another. James would never argue against Paul’s assertion that salvation is by faith but James presupposes that we understand these doctrines that are so clearly stated in Paul’s letters. James goes a step further by saying that a commitment to Christ is expressed through our actions.
WORKS IS AN EVIDENCE OF YOUR FAITH!
Martin Luther puts it this way: A man is justified (declared righteous before God) by faith alone, but not by a faith that is alone. Genuine faith will produce good deeds, but only faith in Christ saves.
God is expecting us as believers to work hard until His return. Some have asked us the big question: When are you going to retire? Our answer is very clear and simple --- NEVER. God has put each one of us on this earth for a purpose. When we consider the great price God and His Son Jesus paid for our salvation, we cannot sit back and retire. We are committed for a life time to work for Him. We firmly believe that God will take us to be with Him when we have completed “the works” that God has for us on this earth. Our prayer today is that you will join us by doing the “works” that God has for you.
REMEMBER OUR MEMORY VERSE FOR THIS WEEK:
“Your Word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against You.”
Psalm 119:11
We encourage you to memorize this verse by this Friday.
TODAYS FAMILY PRAYER
Help us as a family to share our faith with those we touch daily so they can know You as their Savior. Help us to also “WORK” daily to do Your will, so that our actions will show others the evidence of our faith in You.
WORKS
Defined by Webster:
Effort put forth; labor; toil. Be employed; perform labor.
GODS WORD
“What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, ‘Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way faith by itself, if not accompanied by action, is dead.” James 2:14
“For by grace you have been saved through faith and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9.
“As the body without the Spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.” James 2:26.
WORDS FROM KEN AND DOTTIE
Many people we talk to really believe that their “GOOD WORKS” will get them into heaven to spend an eternity with God. Most of these people are good people and live a clean life. They are the kind of “neighbors” you would love to have living next door to you. We remember several conversations we had with a friend who was very generous with his time and talent with our ministry. When we talked to him about his relationship with Jesus he always talked about his good works and told us not to be concerned about him because he would see us in heaven.
Some people find the two verses that we have listed above from Ephesians and James confusing. They ask: Is salvation simply by grace through faith alone or do we have to work for it? Paul wants us to understand that there is nothing we can do to merit or earn our salvation. Keeping all the laws in the Bible will not earn us salvation, it is only by the grace of God through faith that we can be saved. Paul in Ephesians talks about salvation through faith and James in James says faith without deeds (WORKS) is dead. They do not contradict each other, actually they supplement one another. James would never argue against Paul’s assertion that salvation is by faith but James presupposes that we understand these doctrines that are so clearly stated in Paul’s letters. James goes a step further by saying that a commitment to Christ is expressed through our actions.
WORKS IS AN EVIDENCE OF YOUR FAITH!
Martin Luther puts it this way: A man is justified (declared righteous before God) by faith alone, but not by a faith that is alone. Genuine faith will produce good deeds, but only faith in Christ saves.
God is expecting us as believers to work hard until His return. Some have asked us the big question: When are you going to retire? Our answer is very clear and simple --- NEVER. God has put each one of us on this earth for a purpose. When we consider the great price God and His Son Jesus paid for our salvation, we cannot sit back and retire. We are committed for a life time to work for Him. We firmly believe that God will take us to be with Him when we have completed “the works” that God has for us on this earth. Our prayer today is that you will join us by doing the “works” that God has for you.
REMEMBER OUR MEMORY VERSE FOR THIS WEEK:
“Your Word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against You.”
Psalm 119:11
We encourage you to memorize this verse by this Friday.
TODAYS FAMILY PRAYER
Help us as a family to share our faith with those we touch daily so they can know You as their Savior. Help us to also “WORK” daily to do Your will, so that our actions will show others the evidence of our faith in You.
Memorization: November 23, 2009
TODAYS WORD FOR MONDAY NOVEMBER 23.
MEMORIZATION
Defined by Webster:
The mental capacity of retaining and reviving impressions; remembrance; recollection.
GODS WORD
“Your Word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against You.” Psalm 119:11
“Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Psalm 119:105.
WORDS FROM KEN AND DOTTIE
When our children were living at home we made it a practice for all of us to have dinner together every night as a family. We had very few exceptions over the more then 30 years. We felt as parents that this was an important need for several reasons. First it gave us time together every day with the family. By the way --- there was no TV on or text messages coming in. It was a family time without outside distractions.
Secondly, it kept the communication line open giving each of us the chance to talk about how our day went. Thirdly, each child had an opportunity to share their concerns and blessings with us. Fourthly, it gave us as parents a chance to listen so we could be sensitive to each child’s needs and concerns and respond to them before they became major problems.
Probably the most important reason for this practice was that it gave us time every night to read the Bible together and to pray together as a family. We could share prayer needs and hear about people that needed our prayers. Each one of us had our own circle of friends with some overlapping, but hearing prayer requests from each family member broadened our world of concern. We also each week had one verse from the Bible that together as a family we would memorize. These verses have stayed with us all down through the years. Memorizing God’s Word has been so important to the spiritual growth of our children and to us as well.
In the two verses we have listed above we can see the importance of memorizing God’s Word. The Psalmist reminds us to hide God’s Word in our heart so that we may not sin. Thus it helps us grow spiritually each day that we live. When we hide God’s Word in our heart, the scriptures memorized will be a constant reminder for us to walk as Jesus wants us to walk and His Word will guide us in that walk.
We have been in parts of the world where families did not have their own Bible so they shared one Bible with another family. There also are people in certain areas of our world that have asked for just one Bible for a whole village. When they received their Bible, they tore out a page for each family. They would keep that page for a set time and then trade with another person or family. While they had their one page they would memorize these pages so that they would always have hidden in their hearts the Word of God.
Having had this experience with our family and seeing illustrations of what we have shared above we have decided to add one verse from the Bible each week to these devotionals for us all to memorize together. These verses each week will be simple, short but meaningful. We hope you will join us in this new addition to our daily devotionals.
THIS WEEKS VERSE!
“YOUR WORD HAVE I HID IN MY HEART THAT I
MIGHT NOT SIN AGAINST YOU.” PSALM 119:11
TODAYS FAMILY PRAYER
Give our family a desire to memorize Your word. Help us to realize how blessed we are to have Your written Word so we can hide it in our hearts. Thank You for the assurance You give that by doing this it will help us not sin against You. As we, as a family, memorize Your Word allow it to make a difference in the way we live and the way we serve You.
MEMORIZATION
Defined by Webster:
The mental capacity of retaining and reviving impressions; remembrance; recollection.
GODS WORD
“Your Word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against You.” Psalm 119:11
“Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Psalm 119:105.
WORDS FROM KEN AND DOTTIE
When our children were living at home we made it a practice for all of us to have dinner together every night as a family. We had very few exceptions over the more then 30 years. We felt as parents that this was an important need for several reasons. First it gave us time together every day with the family. By the way --- there was no TV on or text messages coming in. It was a family time without outside distractions.
Secondly, it kept the communication line open giving each of us the chance to talk about how our day went. Thirdly, each child had an opportunity to share their concerns and blessings with us. Fourthly, it gave us as parents a chance to listen so we could be sensitive to each child’s needs and concerns and respond to them before they became major problems.
Probably the most important reason for this practice was that it gave us time every night to read the Bible together and to pray together as a family. We could share prayer needs and hear about people that needed our prayers. Each one of us had our own circle of friends with some overlapping, but hearing prayer requests from each family member broadened our world of concern. We also each week had one verse from the Bible that together as a family we would memorize. These verses have stayed with us all down through the years. Memorizing God’s Word has been so important to the spiritual growth of our children and to us as well.
In the two verses we have listed above we can see the importance of memorizing God’s Word. The Psalmist reminds us to hide God’s Word in our heart so that we may not sin. Thus it helps us grow spiritually each day that we live. When we hide God’s Word in our heart, the scriptures memorized will be a constant reminder for us to walk as Jesus wants us to walk and His Word will guide us in that walk.
We have been in parts of the world where families did not have their own Bible so they shared one Bible with another family. There also are people in certain areas of our world that have asked for just one Bible for a whole village. When they received their Bible, they tore out a page for each family. They would keep that page for a set time and then trade with another person or family. While they had their one page they would memorize these pages so that they would always have hidden in their hearts the Word of God.
Having had this experience with our family and seeing illustrations of what we have shared above we have decided to add one verse from the Bible each week to these devotionals for us all to memorize together. These verses each week will be simple, short but meaningful. We hope you will join us in this new addition to our daily devotionals.
THIS WEEKS VERSE!
“YOUR WORD HAVE I HID IN MY HEART THAT I
MIGHT NOT SIN AGAINST YOU.” PSALM 119:11
TODAYS FAMILY PRAYER
Give our family a desire to memorize Your word. Help us to realize how blessed we are to have Your written Word so we can hide it in our hearts. Thank You for the assurance You give that by doing this it will help us not sin against You. As we, as a family, memorize Your Word allow it to make a difference in the way we live and the way we serve You.
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