JULY 22 2011. TODAYS WORD FOR FRIDAY JULY 22, 2011.
RESPONSIBILITY
DEFINITION:
The state or quality of being accountable; a duty; charge; obligation.
SCRIPTURE:
The man said, “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me the tree, and I ate.” Genesis 3:12.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
One of the things that we have noticed over the years that probably surprises us the most is that people just do not want to take responsibility. In the work place we very rarely could find a person that wanted to take on a new responsibility or greater responsibility. If a person did show some interest they would want a discussion as to what additional benefits they would receive. It also concerns us that people do not want to take responsibility for decisions they were involved in that turned out to be failures or at least not up to what was expected.
In our home it was sometimes a challenge for us when we would assign regular weekly responsibilities to our children. The responses we would hear from our children would vary. One might feel that another had less to do and another would ask how come “my responsibilities are harder than his or hers.”
We often would have several children involved in the same project. If that project was not completed up to the standards we set, we would regularly hear that it was because one child did not do the job properly. Today most children want to know how much they will get paid before they accept a responsibility. It is a difficult concept to teach to children but they must learn life is not all play and that work is required of everyone and that there is great satisfaction in a job well done.
We gave our children a weekly allowance but compared what children get today the amount we gave was very small. But we never attached the allowance to the work responsibilities. Life comes with responsibilities. Our goal should always be to do our best to fulfill the requirements of every responsibility given or assumed by us whether or not we will be rewarded.
The extent to which people avoid legitimate responsibility is of concern to us. And an even greater concern to us is that there are so many people today that do not accept responsibility for their own actions.
When God confronted Adam for eating the forbidden fruit, he chose to blame his wife and God (verse above). When we have done something wrong or just not done something right, do we always accept the responsibility or do we try to pass on the blame to some else? We have a choice. We can take responsibility and accept the blame and pay the consequence or we can shift the blame to someone else. Children usually look for someone whom they can shift the blame to when they have been caught doing something wrong.
The response, that God wants from us and that pleases Him, is to accept personal responsibility for our actions. It is just not right to blame something else or someone else for our wrongs. We will not grow spiritually until we learn to accept the responsibility for all of our actions both good and bad.
We learned working with many people in office situations and as volunteers that a good test of a person’s character was his or her behavior when he or she was wrong.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in Mark 13:31.
“Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.”
PRAYER:
Teach my family the importance of taking the full responsibility for all our actions. Help us not to sit back when something goes wrong to see if someone else will take our responsibility. Help us to diligently fulfill all of our responsibilities.
July 24, 2011
Maturity: July 21, 2011
JULY 21 2011. TODAYS WORD FOR THURSDAY JULY 21, 2011.
MATURITY
DEFINITION:
Complete in natural growth; ripe; fully developed.
SCRIPTURE:
Behold a sower went forth to sow, and when he sowed, some seeds fell by the wayside, and the fowls came and devoured them up; some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth; and when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root they withered away. Matthew 13:3-6.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
In the life of a tree the major key to survival is for that tree to have more roots than shoots. When we read about good and bad trees we notice that if a tree puts on a lot of top growth and few roots it is usually unable to get the needed water and nourishment to sustain itself so that it can grow to maturity.
A tree that puts down a great deal of roots and adds shoots more slowly has a chance to live longer and have more resistance to stress and strain.
The lives of people can be likened to that of a tree. Someone might seem to be on a fast track for success but if they neglect to establish a healthy base they most likely will fail. People just like trees that put up shoots faster than they put down roots are fragile and in danger of breaking, falling or dying.
In the parable told by Jesus in Mark 4, the seed that fell on rocky soil sprang up quickly but soon withered and died because it had no roots. In His explanation of the parable Jesus said some people are like the seed sown on rocky soil because upon hearing God’s Word they receive it quickly and joyfully, but they last only a short time because they do not develop any spiritual roots. Roots are not the least bit attractive but they are the source for strength that makes the rest of the plant productive.
We can learn from this illustration of trees and this parable that Jesus taught as to the importance of how we can become mature in Christ. Maturity comes by hard work. Maturity in our spiritual life comes from reading and studying the Bible.
Trees need the nourishment that they receive through their roots in order to grow. In order for us to grow in our spiritual maturity, believers need the nourishment that comes from the roots of their faith that has been given to us in God’s Word. That is why it is not only important but necessary to read God’s Word daily.
The more we study and learn the truths taught in God’s Word the more mature we will become. Maturity comes through prayer. We need to communicate with our Lord and He will respond according to our needs. When God answers prayer in our lives our faith cannot help but be increased and deepened. Maturity also comes after we act by faith. We need to be a witness of our faith to those we see every day. The more we serve Him the more spiritually mature we will become.
It should be the goal of every believer to become spiritually mature. Peter instructs us in II Peter 3:18 to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” If our roots grow deep in the knowledge of God we will have the spiritual strength and maturity to resist evil and survive the storms of adversity. The roots of stability come from being grounded in God’s Word and in daily prayer.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in Mark 13:31.
“Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.”
PRAYER:
Lord keep me and my family from being envious of the bright lights of evil that shine in our world. Help us to use the resources You have given us to put down deep spiritual roots that will make us strong rather than just growing branches that make us attractive only.
MATURITY
DEFINITION:
Complete in natural growth; ripe; fully developed.
SCRIPTURE:
Behold a sower went forth to sow, and when he sowed, some seeds fell by the wayside, and the fowls came and devoured them up; some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth; and when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root they withered away. Matthew 13:3-6.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
In the life of a tree the major key to survival is for that tree to have more roots than shoots. When we read about good and bad trees we notice that if a tree puts on a lot of top growth and few roots it is usually unable to get the needed water and nourishment to sustain itself so that it can grow to maturity.
A tree that puts down a great deal of roots and adds shoots more slowly has a chance to live longer and have more resistance to stress and strain.
The lives of people can be likened to that of a tree. Someone might seem to be on a fast track for success but if they neglect to establish a healthy base they most likely will fail. People just like trees that put up shoots faster than they put down roots are fragile and in danger of breaking, falling or dying.
In the parable told by Jesus in Mark 4, the seed that fell on rocky soil sprang up quickly but soon withered and died because it had no roots. In His explanation of the parable Jesus said some people are like the seed sown on rocky soil because upon hearing God’s Word they receive it quickly and joyfully, but they last only a short time because they do not develop any spiritual roots. Roots are not the least bit attractive but they are the source for strength that makes the rest of the plant productive.
We can learn from this illustration of trees and this parable that Jesus taught as to the importance of how we can become mature in Christ. Maturity comes by hard work. Maturity in our spiritual life comes from reading and studying the Bible.
Trees need the nourishment that they receive through their roots in order to grow. In order for us to grow in our spiritual maturity, believers need the nourishment that comes from the roots of their faith that has been given to us in God’s Word. That is why it is not only important but necessary to read God’s Word daily.
The more we study and learn the truths taught in God’s Word the more mature we will become. Maturity comes through prayer. We need to communicate with our Lord and He will respond according to our needs. When God answers prayer in our lives our faith cannot help but be increased and deepened. Maturity also comes after we act by faith. We need to be a witness of our faith to those we see every day. The more we serve Him the more spiritually mature we will become.
It should be the goal of every believer to become spiritually mature. Peter instructs us in II Peter 3:18 to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” If our roots grow deep in the knowledge of God we will have the spiritual strength and maturity to resist evil and survive the storms of adversity. The roots of stability come from being grounded in God’s Word and in daily prayer.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in Mark 13:31.
“Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.”
PRAYER:
Lord keep me and my family from being envious of the bright lights of evil that shine in our world. Help us to use the resources You have given us to put down deep spiritual roots that will make us strong rather than just growing branches that make us attractive only.
Hospitality: July 20, 2011
JULY 20 2011. TODAYS WORD FOR WEDNESDAY JULY 20, 2011
HOSPITALITY
DEFINITION:
The reception of guests in a generous and kindly way.
SCRIPTURE:
Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels. Hebrews 13:2
Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Romans 12:13.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
When you read travel magazines and newspaper real estate adds you notice offers for travelers to rent a bedroom in a local family home. When you look up on the internet for such services you will notice one program alone founded by Casey Fenton that alone has well over 250,000 homes available with bedrooms to rent. Some call this opening one’s home to offer hospitality to travelers.
This service sounds a little like biblical hospitality. In the verse above the writer of Hebrews instructed believers to practice their faith in Jesus Christ through hospitality. This was defined by the early Christ followers as acts of generosity towards strangers.
In the first century, hospitality often included housing a guest. This was hardest to do during days that Christians were being persecuted. Believers who offered this hospitality would not know if the guest was a spy or fellow believer. But the writer of Hebrews was suggesting that when they hosted a guest they well could be inviting a blessing into their home.
In today’s world things are much different. We have hotels, motels and guest houses for people who travel. Also because of the great evil in the world offering a room in your house to someone you do not know could bring one who will bring disaster into your home. As God’s people, we are called to be hospitable to others as part of our gratitude for the salvation we have received from God.
Times have changed from that first century but you can show hospitality today by helping a person in need, giving encouragement to the lonely, praying for the sick and much more. People who have a heart for God have a heart for people. As we have opportunity we as believers must make ourselves available to those who are in need of Christ-like love and kindness. The apostle Paul reminds us of the words spoken by Jesus, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Acts 20:35
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in Mark 13:31.
“Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.”
PRAYER:
Help my family to be a caring and loving family that is willing to show hospitality to the needy, hurting, lonely and sick people that our lives touch today. We thank You for the many blessings that You have given us. Make us willing to help others that are in need out of all that You have given to us.
HOSPITALITY
DEFINITION:
The reception of guests in a generous and kindly way.
SCRIPTURE:
Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels. Hebrews 13:2
Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Romans 12:13.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
When you read travel magazines and newspaper real estate adds you notice offers for travelers to rent a bedroom in a local family home. When you look up on the internet for such services you will notice one program alone founded by Casey Fenton that alone has well over 250,000 homes available with bedrooms to rent. Some call this opening one’s home to offer hospitality to travelers.
This service sounds a little like biblical hospitality. In the verse above the writer of Hebrews instructed believers to practice their faith in Jesus Christ through hospitality. This was defined by the early Christ followers as acts of generosity towards strangers.
In the first century, hospitality often included housing a guest. This was hardest to do during days that Christians were being persecuted. Believers who offered this hospitality would not know if the guest was a spy or fellow believer. But the writer of Hebrews was suggesting that when they hosted a guest they well could be inviting a blessing into their home.
In today’s world things are much different. We have hotels, motels and guest houses for people who travel. Also because of the great evil in the world offering a room in your house to someone you do not know could bring one who will bring disaster into your home. As God’s people, we are called to be hospitable to others as part of our gratitude for the salvation we have received from God.
Times have changed from that first century but you can show hospitality today by helping a person in need, giving encouragement to the lonely, praying for the sick and much more. People who have a heart for God have a heart for people. As we have opportunity we as believers must make ourselves available to those who are in need of Christ-like love and kindness. The apostle Paul reminds us of the words spoken by Jesus, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Acts 20:35
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in Mark 13:31.
“Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.”
PRAYER:
Help my family to be a caring and loving family that is willing to show hospitality to the needy, hurting, lonely and sick people that our lives touch today. We thank You for the many blessings that You have given us. Make us willing to help others that are in need out of all that You have given to us.
Marriage: July 19, 2011
JULY 19 2011. TODAYS WORD FOR TUESDAY JULY 19, 2011.
MARRIAGE
DEFINITION:
The legal union of a man and a woman; the state of being married or united.
SCRIPTURE:
He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor of the Lord. Proverbs 18:22.
But he who is married cares about the things of the world, how he may please his wife. I Corinthians 7:33.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
It was 54 years ago today that we were married in St. Louis Missouri. We had looked forward to this day for months. Both of our parents had prepared us for marriage.
We knew that marriage was a vow that we would be faithful and true to one another as long as we both lived. This is absolutely essential for those that are believers in Jesus. Marriage was ordained by God and is to be honored by all believers. Honor means highly esteemed, the most precious, warm, tender and the dearest of relationships.
The apostle Paul wrote in the book of Ephesians two important verses about marriage that we have honored all of our married life. In Ephesians 5:25 it reads, “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved the church, and gave Himself for it.”
And in Ephesians 5:31-32 we are told by Paul, “For this cause shall man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.”
Marriage unites two people so that they are no longer two entities but one single entity. This is one of the biggest adjustments for newly married couples because they have been used to having their independence and doing what they wanted to do. After marriage it can no longer be, “I want” but “what do you want.” It was an adjustment we had to make but one that has great rewards. There is a joy in working together for common goals to benefit each other.
It was with these thoughts from scripture that we began our married life together. And now 54 years later with six wonderful children and their spouses and twenty grandchildren we continue to thank God daily for bringing us together and leading and blessing us as He has.
Often we are asked questions about the length of our marriage and the successes we have seen with our children and grandchildren. Our answer is always the same. It is because of the grace of God. We daily have put our trust in Him. We read the Bible daily. We pray daily. We tithe on all of our income that God blesses us with. And we do not sit back on our laurels but daily press on to do more for Him. We feel that this has brought the blessing of God on our marriage. This is God’s promise in I Samuel 2:30, “for them that honor Me, I will honor.”
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in Mark 13:31.
“Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.”
PRAYER:
We thank You today for Your blessing on marriage to those that love You and put their trust in You.
MARRIAGE
DEFINITION:
The legal union of a man and a woman; the state of being married or united.
SCRIPTURE:
He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor of the Lord. Proverbs 18:22.
But he who is married cares about the things of the world, how he may please his wife. I Corinthians 7:33.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
It was 54 years ago today that we were married in St. Louis Missouri. We had looked forward to this day for months. Both of our parents had prepared us for marriage.
We knew that marriage was a vow that we would be faithful and true to one another as long as we both lived. This is absolutely essential for those that are believers in Jesus. Marriage was ordained by God and is to be honored by all believers. Honor means highly esteemed, the most precious, warm, tender and the dearest of relationships.
The apostle Paul wrote in the book of Ephesians two important verses about marriage that we have honored all of our married life. In Ephesians 5:25 it reads, “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved the church, and gave Himself for it.”
And in Ephesians 5:31-32 we are told by Paul, “For this cause shall man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.”
Marriage unites two people so that they are no longer two entities but one single entity. This is one of the biggest adjustments for newly married couples because they have been used to having their independence and doing what they wanted to do. After marriage it can no longer be, “I want” but “what do you want.” It was an adjustment we had to make but one that has great rewards. There is a joy in working together for common goals to benefit each other.
It was with these thoughts from scripture that we began our married life together. And now 54 years later with six wonderful children and their spouses and twenty grandchildren we continue to thank God daily for bringing us together and leading and blessing us as He has.
Often we are asked questions about the length of our marriage and the successes we have seen with our children and grandchildren. Our answer is always the same. It is because of the grace of God. We daily have put our trust in Him. We read the Bible daily. We pray daily. We tithe on all of our income that God blesses us with. And we do not sit back on our laurels but daily press on to do more for Him. We feel that this has brought the blessing of God on our marriage. This is God’s promise in I Samuel 2:30, “for them that honor Me, I will honor.”
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in Mark 13:31.
“Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.”
PRAYER:
We thank You today for Your blessing on marriage to those that love You and put their trust in You.
Attitude: July 18, 2011
JULY 18 2011. TODAYS WORD FOR MONDAY JULY 18, 2011
ATTITUDE
DEFINITION:
Manner; disposition; feeling; frame of mind.
SCRIPTURE:
For as he thinketh in his heart so is he. Proverbs 23:7.
And be renewed in the spirit of your mind. Ephesians 4:23.
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus. Philippians 2:5.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
Our six children were quick to notice when one of their siblings had a bad attitude. They would usually come to one of us complaining that he or she was “being a brat.” Teenagers today would call it having a “tude.” (Bad attitude) Having a “tude” is not limited to children. Attitude is our frame of mind and our attitudes affect our actions.
Proverbs 23:7 (above) says that we are what we think in our heart. This is to say that our attitude will motivate us to be the person others see us to be. Our attitude precedes our actions.
We have examples in the Bible of those who had attitudes that led to evil actions. Cain’s jealousy of Abel led to hatred and hatred to murder. Saul sought to kill David because of his attitude of jealousy and hatred for David. It was the jealous attitude of Joseph’s brothers that caused them to devise their evil plan to get rid of him.
God holds us accountable for our attitudes. Just as wrong attitudes lead to wrong actions, right attitudes lead to good actions.
The apostle Paul advises us how we can have right attitudes in Philippians 2:5 (above). The King James Version of this verse says that we are to let the mind of Christ be in us. The NIV Version says, “Your attitude should be the same as that of Jesus Christ.” Paul also tells us in Ephesians 4:23 (NIV) to “be made new in the attitude of your mind.”
Our attitude is a matter of choice. We can choose to let our attitude be controlled by our old sinful nature or we can choose to think and act as Jesus did. When we let the Lord have control of our life, He will change our attitude --- for the better.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in Mark 13:31.
“Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.”
PRAYER:
Dear Lord, take control of my life so that my attitude will be right. Help me to show Your love to others by not only a right attitude but by right actions.
ATTITUDE
DEFINITION:
Manner; disposition; feeling; frame of mind.
SCRIPTURE:
For as he thinketh in his heart so is he. Proverbs 23:7.
And be renewed in the spirit of your mind. Ephesians 4:23.
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus. Philippians 2:5.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
Our six children were quick to notice when one of their siblings had a bad attitude. They would usually come to one of us complaining that he or she was “being a brat.” Teenagers today would call it having a “tude.” (Bad attitude) Having a “tude” is not limited to children. Attitude is our frame of mind and our attitudes affect our actions.
Proverbs 23:7 (above) says that we are what we think in our heart. This is to say that our attitude will motivate us to be the person others see us to be. Our attitude precedes our actions.
We have examples in the Bible of those who had attitudes that led to evil actions. Cain’s jealousy of Abel led to hatred and hatred to murder. Saul sought to kill David because of his attitude of jealousy and hatred for David. It was the jealous attitude of Joseph’s brothers that caused them to devise their evil plan to get rid of him.
God holds us accountable for our attitudes. Just as wrong attitudes lead to wrong actions, right attitudes lead to good actions.
The apostle Paul advises us how we can have right attitudes in Philippians 2:5 (above). The King James Version of this verse says that we are to let the mind of Christ be in us. The NIV Version says, “Your attitude should be the same as that of Jesus Christ.” Paul also tells us in Ephesians 4:23 (NIV) to “be made new in the attitude of your mind.”
Our attitude is a matter of choice. We can choose to let our attitude be controlled by our old sinful nature or we can choose to think and act as Jesus did. When we let the Lord have control of our life, He will change our attitude --- for the better.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in Mark 13:31.
“Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.”
PRAYER:
Dear Lord, take control of my life so that my attitude will be right. Help me to show Your love to others by not only a right attitude but by right actions.
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