GEMS OF ENCOURAGEMENT FOR SATURDAY AUGUST 24, 2013
PROVERB:
Every Word of God is flawless; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him. Do not add to His Words, or He will rebuke you and prove you are a liar. Proverbs 30: 5-6.
PROMISE:
Heaven and earth will pass away, but My Words will never pass away. Matthew 24:35.
PRAISE:
Your Word, O Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens. Your faithfulness continues through all generations; You established the earth and it endures. Your laws endure to this day. Psalm 119:89-91.
August 25, 2013
Materialism: August 23, 2013
TODAY’S WORD FOR FRIDAY AUGUST 23, 2013.
MATERIALISM
DEFINITION:
Devotion to material things rather than to spiritual; self needs or interest
SCRIPTURE:
Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:19-21.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
The desire to have as many “things” as possible is prevalent among our society today and because, in most cases, the motive is wrong it is a most serious concern for us. It is important to note that there is nothing wrong with a person or a family to have “things.” All material things which one can enjoy on this earth last only for a short time, but mean nothing for eternity.
Money is one “thing” that is considered by many as materialistic. Money in itself is not evil, but as Paul tells us, it is the love of money that is “the root of all evil.” (I Timothy 6:10) The love of money will turn us away from pursuing God and storing up our treasures in heaven.
In Matthew six (above), Jesus was speaking to the masses delivering His Sermon on the Mount. He made it very clear that our first priority, as believers, while we are living on this earth, is to spend our time building up treasures in heaven.
We are reminded of a dear friend who God had blessed with great wealth. He and his dear wife had worked hard operating several businesses and God had honored them with riches. They had their priorities right because they invested their money in missions, Sunday schools, churches and spiritual things, not on the material things that would make their lives more comfortable. They had two cars, both more than 15 years old and they lived in a small house that they had lived in for over 40 years. They could have lived a more luxurious life, but they chose to live frugally so they could do more of the Lord’s work. They were an excellent example for us, reminding us that we needed to store up our treasures in heaven.
Sometime ago one of our children was reflecting back over the years in a conversation with us. She commented that as a child growing up she understood that we were involved in Christian ministries and thus had limited income. She went on to comment that none of our six children ever missed a meal and really had all their wants and desires met. Yes, they may have wanted new clothes instead of having to wear hand me downs from the older child, but they were always clean and always looked appropriate. Even though we had a tight budget, we rarely talked about it. Dottie stretched the food budget by being very creative and we did not go out to restaurants. We did not spend money on frivolous things. But everyone one was happy and we all had the same goal, storing up our treasures in heaven.
Times have changed and many things we would have considered luxuries are now considered necessities. Advances in technology have made all kinds of new things available. Computers, cell phones, HD TV’s, ipods, just to name a few. These are wonderful “things” to have as long as they do not become so important that we devote all of our time and energy to obtaining them and to using them. The danger of “materialism” is that it can become our master.
Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:11, “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other.” If we say we want to serve God we must consider what occupies more of our mind, takes more of our time and has a higher priority. Is it materialism or is it God?
It has been very rewarding to us now to watch our children training their children in the same manner that they were trained. They understand that treasures in heaven are far more valuable than treasures on earth. They are using the “things” they have been blessed with to serve the Lord.
We continue to pray each day that the things that honor the Lord will be what they desire, not the material things of the world that have no lasting value.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in John 20:21.
Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.
PRAYER:
I want to thank You first for every material blessing You have allowed me to receive. Help me today to evaluate carefully how I use these “things” to further Your work on this earth. May my family honor You with always storing up our treasures for our time in heaven.
MATERIALISM
DEFINITION:
Devotion to material things rather than to spiritual; self needs or interest
SCRIPTURE:
Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:19-21.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
The desire to have as many “things” as possible is prevalent among our society today and because, in most cases, the motive is wrong it is a most serious concern for us. It is important to note that there is nothing wrong with a person or a family to have “things.” All material things which one can enjoy on this earth last only for a short time, but mean nothing for eternity.
Money is one “thing” that is considered by many as materialistic. Money in itself is not evil, but as Paul tells us, it is the love of money that is “the root of all evil.” (I Timothy 6:10) The love of money will turn us away from pursuing God and storing up our treasures in heaven.
In Matthew six (above), Jesus was speaking to the masses delivering His Sermon on the Mount. He made it very clear that our first priority, as believers, while we are living on this earth, is to spend our time building up treasures in heaven.
We are reminded of a dear friend who God had blessed with great wealth. He and his dear wife had worked hard operating several businesses and God had honored them with riches. They had their priorities right because they invested their money in missions, Sunday schools, churches and spiritual things, not on the material things that would make their lives more comfortable. They had two cars, both more than 15 years old and they lived in a small house that they had lived in for over 40 years. They could have lived a more luxurious life, but they chose to live frugally so they could do more of the Lord’s work. They were an excellent example for us, reminding us that we needed to store up our treasures in heaven.
Sometime ago one of our children was reflecting back over the years in a conversation with us. She commented that as a child growing up she understood that we were involved in Christian ministries and thus had limited income. She went on to comment that none of our six children ever missed a meal and really had all their wants and desires met. Yes, they may have wanted new clothes instead of having to wear hand me downs from the older child, but they were always clean and always looked appropriate. Even though we had a tight budget, we rarely talked about it. Dottie stretched the food budget by being very creative and we did not go out to restaurants. We did not spend money on frivolous things. But everyone one was happy and we all had the same goal, storing up our treasures in heaven.
Times have changed and many things we would have considered luxuries are now considered necessities. Advances in technology have made all kinds of new things available. Computers, cell phones, HD TV’s, ipods, just to name a few. These are wonderful “things” to have as long as they do not become so important that we devote all of our time and energy to obtaining them and to using them. The danger of “materialism” is that it can become our master.
Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:11, “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other.” If we say we want to serve God we must consider what occupies more of our mind, takes more of our time and has a higher priority. Is it materialism or is it God?
It has been very rewarding to us now to watch our children training their children in the same manner that they were trained. They understand that treasures in heaven are far more valuable than treasures on earth. They are using the “things” they have been blessed with to serve the Lord.
We continue to pray each day that the things that honor the Lord will be what they desire, not the material things of the world that have no lasting value.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in John 20:21.
Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.
PRAYER:
I want to thank You first for every material blessing You have allowed me to receive. Help me today to evaluate carefully how I use these “things” to further Your work on this earth. May my family honor You with always storing up our treasures for our time in heaven.
Intercession: August 22, 2013
TODAY’S WORD FOR THURSDAY AUGUST 22, 2013.
INTERCESSION
DEFINITION:
Prayer offered in behalf of others; to plead, or mediate on behalf of someone.
SCRIPTURE:
This is the way you should bless the children of Israel. Say to them: The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace. Numbers 6: 23-26
Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of the faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. James 5: 14-15.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
When people hear that we have six children they often ask, "How did you do it?" The answer is PRAYER. We prayed every day not only for them but with them. God can do what we cannot do in the hearts of our children. We prayed daily and followed His leading and taught them His Words and let Him do the rest.
The scriptures give us several purposes of prayer (intercession) that we should adhere to when we pray on behalf of others. We are to seek intercession for healing, to avert judgment, for deliverance, to give blessings, to obtain restoration and to encourage repentance.
Moses often had to intercede for his people on the long hard journey to their Promised Land. The people did not make it easy for Moses to lead them. They complained about food, they complained about the water, they complained about the leadership of Moses and they even complained about God. (Does this sound a little like complaints you receive from your children?)
In Numbers 21, God brought punishment in the form of fiery serpents. When the serpent bit them the person died. "Therefore the people came to Moses and said, 'we have sinned, for we have spoken against God and against you. Pray that the Lord will take the snakes away from us'" So Moses prayed for them. God did spare the people from the serpents because of the intercession of Moses for them.
The verses above from Numbers are the blessing we read about when the Lord spoke to Moses which Moses and the priests were to pray to bless the Children of Israel. God will not bless sinful men but He blesses all those who have accepted Christ as their Savior. Christ is the source of all blessings through the intercession He has given us, with the cross being the means.
In the verses above from James we are instructed to go to the pastors/elders in the church so that they might be an intercessor for our specific needs such as an illness. God then gives us a wonderful promise that our faith will save the sick and the Lord will raise us up.
When we offer intercession for others and pray for others we must, according to the scriptures, plead on behalf of who we are praying for, be specific as to the needs that we are praying for, and then we are to pray earnestly in faith believing we will have victory.
As parents who are believers, we have a responsibility to make intercession for our children. We must pray not only that the Lord will bring them to repentance and salvation, but that the Lord will protect them from evil and guide their steps and that God would bless them.
The uniqueness of our relationship with Jesus is that as believers we have Jesus as our intercessor between us and God. This is why we pray in Jesus name when we pray. Do you have the confidence that we have that when you pray to God you have Jesus as your intercessor between you and God?
Believers should never have to feel alone in their suffering and distress. They should be able to count on fellow believers for prayer and support. The believer’s most powerful resource is intercessory prayer. Our prayers are part of God’s healing process. One of the most caring things we can do for someone is to pray for them. In James 5:16, James tells us “The prayer of the righteous man is powerful and effective.” Is there someone who needs you to pray for them and make intercession for?
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in John 20:21.
Peace be with you, as the Father has sent Me I also send you.
PRAYER:
Thank You that You are my intercessor so I can talk to God. As I read the Bible and pray daily through You, help me to understand Your Word so that I may know how to be that intercessor that others may need in their time of need.
INTERCESSION
DEFINITION:
Prayer offered in behalf of others; to plead, or mediate on behalf of someone.
SCRIPTURE:
This is the way you should bless the children of Israel. Say to them: The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace. Numbers 6: 23-26
Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of the faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. James 5: 14-15.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
When people hear that we have six children they often ask, "How did you do it?" The answer is PRAYER. We prayed every day not only for them but with them. God can do what we cannot do in the hearts of our children. We prayed daily and followed His leading and taught them His Words and let Him do the rest.
The scriptures give us several purposes of prayer (intercession) that we should adhere to when we pray on behalf of others. We are to seek intercession for healing, to avert judgment, for deliverance, to give blessings, to obtain restoration and to encourage repentance.
Moses often had to intercede for his people on the long hard journey to their Promised Land. The people did not make it easy for Moses to lead them. They complained about food, they complained about the water, they complained about the leadership of Moses and they even complained about God. (Does this sound a little like complaints you receive from your children?)
In Numbers 21, God brought punishment in the form of fiery serpents. When the serpent bit them the person died. "Therefore the people came to Moses and said, 'we have sinned, for we have spoken against God and against you. Pray that the Lord will take the snakes away from us'" So Moses prayed for them. God did spare the people from the serpents because of the intercession of Moses for them.
The verses above from Numbers are the blessing we read about when the Lord spoke to Moses which Moses and the priests were to pray to bless the Children of Israel. God will not bless sinful men but He blesses all those who have accepted Christ as their Savior. Christ is the source of all blessings through the intercession He has given us, with the cross being the means.
In the verses above from James we are instructed to go to the pastors/elders in the church so that they might be an intercessor for our specific needs such as an illness. God then gives us a wonderful promise that our faith will save the sick and the Lord will raise us up.
When we offer intercession for others and pray for others we must, according to the scriptures, plead on behalf of who we are praying for, be specific as to the needs that we are praying for, and then we are to pray earnestly in faith believing we will have victory.
As parents who are believers, we have a responsibility to make intercession for our children. We must pray not only that the Lord will bring them to repentance and salvation, but that the Lord will protect them from evil and guide their steps and that God would bless them.
The uniqueness of our relationship with Jesus is that as believers we have Jesus as our intercessor between us and God. This is why we pray in Jesus name when we pray. Do you have the confidence that we have that when you pray to God you have Jesus as your intercessor between you and God?
Believers should never have to feel alone in their suffering and distress. They should be able to count on fellow believers for prayer and support. The believer’s most powerful resource is intercessory prayer. Our prayers are part of God’s healing process. One of the most caring things we can do for someone is to pray for them. In James 5:16, James tells us “The prayer of the righteous man is powerful and effective.” Is there someone who needs you to pray for them and make intercession for?
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in John 20:21.
Peace be with you, as the Father has sent Me I also send you.
PRAYER:
Thank You that You are my intercessor so I can talk to God. As I read the Bible and pray daily through You, help me to understand Your Word so that I may know how to be that intercessor that others may need in their time of need.
Father: August 21, 2013
TODAY’S WORD FOR WEDNESDAY AUGUST 21. 2013.
FATHER
DEFINITION:
God, the Father; a male parent; a mentor, a protector or a provider; a title of respect.
SCRIPTURE:
Honor you father and mother, which is the first commandment with promise: that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth. Ephesians 6:2
Hear, my children, the instruction of a father, and give attention to know understanding. Proverbs 4:1
We exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father does his own children. I Thessalonians 2:11
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
There is a growing concern today among the masses here in America over the breakdown of the family. Even people in the media and in politics are talking about this concern. Over 50% of the homes today here in America do not have a father living in them. All across America children are living in one parent homes and children are suffering as a result.
God designed the family to have both a father and a mother. A father is needed in a family for much more than being a financial provider. God planned that the father was not only to support his family but he was to provide spiritual leadership and to love and care for his spouse and children.
The scriptures tell us, children need a mother and a father. The question we ask is, “Why do many mothers and fathers neglect their responsibility to their children?” Why do parents put themselves and their interests before their love for their children?
The verse above from I Thessalonians is primarily directed to church leaders but Paul talks about how their role is similar to a father's role in the family. He says, "You know how we exhorted and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father does his own children”. Paul used these three words; exhorted, comforted and charged, to describe His Fatherly responsibility to the Thessalonians who were his children in the Lord.
It is not enough for fathers to think that all they need to do is to bring home a pay check. Children and spouses need their spiritual guidance. The father’s role is to exhort his children to be obedient to God’s Word and urge them to do what is right in God’s sight. The word comforted in this verse is to console. Nothing is more important to a child then to have a father to listen and talk with them and to console them when they are hurting.
The word charged in this verse means to make responsible. Fathers need to challenge their children with the responsibility of walking in a manner worthy of God. The father must affirm the truth of God's Word by setting the example by living it out day by day in his own life. Good fathers reflect their heavenly Father. What we need today is for more fathers who know Jesus to be spiritual leaders in their homes and to be there for their children to support, comfort and encourage them.
Children also have a responsibility. In Ephesians 6:2 Paul quotes the fifth commandment of the Ten Commandments which reads, "Honor your Father and your Mother." In Matthew 15:4 Jesus also quoted this commandment. This is not a commandment to be ignored, although it often is. What does God mean by "honor?" To honor our parents is more than just obeying our parents. It means to respect them, to love them, and to care for them.
Far too often we hear about children who are dishonoring their parents by talking back to them and showing continual disrespect for them. The nursing homes are filled with fathers and mothers who are never visited by their children. Fathers and mothers have the responsibility, first of all, to be the kind of parents children can respect, and then they must teach their children to honor and obey them.
But let us remind you that God never gave a condition as to when we should honor our father and mother. He stated it simply and clearly, "Honor your Father and Mother." If they abused you, you must still honor them. If they were unkind, you still must honor them. God never gave us any "ifs."
Yes, we know that there are bad, even evil, parents in this world. A child may have to stand up against a parent who is leading them to do what is wrong. Even though a child's parents may not have earned the love or respect of their child, their mother and father are still the child's parents and the child should still honor them with politeness and show they care about them.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in John 20:21.
Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.
PRAYER:
Help us as families to honor our fathers. May we, as a family, realize that earthly father’s may fail and disappoint but You, our heavenly Father will never fail us or disappoint us because You are always here for us.
FATHER
DEFINITION:
God, the Father; a male parent; a mentor, a protector or a provider; a title of respect.
SCRIPTURE:
Honor you father and mother, which is the first commandment with promise: that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth. Ephesians 6:2
Hear, my children, the instruction of a father, and give attention to know understanding. Proverbs 4:1
We exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father does his own children. I Thessalonians 2:11
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
There is a growing concern today among the masses here in America over the breakdown of the family. Even people in the media and in politics are talking about this concern. Over 50% of the homes today here in America do not have a father living in them. All across America children are living in one parent homes and children are suffering as a result.
God designed the family to have both a father and a mother. A father is needed in a family for much more than being a financial provider. God planned that the father was not only to support his family but he was to provide spiritual leadership and to love and care for his spouse and children.
The scriptures tell us, children need a mother and a father. The question we ask is, “Why do many mothers and fathers neglect their responsibility to their children?” Why do parents put themselves and their interests before their love for their children?
The verse above from I Thessalonians is primarily directed to church leaders but Paul talks about how their role is similar to a father's role in the family. He says, "You know how we exhorted and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father does his own children”. Paul used these three words; exhorted, comforted and charged, to describe His Fatherly responsibility to the Thessalonians who were his children in the Lord.
It is not enough for fathers to think that all they need to do is to bring home a pay check. Children and spouses need their spiritual guidance. The father’s role is to exhort his children to be obedient to God’s Word and urge them to do what is right in God’s sight. The word comforted in this verse is to console. Nothing is more important to a child then to have a father to listen and talk with them and to console them when they are hurting.
The word charged in this verse means to make responsible. Fathers need to challenge their children with the responsibility of walking in a manner worthy of God. The father must affirm the truth of God's Word by setting the example by living it out day by day in his own life. Good fathers reflect their heavenly Father. What we need today is for more fathers who know Jesus to be spiritual leaders in their homes and to be there for their children to support, comfort and encourage them.
Children also have a responsibility. In Ephesians 6:2 Paul quotes the fifth commandment of the Ten Commandments which reads, "Honor your Father and your Mother." In Matthew 15:4 Jesus also quoted this commandment. This is not a commandment to be ignored, although it often is. What does God mean by "honor?" To honor our parents is more than just obeying our parents. It means to respect them, to love them, and to care for them.
Far too often we hear about children who are dishonoring their parents by talking back to them and showing continual disrespect for them. The nursing homes are filled with fathers and mothers who are never visited by their children. Fathers and mothers have the responsibility, first of all, to be the kind of parents children can respect, and then they must teach their children to honor and obey them.
But let us remind you that God never gave a condition as to when we should honor our father and mother. He stated it simply and clearly, "Honor your Father and Mother." If they abused you, you must still honor them. If they were unkind, you still must honor them. God never gave us any "ifs."
Yes, we know that there are bad, even evil, parents in this world. A child may have to stand up against a parent who is leading them to do what is wrong. Even though a child's parents may not have earned the love or respect of their child, their mother and father are still the child's parents and the child should still honor them with politeness and show they care about them.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in John 20:21.
Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.
PRAYER:
Help us as families to honor our fathers. May we, as a family, realize that earthly father’s may fail and disappoint but You, our heavenly Father will never fail us or disappoint us because You are always here for us.
Empathy: August 20, 2013
TODAY’S WORD FOR TUESDAY AUGUST 20, 2013.
EMPATHY
DEFINITION:
The intellectual identification with or experiencing the feelings, thoughts or attitudes of another; identifying with and understanding of another’s situation, feelings or emotions.
SCRIPTURE:
Jesus called His disciples to Him and said, “I have compassion for these people; they have already been with Me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may collapse on the way. Matthew 15:32.
All things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of His Son. Romans 8: 28-29.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
I will never forget when our oldest daughter dislocated her little finger playing in her high school basketball game. They stopped the game and we saw her finger totally bent the wrong way. To say the least it looked grotesque. We took her to the doctor and he carefully twisted and turned the finger until it went back in place.
As parents we felt "the hurt" probably as much and maybe even more than our daughter. It is difficult for parents to see their children suffer. As parents we want to make the pain go away and we would rather go through the painful experience ourselves rather than have our children go through it. Parents have deep empathy for their children when they suffer, whether it is the physical pain of sickness or injury or whether it is emotional and mental pain resulting from the pressures of life or from harmful relationships.
There is a difference between sympathy and empathy. Empathy is a deeper and more complex emotion. Empathy is putting yourself in the place of what another is feeling or going through. Jesus empathizes with all our feelings and all our needs. In Matthew 15:32 (above) Jesus even empathized with the feeling of hunger pangs which He knew the crowd was experiencing as they had been following Him for three days. His empathy compelled Him to feed the crowd of 4000 by multiplying 7 loaves of bread and a few fish.
It is empathy for the physical pain and suffering of others that people become doctors. If we trust earthly doctors to care for our children, how much more should we be willing to trust God, our great a physician to heal our broken body and to reset our broken lives "to be conformed to the image of His Son" (Romans 8:29). God's empathy for our suffering is so much greater than any doctor.
One of God's purposes of pain is to mold us into the image of Jesus in our hearts. The next time you feel pain remember what God wants to do for you through the pain. God wants us to be able to weep with those who weep and may need to stain our cheeks with a few of our own tears so that we will empathize with others in their time of need just as Jesus did.
Next time you feel pain or even discouraged or broken hearted, do not panic. Jesus not only knows what you are feeling but He empathizes with you. Seek the Lord our God who heals the broken hearted and bandages their wounds Psalm 147:3. Just stop and praise God knowing that He is at work in your life.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in John 20:21.
Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.
PRAYER:
Give us the strength to go through any pain we may face today knowing that You are in control. May the pain we face be a learning time for us to become more Christ-like in our daily walk and talk.
EMPATHY
DEFINITION:
The intellectual identification with or experiencing the feelings, thoughts or attitudes of another; identifying with and understanding of another’s situation, feelings or emotions.
SCRIPTURE:
Jesus called His disciples to Him and said, “I have compassion for these people; they have already been with Me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may collapse on the way. Matthew 15:32.
All things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of His Son. Romans 8: 28-29.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
I will never forget when our oldest daughter dislocated her little finger playing in her high school basketball game. They stopped the game and we saw her finger totally bent the wrong way. To say the least it looked grotesque. We took her to the doctor and he carefully twisted and turned the finger until it went back in place.
As parents we felt "the hurt" probably as much and maybe even more than our daughter. It is difficult for parents to see their children suffer. As parents we want to make the pain go away and we would rather go through the painful experience ourselves rather than have our children go through it. Parents have deep empathy for their children when they suffer, whether it is the physical pain of sickness or injury or whether it is emotional and mental pain resulting from the pressures of life or from harmful relationships.
There is a difference between sympathy and empathy. Empathy is a deeper and more complex emotion. Empathy is putting yourself in the place of what another is feeling or going through. Jesus empathizes with all our feelings and all our needs. In Matthew 15:32 (above) Jesus even empathized with the feeling of hunger pangs which He knew the crowd was experiencing as they had been following Him for three days. His empathy compelled Him to feed the crowd of 4000 by multiplying 7 loaves of bread and a few fish.
It is empathy for the physical pain and suffering of others that people become doctors. If we trust earthly doctors to care for our children, how much more should we be willing to trust God, our great a physician to heal our broken body and to reset our broken lives "to be conformed to the image of His Son" (Romans 8:29). God's empathy for our suffering is so much greater than any doctor.
One of God's purposes of pain is to mold us into the image of Jesus in our hearts. The next time you feel pain remember what God wants to do for you through the pain. God wants us to be able to weep with those who weep and may need to stain our cheeks with a few of our own tears so that we will empathize with others in their time of need just as Jesus did.
Next time you feel pain or even discouraged or broken hearted, do not panic. Jesus not only knows what you are feeling but He empathizes with you. Seek the Lord our God who heals the broken hearted and bandages their wounds Psalm 147:3. Just stop and praise God knowing that He is at work in your life.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in John 20:21.
Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.
PRAYER:
Give us the strength to go through any pain we may face today knowing that You are in control. May the pain we face be a learning time for us to become more Christ-like in our daily walk and talk.
Comply: August 19, 2013
TODAY’S WORD FOR MONDAY AUGUST 19, 2013.
COMPLY
DEFINITION:
To act or be in accordance with requests, demands, requirements or conditions.
SCRIPTURE:
The seventh time around, when the priests sounded the trumpet blast, Joshua commanded the people to SHOUT for the Lord has given you the city. Joshua 6:16.
When the people gave a loud shout, the wall collapsed; so every man charged straight in, and they took the city. Joshua 6:20.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
Today we look at an example that God has given us in the scripture as to how He wants us to comply to His will. This example is from the adventures of the Children of Israel in their battle to conquer the Promised Land.
Israel had set up camp at Gilgal which was about two miles to the north of the city of Jericho. Jericho was so well fortified that the Canaanites were sure that their city was invincible. It was situated on a hill and surrounded by a double ring of walls. The outer wall was six feet thick and the inner wall was twelve feet thick. Humanly speaking the fortification of these walls were impenetrable. It would appear to be a losing battle for the Children of Israel. Nevertheless God had determined that Jericho would fall.
God sent a messenger to Joshua to tell him that God would deliver Jericho completely into Joshua's hands. God gave very specific instructions that Joshua must order the Israelites to comply with if they were to have the victory. Joshua and his army were to march once around the city for six straight days. They were to be led by seven priests blowing trumpets made of ram's horns who were then followed by the Ark of the Covenant. On the seventh day, they were to march around the city seven times and when Joshua gave the command all the people were to shout. The loud shout in unison expressed an expectation of God’s action to fulfill His guaranteed promise.
Joshua did everything just as God had instructed him and when all the people complied with the command to shout, the walls of the city collapsed and the Israelites were able to charge right into the city and take it.
Can you imagine that two walls, one six feet thick and the other twelve feet thick would just collapse at a time when the Israelites shouted. This had to be God.
The instructions given by God to Joshua were very unusual for a military conquest. The Ark of the Covenant was a symbol of God’s presence and it was significant that God directed that the Ark of the Covenant lead the soldiers. He wanted the Israelites to understand that He was in command and the outcome of the battle was dependent upon Him and not upon their military strength. By complying with God's instruction the Israelites demonstrated their faith and trust in the Lord and their willingness to obey Him. In response to their faith and obedience God gave them the victory.
Obedience to God and compliance to His laws always bring blessings. In Deuteronomy 28:2 it reads: "All these blessings will come upon you and accompany you if you obey the Lord your God." May we remind you that when you spend time reading the Bible and praying daily, God will make it clear to you His direction for your life. You will probably not hear His voice but the still small voice within you will direct you. You may be fighting spiritual battles in your life but if you comply with God’s commandments, He will give you victory.
All of our children were given assigned household chores which were to be completed before the end of the week. One of our children loved to put his chores off until the deadline was very close. Therefore he often had a hard time complying with the rules and meeting the deadline. One weekend he was invited to a friend's house for dinner. Even though we had reminded him of his chores several times and that they were to be completed before he left, he took off without doing them.
Both of us were somewhat aggravated and we really had "had it" so to speak. We called the house where he was going and asked them to have him call us when he arrived. In no uncertain terms he was told to come home immediately to finish his chores. We told him on the telephone that once they were done he could return to his friend's house. The embarrassment of having to return home accomplished what constant reminders had not. From that day on, he decided it was best for him to do the work early in the week and comply with the rules.
In life today we need to, as individuals and as parents with our families, learn to set rules and boundaries for ourselves daily based on the scriptures and then to force ourselves to comply with them. This will lead to a happy and united family.
One of the things we learned raising our children was the importance of setting rules and boundaries clearly and accurately before an issue could arise on that particular subject. We learned that when we set the rule up front, it was much easier for our child to understand the discipline that followed the breaking of the rule. We also learned the importance of reviewing the boundaries we had set from time to time mainly so our children would not maybe think we had forgotten them. When you set the boundaries up early in the lives of children they will normally learn much quicker the difference between right and wrong and will come to understand what it means to comply.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in John 20:21.
Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.
PRAYER:
Help me to read Your Word daily so I can know Your commandments. Help me to obey and comply with Your laws so that You can bless me and give me victory over my sinful desires. Give me wisdom and direction in leading my children to want to trust You and obey You.
COMPLY
DEFINITION:
To act or be in accordance with requests, demands, requirements or conditions.
SCRIPTURE:
The seventh time around, when the priests sounded the trumpet blast, Joshua commanded the people to SHOUT for the Lord has given you the city. Joshua 6:16.
When the people gave a loud shout, the wall collapsed; so every man charged straight in, and they took the city. Joshua 6:20.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
Today we look at an example that God has given us in the scripture as to how He wants us to comply to His will. This example is from the adventures of the Children of Israel in their battle to conquer the Promised Land.
Israel had set up camp at Gilgal which was about two miles to the north of the city of Jericho. Jericho was so well fortified that the Canaanites were sure that their city was invincible. It was situated on a hill and surrounded by a double ring of walls. The outer wall was six feet thick and the inner wall was twelve feet thick. Humanly speaking the fortification of these walls were impenetrable. It would appear to be a losing battle for the Children of Israel. Nevertheless God had determined that Jericho would fall.
God sent a messenger to Joshua to tell him that God would deliver Jericho completely into Joshua's hands. God gave very specific instructions that Joshua must order the Israelites to comply with if they were to have the victory. Joshua and his army were to march once around the city for six straight days. They were to be led by seven priests blowing trumpets made of ram's horns who were then followed by the Ark of the Covenant. On the seventh day, they were to march around the city seven times and when Joshua gave the command all the people were to shout. The loud shout in unison expressed an expectation of God’s action to fulfill His guaranteed promise.
Joshua did everything just as God had instructed him and when all the people complied with the command to shout, the walls of the city collapsed and the Israelites were able to charge right into the city and take it.
Can you imagine that two walls, one six feet thick and the other twelve feet thick would just collapse at a time when the Israelites shouted. This had to be God.
The instructions given by God to Joshua were very unusual for a military conquest. The Ark of the Covenant was a symbol of God’s presence and it was significant that God directed that the Ark of the Covenant lead the soldiers. He wanted the Israelites to understand that He was in command and the outcome of the battle was dependent upon Him and not upon their military strength. By complying with God's instruction the Israelites demonstrated their faith and trust in the Lord and their willingness to obey Him. In response to their faith and obedience God gave them the victory.
Obedience to God and compliance to His laws always bring blessings. In Deuteronomy 28:2 it reads: "All these blessings will come upon you and accompany you if you obey the Lord your God." May we remind you that when you spend time reading the Bible and praying daily, God will make it clear to you His direction for your life. You will probably not hear His voice but the still small voice within you will direct you. You may be fighting spiritual battles in your life but if you comply with God’s commandments, He will give you victory.
All of our children were given assigned household chores which were to be completed before the end of the week. One of our children loved to put his chores off until the deadline was very close. Therefore he often had a hard time complying with the rules and meeting the deadline. One weekend he was invited to a friend's house for dinner. Even though we had reminded him of his chores several times and that they were to be completed before he left, he took off without doing them.
Both of us were somewhat aggravated and we really had "had it" so to speak. We called the house where he was going and asked them to have him call us when he arrived. In no uncertain terms he was told to come home immediately to finish his chores. We told him on the telephone that once they were done he could return to his friend's house. The embarrassment of having to return home accomplished what constant reminders had not. From that day on, he decided it was best for him to do the work early in the week and comply with the rules.
In life today we need to, as individuals and as parents with our families, learn to set rules and boundaries for ourselves daily based on the scriptures and then to force ourselves to comply with them. This will lead to a happy and united family.
One of the things we learned raising our children was the importance of setting rules and boundaries clearly and accurately before an issue could arise on that particular subject. We learned that when we set the rule up front, it was much easier for our child to understand the discipline that followed the breaking of the rule. We also learned the importance of reviewing the boundaries we had set from time to time mainly so our children would not maybe think we had forgotten them. When you set the boundaries up early in the lives of children they will normally learn much quicker the difference between right and wrong and will come to understand what it means to comply.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in John 20:21.
Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.
PRAYER:
Help me to read Your Word daily so I can know Your commandments. Help me to obey and comply with Your laws so that You can bless me and give me victory over my sinful desires. Give me wisdom and direction in leading my children to want to trust You and obey You.
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