Night Time Family Devotions

Deuteronomy 11:18  Fix these words of mine into your mind and being, and tie them as a reminder on your hands and let them be symbols on your forehead. 11:19 Teach them to your children and speak of them as you sit in your house, as you walk along the road,  as you lie down, and as you get up. 11:20 Inscribe them on the door frames of your houses and on your gates

As part of our daily routine, we always try to have family devotions before bedtime.   And if we miss it, it’s just not the same for kids to go to bed without devotions.  They ask for it.  It’s part of our life.  God’s word is to read, to be cherished, and honored.  They aren’t perfect in paying attention but it’s a tradition, a time they look forward to.  I hope they remember this also when they’re older as a great memory.  We generally have this time in girls’ room.  Once in a while in our bedroom, the living room, or “hang out” room (which is what we labeled the upstairs family room ) and the kids go crazy over this.  Oh the little joys in life!  Sometimes we do devotions at dinner. Sometimes things happen or come up and we don’t get to.  Such is life sometimes, ain’t it?

It’s our responsibilities as parents to teach our children in the way they should go, especially in the ways of the Lord.  We shall teach them the Word; what it says, means and how to live it.  I had a great devotional with the kids this morning as we read Psalm 90.  They may not understand it all now but it’s never too early to start instilling the value and love of the Word and time together as a family in reading and learning it together.  My youngest is 5 and just when I don’t think she’s thinking, she’ll pop up with some comment that has been brewing in her mind that was sparked by something I said or read, and it’s wonderful (aside from being so cute!)

I cherish these times.  The girls almost always want to cuddle with me while we have our devotions and it’s a sweet moment and memory that I hold dear.  May they too, cherish the time and remember it.  If not, they will have this post to read!  Love you guys!

Grumble, Grumble

If we complain and grumble about hard work, we teach our kids to do the same. (Phil 2:14). Work unto the Lord (Col 3:23).
I understand sometimes life can become overwhelming.  It’s okay.  Take a deep breath.  That’s when we need to seek God’s peace.  Marriage, parenting, household responsibilities, work, school, sickness, etc. It can all add up, I know.  Fret not, it’s not the end.  Life is part of the journey.  We can either fulfill it with joy or grumble and complain miserably till our death.  The latter ain’t no way to live, in my humble opinion.  But those whose hope is in Christ have a great reward to look towards, a future hope of heaven.

I don’t know about you but when I accomplish a task at hand or something I had planned to do or maybe didn’t plan at all, it’s always a satisfying feeling. God made us to be workers. And we are to work with our whole being; heart, mind and soul. Yes, I know that about loving God too. But those other verses tell us to work “cheerfully” and without grumbling. That takes heart. Obviously, working takes physical strength too. And the heart involves the “spirit” that God gives us.

It comes down to attitude, perspective and thankfulness.  It’s hard to do anything cheerfully when our heart is wrong.  But what a great God who gives in abundance when we seek and ask, according to His good purposes.  See Him in all things.

Christianity- Religion or Relationship?

James 1:26 If someone thinks he is religious yet does not bridle his tongue, and so deceives his heart, his religion is futile. 1:27 Pure and undefiled religion before God the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their misfortune and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

There’s this cliché, I’m sure you probably have heard it, “it’s not a religion, it’s a relationship”.  No, and yes.  Christianity is a religion, AND it’s a relationship.  It’s a religion built upon a relationship.

I think the word religion has gotten a bad rap over the last decade or so, at least.  Religion is not all bad.  According to an online dictionary, religion can be defined as:

• 1) a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, especially when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs.
• 2) a specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices generally agreed upon by a number of persons or sects;
• 3) the body of persons adhering to a particular set of beliefs and practices
• 4)to acquire a deep conviction of the validity of religious beliefs and practices.

So if we just go off these definitions, Christianity can be defined, in part, as a religion.  What matters is what kind of religion you have.  There’s a religion that keeps you in chains, in your own effort striving to win and earn your way to your god, or there’s the Christ changing-Jesus atoning, sacrificial religion that covers the sinner by God’s grace.  We all know there are a smorgasbord of religions around the world and many claim to know God.  But who’s god is above all others?  Well, the one who always was, and always will be; didn’t have a beginning nor an end.

Religion has been used more or less as something you just “do”, do it well and consistently.  “I eat at that place religiously.”  “He goes to bed religiously at 10pm”.  “I workout religiously”.  People speak of things they are committed to doing as “religious” or adverb “religiously”.  So why is it bad if Christians are “religiously” seeking God?  We were created for it.  God commands his people to seek after Him, pursue Him, love Him, read His word, obey His word, love others, forgive, honor parents, and on and on.  Are we all just religious legalists who seek after God?  Why is it that someone who seeks to purify their lives by creating boundaries that are arrived from the bible casted into this “holier than thou” category.  I think it’s discouraging and show insecurities in people. Not all Christians who seek to live holy, honorable lives are legalists, and the opposite can be true too.  Rather than downplay their efforts, why not encourage & exhort the Christian brother/sister rather than try to tear them down because you feel threatened or insecure about your ability to measure up.  Unless it is blatantly clear they are not, we cannot know for certain but honor the confession of someone’s faith, and give thanks for their good works, for this is what God has created for us to do.  Eph2:10 For we are his workmanship, having been created in Christ Jesus for good works that God prepared beforehand so we may do them.“   This is not license to boast in your owns strength, but in God’s all sufficient supply.

“Proverbs 19:1 Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity than one who is perverse in his speech and is a fool.^“

Cussing and ranting as a means to ‘fit in’ with the world is not honorable.  Nor is it really cool.  It really shows a lack of security in God’s name and his honor.  It more or less shows too much need for the comfort of the world, which is inevitably not trusting in the goodness of God, but taking advantage of his grace.  It shows self-centeredness, a neediness for self-affirmation that is not humble in any manner.  Keeping in with the trends of the world just to make yourself feel better does not make you cooler and popular for God’s glory, but does make you a foul mouth who seeks after the praise of man.  That’s not what a Christian is “set apart” for.  Those who make friends with the world cannot be for God.   James 4:4 Adulterers, do you not know that friendship with the world means hostility toward God?   So whoever decides to be the world’s friend makes himself God’s enemy. 4:5 Or do you think the scripture means nothing when it says,  “The spirit that God  caused  to live within us has an envious yearning”? 4:6 But he gives greater grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but he gives grace to the humble

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of respect, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if something is excellent or praiseworthy, think about these things. 4:9 And what you learned and received and heard and saw in me, do these things. And the God of peace will be with you.  

For a Christian who is devoted to honoring Christ as light in the world, we are to be mindful of our actions so that the name of Christ is not defamed, being not conceited or boasting of how well we can outdo others in witty comebacks.  Humble yourself ye saints of the Lord.  God opposes the proud.  (James 4:6, referencing Proverbs 3:34)

3:1 But understand this, that in the last days difficult ¹  times will come. 3:2 For people ²  will be lovers of themselves, ³  lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3:3 unloving, irreconcilable, slanderers, without self-control, savage, opposed to what is good, 3:4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, loving pleasure rather than loving God. 3:5 They will maintain the outward appearance ⁴  of religion but will have repudiated its power. So avoid people like these.

I do not seek to bash here, but seek God’s glory in His name.  I am offended that his name is smeared by careless Christians who think that what they do & say is not an issue because God’s grace is abundant.  Yes my friend, but do not scorn his grace by abounding in what you know to be right in the eyes of God.  He sees all.   Search God’s heart as you seek to search your own in living for His glory.  Live your religion in a real relationship with the only mediator between God and men- the man Christ Jesus.

Call to Stand Firm

2Thess 2:13 But we ought to thank God always for you, brothers and sisters  loved by the Lord, because God chose you from the beginning  for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth. 2:14 He called you to this salvation  through our gospel, so that you may possess the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.2:15 Therefore, brothers and sisters,  stand firm and hold on to the traditions that we taught you, whether by speech or by letter.  2:16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by grace gave us eternal comfort and good hope, 2:17 encourage your hearts and strengthen you  in every good thing you do or say.

Pride and Humility

Proverbs 27:2 Let another praise you, and not your own mouth;someone else,and not your own lips.

Pride can be tricky, and many times is cloaked as humility.  Do not be deceived, nor deceive yourselves.  People have a need for attention.  God has created that need, and it shall be fulfilled with love for Himself.  We were created for His glory, and to enjoy Him forever.  It’s part of the fallen nature and our selfishness that thinks the world and it’s desires should revolve around us.

Humility can also be guised under sarcasm or self-deprecation only in hopes to invoke affirmation from others.  It can go something like this: “I’m so fat (when you’re 5’7 and weigh 125lbs)”.  So someone might reply, “Oh no you’re not! You’re perfect!”  And NOW you feel worthy and valued.  It’s the neediness of constant affirmation and praise.  That need should be fulfilled in Christ alone, as that satisfaction in Him flows into everything else.

Yet God created people for one another.  So I’m not saying that any attention, praise and affirmation of human relationships are all bad.  God also created the use of such for our own good.  It’s the abuse and obsession of self-centered attention that draws away from God’s glory.

Real humility doesn’t demand attention.  He doesn’t praise himself nor does he dramatize for the purpose of inviting praise.  Real humility seeks another’s good without second thought to what he shall receive in return, whether that be praise or acknowledgement, or gifts in return.  Give without expectation.  This also reduces disappointment and disheartening, resulting in thankfulness to God for the joy and glory of doing good, which He created us for, for His name.  Let the people praise Him because of you.  May it be so.

Oh the shameful deceptions yet subtle deceitfulness of the human heart.  If we should only daily (or hourly, minute by minute, even) examine ourselves to see if there be any vile way in us.  We should seek Christ’s honor and glory above all, and God shall honor and protect the diligent seeker.  Not our will, but His be done.  And He calls his own to more than mediocrity.  This is not unto salvation, but because of it.  He saved a people to Himself to glorify Himself.

I think that our offensiveness stems from a sense of pride.  At the heart of it, our pride/ego is hurt when someone insults us.  Even if someone didn’t mean for something to be an insult, we can be good at finding a way to make it offensive.  If we would only be truly humble, it wouldn’t hurt so much.  Don’t make so much of yourself and you shan’t be so offended.

Let our search for praise be to the glory of the Father, whom sent his Son, whom graciously imparted his helper, empowering us with his Holy Spirit. Let us take our eyes off ourselves.  Let us strive for the glorious purpose of bringing  in vain to pursue vanity.  Let others praise us because we seek God’s glory above our own, not because we highlighted our own good works.  Real religion shows its true colors in the end.

John 5:41 “I do not accept  praise  from people,  5:42 but I know you, that you do not have the love of God  within you. 5:43 I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not accept me. If someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him. 5:44 How can you believe, if you accept praise from one another and don’t seek the praise that comes from the only God?

Real Christians read their Bible!

Matthew 22:29 ‘Jesus answered them, “You are deceived, because you don’t know the scriptures or the power of God.”

It may sound like common sense, but is it?  Well, it should be.

Sometimes we might think that if we just know “For God so loved the world…” and a few other famous scriptures to quote that we should be okay.  Of course God could still save such a Christian.  But is he fulfilling the full joy and purpose of his life in Christ?

God reveals Himself through nature, but more importantly, through His Word.  How do we know God?  Reading His scriptures and seeking knowledge while gaining understanding.  Dig in.  Go past the surface.  Go diving and look around.  Study it like you would the guy you are infatuated with.  You know when you first meet someone you like, you try to find out everything you can about them; trying to catch any glimpse of them; the butterflies you get when you do lock eyes and exchange smiles.  Why isn’t our love for our Savior so sweet?  We are so tainted.  Thanks be to Christ that He loves us yet we were sinners.  Even more, He suffered to the point of death for His sheep.  What a glorious love we should know!

When was it you had your conversion?  Or did you grow up in a Christian home where God was just a part of growing up, a part of daily life?  For those who’ve had the ‘conversion experience”, the day you confessed yourself a sinner and looked to the cross of Christ for forgiveness, remember the initial zeal?  Did you constantly mention God in your conversations and about Jesus dying on the cross for you?  You often invited friends to church with excitement, not worried about impressions.  Did you lose that zeal somewhere down the road, when life became “normal” again?  We should pray for that zeal daily.

1 Peter 3:15 “But set Christ apart as Lord in your hearts and always be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks about the hope you possess.”  God gives us an instruction for this temporal life.  Be on guard.  Put on the full armor of God so that you may not be led astray.  Our joy is set high among the earth when we seek His glory in all things.  You better believe that’s a high order to keep.  Thankfully, you are not alone.  Christ has already won the victory, yet you still need to obey.  (1 Corinthians 15:56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 15:57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ! 15:58 So then, dear brothers and sisters, be firm. Do not be moved! Always be outstanding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”  You don’t find joy or peace in seeking God’s glory?  Something’s terribly wrong Christian.

We were created for this.  John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was fully God.  1:2 The Word was with God in the beginning. 1:3 All things were created  by him, and apart from him not one thing was created  that has been created.  1:4 In him was life,  and the life was the light of mankind.

Get out your bible.  Read it daily.  We are so spoiled and take for granted the little blessings we become numb to.  Many are dying in third world countries, dying for their faith as they risk persecution to hold on to the Word of God among their earthly possessions.  We tend to panic if we don’t have our cell phones as we leave the house.  You don’t necessarily have to bring your physical bible with you everywhere, but do you have the Word inscripted in your mind and heart?  

Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly…

Christian- READ YOUR BIBLE!  Word.

Meditation, but probably not what you think.

This is taken from “Morning” meditation from Spurgeon’s “Morning and Evening”. It was so good (as many of it is) that it bares repeating.

“I will meditate in thy precepts.”

– Psalms 119:15

There are times when solitude is better than society, and silence is wiser than speech. We should be better Christians if we were more alone, waiting upon God, and gathering through meditation on his Word spiritual strength for labour in his service. We ought to muse upon the things of God, because we thus get the real nutriment out of them.

Truth is something like the cluster of the vine: if we would have wine from it, we must bruise it; we must press and squeeze it many times.

The bruiser’s feet must come down joyfully upon the bunches, or else the juice will not flow; and they must well tread the grapes, or else much of the precious liquid will be wasted. So we must, by meditation, tread the clusters of truth, if we would get the wine of consolation therefrom. Our bodies are not supported by merely taking food into the mouth, but the process which really supplies the muscle, and the nerve, and the sinew, and the bone, is the process of digestion. It is by digestion that the outward food becomes assimilated with the inner life. Our souls are not nourished merely by listening awhile to this, and then to that, and then to the other part of divine truth. Hearing, reading, marking, and learning, all require inwardly digesting to complete their usefulness, and the inward digesting of the truth lies for the most part in meditating upon it. Why is it that some Christians, although they hear many sermons, make but slow advances in the divine life? Because they neglect their closets, and do not thoughtfully meditate on God’s Word. They love the wheat, but they do not grind it; they would have the corn, but they will not go forth into the fields to gather it; the fruit hangs upon the tree, but they will not pluck it; the water flows at their feet, but they will not stoop to drink it. From such folly deliver us, O Lord, and be this our resolve this morning, “I will meditate in thy precepts.”

May we not be complacent.  May we not be lukewarm.  May we earnestly seek to know Him.  May we not give up that it be ‘too hard’.  May we wrestle with the difficult and not become sluggards of the faith.  May our faith show itself in the fruit of our works, not unto salvation, but in honor of Him who gives strength to those who seek Him, to honor His name.  May we not grow weary of doing good works for the kingdom’s sake.