Monthly Archives: September 2024

Forgotten

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Bobby is the picture-perfect definition of a good ole boy with a southern accent to boot. What a great guy. He’s happy, laughs a lot, and I’ve never seen him angry. He is so grateful for his upbringing. It seems like every conversation we have he says, “My daddy told me…..” Then he shares some “word of wisdom” that his dad told him growing up. He is very honoring of his dad.

Oh to remember our past and give proper honor to it. A sad opposite example is a Kansas City hospital which bears the name of a writer of one of the gospels. Their monthly magazine came which promotes health and the medical services they offer. That month they described the creation of the world in mystical, evolutionary terms. I was horrified. Frankly, I can’t imagine how any doctor with his studies of the human body could not be a committed believer. The wisdom that it took to design the body is staggering and simply impossible that it happened by chance.  “Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools” (Romans 1:22).

“Thus saith the LORD, What iniquity have your fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain?”(Jeremiah 2:5). 

I pray you are in the Word yourself every morning and leading your family in the Word every night. Give God the glory in all you do with your family. I don’t know how many times I’ve heard “Our children love watching nature and science documentaries.” They may be entertaining, but I would be confident if it is on TV it is evolutionary. Consider all the damage that it is doing to a child’s mind. 

“And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up” (Deuteronomy 6:5-7). 

It’s That Time Again

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Flags are flying. Yards signs are out. There is a buzz in the air. Everyone is talking about it. “Did you see the game? Wasn’t it incredible?” FootBaal season has begun. Life once again has something that makes it worth living for many (most?) men and boys. Some churches don’t even have Sunday night services anymore because the men don’t come during football season and certainly not on Super Bowl Sunday. 

Is it the excitement in watching men trying to crush each other, or perhaps the sensuously clothed cheerleaders wiggling their bodies? Or maybe it is the dazzling beer commercials? (There is a reason why breweries spend millions of dollars a year advertising their products – it works!) Or maybe men grew up watching football for hours on end with their dads, and now that is equated with real manhood. Whatever it is, men are, dare I say, addicted to something that steals countless hours from God’s kingdom. (Jesus owns us.)

“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Peter 1:18-19). 

Do Christian men have nothing that would be pleasing to the Lord that is a better use of their time? The world gives you thrills and excitement, but things of the Lord yield eternal fruit and joy that comes with a very different kind of excitement. “Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen” (1 John 5:21).

“I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage. Thou shalt have none other gods before me” (Deuteronomy 5:6-7).

If you aren’t convinced, another question. Would you invite Jesus to sit down with you and watch a game? I hope each would say, “NO, I COULDN’T DO THAT.” However, if He did sit with you, I believe the Lord would weep.

Examine the fruit from footBaal. Does it draw you closer to your Lord and the fruit of the Spirit. Or might it actually be feeding your flesh? Is it building up your family in the Lord or casting stumbling blocks for your children? Read Matthew 18:6 carefully.

P.S. If footBaal is a passion of yours, and you still cling to it and think it would be good for me to embrace as well, please write and convince me. 

Not What But Who

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In my previous years of corporate work, I often heard, “It isn’t what you know but who you know.” They weren’t promoting ignorance in our vocation but emphasizing the importance of business relationships. This has quite a correlation to the spiritual. 

Frequently I engage someone spiritually, and they say they believe Jesus is the Son of God. However, in speaking with them, it becomes obvious that they have never repented of their sin and surrendered to Him. Meaning they really don’t have a relationship with Him, but they know about HIm. Hence Jesus doesn’t know them either. To hear Jesus say, “Depart from Me. I never knew you,” is the worst news anyone could ever hear.

“Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity” (Matthew 7:22-23).

Oh, my Brothers, we live for Him Who died for us. May we draw closer to Him.

“For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s. (1 Corinthians 6:20).

Also, many are trusting in a religion which will yield disappointment. No religion died for you.

Also, many are trusting in themselves as being a good person. Again, disappointment headed their way. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

Instructed in Righteousness

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I expect most of you reading this Mom’s Corner are familiar with the following verse and would say you believe it and that it is true in your life. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Yet I wonder how often we actually let Scripture fill our minds for “instruction in righteousness” rather than letting negative thoughts control us when we find ourselves in situations where we are fearful, worried, discouraged, worn out, or stressed out. 

As homeschooling moms your days are going to be filled with opportunities to grow in righteousness. May you seize them and turn what might discourage into steps of growth. 

Just One Example

There are many verses we could go to, but for an example, let’s look at this verse: “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8). 

  • able
  • all grace
  • abound
  • alway
  • all sufficiency
  • all things
  • abound
  • every good work

Look at the amazing list of words in that verse that proclaim God’s ability and desire to grow us in lives that will bring Him glory. 

Paul’s Experience

Consider Paul, the man who wrote that verse, and what he lived through. “Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches” (2 Corinthians 11:24-28). Thankfully the challenges a homeschool mom faces don’t compare to what Paul faced with joy in Christ. 

How We Are Changed

Paul experienced all of those tribulations but was still able to tell us that God could make “all grace abound” toward us so that we have all we need to abound to every good work. Consider what that does for us when we move our thoughts from our troubles to 2 Corinthians 9:8, looking to Scripture for our instruction in righteousness. Now we worship God for His majesty and greatness in all He is able to do in us and through us. We have confidence that He is in charge of whatever we face. We know He will supply us with what we need to walk well through the trouble we are in the midst of or face. Our thoughts move from our fears and insufficiency to His grace and ability. Remember 2 Corinthians 9:8 is just one example of a verse, amidst many in Scripture, that we can utilize for our “instruction in righteousness.”

Our Choice

I know how easy it is to fall into thinking our own thoughts, stewing, worrying, and stressing. Even though the Lord taught me the path of taking thoughts captive (2 Corinthians 10:5) many years ago, when I struggled with depression, I can still find myself with these kinds of negative thoughts. But I can also tell you that joy comes when I take my thoughts captive and bring them into the obedience of Christ, through His Word. I sure prefer living that way.

Could I encourage you, when you find yourself filled with negative, troublesome thoughts to remember Scripture is given to you for “instruction in righteous.” Then put Scripture in your mind. That may mean you need to memorize some Scripture – like 2 Corinthians 9:8 –  so you can have it there and are able to keep using it if, and when, the wrong thoughts come back. 

It is a choice we each have probably many times a day. It is a part of Paul’s direction in 2 Corinthians 10:5 to take our thoughts captive. I think you can do it, and that you will have a quieter heart when you do.

“Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5).

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Newly Unweds

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We met a sweet, young family with two cute littles a couple of years ago on our walking route when they were doing yard work. We loved seeing them in their happiness functioning as a family. Then, this spring we noticed there were no cars in the drive, the yard wasn’t being mowed, and there were no signs of life. We suspected the worst and asked their neighbor who was doing yard work, if he knew whether they were okay. He grimaced and shook his head “No.” 

Over time we observed furnishings, miscellaneous items, children’s toys, and books at the end of the drive for the taking. We stopped to look through the books in case we could use them with our grandkids. No way! There were little kiddos story books with dragons, witches, and magic. How sad to be filling the minds of children with such evil. It was an indication that the Lord Jesus likely had no place in that home, which is now up for sale. 

My brothers, we can’t expect the world not to fill their children’s minds with evil. But may it never be that anyone who names the name of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior would ever allow such evil things in their homes and certainly not around their children. Sadly, I’m confident that many believers consider these harmless children’s books, not putting up any safeguards to protect their children against them. Have they not read the Word? 

“Ye that love the LORD, hate evil: he preserveth the souls of his saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked” (Psalms 97:10). There is no such thing as innocent evil. I plead with you. Cleanse your homes of anything evil. 

“But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:15-16).

Also, make no assumptions about your marriage. Nurture it. Love and cherish your wife as a gift from God. She is.