Growing in Grace

The kids and I are continuing our study in Genesis in Kay Arthur's Discover 4 Yourself Inductive Bible study for Kids . We are now covering chapters 24-36 and learning about Isaac, Esau and Jacob. This week we discussed Genesis 25:25-34 where Esau sold his birthright to his brother Jacob. First we did a cross-reference and looked at Hebrews 12:14-17. In Hebrews 12:16, we learn that Esau was considered godless because he "sold his own birthright for a single meal." Verse 17 shows us that later "when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought for it with tears." The Hebrew word for birthright means "the firstling of man or beast, the firstborn; the right of the firstborn." The Greek word for birthright means " a privilege, a birthright." And since we learned that Esau despised his birthright, we were given a word study for this too. In Hebrew, despised means "to disesteem

"How we live our days is. . . how we live our lives." -Annie Dillard "We each need to discover for ourselves how to live this day in faithful surrender to God." (p. 165) "My suggestion as you think, make decisions, and discern how God would have you live is to ask yourself, 'Is this the most loving way to do life?'" (p. 166) The stories in chapter 9 show us "that there is another path, an alternative to the individualism, selfishness, and materialism of the American Dream (even the so-called Christian version). . . God works in a vast number of ways,. . . He has more in store for you than you can really imagine right now." (p. 166) "'Be careful not to turn others' lives into the mold for you own.'. . . Do you believe you were crafted for specific good works, things that God knew before you even existed? Or do you compare your life to others and lament what you have been given? We have a God who is a Creator,

Photo Credit I wanted another book to read, so went searching the shelves in the office. Franklin Graham’s book Living Beyond the Limits “A Life in Sync with God” caught my eye. In the prologue he talks about how he was reluctant to surrender to God because he thought Christianity was boring. “that it would mean living by other people’s dull rules, that it would be, in a sense, a living death”(p. XI). He writes about wanting to be in complete control of his life; wanting “to live hard, fast, and free, to experience life on the edge” (p. XI). But after finding that the excitement was only temporary, he was left with an emptiness; a void. As Franklin began meeting people who lived exciting lives - “without a shallowness that plagued (his) own” (p. XII),  he was drawn to “want what they had” (p. XII). Finally, he gave his heart to the Lord and soon learned that he could live an adventurous life, but “do so for a cause bigger than (himself), to help others”. (p. XIII) He ends t

People who follow God's wisdom allow His instructions to change their daily lives. Scripture: (1). . . varies in texture and substance, and correspondingly, in ease of digestion. The more you develop spiritually, the better able you will be to stomach the meat of Scripture. Strong truth makes strong Christians stronger. (2). . . gives you clear moral guidelines to live by. They will not always be in the form of simple do's and don'ts. God designed Scripture to give moral orientation to people living in any culture, in any age, and in any moral climate. (3). .. will make you wise: wiser than people around you. . .notice I said wiser, not more knowledgeable. A wise man is one who can distinguish what is fundamental from what is trivial, who knows what life is about and who acts appropriately whatever the circumstances. -From The Fight by John White; part of The  Inspirational Study Bible: New Century Version  by Max Lucado

I know two men who work for a nonprofit organization. Both travel on expense accounts. One lives as a friend of God; the other does not. Circumstances are the same for both, but their responses to those circumstances are opposite. This is how the difference shows: "Go ahead and order the steak." "But I don't eat like this at home; I can't afford it." "You're not at home; it's going on your expense account." "No." "You work hard; you've earned it." "I'm paid to work hard. I am not paid to exploit." When those two men started their work, both had strong convictions about the high calling of their vocations. They felt a sense of mission in a worthwhile organization, one that helped people in need. They kept costs down so that the money could be used as the donors expected it to be used. But then they began to notice that others in their group weren't so fussy. After a while it became easi

Once you decide to trust God in simple faith and allow Him complete freedom to carry out His plan and purpose in you as well as through you, you need only relax and count on Him to take care of things you once tried to keep under control. -From Simple Faith by Charles Swindoll; part of The  Inspirational Study Bible: New Century Version  by Max Lucado

The Proverbs contain many instructions to help steer readers away from sin. Listen to this advice and grow in wisdom. I've thought about what the Scriptures are teaching on wisdom and I've come up with this: Wisdom is the God-given ability to see life with rare objectivity and to handle life with rare stability. When we operate in the sphere of the wisdom of God, when it is at work in our mind and in our life, we look at life through lenses of perception, and we respond to it in calm confidence. There's a remarkable absence of fear. We are not seized with panic. We can either lose our jobs or we can be promoted in our work, and neither will derail us. Why? Because we see it with God-given objectivity. And we handle it in His wisdom. We can dip into an unexpected valley or we can soar to the pinnacle of prosperity, and we can cope with both extremes. His wisdom provides us the necessary objectivity and stability. That's the way life is when it is lived in the palm

We usually think of an idol as a religious figure carved out of wood or stone, perhaps in some primitive tribe, far removed from civilization. But we have our "idols" today, because an idol is something that you worship in place of the living God . Some people worship the idol of beauty or sexual pleasure. Some people worship the idol of money and security - although I have observed that the more money some people have the more insecure they become. Some people worship at the shrine of power, constantly scheming for ways they can dominate others. . . . What is your idol? What really, honestly, dominates your life? What are your priorities, and what are the real (although perhaps hidden) motives in your everyday living? Is Christ on the throne of your life, or is it self? You don't have to practice voodoo or be a follower of a strange cult to have been deceived. . . Anything that entices you away from a wholehearted commitment to Christ is being used of Satan to deceive

If you allow God to be the head of your home, He will bless your family life. Perhaps the most taxing of all, are the years a family finds itself in and out of crisis situations. Little babies that cooed and gurgled grow up into challenging, independent-thinking adolescents. The protective, sheltered environment of the home is broken into by the school, new friends, alien philosophies, financial strain, illness, accidents, hard questions, constant decisions, and busy schedules. . . and it isn't difficult to feel the pressure mounting - especially when you add dating, new drivers in the family, leaving for college, talk of marriage, and moving out. Whew! And what does God say about these years?. . . He says we'll be "blessed". We'll be "happy". It will "be well" with us during these years. . .In the family portrayed on this scriptural canvas, "the Lord" is still central. . . Even before you finish. . .it may be the right time for

This chapter shared stories "of people who sought to live their lives fully surrendered to God." Each story was different, "but each bears the mark of a person distinctly transformed by the beauty and reality of God's love and the guidance of the Holy Spirit." (p. 149) "Jesus commended the few who were faithful. Likewise, there are a few in every generation who offer examples worth following. Will your name be among the few that follow?" (p. 150) Nathan Barlow - a medical doctor using his skills in Ethiopia; www.mossyfoot.com Simpson Rebbavarapu - born to poverty-stricken parents in India; grew up in an orphanage; started an orphanage and brings audio Bibles to villages; lives by faith; www.beumin.org Jamie Lang - missionary to Tanzania Marva J. Dawn - lives off her husband's teacher's salary; donates all the proceeds of her books to charities Rich Mullins - musician; lived on a Navajo reservation in Arizona to teach music t

An old one from December 2010. . . Part of our cancer journey story. . .  The holidays have taken on a new light for me this year. With Dennis being diagnosed with cancer, my perspective has been greatly changed. Some days it's easy to fall prey to discouragement over our circumstances. I've been learning to counter those times with a "gratitude adjustment." In spite of the difficult times, there are in fact many blessings in my life. As they have been rolling around in my head this week, I decided to write them down to look back on. My husband is sick; but I am so very grateful to have a husband to share my life with. He is my best friend; the one I want to share my love, life, heart, and dreams with. I am fortunate to be married to a man who follows after God with his whole heart. Dennis has been the spiritual leader of our relationship from the beginning. Not that he is perfect; but even when he has made mistakes, he has been humble enough to allow

Another old post. . . Dennis came downstairs last night after putting Josh to bed. He said that Josh told him he made up a new verse. The verse is, "If you obey God's Word, you'll get His rewards." Josh said this verse was found in the Special Testaments 8:1 (he got the numbers from looking at the digital clock!) I wondered if he had heard this at school or church so I asked him about it this morning. He said he just made it up. Not bad for a preschooler. Dennis made a point last night as we finished our devotions that there is a theme in Oswald Chambers book, "My Utmost for His Highest", that the Christian life is simple. Oswald Chambers wrote, "How can we maintain the simplicity of Jesus so that we may understand Him? By receiving His Spirit, recognizing and relying on Him, and obeying Him as He brings us the truth of His Word, life will become amazingly simple ." As I was thinking about Josh's statement, I have come

I came across this from January, 2010. This is when our contentment journey began. . . I love how God is always working to teach us His truths. Even after much time has passed after a difficult time or event, God continues to show us His truths through His Word to teach us and make sure we "get it". Three years ago Dennis decided to leave public high school and go to a Christian school. This proved to be a very challenging time for me. I fell into a deep state of anxiety over the changes that were taking place in our lives. As time passed, I began to not only see Dennis' faith and trust in the situation, but the Lord began to work in my heart and remind that He held us in His hands. For the new year, we decided to begin reading "My Utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers. The reading for January 2 was about "going out without knowing". Dennis said this reminded him of when he decided to leave public school. Oswald Chambers w

So much talk these days about the economy, jobs, the rising cost of things, the need to cut back on spending, etc. Things are difficult and it can be overwhelming at times. I find myself at times looking at what others are doing or buying and I get wistful, wishing for a bit more "wiggle room" in the budget. But then I remind myself that I have more than many out there. Not just with finances or security, but with the hope of living in Christ. The following is a portion of a devotion by Jon Courson in "A Day's Journey". It was a good reminder to keep my eyes focused on things ABOVE, not on the things of the world. "I am thoroughly convinced from watching people and studying the Word that the people who are truly content are those who constantly realize that this world is not where it's at. On the other hand, those who try to find happiness here are perpetually frustrated. The possessions they purchase are never quite what they wer

I was reading an article on Creation vs. Evolution in the "Acts and Facts" magazine put out by the Institute for Creation Research. A paragraph really stood out to me that sums up my philosophy of life, my creed, you might say. John D. Morris, PhD wrote: "Christianity has its God and its revealed truth. It tells us our origins, who we are, where we came from, the meaning of life, and where we're going after we die. It tells us how to live and how to make life decisions along the way. Created in the image of God, we have great worth in His eyes, and great standing before Him as we appropriate His gift of redemption, a great destiny to perform on earth, and life with our loving and righteous Creator/Savior after death." He went on to talk about how Evolution answers these same questions in a different way, but I came back to this paragraph and had to read it again because I was floored at how well it summed up all I've been learning abo

Obsessed : To have the mind excessively preoccupied with a single emotion or topic. "The idea of holding back certainly didn't come from Scripture. The Bible teaches us to be consumed with Christ and to faithfully live out His words. The Holy Spirit stirs in us a joy and peace when we are fixated on Jesus, living by faith and focused on the life to come." (p. 129) Lovers "True faith is loving a person after he has hurt you. True love makes you stand out." (p. 130) " People who are obsessed with Jesus give freely and openly without censure. Obsessed people love those who hate them and who can never love them back ." (p. 132) Risk Takers " People who are obsessed with Jesus aren't consumed with their personal safety and comfort above all else. Obsessed people care more about God's kingdom coming to this earth than their own lives being shielded from pain or distress ." (p. 133) Friends of All " People who are

"Do you recognize the foolishness of seeking fulfillment outside of Him? Do you understand that it's impossible to please God in any way other than wholehearted surrender? Do you grasp the beauty and deep joy of walking in genuine intimacy with God, or holy Father and Friend? Do you want to see God more than you desire security?. . . What does running toward Christ and pursuing Love look like in daily life?" (pp. 113-114) "Having faith often means doing what others see as crazy. Something is wrong when our lives make sense to unbelievers." (p. 115) "Since God is real, Paul and the martyrs should be envied more than all people; their suffering was worth it. If we allow ourselves to live recklessly for Him, then we, too, will see His glory. We will see Him do the impossible. Christians today like to play it safe. . . But if we truly desire to please God, we cannot live that way. We have to do things that cost us during our life on earth but will be mor

The critical question for our generation - and for every generation - is this: If you could have heaven, with no sickness, and with all the friends you ever had on earth, and all the food you ever liked, and all the leisure activities you ever enjoyed, and all the natural beauties you ever saw, all the physical pleasures you ever tasted, and no human conflict or natural disasters, could you be satisfied with heaven, if Christ was not there? - God is the Gospel ; John Piper "If you are deeply in love with God, . . . you know you could never be satisfied in a heaven without Christ." (p. 101) "Is loving God - and, by extension, loving people - what you are about? Is is what being a Christian means to you? Do you live as though faith, demonstrated through love, really is the only thing that counts?" (p. 102) "When you are running toward Christ, you are freed up to serve, love, and give thanks without guilt, worry, or fear. . . As we begin to focus more on

Francis Chan's Crazy Love Chapter 5 "Jesus' call to commitment is clear: He wants all or nothing." (p. 85) Often "our concern is more about going to heaven than loving the King. Jesus said, 'If you love me, you will obey what I command' (John 14:15). And our question quickly becomes even more unthinkable: Can I go to heaven without truly and faithfully loving Jesus?" (p. 86) "God doesn't just want us to have good theology; He wants us to know and love Him." The following Scriptures tell us how we show that we truly love Jesus. 1 John 2:3 tells us "we know that we have come to know Him if we obey His commands." Matthew 16:24-25 says that we must deny ourselves, take up His cross and follow Him; that if we lose our life for Him, then we will find it. Luke 14:33 says if we do not give up everything, we cannot be Jesus' disciple. (pp. 86-87) "Because we don't usually have to depend on God (for things). . .

Francis Chan's Crazy Love Chapter 4 "It is not scientific doubt,  not atheism, not pantheism, not agnosticism, that in our day and in this land is likely to quench the light of the gospel. It is a proud, sensuous, selfish, luxurious, church-going, hollow-hearted prosperity." -Frederic D. Huntington, Forum magazine, 1890 The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. -Matthew 13:44 "In this account, the man joyfully sold all that he had so that he could obtain the only thing that mattered. He knew that what he had stumbled upon - the kingdom of heaven - was more valuable than anything he had, so he went for it with everything in him. This kind of enthusiastic response to God's love is entirely appropriate. Yet what a contrast to our typical response at discovering the same treasure!" (p. 66) "Do not assume you are good so

Francis Chan's Crazy Love Chapter 3 "Nothing compares to being truly, exuberantly wanted by your children. . . My desire for my children is only a faint echo of God's great love for me and for every person He made. I am just an earthly, sinful father, and I love my kids so much it hurts. How could I not trust a heavenly, perfect Father who loves me infinitely more than I will ever love my kids?" (p. 55) If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him! -Matthew 7:11 "When we love God, we naturally run to Him - frequently and zealously." (p. 57) Our intimate times of prayer and study of His Word are motivated by love. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." -Matthew 22:37 "God knew me and you before we existed. . . and He designed (us) for a specific work." (pp. 58-59)

Francis Chan's Crazy Love Chapter 2  "On the average day, we live caught up in ourselves. On the average day, we don't consider God very much. On the average day, we forget that our life truly is a vapor." (p. 39) Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes." James 4:13-14 "Intellectually we all know that we will die, but we do not really know it in the sense that the knowledge becomes a part of us. We do not really know it in the sense of living as though it were true. On the contrary, we tend to live as though our lives would go on forever." -Fredrick Buechner We are commanded to, "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!. . . Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation,