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Christmas IS About Family??? Pt. 1 Bible Ballistics: BBs #607

04 Wednesday Dec 2019

Posted by Blanche in 'Tis The Season?, A Father's Love, Abundant Life In Jesus, Christmas IS?, Come To Worship HIM, Family, It's Your Choice, Jesus Is Alive, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Joy To The World?, Salvation, SIN

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Christmas Gift!, Christmas IS?, Family, Family IS Christmas!, Jesus Is Alive, John 1:10-14, John 3:3-7, Matthew 1:21, Salvation In Jesus

Bible Ballistics: BBs #607  Christmas IS About Family??? Pt.1

 

As we talked last time about the truth that Christmas is about Jesus’ gift to the world of Himself to be our substitutionary, atoning, sacrifice for sin to all who come to Him in repentance and faith, I want to spend some time this month talking about Jesus, Christmas, and family and how they are intertwined.

When we come to Jesus, we become part of the family of God—we are ‘born again’ into the Kingdom of God!

“He was in the world,

and the world was made by him,

and the world knew him not.

11 He came unto his own,

and his own received him not.

12 But as many as received him,

to them gave he power

to become the sons of God,

even to them that believe on his name:

13 Which were born,

not of blood,

nor of the will of the flesh,

nor of the will of man,

but of God.

14 And the Word was made flesh,

and dwelt among us,

(and we beheld his glory,

the glory as of the only begotten

of the Father,)

full of grace and truth.”   John 1:10-14

Jesus came into the world for you and me—that we might have “life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (See John 10:10)—that we might truly know what “life” is all about, from the God who created us, and bought us back to Himself with the blood of Jesus!  It’s what Jesus talked to Nicodemus about; this religious leader who wanted to know what Jesus was all about, yet came to Him at night, whether to be unseen of others, or whatever reason he had—he came.  What about you?  Have you come to Jesus?  He came—was born in a manger, lived a sinless life, died in my/your place, rose victorious on the third day that we might become a part of HIS family—to “become the sons of God”—sons and daughters of The Father!  Amen!

“Jesus answered and said unto him,

Verily, verily, I say unto thee,

Except a man be born again,

he cannot see the kingdom of God.

4 Nicodemus saith unto him,

How can a man be born when he is old?

can he enter the second time

into his mother’s womb,

and be born?

5 Jesus answered,

Verily, verily, I say unto thee,

Except a man be born of water

and of the Spirit,

he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

6 That which is born of the flesh

is flesh;

and that which is born of the Spirit

is spirit.

7 Marvel not that I said unto thee,

Ye must be born again.”  John 3:3-7

So, for our first look at family, we can choose to hear the message of Jesus, and become His children—we can know The Father—to be “born of the Spirit”!  I pray that you will rejoice in the beauty of the gift that God has given to the world as you see all of the Christmas beauty around us!!!

“….and thou shalt call his name JESUS:

for he shall save his people from their sins.”  Matthew 1:21b

Amen!

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Whose Box Are You In??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 14 No. 08

06 Sunday Oct 2019

Posted by Blanche in Amazing Grace, Beauty of Holiness, Children, Choices And Consequences, Consider Your ways, Dare To Be Different!, Encouragement, Family, Follow Jesus, For Such A Time As This, Holiness, IN Jesus!, In The Beginning, Knowing God's Word, Living Right, Not Of This World, Only One Way, Seeing Truth, Suffering With Jesus, That They May Know, The Father of Lies!, The Word Or The World?, Truth is True, Walking With Jesus

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1 Peter 3:1-9, Believing God's Word, Colossians 1:14-17, Following Jesus, God's Way or The World's?, John 15:12-13, John 15:17-21, John 1:1-5, John 8:42-47, Living For Jesus, Proverbs 31:30-31, The Deceit of The World, Titus 2:1-8, Whose Box Are You In?

Bible Ballistics: Vol.14 No.08     Whose Box Are You In???

 

I’m going to broach a subject that may cause me to lose some of you, but nonetheless, it’s a topic that I feel that Christian women need to consider, especially in light of what we are teaching our young girls and young women.  I think that we have allowed the world to dictate and sway our thinking about women.  Being a woman who was adversely affected by the tripe that was touted in the 60’s about ‘women’ being ‘liberated’, and “bringing home the bacon”, “cooking it up”, and being the “everything to everyone”—the sex-goddess without an apron in the kitchen.  Well, I’m here to tell you—we were lied to!  God’s plan is the only plan that will bring us joy, peace and the opportunity to influence our families, our world, so we can see mountains moved for Jesus.  What I’ve learned in these years of failures and successes is that ultimately, finding out what GOD said about us as women, the home, and our ‘true north’ of focus, is that the only ‘box’ that brings true fulfillment is knowing and pursuing God and His plan.

I read a story recently of a person who was given a fine Swiss watch, but it quit running.  After taking it to several repair shops, who said they couldn’t fix it, someone was going to be in Switzerland on an unrelated task, so they took it to the original manufacturer and told them it wasn’t running.  Sometime later the person received the watch back in perfect running order!  How?  Because the original manufacturer “knew” the watch and what it would take to fix it—for they had created it.  And the point?  God is the “original” creator and He  designed us male and female for a reason; He established marriage with a purpose (and it wasn’t to set up a race for ‘superior and inferior’ member of the union)—but rather that the home would be a place where love would abound, where a man and a woman could grow and blossom into the people that God created them to be—and ‘In Jesus’ we can blossom as we were created to do—male and female, truly becoming ONE—propagating life and the Gospel!

“In whom we have redemption

 through his blood,

even the forgiveness of sins:

15 Who is the image of the invisible God,

the firstborn of every creature:

16 For by him

were all things created,

that are in heaven,

and that are in earth,

visible and invisible,

whether they be thrones,

or dominions,

or principalities,

 or powers:

all things were created by him,

and for him:

17 And he is before all things,

and by him

all things consist.” Colossians 1:14-17

God is creator, and The Son was right there with Him, so we can trust in our God—Father, Son and Holy Spirit—Creator and sustainer!!!  His plan is the best plan ever–still!

“In the beginning

was the Word,

and the Word was with God,

and the Word was God.

2 The same was in the beginning

with God.

3 All things

were made by him;

and without him

was not any thing made

that was made.

4 In him

was life;

and the life

was the light of men.

5 And the light shineth

in darkness;

and the darkness

comprehended it not.”  John 1:1-5

We live in a culture that at this moment is promoting “strong” women—but often what they are promoting as ‘strength’ is more like defiance of the God-given characteristics of men and women!  We women were never created or called to be men, nor vice-versa.  God created ‘male’ and ‘female’ with intent and purpose; woman was brought to the man as a “completer” not a “competer”, and God made us to encourage and strengthen one another by our unique differences!  God made us as the crowning glory of His work of creation; and the home to be the nurturing incubator to build the next generation—for better or for worse!  Instead of caving to the culture, God wants us to call the culture to the cross—not fall in the gutter with them!

We talked last week about those who were “past feeling”, and this fits in today; we are living amongst a people who have decided that anyone who considers God’s way as the right way, is out of touch with reality!  The truth is that God IS true ‘reality’; yet we often let the world trap, fool and deceive us into accepting and joining in with their rejection and revision of God’s order, forsaking the truth for a lie!  Jesus dealt with these same issues when He walked this earth, the more truth He spoke the more those in positions of authority defied, denied and demeaned Him.

“Jesus said unto them,

If God were your Father,

 ye would love me:

for I proceeded forth and came from God;

neither came I of myself,

but he sent me.

43 Why do ye not understand my speech?

even because ye cannot hear my word.

44 Ye are of your father the devil,

and the lusts of your father

ye will do.

He was a murderer

from the beginning,

and abode not in the truth,

because there is no truth in him.

When he speaketh a lie,

he speaketh of his own:

for he is a liar,

and the father of it.

45 And because I tell you the truth,

ye believe me not.

46 Which of you convinceth me of sin?

And if I say the truth,

why do ye not believe me?

 47 He that is of God

heareth God’s words:

ye therefore hear them not,

because ye are not of God.”   John 8:42-47

One thing that we often forget is that Jesus warned us that if we choose to follow Him and go God’s way, then we would face the same things that he faced.  Many don’t like to consider this, for so many preach an ‘easy believe-ism’ that says if we follow Jesus we will always be accepted—healthy, wealthy, painless.  As I had someone tell me once, as I was teaching on suffering and persecution, ‘if you are nice to others, they will be nice to you’; and while that sounds really nice (and we are to be nice to others) it is not always true.  I’ll use the same answer now, as I used then, I simply asked about Jesus—did He always do right; yes!  Did He always respond in truth; yes!  Did He always speak the right thing, to the right person, at the right time, in the right way-yes!  Yet what did ‘they’ do to Him?  The “loved” Him to death—they cried out “crucify Him”!  Less than a week after Palm Sunday’s shouts of “hosanna”, they were crying “Crucify him…”.  We can expect the same—male and female!

“These things I command you,

that ye love one another.

18 If the world hate you,

ye know that it hated me

before it hated you.

19 If ye were of the world,

the world would love his own:

but because ye are not of the world,

but I have chosen you out of the world,

therefore the world hateth you.

20 Remember the word that I said unto you,

The servant is not greater

than his lord.

If they have persecuted me,

they will also persecute you;

if they have kept my saying,

they will keep yours also.

21 But all these things

will they do unto you

for my name’s sake,

because they know not him

that sent me.”   John 15:17-21

Back to our thoughts about women and the family, one of the things I want us to consider is, what/who are we holding up to our children as “heroes”?  Who are we teaching/allowing them to dress like, behave like, and listen to?  The people that saturate the media with their ungodliness, or those who lived for God in the past as well as those who are living for Him and honoring Him now.  Are we teaching our young men and women that building a home is a priority, or that it’s simply an ‘add-on’ to living life for your selfish desires, if it fits in?  Are we teaching and leading our children, both our sons and our daughters, to value and pursue godliness, or have we abandoned them to the world, it’s glitz and glamour, and its vile icons?  Are we helping them be like the world or to pursue holiness?  I truly believe that godly women—moms, grandmothers, aunts, sisters, neighbors, and friends—can still make a difference in the world!  And whether they know it or not, the world needs true, biblical, godly men and women to lead us into the future.  Scripture gives us some guidelines; the problem is we seem to be failing to make teaching our young ones The Word of God a priority.  If your son or daughter can pitch a perfect no-hitter, or make 3-point baskets all night, or if they are a ‘fashion plate’ of modern dress, if they don’t know Jesus, what do they have?  We can’t assure that they will always make good choices, but we are to help them learn the difference between godly and ungodly; and not just our own children, but those we have the opportunity to influence; as well as other adults God sends our way!

“But speak thou the things

which become sound doctrine:

2 That the aged men

be sober,

grave,

temperate,

sound

in faith,

in charity,

in patience.

3 The aged women likewise,

that they be in behaviour

as becometh holiness,

not false accusers,

not given to much wine,

teachers of good things;

4 That they may teach

the young women

to be sober,

to love their husbands,

to love their children,

5 To be discreet,

chaste,

keepers at home,

good,

obedient to their own husbands,

that the word of God

be not blasphemed.

6 Young men likewise

exhort to be sober minded.

7 In all things shewing thyself

a pattern of good works:

in doctrine

shewing uncorruptness,

gravity,

sincerity,

8 Sound speech,

that cannot be condemned;

that he that is of

the contrary part

may be ashamed,

having no evil thing

to say of you.”  Titus 2:1-8

Paul says so much in these few verses, he is calling Christian men and women to live above reproach—that we don’t bring shame to the name of our Lord Jesus!  He calls us to pass on this ‘higher call’ to those among whom we have influence.  And whether we work outside the home or not, godly women should know that love is more importantly ‘acted out’ rather than simply ‘spoken’.  For to speak truth effectively, we must live it!  Continually!

And when we are living truth, we will be used by God to make a difference.  Why do we allow people with, to say the least, questionable character to be praised before our daughters?  Why have we abandoned the truth and power available through the ideal of godly, humble, powerful women of GOD?

It often escapes us that Paul’s admonition to the “older” women to teach the “younger” women, is a two-fold call; for every woman has someone in their life that is ‘younger’, and at the same time we have those who are ‘older’ than we are.  We are to share with one another the power of biblical truth for living!  Get off of your social-media and make a call, make a visit, connect with a real person—in person!  We are quickly losing the art of personal communication—and we need personal relationships NOT virtual ones!

What has happened to sharing with our young ones the call to be an ‘Esther’-a woman with an opportunity to rescue her nation; to be a Hannah, a praying woman and a self-less mother; to be a Ruth, a loving servant to her mother-in-law, and a humble convert and servant of God; to be a Deborah (and I’ll lose some of you here) a godly woman of God, used to be a powerful inspiration to encourage men to follow and accept God’s call to lead and overcome (not to take their place—oooops, I just lost some of you!)!  How about modern women of faith?  Corrie Ten Boom, a powerful woman of faith, truth and strength!   Amy Carmichael, a powerful woman of God who served tirelessly on the mission field! Elizabeth Elliot, who helped show the world that a godly widow can make a difference! Ruth Graham, a quite woman of faith, strength and courage, who supported her husband’s ministry and raised her children with dignity and truth to be servants of God!  The list could go on, but I think you get the point.  We often teach about the Daniels, and Josephs, and we should, but don’t forget God’s examples of godly women!  And one point I’d like to leave with you is to get your children and grandchildren into reading the biographies of the faithful servants of God from the past and the present!  May we be Proverbs 31 women who ‘fear The Lord’ and seek God’s praise over the praise of men, sharing with those around us?

“Favour is deceitful,

and beauty is vain:

but a woman that feareth the LORD,

she shall be praised.   

31 Give her

of the fruit of her hands;

and let her own works

praise her in the gates.”   Proverbs 31:30-31

Let’s stop binge-eating at the world’s table, and feast on The Word of God, and the company of other godly women! (or men as the case may be). Peter reminds us that God has a higher standard than the world—will we accept the challenge or fall for the lies of the enemy.  And note, Peter points out that our “life-style” of holiness (conversation) is more of a testimony than nagging (ouch!)!

Men and women are called to appreciate our respective differences, and pursue God’s work in our lives, as we share each with the other, and for the sake of time and space, I’ll only share a portion of 1 Peter 3.  I encourage you to read chapter 2 and 3 this week (In fact the whole book is a doable thing, and it’s all about suffering for Jesus—for living holy lives in a broken world!).

“Likewise, ye wives,

be in subjection to your own husbands;

that, if any obey not the word,

they also may

without the word

be won by the conversation

of the wives;

2 While they behold

your chaste conversation

coupled with fear.

3 Whose adorning

let it not be that outward adorning

of plaiting the hair,

and of wearing of gold,

or of putting on of apparel;

4 But let it be the hidden man

of the heart,

 in that which is not corruptible,

even the ornament

of a meek

and quiet spirit,

which is in the sight of God

of great price…

….7 Likewise, ye husbands,

dwell with them

according to knowledge,

giving honour unto the wife,

as unto the weaker vessel,

and as being heirs together

of the grace of life;

that your prayers

be not hindered.

8 Finally,

be ye all of one mind,

having compassion one of another,

love as brethren,

be pitiful,

be courteous:

9 Not rendering

evil for evil,

or railing for railing:

but contrariwise

blessing;

knowing that ye are thereunto called,

that ye should inherit a blessing.”    Portions of 1 Peter 3:1-9

Let me close by saying, God created male and female—and we are to treasure the differences without yielding our God-given roles!  And yes, I believe we have “roles”—not subservient roles (either way) but roles of complementors and completers not competitors!  God calls us to love—agape love—to do that which is always for the other persons good, not just our own!  And sometimes it hurts to love that way, but I’m so grateful that Jesus loved me enough to give His life for mine.  How could I/we do less for one another, especially within a home!!!

“This is my commandment,

That ye love one another, as I have loved you.

13 Greater love hath no man than this,

that a man lay down his life for his friends.”    John 15:12-13

Amen and Amen!!!

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Are You A Keeper??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 13 No. 14

20 Monday May 2019

Posted by Blanche in Abiding In Jesus, Family, Keepers At Home

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1 John 4:4, A Battle For Our Homes, Acts 20:28-30, Ecclesiastes 1:9, Home, Keepers At Home, Luke 10:2-3, Matthew 19:3-6, Proverbs 15:4, Titus 2:3-5

Bible Ballistics: Vol. 13 No.14      Are You A Keeper???

 

It’s been a lovely weekend here in Oklahoma, the weather has been lovely, a bit of rain without dangerous conditions, although some near us were afflicted by damaging tornadoes.  Please pray for those throughout our country who are encountering damaging weather and trials.  I’d like us to consider prayerfully another area in danger—our homes.  We live in a culture that is not only minimalizing the import of the home but is continually bombarding and attacking the natural order of things—and the authority of parents to guide, teach and direct their children in living godly lives.

We need to “get back to basics”, as coaches often say to their teams!  We need to get back to God’s Word and teach and direct our families accordingly, regardless of what the world thinks or says. Jesus Himself, warned us to be aware of the reality of the conflict around us!

“Therefore said he unto them,

 The harvest truly is great,

but the labourers are few:

pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest,

that he would send forth labourers

into his harvest.

3 Go your ways:

behold, I send you forth

as lambs

among wolves.”  Luke 10:2-3

We are Jesus’ sheep in the midst of a world full of wolves: Paul warned the Ephesian church of this very thing—and it is rampant about us—even among us.

“Take heed therefore unto yourselves,

and to all the flock,

over the which the Holy Ghost

hath made you overseers,

to feed the church of God,

which he hath purchased

with his own blood.

29 For I know this,

that after my departing

shall grievous wolves enter in

among you,

not sparing the flock.

30 Also of your own selves

shall men arise,

speaking perverse things,

to draw away disciples

after them.”  Acts 20:28-30

We often think that no one else has had to deal with sin the way that we have, but that is just not true.  Solomon clearly declared:

“The thing that hath been,

it is that which shall be;

and that which is done

is that which shall be done:

and there is no new thing

under the sun.”  Ecclesiastes 1:9

So, what are we to do?  We must heed the scripture, lean on Jesus, and follow His Holy Spirit’s leading and promptings. As we follow His voice in all our ways, we will find that God’s Word is liberating, not restrictive.  And while God has given each of us a free will, He has also revealed HIS will for each person, individually; for the family as a unit; for the church as His body; and to men, women, leaders, and children!  God has a plan for us all—and HE hasn’t changed the design, the rules, or the purpose of the family.  I read something the other day, that accused those who choose to believe and uphold the biblical teachings of morality and the family of ‘picking and choosing’ what scripture we upheld!  I find that totally amusing, especially in light of the fact that the scriptures that they used were out of context specifically and totally out of the context of the whole counsel of God!  Peter talked about this in his second letter warning us of those who would “twist” God’s Word for their own purposes and benefit.  But God gave us the plan, and Jesus Himself confirmed the sanctity of marriage, and the truth that it Is between one man and one woman, till death!

“The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause? 4 And he answered and said unto them,

Have ye not read,

that he which made them

at the beginning

made them

male

and female,

5 And said,

For this cause  (marriage)

shall a man leave

father and mother,

 and shall cleave to his wife:

and they twain

shall be one flesh?

6 Wherefore they are no more twain,

but one flesh.

What therefore God hath joined together,

let not man put asunder.”  Matthew 19:3-6

Jesus makes several things clear here; God made “male” and “female”—nothing in between!  He made them “at the beginning”, and HE established marriage for the “man” and “his wife”; He also blessed them to be “one flesh”; and Jesus makes it clear that God created this “union” and man isn’t to ‘recreate’ it into something else!  This IS God’s plan, for the welfare of the man and the woman, for the benefit and well-being of the children in the home, and for society to flourish and continue to receive the blessings of God!  Yet we have become a culture with women lined up in the street demanding the “right” to kill their own children!  I never thought I could live to see this—but I have, so I must take that as an opportunity to speak His truth from The Word!  God has a task for us all, and for we who are women, whom HE created, designed and equipped to be “keepers at home” are blessed!  Uh-oh, I just lost some of you—who think that means every woman must be a stay-at-home mom—and while I do think that is the optimal design for the home, it isn’t the main thing that phrase is talking about!

“The aged women likewise,

that they be in behaviour

as becometh holiness,

not false accusers,

not given to much wine,

teachers of good things;

4 That they may teach the young women

to be sober,

to love their husbands,

to love their children,

5 To be discreet,

chaste,

keepers at home,

good,

obedient to their own husbands,

that the word of God

be not blasphemed.”  Titus 2:3-5

Paul gives instructions to this young pastor, Titus, to call his church to right living before God and the world, and while his focus is to the church, these principles apply to any who will heed the true message.  Many become so distracted by the “keepers at home” that we miss the message.  Paul calls the “older” women (Every woman alive is ‘older’ than someone else and can teach, but by the same token, every woman is ‘younger’ than someone else, and can receive instruction!) to teach, but only after he admonishes them to live lives that are holy, truthful, sober (not controlled by external substances), teaching ‘good’ things, in contrast to being, by our living, a corrupt influence!  Godly women are to teach younger women to live holy lives—keeping their eyes fixed on Jesus—and considering things that are profitable (See 2 Timothy 2:15 and 3:16-17, as well as Philippians 4:8) to them personally which will result in beneficial things for the family.  And I find it interesting that many who oppose what this passage teaches, get so caught up in the one phrase, that they miss the message—homes need godly mothers who can influence the next generation for God—not the world!

As women we are called to be:

Sober—not given to the control of external drugs

 “not drunk with wine…but filled with the Spirit”

Loving our husband—NOT someone else’s

Loving our children—more than our own pleasures

Discreet—being wise, gentle and quiet-spirited

Not the ‘drama queen’ of the block!

Chaste/Pure—in our speech, demeanor, and dress

 Keepers at home—We are the front-line of defense—

  ‘keeping’ our home safe in

  Mind—

  Body—

 Spirit–

Good—just doing right before God and our family

Obedient to their own husband—Pleasing our mate

before our in-laws, out-laws, neighbors or friends!

All because we have influence—and what we say and do will affect the atmosphere of our home—we can make or break our husband and our children!  What are you using your tongue and actions to do?

“A wholesome tongue

is a tree of life:

but perverseness therein

is a breach in the spirit.”  Proverbs 15:4

Ladies, we have the ability to influence our homes (and other people’s homes as well) by our life, our words and our actions IN our own homes, in the public arena and as God directs our steps, into perhaps greater arenas—but we must guard our heart and mind, and then set ourselves as “keepers” at home, and “keepers” of the home!  It’s not just what I do “at” home but what I do “with, for, in, around, and through” my home that will make a difference.  Many of you women have no other choice but to work ‘outside’ of the home to provide, but that doesn’t mean that we don’t work “inside” the home no matter where we are!  But it must be a deliberate choice of the will—to keep my eyes on Jesus, and meet the needs of my family by guarding, protecting, and training the young (and old) souls whom God has placed in my care!

There are false teachers/preachers/leaders around us everywhere, but if we will simply avail ourselves of the truth of God’s Word and stand in it, we can overcome and be victorious “keepers” at home as well as for our home!  If we don’t, who will?  If not now, when?  Time is fleeting and there are those all around us trying to steal the hearts and minds of our children; they are determined, malicious, and well-funded.  But by God’s power—we can overcome.  And dads this includes you too, your children are at risk!!!  We must act NOW to ‘keep’ our homes safe!

“Ye are of God, little children,

and have overcome them:

because greater is he

that is in you,

than he

that is in the world.”  1 John 4:4

 WE WIN!!!  We must stand fast!!!  Amen and Amen!!!

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Who Dropped The Ball??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #486

22 Wednesday Aug 2018

Posted by Blanche in Family, For Such A Time As This, Who Dropped The Ball?

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #486 Who Dropped The Ball???

 

It’s almost football season—in fact many schools have already started, and the pre-season has begun—and no matter how you feel about sports, we’ve all heard of players dropping the ball, or missing a catch, or even running the wrong way. Those mistakes can have a high price tag—often the loss of the game. Well, my friends, we are in a much greater struggle than a sports competition, we are in a war for the hearts, minds and souls of men, women, boys and girls—the spiritual destiny of a world, a nation, a city—and even more of a root issue—the hearts and lives of families. Have we dropped the ball as a culture in the ideology of family? I believe we have, but we must strive to recover from our folly and restore the important core of our culture, of any culture—the family, the home, marriage and the valuing of life, all life!

When we abandon the moorings that God has given us we will see our ships drift into dangerous waters, storms and even destruction from the winds of life. We must recognize our true state, ask God’s forgiveness, and seek HIS wisdom and courage to make/be a change as we “stand fast in the evil day”! We can find some biblical insight into a ‘changing of the guard’ in scripture, which seems to parallel our state.

“And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD,

choose you this day

whom ye will serve;

whether the gods

which your fathers served

that were on the other side of the flood,

or the gods of the Amorites,

in whose land ye dwell:

but as for me and my house,

we will serve the LORD.

16 And the people answered and said,

God forbid

that we should forsake the LORD,

to serve other gods;”   Joshua 24:15-16

Joshua had led the children of Israel into the Promised Land and given each tribe their inheritance to possess and to complete the conquest of the remaining enemies. We find Joshua near the end of his life calling the people together to remind them of what God had done for them, and to call them to confront their tendency to wander from God and choose poorly. It is here that we find the great call that still stands the test of time, the call that we all face at one time or another, “choose you this day…….but as for me and my house we will serve the LORD.” We all must choose, and we do choose every day! But what are we choosing?

Like Israel, we often choose poorly, and the consequences of our choices always become manifest, and I believe our choices here in the US have sadly become clearly manifest.

“And Joshua the son of Nun,

the servant of the LORD,

died,

being an hundred and ten years old.

9 And they buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnathheres, in the mount of Ephraim, on the north side of the hill Gaash.

10 And also all that generation

were gathered unto their fathers:

and there arose another generation

after them,

which knew not the LORD,

nor yet the works

which he had done for Israel.”   Judges 2:8-10

I saw an example of this principle a long time ago, it was a an empty chair—and the speaker reminded us that when we fail to pass on the truths to those who are following us when we are in “the chair”, then the next “chair” will be empty and our heritage will fail. The generation which followed Joshua and his contemporaries, “knew not the LORD”, and we are finding ourselves in the same boat today. But how did this happen? Let’s see what the word tells us.

“And thou shalt love the LORD

thy God

with all thine heart,

and with all thy soul,

and with all thy might.

6 And these words,

which I command thee this day,

shall be in thine heart:”   Deuteronomy 6:5-6

God makes it clear in this wonderful passage that we can never pass on that which we don’t possess—the first thing that we must each do is have a relationship with GOD, through His Son Jesus, and in that relationship “I” come to love The LORD “my” God! And when I am in a relationship with Him then I can love Him with “all my” heart, soul and might/mind—for He and His Word are in “my heart”! If I don’t have Jesus, then I have nothing to pass on, but when we do know HIM, God lays out the plan for passing the baton to the next generation. I wish we had time to go over this entire passage, but for time’s sake we will look at only a few verses today (I encourage you to spend some time today in this entire chapter, it will bless your soul, and it may transform your relationships!).

“7 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…..

18 And thou shalt do

that which is right

and good

in the sight of the LORD:

that it may be well with thee,

and that thou mayest go in

and possess the good land

which the LORD sware

unto thy fathers……

20 And when thy son asketh thee

in time to come,

saying,

What mean the testimonies,

and the statutes,

and the judgments,

which the LORD

our God

hath commanded you?

21 Then thou shalt say

unto thy son,

We were Pharaoh’s bondmen in Egypt; and the LORD brought us out of Egypt

with a mighty hand…..

24 And the LORD commanded us

to do all these statutes,

to fear the LORD our God,

for our good always,

that he might preserve us alive,

as it is at this day.”    Portions of Deuteronomy 6:7-24

God’s plan was that we who know Him, would share our love of Him by our conversations with our children-morning, noon and night, and that we would do what was pleasing to GOD not man! And the thing that is so amazingly simple, is that God tells us that if we would do these things, and make sharing HIM a priority in our lives, and live a life that backs up what we profess, that one day our child would “ask” us why, and then we would have an opportunity to share with them the truth of what God has done for “me/you”! WOW! I love the beauty and simplicity of this passage—not easy but simply put and irrefutable!

If we will do things God’s way, we will see amazing results. I pray that you and I will take this to heart and regardless of our past failures and shortcomings before God, that we will commit to faithfully pursue God, follow His will and His Word, and be a reflection of His glory to those around us. That we will teach those in our charge at every opportunity—to see and avail ourselves of every teachable moment God places before us. Oh that God would grant us mercy and grace to see our culture experience a great awakening and move of God—and I believe it can start in our homes, spread to our churches and then to our towns, cities, states and even to the cultural sewer that we call our capital. May God have mercy on us, and may we pursue Him tirelessly.

“If my people,

which are called by my name,

shall humble

themselves,

and pray,

and seek

my face,

and turn

from their wicked ways;

then will I hear from heaven,

and will forgive their sin,

and will heal their land.”   2 Chronicles 7:14

Amen and Amen—even so Lord Jesus!

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