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TODAY’S LESSON: Psalm 130

Semi Retired Pastor Jeremy Stopford

STUDY IN THE ASCENT PSALMS

INTRODUCTION

We are heading into the HOME STRETCH! Today is Study #11 of our insights into the “Ascent Psalms” – Psalms 120-134!

Each one is unique, an individual, one of a kind. A visual of a pilgrim’s journey – like YOURS!

OUR THEME VERSE

“Blessed is the man whose strength is in You, whose heart is set on pilgrimage. (Psalm 84:5 NKJV). This is a short verse – have you learned it yet?

BUT FIRST, A COMMERCIAL !!!

Make that, TWO Commercials!

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COMMERCIAL #2: NEXT WEEK’S LESSON IS PSALM 131

Did you remember that is my FAVORITE passage in the whole Bible?

Please READ IT this week!

TODAY WE ARE IN PSALM 130

Psalm 130 New King James Version (NKJV)

Waiting for the Redemption of the Lord

A Song of Ascents.

1 Out of the depths I have cried to You, O Lord;

2  Lord, hear my voice!

Let Your ears be attentive

To the voice of my supplications.

3  If You, Lord, should mark iniquities,

O Lord, who could stand?

4  But there is forgiveness with You,

That You may be feared.

5  I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,

And in His word I do hope.

6  My soul waits for the Lord

More than those who watch for the morning—

Yes, more than those who watch for the morning.

7  O Israel, hope in the Lord;

For with the Lord there is mercy,

And with Him is abundant redemption.

8  And He shall redeem Israel

From all his iniquities.

TITLE AND OUTLINE OF PSALM 130 (Dr. W. Graham Scroggie)

TITLE: “De Profundis !!!”

OUTLINE:

#1. Waiting ON the Lord (vs. 1-4)

A. Earnest Supplication (vs. 1-2)

B. Joyful Consolation (vs. 3-4)

#2. Waiting FOR the Lord (vs. 5-8)

A. Trustful Expectation (vs. 5-6)

B. Stirring Exhortation (vs. 7-8)

SOME INTERESTING INSIGHTS

I had an extra challenge this week! Brother Scroggie entitled this psalm “De Profundis!”. Did you know that Oscar Wilde wrote a book by that name? So what does it mean? According to the dictionary, it means “a heartfelt cry of appeal expressing deep feelings of sorrow or anguish.” THEN to my surprise, it continues “and the ‘De Profundis’ prayer in the Bible is Psalm 130”. So here we go!

The psalmist raises an interesting question in verse 1 – “Out of the depths I have cried to You, O Lord”. Where do you think he was in life when he prayed such an extreme prayer? Where would you or I be? To be honest, my simplistic prayer usually is, “Father, thank you for a new day. I give the day to you. Bless [whatever I’m looking forward to, or whatever a family member or friend is looking forward to]. Amen”.

I don’t think this kind of prayer of our unnamed psalmist is the “norm” for most of us – but it doesn’t HAVE to be! It is letting us know that WHAT we might pray and WHAT our heart REALLY feels, may be two different things! And that it is OK to “CUT LOOSE” before the Lord.

Matthew 6:8 reminds us, “For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.” Paul adds in Romans 8:26, “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”

So IF the Father knows our hearts, AND the Spirit knows our hearts, what is the point in this psalm? A little phrase which says, “OUT OF THE DEPTHS” !!! Wow! That phrase sounds awfully familiar, doesn’t it? Who else prayed “out of the depths”? Who? Listen to his INDEPTH [little play on words, eh Dr. Becker?] insight, from, of course, Jonah 2:

1“Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the fish’s belly.

2 And he said:

“I cried out to the Lord because of my affliction,

And He answered me.

“Out of the belly of Sheol I cried,

And You heard my voice.

3 For You cast me into the deep,

Into the heart of the seas,

And the floods surrounded me;

All Your billows and Your waves passed over me.”

Well, perhaps Jonah is teaching us that one does NOT have to go into the BELLY of the great fish to qualify to have an heartfelt prayer with the Lord! What he IS teaching us is that we can pray anywhere, anytime, regardless of the words or the hurt.

[For you studious ones, there is ONE time when our prayer needs to be preceded by repentance:

“If I regard iniquity in my heart, The Lord will not hear.” (Psalm 66:18)]

The Lord loves to receive by His ear the hurts of His children! The Spirit loves to help in putting to voice – EVEN if the voice is never uttered by word! – the concerns of the Father’s children.

Even “out of the depths”.

One more quick thought about this psalm. Did you notice that in verse 5 and the first part of verse 6, THREE TIMES the psalmist says that “he waits”:

“I WAIT for the Lord, MY SOUL WAITS,

And in His word I do hope.

MY SOUL WAITS for the Lord…”

OK, let’s be honest here. How well do you and I REALLY love to “WAIT”???

Been in a line at Walmart, especially just before Thanksgiving or before Christmas?

Been in a line at the traffic light?

Been someWHERE when you need to be elseWHERE 5 minutes ago?

So what does the psalmist DO while he is WAITING for the Lord to act?

The rest of verse 5 says, “And in His word I do hope.” “IN HIS WORD I DO HOPE!” Did we catch that?

I knew of a missionary friend, ministering among the Guanano Indians, who ultimately was martyred for his faith by Colombian rebels down in Colombia many years ago. Tim VanDyke LOVED the Lord, he LOVED to share his faith. And the testimony that came back after his martyrdom was WHAT? That while he and his co-worker were dwelling among their captors, what did they DO? They SHARED the Word of God in the hopes that their captors would be…SAVED! Tim and Steve HOPED in the Word of God! Yes, they, too were both “in the depths”. And while waiting upon the Lord to get them OUT of the depths, they HOPED that the Word of God would not only be THEIR hope, but it would also be the HOPE of their captors! Wow! The Great Faith chapter says of Tim and Steve, “of whom the world was not worthy”.

CONCLUDING THOUGHT

Look at the last two verses. How would YOU have finished a prayer from “out of the depths” of the despair or situation that the Lord allowed YOU to be in?

Our unnamed psalmist prayed for ISRAEL! He prayed for their:

HOPE in the Lord

MERCY in the Lord

ABUNDANT REDEMPTION in the Lord

REDEMPTION from all their iniquities!

The psalmist did NOT end his prayer praying for himself! He prayed for his country, his beloved Israel! In one sense, in praying for Israel, he was praying for the preparation of his nation for the future coming of the Messiah. But he was also praying for the hearts of the people of his land: that they would know the HOPE, MERCY, and REDEMPTION of the Lord!

Is that OUR prayer for the LAND in which the Lord has wisely put each of US?

Why not while IN the depths, and while an answer is not visible before us, let us remember to pray for an ENTIRE NATION that it, too, would be surrendering to the Lord’s amazing HOPE, MERCY, and REDEMPTION!

Will you pray for your land today?

Blogs, John Grant

BEING SPIRITUAL

Week Forty-Seven, 2020

Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Matthew 23:25

Paul observed that the carnal man cannot understand spiritual things. Why? Because he lacks spiritual discernment (1 Cor. 2:13-16). Unfortunately, in this letter to Christians, he lamented, “And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people, but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ” (1 Cor. 3:1). The Corinthian conundrum is our challenge today.

Bill Bennett’s observations in his 1990’s best seller, “The Book of Virtues,” is more applicable than ever. “I submit to you that the real crisis of our time is spiritual.” Furthermore, Bennett asserts “A human being without faith, without reverence for anything, is a human being morally adrift.”

Our culture is morally adrift. We shake our heads and wonder “what happened?” “Why?” And “how can we fix it?” William Barclay’s explanation of the Corinthian passage provides some insight. He points out that the carnal man is driven by material needs, physical desires and worldly values.

“A man like that cannot understand spiritual things. A man who thinks that nothing is more important than the satisfaction of the sex urge cannot understand the meaning of chastity; a man who ranks the amassing of material things as the supreme end of life cannot understand generosity; and a man who has never a thought beyond this world cannot understand the things of God. To him they look mere foolishness.”

Then he offers his sobering warning and significant admonition, “It is easy to become so involved in the world that there exists nothing beyond it. We must pray to have the mind of Christ, for only when He dwells within us are we safe from the encroaching invasion of the demands of material things.” –Ken Weliever, The Preacherman

***

SOMETIMES TRUE STORIES

The book of Revelation describes Jesus as “the Lamb who was slain from the creation of the world” (13:8 NIV). 1 Peter 1 points to “the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot” (v. 19) and says that “he was foreknown before the foundation of the world” (v. 20).

In other words, before God made the world, his Son was already a sacrificial lamb for the sins of the world.

Romans 5:8 makes this fact plain: “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” “While we were still sinners”—before we had done one thing to earn God’s forgiveness, Jesus died for us.

Here’s the point to understand: Jesus chose to die for you before you committed your first sin. He knew your forgiveness would cost Him His life, but He chose to create you anyway. And every other person in human history with you.

There is nothing we can do to earn such love because it was decided before we even existed. His redeeming grace is like a house you build for your grandchildren before your children are born. It is like a soldier who dies for a country that does not yet exist, but his death helps create.

Would you have a second child if you knew that child would murder your first child? We are God’s second children. And He chose to make us, and His first child chose to die for us, anyway. Jim Denison

— o —

TRUISMS:

You’re never too old to learn something stupid.

To be sure of hitting the target, shoot first, and call whatever you hit the target.

Nostalgia isn’t what it used to be.

Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine.

Going to church doesn’t make you a Christian any more than standing in a garage makes you a car.

I’m supposed to respect my elders, but it’s getting harder and harder for me to find one now.

— o —

Abortion Clinic CEO Compares Abortion to Removing a Mole or Getting a Root Canal.

***

QUOTES YOU CAN USE

We have given place to the accursed thing of materialism. We have made the mistake of putting prosperity, security and comfort ahead of the spiritual ideals upon which our nation was founded. Billy Graham

Reputation is what men and women think of us; character is what God and angels know of us. Thomas Paine

Jesus warned people about worrying about their possessions. For Jesus, greed is not only greed of money, but excessive anxiety over it. Tim Keller

There is no mess in your life that God cannot use for ministry. Ken Whitten

Whenever you stop being thankful in your spirit, you begin to push God to the perimeter of your life. David Jeremiah

The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy. Martin Luther King, Jr.

We need to conquer the fears that cripple our faith. Kelly Knouse

If something is not answered in Scripture, it’s something you don’t need to know. Bob Sprinkle

Good judgment comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgment. James Jay Horning

Blogs, Jeremy Stopford

TODAY’S LESSON: Psalm 129

Semi Retired Pastor Jeremy Stopford

STUDY IN THE ASCENT PSALMS

INTRODUCTION

WOW! Already, today we are in Study #10 of our insights into the “Ascent Psalms” – Psalms 120-134!

Each song is unique, an individual, one of a kind. All together they form a panorama of the pilgrim’s journey.

OUR THEME VERSE

“Blessed is the man whose strength is in You, whose heart is set on pilgrimage.” (Psalm 84:5 NKJV). This is a short verse – but worthy of being not only OUR theme verse but YOUR Life Verse! Have you learned it yet?

TODAY WE ARE IN PSALM 129

Psalm 129 New King James Version (NKJV)

Song of Victory over Zion’s Enemies

A Song of Ascents.

1 “Many a time they have afflicted me from my youth,”

Let Israel now say—

2.  “Many a time they have afflicted me from my youth;

Yet they have not prevailed against me.

3  The plowers plowed on my back;

They made their furrows long.”

4  The Lord is righteous;

He has cut in pieces the cords of the wicked.

5  Let all those who hate Zion

Be put to shame and turned back.

6  Let them be as the grass on the housetops,

Which withers before it grows up,

7  With which the reaper does not fill his hand,

Nor he who binds sheaves, his arms.

8  Neither let those who pass by them say,

“The blessing of the Lord be upon you;

We bless you in the name of the Lord!”

TITLE AND OUTLINE OF PSALM 120 (Dr. W. Graham Scroggie)

TITLE: “The Vindication of the Righteous”

OUTLINE: #1. The Affliction of the Righteous, Past (vs. 1-4)

#2. The Judgment of the Unrighteous, Future (vs. 5-8)

SOME INTERESTING INSIGHTS

To prepare our hearts for this study, let’s read together the following verses from PSALM 73:

Asaph, the author, began this psalm with these insightful, almost patriotic words:

“Truly God is good to Israel, to such as are pure in heart.

But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled;

My steps had nearly slipped.

For I was envious of the boastful,

When I saw the prosperity of the wicked.” (VERSES 1-3)

Asaph, like the unnamed author of Psalm 129, has an overwhelming zeal for Israel. Throughout the psalms, even the non-Jewish readers can note that there is a tender place in the Lord’s heart for His chosen people:

Note PSALM 73:17:

“Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I understood their end.”

Finally, note Asaph’s declaration of his inner faith, in PSALM 73:25-26:

“Whom have I in heaven but You?

And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You.

  My flesh and my heart fail;

But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”

Why are these verses important to our study of PSALM 129? Because they show the unity of the zeal for Israel, the anger of the non-Jews toward the nation and toward their God, and the firm hunger of God’s people of all ages for the intimacy provided in a relationship with the living God.

With those thoughts, coming to PSALM 129, note that there are at least 2 unusual grammar forms in this psalm:

#1 VERSE 3. “plowers plowed on my back”

This is a picture of both weakness and helplessness. It is a recurring theme in Scripture, and for good reason.

Let’s look together at a couple of verses to show this (there are MANY more – a casual reading of the entire Bible will find them readily!):

FROM JOB 30:

“They abhor me, they keep far from me;

They do not hesitate to spit in my face.” (v. 10)

“He has cast me into the mire,

And I have become like dust and ashes.” (v. 19)

“I cry out to You, but You do not answer me;

I stand up, and You regard me.” (v. 20)

“My skin grows black and falls from me;

My bones burn with fever.” (v. 30)

These all show an opposition to Job, an opposition which he did not ask for; an opposition which rears its ugly head not only with taunts of the wicked, but a seeming silence from God Himself.

Who else experienced this? Let’s check out:

ISAIAH 50:6 “I gave My back to those who struck Me,

And My cheeks to those who plucked out the beard;

I did not hide My face from shame and spitting.”

ISAIAH 52:14 “Just as many were astonished at you,

So His visage [“appearance”] was marred more than any man,

And His form more than the sons of men;

MATTHEW 27:26 “Then he released Barabbas to them; and when he had scourged

Jesus, he delivered Him to be crucified.”

In English literature, this is called the “Christus Element”. It is an identification of a character – or, even in Psalm 129 a nation – Who/which has suffered suffering for which He/it did not ask, and which was no fault of His/its own.

As in Isaiah 50, 52, and Matthew 27, Psalm 129 is a perfect example of the “Christus Element”. The unknown author of Psalm 129 is pointing the nation of Israel directly to the One Who one day in the future would willingly suffer in their place! And His Name is Jesus!

#2 VERSES 5-6, which includes the phrase “grass on the housetops”

In 2 KINGS 19:25-26, the prophet Isaiah encourages King Hezekiah that the purpose of opposition from the King of Assyria was to point that king to the reality that all his accomplishments were not a result of his power, might, or wisdom. The king’s victories were a result of the Lord Himself using an ungodly king to fulfill His purposes for the nations – including Israel – against which the Lord had sent the armies of Assyria.

In that passage is a similar phrase to PSALM 129:

“Therefore their inhabitants had little power;

They were dismayed and confounded;

They were as the grass of the field

And the green herb,

As the GRASS ON THE HOUSETOPS

And grain blighted before it is grown.”

As in Psalm 129, this is a phrase of destruction. The picture is of grass which withers away, resulting in a useless and unprotected home – a type of how useless and unprotected any nation would be which seeks to oppose the LIVING God of Israel!

Oh how secure is the nation of Israel – as well as the believer – under the protective arms of our Great God and Savior!

CONCLUDING THOUGHT

A study of Psalm 129 would be incomplete without a comment on the psalm’s final phrase,

“The blessing of the Lord be upon you;

We bless you in the name of the Lord!”

There are at least 2 times in Scripture when this phrase or theme is used! In RUTH 2:4, the main male character Boaz at the start of the work day would greet his workers with, “The Lord be with you!”. In reply, they would respond, “The Lord bless you.”

Can you imagine your employer beginning the work day seeking a blessing from God upon the present day of labor?

But its origin is with the phrase often used throughout scripture and was initially found in NUMBERS 6:24-25, where the Lord instructed Moses as to how he was to bless the people of Israel, in part:

“The Lord bless you and keep you;

  The Lord make His face shine upon you,

And be gracious to you…”

PSALM 129 incorporates that blessing. It was a reminder to the people of God throughout all the ages that there is a DIFFERENCE between the people of God and the people of the world.

The people of God enjoy the blessing – the personal, intimate, deep blessing – of the living God!

The people of the world not only do not enjoy that blessing – they have no idea what it is!

When we have trusted Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we are people of the blessing of the Lord!

Aren’t you glad you are a blessed person? Don’t you wish that everyone knew the blessing of being a child of the King of kings?

Blogs, John Grant

SEEKING FIRST

Week Forty-Six, 2020

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” – Matthew 6:33-34 NIV

I love it when something that Jesus said is so clear.

▪ He didn’t say seek Him first, but after your second cup of coffee.

▪ He didn’t say seek Him first, but after you’ve read the paper or watched your favorite morning news show.

▪ He didn’t say seek Him first, but not before your spouse and/or family.

▪ He didn’t say seek Him first, but not before your career, career goals or work.

▪ He didn’t say seek Him first just behind any personal goals and dreams you might have.

▪ He didn’t say seek Him first just behind all the church work and church stuff you’ve got to accomplish first.

▪ He didn’t say seek Him first, but only if all your personal needs and desires are satisfied.

▪ He didn’t say seek Him first, but only if you don’t have anything better to do.

▪ He didn’t say seek Him first, but only if you feel like it.

▪ He didn’t say seek Him first if you feel Him close or if you’ve hit rock bottom.

▪ He didn’t say seek Him first, but only after you fret and worry about it first.

▪ He didn’t say seek Him first, but…

He said “seek FIRST His kingdom and His righteousness…”

In the midst of a passage where He is telling us not to worry about our life, what we will eat or drink, or our body and what we will wear, Jesus said, “seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

Maybe we should ask ourselves…

What is it (or who is it) that we are putting before our relationship with God?

What is it (or who is it) that we are seeking first? Marty Stubblefield

***

SOMETIMES TRUE STORIES

Will you be grateful on the hardest of days?

A pastor was known for the prayers of gratitude with which he began each worship service. No matter how difficult the circumstances, he always seemed to be able to find a reason to give thanks.

Then came an especially difficult Sunday. A heavy winter storm blanketed the city, coating its streets in ice and snow. Power was out for many. A bitter wind assaulted the few hardy people who dared to make their way into the sanctuary.

As the service began, the pastor stepped to the pulpit for his customary invocation.

Those in the congregation wondered to themselves, “How could he possibly find a reason to give thanks this morning?” The pastor bowed his head and prayed, “Lord, we thank you that it is not always like this.”

For what will you give thanks to your Father today?

— o —

It’s time to remember, in the midst of a self-indulgent period in our nation, that our primary purpose in gathering together is not to please ourselves; or because it is psychologically sound for us to do; or that it supports the family structure; or that it partakes of traditional family values though all of these things may be by-products of our gathering together. Our purpose in gathering together is to prostrate ourselves before the Almighty God of heaven and pay Him homage.” Bill Fiest

— o —

TRUISMS:

I thought I wanted a career. Turns out I just wanted paychecks.

In filling out an application, where it says, ‘In case of emergency, notify:’ I put ‘DOCTOR.’

I didn’t say it was your fault, I said I was blaming you.

A clear conscience is the sign of a fuzzy memory.

You do not need a parachute to skydive. You only need a parachute to skydive twice.

***

QUOTES YOU CAN USE

The focus of worship is not human experience, not a lecture, not entertainment, but Jesus Christ–His life, death, and resurrection. Richard Webber

A good deal of the problems in our world and the apathy of too many Christians, “Without worship, we go about miserable.” A. W. Tozer

When we lose focus on the purpose and person of worship, we need to hear and heed the admonition of the angel whom John attempted to worship. His two words remind us all why we go to church today….“Worship God” (Rev. 22:9). Ken Weliever, The Preacherman

Worldliness is the enemy to holiness. Kelly Knouse

Salvation is not a process. It is a person and the person is Jesus. Ken Whitten

Life is not found in an abundance of material possessions. The Minimalist

Most people are as happy as they make up their minds to be. Abraham Lincoln

A proud man is always looking down on things and people; and, of course, as long as you are looking down, you cannot see something that is above you. C. S. Lewis

Life’s too short to hold a grudge. Forgive. Forget. And let go. Ken Weliever

It’s easier to fool people than to convince them that they have been fooled. Mark Twain

If Jesus is your Lord, you “have eternal life” today (John 3:16). Have you thanked your Savior for the gift of your salvation recently? Have you thanked God for the fact that your death is the doorway to your eternal life? Jim Denison

Blogs, Jeremy Stopford

TODAY’S LESSON: Psalm 128

STUDY IN THE ASCENT PSALMS

Semi Retired Pastor Jeremy Stopford

INTRODUCTION

Today is Study #9 of our insights into the “Ascent Psalms” – Psalms 120-134. You can check out the first 8 studies in the “BLOG/JEREMY STOPFORD” section of this OUTSTANDING web site of Brother Becker!!!

I checked it out for MYSELF! And there it IS !!!

OUR THEME VERSE

“Blessed is the man whose strength is in You, whose heart is set on pilgrimage. (Psalm 84:5 NKJV). This is a short verse – but worthy of being not only OUR theme verse but YOUR Life Verse! Why not commit it to memory today!

TODAY WE ARE IN PSALM 128

Psalm 128 New King James Version (NKJV)

Blessings of Those Who Fear the Lord

A Song of Ascents.

1

Blessed is every one who fears the Lord,

Who walks in His ways.

2 

When you eat the [a]labor of your hands,

You shall be happy, and it shall be well with you.

3 

Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine

In the very heart of your house,

Your children like olive plants

All around your table.

4 

Behold, thus shall the man be blessed

Who fears the Lord.

5 

The Lord bless you out of Zion,

And may you see the good of Jerusalem

All the days of your life.

6 

Yes, may you see your children’s children.

Peace be upon Israel!

TITLE OF PSALM 128 (Dr. W. Graham Scroggie)

TITLE: “Family Felicity!”

SOME INTERESTING INSIGHTS

This is a most interesting psalm! Of course, it is an “Ascent Psalm”. This means what again? That the readers were heading to Jerusalem either as sojourners who were returning from a foreign captivity, OR as travelers who were headed to the temple in Jerusalem for individual and national worship on one of the yearly feast days.

It is also an “Universal Psalm”. It is so-called because it has no prescribed author. Since the author is unknown, we know then that the psalm has at least a two-fold direction: for the Jewish people of Israel AND for those believers in Jehovah all over the world and of all time periods! Like US!

But even in this short psalm, did you notice WHO is the subject of this psalm? Who???? Why, a whole BUNCH of people! [my 11th grade teacher would once again be CRINGING, for she would say – am I right, Dr. Becker? – a “bunch” refers ONLY to a whole lot of GRAPES].

Look at VERSE 1: “every one”

Look at VERSE 2: “you”

Look at VERSE 3: “your wife”; “your children”

Look at VERSE 4: “the man”

Look at VERSE 5: “you”

Look at VERSE 6: “you”; “Israel”.

HOW are these subjects FEELING, as described by the psalm’s author?

Look at VERSE 1: every one is “BLESSED”

Look at VERSE 2: you shall be “HAPPY”

Look at VERSE 3: your wife and your children are “LIKE” something

Look at VERSE 4: the man is “BLESSED”

Look at VERSE 5: you are “BLESSED”

Look at VERSE 6: you may “SEE”; Israel may “FEEL” [implied]

Note how each verse is a progression.

The subject…

Feels….

WHAT?

Look at VERSE 1: everyone is blessed who FEARS the Lord and WALKS in His ways!

Look at VERSE 2: you enjoy the FRUIT of your labor! You are happy and it shall be well

with you!

Look at VERSE 3: your wife is like a FRUITFUL VINE in your house

Your children are like OLIVE PLANTS all around the table!

Look at VERSE 4: thus is the man blessed WHO FEARS THE LORD!

Look at VERSE 5: The man is blessed by the LORD [HIMSELF – implies “personally”!], and

such a blessing of seeing GOOD will be ALL the days of his life!

Look at VERSE 6: you may see your CHILDREN’S CHILDREN! [more than just

“grandchildren” – it refers to the fact that his family will continue for

many generations to come!]

CONCLUDING THOUGHT

It IS an “Universal Psalm” !!!

The unnamed author concludes this wonderful psalm with a short but poignant prayer:

“Peace be upon Israel”.

It IS a wonderful thing to see the blessing of the Lord upon the individuals and the family members of the people. But more importantly, the whole purpose of this psalm is to direct one’s attention to the “success” before the Lord of the ENTIRE NATION, in this case, of Israel.

That is the psalmist’s eternal prayer!

But what about for YOUR nation? Here in the USA, we just finished (or have we?) a most turbulent election season. We have been blessed by God in our history to be one of the most prosperous countries in the world, We have been led by the Lord to set an example of being the world’s melting pot, a diversity of peoples, who have come here to seek freedom.

Yet in the middle of that blessing, diversity, and freedom, come those individuals and groups that seek “control” for the sole good of themselves rather than of the whole nation.

So wouldn’t it be a proper, simple prayer for us, too?

Let’s pray it together: “Peace be upon the United States of America”.

Amen.

Blogs, John Grant

PLEASING GOD

Week Forty-Five, 2020

For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ (Galatians 1:10).

With some spare time while hunkered down as the virus continues to threaten us, I decided to sit down and read the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. Reading the Old Testament really convicted me about the importance of pleasing God.

It begins with creation and the anointing of His chosen people, as He saved them from captivity and with various miracles and provisions while guiding them through many years in the desert, the parting of the Red Sea and finally across the Jordan River to the promised land. He protected and provided them every step of the way.

They divided into tribes, established towns and cities and then divided into Israel in the North and Judah in the South. But then terrible things began to happen. They wandered from worshiping God to worshiping idols. God became very displeased and brought punishment and terror into their lives.

God sent several prophets and told them to tell the people how displeased He was and how He planned to punish them with famine, disease and capture by other nations. Time after time they ignored God’s word and time after time, they were severely punished.

Fast forward to today. Are we pleasing God? Just look at how human conduct and beliefs have evolved away from God, upon whose word our nation was founded and conducted. Walk into the Supreme Court and see the Ten Commandments and Hebrew-inscribed tablets held by Moses, one of a series of historical figures who look down on the justices. It was in the same room that the justices decided that the Ten Commandments erected at another courthouse constituted a government endorsement of religion.

Our nation has wandered away from God. While we don’t worship graven images like the early Jewish people did, we have more modern idols…. power, property, possessions, sports and a whole host of other things. If we profess to be a Christian, then remove anything that becomes more important than Jesus in our lives. How long before God will punish us. Is the pandemic the first suggestion?

God wants us and our nation to return to Him. We have the assurance of God’s Word, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). Come to Christ, confess and turn from your sin, and He will keep His promise to forgive and cleanse. He further promises that He will not only forgive, but He will also forget. This is your opportunity to begin life over again and to walk with the Lord in daily fellowship.

It will be pleasing to God when we do.

***

SOMETIMES TRUE STORIES

Legalized abortion has killed more than sixty-two million babies in the US. So far this year, more than 675,000 preborn children have died by abortion, three times the number of Americans who have died from COVID-19. Abortion is the leading cause of death in the US, surpassing heart disease and cancer.

The Satanic Temple wants to put up billboards that show people how to obtain abortions more easily. Their “religious abortion ritual” is supposed to be a “sacramental act that confirms the right of bodily autonomy.” According to the Satanic Temple, if people perform this ritual, they can claim a religious exemption from mandatory waiting periods, counseling, ultrasounds, and other measures required by some states before an abortion can be performed.

However, billboards promoting their ritual have been declined by Lamar Advertising. In response, the Satanic Temple has sued the company. In their lawsuit, they state that Lamar rejected the content of the billboards as “misleading and offensive.” The Satanic Temple alleges that this rejection was based on religious discrimination.

It would be hard to make this up.

— o —

Minimalism is the intentional promotion of the things we most value and the removal of anything that distracts us from it. It requires a conscious decision because it is a countercultural lifestyle that stands against the culture of overconsumption that surrounds us. The world we live in is not friendly to the pursuit of minimalism. Its tendencies and relentless advertising campaigns call us to acquire more, better, faster, and newer. The journey of finding simplicity requires consistent inspiration

— o —

And the gospel? It’s not just another message. Another lecture. Or speech. It is the proclamation of a grand promise. The promise of a living hope beyond the grave. The promise of my resurrection from the dead. The promise of living and never dying. The promise of living eternally with the Father. Ken Weliever, The Preacherman.

***

QUOTES YOU CAN USE

Salvation is not a process. It is a person and the person is Jesus. Ken Whitten

It’s easier to fool people than to convince them that they have been fooled. Mark Twain

There are two great days in a person’s life—the day we are born and the day we discover why. William Barclay

Intellectual growth should commence at birth and cease only at death. Albert Einstein

Hell is not full of people the Lord rejected. Hell is full of people that rejected the Lord.

Don’t shine so others can see you. Shine so that through you, others can see Him. C.S. Lewis

The world suffers a lot. Not because the violence of bad people. But because of the silence of the good people. Napoleon Bonaparte

Thanks to Christ, this earth can be the nearest you come to hell. But apart from Christ, this earth is the nearest you come to heaven. Max Lucado

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:18

Blogs, Jeremy Stopford

TODAY’S LESSON: Psalm 127

STUDY IN THE ASCENT PSALMS

With Semi-Retired Pastor Jeremy Stopford

INTRODUCTION

Today is Study #8 of our insights into the “Ascent Psalms” – Psalms 120-134. You can check out the first 7 studies in the “BLOG/JEREMY STOPFORD” section of this OUTSTANDING web site of Brother Becker!!!

OUR THEME VERSE

“Blessed is the man whose strength is in You, whose heart is set on pilgrimage.” (Psalm 84:5 NKJV).

Have you set YOUR heart on “pilgrimage”? The Christian life is a…JOURNEY! And “Journey” = DISCIPLESHIP! The recipients of these psalms were on a pilgrimage – either back from captivity OR on their way to Jerusalem for one of the special feast days. Either way, they were journeying, on pilgrimage. They were ASCENDING with the Lord! Are YOU?

TODAY WE ARE IN PSALM 127 (New King James Version – NKJV)

Laboring and Prospering with the Lord

A Song of Ascents. Of Solomon

1 

Unless the Lord builds the house,

They labor in vain who build it;

Unless the Lord guards the city,

The watchman stays awake in vain.

2 

It is vain for you to rise up early,

To sit up late,

To eat the bread of sorrows;

For so He gives His beloved sleep.

3 

Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord,

The fruit of the womb is a reward.

4 

Like arrows in the hand of a warrior,

So are the children of one’s youth.

5 

Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them;

They shall not be ashamed,

But shall speak with their enemies in the gate.

TITLE AND OUTLINE OF PSALM 127 (Dr. W. Graham Scroggie)

TITLE: “Dependence Upon God”

OUTLINE:

#1. In our SOCIAL life… The BUILDER of the House (1a)

#2. In our CIVIC life… The KEEPER of the city (1b)

#3. In our BUSINESS life… The RENEWER of the worker (2)

#4. In our DOMESTIC life… The BLESSER of the family (3-5)

SOME INTERESTING INSIGHTS

Did you notice who is the author of this psalm? Why, yes, it is Solomon! He is author of several of the poetic books, including Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon, and most of Proverbs. But in addition to Psalm 127, he also wrote Psalm 72, in which verses 1-2 say:

Give the king Your judgments, O God,

And Your righteousness to the king’s Son.

  He will judge Your people with righteousness,

And Your poor with justice.

It is apparent that at several stages of his life, Solomon had a strong heart for the Lord. Reading through the historical books, however, show us that near the end of his life, he was indeed struggling with the “Who is the true KING?” of his life. Which should lead us all to an introspective question: is the Lord Jesus Lord of my life from the day I was saved? OR, like Solomon, do I struggle in this vital area of my life? IF the latter is true, psalms like 72 and 127 – as well as especially Proverbs and Ecclesiastes (and Song of Songs for the husband/wife relationship!) – should be a major part of your walk with the Lord!

“Unless the Lord” follows with what? “BUILDS THE HOUSE”. Have you found this to be true? Take a gander ahead to Matthew 7:24-27. You can either build your house on the ROCK (King Jesus and His Word!) or you can build your house on sand (which causes the house to SINK when the littlest struggles hit it). Your HOUSE is your LIFE!

Is your life centered on the Lord Jesus and His Word? Do you know Jesus as your Lord and Savior?

CHECK OUT THE ENCOURAGEMENT BY PASTOR BECKER AT THE BOTTOM OF HIS WEB SITE! This will help you to come to know Him as your Savior TODAY!

In Psalm 127, Solomon says there are FIVE THINGS which the Lord considered “vain” (empty, useless, full of wind):

To labor to build a house without the Leadership of the Lord

To guard your house/city without the Lord

To rise up early..

To sit up late…

To eat the bread of sorrows…

All these are VAIN “unless the Lord builds the house”. Isn’t that amazing? All 5 are things that are the heart of our everyday world! Our family, our jobs, our community, why our very nation would lose all their meaning if the Lord isn’t the Lord and Builder of our house/lives.

So…Who is Building (big B) or building (little b) your house? God (Big “G”) or gods (little “g”)?

Why do you suppose the psalmist goes from talking about “guarding a city” to discussing about children? He then spends the rest of the psalm talking about how the blessing of the home are the little feet (NO, not of dogs and cats!) which are pitter pattering around the floors! Is there a connection! Of course there is! We understand what it means to “guard a city”. We as believers in Jesus understand the vitality of guarding our lives to be holy and useful for Him. So, does that mean that that SAME vitality is necessary – that SAME “guarding” – in the raising of our family?

And the Lord says through Solomon, “children are a heritage from the Lord”. “Heritage” is translated in many unique ways: “gift”, “heritage”, even “inheritance”. Should we not guard them as we would guard a city? Should we not trust the True Guard of our lives to guard the personal city He has wisely and purposely given to us?

CONCLUDING THOUGHTS

“Happy is the man” (v. 5). You and I live in a crazy world. Why even here in the U.S. of A., people think their happiness revolves around whether or not THEIR candidate wins the wild election of this week.

But what if TRUE happiness comes from KNOWING the Lord Jesus, allowing His Spirit to mold us into His image?

What if TRUE happiness comes from being not only “hearers” – readers, students, faithful disciplinarians – of the Word but rather from being DOERS of the Word?

What if TRUE happiness comes from being AMAZED by where the Lord loves to surprise His children in usefulness – even if it be “at the gates of the city” – the place where the community’s decisions were discussed and decided?

The King would ask each of us today: are you HAPPY? Are you truly HAPPY because the Lord is guarding YOUR city, your life, your heart? Are YOU?

Blogs, John Grant

IT’S NOT ABOUT YOU

Week Forty-Four, 2020

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20

In Rick Warren’s classic book, The Purpose Driven Life, he opens the book with a simple, yet profound statement; “It’s not about you.” As our community grapples with the ongoing pandemic, racial and social injustice, and allegations on social media, we have to step back and remind ourselves of the truth of Warren’s statement.

Unless we guard our hearts and minds, it is easy to become consumed with these events to the exclusion of God. In light of these events, the following verse seems especially relevant to us today:

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” – Romans 12:2 (ESV)

We should allow God to let us see people as Christ would see them. What are their needs, their hurts, their joys, and how should I think, speak, and act towards them?

With so much division in society, we should be ambassadors for the true peace and restoration that can only come through Jesus Christ.

It’s not about you. It’s all about Him. You are either full of self and empty of God or full of God and empty of self. The real you must surrender to the real God.

Some people want enough of Jesus to get into heaven, but not enough of Jesus for heaven to come to them. Is your commitment to Jesus a life (or death) insurance policy or is it something that permeates everything you think, say or do?

Tell Jesus He can have all of you for He’s giving you all of Him. Are you all in?

Isaiah says: Here am I Lord, send me!

***

SOMETIMES TRUE STORIES

Why We Pray – 15 Reasons

  1. Psalm 145:18 – Praying assures us of God’s presence
  2. Matthew 7:11 – Prayer brings good gifts from God
  3. Hebrews 4:16 – Prayer brings help in times of need
  4. John 16:24 – Prayer brings joy
  5. James 5:15 – Prayer brings physical or spiritual healing
  6. 1 Timothy 4:4-5 – Prayer acknowledges God’s ownership of creation
  7. Jeremiah 33:3 – Prayer brings understanding
  8. James 5:16 – Prayer can be powerful and effective
  9. Proverbs 15:8-9 – Prayer pleases God
  10. Matthew 26:41 – Prayer strengthens us against temptation
  11. Psalm 28:6-7 – Prayer shows that we trust God
  12. Colossians 4:2-4 – Prayer helps us advance the Gospel
  13. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 – When we pray, we obey God
  14. 1 Peter 5:6-7 – We pray because we know God cares.
  15. Matthew 6:9-13 – We should pray because Jesus did, instructs us to and even gives us a model on how we should pray.

— o —

Minimalism is the intentional promotion of the things we most value and the removal of anything that distracts us from it. It requires a conscious decision because it is a countercultural lifestyle that stands against the culture of overconsumption that surrounds us.

The world we live in is not friendly to the pursuit of minimalism. Its tendencies and relentless advertising campaigns call us to acquire more, better, faster, and newer. The journey of finding simplicity requires consistent inspiration.

— o —

Pew Research Center reports that 79 percent of Americans say, “sex between unmarried adults in a committed relationship is acceptable”; 83 percent say the same of “casual sex between consenting adults who are not in a committed relationship.” Here’s the surprising part: 57 percent of Christians say they agree with the first statement, and 50 percent agree with the second.

***

QUOTES YOU CAN USE

According to Spurgeon, the more dangerous the fire, the more necessary the fireman.

Of course, telling lost people they are lost is extremely countercultural today. Offering biblical truth to those who do not believe in truth is “intolerant” and bigoted.

The gospels give us approximately thirty-seven miracles performed by Jesus, each of them proof of His personal power.

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:18

There is no mess in your life that God cannot use for ministry. Ken Whitten

Life is not found in an abundance of material possessions. The Minimalist

Most people are as happy as they make up their minds to be. Abraham Lincoln

A proud man is always looking down on things and people; and, of course, as long as you are looking down, you cannot see something that is above you. C. S. Lewis

Life’s too short to hold a grudge. Forgive. Forget. And let go. Ken Weliever

Blogs, Jeremy Stopford

TODAY’S LESSON: Psalm 126

STUDY IN THE ASCENT PSALMS

Semi Retired Pastor Jeremy Stopford

INTRODUCTION

Today is our seventh study of the “Ascent Psalms” – Psalms 120-134. You can check out the first 6 studies in the “BLOG/JEREMY STOPFORD” section of this OUTSTANDING web site of Brother Becker!!!

More importantly, are you applying these amazing psalms to YOUR life?

OUR THEME VERSE

“Blessed is the man whose strength is in You, whose heart is set on pilgrimage. (Psalm 84:5 NKJV). Have you set YOUR heart on “pilgrimage”? The Christian life is a…JOURNEY! And “Journey” = DISCIPLESHIP! So…are you daily focused: you’ve set your heart on pilgrimage, you’re on a journey, and the result is the learning of a disciple for Jesus!! True for you?

TODAY WE ARE IN PSALM 126

Psalm 126 New King James Version (NKJV)

A Joyful Return to Zion. A Song of Ascents.

When the Lord brought back the captivity of Zion,

We were like those who dream.

2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter,

And our tongue with singing.

Then they said among the nations,

“The Lord has done great things for them.”

3  The Lord has done great things for us,

And we are glad.

4 Bring back our captivity, O Lord,

As the streams in the South.

5 Those who sow in tears

Shall reap in joy.

6 He who continually goes forth weeping,

Bearing seed for sowing,

Shall doubtless come again with rejoicing,

Bringing his sheaves with him.

OUTLINE OF PSALM 126 (Dr. W. Graham Scroggie).

Title & Outline: “Peace (vs. 1-3) and Plenty (vs. 4-6)”

SOME INTERESTING INSIGHTS

What ONE word best describes this psalm for you? Got it? How about “JOY”?

Look at the psalm’s progression:

“Dream” (v. 1), which leads to…

“Laughter” (v. 2a) which leads to…

“Singing” (v. 2b) which leads to…

“We are glad) (v. 3) which leads to…

“Tears” (v. 5a) which leads to…

“JOY” (v. 5b) !!!

“Brought back from captivity” [or, “those of the captivity”] could literally mean “restoring the fortunes”. Can you think of a time when that happened to you? This is a psalm of a sudden “turning the tide” from captivity to freedom, from being under the oppression (whether physical or mental) to a Divinely produced FREEDOM!

Let’s look for a brief moment at the phrase at the end of verse 4, “as the streams in the South.” The psalmist was praying for a revival of sorts! He was praying for the return of the captivity, that is, specifically a return to Jerusalem of those who were in captivity on foreign lands throughout the then known world. In that “restoration of fortune”, the psalmist described it as “the streams in the South”. What does that mean?

Look at Isaiah 35:6:

“Then the lame shall leap like a deer,

And the tongue of the dumb sing.

For waters shall burst forth in the wilderness,

And streams in the desert.”

There is a real sense that one day in a future fulfilled millennial kingdom, the parched land of Israel will be once again a flowering, productive land. Isaiah looked forward to that day, and inspirationally referred to it as “streams in the desert”!

Even so, our Psalmist understood that insight. The “South” refers to the Negev Desert, a parched land which is for all intents and purposes good for nothing. So both the Psalmist and Isaiah understood that the Lord Himself can turn deserts into productive land.

And by application, our Psalmist understands that there is a figurative desert in each of our hearts. And the Lord can change that desert into productivity for the Lord Jesus! That, too, is part of the amazing “returning from captivity” as expressed in this psalm.

Let’s zero in for a look at verse 5. “Sowing” and “reaping” and “in joy” usually ONLY follow what? LABOR FOR THE MASTER! Look at 2 Corinthians 9:6, “But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.” Let me give you a personal example – and these truths are NOT limited just to the pastorate! In the thirty plus years I had the privilege of serving the Lord as a pastor, I would often pray, “Lord, bring people into your house on Sunday.” Haven’t you prayed that prayer, too? And after none new would come, I would pray again, “Lord, I asked you for new people, none new came, so I’m asking you again: bring people into your house on Sunday.” And after none new came, you know what I did? Pray? Well, yes, AND…I went out and visited people the Lord laid upon my heart to visit! Often people I knew who were going through hard times. Often people who perhaps had been to church months or even years ago, but hadn’t been back for one reason or another – BUT NO ONE EVER FOUND OUT WHY! Visitation! SOWING! And a funny thing happened! Not immediately, but regularly – as there was SOWING, there was…REAPING!

NOTE the challenge of verse 6: “continually”. Sharing the love of God in Jesus is not a “once for all” thing. It is a CURRENT AFFAIR WITH JESUS! You got that right! If someone were to ask you, “have you ever shared about the love of God in Christ?”, your answer should NOT ONLY be “oh, right after I was saved, in 1971, I couldn’t shut up for Jesus!”. NO, NO! It should be “CONTINUALLY!”. You may not remember places, persons, or incidents. But our lives should be a CONTINUAL sowing the seed of the gospel of Christ and the glory of God in many ways.

CONCLUDING THOUGHT

It would be easy to overlook the challenging phrase at the end of verse 6, “bringing his sheaves with him” – the source of the wonderful hymn, “Bringing in the Sheaves.” What does it mean? Listen to Moses’ pointed instructions of Leviticus 23:10-11a:

“10 “Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘When you come into the land which I give to you, and reap its harvest, then you shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest to the priest. 11 He shall wave the sheaf before the Lord…”

What does it mean to “bring” in the “sheaf”? It means the HARVEST!!! And you WAVE that SHEAF before the LORD, a thanksgiving to Him for what He has produced through your faithful (or perhaps even measly!) efforts!

Let me close with an illustration. A number of years ago, I was meeting with some college friends on the beach of Fort Lauderdale during Easter break. Somehow, in the midst of our playing beach volleyball, swimming, and, yes, sun bathing – the topic of Jesus would come up. One of my friends, also a Christian, would join me in sharing the gospel. After several days of this routine, someone said at the start of that day’s beach visit, “DO NOT BRING JESUS UP AGAIN, PLEASE!”. We didn’t, but Jesus did! Later that fall when the new school year began, one of those beach goers came to me at college and said, “you didn’t say a word, but Jesus did! And I could not escape His love for me at Calvary. I have trusted Him as my Savior.” And a sheaf of rejoicing was raised before the Lord!

The Evangelist D. L. Moody is attributed to be the author of this wise saying, “Share the gospel at all costs. And if necessary, use words.”

Bringing in the sheaves, bringing in the sheaves

We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves!

– – – Knowles Shaw, author (1874)

Blogs

TRUTH

Week fourty-three, 2020

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him (John 14:6-7).

In a world where we are becoming more and more use to hearing half-truths, partial truths, someone’s personal version of truth, or a mixture of truth and spin from our leaders, from the media… even from our neighbors, co-workers and employees, no one is sure what real truth is anymore.

However, Jesus, himself, reminds us. He tells us that He is The Truth (as well as the Way and the Life) and then went about living it out. Yet, sometimes it takes modern day experiences to help us realize that He is who He said that He is.

That’s why I like this Chuck Colson quote so much. It gives a clear picture of the Truth of Jesus Christ:

“I know the resurrection is a fact, and Watergate proved it to me. How? Because 12 men testified they had seen Jesus raised from the dead, then they proclaimed that truth for 40 years, never once denying it. Everyone was beaten, tortured, stoned and put in prison. They would not have endured that if it weren’t true. Watergate embroiled 12 of the most powerful men in the world — and they couldn’t keep a lie for three weeks. You’re telling me 12 apostles could keep a lie for 40 years? Absolutely impossible.” – Charles Colson

Twelve of the most powerful men in the world were involved with Watergate and they couldn’t keep a lie for 3 weeks… THREE weeks!

The Disciples endured much over 40 years as they proclaimed the Gospel, as they shared what they had seen and learned firsthand, as they proclaimed the truth of the Gospel. For forty years they never once broke, they never once recanted their story or turned from the Gospel. FORTY years! They did what they did and endured all that they did because they knew the Truth.

These 12 men not only knew the Truth, but shared the Truth to a lost world around them. These 12, mostly uneducated, common men, changed the world forever! All because they knew the Truth and the power of the Truth. And the Truth set them free to do great things for Him.

What do you say about Jesus? What does your life say about that truth?

The Truth will set you free. Marty Stubblefield

***

SOMETIMES TRUE STORIES

WISDOM FROM PROVERBS 18:

▪ It’s selfish and stupid to think only of yourself and to sneer at people who have sense.

▪ Fools have no desire to learn; they would much rather give their own opinion.

▪ The rich think their money is a wall of protection.

▪ Pride leads to destruction; humility leads to honor.

▪ A man’s greatest treasure is his wife— she is a gift from the Lord.

— o —

Ten Ways To Teach Your Children Integrity

  1. Drive the speed limit
  2. Never ask your child to lie for you.
  3. Apologize when you wrong your children.
  4. Send them into the store with more money than they need to buy a particular item. When they come out, see if they offer the change.
  5. Never tolerate even the smallest lie.
  6. Pick someone out of the newspaper who committed a crime and ask the kids’ opinion about it.
  7. Fathers, never allow your sons (or daughters) to be disrespectful to their mother.
  8. Set up tasks that require their follow through without supervision and see if they carry out instructions on their own.
  9. Take your children to visit their ancestors’ graves. If you know any anecdotes about these ancestors, take time to share a few stories.
  10. Have them memorize twenty Bible verses on integrity. – Ken Weliever, The Preacherman

***

QUOTES YOU CAN USE

For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God” (Psalm 62:5-7).

Everything you were taught can be put into a few words: Respect and obey God! This is what life is all about. God will judge everything we do, even what is done in secret, whether good or bad. (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14)

Always be glad because of the Lord! I will say it again: Be glad. Always be gentle with others. The Lord will soon be here. Don’t worry about anything, but pray about everything. With thankful hearts offer up your prayers and requests to God. Then, because you belong to Christ Jesus, God will bless you with peace that no one can completely understand. And this peace will control the way you think and feel. Finally, my friends, keep your minds on whatever is true, pure, right, holy, friendly, and proper. Don’t ever stop thinking about what is truly worthwhile and worthy of praise. (Philippians 4:4-8)

Look back and be grateful, look ahead and be hopeful, look around and be helpful. Author unknown

It is better to break a man’s leg than to break his heart. Movie Seabiscuit

Do you see yourself as God sees you? Ken Whitten