ONE GENERATION TO ANOTHER

http://platform.twitter.com/widgets/hub.1324331373.htmlTELL THE CHILDREN

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A JOYFUL HEART

Read Psalms 144–145
     Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom. One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts. Psalms 145:3–4 NIV

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     Most of his adult life, David was surrounded by enemies– first by Saul who was personally jealous of him, and then by armies who threatened Israel. David recognized that victory comes from the Lord, and he cried out to God for protection. Then in his prayers, he acknowledged God’s greater plan in it all, “… that all men may know of your mighty acts and the glorious splendor of your kingdom. Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations.”(145:12-13)

     David concluded that his mission was to praise the works of the Lord to all who would listen: “One generation,” he declared, “will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts.” In the midst of all that was happening he said, “I will celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness.” (145:4, 7)

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     Lord, give me a joyful heart that sings like David, in every circumstance, “The LORD watches over all who love him, My mouth will speak in praise of the LORD.” (145:20-21) Help us to remember to tell our children everything You have done for us.

* * *

     Then our sons in their youth will be like well-nurtured plants, and our daughters will be like pillars carved to adorn a palace. Psalm 144:12 NIV

SEARCH ME O GOD…

lMY ANXIOUS THOUGHTS

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Read Psalms 139  

   

 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Psalm 139:23

* * *

     David never tried to hide his negative thoughts from God. Instead, he poured them out to his Heavenly Father, knowing he would be understood. He said, O LORD, you have searched me and you know me… you perceive my thoughts from afar… Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD. (vv.1,2b, 4)      When he feared for his life, he trusted God for his safety saying, “All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” (v.16) When he wondered if he was doing the right thing he said, “See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (v.24)

* * *

     Dear Father, I too have anxious thoughts. What a comfort to know that you had plans for me even before I was born and all of the days of my life were known by You – past, present and future. “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.”(v.13) Help me to quiet my heart with these precious truths from Your Word.

* * *

     I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with its mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me.   Psalm 131:2

BLESSING AND PROSPERITY

THE REWARD OF CHILDREN

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Read Psalms 127–128        

     Blessed are all who fear the LORD, who walk in his ways. Blessings and prosperity will be yours; Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house… children are a reward from him. Psalm 128:1-2b, 3a; Psalm 127:3b

* * *

     The Psalms portray children as a sign of blessing and prosperity. The Psalmist declares, “Sons are a heritage from the LORD, children a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one’s youth.” (127:3-4) Along with this blessing, however, comes a warning: Unless the LORD builds the house its builders labor in vain. (127:1)

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     God promises that if we put Him first in our lives we will eat the fruit of our labors–a blessed home. But when we focus on what the world expects of us, working long hours and doing too much, our lives become unbalanced. When this happens, the Psalmist says, “In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat–for he grants sleep to those he loves.” (127:2)

* * *

     Dear Father, I pray for the peace and rest that comes from focusing on You, even when I am busy. Help me to order my priorities according to Your perfect will. Thank You for the blessings of children.

* * *

     May the LORD bless you from Zion all the days of your life… and may you live to see your children’s children.   Psalm 128:5–6 NIV

A HEART SET FREE

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A LIGHT FOR MY PATH

Read Psalm 119

     I gain understanding from your precepts; therefore I hate every wrong path. Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. Psalm 119:104–105 NIV

* * *

     Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the book and the theme is heart rending – David has experienced it all. He agonizes over wicked men delighting in his troubles and the memories of sin in his own life. Sincerely repentant, he says, “I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free.” (v.32)

* * *

     Now as he seeks the Lord with all of his heart he determines to continue to walk in freedom from sin. Hiding God’s Word in his heart, he finds that he has more insight and understanding than all of his teachers. He has answers for those who taunt him, and comfort in his suffering. He says, “Your promises have been thoroughly tested, and your servant loves them. Though I am lowly and despised, I do not forget your precepts.” (Psalm 119:140–141)

* * *

     Lord, help us to faithfully teach our children from the Bible and help them to hide it in their hearts. Through the Psalmist You promised that Your faithfulness continues through all generations. Like David, I have put my hope in your word. (Psalm 119:90,114)

* * *

     How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.   Psalm 119:9–11 NIV

THE PATH OF LIFE

ETERNAL PLEASURES

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Read Psalm  16

     You have made known  to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal  pleasures at your right hand. Psalm 16:11 NIV

* * *

           In this Psalm David expresses  joy and security in the knowledge that God has long range plans for him: The  promised Messiah would come through David’s descendants, and would one day be  crucified, buried and arise from the dead.

     The apostle Peter quoted from Psalm  16 on the Day of Pentecost: “David said about Him: my body also will live in  hope, because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy  one see decay.” (Acts 2:26b-27)

* * *

Heavenly Father; I praise  You for making “known to me the path of life.” Because I received the  message of the gospel, I can say like David, “you have made my lot secure.  The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a  delightful inheritance…Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my  body also will rest secure.(Psalms 16:5-6, 9) Blessed assurance, Jesus is  mine!

* * *

I said to the LORD, “You  are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.” Psalm 16:2 NIV 92119

LET THE CHILDREN COME

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CHILDREN PRAISE HIM 

Read Psalm 8:1–9

     LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise… Psalm 8:1–2a NIV

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      Our majestic Lord, Creator of the heavens, has ordained the praise of infants and children – how important then, must those little ones be to Him! Whether we work outside our homes, or in our homes, there is no job more significant than teaching, training and loving our children. These are the ones who Jesus says will make up his kingdom. We must introduce them to Him at the earliest opportunity for He has said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. (Mark 10:14b)

* * *

      Dear Jesus, You said that “Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.” (Matthew 18:5 NKJV) May my actions today be a blessing to our children and may our home be a welcoming place where they can bring their friends. I ask You for the wisdom I need to accomplish what You have ordained this day. Thank you for entrusting me with this awesome responsibility

* * *

     “I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them.   Mark 10:15–16 NIV

PRAYER FOR PROTECTION

IN THE MORNING

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Read Psalm 5:1–12; 143:8

In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.   Psalm  5:3

* * *

The Psalmist David found his strength each morning as he prayed and lifted up his requests to God. He believed that God heard him and he waited in expectation. On one occasion, he prayed, “Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning, For in You do I trust; Cause me to know the way
in which I should walk, For I lift up my soul to You. ( Psalms 143:8 NKJV)

* * *

Each day should find us praying for the children God has given to us. Whether they are small and still at home or going off each morning to school, sports or work–they need the cover of our prayers. We can pray like David, “Spread your protection over them that those who love your name may
rejoice in you. For surely, O LORD, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield. (Psalm 5:11-12)

* * *

Dear Heavenly Father, watch over our children today wherever they are. I rejoice in You this morning because I know that You hear my voice. I lift up to You my specific requests and wait in expectation for Your
answer.

* * *

How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Your wings.   Psalm 36:7 NKJV

FRUIT IN SEASON

A TREE PLANTED BY WATER

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Read Psalm 1

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly… His delight is in the law
of the LORD and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.   Psalm 1: 1a, 2-3 NKJV

* * *

God’s Word never goes out of vogue for Christians. It is relevant for every stage of life, and is the source of life itself. Believers who ask the Lord for wisdom with their children will find it, for he has promised, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. (James 1:5-6 NKJV) Then when the children are grown, God’s Word says that those parents will still bear fruit in old age and be fresh and flourishing. (Psalm 92:14 NKJV)

* * *

Lord, I want to meditate daily on Your Word so that I can sort out the many voices of advice that the world gives. Only by knowing the truth can I recognize error, and find that narrow way that leads to life. Help me to influence our children so that they too will “delight in the law of the Lord.” and avoid the “counsel of the ungodly.”

* * *

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. Psalm 119:105 NIV

JOB – AN UPRIGHT MAN

A WORTHY EXAMPLE

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JOB

 Read Job 1–2; 42

     Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.” Job 1:8 NIV

* * *

     The story of Job is quite frightening to a believer’s heart. The interaction between God and Satan is something that we really cannot comprehend. But God did not expect Job, or his friends, to understand everything that transpired in Heaven. One thing we know;
Job was living righteously and God was proud of him. Those of us, who want to please God, would do well to look at his example.
Job prayed for his children even into adulthood. He raised them to love each other and enjoy one another’s company, but he also maintained a discerning attitude, knowing that they could fall into sin. Job maintained his integrity in spite of the most adverse of circumstances–and when it was all over–he prayed for his friends who had completely misjudged him.

* * *

     Lord, I would never ask for the trials that Job and his wife endured, but I do want to be the kind of person who would make You proud. You taught us to pray, do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. (Luke 11:4 NKJV)

* * *

     After Job had prayed for his friends, the LORD made him prosperous again and gave him twice as much as he had before. The LORD blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the first. Job 42:10, 12a NIV

MORDECAI

FOILED
CONSPIRACY

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Read Esther 5–10

     That night the king could not sleep; so he ordered the book of the chronicles, the record of his reign, to be brought in and read to him….”What honor and recognition has Mordecai received for this?” the king asked. Esther 6:1, 3

* * *

     The book of Esther contains some similarities to the story of Joseph in Egypt. Esther and her guardian, Mordecai, were captives in Persia, and like Joseph, God’s providence brought them into favor with the King. Esther was crowned Queen and Mordecai, in
the end, was second only to King Ahasuerus. He …was great among the Jews and well received by the multitude of his brethren, seeking the good of his people and speaking peace to all his countrymen. (10:3b NKJV)

* * *

     Mordecai ‘just happened’ to hear about a conspiracy against King Ahasuerus in time to warn Esther, and the king ‘just happened’ to awaken in the middle of the night–calling for the record that Mordecai had saved his life–just in time to foil the conspiracy by Haman to annihilate the Jews. (Esther 6-7)

* * *

     The truth is that nothing ‘just happens’ to God’s people. If we truly believe this, we will live with the confidence that God works out everything according to His good plan. Lord, remind me when I forget, that I will never be sorry for trusting in You.

* * *

     “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, “thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11 NKJV