Monday, April 26, 2010

Sampson.....a mighty man!

This morning we shared with the kids the story of Sampson. In Judges chapter 13 it says an angel appeared to Sampson's mother saying she will bear a son and what she is to do. She told her husband who prayed to God asking that the angel return to teach them how to raise this son, and so the angel returned telling them exactly how to raise this son. Just like as parents we are told how to raise our kids. There are certain things we do to protect them from the world. There are boundaries that we set and rules to abide by that should line up with the Word. We don't have to apologize for keeping the standard set by the Word of God. Sampson grew up pure from so much of the world around him. While people were drinking wine, he did not. While people were doing things that were unclean, he did not. His strength was supernatural because of his obedience. He killed a lion with his bear hands....which we shared with the kids how the lion is the king of the jungle because of its strength and ability. He picked up the gate to a city out of the ground, carried it up a hill and through it over a cliff. This young man was super strong. So, we shall be if we obey the voice of God and walk in purity.

2Pe 1:2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord,


2Pe 1:3 as His divine power has given to us all things that [pertain] to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,


2Pe 1:4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption [that is] in the world through lust.


2Pe 1:5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge,


2Pe 1:6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness,


2Pe 1:7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.


2Pe 1:8 For if these things are yours and abound, [you will be] neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Unfortunately Sampson started to do things that were sin. Some today would say it is because he was so protected by his parents, and not allowed to do some things. That doesn't line up with Scripture. His parents obeyed what they were told and how they should raise their son. In his sin, he was keeping things from his parents, wanting things because "it pleased him", fornicating and ultimately making peace with the enemy. Here this once supernaturally strong man who could kill a lion with his bear hands was now in the hands of the enemy. Just like Satan is said to be a roaring lion walking about seeking whom he may destroy (devour). Sampson who had the strength (through God) to destroy the lion, we (through God) have the power to overcome Satan (the lion). The sin Sampson allowed in his life began to blind him to the point where he was completely blind and without strength. We are the same if we allow sin in our lives. Continuing in 2 Pe 1 verse 9 it says But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. What things? Look at verse 5-7. All this comes in the Divine power given to us. The story of Sampson has a good ending. He had enough Truth in him from his upbringing that he knew who to turn to. In his blindness where he was very weak, he cried out to the Lord asking that his strength return so that he may destroy those that blinded him. The Lord heard his cry and gave him the supernatural strength where he killed them all. We have to eradicate the things in our lives that cause us to be blinded. If you will humble yourself and call out to the Lord for His strength He will give it to you. Sampson died that day too, just like the Lord requires that we die to ourselves in order to live.
Matthew 16:24 If any [man] will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
Romans 8: 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

Friday, April 9, 2010

Are you being pro-active or re-active?

Scott and I both read a daily devotion this morning talking about hating this life. The Scripture used was, “He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal" (John 12:25).

It moved us both, because lately it seems we have been doing our day to day things only to be frustrated. In the process we have hated things we've said or when we started doing it ourselves instead of trusting God. We both recognized the tendency to re-act to life instead of being pro-active...planning with proper tools for our next step. We desire to be disciplined daily and do what is expected of us as disciples of Christ and parents. In order to accomplish this we need to be pro-active and prepared for anything. We shared that with the kids this morning using illustrations they would understand so that they too can learn from this valuable lesson. The prefix "pro" means before, forward, forth, or prior to. The prefix "re" means with regard to, again, back. We need to have a plan of action spiritually. To seek God in prayer, by reading the Word, by worship, by fellowship, by serving. If we just react to what we know we should be doing then we will become frustrated or worst...spiritually dead. An example Scott used was Haven playing baseball. He said, to be pro-active is to practice every day for the position you want to play and be prepared way in advance. To react is to wait until the day of practice and then expect to play that position since you warmed up. Or with Peyton....he can come home every day and take 15 minutes to go over what they did in school that day, and when the test is given at the end of the week he is prepared. Or he can wait until the night before the test, try and cram for that test and fail. Do we want to live a life of wisdom following the Word and being obedient, or wait until we are older or know more before we step out and do what God has told us to do? You must have a plan and be prepared if you are going to be pro-active. Another example he gave was in big business' they meet with the board to determine what they can do to fix problems or make something better all the time. We need to do the same thing with our spiritual lives. Scripture teaches us to evaluate our lives on a daily basis. We need to ask ourselves, "What do I need to repent of (change the way I think)? Then change it! So, are you going to be pro-active or re-active?

Friday, March 19, 2010

Tomorrow is the first day of SPRING!!

What a beautiful day today! We have had a pretty wet and COLD winter, so tomorrow is a day many of us are looking forward to. It helps when the weather is Spring-like!!

We have been discussing a lot in our morning devotions with the kids. The main focus being Discipline. This morning we talked about self discipline again. Scott grew up riding motocross and of course that trickled down to our kids. The boys currently race and Grace would love to do it if we allowed her. :) It is a family affair on the weekends to load up and travel to a race. On the weekends we don't race there is always a race on TV during the season that we will gather around to watch. The kids all have their favorite pro riders they support. We as a family support Kevin Windham because he and my husband road some together and he is a great rider to be his age. The kids each have different riders that they love. In talking about self discipline Scott used Ryan Dungey as an example. They did a segment on him for TV talking about his training for upcoming races. Racing is an endurance sport. You have to be in great shape and disciplined in order to win. It is 20 laps of pinned throttle and adrenaline. Ryan talked about not having a trainer like most riders do. He trains himself. He talked about days where he doesn't feel like getting out of bed when he needs to train or going to gym. He said he does it because when he is told to do something he does it more than what he was told. In other words, not only does he do what he was told to do, but beyond that. Nobody has to check up on him to see if he is doing it because he is self motivated to win. He does win too. He is a contender for the championship.

We encouraged the kids to have the same attitude in life. To be self disciplined is to say "I am going to do this....even if I don't want to, or don't like it, or it doesn't feel good." To be Christian it is doing it because God says so and it's the right thing to do. Even still you have to be self disciplined. God doesn't do it for you. WE have to do it ourselves. Whatever that may be on a day to day basis. Scott shared with the kids how when he was younger he had a friend Danny who would (on purpose) say something like "you can't jump off that bridge," and just because he said "you can't" Scott would say, "stop the car" to where he would jump off the bridge. The point wasn't stupidity of jumping off a bridge, because that was not using the brains God gave him, but the point of a challenge being made and him taking that challenge. Someone tells you that you can't do something (there are principalities, powers and darkness speaking the same thing to you every day), except the challenge and push to do it. He shared with them to have that attitude with school. This class isn't going to beat me, I will make a good grade. I want to graduate and not have the lowest GPA so I WILL make the grade. The fighting attitude to be self disciplined. I WILL....instead of I can't or I won't. That shows a character of the heart that will help you succeed in life both spiritually and physically. To be self disciplined. To meet the challenges of life and overcome. The alternative is to shrink back and give up. Hebrews 10:38 says Now the just shall live by faith: but if [any man] draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. It is saying...I don't care how big that mountain is or the size of the giants. I am going to go forward!! To shrink or draw back is to say it's too much or I can't handle it. You quit basically. Christ knew how big the Cross was and he pressed on forward meeting that challenge and overcame it. We are to do the same thing. When He dwells in us we have everything it takes to be just like Him. If we find we don't have that quality, then we must be honest with ourselves (why lie) and ask "does He really live in me?" The end of Hebrews 10:38 says that if we draw back the Lord has no pleasure in you. We encouraged the kids to not draw back to press forward and please the Lord. Isn't that what we are here on earth for? What an encouraging word. I hope it encouraged you as it did our family.

Sunday, February 21, 2010

It's been awhile....

I said I was going to post daily and look what happened. It's been months!!! I just happened to be looking at a blog from a business I like and said well I need to at least put something! I am home today (ON SUNDAY) with Haven. I hate that my little man is so sick, but I hate to miss meeting with the Church. I love to fellowship with all the people and hear what the Lord is telling them. I love to hear the testimonies and psalms they bring. I will have to get with them during the week so I am not missing too much...lol!! Another thing I love about being relational, is it isn't about ONE day....it's every day!! :)) Well I need to go serve my baby boy. Until next time.....whenever that will be. :)

MUCH love to you all.