Favorite Verse August 9, 2010

A couple of months ago my oldest daughter, Kayla,  gave her life to the Lord.  I can’t explain in words how wonderful of an experience it was to watch this happen. We had her memorize the following verse to help her understand the Gospel and her need to be forgiven by the atoning sacrifice of Christ.  This passage of scripture is top on my list. I love how the portion she memorized pretty much says it all in in so little words.

“For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”  2 Corinthians 5:21

I personally also love  5:16-21:

From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer.17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

My daughter is a new creature because of the cross of Christ!  The power of His word to bring revelation to the heart of a 9-year-old to see her need for a Savior is amazing…especially when she’s your daughter.

Posted by Jaime

Favorite Verse July 26, 2010

Several years ago, a friend of mine was reading through the Psalms and felt like the 34th stood out to her for me. She read it out loud to me and it was as if every single verse was written for ME. Ever since then, I will often turn back to this chapter as a reminder of the Lord’s goodness and his faithfulness. This Psalm calls us to praise the Lord at all times (no matter whether we feel like it or not) and then it moves on to recounting how the Lord had been faithful over and over again to hear the cry of David to deliver him, save him, give peace, draw near to the deeply grieving, redeem him and give refuge. Many times it has been like water to my thirsty soul, reminding me of His goodness. He will do the same for me! Take a moment to read it now:

1 I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad.
3 Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together!

4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed.
6 This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.

8 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
9 Oh, fear the Lord, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack!
10 The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.

11 Come, O children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
12 What man is there who desires life and loves many days, that he may see good?
13 Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit.
14 Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.

15 The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry.
16 The face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth.
17 When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.
18 The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.

19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.
20 He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken.
21 Affliction will slay the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be condemned.
22 The Lord redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.

Route 66 Club Update September 27, 2007

With the emphasis this week on helping our children to memorize scripture, we thought it would be nice for you to hear from some of our Route 66 Club members.  This is in no way an attempt to make you feel guilty if you were unable to join us this year (remember what we’re learning from Paul in the book of Galatians!), but it is to encourage you that God’s Word is our most precious gift.  Instilling this in our children when they are young is something they will hold onto as they mature.  What a blessed foundation!

• I am grateful to God for cautioning me to not just "get through it" like it is something to be completed off a checklist.  Would I treat serving my husband that way when he needs something done? Or how about my daughter? Does serving her look like a check list? Most often NOT! God help me to not treat my heavenly Father with such disregard!  Sometimes, if I feel like I am just going through the motions, I remember to seek His strength instead of relying on my own. And you know what, I never feel like He is just squeezing me in to HIS day!

• This is the first time that I have read through the Bible in just one year, and I’m loving it!  At the moment, I’m reading some in the morning and some at night before I fall asleep.  The best thing our family has done to keep me accountable to read is that we all share what we read in the Bible the night before or in the morning at breakfast time.  If you don’t read, you don’t have anything to share!  It’s helped us sooo much.  Even the little kids want to make sure we do their kid Bible stories, and they actually remember what we read now!  And it’s been great to hear what insights my husband has each morning.  God is using that time to give me a specific thought or verse each day to meditate on.  I’m just thankful that God gave us the idea.

• I have been so convicted about reading "dutifully" instead of passionately.  God’s word is living and active… even the Old Testament:)  The one thing that I have enjoyed the most is learning about the consistent nature of our God.  He is the same in the book of 2 Kings as he is in the book of Acts.    What joy there is in seeing that he is in fact the same yesterday, today, and forever!

• Just recently, God has graciously been reminding me that ALL of scripture is God-breathed and intentionally in the Bible; each word is GOD’S WORD. Each book was written and compiled in the exact order that it is for God’s glory and for our help and benefit. This enables me to enjoy the reading even when it seems confusing

Posted Debi for the Route 66 Club

Grace and Love September 26, 2007

"Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him! For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm." Psalm 33:8-9

"Grace is the good pleasure of God that inclines Him to bestow benefits upon the undeserving."

"If nothing in us can win thy love, nothing in the universe can prevent Thee from loving us."  A.W. Tozer

Lord God, by the power of your spoken word you created the earth.  Lord you have sustained it by your great power every day since then.  Nothing is too hard for you.  You are a mighty God, mighty to save.  It’s amazing to me that you incline your ear and wait to be gracious to us.  Lord thank you for this love that I do not understand.  It’s too wonderful to behold. I pray that your attributes, your character would inform how I live my life.  Lord, grace and love have been lavished on me.  I pray that the overflow from my life would be of Christ’s love.  I pray that my actions would be marked by the Spirit.  I pray that you would continue to cleanse me of selfish motives, selfish ambition, and pride.  Lord I need your grace and your help to say anything loving.  Oh Lord please help me to treasure every single moment with my children.  What a gift they are.  I pray for strength in training them today.  Lord let me not grow weary in doing good.  I offer up my day, my priorities, and my desires to you and I pray that today I would bring glory to Your name.  Amen

Posted by Taraleigh

Sufficient Grace September 25, 2007

Well, last week was a strange one for us.  My husband ended up in the hospital for 4 days (not exactly how we expected to spend our week – or our 9th anniversary, for that matter).  Boy was I exhausted!  Being at the hospital all day coming home to sleep for a few hours, then back to the hospital early the next day proved to be quite hard on my pregnant body!  Thankfully, my children were being cared for by my parents (two hours away).  So I only had to focus on my sick hubby (and keeping myself from getting sick in the process).  By the third day, I was completely worn out.  I wanted so badly to be strong for my husband, yet I hardly had any strength. 

I cried out to the Lord for help.  Realizing that I am always this desperate for His help, yet I am not always aware of it.  Through encouragement from others, I was reminded that His grace is sufficient.  That phrase just echoed in my heart as I sat in the hospital and as I drove home late at night (trying to stay awake to drive!) 

Here is the neat part, once I finally looked up that Scripture, I read the rest of it -

2 Corinthians 12:9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

What a wonderful reminder – His power is made perfect in our weakness!  Let me tell you, I have been weak, but He has been strong and has given the strength that I needed to press on.

I think this is a verse that I will be committing to memory so I can apply it in those daily moments of weakness!

Posted by Stephanie

Participating in Scripture Memorization with Your Child September 24, 2007

If you weren’t at our September Moms Meeting, make sure you see the post of the adorable little girl quoting the 23rd Psalm.

And if you’d like to participate in our "Scripture memorization with your kids" here are the guidelines:

• This is designed for children ages 6 and under.  (You can certainly have older children participate but we’ll be limiting the videos to the younger children.)
• Any amount of scripture is fine but we’d encourage you to stretch yourself and your child.  You’ll be amazed at how much they can memorize at this age!
• Start soon!
• We are currently unable to post the videos on the blog. 
• Provide your video to Debi Walter no later than November 1st.  Include your child’s name and age.
• If you would like your video tape returned to you, please mark "return to…" and include your name, address and phone number.
• The videos will be shown at our next Mom’s Meeting on November 15th.
• Depending on the number of videos received, some may have to be shown at our January 08 meeting.

What a fun way to begin (or continue) your child’s love for hiding God’s word in their heart!

Posted by Sheree