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Respite For the Weary
RELATED VERSE: AND FORGIVE US OUR DEBTS AS WE FORGIVE OUR DEBTORS
Dear Children,Remember what your football pants looked like right after your game? They were filthy, weren’t they?! Now, let’s say, when I saw the damage that was done to your clothes, I decided to send you all to the garage instead of the laundry room, so you could “strip down” in there. I then told you (and myself), that I would deal with the muddy mess of clothes later. And then, what if your dear Mother, somehow, got distracted in the day (imagine that!) and forgot all about the big-time-muddy-mess in the garage? And finally, let’s say, the pile sat another day, and then another . . . . Children, answer this simple question for me: Would your pants in the pile be clean or dirty? Yes, you’re absolutely right, they would still be filthy! As a matter of fact, they would probably be dirtier than the day they were first put there. They would definitely have grown a powerful stench, and the mud would have had time to sit, and settle in.Sweet ones, my point here goes back, once again, to your heart. You, like I said before, have sin in your life now, and always will. Do not let this discourage you; because, remember, you also have the “Great Cleanser” of the heart, Jesus Christ, who continually washes you from this sin. However, it is your responsibility to bring your sin before Him. If you do not confess your sins, they will remain in your heart. And not only that, they will grow! Confess your sin, my children. Do not hide your wrong-doing “in a corner” or “under a rug”; it will be uncovered. And do not belittle your sin, casting it off as trivial or frivolous; it will grow. Finally, do not wait to confess your sin, so you can “enjoy” it just one last time; it will have time to fester and spread.Remember also, children, your sin affects more than just you. For example, say Bink was the first one to get all muddy in the football game. But then, he tackled Emmy. You can be sure some of the mud that was all over him spread to Emmy during his tackle (even if the tackle was done gently). Do you see what I’m saying? Take this truth to heart. Please, children, remove all the pride that might keep you from falling on your knees before a holy, yet forgiving God. Like I said, He’s waiting for you to ask. He is so faithful to forgive! So, my sweet ones, go boldly to the throne of grace, with a truly repentant heart and confess your sin to the One who can purify your soul. I can assure you, through God’s Word, if you confess your sin, you will receive His forgiveness. Then, in faith, you will walk away from His throne of grace, fresh and new, ready to serve Him once more.
I love you
Dear Heavenly Father,I pray my children would always come before You with a humbled heart, ready to acknowledge and confess their sin before Your holy presence. You are full of amazing grace! A broken and contrite heart, O God, Thou will not despise (Ps. 51:17).Please, dear Lord, I ask that You would keep my children from trying to “hide” their sin from their daddy and me, as their parents, or from You. Continue to enlighten us, and make us very aware of the intentions of their heart so their sin may be “nipped in the bud.” May this process of quick confession keep their sin from growing, spreading, and then collapsing all around them.Impress on their hearts, dear Lord, these two things: No matter what, their sin will be exposed. And also, no matter what, their sin will bring consequences, not only on themselves, but also on the lives of those they love the most. Convict them of these truths, O God. But at the same time, help them to remember that You, dear Jesus, never come to judge and condemn us to death; but rather to SAVE and provide for us a beautiful life, both now and forever!I do ask for the prompting of Your Spirit to always help them to think before they speak, and think before they act. And in a time of temptation, may they always call on You. Please remind them, dear Father, Your Son, Jesus, was also tempted by Satan, yet He prevailed! Also reveal to them that they can have His Holy Spirit to be their strength in time of weakness, so that they, too, can also prevail. God, if they have found themselves deep in the pit of a certain sin, please show them the “way of escape” that You offer every time!Then, dear Lord, give them the continual desire and ability to choose this way of freedom! May they yearn for the pleasure and joy found in Your eternal presence, rather than being satisfied with the fleeting pleasures and enjoyment found in this temporal world. I ask, dear Father, when they do confess their sin before You, they will then be awed by the beautiful growth that always comes when a weakness of the flesh is turned into a God-filled strength.Finally, I pray You would reveal to my children any sin in their heart that they may not even be aware of. May they take time to examine themselves as they read Your Word and pray to You. Bring to the surface any impurities that they need to confess to You, their “Great Cleanser.” Wash [them] with hyssop, and [they] shall be clean . . . (Ps. 51:7). I believe You can make them completely white, dear Father. Make them believe it, too. May they come humbly before You to ask for a purified soul.
Amen
Ps. 32:1-5; Pr. 16:18; James 5:16; I John 1:8-10, 2:1-2
Pr. 28:13; Num. 32:23; Matt. 4:1-11; I Cor. 10:13; II Cor. 3:17; II Cor. 12:9-10; Ps. 139:23-24; Lam 3:40; Ps. 51:1-2, 7,10-13.
Dear Children,Are you ready to go on a treasure hunt? Listen to this story: There once was a family with four blonde-headed, blue-eyed children—Maggie 9, full of leadership, Brent (“Bink”), 7, full of playfulness; Davis, 4, full of direction; and Emmy 3, full of passion. Well, one day they got a letter in the mailbox that was addressed as follows:“To the Baxter Children Only”So, with a puzzled look, their Mommy handed it over to Maggie, who excitedly ripped it open while the others watched in anticipation.“What is it? What does it say? Tell us what it says, Maggie!” the others shouted, all at the same time.“Just a minute,” Maggie said, in her sweet, yet firm voice, “and when everybody is quiet, I’ll read it to you.” So, Bink, Davis, and Emmy all calmed down and sat quietly, waiting to hear what the letter had to say.“Okay.” Then, Maggie began to read:“The Baxter children are invited to go on a special treasure hunt on a mysterious island. Attached to this note is a map you will need in order to find the hidden treasure. Come tomorrow, first thing in the morning, and begin...”“Wow! Can we go? Can we go, Mommy?” all four asked excitedly as they jumped up and down. “We’ll see,” said Mommy. “Let’s ask Daddy first.”Well, later that afternoon, Daddy came home, and the children attacked him at the door with glee, explaining their unexpected invitation. Daddy quickly said, “Sure, you can go on a deserted and mysterious island, all alone, without a chaperone and hunt for a hidden treasure. Why not?” (Please remember, sweet ones, this is a pretend story.)“WHEE!” shouted Maggie.“All right!” yelled Bink.“Yahoo!” exclaimed Davis.And little Emmy just happily screamed twirling around the room with delight.So very early the next morning, everybody was up and dressed in hiking attire: long pants (Mommy insisted, so they would not get poison ivy or spider bites), hiking boots for the jungly-woods, and backpacks full of necessary items such as first aid cream, Band-Aids, plenty of water, M&Ms, Snickers, and Sweet-Tarts.When it was time to go, everybody loaded up the truck, checking twice to see if they had everything. Daddy called out, “Map?” Check, in Maggie’s hand. “Shovels?” Check, on Bink’s back. “Compass?” Check, attached to Davis’ belt loop. “Whistle?” Check, around Emmy’s neck. “Lunches?” Check, Mommy had slid them in each backpack.“OK then, we’re ready. Let’s go,” said Daddy, secretly wishing that he too had been invited on this wonderful adventure.After driving a while on bumpy and twisted back-roads, they came to a small dock that had a fishing boat waiting for them. The whole family transferred from the truck to the boat, which would take them to the mysterious island. Once they arrived, Mommy and Daddy helped everybody unload their things. “Be careful, stick together, follow the directions, and have fun. We love you!” they said as they waved goodbye to their four dear children.Because they were on their own now, Maggie quickly assumed her leadership position. “Bink,” she said, “ you’re gonna go first to cut away branches and vines for us to pass; then Emmy will go next, then Davis. I’ll be last so I can see everybody. Now, we are right here at the edge of the jungle,” she said as she pointed to the map, “and we need to get here, to this ‘X-marks the spot.’ The first thing the instructions say is to go to the biggest boulder we can find on this beach area, and then go twenty-eight steps straight into the jungle.”Everybody looked around. Davis and Bink spotted it at the exact same time. “There it is, over there. Come on!” So they all darted away to the huge rock. Once they came upon it, they got into their “assigned” positions and began to count and step: one (step), two (step), three (step)...And the day went on: Maggie, with map in hand, would shout out orders; Bink, whistling like a “happy- go-lucky” pirate, cut down the vines; Davis, stopping every now and then to check his compass or to wipe some dirt off his shirt, followed his brother’s footsteps; and Emmy, gleefully bouncing as she stepped, pointed out every butterfly and flower in sight. At noon, they took a short break and ate their lunch by a beautiful stream. They ate and laughed and played and waded barefoot in the cold brook. But then, Maggie’s maternal instincts kicked in; she remembered there might be snakes under the rocks. At that moment, everybody promptly got out of the water, put their socks and boots back on, and resumed their search for the treasure...After one more hour of map-following through the thick green jungle, they finally came to their last instruction. “Walk seven steps into a small clearing, turn to your left, and start digging,” Maggie read. Bink, with his good hunting eyes, spotted the clearing.“Come on!” he said with excitement, half skipping as he and the others made the last seven steps. They all reached the clearing; Bink handed out the shovels, and they all began to dig. With each dig of their shovels, each child got a little more excited, until Emmy couldn’t stand it any longer. She threw down her shovel and started doing cartwheels and somersaults all around the hole, getting leaves and dirt and twigs stuck in her long blonde hair. Davis, doing his best to ignore these “childish” antics of his little sister, would every now and then “accidentally” fling a shovel of dirt on her as she somersaulted by. However, the next time he stuck his shovel deep into the earth, he hit something!“What was that?” Davis asked, with a twinkle of excitement in his eyes. They all stopped short, came over to where Davis was, and began to dig in his spot. Sure enough, Maggie and Bink also heard a sudden “thud,” as they dug their shovels down in to the thick rich soil.“This is it! It’s the treasure!” Maggie said with certainty. Everybody jumped for joy, sang a happy song, and danced a happy dance.“Now, we all have to help each other pull this heavy box to the level ground,” instructed Maggie. So, with the boys on one side, and the girls on the other, they “heaved” and “hoed” the treasure chest up onto the ground beside the hole.Bink used his handy-dandy hunting knife to cut some thick rope loose from the chest. Then Davis remembered he brought his “key-that-opens-everything” with him (which was also attached to his belt loop, with his compass and small flashlight). The key did its trick, and they all helped each other push on the heavy top of the treasure chest. With one last shove, the lid opened with a huge jolt, sending Emmy flipping over the top. Amazingly, she landed on her own two feet, didn’t miss a beat, and scooted to the treasure chest.“Wow!” they all said simultaneously. The chest was full of gold, and silver, and all kinds of shiny, glittering pieces. It also contained jewelry loaded with diamonds, and rubies, and sapphires—just like the treasure you would imagine to find on an old pirate’s ship! It was all there! After staring at the treasure in amazement, and feeling the pieces run between their fingers, they began to laugh with joy over the thrill of this great adventure. What fun this day had been! They hunted for this treasure, and to their great delight, this treasure had been found!Did you like this story, children? Wasn’t it fun to find an enormous treasure chest filled with all kinds of jewels? Wouldn’t you like to really hunt for something like that? What a thrill to find anything of great worth!Well, did you know you already have a treasure like the one I’ve just described, and even better, in your own home? God’s book, sweet ones, His Holy Word, can be compared to the treasure chest you “found” in the story. Inside it, you will discover absolutely beautiful jewels. And obtaining these kinds of riches are far greater than any amount of silver or gold you could possibly possess. They are the “rubies” of wisdom, the “diamonds” of knowledge, and the “pearls” of understanding, as well as the beautiful gems of faith, hope, and love. And the deeper you go into “His treasure chest,” the greater the value of these jewels!Children, I want you to also see the treasure chest as being in the shape of a cross, instead of a regular old trunk. The cross represents the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, who became the “Word in the flesh.” Until you claim Him alone as your own personal Savior, you will not truly find all the hidden treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Do you realize He gave up EVERYTHING, so that you might have EVERYTHING? He is God’s “great mystery,” and when you grasp hold of Him, a surge of tremendous wealth comes into your heart that will change your whole outlook on life. No longer will you lay up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal (Matt. 6:19). Instead, you will want to lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do NOT break in and steal (Matt. 6:20).Dear children, please do not let this treasure, God’s Word to you, sit on the shelf and gather dust. Lay it wide open in front of you and claim these precious jewels as your very own. Bask in His riches. May they be more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold (Ps. 19:10). For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also (Matt. 6:21).
I love you
1. Find your jewelry box, or create one, and show it to your children.2. Let them open the box and “touch and feel” all the beautiful and unique pieces in it. Hold pieces up to the light and let them shine.3. While they are doing this, explain: There is an abundance of beautiful and unique riches for them which can be found in the “treasure box” of God’s Word.
Dear Lord God,Your Word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path (Ps. 119:105). It guides, corrects, teaches, moves, and loves. The wealth of Your Word is so full, so deep, so wide, and so long, that it can be read over and over, and still, something fresh and new is revealed every time it is opened! O, Father, I pray, as my children read Your holy Word, they would each be given a marvelous understanding of the great treasures inside. Give them wisdom which travels beyond their years, I pray.May they understand the Old Testament is not just a book of miraculous adventures, but it is Your infallible Word—full of power, and truth, and prophecy, which continually points to You, dear, Jesus. You are the fulfillment of that power, that truth, and that prophecy. May they earnestly dig deep into Your Word, and find all these wonderful mysteries for themselves.Also, help them to know, and see, and believe that we are one in the same with the Israelites of the Old Testament. Because of Your gracious adoption to all who believe in Your Son, we too, are heirs of Your kingdom! I thank You, O God, our Father!Help them to clearly see this beautiful Old Testament picture: just as Moses led Your children, the Israelites, out of bondage and slavery in Egypt, Jesus has come to rescue each of us, Your children today, and lead them into both a life full of freedom now, as well as the promised land of heaven!O dear God, when my children open Your Word, please open the eyes of their heart as well, so they may know who this Jesus is, and see the magnitude of what He has done for them. Take off any blinders that Satan has put on their eyes, so they may fully claim His radiance and His most wonderful act of grace as their own. (And please, may they understand GRACE—undeserved favor, given freely to sinners like me!)Clear their minds, my sweet Savior, and my awesome God, of anything that might distract them from thinking, focusing, and meditating on all these excellent treasures of truth found in Your Word—the greatest of these being Your unfailing love.
Amen
Matt. 7:7-8; Matt. 13:44-46; Pr. 3:13-15; Col. 2:2-3; II Cor. 8:9; Deut. 4:29
Rom. 11:33; Ps. 119:33-38; Luke 4:17-21; Gal. 3:6-9, 23-29; Ex. 3:1-10; Gal. 5:1; Ps. 119:18; Eph. 1:16-19; Phil. 3:10
Dear Children,Finding security in God and being content in Him have a “working relationship.” They are almost one in the same. But, I think you must have security in Him before you will ever be content with Him. Your thought process might be: “I have found Him trustworthy (security); so therefore, I will rest with Him (contentment).” I will focus on the same two areas from my previous letter: do not look for contentment in your self; do not look for contentment in things.Concerning self: Now, children, let me say to you again how important it is to be satisfied with the way God has made you (your looks, your personality, your strengths, your weaknesses). Right now, I will touch on your “looks”, because this is such a “biggie” in our world today. There is so much focus on physical appearances—it’s incredible! And let me tell you, it is a trap set by the devil himself. Children, he will do anything he can to keep your focus on your outward appearance and not on your heart. Believe me, I have fallen into this snare many times! I think because of my rough red burn scars on my legs, as well as the continual bombardment of what the world considers “beautiful”, I have allowed myself to believe the lies of Satan. There have been times when I would stand in front of the mirror and critique myself to the point where there was nothing “good” left. First of all, dear ones, that’s a complete waste of God’s time; I confess. And secondly, who do you think was standing there with me, putting those words of discontentment into my head? You bet, Satan. And he was doing a mighty fine job in attacking me where he knew I was not completely secure. I would walk away from that place defeated, despondent, and absolutely useless for the sake of God’s kingdom—exactly where Satan wanted me to be!So, if this ever happens to you, sweet ones—where you start becoming dissatisfied with your looks, (believe me, the devil will try to use it all—too tall, too short, ears too big, nose too long or pudgy, too light- skinned, too pimply, too curvy here, not curvy enough there...)--- I want you to say these words immediately: Get behind me, Satan! (Matt. 16:23). This means, “Go away, Satan, you are not welcome here!” Jesus, Himself, used these words. He was always aware and prepared for the lies of Satan. Then, children, you need to replace those negative thoughts with positive ones. Always replace the lies of Satan with the truths of God! Girls, you say something like, “I am the beautiful bride of Christ. He cherishes me, and He adores me. I am precious in His sight.” And boys, you, also, are referred to as the bride of Christ. But you can even say, “I am a chosen warrior of the Most High King. He has called me by name. He has redeemed me because He loves me. I am His. “ Now, walk away, and serve Him with a contented heart. Don’t let Satan win, dear ones. It is a fight, and you possess the strength of the Victor, so walk away victorious.You see, children, God asks you to learn to be content in the way He has created you. And your job is to recognize the beauty and good-looks that are uniquely yours, and then praise Him for it! Don’t confuse this issue: God expects us to humbly admit there is “nothing good” in our hearts without the gracious gift of Jesus Christ. But at the same time, He also expects us to joyfully praise Him for His handiwork, our human bodies! Again, children, never “shake your fist” at your Creator concerning a “mistake” you think He made. Instead, thank Him for your uniquely designed body He intended for you alone, and resolve to use “your unique beauty” for His glory only. Your outward appearance should be used only as a lure to show the beauty of your heart. Just like a beautiful voice enhances the meaning of the words to a lovely song, it’s okay to clean up, look nice, and be attractive, in order to draw others to you, so they can learn the meaning of your heart. I think God desires His earthly vessels to be “pretty,” as long as there’s something on the inside! Please remember, inner beauty through Christ is your goal, children. The way you look and dress should always be an attraction for Him, not a distraction from Him! Don’t focus on the shallow surface, just painting and decorating the outside of your “jar of clay.” Children, I have prayed for so long that you will be beautiful on the inside. For man looks at the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart (I Sam. 16:7).Before we go on, I want to give you one example of an incredibly beautiful heart. I was sitting by a sweet, sweet lady who was lying on her death-bed at the time, due to a very aggressive cancer. You know her, dear ones, Mrs. Verlie Baker. One of her lungs had already been destroyed by this horrible disease, and the other one was well on its way. She had lost her hair because of the chemotherapy, and she was very pale and weak from the lack of oxygen and blood circulation. But, I tell you what, as I sat there and looked into her eyes and talked with her quietly, I saw true beauty, the kind that Christ sees! Even as she was struggling for breath, she was giving God all honor, and glory, and majesty due His Name. Her sweetness in the midst of struggle spoke to my heart, children. I walked away from that place, saying to myself, “That is the kind of beauty I want.” And I so desire for you to have it too.Now, concerning things: I am also praying you will learn to be content in the plans God has for you. But again, in the future, the devil is going to try to “rock your boat” of contentment, somehow—whether a position not achieved, or personal goals not reached, or anything else in life you have greatly desired and not yet grasped. For instance, did you know, if it were up to me, sweet ones, you would probably have one or two more siblings right now? But, because of a decision your Daddy and I made right after number four, we are not having any more children. Not too long after this decision was made, however, I really began to regret our choice of not having any more babies. Soon, my heart began filling up with discontent and shame. I felt like I had “wronged” God, and now I was bearing the consequences of our bad choice. But you know, I kept “hearing” God’s faint voice speaking to my clouded heart: “Don’t worry, Chris, you’re alright. Remember, I cause all things to work together for good, even decisions that you might think are bad. Besides, I have something else for you to do.” Well, at the time I didn’t want anything else. I wanted only to hold another baby. (Maternal instincts are very strong, whether you have one, two, or ten children!) I was so discontent, I was having trouble enjoying the gift of you four children. However, in desperation, I decided to “give Him a chance.” Slowly, I began to let go of what I wanted and seek what the “something else” might be. Soon, His voice became clearer, and I found myself in the midst of writing these letters to you, and these prayers for you! Deep down, I knew God wanted me to write; I just had to allow Him to peel off the layers of discontentment from my heart. And now, I have found true contentment in Him through this project—His project. He wanted a pen in my hand in the early morning hours, not another sweet, cuddly baby. Hopefully, through these prayers and letters, I will be able to touch lots and lots of babies’ growing hearts, instead of just one. This has become my desire now. He had (and still has) a plan for me, and He has one for you, too. But, I tell you what, you will not be able to do His will if you’ve got your fingers wrapped around your own. Cease striving after things God obviously doesn’t want you to have right now. He wants you to have Him! Open your hands, sweet ones. Let Him plop His “project,” His will, down into your empty palms. And then do it. Pretty soon, you will marvel that your old desire no longer consumes you, but that your new desire and God’s desire are one in the same. What a wonderful treasure—contentment in Him alone. Learn to be content, sweet ones. First I will pray you will always be secure in His love; and then, contentment in His way will soon follow.
I love you
1. Get a hand mirror or go to a bathroom mirror with your children (individually).2. Talk with each of them about what they see: their likes and dislikes. (Notice younger children will not have dislikes! We can learn from them!) Reinforce the Potter/Clay picture with your child. Tell them how pleased the Potter is with His project. They are His handiwork!Also, learn to replace any negative thoughts with truth. Practice saying who they are in the eyes of Christ:- The boys, “I am a Victorious Warrior of the Most High King, He has called me by name...”- The girls, “I am the bride of Christ, and He desires my beauty...”Tell them this is their true significance. Pray together for a contented heart, one that will rest in the truth of who they are in Christ.3. Offer a candy bar to your child. Tell him to eat half. After eating the treat, ask him, “Are you thankful for the gift, or are you feeling cheated because you can’t have the whole thing?” Discuss contentment using this illustration.
Dear Heavenly Father,You are the Bread of Life, the only One who can truly satisfy the hollow and empty void of the human heart. Thank You, Jesus, for coming to fill up our emptiness with Your overwhelming love. I pray my children would find this place of contentment in You alone. May they count everything else in this world as “rubbish” in comparison to having and knowing You. And, as they walk through this life, help them in all areas (physical, financial, emotional) to never covet more, or less, than what You have already ordained for them.Physically, I pray they will be completely content in the way You have made them. Remind them, dear Father, You are their Creator, and You designed every inch of their appearance. And You saw that it was very good (Gen. 1:31)! Help them also to know You are not like the shallow man, who focuses only on outward appearances; instead, Your focus is on what is in the heart. May they understand this is where true beauty lies, and then, may they seek this beauty!Also, I pray they will be content in the plans You have for each of them. If they have “little” (in any area of life), may they praise and thank You with a grateful heart for what you have given them. Continually awe them by the way You provide for the daily needs. May they view this period of time as a wonderful faith- building opportunity in their lives, finding out that they can truly trust and depend on You alone.And God, if they have “much,” I pray dear Lord, they will remember You are their sole Provider. Impress this truth upon their hearts: whatever they have, riches or talents, comes from You alone. Continually remind them, their possessions were never theirs to begin with, nor will they ever be! Please guard them from becoming greedy or proud. May they honor and glorify You with what they have, willingly giving to others in need, as You have willingly given to them.Finally, dear Lord, I pray my children will never fall into the trap of comparing their life to someone else’s, which only leads to anger, frustration, bitterness—a discontented heart. Instead, may they truly believe, You have only the best in store for Your obedient children, no matter how it appears at the moment. Someone else may have all the “riches” (whatever that is to a person) in the world, but help them to realize they have been freely given all riches of Jesus Christ, the blessed King of kings! May they earnestly desire Your riches, dear Lord, not the fading ones of this world. Help them to die to self (their desires, their plans, their goals, their will), even when it seems, to them, that their way is “certainly” the better way. Then, may they live for You, sweet Jesus, in the place You have for them, with a quiet and contented heart.O Father, I ask You to help [Mac and] me in this same area. Convict us and remind us, our children are watching our every action, our every decision. Help us, as their earthly teachers, to never run after the wind, desperately grasping at nothing.
Please keep usRooted, grounded, and satisfiedIn thePerfect, complete, and unfailingLove of Jesus Christ-Our Savior, our Master, our Friend.For only You can fill our cup, and then some!
Amen
Ps. 25:1-2; Zeph. 3:17; Ps. 100:3; Rom. 16:19-20; II Tim. 2:20-21; Rom. 8:28; Ps. 131
Phil. 3:7-8; Phil. 4:11-13; Is. 64:8; I Sam. 16:7; Pr. 16:9; Phil. 4:19; Matt. 6:25; Mark 10:17-22; Ex. 20:17; Col. 2:2-3; Ecc. 2:10-11; Ps. 23:1,5
RELATED VERSE: GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD
Dear Children,Imagine with me for a few minutes...you’re outside in our back yard, and it’s extremely hot. You can feel the oven-like summer sun pressing all around you—making it difficult to breathe. However, this does not stop any of you from playing a super game of kickball all afternoon with the neighbors. Time goes on and on, and you’ve been running fast, playing hard, and yelling loud—lots of F-U-N! When the game is finally done, everyone comes directly inside, all bee-lining for the same thing, a drink of ice-cold water. As you each gulp this refreshing drink, all I hear as I watch nearby, is a resounding chorus of “AHHH”s. Fresh, cool water tastes so good, all the way down— quenching your thirst completely.Now, imagine something else... you are absolutely famished. It seems as if lunch was hours and hours and hours ago, and somehow you missed your snack. Dinner seems forever away, and the dull pain inside your hollow stomach grows larger (and louder) each minute you are made to wait---UGH! So...you begin to moan and groan with your stomach. “I’m hungry!” “How much longer?” “Is it ready yet?” ...Finally, the table is set, the blessing is said, and you dig your teeth into a hot, buttered homemade roll (remember, you’re imagining!) Again, words cannot express the satisfaction; only a long-awaited “MMMMM” comes from within.Children, doesn’t it feel so good when your thirst is quenched and when your hunger is satisfied? Don’t you enjoy being refreshed and renewed? Well, did you know you have a soul that thirsts and hungers in a very similar way in which your body does? And, do you know how you can satisfy your soul’s longing? The Word of life, which God has so graciously given to us, straight from His divine inspiration, can be as completely filling to your soul as that ice-cold glass of water or that hot buttered roll is to your body. I pray you will have a continual longing for His Word. The Living Water is never dull or lukewarm; it’s always pure and always refreshing. And I pray you will have a repeated craving for what His Word has to offer (the menu is never drab or tasteless; it’s always diverse, always savoring).Remember, children, there is no need to walk around days-on-end with a dehydrated heart and an empty, hungry soul! You know where to go. Feast on His Holy Word, dear ones. When you do, you undoubtedly will “taste and see that the Lord is good” (Psalm 34:8)
I love you
1. The next time your children are extremely thirsty, provide ice-cold water for their parched throats. While they aredrinking and experiencing refreshment, explain to them how the Living Water, Jesus Christ, through His Word, does thisvery thing to our soul.2. Repeat this experience when your children are very hungry by providing something delicious and fulfilling to theirempty stomachs.3. Discuss and compare the physical needs of our body to the spiritual needs of our soul. “Physical” food and drinkbring needed refreshment, growth, and regained energy. The Living Water and the Bread of Life found in the Wordbring us the needed satisfaction of peace, hope, and joy.
Dear Heavenly Father,You are so peacefully present in the quietness of the morning. Thank You from all my heart that You desire to meet with me. How much You teach me through Your Word! You listen to the burdens of my humbled, contrite, and broken heart; and then, You faithfully fill me with your mercy, Your love, and Your refreshing Spirit. Oh thank You, dear Jesus, for taking the time to meet my every need.Please, dear Lord, I ask that my children would be quiet, with a submissive spirit before You, their Savior. May this time with You be top priority in their days. May they discover the beauty of Your love for them as they hear the kindness of Your voice through the reading and meditating of Your Word.O God, You say Your Word is living and active and sharper than any two edged sword (Heb. 4:12). I ask that You pierce their hearts with this “sword,” so they may discover the beautiful richness of the amazing love You have for each of them. May they hunger for You as a beggar searching for a bite of bread to eat, and thirst for You as a deer pants for a sip of water to drink. And as they are earnestly seeking You, fill them up, I pray, hiding Your Word in their hearts. For You are the only Bread of Life and the only Living Water that can satisfy the deepest longings of our soul. May they desire to continually go to Your banqueting table, which is always bountifully overflowing with the richness of who You are! And thank You, dear Jesus, for Your plate offered to us is always full, and the water from Your well provided for us never runs dry! Oh, the depth and the height of Your gracious love that can be found all throughout Your holy Word! May they grasp the “handle” of abundance and drink it up.
Dear Children,I want you to imagine a tree firmly planted by streams of water. Its trunk is sturdy, and its branches are strong. Its leaves are a plush green, and its fruit is ripe, ready for picking. Its beauty is eye-catching, and its shade is inviting. But, think now, sweet ones, what part of the tree can not be seen that causes it to stand firmly in the ground? Yes, you’re right—the roots. They reach far down into the earth, acting as an anchor for the beautiful tree above.Now, children, I want you to think of your life. You, also, are to be firmly planted by the streams of Living Water—Jesus Christ. In order to stand strong, you also will need to have strong roots. The previous six prayers that I have prayed for you are some of these roots:A Love of God’s WordAn Understanding of God’s WordAn Understanding of God’s LoveA Faith in GodSecurity in God, andContentment in God.Realize, sweet ones, the deeper you go into His rich soil, the stronger your roots will be, and the more your tree will flourish. You (and others) will begin to see beautiful blossoms which, in time, will produce the magnificent fruit of the Spirit:LoveJoyPeacePatienceKindnessGoodnessFaithfulnessGentleness, andSelf-control!So, my dear ones, make your roots strong. Seek wisdom, and knowledge, and faith, and security, and love, and contentment in Him! Remember your goal: First you want people to see your bud turn into a beautiful flower, which is lovely to their eyes. Then, you want them to see your flower blossom into fruit, which they will want to “take from” your tree and “eat”! Cause them to wonder, “Why is their tree so beautiful, and their fruit so tasty? What makes them stand so strong and look so alive? I want to be like that! How can I be?” And then, my children, be prepared to answer...
I love you
1. On a beautiful day, go outside and examine a strong, vibrant tree. Or, you may want to pull up a plant (one you’re not attracted to!) and “touch and feel” the roots.2. Talk about its roots: how long, sturdy, and deep are they? (They are as deep as the tree is tall!)3. Compare the roots, as well as the beauty of the tree to each child’s life. When they are planted in God’s Word, and grow deeper into it, they then obtain the strength and beauty which comes from Christ alone.
Dear Heavenly Father,What a wonder it is to know that because of what Jesus did on the cross, we have the incredible privilege of being filled with Your Holy Spirit! May my children not quench Your beautiful Spirit, dear Jesus. But instead give them a heart that longs to abide in You, and You in them, so the fruit of Your amazing character may be exhibited in their lives. I pray their heart will possess:A Love that conquers all,A Joy that overflows,A Peace that passes all understanding,And Patience that stills the heart.Give them Kindness that seeks the orphan and the widow;And Goodness that defeats all evil,May they obtain your Faithfulness that is new every morning,And Gentleness that can turn away all kinds of wrath,And, dear Lord, I pray for Self-control that only You,The One who died to self, can give.
Amen
Ps. 1:1-3; John 7:38; Hosea 14:4-8; Gal. 5:18, 22-25; Jer. 17:5-8; I Peter 3:15; Pr. 11:30
Rom. 5:5; I Thess. 5:19; John 15:4-5; Gal. 5:22-25; Pr. 10:12; Ps. 16:11; Phil 4:6-7; Ps. 62:1; James 1:27; Ps. 31:19-20; Lam. 3:21-23; Pr. 15:1; Phil. 2: 5-8; John 15:1; Gal. 5:16-18
Dear Children,As I explained in my previous letter, I hope you will truly understand what Christ has done for you on the cross, and then go before Him to ask for the forgiveness He longs to give. But not only do I hope you will ask, I also hope you will accept this forgiveness with your whole heart. Accept forgiveness for the obvious sins that affect the body (lying, stealing, cheating, gossiping, any addictive behavior, unkindness, idleness, worldliness, selfishness). But, I also want you to be sure to confess and then accept His forgiveness for sins that are not so obvious---sins which affect your mind and soul.Here is a list of some of these sins:Fear (of the unknown, or of failure),Guilt (over things said, or done in the past),Shame (caused by things done against you, or things you deliberately or accidentally have done),Confusion (about your past, present, or future decisions),Worry (concerning all of life’s “issues”),Bitterness (caused by not forgiving others, or yourself),Doubt (caused by not believing God is faithful in who He says He is.)Do you, children, feel any of these strongholds gripping your heart? Recognize these negative emotions, too, are sins. In a way, they can become your god because you allow them to rule your life. But, realize Christ died for these specific sins, as well. And when He died, He offered to take all sins off of our own shoulders and place them on His. Children, don’t try to take them back. Let go of them. You don’t need to carry the guilt and shame and fear, or whatever you might be holding on to. I want to stress to you again, let Jesus carry and crucify these feelings, so you can be free! Live in the freedom of forgiveness purchased by your merciful Savior, not in the captivity of a feeling initiated by the merciless deceptor himself. Remember, Satan wants to keep you locked “in a cage,” so you will be ineffective for the cause of Christ. But Jesus wants to set you free, so you can mount up with wings like eagles and fly! Which would you rather be, my sweet ones? If you choose the latter (and I pray you will), then let your Jesus unlock the cage, and let your God put the wind beneath your wings, and then let His Holy Spirit dwell in you so you may soar in freedom, in righteousness, and in peace.
I love you
Dear Heavenly Father,It is one thing for my children to understand Your forgiveness with head knowledge, but it means nothing if they do not accept your grace with their heart. O God, I pray they will truly believe they are forgiven in Your eyes. If they let go of their sin, may they know it is as far away from them as the east is from the west. Help them to realize, the consequences of sin will remain, but nothing can bring that confessed and repented sin back. And in this freedom of forgiveness, help them, dear Father, to joyfully bear their consequences with this in mind: You are always molding, always teaching, and always perfecting their faith in love. Thank You, dear Jesus, for the awesome gift and process of purity.I also pray You would make my children keenly aware of the tools Satan uses to keep deceptive feelings hanging on their shoulders and in their heart. Help them to realize, Satan desperately wants to keep them stained and self-defeated, hiding in a shadow of darkness, or underneath a rock, where they will be completely ineffective for You. Give them the determined will to fight him with Your strength. Remind them You hung on the cross to carry the sorrows of our sin. May they never trivialize Your death by trying to take their sin off Your shoulders and put it back on their own---for You are worthy to bear our grief! Give them the ability to forgive themselves, as You have forgiven them.May they find a life of freedom as they accept Your forgiveness, changing their heavy-laden heart caused by strongholds, into a heart full of joy found in You. You are the Father of lights, bringing to us the good and perfect gift of forgiveness. May You shine radiantly through the vessel which You have cleaned, causing them to be a beautiful display of Your splendor!
Amen
II Cor. 5:21; Ps. 142:7; Is. 40:28-31; Gal. 5:1
Ps. 103:8-12; Heb. 12:1-2; Heb. 3:12-14; II Peter1: 5-11; I Peter 2:24; Matt. 11:28-30; James 1:17; Matt. 5:14- 17
God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM’ has sent me to you.” Exodus 3:13-14
Dear Lord,
Help us to remember that when you call us to do something for your Name's sake, you will not leave us alone in the task. Make us realize that you are with us, always. Make us confident in all of who you are so that we can walk forward in all you have called us to do. Amen.