Set for Life

I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. (John 10:10 NKJV)

I am continuing to read and read and read on parenting and educating our children. This week I realized this parenting thing as a "calling" in a way I don't know that I understood before. Specifically, per Psalm 78, my calling is to teach my children God's ways so that they teach their children and grandchildren these truths.

1 O my people, listen to my instructions.
Open your ears to what I am saying,
2 for I will speak to you in a parable.
I will teach you hidden lessons from our past—
3 stories we have heard and known,
stories our ancestors handed down to us.
4 We will not hide these truths from our children;
we will tell the next generation
about the glorious deeds of the Lord,
about his power and his mighty wonders.

5 For he issued his laws to Jacob;
he gave his instructions to Israel.
He commanded our ancestors
to teach them to their children,
6 so the next generation might know them—
even the children not yet born—
and they in turn will teach their own children.
7 So each generation should set its hope anew on God,
not forgetting his glorious miracles
and obeying his commands.
8 Then they will not be like their ancestors—
stubborn, rebellious, and unfaithful,
refusing to give their hearts to God. (Psalm 78 NLT)


At some point, each member in each generation has to make a decision for or away from the Lord. So, that brings me to the "how" part of parenting/educating our children - how do we parent in such a way that they will not only learn the truths and ways of the Lord, but understand themselves as called to pass on that faith to their descendants? How do we do that in this day and age?

For me, this week's conundrum has been a "curriculum" issue, specific to our five year old. Plan A? Plan B? Something else? Some combination of the above? Then I came (again) to the first part of Psalm 62:

God, the one and only—
I'll wait as long as he says.
Everything I need comes from him,
so why not?
He's solid rock under my feet,
breathing room for my soul,
An impregnable castle:
I'm set for life.

I AM set for life - my spiritual feet are placed on the Solid Rock of Jesus Christ - the Way, the Truth, the Life. So, when I feel my inner world getting all choked in "Plan A" or "Plan B" (or any other struggle) I have to join with the Psalmist, again, in the next part of Psalm 62:

3-4 How long will you gang up on me?
How long will you run with the bullies?
There's nothing to you, any of you—
rotten floorboards, worm-eaten rafters,
Anthills plotting to bring down mountains,
far gone in make-believe.
You talk a good line,
but every "blessing" breathes a curse.

God is never a god of confusion or chaos; our Creation is beauty and order. So when the things of this life seem to gang up on us, we need to realize that those "blessings" are really not the Solid Rock we can build our lives upon. Chaos and confusion are not of the Lord. God is an impenatrable castle. God gives us breathing room for our souls. And we are, indeed, set for life.

God, when the chaos and confusion of this world seems to choke us, help us to hold onto your Word and promises. Help us to raise our children not only to be Jesus Followers, but to then pass the faith on to future generations. Help us to trust you for their salvation and those of generations yet unborn. God, the one and only—we'll wait as long as you say. Everything we hope for comes from you, so why not? You're the solid rock under our feet, breathing room for our souls, an impregnable castle: we're set for life. Amen and amen!

Engulfed

¹ If the LORD had not been on our side—
let Israel say-

² if the LORD had not been on our side
when men attacked us,

³ when their anger flared against us,
they would have swallowed us alive;

⁴ the flood would have engulfed us,
the torrent would have swept over us,

⁵ the raging waters
would have swept us away.

⁶ Praise be to the LORD,
who has not let us be torn by their teeth.

⁷ We have escaped like a bird
out of the fowler's snare;
the snare has been broken,
and we have escaped.

⁸ Our help is in the name of the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth.

Engulfed.

For our family right now, the preparation of the new house, packing, and subsequent moves are engulfing.

For Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane the reality of what he was facing must have been engulfing.

For my sister-in-law on the USNS Comfort engulfed in seeing so many Haitian children who are amputees with so little hope.

For new parents facing the engulfing possibility of an ill newborn in the hospital for another month.

For a husband engulfed in the reality of raising his preschool children with his mentally ill, soon-to-be ex-wife.

For two families engulfed in the news of kidney cancer and its implications.

For Moses seeing the burning bush engulfed in flames - and the armies of Pharaoh engulfed in the reemerging waters of the Red Sea.

It is easy to be engulfed by the world, but the Psalmist reminds us that God is on our side. In fact, the Psalmist reminds us that IF the LORD had not been on our side we would have been swallowed up by our circumstances. BUT, God is the one who has not let us be captives, who has been and continues to be our help. Our help is in the name of the Lord who made heaven and earth. Surely, that kind of power and love can - and will - help us when we are engulfed by life.

It is easy in the midst of engulfing life circumstances to lose focus on our peace, our anchor, our rock. Sometimes our anchor is our spouse, holding on to us, encouraging us. Sometimes our rock is a friend or relative who says or does the right thing at the right time, acting as a great blessing. But always our Rock and our Redeemer invites us to come into his arms of love and to rest in the shadow of his wings. This invitation is to Peace that passes all understanding, to gaze only on His Face and to let the rest of the world fade away.

O Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer, the Maker of heaven and earth, the giver of all good things, the Lamb of Salvation, the Spirit of Peace; thank you for being our help. Thank you for your faithfulness and love, your encouragement, and your power poured into our lives. When we are engulfed in the cares, the trials, the struggles, the chaos of this life, help us to release it to you and to focus on your peace and goodness. Jesus, calm the storms in our lives, and help us to cast all our cares upon you. Praise be to the God who is on our side! Amen.

God in the cacophony of silence

words

recession - no skubalon - gas prices lower - rain and gray days coming - budget shortfalls - one pound eight ounces - gotta wash laundry - economic stimulus - hamas launches rocket into israel again - diagnosed with cancer - can we pay these bills - in-laws coming to visit - one hundred eighty three dead in firestorm in australia - what happened to my retirement account - ninety three year old man freezes to death in home after electricity is shut off - more troops to afghanistan - woman gives birth to eight - jewelry shop owner murdered - ice breaks off trapping one hundred fishermen - what does God want me to do - forty days of love

God is not in the powerful wind

God is not in the earthquake

God is not in the fire

God is in the silence

"God of wind, earthquake, fire, and silence....help us to be still and know you are God.  Help us to exalt you among the nations and on the earth.   Teach us your ways, O Lord, and we will walk in your truth.  Give us undivided hearts that we may fear your name.  Let us be full of love and faithfulness, written on our hearts.  Help us to win favor and a good name with you, O God, and also with our fellow humans.  Help us to trust you with all our hearts.  Help us to not lean on what we understand, but acknowledge you in everything.  Make our paths straight and keep our footsteps in the paths you have for us.   Amen

 10 "Be still, and know that I am God; 
       I will be exalted among the nations, 
       I will be exalted in the earth."  (Ps. 46:10 NIV)

11 Teach me your way, O LORD, 
       and I will walk in your truth; 
       give me an undivided heart, 
       that I may fear your name.

(Psa. 86:11 NIV)

3 Let love and faithfulness never leave you; 
       bind them around your neck, 
       write them on the tablet of your heart.

 4 Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.

 5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart 
       and lean not on your own understanding;

 6 in all your ways acknowledge him, 
       and he will make your paths straight.  (Proverbs 3:3-6 NIV)