I think we never get enough good and Biblical information about parenting. The devil is the lion and he loves the easy prey–our kids (1 Peter 5:6).
So, Saturday at West Huntsville, parents will receive some elder-invited training from 12:30-3:00 pm from Ben Hayes. I plan to be there and I am praying for eternal blessings from this teaching. It will be live-streamed and archived at www.westhuntsville.org. Perhaps this might be useful for some of you. I don’t personally know Ben, but I am praying for him today.
In other news, we are currently “caught up” on the DD orders although “caught up” can never happen for very long! (That’s a good thing!) You downloaded more free copies, ordered more study guides, and fun stuff than you ever have before. Glenn has worn his old body out in packing and shipping. If you don’t have what you ordered (if you ordered before today) by the end of September, there’s a problem and we will track it down or re-send. We have all new blue mugs and we have re-ordered stickers, because you have stuck so many of them all over the place! Don’t forget the podcast is next Tuesday night at 7 CST! It will be on the FB page and here: https://livestream.com/whcoc/for-women
We’ve scheduled the podcasts for the rest of 2023. This year, it seems, my schedule is particularly tricky toward the end of the months, so the schedule is a little off-kilter. Much of what I do has to be scheduled far in advance, so there are often conflicts. But, maybe by knowing ahead, you can make it work. There’s a particularly long (and more relaxing) podcast break over the year-end holidays. I find this helpful and I hope you will like it, too. Here are the podcast dates to get us through January:
October 17th
Nov 21st
January 9th
January 30th
Remember, too, if you don’t get every question done prior to the podcast, join us anyway and you’ll get a jump on what you’re lacking. If you don’t get all of every page done–ever–it’s still worth whatever time you are able to put in the study. It’s eternally rewarding to be in the book whenever we can. (And, sometimes, for me, “whenever I can” is more often, and for longer, than I really do get in there!)
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I just saw this article by digger, Shelby Camp. She’s just so right. I hope you can read:
Followers of Christ,
I read a Facebook post a couple days ago that was encouraging. It got me where it hurts. It stepped on my toes and pricked my heart. I even had a second thought about how I treat people in my home because of it. It was a positive thing and I’m glad I read it. It reminded me to be a mom who is present and understanding with my kids. Then I listened to a podcast about something similar. It was spiritual in nature, and it gave me some practical advice on how to implement Godly actions. But my actions didn’t consistently change. It was good advice and I wanted to implement it, I felt passionate about it, but it was rooted in emotion. Today, I was more tired. Today, my kids were more demanding. Today, I faced something bigger than what they spoke about in the podcast and I didn’t have a sword to fight it.
Then I went to Colossians 3 about “Putting on the New Self and letting the Word of Christ dwell in you richly.” My toes were stepped on, my heart was broken, my repentance was the response, my actions were changed, and I was able to put in the practical skills I had read earlier in that Facebook post because I put meat on it. I grabbed my sword and stood up to fight the enemy. I can be that better mom because of it. I can be the friend I want to be because of it. Because it isn’t me anymore, it’s Him.
These are the words of Jesus in John 15:3-4 “Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.” If we are just relying on the “spiritual thoughts” of our local preachers, the Facebook posts someone “good” shares, a great podcast, a slew of “encouraging the soul books,” but we aren’t attached to The Vine, abiding in Jesus and His Words first and foremost, everyday, then we are like the branch that withers. Jesus describes this in verse 6: “If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, and thrown into the fire, and burned.” In verse 9-10: “As the father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my LOVE. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love…” (Go, abide in His Word, and read the entire chapter).
So when we read a Facebook post that really validates the way we feel about something concerning God or the church or our own sin or the way we think concerning things of the Bible or the way we act in our home, do we go to His Book to make sure it’s Truth validating us and to double check that it’s not our own emotions leading us astray or the Devil? Are we connected to the vine, the source for all Truth, Jesus and His Words, so that we have more than “encouraging words” and “passionate emotions” to combat the enemy we face every day? There is real power in the Word of God and in being immersed in the actual Jesus, rather than what others say “About Him and His Word.” This goes for conversations with friends/family, books we read, or things we listen to… I love talking about God and His people, I love reading books about spiritual things, I love a good podcast or sermon series that encourages me as a Christian and these things can be great tools in my belt… and I listen and refer to them on a weekly, almost daily basis, BUT if I’m choosing to indoctrinate myself with every dose of that while not immersing myself WAY MORE in God’s Book and finding out the Truth of His Word in my life for myself, I could easily be persuaded (accidentally and unknowingly) by something that isn’t actually from God. I don’t know if that makes sense… but let’s make sure those voices “about God” are actually FROM GOD ALMIGHTY.
Here are a few verses from 2 Timothy 3:14-4:18 (but go read The Book for yourself… read all of 1 and 2 Timothy today after scrolling or reading or listening to something that is only a reflection or maybe less than a reflection of God’s Words – don’t replace your personal bible study today with something that isn’t actually Bible Study):
“But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you have learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof; for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work… preach the word… be ready in season and out of season… with complete patience… for the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”
And what are we doing this for according to scripture?? Where is the hope? See verses 17-18:
“For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have KEPT THE FAITH. Henceforth there is
laid up for me the crown of righteousness,
which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all
who have loved his appearing.”
