Then Jesus said to his disciples: "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? —Luke 12:22-26 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way […]
Yearly Archives: 2008
136 posts
Someone in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me." Jesus replied, "Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?" Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." "Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be […]
Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. I Timothy 6:17 Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." Luke 12:15 Some of you may remember the post from last May about “God and gas prices.” Now, six months later, the price for a barrel of oil has dropped to below $70 for the first time in fourteen months. The price for gasoline is once again below $3 […]
I know that the LORD is great, that our Lord is greater than all gods. The LORD does whatever pleases him, in the heavens and on the earth, in the seas and all their depths. Psalm 135:5&6 The last two weeks have seen wild swings in the financial markets; unsettled, even panicked, responses from government leaders; and anxiety regarding personal finances. As far as the public media is concerned, uncertainty rules. What’s next? The media answer is that no one knows. The Bible’s answer is that God knows. Nothing that has happened these last few weeks with the global financial markets has been a surprise to God. The God of the Bible does not take coffee breaks. […]
Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. Ephesians 4:29 ESV Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. Ephesians 4:29 NIV A dialog is a conversation. Your goal for communication with your teenagers is to see grace-giving dialogs become a normal part of life. In this series we have looked at some of the hindrances that produce monologs. Typically a silent, withdrawn teenager is not in a good situation. Let’s look carefully at […]
…if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?" Daniel 3:15b If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up." Daniel 3:17&18 How has the crisis in the financial markets affected your mood? This current situation […]
Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. II Timothy 2:22 In addition to the points raised in recent posts, there may be another reason why teenagers suddenly become silent and distant. As has been observed by most of the known world, the teenage years are a time of change. One change is the emergence of youthful lusts that Paul warns about in 2 Timothy. The word for lust used in the passage above is also translated as “passions or desires.” With the onset of puberty a new physical dimension is added to the already potent mixture of selfishness and desire for immediate gratification. A […]
In the future, when your son asks you, "What is the meaning of the stipulations, decrees and laws the LORD our God has commanded you?" tell him: "We were slaves of Pharaoh in Egypt, but the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand. Deuteronomy 6:20-21 A fool finds no pleasure in understanding but delights in airing his own opinions. Proverbs 18:2 How do you measure your effectiveness at listening to your children? Besides the self-conscious concern to implement Proverbs 18:15, there is one tangible way to confirm that you are on the right track. You can gauge the effectiveness of your listening by the questions your children ask you. That’s right—good listening on your part will […]
Parents, here is a helpful post from Justin Taylor's blog about the current financial unrest. You can find the article here. Justin's blog, Between Two Worlds, is a great place to keep up with theological and cultural happenings.
In this series of posts we are looking at the communication breakdowns that often occur between parents and teenagers. What once appeared to be a good relationship with lots of interaction can deteriorate to silent, disinterested teens enduring parental monologues. After such an encounter, more than one parent has turned away, asking with an aching heart, why is this happening? In the last post we looked at the command in Proverbs 18:15 to be aggressive listeners. This listening is not just for current exchanges, but includes remembering the conversations of the past. When did the conversations start to drift towards the monologues that typify current communication with your teenagers? Try to remember events from your child’s perspective. It is important […]