Tag: Bible

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Wisdom Prayer

Teach Your Children Well!

Teach Your Children Well!

Dear Lord, I pray for wisdom for those who do not hide the glorious deeds of the Lord from their children. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Have you passed down any stories to the next generation? Over time, stories can change. Not so with scripture. Scribes and others who transcribed scripture had incredible attention to detail. In Israel, the Shrine of the Book houses the Dead Sea Scrolls, including the Isaiah Scroll. The museum is one way Scripture is communicated to future generations.

https://www.imj.org.il/en/wings/shrine-book/dead-sea-scrolls

The author of Psalm 78:1-8 (ESV) emphasizes the importance of sharing with children the glorious deeds of the Lord.

“Give ear, O my people, to my teaching;
incline your ears to the words of my mouth!
I will open my mouth in a parable;
I will utter dark sayings from of old,
things that we have heard and known,
that our fathers have told us.
We will not hide them from their children,
but tell to the coming generation
the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might,
and the wonders that he has done.

He established a testimony in Jacob
and appointed a law in Israel,
which he commanded our fathers
to teach to their children,
that the next generation might know them,
the children yet unborn,
and arise and tell them to their children,
so that they should set their hope in God
and not forget the works of God,
but keep his commandments;
and that they should not be like their fathers,
a stubborn and rebellious generation,
a generation whose heart was not steadfast,
whose spirit was not faithful to God.”

Pass what you know about the Bible and God onto the next generation. Feel less than inadequate? Research, then share what you’ve learned. Pray, then share your personal testimony of what God has done in your life. You will be glad you did.

Tell me what you think in the comments below.

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Uncategorized

Teach Your Children Well?

Teach Your Children Well?

Dear Lord, I pray for wisdom for those who do not hide the glorious deeds of the Lord from their children. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Have you passed down any stories to the next generation? Over time, stories can change. Not so with scripture. Scribes and others who transcribed scripture had incredible attention to detail. In Israel, the Shrine of the Book houses the Dead Sea Scrolls including the Isaiah Scroll. The museum is one way Scripture is preserved and communicated to future generations.

https://www.imj.org.il/en/wings/shrine-book/dead-sea-scrolls

The author of Psalm 78:1-8 (ESV) emphasizes the importance of sharing with children the glorious deeds of the Lord.

“Give ear, O my people, to my teaching;
incline your ears to the words of my mouth!
I will open my mouth in a parable;
I will utter dark sayings from of old,
things that we have heard and known,
that our fathers have told us.
We will not hide them from their children,
but tell to the coming generation
the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might,
and the wonders that he has done.

He established a testimony in Jacob
and appointed a law in Israel,
which he commanded our fathers
to teach to their children,
that the next generation might know them,
the children yet unborn,
and arise and tell them to their children,
so that they should set their hope in God
and not forget the works of God,
but keep his commandments;
and that they should not be like their fathers,
a stubborn and rebellious generation,
a generation whose heart was not steadfast,
whose spirit was not faithful to God.”

Pass what you know about the Bible and God on to the next generation. Feel less than inadequate? Research, then share what you learn. Pray and share your personal testimony of what God has done in your life. You will be glad you did.

Tell me what you think in the comments below.

Categories
Survival Training

Survival Training

Survival Training

“All set to attempt a Tyrolean traverse?” asked the person who held my safety rope.

I took a deep breath, looked out over a chasm between two rock outcroppings, and said;

“Yeah.” If I fell, it would be a forty-foot drop to the trail below.
“On belay.” I was telling the person holding the rope I was ready…
“Belay on,” said the person holding my rope. As I readied myself to slip off the rock, I said, “Climbing.”

“Climb on.”

Off the ledge I slid, and for a long millisecond I felt the rope stretch.

I was dangling between the two sides and started to pull myself hand over hand to the opposite side. It only took a few minutes.

I successfully reached the rocks across the gap and, finally, I stood up to the cheers of my fellow classmates.

All of those who tried that day made it. It was the culmination of a semester of preparation and skills building.

There were other activities and outings with our instructor, Mr. Sid Mountain, the very popular mountaineering instructor at California State University, Northridge.

On one field trip, our class set up camp on top of eight feet of snow. The next morning, we all took ice axe training. We actually fell off a trail, and stopped ourselves using only the axe.

On another weekend, we practiced desert survival skills. We learned to make a solar still and realized it was possible to generate drinking water in an arid environment.

Back then, I was self-reliant and felt I was capable of surviving in most any environment. Over the years, I took many trips into the backcountry.

Today, I am more God-reliant. The last time I went on a trip to the mountains, I took my Bible, the ultimate survival guide. It crosses all the gaps. Next time you go away, don’t leave home without it!

May God richly bless you and keep you,

Tell me what you think below, and Join me every day as we pray for wisdom by taking part in the Wisdom Prayer Challenge.

Dennis

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Two-Cent Piece

The Two-Cent Piece and Psalm 91

Me? Give a Sermon?

In the summer of 2011, my wife, Diane, and I were in South Korea and all set to start teaching English and public speaking. A few days before we were scheduled to present our first lessons, there was a retreat where we met the students, fellow teachers, and a pastor who went by the English name of Barnabas. After knowing Barnabas only a short while, he asked me to speak to his church on an upcoming Sunday.

I told him I would pray about it. When I told him no, it didn’t hurt our relationship. In fact, we became friends. All that summer and throughout the next year, I thought about that invitation. I kept wondering if I had made the right decision. I had prayed about it, so I guessed it wasn’t God’s timing.

The following summer, my wife and I had an opportunity to return to South Korea. When my friend, Barnabas, asked me to speak, I said yes. That meant I was committing to lead Sunday School classes and speak to both his Cambodian and Vietnamese congregations.

For Sunday School, I prepared an interactive study on Acts 16:25-34 about Paul and Silas. These men were in prison singing praise songs near midnight when there was an earthquake.

My sermon was on Psalm 91 and about God being a refuge and fortress for believers. It was during my preparation that I first became familiar with the verse that appears in my upcoming book, The Two-Cent Piece. Psalm 91:2 (KJV) says, I will say of the Lord, “‘He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.’”

The two church services featured Bible reading in the different languages, inspired music, my sermon, prayers, and food. I gave my sermon first through a Cambodian translator, and then through one who spoke Vietnamese.

Within a few years, Barnabas and his wife, HaSuk, visited our home. Their children, Insu and Hyun Ji, came to study at universities near where we live. We have many fond memories of meals together, college graduations, and special times with the whole family.

When Barnabas asked me to speak, God led me to Psalm 91. Years later, a verse from that sermon ended up in The Two-Cent Piece. God’s timing has been and always is perfect.

Blessings to you all! Join me daily as we pray for wisdom.