I have Dawn Jiminez to thank you for being able to give this lesson. For more than several years I have not felt the freedom to give lessons on “Children”. To be truthful, I have felt threatened by today’s young mamas. They seem to know so much regarding the raising of children and they have such strong opinions and go to so many classes, such as MOPS and Growing Kids God’s Way, etc. And many of the things that were important to me are now felt to be archaic or even bad. Such as using playpens, baby powder, and spanking children. So I had decided to avoid the subject, even though I claim to base my teachings on Titus 2:3-5 and it says the older women are to train the young women to love their husbands and “children”.

Then I went to a class Dawn was leading at the Women’s Retreat, and she made this statement that changed the direction of my ministry. “I cannot talk about parenting, but I can talk about the faithfulness of God”. Oh, my that struck me in the heart. I could do that. It really didn’t matter what “I” did or what “I” didn’t do, what was important was that God was faithful in helping me raise those 5 children and I could talk about that.

I was sharing this new breakthrough in my thinking with a friend who is a nurse in the delivery unit of a hospital. She said she sees young women coming in to have babies, having the same strong opinions and knowledge of how they are to have that baby. Then something changes and they need to have a “C” section, or they need an epidural and they are crushed and sad that it hadn’t gone as they had planned. She says, “I try to tell them the process isn’t the important thing, ,that dear baby you just had is the important thing.”

And I say that to you. The important thing is asking God for wisdom, and not the process. He may show you a different way to raise those children than he showed me. But the important thing is the results and I pray your results will be just like mine. Children raised, loving Jesus, marrying Christian men, raising their children for the Lord.

So now I shall proceed to tell you some things that were important to me while praising those 5 special gifts from the Lord. I shall call this part a “Potpourri of Lessons Learned”.

I want to start by showing some pictures of my family at different ages (not included) and reading you some poems that have been a blessings to me. The poems are by Ruth Bell Graham and from a book called “Sitting By My Laughing Fire”. She also had 5 children and I love this poem….

“Five I Have”

“Five I have:

Each separate,

Distinct,

A soul bound for eternity:

And I

blind

leader of the blind

groping and fumbling,

casual and concerned, 

by turns….

undisciplined, I seek

by order and command

to discipline and shape;

(I who need 

Thy discipline 

To shape

My own disordered soul). 

O Thou

Who seest the heart’s

True, deep desire, 

Each shortcoming, 

Each sad mistake, 

Supplement

And

Overrule, 

Nor let our children be the victims of our own 

Unlikeness unto Thee.”

Now they are grown with children of their own and this poem is so true…

“Oh Time Be Slow”

Oh, time! Be slow!

It  was a dawn ago

I was a child

Dreaming of being grown;

A noon ago

I was 

With children of my own;

And now

It’s afternoon

–and late–

and they are grown

and gone. 

Time, wait!”

Oh, do enjoy those little ones you have. Until they are grown you often don’t realize how fast time goes. I love to tell mama’s of 7 year olds that I know how quickly that child became 7 and that it seems like only yesterday you brought him/ her home from the hospital. But then in 7 short years again that child will be 14, and seven more short years, 21, and you could be a mother-in-law or a grandmother and you wont feel any differently or any older than you do now.

I love the poem called “It Seems But Yesterday” and at the top of the page I have written “For Jane”. For at that time she was my only daughter with little boys. Now I have 3 more who have boys, Berta, Cindy, and Pollyann. But when I first read and loved this poem Jane’s boys were preschool age. Now those boys are 6 feet 3 inches or more and two in college and one a senior in high school. Oh, yes, time be slow.

“It Seems But Yesterday”

“It seems but yesterday

You lay

New in my arms. 

Into our lives you brought

Sunshine

And laughter- 

Play

Showers, too, 

And song. 

Headstrong, 

Heartstrong, 

Gay, 

Tender beyond believing, 

Simple in faith, 

Clear-eyed, 

Shy,

Eager for life–

you left us 

Rich in memories, 

Little wife. 

And now today

I hear you say

Words wise beyond your years;

I watch you play

With your small sons

Tenderest of mothers. 

Years slip away–

Today

We are mothers

Together.”

Now I shall begin my “Potpourri” of thoughts on being a mother.

When I entered the world of motherhood I knew absolutely nothing about babies. I mean nothing. I was raised an only child, in what today would be called a dysfunctional home. My parents were separated when I was 2 until 6 1/2 years, at which time I lived with my mother, and was around mostly adults. I did not have the example of a happy family with brothers and sisters. I began working in a store in downtown Tacoma on my 13th birthday, again with adults, working on Saturdays and after school.

I married at 19 and had my first baby at 22. I was absolutely clueless as to what to do with this baby, who cried all the time, slept 45 minutes a day, was colic, had volatile vomiting, got her first tooth at 4 months, beginning a long session of teething. I remember crying out to the Lord, “What did I ever do to deserve this?”

Then as this beautiful child, Becky Ann, grew, the Lord began to amazingly mold her into “His” child. She became  my helper and little mother to the other 4 children. She was a positive example to them. She studied hard, got good marks at school, made good choices of friends, exhibiting kindness to them and others. Following Jesus, positively and strongly all through school. Going two years to bible college before higher education. Then I remember saying to the Lord, “What have I ever done to deserve this child!” May it be so with you.

I am going to share with you some highlights of things the Lord has showed me during these 51 years of marriage. I can remember there was a time when the children were small when “everything” seemed perfect. The children were healthy and happy as were Dick and I and the business was going well. Then suddenly I began to get paranoid, thinking that something bad was going to happen. This couldn’t last. Thoughts such as “Rose Kennedy’s children began dying after they were grown” or “Dick is going to die” or “One of the children is going to have an accident”.

Then the Lord showed me an aspect of Phil. 4:11-13 that I had missed. It says, “Not that I complain of want; for I have learned, in whatever state I am, to be content. I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound; in any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and want. I can do all things in him who strengthens me.”

I had always taken the “in whatever state I am” to mean trying to be happy in adverse situations. Now the Lord was showing me that “In whatever state I am” also means when things are good to be happy. And not spoil that joy by worrying about what “could” happen. This is a wonderful lesson for me, and helped me to enjoy every moment with my children.

(Continued in Part II: The Faithfulness of God and Our Children)

When you hear the word “gossip” what do you think of?

• Someone telling you a juicy bit of news?
• Is the bad thing listening or passing it on?
• If I only tell the truth is it gossip?
• If I only tell good things is it gossip?

Lets look at each of those…

This is what the dictionary says about gossip. First it is used as a noun, calling a gossip person- an idle tattler, a news monger. Also as a noun, to spread gossip. I guess I always thought of gossip as a verb, as something someone did, not “a gossip” as a person. The verb use was gossiping.

I began thinking…. are the above the real sin? It came to me more that my struggle had to do with conversation and words. That is why I added that to the heading of the lesson. Psalms 19:4 says, “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in thy sight, of Lord my strength and my redeemer”.  Am I able to defend someone- if it is awkward, or unpopular in the moment? Do I regard the feeling of the person “telling” me something, more than the person spoken of?

Two Sundays ago Pastor talked about “ego enhancement” when talking to others. When someone says to me, “so and so is the best Bible Study teacher I have ever known”…

or to Jody- “so and so is the best Young Life Area Director I know”

or to Kristy- “so and so’s family is the most wonderful I know”

or to Tina- “so and so in a Gig Harbor church is the best Youth Pastor I have every known”

What do we say?- Something subtle that puts down the person they are speaking about? Or agree and say something good about the person?

If we dont give it up completely to the Lord, a root of bitterness will grow between us and the person talking. Hebrews 12:15 “See to it that no one fail to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” spring up and cause trouble, and by it the many become defiled”.

The Lord can help us to get this habit of not defending ourselves and building up other people. Remember Matthew 23:12 “whoever exalts himself will be humble and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”

I had a friend who always used the words “the greatest” or “the best” etc. when talking about other people to me. I soon accepted that that was her and not to be offended and see the funny side of it. We need to think before we answer a gossiper, or someone who is just putting down someone else.

Proverbs 16:28 “The mind of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.”

Ask the Lord to give the words for the right answer.

Proverbs 15:23 “To make an apt answer is a joy to a man and a word in season, how good it is.”

Proverbs 15:26b “for the words of the pure are pleasing to him.”

Proverbs 15:4 “A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.”

Ecc. 5:2 “Be not rash with your mouth not let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you upon the earth, therefore let your words be few.”

There are some people who have a knack of getting things out of us that we wished we hadn’t said. Then we know the truth of James 3:5,6 “So the tongue is a little member and boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire!”

What can we do to prevent this from happening?

What is the difference between being interested and being snoopy? When do we cross the line?

The earthly winter season has always been hard for me- because of SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder), which I finally self diagnosed, after many years. I then began using Agro light from December through April. I recently came across a lesson I had written in November of 1979, over 21 years ago. I had forgotten the details of that time and glad now that I wrote them down. I want to share with you what the Lord taught me during that time…

Thoughts from Jack Hayford:

The previous February Jack had been going through a full colorless time spiritually (Now I think he was suffering from SAD too). He had the spiritual blahs. I felt I was in good company if he, the Psalmist and David has a Winter season in their life too). The Lord led him to Psalms 42:

“As the deer pants for streams of water,
    so my soul pants for you, my God.
² My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
    When can I go and meet with God?
³ My tears have been my food
    day and night,
while people say to me all day long,
    “Where is your God?”
⁴ These things I remember
    as I pour out my soul:
how I used to go to the house of God
    under the protection of the Mighty One^[d]
with shouts of joy and praise
    among the festive throng.” (continued)

When not feeling joy, peace, and exuberance, often the first reaction is: “God is mad at me for some reason”. Condemnation sets in. When this happens check first obvious means of overt sin, wrong relationships, or things that need to be righted.

However, these blahs were not that for Jack. It was just the ordinary life type. He was simply walking in God’s direction and the blahs hit. In Psalms 42 Jack found a description of himself and how he was feeling. The 2nd part of verse 5 was wonderful to him and also to me: “I SHALL AGAIN PRAISE HIM FOR HIS HELP.”

His heart began to stir with hope. There AGAIN would be a time full of joy of the Lord. Full of thanks for bringing him out of this.

How should we handle uninspired days?

Mountain top experiences are great. Retreats are great. But people don’t live on the mountain tops. We go there for scenic views, cool breezes and times of refreshment. But we live in the valleys. It doesn’t mean we live in depression but in the valleys were everything grows.  Rivers don’t flow on the mountain top… but instead in the valleys. The growth takes place in the valleys and fruit is grown in the valleys.

We live in valleys. Not in depression, but there life carries on from day to day.

Why are you cast down, O my soul, why are you disquieted within? Hope in God.

What could be some of the reasons?

• not taking care of your body?
• not eating properly?
• not getting enough sleep?
• Overweight?
• Not getting enough exercise?

What did God tell Elijah to do when he was depressed? I Kings 19:1-8

“Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. ² So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.”

³ Elijah was afraid^[a] and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, ⁴ while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” ⁵ Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep.

All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” ⁶ He looked around, and there by his head was some bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again.

⁷ The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” ⁸ So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God.”

How often do we feel like Elijah? That we are the ONLY one who has every gone through a certain thing. But in reality many have gone through the same things and have survived. Elijah though he was the only one left who was true to the Lord. But in vs. 18 we read that seven thousand had not bowed to Baal. You may be a threat to darkness and Satan is attacking you. Jesus’s light may be penetrating the darkness in some area.

The Lord gave Jack Hayford the example of reentry of a space ship into earths atmosphere after being in “darkness”. Jack said that when a space ship re-enters there is a time of no communication for 2-3 minutes. The astronauts know where they are but don’t know what is happening. Sometimes we feel out of communication just like the astronauts.

This makes me think of Pollyann saying to me on the phone while I was in Springfield, “I am lonesome for you. I haven’t had a mama for three weeks. For 2 weeks you were sick and now you are gone for a week. This is much like how I felt with God. He was there but wasn’t in communication.  This was also true for Jack when he says, “There is no spiritual advance in your life without a corresponding period of questioning in your own soul as to what is wrong.” God is putting a shield around you for a time. But it feels like isolation. But it’s for your own good, as you go through the period of penetration.

Why are you cast down? You need a period of rest. Flowers cant stand 24 hours of sunshine. Many need to close up for the night. There are times of night for us too. To be closed up for rest.

Psalms 42:8 “At night his song is with me”. For Jack, his “song” was “Jesus filled my empty life” and it became the song for me too!

(See “Empty Pots” entry)

Why are you cast down? It is just winter/ night and it could go on for weeks.

It’s hard when friends are UP. All excited about what the Lord has done for them and you feel like saying. “Oh, shut up!” It would be nice to have all your seasons together but it doesn’t work that way.

Could it be that you are overloaded and not sharing your burden? Galations 6:2 “Bear one another’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ.” We need to be ministered to as well as ministering to others. Be able to say “I am going through a winter season- will you stand with me?

Psalm 131 is helpful to me during winters. Don’t fight them, just rest in them on your Father’s chest.

“My heart is not proud, Lord,

I think that often May is the second busiest month of the year for mamas, next to December that is. So many end of school activities for the children plus graduations, and many extra things coming to a close.

But this a good time to think about Over Commitment and Pruning as we are beginning to think about and make decisions for the year. This has been an on-going procedure for me each year and I have often thought that I was “all pruned up” and my life was “down to handle size” when I realize that I am again over committed and burdened down with too many things. I used to think something was wrong with me but then I realized that Dick does not prune just once and that is it. It is an every year procedure and so it is with God’s pruning of our lives and activities.

This is a time of year to look over your schedules and what you are considering for next year. What “extra baggage” are you carrying that perhaps you picked up unaware during this past year. Something the Lord didnt give you.

Good words from God Calling on February 10th: “Think of my trees- stripped of their beauty, pruned, cut, disfigured, bare, but through the dark seemingly dead branches flows silently, secretly, the spirit-life-sap, till, lo! with the sun of Spring comes new life, leaves, buds, blossom, fruit, but oh! fruit a thousand times better for the pruning.”

I think sometimes we add something to Phil. 4:13 that is not intended also. It says, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” He gives us the strength for what He gives us to do. Not all we plan on our own and ask him to bless is His plan. Don’t put God on your “Ways and Means” committee. Ask Him first, for the plan, then do it and He will give you the strength.

A couple of weeks ago, Pastor Andy gave a sermon on Abiding in Christ and the pruning process. One thing he said was that in a dormant tree, often a wound (pruning) brings the tree back to life. Perhaps you are so busy doing things FOR the Lord but are not taking time to be WITH the Lord. Perhaps the Lord needs to give you courage to prune something from your life or schedule. It might be painful or fee like a wound. But it might bring your dormant spiritual life back to life- as you take time to listen to Him regarding your schedule.

I am going to be sharing some thoughts on Over Commitment and Pruning from an old lesson on the subject that I think has some thoughts worth remembering.

First a quote from Dr. Dobson: “I want to evangelize: “I want to evangelize to the world. I want to reach as many people as I can for the Lord. I want to strengthen families. But my number one responsibility has to be my family. And if I lose it there folks, I lose it. There is not substitute for my responsibility within my own family.”

He also says a little bit of how he is doing this. He gives the example of Gallo Wine Co., that they not only prune dead branches but also a certain amount of fruit off the vine in order to have a larger crop. This is backed up in John 15, which says, “I am the true vine and my father is the gardener. He lops off every branch that doesn’t produce and he prunes those branches that bear fruit for even larger crops.” Dobson continues, “It is necessary forks, in the Christian life to eliminate some good things from your schedule and from your effort so that the other things you do are done better- so that you get better quality in what is remaining.”

Think about your own life. There probably are many areas in which you are doing “good” things for the Lord and seeing results. Be willing to give all areas of your life to Him, for inspection and control. Perhaps by pruning off some “good work” you would have more time for a child who needs your guidance and help right now in a particular area. Would it be exciting to see great fruit come in that needed area?

This is crucial to remember:

It is key to remember that WE are not the pruners. We don’t just start saying no and loping off activities as we see fit. The FATHER is the vine dresser. HE does the pruning. If we allow Him to do the pruning, there will be no over-pruning or under-pruning and no roots will be cut only branches. Col. 2:6-7 says, “As therefore you received Christ Jesus the Lord , so LIVE in him, ROOTED and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.” Our roots, our time with Jesus and time in the Word are never pruned- they must increase in order to listen to what the Lord is directing us to do.

The three things we must do in this pruning process then are:

1. Commit to Ask
2. Listen
3. Obey

COMMIT AND ASK:

In Proverbs 3:6-7 we are told, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not rely on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” And then in Proverbs 16:3 it says, “Commit your work to the Lord and your plans will be established.” HOW do we do this? By laying out your day, your week, your schedule to the Lord, saying, “Lord, this is what I have planned for my time. Is that pleasing to you? If not, will you show me what to add or eliminate so that I can be a fruitful vine? As some look at the list, they might realize that yes, they are over committed and they need help from the vine dresser. Others might have to say, “God, I am not serving you in any way right now. What would you have me do that I might bear fruit for you?”

LISTEN

Then we must LISTEN to God for direction. There is a long study in itself regarding “KNOWING GODS WILL”. But there are many promises in the Bible that say WE CAN be directed by the Spirit of God and that we CAN hear His voice….

• Isaiah 30:21
• Proverbs 20:27
• John 10:27
• John 10:4
• Galatians 5:25
• John 8:47
• Romans 8:14
• Isaiah 48:17
• Galatians 5:16

When we accent Christ as Savior and Lord all parts of us become under his control. As we give ourselves all to the Lord we can use all parts of our body, soul, and spirit to speak to us. Feeling is the voice of the body, Reason is the voice of the Soul, and Conscience is the voice of the Spirit. The secret again is in the ROOTING and being with God, so you can hear and know that still small voice when it comes to you. Allowing Him to help you make a decision and experience “the peace that passeth all understanding.”

OBEY

When you get the direction- having the courage to say “Yes, Lord” or No to some things and following his orders.

• James 1:22 “But be doers of the Word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”
• Acts 5:29 “But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.”
• Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

May the Lord bless each one of you and direct you in how He would prune your life.

Date: January 29th, 2010

Psalms 41:1-3 “Blessed is he who considers the poor! The Lord delivers him in the day of trouble; the Lord protects him and keeps him alive; he is called blessed in the land; thou dost not give him up to the will of his enemies. The Lord sustains him on his sickbed; in his illness thou healest all his infirmities.”

Pslams 44:5-8 “Through thee we push down our foes; through thy name we tread down our assailants. For not in my bow do I trust, nor can my sword save me. But thou hast saved us from our foes, and hast put to confusion those who hate us… and we will give thanks to thy name forever.”

Psalms 34:7 “The angel of the Lord encamps around those who hear Him, and rescues them.”

Isaiah 43:1-3 “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters I will be with you; (or when the waters pass through you) and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.”

Words from Kristi Harkson in an email dated November 26, 2007

“I wanted to tell you something that I hope will encourage you. A few weeks ago, right after Becky emailed me the news of your illness, I had this experience…. I woke up in the middle of the night precisely at 2:30am… After looking at the clock I said “Is there someone who want me to pray for Lord?” Immediately I heard him say “Rosie!” I thought it was strange because i have never called you Rosie before.. but apparently He calls you Rosie! I got down on my knees next to my bed and prayed. It made me realize how close you are to God’s heart that He would make me up to pray for you! He is a loving, personal, caring God, isn’t He? We will continue praying for you!”

II Corinthians 2:14 “But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumph, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. God we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing…”

Matthew 19:26 “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Psalms 3:14-4 “O Lord how many are my foes! Many are rising against me; many are saying of me there is no help from him in God. But thou, O Lord, art a shield about , my glory and the lifter of my head. I cry aloud to the Lord, and he answers me from his holy hill.”

Isaiah 40:28-31 “Eagle Verses”

…The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary, his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths  shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.”

Psalms 103:1-5 “Blessed the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his beliefs, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy; who satisfies you with goods as long as you live so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”

Psalms 3:3-4 “But though, O Lord, art a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head. I cry aloud to the Lord, and he answers me from his holy hill.”

Malachi 3:16 “Then those who feared the Lord spoke with me, my glory, and the lifter of my head. I cry aloud to the Lord, and he answers me from his holy hill.”

Isaiah 60:1 “Arise, shine for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.”

Isaiah 61:1-3 “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good tidings to the afflicted; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to grant those who mourn in Zion, to give them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit, that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified.”

Psalms 147:3 “He heals the brokenhearted, and binds up their wounds.”

Psalms 146:5, 9a “Happy is he whose help is in God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God.”….”The Lord watches over the sojourners”

II Corinthians 2:14-15 “But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumph, and through us spreads the fragrance  of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.”

Psalms 69:1-3 “Save, O God! For the waves have come up to my neck. I sink in the deep mire, where there is no foothold; I have come into deeps waters, and the flood sweeps over me. I am weary with my crying; my throat is parched. My eyes grow dim with waiting for my God.”

Psalms 40:1-3 “I wanted patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the desolate pit, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust int he Lord.”

Psalms 138:3 “You answer me and encourage me by giving me the strength I need.”

Habakkuk 2:3 “For still the vision awaits its time; it hastens to the end– it will not life. It it seems slow, wait for it, it will surely come, it will not delay.”

Psalms 23

“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want; he makes me lie down in green pastures.

He leads me besides still waters;

HE RESTORES MY SOUL.

He leads me in paths of righteousness, for his names’s sake.

Even Though I walk through the valley of the SHADOW of death,

I fear no evil; for thou art with me;

Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies; thou anoint my

head with oil, my cup overflows,

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life;

And I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

Psalms 143:8 “Let me hear in the morning of thy steadfast love, for in thee I put my trust. Teach me the way I should go for to thee I lift up my soul.”

Isaiah 50:4 “The Lord God has given me the tongue of those who are taught, that I may know how to sustain with a word him that is weary. Morning by morning he wakens, he wakens my ear to hear as those who are taught.”

Psalms 20:4-5 “May he grant you your heart’s desire, and fulfill all your plans! May we shout for joy over your victory, and in the name of our God set up our banners! May the Lord fulfill all your petitions!”

Psalms 20:1 “The Lord answer you in the day of the trouble! The name of the God of Jacob protect you!”

Psalms 18:28 “Yes, thou dost light my lamp; the Lord my God lightens my darkness.”

Psalms 3:3-4 “But thou, O Lord, art a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head. I cry aloud to the Lord and he answers me from his holy hill.”

Job 22:21-22 & 28 “Agree with God, and be at peace; thereby good will come to you. Receive instruction from his mouth, and lay upon his words in your heart….. (28) You will decide on a matter, and it will be established for you, and light will shine on your ways.”

Ecc 3:1 “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.”

II Samuel 22:33-34 “This God is my strong refuge and has made my way safe. He made my feet like hinds feet and set me secure on the heights.”

Mark 13:11 “And then they bring you to trial and deliver you up, do not be anxious beforehand what you are to say; but say whatever is given you in that hour, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.”

Luke 21:13-15 “This will be a tie for you to bear testimony. Settle it therefore in your minds, not to meditate beforehand how to answer; for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict.”

Jeremiah 1:7-8 “But the Lord said to me, Do not say, I am only a youth; for to all to whom I send you you shall go, and whatever I command you you shall speak. Be not afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, says the Lord.”

Matthew 10:19-20 “When they deliver you up, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.”

Isaiah 41:10 “Fear not, for I am with you, be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victories right hand.”

Isaiah 41:13 “For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, ‘Fear not, I will help you'”.

Psalms 61:1-3 “Hear my cry, O God, listen to my prayer; from the end of the earth I call to thee, when my heart is faint. Lead thou me to the rock that is higher than I, for thou art my refuge, a strong tower against the enemy. Let me dwell in thy tent forever. Oh, to be safe under the shelter of thy wings.”

Psalms 91:14-16 “Because he cleaves to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name. When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will rescue him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him, and show him my salvation.

Isaiah 43:18-19 “Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do not perceive it. I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the dessert.”

II Corinthians 4:7-12, 16-18 “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, to show that the transcendent power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For while we live we are always being given up to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you….. So we do not lose heart. Though our momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, because we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen; for the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.”

Psalms 121:7-8 “The Lord will keep you from all harm, he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going, both now and forevermore.”

II Cor. 1:3-5 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our afflictions, so that we ma be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”

James 1:2-4 “Count it all joy, my brethren, when you meet various trails, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect that you may be perfect and complete lacking in nothing.”

Jeremiah 31:25-26 “For I will satisfy the weary soul, and every languishing soul I will replenish. Thereupon I awoke and looked, and my sleep was pleasant to me.”

Psalms 34:17-19 “When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears; and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted, and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous; but the Lord delivers him out of them all.”

Isaiah 55:12 “You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace. The mountains and hills will burst into song before you!”

Psalms 139:5 “You both precede and follow me, and place your hand of blessings on my head”

Romans 12:12 “Rejoice in your hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.”

Psalms 105:4-5 “Seek the Lord and his strength, seek his presence continually! Remember the wonderful works that he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he uttered.”

These are some thoughts given to me on Thursday morning December 8, 1994.

Thinking about my missionary friend, Alma Hagen, and her illustration of actually putting out your open hand, palm side up, in a gesture of giving our burden, desire, fears, anxieties…. to the Lord, and not grasping onto it with our clenched fist.

Thinking of Romans 13:14 “But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.”

Give it to Jesus– Not only the bad things in your life, but also the obsessive desires for good things. Even these can rob us of peace. Give it ALL to Jesus on an open palm. “Whatever Lord, Your will.. You know Lord my desires, my hopes, but is your plan better?”

Isaiah 55:8,9 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

God may it be: Your plan for how my marriage should be…. Your plan for how my children should be….. Your plan for how my life should be… Your plan for how my house should be…

1 Peter 5:7 “Cast all your anxiety on him, for he cares about you.”

Psalms 55:22 “Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved” (We might be moved from our physical house or our neighborhood, but never moved from the closeness to God).

Think about fishing. Are we like fisherman, throwing out our burden to the Lord, and then reeling it back in? Just cast it and leave it! The definition of cast: to throw with a quick motion and sudden release.

Let us quickly with sudden release- cast our burdens on the Lord and then experience the peace that passes all understanding.

Thoughts from Rosemary: 6:20am Monday February 9, 1986

I’ve been feelings strongly for a couple weeks to have a lesson on tithing or at least sheets to pass out for you to read. This morning as I sat down for devotions the thought keeps coming to prepare some papers to pass out. I feel as though I should start with some thoughts from Haggai before verses on tithing.

Memories come flooding back to the first time I was led to Haggai and I have it noted in my Bible, September 24th 1970. I can remember asking the Lord that morning, “What should I read this morning?”, and the thought kept coming back to me, “Read Haggai”. Read Haggai? I don’t know anything about Haggai and wondered, “Why Haggai?” But thought… “ok, ok, I’ll read Haggai”. At the time I didn’t know exactly what the Lord was trying to tell me through Haggai, but this is what I did notice and it made a deep impression on me. In Haggai 1:15 it says, “on the 24th day of the month”.

• 2:10 says “consider from this day onward, from the 24th day of the 9th month”
• 2:18 says “consider from this day onward, from the 24th day of the 9th month”
• 2:20 says “The word  of the Lord came a second time to Haggai on the 24th day of the month”

As I read, I had to go look at the calendar, yes, this was the 24th day of the 9th month, September 24th, 1970. I was excited and knew the Lord has something in this little book He wanted to bring to my attention to, but I was not sure what it was. There was so much there regarding putting the Lord first, in all areas, but especially in our finances. Through the years I know I have forgotten these lessons at times, but the Lord will again bring them to mind, as he has been doing lately. So now I want to share with you thoughts to bless you and your family from the little book of Haggai and other verses related to tithing.

Haggai 1:5 “Now therefore, thus says the Lord of Hosts. Consider how you have fared. You have sown much and harvested little. You eat but you never have enough. You drink but you never have your fill. You clothes yourselves but no one is warm. And he who earned wages, earns wages to put them into a bag with holes. (Do you ever get that feeling?)

Do you every feel that when the check comes in and you pay the bills nothing is left? As if it has run through your fingers, or been put into a bag with holes in it?

WHY? verse 1:9 gives the answer: “You have looked for much and lo it came to little and when you brought it home, I blew it away, Why? says the Lord of Hosts. Because of my house that lies in the ruins, while you busy yourselves each with his own house.”

The House of God can mean much more than just our own church facility. What about God’s house and work on the mission field, in our community, and in our nation?

Some other verses on tithing:

• Lev: 27:32- The tenth shall be holy unto the Lord
• Malachi 3:8- Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed me. But you will say, how have we robbed you, in your tithes and offerings
• Genesis 28:22- of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee
• Luke 18:12- I gives tithes of all that I possess
• Malachi 3:10- Bring the full titles of the storehouse that there may be food in my house and thereby put me to the test says the Lord of Hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you an overflowing blessing. I will rebuke the devourer for you so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear says the Lord of Hosts

Put God to the test…TITHE… and see if He is not faithful to His word, AS WE ARE FAITHFUL UNTO HIM.