School Days

It's that time of year again. It seems to come earlier every year. Whatever happened to going back to school after Labor Day like I did? (I'm telling my age now, aren't I?)

Our youngest son left last week to move to Colorado to attend Charis Bible College. Even though he has left home before while in the military, we had to watch him move away again. Helping him load his car and waving goodbye wasn't any easier this time. 

Whether it's the first day of kindergarten or college, it's still the beginning of a new adventure for kids and parents. Car pooling or school bus, sack lunch or cafeteria, clubs or sports? All these decisions have to be made and new routines started. By now you have probably already been through the sales, supply lists, and orientations, but there are a few more things to keep in mind as the school term begins.

• Pray over your children every day.

• Pray for teachers and officials that make decisions about school policy.

• Be aware of school zones while driving.

• Be involved in organizations that support your school.

• Let your voice be heard (in a respectful way) when policy challenges God-given rights.

As we navigate a new school year for children of all ages, let us remember to thank God for all His provision and protection.

Share your thoughts about school year challenges and promises you stand on.

Noiseless-ness

In our technologically advanced world, we have access to information at the blink of an eye. We can talk to someone across the world, and get news while it is happening. People in stores, cars, offices, and sporting events have cell phones growing as attachments to their heads.

Our computers, satellite TV receivers, ipads, ipods, i-everythings, have innundated us with more activity than we can handle and they generate new kinds of noise. Even when stopping at a traffic light, the boom box in the car next to us is vibrating music (is it really music?) we don't want to hear.

With all these sounds reverberating around us, how can we hear God?  

 

• Turn everything off. "Be still and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10).

 

• Listen. "...and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire and after the fire a still small voice" (I Kings 19:12)

• Respond. "Oh, bless our God, you peoples! And make the voice of His praise to be heard (Psalm 66:8).

Prioritizing a few minutes of absolute quiet each day will be refreshment to your soul. 

 

You are invited to share what you hear.

Hardened Ground

Have you ever tried to dig a hole to plant something and found the ground so hard the shovel couldn’t penetrate it? Dirt can become like concrete after the sun bakes it for days and the weather has been dry. Hardened ground even resists moisture for a while.

Our hearts can become the same way. Most of us think of a hard hearted person as someone evil and without God. But we can all become insensitive to hearing the Holy Spirit in certain areas while allowing Him to speak to us about others. For example, we may be listening to His guidance about raising children, but resisting what He says about anger or gossip. In that way, we become hardened in those areas of our lives.

When Jesus came to the disciples walking on the water, they became fearful thinking they were seeing a ghost. When they saw it was Jesus, the disciples were amazed because He was walking on the sea. Mark 6:52 says, “for they had not understood about the loaves, because their heart was hardened.” After seeing a miracle of the magnitude of multiplying loaves and fish they shouldn’t have been surprised at anything He did.  Their hearts were hardened against Jesus’s miracles because they were focused on the storm.

So, how can we make sure we have hearts willing to listen?

• Find out what where the focus is. Is the problem speaking louder than the solution? Find a scripture for what is needed and stand on it (Psalm 119:147).

• Keep priorities straight by putting God first (Matthew 6:33).

• Be willing to listen and be obedient (Isaiah 1:19).

• Seek God through prayer and fasting. Fasting disciplines our flesh so we are more sensitive to the spirit (Matthew 17:21).

Do you have something you would like to share that will help others?

(Detailed teaching in this area is available  at www.awmi.net  titled "Hardness of Heart,"  and www.creflodollarministries.org titled "Because of Your Unbelief,"part 3.)