Category Archives: Faith

Child Raising, Child Rearing, Comfort, Disciplemaking, Encouragement, Faith, Following, Foundation, Heaven, Inspirational, Modeling, Parenting, Scripture, Testimony

LIVING STONE?

1 PETER 2:4

“And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God,”

Most scholars agree that this verse is referring to Isaiah 28:16 which says, “Therefore thus says the Lord GOD, ‘Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a tested stone, a costly cornerstone for the foundation, firmly placed. He who believes in it will not be disturbed.’”

But only here in 1 Peter 2:4 is Jesus referred to as a living stone. Now, we know stones don’t live, so what does this mean? It means He is the source of life. He is the living foundation of the heavenly temple which, we will see in the next verse, is made up of us as living stones.

APPLICATION

Take your kids outside and each of you find a nice size rock. Bring it in and clean it up and then put each of them in its own little box. Explain to your children that you each are going to take care of your rocks as if they are living. Ask them what they think rocks like to eat. How often should you give them water? Should you take them for walks?

After your children look at you like you have rocks for brains, explain that today’s verse isn’t talking about stones that live. It’s an analogy for Christ being our firm foundation who lives today. That they can understand.

Do you believe that? Do you believe that Jesus is alive today? Is He your firm foundation? A foundation is laid to stay in place and support the rest of the building. Is that what Jesus is for you? You can’t swap out the foundation. It’s meant to stay right where it was laid. Hold fast. Rest on the only firm foundation.

Thank You, Lord, for being my living stone, my firm foundation. I know no matter what comes my way, You are there.

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Caregiver, Child Raising, Child Rearing, Comfort, Disciplemaking, Encouragement, Faith, God's Will, Healing, Inspirational, Modeling, Parenting, Passion, Prayer

EYE WITNESS

LUKE 8:51

“When He came to the house, He did not allow anyone to enter with Him, except Peter and John and James, and the girl’s father and mother.”

Once again, we see Jesus choose Peter, James and John to witness something the other disciples didn’t. In this case, He wanted them to witness His healing powers. Everyone in the house told Him the little girl was dead. She probably was, but what is death to God?

Put yourself in Peter’s sandals. What would you have been thinking? Come on, Jesus. I know You have powers, but raising from the dead? This would not be the only time they would witness this, culminating with His own victory over death.

APPLICATION

I don’t expect you to show your children how to raise the dead. So, what is the message from this verse? Simple! God can do whatever He chooses to do whenever He chooses to do it. Your children need to know that. They need to know they can trust Him to work in their lives to protect and defend them.

But there is another message. Perhaps, the Lord will allow them to be an eyewitness to His workings in someone’s life. He may choose to use their prayers to heal someone. Now, hear me clearly. God heals, but He uses us to encourage and comfort. And those experiences build our faith.

Would you want to be an eyewitness? I would and I have been. I have seen people healed who should have died. In order to see those healings, you must believe. Believe God is good and desires only the best for each of His children. Let Him use you to comfort others. You may be surprised at what He allows you to see.

Father, use me as Your tool. If that means in healing, so be it. Just use me to accomplish Your desires.

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Advice, Affection, Bible, Child Raising, Child Rearing, Comfort, Confession, Courage, Direction, Disciplemaking, Encouragement, Faith, Following, Forgiveness, Healing, Holy Spirit, Inspirational, Mentoring, Modeling, Obedience, Parenting, Promises, Salvation, Scripture, Suffering

JUST A TOUCH

LUKE 8:45

“And Jesus said, ‘Who is it that touched me?’ And when all denied, Peter said, and they that were with him, ‘Master, the multitudes press thee and crush thee.’”

Have you ever been in a huge crowd where you are being pressed from all sides? I always keep my hands on my wallet and keys because I am afraid of getting robbed. Lol. Here Jesus and the disciples are going through a crowd and someone touches Him. Jesus wants to know who touched Him and Peter says Are you kidding me?

The point wasn’t being touched. The point was someone touched Him intentionally to be healed. Jesus wanted that person to acknowledge their touch. Don’t you think He knew who touched Him? Of course, He did. Her faith was on display for all.

APPLICATION

Have you ever played tag with your children? I bet you have. Well, this “tag” is nothing like that game. In the game you are trying to touch someone to get rid of something. This woman was touching Jesus to receive something.

The next time you play tag give everyone several good things everyone else wants. Make little tags to pin to their clothes. The only rule is each time they get tagged, they have to give up one of their tags. Now at the end, you can decide who the winner is. Is it the one who gives all his good things to others or is the one who gains the most tags? It really depends on your perspective.

Think about it for a second. Did Jesus ever pursue getting things from others or was He constantly giving away? We have the same ability through the Holy Spirit if we will just stop being so selfish. Share your blessings. Give to others. Let others “touch” you. You will be blessed in the end.

I am so thankful You fill me with blessings I can share. I know they are given for that purpose. Put others in my path today, Lord, whom You would have me bless.

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Bible, Child Raising, Child Rearing, Direction, Encouragement, Faith, Following, Inspirational, Mentoring, Obedience, Parenting, Scripture

YOUR GUIDE

1 PETER 1:24-25

24 “For, ‘ALL FLESH IS LIKE GRASS, AND ALL ITS GLORY LIKE THE FLOWER OF GRASS. THE GRASS WITHERS, AND THE FLOWER FALLS OFF, 25 BUT THE WORD OF THE LORD ENDURES FOREVER.’ And this is the word which was preached to you.”

Peter reaches back to the book of Isaiah and quotes 40:6-8.

“6 A voice says, ‘Call out.’ Then he answered, ‘What shall I call out?’ All flesh is grass, and all its loveliness is like the flower of the field. 7 The grass withers, the flower fades, When the breath of the LORD blows upon it; Surely the people are grass. 8 The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever.”

Peter knew that the only enduring word is God’s word. Everything else is subject to the seasons. They may return, but they are not constant. God’s Word is always here. It is always present. It is true. You can always rely on it.

APPLICATION

Your children need something they can depend on. You are not always around. They are going to leave home one day (at least you hope so, lol). God’s Word will be the same whether they are living with you or on their own. Your job is to teach them to turn to it for guidance.

The Bible is not a roadmap. A roadmap can show you multiple routes to a destination. The Bible is a guide. A guide knows the best and safest route to follow. That’s what your children need, not a map.

Are you depending on the Word to guide you or are you winging it? If you are trying it your way, it won’t be long before you are seeking some answers. It is so easy to get off track. One small step off the path and you can end up in a mess. Stay in the Word. Let it guide you home.

Lord, thank You for Your Word. Thank You that I can depend on it to always be true. I will follow You.

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Advice, Bible, Child Bearing, Child Raising, Disciplemaking, Encouragement, Faith, Following, God's Will, Heaven, Inspirational, Mentoring, Modeling, Obedience, Parenting, Redemption, Salvation, Scripture, Testimony

GOOD SEED, BAD SEED

1 PETER 1:23

“for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God.”

When I was growing up, I worked for a few years at a Feed-N-Seed store. We sold all kinds of seed to the local farmers and to small garden folks. The important thing was to sell them good seed. There is nothing much worse than to spend money on seed, plant them and nothing happens. We had to make sure the seed was imperishable.

Peter is telling us here that we have been born again with seed that is imperishable. And what is that seed? He tells us. It is the living and enduring word of God. God’s Word will never perish. He will always produce fruit.

APPLICATION

How about teaching this verse to your kids in their own little garden? Make it fun. Get some various seeds from your local nursery. Get some pots and fill them with potting soil. Now, plant those seed, but save one. In that pot plant a jellybean. Explain that you have to wait a while for the seed to sprout.

Boy, when you see that first sprout your kids are going to be so excited. But wait! Is the jellybean pot sprouting? Of course not. Jellybeans don’t sprout. Explain to your children the difference. You have to have the right seed. Only the Lord has the right seed that can make us imperishable. We are destined for heaven.

Have you stopped to thank the Lord today for your salvation which you received through that imperishable word? He planned it all for you. He cared enough about your salvation that He made a perfect way.

Thank You, Lord, for the imperishable Word. Thank You that it is the source of my growth and knowledge.

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Bible, Child Raising, Child Rearing, Faith, Hope, Parenting, Salvation

SECURE

1 PETER 1:21

“who through Him are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.”

The same God who raised Jesus from the dead gives you your faith and hope. The God of the universe cares enough about you to bestow what is necessary – faith and hope. Through our faith we learn to trust God. Our hope is built on the assurance of God’s past works. We can trust Him because He has shown us through generations.

Let me ask you a question. Why do you believe? What experience moved you from unbelief to belief? We all have a moment we can look back to and say that was the point of surrender. Do you realize the God of the universe cares enough about you to draw you to Himself? He loves you.

APPLICATION

This is a great verse to discuss faith and hope with your children. Ask them what faith is. There’s an acrostic for faith which says “Forsaking All I Trust Him.” That might help your child understand it. We for forsake or give up everything when we come to Christ. He is all that matters.

And hope is defined as an expectation of what is sure. You see when we hope in God it’s a sure thing. It’s not the same as hoping for a toy or bike. Hoping in God according to His will is a sure thing. It may be quick or slow. But place your hope in Him.

Is your faith and hope in God? If not, why not? Why would you place that in any other person or thing? Today, yield it all to Him. He is waiting to answer you. He wants to prove His faithfulness. Let Him.

My faith and hope is in You, Lord. I trust You to work in my life to make me more like Christ. I love You.

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Advice, Child Raising, Child Rearing, Contentment, Direction, Encouragement, Faith, Parenting, Trust

THE INSIDE SCOOP

MARK 13:3-4

“3 As He was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew were questioning Him privately, 4 ‘Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when all these things are going to be fulfilled?’” 

Jesus was preparing them for what was ahead. This discourse had immediately followed Jesus’ statement that the temple would be destroyed. So, Peter and the others wanted more details. They wanted to know when. Will there be any warnings?

We’re the same way. We want to prepare. We want to get ready. However, sometimes there is no warning. Lightning strikes without warning. It’s that way with life. We think if we get all the information we will be okay. That may work some of the time, but not always.

APPLICATION

Have you ever planned a secret family trip? Only you knew the details. How many times per day did your kids pester you about it? They wanted to know where, when, how and what. The questions were never ending. They wanted the inside scoop. But when the day arrived they were blown away.

We will never know all the plans God has for us. We simply have to trust that He will reveal them when its time. He only discloses to us what we can handle. That could be a lot or a little.

Is the Lord doing a work in you right now but you are not sure exactly what He’s doing? Ask Him. He may tell you. Or He may not. He may be holding off for the great reveal. Just be patient and trust His handiwork.

I trust your work in my life. I get a little anxious sometimes. Forgive me. I will wait on Your completed work

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TREE KILLING FAITH

MARK 11:21

“Being reminded, Peter said to Him, ‘Rabbi, look, the fig tree which You cursed has withered.’” 

Do you remember this story? Jesus had walked by this fig tree earlier and, when He found it had no figs, cursed it. Now, as they walk by it on the return trip, Peter notices it has withered. He is amazed, but Jesus tells him (and us) that he has the same power through our prayers. We can even move mountains. He goes on to say, “Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you.”

Real faith can do anything. We can even kill trees, not that I would want to. I don’t even want to move a mountain. The key to praying and believing, though, is to pray with a pure heart. Jesus told His disciples they must pray with a forgiving heart. You can’t pray while holding a grudge or resentment towards someone. Confess that and the floodgates of heaven are opened to you.

APPLICATION

As you teach your children to pray, make sure you teach this principle. They need to be all confessed up. They need to forgive their brother or sister. They need to forgive that friend who has hurt their feelings. Teach them that unforgiveness drives a wedge, not only between them and the person, but also between them and God. Christ won’t allow our unforgiving spirit to continue.

When our children learn this lesson early in life, it will free them for powerful prayer lives. We adults wonder sometimes why God isn’t listening. We need to examine our forgiving attitudes. It is easy to hold resentments. Sometimes we even forget we are doing that until we see that person again.

Are you depriving yourself of tree killing faith? Are you refusing to forgive someone who has hurt you? Let it go. Let Christ in you give you the desire and ability to forgive them, no matter how deep the hurt. Only Christ can. You can’t. Our flesh demands justice. Christ has already paid the price. Forgive.

I will forgive as You forgive, Lord. It is not easy, practically impossible. But in You all things are possible.

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Child Raising, Child Rearing, Encouragement, Faith, Following, Inspirational, Obedience, Parenting, Redemption, Salvation

PRECIOUS

1 PETER 1:19

“but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.”

When I say the word “precious what comes to mind? A little baby? Puppies? Surely not kittens, lol. Something being seen as precious really depends on the one looking at it. In fact, the Greek word is defined that way. It means having recognized value in the eyes of the beholder.

Why do I tell you all that? Because the blood of Christ is only precious to those who have accepted it. The world rejects it. Satan hates it. Unbelievers don’t see it. Only we who have been washed in it see it as precious. Only we see it as valuable. We know what it has purchased. We acknowledge that it is priceless.

APPLICATION

I bet your child has something they consider precious. My little two-year-old granddaughter (if she could talk clearly) would probably tell you her baby dolls are precious. How do I know? By the way she cares for them. She feeds them, puts them to bed, covers them up and rocks them. She doesn’t want them far out of her sight.

Ask your children what they consider precious and why. Then read them today’s verse. You may need to back up a verse to get the context. Explain to them why Christ’s blood is so precious. Explain that there is no other blood in the world that is precious. Only His blood could have paid the price for our sins. That’s precious!

Have you stopped to think about His precious blood lately? I’m reminded of the words to a song.

       O, the blood of Jesus

       O, the blood of Jesus

       O, the blood of Jesus

       It will never lose its power

Lord, thank You for the precious blood of Your Son. Thank You for sending Him to the pay the price for my sin. I will always see it as precious.

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Advice, Bible, Child Raising, Child Rearing, Confession, Denial, Encouragement, Faith, Faithfulness, Following, Forgiveness, Grace, Inspirational, Mentoring, Modeling, Obedience, Parenting, Rejection, Repentance, Scripture, Shame

FAILURE

MATTHEW 26:74-75

“74 Then he began to curse and swear, ‘I do not know the man!’ And immediately a rooster crowed. 75 And Peter remembered the word which Jesus had said, ‘Before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.’ And he went out and wept bitterly.”

Epic fail! Peter realized immediately when he heard that rooster crow that he had failed his Master. He probably wanted to throw up. Can you imagine the thoughts that ran through his mind? This wasn’t a minor fail. He had denied Jesus threw times, just as Jesus predicted.

How many times have you failed our Lord? You’ve been told to do something, but you don’t. You know He placed someone on your heart to call or go see and you don’t. He places someone in your path to witness to and you walk away without doing it. Fail!

APPLICATION

Children are going to have failures. That’s part of learning and growing. I believe they can learn more from failures than successes if we help them. If we don’t, those failures can crush them. Losing can build character. Failing can do the same. You need to ask them what went wrong. How could have they prevented the failure?

They are also going to fail God. Tell them an experience you’ve had. They need to know you can relate. And then tell them how the Lord forgave you and showed mercy. They need to hear that. Read them this passage in Matthew and then skip ahead and read how Jesus forgave him after He resurrected.

Are you still living in failure? Take it to Jesus. He can forgive. Don’t put that confession off. It won’t go away. We have the God of the universe waiting for us to talk to Him. He wants to forgive. He wants to talk to us. Don’t make Him wait. Right now, bend your knee and ask for forgiveness for that failure. He’s ready to forgive.

I ask You to forgive me today for the many times I have failed You, Lord. Cleanse me and make me right in Your eyes. Show me how to be more obedient today.

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