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CAN’T LOOK

Ezekiel 1:28 “As the appearance of the rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the appearance of the surrounding radiance. Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. And when I saw it, I fell on my face and heard a voice speaking.”

BREATHTAKING

Have you ever seen anything so incredible that you just wanted to look away?  Most of the time when we see a beautiful scene we stop and take it all in.  But sometimes, very rarely, something is so breathtaking we have to look away.  Our minds just can’t comprehend it.

Ezekiel had this vision on the banks of the river Chebar while in exile.  The Lord appeared to him to give him a message to deliver to Israel.  The description he gives is hard to imagine.  But Ezekiel was chosen to be God’s instrument to the people.  He HAD to look at the Lord.  He HAD to listen to Him.  He HAD to surrender his will to His.

TEACHING MOMENT

How do you teach this to your children?  What is the lesson in this verse?  They need to know that they need to look for God.  They need to look for His brilliance all around them.  They need to see Him in others.  They need to recognize His fingerprints on their lives as He directs and guides them.

Why don’t you let your children draw what they think Ezekiel saw?  He is pretty descriptive.  See how well they can capture the scene with their imagination.  Hang the picture on your frig and comment on it daily.  Ask them if they saw God anywhere today.  Keep a record of “God sightings.”  You may just be amazed at His appearances.

Do you need to see God today?  I certainly do.  I get so busy sometimes God could sit down next to me, and I would probably miss Him.  Lol.  I don’t want to do that.  I want to be like Ezekiel and see Him in all His majesty.  I want to see Him all around me today.  But to do that I have to be looking for Him.  I have to expect to see Him.  Do you?

O mighty God, revealer of all truth, show me Your presence today in a way I haven’t seen it before.  Reveal Yourself to me in an unexpected way.  Let me look for You with excitement and anticipation.

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BUT I WANT IT

Song of Solomon 7:10 “I am my beloved’s, and his desire is for me.”

RIGHT DESIRES

How many times have you REALLY wanted something, but you knew you couldn’t have it?  Maybe it’s that new car or house.  Perhaps it’s a new dress, ladies.  Men, it might just be that bassboat or gun.  Whatever it is, just how bad do you want it?  Does your mind constantly go there?  Is it all you can think about?

God’s desire is for us. His mind is always on us.  He longs for our fellowship.  He wants to bless us.  He gets pleasure in our obedience and in our prayers.  The Word says our prayers are a fragrant aroma in His nostrils.  He desires us!  But do we desire Him?

TEACHING MOMENT

We are nearing that season of the year when little Elrod and Gertrude will start making out their wish list for Christmas.  They will make that list and describe exactly what they want.  They may even tell you where to find it.  They may text it, email it or write it out.  But I guarantee you they will let you know.

What a perfect time to talk about desires.  Read this verse and remind them that as much as they desire those things for Christmas, God’s desire for them is so much bigger.  Even if they were promised every toy on the list, their desire to receive them would pale in comparison to His desire to just spend time with them.

Do you believe God desires you?  Do you desire Him?  Do you change your schedule to make time for Him?  Or do you give Him the leftover minutes of the day?  Do you think of Him first thing in the morning and the last thing at night?  Is your mind fixed on Him?  He is fixed on you.  You are His desire.  Make Him yours.

My Beloved, my desire is for you.  I long to be with You and hear Your words.  I want to be with You more than anything.  Draw me close.

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JUST A REMINDER

Song of Solomon 6:3a “I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine,”

WE BELONG TO EACH OTHER

How do we apply this verse to our relationship with God?  Easy!  We need to remind ourselves that we belong to God, once we have accepted His Son Jesus as our Savior.  AND, if we belong to Him, He belongs to us.  Now, we don’t own Him or control Him, but He is covenanted with us for eternity.

Can you believe that?  Don’t let anyone ever tell you anything different.  Nothing can separate us from His love.  But we feel sometimes that we have separated ourselves.  We think our failures cause a breach between us.  Your sins are forgiven although they are NOT condoned.  Big difference.

TEACHING MOMENT

Children can easily feel defeated when they mess up.  It is up to us as parents to remind them they are loved, by us and God.  Let me encourage you every day to tell them that.  They need to know there is NOTHING that stop His love from flowing to them.  Although your love is strong, His is stronger.  Although you forgive them, He forgives and then forgets their sins.

But how to convince little Susie of God’s love?  You can hug her and kiss her to remind her.  But God can’t hug and kiss her.  She needs a real touch.  Then explain to her that God has given you to her as her parent to do that for Him.  You are His instrument of physical love to her.  He can love her through you.  What a privilege!

Do you need a reminder today of God’s covenant?  Have you slipped out of His reach (or so you think)?  Do you feel He has lost sight of you?  He hasn’t.  HE hasn’t moved.  He is still your beloved and you are His.

Father, my Beloved, thank You for loving me every day.  Thank You for always being there for me.  You are forever mine.

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BANNER OF LOVE

Song of Solomon 2:4 “He has brought me to his banquet hall, and his banner over me is love.”

HIS POSSESSION

This verse is such a precious thought, but do you understand it?  What does “banner” mean?  Why did Solomon use that word?  A banner is a flag or standard carried by an army or a group of people that signified their allegiance to a king.  This banner of love is the mark of God as our king over us.  But this banner isn’t held over us through brute force.  It is love!

God loves us with an everlasting love.  The whole book of Song of Solomon describes love.  The picture is of a man and woman, but it is much deeper than that.  It describes the love between us and God.  We should have such passion for our Savior.  We should long to be with Him.

TEACHING MOMENT

I know what you are thinking.  “Carl, how in the world do I read this book to my children.  It’s a little graphic.”  Lol.  Well, it’s still God’s Word.  I recommend you get a Children’s Bible for this one.  It will kind of tame it down a bit. As your children get older, you can move to a better translation.

The problem with our world today is we have totally destroyed the God given image of the love between a man and woman as God designed.  There is nothing more beautiful than that love between a husband and wife.  Your children need to know that.  But don’t let Hollywood give them the image.  Let God’s Word do that.

Do you seek God’s love the way it is described in the Song of Solomon?  Take a minute and read the first three chapters today.  Ask yourself if you seek God that way.  Ask yourself if you cherish His presence that way.  Do you long for His touch and His love?

Father, I desire to know You fully.  I long to feel Your embrace.  Touch me today and let me know You are there.

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LOCK YOUR LIPS

Psalm 39:1 “I said, ‘I will guard my ways that I may not sin with my tongue; I will guard my mouth as with a muzzle while the wicked are in my presence.’”

THROW AWAY THE KEY

Oh wow!  How many times have you wanted to do this?  You hear or see something and just have to say something, right?  But look at God’s Word.  If we would take this verse to heart, we would lock our lips and throw away the key.  But, nooooo!  We like to talk.

Well, look at the last phrase.  We are to especially hold our tongue when we are in the presence of unbelievers.  We need to be a witness for Christ.  We should be different than the world.  The unbelievers should be able to see Christ in us with the words we use.  Our words should point to Christ, not us.

TEACHING MOMENT

I bet your children have never tattled on anyone.  Lol.  Doesn’t that just get to you sometimes?  Teaching our kids to guard their tongues is probably one of the hardest things we do.  This would be a great verse to share when they do it the next time.  How about getting a muzzle and show them how it works?  I don’t mean putting it on them (unless you think it will help, lol).

Keep our mouth closed, especially when we have been the victim, is difficult.  Just point your kids to Jesus’ example.  They ridiculed Him.  They falsely accused Him.  They spat on Him and crucified Him.  Yet, it says He was silent.  Wow!  That is one of the most amazing things of all to me.

Who has been badmouthing you?  Who have you been badmouthing?  Why don’t you take a moment right now and confess your evil thoughts towards those who have wronged you?  Ask the Lord to guard your lips.  Ask the Lord to muzzle you, if necessary.

God, You are the maker of my tongue and mouth.  Teach me to use them to glorify You and praise others.  Correct me when I fail and say unkind or evil things against others.

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AHHH, THAT NEW SMELL

Lamentations 3:22-23 “22 The Lord’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. 23 They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.”

FRESH

Don’t you just love the smell of something new?  Have you ever gone to a car dealership to just sit in the new cars and smell their interior?  I know, that sounds weird, right?  But you should try it sometime.  Now, I can’t afford a new vehicle, but it is nice to just smell the new sometimes.

How about the smell of fresh in the morning?  Walking outside early in the morning and taking a whiff of the sunrise reminds us of the promise of a brand new day.  All things new.  Brand new start.  Just like the lovingkindness of God.  That also is new every day.

TEACHING MOMENT

Has little Elrod come home lately in a funk?  He had a bad day at school or on the soccer field and feels like life is just over.  Read him these verses.  Maybe little Gertrude just had a fight with her best friend and feels her life is in shambles.  Read these verses to her.  As bad as it seems, God promises us a brand new beginning each and every day.

What can you do to help your children truly experience that?  Don’t get into the same old morning routine with them spiritually.  What do I mean by that?  I mean mix it up.  One morning pray with them for their friends.  The next morning read a passage of Scripture about family.  Another morning, sing your devotion.  Just keep it fresh.

Are you in a funk yourself?  Do you need a reminder that God sends us His compassion daily?  (Go sit in that new car and think of the newness of God, lol).  God wants to “freshen” you up.  And through His Spirit, He can.

Father of all, show me your lovingkindness and compassion today in a way I have not experienced lately.  Let me “smell” the “new smell” of faith today.

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TEARS

Lamentations 2:11 “My eyes fail because of tears, my spirit is greatly troubled; my heart is poured out on the earth because of the destruction of the daughter of my people, when little ones and infants faint in the streets of the city.”

WHAT DO YOU CRY FOR?

Jeremiah was heartbroken for his people.  He knew the judgment which had fallen on the nation was because of the sins of the people.  They had turned away from the Lord God and sought after other gods.  Because of their rebellion God had to correct them.

But look at this verse, especially the last phrase – “when little ones and infants faint in the streets of the city.”  These were innocent victims of their parents’ sin.  Jeremiah was weeping for these babies and children who were only guilty of being the children of those who had turned their backs on God.

TEACHING MOMENT

Now, understand me.  We are ALL guilty until forgiven. We are born with a sinful nature.  But sometimes the innocent suffer because of others.  Having worked for almost 40 years with children, I can tell you that children suffer due to their parents’ sin.  Divorce wrecks homes and children suffer.  Alcohol and drugs destroy the children as well as the parents who have the addiction.

As a parent, keep in mind that your sins will have an effect on your children.  The way you choose to live your life will determine the life little Johnny or Susie will face.  Most of us only want what is best for our children.  We want them to have it better than we did.  We want them to succeed.  If that is you, then choose righteousness.  Let that be their inheritance.

Are you causing your children to “faint in the streets”?  Are your sins forcing your children to struggle?  Repent!  Go before the Father right now and beg His forgiveness.  Ask Him to cleanse you of your desire for sin.  He will!  Do it for your children.  Don’t let your rebellion put your children in the very center of wickedness.

O Lord God, I repent of my sins which have been the cause of my children’s struggles.  Forgive me of choosing my desires over yours.  Let me see the effect my sin has had on my family and cleanse me of all of that.

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JUST CAN’T FIND IT

Jeremiah 50:20 “‘In those days and at that time,’ declares the Lord, ‘search will be made for the iniquity of Israel, but there will be none; and for the sins of Judah, but they will not be found; for I will pardon those whom I leave as a remnant.’”

GONE!

Don’t you just love this verse?  After all the Lord has done to get Israel’s and Judah’s attention through the prophets and by using Babylon as His instrument of judgment, He is saying, “I have forgiven you and your sins can’t be found.”  Wow!  God hid their sins.

Have you ever hidden something so no one could find it?  I remember as a child I would do that with something I didn’t want my brother or two sisters to have.  I had a secret spot (and I am still not telling, lol) that I used.  They never could find anything I hid there.

TEACHING MOMENT

God does that with our sins. Once we confess them to Him, He takes them away.  He hides them, not only from others, but also Himself.  God forgives AND forgets.  Your child needs to know that.  They need to know that lingering guilt from sin which has been confessed is NOT from the Holy Spirit.  The Spirit will convict us and drive us to repentance, but once we have confessed all, ALL is forgiven and “hidden” away.

Satan is the great accuser.  He doesn’t want us to believe we are forgiven.  He will tell your children they don’t deserve forgiveness.  He will remind them of their weaknesses.  He will throw things in their face over and over to dredge up the old stuff.  But you need to remind your children of this verse.  God hides it all away from His sight.

So, what confessed sin are you holding on to right now?  What guilt are you wallowing in?  Stop it!  Let go of those thoughts.  God wants you to walk in freedom.  He wants you to be a vessel that He can use to advance His kingdom.  God sees you cleansed.  Look at yourself through His eyes.

Father, I do not understand it, but I accept it.  You have forgiven me of my sins and have removed them forever from Your sight.  Help me to stop bringing back up all the guilty thoughts I had of that confessed sin.  I am free!

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LOVE IN CORRECTION

Jeremiah 46:28 “‘O Jacob My servant, do not fear,’ declares the Lord, ‘For I am with you. For I will make a full end of all the nations where I have driven you, yet I will not make a full end of you; but I will correct you properly and by no means leave you unpunished.’”

PUNISHED

Why is it when we are punished (or if you prefer “disciplined”) that we feel like we aren’t loved?  Nothing is further from the truth.  I remember distinctly as a child dreading my “whoopings” from my dad.  Mom’s didn’t bother me too much, but dad…well…that was a whole different matter.  How could he give me a spanking like that?  Because he loved me.  I knew he did, but at the time, I sure doubted it.

God loves us so much that He will take us to the woodshed sometimes.  He says in our verse today that although He must punish Jacob (Israel) for their sins, He was still with them. He would destroy their enemies.  But first, He had to correct them.

TEACHING MOMENT

I don’t think I need to explain how this verse applies to our kids.  Just do me a favor.  Don’t say, “This is gonna hurt me more than it will you.”  As a child you never believed that, did you?  As a parent, you understand the phrase, but I guarantee your child won’t believe it either.  Lol

Disobedience has to be corrected.  It is our job to turn our children away from evil, sin, or whatever you want to call it.  We are NOT the Holy Spirit, but we do have the responsibility to be used by God to correct our children as He directs.  To do that, however, we must be obedient ourselves.

Does God need to take you to the woodshed?  Are you overdue for a whooping?  Confess!  Make things right with the Father.  He wants to draw you close to Him, not for punishment but for blessing. Let Him.  Don’t let sin come between you.

Father, I confess to You today for _______, which is sin against You.  Forgive me!  I am willing to lay it down and allow You to work in and through me to make me what You want me to be.

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WHEN ALL SEEMS LOST

Jeremiah 45:5 “‘But you, are you seeking great things for yourself? Do not seek them; for behold, I am going to bring disaster on all flesh,’ declares the Lord, ‘but I will give your life to you as booty in all the places where you may go.’”

HE WILL SEE YOU THROUGH

Baruch was distressed.  He had heard and even written all the judgments which Jeremiah had delivered against Judah.  His heart ached for his nation and for the loss of his potential position in the country.  He believed and followed Jeremiah, yet his flesh was weak.

God is reassuring Baruch here that although all seemed lost, He would spare his life.  God had a plan for Baruch which did not involve him dying right now.  Surely, Baruch was encouraged by a spoken, private prophecy through Jeremiah to him from the very lips of God.

TEACHING MOMENT

We must remind our children that God still speaks to us.  He speaks through His Word and through His people.  When our children surrender to God’s will and allow Him to direct their lives, they will understand that God will protect and defend them until He is ready to bring them home.

Now we shouldn’t talk about death with our kids too much.  We don’t want to seem morbid or depressed.  But there may be occasions when the topic comes up. When it does, we need to remind them God has a perfect plan for their life here.  They are safe in His arms.  Death will come, but even then, as a believer, it is welcomed.

Are you in one of those “Woe moments”?  Do you feel like Baruch?  Your life seems to be falling apart.  All hope seems gone.  Your future seems bleak.  Listen!  God may be trying to send you a private message through His Word. He may be trying to speak truth through a brother or sister.  Listen.

O Father, You speak most often in that still small voice.  Help me to listen intently to Your words and trust that You know what is best for me.

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