multiplying miracles {day 22}

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Today I read in Luke 8 of the man of the Gadarenes that was possessed of many devils and whom God healed. 

After Jesus cast the demons into the swine feeding nearby and the animals died in a lake, the people talked about it. There was likely a frenzy of wondering what just happened?! 

pigs-outside-field1But when the people found out that Jesus had made this maniac to be sane, they were afraid… of Jesus.

I am sure they were not pleased that Jesus had killed their pigs [I am assuming they were part of someone’s lively-hood]. It is not normal for animals to wildly run down a ravine and into a lake.

But it was not until they saw a crazy man sitting sanely that the Bible says they were afraid. It is a fairly normal occurrence for a man to sit, clothed, speaking calming to other people.

And yet, this is what made them afraid.

And the city asked Jesus to leave.

One of their own was made whole, sane; and they were afraid of the Healer.

The Bible records that He came back later and was received gladly.

What made the difference?

Jesus told the man: shew how great things God hath done unto thee. And he went his way, and published throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done unto him. [v 39]

The man told the people of the city his first-hand account of Jesus power.

He told them Jesus was God… or at least, the man realized Jesus was God, and that influenced his story.

And then, when Jesus was returned, the people gladly received him: for they were all waiting for him. [v 40]

And after this was when Jarius’ daughter was raised from the dead. It seems to be he was a man from the same town.

All this… led me to realize, yet again, that when the name of Jesus is elevated to GOD in our conversation… when we actively think of Him as God, thus changing our manner of life… people believe {maybe not all, but it is noticed!}, hearts are changed, and miracles continue!

How marvelous. 

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{Esther} the lady “come for such a time as this”

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Darlene
from Time-Warp-Wife is beginning a 3 week series on the book of Esther today. 
I am excited! Esther is my oldest girl’s middle name because she is my absolute favorite lady in the Bible. such courage and wisdom. 
    So, read Esther 1 and click over to Darlene’s blog for some insightful thoughts and questions. I am looking forward to reading through this book and her blog posts this month [on my favorite book… during the month of my birthday! what an awesome gift.]
I pray this is a BLESSED Monday for you all!

{teaching} with evidence

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When children see evidence of God’s importance in Daddy’s and Mommy’s lives  and are trained to also be involved, it becomes a part of their lives. 
There is a marked difference in the attitudes of children towards authority between those who are taught that God is Important and those who are left to figure things out on their own [Proverbs 28:26; 29:15]. 

Children must be continually exposed to God and His Word and His Love and commands in order for them to become a part of their lives. 
If God is important to us as parents it will be evident to our children when they are in Sunday School every week and when we read the Bible [even just a verse and explain it] with them each day and when we pray for the difficulties we face and when we praise Him for all things. It will be evident when we participate in the ministries of our church or go out of our way to be helpful to those in need.

Children with parents who are passionate about “being green” learn how to recycle and repurpose, because their parents DO it. Those whose parents are avid about “organic food” will learn about the nutritional value of different foods and the negative effects of pesticides and processing, etc because their parents are DOing something. Those who are fervent in their quest of an organized home & life teach their children the importance of everything having its own home and putting it there by always having them put things away as well as DOing it themselves.

In the same manner, parents who are are dedicated lovers of God WILL teach their children who God is. We will prove that He is our Creator and that He is to be revered and praised and worshiped and served with our whole life. with our actions.

{teaching} God is

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{teaching} God is

Before our children can know to ask us about salvation we must teach them about God.

C

the little man

All men are born with the knowledge of God written in their heart [Proverbs 14:1, Romans 2:14-16].

But this does not mean our children will automatically know God.

Man is born a sinner. Even as a babe, we are all sinners. If you have children, you cannot dispute this fact. A child left to himself brings shame on his mother [Proverbs 29:15] …don’t ask me how I know this!

Since the same heart that knows God also contains sin, the knowledge of God must be cultivated to become knowing God.

People do not know who He is without being taught. Yes, if a lost man seeks for God, God will not hide himself [Jeremiah 29:13].

But we must teach our children who God is.

And we must teach our children to KNOW God- and the earlier the better.

In the first hours and days of each of our children’s lives they had several people telling them them “Jesus loves you” often … through words, song and even action. These people included us as parents, our parents,. and church members who visited.

My children are greatly blessed.

Of course, my babies had no idea what we were saying; but as they grow and learn from Bible stories and Sunday school and family devotions that Jesus is God and God made us and loves us and wants to be our Heavenly Father, a sense of God is All-Important is instilled in their hearts. And this is fundamental to their ability to realize their need of a Savior at an early age.

When children are taught this, it is fact in their hearts [Proverbs 22:6].

And if the knowledge that Jesus loves them and He is ALL-Important becomes as integrated into their being as the fact that Daddy and Mommy loves them, the root of faith takes hold.

….even while still a baby.

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some {simple} questions

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1. What does it mean to be saved?

2. How does Jesus come into our hearts?

3. Why does a person need to be saved?

4. How old does a person need to be to be saved?

5. How does being saved take your sins away?

one prayer is for them to always be able to hold each others hands…

6. Can a person be saved without asking Jesus to come into their heart?

Have you ever wondered any of these questions when thinking of and praying for your children? Have your children ever asked you something along these lines?
Teaching children spiritual truths is a daunting challenge. It causes my very being to go weak with the awesomeness of the responsibility. that God gave to ME and MY HUSBAND [and YOU and YOUR HUSBAND].

this one reminds me that one day they will not have my hand…
and I need to be sure they know how to hold His!

The next few weeks Tips for Training Children will take on a spiritual note. We will start at the beginning [and see God] and then look at these questions in the light of the Word of God. If we cannot answer or teach our children from the Bible, the foundation of their faith will not be true and accurate and will one day crumble.

until Thursday…

{1} the plan. He knew

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{1} the plan. He knew

emnity…  between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
Genesis 3:15

This is the first reference to the coming Savior- Jesus- the Messiah- the Son of Man.—

[fulfilled]…when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law…
Galatians 4:4

—

At the very beginning, God knew. What heartache that must have caused!

The plan was in place before the foundations of the world were made. [I Peter 1:18-21] And yet, He made those foundations, knowing.

We celebrate the initiation of this plan during the Christmas season.

But today, this first day of the Christmas season, let us remember the Reason we CAN have our traditions and activities.

the Reason for Love.

the Giver of All Perfect Gifts.

the Giver of Life– through Himself. 

He bruised Satan’s head. and gave us Life!

Let us REJOICE!

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{2} birth prophecies {advent}

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{2} birth prophecies {advent}

born of a virgin
Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14
fulfilled: Matthew 1:21-23
a descendant of Abraham
Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: and I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:  And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. Genesis 12:1-3
And the angel of the LORD called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time, and said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son: that in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice. Genesis 22:15-18

fulfilled: Matthew 1:1; Galatians 3:16

 originally posted on December 2, 2011

 

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{3} more promises. the line. {advent}

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of the tribe of Judah 
The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be. Genesis 49:10
fulfilled: Luke 3:23, 33; Hebrews 7:14

 

of the house of David 
Also the LORD telleth thee that he will make thee an house.  And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.  He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever.  I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men:  but my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee. And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.  According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David.  2 Samuel 7:11-16
fulfilled: Matthew 1; Luke 3:31
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Originally posted on December 3, 2011

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