HDC’s ministry is designed to prepare individuals to engage their relational world, their oikos (the Greek word for “household”), with the tremendous news of God’s grace.
"... for the LORD gave them rest." 2 Chronicles 14:6
How would you like to take a break from what you are doing right now? To feel the release of whatever burden is holding you down and for just a few minutes, feel at rest. I have been thinking lately about the importance of rest in relation to our faith and obedience to God. God created rest. God rested. God gives rest. Why don't we place more importance on something that was created for us?
In reading through 2 Chronicles, I have enjoyed the faithfulness that God has shown to the kings who have turned to Him, but when I came to that verse about the LORD giving rest, I stopped and smiled. I have needed to hear that lately. I am walking through a very busy season in my life right now. God has given me one of the most wonderful gifts, a man who truly loves Him and reflects that love to me, and in 24 days I will be getting married. Planning a wedding and preparing for marriage is busy, at least. Constantly making decisions, rushing off to meet with someone or prepare something, adding to and checking off to do lists. Even if my body is not moving, my mind sure is. I constantly remind myself that this season is only temporary, and that I can rest after the wedding, but the reality is that I need rest now. I cannot serve the Lord wholeheartedly when I feel anxiety as I look at my calendar over the next three weeks.
Often times the things that we are doing are not bad things. We consume ourselves in our work, or family, or even ministry. But as Tim preached two weekends ago, anything that consumes our thoughts more than our Savior is considered an idol. I need to be able to release the wedding from my thoughts and let God take that place in dwell in the deepest part of my heart. My weary soul needs rest in the One whose yoke is easy and burden is light.
What do you need rest from today?
Why haven't you taken that rest yet?
What are you going to do make sure that you get it?
On a recent trip to the airport, our family carried, pulled and dragged along individual suitcases in an effort to avoid the crazy checked bag costs. It was rather humorous to see those carry-on’s loaded to the hilt with everything under the sun. But for the trip to work, everyone needed to be aware of their own baggage and be ready to deal with it through inspection lines and check-in counters. At times, it was slow going because that much luggage can really slow someone down.
In our Route 66 readings, we see lots of luggage in people’s lives. Many of the stories reveal people carrying around attitudes, desires and beliefs that just bog down their spiritual progress. They are dragging stuff with them, but unless they get it out of their lives, it usually ruins everything. Recently, we saw that fleshed out in the life of Samson.
As I read his story it caught me that the personal baggage he dealt with most was his own misplaced desires. Three times Samson’s desires get the best of him. In Judges 14:1, we read how he saw a woman in Timnah and told his folks to set him up with her. We don’t know if he ever even talked to her. It’s just that she was attractive. The second time it happened was in Judges 16:1 when he went in to be with a prostitute. Again, no relationship is needed. He just wanted a woman. The third time his desires weighed him down was with Delilah. In this final scene, we read something different than the other encounters. Here the Bible says that “he fell in love” (Judges 16:4). Prior to this encounter, Samson had never given his heart away to another person. As arrogant and selfish as his previous exploits had been, we don’t see him shift commitments from God to another person. But along comes Delilah and he quickly gives his heart to her and soon breaks his vow made to God.
We all carry a bit of luggage in life. Each of us probably wishes the load were lighter. I think Samson is a great reminder to watch out for those desires in life that lead us away from our commitments to God and aim us toward those people and situations that only weigh us down. Samson was a strong man, but that’s not the reason I would name a suitcase after him.
"Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, 'Are you for us or for our enemies?' 'Neither,' he replied, 'but as a commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.' Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence, and asked him, 'What message does my Lord have for his servant?" Joshua 5:13-14
I know that this passage has already been blogged about, but this is the passage that I have been waiting for.
Working in Children's Ministry for the past four years, I am very familiar with this passage.
"Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates." Deuteronomy 6:4-9
Do you know why I love this passage? Because at HDC, we believe that parents have the primary role of shepherding their children, and I believe that every parent has the potential to succeed in that role. No where in the Bible does it say that you need to be a pastor to teach your child about God. Or that you need to have everything figured out. But what it does say is to love the Lord your God with all of you heart. I think that you can do that.
Don't just talk to your child about God when you pick them up from the kid's program on Sunday. But create a rhythm of times that are already built into your daily schedule.
When you sit. Talk with your kids during dinner time about what God has been teaching you.
When you walk along the road. Use your drive time to reinforce what your kids learned on the weekend in church.
When you lie down. End your day by praying with your kids.
And when you get up. Start your day off by getting into the word of God.
Post Bible verses around your house. Use scripture when disciplining your children. Pray for your children every chance you get. Use the resources that the church provides.
I love getting to see my room full of kiddos every Sunday. They bring me an immense amount of joy each week. But I also love the parents. I love when a parent asks me about a good parenting book to read. Or when a parent comes to the baptism class with their child. Or when a parent makes sure that their child has received their God Time Card before leaving Beach House.
It is an amazing opportunity to be able to partner with parents when it comes to their child's faith. I have seen your kids in my program. Your kids are amazing. Just last Sunday I had a second grade boy tell me about the trinity. I did not teach him that. I can tell that you pray with your child when I hear them pray during small group time. I can tell that your read scripture with them when they know how to navigate the Bible.
If you are a parent, you have about 3000 hours with your child every year. I have about 40. You have an incredible impact on your child's walk with Christ, and I appreciate the opportunity to partner with you in that journey.
Staci Horodyski
Books I recommend:
Kids Bibles- The Action Bible: God's Redemptive Story, The Jesus Storybook Bible: Every Story Whispers His Name
Storybooks- You are Special, You are Mine, Because I Love You (all by Max Lucado)
Parenting books- Revolutionary Parenting by George Barna, Parenting Beyond Your Capacity by Reggie Joiner, Shepherding a Child's Heart by Tedd Tripp
How’s the trip down Route 66 going? I hope you’re hanging in there with it, and that God is using His word to encourage you in life, strengthen you in faith, and make you godly and effective in all things. The Bible actually does has the power to do that, you know! That’s because it’s a living, breathing, active thing…and it wields a double-edged sword that cuts to our heart and knows who we truly are. Shoot, it knows us even better than we know ourselves! That’s both intimidating and encouraging at the same time. But like a good friend or a faithful spouse, though it knows the worst about us, it’s patient and committed to seeing us become more. To this end, it will continue to faithfully carry out its purposes in us by:
Teaching us.
Rebuking us.
Correcting us.
Training us.
Making us wise.
Reviving our hearts.
Refreshing our souls.
Keeping us from sin.
Giving us joy.
Providing us clarity and vision.
Transforming our lives.
Showing us that it’s more precious than gold.
Convincing us that it’s sweeter than honey.
Enduring forever.
So, as you continue to read through the Bible this week…ask God – beg and plead with Him – to use His living Word in a tangible way to accomplish these essential things in you, that you would be thoroughly equipped for every good work in the days ahead.
Ohhh Numbers. The census. The offerings. The complaining. Sometimes this book seems a little random and unnecessary. However, as we go further into Numbers, we can start to see how God is preparing the Israelites for what is to come and how He continues to use Moses to lead the people.
If you have been keeping up with the Route 66 reading plan, we started Numbers this weekend. I wanted to give you a synopsis of the book that will hopefully help you to understand what you are reading over the next two weeks.
Author: Moses
Evan Nelson
HDC’s ministry is designed to prepare individuals to engage their relational world, their oikos (the Greek word for “household”), with the tremendous news of God’s grace.
HDC’s ministry is designed to prepare individuals to engage their relational world, their oikos (the Greek word for “household”), with the tremendous news of God’s grace.
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