Changed By Love

National Week of Prayer for Homeschool Families

Feb.2,2014

And on this – the final day of the NATIONAL WEEK OF PRAYER FOR HOMESCHOOL FAMILIES – we’ve been asked to pray for REVIVAL in our families:

Please pray for the Holy Spirit to do a mighty work in
homeschooling families across the world. Pray for hearts to be
humbled and submitted to the Lord. Pray for true repentance and
turning from sin. Pray for entire families to seek the face of
God together, crying out for His presence in their homes. Pray
for a harvest of souls through the witness of the power of the
Holy Spirit in the lives of homeschoolers.

Psalm 130:1-6 ~ Out of the depths I have cried to You, O Lord;
Lord, hear my voice! Let Your ears be attentive to the voice of
my supplications. If You, Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord,
who could stand? But there is forgiveness with You, that You may
be feared. I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His word I
do hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch
for the morning. Yes, more than those who watch for the morning.
Kim Winter’s photo.

National Week of Prayer for Homeschoolers

Jan.31,2014

For today during the NATIONAL WEEK OF PRAYER FOR HOMESCHOOL FAMILIES, we’ve been asked to remember SECOND-GENERATION HOMESCHOOLERS:

Please pray for second generation homeschoolers who are
discipling and educating their own children at home. Pray for
these families to create their own traditions and learning
environments while building on the good things their parents
did. Pray for them to stand firm in their convictions and
follow the Lord in all things.

Psalm 78:6 ~ That the generation to come might know [the laws of
God], the children who would be born, that they may arise and
declare them to their children that they may set their hope in
God and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments.

https://www.facebook.com/events/1437367196494480/?source=1
Kim Winter’s photo.

Jan.30,2014

Today’s focus for the NATIONAL WEEK OF PRAYER FOR HOMESCHOOLING FAMILIES is on HOMESCHOOL GRADUATES:

Please pray for those children who have graduated from
homeschools. Pray that the truths of the Word will accomplish
the purposes of God in their lives. Pray for clarity of thought
as they build their own families and careers. Pray for strong
relationships with parents and healing of any broken
relationships within their families.

Philippians 4:1 ~ Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren,
my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved.

Relationships Within the Family

Jan.29,2014

We are still learning the ways of the Lord in how we are to relate to each other. The Lord speaks to one of us and that person shares with the rest of the family what He is showing them. Just last night our two oldest said that God revealed to them that we have been handling disagreements and conflict in a way that causes more strife instead of in a loving way that produces peace and closeness. So we repented of that as a family, and we will be watching our attitudes, intentions and motivations and make sure we do everything out of love.

We are in a constant battle against selfishness and pride. I want our family to be glorifying to God. I want us to walk closely with Him and keep Him first in all we do. I see that we are making progress. The older kids are developing their own relationships with God and making their faith firm and establishing what they believe in.

The younger kids are asking questions and learning to pray and trust God to answer their prayers.

But I want so much more for us spiritually. I want to have an atmosphere of prayer and worship in our home. I would like for us to be tuned into God all the time. We have so many distractions with TV’s, computers and video games. We really need to devote ourselves to prayer more than we do, especially with such pressing needs.

I received a gentle admonition about not spending enough time one on one with each of the children just talking with them and finding out what they are thinking and feeling. I was told that sometimes this is all it takes to correct problems before they become an issue that stirs up strife. I am taking this to heart and will try to visit with them more often throughout the day. We have noted a tendency that we all have to go our separate ways and do our own thing instead of doing things together as a family. It’s hard to change this habit, but we are going to work on it.

We know that strife is really destructive, so we are going to be more intentional about keeping it out of our home in the future.

The definition of strife from Dictionary.com is:

1. vigorous or bitter conflict, discord, or antagonism.
2. a quarrel, struggle, or clash
3. competition or rivalry

Synonyms are: 1. difference, disagreement, contrariety, opposition. 2. fight, conflict.

The Bible tells us: “For where envy and strife are, there is confusion and every evil work.” James 3:16

And in Philippians it says: “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.” Phil. 2:3

Two resources that are helping me understand more about how to deal with disagreements and relationship problems are a book called Keep Your Love On by Danny Silk and Lifestyle of Learning Ministries with Marilyn Howshall at lolache.com.

Moses Worshiped

Jan.29,2014

MOSES WORSHIPED
By David Wilkerson
(May 19, 1931-April 27, 2011)

Published: 01/29/2014 – 12:00am
When Moses saw the revelation of God’s glory—that He is good, loving, caring, gracious, forgiving—he quickly fell to his knees and worshiped. “Moses made haste, and bowed his head toward the earth, and worshiped” (Exodus 34:8).
The revelation of God’s nature overwhelmed this man. He saw how merciful, long-suffering and patient God is with His children, including stiff-necked people, idolaters and those who grieve him. Moses was so stirred by this revelation that he ran out from behind the rock, fell down and worshiped Him!
It is important to note that this is the first mention ever of Moses worshiping. Prior to this revelation of God’s glory, we find Moses praying and interceding, weeping and pleading with God for Israel, talking with Him face to face. We hear him singing the Lord’s praises on the victory side of the Red Sea and calling on the Lord at the bitter waters of Marah. And we hear his desperate cry to God at Rephidim, when the people were ready to stone him for not providing water. But this is the first time we read the words, “Moses worshiped.”
I believe this one verse tells us much about the church today. It says a Christian can pray diligently without ever really worshiping. Indeed, it’s possible to be a prayer warrior and intercessor and still not be a worshiper of God. You can plead for your unsaved children, pray for the needs of an entire church, be holy and meek in seeking God’s burden—and yet never truly worship Him!
I don’t want to add to the multitude of definitions of what it means to worship. There are already too many books published on the various techniques of worship. But, in short, I will say this: worship cannot be learned! It is a spontaneous outbreak, the act of a heart overwhelmed by a revelation of God’s glory and His incredible love.
Worship is a response of gratitude. It recognizes how we should have been destroyed by our sin long ago, incurring the full wrath of God for all our failures and faults but, instead, God came to us with the powerful revelation, “I still love you!”
At this point, Moses was no longer pleading for sinful Israel and he was not asking the Lord for guidance. He was not crying out for a miracle of deliverance, or for power, or for wisdom. He was marveling at the revelation of the glory of God!

http://sermons.worldchallenge.org/en/node/26254?src=devo-email

Have you ever truly worshiped God? Not just praying, interceding, crying out, or thanking, but worshiping Him for who He is? Ask God for a greater revelation of who He is, and I’m sure it will cause worship to well up in you. Try it today!