Good Morning Girls Devotional "Why Easter Matters" Week 1

 

This is the reading for Mon, 3/31.

Today we read about how the feast of Passover came to be. It is a traditional Jewish feast that celebrates God saving His people from destruction through the blood of the lamb (Jesus Christ).

Read: Exodus 12:1-14

God said to Moses and Aaron while still in Egypt, “This month is to be the first month of the year for you. Address the whole community of Israel; tell them that on the tenth of this month each man is to take a lamb for his family, one lamb to a house. If the family is too small for a lamb, then share it with a close neighbor, depending on the number of persons involved. Be mindful of how much each person will eat. Your lamb must be a healthy male, one year old; you can select it from either the sheep or the goats. Keep it penned until the fourteenth day of this month and then slaughter it—the entire community of Israel will do this—at dusk. Then take some of the blood and smear it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses in which you will eat it. You are to eat the meat, roasted in the fire, that night, along with bread, made without yeast, and bitter herbs. Don’t eat any of it raw or boiled in water; make sure it’s roasted—the whole animal, head, legs, and innards. Don’t leave any of it until morning; if there are leftovers, burn them in the fire.

 

“And here is how you are to eat it: Be fully dressed with your sandals on and your stick in your hand. Eat in a hurry; it’s the Passover to God.

“I will go through the land of Egypt on this night and strike down every firstborn in the land of Egypt, whether human or animal, and bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am God. The blood will serve as a sign on the houses where you live. When I see the blood I will pass over you—no disaster will touch you when I strike the land of Egypt.

“This will be a memorial day for you; you will celebrate it as a festival to God down through the generations, a fixed festival celebration to be observed always. You will eat unraised bread (matzoth) for seven days: On the first day get rid of all yeast from your houses—anyone who eats anything with yeast from the first day to the seventh day will be cut off from Israel. The first and the seventh days are set aside as holy; do no work on those days. Only what you have to do for meals; each person can do that."

S: Exodus 12:13 "But the blood on your houses will be a sign for your protection. When I see the blood, I will pass over you. Nothing will touch or destroy you when I strike Egypt."

O: Ok, so I'm really stuck on this one. I could go with the simple, obvious observation...those who obeyed God and marked their door with blood would be protected from whatever God was about to do in Egypt. However, I did a little research and reading, and found something interesting. So here goes it:

"So judgement was to come upon Egypt. The only hope for Israel was to be under the blood. Let me ask a question – Why were the Israelites saved – did it come down to their own personal worthiness? No, not at all… There would have been some righteous Jews amongst them and there would have probably been some shockers! But it didn’t come down to whether they were worthy of salvation. It simply came down to whether they were sheltering under the blood of the lamb! Let me ask another question… what possible ground for rest would the Israelites have had? You see, they knew that the avenging angel is coming to strike down all the firstborn so it would have been quite a frightening time. They wouldn’t have had any sense of rest or peace because of their works, but only because of the blood! I’m sure you don’t have to be Sherlock Holmes to see where I’m going with this. The rest and peace that we have as Christians doesn’t come from our own worthiness. It comes from the simple fact that the blood of Jesus has been shed for our sins. Jesus is our peace. See Col 1:20, Eph 2:13-14, Rom 3:24-25. 5:1,9" 
(http://www.jesusplusnothing.com/studies/online/exodus12.htm)
 
A: I need to be conscious of the fact that ALL my sins have been washed clean by the blood of Christ. BUT, that doesn't mean I can continually sin. This was a great sacrifice made. I need to be respectful of that. I need to be obedient to God. 

P: Lord Jesus, what an amazing sacrifice you made for us. Let us be constantly mindful of that as we live our daily lives. You died so we could be saved. I pray that our actions reflect what You would expect of us. In Your Holy Name I pray, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Good Morning Girls Devotional Week 7 Our Ministries

Well, I'm still a week behind. But I WILL get caught up. This is the reading from Friday, 3/14.

Read & SOAP: Proverbs 14:1 (Image Above)

S: The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.

O: A wise woman builds her house... a wise woman knows what it takes to build up her house. Not the actual building, but her house that is her family. A wise woman knows how to build up her family, do things that will effect each positively. A wise woman knows to praise her husband, to be a supportive and loving wife. To be there when he needs her. To build their family together. The man may be the head of the house, but the wife is the neck, as an old pastor of mine used to say. It means that the husband heads up the house, but the wife determines the direction it takes.   

A foolish woman, however, can very easily tear apart her family by not being there to support them. To not be supportive. To not teach her children. To make so many mistakes that there is no saving any of it. 

I know about that kind of woman, because she is me. I've made so many mistakes in my life and because of those mistakes and poor choices made along the way, I've pretty much lost what family I do have left.
 
Don't be the foolish woman. Be the wise woman.

A: I need to follow my own advise. I need to be the wise woman. I have learned from my mistakes. Or I hope I have. I will say some of my choices of late, no matter how right it feels or I think are the right choices, I've still lost. But I have to cling to the hope that Jesus knows my heart. He knows I'm trying to do the right thing. I come to Him first when I try to make a decision and just hope that He knows I'm trying.

P: Lord, show us how to be the wise woman. Remind us how our words and actions can either build up or tear down. Let us be wise with our words and actions. Helps us to build up rather than tear down. 

Good Morning Girls Devotional Week 6: Our Children

I'm not in a real good place today. Dealing with personal issues with no answers in sight. So I'm going to try and turn my attention to something positive while I await God's answers.

This is for the reading from Wednesday, 2/26.

Read: Psalm 127
Unless the Lord builds a house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain. In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat--for He grants sleep to those He loves.

Sons are a heritage from the Lord, children a reward from Him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one's youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their enemies in the gate.

S: Psalm 127:3-4
Sons are a heritage from the Lord, children a reward from Him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one's youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their enemies in the gate.

O: In biblical times it was favorable to have sons rather than daughters because the sons would carry on the family name and they would be able to help out in the fields or with the animals.

Also, in those times, women gave birth when they were young. So by the time your children were grown the parents would probably be in their late 30's or early 40's.

It was also favorable to have many children. Someone having 5 or more children was not uncommon. The more children you had, the better chance, I guess, was that you would have many sons. Those sons could fight battles that their parents might otherwise be too old to fight. They could do work that their parents were no longer able to do. 

In China, the government had tried to limit the amount of children you have. You are only allowed one child. They also favor boys over girls. 


A: I'm not really sure how I can apply this to my life. I, personally, have two sons. Both of whom will soon be fathers to sons of their own. I guess I was biblically blessed. I also have a daughter. So I guess that rounds everything out. 

I had my children when I was young. I was almost twenty when my son John was born. I was almost 24 when Brian was born and I was 29 when I had Sarah. Now my children are grown. John will be 27 this year. Brian will be 24 and Sarah just turned 18. I am looking forward to my grandchildren. I'm glad I'm still young enough where I can enjoy them and not feel like some tired old lady! (I'll be 47 this summer.)

P: Lord, I thank You for blessing me with sons. And thank you for blessing them with sons. I pray that my sons will be good examples for their sons and that they grow up knowing You. Amen.

 

Good Morning Girls Devotional Week 6 Our Children Psalms 78:1-8

Here is our reading for Tuesday, 2/25/14.

Read: Psalms 78:1-8 
A maskil* of Asaph.

My people, hear my teaching;
    listen to the words of my mouth.
I will open my mouth with a parable;
    I will utter hidden things, things from of old—
things we have heard and known,
    things our ancestors have told us.
We will not hide them from their descendants;
    we will tell the next generation
the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord,
    his power, and the wonders he has done.
He decreed statutes for Jacob
    and established the law in Israel,
which he commanded our ancestors
    to teach their children,
so the next generation would know them,
    even the children yet to be born,
    and they in turn would tell their children.
Then they would put their trust in God
    and would not forget his deeds
    but would keep his commands.
They would not be like their ancestors—
    a stubborn and rebellious generation,
whose hearts were not loyal to God,
    whose spirits were not faithful to him.

S: Psalms 78:3-4;6-7

things we have heard and known,
    things our ancestors have told us.
 We will not hide them from their descendants;
    we will tell the next generation
the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord,
    his power, and the wonders he has done. 

so the next generation would know them,
    even the children yet to be born,
    and they in turn would tell their children.
 Then they would put their trust in God
    and would not forget his deeds
    but would keep his commands. 

O: Again, we are being reminded that what we know of God we are to pass down to all the generations in the hopes that they, too, will keep the commands that God gave us. They are to always remember what God has done, what He will do and what He wants us to do.

A: It is our responsibility as parents to pass down the wisdom of God to our children. I have tried to reinforce this with my children. Unfortunately, once they are grown and have lives of their own it is up to them to pass these things on to their kids. I say unfortunately because with my kids, I don't know if this will happen. But as a soon-to-be grandmother, I hope I may influence my grandsons to keep their faith in God as they grow. And I hope I can keep this up with my children and encourage them to instill this in their children.

P: Lord, I ask Your help to be able to show my children and their children how important it is to keep Your word and for them to teach it to their children. May I have the influence over my grandsons to help them grow up with You in their lives. Amen.  

** Maskil:   (Hebrew: מַשְׂכִּיל‎, plural maskilim) is an identifier for individuals and ideas of the Haskalah movement, the European Jewish enlightenment between the 1770s and 1880s, who sought to reeducate Jews so that they could fit into modern society; they established schools and published works of cultural importance.

Good Morning Girls Week 6 Our Children Deuteronomy 6:1-9

I'm just about a week behind with our studies. This week just seems to have gotten away from me. So here's the reading for Monday, 2/24/14.

Read: Deuteronomy 6:1-9

Love the Lord Your God

These are the commands, decrees and laws the Lord your God directed me to teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the Lord your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life. Hear, Israel, and be careful to obey so that it may go well with you and that you may increase greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, promised you.

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 door frames of your houses and on your gates.

S: Deuteronomy 6:7-9
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 door frames of your houses and on your gates. 

O: God teaches us that we should always talk about His commands so that we never forget what they are and what they mean. We need to impress this upon our children so that it will be passed down to each and every generation. 

This passage tells us to do whatever is necessary so we don't forget God's commands. These are our rules for how we should live our lives. Write it down, tattoo it, hang it on our walls...whatever it takes so that we see it each and every day. 

When my kids were little I made sure they were always in church. Over the years it didn't really take hold of my kids. It was as they got older that two of them decided to stay with the church. 

That's how it all starts. It starts with us. It's never too late to start. Even for us as adults, we can use the reminder. 


A: I could use a reminder or two about what God has instructed us to do. I'm trying to turn my life around. To finally do what is right. I constantly stay in the Word. I listen to Christian music. I go to bible study. I go to church. It is through those things that I keep myself centered on Christ. One of these days it will just be a natural part of my life. But, for now, I will do whatever it takes to remind myself of what it is God wants from us.

P: Father, I ask You to help me be able to be a teacher to my children and my grandchildren. I pray that I will be a good influence on them. Help me stay centered on You and Your will. In Your Holy Name I pray this. Amen.

 

Here's a great video for Lincoln Brewster's song "Love The Lord".