2020-12-11
Psalm 142:4 NKJV
Women who feel isolated and lonely often look to their husbands to satisfy what has been called their “soul hunger.” It’s a role many men have never handled very well. And modern life hasn’t helped.
A century ago, great fellowship and camaraderie existed between wives and mothers. They cooked together, went to church together, and grew old together. And when a baby was born, aunts, grandmothers, and neighbors were there to show the new mother how to diaper, feed, and discipline.
But today the extended family has virtually disappeared, depriving women of that traditional source of support. Furthermore, modern families move every three or four years, preventing long-term friendships from developing. It’s also important for women to understand that some of their needs simply can’t be met by men.
In Anne of Green Gables, there’s a wonderful moment when teenage Anne says, “A bosom friend – an intimate friend, you know – a really kindred spirit to whom I can confide my inmost soul. I’ve dreamed of meeting her all my life.” She expresses a longing that’s common to women, but not so typical in men. It’s the need for intimate friendship. And it’s a key to understanding the depression that’s common among many women. The psalmist David captures it in these words: “There is no one who acknowledges me; refuge has failed me; no one cares for my soul.”
To combat this sense of isolation, it’s important for women to maintain a network of friends through such things as exercise classes, group hobbies, and church activities. The interchange between them may sound like casual talk, but the bonding that occurs makes life a lot more satisfying.
Soul food: Col 1-2; John 18:25-40; Ps 105:1-7; Prov 30:1-4
2020-12-10
Psalm 127:3 TM
Some people say it doesn’t matter how little time you spend with your children, as long as it’s quality time. But the logic of that concept seems suspect. Why do we have to choose between the virtues of quantity versus quality? We don’t accept that forced choice in any other area of our lives, so why is it only relevant to our children? We could illustrate it this way.
Suppose you’ve looked forward all day to eating at one of the finest restaurants in town. The waiter brings you a menu, and you order the most expensive steak in the house. But when the meal arrives, you see a tiny piece of meat about one inch square on the center of the plate. When you complain about the size of the steak, the waiter says, “I recognize that the portion is small, but it is the finest corn-fed beef money can buy. You will never find a better bite of meat than what we have served you tonight. As to the portion, I hope you understand that it’s not the quantity that matters; it’s the quality.” You would object, and for good reason. Why? Because both quantity and quality are important in many areas of our lives, including how we relate to our children.
They need our time, and the best we have to give them. The truth is, the “quantity versus quality” argument might be a poorly disguised rationalization for giving our children – neither. The Bible says, “Don’t you see that children are God’s best gift?” So when it comes to giving them time and attention, they deserve the best in both quantity and quality.
Soul food: Jos 22-24; John 18:12-24; Ps 150; Prov 29:22-27
2020-12-09
Psalm 127:5 TM
Dr. James Dobson once took his young children on a skiing vacation to California. Coping with two kids who were complaining loudly about the cold, and fighting over their gloves and scarves, was getting on his nerves. But on that trip he learned a lesson he would never forget: “After getting the kids located at the lodge, I parked the car and waited for a flatbed truck to take me back to the top of the mountain. About fifteen young skiers waited with me. I noticed a girl in her early twenties standing with the others. When she looked at me, I recognized that unmistakable appearance of mental retardation in her eyes. She was behaving strangely and repeating the word ‘whomever,’ without meaning. The other young skiers smiled and rolled their eyes.
Then I noticed that the man standing near her must be her father. He had seen the reactions of scorn on the faces of the other skiers. So he put his arms around her, looked down lovingly, and said, ‘Yeah babe, whomever.’ The compassion in his voice and his manner seemed to be saying, ‘Yes, it’s true. She is very limited in ability. She won’t write songs. She won’t write books. In fact, she’s already out of school. We’ve done the best we could for her. But I want you all to know something – this is my girl, and I love her. She’s the whole world to me. I’m not ashamed to be her father or to be identified with her. ‘Yeah babe, whomever!'”
Dobson says he apologized to the Lord for complaining about his kids, and looked forward to hugging them at the top of the mountain.
Soul food: Jos 19:24-21:45; John 18:1-11; Ps 148:7-14; Prov 29:16-21
2020-12-08
John 20:21 KJV
Jesus said, “As my Father hath sent me…so send I you.” Notice, it’s about how God wants us to share the gospel, not the rules, regulations, and dictates of various denominations.
Understand this: (1) We were sent to serve, not be served. “The Son…came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life [as] a ransom’ (Matthew 20:28 KJV). Ever notice that when we are the last to be served at a restaurant we get angry? We think we deserve better. But in God’s kingdom the power is at the bottom, and it’s from there Christ governs and conquers. We must come to the end of ourselves. We don’t represent Jesus unless we are willing to put on the apron of humility and wash our brother’s feet, even if his name happens to be Judas.
(2) We were sent to do God’s will, not our own. Jesus said, “I came…not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me” (John 6:38 KJV). When we’re young and people inquire about our plans for life, we sometimes say, “I’d like to be a doctor, or a teacher, or a nurse.” But we really need to add “the Lord willing,” because unless He’s in it, you are on your own. Choosing the wrong occupation will put you in the wrong place, with the wrong people, and consequently everything in your life will be wrong. John said, “The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever” (1 John 2:17 NIV). To miss God’s will – is to miss the purpose for which you were born. Don’t let that happen to you.
Soul food: Jos 16:1-19:23; John 17:13-26; Ps 148:1-6; Prov 29:11-15
2020-12-07
Numbers 13:30 AMPC
One Sunday evening, Mary Southerland was in church when a stranger tapped her on the shoulder and told her she was called to be the music and youth assistant for the church. She thought he had lost his mind! She had just graduated from college with a degree in elementary education, and a friend had invited her to attend the church and sing in the evening service. That’s all – or so she thought. When the service ended, her friend said, “You should at least pray about his offer.” She did. “Here I am thirty years later, an unlikely servant, who lives in constant amazement at God’s plan for my life.”
We let our weaknesses and insecurities dictate the course of our lives, when all the time, God is looking for ordinary people to do extraordinary things. We’re always making excuses for why we can’t get involved in church, or in the community, or in helping others. Chances are, on your own you don’t feel capable. Few people do. But Paul points out: “[God’s] power works best in [your] weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9 NLT).
When Moses sent twelve spies into Canaan to check out the opposition, ten reported, “We have no chance, the giants are too big” (See Numbers 13:28 AMPC). But the other two disagreed with the majority report, and said, “Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able.”
God sees you as “well able,” not because you are powerful, but because He is. With Him on your side you can rise up with confidence, knowing you are well able to overcome. God sees you as a winner, and an overcomer who can accomplish great things because of the talents and power He has placed inside you.
Soul food: Jos 14-15; John 17:1-12; Ps 147:12-20; Prov 29:6-10
2020-12-06
2 Corinthians 5:21 NIV
Gandhi once said, “I refuse to let anyone walk through my mind with dirty feet.” Yet that’s exactly what we do when we listen to old voices of condemnation.
A respected author writes: “Negative accusations take various forms. ‘You’re not as spiritual as you should be…You didn’t work hard enough last week…God can’t bless you because of your past.’ Those are lies…We don’t have to live condemned when we make mistakes. Even Paul said, ‘I do not do the good things I want to do…I do the bad thing I do not want to do’ (Romans 7:19 NCV).
There is a time to repent, and a time to shake it off and press forward. You can’t change the past. And if you live in guilt today because of yesterday, you won’t have the strength to live in victory.
The Bible says, ‘Put on the breastplate of God’s approval’ (See Ephesians 6:14). The breastplate covers your heart, the center of your being, the way you think and feel about yourself. If you’re thinking, ‘I don’t have much of a future. I’ve blown it too often. God couldn’t be pleased with me,’ that’s ‘the accuser,’ and he has no authority over you.” God says he’s been “cast down” (Revelation 12:10 KJV).
So stand your ground, and remind him that “God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” Like all of us, you’ve probably made your fair share of mistakes. But positionally God sees you “in Christ,” so you’re “complete,” “justified,” and “accepted.” Conditionally you’re a work-in-progress – and He won’t give up on you!
Soul food: Ecc 11:7-12:1; Ps 39:4-13; 2 Tim 4:6-8
