by Linda Hull
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"I meditate on all thy works."
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In This IssueApril, 2008, Volume 14.4 "And forgive us
our debts, as we forgive our debtors." Matthew 6:12 Letter From The EditorLessons in forgiveness... |
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"Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient; whereunto also they were appointed. But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light: which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy." 1 Peter 2:1-10
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Letter from the
Editor... Got debt? Maybe your debt isn't money related, but maybe you owe a debt of forgiveness. It's not easy to forgive those who wrong us. In fact, it often feels impossible to forgive, especially when the wrong is so awful. I've learned that my ability to forgive is not dependent on the sorrow or repentance of others. It's simple...if they apologize I can forgive quite easily, but when they don't, I forgive quite easily anyway because our Lord forgives me. Not everyone who wrongs us is willing to repent or to make restitution. Too bad. They must feel quite awful. This month's issue is about the hard lesson of learning to forgive.
We also have a wonderful article by Nancy Twigg on shopping tips when shopping with the children. If you are home schooling a teen, then you'll be interested in our article about preparing your teen for a career. Enjoy also some great recipes.
IN THIS ISSUE
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Copyright © 2008 by Linda G. Hull
Years ago my husband and I bought a brand new Honda Civic. It was a light sky blue, and was one of the first energy efficient models on the road. It was decided that I would drive it, and be the family chauffer, since we could only afford one car at the time. From day one, we loved that little car. Unfortunately, that little car was an accident magnet. However, our Lord in His infinite wisdom had a plan and used that car to teach us lessons of forgiveness.
Our first opportunity to learn a lesson of forgiveness came when we'd barely had the car a month. I received a call at my desk to come to the office manager's office. He ushered me into his office and closed the door. While my car was safely parked in the company parking lot, it had been hit with a football. The hood had a huge cavern in its middle from the impact. Our factor workers had been using their lunch break for an impromptu game of tag football. I thought they needed a better receiver; one who could actually catch the ball! The company promised to pay for the damages, and the young man who had actually thrown the ball was terribly apologetic. In fact, they were all watching me to determine my reaction because they knew how they'd feel if their spanking brand new car was ruined. My heart melted. How could I not forgive? Course it did take a little while for the company to make good on their promise to fix the car. Turned out Japanese models at that time didn't have hoods that could easily be popped back into place. We had to buy a new hood and have it installed and painted to match the car. It was an expensive repair. Knowing we didn't have to pay for it was somewhat mollifying, but I always felt the body people never got the paint job exactly right.
Well, the next incident was several months later. Parked in front of our house, I looked outside to see the front fence wrapped around my car. Can you imagine? We went racing outside and determined there was no real damage, just a couple of minor scratches. Turns out our neighbor who enjoyed his beer had backed into our fence. His bumper caught on the chain link, and literally separated it from the pole. I guess he kept going, never really understanding that he was attached to our fence. It probably boomeranged into my car. We never said anything, but I think he heard me yelling about it because he came to apologize rather sheepishly later. How could we not forgive him? I personally couldn't believe this had happened, but what are you going to do? The more things happened to my precious little car the more protective I became of it. Oh yes, this was MY car since I had taken full ownership by virtue of being the primary driver.
Things were quiet for awhile. We had some near misses on the highway, but I figured out fate was directly related to how hard I prayed while I was on the road. I was convinced that the car was invisible, and used my horn at will. I only wished it were louder and more obnoxious sounding.
I was heading home to lunch from work at our Church where I served as an Administrative Assistant to our Associate Pastor/Administrator. It was a nice job, and had a certain amount of prestige which I enjoyed. Okay, I was young and feeling a bit prideful. I was careful to follow the speed limits and use my turn signals etc. I was a cautious driver. I had to be in that car! Going slowly down the street next to the Church, I was looking at a car backing very fast out of the nearby bank's service entrance. He never even slowed down as he whipped that little bit around the curve and straight back into my car. I realized too late that he couldn't hear my horn over his radio and he obviously wasn't looking in his rear view mirror. I enjoyed my hard earned ability to drive a stick shift, but I couldn't shift it fast enough to avoid the collision. I hated to get out to see what kind of damage had been incurred. I felt we were pretty lucky that our insurance company hadn't cancelled our insurance after all I'd been through. I was not a happy camper and really wanted to deck this idiot. However he was young and obviously thoughtless. I was shaking, but thankfully one of our maintenance men had witnessed the accident and had already called the police. I was too shaken and upset to really talk intelligently and I was getting madder by the minute as this kid tried to weasel on me. Then the nice police officer asked me how fast I was going. Well I thought he meant as I was driving along; that is until this kid said something smart, and I commented that I had been stopped, trying to back up and honking my horn all at the same time. He shut up, clearly caught. He got a ticket and I got his name and address. You'd think the story would be over, but it wasn't. A couple of days later, our insurance company called to inform me that the young man had no insurance. His car was a rental and he'd lied. The rental car company didn't care that the insurance card he gave them was no longer in effect. They felt they had no responsibility. I could never figure that out since it was their car. Thank goodness for them, their car had no damage. Mine did, to the tune of $500, a big sum for us. Well, I knew I wasn't going to see that kid again, so I did the next best thing. I called him on the phone to berate him. Well, he practically cried, and I felt sorry for him. I'm sure it was a ploy, but God used it to soften my heart. After I calmed down, I told him I would forgive him the debt. Instead I wanted him to take that $500 he owed me and buy some insurance. He promised he would, incredulous that I wasn't going after him. Of course I had to explain that I was a Christian and since God forgave me, I was required to forgive him. Boy was it his lucky day! Later in the week, our neighbor, a body man for the Cadillac corporation, asked us what we were going to do. We told him, nothing; get the headlight fixed and let it go. I explained the predicament we were in and that the young man had no money and no insurance. The next day our neighbor came over with an offer we couldn't refuse. He agreed to fix my little car for the cost of materials only in support of our decision to forgive the debt the young man owed us. He was a Christian too.
Well, that's the saga of our little car. I was thankful that we didn't have any more accidents after that. God had mercy upon us and our little car, allowing us to keep it for almost 15 years. In fact, our good neighbor borrowed it for a week when his old clunker was in the shop. He couldn't get over the fact that he never had to gas it up. Boy, do I wish I had that car today!
I am thankful for the lessons of forgiveness we learned. How wonderful it was to have opportunities to extend mercy and grace to those who had wronged me. I had to be careful though; I didn't want to ruin the whole thing with a prideful, smug heart.
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"Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross; and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works." Matthew 16:24-27
Have you ever owed somebody a debt that you can't repay? Maybe it's a credit card bill that's so large, there is no hope of repayment. Maybe someone did you a favor once, but you can't return the favor. Have you ever been gifted with something that you couldn't possibly provide for yourself? Maybe you had a great debt, and someone paid it for you. It is very humbling to know you owe someone and can't repay the debt.
We hate terms like "obligation", "duty", "required" etc. They remind us that we have responsibilities, which we sometimes wish we didn't have. In our pride, we often fight against placing ourselves in any situation that would obligate us to someone. We prefer to remain in control of our lives and our destinies without the encumbrances of duty and obligation. How easy it is to dismiss ourselves from responsibilities, especially when others won't require us to be faithful.
I owe a debt that I cannot possibly repay. Years ago, I became aware that I needed to be saved from the punishment I deserved for my sins. There was no hope for me. I was destined to die. Yet the good news is that I discovered someone had already paid my debt. That someone was Jesus Christ. He has gifted me with salvation from the penalty of my sin because He died so I didn't have to. He did it for love. He loves me and there is nothing I can do about that. I chose to accept His gift, rather than dismiss it and Him. Consequently, I have a new life. No matter how good it gets, I am reminded that I live because He died.
If I hadn't accepted His gift, then I would have been rewarded according to my works. Unfortunately, that's not saying much, since my works weren't any good. How grateful I am that my works are not under His judgment. He gifted me despite my works. In fact, there's nothing I can do to merit His good favor. You may say that I am free from any obligation to Him, and I am. Yet, how can I not recognize that I owe Him my life? That generates a response in me to follow Him.
A true disciple is humbled by the debt that cannot be repaid. The obligation is a yoke we put on willingly and gladly. We take up our cross which is not our current hardship, but is instead our desire to serve Him. Our service becomes a life of self-sacrifice and obligation to others, only because we choose to.
I have a debt that I cannot repay. My debtor does not require me to repay Him. He asks only that I take up my cross and follow Him. It seems a small thing, but the ramifications are enormous.
He withheld nothing from me, so how can I withhold anything from Him?
If you are struggling to believe the truth and do not know Jesus as your Savior, then please go to Do you know for sure?
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"But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Matthew 6:15
MUSINGS... Matthew
5:39-6:4
"But I say unto you, that ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also.
And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him, twain.
Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.
Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?
Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.
Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward.
But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:
That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly."
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"No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon." Matthew 6:24
By Nancy Twigg
Remember your pre-kid days when you could be in and out of the grocery store in
thirty minutes or less? Remember when the only impulse purchases you had to
worry about were your own?
While some moms actually enjoy taking their children with them to the grocery store, many moms do so only out of necessity. What else can you do when your cupboards are bare and you don’t have anyone to watch the kids while you shop?
Whether you enjoy shopping with your little ones or not, taking the family along tends to make the shopping trip more difficult, more time-consuming and more expensive. Here are some tips and strategies for making shopping with kids a little easier:
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ABOUT NANCY...
Nancy Twigg is a speaker, writer and homeschool mom who lives in Knoxville, TN. She is also the editor of Counting the Cost, a free email newsletter and simple and frugal living. To sign up for Nancy’s newsletter or learn more about her work, visit Nancy online at www.countingthecost.com/index1.htm
"Inspired by great-grandmother's scrapbook, compiled before 1918."
How Gentle God's Commands
by Philip Doddridge
How gentle God's commands!
How kind his precepts are!
Come, cast your burdens on the Lord
And trust his constant care.Beneath his watchful eye,
His Saints securely dwell;
That hand which bears all nature up
Shall guard his children well.Why should this anxious load
Press down your weary mind?
Haste to your Heav'nly Father's throne
And sweet refreshment find.His goodness stands approved,
Unchanged from day to day;
I'll drop my burden at his feet
And bear a song away.
*In the Public Domain
Read more about Philip Doddridge at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_Doddridge_(Nonconformist)
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"Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again." Matthew 7:1-2
HOME SCHOOL TIPS PREPARING YOUR TEEN FOR A CAREER
Following are some simple tasks teens can do to gather information about careers.
*A Google search can reveal websites for organizations pertaining to a particular field, help wanted offers, and even technical information about the needs of a particular industry. This is a good place to start in discovering if your teen’s career interest is feasible.
*Plan to give your teen opportunities to explore career interests. High school age teens can use their summers to work part-time in the field of their choice as a summer intern or volunteer. Taking a part-time job with a company that is of interest can provide opportunities for exploring various positions, and when the time comes, provide an edge in obtaining full-time employment.
*Classes are also available through your local community college to help your teen discover interests. For interest, your teen may be interested in marine biology, but if he hates dissecting, then maybe marine biology isn’t a good match. Taking classes can help solidify interests and enhance budding talents.
*Some colleges offer summer camps and workshops so teens can explore various career interests. For example, Bob Jones University offers camps in music, automotives, history, cosmetology, drama, sports, and more. Consider it an investment in your teen’s future.
*Expose your teen to a variety of environments and activities such as cultural festivals.
*Your teen might want to establish a seasonal business, complete with business cards, and a business plan. Contact the Small Business Administration for information on available resources.
*A fun exercise is for your teen to select a job from the newspaper want ads, pick out an affordable apartment, and select a car to discover the realistic costs and earning potential necessary to have the desired lifestyle.
*Your teen could interview someone who already has a career in the teen’s field of interest. They can provide invaluable information on job requirements, education requirements, and salary ranges. We were surprised to learn that the VP of Sales in my husband’s company suggested a degree in liberal arts rather than business. Small details like this can save money on college expenses. How many parents have paid for a college education only to discover that somewhere along the line, interest shifted, and now those courses are no longer pertinent?
*Consider an apprenticeship to a trade or seek a mentor from your teen’s field of interest who can be available to answer questions on a regular basis. Take your teen to work. Set up tours in companies of interest.
Showing and experiencing are far better than telling. The broader the knowledge base, the more likely your teen will be able to narrow his career choices.
To learn more about homeschooling please contact me!
CHECK OUT THESE HELPFUL RESOURCES>>>
Providing Christian Homeschool Curriculum and online courses for families who want to build a Biblical worldview.
A wonderful free downloadable program for record keeping!
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"And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it." Matthew 10:38-39
THOUGHT
PROVOKERSExcerpt from Good Works and the Justified
by Horatius Bonar, Scottish Presbyterian Minister (1808-1889)
"Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness." Romans 4:4-5
"We are bought with a price that we may be new creatures in Christ Jesus. We are forgiven that we may be like Him, Who forgives us. We are set at liberty and brought out of prison that we may be holy. The free, boundless love of God, pouring itself into us, expands and elevates our whole being; and we serve Him, not in order to win His favor, but because we have already won it in simply believing His record concerning His Son. If the root is holy, so are the branches. We have become connected with the holy root and by the necessity of this connection are made holy too.
Forgiveness relaxes no law nor interferes with the highest justice. Human pardons may often do so: God's pardons never. Forgiveness doubles all our bonds to a holy life, only they are no longer bonds of iron, but of gold. It takes off the heavy yoke in order to give us the light and easy. Love is stronger than law. Whatever connects our obedience with love must be far more influential than what connects us with law.
The love of God to us and our love to God work together for producing holiness in us."
*Free Grace Broadcaster, Spring, 2008
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"And having food and raiment let us be therewith content." I Timothy 6:6
"Hear, and understand: Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man." Matthew 15:10-11
* More recipes can be found at Free Recipes.
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2 fillets haddock 1 1/2 cup soft bread crumbs 2 tablespoons melted butter 1/2 teaspoon salt dash of pepper 1/2 teaspoon paprika 1/2 teaspoon chopped parsley 1 tablespoon lemon juice
Lemon-Almond Sauce 1/2 cup butter 1/4 cup lemon juice 1/2 cup almonds, blanched and slivered
Rinse and pat dry haddock fillets. Combine bread crumbs, butter, salt, pepper, paprika, and lemon juice. Spread over one filet. Top with second filet. Pour lemon-almond sauce over top. Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 35-40 minutes.
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"Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt." Matthew 18:27
When scooping out a baked potato, use a serrated grapefruit spoon. The edges will slice through the potato, separating it from the skin very easily.
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The
Believer's
Mission...
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