The Gathering Place Where Family Matters

“Have you not known? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth? It is He that set us up on the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretches out the heavens as a curtain and spreads them out as a tent to dwell in” (Isaiah 40:21-22).

The faith of a child really is quite a remarkable thing. Five-year-old Mark came home from Sunday school, and at the family table announced, “Jesus made everything, and that settles it.” Markie’s older brothers and sisters chuckled at the young theologian but were still happy to see the faith of their little brother. Mark grew up and became a committed believer, and indeed, a scientist that firmly believed in the Genesis account of creation. He loved the Lord Jesus and was thankful to belong to an awesome Creator. As an adult it became his joy to teach boys and girls about the wonderful creation of the Lord God. “Did you know that our great big huge universe which the Lord Jesus created by simply speaking is growing and expanding? But boys and girls, this is not just something scientists recently discovered. Did you know that Isaiah talked about the way God ‘stretches out the heavens as a curtain and spreads them out as a tent to dwell in’? Only God could have taught Isaiah this wonderful truth. It makes me very happy to be a Christian and to believe the Word of God. You can trust the Bible and the Lord Jesus Christ.” We can do the same thing today. We don’t have to be a rocket scientist. But on the other hand, we could be a rocket scientist and still trust the Lord!

For today: What a blessing to simply believe the Bible and trust the Author.

“It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not” (Lamentations 3:22).

Yesterday I shared with you Jody and her grandfather’s discussion of the word “Lamentations.” Young Jody was memorizing several verses, and Grandfather found it delightful to be listening to his dear granddaughter, Jody Maria. After explaining the meaning of the word and why Jeremiah was so saddened, the next question from Jody was, “Grandpa, did you ever memorize this verse?” A smile came to the face of the old man. He was bent from the years of a painful situation that caused him to shuffle rather than walk. “Yes, my sweet Jody girl. In fact, I have quoted this verse to myself, and not only this verse, but the next verse as well. ‘They are new every morning: great is Thy faithfulness.’ That means that every day when I get out of bed, even though it seems to be taking me longer and longer, God’s great love, kindness, and faithfulness will be brand new today.” That’s exactly how I want to view the Lord’s goodness every day. How about you?

For today: How good the Lord is to His people. I’m glad that I belong to Him. How about you?

“It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not” (Lamentations 3:22).

Jody was busy memorizing verses for JOY Club which would meet in several days. Her grandfather was listening to her as she practiced the verses. “Grandpa, what does ‘Lamentations’ mean?” Grandpa gave his young granddaughter a hug and said, “Well honey, I don’t suspect you have ever cried hard enough to know what ‘lamentation’ would be. It is such a terrible sadness that Jeremiah felt when his city and temple was destroyed because of the sin of his people. He tried to tell them. But they wouldn’t listen.” Grandpa and granddaughter had a very special time together as they studied God’s Word. Just before Jody’s mom called them to supper, Grandfather reminded Jody of this great spiritual lesson. “Jody girl, just remember this no matter how old you grow. When we choose to sin, we will be sad. When we obey the Lord, we will always be glad we did.” More about Jody and her grandfather’s conversation tomorrow.

For today: That was a very wise Grandpa. May we remember that great spiritual lesson!

“Yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant” (Malachi 2:14).

Malachi wrote to his people about the treacherous way some of the husbands were treating their wives. God hated the treachery of these unfaithful husbands. Malachi wrote in very powerful and pointed ways about the sanctity of marriage. Malachi reminded these husbands that their wives were their companions and the wives of their covenant. Marriage is not a contract with loopholes and ways to get out of it. Marriage is a covenant. This covenant is the pledging of one’s life to another. In marriage the husband and wife pledge to each other their lives. They literally give themselves to each other. It is an exclusive choice. These are not just nice words to say. In fact, they have extra significance to me. On this day, forty-three years ago my bride and I were married. I can tell you very honestly that understanding the covenant and companionship aspect of marriage really works. Even with folks that have two very different personalities, Karen and I long ago became best friends, and we still are today. That’s why it is a joy for me to be writing my next book. The title is “Growing- Staying Best Friends When the Honeymoon’s Over.” If you are married, don’t lose sight of the covenant and companionship God greatly desires for you.

For today: Pray for marriages in America. Strong marriages help to produce strong churches. We surely need this today.

“I will love Thee, O LORD, my strength. The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust” (Psalm 18:1-2).

Kent came up from the barn and into the mud room of their home. He was an absolute mess. “Your son, Douglas Michael, will be in in a few minutes. Do you remember me telling him not to take the tractor onto the lower field behind your parents’ home?” he asked his wife, Marcia. Before she could answer he said, “That son of ours directly disobeyed me and took the John Deere onto that muddy field. I’ve worked for over an hour to try and get it out. I’m going to have to hire Hunter Wellington to come with his bulldozer and pull it out!” Kent said with a disgusted tone in his voice. Wisely Marcia gave her husband a few moments to cool off just a little before she hugged him and whispered in his ear, “Do you remember the time that you buried my father’s tractor in that same field behind his house? As I recall, my father was not too pleased about having to call the elder Hunter Wellington to come with a bulldozer. As I am thinking about it, I also remember my dad mentioning something about the Lord being his Deliverer on many occasions. If I remember right, he used you, his tractor, and the bulldozer as a great illustration for his Sunday school class on the subject of deliverance!” At that moment Doug appeared at the door to the mud room. Things went a lot better for him than he imagined!

For today: Aren’t you glad that the Lord is our Deliverer?