Rooted as Trees
And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. (Psalm 1:3)
YESTERDAY, WE RECEIVED AN EMAIL FROM OUR GRANDDAUGHTER, JENNIFER CLARKE, in Winston-Salem, NC. It included 68 pictures of the Toddlers Class at the Pinedale Church they attend. Avery, our great-granddaughter, is the middle child in this picture. She will be 2, October 6. Debbie Nifong and two other adults taught the class. I’m not sure which lady this is in the picture.
JENNIFER WRITES: “Here is the email from Avery’s Sunday school teacher. I couldn’t fit it all in the shared album, but I definitely wanted to share!” Following this, there is a short letter to the parents of the eight children in the class. The letter begins:
“Sept 9, 2018,
“WELL, THIS MORNING WAS GREAT WITH 8 TODDLERS participating in class. I just love big classes and this one is looking like it may be pretty big. I want you to know that I regularly pray for each of your children, including family. I believe prayers should be specific if there is ever anything that you need uplifted to our dear savior I will do it.”
The letter continues:
“THIS PAST WEEK I GOT THE JOY OF RIDING DOWN THE VIRGINIA CREEPER TRAIL with a couple of work friends. It was an amazing day in God's creation. For those of you that don't know about this trail let me tell you about it. It’s in Damascus Virginia which is about 30 miles north of Boone the same way you go to App. State. You rent a bike then a van takes you up a mountain in a 30-40 min drive; they let you out with your bike and you ride the mountain back down to the rental place.
“17.6 MILES DOWN AND 3 HOURS LATER I was totally in awe of God's creation. We followed a mountain stream and saw fishermen trying to catch rainbow trout. I saw huge boulders in the side of the mountain and trees with deep, deep roots planted on the edge of cliffs. The trail is a gentle slope not too scary for my age, so it was fun.
“I KEPT THINKING THIS WEEK I want to be planted deep in God's word like the trees that were so beautiful along the cliffs. I want my children and your children to be anchored with deep, deep truths so that when the hurricane comes they will stand strong and not fall. I kept seeing signs, "watch for falling rock," as we rode.
“THE ROCKS WILL FALL NO MATTER WHAT WE PLACE ALONGSIDE THE MOUNTAINS. The rocks are like stress falling into your life, it will come - but how will you deal with it? Will you lift the boulders to God or will you yell at your child? Oh, I have done that, I'm no perfect parent but I serve a perfect Savior that listens to my every stress and knows me better than I know myself. Dear parent I'm praying for you today!
I love you,
Debbie Nifong”
THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL PIECES I HAVE READ IN A WHILE. The dedication of this teacher (whom I have never met) is obvious. She is already a tree and already rooted in the God of the Word and longs to be more deeply rooted in the Word of God. There was a man sitting in the floor in one of the pictures. I assume he is the father of one of the children in the class.
AND THIS, DEAR FRIENDS, IS THE HOPE OF AMERICA. One Sunday school class at a time. One dedicated mother and father at a time in the home, day after day modeling Jesus Christ to their children.
ACROSS AMERICA THIS IS GOING ON IN SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASSES and homes dedicated to God and in Christian Schools. In church assemblies where the Word of God is being read and explained to people interested in the Word; interested in building Godly homes and Godly families and the hope of Godly children as the outcome.
THE DEVIL IS MAD BECAUSE HE KNOWS HIS TIMES IS SHORT. Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time. (Revelation 12:12)
HE WILL DESTROY YOUR CHILDREN IF YOU WILL LET HIM. If you ignore the souls of your children, Satan will not! Satan will destroy your children if you do not fight for them. Your strongest ally is an active Bible in your home and its effect on your life before them and your connection with a strong Bible church. If God is your daily close friend, your children will have something to copy. If you are lazy and slack about the things of God, your children will have little to copy in their own lives.
ON THE OTHER HAND, MANY PARENTS ARE GODLY and give their children the best of training and the children do not embrace it. For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. (Hebrews 4:2) In that case, you weep and pray for them with your last breath. The enemies of God’s people are: The world, The flesh, and The devil.
P.S. Today is my Grandpa Richards’ birthday: 143 years old today. We always had our birthdays together. I was the last grandson of his old age. He was the best of the best. Ω
Read Through the Bible in a Year
SEPTEMBER 11, 2018 – TUESDAY
A.M. Proverbs 19-20 P.M. 2Corinthians 3
(Bible Gateway will read this to you if you like. Look for the speaker icon.)
A Good Verse to Memorize:
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. (2Chronicles 7:14)
(Write verse on scrap of paper and put in your pocket to memorize.)
Song for Today:
Holy, Holy, Holy (2:36) (David Phelps Family)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0KFKj6n1Oo
Give it a little time – You may need to adjust the sound.
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