The Blueprint

"Hear O Israel: The Lord God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the rode, when you lie down at night and when you get up." Deuteronomy 6:4-7 This past week's election is said to be one of the most memorable elections in history. Statistics show that more people voted in this presidential election than ever before. I have listened as many Christians encouraged others to vote for Godly principles and how that we must "take a stand" for what we believe in. While this is true and I did take my stand by voting, it is important for believers not to sit back after an election is over. We must remember that our faith and hope is not determined by a man, a government, or laws. We have hope in our Lord. Our hope came at Calvary many years ago. His name is Jesus. We must accept that no matter the outcome, God still remains in control. The question becomes, "what do I do now?" What do we, as God's people, do until we leave this earth by death or by rapture? The answer is found in Deuteronomy 6:4-7. God's word gives us direction. He tells us to love Him with all our hearts, soul, and strength. I think we sometimes believe that if we attend church once a week, try to read our Bible every once in a while, and live a lifestyle that is acceptable in the eyes of the church, we are showing God love. This is false. God asks us to love Him completely with all that we are. This is a concept that I am experiencing now. I am deeply in love with Him and I have just scratched the surface! It comes about by emptying yourself before Him daily. We must get rid of all the junk or idols that are before Him in our day-to-day life. How much attention does God get from you and I? Not enough, at least from me. God also tells us to impress this on our children. Have you ever needed a blueprint or an instruction manual when it came to raising your children? I need one that deals with 4 year olds now!!!! But we have one! In those same verses in Deuteronomy, God tells us to talk about Him with our children when we sit at home, when we are on the rode, when we lay down at night, and when we get up. Seems simple enough...but do we really do it as often as He says. Perhaps we can't tell our children about God because we aren't as close to Him as we would like to be. There are so many things that distract us from telling our children about Him. I want Canaan to know that God wants a relationship, a friendship, with him. I want Canaan to know what God has done in my life and for him to see God's power. For me to see this come about, I must keep a close relationship with God on a daily basis. What about you? Do you feel fearful and afraid because of the world? God's word tells us in 2 Timothy 1:7, "For God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." That's exciting! Who doesn't need a sound mind?! God's word says He doesn't give us fear. God does want us to fear Him because it offers us protection. Proverbs 14:26 says, "He who fears the Lord has a secure fortress, and for his children it will be a refuge." Again, God tells us and our children how to endure walking on the earth until he comes. I hope you will join me in taking refuge in our Lord and teaching our children just how wonderful He is. You and I must also remember that if we are afraid, we are choosing to be afraid. God gives us other options... Love, Corrie My prayer for today: Father, how wonderful you are to provide a refuge for me and my family. Thank you for showing me that I never have to be fearful, no matter my circumstances or the circumstances of the world. Forgive me when I choose fear over your peace...