Proven Path Ministries - The writing and teachings of Nicole Love Halbrooks Vaughn

Speaking To The Heart of Your Child

Published on May 3, 2013 by Nicole Vaughn in Book Reviews, Children's Ministry, Confessions of a Christian Wife, Proven Path Ministries, Train Up A Child Series

I shared with my church family last Wednesday night about how excited I am about the National Center of Biblical Parenting coming to our church to do a Parenting Solutions Seminar. I came across this organization, when I received the calling to children’s ministry and was researching curriculum and ideas. I followed a link from a DiscipleLand link that led me to the NSBP. As I perused their site I found myself saying, yes! Yes! This is great stuff!

Why do I feel it is great?

This organization is focused on teaching you how to apply the precepts of God to your parenting. How many times have you heard a parent say, this kid didn’t come with an instruction book?

But the truth is they did.

God has faithfully left us His Word…

Your word is a lamp to my feet
And a light to my path.

Psalm 119:105

So the problem really is not that our children didn’t come with an instruction book… it’s that we, as parents, need help learning how to read the Instruction Book and how to apply it to our parenting.

For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Hebrews 4:12

If you have ever looked at your kids and said How many times have I told you?

or Do you not understand the words coming out my mouth?

(or maybe that’s just me :-/)

I think a lot of parents feel like they come home and all they do is “get on” to their kids until bedtime.

I think a lot of parents are growing weary of correcting the same behavior over and over and they just finally say “whatever”

I think a lot of parents feel as if they are losing their mind… Remember that one of the signs of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results… so stop.

Stop now and choose to look at your child in a new way.

Choose to give your style of parenting a remake.

Choose to let someone teach you how the Word of God works in parentings… learn to live out the Word inside your home and see it at work in your heart and the heart of your child. I don’t know about you, but I want to speak to the heart of my child… not just correct their outward behavior or control their circumstances.

You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

2 Timothy 3:14-17

Everything we need to reach the heart of our children is in the Word of God.

Parenting comes with many trials and many tribulations… so parenting requires great perseverance. It is that perseverance through these trials that will bring about proven character in your child… and yes, precious one, in you as well.

And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance;and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Romans 3:3-5

Yes, everything we need to reach the heart of our child and to be successful at this parenting thing is found in the Scriptures. It’s all right there in the Word of God.

The Christian Parenting Handbook will teach you to find it and apply it. You’ll discover simple advice like this:

Grouping offenses around character qualities is freeing for many parents. First, it provides some perspective. Instead of working on fifty different negative behaviors, now you can focus on three or four positive character qualities. Furthermore, once you develop a strategy for character development, you begin to see many of the offenses in your child’s life as opportunities for growth.

This approach also helps parents focus on what their kids need to be doing instead of simply focusing on the wrong behavior. Listen to your words of correction. Are they primarily focused on the problem, or on the solution?

In this book you will learn how to take the Word of God and realize that in it is all the parenting tools that you need that can apply to your own unique and beautiful children. My favorite thing about this book is that it takes away the formulas and steps and procedures that are in a lot of parenting books. I don’t know about you but I rarely even cook from a recipe… there is always something that I am out of, something we don’t buy, something I don’t like, something I forget to do or forgot to get… so I definitely can’t parent from one.

This is why I recommend purchasing this book… it takes parenting out of the box.

Trust me… you will not regret it.

Purchase the The Christian Parenting Handbook here.

I recommend any of their Parenting Tools. Go here and find the parenting solutions you need to meet the needs of your individual child and your own unique family. You can also purchase the Handbook Companion Guide here.

If you live in the North Alabama area I would love for you to come and meet Dr Turansky and Dr Miller in person as they come to my church to share with us. They are very laid back and are coming ready and willing to spend one on one time with the attending parents.

You can register to attend here: Register for Parenting Solutions Seminar

Disclaimer: “As a member of The Christian Parenting Handbook Launch Team, I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review and the opportunity to promote related giveaways and activities to my readers. All opinions are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with FTC Regulations.”

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The Charge of a Mother

Published on May 20, 2013 by Nicole Vaughn in Proven Path Ministries

On May 11th I spoke at a Mother Child Tea. As I studied while I prepared to speak in my fullness I posted The Meaning of Mother and then the The Call of a Mother. I am going to finish sharing what I learned through a series of post. Today we will look at the charge of a Mother…

As I studied through the book of Jeremiah I had never realized how well the study of this book could relate to the cry of a mother’s heart… As I read passages like

‘Return, faithless Israel,’ declares the Lord;
‘I will not look upon you in anger.
For I am gracious,’ declares the Lord;
‘I will not be angry forever.
‘Only acknowledge your iniquity,
That you have transgressed against the Lord your God
And have scattered your favors to the strangers under every green tree,
And you have not obeyed My voice,’ declares the Lord.
‘Return, O faithless sons,’ declares the Lord;
‘For I am a master to you,
And I will take you one from a city and two from a family,
And I will bring you to Zion.’

Jeremiah 3:12-14

One of the hardest things to watch as a parent is to see your children making wrong choices and living in the deceit of them instead of trusting in your words of truth to them. It is even harder when this thing is in absolute rebellion to God. There is nothing but the leaning into the sovereign arms of the Lord that can comfort a mother who is watching her child walk stubbornly and stiff-necked right into the death of sin…

To the Christian mother of today’s United States in the abundance of promoted immorality and having the seeds of evil and lies of Satan so fervently sown in every direction no matter where you turn… the call of a Mother to pluck up and break down and destroy and overflow becomes all the more crucial and overwhelming.

How on earth can we win this fight?

How on earth can we build on the solid foundation and plant the good seed fast enough, deep enough, secure enough to keep the seeds of evil and lies from taking root and to keep the enemy of our souls from throwing up his make-shift shanties where the temple of the Holy Spirit of the Living God should be.

We hear the call, but how can we accomplish this call?

Thus the charge of a mother…

For I am mindful of the sincere faith within you,

which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois

and your mother Eunice,

and I am sure that it is in you as well.

For this reason I remind you to kindle afresh

the gift of God which is in you

through the laying on of my hands.

For God has not given us a spirit of timidity,

but of power and love and discipline.

2 Timothy 1:5-7

First, be aware that God is mindful of the sincere faith that is within you. Be aware that God sees the desire of your heart to raise your children up in truth and to fight the powers of hell on their behalf. Be aware, mother, that He sees and He knows.

Then, remember what you have been taught by the generation before you. Why are you where you are today with this heart for God. Who has invested in you and how did they invest in you. Follow their example. Pour into your child the hope that was poured into you.

Then, kindle afresh the gift of God that is within you… His Holy Spirit… His Word. Never let the wellspring of the Living Water run dry in you. Never let the fire of His Spirit be quenched within you… keep yourself under the mentorship of other strong mature believers who can pray with you and encourage and exhort you. Stay in the Word and stay in the fellowship.

Finally, never ever forget that God has not given you a spirit of timidity. He has given you a spirit of power and of love and of discipline. You can answer this call of a mother because God Himself has prepared and supplied you with everything you need to do so.

Notice the list is power – love – discipline

If love is not at the center in how you answer this call, then power and discipline will backfire and uproot all that you plant and destroy all that you build… be careful to keep love at the center. You can do this if you remember who you are in Him and remember that is Him who watches over His Word to perform it. It is not your job to force it… but His to perform it.

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Romans Study For Kids (Romans 4)

Published on May 18, 2013 by Nicole Vaughn in Children's Ministry, Proven Path Ministries, The Romans Project

The last handouts made for the Romans Study for Kids were on Romans 3:25-31. Today I am posting the Handouts for Romans 4. So this is a long post… but here is a study for Romans 4 that I believe you will be able to use with your kids to help them learn the glorious truth in this chapter.

Romans 4:1-8

What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found?

2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God.

3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”

4 Now to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due.

5 But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness,

6 just as David also speaks of the blessing on the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:

7 “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds have been forgiven, And whose sins have been covered.

8 “Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will not take into account.”

In Romans 4 Paul shows us how God uses Abraham as an example to show all of us that justification is by faith and not by our works or by the Law.

Read Romans 4:1-2. Even if Abraham had worked really hard and been really good and was able to be justified by his works, could he boast about that before God? Could He impress God with his works? Circle your answer.

Yes No

Read Romans 4:3. What does the Scripture say about how Abraham was justified or declared righteous? Fill in the blanks with your answer.

Abraham __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ God and it was

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ to him as righteousness

Read Romans 4:4. What do you learn about works and credit?

Now to the one who works, his wage is __ __ __ credited

as a favor, but as what is __ __ __

If you work for something is your payment a favor as a gift or is your payment due to you because you earned it? Circle your answer.

favor due

Read Romans 4:5. What happens to the one who does not work , but believes in God who justifies the ungodly?

his __ __ __ __ __ is __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ as righteousnessThe word “faith” in the Greek is pistis and it means conviction of the truth, belief.

So it was Abraham’s conviction of the truth, his belief in God and what God said that justified him.

Read Romans 4:5 again. Who does God justify?

the __ __ __ __ __ __ __

Look back at Romans 1:18-19 and Romans 3:10-18. According to what you have learned in Romans so far, who are the ungodly? Circle all that apply.

Jews Gentiles Everyone Noone

Read Romans 4:6. Who also speaks to us about God crediting righteousness apart from works?

__ __ __ __ __

What does David call this credit of righteousness?

a __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

The word “blessing” in the Greek is Makarismos and it means declaration of blessedness, to utter a declaration of blessedness upon one, to pronounce one blessed.

According to this definition, do you earn a blessing? Circle your answer.

Yes No

Read Romans 4:7-8. These verses come from Psalm 32:1-2. According to these verses who is blessed?

1) those whose lawless deeds have been

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

2) those whose sins have been __ __ __ __ __ __ __

3) those whose __ __ __ the Lord will not take into account

The greatest blessing and gift we can receive is God forgiving our lawless deeds and not crediting us the wage of our sin. Read Romans 6:23 to see what the wages of sin is. What is the wage for sin?

__ __ __ __ __

When we believe God and His promise to us He credits us with righteousness and He pays sin for us. We did not earn the blessing, the forgiveness, or the righteousness… it is all the favor and gift of God to us for simply believing Him.

Romans 4:9-25

Is this blessing then on the circumcised, or on the uncircumcised also? For we say, “Faith was credited to Abraham as righteousness.”

10 How then was it credited? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised;

11 and he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while uncircumcised, so that he might be the father of all who believe without being circumcised, that righteousness might be credited to them,

12 and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also follow in the steps of the faith of our father Abraham which he had while uncircumcised.

13 For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would be heir of the world was not through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith.

14 For if those who are of the Law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise is nullified;

15 for the Law brings about wrath, but where there is no law, there also is no violation.

16 For this reason it is by faith, in order that it may be in accordance with grace, so that the promise will be guaranteed to all the descendants, not only to those who are of the Law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all,

17 (as it is written, “A father of many nations have I made you”) in the presence of Him whom he believed, even God, who gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist.

18 In hope against hope he believed, so that he might become a father of many nations according to that which had been spoken, “So shall your descendants be.”

19 Without becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah’s womb

20 yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God,

21 and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform.

22 Therefore it was also credited to him as righteousness.

23 Now not for his sake only was it written that it was credited to him,

24 but for our sake also, to whom it will be credited, as those who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead,

25 He who was delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification.

Read Romans 4:9-10. What question does Paul ask about Abraham’s faith being credited to him as righteousness?

Did Abraham receive this blessing when he was

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ or

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ ?

Look up and read Genesis 15:1-18. In what verse do we read that Abraham believed God and God reckons (or credits) Abraham as righteous?

Genesis 15:___

In what verse do we read that God make a covenant with Abraham?

Genesis 15:___

We learn that God made a covenant with Abraham on the same day that Abraham believed God and He credited it to him as righteousness.

Now look up and read Genesis 17:7-13. What did God say would be the sign of the covenant?

you shall be __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

According to what you have read in Genesis put the following in the order that they happened.

Circumcision 1. ___________

Believed God 2. ___________

Covenant made 3. ___________

What came last?

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

If circumcision came last can it be what made God justify Abraham? Circle your answer.

Yes No

Read Romans 4:10-12. When did Abraham have faith? Before or after he was circumcised?

Circle your answer.

Before After

Read Romans 4:11 to find out why this is so important to know. Why was Abraham credited righteous before he received the sign of circumcision?

So that he might be the father of __ __ __ who

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ without being circumcised

According to what you have learned so far in Romans and the chapters you have read in Genesis, does a person have to be circumcised to be justified? Circle your answer.

Yes No

Read Romans 4:13. Did Abraham receive his promise from God through the Law? Circle your answer.

Yes No

When did Abraham receive the promise from God?

Look up and read Genesis 12:1-4 to find out.

When did God give Israel the Law?

Read Exodus 20:1-18 to find out.

According to the Bible what came first, the promise to Abraham or the Law? Circle your answer.

Promise Law

Go back and read Romans 3:20. What is the purpose of the Law?

Through the Law comes the __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ of __ __ __

Read Romans 4:15. What does the Law bring about?

__ __ __ __ __

Read Romans 3:21-22. How do we receive the righteousness of God? Circle your answer.

Through the Law Through faith in Jesus

Who can receive this righteousness? Circle your answer.

Those who are circumcised

Those who have the Law

Those who believe God.

Think about what you have learned so far in Genesis, Exodus, and Romans. Look at the list below and put everything in the order that they occur and put the Scripture reference that proves it.

Law 1. ________________

Promise 2. ________________

Circumcision 3. _________________

Believed God 4. _________________

Covenant made 5. _________________

What came first? _________________

What did Abraham believe? Circle your answer.

The Law The Promise

THINK ABOUT IT….

What promise has God made that He has asked us to believe so that we might be saved?

Read John 3:16.

Is there anything that God says we have to do before we believe?

Is there anything that God says that we have to do after we believe?

Read Romans 4:16. How does this verse begin?

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

This verse tells us why God did not make the Law or circumcision the way for us to be justified and credited righteousness. If we were justified by the Law, who could be saved? Who can keep the Law and never break it? Can anyone? Circle your answer.

Yes No

Read Romans 4:16 again. Fill in the blanks to complete the verse.

For this reason it is by __ __ __ __ __, in order that it may be in accordance with __ __ __ __ __, so that the __ __ __ __ __ __ __ will be guaranteed to __ __ __ the descendants, not only to those who are of the Law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us __ __ __

How can Abraham be the father of us all? Remember that Paul is writing this letter to the church, to the saints in Rome. Remember this and read Galatians 3:29 printed below.

And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise.

Galatians 3:29

According to this verse how do we become heirs to the promise and Abraham’s descendants?

if you belong to __ __ __ __ __ __

Look up and read Romans 10:9. How can we belong to Christ?

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ with your mouth Jesus is Lord, and

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved

Read Romans 4:16 again. Read Ephesians 2:8-9 printed below and answer the questions.

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.

How are you saved?

by __ __ __ __ __ you have been saved through

__ __ __ __ __

Read Romans 3:24 and compare it to Ephesians 2:8-9, what do both of the verses tell us about being saved?

it is a __ __ __ __ of __ __ __

Read Romans 3:27-28 and Romans 4:2 and compare it to Ephesians 2:8-9. Is there any one who can brag or boast about doing enough works to get themselves saved? Circle your answer.

Yes No

Go ahead and read Romans 4:16-25. When you finish sit down with your mom and dad or another trusted adult as we study through and think about these last verses in Romans 4. As you read remember that Abraham is an example to us as to how God saves and keeps His promise to us.

THINK ABOUT IT…

When we read about Abraham and Sarah in the book of Genesis we learn that Abraham was 75 years old when God gave him the promise. If we look all the way back to Genesis 3:15 we see that this promise was made first to Adam and Eve. Then it was made to Noah in Genesis 6:18. Now God gives it Abraham in Genesis 12:1-4. God promises that he would become the father of many nations. God gives the promise, but Abraham still has to believe the promise. As we read about Abraham we learn that he makes a lot of mistakes as He tries to obey God, but He keeps trying. In Genesis 15 we learn that Abraham really believes the promise that God made him, and so God credits him righteous, God saves Him. Then Abraham and Sarah tried to help God keep His promise, but they only made things worse. God wanted them and us to know that our works and our efforts do not determine whether or not God keeps His promise. God keeps His promise because He is God.

So God made Abraham and Sarah wait until both their bodies were unable to make a baby on their own. Their baby making parts were as Romans 4:17-19 says, dead.

But dead does not mean anything to the God who creates life out of nothing. So when Abraham was 100 years old and Sarah was 90 years old, Isaac was born. God brought their baby making parts from death to life and fulfilled His promise… all because they believed Him.

In the same way our spirit inside of us is dead. It died when Adam and Eve disobeyed God. But God says if we believe in His promise, if we believe in Jesus, He will make our dead spirit alive. We will learn more about this as we study through the rest of Romans. It’s very exciting!

I want you to close your study today with working on memorizing Romans 4:20-21. Do this together with your mom and dad or your brother or sister. This is a very important passage to have hidden in your heart and mind. There is nothing more important than knowing that God will keep His Word.

yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform.

Romans 4:20-21

Write this verse on a card and read it three times a day.

You can also take a dry erase marker and write it on the mirror in your bathroom or bedroom. This way you can read it every time you go in there.

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Purposeful Parenting

Published on May 16, 2013 by Nicole Vaughn in Children's Ministry, Confessions of a Christian Wife, Proven Path Ministries, Train Up A Child Series

If you are Christian parent you cannot deny that the enemy of our souls, Satan, the serpent of old, the accuser of the brethren, the deceiver… is after the hearts of our kids. Today is not a day that we as parents can sit by on the sidelines and just try to make it through the day. We must choose to purposefully parent in this day. This requires diligence and effort and training on our part. It also is going to require a strong support system and accountability.

Beginning in the fall of 2013 Shiloh will begin a year of focusing on how to parent with purpose. On Sunday August 25th at 5pm we will begin an eleven week study, Raising Godly Children in an Ungodly World.

Parents and parents-to-be will benefit from this Parenting Study Kit. With thought-provoking discussion questions and engaging homework assignments, parents at all stages are challenged and encouraged as they examine how to “train up their children in the way that they should go” … according to God’s Word!

In addition to the teaching of Ken and Steve, Christian parents who are currently navigating the same parenting challenges that you are offer biblical insights and practical parenting tips.

Discover what the Bible teaches about:

the roles of husband, wife, and children in the family
how we should discipline our children
how to make Scripture come alive for our children
important topics like communication, stewardship, and relationships
… how we can leave a godly legacy!

An 11-session, DVD-based study!

Raising Godly Children in an Ungodly World lesson titles

Session 1: The Genesis Family
Session 2: The Genesis of a Worldview
Session 3: Vegemite Kids
Session 4: God-Given Roles in Marriage
Session 5: God-Given Roles in the Family
Session 6: Discipline: Producing a Harvest of Peace and Righteousness
Session 7: Communicating Biblically with Your Children
Session 8: Growing a Godly Heritage
Session 9: The Family Fortress
Session 10: Developing a Biblical Mindset About Money and Possessions
Session 11: Parenting Practices

Parents attending this study are encouraged to purchase the book, Raising Godly Children in an Ungodly World. The study guide and DVD’s will be made available during the class time.

As this study concludes with Parenting Practices we will then begin a study that will take us through the rest of the year, The Christian Parenting Handbook. This study will teach us hands on how to apply everything we learned in the previous study.

Nuggets of parenting wisdom condensed into 50 short chapters, each one biblical, practical, and relevant for parents of children ages 2-18. Learn appropriate ways to correct, instruct, and set limits. Glean wisdom for dealing with emotions, conflict, and developing closeness in your family… and much more. These 50 strategies provide you with hands-on tools for parenting children of any age.

You will learn

• A practical tool to stop children’s arguing
• How to separate firmness from harshness
• A strategy to help children change their hearts
• Ways to teach kids to add energy to family life
• Solutions for sibling conflict
• The relational side of parenting
• What to do when parents don’t agree
• How to help kids who are blamers
• and much more.

Parents attending this class are encouraged to purchase The Christian Parenting Handbook and Companion Guide. We will go through one chapter a week so that we can focus on and have an opportunity to put into practice what we learn without overload of information.

To check out more information on parenting go here:

Shiloh’s Purposeful Parenting focus will begin in August, but we encourage and invite you to kick off your summer with an amazing Parenting Seminar that we are hosting this coming June 1st.

You can register here: Online Registration for Parenting Seminar

If you are a parent who attends Shiloh we will have open registration this coming Sunday outside the Sanctuary following morning service. The cost is $25 for individuals and $35 for couples. If you are a parent who is looking for a church home we invite you to join us this Sunday for open registration and we invite you to check us out this summer and allow your children to join us for all our summer activities. The logo below will send you to our website so that you can learn more about Shiloh’s Cross Guard Children’s Ministry.

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A Moment of Sadness

Published on May 16, 2013 by Nicole Vaughn in Proven Path Ministries

Yesterday I witnessed one of the saddest things I have ever seen…

On our way to church this past Wednesday night we came upon a traffic jam coming up the mountain. There is road construction going on all over our area at the moment, so at first I suspected that it was simply that, just road construction traffic.

However as we began to climb the hill and make the curve, we saw the blue lights…

It was a wreck.

There appeared to be no injuries… there was no state of panic at the scene… not an ambulance there yet… but then I saw it… I saw him.

Standing there behind one of the wrecked vehicles, yet infront of one of the police vehicles. Standing there in the midst of shattered glass and vehicle debris. Standing there in the midst of stopped cars lined in front and behind, all full of spectators… there he stood.

My heart broke.

There he stood in a wrinkled light colored suit with a grey scruffy beard and long greying hair that was whipping around a broken face… There he stood with his arms stiff by his side as he watched the policemen for instructions as he waited to attempt to walk a straight line.

I have never seen a man look more broken.

I have no clue who this man was… I do not know his story… all I know is that from my driver seat as I looked at him through the right side of my windshield my heart broke and I began to pray for the man I saw behind his eyes.

The men is my life today are all strong men.

They are not controlled by a substance or another man. These are the men I am used to seeing. Men whose word is true and sound. Men who take care of their families. Men who love their wives and their children. Men who stand tall.

There is something so sad and heartbreaking about a man who cannot be a man because he is controlled by someone or something other than Christ.

I do not know what led this man to this place, but I have prayed that he might know the love of God and freedom that can be his in Christ. I do not even know if he was guilty of what he appeared to be being accused of… but still I prayed. Even if he was innocent and misjudged… every car that slowly drove by and saw… this would be their only remembrance of him.

I do not know what hurts and lies led this man to this place. All I know is that I did not see an evil, cold, bitter man in those eyes… I saw hurt. I saw very deep hurt.

How I pray that the policemen on that scene saw what I saw.

How I pray that they were kind and not ridiculing.

How I pray that this man reaches up and finds the healing hand of Christ.

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Eternal Impact

Published on May 15, 2013 by Nicole Vaughn in Proven Path Ministries

There are some moments in life that we never forget… and some faces though they move away and be called to another place… we will never forget the impact that they had on us… because the impact was an eternal impact.

This coming Sunday I will say farewell to a couple that have been a pillar in my life as a believer… a couple whose eyes I would search for these last eleven years to see if the words I were saying and teaching were in line with Truth… because I knew if it wasn’t they would let me know… and they would do so with the Word not their personal opinion.

This coming Sunday I will say farewell to the woman whose story the Lord used to bring me to Himself…

“On December 9, 2001 Sue Fallin shared her testimony at Shiloh. She spoke of how God had healed her of four incurable diseases, but it was not the healing that caught my attention, it was the fact that she said she heard God say “I Am” and “I am faithful.” I knew then that I knew about God, but I did not know God. I knew that I had never experienced God in that way, but I wanted to. I couldn’t wait for the prayer of invitation to end before I was trying to get up to the altar. I knew I needed to be reconciled to God. I cried out to Him and He answered my cry, through faith in His beloved only begotten Son Jesus Christ.

I went to church that morning a broken woman, and I came home “a new creation in Christ Jesus” (2 Corin 5:17). I was forgiven. I was washed clean from the shame of my past, the sins of my youth (Psalm 25). Now the void within me was filled. Now I was complete.

I fell in love with Jesus, the Word of God made flesh. I had an overwhelming desire to tell my family, my friends, and the whole world about this amazing thing that had happened to me, about this amazing God-Man Jesus Christ!”

~ shared from my author page

This coming Sunday I will say farewell to the woman who spoke grace and love to me the evening my back stood straight and my attitude shot forth on the night she spoke about submission to our husbands… At the time I had never had a man other than my father truly love me, provide for me, and commit to me. As a new wife, in the back of my mind and heart, I expected my husband to eventually cheat on me and leave me stranded because that was what I knew the men of my generation to do and its not like I could stay young and in shape forever. So I was not planning on investing any submission to someone I expected to desert me. However, she taught me that submission to my husband was really submission to my God… and God I could trust… and God would never desert me. Through this submission to my God, I would learn also how to trust my husband.

This coming Sunday I will say farewell to the woman who was the first to ask me to pray out loud… in front of people… and I don’t know if she had a clue that I thought I would throw up the moment she asked. Yet, I survived and made it through the prayer without any vomit on the chapel carpet.

This coming Sunday I will say farewell to a couple who was not afraid to show that they loved God with all their heart and mind and soul and strength yet they were not perfect and they allowed me to see their imperfections because they taught with their life, not just their words.

This coming Sunday I will say farewell to a couple whose prayers I could always count on, whose words of wisdom I could always trust in, and whose faith I could always learn from. A couple whose support was unwavering and who has been there prodding me along in my faith by their prayers and their smiles and their words and their willingness to take a chance on me and the ministries that I believe the Lord has given me.

Whether it be comforting me after I call in a panic after sharing an experience before the new Pastor and our whole church, an experience that I know now I was still walking through the stages of grief in, because I feared I had spoken words that could be misunderstood and take away from the Gospel…

Whether it be reading my books and writing endorsements for them and even sitting through book signings with me because I asked her to join me because the thought of sitting their on display by myself terrified me…

Whether it be encouraging me as I took on the ministry of Children’s Ministry Director as I stepped once again into unknown territory as I attempted to live in obedience to my God…

Or whether it be encouraging me in just being a wife and a mother.

Knowing that when I walked in the door they would see what was in my eyes and I would not have to say a word… they would know to pray… or just to remind me that they were praying for me.

Durwood and Sue Fallin, thank you for sharing your faith and your life with me and my family. I hope that South Carolina understands what and who God is sending their way… because this Alabama girl most definitely knows what and who they are receiving.

You have both made an eternal impact on my life and I love you both dearly.

As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. For their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth.“I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me. The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me.

John 17:18-23

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Names of God Study: Huios Anthropos

Published on May 14, 2013 by Nicole Vaughn in Children's Ministry, Names of God Series, Proven Path Ministries

This post will end our Names of God Series for the summer… The Lord willing it will continue in the fall. There is still so much to learn about our Triune God from His names. The name that we will look at today is Jesus’ favorite name for Himself… Huios Anthropos

Jesus said to him,

“The foxes have holes

and the birds of the air have nests,

but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”

Matthew 8:20

Huios Anthropos is Son of Man in the Greek. We have already studied Huios in our Names of God study, so lets look at Anthropos. Anthropos is a human being, whether male or female, generically, to include all human individuals.

This name or title of Jesus appears in the New Testament 89 times. Here’s the kicker, 85 of those 89 are found in the Gospels and they are Jesus referring to Himself. This is why I say it is Jesus’ favorite name for Himself. The question I want us to ask and attempt to answer today is why. Why this name?

Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi,

He was asking His disciples,

“Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”

Matthew 16:13

Well let’s go to the Word of God and dig in. Let’s look at some of these 89 references to see what we learn about the Huios Anthropos.

But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—then He said to the paralytic, “Get up, pick up your bed and go home.”

Matthew 9:6

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For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon!’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Behold, a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.”

Matthew 11:18-19

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And He said, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man,

Matthew 13:37

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just as the Son of man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give a ransom for many Matthew 20:28

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For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.

Luke 19:10

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For just as the Father has life in Himself, even so He gave to the Son also to have life in Himself; and He gave Him authority to execute judgment, because He is the Son of Man.

John 5:26-27

From these reference we learn that Jesus, the Son of Man, has authority to forgive sins. We learn that He came eating and drinking and without any false pretense of superiority over any other man. He came sowing a good seed. He came to serve, not to be served. He came to seek and save what was lost. He has life within Himself and He also has authority to execute judgment.

Let me pause for a moment and give you a “red flag” measurement. If any man claims to be a leader, especially claims to be a leader in religious things, if any man professes to be of Christ, yet expects others to serve him and not he them… this man is not of or from God. You can know that for sure. Christ came to serve. To give His life for others. Any who claim to come in His name, but expect to be served is not of Him.

Back to our references… we see that the Son of Man came to seek and save what was lost… even those who were absolutely clueless that they were lost until they met Him.

Going back to our video, let’s think about Tarzan. Tarzan lived with the apes… and he was perfectly content there. He was not seeking to get out. He was perfectly happy swinging in the trees. He saw nothing wrong with the way things were going in his life.

Then one day something happened. One day someone enters his world from outside his world and for the first time he sees who he was created to be…

Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” Then God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the surface of all the earth, and every tree which has fruit yielding seed; it shall be food for you;

Genesis 1:26-29

Jesus, the Huios Anthropos, came and entered our world. He came to show us who God created us to be. He came to save us from death. He came to open our eyes and to teach us who we are and who we are supposed to be.

Jesus entered our world. He did not come as a tyrant. He did not come as a condescending dictator. He came as one of us… meeting us where we were… eating and drinking with us. Slowly teaching us by first building a relationship with us.

He came to show us that we not to be worshiping the things of this world… we were supposed to be ruling over them. We were created to have dominion on this earth, not worship it… or those who lived on it.

He also showed us the foolishness in our man-made religious systems… and how we so easily had taken even the law and gifts of God and twisted them and made them objects of idolatry.

At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath, and His disciples became hungry and began to pick the heads of grain and eat. But when the Pharisees saw this, they said to Him, “Look, Your disciples do what is not lawful to do on a Sabbath.” But He said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he became hungry, he and his companions, how he entered the house of God, and they ate the consecrated bread, which was not lawful for him to eat nor for those with him, but for the priests alone? Or have you not read in the Law, that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple break the Sabbath and are innocent? But I say to you that something greater than the temple is here. But if you had known what this means, ‘I desire compassion, and not a sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent. For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”

Matthew 12:1-8

We had even forgotten that God had said “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the surface of all the earth, and every tree which has fruit yielding seed; it shall be food for you;(Genesis 1:29)

Jesus came as the Son of Man to open our eyes… that we might see. Really see.

When we begin to watch and learn about this Son of Man we cannot deny that He is different… we cannot deny that we do not measure up… we cannot deny His beauty, His mercy, His love, His power, His majesty, His might and His glory.

When we look at our selves in the presence of this Huios Anthropos we have to stop and examine and evaluate where we are in our present situation… and is it really where and who we are supposed to be.

In His presence the blind see… or the seeing become blind… so that they don’t have to see.

The man answered and said to them, “Well, here is an amazing thing, that you do not know where He is from, and yet He opened my eyes. We know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is God-fearing and does His will, He hears him. Since the beginning of time it has never been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind. If this man were not from God, He could do nothing.” They answered him, “You were born entirely in sins, and are you teaching us?” So they put him out. Jesus heard that they had put him out, and finding him, He said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” He answered, “Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?” Jesus said to him, “You have both seen Him, and He is the one who is talking with you.” And he said, “Lord, I believe.” And he worshiped Him.

John 9:30-38

Huios Anthropos, the Son of Man.

Precious one, who do you say that He is?

Do you believe in the Son of Man?

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Romans Study For Kids (Romans 3:25b-31)

Published on May 11, 2013 by Nicole Vaughn in Children's Ministry, Proven Path Ministries, The Romans Project

Picking up from Romans Study For Kids (Romans 3:21-25a)

Read Romans 3:25 again. Why did God display Jesus on the cross publicly (in front of everybody)? The answer is in the verse. Fill in the blanks to answer.

This was to __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ His

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ , because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed.

THINK ABOUT IT…

Have you ever thought about about all the sin that God has passed over? Think about the last time you broke one of God’s laws. The last time you told a lie. The last time you disobeyed your parents. Did God pass over that sin? Remember the wages of sin is death. If you did not die because of that sin, then your God chose to “pass over it”. Why would He do that? Does He have to do that?

Read 2 Samuel 2:13 printed out below.

Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has taken away your sin; you shall not die. (2 Samuel 2:13)

David had broken a lot of God laws. He had committed adultery. He had lied. He had not honored his father or his mother. He had committed murder. He had not kept God first in his life. He had stolen. He had coveted. David had greatly sinned against God. God had every right to put David to death, but instead God passed over David’s sin. He passed over David’s sin because David was a man who even though he had messed up very bad, he looked forward in faith to the day that God would send a Savior. He looked forward to the day that Jesus would die for his sin.

Now read 2 Samuel 2:14 printed out below. Then answer the following questions.

However, because by this deed you have given occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, the child also that is born to you shall surely die. (2 Samuel 2:14)

Who would die for David’s sin?

his __ __ __

This may seem very hard to understand, that God would take away David’s son because of David’s sin, but I think God wanted David, and us, to understand what God’s Son would do. David’s son would die for this time for this sin of David’s, but God’s Son would die for all of David’s sin and for all the sin of the whole world.

Look up John 3:16 and write the verse out below.

______________________________________________

Read Romans 3:26. Why did God pass over David’s sin and everyone else, including you and me, who have broken God’s Law. Fill in the blanks below with your answer.

so that He would be __ __ __ __

and the __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ of the one who has

__ __ __ __ __ in __ __ __ __ __

THINK ABOUT IT…

How well are you are able to keep all of God’s Law, even when you are trying very, very, very hard to keep it?

Now, how glad are you that God saves us according to what we believe about Jesus instead of how well we can keep His Law?

Draw a picture below that shows how you feel about this.

______________________________________________

______________________________________________

Read Romans 3:27.

What question does Paul ask?

Where then is __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ ?

How does Paul answer it? (The answer is in Romans 3:27)

It is __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

Boasting is bragging. Excluded is to be left out. Paul is letting us know that no one can brag about being a Christian, no one can brag about being a Jew, no one is any better than anyone else. All of us are saved by faith. All of us are saved because of God’s grace and God’s love for us. We had nothing to do with it.

Read Romans 3:28. How is a man justified?

by __ __ __ __ __

Read Romans 3:29. Is God the God of both Jews and Gentiles?

Yes No

Read Romans 3:30. How are both the circumcised and uncircumcised justified by God?

__ __ __ __ __

Read Romans 3:31.

If both the Jew and Gentile, the circumcised and the uncircumcised, are justified by faith and not the Law of God, does that mean we no longer need the Law of God? Do we nullify the Law through faith?

__ __ __ it __ __ __ __ __ be!

According to Romans 3:31, what does our faith do to the Law of God?

we __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ the Law

The word establish in the Greek is Histemi and it means to cause or make to stand, to make firm, fix establish, to cause a person or a thing to keep his or its place, to stand, be kept intact.

Faith does not cancel out God’s Law. Faith comes only when we believe God’s Law. So our faith proves that we believe God’s Law and we believe God’s Word.

Let’s skip ahead a bit and read Romans 10:17 printed below.

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.

THINK ABOUT IT…

Now that you are hearing the Word, do you believe?

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Abercrombie Who?

Published on May 9, 2013 by Nicole Vaughn in Confessions of a Christian Wife, Proven Path Ministries

Apparently there’s a new ruse buzzing around FB and the news world…

I can’t log onto my news feed anymore without seeing a pornagraphic pic add for some clothing company… I have never really been a “label” girl… at least since I made it past my 14yr old Guess fad faze.

I don’t know designers.

I toted around a Proverbs 31 purse for 6 months before someone asked me if I had the wallet to match and started some huge conversation about the line… and I didn’t have a clue what they were talking about. It was special to me because I got it for Christmas and my aunt took the time to have my name monogrammed on it.

Labels and Designers mean absolutely squat to me.

I just need something to hold my phone and my wallet and my chapstick and whatever my kids hand me… as for clothes I prefere slightly used clothes that someone is tired of or didn’t like and they just give them to me and I don’t have to go shopping.

So Aber-whoever… yeh whatever.

As for his position.

Last time I checked its a free country. If he only wants to design clothes for skinny chicks. Well more power to him. To force him to make clothes for we “healthier” girls is to take away a right from him that would allow the government to take away rights from me. Would this not just be the type of industry to use reverse psychology to attempt to prove a point and get what they want in other areas of our nation…

So I am not buying the hype.

Also take note that this “fight the fat-girl hater” has done a wonderful job of distracting the internet from the recent Gosnell news, the fact that our President spoke at a Planned Parenthood National Conference, and the fact that his new health care plan is denying cancer treatments to those they deem too old to waste the money on…

But yes, let’s definitely get our panties in a wad over the dude who doesn’t make clothes for the more chunky of us… that’s really what’s important in life.

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The Call of a Mother

Published on May 9, 2013 by Nicole Vaughn in Confessions of a Christian Wife, Proven Path Ministries

I am walking away from my power point planning for the speaking/teaching engagement I have for this coming Saturday… The more I study and the more I sit before the Word, I keep adding slides. I will have those mom’s and kids there all day and night if I don’t walk away now

However I think I might share a small piece of what I feel the Lord has put on my heart to share… this is what I am choosing to title as The Call of a Mother…

It’s simply an adaptation of Jeremiah 1:4-12.

Now the word of the Lord came to me saying,

Woman, before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
And before you were born I consecrated you;
I have appointed you a mother to this child.”
Then I said, “Alas, Lord God!
Behold, I do not know how to be a mother,
Because I am just a girl.”
But the Lord said to me,
“Do not say, ‘I am just a girl,’
Because this child I have given you, you shall raise,
And all that I command you, you shall speak.
“Do not be afraid of this,
For I am with you to guide you,” declares the Lord.

Then the Lord stretched out His hand and touched my mouth, and the Lord said to me,

“Behold, I have put My words in your mouth.
“See, I have appointed you this day over this child and over this house,
To pluck up and to break down,
To destroy and to overthrow,
To build and to plant.”

The word of the Lord came to me saying, “What do you see, Mother?” And I said, “I see a rod of an almond tree.” Then the Lord said to me, “You have seen well, for I am watching over My word to perform it.”

The call of a mother… to pluck up and to break down, to destroy and to overflow, and to build and to plant.

The wise woman builds her house,
But the foolish tears it down with her own hands.

Proverbs 14:1

The wisdom comes in learning what needs to be plucked, broke down, destroyed, and overthrown… and what needs to be built and what needs to be planted. When our wombs are filled with this precious life that is a unique DNA cell combination never, ever ,ever, ever to be created again we embark on a mission, a journey, that no other soul on earth will ever experience… they can’t… because this experience is ours and this child’s. There will never be another like this one…

There is only one who knows this child inside and out… and His name is ELOHIM.

Apart from Him we are clueless as to what to do, when to do, and how to do… but He, Elohim, has said, Do not fear… I am with you.

He knows that this beautiful one you hold sleeping in your arms appears sweet, innocent, and peaceful… but He knows the work that lies ahead for you… He already sees the nights that come with scream and vomit and dirty diapers. He already sees the tempers, the selfishness, the weaknesses, the fears, the battles that lie within.

He knows that their will be lies from hell that seep in to their minds that will need plucked out of this child. He knows that their will be rebellious wills that will need to be broke down. He knows that their will be selfish desires that will need to be destroyed. He knows that their will be lofty thoughts that try to set themselves up against Christ that will need to be overthrown.

He knows that when plucking, breaking down, destroying, and overthrowing takes place… their must also be building that takes place. When the shaky foundations are destroyed, there must be laid a solid foundation on which to continue to build and grow.

He knows that when the lies are plucked out, there must be truth planted in the soil… or the lies will find their way back and quickly take root again.

He knows that for a wayward soul to be loved it takes the memory of a love of days of innocent dependance to be able to still reach out in the face of greatest gut wrenching betrayals and rebellions…

I remember concerning you the devotion of your youth,

Jeremiah 2:1

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Yet it is I who taught Ephraim to walk,
I took them in My arms;

Hosea 11:3

He knows that this is a weary work for a mother who truly answers this call… so He reminds us that He Himself watches over His word to perform it. He reminds us that in this call it is He who watches to perform… we are not responsible for the results… we are only responsible to obey.

He knows the fear of failure that we will carry.

He knows the feelings of inadequacy we will fight.

He knows the thoughts of quitting we will have.

He knows the questions of doubt we will face.

He knows the condemnation we will attempt to place on ourselves.

So He reminds us over and over again in His Word… you do as I command you… and trust Me to accomplish My will and perform My Word.

The call of a mother is so much more than feed, burp, bath, put down to sleep. It’s so much more than, did you clean your room, did you do your homework, did you remember to brush your teeth… yet at the same time all those appearing simple things play a very huge part of the call of a mother…

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Just One Sunday

Published on May 8, 2013 by Nicole Vaughn in Children's Ministry, Confessions of a Christian Wife, Proven Path Ministries

See that you do not despise one of these little ones,

for I say to you that their angels in heaven

continually see the face of My Father who is in heaven.

Matthew 18:10

I had a visitor once in children’s church… a beautiful eight year old little girl. I will never forget her… nor who she represents. Her face is bore into my mind and the look in her eyes and the uncomfortableness of her spirit is etched in my heart… I pray it remains there until my work her on this earth is done.

I wonder what a Sunday would look like if just for one Sunday the only prayer request allowed to be made on that day was for the souls of the known lost… and for the strength, wisdom, discernment, grace, and insight to proclaim the gospel to them.

I wonder what one Sunday where we lay aside all the prayer request that concern all the sinus pressure, all the employment issues, all the christians that you know are christians that are about to pass into eternity, all the upcoming surgeries, all the attitude adjustments, all the sick puppies, and lost kitties, even the cancers and the peace for lose who are dealing with a loss of a loved one… I wonder what just one Sunday where we leave those request at home and trust that God has it covered and instead we choose just this one Sunday to lay only the names of the lost before our church… what would that Sunday look like?

After all He did say:

“For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? And who of you by being worried canadd a single hour to his life? And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these.But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

Matthew 6:25-34

What would happen if just one day, we laid aside all the request that had to do with all the things that God has already promised to supply us with… just one day we laid aside our own self interests and just one Sunday, just one, we set our hearts to pray for those we specifically know are abiding under the wrath of God because the enemy of this world has them blinded to the truth?

But get up and stand on your feet; for this purpose I have appeared to you, to appoint you a minister and a witness not only to the things which you have seen, but also to the things in which I will appear to you;rescuing youfrom the Jewish people and from the Gentiles, to whom I am sending you, to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.

Acts 26:16-18

What would happen?

Could we even really accomplish that in this self-centered, self-entitled, self-driven day?

I just don’t buy that Jesus saved me just to make my life better. He saved me to join an army. He saved me to join a team. He saved me to become a part of His rescue squad.

I am on active duty.

When did church become our comfort zone? Is it not supposed to be our training ground? Our briefing? Our team huddle to make the plans to fight the enemy…

Our time to grasp hands and say “red rover, red rover, Satan send that one right over” because if you don’t let them go, in the power of the name of Christ and the power of His gospel, we are about to come running over and break your hold on this one with the Truth of the Word of God and bring them on over to our side.

Oh God, take the blinders off of us! Let your church see… really see!

This young girl, in my children’s church, only eight years old… let me share with you how tight the grip the powers of hell have a hold of her mind… and let me remind you she merely is one that represents the majority of every child in our nation…

Oh church, wake up. For the love of Christ, wake up!

As I reviewed through the book of Romans, I begin every lesson with a section review that brings us up to where we will be that day, so as I reviewed Romans 1:18-32 I went over what happens in the minds of those who exchange the truth of God for a lie. I shared again how our thinking becomes all messed and we believe things that are lies, like believing that we come from monkeys… I made this statement and this young girls hand shot up. I addressed her raised hand and she said assuredly, “actually we are descended from monkeys.”

Now stop with me for a moment and think.

This young girl has never been in our church before. She does not go to school with any of the kids in the class. She knows no one and is in a strange place, yet this idea was so ingrained in her as fact, she had the boldness to speak out right then.

I cannot tell you how I prayed for this girl all through the lesson that day… I also cannot tell you the disappointment I felt as I watched our “church kids” including my own “church kid”.

I stood there teaching and I saw this first time visitor, this precious soul who has been taught a lie, for a very long time, I saw her sit there alone and uncomfortable. I saw her sit there while our “church kids” played amongst themselves, really ignoring her completely.

These children are merely a reflection of us… church we have got to work on this.

Yes, it is uncomfortable to approach and talk to someone new… even someone not new, but someone we have never talked to before… but guess what, they are uncomfortable too. Probably much more so than us.

I saw her uncomfortableness and I saw her struggle and my heart was breaking and what I wanted to do was just stop and take her for a walk and show her the beauty of God’s creation through the eyes of one of His children…

Thus declares the Lord who stretches out the heavens, lays the foundation of the earth, and forms the spirit of man within him,

Zechariah 12:1

I wanted to pull her aside and tell her that she was too intrinsically designed to come from an ape. I wanted to teach her that she was a living soul and that a monkey doesn’t have a soul and a soul can’t just “evolve”. I wanted to take her in my arms and run straight to the foot of the cross and beg God to open her eyes so that she could see… and I have done that in my prayers over and over and over.

She is only one of many.

So how about just one Sunday, just one, let’s trust that God has got our head cold covered, let’s trust that these mortal bodies are just temporary tents and God will sustain us and the others that we know that are His, no matter what we or they might be going through… let’s trust that He will get us through this one Sunday, and this one week that follows that Sunday, and just one Sunday let all our request be that the blind may see… that God would open their eyes… and that we would be so bold as to declare His Word and His gospel to the world so that whosoever will believe will be saved.

Start in your own church nursery.

Walk the halls of the Preschool wing.

Turn down the Children’s hall.

Do we not know that as soon as their little ears are open, the lies of hell are going in? This past Saturday morning my Bekah comes running up stairs, and says, “Momma, the lies are on Nick Jr! They just said that dinosaurs lived billions of years ago! Momma that’s not true. Kids are watching this Momma and it’s a lie”

Oh church, let not the gates of hell prevail…

If we don’t speak the truth who will?

If we don’t pray for the lost, the deceived the blinded… who will?

One Sunday… could we start with just one Sunday?

Pray.

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