To Coach or To Criticize

Posted on January 25, 2014 by Nicole Vaughn

Our church is working through The Christian Parenting Handbook together. Well, the church is offering the study, not all of the church comes, but many of our parents are faithfully attending. This coming week we will be looking at the strategies given in chapters three and four. As I was looking over the Companion Guide I read this:

There are too many parenting tasks in a day to think that challenging every misbehavior is reasonable. When parents take a little time to study a child and develop a strategy to move forward, it can make the training process much easier and certainly more effective. Furthermore, kids view their parents differently seeing that they’re trying to help instead of simply criticizing them.

~ The Christian Parenting Handbook Companion Guide

Last night my husband leaned over and whispered something in my ear… He was asking if I had noticed a particular issue in one of our girls behavior and wanted to know if I concurred. I whispered back that yes I had been noticing it as well and was pondering what action to take, or if there was really a need for action concerning it.

What we have learned in our fifteen years of parenting together is that if something is a character issue we both will be alerted to it. We also have learned to assess the situation before we act… both of us had been monitoring this same issue for several months and taking mental notes… although, as of yet, we didn’t know the other had noticed the issue as well.

So when my husband leaned over and whispered in my ear what he whispered and I concurred… he said something that I love to hear… He said, “I’ll coach her on that, that’s a character issue, and it needs dealt with”

He will “coach” her on it.

This is a terminology that we have learned to use to describe the way we choose to parent our children. We watch them. We study them. We mull over what we see in them for a while. We mentally put a plan of action together before we ever call them out on the issue we see that needs addressed. We watch to see if this is a one time thing or a short phase or is it a reacquiring part of them that will be a struggle for them for the rest of their life if not changed. We also watch and pray so that we can be guided by the Holy Spirit to discover the root of the problem we are seeing. We don’t want to just keep the weeds cut back, but to yank them out by the roots.

Watching them for a while, and waiting for the right time, helps us to talk to them without the aggravated emotion of parental frustration. My husband also usually addresses the issue separate from its occurring. This way, hopefully, it is not addressed in a criticizing way, but in a let’s work on this together way… I believe this also helps to keep our girls from responding with defensive antagonism and they seem to listen better.

We have chosen to view our family as a team. A team works together to bring out the best in one another in order to accomplish one goal…

But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart

and a good conscience and a sincere faith.

1 Timothy 1:5

Do you and your spouse have a parenting plan?

They Have No Wine

Posted on January 25, 2014 by Nicole Vaughn

When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to Him, “They have no wine.”

John 2:3

Back in November I taught a lesson on prayer at a women’s retreat. I called it “pray in this way”. The lesson was centered around the Lord’s prayer and many of His other teachings concerning our prayer life. The Lord has taught me much about prayer in the past several years.

I am currently working through a precept study on the book of John. As I was reading through this beautiful book and was closely observing the first two chapters in John, I stopped at the first recorded sign of the Son of Man, the turning of the water into wine.

There is currently much debate in the American church about wine/drinking and being a Christian, but I am not writing about that today… whether or not it is okay to partake of the vine is not what struck me as I read about this wedding in Cana of Galilee.

First of all what struck me was the fact that here is the Lord of lords and the King of kings, the One who within three years is going to die for the sin of the world, the One who is God incarnate, the Word made flesh… and here He is at a wedding with His mother and His disciples. He has a world to save, yet here He is not preaching to anyone, just celebrating the beginning of a man and woman being joined together and becoming one flesh…

For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.

Genesis 2:24

I love the connection of the book of John with the book of Genesis… Genesis begins with “In the beginning” and so does John… Genesis 2 has a wedding and well so does John 2… but that’s another side trip… I am not writing about that today either.

So here’s the context of our story. Jesus is at a wedding in Cana of Galilee. He is there with his mother and his disciples. Perhaps it is one of his brothers or sisters that is getting married today, perhaps it’s a cousin or close family friend… maybe Mary the mother of Jesus was one of the original wedding planners, either which way they were there as part of the backstage, behind the scenes, crew with the authority to command the servants.

Mary observes a problem. They have no wine.

Now the first question in our modern day Baptist ideology most likely is, so what’s the big deal?

Why was wine so important at a wedding?

Courtesy of Aish.com

Absolutely beautiful isn’t it!

Ah, but I am not here to write about the beauty of becoming one flesh, crushed and poured out for the glory of our God today…

So Mary has observed a problem.

When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to Him,

“They have no wine.”

And Jesus said to her,

“Woman, what does that have to do with us?

My hour has not yet come.”

John 2:3-4

How many times have you observed a problem? How many times has your eyes been opened to the realization that their is a need in someone’s life… or even your own life?

It doesn’t have to be a life threatening need, as we can see all through out the book of John, Jesus cares about every aspect of our life. He weeps with us when a loved one dies and He rejoices with us when two people become one in marriage. He cares whether we have food to eat or something to drink. He notices our weaknesses and sees our heart. He sees us sitting under the fig tree and he knows when we have worked all night and caught nothing. He wants to give us life in every sense of the word.

Here’s the question, when you recognize a problem… how do you pray?

I had noticed that many times, when I had recognized a problem, in my prayer concerning the problem, I had already decided the answer and was praying that God would fix it according to my instructions… as if I already knew all the possible solutions.

Mary does not do that.

She simply states the problem. They have no wine.

I have always loved Jesus answer to her statement… “Woman, what does that have to do with us? My hour has not yet come.” Mary’s response to the words of her Son, THE SON, is simply to turn and tell the others, “Whatever He says to you, do it.” (John 2:5)

I often wonder what all Mary knew of her Son. Now remember, she has lived with Him and loved Him and cared for Him for 30 years. She knew Him intimately. Therefore she had no doubts that when she shared with Him, He heard her. She had learned that His thoughts were not her thoughts and His ways were not her ways (Isaiah 55:8-9). She was not going to put any limitations on His ability to address the problem and she was not the least bit doubtful that He cared.

She just knew that whatever He said, needed to be obeyed.

Here’s the problem – Whatever He says to you, do it.

Many times I have had others come to me with a problem, with a concern, and ask me for guidance and prayer… and many times as I have showed them what the Word of God says to do, I have watched their eyes go from tears, to almost completely glassed over…

When I see this I know that they have no intentions of doing what has just been advised.

They have asked for prayer and guidance and then when through the Word of God an answer has been given… if it’s not what they wanted to hear… or it would require a major change… or a return to the problem… they shut down with zero intention of doing whatever it was the Word of God said to do.

My challenge to you beloved is to come before our Lord in prayer as Mary came to Him here at this wedding in Cana of Galilee…

My Jesus, here’s the problem. I can’t fix it. I don’t know how to fix it, but I know that You do and I know that You can. I also know that You care about even the little things in my life and the life of those I love… and they need Your help. So whatever You say to do, I will do it.

Romans Study For Kids (Romans 10:5-15)

Posted on January 24, 2014 by Nicole Vaughn

And we continue in Romans…

Romans 10:5-15

5 For Moses writes that the man who practices the righteousness which is based on law shall live by that righteousness.

6 But the righteousness based on faith speaks as follows: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ (that is, to bring Christ down),

7 or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).”

8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”—that is, the word of faith which we are preaching,

9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;

10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.

11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.”

12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him;

13 for “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

14 How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher?

15 How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things!”

Read Romans 10:5. What did Moses write about the man who practices which is based on the law?

He shall __ __ __ __ by that righteousness

The word “live” in the Greek is “zao”, and the verb tense of this word in this verse is explaining to us that the person who chooses to obtain righteousness through the law, must be the one who decides to obey the law and they have to have always obeyed the law even when a baby and they have to obey it all the way into eternity. So do you know anyone who could do that?

Read Romans 10:6. What word does verse 6 begin with?

__ __ __

(There’s that important word again!)

Read Romans 10:6-7 again. How does the righteousness based on faith speak?

Do not say in your heart, who will __ __ __ __ __ __ into heaven or who will __ __ __ __ __ __ __ into the abyss

Read Romans 10:8. What does righteousness based on faith say?

the __ __ __ __ is __ __ __ __ you, in your mouth and in your __ __ __ __ __

THINK ABOUT IT…

Can you take yourself to heaven? Can you raise yourself from the dead? Did you have to go to heaven to get God? Can you raise anyone from the grave? Could you stand before God and tell Him that He should save you according to how perfect you have been?

Now think about it… who came to who? Did God come for you? Did He bring His Word and His salvation to you? How far do you have to go to be saved? What do you have to do?

How amazing is it that God made His gift of salvation so easy that it doesn’t matter who you are or where you are at… anyone who believes can be saved. God brings His Word to us. Take a moment and just close your eyes and think about the Scripture verses that you have in your heart. Say one of them now. It doesn’t matter which one. Just say one.

See, God’s word is near you… in your mouth and in your heart.

Look up and read Deuteronomy 30:10-17. What has God always wanted us to turn toward Him? Circle the answer.

hands heart feet eyes ears

Read Romans 10:8. What is Paul preaching? Circle the correct answer.

Righteousness by the Law Righteousness by faith

Read Romans 10:9. What must we do to be saved?

What must we confess?

__ __ __ __ __ as __ __ __ __

What must we believe?

God __ __ __ __ __ __ Him from the __ __ __ __

Where must we believe it?

in our __ __ __ __ __

The word “heart” in Romans 10:9 is “kardia” and it means the heart; mind, character, inner self, will, intention, center. This means you have to believe from the very center of who you are and with all that you are, every part of you believes in Jesus.

Read Romans 10:10 and draw a picture to complete the chart below.

With the

a person

resulting in

believes

righteousness

confesses

salvation

Read Romans 10:11. What does the Scripture say? If we believe in Jesus will we be disappointed?

Yes No

Read Romans 10:12 and answer the questions below.

Who is Jesus Lord over?

Jews Gentiles All

Who can call on Jesus to save them?

Jews Gentiles All

Read Romans 10:13. Let’s end today’s study by writing this verse out below. (If you can’t write say this verse three times today with your mom or dad.)

________________________________________________________________________________

There are four questions that Paul asks in Romans 10:14-15. Read Romans 10:14 and let’s look at the first question.

1) “How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed?”

According to what we learned in Romans 10:9-10 what do we believe with? Fill in the blanks with your answer or draw a picture of it below.

___ ___ ___ ___ ___

According to what we learned in Romans 10:10 what comes first? Circle the correct answer.

mouth confesses heart believes

2) “How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard?”

Look back at Romans 10:8. Is the word very far away from you? Circle the correct answer.

Yes, it is far away No, it is near you

If people cannot believe with their heart if they have not heard, them who should we tell about Jesus? Circle the correct answer.

Everyone Only people we like No one

3) “And how will they hear without a preacher?”

The word for “preacher” in the Greek is kérussó and it means to proclaim, to herald, to publish.

THINK ABOUT IT…

Is it only the responsibility of your Preacher or Pastor to tell people about Jesus? If this word in the Greek means to proclaim, to herald, to publish… who can do this? Who can tell someone about Jesus? Who can write someone a letter about Jesus?

Can you?

Should you?

Who can you write a letter to write now and tell about the good news, the gospel of Jesus Christ?

Remember that it the power to save is in the gospel! It doesn’t matter how strong you are, how old you are, or how smart you are. Salvation is God’s business.

So go ahead, write that letter or tell that person that God has put on your heart or in your path.

Now let’s look at that question 3 some more.

“And how will they hear without a preacher?”

How long do you think God has been proclaiming the good news? Let’s look at some cross-references to find out.

Look up and read:

Acts 8:26-39

Luke 24:13-35

Isaiah 52:6-10

Psalm 19:1-4

Genesis 3:15

Genesis 4:26

THINK ABOUT IT…

WOW! Can you believe that? God has been reaching out to us from the beginning! Even when Adam and Eve disobeyed, God gave them the good news, He would save them. People have been calling on the name of the Lord since the beginning. People have been proclaiming the good news since the beginning. In Psalm 19 we see that even when people cannot share the good news, the heavens declare it! Do you remember what you read in Romans 1:20? Go ahead and read it again 🙂

Let’s move on now to our next question. We find it in Romans 10:15.

4) “How will they preach unless they are sent?”

Do you think it matters who sends us?

Yes No I don’t know

Let’s look up and read Matthew 28:19-20. Fill in the blanks with who it is that has to send us.

___ ___ ___ ___ ___

Who sent the real prophets in the Old Testament? Look up and read Isaiah 6:8. Fill in the blanks below with your answer.

___ ___ ___

Look up and read Jeremiah 14:14. Now let me ask you again, does it matter who sends us?

Yes No I don’t know

Read Romans 10:15 again. What does God say about the feet of the people He sends to bring the good news?

they are __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

Do you have beautiful feet? Why don’t you take your socks and shoes off and put one foot on this sheet of paper and trace it. Then color it beautiful while you ask God to show you who you can tell His good news to!

Romans Study For Kids (Romans 10:1-4)

Posted on January 24, 2014 by Nicole Vaughn

Romans Study For Kids (Romans 9:30-33)

Posted on January 23, 2014 by Nicole Vaughn

Today we will look at Romans 9:30-33.

Romans 9:30-33

30 What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, attained righteousness, even the righteousness which is by faith;

31 but Israel, pursuing a law of righteousness, did not arrive at that law.

32 Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as though it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone,

33 just as it is written, “Behold, I lay in Zion a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense, And he who believes in Him will not be disappointed.”

Read Romans 9:30. What type of sentence does Romans 9:30 begin with? Circle your answer.

a statement a question an exclamation

God uses the book of Romans to answer all of our questions considering salvation. Remember that from the beginning Paul speaks to us as a lawyer preparing his case in a courtroom. He has already proved our guilt before God. He has proved that our only hope for acquittal is faith in Jesus. In Romans 9-11 God uses Paul to teach us the scope of salvation. Who is God’s target for His mercy?

Look at the list below and write in the rifle scope who is God’s targets for His mercy.

Jews, Gentiles, Righteous, Sinners, Children of Flesh, Children of Promise, Those Who Trust in Jesus, Those Who Trust in the Law

Go back and read Romans 9:30 again and answer the questions below.

Did the Gentiles pursue righteousness? Circle your answer.

Yes No

How did they attain righteousness if they did not pursue it? Fill in the blanks with your answer.

by __ __ __ __ __

Read Romans 9:31-32 and answer questions below.

Did Israel pursue righteousness? Circle your answer.

Yes No

Did Israel attain to the law of righteousness? Circle your answer.

Yes No

Why did Israel not attain the righteousness that they pursued?

because they did not pursue it by __ __ __ __ __ but as though it were by __ __ __ __ __

What have you already learned in Romans, are we saved by faith or by works?

__ __ __ __ __

What did Israel stumble over in their pursuit of righteousness?

the __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

THINK ABOUT IT…

Have you ever been running in the yard or at the park racing after a goal? Maybe to be the first one to the swing set or the slide… and on the way you trip over something and wipe out all over the ground?

Did stumbling over that something make you angry?

Why did it make you angry?

What if you looked down and saw that what you tripped over was your favorite ball or toy, and it was something that you had been looking for, for a very long time. Would you still be angry that it made you trip and lose the race to the slide?

Or would you be so excited that you finally had what you had been searching for? Would you then even call out to your friends to stop running and to come and see what you had found?

I bet you would.

Read Romans 9:33 and answer the questions below.

In this verse Paul is taking us back to Isaiah 8:14 and Isaiah 28:16. God had been warning Israel about this stumbling stone for hundreds of years. Yes He wanted them to trip all over Jesus, but He wanted them to trip to slow them down enough to realize they were about to miss the One that the Law and the Commands and all the Prophets spoke about and pointed to.

What happens to those who believe in Him, the Stumbling Stone, the Rock of Offense?

will __ __ __ be __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

Who is this stumbling stone and rock of offense?

__ __ __ __ __

God wanted Israel to stop racing for their own righteousness. He wanted them to trip all over His Son and realize that this One they tripped over racing for righteousness was the only One who could give them the righteousness they were racing for.

Prayer Request From AiG

Posted on January 23, 2014 by Nicole Vaughn

When I was in college (the second round) finally completing my AS degree I had to pass a public speaking class to graduate. Now, you might not believe it, but I am terrified to speak in front of people. I took zero’s in high school rather than give a speech, and I dropped speech at least three times in college… the first round.

I returned to finish my degree as a Holy Spirit filled woman of God. I faced the public speaking course in His power. I chose to use this course as an opportunity to bring glory to my Christ. Each required speech was used as an opportunity to share His truth with those attending.

One of the speeches I gave was the importance of the return of teaching Creationism in public schools as a possible origin of man and the universe. I was honored to be able share information I had learned in my own personal studies in this subject. I was surprised at how genuinely interested those in the class were because they had never been taught what I was sharing .

I pray, that by the grace of God, that His truth was able to resonate in the ears of at least one in that course as I shared that semester. So now here is this opportunity to see this debate take place between two men who know much more than I. This is going to be a very informing debate. I hope you are excited and sharing this news with your family and friends.

Imagine how the soul of a person can be impacted when they finally wrap their minds around the beautiful truth that a holy loving Creator God knit them in their mother’s womb with meticulous design and purpose… and that this same God holds the sun in the sky.

It’s almost time!

Bill Nye will be debating Ken Ham live on February 4th at 7pm Eastern/6pm Central.

The topic “Is creation a viable model of origins in today’s modern, scientific era?”

You will be able to watch this debate live via the internet for free!

For more info on the live stream click here: Debate

What can you do until then?

Pray! We are asking for earnest prayer over this event. Below are some specific prayer points:

Please pray daily, between now and February 3, for the Answers in Genesis support staff and, of course, Ken Ham himself, as they prepare for this event.
Pray that weather does not impact the event.
Please also pray daily that many people are made aware of and watch the debate online.
On the day of the event please pray for Ken Ham and Bill Nye, that the Lord will guide this debate and use it for His glory.
- Pray for all the support staff, that the event will be free of any issues.
- Pray for the viewers and attendees, that God’s Word will be an encouragement for the believers and conviction for the non-believers.
- If you are showing the debate to a group, we ask that your prayer group gather ten minutes before the event.

Thank you in advance for supporting this historic event. One of the biggest blessings will be the new relationships we form, and the dialog opened between Christians and non-Christians all across the U.S. and the world.

Do you have friends, family, or co-workers that struggle with reconciling science and religion? Why not have a debate dinner? Invite them to watch this debate with you. Use this opportunity to open the dialogue with those in your area of influence.

For more Answers in Genesis outreach events, or to request a speaker at your church go to answersingenesis.org/outreach/.
Purchase excellent resources from the Answers in Genesis Bookstore

How Dare You Judge Me

Posted on January 22, 2014 by Nicole Vaughn

This past Sunday night our Pastor taught on the Biblical worldview of family regarding sex. As he shared on this topic in light of the Scriptures he taught from Leviticus 18, Deuteronomy 22, Romans 1, and 1 Corinthians 6. As you read through and hear out loud the things that God is having to pin point in Leviticus 18 and Deuteronomy 22 that the Israelites are not to do, it is almost flabbergasting. God is having to flat-out tell the children of Israel that this is unacceptable. He is having to flat-out point it out because these are the things that the people in the land have been doing and are doing.

Many times our girls will read the warning labels on items. After learning some of the warnings they will look up at their Daddy and ask why on earth that certain thing had to be listed. Their Daddy simply replies, It’s on there because someone did it, and because that person or persons who did it probably sued the company because it didn’t work out for them. Now they have to put this specific warning label on it.

Our Pastor shared that unredeemed man (as in mankind which includes we women) left to themselves, their imaginations are evil and corrupt, and there is no depth to the depravity. For me, this is where the “do not judge” thing applies. No one else’s sin is any worse than my sin. We all, apart from Christ, have no limits to our ability to sin with the best of them, so I am not to write any soul off. Who am I to determine the limits of the grace and mercy of God? I am to share the Way, the Truth, and the Life with every soul in hopeful expectation of their eternal salvation.

As I read once again the words of Leviticus 18 and Deuteronomy 22, my first gut reaction was to shudder and think not here, but that is thinking way to highly of the people of our modern day nations. All I had to do is be still long enough to think about some of the news headlines of the last ten years and reality hits like a brick in the face.

How does a person get to such a depraved state?

I am reading through the book of Genesis again and as I came to what I consider one of the hardest chapters in Scripture, Genesis 19, I saw some very familiar things… some similarities to our day.

Genesis 19 is the famous story of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.

In Genesis 13:13 we are introduced to the wickedness of Sodom.

In Genesis 19:3-5 we discover that the men of Sodom are sexually perverted and violent,

Yet he urged them strongly, so they turned aside to him and entered his house; and he prepared a feast for them, and baked unleavened bread, and they ate. Before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, surrounded the house, both young and old, all the people from every quarter; and they called to Lot and said to him, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us that we may have relations with them.”

In Ezekiel 16:49 we find out more about Sodom,

“Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had arrogance, abundant food and careless ease, but she did not help the poor and needy“

There was more to Sodom than homosexuality. It was place of great selfishness and self gratification. It was also a place of people who refused to be corrected. This is what I believe is the true root behind the great sin of Sodom. There is not much left to do for a person who refuses to listen.

When you read through the first chapters of Exodus, you will see a phrase repeated over and over, he did not listen. It didn’t matter what God said or did through Moses, Pharaoh refused to listen. His refusal to listen led to his destruction. No wonder Jesus, so often said, he who has ears to hear, let him hear.

Now, we know from other verses of Scripture that Lot was a righteous man living in an unrighteous place. I, at first, just thought Lot was a complete idiot for choosing to move to Sodom, but I now believe that God allowed Lot and his family to move there as one final witness of righteousness to the people of this city. God was giving them one more chance to listen. However, the final words of the people of Sodom would be, HOW DARE YOU JUDGE ME!

But they said, “Stand aside.” Furthermore, they said, “This one came in as an alien, and already he is acting like a judge; now we will treat you worse than them.” So they pressed hard against Lot and came near to break the door.

Genesis 19:9

Does this sound familiar?

Now, to what have the men of the city accused Lot of “passing judgment” on them? What horrible thing has Lot said to lead them to pull out the “do not judge” card?

But Lot went out to them at the doorway, and shut the door behind him, and said, “Please, my brothers, do not act wickedly.”

Genesis 19:6-7

Yep, that’s it. There it is. Lot’s exact words. Simply, “Please, my brothers, do not act wickedly.”

As I met with a group of Children’s ministers this week, one of the questions asked was, what is the most quoted verse spoken by Jesus in the world today? My answer, do not judge, lest you be judged…

Yes, that’s it.

I have even seen people with the phrase, Only God can judge me, tattooed on their bodies.

I don’t know about you… but I don’t want God to have to judge me. Have you read the end of the book? Did you read what happened in Sodom when God had to judge?

God sent His Word and THE Word into the world so that we would not have to be judged, but so that we could find grace and receive mercy and be saved from judgement.

But we have to be willing to be corrected, to listen, to repent, if we are to be saved.

For the time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties and abominable idolatries. In all this, they are surprised that you do not run with them into the same excesses of dissipation, and they malign you; but they will give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. For the gospel has for this purpose been preached even to those who are dead, that though they are judged in the flesh as men, they may live in the spirit according to the will of God.

The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer. Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.

1 Peter 4:3-8

Smile I Love You

Posted on January 19, 2014 by Nicole Vaughn

This is our fundamental calling as parents — to be the smile of God to our children. We are charged by God to bring our children up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. God himself has commanded us to communicate to our children what he is like. And God is fundamentally a Happy Father, a Well-Pleased Parent. And just as the Father communicates his delight in his Son through his words and deeds and demeanor and presence, so also should we.

~ Be the Smile of God to Your Children

I read this post a while back and I was reminded about how important it is for us to speak truth and love and hope into our children… and not just our children but into all people.

I have been in hard place for a while… a place of complaint… aggravation… frustration… and just wanting to shake some people… sometimes…well many times God has to bring me through this cycle to get me into a new place of growth. If you follow my posts you will see the trend.

I was watching the show Wipeout with my twelve year old last night and one of the challenges was this rotating maze. The Wipeout person had to jump into this rotating maze and they spent anywhere from 2 minutes to 15 minutes bouncing around in this contraption until they were able to get their wits about them enough to find the exit and jump out of it. However, they jumped out this challenge, just to land face to face with another one that was ready to try and knock them out of the game. Life is a lot like Wipeout.

I have found myself in times that felt like I was stuck in one of those rotating mazes. I think, in all honesty, I just recently found my way out of my latest. It’s real easy in this day of constant media to get focused on all the things that stir up frustrations… and before you know it you are wrapped up in this thought cycle of negativity and grumbling… and in this place it is easy to forget the power that the darkness has on those who are walking in it. Forgetting the power of the darkness causes you to forget that apart from Christ we are all powerless… and not just powerless, but flat out dead. It also causes us to forget that those who might even have Christ but are currently walking in darkness are blinded and deceived and yes, quite possibly even deceiving.

Many times our reaction to those walking in the darkness is anger or just flat out befuddlement. In this reaction we also forget that we battle not against flesh and blood but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 6:12)

Our earthly struggles are actually heavenly battles… which means to have victory in the earthly struggle we have to win the heavenly battle and to win the heavenly battle we have to take the fight to the heavens and the only way we can take the fight to the heavens is on our knees in and through and by and with Christ.

And He said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see the heavens opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

Luke 1:51

The darkness wants us to fight the darkness with more darkness which actually strengthens the hold of the darkness… but we must fight the darkness with light. Fighting with the light fights in two ways. One, the darkness hates the light and will flee from it. Two, light added to light only brightens and strengthens the light.

God saw that the light was good;

and God separated the light from the darkness.

Genesis 1:4

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This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you,

that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.

1 John 1:5

In Him there is no darkness… None…not a single shadow.

It never ceases to blow my mind that this God of no darkness, of not even a shadow, willingly comes and resides within the darkness of this flesh of ours, stepping into the deepest recesses of our mind and diving down into the darkest depths of the pits of our soul… just to create in us a clean and pure heart that is finally able to fellowship with Him. No nook or cranny is off limits to Him… He wants to shine His light in every dark place within us. He comes in with the light calling us to the Light…

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

1 Peter 2:9

We are here on this earth, and while here it can feel like we are being thrown in one Wipeout contraption after another… but what we have is this amazing opportunity, for while in the race, what we do have is access to the One who is seeing the whole course laid out and knows exactly the way through the maze and past and through every crazy deceptive imagination set up to knock us out… He is there cheering us on and giving us direction and encouragement and strength and hope… if we will just be still long enough to be steadied by Him and allow Him to get our wits about us.

If we who are walking in the Light would remember how warm the smile of God is… and be willing to smile His light upon others… have you ever noticed how a face will light up when it carries a smile? Oh that we would reflect His glory and that others could behold His glorious light through His face shining upon ours…

The Lord bless you, and keep you;

The Lord make His face shine on you,
And be gracious to you;

The Lord lift up His countenance on you,
And give you peace.

Numbers 6:24-26

Smile, precious one, because He loves you.

Let My Children Think

Posted on January 16, 2014 by Nicole Vaughn

The first time I read through any of CS Lewis’s work I wondered why on earth I had never read him before.

Before my heart was wholly surrendered to my God I read mainly fiction books. I have always loved reading and have always had at least one book going in my life as long as I can remember. When I wholly surrendered my life in 2001 and began reading and teaching and inductively studying the Word of God, the Lord made it very clear to me that I did not have time for fiction… He had a work to do in my heart and my mind and I didn’t need to be dragging in more trash… there was already enough in my head that He needed to dump.

Around 2006 I heard about this man named John Piper… and after going through some of studies, I realized he talked about this CS Lewis guy. So I thought that I would check him out.

It was around 2008 when I picked up and read Mere Christianity (remember I was still under God’s strict instruction to stay away from fiction). I read this book and loved it! I even remember posting how I thought that after the Bible, every modern day believer should take a read through this book!

So you can imagine how excited I was to get a message about reviewing a new book written to be a study to go alongside CS Lewis’ Mere Christianity…

The classic work commonly known as Mere Christianity is actually a four-book series which explores the common ground upon which all Christians stand. It brings together Lewis’ legendary radio talks broadcast during World War II previously published as: Right and Wrong as a Clue to the Meaning of the Universe, What Christians Believe, Christian Behavior, and Beyond Personality (or First Steps in the Doctrine of the Trinity), and provides an unequaled opportunity for believers and nonbelievers alike to hear this powerful apologetic for the Christian faith.

The Mere Christianity Critical Analysis Journal is a powerful tool to strengthen critical thinking while cultivating a biblical worldview. Although it was originally created to be a companion resource to Philosophy Adventure, it may also be used as group or independent study for teenagers or adults.

It provides 10-16 questions like this:

These 10-16 questions for each chapter can be discussed in:

homeschools
co-ops
classrooms
Sunday school
small groups
families

Here’s a little more about the author…

Stacy Farrell’s worldview changed when she embarked on her homeschooling adventure in 2002.

Her background as a consultant and writer well-prepared her to teach communication skills; however, only hands-on experience (and much time spent on her knees) equipped her to mentor her sons through the character-transformation required to help them work toward their full potential.

Stacy has spoken at a variety of homeschool conferences and has published articles in leading Christian magazines. She wrote scripts for Willow Creek’s youth ministry, copy for Pastor Bill Hybel’s “Defining Moments” Audio Newsletter, and a broad range of material for corporate and non-profit clients. She also managed a law firm that specialized in civil rights litigation and constitutional law. Today, she loves to help empower students to recover territory lost by “fuzzy thinking” and low expectations. To that end, she created:

Philosophy Adventure™—Pre-Socratics – designed to help students 6th-12th grade cultivate and defend a biblical worldview by teaching them how to write skillfully, think critically, and speak articulately as they explore the history of ideas

Philippians in 28 Weeks™ — a simple and painless way to memorize an entire book of Scripture

The Wise Woman with Literary Analysis Journal Questions – an enchanting fable that unmasks the ugliness of pride and selfishness

Mere Christianity Critical Analysis Journal — a powerful tool to strengthen critical thinking while cultivating a biblical worldview.

Although Stacy loves to write, speak, and teach, she considers her role as wife to Roger and mother to two precious sons to be her greatest work and privilege. You can learn more about her resources at Homeschool Adventure

We are a homeschooling family. One of the main reasons we chose to homeschool was so that we could instill a biblical worldview in our children. Another reason we chose to homeschool was because we wanted to teach our girls to think… not just repeat information.

I am excited about Stacy’s Critical Analysis Journal because it is designed to help our children do exactly that…to have a Biblical worldview and to THINK!

The Journal is also available in a typable PDF format so for those that love to go paperless, this will be great for you 🙂

If you act now you can use the promo code below to get this great product at a discount…

You can even download a free copy of CS Lewis’ book here: Mere Christianity e-book

And tonight you are invited to the Facebook release party beginning at 8pm! At the party you also will have an awesome opportunity to get free door prizes and sign up to win over $1000 in free books and there is even an opportunity to win a Kindle Fire!

Just click here for details: Mere Christianity Critical Analysis Journal Release Party

I hope to see you there! I will also be giving a way free copies of the ebook version of my book Devotions From Exodus Part One (Learning to Live in Freedom).

Young Love, Strong Love

Posted on January 14, 2014 by Nicole Vaughn

There’s a radio station that my family listens to that plays classic country and bluegrass… and there is this one song that plays and I cannot listen to it with out my eyes welling up and my heart rising into my throat… it’s called Young Love by The Judds.

The line that says, they’re gonna make it through the hard times, walk those lines, yeah these ties will bind young love… that’s where it gets me every time… I hear those words and my eyes begin to well with tears and I look over at my husband and see that his are doing the same…

…and then when it says, well, from that day on you couldn’t keep them apart, they were side by side, heart to heart…

My husband and I have been together going on sixteen years… and within those sixteen years we have never gone one full day without talking to one another… even if we were oceans apart… and even if we were spittin’ mad at one another…

…and then finally the words, and that night as he held her he couldn’t believe, that God had made a girl that he’d never ever leave… I knew this the first time my husband held me in his arms… that he was different from anyone I had ever known before… when I looked into his eyes I saw my future and when I was held by him I felt protected and safe and I wanted to stay in His arms from that day on. To this very day when he wraps me up in the strength of his arms and I close my eyes and bury my head in his chest and breath in his scent it doesn’t matter what else is going on around us I find that we are, for that small moment, in our own little world just me, him, and God… that three cord strand tightly woven.

The years that would follow that first time would come with some very hard times… but just as the song sings, it has been the hard times that have made the ties that bind. It has been the hard times that God has used to dig deep into our prideful stubborn selfish selves and refine us with fire… and this fire has been like a welders fire.

Welding is a fabrication or sculptural process that joins materials, usually metals or thermoplastics, by causing coalescence. This is often done by melting the workpieces and adding a filler material to form a pool of molten material (the weld pool) that cools to become a strong joint, with pressure sometimes used in conjunction with heat, or by itself, to produce the weld.

~ Wikipedia

As we walked through the fire, it was hot and it was fierce, but as the fire melted away those parts of us that needed to go, God was faithful to pour into us the fire of His Spirit that unites and bonds and as the fire cooled we found that we were even stronger than ever before. Joined together through the heat and the pressure, no longer two… but one.

I have no doubt that both of us have at times gone toe to toe with our demons and God allowed them access to us so that he might use them to destroy the deep rooted sin and fears in us… to tear down walls that we had built to protect us… yet our God never left us defenseless. He had given us His Spirit and His Word.

But now, thus says the Lord, your Creator, O Jacob,
And He who formed you, O Israel,
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name; you are Mine!
“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
And through the rivers, they will not overflow you.
When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched,
Nor will the flame burn you.
“For I am the Lord your God,
The Holy One of Israel, your Savior;

Isaiah 43:1-3

I look at this man that I fell head over heels for sixteen years ago and I believe and trust in him more today than I even imagined that I could when I first said “I do“. As I have watched God transform him before my eyes and have had the privilege of growing up with him… I can’t help but smile… and it’s a heart smile… a smile that warms my soul as I see in our lives the beautiful testimony of the power of the gospel and the grace of God. His mercies really are new every morning and His lovingkindness really does endure forever and He really can change hearts and minds and redeem souls and He really does hear us when we pray and love really never fails.

Love… bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never fails

1 Corinthians 13:7-8

Proven Path Ministries

The writing and teachings of Nicole Love Halbrooks Vaughn

Monthly Archives: January 2014

To Coach or To Criticize

They Have No Wine

Romans Study For Kids (Romans 10:5-15)

Romans Study For Kids (Romans 10:1-4)

Romans Study For Kids (Romans 9:30-33)

Prayer Request From AiG

Pray! We are asking for earnest prayer over this event. Below are some specific prayer points:

How Dare You Judge Me

Smile I Love You

Let My Children Think

Young Love, Strong Love