Proven Path Ministries

Another Huge Giveaway

PPM-3.jpg

Okay, so with time being an issue this week for me… I have chosen to make life a little simpler and copy and paste all the info you need for this huge giveaway. I don’t want my loss of opportunity to get into an elaborate blog post to be the reason any of my readers miss an opportunity at these awesome giveaways.

So here you go!

The Christian Parenting Handbook

…the time has finally come!!

Buy the Book this Week!

We’ve been eagerly awaiting this week for a long time. The release has finally come! Buy your copy of The Christian Parenting Handbook this week from one of the online retailers, and as our thank you to you, receive over $400 worth of parenting resources. It’s just our way of saying thank you for your help to make the release a BIG SPLASH!

Please also pass the word with us – tell your friends, neighbors, co-workers, fans, and followers.

Join the Google Hangout – April 30

Dr. Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller will be hosting aGoogle Hangout on Tuesday evening April 30 starting at 7:30 pm EDT. This will be an on-air hangout where anyone can listen in. You can watch the video by going to theBiblical Parenting Facebook Group. You can also comment there and ask questions of Scott and Joanne.

Join us for the Twitter Party – May 1

We’re having a Twitter Party and giving away prizes, please follow us on Twitter and join in for the party. Follow @biblicalparent on Twitter and take a peek at the hashtag #heartparenting to keep up on what’s happening.

Lots of Ways to Join the Giveaways!

Comment on our blog to enter into the 5-Giveaways. Five winners will be selected from those who comment on the blog this week. Click here to access the blog.

Mega Multi-Blogger Giveaway!

We’re offering one Mega Giveaway too! Five big prizes for entering. Winners will be chosen on May 5. Click here to enter.

Might you even visit your local Christian Bookstore and ask for the book? Let’s get everyone talking about The Christian Parenting Handbook! Why? Because we believe this one book will help moms and dads gain the tools they need to work with their families in some very exciting and hopeful ways.

50 Short Chapters
50 Biblical Ideas with Practical Application
50 Ways to Increase Relationship
and Train Children’s Hearts

 

Find more resources for your family atwww.biblicalparenting.org.

 

And don’t forget if you live in the North Alabama area Dr Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller, the authors of The Christian Parenting Handbook will be at Shiloh Baptist Church Saturday, June 1st for a Parenting Seminar.

Click here to register: Register Today

 

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.”

Proven Path Ministries

To Speak or Stay Silent

PPM-3.jpg

There is an appointed time for everything.

And there is a time for every event under heaven—

A time to be silent and a time to speak.
A time to love and a time to hate;
A time for war and a time for peace.

Ecclesiastes 3:1,7-8

I was driving home today from church… on my way home to get my child’s softball uniform in the washing machine for her game tonight… and we are listening to way-fm… as usual.

As I drive I listen to the radio personality share the story of an NBA player who has “come out of the closet”.

She shared his story and then shared how she posted this blog about how we need to applaud him for his courage and his decision to live authentically… then she attempted to shame anyone who would believe any differently than her and still call themselves a Christian. She, expecting every “good” Christian to take this “coming out” as a “do-over” for the Christian church and how we should applaud him…

Excuse me?

Applaude?

Confirm?

Encourage?

He “comes out” because he believes he has been living a lie by not coming out… when the truth is he is living a lie because he has believed THE LIE.

For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error.

Romans 1:25-27

I will not applaud a man to hell…

When you read the article we see that he did not “come out” to those who would challenge the lie he was living and encourage him to believe truth…

He chose to “come out” to those who would encourage his sin…

although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them. Romans 1:32

 …those who would not question him, those who would not lead him to truth, but would give him approval to just snuggle right on in deeper into the Deceivers arms instead of standing up to fight against the powers of hell that were raging against him within his soul.

Let me ask you…

How can someone live authentically and true to themselves when what they believe of themselves is based on a lie?

No, Mrs. Radio Personality, I will not applaud a man to hell.

I will not call what he did courageous… it was not.

Courage is when you choose to do the right thing even when the gates of hell are against you… it doesn’t take courage to cower to your flesh.

It doesn’t take courage to “come out” in this day in our society…

It only gets your name in the paper and more money in your bank account.

However, it does take courage to stand up and say…

…this is who I was… this is still what my flesh craves… but I choose to call sin SIN, and I choose to serve Christ- not my flesh. Even though this is what I fight daily, this is my struggle, my thorn in the flesh… I choose Christ. I choose to not cower before the powers of hell that rage against me and I choose to believe the truth and trust that the grace of God promised me will be sufficient for me… just as He said it would. 

That, Mrs Radio Personality is courage.

Find this man… and applaude him.

For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them; for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret.

Ephesians 5:5-12

No, I will not make crude or rude comments about this man. I will pray for him. I will pray that his eyes will be opened and his heart softened and his mind enlightened that he might know, see, and comprehend the Truth.

I will not bash him, but neither will I applaud him.

Children's Ministry, Proven Path Ministries, The Romans Study For Kids

Romans Study For Kids (Romans 3:10-20)

PPM-3.jpg

And here is the handouts for digging into Romans 3:10-20 with your kids…

Romans 3:10-18

10 as it is written,

“There is none righteous, not even one;

11 There is none who understands,

There is none who seeks for God;

12 All have turned aside, together they have become useless;

There is none who does good,
There is not even one.”

13 “Their throat is an open grave,

With their tongues they keep deceiving,”
“The poison of asps is under their lips”;

14 “Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness”;

15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood,

16 Destruction and misery are in their paths,

17 And the path of peace they have not known.”

18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

19 Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, so that every mouth may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God; 

20 because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.

 

Below is the outline of a person. Read Romans 3:10-18 and draw or write what you learn on it.

 

man outline

 

Look up and read Matthew 7:17-20. How does Jesus say we will know people?

 

by their __ __ __ __ __ __

 

 

Look up and read Matthew 12:33-37. From where does the mouth speak?

 

the  __ __ __ __ __

 

 

Where is your heart? Is it inside or outside your body? Circle your answer.

 

   Inside              Outside

 

THINK ABOUT IT…

Jesus is teaching us that the things we say and the things we do come from what is inside of us… they do not come from what is outside of us. 

Think about the last time you were in trouble because you said or did something mean to someone. Did you try to get out of trouble by blaming them for what they did to you first?

If you were to try to tell that excuse to Jesus what do you think He would say to you?

Where would He say the mean thing you said or did came from?

 

Read Romans 3:10-12 and answer the questions below. Look over your person outline as you answer the following questions.

 

How many are righteous?

 

___________

 

How many understands? (their minds are dark)

 

____________

 

How many seek for God? (their eyes are closed)

 

____________

 

How many have turned aside?

 

____________

 

How many do good?

 

____________

 

 

According to Romans 3:10-12 is anyone righteous and good enough to be okay before God? Circle your answer.

 

Yes                    No

 

Does this include you? Circle your answer.

 

Yes                    No

According to Romans 3:13 what is their throat?

 

an  __ __ __ __    __ __ __ __ __

 

 

What is in a grave?

 

______________________________

 

THINK ABOUT IT…

As we broke down this part of Romans 3:10-13 we were able to see what was inside this person. Now as we begin looking at the rest of Romans 3:13 and Romans 3:14 we are going to see what is coming out of this person. We see that it first comes out of their throat. 

This is going to be kind of gross, but I want you to think about when you get a sick bug in your tummy and it makes your insides all yucky… What happens? 

That’s right! You throw up and that throw up comes out of your throat. 

This is kind of like what we are going see in Romans 3:13-14. This persons insides are bad and yucky, their heart is bad. So what comes out of them is going to be yucky and bad too. This is their “fruit”.

 

Read Romans 3:13. 

 

What do they do with their tongues?

 

they keep  __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

 

What is under their lips?

 

__ __ __ __ __ __  of asps

 

What is their mouth full of?

 

__ __ __ __ __ __ __

and

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

You might be wondering what an asp is… An asp is a small and most venomous serpent or snake. Its bite is fatal unless the bitten part is immediately cut away from your body.

 

THINK ABOUT IT…

Knowing this about the asp, look up and read Matthew 18:8-9. Jesus wants us to know how serious sin is in our lives. It is just like a bite from this asp. 

 

Romans 3:10-14 shows us what is inside of this person and also shows us what comes out this person through their throat and their mouth. We see how they speak.

Now we are going to look at how they act. We are going to see what they do and where they go.

 

Read Romans 3:15-17 and answer the following the questions. 

 

What are their feet swift to do?

 

shed __ __ __ __ __

 

 

What is in their path?

 

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

 

and

 

__ __ __ __ __ __

 

 

What have they not know?

 

the path of  __ __ __ __ __

 

 

Read Romans 3:18 to find out why they do the the things they do and say the things they say.

 

There is no __ __ __ __  of  __ __ __ before their eyes.

 

 

As we look at this person we may think they are very, very, very bad. We may even be comparing ourselves to them right now and thinking we are okay because we are not that bad. However, we have to remember what we have learned in all of Romans. We have to remember that God does not compare us with each other. He compares us to Himself and His Law.

 

Read Romans 3:19 and answer the questions below.

 

How many mouths are closed?

 

__ __ __ __ __  mouth

 

Who is accountable to God?

 

__ __ __  the  __ __ __ __ __

 

 

 

Read Romans 3:20 and answer the questions below.

 

Who can be justified (be okay with God) by keeping the Law?

 

___ ___   flesh

 

Can anyone keep all of God’s Law and never break even one? Circle your answer.

 

Yes             No

 

Read Romans 3:20 again. If no one can be saved by keeping God’s Law then why did He give us the Law?

 

through the Law comes  the __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ of __ __ __

 

 

 

THINK ABOUT IT…

Read the Scripture verses printed below. 

Oh that they had such a heart in them, that they would fear Me and keep all My commandments always, that it may be well with them and with their sons forever!

(Deuteronomy 5:29)

“Now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require from you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and love Him, and to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the Lord’s commandments and His statutes which I am commanding you today for your good?

(Deuteronomy 10:12-13)

 

What kind of heart does God want us to have?

 

______________________________________________

 

______________________________________________

 

Spend some time today thinking about your own heart. 

Children's Ministry, Proven Path Ministries, The Romans Study For Kids

Romans Study For Kids (Romans 3:1-9)

PPM-3.jpg

I am working on my handouts for the Romans Study for Kids today. I am dividing Romans 3 up into three sections. Remember this study is written to accommodate the NASB translation. If you use a different translation in your children ministry or with your children at home feel free to adapt this study guide to your translation 🙂

In this post we will be looking at Romans 3:1-9

Romans 3:1-9

 1 Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the benefit of circumcision? 

2 Great in every respect. First of all, that they were entrusted with the oracles of God. 

3 What then? If some did not believe, their unbelief will not nullify the faithfulness of God, will it? 

4 May it never be! Rather, let God be found true, though every man be found a liar, as it is written,

“That You may be justified in Your words,
And prevail when You are judged.”

 5 But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? The God who inflicts wrath is not unrighteous, is He? (I am speaking in human terms.) 

6 May it never be! For otherwise, how will God judge the world? 

7 But if through my lie the truth of God abounded to His glory, why am I also still being judged as a sinner? 

8 And why not say (as we are slanderously reported and as some claim that we say), “Let us do evil that good may come”? Their condemnation is just.

9 What then? Are we better than they? Not at all; for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin; 

 

As we dig into Romans 3:1-9 I want you to first read through these verses and count how many question marks you see.

How many question marks did you count?

_______________

 

As we learn about our God we will have questions. Questions are good because they mean we are thinking. So as we continue to study through the book of Romans don’t be afraid to ask your own questions. Today we are going to look at the questions and answers in Romans 3:1-9. 

 

First go now and find two different colored crayons or colored pencils. It doesn’t matter what two colors, just as long as they are different colors.

Read Romans 3:1-2 printed below. Underline the question in one color and circle the answer in the other.

1 Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the benefit of circumcision?

2 Great in every respect. First of all, that they were entrusted with the oracles of God.

 

What were the Jews entrusted with?

the  __ __ __ __ __ __ __  of God

 

Do you think that being trusted with the words and law of God would be important? Circle your answer.

Yes                      No

 

Read Romans 3:3-4 printed below. Underline the question in one color and circle the answer in the other.

3 What then? If some did not believe, their unbelief will not nullify the faithfulness of God, will it?

4 May it never be! Rather, let God be found true, though every man be found a liar, as it is written,

“That You may be justified in Your words,
And prevail when You are judged.”

 

 

Who is always true? Circle your answer.

 

Man                      God

 

 

Does everyone have to believe what God says to make what He says true? Circle your answer.

 

Yes                        No

 

Look at the last part of Romans 3:4, “That You may be justified in Your words and prevail when You are judged”. This part of Romans 3:4 is a quote from Psalm 51. David wrote this Psalm after he admitted his sin against God when he committed adultery with Bathsheba and had her husband Uriah killed. David and Bathsheba’s baby would die as a result of this sin, and David could have blamed God and been angry with God with for this judgment. Instead David recognized that God had to right in this judgment no matter how David felt, because God was always true, right, just, and good.

Read Romans 3:5-6 printed below. Underline the question in one color and circle the answer in the other.

5 But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? The God who inflicts wrath is not unrighteous, is He? (I am speaking in human terms.)

6 May it never be! For otherwise, how will God judge the world?

 

According to Romans 3:6 is the God who inflicts wrath unrighteous? Circle your answer.

Yes                          No

When we sin, we always receive consequences from that sin, even if we do not get caught or get in trouble because of it, we still have the feelings of guilt and shame that come from knowing we did it. Our unrighteousness (or sin) shows that God is righteous (or holy). If God did not judge sin then He would no longer be righteous. He proves His righteousness by His wrath.

 

Think About It….

If you went to your teacher and told them that someone in your class had taken your snack and would not give it back to you and that teacher did nothing about it… would you say that this was a good, fair, and right teacher?

 

 

 

Read Romans 3:7-8 printed below. Underline the question in one color and circle the answer in the other.

7 But if through my lie the truth of God abounded to His glory, why am I also still being judged as a sinner?

8 And why not say (as we are slanderously reported and as some claim that we say), “Let us do evil that good may come”? Their condemnation is just.

 

Remember the Antinomians? Paul is addressing them here with this question and answer. Remember the Antinomians believed that if their sin showed off God’s righteousness then they should be able to sin all they wanted because it just showed how great God was to forgive. 

According to Romans 3:8 how does God feel about this kind of thinking by the Antinomians?

Their  __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __  is just.

(The word “condemnation” in this verse is “krima” in the Greek and it means: the punishment with which one is sentenced)

 

Look up and read Proverbs 6:16-19. According to what you read how does God feel about a lying tongue and evil?

He  __ __ __ __ __  it.

Look up and read psalm 34:12-14 and Psalm 97:10. If we love the Lord how should we feel about sin?

We should __ __ __ __ it

 

Read Romans 3:9 printed below. Underline the question in one color and circle the answer in the other.

9 What then? Are we better than they? Not at all; for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin;

 

According to what you have studied in Romans 3:1-9 and also including Romans chapters 1 and 2 are the Jews better than the Greeks? Look at Romans 3:9 to find the answer and fill in the blanks.

__ __ __   at  __ __ __

What are the Jews and Greeks both under?

__ __ __

 

THINK ABOUT IT…

If the Jews and Greeks are both under sin, does this include you and me? 

Are we better than someone who does not go to church? 

Just because we have the Bible and read it and go to Sunday School and worship service and Awana’s and VBS does doing all this and knowing all this make us okay with God? 

 

 

Book Reviews, Children's Ministry, Confessions of a Christian Wife, Proven Path Ministries

The Giveaways Begin!

PPM-3.jpg

 

Remember that Mayday I sent out?

Well now is the opportunity to get some tools in your hands for free!

The giveaway begins!

Beginning today until the official Launch Week (April 29th – May 5th) of the The Christian Parenting Handbook you can enter to win one of these 5 prizes right here on my site:

parentingshifts5 (2)

 

Set of 5 Parenting Shifts eBooks by Dr Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller,  RN BSN

The Parenting Shifts Series gives specific parenting advice for that particular age group. A team of experts, working together with Dr. Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller, RN, BSN, have collaborated to bring you the best in a heart-based approach to parenting at any age. Wherever you are in your parenting journey these books will help you move forward with confidence and effectiveness.

Set Includes:

• The Baby Adventure (Birth to 12 Months)
• Toddlers on the Move (Ages 12-36 Months)
• Preschool Explorers (Ages 3-5 Years)
• Elementary Foundations (Ages 5-8 Years)
• Cultivating Responsibility (Ages 9-12 Years)

***************************************************

bpuclass

Biblical Parenting University

This online class will give you the practical tools to develop more responsibility and cooperation in your home. Parents often comment that giving instructions to their children is the greatest source of conflict in family life. Nagging and angry episodes on the part of parents and kids result when children don’t cooperate. In this class you’ll learn how to adjust your own action point to teach your kids when you mean business. You’ll also learn a five step instruction routine that teaches children the skills they’ll need to follow instructions for the rest of their lives. This class is excellent for teachers as well as parents. You’ll learn how to use rules in your family to teach convictions and values. If you’re looking for a place to start, this is a great class that will help you change significant dynamics in your family using positive strategies.

Access to this class allows you to come and go at your convenience. It’s resident on the Internet so you can view segments whenever you’re online. The 4-hour class is broken into 4 lessons, each with 10-12 five-minute segments. View one segment at a time, or any number of them as you have time.

*********************************************************

gbook-disciplemaking

Disciplemaking at Home eBook:

Parents have a job to do–pass the faith on to their kids. This book will show you how. Parents are the primary spiritual and moral trainers of their children and much of the everyday work of family life is the classroom where children learn. Here’s what you’ll learn in this book.

You will learn

•  Fun ways to pass the faith on to your kids.
•  How to use spontaneous moments to teach children what the faith is all about.
•  A biblical understanding of the conscience.
•  How to develop internal motivation in kids.
•  A plan to help children take responsibility for their part of an offense.
•  Ideas for teaching kids to take initiative instead of relying on parents to get things done.
•  Ways to move from behavior modification to a heart-based approach.
•  Tools to develop integrity in a child.
•  How to get kids to be others-focused instead of self-focused.

**************************************************

 

Honor-CDs

Say Goodbye to Whining, Complaining, and Bad Attitudes, in You and Your Kids Lesson 1 Complete Package: 

Includes Lesson 1 on Video, as an MP3, includes Study Guide pages, and the Kids Honor Club Children’s Program.

Honor is a biblical concept that changes the way people think and the way they treat others. Honor is a relationship term and teaching honor in the family equips children with the relational tools they’ll need for the rest of their lives. This package gives you instructions for both parents and children so that honor can transform the culture in your home.
*****************************************************

bookandhandbook

The Christian Parenting Companion Guide

50 Heart-Based Strategies for All the Stages of Your Child’s Life

by Dr Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller,  RN BSN

The Companion Guide is a workbook of 50 lessons along with 50 audio tips to take you through The Christian Parenting Handbook step by step. Each lesson contains advice from Dr Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller in a 5 minute audio tip and then offers teaching, an assignment, a Bible verse, and a prayer to help you apply each idea or strategy in your family.

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.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Now here’s the thing… Click here:Launch Week to find out why you will want to wait until April 29th – May 5th to purchase the The Christian Parenting Handbook.

This is why you want to purchase this amazing heart based parenting guide.

It’s taking everything in me to not just blog away about the content in this book… but I am here to promote it and I really want you to have your own hands on it so that you can apply it to your own home.

*** This giveaway is open to Residents of the U.S. only.  Void where prohibited. Must be at least 18 years of age. 

Confessions of a Christian Wife, Proven Path Ministries

Learning to Pray Instead of Say

PPM-3.jpg
“And I will strengthen them in the Lord,
And in His name they will walk,” declares the Lord.
(Zechariah 10:12)

Today if you have called upon the name of Jesus remember that He is your strength (Philippians 4:13) and do not be deceived by the voices of this world but remember that it is in His name and in His Light that you walk (Ephesians 5:8-16). We may pass through times of trial and distress, but we are not without a shepherd and we have a Shepherd (John 10:14, 27-29) that will never lead us astray or allow us to be snatched away.

This was the mini-devo that I posted after reading through Zechariah 10 this morning. As I continued to ponder the Scripture verses in this chapter and in the verses that the Lord led me to as I typed out the mini-devo I could not let go of how grateful I am for the sovereignty of my God.
I read and ponder these verses and I think on the hopeful family’s that have suffered yet another miscarriage…
I think on the families that have had the opportunity to hold their precious newborn in their arms only hours before that new life breathes her last in their arms…
I think on the friends who are single mothers of children under twelve who have just found out that the chemo made the cancer spread and grow instead of rendering it impotent…
I think on the parents who tried all they knew to do to raise their children in the knowledge and admonition of the Lord, yet the children choose to live in the pleasures of sin and ignore the Lord and all that they have been taught…
I think of the families who have children who have never been able to say they love them or tell them their tummy hurts because autism has stolen their voice…
I think of those I see that can’t seem to let go of bitterness and past hurts and they can’t seem to step out in faith and trust that forgiveness always comes with healing and forgiveness doesn’t mean what happened is okay it just means that you trust that God will repay and He will use what happened for good, somehow, someway…
I think of or world… our nation… our government… our churches… and I ponder.
How thankful I am for the sovereignty of God. If not for the reality of His sovereignty I think I would crumble. My husband and I were talking one night about how far our God had brought us in our marriage. We talked about the changes that growing in His grace and choosing to walk in and by faith had made in our hearts, our minds, our souls, our spirit… and as we talked and thanked God by giving Him all the glory for this work, knowing it was not us in or of ourselves, my husband said…
“You just never know what it’s like to live in someone else’s body”
And that is why and where we must rest in His sovereignty… and put grace into action because, no, we don’t know. All we know is how we think we would react or behave if we were them… but the fact is we are not. We do not know what it is like to live in their in their home, much less in their body..
but we have a God who does. 
We have a God who see their heart…
for God sees not as man sees, 
for man looks at the outward appearance, 
but the Lord looks at the heart. 
1 Samuel 16:7
We have a God who formed their spirit within them…
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
 
So many times we are quick to judge. So many times we think we have all the answers. So many times we think if they would just do this…
I have found myself there as well. I have said my piece and made my assumptions and had my thoughts and concerns, but by the grace of God I am learning to pray instead of say.
The fact is all I can do is pull one moment of someone’s life out of context and try to interpret it according to my minuscule knowledge with only my own life experiences to compare and contrast against…
So I am thankful for the sovereignty of God and for the hope that knowing He is sovereign gives… the fact that I know His Word is true and that He is who He says He is HUGE!  
 
It is by faith that we accept His sovereignty. It is by grace and through faith that we begin to gain understanding of His sovereignty. The more we understand His sovereignty the better we are able to administer His grace… to others and to ourselves.  
Book Reviews, Children's Ministry, Confessions of a Christian Wife, Proven Path Ministries

MayDay! Have Kids. Need Help!

PPM-3.jpg

I am currently reading through The Christian Parenting Handbook by Dr Scott Turansky and Dr Joanne Miller. These two are the founders of the National Center of Biblical Parenting. I have been following their ministry for over a year now. I have yet to come across any of their parenting tips and teachings that I have not found to be useful.

I am drawn to their heart approach to parenting.

biblical parenting philosophy

It seems the past few generations have been stuck somewhere between a behavior modification approach to parenting, an I just need to be their friend approach and allow them to express themselves, and a lack of parenting in general because they just don’t know what to do or have the time to figure it out.

nagging and yelling

 

My only hope in my battle against this sin is Jesus Christ, my Savior and Redeemer. As the Spirit continues to use my parenting to reveal to me my sin, I am reminded anew of my great need for a Savior.

~ Christina Fox

The one thing that parenting has taught me is that my God has a lot of work to do on me… and I need His help desperately as I try to raise these beautiful gifts He has allowed my husband and me to shepherd.

I need Him to work on my heart and guide me as I work with Him on the hearts of my children… the last thing I want to do is work against Him.

I don’t won’t my children to just comply to my demands while they are in my presence and just sweetly nod there agreement on the outside while on the inside they plot their escape and deception.

I want to help my children see the true condition of their heart and see the grace of our God. I don’t want to guilt trip them into submission or emotionally manipulate them into compliance. I do not want to provoke my children to anger (Ephesians 6:4) or exasperate them so that they lose heart (Colossians 3:21), but I so desire to bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

This takes parenting with purpose.

The National Center of Biblical Parenting is here to help equip us parents to do just that. God has given us everything we need to know in His Word. Everything that we need to raise our children in love and godliness… and I am thankful that God gifts His children with certain passions so that they might help His body.

God has blessed Dr Turansky and Dr Miller with insight into this thing called parenting and He has blessed them with the ability to get this information to all of us… I suggest we take advantage of it.

Buy The Christian Parenting Handbook between April 29 and May 5 and get a package of free resources valued at more than $400.00. You can learn more on our website about the 8 items contained in the Bonus Parenting Package. In addition, you can get The Christian Parenting Handbook Companion Guide (This is a workbook with audio clips that will help you apply the material in The Christian Parenting Handbook.) for free if you purchase 5 copies or more of the book. Simply make your purchase from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, BAM (Books A Million), CBD or Parable.

To  claim your premium, simply forward your purchase confirmation to Gift@biblicalparenting.org and we will send you your special product code for the $400.00 package. If you purchased 5 or more copies of the book, we’ll send you the PDF version of the Companion Guide as well as the audio package.

Keep a watch on my blog… I will continue to post about this new book and will be offering some parenting tool free giveaways pretty soon… well as soon as I figure out how to do all that anyway… I have never done a giveaway campaign before, so bear with me 🙂

 

*** Disclaimer: I received a free advanced copy of this book as a member of their Launch Team. I am not required to share any information with you, and all comments and reviews are my honest opinion. You can trust me on this. 

Children's Ministry, Names of God Series, Proven Path Ministries

Names of God Study: Archiereus

PPM-3.jpg

It’s been a while since I wrote a Names of God study post. We have been on spring break at our co-op and last week was our first Monday back. I am in the process of getting back in the swing of things… well actually I don’t think I am ever in the swing of things. I just can’t seem to find a rhythm in life, but that’s okay… well at least I think I am learning that it is okay.

In the messiness of this life I am thankful that I know that I have an Archiereus…

Archiereus, is Greek for High Priest. This is the name/title of Christ that we will be focusing on today.

Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling,

consider Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest of our confession;

Hebrews 3:1

What exactly does it mean that Jesus is our High Priest? Archiereus means chief priest. To dig deeper into the meaning of this word we must break it down.

The first part of this word is arche and it means beginning, origin, the person or thing that commences, the first person or thing in a series, the leader, that by which anything begins to be, the origin, the active cause, the extremity of a thing, of the corners of a sail, the first place, principality, rule, magistracy, of angels and demons. 

The second part of the word is hiereus and it means: a priest, one who offers sacrifices and in general in busied with sacred rites. Hiereus‘ word origin is hieros and it means sacred, consecrated to the deity, pertaining to God, sacred Scriptures, because inspired by God, treating of divine things and therefore to be devoutly revered

Now we know the definition of the word… but, still what exactly does it mean to be the High Priest?

The first high priest we meet in Scripture is in the book of Genesis. His name is Melchizedek.

And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine;

now he was a priest of God Most High.

Genesis 14:18

What we must note about this Melchizedek is that he was both a king and priest. The only time in Scripture when these two offices are held by the same person. Any other time in Scripture if a king tried to play priest… it never worked out. The office of priest was to be respected and it was sacred. We see Saul lose the throne for his entire family line when he chose to not wait on Samuel. We see Uzziah struck with leprosy when he takes upon himself to burn incense on the altar… God takes the position of priest very seriously.

So this Melchizedek is a small glimpse in the Scriptures of one who is both king and priest. One that I believe to be a theophany of Jesus Christ.

To learn more about the office of high priest we continue through the Old Testament. Aaron was the first high priest of the nation of Israel. As we study through the books of Exodus and Leviticus we discover what exactly was required of the high priest.

We see that he wore special garments:

Then bring near to yourself Aaron your brother, and his sons with him, from among the sons of Israel, to minister as priest to Me—Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron’s sons. You shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother, for glory and for beauty.

Exodus 28:1-2

We see that he wore a breastplate that carried the names of the tribes of Israel close to his heart:

Aaron shall carry the names of the sons of Israel in the breastpiece of judgment over his heart when he enters the holy place, for a memorial before the Lord continually. You shall put in the breastpiece of judgment the Urim and the Thummim, and they shall be over Aaron’s heart when he goes in before the Lord; and Aaron shall carry the judgment of the sons of Israel over his heart before the Lord continually.

Exodus 28:29-30

We see that he wore a turban on his said that had written across the front “Holy to the Lord”:

You shall also make a plate of pure gold and shall engrave on it, like the engravings of a seal, ‘Holy to theLord.’

Exodus 28:36

High Priest

We discover that the high priest had to be washed with water:

Then you shall bring Aaron and his sons to the doorway of the tent of meeting and wash them with water.

Exodus 40:12

The high priest had to be anointed with oil:

and you shall anoint them even as you have anointed their father, that they may minister as priests to Me; and their anointing will qualify them for a perpetual priesthood throughout their generations.

Exodus 40:15

The high priest was responsible for making the offerings:

He shall slay the young bull before the Lord; and Aaron’s sons the priests shall offer up the blood and sprinkle the blood around on the altar that is at the doorway of the tent of meeting.

Leviticus 1:5

The high priest was the only one allowed behind the veil:

When he goes in to make atonement in the holy place, no one shall be in the tent of meeting until he comes out, that he may make atonement for himself and for his household and for all the assembly of Israel.

Leviticus 16:17
temple-veil

ark_of_covenant_high_priest_212

The high priest was taken from among then men of Israel. He was the one who would go into the presence of God on behalf of all the people of Israel. He was the one who was responsible for not only confessing his own sins but also all the sins of the people. He carried the weight of the sins of the people on his chest. Therefore this office  of priesthood was to be respected.

As we look at the Aaronic priesthood do you see the picture of our Archiereus being so clearly displayed before us? think of all that Christ experienced when He was here on earth among us… He put on this garment of flesh… He was washed with the water in the Jordan river… He was anointed with oil from a woman’s alabaster vial of perfume… He  carried the sins of the people on his heart… His mind, every thought, was Holy to the Lord… He not only made the offering  for the sins of the people of Israel and the world, but He was the offering.

However, our Archiereus is so much more!

For every high priest taken from among men is appointed on behalf of men in things pertaining to God, in order to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins; he can deal gently with the ignorant and misguided, since he himself also is beset with weakness; and because of it he is obligated to offer sacrifices for sins, as for the people, so also for himself. And no one takes the honor to himself, but receives it when he is called by God, even as Aaron was. So also Christ did not glorify Himself so as to become a high priest, but He who said to Him, “You are My Son, Today I have begotten You”; just as He says also in another passage, “You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek.” In the days of His flesh, He offered up both prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His piety. Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation, being designated by God as a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.

Hebrews 5:1-10

Our High Priest is flesh and blood so that He might be able to sympathize with us, but He is not like the high priest of before, for He never had to make sacrifices for His own sin… The Scripture in Hebrews said that He had to be made perfect… but we know that Jesus was always perfect.

We know Scripture never contradicts Scripture so what we have to do is see what the word made actually means…

Made in the Greek is teleioo and it means: to make perfect, complete, to carry through completely, to accomplish, finish, bring to an end, to complete (perfect), add what is yet wanting in order to render a thing a full, to be found perfect, to bring to the end (goal) proposed, bring to a close or fulfillment by event of the prophecies of the Scriptures.

Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine,

He said, “It is finished!” 

And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.

John 19:30

 

The word finished here is the same word as made in Hebrews…

Now the main point in what has been said is this: we have such a high priest, who has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, a minister in the sanctuary and in the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, not man. For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices; so it is necessary that this high priest also have something to offer. Now if He were on earth, He would not be a priest at all, since there are those who offer the gifts according to the Law; who serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things, just as Moses was warned by God when he was about to erect the tabernacle; for, “See,” He says, “that you make all things according to the pattern which was shown you on the mountain.” But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, by as much as He is also the mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises.

Hebrews 8:1-6

Jesus is our High Priest, our Archiereus. He not only made the sacrifice, He became the sacrifice. He not only became the sacrifice, but He now ever lives to make intercession for us. He remains at the right hand of God interceding on our behalf, serving as our Archiereus. The one sacrifice made for all time, but knowing that we remain in this body of flesh and that we will still struggle with the nature it contains… he stays constantly making making prayer offerings on our behalf. He has our back.

We were justified by His sacrifice and we are being made into His likeness and as we go and as we are molded He is there along side of us all the way… By His grace we are saved and by His grace He keeps us saved until one day we step out of this corruptible flesh.

Oh how I thank my Jesus that He is willing to serve us in this way…

The One who is both King and Priest.

Our All in All.

 

 

Proven Path Ministries

God’s Amazing Grace (Part 5)

1 Comment

PPM-3.jpg

Today we conclude our little study on the amazing grace of our God… In Part 1 we received our introduction into our study on grace and we saw the beautiful thread of grace that runs through the Word of God from Genesis to Revelation. We saw that grace was also the divine influence of our Creator God at work within us. 

In Part 2 we looked at six Biblical truths about grace and we saw that grace is free. It is a gift of God. We cannot earn it. We cannot buy it. It is not ours to sell. We also saw that it is by grace that we are saved. It is by grace that Jesus died for our sins and it is by grace that God accepts His death as propitiation for ours.

In Part 3 we looked at four ways that grace should be evident in our daily lives. We saw that the grace of God should recognized in us by others. We saw that grace should be shared with others. We saw that the grace of God within us empowers us and builds us up.

In Part 4 we looked at five warnings God gives us concerning His grace. If you haven’t read Part 4, take the time now to do so now before you move on to this conclusion of our study… just click the Part 4 link at the beginning of this paragraph. A link to Part 5 will be at the end of it.

Today we are going to dig into five specific commands that God gives us concerning His grace.

1) We are to be strong in the grace of God

You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 

2 Timothy 2:1

 

If we continue reading 2 Timothy we see that Paul continues to write that Timothy is to be faithful to share and teach with other faithful believers. Paul encourages him to suffer hardship with him for the gospel and to serve as an active soldier. God gives us His grace so that we might be strengthened to stand in ANY situation. Remember that the grace of God empowers us with the supernatural ability of God to be obedient to Him no matter what. It’s not by our might, not by our power, but by His Spirit that we have victory. His grace is sufficient… always.

2) We are to draw near with confidence to the grace of God

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. 

Hebrews 4:14-16

The grace of God is there to help us. The grace of God is available to us with endless supply. We have a High Priest who can sympathize with our weakness. He is not there to condemn us but to encourage us. So let us remember who He is- and what He has done- and what He is doing- and what He will do- and let us draw near to Him with confidence when we find ourselves weak. Whether it be weak in moment of temptation, weak in a moment of fear, weak in moment of identity, weak in a moment of sorrow… It doesn’t matter the cause or the area of weakness just take what strength you have left and by the grace of God draw near with confidence to the throne of grace and receive more grace!

3) We are to fix our hope on the grace of God

Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” 

1 Peter 1:13-16

 

Our hope is not in us. Our hope is in the grace of God that has been given to us. God does not command us to be holy and then leave us in our own strength to get there by our own merit and will. We are to prepare our minds for action and we are to be sober in our spirit and fix our hope on His grace… and the more that He reveals to us about our Savior the more obedient to Him we become… not out of fear… but out of absolute head over heals adoration and love for Him and because His grace is at work upon our inner man.

4) We are to stand firm in the grace of God

Through Silvanus, our faithful brother (for so I regard him), I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it! 

1 Peter 5:12

Oh precious one, I hope that in this small study you have learned more about the grace of God. I hope that ou have learned something will encourage and strengthen you to stand. This is the grace of our God. I implore you to take the time to go over all the points in this five part study again, read and reread the Scripture references that each point stands on and embed them in your heart and in your mind… and stand firm in the grace of God. It is indeed true.

 

5) We are to grow in the grace of God

You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness, but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. 

2 Peter 3:17-18

Grace is something that we can grow in. I know more of grace today than I did when I first was saved. I experienced the saving grace of my God and I was overwhelmed by it. It flooded my heart and mind like a rushing wind that swept away shame and hurt and fear… yet as I have walked with Him these years He has continued to grow me. God’s grace is so huge and so vast that we could not grasp it all in one dose. He has to divy it to us in small bites until we are able to rightly handle it. God’s grace and knowledge grow side by side. The more knowledge and understanding we gain of Him the more His grace grows with it. As we grow in His grace we are better able to share it with others and it becomes more and more evident in us by others…

May we never, ever, ever, ever stop growing in the grace of God!

Children's Ministry, Proven Path Ministries

Ten Reasons Kids Leave The Church

PPM-3.jpg

Sharing some information from Focus on the Family. Here is their list of the top ten reasons kids leave the church, when momma and daddy are no longer dragging them there.

10. The church is “relevant.”

Normally, “relevant” is a positive term. In this case, it labels the problem. We’ve couched our faith in modern trappings to the point that 2,000 years of history and rich tradition have been diminished. As the article suggests: “What we’re packaging is a cheap knockoff of the world we’re called to evangelize to. In our effort to be ‘like them,’ we’ve become less of who we actually are.”

9. They got into church, but the church never got into them.

Many young adults may have been taken to church by their parents, but the church wasn’t integrated into the fabric of their lives. Church was a Sunday event, not something that impacted the everyday realities of their lives.

8. They were treated as smart by others.

Many students interviewed felt they were spoon-fed a Christian worldview, while professors and others who held atheist viewpoints challenged their intellect and inspired them to ask questions and to use their mind.

7. They were sent out unarmed.

Many youth have mastered Christian lingo – the pithy catchphrases spoken regularly in churches and marketed through popular evangelical campaigns – but they’re ignorant of deeper theological truths. They know what “WWJD?” means, and they’re familiar with how to “invite Jesus into your heart,” but they can’t explain what atonement or justification means or its relevance to life’s realities.

6. They’ve been given a “hand-me-down” religion.

Many kids leave the church feeling like they’ve been asked to accept their parents’ faith, instead of encouraged to ask tough questions, so they can incorporate Christianity into their lives and make it their own.

5. They exchange one community for another.

Our modern faith sometimes places a greater emphasis on community than on God. As a result, many of today’s youth see other people as the answer to their problems instead of God. When they leave home, they often seek out a community of people of any belief system rather than one committed to the God of the Bible.

4. They seek opportunities to “feel” better.

Much of modern Christianity is based on “feeling,” rather than on objective, eternal truth. It reduces the Christian faith to a search for good feelings rather than exhortation to conform our human nature to God’s standard of righteousness.

3. They got tired of pretending.

Some segments of Christianity suggest that being a Christian removes all struggle from life. But that message rings hollow for many kids who try to serve God and continue to face difficult challenges … or who see their parents teach a similar message while succumbing to anger or depression themselves. Many youth feel Christianity leaves no room for authenticity.

2. Christianity is reduced to “do/don’t do” instead of “be.”

Many church kids were taught it’s all about what they do, not who they are. The Christian faith was reduced to a long list of do’s and don’ts. They felt trapped beneath the weight of their own abilities, instead of freed by the work only God can do in their hearts and lives.

1. They don’t need it.

When church is perceived as nothing more than a place to learn good principles for living, or to have a happy marriage, or well-behaved kids… Well, you can find that in most any self-help book. You don’t need a crucified Jesus for that. What kids need is the gospel; what they’re sometimes given is “a cheap knockoff of the entertainment venue they went to the night before.”

~ Jim Daly

 

Take a long hard look at the ministries in your church… Are you teaching cliches? Are you teaching cute, fun, catch phrases that have no depth or biblical substances? When Jesus stood against Satan, He didn’t quote the latest rabbi rhyme… He quoted the Word of God.

Take a long hard look at the ministries in your church… Are you copycatting the world to entertain and draw a crowd? Do you spend more time planning a fun event or more time studying the Word so that you might teach it?

Take a long hard look at the ministries in your church…

Let me assure you that yes it is hard to keep attention and attendance when what you teach is real. Satan and all the powers of hell are fighting against you. They don’t want kids, students, or adults to learn truth. They want to keep us all treading in shallow waters… If we stay in the shallow waters there is never any chance we will ever even attempt to get in the boat, much less get out of it and walk on water.

I have taught alongside my Pastor for about the past four years. I teach the children the same Scriptures he is teaching their parents. Currently we are teaching through the book of Romans. Thus far Romans has been the hardest book I have ever had to break down in such a way as to explain it to Pre-K through 5th graders, but just because it’s hard doesn’t mean it is impossible. I believe they can get it. With everything that is within me, I believe they can get it. They can handle the meat of the Word.

We start feeding them from the table when they are Toddlers… let us feed them equally spiritually.

I want kids to think and ask questions… and believe me they will. I fear many parents don’t teach their kids the Word at home because they feel inept to answer their questions. Parents, its okay to say, I don’t know, but let’s go dig a little and see if we can find out… 

I believe one of the biggest lies in our modern church is, “If they are not having fun they won’t come”

I think we forget that God does the drawing of the crowds… we are to lift up Christ and exalt Him… and trust the crowd drawing to God. Our focus should not be the entertainment of the crowds, but the exaltation of the Son of God.

I led them with cords of a man, with bonds of love,
And I became to them as one who lifts the yoke from their jaws;
And I bent down and fed them.

(Hosea 11:4)

*********************************************

No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him

(John 6:44)

***********************************************

And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself.”

(John 12:32)

 

The simple fact is, that if they really belong to Christ… then they may leave for a time… but absolutely nothing on this earth could keep them away for long. Once you are a part of the Body. You are always a part of the Body. Most amputees will tell you that even though that part of their body has been removed… they still “feel” it. Their brain (the Head, Ephesians 4:14-16) still recognizes it as being there.

Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, orperil, or sword? Just as it is written,

“For Your sake we are being put to death all day long;
We were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”

But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:35-39

So church let us exalt and lift up Christ. Let us love the Lord our God with all our heart, and mind, and soul, and strength. Let us preach the gospel, and teach the Word, and love others as ourselves… and leave all the rest to God.

 

 

 

The writing and teachings of Nicole Love Halbrooks Vaughn